“Beth, I’m throwing myself on your mercy. Please go shopping with me.” Tate showed up at the front desk at closing time on Thursday night.
“Come to my parlor said the spider to the fly.” Beth chuckled. “You’re in luck. You don’t even have to go shopping. I know how much you hate it so I went shopping last night and picked up a few things for your date. Come to my apartment and try them on.”
They drove over to Beth’s place and Tate sucked it up and tried on the outfit, undergarments and shoes her sister had bought.
“Since you’re going to The Tonk, I thought this might suit best.” Beth held up a black dress with a full skirt, covered in red roses. The bodice was tight, with three-quarter sleeves. “I think it’ll give you lots of movement when you’re dancing. And let’s face it, Tate, no one dances like you.”
Tate liked the dress immediately and even got over feeling exposed by the deep vee of the neckline. It didn’t make her look like a supermodel or anything, but it showcased her better features and camouflaged her not so good ones—namely her thighs. With a pair of pretty heels and her hair done just right, she’d do in a pinch. Okay, more than that, she looked pretty and what woman didn’t like to look pretty?
“Thank you, Beth. It’s perfect.”
Beth grinned. “It does look really lovely on you. By the way, we’re going to The Tonk Saturday night too.”
“We?”
“Me, Nathan, Anne and Royal. What? You think we’d just throw you to the wolves over there?”
There was a reason the Murphys did their drinking and dancing at Reba’s over in Riverton instead of The Tonk. The Tonk wasn’t their place, was generally filled with people who had made fun of them when they were younger.
“Well, I could pretend to be annoyed but you’d see through me. Thank you.” Tate hugged Beth. “I appreciate the backup.”
“Tate, I don’t say this enough, but I’ve always got your back. It’s not that I feel like I owe you for raising me. You’re my sister and my best friend and I love you. We’re family and that’s what family does. If anyone says one wrong thing I’m planting a boot in their ass.”
Tate laughed. “Well, I’d pay to see that one.”
* * *
“You ready for your date tomorrow?” Marc took his shot as he spoke to his brother.
“It’s not like I’ve never been on a date before.”
“Not with the one you haven’t. Liv’s all worked up.” Marc grinned and his eyes gravitated to his wife who sat at the front of The Pumphouse at her usual table.
“You shouldn’t bring her. It’s smoky in there. It’s not like you have to protect me from Tate Murphy. She’s barely five feet tall.” Matt chuckled.
“You say that as if I have a choice in what my beautiful wife does. She assures me we’ll get a table near the back doors which are open during the summer.”
“They’re all planning on something,” Shane rumbled as he looked at the table.
“Count on it. Maggie’s the ringleader no doubt. She wants to be sure we get there early so we can welcome Tate properly. And she warned me about those stuck-up bitches I used to date and how I’d better be sure to make Tate feel more welcome than she felt.” Kyle grinned.
“For a little thing, your woman is scary.”
Kyle laughed. “And now yours is even smaller. What’s Tate? Like five-one?”
“She claims five-two but I think she’s fudging a half an inch. There’s a lot to her.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. I have to say I heartily approve from my time with her at your place a few weeks back. When are you going to tell Momma and Daddy?” Kyle asked.
“I’m trying to get her to come to dinner on Sunday. I figured I’d talk to Momma tomorrow afternoon. I need to pick up some stuff they’re donating to the firefighter’s auction. I’m sure adding another plate won’t be a big deal.”
Marc laughed. “No big deal? Yeah, you keep thinking that.”
* * *
Matt couldn’t believe his eyes when Tate opened her door. She stood there in a black dress covered in big red roses. Bright red lips, silver hoops in her ears. She’d done something to her hair so that it hung in smooth, pale waves around her face. She looked like a fifties movie star.
“Holy shit. Tate, you look gorgeous.”
She blushed and he couldn’t help but kiss her on her neck.
“Thank you. It’s Beth’s doing. She picked it out. You look very nice too. I haven’t seen you dressed for dancing.”
He kept an arm around her waist and pressed another kiss just beneath her ear, up the side of her face and over her brow. “You taste good.”
“My, you’re very fancy with the compliments. By the way, a few of my siblings are going to be at The Tonk tonight. I hope you don’t mind.”
He escorted her to his truck and helped her in.
“Of course I don’t. My brothers and sisters-in-law will be there too. They’re all anxious to get to know you.”
