This Love's Not for Sale (22 page)

Lilliana laughed and fell onto her back.

“What’s so funny? You think I’m joking?” he poked his finger into her belly button and swirled it around. “By the way, if I ever hear that shithead speak to you that harshly again, I’m thrusting my fist down his throat and tearing his vocal cords out, and that’s no joke.”

Lilliana’s lower belly throbbed at the intense look in Tucker’s eyes. She hoped it would never come to that, but damn would she love to see Tucker wail on Adam.

Lilliana leaned in and kissed the corner of Tucker’s mouth. “I didn’t know you could be so chivalrous.”

“I told you I’m multifaceted with many layers. Chivalrous and
bad to the bone are just a few of those layers.”

“Bad ass with a boner.
Bad to the boner,” Lilliana joked.

Tucker rolled his eyes.

“I really like the word
boner
. It’s so descriptive and fun. We should try to use it as often as possible in everyday situations,” Lilliana quipped. “Let me start: I’d really like your boner in my bobo.  If you would be so kind to place your boner in my moist delicious muffin, I would greatly appreciate it,” Lilliana laughed.

Tucke
r face palmed and grunted. “You’re not as funny as you think you are.”

Like hell she wasn’t. Lilliana had grown up an only child and she learned very
early on to entertain herself and there was no one who could make her laugh harder than herself.

“You know, I really am the fastest person I know at shucking corn,” she stated to which it was Tucker’
s turn to chuckle heartily. “No, really - I won first prize at the county state fair in 2000.”

Tucker’s eyes widened with humor. “No, shit? How many entries were there?”

“You’d ask something like that, wouldn’t you, Mr. Competitive? Eight entries.”

“Impressive,” he tilted and nodded his head in a deep gesture
.

“That was the same year I was runner up for Ms. Cloud County,” Lilliana declared proudly.

“Shit, I’m fucking a genuine Cloud County beauty queen! That was a good year for you,” Tucker grinned.

“Runner up beauty queen,” she clarified. “The
first-place winner was well-deserved. She played the flute beautifully for her talent. I heard years later that it was her skin-flute talents that really got her the crown,” Lilliana chortled.

“
Nice. What was your talent?”

Lilliana’s cheeks blushed
with embarrassment and she shook her head in disapproval.

“You brought it up, now
disclose,” Tucker ordered.

“I could balance books on my head while doing various chores. It was so silly.”

“Show me!”

“Uh… no.
”

“Do as you’re told, woman!” Tucker pushed Lilliana off the bed. “Entertain me!” he clapped his hands as if he was the king and Lilliana was the jester.

Lilliana looked around the room and pulled a few books of various sizes off his large bookshelf.

She held up a
thick book and raised her eyebrows sarcastically as she peered over her shoulder. “
The History of Western Philosophy
? How existential of you.” A twinkle of humor crossed Lilliana’s face and she rolled her eyes.

“
Layers, baby; kinky and philosophical layers as you can see by my copy of
She Comes First: The Thinking Man’s Guide to Pleasuring a Woman,
” he grinned smugly.

Lilliana scanned the bookshelf and found the copy of the aforementioned book and pulled it out. Holy shit, it actually looked like it had been read – more than once. The spine was cracked
and worn, and there were even a few dog-eared pages. Lilliana’s eyes darted back to the shelf and she saw a plethora of paperbacks on sexuality, female orgasms and ejaculation, and several titles that included loving sex, oral sex and slow sex. Lilliana stood dumbstruck. This man seriously knew his stuff, and hers, too. Hell, he probably knew more about making her body hum than she did.

Tucker donned his cheesiest grin and waggled his eyebrows.
“Feel free to borrow any books from my vast library.”

“I’d
like to learn more about you, but I don’t see any books about arrogance in this
vast
collection.”

“It might do you well to read the title
Punished into Submission
.”

“I don’t think so. So you read erotica?” Lilliana
asked, shocked at all the smut.

“When the occasion calls for it. I’m a lonely man. Erotica satiates my needs.”

“You, lonely? I doubt that. In between all your women, when do you have time to read?”

Tucker summarily changed the subject.
“Are we going to talk books all night or are you going to show me this so-called talent of yours?”

Lilliana grabbed two more hard covers to prove her talent wasn’t
so-called.
Tucker’s eyes rounded when he saw how many books she was holding. Lilliana winked and grabbed one more, totaling five in all. Tucker sat up in bed, his deep chestnut eyes dancing with humor.

