Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

PAYTON

A fter a four-course Italian feast, great wine, and lots of stories, Lennie's family said goodnight. Five hours after they'd arrived. Not that I minded, because they were wonderful people, and it was one of the best meals I'd ever had. But the longer we talked, the more guilt weighed down on me.

And the harder I fell for Leonardo Andrea Rizzoli. My Lennie.

No, not mine.

I couldn't wait until tomorrow. Maybe once I was back in my own place, and Lennie and I were back to our usual work interplay, these heady feelings I had for him would go away. Then again, how could things ever be the same between us? I couldn't ever forget what it was like to wake up in bed with him, or the first glimpse of his delectable body. Then, there was the glint in his blue eyes when he was about to lean in and say something sarcastic. And the fact that I could coax a smile out of him, one that changed his whole face. One that made a handsome guy the most unforgettable man I'd ever met.

Payton, what have you done?

Bad enough I was falling, but for a man I worked with? There'd be no escaping him. Especially not on the world tour when we'd be traveling together for months on end.

Ignoring the ache in my chest, I helped Lennie clear the table and clean the kitchen before we called it a night. I couldn't abide dirty plates and dishes sitting on counters and thankfully, Lennie was the same. Once we were done with the cleanup, he carried my suitcase upstairs, and got me settled in the spare bedroom.

We'd said goodnight on the landing and when he closed my door, and I was all alone, I had the strange urge to cry. It must have been all that earlier talk about my mom and family. Even though I played it off like being single was always a good time, I couldn't deny that I wanted a family of my own. A husband, children. The older I got, the more it felt like a need than a want. And part of me worried that I'd never achieve those dreams. And worst of all, that love wasn't in the cards for me.

No kidding, Payton, that's why you were drinking so hard in Vegas.

Ignoring my faraway wishes, I checked my phone and replied to several messages. Most of them were from friends like Jaclyn. Surprisingly, I also had one from Valen.

Valen: How's married life? You taking care of my friend?

Payton: We just had dinner with his family

Valen: LOL are you serious?

Payton: They were here at Len's when we arrived from the airport. His mom looked so upset. We couldn't tell her.

Valen: Man, I wish I'd been there to see Len's face. Are you still at his place?

Payton: It made sense to stay overnight

Valen: I'm sure it did. Remember what I said today. Please don't hurt him.

Payton: In a week's time, Lennie will forget this weekend ever happened.

Valen: I'm not sure about that. And what about you?

I didn't reply to the last comment. I was nowhere near ready to face my feelings, let alone tell someone else what was going on.

I put my phone aside and went through my usual nighttime routine; skincare and a scalp massage, and after that, I changed into my two-piece black lace pjs.

The bed was a comfortable queen, but despite that, and my exhaustion, sleep wouldn't come. I tossed and turned, and next thing I knew, it was after one in the morning. I was craving sweets, like I always did when I couldn't sleep. So, I quietly wandered out of my room and downstairs to the kitchen.

I needed ice cream. Or cookies. Anything with sugar. And hopefully, chocolate.

When I stepped into the kitchen, it was dark, save for the faint moonlight that filtered in from the windows. I reached for the light switch, when suddenly, I heard a door slam.

"Ahhh!" I yelled out loud, certain that I'd be confronting a burglar.

Until I realized it was Lennie. Standing in front of the fridge, in nothing but tight briefs, with a carton of juice in his hand. I stood on shaky legs, holding my hand to my chest, my heart pounding louder than a marching band during homecoming week. I was never getting to sleep after this.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"It's my house! And I was thirsty." He held up the container. "What are you doing here?"

"I need chocolate, or ice cream. I can't sleep."

Lennie padded over to the stove and reached for the light above it. A soft glow lit up the kitchen.

But when Lennie turned around, he dropped the carton on the floor.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, moving closer.

"Yes! Good. Fine. Great," he muttered.

He crouched down to pick up the carton, his taut thigh muscles flexing. Jesus. I was pretty sure I was drooling at this point, and it had nothing to do with salivating over the potential of ice cream.

When I finally made eye contact, Lennie was staring at me like he'd never seen me before.

"Are you okay, Len?"

"Yup. Great. Sure. So good," he replied and quickly moved to stand behind the island. "Nothing."

"Nothing? What does that mean?"

"Uh. Nothing's wrong. That's what I meant to say," he paused. "Um, I think there's ice cream. In the freezer. If you want it. Chocolate. Chocolate ice cream. In the freezer."

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Bumbling Lennie was back. But no matter what he said, or how he said it, this man always had my full attention. So much so that my cock was already half hard.

Needing a distraction for my dick—and to feed my oral fixation—I wandered over to the fridge and bent down to open the freezer drawer.

"Fuck me," Lennie blurted out.

Then I remembered I hadn't worn anything under my lace pjs. Oops. My cock was now hard as hell. Forget ice cream. I was still craving a sweet treat, but he was standing right behind me.

I stood up, turned around, and leaned back against the fridge. Unlike Len, I was not shy about what I wanted. And he was it. We'd already broken all the rules by getting married, we might as well go for broke.

"You like what I'm wearing?" I asked.

Lennie swallowed hard and nodded, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. "It's very, um, sheer."

"I love wearing lace. And silk. Anything soft. It makes me feel sexy and beautiful."

"No argument here."

I sauntered over to him and grabbed the carton that he'd nearly crushed in his grip, placing it on the counter.

"What about ice cream?" He whispered.

"I've changed my mind. I want something more…decadent."

I boldly ran my hands up his strong, hairy forearms. Touching him was electric, and I didn't want to stop.

"Payton," he groaned, and the sound had goosebumps littering my skin.

