Chapter 11
I awoke to a warm wall of muscle along my back. Awareness shot through me that he was hard, everywhere. After a moment’s hesitation, I pressed my backside into him, trying to soothe the ache his proximity inspired.
Lust. A foreign concept to me until now, and one I was enjoying getting to know better.
His low groan had my heart thundering in response as I turned in his arms. I pressed my lips to his neck, shocked that I could be so brazen.
His large hand moved to my backside, pulling me in closer as he squeezed firmly.
I squirmed under his grip, needing more, needing him.
He rolled me to my back, his large body pressing over mine as he took my mouth without delay. This kiss was different than the others we’d shared. It was nearly desperate as we sought to conquer each other’s mouths.
He lay pressed between my legs, his hardness hitting just the spot I needed. I didn’t think it would take much more to push me over the edge. If he’d just move a little bit….
I broke from his mouth with a gasp. “I need—I need.”
He pulled back, leaning on his forearms as he stared down at me, his eyes half-mast with lust. “What, Em? What do you need?”
The need was so acute I didn’t hesitate in answering. “I need you to make me come.”
His slow grin would have melted my panties if I were wearing any. “How?”
“How?” I stammered, perplexed. “You don’t know how?”
He chuckled. “I know how, babe,” he assured me. “How do you want me to make you come? Do you want my hand, my mouth, or my cock?”
I bit my lip, his words turning me on more than I’d thought possible. “Do I have to choose?” I whimpered as his tongue traced the shell of my ear.
He dropped his head to my chest with a groan. “Christ, you’re sexy.” His mouth found my nipple, sucking hard through the fabric of my camisole.
I moaned, arching up into his mouth, wanting more. I barely recognized this wanton woman, but I liked her.
His hand shoved my camisole up as he took my bare breast with another delicious lick. His head moved further, kissing down my belly until he reached the apex of my thighs.
He shoved my legs apart, diving between them with such fervor I had no time to be self-conscious. I simply gave myself over to him.
“I’m going to come,” I whimpered only seconds later. My warning was followed by a cry I didn’t try to suppress as I shattered into pieces beneath him.
He kissed and licked his way back up my body, settling again between my thighs. “That was too easy.” He grinned, bending to kiss my neck. “You taste so delicious, I didn’t want that to end.” He pressed into me, and my tingling nerves perked up in answer. I raked my fingers down his spine, pulling him closer. “I don’t want to push you.” He seemed to war with himself.
“You’re not. I admit I didn’t think I’d be ready this fast. I don’t have much experience,” I admitted quietly. “But this feels natural, being with you. I want you,” I shared.
“You sure?” he demanded.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
His expression turned from indecision to pure lust as he leaned over me to open the bedside table. He sheathed himself in seconds, and without delay began to press inside me.
“Christ, you’re tight.” He groaned, his muscles taut as he visibly restrained himself.
“Don’t hold back.” I shook my head, needing him to give me everything.
He looked down at me, his expression nearly feral as I watched the last vestiges of his control snap.
My hands raked his back, moving to his backside, clutching his taut muscles, wanting him deeper, harder. His mouth took mine in a claiming kiss before moving to my neck, where I felt his teeth nip my skin.
I’d never been so consumed, so completely… claimed. I was lost to everything but him, and I never wanted to be found.
When my orgasm loomed, it was so overwhelming I was nearly afraid of it.
He groaned as I tightened that much more around him. “Let it go, baby. I’ve got you.”
Having no other choice but to obey, I let go and there was no going back. I rode the wave of no return with an adulation I’d never felt until now. It was as though a dam broke and everything I’d been up to until now, everything I thought I’d understood, was washed away. It was just Travis, just us.
His low growl registered moments later as he rumbled his release, his body collapsing onto mine.
I held him tight, wrapping as much of his big body in my arms as I could as we panted for breath.
He pulled away slightly, his forehead pressed to mine. “That was crazy.” He grinned, his breathing still labored. “I knew it’d be good with us, but shit,” he marveled. “The only regret I have is that we can’t stay in bed all day and do that over and over again.”
“Something to look forward to.” I grinned up at him.
****
After showering, a quick breakfast, and a walk for Able where Travis didn’t drop my hand once, we headed off to Talon.
It was located on the industrial side of town, and I watched with building curiosity as we pulled through a gate and drove into the underground parking garage of what looked like a massive building.
A quick elevator ride later we stepped into a large, open-concept office space. Aside from a sleek conference room to the right, the rest of the space was open, with several desks lining both sides of the wall.
Despite it being Sunday, Theo and Declan both sat at desks, intent on whatever they were working on.
“The gym’s back there.” Travis gestured toward the far back wall where a door sat propped open. “There’s a kitchen and a room for the guys to crash if need be, as well,” he added.
I looked around the incredible space, realizing for the first time how successful Travis really was.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t any yoga mats in the gym.” Theo sighed theatrically, a teasing glint in his eye.