“What’ll you give me if I can serve you a beer with these books on my head?” she asked.

“Anything you want,” Tucker licked his lips. “But I’d be even more impressed if you could suck me off with those books on your head.”

Lilliana
wondered: Could she do it? She did enjoy a challenge. If doing it meant seeing that magnificent smile of Tucker’s, she sure as hell was going to do her best.

“
Anything
I want?”

Dipping his head slightly, Tucker nodded
. 

Lilliana bit her bottom lip. “I intending on holding you to your word.”

Tucker beamed and swung his legs off the edge of bed and spread wide. He grabbed a pillow and tossed it on the floor between his feet. Lilliana’s heart pounded madly at his sweet gesture.

She knelt on the pillow and slowly placed the books on her head, one by one
, while holding absolutely still. It had been years since she had attempted this action and she was unsure if she would be successful. She bent forward slightly to get the books to sit better on her head and then gingerly placed the last book on top. They teetered and Lilliana held her breath until they steadied. Looking up at Tucker, the grin on his face was one like she had never seen on any man alive. It was pure, unadulterated joy. She fought the overwhelming urge to throw the books to the side and lunge herself at him and focused all her lust on giving Tucker what he had asked for.

She gripped Tucker’s shaft in one hand and rested her other on his lower belly
in the soft hair below his navel for support, and slowly began to stroke him into hardness, keeping her movements paced and unhurried. Tucker hissed through his teeth and his smile faded into something else – desire.  His eyes fluttered opened and closed until he became completely hard. Bit by bit, Lilliana lowered her head until her mouth met the head of his dick. She licked casually but was quickly becoming aroused herself. She took Tucker into her mouth and sped up her efforts, but when she did so, the books began to wobble. With his cock still in her mouth, she stilled until the books settled and little by little she began to move up and down his dick again.

The salty taste of Tucker’s precum filled her mouth and Lilliana moaned, wanting more. She squeezed her hand around him tighter and Tucker came undone. He grabbed the books from her head and threw them to the floor violently and gripped her head as he pushed it down onto his cock, forcing her to take all
of him to the back of her throat.

Lilliana gagged loudly
and she pushed away from him, fearing she would vomit. Tucker’s hips thrust upwards as he forced her to swallow him again, fucking her mouth with such fervor, Lilliana thought she would implode. Tucker grunted loudly every time he pushed into her mouth and only a few short minutes later, she felt the bitter taste of his cum hit the back of her throat. Again, she wretched noisily but swallowed quickly. She really hated that she had such a weak gag reflex, but was happy Tucker was still pleased nonetheless.

Tucker fell backwards onto the bed, his breathing heavy and his hands fisted in his hair.

Lilliana reached over and gulped down the bottle of water on the nightstand and lay next to Tucker.

“Damn, Lilly. I had no idea
you were so gifted.” Tucker laughed, moving onto his side to face her. “You’re quite talented at the skin-flute, as well, though there are a few things we need to touch up on,” Tucker said breathlessly, referring to her lack of deepthroating skills.

“A girl can learn a lot from porn,” Lilliana batted her eyelashes.

“You watch porn?”

“On occasion. I’m lonely woman in my sexual prime and I have needs. You read erotica and I watch porn. It’s a trade-off. Feel free to borrow any of my DVD’s from my vast collection.”

“
Sounds like a good trade-off, but hopefully I can help you out with your needs. So tell me: What other kinds of things have you learned from watching porn?” Tucker asked suggestively, sliding toward Lilliana and pulling her nipple to a point before engulfing it in his mouth.

“Besides
the finer points of dick licking, I’ve learned that screaming ‘
your cock is so big’
to the high heavens while playing bouncy time on a gigantic wiener is not charming no matter how attractive you are.”

“
In your opinion. I think it’s hot as hell. I’d love to see you screaming while playing bouncy time on my dick right now.”

Tucker
reached into the nightstand and pulled out a condom. He laid back, spread his legs wide and propped himself up on a pillow, stroking himself into complete hardness as he waited for Lilliana. How could he get so hard so quickly after having just cum? Lilliana was amazed at the stamina Tucker possessed.

“
Ride it, pet,” he stated when she didn’t move fast enough.

“You
’re so impatient,” she told him, sitting on top of him and helping him with the rubber.

“Hush, woman, and do as you’re told.”

Tucker licked his fingertips and slicked Lilliana’s pussy, then held his cock steady for her to climb on. She positioned his pelvis between her thighs and slowly sank down onto his rigidness. Throwing her head back, a small whimper escaped her mouth. Tucker reached up and gripped her waist. His touch firm and persuasive and invited more. Tucker pulled her down slowly so that he her lips met the base of his shaft, completely sheathing his dick inside her.