“Yeah, ’cause that won’t make me nervous or anything.”
“They’re all very nice people. You already know Liv and Maggie.”
“Sort of. It’s not the same, working for someone. It’s not like I’m friends with them or anything.”
He nodded, chewing over that mentally as he drove. “Well, okay, if you say so. It’s hard for me to know and all, they’re part of my life so I just think of them as friends.”
“Liv was your girlfriend too, right? For a while a few years back?”
He laughed. “Yes. Odd isn’t it? She married my little brother and she’s going to have his baby in September.”
“Odd, yeah that’s a word for it.”
“Does it weird you out?” Admittedly, he hadn’t thought of that, of how the woman he’d want to be with would feel about Liv.
“Well, I don’t really have a place to be weirded out. It’s just a date.”
“Tate, it’s not just anything. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable being with me when we’re out. There’s nothing between me and Liv, hasn’t been for years now. She’s one of my best friends and my brother’s wife, that’s it.”
“This conversation is making me uncomfortable.”
He laughed. He liked it when she got prim and sort of prickly. They pulled into the parking lot of The Tonk and he hopped out, heading around to her door to open it.
“What is it with the men in this town and these damned trucks? Can’t you all have cars that aren’t fifty feet off the ground?”
He helped her get down and tried not to smile. “You’re just a bitty thing, I’ll have to get a ladder for your side. Not that I don’t like helping you in and out but...”
“My God you talk a lot.”
He looked at her, surprised, but her grin brought a matching one back to his lips. “You’re kinda spunky for someone so small.”
She took his arm and hmpfed.
Tate was nervous as hell. She’d never been to The Tonk but was thankful that through the sea of people she sighted her sisters and brother across the room. They appeared to be sitting with a bunch of Chases. God, they all looked so pretty. There she was, a dumpling in a dress and everyone else was pretty. Figured.
Still, the music caught her within moments. The way it always did. And she didn’t feel so much like a dumpling anymore. She felt graceful and a little bit sexy.
“Looks like you’re a girl who loves to dance. Which is lucky for me, ’cause I’m a guy who loves girls who love to dance. Fate is a beautiful thing.” He spun her into his arms and swayed a bit. “I like the way you feel against me.”
“My word you’re quite the flatterer.” So much so it made her all giddy and weak-kneed. “I love to dance. Always have. We go to Reba’s every other Saturday.”
He kissed her and spun her again, leading her through the crowd toward the other side of the club where their family awaited. Only the disbelieving stares directed toward them made Tate uncomfortable and pissed off.
“Hi, honey, you look beautiful.” Nathan stood to kiss Tate’s cheeks, sensing her distress.
“Thank you. You all look fetching as well.” She grinned at her sisters and Anne’s boyfriend, Royal, before turning to the Chases assembled there. “Hi, everyone.”
“I think you know most everyone. Kyle and Maggie, Liv and Marc were at my place a couple of weeks back. The big lunk there is my oldest brother, Shane, his wife Cassie. Guys, this is Tate.” Matt pulled a chair out for her and she sat down, feeling very grateful for her family there.
“Nice to meet those of you I haven’t met before. While we’re introducing folks, this is my brother Nathan, he teaches at the high school with Maggie. My sisters Beth and Anne and Anne’s boyfriend, Royal Watson.”
“We’ve all introduced ourselves but we hadn’t met Matt yet.” Nathan squeezed her hand briefly.
“Tate and I have an appointment with the dance floor. When our waitress comes by can you order me a beer? Tate, sweetness, what would you like?”
“Oh, beer is fine.”
Matt stood and escorted her through the crowd down to the dance floor just as the music changed to something slow. He pulled her close against his body and eased her into the dance. Right off they matched. Their rhythm was the same, and everything else but the music and his pale green eyes on her fell away. She studied his face in the low light. He was the kind of handsome that was nearly pretty but not quite. His nose was just a little bit crooked but it’s what took him straight into masculine handsome. High cheekbones defined his face and a light beard covered his chin and edged the line of his jaw. All in all, it made everything inside her go gooey.
Dangerous to let him make her feel that way but she couldn’t seem to grasp her caution with him so close. Swaying there, their bodies moving as one, she might almost believe he could love her. And even if he didn’t, it didn’t matter. He treated her with respect, made her feel sexy and funny, there was simply no reason she could see to not enjoy him.
