The Beauty of Us Read online

“Thank you.”

  “For what?” she asks.

  “For being you.” I kiss her softly and stand with her still in my arms. She gets a kick out of it when I lift her, so I find myself doing it often.

  “I’m kicking you out of here,” she says.

  “You’re not the boss of me.”

  “I beg to differ,” she says, and kisses me long and slow. “Go home. Play a game, or take a nap. Take the day off.”

  “You should come do that with me.”

  She smiles. “I would love to, but I have a few things to do here, and then I have to run home to meet the plumber.”

  “What are you having fixed now?”

  “I have a leak in my bathroom.”

  I set her on her feet gently. “I can come with you.”

  “No.” She shakes her head firmly. “Go home. I’ve got this. Maybe I’ll come over later.”

  She drags her finger down the front of my shirt, over the buttons. We spent the weekend together, except when she went out for brunch with the girls on Sunday. I love her company. I crave it.

  I crave her.

  “I’d like for you to come over later,” I reply, and kiss her forehead.

  “Done,” she says. “I won’t even ask you to go make nice with Mia.”

  “I’m ninety-nine percent sure she’s going to take a hit out on me.”

  “Nah,” Riley says with a laugh. “Any killing Mia does, she does it herself.” She winks and makes me laugh.

  “You’re good for me,” I reply earnestly.

  “I hope so,” she says. “Now go let your guys off the hook for today, and I’ll see you later.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I shouldn’t take today off. There is a ton of work to do, but Riley’s right. The correct equipment won’t be here until tomorrow morning. If I ask everyone to stay, they’ll just sit around and be pissy.

  Even I don’t want to deal with that.

  So I do what Riley suggests and send everyone home for the day, then make my way back to the apartment myself. It’s quiet here. Too quiet. So I turn the game system on, but I can’t play with Scott at this time of day because he’s still at work. I’ll just work on some single-player stuff this afternoon.

  But my eyes are heavy, and my brain is too full to concentrate on the game.

  So I peel out of my clothes and go to bed, wishing Riley was curled up next to me.

  Chapter Seven

  ~Riley~

  He’s not answering his phone. I don’t know if that means I should not go to his place, or maybe I should be worried because he fell and hit his head and now he’s bleeding out in his kitchen.

  Too many thriller movies lately, Riley.

  I smirk and approach his door, juggling my packages as I knock, but he doesn’t answer. So I knock again.

  Where in the hell is he? He didn’t text to say that something else came up. He’s not the type to just blow me off.

  At least, I don’t think he is.

  Maybe he really is, but he was just hiding it before.

  What an ass. I snarl at the door, flip it off, and turn to stomp down the hallway to the elevator.

  “Wait!”

  Trevor’s voice stops me, and I turn to find him standing in his doorway, rubbing his eyes, and clinging precariously to a towel that’s wrapped around his waist.

  I’m quite sure he’s naked beneath it.

  Christ on a cracker, I wish that towel would fall. My eyes travel up his naked torso, over the smooth skin, light spattering of brown hair, and to the smirk parked on his handsome face.

  “Hi.” My voice squeaks, of course, so I clear my throat and try again. “Hello.”

  “Leaving so soon?”

  “You weren’t answering,” I reply. “I thought you’d blown me off.”

  All humor leaves his face and he tilts his head to the side, frowning at me.

  “Let’s get something straight right now, Riley. I’m not an asshole, and I definitely wouldn’t blow you off. I fell asleep.”

  And just like that, all of my indignation evaporates.

  “Sorry.” I walk to him and rise up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I brought provisions.”

  “Dinner?” he asks.

  “Better.” I walk past him into the apartment and set the bag on the countertop. “Cupcakes and Star Wars.”

  His eyes widen with interest. “You don’t say.”

  “I do say,” I reply with a flirty smile. “I figured it was time that I watch this dude movie, and I should watch it with someone who truly appreciates it.”

