Eternal Heat (Firework Girls #3) (16 page)

As we taste and caress each other, I don’t just want him physically, though there’s that too—my body temperature is climbing with each passing minute. I want
him
, the man I loved and... God, it’s happened so quickly, but I can’t help it... the man I love again.

Our kisses escalate to a new intensity. He backs me up slightly until my rear hits the piano. His firm erection presses against me and I press back, wanting it. We sink eagerly to the floor. As he lowers his weight on me, I tighten my arms around him and hook one calf around his leg.

We kiss each other passionately, breathing hard between each kiss. As I rub my hands along his body, he feels so familiar—like coming home—but also slightly changed. He’s a little firmer and broader in the chest, and his presence above me is more substantial than it had been. It only makes me need him more.

I wrap my legs around his waist and his cock presses hard into me. Tremors of pleasure ripple outward from my clit in response. I grab his ass, bringing him harder against me. His kisses grow more fervent, and he dips to my neck. He slides my shirt and bra strap off my shoulder in one motion and sucks on the exposed skin. I arch my head back and pull up the hem of his shirt until I can rub my hands on his bare back.

I circle my hands around to the front, caressing his abs and chest. He lifts up slightly and together we remove his shirt. He comes down and kisses me eagerly, his hand sliding under my bra. Wanting my shirt off as well, I indicate I want to roll over and he follows my signal. Hanging on to each other, he rolls onto his back, keeping me close in a strong embrace. Sitting up and straddling him now, his hardness strains underneath me. I pull off my shirt and slide it down the length of my hair before tossing it away.

I’m wearing a deep purple, lacey bra. Eyes taking me in, he gently slides both hands down the length of my breasts as I reach behind me to release the hook. As soon as the material springs forward, he takes hold of it and pulls it down my arms. He drops it to the side slowly. Still breathing hard, his eyes glide between my breasts and my face a couple times, before his eyes lock with mine.

I’ve been panting too, my breasts heaving. When he holds my eyes and sits up, however, my breath catches in my chest. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me so deep and so slow, I think my heart’s going to break.

He slowly pulls me back down, until I’m lying on top of him and my hair is falling around us in sheets. Looking into my eyes, he brings his hands to my face. For a moment it is only this space, and only he and I in it.

“Oh, honey,” he whispers. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you, too.” I kiss him with as much love as I’ve ever felt for him. He kisses me back, holding me close.

Three more heartbeats and the softness is gone and the unquenchable fire is back. We’re kissing each other so feverishly, I’m slightly dizzy. Hanging on to me, he rolls me onto my back, then starts planting hot, wet kisses down the length of my neck. The electricity on my skin increases steadily as he advances to the crook of my collar bone. When he hits the bullseye, I let out a shaky exhale and shudder slightly.

He keeps going, down my chest, until he’s eagerly sucking one nipple. I arch against him, needing more. He holds both breasts in his hands, bringing them together, then goes to the other side and takes me hungrily. He works me feverishly, before releasing me to suck on the tender skin just below my breast. As he works his way down my stomach, my crotch starts to throb, anticipating him.

I hook my thumbs under my waistband and start shimmying my pants down my hips. By the time he grabs the fabric to help me, I’ve already lowered them past my rear. He kneels back enough to slide my pants off, but doesn’t take his eyes off my lacey panties. He dives down and together we pull the wet crotch away to reveal my folds. He takes one soft, long, hungry lick from my opening to my clit and I arch back, bringing my knees up. He grabs my ass firmly and gives me another full lick.

“God, Erik,” I breathe.

His tongue caresses my clit and my eyelids flutter shut. He starts working me masterfully. My arm flies out to the side and my outstretched hand presses flat against the floor. I’m panting and moaning shamelessly now. The fabric of my panties are straining against my hips as he pulls the material of the crotch wider, exposing me fully. His other hand works up my bare stomach and to my breast, cupping and squeezing me.

I curl inward, legs spread hard, as he licks my swollen clit into a frenzy. My channel is throbbing and aching to be filled. “I want you.”

But he doesn’t stop. He slides two fingers into my wet channel and licks me harder. I grab his hair, pushing him against me. He massages my breast and I gasp for breath. As the pleasure in me climbs higher, my legs start to tremble. My chest flushes hot. He squeezes my breast again. He thrusts his fingers in and out of me, sucking on my clit and then working his tongue over it in circles.

