90 Days (Prairie Town Book 2) (20 page)

     “With a little help from me.” He shrugged and grinned.  “But I mostly only put together a few of the shelves and installed the security system for her.  Paul probably did more than I did.”

     “It looks awesome.” She stood up and wandered down an aisle, her fingertips tracing over the spines of each book in greeting.

     “You really must be a bookworm, huh?” He asked, following along.  “Tula does the exact same thing when she’s here.”

     “Books are incredible.  They’re the perfect escape.”

     “We all have our vices.” He commented, leaning against the shelf when she stopped to select a book.

     “This is my favorite vice.  My preferred vice.”

     What did she mean by that?

     He drank in the sight before him as Laney, with her wet cheeks and red nose, opened the book and began reading.  She was so damn beautiful.  Did she have any idea how beautiful she was?  His chest tightened and his palms began to sweat as she turned the page and the hint of a smile graced her lips.

     He wanted to kiss those lips again.

     Hopefully she would be okay now.  Maybe he could send Lydia a text and convince her to make an effort to help Laney feel more involved.  That’s all she seemed to want anyway, just to be included.

     “This book sounds amazing. I’m definitely coming back for it tomorrow.” Laney stated as she closed it gently and hugged it to her chest.  “What time is the grand opening?”

     “One o’clock.” He smiled and stepped closer, reading the title of the book aloud.  “That One Night by Josie Wright, huh?  So you’re a romance kind of girl?”

     “You better believe it.  This book reminds me of myself a little, somehow.” She smiled shyly, batting her eyelashes.  “I envy romance stories.”

     “Why’s that?”

     “Because they get a happily ever after.” Putting the book back in its place, she turned back around and faced him, her eyes darting back and forth between his.  “Novels create happiness for people like me, they instill a sense of belonging.  And romance novels give you just that little bit of hope that maybe you’ll find true love, too.”

     “And it’s all mushy, right?” He teased, nudging her shoulder with his own.  “Lots of kissing and stuff?”

     “Of course,” she laughed.  “What’s a romance novel without perfect first kisses and steamy love scenes?”

     His pulse quickened at the mention of love scenes and he bit down on his lip ring.  Laney’s smile faded and her eyes glazed over as she stepped closer to him. 

     “I really like reading about the first time.” Her voice was sultry as she closed the distance between them.  She didn’t touch him, but the sensation of her close proximity was electrifying. “You know, the scenes where they finally decide it’s time to take the next step, to give in to their desires?”

    
Oh fucking fuck.
  He licked his lips and inched a little closer, feeling their chests touch. 

     “Sometimes it happens sooner than the reader expects, but the characters always seem to know what they’re doing.  Sometimes they can’t help it.” Her breathing grew ragged as she brushed her fingers against his and gazed into his eyes.  “Kind of like in the front seat of a boy’s car on an oddly cold summer night.”

     Like an unfortunate worm popping its head up at dawn, he was a total goner.

     Their lips met in a hungry, hot kiss, and it was all he could do to keep from ripping her blue button up shirt clean off her body.  Her fingers tangled into his hair as he gripped the backs of her thighs and lifted her into the air, pinning her body against the bookshelf.

    
Thank fuck for the gym.

     A few books fell off the shelf as her back hit it.  “Sorry.” He murmured as his lips attacked the side of her neck.

    
Tula definitely would not approve of this.

     Laney turned her head and caught the bottom of his earlobe between her teeth.  “It’s okay.” She moaned.  “It’s fine.”

    
No offense, Tula, but fuck you right now.

     His eager fingers traced over every inch of her back, neck, and shoulders as his tongue slid forward to taste the saltiness of the flesh of her neck.  He was rewarded with the sweetest sounds.

     “We probably shouldn’t.” She gasped, allowing her head to fall back, giving him full access to her throat.  He nibbled lightly and then kissed her pulse point as she sighed contently.  “This is Tula’s store.”

     “I can stop.” He lifted his head to gaze at her, noting how flushed her face was and how swollen her lips were from kisses.  The temptation was too great; he leaned in to suck on her bottom lip as she whimpered.

     “I don’t want to stop.” She admitted, fisting his hair between her fingers.  “I don’t care if we’re in a bookstore.”

     “I don’t either.” He grinned, breathing heavily as he kissed her again.

     Sliding down to the floor with her, he pushed her on her back and hovered above her, aching with need as he began to unbutton her shirt.

     He was suddenly very attracted to bank tellers.

     Laney gazed up at him with a small smile on her lips.  Her eyes were still watery from her tears, but she looked so happy in spite of the sadness she’d displayed only moments before.

    
Do I make her happy?
  He wondered, briefly, his fingers stilling against her stomach.

     “Please, Benji.” She pleaded softly.  “Please touch me.”

      He wanted to.  He would.  But it was in that moment, when their gazes locked and the invisible barrier crashed around them, that he realized Laney needed more than just a release.  She needed more than just pleasure.

     She needed to be loved, completely and without restraint.

     Brushing his lips against hers, he carefully pushed her shirt open and then pulled back to admire her beauty.

     Laney trembled beneath his gaze.  He could see the small quiver of her lips and how her breath hitched in her throat.  This wasn’t just a spontaneous romp with a girl who happened to be into trans guys.

     This was something real, raw, passionate, and beautiful.  It was an opportunity to give Laney what she craved, straight off the pages of the books she read.

     He could be her real life hero; he could revive whatever hope she’d lost; he could be the glue to piece her back together.

