Her Gentle Giant: No Regrets (6 page)

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While the girls busied themselves with their gossip, Eli shared all the details with Jack about what happened the night before.

Jack said, “Grace went to the store and picked up all kinds of stuff for Rachel. Some household things and also some girly stuff. I don’t know what all.”

“That was nice of you to do that for her, Jack. She lost most everything, especially the basics.”

“Grace adores Rachel and hates to see people hurting. Matter of fact, it’s sort of how the four of us got together, over a pot of homemade stew she brought to the house after my mom passed away back in May.” Jack lowered his voice and leaned a little toward him. “Hey, were we interrupting you earlier? I didn’t know you were an item.”

Eli grinned happily. “That’s sort of a new development. Rachel is going to move in next door and be my neighbor.”

Jack smirked at Eli knowingly. “How long you reckon
that’s
gonna last?”

“She says she won’t live with a man she’s not married to,” Eli replied with a shrug as he gazed at her through the SUV’s tinted windows.

“Sounds familiar. Good luck with that and let me know when you need the name of a good jeweler,” Jack said, chuckling.

“So how was the honeymoon?” Eli grinned at the slow, satisfied smile that spread across Jack’s face. “That good, huh?”

“Better. We are three lucky bastards, I’ll tell ya. Grand Cayman is beautiful.” Jack smiled and shook his head. Grace and Rachel came around, carrying shopping bags. Jack quickly went to take them from Grace. “Here, darlin’, let me have those. Let us bring them in. Just tell us where you want them, Rachel.”

Rachel looked at Eli, and Eli smiled back at her. “I guess in the living room with the other bags for right now since she’ll have her own place soon.

We’ll move her in later today or in the morning, depending on when Charlie brings the keys.”

They brought all the bags inside, and Rachel thanked Grace and Jack again, promising to call Grace soon. Grace spoke something in Jack’s ear that made him smile, and they said their good-byes
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* * * *

Rachel slipped off her shoes and tucked her feet under her as Eli came and sat beside her on the couch. Nervous butterflies took up residence in her stomach at the warm look in his eyes. He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.

“Are you happy about becoming my neighbor?”

“Yes, but I’m happier about being here with you on this couch.” She sighed happily as he kissed her palm.

“Could I be more than your neighbor, Rachel?”

“You mean like a boyfriend?” she asked as she allowed him to pull her into his lap.

“Yes, but more. Could I be your lover, too?”

She answered softly with a nod. “Yes, but I want…more, too.”

“Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.” “I want more than your lovemaking. I want your heart and your soul as well. I want all of you, even the rough edges.” She asked for her heart’s desire. Might as well go for it. “No regrets, right?”

He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. “That’s right. I love your straightforward honesty. But you’ve already claimed all those things, and I think you just haven’t realized it.”

“When did that happen, and how could I not know this?” She was confused. Prior to last night they’d only been friends to each other.

“It happened the first night I worked at The Pony when I saw you dancing with Grace and Charity. You stole my heart and soul from me in that moment, and they have belonged to you ever since.”

She looked into his eyes, a little surprised. “You know, I remember seeing you watch me from the door. All the women kept approaching you. I didn’t think I had a chance with competition like that. But,” she looked down at her hands and felt her cheeks tingle with warmth, “from the moment I noticed you staring at me, I danced for you, moved for you. It was my secret until now.”

Eli nuzzled her cheek. “I loved the way you moved. So beautiful and sexy. I couldn’t take me eyes off of you.”

She laid her head against his shoulder and traced a pattern on his chest.

“What about you? What do you want from me? Can I give you what you
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need?” she asked softly. His clean smell invaded her nostrils, so she turned her face up into his hair, wallowing for a second in it.

Eli smiled and chewed his lower lip, giving that some thought. “What do I want from you? I want your willingness to try a relationship with me. I want you in my life, everyday. I want you in my bed, tucked into my side, safe and warm, and I
even
want your jealousy.”

She drew her eyebrows together and looked at him quizzically. Crazy man.

