“Hey, listen…”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing…I just wanted to say thank you.”

  “What’re you thanking me for, love?” He had an easy smile on his face while his eyes roved over mine.

  Everything about Jonah was so easygoing. I felt safe around him. Protected. Understood. Loved.

  Loved?

  Trying to push that word to the back of my mind, I tilted my head to fully look up at him. Derrick inherited the height in our parents’ gene pool, so even though Jonah was shorter than him, he still towered over me.

  “Everything. Tonight. Aaron. All those weeks at my house.”

  He only made a low sound at the back of his throat, pulling a frown from me as I inched closer to him.

  “What?”

  “I would do anything for you, E.”

  My chest fluttered at his words and the unwavering eye contact he was giving me right now.

  “Why? And don’t say anything about my brother. You being friends with him doesn’t mean you have to go out of your way for me.”

  He nodded once, then again. “You’re right. The way I treat you has nothing to do with your brother. I just used it as an excuse before.”

  My toes dug into the sand, trying to anchor me in the moment while I hung onto his every word. “So, why?”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know,” I whispered back. “I’m just not used to it.”

  “Not used to people caring about you without ulterior motives? Or not used to thinking you’re worthy of every good thing on this Earth?”

  The wind fled from my lungs, and my throat felt scratchy and dry all of a sudden.

  “Jonah…”

  “Talk to me, E.”

  “I’m trying.” You just make it hard to remember how to use my words. Which was a trip because all I used to have when it came to Jonah was words.

  Now, I had something else. This soft spot that was steadily stretching to accommodate all the new feelings I had for him.

  I tried to tell myself it was a matter of proximity and frequency. I saw him too much and he’d simply embedded himself into my daily routine. I’d get over it when it stopped, and things would go back to normal.

  But I knew that was a lie. The biggest lie I’d ever told myself.

  Because I needed Jonah on a level that didn’t even feel possible.

  How had a month and some change transformed who he was to me so completely?

  Nothing about him being a nuisance held up anymore. And that was evident when I blurted out, “Jonah Kincade, you’re the best man I know.”

  I gasped when his hand closed around the back of my neck. “Careful, Ericka.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it might go to my head.”

  I pursed my lips, trying to hold back the grin that wanted to erupt on my face.

  “I’m gonna miss you when I go back to work.”

  His face fell. “Why?”

  “Because I’m not gonna see you anymore.”

  “Says who?”

  Because his hand was still clasped around my neck, I just stared up at him with a frown.

  “Did I say you wouldn’t see me as much because you were going to work?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then you’ll see me. As long as you want me around, I’m around.”

  “Driving to Boca every day is a lot, though.”

  “Have you heard me complain?”

  I shook my head and tried not to feel chastised by the stern expression hardening his features.

  “Exactly. I’m all around this county every day for work anyway. It’s not the inconvenience you think. Nothing that has to do with you is an inconvenience, E. I wish you would get that through your head.”

  The need to make sense of his words wouldn’t let my mind rest, and Devyn’s prediction came rushing back to me. “I have a question.”

  “Ask it,” he said easily. His eyes were still pinned on me, an indulgent smile tipping up the corner of his lips.

  When he looked at me like that, it gave me the confidence to ask my next question without hesitation.

  “Do you love me?”

  I lied about there being no hesitation. The real question I wanted to ask was, are you in love with me? But at the last minute, playing it safe won.

  Jonah stared at me. And I stared at him staring at me.

  When he bit down on his lip and gave a faint nod, I was still caught off guard even though I was the one who’d brought up the question.

  “I more than love you, E.” He grabbed my face and softly pulled me closer to him. “I’m fucking obsessed with you.”

  “I—what? How?”

  “I just do. You’re you and I love you.”

  Jonah released my face and my center of gravity felt…off. More like nonexistent. I was free falling even though I was ninety percent sure my feet were still planted firmly in the sand beneath me.

  The waves crashing a few feet from us sounded louder. The moon seemed brighter. And my head would not stop spinning.

  Why was I dizzy? I could feel every beat of my heart while I searched for the words.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He cocked his head before shaking it. “You never asked.”

  As I absorbed his reply, I missed the fact that his head was on a steady decline. Inching closer and closer to me while his gaze fixated on my mouth.

  “E?”

  “Mhm?” It was amazing I could make any sound at all.

  “If you don’t want me to kiss you right now, I need you to tell me.”

  “I want you to kiss me right now.”

  That was all the confirmation he needed before his lips were on mine and his arms engulfed me, sweeping me off my feet.

  JONAH

  It was impossible to kiss Ericka without wanting her to become a part of me. No matter how tight my arms fastened around her waist, pulling her into me, she still didn’t feel close enough.

  Licking the seam of her lips, I coaxed her mouth open with my tongue. I didn’t immediately deepen the kiss, just enjoying the feel of her panting breaths coasting over my lips.

  “Fuck,” I groaned. Pressing my forehead against hers forced our eyes to meet and hold.

  All I noticed was the desire clouding her hooded eyes and the way our breathing synced.