“That’s it, Lilly, take
all of me,” he groaned, his eyes unblinking, piercing and demanding.

Lilliana broug
ht herself up and down rhythmically, her body tingling from the contact. Tucker met her thrust for thrust. He guided his thumb to her clit and began to circle it and press down firmly, causing a fire in Lilliana’s lower belly to burn fiercely.

“So damned beautiful,” Tucker grunted as he tilted his pelvis to hit her G-spot.

The sensation was still new to Lilliana and she quivered with an ache that felt both good and painful.  Tucker raised his upper body and pulled her close by her waist while keeping his thumb firmly planted on her swollen nub. Snaking his other hand around the back of her neck, he squeezed tightly causing Lilliana to gasp out from the strength of his touch. Tucker’s thrusts came faster and more powerful. The wet sound of her pussy filled the large dark room and her body began to respond to his demands.

“Soak me,” Tucker ordered as
he claimed her lips and crushed her to him, stifling her scream.

A literal gush of wetness released and her body began to spasm uncontrollably.

When Tucker freed her mouth from his, her impassioned words spilled out, as her trembling limbs clung to him, “Oh, God, Tucker! Master Tucker! Sir Tucker! King Tucker, thumb wielding expert and God of G-spot manipulation and love making!”

Tucker’s laughter rang out
hysterically as he held onto Lilliana. He continued to laugh until his cock softened and jiggled inside of her, and she became a limp mess in his arms.

Lilliana was floating on a cloud high above Connecticut, looking down at Margo’s land. The once lush green fields were no more and all that could seen were strangers in hardhats building tall complexes and laying down pavement as far as her eyes could see. Bulldozers and cranes were scattered where the calico fields had once been and the home where her mother and auntie had lived was a pile of rubble. She screamed for them to stop, but her voice was stifled by the distance between them and the misty fog in the air.

“My sweet, Lilly…”

Lilliana felt Tucker’s warm hands on her body as he gently shook her while she fought her way through the cobwebs of her nightmare. Her eyes fluttered open and Tucker’s thumb swept away a hot tear that rolled down her cheek.

“My family’s land,” she whimpered with more tears trembling on her eyelids. “I don’t want to sell it. But the taxes… Oh, God. It’s the only thing I have left of my family. It’s all I have left.”

Tucker
’s arms encompassed her. “No, Lilly, that land is yours to keep. I’ll make sure nothing happens to it.”

Lilliana pressed her open lips to his. They were warm and sweet
, and soothed her anxiety. With the nightmare still fresh in her mind, there was a dreamy intimacy to their kiss. Comforted by Tucker’s presence, Lilliana fell immediately back to sleep.

When she awoke again, she could hear men’s voice
s in the distance. She slipped on a tight fitting tee and some panties, and followed the sounds of men’s chattering. There was soft laughter and the scent of masculinity as she got closer to the kitchen.

She stood in the entrance to see Tucker hugging another man and talki
ng animatedly. Lilliana turned to walk out and put something more appropriate on when she caught Tucker’s eye. Tucker furrowed his eyebrows disapprovingly at her, making the stranger turn to face her as well.

“Well hello, there
,” he greeted her with a warm smile.

Lilliana blushed. “I’ll be right back,” she attempted to leave.

“Don’t leave on account of me. Come sit with us. I’m Mason McGrath. And you are…?”

Lilliana’s eye lit up.
It was Tucker’s brother. My God, the resemblance was uncanny. He looked like a younger version of Tucker, only slightly shorter, and their facial features were similar – right down to the small dimple in their cheeks. His hair was a mess of ash-blond waves, and he was just as handsome and solid as Tucker.  He also had a keen sense of style like Tucker. Lilliana suddenly became unaware of her attire and reached a hand out to Mason.

“I’m Lillia…”

Tucker immediately cut in. “This is just a friend.”

Mason shot Tucker a
critical look and waved aside his hesitation. “Please forgive my brother’s rudeness. You were saying?”

I
rked by Tucker’s abrupt cool aloofness towards her, Lilliana didn’t feel so friendly anymore.  “Lilliana,” she whispered, dropping her hand to her side.

“A friend,” Tucker
emphasized with a decisive tone to his voice.

“We’ve established that,” Mason puckered his mouth at Tucker.