He continued on. “I want your beautiful body, and your passion, and your cries of pleasure when I make you come. I want the naughty twinkle in your eyes and your kisses. I want your sexy, swaying hips and that succulent, sweet ass when you’re walking away from me. I want your silky-soft hair draped across my shoulders and my thighs when you make love to me, and I want the heaven that I know lies inside your heart and between your luscious thighs.” He grinned at her astonishment when her lips fell open at his words. He evidently had given this some thought.

Then he added, “
That
would be enough until I discover all the other little things about you that I want. By the end of that first night, I was half in love from watching you. Then I got to know you better. I love you, Rachel,”

he murmured, tilting her chin up to kiss her.

She could hardly even speak. She was so stunned she began to tremble.

Is that how he saw her, how he felt about her? He was absolutely amazing to her. Like a Viking warrior poet. He loved her?

“You love me? Our first kiss was only this morning. How can you be so sure?”

He chuckled. “Silly girl, I didn’t fall in love at your kiss. I’ve been falling in love with you a bit at a time over the last two months, even though you kept turning me down.”

For once, she spoke the words that came into her mind without first filtering and editing them. He spoke from his heart, and she did the same for him. “I fell in love with you last night when you showed up at the fire and held your arms open to me, and when I slid between your sheets last night and felt enveloped by your presence. And when you touched me and told me I was beautiful. I fell in love with you only last night. Before last night, it was purely physical attraction. What does that say about me?”

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“That you were scared and didn’t want to be hurt. Everybody’s different. Adam Davis told me at the wedding that he fell in love with Grace the very moment he laid eyes on her. I fell in love with you by degrees, and maybe you might have, too, if you hadn’t been fighting it so hard, you know?”

She smiled at him and nodded. She knew he was right. “One fact remains the same.”

“What?”

“I do love you.” She turned to him and parted her lips as she kissed him. “Are you sure you can handle me?”

“You mean your jealous nature?”

“Yes, we should probably talk about that at some point rather than waiting for it to rear its ugly head. Given the change in our status, how would you handle a woman who threw herself at you?”

“I wouldn’t wait for them to do that. Ethan has invited you to sit up front with us any night you come in while I work. They would all see that you were my girlfriend, and that would stop the more decent ones. I want people to see you at my side. You could even kiss me if you wanted,” he said with a little bit of a grin. “We could also dance during breaks. That’s something I’ve never done before because I didn’t want to encourage them, but I’d dance with you as often as I could. Let’s focus on us and deal with those situations as they arise.”

“When did Ethan tell you I could sit up front with you? How does he know about us?” It had been less than twenty-four hours.

“He asked me one night why you hadn’t given into my charm yet. I told him about it. It was his suggestion that you sat with me to send a message to them.”

“Oh. I hope I’m worth the trouble.” She let out a big yawn.

“Come on, angel. Let’s put you in bed,” Eli said as he yawned also.

“We need a nap.” He stood with her still in his arms, and she let out a startled squeal and held on.

“What about…”

“Making love? You’re too worried about being jealous. We’re both preoccupied, and the mood isn’t right. It’s one o’clock right now. Let’s wait and see how you feel after a nap. When I make love to you, it’s going to be worth the wait.” He carried her into his bedroom.

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Nap my ass! What? Am I two years old?
Naughty Rachel tapped her shoulder, ready with a plan.

She smiled innocently at him and asked, “Would you mind if I slipped out of my jeans? I’ll be more comfortable that way.” Rachel pictured Eli weighing his options. In one hand, he had his conviction that she needed a nap and maybe he did, too. In the other hand, he had a half-naked woman about to climb in his bed and snuggle with him. She felt safe in predicting the outcome. Pretty smug, actually.

He set her on her feet. “I want you to be comfortable here, Rachel. No pressure, whatever helps you relax.” He removed a large woven throw blanket from the closet, big enough for both of them to cuddle together under. Dang, he seemed okay with that.

After she removed her jeans, she climbed onto the bedspread, wondering if maybe she should be a good girl. Naughty Rachel rolled her eyes. He spread the blanket over her and climbed in under it with her. She yawned, which caused him to yawn again, and they both laughed. He turned toward her on his side, and she snuggled up close to him, resting her head on his biceps as he pulled her close in his arms.

He chuckled deeply and murmured knowingly, “I see the sparkle in your pretty blue eyes, Rachel Lopez.”

