Whisper (7 page)

When she’d gotten aroused previously, she’d been praised for being a
fine piece of ass
. She didn’t want Keith to view things that way. “I’m sorry.” Even though the words were muffled by linens, she knew he heard.

Hands slid up her body until he grasped her arms. He effortlessly turned and tucked her against his side. A drugged man, even his size, should’ve had some difficulty moving her. He didn’t. Her head rested in the crook of his arm. He held her securely but not too tight. She could leave if she wanted.

“Better?” he asked.

Unsure, she looked at his expression to gauge how safe she was. She hesitantly nodded.

He appeared tired and patient. “Do you want me to stop?”

Her head shook slightly. His hand skimmed over her waist and stomach. He wasn’t completely rolled on his side, but could reach where he wanted. His arms were long. When he stroked the front of her panties, her legs shifted to make room. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t help reacting to him. She turned her face toward him to take in his scent. Surrounded by warmth, she lightly caressed the coarseness of his jaw.

His mouth brushed hers softly, slowly and sweetly.

“Oh,” she said against his lips.

It felt lovely, sexy and safe. No one ever kissed her like this, giving her time to get used to the situation. When he didn’t deepen the kiss, she did.

Her heart beat faster as a surge of heat burned between her legs. She twisted against him to feel 52

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more. A hand moved to her hip and slowly eased the side of her panties down. All the wonderful heat and achy tingling immediately ceased. A gallon of cold water in her face couldn’t have been more effective in cooling her desire. She didn’t want the same things he probably did. She’d likely never want
real
sex again. It physically and emotionally hurt too much.

His touch changed as he settled his hand against her hip. “It’s all right. I’m tired, not stupid.

You didn’t need to say a word for me to hear you.”

“I’m sorry.” Confused, she couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry, cuddle against him or get away.

“Shh,” he said, kissing her forehead. “I won’t hurt you.”

“You didn’t.” No man had been more careful. No one bothered taking the time to see that maybe she’d grown uneasy or scared. “Please.”

“What, baby? What do you want?” In truth, she wanted his taste on her tongue, his lips pressed harder to hers, and his fingers between her legs. She couldn’t fathom what else she wanted, but knew she’d be too vulnerable naked. She tentatively placed her lips against his. He slowly nibbled and tasted. The gentle kiss relayed patience.

Nothing had ever turned her on more.

Panting when the kiss ended, hot and out of control, she asked, “Will you touch me?”

“You’re okay now?”

She nodded.

“God, I’ll touch you any way you want. So there’s no misunderstanding, show me.” Soft kisses and tiny licks were placed on her forehead, cheeks and lips. The non-heated touching reassured her. Eventually, she parted her legs. She kept repeating to herself,
he won’t hurt you. He
doesn’t get off on hurting women or children. Trust
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him. You’ve been around the kids. They’d fear him if
he wasn’t kind and gentle. Trust him.

“Show me what you need, Whisper. Teach me what you like.”

She grasped his hand, caressed it and forced herself not to think about how big and muscled he was. She placed his palm on her belly. He didn’t move other than to repeatedly kiss her. Her lips opened beneath his and his tongue touched inside.

Her stomach dropped as she grasped his hand and slowly pushed it between her panties and body. The glide of his long fingers over her lips brought her hips off the bed. As he gently touched, rubbed and teased, she shifted to bring him closer. When he parted her lips, she couldn’t help shifting so her wet sex slid against his long fingers.

“Your breasts,” he said.

Working the tee-shirt up, she tried taking deeper breaths to calm down. When she’d raised the shirt enough, she placed her palms against his jaw and caressed him. Her hands shook, anticipating pain. Nothing more than his breath passed over a nipple. The heated stirring of air made some of the tension leave. His mouth opened, she felt it with her hands, and before she could prepare, a trail of moisture and softness slid over her breast.

“Again. Please again,” she said.

Prepared this time, she felt the caress more vividly. Exquisite! The gentle slithering of his tongue accompanied by the light kisses, made her back arch as she strained to get closer. The dance of his fingers and the brush of his mouth soon became a subtle torment. Close to climax, her mind spun as she realized she wouldn’t be crushed or bruised.

