Stripped Raw (13 page)

“Be good!” He looks down into my eyes, and his lips part. But no words come out.

*

Two orgasms! I
kick my legs on the bed like a schoolgirl. I still can’t believe it. That’s never happened before. I smile at the door he left through, remembering his words, his touch, his royal blue eyes so alive with desire. I’m powerless to what I’m feeling. It’s been so long since a man touched me, so long since I had an orgasm. I wasn’t about to hold back any longer.

But I never got the chance to touch him. What was that about? I never got to see him naked. I wanted to touch him, and it sucked Kane left when he did. Should I have touched him anyway? Did he want me to take control, to tell him not to leave? He wouldn’t deny me, would he? I remember the way his face looked—more specifically, the way his lips looked. It was like he wanted to tell me something, but he didn’t. Maybe he was waiting for me to reciprocate. I hope I didn’t screw up. I slap myself in the forehead. I drive myself nuts sometimes. Just go with it. Just trust.

It’s just that the whole thing was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. Usually, the guy gets off, and I’m left hanging, but it wasn’t like that with Kane. He made it all about me. I’ve never been able to look a man in the eye while naked, but Kane makes me feel so special. I love how he refuses to let me hide—not my body or my soul. For the first time ever, I was totally naked, exposed with a man. It was wonderful being in his arms. I look down at myself still naked on my bed, imagining his fingerprints covering my skin. I wasn’t naked. I was covered in Kane, and I never wanted to be dressed in anything else.

KENZIE

The next two
days drag, but I’m able to knock out a lot of work, catch up on appointments, and my photo shoot for the next catalog is ready to go. But when I’m done, the quiet, the stillness of my apartment bothers me. Is this some kind of preparation for me, to give me a glimpse of what’s to come, a time when Tessa won’t be around anymore, a time when maybe Kane won’t be around, either?

Seriously, I need to stop filling my mind with crap. I don’t know why I let bad thoughts creep in and overtake the good ones. I guess everyone does that sometimes, but I hate when it happens. The truth is, I have no reason to wallow right now. Nothing bad is happening today. I mean, Kane is coming back late tonight, and it’s Sunday, my day with Tessa. She’s coming over for dinner. I have too much to look forward to.

It isn’t long before my stepsister’s sweet voice fills my apartment. I cut up some vegetables as Tessa leans over a pot I’ve started on my stove. “What are you cooking?” she asks, her nose wrinkled up like she just smelled one of Zoe’s dirty diapers.

“It’s a ‘dump dinner,’” I say. “Like my mom used to make, remember?”

Tessa winces. “I don’t think food should be referred to as a ‘dump.’ Dad calls going to the bathroom ‘taking a dump.’”

I give her my best eye roll and throw in the vegetables. “It’s called that because you just dump everything in the pot to cook. I swear your mind is always in the gutter.”

“Join me in the gutter,” Tessa says and pulls me towards the bed. “Tell me all about Kane.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Tessa. Can we have dinner first?”

“I don’t have much of an appetite, Kenzie.”

“I can’t eat all this by myself. My ass will never forgive me.” I tap my booty. “Will you, ass?”

“So weird that you talk to it.”

“It doesn’t always listen.”

Tessa glances around my apartment. “Remember we used to say we were going to live together, get our own place?”

“I wish we would’ve done that.”

“You
had
to move off to Europe.”

“And you
had
to get married.”

Tessa takes both of my hands in hers. “I’m going to move back in with Dad pretty soon.”

“What? Why?”

“All the bedrooms are upstairs at my house,” Tessa says. “It’s getting too hard to go up and down.”

“I can move in with you and help,” I offer.

“Then I’d have to hear you and Kane bumping and grinding all night long!” Tessa eyes me up and down. She can always see right through me. “Oh! You totally had sex with him!”

“No, we didn’t.”

“Yes, you did! Don’t lie to me!”

“I’m not lying.”

“Okay. Then why the heck not? Stop stalling, and fuck the man!”

“I’ll keep you posted.”

“Seriously, you guys are in love with each other.”

“I’m not sure how he feels.”

“The man practically falls to your feet when you walk in the room.”

“He does not.”

“He does,” Tessa says. “Have you peed in front of him yet?”

“Gross! No, I haven’t peed in front of him. Why would I do that?”

“Has he peed in front of you?”

“No, I actually haven’t seen his. . . .” I pause and wave my arms around, trying to make the words appear.

“Kenzie, you are such a prude!”

“I am not!” I say. “We’ve done some stuff.”

“Obviously not enough!” Tessa says and sits up straight. “Look, here’s my test for knowing if a man is serious about you. If you can pee in front of him and he doesn’t freak out, then he’s in it for the long haul.”

“Tessa, I’ve never peed in front of a man my whole life.”

“Trust me, you can’t marry someone and never pee in front of them. Doesn’t happen.”

“Thanks for that, Tessa. Any more relationship advice you’d care to pass on?”

“Since Brandon and I were so successful, I’m probably not the best to ask,” she says. “But seriously, enjoy him. I mean, really have fun with him. Don’t let the outside world mess up what you have. Keep it sacred, or soon enough, you’ll find yourself only having maintenance sex to keep him from hounding you about it.”

I lightly hit Tessa with a pillow. “Does cancer make you a pervert or something?”

“When Brandon and I used to fight, it was so hot. We’d have this crazy angry sex after. Then some time around year four, I think, we’d fight, and I’d go scrub the floor.”

“That’s just sad.”

“Sooner or later, angry sex turns into angry housework.”

“That should be a warning label.”

