Love Is Louder (11 page)

I roll over to block out the sun raging through my window to admire this beautiful woman standing naked in my bedroom. Dana lingers in the doorway, long black hair past her shoulders and aqua eyes that would have any man drop to his knees.

Dana moved back to New York from Florida to work as a paralegal at Sanderson and Benz, LLP, a law firm located downtown. We reconnected when I saw her one night at the Bull and Bear, and we picked up where we left off, like five years never passed. She was a high school fling, college fling, and my current fling when we both need something on a sporadic basis.

The attraction is there, but not the connection on an emotional level. Dana is a romantic and lives with her head in the clouds when it comes to relationships. She wants a man to conquer and dominate her, but at the same time, adore her. The fact I have trouble with commitment and Dana is looking for her Prince Charming are a couple of reasons why we won’t work as a couple. I’m not sure I want to be living up to those kinds of expectations hanging over my head. Plus, the whole friends with benefits thing has worked out pretty well for us.
Why mess with a good thing?

“Good morning.”

“God,” I grumble. “What time is it?”

“Whatever time you want,” she says as she gently rolls me onto my back and straddles me.

“No, seriously, I’ve got a ton of things to do today, Dana.
A ton
.” I smile, feeling her finger tracing the ridges of my abs.

“You can do me first,” she says, planting a kiss on my neck. “A little quickie.”

“Again? You know there are no quickies with you.”

“Or with you.” She grins seductively and leans over to nibble on my bottom lip.

“Mmm…True,” I groan, feeling her grind on my lengthening cock. “I did you all night, and now it’s...”

I’m unable to finish my thoughts, watching her slide gracefully down my body like a sultry feline while pulling away the black silk sheets. “Can I have this? It’s much better than having morning coffee.” She takes my cock and strokes it eagerly while licking her lips.

“Yeah...Daa...
Shit
.”

Pulling her hair away from her face, I stare as her tongue travels up and down my shaft, stroking me several times before she takes my cock slowly into her mouth. I close my eyes and thrust gently, listening to her moan as I tug at her hair.

“Fuck, D.”

I don’t know why I was going to ditch this with Dana. She gives the best blowjobs, putting one hundred ten percent into them. My balls tense, and my breathing grows ragged as she speeds up her pace over the next several minutes. I thrust one last time before I give her better than anything Starbucks has on their fucking menu.

She slides back up my body, ready to do some more, and I oblige her since I’m not sure when the next female will be in my bed. We make the most of it and have a quickie before we get ready for work.

Sifting through the clothes that are tossed all over my bedroom, I find my boxer briefs and slide them on. I peer out my bedroom window overlooking the street.

“Hey, won’t it be four years since your sister’s accident?” she whispers, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind.

“Yes, don’t remind me.” My voice breaks as I turn to her. Three weeks and Lily will be four. I hate that Meadow is not here to see how smart, sweet, and sassy she is.

“I can’t believe no one came forward about the accident.”

“You know I run that shit over and over in my head,” I reply, sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at the golden hardwoods under my bare feet. Meadow’s death ripped a painful hole inside me. The past four years have fed that hole with inevitable guilt. I missed her call. If it weren’t for that, she would be here. I can’t remember where I was or what I was doing. Was I at the bar? Was I doing something pointless when my phone rang? So many scenarios, so much blame. Her death was like someone cut out my heart with a knife, and the only person that has been able to mend it has been Lily. The moment I was able to hold my arms around that tiny baby, a piece of my sister, I was truly able to breathe again.

I returned to the accident site that night, looking for something that would lead me to the asshole that would do something like this and walk away, but there was nothing. No skid marks, no clues, and no witnesses, which I found hard to believe. Even though it looked like my sister left from the back of the store and walked out front, someone had to have seen her. It’s a cold case, and I hate it. My sister deserves to rest in peace, and I need closure.

“I’ve got to get ready. Do you mind showing yourself out?” I glance at Dana while she finishes getting dressed and collects her things.

“I wish I could do something more to help you. Maybe I can talk to some more people at the firm.”

“What the fuck are they gonna do? You’ve tried for me.” I frown. “I don’t want you to risk your career doing crazy shit. Supposedly nobody saw my sister get run over by anything or anyone.”

“I know it still bothers you with her anniversary around the corner. I just feel there’s more I can do. I knew your sister. We graduated together. There has got to be something.”

I push off the bed, reflecting on what avenues I haven’t gone down while trying to figure out my sister’s death. I go through this every July third.

“The damn police department found nothing,” I complain, glaring out the window. No one came forward with any information. I was willing to give a twenty thousand dollar reward for any kind of information. Someone left my pregnant sister alone on the side of the road to die.

There was only one other time I felt this kind of loss. The one and only time when my girlfriend, the woman I loved deep down to the fibers of my cells, left me. I should have fought harder for her, but I would’ve been holding her back. I couldn’t live with that either.

What would I do if I saw her now? Would she want me? Would I still want her? Is she with someone else? What is it going to take for me to get over my pain? Is there someone out there that can help this dead feeling inside me disappear? Closing my eyes, I raise my face to the sun and allow my mind to drift to one of the last and most painful moments with her.

The sound of the front door slamming and sight of her walking into the house hits me in the chest with dumbstruck desire. My eyes wander over her smooth body in a pair of white linen shorts and a black tank top. She’s a natural beauty, wearing no makeup. Her thick brown hair hangs over her tanned shoulders in sexy, loose braids, and when she looks up, I drink in her intelligent green eyes. I feel their warmth as they flood my insides with reverence and get me high on her beauty and strength. Even after two years together, she does this to me every time.