My legs tremble harder and I spread myself wider.
Oh my god.
I can barely breathe. As I climb to a hard peak, my body tightens and strains for release. I gasp again, then moan. It feels like my whole body is ready to burst. He curls his fingers slightly, hitting my G-spot, and I convulse, exploding into an orgasm. I cry out, the blood rushing in my ears, as he massages me and keeps me climaxing.

I land back against the floor, arching my neck as waves of pleasure crash over me. My eyes flutter open and shut, giving me brief glimpses of the ceiling and the underside of the piano. I’m clutching at the piano leg, half gasping, half crying out. Just as I start to come down, he gives me one, long, shuddering suck on my clit and pulls his fingers out.

I exhale sharply, looking at him. “Little devil,” I breathe.

I’m positively aching for his cock now. I can see by the glint in his eyes, he did not forget that little trick.

He starts to undo his pants and I’m up in a flash, helping him. As he pulls his pants down to his thighs, his bulging cock springs loose. I did not forget this man’s length or girth, and am torn between wanting to take him into my mouth and wanting to take him, period. Before I can reach for him though, he rolls slightly away so he can kick his pants all the way off.

I slide off my soaked panties. He comes back up onto his knees and I hook my arm around his neck, pulling him down on top of me. Like he’s got some sort of built-in homing device, I feel his tip just at my throbbing entrance. He pulls his hips back sharply, moving his cock away from me.

I make a sound of protest.

“Sorry,” he says, breathing hard himself, “you’ll have to wait while I go take care of things.”

He starts to get up but my arms and legs tighten around him, keeping him in place. “Honey, I’ve been on the pill for
years.
”

“Right,” he says, blinking. He pauses for a moment, giving me a heavy look of understanding.

“Don’t think,” I say, panting. “Just kiss me.” I lift up to kiss him and he kisses me back. He drops his full weight on me and I spread myself, eager for him. He answers my need. His full shaft slides into me and we exhale deeply together, tucking our heads toward each other.

My whole body tingles with satisfaction at having Erik once again. “I’ve missed you so much,” he whispers again.

But I can’t answer, my brain momentarily paralyzed by pleasure as he pulls out, then slowly rocks into me deeper. “Yes,” I say softly, my hands gripping his shoulders. He slowly pulls out and slides deeply into me again. God, what sweetness.

As I tuck my nose into the crook of his neck, his arms tighten around me and his hand cradles the back of my head. His hard shaft slides in and out of the length of me once more, slightly faster. Then faster again. The hot breath of our rhythmic pants mingles together. Still cradling me, Erik slowly and steadily increases the pace and power of our lovemaking until it rises like a crescendo. Clutching him, I rock with him as if we were one. I’m spread and open to him. My skin is hot and my clit is like a taut string, vibrating with the slightest touch. His cock fills me so completely, I feel every ridge.

Pulsing with pleasure, I’m climbing closer and closer to the edge. His cock is getting almost impossibly hard and I know he’s getting close too. That only increases my pleasure more. He takes one hand and wedges it under my ass, angling me slightly. The tip of his cock starts hitting me in that deep pocket of pleasure, over and over.

I let out a long, low cry, straining against the orgasm that’s building and almost there. The muscles in his back grow tighter as he climbs too. He continues to thrust into me, sharp bursts of pleasure pushing me up and up and higher and—my breath catches—
over
into a heart-stopping climax. I cry out and squeeze tight against his straining cock, contracting around him fiercely. He thrusts into me deeply and my whole body jerks. Another thrust and I feel him spill his hot fluid inside me, pumping me hard as we come together. We both cry out and the sound of his pleasure makes me come harder. I throw my head back, riding the waves, frantically gripping his back, his tight rear, his shoulders.

He thrusts into me again and again and I angle my hips up, pushing hard against him as my clit releases measure after measure of pleasure. At last the grips of my orgasm start to relent. Flushed cheek to chest, I slowly start to come down.

He continues to ride me, slower now. Our embrace softens. He rubs his nose across my cheek then brings his lips over to kiss me. I open to him and our tongues dive softly. We rock ever so slowly now. Finally, we come to a stop, both pressing firmly against the other, still fully joined.

We stay that way for a moment, neither one willing to pull away from the other. At last we release together into a puddle of flesh and bone.

I spent the night at Erik’s and we stayed in the rest of the day, sometimes naked, sometimes not, and completely enjoyed the novelty of not having to worry about getting caught by anyone. I’d probably be there still, except he has a standing appointment to have dinner at his mother’s house every Sunday. We both acknowledged that if things continue on with us—and there’s no doubt in either of our minds that we want just that—we’ll have to get our parents in the loop.

