Damn, the eagerness in her eyes as she greedily ran her gaze up and down my cock nearly caused an embarrassingly false start. “Unless you want me coming before I give you your first orgasm, I need your hands above my waistline and even then, no promises.”

Her breathing increased, and the little vixen wiggled her hips, but kept those delicate fingers to herself. “Have you always been this bossy? Because I have a feeling we might have our first fight. I want to touch you. Everywhere.” Lauren licked her lips.

“Guess we’ll see who wins. But I’m hoping we both do.” I leaned toward my bedstand to grab a condom and froze. Dammit. No condoms. She was the first woman in my bed since I moved back to Pineville, so I hadn’t thought to stock up.

“We may have a slight problem. No condoms.”

Lauren’s disappointment matched mine, but only for a second. “I take the pill and I’m clean. Plus, I haven’t been with anyone since before I graduated. I’m okay.”

Relief flooded me. “So am I. Clean I mean. It’s probably been longer for me. Dating hasn’t been a priority for me while working on the lodge and my cabin.” But now the time for talking was over.

Kissing Lauren felt like coming home. A home I’d long ago thought wasn’t in the cards for me. She opened to me eagerly. Then she nipped my bottom lip. Her eagerness turning into a battle for dominance. Yanking her against me, she gasped, allowing me to deepen the kiss, thrusting my tongue deeper. Taking all she had to offer.

I couldn’t get enough of her lips, her taste. With need growing to find out how all of her tasted, I broke away and trailed my lips down her neck to that sweet spot right between her breasts. Palming the full globes, I rolled her nipples between thumb and forefinger, watching as she threw back her head, her hair spilling across the pillow as I teased her flesh.

Lauren raised her body closer to mine, rolled her hips, her sex brushing against my erection. A deep hiss escaped me. Two can play at this game. Dipping to take a nipple into my mouth, I gently sucked, then rolled my tongue around its tip. Her soft moans filled my ears as I took turns. From one to the other, worshipping her.

Again, the urge to explore took over. Trailing open-mouthed kisses along her stomach, I nipped and licked my way to her curls, then her inner thighs. Tunneling my hands beneath her quivering legs, I looked up, her face painted with a deep flush as she watched me.

“Please.” The sweet plea and her feminine scent hit me in the gut, making my cock jump in anticipation. The first swipe of her drenched folds tore a deep moan from us both. The second and the third had her moaning my name. She opened her legs wider, a silent plea for more I couldn’t deny. Pressing my thumb against her swollen clit, I teased her, increasing both pressureand speed until her cries grew higher pitched, and I knew she was close.

Like a starving man, I feasted again, rolling my tongue harder, faster along her sweet bud, then added a finger inside her slick channel, thrusting over and over until her hips came off the bed and she froze. A silent scream escaped her, the first spasm of her orgasm tightening around me as I sought her sweet spot, pressing down while I continued licking her clit until she screamed my name. Her pleasure became mine.

“West…yes, yes, yes!” Her reaction filled me up as if I’d been running on empty without her in my life, in my arms. I wanted more. More of her pleasure before I took mine.

Not giving her more than a moment as her body rocked with aftershocks, I leaned back onto my heels, settling on my knees, then rubbed the tip of my penis through her folds. “One more. Just for me, baby.” My plea drowned out by another of her sweet moans.

She grabbed onto my waist, pulling me in close to her core. “No, I need you inside me now.” Her command one I gladly followed.

My woman was slick and ready for me, my cock already poised at her entrance. I slammed into her. Her inner walls enveloping me as she matched me thrust for thrust. I was relentless. Pumping into her until her body released another wave of warmth over my cock.

“Yes, fuck me!” Her throaty plea echoed off the bedroom walls.

Soon, holding myself back, wanting to prolong her orgasm, became futile as her fingernails scraped a trail down my back. Electric shocks built, bursting within me at the same moment I felt her crest, her spasms milking me.

Roaring her name, suddenly nothing became as important as giving her everything I had. I stilled over her and came.Dropping my head down until our breaths mingled. I captured her lips in a desperate kiss, branding her not just with my body, but my heart, my very existence. It was all hers.

SEVEN

LAUREN

When I woke,there was a man spooning me as if I were the most precious thing in the world. Something I’d never felt with any of my former lovers. Not that there been many. Three to be exact. And none of them had given or rather demanded I reach my pleasure first as West had.

He’d been so sweet after a night of raw passion, even shy as he made me coffee, offering to make me breakfast. But I had an appointment with another potential client and spending the morning in bed would have to wait for another day. Would there be another day? Another night filled with great sex and whispered stories from our childhood.

He discussed his struggles with his mental health after returning from his final tour, struggles both Ridge and Lars had battled as well. It had brought them closer and became the cornerstone of creating a sanctuary for their brothers and sisters who’d served and come home with invisible scars. The ones more easily hidden and unfortunately overlooked by a society that couldn’t handle their trauma.

His trust in me with his battle was just as humbling as the passion we’d shared. Being with West felt so right. He told me things he said he’d never shared with a woman before. Making me feel special. And I wanted more.

West walked me to my SUV parked up the hill from his place in front of the lodge. His steps slowed as we got closer, and he went silent and broody. I’d met Lars briefly on the walk up. The surprised giant of a man had waved to us from his front deck. It was awkward, but I tried to cover it up by offering to help him find someone to fill the housekeeping duties. He’d merely nodded, then lifted his chin at West and went inside. That one had the mountain man mystic dialed in. All he needed was a mangy dog standing guard out front.

“He’s got some hang ups, but he’ll warm up after he gets to know you. Lars may look scary, but he’s a softie. Just don’t tell him I said that. I’d like to keep my balls intact.” West grinned.

After West ran inside the lodge to grab the tote we’d left behind in the laundry room, he jogged over to my car, tossed it into the backseat, then stood next to my open window. My eyes hungrily taking him in. His hair still tousled from my fingers, loose fitting sweatpants and a fitted shirt showing off his corded arms.

“Like what you see?” Sexy invitation laced his words. The urge to ditch my client and beg West to take me back to bed rolled through me as butterflies settled in my abdomen. Would I ever get used to that reaction?

“After last night, I’d think you wouldn’t have any doubts about that.” Heat flushed my face and neck just thinking about the wonderful things his tongue had done to me.