“You’re so beautiful, Tate. Have I told you that lately?” he murmured, dipping his head to kiss her temple and then her lips.
But that bugged her. It was like he said it just to say it or something. Beautiful was Cassie Chase or Liv. He’d run through his share of beautiful in his lifetime and his flattery, comparing her to them, just made her mad.
“I don’t need that stuff.”
“What stuff? And why are you so pissy?”
“Pissy?”
“Yeah, you’re cute with your chin jutted out and all but I like it when you’re snuggled up to me even better.”
“Look, I don’t need compliments. Other women you’re with may expect it, but I’m not them. I don’t want empty flattery.”
He stopped and pulled her out onto the back deck, past their families. Once outside she yanked her arm away from him and took a step back. “Don’t ever manhandle me again.”
Matt felt like she’d punched him in the stomach. What a fool he’d been. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel unsafe with me. I just wanted to talk to you out here.”
“Just ask me. I’m not a pet. Don’t just yank me around like I’ve got no will of my own.”
He couldn’t help but be charmed, touched and really turned on by the spark in her eyes.
“Of course. I didn’t think.”
She relaxed and he did as well.
“Now, repeat this bullshit about empty flattery, please. Because it sounded to me like you called me shallow.”
“What? I’d never say that.” She reached out and touched his cheek and he saw the sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry. Did I make you feel that way?”
“We’re both kinda touchy, huh?” He grinned. “Yeah, I felt that way. Why are you upset that I complimented you?”
“Look, I don’t need that, okay? I’m all right that I’m not all supermodel gorgeous. I have eyes. You have eyes. I’m not Liv, I can’t even knock on the door of the kind of beauty your brothers’ wives have. Don’t shit me because it insults me. We’re here, I’m fine. I’m not some bimbo who needs to be massaged. You’re totally in, right? You know you’re getting some, so spare me the lubrication with the flattery.”
Did she not know? He backed her against the railing and caged her with his arms. “Yes, my sisters-in-law are lovely women. But there’s more than one kind of beautiful and none of them can hold a candle to you. You are beautiful. I’m not making that up. Although, it’s nice to know I’m in later.” He chuckled. “Tate, when I look at you, I see a beautiful woman. Curves in the right places, beautiful eyes, lips that call to me, your smile melts me. I don’t say things I don’t mean. Especially not to someone I care about and respect.”
Because he couldn’t resist, he leaned down and kissed her. It started slow but built until he was on fire for her.
“Well, now. Did you hit your head or can a real woman get in on this action?”
Stunned, Matt broke the kiss and looked up to see Melanie standing there, wearing a smirk.
“Slumming on the wrong side of town, Matt? Trust me, I’m better than she is in bed and my dad isn’t an alkie and my mom’s not a slut.”
Not quite comprehending that anyone could be so cruel, Matt stepped in front of Tate to shield her from Melanie’s verbal assault. But he should have known she wouldn’t take being shielded that way. She stepped around him.
“Opposed to slumming on your side of town, Melanie? My goodness, is this what they’re growing here on the pretty side of town these days? Hmm, big mouth, I can see the appeal. Too bad her brain’s so small.”
Matt put his arm around Tate’s shoulder and saw her brother come out onto the deck.
“Everything all right out here?” Nate’s face was guarded and Matt got the feeling this sort of thing wasn’t unusual for them. It made the nausea he felt even worse.
“Just throwing out the trash. God, Nate, how is it you can stand being related to this fat bitch? You lucked out, you’re not like the rest of them. Why do you associate with this scum?” Melanie turned to speak to Nathan.
Nathan blinked several times and Matt gasped. Tate was the only one who seemed unsurprised.
“Just when I think people can’t get any worse, you go and lower the bar, Melanie.” Nathan shook his head as he moved toward Tate. But Matt was going to protect Tate, not anyone else.
“We all have our crosses to bear. Matt, I’d like to go.” Tate’s voice was remote, flat and it sent a chill down his spine.
“We’re not going anywhere. You and I are here to dance. Nate, I think you and I need to share a beer when your sister and I are done dancing.” Matt guided Tate back into The Tonk, keeping his body between her and Melanie at all times.
Melanie grabbed his arm. “Remember what you come from, Matt Chase. She’s a fat nobody, you come from better. We come from better.”