“Don’t let it happen to you.”

*

I lather myself
with soap, cleaning every inch of my body. Kane will be here soon, and I want to smell good when he stops by. It was sweet he texted to ask if he could come by, that he didn’t just assume. I can’t wait to see him. It seems like it’s been forever. I miss the warmth of his body, the feel of his breath, the push of his morning arousal against my ass.

I rinse off and step out of the shower, anxious to hear his sexy voice. I love his voice. It was the first thing I noticed about him, and I haven’t heard it in days. We haven’t talked while he’s been away—a few texts, but that was it. I wonder why. He was probably busy, like he said. Or maybe he’s pissed I didn’t reciprocate.

“Kenzie?” he calls out from my shop. I jump slightly and reach for a towel to cover myself. “Kenzie?” His voice is louder this time. He’s coming closer, making his way to my apartment. “I missed you so damn much! Get out here!”

Screw it! I’m not going to be scared anymore. I draw a deep breath, throw the towel to the floor, open the bathroom door, and greet him wearing nothing but a smile. His mouth drops to the floor. He slides his thumb across his bottom lip, and in two strides I’m wrapped in his arms. He lifts me in the air and tackles me to the bed, pulling my mouth to his, grabbing a fist full of my hair, forcing me tighter to him. I pull and tug at his clothes, but I’m distracted by his warm tongue gliding across my neck, his hand now cupping my breast, my nipple between his fingers, all the pleasure shooting right between my legs.

He suddenly sits back and locks his eyes on mine. “I want to pick up where we left off.”

“Yes,” I pant, eager for him to do whatever he wants to me.

He moves a finger slowly down my neck, down the curve of my breasts. He’s a master at the art of the tease, and I’m loving it. He pulls up my leg and holds my thigh firmly then reaches underneath me to squeeze my ass. His eyes leave mine for a moment, and he lowers his head, letting his warm breath tickle my peaked nipple.

“You’re so sensitive,” he says, moving his fingers lower. “Makes me want to bury myself inside you.” My legs fall open inviting him in. “Jesus, baby, I’m trying to take my time.”

“Please,” I beg.

Kane rocks his hips into mine. “You want me to make you come?”

“Yes!”

He lowers his mouth from my breast to my waist and then circles my belly button with his tongue. “You want me to make you scream?”

“God, yes!”

He kisses his way down my body, making my heart race and head spin as I run a hand through his hair. I’m so ready for him to put his mouth on me. I
need
his mouth on me. And then I feel it. My muscles tighten as he lightly runs his tongue over my folds, tasting me, getting me wetter than I already am. My body is begging for him, wanting him inside me.

“I’m not going to rush,” he promises in a whisper. “I’m going to build you up so much, so that you come so hard for me.” My back arches at the thought, and he smiles, watching my body move. Then he buries his head again, licking me some more, still ever so slowly, before lifting his royal blue eyes to me, holding my ass, still teasing me with his tongue.

I start to move against his tongue, urging him to fuck me with his mouth. He gives a naughty chuckle and slips his tongue inside. He pushes in and out, and I clench my muscles around him, hard. I feel myself on the verge.

“Don’t stop. Oh, God, please don’t stop. I’m almost there.” I grip the bed sheets with all my might and explode all over his mouth. “Kane!” I thought the orgasms two days ago were the best ever, but this just topped them both by a mile.

My body trembling from the aftershocks, Kane moves up beside me and wraps me in his arms, “I’ve thought about nothing else the past two days,” he says, “nothing but giving you pleasure, making you come that way.”

“My turn,” I say and wipe a few strands of hair from my face then slip a finger into his waistband.

He takes my hands and pins them over my head. “I’m not done with you yet,” he says and lowers his mouth to my neck.

A deep disappointment settles into my chest. Kane must have felt it, too, because he lifts his head from my neck. “What did I do?” he asks.

“I haven’t done anything for you.”

“That’s why you’re upset?” he asks. I nod a little, and he strokes my cheek. “It’s not a race or a contest. No one is keeping score.”

I sniffle a little and gather some courage. “Is it because I don’t turn you on?”

“Is that a joke?” He takes my hand and puts it on the rock hard bulge in his pants. “Does it feel like I’m not turned on by you? I was testing myself.”

“Why?”

“It’s how I know that. . . .”

“Know what?”

He takes a huge breath. “How I know I love a woman.” I stop breathing. I’m in shock. I didn’t expect him to say that. I guess Tessa was right. “When I can be totally unselfish, when I can be satisfied that she’s satisfied, when her happiness comes before my own.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “God, I hope it’s not too early to tell you.”

I start breathing again but can barely contain myself. I’m not sure if my heart is melting or about to burst. He’s putting me first—and love! This is better than any orgasm! And it’s cute he’s so nervous telling me, like he’s afraid I may not love him back, as if that is possible. What’s not to love?

“Please say something,” he says.

I offer a sexy smile and take his hand. “How long does this testing phase last?”

“It’s over.”

“Thank God.” I quickly roll on top of him, straddling him and leaning down, letting my breasts push against his chest. He puts his fingers in my hair, and I can feel his body tense beneath me, clearly needing release. He’s obviously been waiting days for this. I lower my mouth to his neck, thinking about how Kane had sucked on me, how he teased me with his dirty talk, built me up, made me needier than ever. It’s time to return the favor, or the tease.

“You want me to make you come?” I whisper.

The corner of his mouth turns up in a naughty smile, and he sits up, pulling my legs tight around his waist and gripping my ass. “I want it all, Kenzie.”