Shit
. She pressed her lips together and tried to not giggle, failing miserably as soft laughter escaped her.
Dang, his bed is comfy.
“I can’t help it. I’m impatient.”

“Me, too. But what you need right now is—”

“—I get it,” she pouted. “No nap, no cock.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have put it quite like that, but yeah.”

“That’s some impressive self-discipline you got there, Mr. Wolf.” She yawned and allowed him to tuck her against his chest. He smelled so good.

“Well, thank you, angel. But I can see that you’re running on nerves and adrenaline right now. If you’d lie quietly for a minute, you’ll see that I’m right.”

“And when I’m still awake in ten minutes?”

“
If
you’re awake in ten minutes, I’ll make love to you until you lose track of how many times you come,” he murmured in a sexy voice. “But you have to rest quietly for ten minutes first.”

She yawned and heard him chuckle quietly to himself.

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“Deal,” she said smugly. She was
totally
getting laid. All she had to do was lay on his comfortable bed snuggled to him for ten minutes. What a hardship.

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Rachel woke slowly. Her eyelids slid open, and she became aware of the steady thumping noise under her cheek. She was relaxed and warm, content to soak in the quiet. Well, quiet except for the sound of Eli’s heartbeat, which she could hear because he’d rolled onto his back and pulled her along with him. She was now sprawled across his torso. How she’d gotten in this position without waking up testified to how tired she’d been. Still motionless, she glanced over at the clock on the bedside table, which read four o’clock. They’d slept for three hours.

Yes!
Shoot. He was right.

She lay there for a minute and took stock of her position. Her left forearm was under her at his side, her hand curled under his shoulder. Her right arm was stretched across his chest. She lay on her left hip on the bed, and her right thigh was tucked between his. She smiled softly when she noticed the very hard ridge that lay against her thigh and wondered if he was still asleep. His respirations sounded very deep and even, and his heartbeat was the same steady beat. She didn’t move for fear of disturbing his sleep and then felt the almost imperceptible slow caress of his fingertips on her ass through the blanket. She wondered how long he’d been lying there awake, watching her sleep.

She slid her hand down his abdomen and noticed a subtle increase in his heartbeat. She laid her palm on the denim covering his cock and slid it down to cup his balls and then back over his hardened shaft. He was so long and thick, and the thought of him sliding his cock into her made her pussy lips begin to swell with desire. Her body sang for his, longing to feel his possession. The gentle contact caused him to arch his back and press into her hand. A soft hiss escaped his lips.

Slowly, she slid her hand over him again, taking time to caress his balls through the denim of his jeans. She smiled at his soft gasp. Never ceasing
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the contact with his erection, she arched her back and stretched like a well-contented jungle cat, tilting her head back to look up at him. His eyes were half open, smoldering with desire. He must have been like that for a while, lying there hard and ready, allowing her to get her rest. He was so thoughtful. How had she ever managed to find a man who was gorgeous and considerate of others?

He cupped the back of her head as he kissed her and pulled her over him. Her legs splayed over his hips, and he cupped her ass in his hands, pressing her to his erection.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, kissing her chin and her cheeks and her nose before plundering her mouth. His voice was deep with arousal.

“I slept so well, I feel much better. And you?”

“I haven’t had a nap that good in a long time. Then I woke up to find an angel in my arms,” he murmured, pressing her to him again.

Her cheeks warmed at his sweet words. “Have you been waiting for me to wake up long?”

“Only a little while. I like watching you while you sleep. It’s very relaxing.”

She smiled softly, loving the slow burn growing inside her. Simple touches and soft words encouraged the embers back into flames. “You liked watching me sleep?”

“Yes, very much. It’s satisfying to have you here, to know you trust me and feel safe with me. It feels right.” His other hand slid into her hair, fanning it out around her and over his chest. She rose slightly, bracing her hands on his shoulders, and gently tilted her pelvis against his erection, rubbing over him. His eyes fluttered closed, and he groaned as his head fell back on the pillow.

“Angel,” he drew the endearment out in a whisper, “I’ve got to know what it feels like to be inside you.”

She leaned forward, breaking contact with his cock, and kissed him tenderly.