"Yes?" I stared up into his eyes, hoping, praying, that he wouldn't turn me away.

Anticipation flooded my veins. Lennie lowered his head, and I held my breath, waiting, aching for him to kiss me.

"You know how I'm always tongue-tied around you?" he whispered.

"Yes."

He smiled slowly, like he knew a secret.

"Now it's your turn."

Lennie

I couldn't sleep, and it was no wonder.

All I could think about was how right it felt to have Payton here, in my home. Fuck, he was down the hallway. Probably naked by now. Thinking about him in my bed, even if it was the spare one, had my cock painfully hard. So hard, I was lightheaded.

After a restless hour and a throbbing hard-on that I ruthlessly ignored, I got up and headed down to the kitchen to grab a snack. But of course, it wasn't that simple.

I always took pride in my self-control. No matter the situation, I stayed calm and clear-headed. I never let my emotions get the better of me, not at work and not in my personal life.

Until Payton. First Vegas, now this.

He walked into my kitchen dressed in nothing but sheer black lace, and all my good intentions, my control? Obliterated. And when he touched me? When he looked up at me with those beautiful eyes of his? Fuck, I had no fight left. I willingly surrendered.

I cupped his face and took his lips the way I'd been fantasizing about for months. But reality was so much better than my dreams. Payton was warm and real. Sexy, beautiful, sinful.

Mine? I wanted like hell for him to be mine.

His lips parted, and I got the sweetest, hottest kiss of my life. His tongue teased mine, and what started out deep and slow turned frantic and dirty, shockwaves of pleasure coursing through my body.

I slid my hands down his back, feeling his muscles quiver, and cupped his tight ass cheeks. They fit perfectly in my palms.

"Put your arms around my neck," I demanded in between heated kisses. "And wrap those sexy legs around my waist."

"Lennie," he moaned my name, and I shivered in response.

"Do it, Angel."

Payton groaned even louder. When he climbed me, I held firm to his ass and carried him through the kitchen, and over to the stairs. Until the wicked tease sucked on the tender skin of my neck, and I nearly lost my footing.

"Fuck, Payton."

"Yes. Please, please fuck me."

I managed to carry him up the stairs, but it was a near thing. I was lightheaded, the blood in my body rushing to my dick.

We tumbled into my bedroom and, thankfully, onto my bed. We didn't kiss so much as devour each other, and I reached for his top, desperate to get him naked. But there were ten million buttons, and I was so turned on I was shaking, my big hands clumsy as hell.

Fuck it. I ripped his shirt open, and Payton gasped.

"Get those pants off, or they're next," I growled.

Payton scrambled to do as I demanded and threw the seductive garment aside. When he stretched out on my bed, naked, I finally took a breath, a moment, to admire the stunning man before me. Not that I had any air left in my lungs. It was a good thing that I was already horizontal, because this man knocked me flat on my ass. He was all long lines and smooth skin, his long cock resting hard and heavy on his stomach. And when I saw the intense heat in his gaze, I chased his mouth, unable to resist.

"Angel, you are so fucking beautiful," I confessed, holding him tight, unwilling to let go.

"Lennie."

Payton's skin flushed, and I reached out and traced it with my finger; from his cheekbones, down his neck, to his chest, and his abs. When I reached for Payton's cock, the moan that erupted from his throat was the dirtiest thing I'd ever heard.

"Yes, touch me," he whispered.

"Payton."

I spat in my hand and jerked him off, watching his expression the whole time, relishing his sharp inhales and breathy moans. But it wasn't enough. I wanted to give him all the pleasure.

I scooted down the bed and spread his legs. And fuck, he was smooth all over. I needed to taste him. Right fucking now.

"You don't have to?—"

Any further comment was silenced when I held his ass cheeks apart, and swiped my tongue across his tight pink hole.

"Oh fuck," Payton groaned and grabbed hold of my hair. "Len."

I swirled my tongue around his rim, teasing strokes, then up and over his taint, and back over his hole again. Of course, Payton tasted as heady as he looked, and now I was addicted. Pushing my face in his ass, I ate him out. He was writhing, but his grip on my hair loosened. Like he was afraid of hurting me. And then his moans quieted to barely a whisper. It was so unlike the fierce, passionate man I knew.

I swiped my tongue over his hole again and then leaned back, looking up at his face.

"Don't hold back. If you want to tug my hair and claw at my shoulders, do it, Angel. Don't hide. Not from me."

"Jesus, Len, you're going to make me come already," Payton admitted.

I smiled at him, so wide that my cheeks hurt. "Good. Now ride my fucking face."

Leaning back down, I settled between his thighs. This time, Payton didn't hesitate to shove his gorgeous ass in my face. Yes. This. I was drunk on the sight and smell of him, my dick throbbing, leaking pre-cum like crazy.

"Fucking hell," I groaned loudly, and teased his ass, licking, sucking, then fucking his hole with my tongue.

He pulled my hair—hard—and didn't let go; the sting igniting sparks of pleasure down my spine. And when he spread his legs wider and pumped his hips, I didn't eat his ass, I fucking worshipped it.

"Don't stop, Len. Oh God, please, don't stop."

His frantic moans were so freaking sexy that I was humping the mattress, my dick desperate for friction.

"Touch yourself," I commanded, my voice hoarse with need.

Payton's legs began to shake, and his moans turned to whimpers.

"I'm going to come," he panted. "Oh fuck. Oh, God."

I didn't let up, fucking his ass with my tongue, until his body jolted, and whimpers turned to screams. Payton was screaming my name.

"Lennie!"

His orgasm ignited mine, and I jerked, coming hands-free. The pleasure was so intense that I was shaking hard. One year of Payton's teasing was too much for this bodyguard to handle.