  “Agreed,” he replies, and leans in to kiss me gently. “Thank you.”

  “I’m handy.”

  “Very handy,” he agrees, and kisses my cheek now. “Run away with me, Ri.”

  I giggle and try to slip away, but he wraps his arms around me, not caring in the least that he’s just let go of his towel, effectively letting it fall to our feet.

  “You’re irresistible,” he murmurs in my ear.

  “You’re just smelling the cupcakes.” I giggle and lean into him, enjoying his playful touch.

  “The cupcakes are a close second,” he says, and pulls away. “I’m going to put on some clothes real quick. Don’t go away.”

  He retrieves his towel, but doesn’t bother wrapping it around him, and I have a prime view of his perfect ass, including the dimples above the cheeks, and his sculpted back as he walks away to the bedroom.

  “Fuck me,” I breathe, and fan my face. Part of me wants to run after him, tackle him to the bed, and have my wicked way with him.

  Do it!

  But he’s fast, because just as I’m about to chase him down, he returns wearing an old T-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts.

  And still manages to look sexier than my hormones can handle.

  How does he do that?

  “Do I have something on my shirt?” he asks, looking down.

  “No.” I shake my head and turn back to the cupcakes. “Sorry. So, Mia made these today. She bakes when she’s too stressed out. She sent them with me as a peace offering.”

  “Well, I won’t say she shouldn’t have because those look amazing.”

  “You have no idea,” I reply with a wink. “Here’s the movie.”

  He takes it from me and walks into the small living room to cue it up.

  “Where did you get this?” he asks.

  “It’s Landon’s,” I reply. “He was just as shocked as you when I told him I hadn’t seen it before.”

  “Well, we’re going to fix that.”

  I set the cupcakes on the coffee table and we both sit on the couch, cuddled up to each other. It’s amazing how I just fit into the crook of his shoulder. His arm is draped down my back, hand resting on my hip as the movie starts.

  He reaches for a cupcake, peels back the paper and takes a bite, then offers me a bite, which I happily take.

  “Oh my God,” I say, my mouth full. “So good.”

  I glance up at him, and he’s watching me intently through those glasses, his green eyes on fire.

  “What?”

  “Say that again, and we won’t make it through this movie.”

  “No?”

  “No. I’ll fuck you right here on the couch.”

  And just like that, my panties are soaked and a shiver runs down my spine.

  “That’s not exactly a horrible threat,” I whisper, watching his lips. They tip up on one side with a sexy grin.

  “I really want you to see this.”

  “I really want to see it too.”

  “Okay, then.”

  But before he can turn back to the movie, I push up and lick some chocolate frosting off the side of his lip.

  “You had a—”

  “Riley,” he growls, and throws his head back on the couch. “Killing me.”

  “Sorry.” I clear my throat and turn my attention back to the television. “So, that old guy is a Jedi?”

  “Yes. That’s Obi-Won Kenobi.”<
br />
  “I thought Ewan McGregor played him.”

  “He does, in the prequels.”

  “Oh.” I nod, as if I get it, but I don’t get it at all. “Why aren’t we watching the prequels first?”

  “Because we’re watching them in the order they were released,” he replies. “Trust me, it’ll be great.”

  I nod again and watch for a long while in silence, taking bites of cupcakes and leaning my head on Trevor’s shoulder.

  I have no idea what is happening in the movie.

  And I don’t even care. All I know is, Trevor’s hard body is pressed against mine, and he’s warm and strong and my libido is in overdrive.

  Jesus, I understand that he wants to take things kind of slow because we’re not just a fling, but how long is a girl supposed to wait before the guy she’s hot after attacks her?

  And why am I waiting for him to make the first move? We’re living in the twenty-first century, for fuck sake.

  “God, I love this part,” he says, his eyes pinned to the screen. The fist not holding on to my hip is fisted, and he’s just all tensed up, and I can’t stand it anymore.

  I want him.

  Now.

