Except for Hope’s presence, this entire trip has sucked. The thought that Sway wants me to join his bid for national and have to do this on a regular basis gives me fucking hives.
Fuck that.
Carla. What a deep well of bad memories she stirred up. It’s probably been closer to fifteen years since I last saw my ex. I could have happily gone the rest of my life never seeing her again. I certainly never wanted Hope to meet her. I can’t even imagine what’s going through her head right now.
My girl is quiet as she takes my hand and we follow the prospects down the hall. Axel sets her stuff down on a chair right inside the door and asks her if she needs anything.
I have to admit, the way this kid looks after my woman, he’s kind of growing on me.
After they leave, Hope rifles through her bags. With her overflowing pouch of who knows what in one hand, she wraps the fingers of her other hand around mine and tugs me into the bathroom. “Come on. I know what you need.”
Her certainty would get a smile out of me, except she’s so serious. I’m curious what she thinks I need. Besides her.
Because, honestly, as long as I have her, I don’t give a fuck about anything else.
Once we’re in the bathroom, she turns and shuts the door. Her bright green eyes search my face for a second before she stretches up and loops her arms around my neck. Her soft lips find their way to my jaw, slowly working lower.
“Mmm, you’re right. That’s exactly what I need,” I tease.
“I’m not finished,” she answers in a low, husky voice.
This will be interesting. Hope doesn’t often take the lead. The fact that she’s so eager to now has me practically jumping out of my skin to see where she’s going with this.
Her soft fingers find their way to the hem of my shirt, teasing underneath, then tugging it up. I give her a hand and toss it on the sink. Next, her hands start working my belt.
I definitely like where she’s going.
“Not fair, doll. You’re still fully dressed.”
She stops and takes a step back, lifting her arms over her head. I get the hint and work her shirt up and off.
“Better?” she asks.
“Yup.”
Now that we’re both shirtless, she reaches out to touch me. Soft at first. Gentle strokes down my chest and shoulders. Hope’s not just touching me, though; it’s more like admiring, and it’s a jolt of arousal through my system. My dick jumps to life under her touch and appreciative gaze.
After a few more gentle strokes, she gets back to work on my belt, loosening it, flicking open the button on my jeans, and working the zipper. Tugging down my jeans, she kneels in front of me to work off my boots. Something about my girl on her knees undressing me like this is beyond fucking hot. Especially when she stops to peek up at me from beneath her lashes.
Holy fucking hell.
When she’s done, she stands and turns toward the shower. Very precisely, she digs through the bag she brought in here, pulls out a bunch of small, colorful bottles, and lines them up on the narrow shower stall shelf. When she has the water running, she strips out of the rest of her clothes and takes my hand again, pulling me in the stall with her. She positions me where she wants me, under the spray.
“Turn,” she says.
Like I’m going to say no.
Turning, I place my hands on the back wall, spreading my legs to give my girl full access to wherever she wants to go. A groan lets loose from my chest the instant she puts her hands on me. After a soft click, a woodsy scent fills the air. She lathers and soaps me from neck to ankles. Her small hands slide over my shoulders, back, legs. After a while, her cleansing strokes turn seductive. Before she put her hands on me, I hadn’t realized how stiff and sore I was from the ride down. All her squeezing and massaging down my back feels like heaven. Her touch releases most of the tension that gathered there during the day.
“Hope,” I groan.
Behind me, she lets out a happy humming noise. “Turn, please.”
Fuck yes.
This time I brace my arms on the shower wall and the door. Again, she lathers me up while my back takes the hot, pounding spray of water. I’m so frickin’ big Hope’s still mostly dry. I’ll need to fix that in a minute, but right now, what she’s doing feels too damn good. Her soft hands are everywhere, kneading and massaging me—turning a simple shower into some of the hottest foreplay ever.
She rubs and strokes every part of me. Except the part I want her to stroke the most. I’m a patient guy, though, and I don’t think Hope has it in her to be cruel. Slowly, she works her way down my legs until she’s kneeling on the shower floor. Reaching down, I run my fingers through her hair.