Passion could burn strong and hot when the man retained a measure of control.

Her legs parted more and his touch deepened.

His fingers discovered and rubbed. Her insides 54

Whisper

bunched up. Attempting to make sound with a throat gone dry, she only managed to hoarsely whine. The noise gained attention. Her breast was kissed before the nipple slid painlessly into his mouth. Surrounded by heat, her hips lurched and he began a smooth and firm penetration deeply, between her legs.

Twisting, undulating beneath his skillful mouth and hand, she started rocking her hips. The motion helped him understand she needed more, because he slid from within and slowly stretched her with two fingers.

“Oh—oh, Keith!”

“Jesus, you’re so wet,” he said after pulling his mouth from a nipple.

“I’m sorry. Can’t stop.” He hushed her by gently caressing and teasing with his lips. “Mmm.”
Incredible, mindless, burning pleasure!

“Shh, take your time, baby. That’s it. Ride it out.” She couldn’t take her time because the climax swept over her like powerful waves of sound from blaring speakers. Like the thud from a bass drum, the deep, resonant, defined vibration touched everywhere, inside and out, and kicked so hard, her brain turned to mush. Completely connected to the pulsing of her body, she gave into the perfection and rode the surges cresting and receding.

“More? Can you take it? Do you want it?” he asked.

With every beat of her heart, she wanted to go higher and feel more. A breath and then another were gulped prior to words tumbling out. “More, harder!”

“Open your legs. Wider. Let me touch you, and God—see you and smell you and give you what you need.” She never imagined so much physical pleasure had somehow been trapped inside her.

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Kathleen Lash

“Now your mouth, baby. Open it too, so I can really have a taste.”

His fingers slipped in and out as his thumb rubbed high on her sex. A thick tongue took her mouth, filling it as she came totally undone. Her insides contracted and his fingers slid away as his lips vibrated against hers. “Mmm.” His breath came fast; deep sounds rumbled from his throat. The moment the orgasm slightly abated, he’d push back in to stretch and fill and rub which made the climax throb and run wild all over again.

Broken cries didn’t make it further than his mouth. How could anything feel so intense and peaceful at the same time? The fingers that’d carried her over the edge to ecstasy slowly brought her back to a safe bed, in a large house, on a snowy night. The tongue that’d incited wild sensations, slipped away as gentle pressure from soft lips slowly restored her senses. She’d never been more aroused or aptly rewarded.

In the aftermath, as her heart slowed, Whisper had been left with the uncontrollable urge to give as much pleasure as she’d received. Turning on her side, cuddling close, she ran her hands over the length of his erection. He groaned and rolled to his back.

“It’s all right. Don’t worry about it,” he said. He meant it. He’d given her the most beautiful sexual experience of her life and he didn’t expect a thing in return.

Because he gave so freely without demanding repayment, she became determined to give him pleasure in return. It’d been a long time since she wanted to please a man sexually. For that matter, it’d been forever since she’d been allowed a choice.

“Would it be okay,” she asked while sliding his boxers down, “if I touched
you
now?”

“Jesus!” His breath hissed through clenched 56

Whisper

teeth when she found him with her hands. He’d been surprised, but in a good way.

“I’ve never wanted this, but I do with you. Could I,” she leaned over and licked the head of his erection, “kiss you?”

Is that how she looked? Like she’d die from wanting another touch?
Is this lust?

His arm stretched out until his hand felt around on the top of the nightstand. He grabbed his wallet and flipped it open, pulling a small square packet from inside. “Shit,” he said, his hands and fingers shaking too much to tear it open.

She took the packet from him and opened it. As she smoothed the thin rubber over his straining flesh, he mumbled and cursed, letting her know he found such a simple thing very exciting. She ran her tongue over him slowly while gauging his reaction.