It’s too soon for that though. When he dropped me off at my place, I texted Sam and Jack to see if they’d want to watch a movie tonight, then cleaned up and headed over.

When I get to Sam’s apartment, she’s sitting on the couch with her legs crossed. The second I walk in the door she takes one look at me and says, “Oh my god, you slept with him.”

I stop in my tracks. “What the hell? How did you know?”

“I’ve literally never seen you smile like that.”

My cheeks flush as I shut the door behind me, but it’s true. I can’t stop smiling. I go over and plop on the couch next to her, letting my head fall against the back.

“Good God,” she says, “you’re practically
swooning.”

“Shut up,” I say, grinning.

“All right,” she says, turning to me eagerly. “I want details.”

So I tell her. I don’t give her the
juicy
details, but I tell her everything else. By the time I’m done, she smiling at me contentedly.

“I love this,” she says.

“You do?”

She nods and I smile. “Me too.”

“Have you told the girls yet?”

I shake my head and pull out my phone. I’ve been keeping Chloe and Isabella apprised of things along the way, but I hadn’t had a chance to tell them the absolute latest. “What about Jack?” I ask as I’m typing. “He seemed pretty concerned last night.”

“Eh,” Sam says, waving her hand. “He just has that male protectiveness thing going on right now. It’ll pass, don’t worry.”

After I get Chloe and Isabella up to speed, I toss my phone on the couch cushion and sigh with satisfaction. Sam is still grinning at me.

“God, you’re really lost to him, aren’t you?”

“Not lost,” I say, smiling. Sam has a funny way of talking about love sometimes.

“
Found
then,” she says dramatically, batting her eyelashes.

I laugh. “That’s better.”

“Does this mean you’re bringing him on the couples trip to the resort? Because you’re
way
fucking overdue for getting laid on a couples trip.”

“Hey!” I say, a little taken aback. Sam’s always taken it upon herself to be the little sex cupid of the group, but ever since she found out about what I went through in high school and the unhealthy way I’d tried to cope with it once I started college, she’s kept me out of her crosshairs.

“Oh come on,” Sam says, grinning, “I haven’t been able to harass you about sex for
years.
Fucking
years.”

“It’s been a trial for you, has it?” I say, raising my eyebrows.

“Damn right. But now that you’re back to banging the guy who got you pregnant, all bets are off.”

My mouth drops and she gives me a wicked grin.

I can’t help it. I start laughing. How does Sam get away with this shit?

“So this is what I want to know,” she says, leaning forward, eyes glittering. “Is he hung?”

“Yeah, I’m totally not answering that.”

“Just show me with your hands. This big?” she says indicating.

I roll my eyes and make a
pffft
sound.

“Bigger?” She gapes at me.

I don’t answer. All I can do is try to suppress a smirk, and try not to get too wet thinking about Erik’s cock and all the things I did to it last night.

“Oh my god, you struck gold, baby girl,” Sam says. “Cock like that is worth waiting for, am I right?”

I get up and head for the kitchen. “I liked it better when we had an understanding,” I say, but I’m smiling. I can’t say why, but it strangely makes me feel better to know Sam isn’t treating me with kid gloves any more.

As I’m pilfering a few chocolate chips from the open bag in Sam’s freezer, Jack arrives with drinks and snacks, plopping the grocery bags on the kitchen island. She’s followed him in and has started peeking in each bag to see what he brought.

“What are we watching?” Jack asks, taking three beers out of the case and stashing the rest in the fridge.

“Empire Records,”
Sam says. This is another movie we’ve watched so many times, we could practically recite the whole thing.

She makes a face and lifts out a little package of Nutter Butters, just far enough for me to see, before dropping it back in the bag. No one likes them but me.

“Mmm,” I say, plucking them from the grocery bag, still grinning like a lunatic. I can’t help it. “Thanks Jack.”

Jack gives me a one-armed hug and plants a kiss on the top of my head. Rather than let me go though, he holds me close and asks, “How’d your date go last night?”

“Good,” I say, grinning up at him.

He’s wearing the same concerned big brother expression he had last evening.

I squeeze him. “Really good. It’s okay, I promise.”

He glances at Sam, who gives him a reassuring smile. He sighs and kisses me on the forehead before releasing me. “If you promise.”

“I do.” Sam and Jack grab some snacks and we all grab a beer before heading into the living room. I plop my drink and snack on the floor and sit cross-legged in front of the DVD player so I can load up the movie.

“Now Ashley has someone to bring on the couples trip,” Sam says, plopping in one corner of the couch and tucking her feet under her. Jack sinks down on the other side.