“You okay?” I ask.
Instead of answering, she wraps her fingers around my dick, slowly sliding up and down. The sensation steals all thoughts and words from my brain. Even as my hips buck to her rhythm, I keep my gaze on her. An excited flush stains her cheeks pink, probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, as she kneels up, pressing herself against my thighs. She’s not done teasing me, though. She places soft, open-mouthed kisses up and down my dick, then flicks her tongue over the head. For a brief second, she glances up, her eyes locking with mine before she wraps her lips around my cock.
I almost lose it right then. The eye contact, her forward yet somehow submissive behavior, her hot, wet fucking mouth—it’s a lot to handle. I manage to hold on to control somehow as she wrecks me. Moaning around my cock. Sliding her tongue everywhere. Licking and tasting me like nothing has ever tasted so good. Using her hands. Fuck, my girl is so into this there’s no way I’m going to last long.
Another groan tears out of me as she struggles to take me all the way down. She’s definitely on a mission.
“Hope,” I warn.
She hums in response, the vibrations traveling up my dick. White lightning streaks down my spine, and before I even know what’s happening, she’s pulling me out of her mouth. Kneeling up straighter, setting her shoulders back, she keeps working her hands up and down my length until I’m shooting hot cum all over her perfect tits. Every part of me drowns in the intensity of the orgasm she’s given me. My deep groan reverberates around the tiny shower stall as I cover my girl in my seed.
The smile that plays over her mouth is so fucking hot. She’s not pissed. She doesn’t think I’m a degenerate fuckwad. Hell, she’s as into it as I am. When I manage to recover, I pull her up off the floor and into my arms.
“Was that your plan all along?” I ask in between planting kisses over her cheeks and forehead.
“Mm-hmm,” she answers, sliding her hands around my waist and up and down my back. Turning her in my arms, I spin us so she’s facing the shower and set about cleaning her up.
“I’m okay,” she says, brushing my hands away from her nipples.
“You’re more than okay, baby,” I whisper in her ear while taking her lobe between my teeth and flicking my tongue over the soft skin.
“No, I mean this was about you. I’m just going to wash off and get out of the shower.”
I don’t know what to make of that. Is she worried I’m too tired to pleasure her? Because if so, I need to correct her right away.
Pulling her back tight to my chest, I take both her wrists in one hand and hold them against her chest. “You think I’m too tired to repay the favor, sweetheart?”
Her giggle turns to a gasp as I work my hand between her thighs. “Spread your legs for me now, Hope,” I growl in her ear as she tries to resist me.
She finally gives in, and I stroke my fingers through her silky, hot folds. Barely touching her at first. When she starts moaning and thrusting her hips, chasing my hand, I know I’ve got her.
Leaning down a little more, I press kisses against her shoulder, then whisper in her ear, “You’re all mine, Hope. You belong to me. This beautiful pussy, your hot little mouth, your perfect fuckin’ body—all of it mine. And I take care of what’s mine.”
I mean ev
ery fucking word.
She whimpers and nods her head.
That’s more like it.
“You’re gonna come for me.” I’m not asking. Just giving her the facts.
“I—”
“No talking. Relax. Close your eyes and let me take care of you.”
She gasps, then cries out and jerks her hips as I find her clit.
Knowing how sensitive my girl is, I work her with soft, slow strokes until she’s panting. Looking down at her face blows me away. Lips parted, lashes fluttering, cheeks flushed.
“You gonna be a good girl if I let your hands go?”
She doesn’t really answer, but the noises she makes sound similar to a yes. As soon as I release her wrists, she loops her arms up over her head, around my neck.
“Fuck. Baby, you’re so beautiful all stretched out for me.”
“Rock…”
“I got you.”
She works her hips in restless circles. Sliding my hand down over her belly, I can’t quite get where I want from this angle. Hope whines as I release her.