His head fell against the pillow and his fingers tangled in her hair as he rubbed her scalp. Another long taste gained a groan as his chest rose and fell faster. A very moist caress made him grit out softly spoken words. “Whisper, I’m on a hair trigger and if you…”

She took him into her mouth. His hand dropped away. Just as she’d trusted him, he gave his body over. In her care, he’d find pleasure. She wouldn’t stop until he did.

He responded quickly to her touch, growing harder and thicker. It must’ve been a while since he’d been with a woman, though she found it hard to believe with his muscular build, peaceful brown eyes and gentle touch.

She’d learned how to satisfy a man with her mouth, but this was the first time she’d ever wanted to. His strength didn’t frighten her because he’d been weakened from injuries. She could thoroughly enjoy his arousal at her own pace.

Very little time passed before he began straining 57

Kathleen Lash

and twitching. Generally, she would’ve been relieved the deed could be finished quickly. Instead of ending the encounter, she toyed with him, forcing him to come close, but hold onto that instant before everything inside would burn and explode. She understood those feelings now, and found it to be the sweetest and most incredible pain. He should feel it too, enjoy the sensations, because he’d been so generous while touching her.

“Baby—oh shit.” Then, more urgently, he said,

“Can’t hold off. Shit, Whisper, I can’t…” She couldn’t let him go, wanted to finish the experience and took more into her mouth. His body grew tight as his hips pumped and strained. The noises he made sounded severe and painful. She imagined she’d sounded similar. No wonder he took his time and let her have all the satisfaction she could bear. Giving pleasure paralleled receiving it.

In some respects, it might even be better.

As she released him, his fists unclenched while his breathing evened out. She finished taking care of him, using some tissues from the box on the nightstand. Pulling the boxers carefully into place, she stroked his muscled stomach, avoiding any bruises or cuts. Extra pillows from the bed were gathered and a few were crunched in half before she carefully lifted his cast and placed them beneath.

“You cleaned the house. Fresh fruit on the table,” he said, mumbling. His eyes remained closed and he looked very serene. She smiled because he didn’t really sound disgruntled or upset that she’d taken liberties in his absence. “The kids don’t scare you. It’s just me.”

“Who’d be afraid of you?” She got out of the bed and walked to the other side.

“Had a dream.” The words became harder to understand. More asleep than awake, he struggled to tell her something. “Dreamed a beautiful 58

Whisper

woman—my bed—come home to her.” She pulled the sheet and blankets up to his chin and stroked the side of his face, removing long strands of brown hair. “And all you found was me.

Sleep now, you’re home. I’ll check on you and get your medication when it’s time.” 59

Kathleen Lash

Keith woke in a haze of pain and confusion. He kept reaching for the little plunger that’d bring relief and oblivion, and couldn’t find it. Instead, he found the nurse. “Sorry.” He removed his hand from her thigh.

“Are you finally awake this time?” A soft voice and familiar scent drifted in and made his brain start firing on more cylinders.
Whisper
.

He ventured prying his eyelids apart. The shades were drawn; the room remained fairly dark.

He never closed the blinds, liking the first rays of light to get him going in the mornings. At least he used to.

“Thanks.” He squinted in even the subtle light.

“It’s pretty bright outside. Figured that headache of yours wouldn’t appreciate the glare.” He suddenly remembered something and tried to sit up. “The kids.” He got as far as propping himself on his elbows before giving up and slumping back down.

“They know.”

“What did you tell them?” Damn, he hadn’t meant for it to come out like that. He hated having to think about what he’d say before engaging his mouth. It’d become a regular habit to regret words with the pain medication in his blood.

“Not much,” she said, her voice sounding faint.

“I said you were home and that you’d had an accident. I fed them breakfast and told them you’d explain when you woke. I also told them you got 60

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home in the middle of the night and that we’d let you sleep. Was that all right?”

Did he dream what happened between them?

She sounded kind of scared, or hesitant. Shit, a drug induced hallucination got him off last night. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d fallen asleep with her soft voice and body, and woke to find himself attached to a pain pump in a hospital gown covered in sweat. He’d been thinking about her prior to the accident, too. She left one hell of an impression during the five minutes he’d spent with her a few months back. The kids constantly talking about her hadn’t helped.