He shook himself free with a sneer. “You could have fooled me, Melanie. You best be aware that Tate’s my girlfriend, I won’t tolerate any nonsense.” He continued past her and back toward their table.
He felt sick and saw Maggie watching Melanie with narrowed eyes. Cassie leaned in and spoke to Beth, appearing to hold her back. Anne had a look on her face that scared the hell out of him but luckily she stayed seated. Liv whispered in Maggie’s ear and he worried all hell would break loose any moment. Not that Melanie deserved to be spared the wrath of every angry person at the table, but he didn’t want Tate to feel any worse than she already did.
“What just happened?” Beth demanded and Tate shook her head. Nathan told them and gasps sounded around the table.
“I can’t believe that bitch!” Maggie hissed.
“Oh I’m gonna smack a bitch down,” Anne growled but Tate reached out and touched her sister’s arm.
“Please don’t do this. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.” Matt hated that she sounded so resigned to the treatment she’d just received.
“Tate, when I first came here with Kyle you should have seen the way some of them reacted. I know how it feels. We’re on your side. People like her aren’t the majority and even if they were, they don’t count.” Maggie shook her head vehemently as she spoke.
“Tate, I’m sorry you had to be subjected to that kind of thing. Melanie is—” But Tate interrupted Matt before he could finish.
“Just saying what half the women in here are thinking. I really don’t feel well and I’d like to go. I can catch a ride with Beth if you want to stay here.” Tate wouldn’t meet his eyes.
He took her shoulders gently. “Don’t you go away on me. I don’t give a crap what anyone else thinks but my family and you. You got me? You don’t let these small-minded idiots chase you off. Please, stay here with me. Let’s dance.”
“Tate, don’t let the Melanies of the world ruin this. Matt is here with you. She’s jealous. Show her you’re better than she is,” Beth said softly.
“Listen to your sister, sweetness.” Matt kissed her.
Tate sighed. “Okay, okay. Let’s get dancing then.”
Relieved, he stood and helped her up before leading her to the dance floor.
She was graceful and sexy as she moved. He’d never seen a more natural dancer than Tate Murphy. He loved the way she lost herself in the music.
After another couple of hours he leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Sweetness, I’m dead on my feet. Do I still have that in? Because I have condoms and after a cup of coffee, I’ll be ready for you.”
She threw back her head and laughed and that simple thing filled him with joy.
“Let’s go then. I have condoms too.”
They said their goodnights and headed out into the evening. He didn’t fail to notice the sneers and outright hostility some of the people showed toward Tate as they left.
“If we go to your place do you think I could squeeze breakfast out of you in the morning? You’re a damn fine cook as well as being mighty lovely to look at.”
“I’ve never met a man more full of it.” Tate shook her head but could only barely stifle a smile.
“Does that mean yes?”
“I suppose so. You don’t have to sleep over you know. I wouldn’t be insulted if you wanted to go.”
“Tate, you don’t know me all that well so I’ll excuse you this one last time. I’m gonna repeat, I don’t say things I don’t mean. I wouldn’t have angled for breakfast if I hadn’t wanted to stay over.”
She drew a breath and nodded. “All right.”
“That’s my girl.” He pulled into her driveway and escorted her to the door. She bustled around, kicking off her shoes before padding into her kitchen.
“I’m starting a pot of coffee,” she called out and he wandered in, smiling at her.
“You look good with your shoes off. I like it. I like being here. Your house is nice, comfortable.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I wanted to build a home. I...” She trailed off, turning quickly to open the cabinet and pull down two mugs.
“You what?”
“Do you take sugar?”
He put his hand out to stop her movement. “You what? Tell me. Share with me.”
“I didn’t grow up in a home. I grew up in a place where I slept. Sometimes. A lot of the time I didn’t sleep because I wanted to be sure my brothers and sisters were okay. I saw this place and I knew I wanted it. I knew I could make it into a place where I could sleep safely. Where my siblings could come and feel safe too. God, Matt, you should go. We are so different it’s not funny.”
His stomach clenched. “Tate, why would I leave? We aren’t that different. Not really. We both think family is important. We’re close to the people we love. We’re so much alike.”
“Tell me, what’s your memory of your eighth birthday?”
