Page 43 of Built to Last
They lookgood. Sure, there is still plenty of detail to add before they’re finished but the foundation is there. Gratitude washes over me when I think about how far I’ve come. If it wasn’t for this project I would probably still be struggling to reconnect with my creativity and I would have never run into Phillip again. I’m not usually someone who buys into fate and all that stuff, but when I think about how all of this only happened because the original artist Aria hired dropped out last minute, I can’t help but feel this was meant to be.
It may have only been a few weeks but so much has changed for me in that time, both personally and professionally. While I hoped trying something so different would help me find my spark again, I never imagined I would be comfortable enough to start creating a new portrait again so soon. As for Phillip, he is something I never saw coming. I was so focused on recapturing my creativity he snuck past my defences and into my heart. I’ve fallenhard, to the point where I now struggle to imagine my future without him in it, but for the first time I know I’ve fallen for someone who can be trusted with my heart.
After lunch we spend the afternoon curled up together on Phillip’s sofa watching TV. As we lie there I realise how much I’ve missed having my hair played with when he absentmindedly runs his fingers through my long locks. Later at the dining table we share a delicious meal that Phillip cooked, and once we’ve finished he protests when I insist on doing the dishes. After he’s helped me dry them off, we watch some more TV before heading upstairs for an early night. Phillip smiles at my goofy patterned pyjamas, sky-blue with different breeds of dogs wearing sunglasses, then shakes his head and pulls me ontothe bed and into his arms. Burrowed under the covers, Phillip’s comforting warmth at my back, contentment washes over me. I might not know what will happen with the storm and when I can go back home, when my next flare-up will be, or how the portrait I started will turn out, but I do know that I’m safe here and that Phillip will be in my corner no matter what happens.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rose
“I could get usedto waking up like this.” Phillip nuzzles into my neck, his warm breath and the brush of his lips against my skin sending desire swooping through me, low in my abdomen. His well-muscled arm tightens around me, pulling me close enough to feel his hardness pressing against my back. Without opening my eyes I burrow closer, longing to stay in this floaty, relaxed state between sleeping and waking for a few more minutes.
Phillip’s calloused fingertips trail patterns over my stomach, dipping lower each time, while his gentle kisses explore the column of my neck.
“Are you awake?”
“No,” I mumble.
“Hmm, I guess I should stop then.” I canfeelthe smile in his voice.
Untangling my arm from the covers I halt Phillip’s retreat, guiding his hand to my waistband instead. A low chuckle escapes him at my less than subtle request, the seductive timbre only encouraging me.
“Teasing isn’t nice.”
“I promise you, teasing can beverynice if you’re doing it right.” His voice is low and dripping with lust as he continues, “Let me show you.”
Sliding his hand underneath my waistband, Phillip gently drags one thick finger through the wetness already gathered at my core and groans.
“You’re so wet for me already, fuck.” Stroking around my opening he applies just enough pressure to get me worked up but nowhere near enough to satisfy me. When he finally moves his attention higher up to brush over my clit I moan, spreading my legs wider. His hand disappears and I start to protest until I realise he’s only moving my pyjama bottoms out of the way. I help, kicking them off, then arch back to rub against him.
“Need these off,” I tell him, reaching back to tug at his waistband. He’s quick to give into my demand and soon enough the length of his naked body presses against me. His large hand moves back between my legs, stroking and teasing but still not giving me what I really want.
“Please,” I moan in frustration when he starts to push a finger inside me only to retreat again. “I need more.”
“You want my fingers, baby? Or do you need me to fill you up with my cock?”
“Yes, anything, just get inside me.” Without warning Phillip thrusts two thick fingers inside me and I gasp. “Yes.” My hips rock against his hand, grinding my clit into his palm as his fingers plunge in and out.
“That’s it, ride my hand.” He places biting kisses down the slope of my neck and back up, nipping at the shell of my ear before continuing, “Fuck yourself on my fingers until your sweet little pussy clamps around me so tight I can’t move.” God, the mouth on this man. If he keeps talking like that I might combust. He adds a third finger and I cry out, so close to the edge already but needing more. Interrupting our rhythm for a moment, Iyank my top over my head and fling it away from the bed. Sliding my hands up my body I cup by breasts and start playing with my nipples. Phillip groans at the sight.
“You’re so fucking hot, Rose.” Moving his free hand under me he takes over toying with my right breast, pinching my nipple hard enough to make me gasp. I feel another rush of arousal escape me as my core pulses around his fingers as they continue to thrust in and out. He rocks his hips forward against my lower back, leaving a trail of precum behind. It’s almost enough for me to ask him to fuck me like that instead, but I’m so close, I don’t want to stop for anything, not even the mere moments it would take him to put on a condom.
“So close. I’m so… so close,” I pant, hips driving down to meet his every thrust.
“That’s it, raincloud,” he growls against my ear. “You’re so good for me. You’re taking my fingers so well.” He shifts his hand, curling his fingers so they rub over just the right spot. A tidal wave of pleasure builds up inside me and I tilt my head back, our mouths meeting in a sloppy approximation of a kiss. His fingers pump into me with a few more forceful thrusts then the dam breaks and I’m crying out with the intensity of my orgasm, gripping his fingers tightly with the force of my pleasure, just like he wanted.
When my inner walls have stopped fluttering around him, Phillip pulls his hand away and, eyes locked with mine, licks his fingers clean. My gaze greedily takes in the length of his naked body, all those lean muscles on display just for me, his cock hard and glistening with precum.
Needing him to feel as good as I do, I roll, swinging my leg over his hips and kiss him deeply. Reaching beneath me I take hold of his cock and guide it between my legs, rolling my hips and coating his length in my arousal.
“Oh, fuck,” Phillip gasps. “You feel so good.” Calloused hands smooth up my thighs to grip my butt, helping to guide my rhythm.
“Condom?” I ask, my short nails digging into his shoulders as I rock my hips.
“Yeah.” He reaches out fumbling with his bedside drawer before lifting one up in triumph. Sitting back on my heels I watch with deepening desire as he rolls it on.
A yelp of surprise escapes me when he swiftly pulls me back on top of him. Guided by his large hands on my hips I settle so the head of his cock notches at my entrance. Then he’s tugging me down onto his length, filling me in one powerful thrust.
“Want you to come again but I’m not gonna last,” Phillip pants, rolling us until we’ve switched places. His powerful frame hovers over mine while his hips continue to piston in and out working us both into a frenzy. He lowers his head to nip at the underside of my breast before sucking the taught peak into his mouth forcing a high pitched mewl from my throat.
