Chapter Fourteen

 

 

By the time Lexi and Eric were in the elevator back up to their hotel room, she was sagging against his shoulder. It had been quite the night. Drinks and dinner and dancing. He hadn’t been surprised to learn that she was a good dancer. Unschooled, maybe. But natural.

The same way she was with everything. A true natural talent.

He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her.

God, he was so screwed.

Tomorrow they were going to fly back to Montana and go back to what? Friends with benefits? That was if he was lucky. Another month of that and then Bye Bye Birdy.

The thought curdled in his stomach.

He held her around the waist as he unlocked the door. She immediately shucked off her shoes as he slid his tie off and laid his jacket over a chair.

“That was really fun,” she murmured.

She was tired enough that Eric assumed that sex was off the table for the night. In a way, he was almost relieved. He didn’t think his stupid, hopeful heart could take it right now. He’d take the couch. Keep things a little simpler between the two of them. He slid his shirt out from his pants and started unbuttoning.

“The gala was alright. But the rest was really nice.”

“The rest?” she asked from behind him. He could hear her rustling around and getting undressed.

“Yeah,” he said, deciding to be honest. “Pretending you were my girlfriend for the night. It was really nice.” He stripped off his shirt and lowered his hand to his pants, then thought better of it.

“Eric,” she said from behind him. And when he turned to look at her, his heart literally stopped. She stunned in black lace, her silk dress in a pool at her feet. She drew back the covers on the giant king sized bed and looked back over her shoulder at him. “The night’s not over.”

He was next to her in a second. Less than. But he vowed to himself that that was the last time he was going to go fast tonight. Tonight was about savoring her. Every last drop. She was the finest whisky. The darkest chocolate. The ripest fruit. He wasn’t going to let a single taste go to waste.

Sweeping the hair up off her neck, Eric buried his nose in her skin, couldn’t get enough of her natural scent.

“You were the only woman in there who wasn’t bathed in perfume,” he murmured against her, his lips dragging over her skin. “And you smelled better than any of them.”

Her breath caught as his hand scraped up her thigh, his fingers twisting in the lace of her panties.

The rules don’t apply in L.A.

Throwing every single plan to distance himself out the window, Eric stripped her of the black lace that, while sexy as fuck, didn’t hold a candle to the beauty of her naked skin. I can’t deny myself this, he thought.

I can’t deny myself of a single second with her.

Maybe it would torture him in the morning, when they pulled away from one another. But he couldn’t resist. Couldn’t resist showing both of them what could have been.

 

* * *

 

Eric's hands were large and strong, and they moved over Lexi’s body as carefully and reverently as if she was a fine piece of art. Her body tingled as he gently massaged and kneaded and explored every square inch of her before finally concentrating on the very center of her, drawing hoarse moans from her throat and causing shockwave after shockwave of pleasure to ripple through her.

She reached for his pants, yearning to touch him, desperately wanting to see his rock hard abs, grab his incredibly firm ass, and feel his long, stiff cock in her hands. To her surprise and immense frustration, he stopped her. “Not yet, Lexi. You’ll have your turn. Right now I need to taste you again,” he said, pushing her thighs apart as he lowered his face between her legs. The warmth of his breath upon her opening hit her hard, but it was the tip of his tongue, which he used to circle her clit before diving in deeper, that really made her toes curl. She gasped and moaned, burying her fingers into his hair as Eric worked his magic, slow and steady, as if they had all night to explore each other's bodies. Her back arched up from the bed as he buried his tongue inside of her and she moaned so loud, it echoed off the walls of the bedroom.

Grabbing his head, she ground her pussy against his warm, wet mouth. He sucked and licked and fucked her with his tongue, bringing her close to the edge before slowing his pace and bringing her back down.

She whimpered in disappointment, drawing a devious little smile from him as he looked up at her, her juices glistening on his face. The sight sent chills through her body, and made the fire inside her burn even brighter.

“Fuck me. Fuck me, please,” she pleaded after he’d brought her a third time, and then fourth time, to the edge, only to pull her back.

