I suck in a breath, close my eyes, and let myself fall into the comfort his arms have brought me lately. I know this can’t last, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting it to. I turn in his arms and stand on my toes to plant a kiss on his lips. He returns the kiss, holding onto me like his life depends on it. I gasp as he leans down, sucking on the skin of my neck. I’m lost in the sensations of his touch, his kisses, his desire for me, the events of the last couple of hours a distant memory.
He grips my ass painfully, tugging me onto his erection. I push him backwards, we undress each other as we go, buttons popping, clothes scattering, and limbs fumbling all over each other. I shove him onto the couch, climbing onto his lap. His cock against my stomach, I kiss him again, hungrily seeking a deeper connection. I lift myself up, lowering myself onto him.
“I’m on the pill,” I groan, loving the hunger I see in his eyes.
“You feel so fucking good.” His voice is rough, filled with need, his head tipped back.
I hold onto his shoulders as I guide myself up and down his length, using my legs as leverage. His fingers dig into my waist as he moves me faster. I rotate my hips, crying out, loving the control I have over both of our needs. I start to move faster, his hips lifting to thrust deeper into me until I’m trembling in an orgasm that blows my mind and distorts my senses. His warm cum fills me, and I don’t stop moving till he’s grunting a release, tugging me closer to him, biting a nipple.
When I come down from my high, he grips my neck, holding me close to him.
My arms wrap around him. I know this is more than sex. I feel it every time he’s near me. The growing connection I don’t think I can deny for much longer. I don’t want this to end. I don’t want to wake up one day and find that all of this is a fleeting memory.
He stands and I wrap my legs around him as he walks us to the bathroom.
* * *
“I would if I could, Bryce, you know that,” I overhear Brax talking to someone. I walk into the living room, and he’s standing out on the balcony talking on his cell phone. “I’m sorry man, but work comes first right now.” It’s the fourth of July holiday weekend, and he’s having to put off whatever he’d planned because of me. I feel something twist inside my chest when I remember that no matter how real playing house together feels, he is being paid to keep me out of trouble. I walk into the kitchen and turn the coffee machine on.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were up.” He smiles at me in a way that makes me feel like this isn’t what it is. That I am not just a job but someone he actually cares for.
“Good morning,” I say too brightly. He walks over to me and places a kiss on my forehead. “Coffee?”
“Sounds good. I ran out and got us your favorite bagels from the café around the corner,” he says, his arms wrapping around my waist.
“You did, did you? Sweetening me up for something?”
“You’re sweet enough, princess. In fact, I have a craving for your kind of syrup.”
I laugh out loud at that, smacking him on the chest. He places a kiss on my cheek and takes a seat at one of the stools at the island.
“Everything okay? I overheard you out there, you sounded tense.”
“It’s nothing,” he says quickly, reaching for the mug I set before him.
“It didn’t sound like nothing,” I cock a brow.
“It’s just family stuff, nothing important.”
My body tenses. It’s all right for him to have access to every crevice of my mind, but he won’t let me into his? I drop my coffee in the kitchen sink so hard, the crash of the porcelain mug makes him jump a little.
“Eliana?”
I ignore him and decide it’s time to get ready and get away from him long enough to clear my fucking head. He calls after me, and I slam the bedroom door behind me, locking it.
After a shower, I change into shorts and a halter neck, sleeveless blouse. Maybe a day at the beach is what I need. I step out of the bedroom and he’s sitting on the couch, his face set in a frown.
“It was my brother,” he tells me. “He’s getting engaged tomorrow, and I can’t be there.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Was that so hard to tell me?”
“No, actually,” he answers, leaning back against the couch.
“So why aren’t you going? It’s a long weekend, I could drive home, spend time with Casey if it’ll make you feel any better?”
“It won’t. After what your mother said, I don’t want you going anywhere without me.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