Slapping the shower off, I rip open the door and scoop Hope into my arms.
Her eyes snap open. “What are you doing?”
“This ain’t workin’ for me, babe. I want my fuckin’ face buried in your pussy.”
“I’m soaking wet.”
“Yeah, you are,” I agree with a smirk.
She taps my chest. “No, we’re going to get the bed all wet.”
“If you’re still worried about the sheets in the next two seconds, then I’m going to question my manhood.”
With those words, I toss her on the bed, enjoying the way she bounces in the air a little. She squeals and tries to roll away, but I grab her ankle and pull her where I want her.
“Spread your legs right now, baby. I need that pussy, and I am not in the mood to fuck around.”
Very shyly, she complies, and I descend on her like a starving man. Her hips shoot off the bed, grinding against me, and I growl. Can’t fucking get enough of her. Hot, wet, slippery woman on my tongue. My fingers find their way to her entrance and I sink one inside while lapping at her clit. Curling my fingers and stroking, I find the spot that makes her squirm the way I like. Her hands dive into my hair, gripping it, and I smile, happy I’ve been keeping it longer so she’s got something to hold on to while I work her into a juicy little puddle.
I’m fucking roaring with satisfaction from the way she screams. Knowing how shy my girl is, there’s no way she’d be making this much noise if she remembered where we were. Pride that I caused her to lose herself so completely pushes me to work her harder. When her screams turn a little sharper and she’s wrigglin’ away from me, I pull back.
“Oh, Rock. I can’t. No more.”
Yeah, I can’t get this smirk off my face. “Good, baby?”
“So good.” She uncurls her fingers from my hair and sits up a little. “Thank you.”
Crawling into bed with her, I drop a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you.”
Yes, I feel the need to thank her. Sex has never been like this. Doesn’t matter how colorful my past. Nothing blows me away the way Hope does. Probably because just the thought of her gets me hard, but I think it’s that I love her so fuckin’ much and I know she loves me. I feel it in every inch of her, and I want to keep her love more than anything. The connection we have, being in love—making love is new to me, and I don’t know how I lived so long without her.
A shiver works over her, but I don’t think it’s from me this time.
“You cold, baby doll?”
“Yeah.”
As much as I love her sleeping naked, I’m glad she brought pajamas on this trip. Digging through her hastily packed bag, I pull out flannel pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
“I can get it, Rock.”
“Stay there.”
For once, she listens. I help her into the clothes, then tuck her under the blankets. After getting myself ready for bed, I find Hope watching me with a quiet intensity that quite frankly turns me the fuck on.
As usual.
“Need anything else, baby?”
“Um, socks. My feet are still cold.”
After that’s taken care of, I shut off all the lights, check my phone, and crawl into bed. My girl’s a nice, warm armful and snuggles down tight next to me.
My mind is racing a hundred miles a minute.
“Rock?”
“Yeah, baby.”
She’s quiet for a beat, and I wonder what’s on her mind.
“How long were you and Carla married?”
I groan. It’s the last fuckin’ thing I want to talk about. But I understand why she’s curious. “Fuck, it’s so long ago, I don’t even know. Two years? We were together maybe a year before that.”
“How’d you meet?”
I sigh, because this is going to be a long night.
I don’t know why I need to hear about Rock’s ex. I guess she got to me with her question. How did they meet? Was it love at first sight? Obviously, at some point, he thought she was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. Why was that?
Rock is silent for so long I start to worry he’s mad at me for asking.
Finally, he takes a deep breath. “She was living with a guy who used to smack her around. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have a thing for damsels in distress.”
“No,” I answer in a fake shocked voice and get a pinch on my butt for the trouble.
“So I helped her out of that situation, and we kinda fell into a relationship. I thought it was love and she thought she had it made. After a while, she moved in with me and Wrath.”
“I remember he said he didn’t stick around long after.”
“Mmm, he was there for a while.”
Something about the way he says that gives me pause. “What did she mean by some things never change?”