The last few times I’d seen him, he’d been so serious. Despite it meaning that he was giving me shit, I was glad to see the old Theo.
I raised a brow. “Oh yeah? Maybe you should change that. Yoga is a killer workout.”
“Right,” Theo scoffed.
“You wanna bet?” I challenged.
Declan sat back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, watching our exchange. Travis simply shook his head beside me.
“Hell yes, I want to bet,” Theo replied enthusiastically.
How had I known he’d say that?
“Fine. I’ll lead you in a class. If you’re not sore the next day, I’ll....” I searched for a good term for our bet.
“You’ll do our PT workout with us,” Theo finished for me.
“PT?” I looked to Travis in confusion.
He grinned down at me. “Physical training,” he reminded me.
The competitor in me wanted to say I’d do that anyway, but instead I responded with a simple. “Fine. If I win, you have to come to my class every day for a week.”
Theo clapped his hands together. “Hell, yes. When are we doing this?”
“I have classes all week. Pick one that works for you.” I shrugged.
“What if I choose a beginners class?” Theo dared me.
“You’ll still be sore,” I threw back.
Declan threw his head back and laughed. “Dude, I might come just to watch you fall on your ass trying to do that shit.”
Theo shot him a look. “What are you talking about? I’m fucking graceful.”
“All right, all right. Can we get some shit done?” Travis demanded, though he was hiding a smile. He turned to me. “I won’t be long. Where do you want to be?”
“I’ll just wander around, check out the gym,” I replied. I was curious to see the rest of the space.
“All right, babe.” He dropped a kiss on my temple.
I was pleasantly surprised at the affection in front of his team. I hadn’t expected it.
I left the guys to their work and wandered back to where he’d said the gym was. Upon stepping through the doorway, I promptly dropped my jaw in shock.
This wasn’t a gym, it was a… fitness supercenter. It was easily the size of a parking garage, with ropes hanging from the ceilings, tires leaning on the wall to the right, and rows upon rows of cardio and weight-training equipment. A yoga mat was probably the only thing this gym didn’t have.
The rooms off the gym included a place to sleep, complete with two sets of bunk beds, a locker room, and a small kitchen.
By the time I made my way back to Travis’s desk, my head was spinning at the sheer magnitude of the space and how much funding he clearly had to support it.
Travis and the guys were in the conference room, so I plopped down in the chair next to his desk and pulled my book up on my phone. I’d devoured two chapters when a call came in from an international number.
Ryan.
“Hello?” I asked through the crackle of the poor connection I’d grown used to over the last few years. “Ryan?”
“Emmie?” His voice sounded faraway, and I stood up, walking to the back of the office so I wouldn’t disturb anyone when I raised my voice to be heard.
It had been a few days since he’d been able to check in, and I was thrilled to hear his voice. We had so much to talk about; he still didn’t know about Travis, but our check-ins had been so brief. “Hey!” I grinned. “How are you?”
“Oh you know, dirty, tired.” He chuckled. “How are you?”
“I’m great,” I replied, loving how true those words were. “I have a lot to catch you up on.”
“I want to catch up, too, but Emmie, unfortunately I don’t have time right now. I actually called to let you know I’m going off the grid for a while. I didn’t want you to worry.”
My back stiffened. “Off the grid?”
“I can’t say much more than that, but it could be a few weeks until I’m able to get in touch.”
I swallowed back the emotion his words immediately incited. The thought of anything happening to my baby brother was unimaginable.
“Ryan, please be careful,” I begged.
“Always,” he assured me, sounding so different from the boy he’d been not so long ago. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.”
“Love you, Ry,” I murmured.
“Aw, don’t go getting all mushy on me,” he complained, as he always did. “Love you, too,” he added, his tone losing its levity.
The line went dead, and I blinked furiously against the tears welling in my eyes. He’d been in the service for years, and it hadn’t gotten any easier.
I knew it never would.
I took a moment to collect myself, leaning against one of the bunks in the room I’d sequestered myself in.
“Em?” Travis’s call sounded from the front of the office.
I took a shaky breath in and attempted to pull myself together.
He poked his head into the room a moment later, his brow pinching in confusion. “What are you doing back here?”
I shook my head, not wanting to get into it now. “Nothing. Any chance you could drop me back at your place?” I asked hopefully.
He eyed me doubtfully, knowing there was something wrong, but nodded in agreement. “Let’s get you home.”
Home.
I ignored the reference, assuming it was a slip of the tongue, and agreed with a nod and small smile.
He placed a hand on the small of my back, protectively guiding me out to his Jeep. I could tell he wanted to ask me more questions but he didn’t press, not yet.
The fact I had a man so concerned for me, who wanted to know me in a way few had in the past, had me willing to do as he asked. To let him in.
I just hoped like hell that when I did, he could handle it.