At her hoarse pleas, Eric stood and slowly removed his shirt. Then his pants. When he was naked, she smiled. “My turn now.”

She leaned forward and kissed his chest even as she took his cock in her hand. He watched her, a look of pure lust shining brightly in his eyes, as she lowered her face, finally sucking the tip of his cock between her lips. She played there for several minutes before taking more of him. Yes! He filled her mouth so thoroughly and completely, and she shuddered with anticipation and the knowledge of what it would feel like when he filled up other parts of her body.

Eric tangled his fingers into her hair and she sucked and licked him harder, faster, her hand jerking him off in time with her mouth. He moaned, his breathing growing ragged. He was clearly enjoying her mouth on his cock, but she didn't want to finish him like this. No, she needed to fuck him, needed to feel him inside her pussy.

“Please, Eric... Please...”

He suddenly pulled her to her feet beside the bed and kissed her long and hard. Taking one of her breasts in his hand, he gently sucked on the nipple, causing her to squirm and cry out. The feeling of that hard, thick cock pressed into her flesh was driving her mad. She so badly wanted to guide it inside of her, to feel him stretching her open. To feel that long, hard dick plumbing the depths of her. But he continued teasing, spreading her legs and rubbing the head of his cock up against her clit, sending electrical signals throughout her entire body. She closed her eyes and let out a whimper. She felt like a person dying of thirst, laying there on the ground, with a glass of life-saving water sitting just out of her reach.

“Please, please—”

The tip of his cock pressed against her opening, gently parting her lips, as he stared down into her eyes. His blue eyes were like oceans of lust, and she felt like she was drowning in them. God, he was so damn sexy and he was so close to giving her what she wanted. What she needed. He was so goddamn close to fucking her and she was crying out for him to slide his cock inside her.

She arched her back upward, hoping to seal the deal and join their two bodies. But he suddenly pulled back with a curse. “Protection,” he said, quickly finding a condom and putting it on. When he was back, a life-saving glass of water out of reach, she whimpered. “Easy. I’ve got you.” He smiled, pressing against her again, this time allowing just the tip of his glorious cock to fill her.

“No need to rush. I want to savor this, Lexi. I want to savor every last bit of you,” he said quietly, kissing her. “Because God knows, once I'm inside of you, I won't be able to control myself.”

“Then lose control, Eric,” she said softly, stroking his cheek. “Please, lose control. I want you to.”

He looked down at her for a long moment, the aching in her body intensifying with each passing second. She thought that he was going to prolong her suffering by making her wait, but he took her by complete surprise when he thrust himself deep inside her. She dug her nails into his shoulders, hanging on for dear life as he filled her up, going deeper than she thought possible. Her eyes were wide and a strangled gasp escaped her lips as he stretched her wide open.

As their bodies came together, they both let out a groan of pleasure, and she felt herself clenching around his cock.

He moved slowly at first, rocking back and forth, sliding his cock in and out of her with no sense of the desperation she felt. He was content to stare down into her eyes as he slowly fucked her. Each thrust inside of her felt amazing. Her body tingled like she was being zapped with electricity, and she knew it wouldn't be long for either of them.

Eric's body began to tremble and he started pumping his cock into her faster and harder. He was growing more and more desperate, and closer to climax. As was she. She could feel it building up inside of her – like a wave out on the ocean that was gaining speed and strength as it approached the shore. She had a feeling that when the wave finally broke, it was going to shake her to her very core.

The spasms started low in her pussy, making her clench around his cock even tighter. Eric squeezed his eyes shut harder as he let out a low groan.

“Oh fuck,” he muttered under his breath, shuddering against her as she continued tightening around him.

She wrapped her arms around his body, holding him close, and she arched herself upward to meet his thrusts. And then – well, then she lost it. That wave out on the ocean came crashing down, forcing her to lose control of her body – and her mind, really – and let out a scream, calling out his name as wave after wave of pleasure overcame her.

With her squirming and writhing underneath him like a wild animal, he had a hard time keeping the rhythm, but somehow, he was able to manage. At least, he managed to keep the rhythm until the last wave of pleasure crashed down upon her and that was apparently all he needed.