“Sam,” I say warningly. “I haven’t even asked him yet.”

She shrugs.

I roll my eyes and look at Jack, who’s studying me carefully. “I haven’t even asked him yet,” I repeat lamely.

He cocks his head at me. He looks at Sam and they have one of their weird, silent conversations I’ve seen them have before. He looks back at me and I give him an exaggerated, silly smile. He laughs and his expression softens.

“See?” Sam says, nudging him with her foot. “She’s happy.”

“Yeah, okay,” he says.

“Well, I’m so glad you approve,” I say sarcastically, sticking out my tongue.

He breaks out into his goofy Jack grin. “You should be. How could you ever go on if I didn’t?”

I roll my eyes and return my attention to the player, putting in the disc.

“So now everyone will have dates,” Sam says satisfied.

“Who are you bringing?” I ask, glancing over at her.

She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s, like, five whole weeks away.”

Well, I guess that’s true. Sam and Jack both tend to rotate through partners more quickly than that.

Although...

Now I’m the one giving Jack an examining look. Come to think of it, instead of hearing Jack talk about a slew of girl companions, like he usually does, we’ve really only been hearing about Peggy for a while now.

Seeing me, he gets a sheepish look on his face.

“Who are you bringing, Jack?” I ask, grinning at him.

“Peggy,” he answers shyly. God, how adorable.

“If she’s still around,” Sam says easily.

“Well, um, I hope she will be,” Jack says. “We actually, uh, well last night we kind of... um...”

Sam’s giving Jack a perplexed look, but I’m still grinning.

“Dude,” Sam says. “Spit it out.”

He leans back into the corner of the couch and throws his long arm over the back, trying to look casual. “Last night we decided to be exclusive.”

Sam’s jaw drops. I have to work to suppress a laugh. I can see Jack needs encouragement, not teasing. “That’s great,” I say. “This is a first for you, right?”

“Damn near.” He gives Sam a nervous glance.

She claps her hands to her chest in delight. “Our Jack is finally in love,” she teases.

“God,” he says, shuddering, “who the hell said I’m in love?”

This time I do laugh. Oh, this is going to be fun, I have to admit.

“Jack and Peggy sitting in a tree,” Sam teases. “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

“Seriously?” he says, giving her a flat expression. “That’s the best you got?”

“First comes
love,”
she continues, grinning. “Then comes
marriage.”

As I watch him react to two trigger words right in a row, I see Sam’s teasing had more teeth than it first appeared. His expression of exasperation causes us both to laugh.

He rolls his eyes.

“Oh leave him be,” I say.

Apparently satisfied, Sam relents and crawls over so she can give him a kiss on the cheek. “Ah, our little boy is growing up.”

He groans as she leans against him, putting her head on his shoulder. “If you guys get married, do you promise to make me your best man?”

He pinches her side, causing her to squeal and jump. “Hey, you brat!”

“Fair’s fair,” he says, but she settles against him again.

“So why didn’t you bring her over?” I ask.

“Let’s don’t go nuts,” he says, raising his hands in protest. “Are we going to watch the movie or what?”

Sam and I exchange amused looks, but we let it go. I push play and lay back on the floor, resting my hands on my stomach. As we get into the movie, my eyes are on the screen and I’m even tapping my foot to the music, so I suppose I’m technically watching.

But truly, my mind and heart are far away with someone else.

And I can’t wait until he gets home.

The following week, Erik and I fall into a new pattern almost without talking about it. We chat in the Gizmo between classes. We practice at his place every afternoon and into the evening. We make love whenever the fancy strikes us, which is often, and I fall asleep in his arms every night. I’ve accumulated a fair amount of clothes and toiletries there already, and the spare toothbrush I bought gets more use than the one at my apartment.

When Chloe asks, as part of a group text with the girls, if I’ve moved in with him, I reply:
No. That’s a little too much too fast.

What’s the difference between that and what you’re doing now?
Isabella wants to know.

“Commitment,” is what I think to myself. While I’m trying to articulate the difference, Sam answers for me:
The difference is she can still run.

So, basically the same thing. Not that I want to run from Erik, and I hope to God he isn’t planning on running from me, but I’m not ready to think much past today. Not yet.

This weekend, Erik and I are enduring yet another separation, but this one is my doing. A few weeks ago, my parents bought me tickets to fly back to Boise so I could spend the weekend with them. It’s been a while since I’ve been home, so it’s nice to be here in our familiar kitchen. I think even the cat missed me, because she’s curled up on my lap, letting me pet her. Either that, or she’s getting too mellow in her old age to protest.