He smiled. “My dad took me and my brothers out to the lake. We went camping and I caught this piddly little catfish. He skinned it and cooked it up like it was the biggest fish ever caught. He tells people about it to this day. You’ll like my dad, he’s a good man.”
“I bet he is. You know what my eighth birthday was like?”
He shook his head warily.
“My mother left the night before my birthday. Beth was a year old, so tiny. But I was already more of a mother to her than ours was. My father went on a bender after he beat the hell out of Tim for protecting me from the intended beating. I had to stay home from school on and off for two weeks to take care of Beth, Nathan and William, none of them were in school yet. Tim and I traded off going to school back and forth to keep the welfare workers away.”
Matt swallowed hard. He couldn’t imagine.
She put her hands in front of her face a moment and then pointed at him angrily. “Don’t. God, don’t look at me with pity in your eyes. I didn’t tell you that for pity, I told you to underline the differences between us, Matt. Other kids had it worse. At least I had a bed to sleep in. I have a good life now. I own a business, a home. I don’t need pity.”
He looked down at her, small, her hands fisted at her sides. Damn, when did he start feeling so protective of her? Need welled up then as he reached out slowly to cup her cheek.
“I don’t pity you.” He bent to kiss her but when she was barefoot, he had to bend his knees to reach her. Instead, he picked her up and sat her on her kitchen counter, making a space between her thighs to get to her. “Give me your mouth, sweetness. I need that.”
Tate didn’t quite know how to handle it when he did that. He heard the bad stuff and still wanted her. Not out of pity. It unnerved her. And yet, she still wanted the hell out of him. Giving in to her desire, she reached up, sifting her hands through his hair and fisted, grabbing him and pulling him to her.
His kiss was eager and passionate. A moan of approval came from him as his hand swept up her neck to cradle her head while he continued his sensual assault on her lips.
He broke away long enough to speak against her mouth. “You taste good enough to eat, Tate. I think I need a snack to tide me over,” he murmured as he moved up to nibble on her earlobe. Tate gasped as he ran his tongue around the outer edge and dipped it inside.
Waves of warmth headed down her neck, over her nipples, straight to her pussy. She melted, molding her body to his.
The coffeemaker beeped that it was done and he sighed softly, stepping back and helping her down off the counter.
“Let’s take that into the bedroom, shall we? We can sip between smooches.”
Blinking quickly, she gulped and poured two big mugs, adding sugar whether he liked it that way or not.
She took both mugs and led the way down the hall to her bedroom. He watched as she placed them on the small table in the corner and turned shyly.
She laughed. “You sure you don’t want to run away?”
He got serious and shook his head. “I don’t want anything but to be inside you, Tate Murphy.” He paused. “You don’t have any idea what you do to me do you?”
“I don’t understand it. Why me?”
Remaining there in the doorway, he knew she was nervous. She picked up the mug of coffee she’d just put down and took a sip. He didn’t fail to notice the slight tremble of her hands as she did.
“Sweetness, I want you so much I think I’m going to have a stroke. All the blood in my body is now in one spot and I’m slightly dizzy from it,” he said with a rueful grin as he motioned toward his cock. “Can I show you how much I want you? What you do to me? Again? Because if you recall, we were in a similar situation last weekend. Only now we’ve got condoms.”
She nodded, staying silent. He took one step and then another and another until he reached her. He switched on the light and took a sip of the coffee. “Ahh, nice and sweet like a proper Southern woman knows how to make it.” He winked.
She smiled, shaking her head at him.
“I want to see you,” he said, coming to stand in front of her. Finishing the last of the coffee, he got down to business, popping buttons on her dress one by one.
“Turn off the light,” she whispered.
“No, I won’t be able to see you if I do that. I want to see your curves, sweetness. We did it your way last time. Let me see you.”
“But...” She blushed and he paused to quickly pull his own shirt off, tossing it in the nearby chair.
“See, I’ll go first.”
“Yeah, like that’s a comparison,” she grumbled but he couldn’t help but love the way she stared at his body. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been sized up by the fairer sex before. But this was different, this was Tate looking at him like he was the best thing since Christmas morning.
“Sweet holy fuck. Oops, sorry, my fuck problem again. You’re beautiful. Matt...” she hesitated, wringing her hands “...I’m not...my body isn’t like yours.”
He chuckled and kissed her quickly. “I should hope not. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” With a grin, he took her hand and put it over his cock. “This is what your body does to me. I’m not lying when I say you’re sexy.”
