Twenty-one

TWENTY-ONE

Brock

Was I dreaming?

The disappointment I was going to feel if I woke up at any minute was going to be immeasurable.

Months.

God, this had been months in the making.

Months of listening to her laugh or hearing her talk.

Months of looking forward to seeing her and spending time with her.

Months of longing and attraction.

Months of sexual frustration and pent-up feelings.

It all had me on the verge of losing control at this very moment.

Because for the first time in all these months, I was kissing Mia. She was kissing me. Our bodies were pressed close together, her hands were in my hair, and our mouths were connected. And considering the way her fingers were pressing into the back of my head, it was evident that Mia wanted me to stay right where I was.

I didn't mind. I had no intention of pulling away from her. Not when I'd just experienced the last several minutes of undeniable tension and worry.

When I stepped into the open doorway and saw Mia standing opposite of her ex with an engagement ring in her hand, I thought I'd screwed up. I was convinced I was too late, that holding myself back from her for so long was going to be the biggest regret of my life.

Even if I knew deep down that her ex wasn't good enough for her, the reality was that he was her baby's father, and I couldn't say I wouldn't have understood why Mia might have been tempted to try to reconcile with him.

It left me feeling sick, questioning what I'd do if she got back together with him, and I lost her in the process. I'd put in the time, remaining patient and wanting her to see that I was a man she'd be able to depend on to be there for her, to care for her. I couldn't remember a time when I'd ever felt as nervous as I felt tonight.

Standing there as it all unfolded, a determination I'd never felt before in my life flourished inside me. I was prepared and willing to fight for her. And that's why, despite having intended to share my feelings with her over ice cream on her deck, I spilled it all when I did. Before she was going to make that decision, before she made a mistake and took her ex back, I needed her to know my heart had gotten involved, that I was ready to give her everything.

Thankfully, it hadn't gotten too ugly, because Mia knew she was worth so much more. She understood she deserved better than her ex had given her. It was a shame for him he'd learned his lesson too late.

I had a chance now, and there wasn't a possibility I was going to screw it up.

Especially not when I'd gotten all that I'd already gotten from her and combined that with what I was getting now.

There was the kissing, yes. But there were the whimpers that started almost immediately after our lips had touched. And once my tongue ran along the seam of her soft lips and demanded access to her mouth, those whimpers turned to moans.

I'd never heard anything better in my whole life. My body was buzzing, the blood rushing in my veins, as I explored every inch of her mouth.

I kicked the door shut behind me, my hands finding their way to her hips. One hand remained there as the other drifted back to palm and squeeze her ass.

Mia rewarded me with another moan.

I lifted one hand to the back of her head, fisted her hair, and gave a gentle tug, forcing us to break the connection between our lips.

Mia was breathing hard, her eyes burning with desire. "Was it true?"

My brows knit together. "Was what true?"

Her hands drifted down my neck and over my shoulders until they came to a stop on my chest. "Am I really the woman of your dreams?"

My lips twitched. "I knew it the day you came over to introduce yourself to me."

Her lips parted, and her eyes widened in shock. "Really?"

"Yes."

"And you love me?"

I dipped my chin. "More than I thought was possible to love a woman."

Mia's fingertips pressed in firmly against my chest, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as her eyes danced. "I think I've fallen in love with you, too."

I didn't think there was anything that could have made this day any better. Sure, there was a part of me that hoped I'd share my feelings with her tonight and that she'd at least feel some level of attraction to me. I never expected I'd hear that four-letter word in return. At least, not yet.

"God, you're beautiful," I said.

Her head dropped down, her eyes and one hand landing on her stomach. "I'm not exactly in prime physical shape."

"You are exquisite, Mia. I saw you days ago on your deck wearing nothing but that bikini when your family was visiting, and I couldn't remember ever feeling so turned on. I can't tell you the number of fantasies that have played out in my head involving you."

"Really?"

I covered her hand with mine. "Yes. You are breathtaking."

A flush crept over her cheeks as she licked her lips. There was a hint of timidness lingering in her expression, but a moment later, she pushed past it and said, "I've been thinking a lot lately about what it would be like to be with you."

Jesus.

Was this for real?

"You don't have to wonder anymore," I told her. "I can think of nothing I'd love more than to give that to you."

There was a moment of hesitation before Mia took a step back, reached her hand out to mine, and led me toward the stairs. I kicked off my sneakers on the way there.

The next thing I knew, I was in Mia's bedroom for the first time since I'd carried her to it when she'd fallen asleep while we were watching movies together. And this time, I wasn't going to have to leave her alone while I went home.

For a few seconds, I simply stood there, trying to take it all in. Nothing compared to this, to her.