He pulled the throw blanket off of them, tucked her to him, and rolled her under his immense, strong body. She tentatively reached down and undid the button of his jeans and pulled the zipper down partway. Her fingers strayed inside, and she sighed happily at the contact with his silky,
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hardened shaft. Hissing softly, he pulled the zipper down and rolled over to remove his clothing and then returned to her, kneeling beside her on the bed.

He was so beautiful this way. His broad chest narrowed down over his abs to a trim waist and lean hips. His cook jutted out at her, so immensely long and thick. She had never seen such a beautiful thing. That was the only word she could use to describe it as she wrapped her hand around him. As Eli softly groaned, Rachel looked up into his eyes, and was filled with awe and admiration. He gazed at her, sitting back on his heels so she could see all of him. He had to be all of nine or ten inches in length and incredibly thick.

“You’re so big, Eli. So beautiful like this. I want you so much, but…”

Rachel’s fingertips traced the vein on the underside of his cock. He closed his hand over hers and eased her hand back and forth in a gliding stroke and groaned in pleasure. After he released her hand, she eased her panties down over her thighs and slipped them off. She looked up at him through a haze of desire, her body clamoring for him as she glanced again at his enormous size.

He came to her and stroked her arms before reaching for the hem of her top. She was so wet she wasn’t even sure he’d need the lubricant. He drew the shirt over her head and slid his arms around her to unhook her bra. For that moment, she nestled against his chest and let him take care of it.

He laid her on his pillows and sat back on his heels, watching her with eyes that radiated desire. She drew her knees up with her feet flat on the mattress and opened her thighs to him, inviting him in. Retrieving the bottle of lubricant from the bedside table, he devoured her with his eyes as he slowly came to her.

He squeezed some onto his fingers and smoothed it onto his cock. He slid his wet fingers through her pussy lips, lubricating her entrance as well.

She wanted to thank him for his thoughtfulness but was unable to speak, gasping when his fingertip found her clit.

Eli’s voice was husky with desire as he murmured, “Angel, you’re so warm and wet already. Do you want to feel my cock?”

“I want you to fill me with it,” she said softly, her voice shaking a little.

He once again lifted her left thigh and laid it over his forearm. She felt so vulnerable in this position, his gaze unspeakably intimate, knowing he could see all of her opened up to him. He groaned as he positioned himself
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at her wet, swollen pussy. Her breath came in panting gasps as the head of his cock pressed there, seeking access, but not inside her yet.

“So beautiful,” he whispered shakily as she looked up into gray eyes filled with adoration. She was buffeted by the emotion she saw there and the powerful vulnerability she felt in her current position, about to be possessed by him. His left hand traced over her pussy lips, parted them, then gently rubbed over her clit. His touch elicited a low moan from her as he pressed into her, the broad head of his cock sliding in slowly. She was consumed by the sensation of his huge cock filling her so tightly.

“Angel, you are so tiny, so tight. Your little pussy is…” He groaned softly.

“Eli, it’s so good.” She whispered softly, panting as her body allowed him to slide in farther. His cock was so hard and so silky at the same time, and she was filled to bursting by his thickness. It was a wonderful plundering.

“Can you take more? Are you all right?”

She chuckled softly as she flexed her hips and relaxed as much as she could for him. “I’m so all right I could scream, baby. I want some more.”

Eli looked down, still holding her thigh over his right forearm. He ran a fingertip through the lubricant on her lips and slid it over her clit, and she trembled and moaned. He slid a few more inches of his beautiful cock into her before beginning a slow, sensuous rocking motion.

With each gentle thrust, he gained more ground, and she watched the pleasure on his face as he moved in her. His cock was enormous and filled her cunt tightly, leaving no sensitive spot untouched. On each downstroke, he tilted his pelvis, stroking a part of her pussy that created a sensation of intense pleasure and almost unbearable tightening every time he stroked over it. He seemed to know what he was doing to her as he gazed down on her, watching her take her pleasure. She’d been horribly robbed the first time she had sex, and Eli was making up for it in spades with his careful attention to her needs.

She looked down and smiled as she watched his cock, coated with her juices, slide into her cunt all the way. “Baby, you were right. It does fit. So
beautifully
.”