He got back to work until the last button on her dress slid free. Slowly, gently, he slid the dress back, letting it drop. She stood there for a moment, blushing, her eyes screwed shut tight.
Reaching out, he drew a fingertip down the curve between her breasts, right along the lace of the sexiest red lace bra he’d ever seen. Her panties matched, high cut on her hips. She was a little Venus there, delicate and yet larger than life.
“You still with me, sweetness? You’re so damned beautiful, so sexy. I can’t believe you wanted to hide yourself in the dark. Your skin is amazing, flawless.” He smoothed his palms over her arms, down her stomach and around to cup her ass briefly.
Her eyes opened a little bit but she still looked dubious. He’d have to change that. Tracing the lace of her bra, he reached around and undid the hooks, letting it fall and join the dress.
Such pretty, alabaster-pale skin. He saw the faint tracery of blue veins just beneath. Her breasts were large and heavy in his hands, nipples hard and dark pink. They hardened further when he brushed his thumbs across them. He looked up to see her catch her lip between her teeth. Still, nervousness vibrated through her and he could tell by the way she stood she wanted to cover up.
Murmuring softly, he lay her down on the bed and eased her panties off. A triangle of closely trimmed pale curls shielded her pussy. She moved her hands to cover herself but he took them, kissing each one and putting them down on the bed.
“Please don’t try and hide yourself. You are so damned beautiful and sexy I can’t wait to be inside of you,” he growled, pulling off his pants and shorts.
Her eyes widened as he stalked toward her and he was pleased by the look of hunger on her face.
He got to the bed next to her and she smiled up at him. “Now, where was I?” He waggled his brows.
Taking a deep breath, Tate sat up on her heels. “You’ll have to wait,” she said and took his cock into her hands. He slid his palms up her arms and into her hair but when she took him into her mouth, his head lolled back.
“Ahhh, you’re so sweet. Heaven on Earth,” he murmured, caressing her scalp. Her hands stroked the length of his cock when it wasn’t in her mouth, palmed his sac, ran over the muscles of his thighs and dug into the flesh there with her nails, pulling him closer to her, deeper.
He watched as that pale, sunny hair slid forward, hiding her and revealing her in turns. She may have been shy but she certainly wasn’t shy about making him feel good. He loved that. They were far more evenly matched in bed than he’d first imagined they’d be and the surprise was a good one. He knew from the weekend before that she was tireless and inventive and tonight was no different.
And yet it was. He felt like it was the very real beginning of everything he wanted to have with her for the future. She’d let him in just a bit. Told him some about her childhood and she was there, naked with the lights on. That trust in him was as much an aphrodisiac as anything ever had been.
He’d wanted her too much in the last days to hold out very long. When orgasm hit, he groaned and shuddered, her name a sigh on his lips.
Moments later, she moved away from him and he settled in, bringing her body close to his. “Give me a few years and I’ll be right with you,” he mumbled into her hair and she laughed softly.
Stroking the velvet skin at her hip, he marveled at how she felt. Coming back to himself, he kissed her face, her lips, her jaw and down the line of her throat. He tasted her thundering pulsebeat as he moved down her chest and kissed over the curve of one breast. When he sucked a nipple into his mouth she sobbed out a gasp.
“Responsive, perfect. You’re perfect,” he said with approval and he raked his teeth across the sensitive tip and she shuddered. He rolled the other nipple between his fingers and she writhed beneath him. He slid his hand down her stomach and through her curls and found her hot and wet as he stroked her.
She smelled sweet and spicy and the heat of her skin drove him wild. He kissed down her chest, rimming her belly button with his tongue.
“Hmm, I’ve been here before. I like it.” Scooting down, he settled between her thighs, putting them on his shoulders. She sobbed out again, arching off the bed when he dipped his mouth to her sex.
Tate was sure she’d never in her life felt more desired, more desirable. He ate her up with his gaze, with his hands and his mouth. He took the time to learn her, find what made her tick, what made her writhe and beg.
There with him in her bed, with the pale light of her bedside lamp on her nakedness, she felt all right. He didn’t look at her with distaste, he looked at her with longing. She knew she wasn’t comparable to Liv, but at the same time he desired her and that made things all right.