And after months of wanting her just like this, I didn't know how I managed to hold myself back.

Eventually, desperation and longing took over. I needed her, wanted her. So, I stepped close and slid one hand into her hair, where it settled at the base of her skull. My other hand came to rest on her hip as I angled her head back and kissed her again.

It had only been a few minutes since I'd last kissed her downstairs, and it already felt as though too much time had passed. I needed more. I wanted to take everything I could get from her while giving her what she, too, had indicated she'd been thinking about lately.

As we kissed and Mia moaned, the grip I had on her hair grew tighter, and my hand that had been at her hip drifted up her side. Mia's hands came to my waist, where she didn't hesitate to slip her fingers beneath the hem of my shirt.

Her fingertips were soft, her touch tender. In that instant, all I wanted was for the two of us to strip down to nothing. Mia seemed interested in the same, because her hands didn't remain on the skin just beneath my shirt.

They explored.

Mia's hands floated over nearly every inch of my torso, drifting higher and higher, until I had no choice but to tear my mouth and hands away from her to help pull the shirt over my head.

"Wow," she whispered, her eyes roaming. "You're perfect."

"So are you."

With a slight shake of her head, she said, "Brock, I'm?—"

"Stunning," I said, cutting her off. There wasn't a chance I was going to allow her to get inside her head about the way she looked. I knew she was pregnant, and I didn't care. I thought she was beautiful. "Mia, you have to trust me. I think you are incredibly sexy. I can't wait to see all of you, to touch every inch of your gorgeous body."

"You're making it difficult to feel nervous or worried," she murmured.

"Good. Because you have no reason to feel nervous or worried about anything," I said, bringing my hands to the hem of her shirt and slowly lifting it up. Once I had it over her head and tossed it aside, my eyes dropped to her breasts.

Mia noticed. "They're a bit larger than normal."

"They're perfect."

Then again, everything about her was perfection.

Seemingly motivated by my words, Mia reached behind her back, unhooked her bra, and allowed it to fall to the floor.

Instinctively, my hands reached out to cup her breasts, my thumbs swiping over her nipples.

"Oh, God," she panted, her legs buckling and forcing her to reach out to hold on to my arm.

Whether she was always this sensitive or everything was heightened because of the pregnancy, I didn't know. But I figured it was best to be on the safe side. I stopped moving my thumbs, released her breasts, and said, "I think it might be best if you get in the bed."

"I'm sorry… it's just… it's been a long time since I?—"

"I know. But you're not alone in that, so you don't need to apologize," I told her, taking her by the hand and helping her into the bed.

Her body was only slightly reclined by the time she was fully settled in the bed. She had a mass of pillows behind her back, propping her up. And since she seemed comfortable that way, I didn't try to move her.

Instead, I climbed into the bed beside her and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "Better?"

"Yeah. Except…"

"Except what?"

She smiled at me. "I think I'm going to need some help getting these bottoms off."

I grinned. "I'd be honored."

My hands went to Mia's hips, where my fingers curled around the waistband of her shorts. Mia did her best to lift her hips just enough for me to get her bottoms down over her ass.

I tossed the shorts and her underwear toward the foot of the bed and kept my eyes on her body. "You're so beautiful, Mia. I don't know what I did to deserve you."

Mia reached her hand out and wrapped it around the back of my neck. She tugged me in her direction, urging my mouth toward hers. And once I was there, her tongue dueling with mine, one of my hands landed on her thigh and wandered north.

The higher my fingers crawled up her leg, the tighter her grip on my neck became. And the second I touched her between her legs, Mia tore her mouth from mine and a guttural moan escaped.

Her head had dropped back, leaving her neck exposed, so while my fingers continued to play, my lips brushed up against the soft skin on the front of her throat.

Mia squirmed beside me, her hips moving against my hand. "Brock," she moaned.

My name coming past her lips in that voice was all the encouragement I needed. I shifted myself in the bed, my tongue blazing a path from her throat down her chest to one of her breasts. As I teased her nipple, licking and sucking on it, I slipped one finger inside her and was rewarded with a moan like no other.

Hearing her, feeling just how wet she was, I smiled against her skin. My desire to please her skyrocketed. I wanted more of it. I was going to take everything she had to give.

So, I slid a second finger inside her and pressed my thumb to her clit, my mouth never leaving her body.

Mia was writhing, her fingertips grasping for any part of me she could reach, where her nails would sink into my flesh.

"Brock, please," she begged. "I want to feel you inside me."

I released her breast from my mouth, continued to play with her pussy, and kissed up her neck and along her jaw until I made it to her ear. "Does it feel good?" I asked.

"So good."