    “Please.” She repeated as he ghosted his fingers over the top of her left breast.  “Benji…”

     His hand touched the silky fabric of her bra and she closed her eyes, lips parting in an inaudible sigh.  He was mesmerized with every movement, every expression.  Pulling the cup of her bra down, her hard nipple came into view, begging for his attention, which he would gladly give it, and he took it into his mouth.

     She arched her back and tugged at his hair, moaning softly as his teeth teased over the hardened flesh.  Though she probably didn’t have the slightest idea, she was killing him. 

     He had dreamed of this exact moment for months.  Laney was the leading lady in every sexual fantasy he had.  When he touched himself, he thought of her; as he bit his lip in an effort to stay quiet during his orgasms, he thought of her.

     Laney consumed every fiber of his being and now here she was, writhing beneath him, from the pleasure only he could give her at the moment.

     “Ben…” Her voice went an octave higher as he slid his other hand up her skirt.  Spreading her legs for him, he touched the damp material of her underwear and groaned as he felt the heat radiating from her core.  “Yes…”

     “God, Laney.  You’re killing me.” He said quietly, his fingertips stroking the outline of her clit atop the hot, wet fabric.  It felt like he was returning home. “Tell me what you want.  I’ll give it to you.”

     “Everything.” She whispered back, lifting her head to kiss him again.  “Anything, Benji.  Just don’t stop.”

     Maneuvering his legs between hers with his knees digging into the carpet, he leaned back on his haunches and pushed her legs further apart, watching with a heated gaze as her skirt slid further up her thighs.

     “Purple, huh?” He commented when her underwear came into view, a coy smile playing on his lips.  “I like it.”

     She laughed quietly and turned her head, but he’d already seen the blush.  He liked that he could make her blush.  He liked a lot of things about her.

     He curled his fingers around the flimsy fabric covering her from his view and pulled it aside, the breath immediately rushing from his lungs.  His mouth watered and as much as he hated it, he was drenched with desire. 

     For her.

     “I’m going to eat you up.” He promised, bending down and pulling her legs onto his shoulders.  Listening to her quick intake of breath, he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d never experienced the beautiful art of cunnilingus before.

     His answer came in the form of a strangled gasp when his tongue made contact, licking her tentatively.

     “Oh my god, Benji.”  Her fingers sank into his hair once more and she pulled roughly—something he always liked.  Growling against her wet, hot flesh, he hardened his tongue against her clit and began moving it rapidly, knowing exactly what his tongue ring would do to her as her thighs tightened around his head.

     She was definitely the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted in his life.

     She would surely become his favorite addiction.

     His hunger for her would never be sated.

     “B-Benji.” She moaned as his short, rapid licks became soft and thorough.  Her hips bucked against his mouth and he groaned in appreciation.  It drove him wild when a girl got lost in a frenzy of pleasure.

     “Oh… Oh…” Her breathing grew shallow and her body began to tense as her orgasm drew closer.  Just like the other night, he readied himself for her orgasm.  Digging his fingertips into her hips gently, he kept his mouth firmly against her, lapping at her core like his favorite dessert.  When she came, it was the most remarkable thing he’d ever witnessed and it was a moment he’d not soon forget, if ever.

     He pressed a kiss to her inner thigh and crawled back up her body, smiling as she opened her eyes to gaze at him.

     “That was…”

     “The greatest thing you’ve ever experienced?  You’re welcome.” He winked, pushing her hair out of her eyes. 

     “It was definitely great.  It was…wow.” She released a low breath and then pushed her skirt back into place, her chest rising and falling quickly.  “You seem to be really good at that.”

     “Well, I’m not one to brag.” He chuckled, sliding his fingers along her jaw.  “As long as you enjoyed it, that’s all that matters.”

     “I did.  If ‘enjoyed’ can even be the word for it.” Laney slowly sat up and turned to face him, pulling her bra back into place.  Her eyes swept over his face and her teeth found her bottom lip as she cleared her throat and tucked some hair behind her ear.  “I think I needed that.  Do you…do you want me to return the favor?”

     “No.” He said a little too quickly.  When she frowned, he reached for her hand and put on his best smile, not wanting to hurt her feelings.  “I’m more of a giver than a taker, beautiful.”

     “Oh.  Okay then.”

     She wasn’t the first girl to respond like that after his refusal to have the favor returned.  It wasn’t anything personal against her, and he hoped she knew that, he just didn’t want whatever image of him she had in her mind to instantly crash and burn if she stuck her hand down his pants and didn’t find what she expected from a man.

     He
was
a man.  Through and through he was a man.  His heart was that of a man; his mind was that of a man; his soul was that of a man.  But the equipment he’d been born with belonged to someone else and Laney may have forgotten that, especially given her cheeks were still flushed and her skin probably still tingled from the bliss she’d just experienced.

     It was too damn easy to get caught up in it all, and Benji knew from personal experience what a train wreck it could become if his partners tried to touch him.  It never worked out.  Sometimes it was just too soon, and sometimes it was just never meant to be.  The thought of losing her over something so frivolous was unfair and in all honesty, it would devastate him.

     He was already in too deep and being pushed away now would crush him.

     “Benji?”

     They had been lying on the floor for nearly an hour, holding one another and sharing kisses occasionally, when Laney’s hushed voice reached his ears.

     Opening his eyes and staring up into the darkness of the shop, he grinned lazily and turned his head to peer at her.  “Hm?”

     “What is this?” She asked.  “Between us, I mean.”

     “Well.” He shifted and rolled onto his side, propping himself up with his elbow.  “What do you want it to be, beautiful?”

     “I don’t know.” She laughed, burying her face against the sleeve of his hoodie.  He could barely see one of her eyes, but the sparkle in her green hue was undeniable.  Happiness.  “Something amazing, maybe?”