  So I straddle him, grab his face in my hands, and kiss the fuck out of him. When I pull away, he’s smiling up at me, his hands firmly planted on my ass.

  “What’s that for?”

  “I want you to show me your lightsaber,” I reply, and bite his lower lip. “Right now.”

  “I had no idea that Star Wars would have this effect on you.”

  “I know, who knew?” I settle against him more firmly, my core rubbing against his already hard cock through his basketball shorts.

  They don’t leave anything to the imagination.

  And rather than push me away, his grip on my ass tightens and he pulls me against him.

  “Do you just hate it and this is your way to distracting me?”

  “No.” I shove my fingers through his hair and smile. “I don’t hate it. But I do want you, and if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not wait anymore.”

  “I don’t want to push you too fast,” he says as his hands roam up and down my back, my sides, and over my ass. His hands are just everywhere, and dear, sweet baby Jesus, they’re amazing.

  “Trust me when I say, this is not too fast for me.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’m not going to beg for it,” I reply, and sit back just a bit so I can see his face. I take a deep breath, trying to clear my underfucked head so I can try to read his face. “If you’re not ready, just say so.”

  He doesn’t answer me; instead a slow smile spreads over his ridiculously handsome face and his hands gentle as he drags them over my sides to my chest.

  He cups a breast in each hand, over my shirt, and continues to watch my face as X-wing Starfighters zip around on the TV behind me.

  “I’m going to mute that,” he finally says as he reaches for the remote and cuts the sound. “I’d rather hear you.”

  “I don’t usually make much noise.”

  “No?”

  I shake my head and bite my lip, suddenly a bit shy. Not that I want to stop, because I definitely don’t. But now that it’s here, I’m not sure what to do.

  I hope he knows what he’s doing, or else we’re in for a night full of embarrassing moments.

  “You’ve also never had sex with me,” he says softly.

  “True.”

  “So we don’t know if you’ll make a lot of noise when I’m inside you.”

  Fucking hell.

  My pussy shivers, thighs tense.

  “You like it when I talk dirty, Riley?”

  I nod and close my eyes when he glides the pad of his thumbs over my nipples, still over the shirt.

  I need to get rid of these clothes.

  We both need to strip.

  But I can’t bring myself to move quite yet.

  “What else do you like?”

  “Everything you’re doing right now is fantastic,” I reply, and sigh when he lifts his hips, rubbing himself against me.

  “If I do something you don’t like, just say so, okay?”

  “I can do that.”

  “Good girl.”

  And suddenly he stands up, carrying me to the bedroom.

  “You’re strong. I’m not a tiny girl.”

  “You like to be carried.” He says it as if that explains everything, and when we reach his bed, he lowers me to stand on the floor. “I need you to stand right here for a few minutes, okay?”

  I nod and watch as he takes two steps back, his eyes pinned to my body, and he strips out of his T-shirt, reaching over his head and gripping it in that sexy way men do, whipping it off in one swift motion.

  The next thing I know, he’s dropped his shorts as well, and he’s standing before me in only what God gave him.

  And, I have to tell you, God was generous.

  My knees feel weak and he isn’t even touching me.

  He slowly steps back to me and kisses my forehead. His fingers tangle in my hair for a moment before he tugs the hem of my plain black shirt over my head and tosses it on the floor next to his things. His eyes are roaming all over me, and I have to say, he’s fantastic for my ego. The man is devouring me with his eyes.

  I don’t know if I’ve ever had as intimate a moment with anyone else in my life.

  His nimble fingers make quick work of my pants and underwear, and I’m standing naked before this sexy man.

  I take a step back to the bed, but he shakes his head slowly back and forth.

  “I said stay where you are.”

  I cock a brow. “Bossy.”

  “Oh yeah.” He smiles as he leans in to kiss my neck. “I’m bossy in the bedroom, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, good.”

  I feel him grin against my collarbone. “I’m going to enjoy every square inch of your beautiful body tonight.”