  “What’s wrong?” Ericka whispered against my lips.

  “Nothing, I’m just trying to make sure this is real.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be real?”

  I scoffed lightly and let my hands lazily massage her waist. “You don’t get how fucked up you’ve had me for years, E.”

  “Years?” Her question came out on a gasp.

  “Years,” I confirmed, nodding and loving the way she watched my lips. She wanted me to kiss her again. “You ruined me the first time I met you, and when you moved down here, it just got worse. You are all I can think about. Day and night. I don’t get a single second to breathe without craving you.”

  She blinked at me, her eyes never straying from my lips.

  I gave in and kissed her again. “Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to ruin you the way you’ve ruined me? How many times you’ve been yelling at me and all I wanted to do was drop to my knees and finally taste you? How many times I’ve fucked my hand at night to the thought of you just to get some relief and go to sleep?”

  Ericka didn’t speak, but she did tighten her legs around my waist, unintentionally pushing her center against my erection.

  Her eyes narrowed into slits as she bit her lip and did it again. And then again.

  “Keep playing and you’re gonna get fucked on this beach, E.”

  Her arms fell from around my neck and ran up and down my torso. “Then take me somewhere you can fuck me, Jonah.”

  What?

  Did she know what she was telling me to do?

  Without warning, I eased her out of my arms and set her down on her feet. “You don’t know what you’re saying, E.”

  “I know exactly what I’m saying. I’m asking you to show me exactly what you’re talking about.”

  “Ericka—”

  “Unless you were lying.” She shrugged, looking unbothered. “If that’s the case, then maybe—”

  I didn’t let her finish whatever she was about to say before I had her off the ground again.

  “If you want me to fuck you, then I will. But it won’t be here.” I smacked her ass, and more laughter spilled out of her. I pulled the passenger door open and placed her inside, letting my lips trail over her jaw as I said, “I need to see your face the first time I make you come. And every time after that.”

  Week five still

  9. ERICKA

  I hated dresses. But for the first time in a while, I wished I was wearing one right now.

  If for no other reason than granting Jonah easy access to everything I wanted to give him right now.

  As soon as he pulled into my driveway behind my car, I had my seatbelt unfastened, climbing into his lap with zero regard to how this was actually going to work.

  If Jonah was thrown off by my actions, he hid it, reclining his seat to give me as much space as possible on his lap.

  “Ericka.”

  “Kiss me,” I panted against his lips. “Please.”

  Not only did he kiss me, he deftly wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and yanked me forward so that I was right where he wanted me.

  “We should go in the house,” he mumbled against my lips, but he didn’t stop kissing me. And he didn’t protest when I started to grind against his lap.

  His dick had been taunting me since the beach, and even through my clothes, I knew that every inch of it was going to ruin me in the best way.

  I wanted that. I wanted that more than I’d wanted anything in a long, long time.

  “Let’s go inside,” he said roughly against my lips. His voice was strained as he panted out a breath. “If we stay in this car another second, I’m going to embarrass myself and come in my pants.”

  When I laughed lightly, he stared at me. Hard.

  “I’m serious, E. I wanna play it cool and act like I’m not losing my mind, but I can’t.”

  I’d never had a man so earnestly admit that he was putty in my hands, and it was a nice change. One that went straight to my damn head. Jonah Kincade was losing his mind over me.

  “Let’s go, baby.” Then he reached around us and opened the door. I untangled myself and moved out of his lap to walk up to the front door. When Jonah came up behind me, he pressed the purse I’d forgotten on my seat into my palm and punched in my passcode.

  As soon as we made it inside, he had me pinned against the wall, my hands locked in his above my head.

  My purse fell with a soft thud, then his lips were on me. First my cheeks, then my nose. And then my jaw. He laid adoring kisses on every inch of my face while my lips begged for attention. And when he finally kissed me there, stars danced behind my eyes from the anticipation.

  “Fuck, you taste so good.” His voice rumbled as he pulled his mouth away from mine and stared down at me. Without a word, he worked his free hand past the waist of my pants and let his long fingers skim over the front of my panties.

  I clenched around nothing while he continued staring at me, his fingers testing the wetness through the thin material before he pushed them aside. His knuckles skimmed over my sensitive flesh, making my eyes roll to the back of my head.

  “Ooh, Jonah,” I whimpered as pressure immediately began to build.

  Jonah released my hands from above my head, and I wasted no time gripping his forearm with both, holding him in place while I rocked my hips against the friction he created.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  His middle finger swiped past my clit and down to my hole, gathering the wetness leaking out before he dragged his fingers through the mess and back to my clit. His large hand palmed my pussy as I rocked back and forth with zero shame.

  “I’m gonna give you whatever you fucking want, for the rest of your life.” He applied more pressure, and my eyes popped open. “You know that?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m gonna give you whatever you want for the rest of your life, Ericka.”

  He let his fingers slip and slide against my clit while he continued to stare through my soul. “You want that too, don’t you? That’s why you’re so wet. Because you know you fucking own me and I’ll give you everything you want.”

