16. Bunny Slippers

16

Bunny Slippers

T wo hours later I cuddled into the corner of the couch with a blanket and a book. After the second false start in as many days, I’d be breaking out the toys tonight. Cozy in my flannel pj’s with my cold feet tucked into my fuzzy bunny slippers, I had just lifted my hot cocoa off the coffee table when the doorbell rang.

My heart thumped erratically in my chest. If Nan had been there, I wouldn’t have been bothered. Funny how the mere presence of that tiny woman infused me with courage.

Without her, I reverted back to the scared little girl who came to her feeling all alone in the world.

I tiptoed closer to the door. With the hallway light off and the porch light on, whoever was there would not be able to see me. I edged toward the sidelight to see if I could steal a peek.

Too risky.

Just as I decided to ignore it, I heard Gabe’s impatient voice. “Shae, it’s me. Open up.”

My first thought was something had gone terribly wrong. I ran to the door and swung it open.

His face was dark as thunder, his lips pressed together tightly as he pressed his palm to my chest and pushed me further back into the house before kicking the door closed with his foot.

“Gabe!” I gasped. “What happened?”

“Nothing, Shae,” he growled, spinning me so my back hit the wall. “And that’s the fucking problem.”

Taking both of my wrists in his hands, he stretched my arms up over my head until I balanced on my toes. Lips parted, his eyes moved hungrily over my face. Stepping closer he pressed his pelvis to mine and closed his eyes as he rolled his hips and ground his erection into my belly.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he groaned deep in his throat. He opened his eyes as my head fell back against the wall.

My lids dropped to half mast at the feral look in his eyes, the only thought in my head was lower, please, God, lower as I bucked my hips.

“Look at these pjs,” he grunted. “You drive me fucking crazy.”

Transferring my wrists to one hand, he ran his other hand down my arm until he reached my jaw. Framing it with his large hand, he leaned closer and thrust his muscled thigh between my thighs as he took my mouth with every ounce of pent-up need in his body.

I cried out at the dual invasion.

He gave no quarter, taking the opportunity afforded by my parted lips to lick inside my mouth.

I latched on, desperate for more of him.

His hand slipped to the collar of my pajama shirt, his fingers making short work of the buttons as he ran his lips along my jaw, nipping and licking his way down my throat to my collarbone.

“Not how I pictured it,” he rumbled, slipping his hand inside my open shirt to lift my naked breast to his hungry mouth.

I exhaled with a grunt as he sucked my nipple into his hot mouth. “Fuck me, Gabe,” I exclaimed in surprise as I gasped at the bolt of pleasure.

“Plan to,” he rasped, taking me literally. “Can’t wait any fucking longer.”

Lowering my wrists, he looped my arms around his neck as he shoved his hands down the back of my pajama pants. He hummed as he filled his hands with my ample ass, kneading me into a near frenzy.

My knees began to quake, my mind scrabbling to catch up with my body, my heart chanting his name like a prayer.

“Wanted to take my time,” he rumbled, pushing my pajama bottoms down while lifting one of my thighs in an attempt to free one leg.

Clinging to his neck, I mewled in frustration at my inability to extract my foot, that cock-blocking bunny slipper the only thing standing between me and ecstasy.

Without another word, Gabe dropped to his knees, ripping my pajama pants and panties down on the way. “Fucking bunny slippers, fuck me, Shae-baby, is there anything you can wear that won’t turn me the fuck on?”

Flinging the offending rabbit down the hall, he slung my free leg over his shoulder and dipped his head to press his nose to the apex of my thighs and sucked in a breath. “Ah, fuck yeah, baby,” he praised before tipping his head back and spearing his tongue between my lips, licking into me with a harsh groan.

“Gabe,” I gasped, both of my hands going to his head as my body bowed over his with the first shock of pleasure.

His hand shot up to brace against my torso, pushing me back against the wall as he mumbled incoherently against me before tunneling his tongue inside me.

“Fuck, yes,” he praised, his fingers digging into the flesh of my hip as he held me still.

“So good,” he murmured, swirling the tip of his talented tongue around my clit as my hips bucked and rolled against his face.

“Gabe, Gabe, Gabe, Gabe, Gabe,” I panted, straining to meet him halfway.

“Give it to me, Shae-baby,” he rasped, sucking my clit into his mouth.

My head shot back, the heel of my foot pressing into his back as I came embarrassingly quickly, wave upon wave of pleasure washing over me, carrying me far away from everyone and everything that ever caused me a moment of grief.

The rasp of his zipper brought me back to the ever-enticing present where he stood before me, his legs braced.

My hands tightened reflexively on his shoulders, my hips rolling forward, greedy, wanting more. Wanting everything.

His erection throbbed between us while his big hands fumbled to put on the condom. “I’m shaking,” he muttered. “Shae, help me.”