There was something about Mason that Lilliana couldn’t quite put her finger on. Perhaps it was his mannerisms and the way he stood. He had a barely noticeable hint femininity about him when the realization hit her that he was gay. Was Tucker embarrassed about that? Was that his reason for being so frosty and obviously not wanting to introduce them to each other? Lilliana’s annoyance increased when Tucker refused to acquaint them.

“My brother’s been out of the country
life for too long, so you’ll just have to excuse his poor attitude. I on the other hand, am still familiar with the customs and values that I grew up with and would love to have a chat with you, Lilliana.”

Lilliana smiled with satisfaction at Mason’s ribbing.

“Where are you from?” Mason asked, seating himself at the island.

“Kansas. I just moved here a few months ago.”

“How lovely. Do you like it here? How did you meet Tucker?”

Mason’s questions came spilling out and Tucker
became quickly irritated.

“I love it here. My family is originally from these parts. I met Tucker…”

“Where are you staying, Mason?” Tucker interrupted.

“The usu
al,” Mason winked at Lilliana and rolled his eyes in awareness of Tucker’s persistent impoliteness.

“I won’t have it. Bring your things over: You’re staying here.”

“Okay, then, Mr. Bossy Pants,” Mason laughed, deep and husky.

Lilliana giggled and anger lit Tucker’s eyes. “Lilliana was just leaving.”

Lilliana winced at his words and expression, and Tucker ran his hand through his hair and sighed heavily when he saw the look of hurt on her face.

“Yes, I was. It was nice meeting you,” Lilliana spoke with quiet firmness.

Like a true gentleman, Mason stood and took Lilliana’s hand into his own, placing a gentle kiss on the top of it. “Likewise, dear. I hope we can get better acquainted another time when Crabby Panties isn’t around,” he nodded his head toward Tucker.

Lilliana
smiled but promptly left the kitchen with a heaviness in her chest. Their short time together had been so amazing, but Tucker’s attitude toward her had left her with a feeling of emptiness that was unwelcome.

She packed her bag quickly and made her way to Tucker’s front gate and waite
d by his car, taking in the chilly morning air. She leaned against his vehicle and set her bag down, and shook her head at herself regretfully. Romance truly was dead as far as she was concerned. She had sorely wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon with Tucker in his time-out room, but that clearly wasn’t going to happen. Lilliana heard Mason’s car leave and her phone rang out.

“W
here are you?” Tucker asked, slightly panicked.

“Waiting by your car. I’m ready to leave.”

Tucker hung up and only a few seconds later met her by the car.

“You don’t have to leave right this minute.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m already packed.”

Tucker stood before her, silent, the tension increasing by the second.

“If that’s what you want,” he dismissed her with the wave of a hand.

No, that’s what Tucker wanted but Lilliana maintained her curtness to hide her true disappointment in the way he had treated her.

Tucker loaded her bag and buckled her in per his usual protocol, and their journey back to her place began. It was quite apparent that Tucker was taking the long route which confused Lilliana even more. If he wanted her gone so badly, why the slow ride back?

“Is your brother gay?” Lilliana asked, trying to break the uncomfortable and awkward silence.

“Yes. How did you know?”

“I have a good sense for that sort of thing, I guess.”

“Hell, I didn’t know until he told me.”

“Are you embarrassed about it?”

Tucker jerked his head to the side and glared at Lilliana coldly. “Fuck no. I love my brother and I’m proud of his accomplishments. I could give a shit less what his sexual preferences are,” he said in a severe, raw voice.

Perturbed, Lilliana crossed her arms and pointedly looked away. “So
then it’s me you’re embarrassed of,” Lilliana countered trying to keep her fragile control.

Just then they came to rest a stop light.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re beautiful, intelligent and strong. Why the hell would I be embarrassed of you? I just don’t need Mason running back to my family and blabbing to everyone that I’ve met a woman…” Tucker’s voice softened, losing its steely edge. “Especially considering we’ve just met and we don’t know where this thing is going.”

Tucker had made a valid point and she couldn’t argue. But his actions still stung. She had only wanted to be introduced, not doted on
and fawned over. Lilliana sat motionless staring out the window.

Tucker huffed. “If I had known
you were going to be so dramatic about it, I would’ve just introduced you.”

There was no drama as far as Lilliana was concerned. “I’m glad you didn’t introduce us.
Your actions let me know where you stand.” Lilliana tried to remain collected, but her voice rose an octave and Tucker turned his head to face her.