“Lexi... Oh God...” He thrust into her one last time, deep enough to hit her cervix, and let out a low grunt.

She cried out as his cock pulsed inside her one last time. He squeezed his eyes shut as he exploded. Immediately, she joined him in orgasm – the two of them shuddering and writhing, their bodies grinding against one another as they rode out the pleasure together.

 

* * *

 

Lexi came awake the next morning like a patient waking from a coma. She had absolutely no sense of time or place. The only thing she knew was warmth. And safety. And something else. Something hot and light and burning inside her.

What was that feeling? She’d never felt it before. It was halfway between mania and calm. Panic and joy.

Without opening her eyes, Lexi moved her hand to her heart. But found that someone else’s hand was already there.

Her eyes sprang open.

Eric.

He was spooned around her, one hand clutching the charm he’d given her last night. The rest of the night washed over her. The dress. The friends. Brianne and Gabe, and Porter, and Eric. Oh god, Eric. Dancing. Laughing.

Making love.

Unlike anything she’d ever experienced in her life. Eric had opened her up like a Christmas present. Lit her on fire from the inside.

Every kiss, every moan, every delicious, languid stroke of him inside her was burned into her brain.

They’d made love on the bed. Over and over again. He’d stoked the flame for hours. They’d been a tangle of wanting limbs, trying to climb inside one another.

She realized now, with a kind of fascinated horror, that they’d been trying to bind themselves to one another.

Jesus God. That had not been sex. That had been love.

And that feeling tearing its way out of her chest? That was love.

Lexi moved her hand over her open, horrified mouth. What the fuck had she done? She’d fallen in love?

Somewhere between the hardware store and the fancy ass gala, Lexi had gotten herself good and lost. This was brand new country. Fresh territory that she had absolutely no interest in fording.

She was screwed. She was utterly screwed. Because best case scenario? Eric didn’t feel the same way back. He would be so sweet about it. Let her down gently. With class and kindness. The thought made her stomach completely clench.

And worst case scenario? He felt the same way that she did. Instantly Lexi was bombarded with images of herself sitting on the front porch on Eric’s ranch. Kids playing in the yard and horses galloping in the paddock.

It was a beautiful image. A beautiful life. And she wanted it. Desperately.

Only she couldn’t have it. Not without giving up her dream. Not without giving up herself, the way her father had given up himself to do the right thing by Lexi and her mother.

She couldn’t do that. No matter how much she longed to be with Eric, she couldn’t let herself be mired in quicksand.

Lexi slid out from under Eric’s arm. Cursing herself for what she’d done. What she’d allowed to happen.

She shook her head as she dug into her bag for her regular clothes. No. No sense beating herself up over that. It was bound to happen at some point no matter what she did. The fact was, she’d been screwed the second Eric had sat down next to her at the bar. She’d never stood a chance against that grin. Those eyes. That delicious, deep voice.

No! Concentrate! She dressed quickly and packed her things as quietly as she could.

She indulged herself in just one more look at Eric. And then she stepped out onto the balcony and made the first phone call.

“Jake? Hi. It’s Lexi.”

 

* * *

 

Eric woke up that morning feeling like he could run a marathon. No. Better than that. He could win a marathon right about now. His muscles were warm and loose. His body rested. And his skin still tingled from the hours long sexcapade he’d had with Lexi.

He’d never had sex like that. Where the heat from their bodies made it feel like they were melting together. He’d swallowed down her breath. Every moan and gasp. He’d fucked her hard. And soft. And everything in between. Drawn it out so long that the last twenty minutes had just felt like one long orgasm.

Seriously. There was no recovering from that. Once you knew sex like that existed, you didn’t go back to get-to-know-you sex.

He stretched and reached out for her. He was only partially surprised to feel that she wasn’t in the bed.

He was ready for whatever freak out she was going to send his way this morning. It was a par for the course reaction of hers whenever they got closer. He was fine with it, really. She’d set some more rules. He’d accept them, and then they’d head back to Montana. Try to take things easy for a while.