“How should I know what’s going on in her messed-up mind?”
“Rock—”
“Fine. You sure you want to hear this?”
Rock shifts beneath me, pulling away. Concerned, I wrap my arm around his middle. “Tell me.”
“You remember that day Wrath found us in the garage?”
My cheeks heat at the memory. “How could I forget?”
“We used to share everything when we were younger. Especially women.”
Wow. Whoa. “What?”
“You need me to explain?”
“Did you two—”
“No! Fuck no. Jesus.”
I can’t deny that the image of being worked over by Rock and Wrath is now seared into my brain. “She’s such a tiny thing. How’d she ever survive the two of you?”
Harsh, uncontrollable laughter rumbles out of him. “That’s your question?”
“I’m trying to imagine—”
Abruptly, his laughter stops. “Don’t go there, Hope. Those days are over. Anyway. I thought she understood when we got married, that stuff would stop. I made it clear, but apparently, she didn’t agree. So she started coming on to Wrath anytime I wasn’t around, until he finally moved out.”
“He never took her up?”
“No,” he answers without any hesitation.
“Is that something you and Z did too?” Because, honestly, now I’m flustered conjuring up that image.
“No. Not for lack of trying on her part. She started fucking around behind my back, but I had a lot of shit going on at the time and didn’t see it. Shortly after was when I got arrested. She filed for divorce the day I got sentenced and went inside.”
“That’s cold.”
“That’s Carla. She sat in the courtroom with me, kissed me good-bye, then hauled her ass down the street to a divorce attorney. Got served before I even got a cell assigned to me.”
I’m so hurt and angry on Rock’s behalf. No wonder he seemed floored when I told him I wouldn’t desert him.
“Tried to clean out the apartment too. Luckily, Wrath stopped her. She did, however, mana
ge to sell my bike while I was inside.”
I’m surprised she’s alive.
“That’s ballsy.” I want to learn more about this time in his life, but my mind can’t give up the threesome thing. “So when did you and Wrath start doing… you know?”
“Why are you asking?”
“I don’t know. I’m just so inexperienced next to you. I don’t… You’re going to get bored with me eventually.”
“Hope, that’s not going to happen. I’ll be the one to give you whatever experience you think you need.”
An uncontrollable laugh spills out of me. “I don’t know. I feel like I should at least have a few more partners or something.”
“That’s not even remotely funny, Hope.” Neither of us speaks for a moment. “Is that what you want?” he finally asks.
It’s dark so I can’t see his face, but his grave tone sends shame spiraling through me.
“No, Rock. That’s not what I want at all. I’m sorry—I didn’t mean that.”
His arms tighten, reassuring me he’s not angry. “It’s okay, baby. I’m used to you blurting out whatever pops in your head when you feel threatened.”
“What? I do not.”
His chuckle is softer this time, and his rough hand caresses the side of my face. “It’s one of many things I love about you.”
“You love that I’m a jackass who sticks her foot in her mouth all the time?”
“Yup.”
“Sweet talker.”
Our mouths meet in the dark. Soft kisses that intensify quickly.
Rock pulls away, nudging me onto my back and settling over me. More kisses rain down over my cheeks, on my neck. Hot breath rushes over my ear. “Gonna make love to my girl now.”
“Make love, huh?” I tease because his seriousness is a little alarming.
Rough hands trace over my cheek. “Yeah, baby. That’s something I’ve never done with anyone but you.”
My lips part, but he cuts off my question before it even forms. “I didn’t know. Until you. The difference. So, yeah, baby, you’re the first.”
For once, I’m awake before Rock. I’m freezing. Easing out of bed, I find his flannel shirt from yesterday and slip into it, then pad into the bathroom. When I walk back into the bedroom, Rock’s still curled on his side, sound asleep. He’s so much more relaxed and so gorgeous my heart skips while I watch him. Knowing how little sleep he normally gets, I want him to rest as long as possible. I also want to have some coffee waiting for him when he does finally get up.