My hands trembled almost as badly as I plucked it from his hands and rolled it down his length before dragging my fist back up, firmly twisting over his swollen head before jerking my fist back down to the base at his groin.

He slapped my hand away. “I didn’t wait this long to come in your fist. Spread your fucking legs.”

I complied, but not fast enough. Dipping his knees, he hooked his elbow under my knee, lined up, and drove into me with a grunt.

His other hand grasped the base of my ponytail and pulled my head back. Covering my mouth with his, he fucked me with his tongue as surely as he fucked me with his cock.

Swallowing each grunt, I could do nothing but take him.

Bracing my hand against the wall, I lifted my other leg around his hip. Holding onto his neck, I arched my back to take him deeper.

I began to burn, my toes curling as I pulsed around him.

He hummed into my mouth, his kiss growing sloppy as his hips jerked erratically.

“Shae,” he snarled. His neck arched back, body tightening like a bow, beautiful face dark with passion as he ground his pelvis against mine and grunted out his release.

Easing his hold on my hair, he smoothed his fist down the length of my ponytail as the tension left his body and he curled around me. Stroking the length of my thigh, he gently lowered my leg to the floor and slowly pulled out, his eyes finding mine.

“Wow,” I gasped, my eyes wide as they stared into his.

He grinned down at me, looking as proud of himself as he ever had.

I began to laugh. Cupping his face in my hands, I pressed my mouth to his, catching his sweet, satisfied, sigh in my mouth as he kissed me back.

Slow.

Sweet.

Reverent.

Wrapping his hand around the nape of my neck, he pressed his forehead to mine and smiled into my eyes. His big chest rose and fell with his deep, satisfied, breath.

Stepping back, he spun me around to face the stairs and slapped his hand down hard on my ass. “Up you go for round two.”

An hour later, I lay sprawled across his fucking finally naked, tattooed chest. The tattoos that began at his wrist did in fact stop, but not until they reached his ribs on one side, his shoulder on the other. While his fingers trailed lazy lines up and down the length of my spine, the steady thump of his heart regulated my own.

“I’ve never had sex up against a wall.”

He chuckled and gently raked his fingers through my hair. “Selfishly, I’m glad I had that first with you.”

I snorted, then admitted, “There will probably be more firsts.”

“We’ll make you a sexual bucket list.”

I swallowed, my eyes skittering back and forth. He was teasing but I was serious. “Yeah?”

He shrugged. “Sure. What do you want on it?”

“Lots,” I stressed.

He chuckled low. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”

My brain was not so easily reassured. “How can you be so sure?”

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and folded his other arm under his head. “It’s simple. You plonked your books down on that desk and I was irrevocably lost to you. Nothing or no one has ever felt the same.”

My next question burned, but something in me had to know. “Did you ever come close?”

I fought to keep my breathing slow and even, my body relaxed as I waited for his answer.

“Once. I met a woman shortly after I dropped out of college.”

I jolted.

His hand splayed across my back, pushing me closer. “You can’t be surprised there have been other women?”

I winced. “No, but I am surprised you dropped out of college.”

He tensed beneath me. “Why?”

“Because you were always the smartest in the room.”

His lips moved in my hair once more. “Not book smart, baby. Never book smart.”

“Tell me the rest?”

“We got along reasonably well. Wanted the same things out of life. Compatible in bed.”

I gritted my teeth as his palm flattened against my back. “I’m not trying to hurt you, just giving you the full picture.”

“Okay,” I answered, regret for asking warring with the insane need to know.

“It turned out she wanted more than I had to offer.”

“Like what?”

“I wanted to be a fire fighter. Really, it’s all I ever wanted to be.”

“I remember. Your dad wanted more for you.”

“Still does.”

“Still?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay. I get it now. Anyway, her dad owns his own company. Imports or some shit like that.

“She grew up on an estate, guard dog outside, designer dog inside. She wanted me to work with her dad, even talked to him and got me a new job all wrapped up and tied with a big shiny fucking bow.

“I didn’t even know she wanted that until it was a done deal.

“It would have given us more money, more stuff, more bills, and less time. I wasn’t down for that. She knew I had no patience for all that fluff but had some idea I’d come around.

“I didn’t. She left.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.” He hugged me closer. “I wouldn’t be here with you otherwise. The truth is it took me all of ten minutes to get over it. My mom threw a party.”

I laughed. That sounded like Maeve. “I barely got a chance to talk to your mom. How are your parents?”

His lips hit my hair once again. “Drop over and find out for yourself. They can’t wait to see you.”

I stiffened. “What did you tell them about us?”

Are we an ‘us’ ? For how long?

“That we’re serious.” He sighed and turned into me. Pressing his forehead to mine, he ordered, “Stop thinking so loud. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re going to be here in the morning.”

He drew back, one side of his mouth curling up in a smirk. “Where the fuck else would I be?”