Page 88 of Just This Once

Once there, I leaned against the doorframe and cleared my throat. “You failed to mentionthiswas in the sacks of goodies.”

Hope glanced up from her phone. “That’s not edible.”

“What’s going to be under it sure as hell will be,” I countered, pushing away from the door to approach. “As soon as you fucking put it on.” I flung it onto the bed so that it landed on the calf of her leg. “Like now.”

With a snort, Hope kicked the teddy onto the floor. “Too late. You didn’t let me prepare like I wanted to, so now you don’t get to see me in it.”

“It’s never too late for lingerie,” I countered, bending to pick it up again. Holding it up with both hands, I sucked in a breath and shook my head. “I’m serious, Trouble. If you don’t let me see you in this thing, I might lose my fucking mind.”

She sent me a dry glance, clearly not concerned about my mental health.

“Fine,” I ground out with reluctance. “You can fancy yourself however you wanted to in the beginning. The shower, the makeup, the hair. The works.” Reaching the bed, I climbed onto the mattress and started toward her on my knees, in a slightly begging stance. “Just as long as you put this on for the next round.”

Hope glanced down mildly at my hand when I wrapped my fingers around her ankle. “Maybe,” she allowed, but the look she sent me said I had more convincing to do.

Sending her a husky chuckle, I slid my hand up her calf toward her knee. “What if I promise to make you come harder than you ever have before?” I coaxed. Her skin was so soft and smooth that my fingers kept going. Forgetting the lingerie, I dropped my attention between her legs. “Hell, I’ll make you come right now.”

Flinging the teddy off to the side, I used both of my palms to smooth my way up the outsides of her thighs while I wedged my shoulders between theinsidesof them. Grinning up at her, I lowered my face and then waggled my brows before pressing my mouth between her legs and burying my nose right into her panties.

As she shuddered and lifted her hips, seeking more, I groaned. “Fuck. You smell like strawberries. Like strawberry fucking shortcake.”

Another one of my favorites.

When I glanced up at her in question, she smiled smugly.

“Well, now I know what I’m having for dessert,” I said and gripped the waistband of her underwear.

Hope didn’t try to stop me. But she did say, “I thought you said I could primp and prepare before the next round.”

“Right,” I agreed, tugging the silky cloth down her thighs. “Thenextround. After this one.”

An hour later,I was chilling on the balcony in the suite’s hot tub, arms draped over the edges with a drink I’d poured from the minibar dangling from one hand as I waited for Hope to finish herprimping.

Night had fallen.

As I tipped my head back to look up, I could make out the moon above and a host of stars decorating the sky. I’d kept off the main light to the balcony, so only the hot tub itself plus some strings of LED lights around the bar and pool provided illumination, giving the place a romantic bent.

I thought I should feel more ashamed than I did.

I’d stressed about this.

Right up until the moment that Hope had laughed like Alec and flashed me his smile.

But then I’d pushed inside her, and now the only thought in my mind was wondering when the hell she was going to finish beautifying herself so I could get my hands on her again.

“Come on, Langston,” I muttered under my breath as I twisted my wrist and glanced over to check the time. Nearly twelve. “We don’t have all night.”

Actually, we did. But tonight wasallwe had, so I really wanted to make the best of every minute.

I wouldn’t have guessed that she’d be so…accommodating. She battled for control over everything else. I’d been sure she was going to contradict me the whole time. I’d even been up for the challenge of going head-to-head with her and fighting for dominance. But then she’d submitted to basically everything I wanted to do, and the clash of salty Hope in the streets with sweet, giving Hope in the sheets had kind of just made me want more.

After cracking open her hard, resilient outer shell, I wanted to wallow right there and lap up that delicious, gooey center all for myself.

Taking another sip of my drink in growing anticipation, I tipped my head back again when I swallowed, focusing on the waxing gibbous shining back down at me.

I swear, my entire body jolted with need when I heard her voice call, “Parker?” from deeper inside the suite.

“Out here,” I called back.

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