"Do you want more?"

My fingers plunged inside, forcing a moan to crawl up Mia's throat. "Yes, Brock. Please."

Pulling my head back slightly so I could look at her face, I said, "I don't have any condoms with me."

Mia stopped squirming, stared at me, and asked, "Do I have to be worried about any diseases?"

I shook my head. "Not at all. I haven't been with anybody since I was last tested."

She reached for my jeans, her knuckles brushing up against the skin just above the waistband. With a knowing smile, she whispered, "That makes two of us."

This woman was everything I could have hoped to have. As she worked at the fly of my jeans, I felt a new wave of anticipation wash over me. I'd never wanted anything in my life more than I wanted her.

Mia got my jeans unbuttoned and unzipped, but she needed me to help when she began pushing them and my underwear down. I had no choice but to pull my fingers from her body and shift myself in the bed once again to remove my remaining clothes.

When I was left with nothing on, Mia's eyes roamed appreciatively over my body. Her gaze was hungry as it settled on my cock. If it was possible, I was certain I grew even more turned on.

Mia reached her hand out, curled her fingers around my length, and asked, "Is this for me?"

The corners of my mouth tipped up as my palm hit the mattress beside her body, and I leaned in to kiss her. "Only for you."

With her lips against mine and her fingers still wrapped around me, Mia offered a firm stroke and said, "I can't wait any longer to feel you inside me."

Never wanting to disappoint her, needing to feel her just as much as she wanted to feel me, I didn't delay. I moved my body between her parted thighs, positioned myself at her entrance, and lifted my gaze to hers as I pushed inside.

Mia's lips parted, and my fingertips bit down firmly on her thighs. Once I'd pushed all the way inside, I remained rooted there for several beats. I might have gotten myself off regularly ever since I'd started feeling an attraction to Mia, but it had been just a few months shy of a year since I'd been inside a woman. And even that last experience hadn't compared to being with Mia. The last thing I wanted was for this to end before I had the chance to not only satisfy her but also enjoy her.

Mia seemed to know what I needed, because she waited patiently, her fingertips running gently over the skin on my arms, shoulders, chest, and abdomen. And once I'd reined in some of the excitement I'd been feeling, I moved. I drew my hips back before thrusting forward again. After several slow strokes, I groaned, "Fuck, Mia. You feel so good."

She moaned in response before she begged, "Harder, Brock. Please, I've wanted this for far too long."

I indulged her by honoring her request and giving it to her harder. Three more strokes, and we were both caught up in it.

Touching.

Teasing.

Tasting.

Months of longing, chemistry, and tension had brought us to this point, and it was nothing short of amazing. It was even better than I had imagined or hoped it would be.

Moving inside her, listening to her moans, feeling her soft touch, and finally having this connection with her felt like being handed the greatest gift.

And even though she seemed to have some concerns about taking this step while pregnant, there wasn't anything for her to be worried about. I was still insanely attracted to her, and while it would be impossible not to be when she was naked, I realized a big part of the attraction had nothing to do with the way she looked.

I loved her.

I loved her like I'd never loved another woman.

To finally have the privilege to touch and taste her felt like a gift I didn't deserve. My hands roamed, my mouth frequently sought out hers, and Mia never stopped moaning.

We'd built each other up so effortlessly that when her moans turned to quick whimpers and her breathing became shallow, I felt a wave of relief come over me. She was just as close as I was.

"Are you going to come, Mia?"

"Brock, I'm so close," she panted.

I picked up my pace, driving my hips forward, and kept my eyes on her gorgeous face. Mia's lips parted, and a moment later, it happened.

Her back arched, and she cried out as her orgasm tore through her. I tried to hold myself back, to wait until she'd made it to the other side, but I couldn't. Somewhere in the middle of it, I buried myself deep inside her and found my own release.

My body stilled, my hands resting at the juncture of her hips and thighs, and I gave her a squeeze. Through our labored breathing, I asked, "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Mia's head moved from one side to the other along the pillow as a lazy smile spread across her face. "I'm perfect. You didn't hurt me at all. It was wonderful."

"I love you, Mia."

She closed her eyes, her smile growing, and a deep sigh of relief escaped. When she opened her eyes again, she rasped, "I love you, Brock."

Touching my mouth to hers, I gave her a kiss. It wasn't a simple peck, but it wasn't one that I allowed to get too heated, either. My lips lingered against her for just a few seconds before I pulled back and said, "Let me grab something to get ourselves cleaned up."

Mia smiled. "Okay."

Though it pained me to have to lose the connection to her, I pulled out of her, exited the bed, and moved toward the bathroom. Somehow, I could feel Mia's eyes on me the whole way there.