Claus and Effect, page 16
Panting, we break apart, our hands exploring. He reaches back and takes the neck of his shirt, pulling it over his head and off his body. He tosses it on the nearby chair, and I giggle, my hands splaying out and touching every dip and valley of his muscles. There are tiny scars, raised skin, proof of the danger of his career choice.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, reaching for the hem of my shirt and pulling it up off my body.
“That you still can’t just toss your clothes wherever.” I laugh again. “You had to make sure it hit the chair.”
A rush of shivers runs up my spine when he frees me of my shirt and I’m kneeling on the mattress in just my bra with one cup down. He holds out my shirt, dangling it, and lets it go so it hits the carpet.
I shake my head. “That’s only because it’s my clothes.”
“Not true.” He gives me a chaste kiss, undoing my bra.
I reluctantly take my hands off his chest to free the bra from my arms and he drops it to the floor with a chuckle. His amusement only lasts a moment because our eyes meet, and all that lust spills over and our lips attach to one another as if they’re magnets. His tongue slides into my mouth and we find the other’s rhythm, perfecting something that I hope will be a part of my life for a long time to come.
I’m still scared and the small trembles hitting my body every couple of minutes show it, but I have to put trust in Tre. He’s given me no reason not to. He could’ve left me so many times, but each opportunity he had, he stayed. That says something about his character.
“Tell me you have something,” I ask, eager to have his weight over me.
“Yeah,” he murmurs against my lips.
I pull my mouth off his delicious neck where the roughness of his five o’clock shadow has my imagination soaring with thoughts of his face between my legs. “Because you just brought them on this trip or because you didn’t want to miss the opportunity if this happened between us?”
He slides his hand down the front of my pants, his finger dipping through my wet folds. “Sure.”
I let loose a soft chuckle at his non-answer, but it doesn’t matter. We can’t deny what’s happening between us, and it’s not anything we could have predicted. “Because I’m irresistible.”
His finger hooks inside me and my body jolts from the sensation. I grip his strong shoulders and my mouth hangs open with a low moan falling from my lips.
“You’re so beautiful, Tessa. Especially right now. The way your skin is flushed the lightest shade of pink all over your body.” He slides his hand out of my pants.
“Ugh, you’re a tease.”
“So impatient.” He hooks his fingers in my jeans and tugs them down until I have to stand on the mattress to step out of them.
My core lines up to his face and he pulls me close to him, inhaling my scent and running his nose along my trimmed pussy. The act is indecent yet intoxicating, and I can’t strip my eyes away from him. He licks me, focusing on my clit.
I grab his head and he nudges my legs wider.
“Damn it,” I whimper because of course he’s good at eating me out. Seems his tongue is an expert in everything sexual the same way his hands probably are at combat. My eyes flutter shut, and my fingers tighten on the short strands of hair on his head.
He runs his fingers through my wetness, teasing my opening and pushing two fingers inside me, hooking them to hit my G-spot while his tongue works my clit.
“It feels so good, don’t stop,” I say, thrusting my pussy into his face, unashamed.
He moans, his free hand moving across my lower back, holding me as still as he can make me.
“Yes.” My voice grows louder. “Right there.”
A warmth crawls through my body, my spine tingling, and the pressure builds and builds to an intensity that I can no longer contain. I come apart, and he slows his tongue until I don’t see stars anymore.
Falling to my knees, I hurriedly grab at the button of his pants and tug them down, needing him inside me. “Where’re the condoms?”
“In my bag. I’ll get them.”
He heads to his bag, stepping out of his jeans and dark boxer briefs, and oh my god. The man has the ass of a god.
When he returns, I snatch the condoms from his hand, tearing at the foil with my teeth. His eyes grow heated with a depth of fiery passion I’ve never seen. I use my finger and thumb to pull the condom out of the foil packet, and I place it on the tip of his huge dick, running it down his magnificent length. I should’ve known even this part of him would be perfect. My pussy tingles with the thought of having him fill me.
“Lie down,” he says in a sweet yet demanding voice I know I could grow used to.
Doing as he says, I lie on my back.
“Spread your legs. I want to see your pussy.” I open my legs, but they must not be open enough because he pushes them further, bringing my knees up to my ears. “So fucking perfect.” Then he leans in and swipes his tongue from top to bottom, making me moan.
“Please, I need you.” I reach down, ready to guide him in.
“Patience,” he says, using his tip to tease my clit.
He takes my arms, locking his hands over my wrists, running his nose along my neck, whispering sweet things about my body and how much he’s wanted me over the last few days. How I drove him insane, and he can’t believe he’s about to have me.
He’s a master with his words, and he gets my body right where he wants it. Wet and needy. He slowly sinks into me, inch by thick inch, watching my face and not releasing my arms from above my head. My chest rises, my back arching off the mattress from the euphoric feeling settling inside me. My toes curl when he’s in me to the hilt and doesn’t move.
