“Why is that sad, Marley?” I drop a kiss to her cheek.
“Because”—her finger absentmindedly traces over my abs—“it just sounds like she never had that special relationship that everybody dreams of.”
“Is that something you dream of?” I want her to say yes. I want her to own it. Marley deserves so much more than a hookup—than a contract.
“Used to,” she whispers warm against my skin. “But I’m tired of trying to forge reality to fit my dreams. Sometimes it doesn’t happen.” Marley glances up—her eyes moist with tears. “It’ll happen for you, though. You’re too good to be true.” Her lips curve up one side. “Plus it doesn’t hurt that you know how to use your equipment like a boss.” Her hand glides down to said equipment, and she gives a gentle massage as I grow in her hand. “You’re going to make some girl insanely happy.” She averts her eyes. “But, in the meantime, I suggest you practice a little with yours truly.” Marley straddles me before touching down a soft kiss to my temple. Her lips move down until they meet with mine, and I latch onto her, coiling my arms tight around her waist as if she were about to float away.
Why can’t Marley see that she deserves all those good things in a relationship? She deserves love just as much as my mother did, just as much as anyone else on the planet, if not more. She’s a sweet soul who had her heart burned right out of her chest by some scumbag idiot who didn’t know a good thing when he had it.
I wonder what Marley would think if I told her she deserved something more and that I was the one who wanted to give it to her? I doubt she’d believe me. I’m the clown who handed her a legal document outlining the sterile nature of our questionable relationship. Even if I was trying to terrify her out of the proposition, it backfired spectacularly as do most things I undertake with my best intentions. But here we are, ready for another round—her soft tits lying over my chest, my dick in her hand. I’m the one who should have known better. I saw her tattered heart lying in pieces that first night at the Black Bear. I should have steered clear. I could have been a friend, a mentor—a boss. I’m just as responsible for the fact she’s trying to fill that void in her heart with raw affection. But, God, I want to give her affection, every minute of every day.
My hands glide to her tiny waist, and I carefully roll her onto her back.
Our eyes lock, hers with that easy, lustful gaze and mine with an intent to set things right between us.
“I’m going to love you, Marley. Just the way I think you deserve.”
Her mouth opens, her eyes widen in horror for a moment.
My mouth finds hers as I dot her lips with a tender affection the way we did it that night we kissed at the bar. My mouth moves down her neck, to her shoulder, sweeping along to the other side. I run my lips down the middle of her chest, pausing to offer each of the girls a heartfelt good morning. My mouth runs down her hip with slow, meandering kisses, down her thigh before I bury my face in the wet zone between them.
Marley is sweet as a plum, and I can linger right there, taking a moment to fully appreciate her as a woman, my lips paying homage to her beauty before gliding lower. I slip down the bed, dragging my tongue down her thigh before kissing the inside of her knee, and she lets out an involuntary giggle. My lips smooth down her leg, running a quick circle around her ankle, until I dot a kiss to each of her fucking cute toes. My tongue runs a line up the bottom of her foot, and she screams with laughter as she jerks it away.
“I’m not done here,” I tease, pulling her other foot close and doing the same. I work my way up the opposite side of her body, bathing her in kisses, bathing her with my tongue, trying to lick away her wounds, literally, trying to get her to see that love can be soft and beautiful. Marley deserves to be worshipped both in and out of the bedroom. The taste of her in my mouth, the most exotic delight. I don’t deserve her. I’m not sure anyone does. My lips move over her with a fury. I’m drunk off this girl, this woman who had me, night one, at the curl of her finger. Her heart has been shredded to pieces, and there has to be someone out there who can help her heal. I nominate me.
Marley lets me love her, slow, easy, my tongue riding over her in long, easy strides.
Her hand slaps against the nightstand until she hits a condom.
“Right now.” She holds it up, panting.
“As you wish.” I start to tear it open with my teeth then let her beautiful mouth finish the job. I roll it on nice and slow in full view to give her the benefit of the show. Marley guides me in, her eyes rolling to the back of her head, her breathing harsh and heavy.