“Where is it that you think I stand when it comes to you?”
Tucker’s eyes clung to her, analyzing her reaction to his question as he waited for her response.

“The same place I stand. This thing could’ve gone either way
, but I’m glad to know early on that you aren’t serious about me. It saves me a lot of heartache in the long run,” Lilliana replied with light bitterness.

Without looking
directly at Tucker, Lilliana could see him shake his head. The ten minutes it took to get back to her place were agonizingly hushed. When they arrived at the main road to her driveway, Lilliana instructed Tucker to stop.

“Just drop
off me here. I could use the fresh air.” Lilliana jumped out of the car and retrieved her bag from the rear seat and shut the door softly. Turning to walk the distance back to her doorstep, she heard the passenger window slide down.

“Lilly,” Tucker yelled to her.

Lilliana turned and bent down in the window.

“I want to see you again.”

“Oh, you will. You have a follow-up appointment on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. See you then.”

***

Lilliana turned and walked away with her bag over her shoulder swinging in time with her hips. Stubborn. Fucking. Woman. Tucker watched until she reached the landing of her porch and turned his car around to head back into town. So that was it? He neglected to introduce her to his brother and now it was over? What was the big fucking deal?

Tucker recalled Lilliana’s tear-filled dream and the
promise he had made to her. Her soft lulling voice drifted in and out of his thoughts as he made his way back home. He was serious about her, in as much as he could be. Hell, she was the one who said they were wrong for each other. Why then should either of them agonize over the loss of something that never was? Not only was she obstinate, but fucking indecisive. Tucker chuckled to himself. As unique as she was, she could also be a typical woman.

Tucker dialed Mason’s number. It rang several times before going to voice mail. Mason was notorious for not answering his phone and Tucker sighed with irritation. His visit was unprompted but a welcome surprise. Apparently his mother had phoned Mason to tell him about their conve
rsation and her concerns for Tucker’s emotional well-being. Undoubtedly she had also mentioned her suspicions about his seeing someone.

Back at his home, Tucker made his bed. He picked up the pillow Lilliana had slept on and brought it to his nose.
Her perfume was still lingering on it and his driving need to be with her stirred within him. Was it really over? He hadn’t even gotten to fully experiment with her limits yet or do the things he wanted with her. Tucker was having a difficult time coming to the realization that he may never get to do those things and denied it to himself. She craved his touch as much as he did hers so surely she would call him, wanting more of his masterful seduction.

Tucker’s phone rang out.
And there she was, calling already, wanting to see him again. Tucker smiled with satisfaction and reached for his phone only to see his brother’s name displayed across the screen.

“What’
s for dinner, Tuck?”Mason laughed into the phone.

***

Nightfall came and Mason was settled into one of the guest suites. Dinner and conversation had been pleasurable and Tucker had forgotten all about Lilliana’s abrupt exit from his life. Thankfully, Mason hadn’t prodded him about her and he was left with only the memory of their passion-filled weekend sans drama.

Tucker lie in b
ed, reading over financials and browsing the land for sale ads online, but Lilliana kept seeping into his thoughts. His phone beeped signaling a text message and Tucker smiled to himself. Right on cue, he thought.

He picked up the phone and was again disappointed to see it wasn’t Lilliana contacting him. Instead it was a standard issue message from his jeweler that the item he had ordered w
as in, only reminding him that Lilliana had ended their brief fling. To Tucker, it had felt like more than a fleeting thing. Their intimate and witty expressions towards each other and banter were exciting and new. Her familiarity with the kinds of music he liked, their similarities in upbringings and their sarcastic exchanges were something he doubted he could find in anyone else.

Tucker slept uncomfortably that night. He guessed it might have something to do with the fact that Lilliana’s scent was still on the bed sheets and pillowcase. Waking at 3:00 in the morning, he tossed the pillow to the floor, hoping to stop dreaming about the beautiful and frustrating woman with dark hair that was haunting his dreams. It didn’t help. She still continually made appearances in every single one of his dreams the remainder of the night.

Monday morning rolled around and his crabbiness was apparent to everyone in the work office, and they all avoided him. He continually checked his phone for some kind of life, but the only thing happening on it was work related. Lilliana wasn’t going to call and he damned well knew it. She was too headstrong for that. He had hurt her feelings by being so frigid with her in front of Mason and he was now kicking himself for it. He had introduced women to his family that he cared for less than Lilliana, so what the hell was his problem? He just didn’t want to see the disappointment in his parent’s eyes when he
again
told them that things hadn’t worked out and the barrage of questions that would ensue.