Star Crossed (23 page)

He laughed, a wicked light gleaming in his eye.

“No,” she said, effortlessly guessing where his mind had gone.

“You know you want to try it,” he teased. “You’re not that vanilla.”

“Damn it.”

Luke’s evil grin broadened. “‘Damn it’ isn’t the same as ‘no.’ Besides which I packed more than one form of optimism in my bag.”

She scowled at him. Her expression had no effect. He was up already, grabbing his zipper case. He dug out a condom first, followed by a white and blue tube of lubricant. A.J. couldn’t repress a tiny shiver of interest.

Naturally, Luke saw the reaction.

“Lie on your front,” he said, the words distorted by him opening the prophylactic packet with his teeth. His hard-on bounced as he rolled the rubber down. “Grab a pillow to support your hips. I wouldn’t want to put pressure on your injury.”

“I’m fine,” she said, distracted by what his hand and cock were doing.

“On your front,” he repeated.

“You’re sure I’ll like it?”

“If you don’t, I’ll stop.”

She bit her lip, uncustomarily unsure but weirdly aroused because of it. If she did this, he’d be the expert. She’d be completely in his hands. “Do
you
like it?”

His green eyes crinkled with deviltry. “I like it, I like you, and I fucking love your award-worthy ass. You don’t have to worry about me getting off on this.”

He was rubbing one long finger up and down the underside of his cock, like he had an itch there he couldn’t leave alone. That got
her
off like she could not believe. Her clit was throbbing, her pussy welling with hot fluid. She wet her lips and decided.

“Okay,” she said breathlessly. “Just promise you’ll go easy.”

“Please. I’m Mr. Easy when it comes to this stuff.”

He made her laugh at the oddest times. She rolled onto her front as he’d directed, with a bolster for her hips and a pillow for her head. She was half relaxed already. Her cheek rested on her hands as Luke swung on his knees over her. The hair on his thighs tickled her pleasantly.

“Trust me?”

“Yes,” she said easily. He squirted something wet across her back, making her wonder if she should have. “Tell me that’s not KY.”

“Massage oil. Unscented. So you won’t be too perfumed.”

She bit her smile, amused that he’d remembered. When his hands began to rub the oil into her muscles, she groaned. He had the proverbial magic fingers, smoothing and squeezing tension from her neck and shoulders. He used just enough strength, just enough tenderness. She wriggled at the pleasure. It was hard to resist.

“You’ll put me to sleep,” she warned.

“I can live with that.” He ducked down to kiss one shoulder, his palms making sliding passes to her butt cheeks and up again.

She closed her eyes, taking in his decadent caresses. “You sure you don’t mind?”

“Shut up and relax,” he said.

She shut up and let him massage her until she felt boneless. He stroked her arms and her legs and even worked little kinks from the arches of her feet. She almost forgot he had an agenda when his hands slid up to her ass again.

“Still awake?” he asked.

“Mmm,” she hummed, too lax to tense again.

He wiped his hands on a towel and switched lubricants. “Let’s see if you like this part.”

He massaged between her ass cheeks, the slippery pads of his thumbs focusing sensation around her tight rear entrance. That felt pleasant enough that she became aware her clit was swelling. She squirmed then gasped as both his thumbs went in. Arousal overflowed her pussy.

“Oh,” she said. “That’s . . . not bad.”

He chuckled and kissed her nape. His thumbs stroked deeper, in and out, firmly and carefully exploring the first few inches of her passage. Maybe it was a guy thing, but he truly didn’t seem squeamish. His breath came faster as he worked on her. Doing this turned him on. That turned her on, but it wasn’t all that did.

A.J. twisted and bit her lip. The sensations his thumbs were stirring had gone from
not bad
to
really good
. It almost felt like he was massaging her pussy.

No
, she corrected.
It feels like he’s massaging both places
.

“Ready for me to try entering with my cock?”

The huskiness of his question inspired a small shiver.

“Really ready,” she admitted.

He removed his hands, wiping them on the towel before kneeing her thighs wider. He came closer, his body heat beating over her. When she reached back for his hip, he stilled.

“Go ahead,” she said, realizing he’d misunderstood her action. “I’m not having second thoughts. I just wanted to touch you.”