I’m dying to wrap my arms around her and kiss her. She was gone for two days, spending time with her family. My life was at a standstill, waiting for her to get back. It’s been a tough few months for both of us, and I understand her need to get away.

“Hey, baby,” she speaks in a soft voice.

“Hey,” I say mildly, trying to feign calm. My heart is racing a mile a minute, sensing that something is off. She slips in front of me, pressing her body against mine and brushing her lips over mine. Her warmth seeps through me and thaws the ice that had settled in my veins while she was gone. My eyes fly to her as she walks into the living room, a slight smirk lines her pink lips as she gazes around the cluttered room, scattered with empty beer bottles and takeout containers. She hates when I leave messes, but I didn’t have it in me to do anything. I forced myself to work, to get through the days I didn’t hear from her, wondering if she was okay.

Inhaling deeply and then exhaling, she turns to face me. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” I answer, staring at her face to help calm my heart. “Everything okay?”

“Yes...I just had a couple of things to take care of.” Sadness flashes in her eyes like a dark cloud, stabbing me in the chest like a spear.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” I’m uncertain what to make of her mood and her brief silence as I go to her and pull her closer to me, letting my eyes wander over her. “Talk to me.”

She leans up to me, her lips caress mine like a feather. I tangle my fingers in her hair and tug gently, arching her neck so that her eyes are on me. I know the look in her eyes. It’s a look that sets my blood on fire, but there’s something more behind it.

“Not now.” Her lips part, and she teases me with another kiss before she eases back to look at me. “I need you...please,” she teases, trailing a finger down my forearm. “I just want to be with you.”

I put my doubts aside and ignore the desolation that’s flickering in her eyes because I need her just as much. I need her touch. I need to feel her, be inside her. Maybe we can both wipe it away now that we’re together. I capture her around the waist and pull her against me, lowering my head to kiss her hard. A gasp stops in her throat. The sight and feel of her body arching into me burns me with yearning. I want to claim her over and over again and never let her go because she is the only woman I want.

I bury my face in her neck, nipping and kissing her skin. I can feel her pulse quickening under my lips, and the taste of vanilla and citrus coats my tongue. There is no stopping the overwhelming rush that ignites inside me when I touch her like this. This is the woman that sees and accepts the real me. The woman that wreaks havoc on my soul. The woman I want a future with.

“Mason, I just want you. Surround me now.” Her voice is a soft rasp. “Fuck me. Make love to me.”

Christ. Raw words from her sweet mouth make me instantly hard.

Reaching for the hem of her tank top, she pulls it over her head. My heart beats out of control at the sight of her tits straining against her bra. My eyes rake over her, memorizing every single angle, curve, and mark on her skin. Then she slips off her shorts, letting them fall to the floor, her intentions clear.

I take her by the hips and hoist her up, pressing my lips against hers. She wraps her long legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. My jaw locks as my dick teases at her entrance. I tighten my grip around her as I carry her to the bedroom and lay her onto the bed. Sitting up on her elbows, she watches me with flames in her eyes as I peel off my shirt and pants. I edge back and admire her; there are few words to describe her. There is only one that fits her as I see myself reflected in her eyes. “Perfect, baby. So perfect.”

“Mason.” Her voice is edgy as a somber flash of emotion flickers like a sunset across her face. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I groan.

My heart beats like a fucking drum, and my cock strains for her as she crawls across the bed to kneel in front of me, her fingers teasing at the waistband of my boxers. I hiss as her touch glides lower and lower.

She presses her lips on my cock through my boxers, sending a jolt of electricity racing through my limbs. The heat of her breath and the delicateness of her lips drive me insane. Taunting me, she gingerly strokes my cock, her touch becomes firmer as my cock thickens, and then she frees me from the confines of my boxers. With one hand, she grasps me and pleasures me with long, hard strokes.

“Baby, “I grunt as she pushes down my underwear. Kicking them aside, I force her back on the bed and crawl over her, placing kisses on her hot skin on my way up. She sucks in a breath as my hands travel down to her wet pussy, and I press and run my thumb over her clit under the lace of her panties. Her body tenses, her fingers digging into my arms, her eyes filled with fire. Her chest rises sharply as she sucks in another breath when I pull her panties down the length of her legs, tossing them aside. I grab her hips, planting her hard against the mattress. My hands force her legs apart as I center myself between her legs.

“Fuck…baby. You want…”

“Yes…I want you.”

Her eyes flutter, and I groan when I sink into her. Pleasure shoots straight up my spine as her body yields into me, and she spreads her legs wider. I fist my hands in her hair, my hips steadfast as I rock into her, feeling her walls clench around my dick. I crush my mouth against hers and brace my hands on either side of her head, pumping harder as she bucks and writhes underneath me.

“Mason...more,” she whimpers with swollen, parted lips.

“You’re mine. Say it.” I pull back and slam forward, driving my body into her. Her hands are everywhere, sinking into my shoulders, raking down my back, her pussy clenching around me. She arches into me, offering all of her body to me as I pound my hips into her. I take all of her at this moment, rocking with each firm thrust as she grips the sheets and moans in pleasure.

“Always yours.” Her loved-filled gaze meets mine.

“You’re beautiful, baby. So beautiful.”

“Mason...” She steals my lips, her tongue slipping between my open lips as I thrust into her.

“Fuck,” I moan when she bites my lip, hard.

Her legs begin to shake and tremble against my body, and it detonates something inside me. I drive into her harder, devouring her as the tremors roll through her body. Pleasure blazes in her eyes as she lifts her back, crying out my name as she unravels around my cock.