“Good?” he asks.
“Amazing.”
He smiles and places his lips on mine, kissing me languidly and slowly. We have all night, and I’m already looking forward to the next time even though this one isn’t over.
He circles his hips, his body moving over mine, then he releases my wrists, placing one hand on my cheek, staring into my eyes. Fuck, the intimacy is so thick I try not to allow my head to get involved.
His thrusts become harder and faster, and soon my legs wrap around his waist, and he’s grinding into me. I love the hunger in his movements, the way I feel as if he wants me so badly he might go insane if he didn’t have me. He doesn’t want just any woman, but he wants me—my pussy, my tits, my writhing body under his.
I hold him, and sweat accumulates between our chests. My orgasm doesn’t build this time, it comes on hard and fast and there’s no holding it back until I feel as though I’m free falling, all the tension disappearing.
“Jesus, you’re gorgeous when you come.” He studies my face, but I’m still recovering from two of the best orgasms of my life. “Ride me?”
A grin is my only response.
He rolls us over, and I straddle his waist, taking his length in my hand and sinking down on him. He grabs my hips and guides the tempo as I ride him, my tits bouncing. The look in his eyes as he watches me on top of him, coupled with his dirty mouth, puts me on the brink of my third orgasm.
“These tits could make a smart man do some very stupid things.” He moves his hands from my hips to my tits. I grab the headboard for more leverage and move my hips back and forth. “Oh fuck …”
It’s as though he’s lost all ability to talk because he pants and growls until he pumps into me from below, stills, then holds my hips while he empties himself into the condom. He comes on my name, soft and sweet.
I collapse on him, and he wraps his arms around me, one hand running up and down my back. We catch our breaths until eventually, I roll over.
“I’ll be right back.” He kisses my cheek and heads into the bathroom. He returns, but before he does, I hear the shower turn on. “Shower?”
I grin at him. “I was thinking a nap and then round two?”
He chuckles and holds out his hand for me. I slide out of bed and accept his hand. Once we’re in the warm shower, he wraps his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck.
“I want to ask you something,” he says.
It’s clear from the tone of his voice that whatever it is, it’s serious. I want to complain that we’re just coming off orgasms and this isn’t the time to talk feelings. You can’t always trust what comes out of your mouth.
“I want you to come home with me for Christmas,” he says.
My eyes widen and I turn around, but he tightens his arms around my stomach and puts his head in the crook of my neck.
“Come on. Say yes.”
“You’re just saying this because I just gave you an orgasm.”
“I’m asking you this because I want to spend the holidays with you.” He sucks my earlobe into his hot mouth, twirling his tongue over it, and I suppress a shiver.
“That’s a big step.” There’s obvious fear in my voice.
“Where did you think this would go? That you’d go home on a plane tomorrow and I’d catch up with you after New Year’s?”
“Actually.” I turn around in his arms and he kisses my lips, his hands exploring my body. We’ve yet to even shampoo our hair or wash our bodies. “You said you’re retiring?”
He smiles. “I am. Technically starting in January.”
“Where are you going to live then?” I hate that we’re having this conversation after just getting together, but I need details to ensure I’m not going to get my heart broken or have false expectations.
He shrugs. “I’m not sure. I can live anywhere.”
I smile at him and place my hand on his cheek. “Then we have a lot of time. I’ll just go home, and we’ll get together after the holidays.”
I’m selfishly relieved that I won’t have to be separated from him for long chunks of time or worry about what might happen to him while he’s deployed.
He rears back, removing his hands from my body. “I thought you said you were in this?”
“I am. I just don’t think me bulldozing my way into your family holidays is the best first impression.” I pick up the shampoo and he takes it, pouring some into his hand.
“But you were going to surprise douchebag at his family’s house for Christmas?” He pushes his hands into my hair, working the shampoo through the strands.
“That was different, and I’m not sure that was ever a good idea. I might have temporarily lost my mind.” Now that I’ve fallen for Tre, I can’t even imagine trying to get Carter back. I mean, there’s a reason we broke up. I never felt about him what I do for Tre. Not even remotely close.
“I really want you to come, and I know my mom would want you to come too. If you don’t come to my parents’, I’m staying here for the holidays with you.”
“Tre,” I sigh.
“What? Having me devour your pussy day and night doesn’t sound like a great Christmas to you?”
I chuckle and swat him.
He’s already days behind the time he was supposed to spend with his family. I’m not going to let any more time pass. “You’re going home.” I poke him in the chest, and he laughs. “And apparently, so am I. But you better warn them.”
He pulls me into him. “They’re going to love you.”
I hope so because I’ve never felt so much pressure for a family to like me. “Yeah, nothing like Merry Christmas, I brought home a stray girl I met on a plane.”