A sound broke in his throat, telling her more than words could have. She’d moved him. Her acceptance, her
affection
mattered to him deeply.

He positioned himself before she could fully process that wonder. He pulled her cheek wider with one hand, his broad tip hot against her relaxed entry. He pushed in, and she let out a low sound herself. He went in like he was buttered—thick, throbbing, slowly conquering this new territory by virtue of his size and their mutual desire.

“God,” he groaned when he was in as far as he could go. “You feel incredible.”

The pressure was strange but she decided she liked it.

“You can move,” she said. “You’re not hurting me.”

His face turned back and forth in her hair, his breath coming shakily. “Give me a minute. I’m kind of on the edge right here.”

She grinned, abruptly enjoying this twice as much. “That would explain why you feel so big. And why I can count your pulse.”

He groaned again. He started to dig under her pelvis with his hand.

“Wait,” she said, even though she loved how good he was at getting her off that way.

“Wait?”

“You’re great at that, but I’d rather you didn’t split my attention. I want to feel what riding me does to you. I want to listen. Then, when you’re done, I’ll finish myself off.”

His prick leapt inside her. “You want to do that?”

“I do know how. Or don’t you want to see how I masturbate?”

He breathed a curse she knew wasn’t a complaint.

“Come on, Channing,” she teased. “Give me your best shot.”

“I call you ‘Alexandra,’ and you call me ‘Channing.’”

“What does it matter as long as both are terms of endearment?”

He snorted, pushed up on his gorgeous arms, and pulled back within her. She guessed he’d found his way far enough off the edge to trust his control. His return thrust was slow but smooth.

“Mm,” he said, clearly enjoying it. He drew back and pushed again. “You sure you don’t want my help?”

Her sexual nerves hummed as he crossed them. “Do your thing,” she urged.

His drive to climax was a pleasure to feel unfold. He built thrust by thrust, breath by breath, and finally groan by groan. The bed had a springless mattress, one that didn’t squeak but only thumped. In minutes, Luke was humping her vigorously enough to cause the solid wooden frame that supported it to rattle.

A.J. would admit to liking that very much.

She changed position to take him deeper, her knees and toes digging down into the covers. To her surprise, she was almost coming. Though Luke didn’t touch her clit, his rapid pumping stimulated her intensely. The involuntary sounds he made wound her up as well. He’d taken her at her word that she wanted to focus on his responses, and he’d let them off their leash. He was so nakedly excited, so primal in this forbidden act that the reaction was catching. Her fists gripped the pillow as she arched her ass greedily. His pelvis slapped her rhythmically, shoving her need higher. Though she wanted like hell to rub the hot ache between her legs, she was determined to hold on.

“A—” he gasped, “J—”

He grabbed her hips, yanking her off the bed toward him. She was on hands and knees then, forced to brace on her palms or get shoved forward. Her heart thudded crazily. Luke was going to come. His cock had gone stiffer and fuller. He grunted, drove deep, and let loose inside of her.

His ragged groan of orgasm seared itself in her memory.

“God,” he panted. He dropped his heaving chest to her back, his arms trembling as they braced him. He held there sweating for a while.

When he finally pulled out, still fighting for his breath, A.J. was more than ready to show off for him. She wriggled around onto her back and smiled up at him.

“Stay right there,” she ordered. “It’s my turn now.”

He was on his knees, momentarily occupied in cleaning up with the towel. His gaze came back to hers when she spoke. Seeing she had his attention, she crooked one leg to his right side and the other to his left. His diaphragm jerked as his breath sucked in.

“How’s your view?” she purred.

“Good,” he said breathlessly.

He was an excellent audience. He licked his lips when she stroked her breasts, his eyes tracking every motion as she circled and tugged her tight nipples. Pleasure shot through her in streaks.

He’d gotten her worked up and then some.

“I’m sensitive here,” she said throatily, “as I know you’re aware.”

“Uh,” he said, clearly mesmerized.

“I like when you suck me, but that will have to wait for another time. I need something else more right now.”

She cruised her hands down her belly, to the shallows between her hipbones. Luke swallowed hard enough that his Adam’s apple jumped. His skin was flushed from his recent orgasm, but when she caressed herself the color deepened more. Loving that, she combed her fingernails through the curls of her pubic thatch.