  “Oh, good,” I repeat, and plunge my hands in his hair as he nibbles his way down to my breasts. My knees want to give.

  “Don’t sit down,” he warns me. His voice is as gentle as the fingers brushing over my sides. “I will tell you when you can move.”

  Do I like men this controlling when it comes to sex?

  I wouldn’t know. No one I’ve ever been with has been this bossy. In fact, they’ve mostly been too cautious, waiting for me to make moves.

  This is a whole new ball game.

  And I like it. A lot.

  Trevor squats in front of me, kisses down my stomach, around my navel, and down my pubis.

  Thank God I got waxed last week.

  “This is beautiful,” he whispers, and plants a wet kiss on my sensitive skin, just above my clit, then blows gently, giving me goose bumps. “I love how responsive you are.”

  I can’t even talk. All I can do is focus all my energy on staying upright because my legs want to give out.

  But I want to please him.

  I guess I’ll have to hand in my feminist card.

  His fingers trail down to my clit, barely brushing over it, and then sink into my lips. I brace myself on his strong shoulders, unable to keep my eyes open any longer.

  I feel drunk on him.

  “Fucking hell you’re wet.”

  I nod in agreement because that’s all I can do.

  “Does this feel good?”

  I nod again.

  “Are your knees feeling weak?”

  “They always feel weak when I’m with you,” I reply honestly.

  He doesn’t say anything for a long moment, so I open my eyes to find him gazing up at me with fire in his green eyes. His fingers are still working magic in my core.

  I’m no virgin, but I’ve never felt anything like this.

  “Sit on the bed.”

  I oblige him, and in one swift motion, he urges me onto my back, covering me with his body. He kisses down my torso again, harder this time, biting and sucking. When he gets to my pussy, he doesn’t hesitate, he just
sinks right in, licking and kissing, massaging my ass cheeks as he lifts me up to his mouth so he can devour me.

  Holy. Fucking. Shit.

  My hips won’t stop circling, following his tongue, begging for more. I’m gripping on to the blanket, every nerve ending in my body is zinging in pleasure.

  He sinks two fingers inside me, and that’s it, I come apart, crying out his name as I come harder than I ever have before. He doesn’t let up as wave after wave takes me under and I’m left panting and sweating, moaning.

  Is that my voice?

  Before I have time to overthink anything, my legs are pushed up, knees to my shoulders, and he’s plunging inside me, watching me.

  “You’re so fucking sexy.”

  I grab his ass, pulling him, urging him to fuck me harder.

  “You like it harder?”

  I nod.

  “I can’t go softly this time, Riley.” He’s breathing so hard, his pulse pounding in his neck. He lets my legs down so I can wrap them around his waist and he can cradle my head in his hands as he kisses me and fucks me.

  I can’t help but clench around him with each thrust, and just as I feel the next orgasm push its way down my spine, he growls and grinds his pubic bone against me, coming hard.

  Did that just happen?

  Oh yeah. It happened.

  He kisses my cheek, my neck, my forehead, and then slides to the side of me, taking his weight off me.

  “My God.” He tugs me into his arms and hugs me tightly. “I’m sorry that was so fast. I’ve wanted you for what feels like years, and I just couldn’t hold back.”

  “There was nothing wrong with what we just did,” I reply, and brush a lock of his hair off his forehead. “I guess now I know what all the fuss is about.”

  He smiles, but wrinkles his nose. “You’re no virgin.”

  “No, but this was . . . New.”

  Suddenly he sits up, pinning me in a shocked expression.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I didn’t use a condom. Oh my God, Riley, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” I wave him off and scratch my belly. “I’ve got that covered. Although I am assuming you’re healthy—”

  “Perfectly healthy.”

  “Me too.” I smile and rub his arm. “We’re good.”

  “Thank God. I’ve never forgotten protection before.” He gazes at me as he lies next to me. “So now we both know what all the fuss is about.”