He was fine with that. Especially now that he knew they could have sex like that. Sex where he got to tell her every single thing he was feeling without even having to say a word. He figured she wouldn’t be able to keep him at arm’s length for too long if they were fucking like that every night.

So he took it on the chin when he sat up and didn’t see her in the room. She needed a little space. That was fine. But his brow furrowed when he saw that she wasn’t in the bathroom either.

He was brushing his teeth when she stepped back in from the balcony. She was tucking her cell phone into her jeans pocket. She was already dressed for the day? Mildly disappointed, he rinsed his toothbrush. He’d been looking forward to lazing around in bed for an hour or two before they got back out to see more of L.A.

“Morning,” he said, trying not to be hurt when she avoided his eye. “Who were you talking to out there?”

She took a deep breath, sat down at the breakfast table and turned to face him. “A few people.”

He sat down next to her, grabbed an orange and started to peel it. “Oh? Who?”

“Jake, Aubrey, and Marina.”

Eric was starting to get a sick feeling in his stomach. “In that order?”

“Yes.”

Eric tossed the orange aside. “What’s this about, Lex?”

She took another deep breath. “I’m staying here.”

Eric stared her in the eye as her words sank down on him, one after the other. “You mean—”

“I’m not coming back to Montana.”

He leaned back in his chair suddenly feeling like he was the one who needed distance.

“I talked with Jake first,” she plunged on. “Because I wanted to make sure that he could help you out at the hardware store for a few hours a day for the next month. I didn’t want to leave you high and dry.”

“Jake doesn’t have time to—”

“Well, he said he’d do it. Because I need him to.”

That shut him up.

“And then I talked to Aubrey. Asked if I could move in today. He said yes. He was stoked actually. And then I talked to Marina. I’m going to wire her rent for the next month, because I know she was depending on it. And she’s going to ship me the stuff I left in Montana. Although, honestly, there’s not much left. Except for my car. Which she said she’d try and sell for me.”

Eric felt a huge hole opening up inside of him, yawning and scratching to get at every last inch of his heart. “That must have been a hard conversation, I know you two are friends.” His voice was hollow, even to his own ears.

“It was. But she understood.”

Suddenly Eric was standing, pacing away from her. “What did she understand exactly?”

Lexi rose too. Her eyes were steady but her voice was not. “That if I go back, Eric, if I go back with you, I’ll never leave.”

“Lexi—”

“No! Listen.” She raced forward and took his hand. Broke his heart when she placed it against her own cheek. “Eric, you’re too good. You’re worth it. You’re worth staying in Montana for. But it’ll wreck me to do it. And I can’t do that to myself. I’ll never forgive myself if that’s the choice I make. Never.”

“Long distance,” he tried.

“With no end in sight? You really want that?”

“No.” Yes? He had no fucking clue what he wanted. All he knew was that this felt terrible. Like he was tearing himself in half.

“So why drag it out? Why pile on another month of closeness just to have to kick our way out of it at the end? No way. This is hard enough as it is. And I’ve only loved you for like ten hours. I can’t imagine what it would be like at the end of the summer.”

His eyes snapped up to hers. His hands were on her shoulders. “You love me?”

She met his gaze, but it was with sadness, resignation. “Does it matter? Does it really change anything?”

He wanted to shake her. Wanted to shake himself. Slap himself. Become a different man who wouldn’t hate himself for returning to L.A. with his tail between his legs.

“Does it change anything if I love you back?” he asked, wanting the one answer that he knew he was never going to get.

“Don’t,” she whispered, her chin trembling. “This is hard enough without both of us telling the fucking truth.”

“You knew?” He had to know. “You knew how I felt?”

She threw up her hands and took a step away from him. And then another step. “It’s written all over us, Eric.”

He watched as she took another step and another step. She reached for her neatly packed backpack.

“If you’re ever in L.A…” she started.

“Don’t say it.”

So she didn’t. She gave him one last look, halfway between tough and heartbroken. And then the door of the hotel room was clicking shut behind her.