  Without warning, he shoved a thick finger inside of me, and my mouth fell open.

  “Fuck!” We swore in unison.

  A satisfied smirk took over his face as he watched me writhe against the wall and lose my mind over the intrusion.

  “You’re so fucking tight, E.” He fucked his finger in and out of me, crashing his lips against mine while he swiftly brought me to my first orgasm of the night.

  I came quick in a frantic burst and bit down on his lip as I rode out the aftershocks.

  “That’s my girl.” He gave me a sloppy kiss. “And I need you to keep coming for me. All night.”

  “Jonah, I—”

  “What did I say, E?” His finger was still moving in and out of me, his thumb swiping my clit with each jerk of my hips, and I was so close to falling apart again, I felt lightheaded.

  He fingered me to the brink of my second orgasm and pulled away without warning. Instead of speaking, he picked me up and carried me to my bedroom. The only light in the room was the soft glow of the lamp on my nightstand.

  We fell on the bed in a mess of limbs, our lips somehow still connected while Jonah undressed the both of us. His clothes fell to the floor beside my bed first, then he moved on to me. First, my pants, then my panties. The only thing remaining was my bustier top, and I knew that was only because I would need to turn around for him to fully take it off.

  He stared at me for a minute in total silence before lust turned his eyes to slits. “You’re so fucking pretty. So fucking beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Those words ended on a hiss as he stuffed two fingers inside of me.

  The only sound in the room for the next minute was the sound of my wetness coating his fingers as he pushed in and out of me.

  My legs fell open, fully exposing me while he pumped his fingers. My pussy wasn’t bald, but I always maintained a close shave. Jonah didn’t looked fazed by it. He was more interested in the sounds I made every time he inserted his fingers at a new angle and massaged my walls.

  “I can’t wait to feel you around my dick, E. I know you’re going to feel like home.” His lazy strokes sped up, and his fingers worked in and out of my pussy in time with the choppy beating of my heart.

  I let my hands trail over the stiff peaks of my nipples through my top and down over my abdomen.

  Over and over again, I ran my hands up and down the lace covering my torso. Every time my fingers raked my skin, I shivered.

  The heady scent of my arousal cloaked the room, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on my skin. The ceiling fan was on, but it didn’t compare to the heat surging through me in this moment.

  “You’re wetting up my fingers so good, baby,” Jonah praised. The faster he fingered me, the more my legs began to shake.

  He hadn’t even introduced dick into this equation and I was already falling apart.

  When my second orgasm finally hit me, he withdrew his fingers and stared at his glistening digits in awe.

  Expecting him to lick his fingers clean, it was my turn to watch in awe when he reached down and stroked my wetness over his length.

  His dick bobbed as he released it, but the line of precum leaking from the tip had my full attention.

  He finally pulled me off the bed and made quick work of unzipping my top. My nipples were so sensitive the cool air felt like a caress and further strummed the need pulsing inside of me.

  “Fuck, you’re leaking all over the bed,” he groaned, his hand working back and forth over his erection.

  He had a nice dick. It was a shade darker than the rest of him, thick and covered in the most beautiful veins I’d ever seen.

  Aside from that, the prominent v-cut leading from his defined abs down to his pubic bone made my mouth run dry. He hadn’t played football in years, but he still possessed the body of an athlete.

  My pussy clenched around air as I imagined how he would feel inside of me.

  On his knees, he hovered over me, slowly dropping his body over mine until his chest was pressed against me and his dick was resting right at my entrance.

  “If I fuck you, you’re mine.”

  His mushroom tip kissed my lips, but he didn’t move inside of me.

  “Ericka.”

  “What?”

  “You’re mine if I fuck you,” he reiterated. “All of you will belong to me.”

  Another press of his hips made my eyes roll before he moved and let his length rub my clit.

  I could come just like this. I squeezed my eyes shut and grinned against him from below.

  When he pinched my left nipple, I cried out and stopped abruptly.

  “Mine to love. Mine to fuck. Mine to protect.” He leaned down and ran his tongue over my other nipple. “You understand, baby?”

  “Y-yes.”

  “Unless you tell me different, I’m not wearing a condom in this pussy, Ericka.”

  I didn’t know what made me acquiesce so easily, but the last thing on my mind was putting up resistance. “I’m on birth control and I got tested last month. I’m good.”

  Jonah nodded, a soft smile on his lips. Then he cradled my face and tongued me down so thoroughly, I felt weightless by the time he pulled away. “I’m good too. I would never knowingly put you at risk.”

  Nodding, I fastened my hands around his waist and pulled him into me, and this time he let me. He sank into me slowly. Carefully. Inch by inch.

  The whole time he held fast to my face, watching me closely as he stretched me past my limit.

  I wasn’t going to lie and say it didn’t sting. I hadn’t had sex in over five months, and even then, Aaron was nowhere near as blessed as Jonah was.

  It was…an adjustment. One I happily accepted when the sting of pain subsided and gave way to pleasure.

 

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