“You think I’m pretty here, don’t you?”

“Beautiful,” he breathed.

She smiled. His sincerity was impossible to mistake. She parted her labia for him.

“God,” he murmured. He couldn’t miss the gleam of her excitement. He licked his lips again.

“Just watch,” she said. “You’ve already done the work of getting me ready.”

In case he had any doubts, she ran one finger gently around her clit. The little rod was swollen, sensitized to the slightest touch. Her hips cocked up toward the stroke without her planning to. Luke’s hands fisted on his thighs. She saw his hanging cock had thickened, the veins that fed it becoming more visible. He met her gaze for a second then sat back on his heels to get comfortable.

“I’m watching,” he promised. “Believe you me. Please do whatever you prefer when you’re getting off alone.”

He didn’t want a display. He wanted the real deal. Considering how much she’d enjoyed him simply going for it, she decided to give him exactly that—and never mind if her technique was pedestrian.

Luke tended to rub her lightly, and was a creative genius at making her nerves sing. She, on the other hand, always used pressure. She used it now, rubbing her clit two-fingered hard and fast. She closed her eyes to shut out his presence. Hearing his quickening breathing was enough to spur her already cranked up lust. Her spine arched off the bed as her craving deepened, her shifting legs brushing his where he sat between them. She remembered what he’d just done to her—how he’d sounded, how hard he’d been—and the ache rose higher. Her fingers began to slip. She covered one breast with her free hand, squeezing its peak between two fingers.

She came with him vividly in her head.

Then, because he’d coiled her up so well, she worked herself to a second peak.

She opened her eyes, relaxed and sated. He was smiling down at her. He didn’t say a word, just lowered on bent arms and pressed the sweetest, softest kiss to her lips.

“Was that okay?” she asked.

He laughed. “Alexandra, you’re never just okay.”

She liked his answer. It reassured her without making her feel bad for wanting the flattery.

“Where’s your phone?” he asked, looking around for it. He found it on the bedside table. She wasn’t sure why he wanted it, but he handed it to her. “Set your alarm before you forget.”

She wouldn’t have forgotten. Probably. He did have a knack for befuddling her. She kept that admission to herself as she opened the app.

“I’m setting this for six a.m.,” she warned.

“That late? Former farm boys get up with the birds.”

A.J. rolled her eyes at him. He’d rearranged himself under the covers, both of them accepting that he was staying the night.

“Scoot over,” she said. “I need an actual side.”

He scooted and then extended his nearer arm to her. Her brain hesitated but not her body. It crawled up and lay down with him.

“This is nice,” he said as her cheek settled on his shoulder. He wasn’t so sweaty now, just warm and welcoming.

A.J. yawned and burrowed closer. “Nudge me if your arm falls asleep.”

He hummed noncommittally. His fingers made soothing passes along her skin. A.J. felt herself sink deeper.

“Seriously,” she mumbled before she succumbed. “I won’t think you’re not a gentleman . . .”

*

After the night he’d had, the reappearance of Luke’s least favorite dream was inevitable. He was back in the New York brownstone, not shut up in the wardrobe but at the top of the cellar stairs. The key was in his hand, the very key A.J. had somehow known to push through the window. He couldn’t get it to fit the lock to the basement door. His hands were shaking or maybe the metal was changing shape. The woman would be back any minute. He had to get away—

“
Luke
.”

He shuddered. A.J.’s voice had pulled him from the nightmare. He blinked up into darkness, so she must have turned out the light. Her hand was on his chest, gently petting him.

“You okay?” she asked.

She was sitting, so he pushed up too. Embarrassed at having done this in front of her again, he dragged his palms down his face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You had the dream.” She took his hand, pulling its back gently to her breast. “You can talk to me about it. I won’t judge.”

Her words left him torn. He wanted to trust her with the ghosts of his past, but even more he wanted her to remember on her own. Possibly, the wish was irrational. He had no idea how she’d experienced their childhood encounter. Perhaps it hadn’t left an impression. Kids forgot lots of things. Just because that period loomed life-and-death large for him didn’t mean it had for her.