He chuckles, his hands urging my ass to wrap my legs around his waist. His dick is ready for round two and he rests my back on the shower wall. “Tell me you’re happy.”
I shake my head and stare into his eyes. “I honestly don’t believe how happy I am right now.”
His lips land on mine, and after he rushes back out to the bedroom to grab the condoms, he shows me how happy he is for the next twenty minutes until we have to shower all over again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tre
Tessa sits in the chair wearing my army T-shirt, wrapping the Christmas gifts. She’s watching one of those Christmas movies on Lifetime or Hallmark, talking to herself about the characters.
I pull out my phone. I’ve been preparing to do this since the train when I knew I was going to make a move on her. I’m just thankful I didn’t need to plead my case against some other guy. I would’ve hated that.
* * *
Me: Good news.
Lil’Bro: You ditched the girl and are finally coming home?
Me: Not exactly. But I am in Portland.
Mom: You’re scaring me. What is it?
Lil’Sis: You guys are clueless, he’s bringing the girl home.
Mom: What? Oh, there’s a ton of stuff I need to get ready.
Me: Thanks B.
Lil’Sis: I knew it from the first text.
Lil’Bro: Who would have guessed that?
Lil’Sis: Get a clue and read between the lines.
Mom: So… we like this girl?
* * *
I glance at Tessa again. She’s smiling like a loon at the television since the couple just got stuck under the mistletoe.
“Like their friends didn’t plan that,” she mumbles to herself.
* * *
Me: We really do.
Lil’Sis: You just made Mom tear up.
Lil’Bro: She’ll probably be gone right after the holidays. This is Tre we’re talking about.
Dad: Shut your mouth and have some respect.
Mom: When will you be home?
Me: Tomorrow morning. We’ll catch a ride.
Mom: We can come get you.
Me: You have enough to do.
Lil’Sis: I’m so excited. Are you going to let them sleep in the same bed, Mom?
Lil’Bro: They shouldn’t.
Dad: He’s thirty-two years old. They can sleep where they want.
* * *
I wonder how Tessa will feel about that.
* * *
Mom: Love you. Be safe. See you tomorrow!
Me: See you all in the morning.
* * *
“Who are you texting? You should be over here helping me wrap.” She crawls across the bed to me.
All I want to do is be inside her again. To hear the noises she makes because of what I’m doing to her body.
She straddles me and runs her hands down my chest. Her fingers run over the raised skin where I should have gotten stitches. “Do you have stories for all these little scars?”
“Yeah.” My hands move to her hips. “But I’m not telling you any of them.”
“I would like to officially apologize for being a complete brat that day on the plane. What you do for our country is amazing, and I was very unappreciative.” She runs her hands along my biceps.
“I don’t accept your apology. In fact, thank you for acting the way you did.” She’s only wearing her underwear under my shirt and the silk does nothing to hide the warmth of her pussy as she wiggles on my cock.
“Why would you thank me?”
“I’m not sure I would’ve paid you any attention. I loved the fact you called me GI Joe, your smart-mouth. It was like instant attraction for me.”
Her head falls back in laughter. “That’s the first I heard that. And you wouldn’t have noticed me otherwise?” She tilts her head and raises her eyebrows.
“Oh, I’d already noticed you in security.”
Her head falls to my chest. “I was a hot mess express at security.”
I slide my hands up to her head and urge her to look up. “You were cute, and you did this thing where you blow a strand of hair off your forehead, and you had all of my attention. By the time you boarded the plane, I was already making excuses to talk to you after we arrived in Portland, but lucky me, Polly was eight months pregnant.”
“So that’s our meet-cute then?”
“I think so. The guy has to notice the woman first, don’t you think?”
She presses her lips to mine, her breasts smashing against my chest from under the soft cotton of the T-shirt. I grab her ass and pull her closer, sliding my tongue into her mouth. We make out for a few minutes, but she’s quick to tear her lips away.
“And when did you know it wasn’t just physical?”
“When did you know you weren’t calling douchebag anymore when you got here?”
She jabs her finger into my chest. “I asked you first.”
“When I was convincing Judge Sullivan to get you out of jail, I agreed to play Santa. I wouldn’t do that for just anyone.” I run my hands up her back. “Now it’s your turn.”
“I think when you got me out of jail when you could’ve left me and continued on your way. It’s the first time I thought I was doing the wrong thing by calling some other guy when I had an amazing guy right in front of me. But you constantly saying you didn’t do relationships scared me.”
I pull her closer, casting small kisses along her neck. “I’m sorry, I just never thought I would want a relationship at this point in my life. I have a lot of shit to figure out post-military service, but you’re my game-changer. I’ve never had this pull to someone before and it keeps getting stronger and stronger. When I thought about letting you go find that guy, something inside me said I was making a huge mistake.”
