“God, Mari…fuck, that’s good…”
His husky words egged her on. She took him deeper, sucked harder, pumped him with her hand as she teased him with her tongue. She wanted to play with his balls but her sex was so wet and her clit was swollen to the point of pain, so she brought her other hand between her legs in an attempt to alleviate some of the pressure.
At Austin’s sharp intake of breath, she peeked up and noticed the sensual gleam in his eyes. “Yeah, touch yourself. Make yourself come while you suck me off.”
The wicked demand made her pussy clench.
As she furiously rubbed her clit, she loosened her jaw and quickened the tempo, moving her mouth up and down his thick cock. His hands tangled in her hair, but he didn’t force her head closer or take control. She appreciated his restraint, his ability to let her go at her own pace, to trust that she’d get him where he needed to be.
“I’m coming,” he said roughly. “Fuck, I’m coming.”
A second later, his hot seed filled her mouth, and an orgasm shuddered through her body. The taste of him infused her taste buds. She swallowed every drop, rocking into her own hand and riding the sweet waves of pleasure that washed over her.
When she finally released his cock, they were both breathing in labored pants. Mari took a second to recover before rising to her feet, and when she finally stood, Austin immediately pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her in a tight hug, his head resting on her shoulder.
“I needed that,” he said hoarsely.
She planted a kiss between his pecs. “I know you did.”
“You’re pretty amazing, you know that?”
Smiling, Mari lifted her head to meet his eyes. She was slightly floored by the tenderness shining in his gaze. “You’re only saying that because I just gave you a BJ in the shower.”
“Nope, I’m saying it because it’s the truth.” Sincerity rang in his voice, matching the earnest expression on his face.
She couldn’t explain the rush of warmth that tickled her chest. All she knew was that Austin was looking at her like she was a winning lottery ticket. Like this thing between them was about more than sex.
The notion brought a shiver of pleasure, but it was accompanied by a tremor of uneasiness. Swallowing, she leaned up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“Stop getting all sappy on me, Bishop.” Putting on a cheerful face, she reached behind him for the bar of soap on the shower shelf. “Come on, let’s wash each other’s backs. We’ve got a party to attend.”
Chapter Seven
Mari was oddly nervous when they reached Austin’s mother’s place forty-five minutes later. The house reminded her of Nate’s, a rustic two-story structure with an enormous porch and pretty green shutters. Her nervousness increased as the murmur of voices drifted from behind the tall wooden gate to the side of the house.
The half dozen cars parked on the dusty drive told her that the birthday party was in full swing. Nate’s pickup truck was already there since Nate and Charlotte had gone ahead of them, which had been a stalling maneuver on Austin’s part. Mari knew he’d purposely waited for his older brother to leave first so Nate wouldn’t get a chance to demand answers about Austin’s big reveal.
“Come on, we should go inside,” Austin said with a sigh.
Mari nodded. “’Kay.” As they got out of the SUV, she continued to admire Della Bishop’s house. “Why are all the houses in this town so freaking pretty?”
Austin smiled faintly. “’Cause Owen builds them.”
“He built this one too?”
“Yup. After Dad—” His expression darkened “Henry,” he amended. “After Henry died, Mom didn’t want to keep living in the house she’d raised us in. She needed a fresh start, so Owen and his crew immediately got working on the plans for this place.”
They climbed the porch steps and approached the front door, which was painted a lovely hunter green. Wind chimes hanging from the porch posts jingled in the evening breeze, making Mari smile. It really was the perfect evening for a party. The sun had already set, but the sky still held the orangey hue of the sunset, and the air was warm and sultry.
Mari breathed in all that fresh mountain air, a sense of serenity fluttering through her. She didn’t understand this strange connection she felt toward Paradise. She’d only been here a few hours, yet she felt so comfortable and relaxed. She felt…at home.