“Mmm, baby, you feel good, and you’re so hot.” He braced his hands by her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her, never missing a beat, before
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kneeling over her. Grasping her hips with his big hands, he lifted her slightly and tilted her to him in a way that created an increased friction on her clit.

How did he know to do these things to her? Pure genius.

“Amazing, it’s amazing. You’re so big and hard, but so gentle with me.

Eli? I want—”

“Tell me what you want, angel. I’ll give it to you. Whatever you want.”

“That spot inside me you keep stroking, do it harder, please.” She slid her hands over his.

He pulled out then thrust back in, tilting and pulling out harder and a little faster with every stroke. “That one?”

Every muscle in her body tightened down, out of her control. “Ooooh!

Yes! Eli! Ba—by! Yes! Eli…I’m…Harder! Don’t stop. I’m coming!” She screamed as she flew apart in a million pieces, every ounce of tension in her whole body suddenly shattering. Grasping her hips, he thrust hard one final time and groaned in ecstasy as he came, his body vibrating with passion. He held her tightly to him and ground his hips against hers, sending her into a wave of aftershocks, and all she could do was hold on to him.

As the storm passed, she looked up at him in awed bliss, trying to catch her breath. For the moment, he was upright, his head tilted back, recovering from his release. His features were relaxed, though the muscles in his arms and chest rippled as he held her tightly to him. She reached for him, and he lowered his massive upper body to hers. He gathered her in his arms and rolled them over so she was on top, their connection unbroken. Breathing hard, she laid her head on his chest and smiled at the sound of his pounding heart.

“Are you all right, Rachel?” He smoothed a hand over her hair. It was his gentleness that released a rush of tears from her eyes. Their lovemaking had been amazingly intense and even more beautiful than she’d imagined.

“Yes, Eli. Thank you,” she murmured, not knowing what else to say as she snuggled into him. She had never experienced such a powerful orgasm before. She released a breathy, satisfied moan and sniffled.

“Look at me, honey.” He touched her cheek, and she lifted her face to look at him, making eye contact. His worried gaze became tender when he saw that she smiled at him through her tears. “Am I hurting you, still being inside you?”

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Her eyelids slid closed, and her smile widened a little. She shook her head and laid it back on his chest with a thud, no longer able to hold her head up.

“No, you feel so good inside me. Don’t leave until you want to.”

He chuckled, squeezing her ass playfully. “I’d never
want
to. Was it as good as you hoped it would be?” She could hear the concern in his voice.

“
Infinitely
better than I could have imagined. I wish you’d been the first. I’m sorry you weren’t,” she whispered softly. She felt remorseful for rushing into that first time and basically throwing away something more precious than she could realize. She regretted even more all the emotional fallout that resulted from the night she lost her virginity.

She tilted her head up to look up at him as he murmured, “Don’t apologize. Life is what it is. We’re here together now, loving each other, so there can be no regrets. I love you, Rachel.” He kissed the top of her head.

“I love you so much, Eli. I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.” She wiped away another stray tear and sniffled a little.

“There’s no one else for me but you, Rachel. No one could make me feel the way you do, the way you’ve captured my heart.”

“When you say things like that to me, it makes my heart ache, but in a good way. I’m very happy. You’re going to think I’m crazy, Eli, but I think in a way the fire was a good thing. It forced me to realize how much I needed and wanted you. I’ve gotten used to being independent and self-sufficient. But I know now I need you so much. Whatever we have to go through with those horny women at the club is worth it to me.”

“Remember that it’s
you
that I need, Rachel. It’s
only
you that I want touching me, no one else.” He glanced at the clock. “We lost track of time.

Why don’t you get yourself ready for tonight and I’ll take you out for supper before we go in? It’s five p.m.”

Her head shot up. “Five o’clock? I completely lost track of time. I’ll take a shower and get ready. What should I wear?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable in. I’ll bet there’s something pretty in one of those bags Grace brought from Macy’s.”

“Macy’s is Grace’s favorite place to shop, besides Hips and Curves,”

she said, grinning as she sat up while still straddling him.

“Hips and what?” he asked.

“Hips and Curves dot com. Plus-size lingerie.”

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