“Stone.”
“Ride my hand while you say my name again.”
Arilyn slipped into a primitive animal state she never knew existed in the world of sex. Her body demanded, and she rolled her hips over his hand swiping her clit with just enough pressure to clench every muscle in her body as she waited. Again and again she rode his hand while he whispered dirty commands in her ear, finally taking her mouth deep and hard and shoving her hard against the wall, lifting her up slightly to get even deeper.
“Stone!” she screamed as she came hard, shattering around him as waves of release gripped tight and threw her around. He never stopped the motions, forcing her to ride out the rest of her climax until pain and pleasure blurred into one, and she fell into another mini orgasm. After endless minutes, she slumped against him, her skin damp with sweat, limp and completely satisfied.
“God, you’re fucking magnificent,” he said, scooping her up and cradling her in his arms. He walked to the couch and sat down, cuddling her close. “I want to do that so many times you beg me to stop.”
She lay her wobbly head against his chest and breathed in his musky scent. What had just happened? She had never done anything close with her previous partners. Sure, she enjoyed sex and the beautiful rise and fall of pleasure, but this type of carnal delight was nothing she had ever experienced. It was sex stripped bare. Animalistic. Brutal pleasure.
She wanted more.
“Now can we go into the bedroom?” she murmured against him.
His muscles stiffened. “No, little one. I can’t take you tonight the way I want. You’re drunk.”
She lifted her head and glared. “Am not. Just a bit tipsy. When did you suddenly become a gentleman anyway?”
He laughed and pressed a hard kiss on her lips. “I haven’t. But I don’t want our first time to be blurred by alcohol. I intend for us both to be stone-cold sober when we start this affair.”
The word stole some of her happiness. That’s right. It might be great sex, but to Stone, that was all it ever would be. Could she handle it? Could she accept such amazing pleasure without an emotional connection? Was she strong enough to walk away at the end with her head held high and no regrets?
“Ah, you’re quiet. Let me tell you exactly what I want, Arilyn, so we both know where we stand. I want you in my bed. I want to give you multiple orgasms, excruciating pleasure, and sleep with you at night. I refuse to let you belong to anyone else during our time together and vice versa. We can keep the affair out of the public eye if you’d like, but I don’t give a crap either way. I’ll take you to dinner and the movies and we’ll date. And when we’re no longer content or happy with the arrangement, we swear to be honest with the other and walk away with no lies. That’s what I can offer.”
Arilyn studied the man before her. Yes, he was honest to a fault. He was also giving her the choice. She could walk away or accept his terms. The problem?
She wanted him. He’d stirred a hunger she never knew she owned, and Arilyn wouldn’t be satisfied until she followed the path to the end. She tried to live her life with some simple rules. One of them was not to make decisions based on regret. If she declined a choice, would she ever regret not trying? The answer helped guide her.
In this case, the answer was simple.
She would always regret not having Stone Petty in her bed.
“I agree.”
He arched his brow. “That was quick. No thinking about it? We’re very different, you know.”
“I know. But this isn’t for always. It’s only for the moment.”
His face tightened, then slowly smoothed out. “Yes. It is.”
“I’d like to date. But I don’t want Eli or Luther to get a hint we’re together. It could make classes more complicated,” she said.
“Agreed.”
“And don’t think I’ll go easy on you in class. I’ll treat you the same as always.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, I better go. It’s late.” He kissed her thoroughly and stood. “Would you like to have dinner tomorrow night?”
She grinned at his formality. “Yes. But why don’t you come over here? I’ll cook.”
“Sounds great.” He headed toward the door.
“Stone? I need my panties back.”
One eyelid dropped in a naughty wink. “Think I’ll keep them as a souvenir. Night.”
He left with her panties. Arilyn sighed and laid her head on the aqua-blue couch. What an odd night. He had stripped for her, she had had an orgasm, and they had decided to embark on an affair.
Bad girl.
She giggled to herself. About time.
Twelve
ARILYN FINISHED TENDING her herb garden. Tilting her head up to the weak rays of sun that streamed down, knees in the dirt, she smiled. Gardening was like meditation and helped ground her mentally. Nature in all its forms reminded her there was a place for everyone in the great, big world.
Humming under her breath, she plucked a few leaves of basil and oregano for dinner. She had enough time to begin cooking, shower, and get ready for her date.
In a way, Stone had been right. She woke up with a headache and a hangover, and wondered if she would’ve regretted taking him into her bed. Remembering him in his uniform, unbuttoning his shirt in a class-act strip show, her mouth basically watered for him to do it again. The way he’d dared her to take more, though she already knew he wouldn’t have gone any further with an audience. No, that was his way of forcing her to take control and take what she wanted.