With his mouth on her pussy, he pushed and pushed her toward coming. With him it was easy, she’d been halfway there just smelling his cologne as they danced at The Tonk. But his very talented fingers and tongue devastated her.
A nearly feral groan came from deep in her throat as she shuddered. He hummed his approval, sending the vibrations up through her clit. He lapped at her and learned all of the things that drove her wild and finally, after making her beg for it, pushed her over and made her come.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he whispered as he leaned over and rustled through his pants, holding up a condom with a triumphant smile.
“Even if my legs worked I wouldn’t leave my bed with you there.”
Cocking his head, he looked at her, his smile softening.
“So you gonna moon at me all night or get with the condom application so you can do me?”
Startled a moment, he laughed and ripped the packet open to quickly roll the condom on.
“You know, you look like butter wouldn’t melt and then you open your mouth. There’s a smart-ass living inside you, Tate. I like that. A sex goddess and a smart-ass.”
He said it as he moved back between her thighs, which she happily widened to admit him. He probed her entrance, teasing her with the head of his cock, but she wrapped her legs around him and grabbed his ass. She needed him, it’d been a very long, very frustrated week. Surging her hips up and pulling him toward her with a handful of his ass, she brought him into her with one hard thrust.
She felt the intrusion of his cock straight up her spine. She’d never felt so full before. It wasn’t like he had a king-sized penis, it was good, did the job quite nicely. But it was made for her.
Suddenly, she felt a lot more exposed than just being naked with the lights on. She pushed it all away, all the emotions that weren’t just about how good he felt. There’d be time for panic later on.
“Jesus!” he gasped out. She was scalding hot and really tight. It’d been a while for her or she did those exercises to make her pussy tight. He doubted those worked this well though.
Trying to concentrate and not come two minutes after he got inside her body, he stopped moving. Instead, he leaned down and flicked his tongue over one nipple and then the other, alternating as he felt like it. She made tiny, gaspy, needy sounds that eroded his control even more.
He began to slowly move inside of her, sliding almost all of the way out and then inexorably back in again. She met him thrust for thrust, his hands at her hips, tracing the curves there, her strong legs holding him to her—as if there was another place on earth she’d rather have been.
So this was making love. This was the intensity of connection with the person you cared about more than anything else. “Tate, I...” He broke off, it was a bad idea to tell someone you loved them during sex wasn’t it? “I feel so good, you feel so good.”
He teased her with short, shallow, slow digs of his cock, delighting in how she writhed and tried to get more from him. He loved teasing her, drawing out her pleasure and being the one to deliver it to her.
She tightened her inner muscles around him, making him gasp.
“Oh man, that felt good,” he said with a groan.
“I’ll do it more if you just let me come,” she panted out, doing it again, causing his balls to nearly crawl back into his body.
“Deal.” He picked up his pace, moving a hand to where they were joined. Her hips jutted forward when he flicked a finger across her clit. He thrust and she tightened, he flicked and she rolled her hips until she bowed off the bed, a deep, earthy moan breaking from her.
Her pussy clutched at him, pulling at his body as if she couldn’t bear to let him go. He tried to ride it out but she pulled him under. He pulsed as she did, his head back, muscles taut.
He fell to the side and they both lay there panting for a few moments. He got up briefly and came back to her. She’d gotten under the sheets and he joined her, snuggling against her body.
Long after she’d felt him drift off into sleep, Tate lay awake, listening to the tick of the hallway clock as the minutes slid past.
She’d moved past panic and into terror and back to unease with her feelings about Matt Chase.
She wasn’t a virgin. She wasn’t super experienced or anything but she’d been with several men and had good times in bed with almost all of them.
But what she’d experienced with Matt Chase that night was more than a good time. What she’d experienced was a huge leaping sprawl into holy-fuck-I-may-love-this-guy territory.
And she could not love Matt Chase. She was a Murphy. He was a Chase. Buildings in the town were named after his family! He was beautiful and charming and came from an ease and privilege that she’d have resented a few years before. Still made her uncomfortable. He was a man who never had to fear being hungry or being hurt by someone he loved and was supposed to be protected by. She’d lay odds he’d never seen either one of his parents drunkenly angry.
There was a whole universe between her world and his and she’d never fit in. He’d come to see that in time and he’d find some suave way of dumping her and she’d go back to her side of the street and he to his.
She could not love Matt Chase and she couldn’t let him make it happen either.