Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

PAYTON

" I f you'll excuse us, we've had a long couple of days," Lennie announced, standing up and motioning to the door.

"That's fine. We're done with this for now," Zoe added. "I've got calls to return."

"Me too." Jesse stood up and beat us to the door. "Keep us updated on whatever's happening between you two, okay?"

I nodded and stood up, following Lennie. As soon as we were out of Zoe's office, he stalked off down the hallway toward the exit.

"I'll drop you off at home," Lennie muttered, shoving his sunglasses on.

"Okay."

The walk back to the car had me shivering and it had everything to do with Lennie. I'd fucked this whole thing up and I didn't know how to make things right.

Tell him you're scared.

By the time we got to my place, I was all but jumping out of my skin.

"Come in with me," I whispered.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea right now."

"Please." I turned to him. "We need to talk."

Lennie sighed and ran a hand over his face, then nodded.

"Thank you," I sighed with relief. "But a warning. Jaclyn dropped Finnigan off this morning. He's a good cat, but he doesn't like strangers, so he might hiss at you."

"I'm not worried. I can handle a frightened kitten."

"He's a cat, not a kitten."

"I wasn't talking about Finnigan," Lennie added, sliding out of the driver's side and slamming his door.

What? I sat there, fuming, until he opened the passenger door.

"Comparing me to a cat?" I asked.

"If the claws fit," Lennie countered, offering his hand.

"You wish."

"I do. That's the problem."

Once I was on solid ground, Lennie hauled out my suitcase and we made our way to the elevator. The ride was awkward; me fidgeting with my hair, my blouse, and checking my phone. Anything to distract my nerves. Lennie, meanwhile, was back in bodyguard mode, arms crossed, face expressionless, not a word or a breath to be heard. But I did notice the way that vein in this forehead was pulsing. He wasn't totally unaffected.

We finally reached my floor and I bolted. "I'm the last one on the right."

When I opened the door, the mewling started.

"Hey baby, I'm home," I whispered to Finnigan, who was sitting in my foyer, big tail swishing, ears back. He was not happy.

"Shit, he's even prettier than in those pictures," Lennie announced.

Finnigan was a beautiful boy with his smooth, velvety gray fur and pale green eyes. But given the hissing sounds he was making, Finnigan wasn't impressed by our guest.

"That sounds like our wedding night," Lennie muttered.

"Hilarious," I replied and crouched down. "Come here, Finn. Daddy's missed you."

To my utter shock, Finnigan ran past me and rubbed up against Lennie's leg.

"What the?—"

Turned out, I was the one being hissed at.

Lennie reached down and when his large hand ran over Finnigan's back, hisses turned to loud purrs. Then Lennie did the unthinkable. He picked up my cat.

"He doesn't even like the vet touching him," I whispered, completely shocked.

Finnigan's purrs amplified, and he butted his head on Lennie's chin.

"He's a selective boy. Like his daddy," Lennie whispered, then glanced at me, smiling. "Stop fighting it, Angel. You know you like me."

"Of course, I like you. More than like. That's the damn problem."

"Come here."

I slowly walked towards him, and Lennie placed Finnigan back on the floor. My cat zipped back to the living room.

"Why?"

"Come here," Lennie repeated.

I stalked up to him, and when I got within arm's reach, Lennie placed his hands on my hips, pulling me in to his body as tight as I could get. Lord, it was hot in here.

"Stop worrying about the wedding. It doesn't matter how it happened, it's done. And I, for one, am so fucking happy."

"You are?"

"Haven't you been listening to anything I've said over the past forty-eight hours? I'm falling for you. Hard. And I don't care if I make an ass of myself doing it. And no, before you start arguing, it's not temporary, and no, it's not the ‘ wedding effect .' This has been building for a long time. All your flirting and teasing at work. I guess I couldn't resist any longer."

"Lennie." I cupped his face. "I want you. I do. But fair warning. I'm no good at this."

"What?"

"Relationships," I admitted. "The flirting part, hell yes. The other stuff, no. I always come on too strong and then inevitably, the guy thinks I'm too much. And I don't want to mess this up. You're too important to me."

He smiled and squeezed my waist. "Listen to me, okay? You're never too much. Never. Be yourself. The proud, flirtatious, luminous Payton that I know and love."

Did Lennie say that he loved me?

There was still trepidation. That I wasn't good enough. That he'd regret this. But when I looked into Lennie's eyes, I saw hope. And, more than that, I saw the truth. It was real. This, what was happening between us, was real.

"I'm yours, Angel," he whispered.

As crazy as it might be, he was mine, too. I pushed the fear away. And I reached for Lennie.

Our kiss was all-consuming, frantic. I didn't hold back, sliding my tongue deep into his mouth, tasting all of him. Wanting more. Both of us moaned and when I pushed at his shoulders, he leaned back against the door with a loud thud.

Dropping to my knees, I rubbed my hand over his jeans, cupping his dick, testing the weight of it. I'd barely had a chance to see all of him last night, never mind explore. And touching him like this confirmed what I glimpsed the morning after our wedding.

My man was big. All over. And all fucking mine.

"Payton, you don't have to?—"

I unzipped his jeans.

"No, but I want to," I replied and slid my hands inside, shoving his briefs and jeans down his hips, taking his hot, heavy cock in my hand. Jesus, I couldn't wait to slide his thick dick down my throat. "I've wanted to suck you off for the longest time. I thought it would remain a fantasy. But reality is so much better."

Lennie let out a deep groan. His dick was long and veiny, the head red and leaking so much pre-cum that my hand was already sticky. Leaning forward, I swirled my tongue around the head and that first salty taste hit me like the best kind of buzz.

"Please," Lennie moaned. "More."

I swallowed as much as I could on the first go, but he was fucking huge. With one hand around the base of his cock, I tongued the slit, teasing him, then swallowed again, this time as deep as I could get him, until my nose hit his pubes.

"Fuck!" Lennie panted. "Payton."

My throat was going to be sore as fuck tomorrow, but I didn't care.

My other hand reached for his balls, cupping and tugging, while my mouth kept up a steady suck and slide. Lennie was musky, so fucking delicious. And with every pass, Lennie's moans got louder.

When his thighs began to shake, he gripped my head and guided my movements, punching his hips forward and fucking my face. Lennie knew what he wanted, and I wanted to give it to him.

My own cock was hard as hell, but I didn't care about my pleasure. Only his.

I sucked harder, swallowing him down again, humming when his cockhead hit my throat.

"Oh fuck, baby, I'm gonna…fuck, I'm coming!" Lennie shouted.

His cock twitched and my mouth flooded with hot cum. I swallowed as much as I could, as fast as I could, but there was no way I could've taken all of it. It spilled out of the corners of my mouth and down my chin.

Lennie's grip on my hair eased, and I slowly leaned back, letting his softening cock slip out from between my lips. My knees were sore, my throat too, but it was worth it. And I was finally able to take a deep breath. But breathing was overrated anyway. Especially when I made Lennie come hard like that.

"We forgot…to have…the sex talk," Lennie panted. "Not the dirty kind. I mean, it was safe to swallow my load. I got tested three months ago. I'm good. There's been no one since."

"Me too," I replied, my voice hoarse.

"Come here," Lennie smiled and crooked his finger.

I glanced up at him, wiped my face with my hand, and licked my sore lips. "Maybe."

"Maybe?" he replied, raising one eyebrow. "Don't sass me, Angel."

"But I have so much fun doing just that."

"I'll give you fun. Now get up here and give your man a kiss."

"No."

"No?"

I stood up on shaky legs and reached for him.

"It'll be way more than one."