My back bowed off the bed, my body going taut before the string snapped and I broke, the tidal wave of pleasure rolling through me like waves. I thrashed and twisted atop the sheets, moaning loud enough to wake the dead.
Finally, when I couldn’t take anymore, I ripped the toy free and tossed it to the side. Soon, the aftershocks ceased, and I lay there in a boneless, sweaty mess.
I’d almost forgotten I was alone until Lane appeared above me. He’d tucked himself away, though his shirt remained open. Bending over, he planted a kiss on my sweaty forehead.
“Fucking incredible,” he murmured against my skin.
I had no idea what possessed me to do it, but I wanted to share this with him, more than simply watching each other. Lifting an arm that felt like jelly, I reached between my thighs and collected some of my arousal. Lane’s eyes were wide, watching raptly as I lifted my fingers to his lips and painted my cum across them.
Without missing a beat, his tongue slowly traced the curve of his bottom lip then the top before he closed his mouth, eyes fluttering shut simultaneously. A low, deep grumble emanated from his chest as he savored me.
When his eyes opened again, they were hazy with unspent lust. I knew he could go again—could spend all night drawing pleasure from us both. But we weren’t there yet.
“Thank you,” he murmured, surprising me.
“For what?”
“For giving me that. I—fuck, I’d forgotten how beautiful you are when you come. How fuckingdeliciousyou taste.” He smacked his lips together, and I giggled.
“Thank you for making me feel safe,” I whispered.
“There is nowhere in the world you’re safer than with me, sunny. I hope you know that.” He stared at me imploringly until I nodded. Then he straightened. “Now I’m going to go downstairs before my hands take on a mind of their own and decide to drag a few more of those out of you.”
“We’ll talk in the morning?”
“Yeah. Good night, Sutton.”
“Good night, Lane.”
twenty-three
. . .
SUTTON
The two weeksbetween the gala and Christmas passed in a flurry, and none of the busyness included a conversation between me and Lane about what was going on between us. I was starting to worry I’d pushed him too far with the whole mutual masturbation thing, like I’d teased him too much, offered him a sample of an entire feast he now wanted to consume when it wasn’t on offer. He would never push me, but there was a thick tension between us, and I had no idea how to go about easing it.
Nothing felt settled. Instead, I remained braced and tensed, as though waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Still, in a rare stroke of good fortune, I worked the twenty-third, giving me both Christmas Eve and Christmas off, and I was looking forward to heading up to Boise to spend some time with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephews.
“Auntie!” my three nephews screamed as I pushed inside the house the afternoon of Christmas Eve, my arms laden with gift bags and wrapped presents for them all.
“Boys, boys!” my sister-in-law, Gretchen, begged, approaching from the kitchen. She had flour on her cheek, anapron covering her front, and a dish towel thrown over her shoulder.
Gretchen was the portrait of “trad wife.” I wouldn’t be surprised to look up the definition in a dictionary and find her photo. She made me feel small and unaccomplished in comparison, but I swallowed my feelings of inadequacy in an attempt to survive the next twenty-four hours.
Thankfully, my brother appeared, and between the three of us, we managed to get all of the gifts settled under the tree. I took off my coat and shoes while Sean went outside to get my bag.
Much later, after dinner and a marathon of theHome Alonemovies, the boys were tucked safely in bed and us adults sat around the kitchen table, enjoying a night cap.
I didn’t drink much. After my assault, I hated not being in full control of myself, but I had a soft spot for Gretchen’s homemade eggnog.
Plus, it wasn’t like my sister-in-law was going to drug and take advantage of me. I was safe here.
“Are you okay?” Sean asked abruptly.
Silence descended. My brother share an unreadable look with his wife, and without another word, Gretchen got up and left the room.
