“Not possible. You weren’t here.”
She surprised him by pulling back and blinking. “I don’t think I can handle you being nice.”
“Then I’ll stop. Are you ready to come inside or do you want to stay in the foyer for a while longer?”
She glanced around and groaned. “I didn’t even get all the way into the house. I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not. You’re kind of sweet. Did you eat? Are you hungry?” He didn’t have much in the refrigerator but there was always frozen pizza.
Kelly flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you. You’re the best boyfriend ever.”
“I know. I won the award just last year. I have a plaque. Want to see it?”
“I do.”
Her hands felt good on his back. She smelled like flowers and some kind of lotion, because she would never wear perfume. Tonight there was no makeup, no girlie clothes. Tonight she was just Kelly in cargo pants and boots. His kind of girl.
He wanted her—that wasn’t new. But he wasn’t going to make his move. Not with her like this. Instead he would feed her, make her laugh and send her back home. Or offer her a bed in a guest room.
“Where’s Ryan?” she asked.
“Out. I don’t see much of him these days.”
“He’s still not cooperating on the work front?”
“Not even a little.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We’ll figure it out. So pizza?”
She nodded. He stepped back and took her hand, then led her into the kitchen. They walked to the freezer and checked out the selection.
“Pepperoni, all meat, extra meat,” he said.
“I’m sensing a theme.”
He grinned. “You’re not going to find anything with vegetables in the pizza selection, if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“How shocking. How about the extra meat?”
“Perfect.” He leaned in and lightly kissed her, then reached for the pizza. When he put it on the counter, she moved next to him and put her hand on his forearm.
“Griffith, wait.”
He glanced at her.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
He waited, sure he’d misunderstood.
“Let’s go upstairs,” she repeated.
His dick immediately woke up and offered a yes vote. The rest of him was right there, as well. But his brain, oh, his stupid, sensible brain pointed out that Kelly was feeling battered and vulnerable and taking advantage of her was not only bad form but potentially dangerous for their relationship. He liked her—he wanted to take care of her—and this was not the way to do that.
“You’re dealing with a lot,” he began.
“I am.” She bent down and unlaced her boots, then stepped out of them. “I’m thinking a distraction would be nice.”
“Me, uh, too, but you need time to—”
She pulled off her T-shirt and walked out of the room. Griffith waited exactly three seconds before muttering, “This isn’t my fault,” and following up her the stairs.
*
Kelly knew her motivation was suspect. She mostly wanted to get lost and not have to think about everything going on and Griffith was the most effective, nicest, safest way she could think to make that happen.
When they reached his bedroom, she took in the cool colors, the large king-size bed, the thick carpet. The room was comfortable. Masculine enough to be his, but not so cutting-edge as to be trying too hard. She could get used to a room like this.
She crossed to the bed and pulled back the covers, then faced him. “Do you have a favorite side?”
“The one closest to you.”
She smiled, then pulled off her socks. After unfastening her jeans, she pushed them down. Her bra and panties followed.
Before she could think more about the fact that she’d just stripped down in front of a man she didn’t know all that well, he swore softly, crossed to her and pulled her into his arms.
She relaxed into his embrace and focused on how strong and tall he was. How his hands moved up and down her back. She breathed in the scent of him and the way he cupped her butt before shifting so he could caress her small breasts.
Sensations began to stir. Warmth and something that was nicely arousing. Her mind got fuzzy, which was the best reaction yet. They kissed. Hot, deep kisses with tongues and lips. That was good, too.
She tugged at his shirt until he pulled it off. His boots and socks followed, then his jeans and briefs. When they were both naked, she reached between them and stroked his erection. He flexed in her hand. She laughed.
“You have condoms, right?” she asked.
“In the nightstand.”
“Good.”
She shifted to the bed. He opened a drawer and pulled out a strip of condoms, then slid in next to her. He touched her everywhere, stroking her breasts and teasing her nipples. Heat built inside of her. He lowered his head to her breasts and kissed the tight peaks. She shivered as need raced to every part of her.
This was the good part, she thought happily. The before. When her body promised a thousand things.
He moved one hand between her legs. She parted for him. He explored her, paying special attention to the very core of her. He circled that spot, making her breathing quicken.
Her arousal continued building and building. She strained toward it, hoping this time she would be able to let herself go. Yet even as she reached, her mind intruded. So many thoughts. The fight with her mother, Olivia’s betrayal. She pushed it all away but it returned and suddenly the feel of Griffith’s fingers against her core was little more than pleasant. Her arousal faded as if it had never been and the awkwardness of this first sexual encounter loomed large.
Disappointment flooded her—sad but not surprising. It had always been like this. There was the good part and then there was nothing. Still, she knew how to move things along.
She opened her eyes and stretched out for the condom. “Be inside of me,” she whispered.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded, then pulsed her hips, as if urging him along. Griffith did as she requested. He knelt between her legs and slowly eased inside of her. He filled her, stretched her and for a second, need returned. She sank into the sensation, willing it to continue before it drifted away.
He moved in and out. She wrapped her legs around his hips and kept pace with him. She consciously quickened her breathing. She wasn’t going to fake it, exactly. Instead she would encourage him. Otherwise, guys liked to take forever and that only got uncomfortable for everyone.
“Kelly,” he began.
She opened her eyes and found him watching her. “Don’t hold back,” she whispered. “Please, just go for it.”
“But you—”
“It’ll be better for me that way.”
She arched her hips, pulling him in deeper, then breathed his name. He tensed as if doing his best to hold back, which wasn’t going to work at all. When he pushed in again, she tightened her muscles around him and breathed, “Yes!” Seconds later, he came.
She sighed and held on to him. “That was wonderful. Thank you.”
He drew back and studied her for a second. “Don’t move,” he told her.
Secrets of the Tulip Sisters
Susan Mallery's books
- A Christmas Bride
- Just One Kiss
- Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold #1)
- Almost Perfect (Fool's Gold #2)
- Sister of the Bride (Fool's Gold #2.5)
- Finding Perfect (Fool's Gold #3)
- Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)
- Only Yours (Fool's Gold #5)
- Only His (Fool's Gold #6)
- Only Us (Fool's Gold #6.1)
- Almost Summer (Fool's Gold #6.2)