Chapter 11

Joey stared from the picture to Lou. He seemed unsure about her reaction. But just…wow. Too tame a word to describe her feelings. The picture he’d drawn had captured her essence. In it, she saw the vulnerability behind a mocking smile, pretending she found everything else amusing when really she laughed at her own impossibilities. Yet… She looked closer.

“I don’t look like that. Do I?”

“Like what?”

“Well.” No other way to say it. “Beautiful.”

He nodded, his focus on her palpable. “That’s the way you look to me all the time.” His accent thickened, his gaze lowered to her mouth, and he leaned back even further. “So let’s see that movie, hmm?”

Lou left the table in a flash. And Joey wondered if he felt the same burning desire she’d felt since entering his house. Being near him caused a root of awareness to grow. Relief that she could and did feel something so warm for a man made her dizzy for a moment. But she knew it had to be the right man.

Knowing Lou felt the same way about her made all the difference.

She gave her picture a last look, seeing the mischief, the joy, the tension in the subtle lines at her mouth. Man, he must have thought her lips pretty sensual. Heck, the whole picture made her look like a woman eager for a man.

He really did capture me. So why had he darted away from what could have been a kiss into the living room? Lou Cortez, running from her? Joey chuckled at the thought. Lou, trying to escape Joey’s maniacal clutches? Yeah, right.

She followed him into the living room, where he’d already put on a movie. A comedy she recognized.

“My sisters like it, so I figured you would too.”

She wondered where to sit, then saw him pat the spot next to him on the couch. He had his ankles crossed, his feet propped on the table in front of him. His arms lay on either side of the pillows at his back, and she could easily envision him the master in a harem house.

She joined him before she lost her nerve. After a moment watching the show, he put his arm around her.

“Okay?” he leaned in to whisper, his lips touching her ear.

She shivered. Because…holy hell. Her body seemed to heat up at her ear, then send that shock wave straight to her nipples and between her legs. Like an arrow of desire that rushed through her blood cells to inflame her.

Everywhere.

She nodded, cleared her throat. “Great.”

Too bad she sounded like she’d swallowed rocks.

He tugged her closer, and she scented a subtle cologne, one that made her want to inhale him from head to toe.

“Stella loves this part,” he said, the weight of his arm like a burning anvil. So much heat under a ton of power. No wonder Lou was big. He had to be in order to cart all that muscle around day after day.

Joey tried. She really did. But she couldn’t follow the movie at all, not with her senses attuned to every hitch in Lou’s breathing, the smell of sandalwood and man, the muscular thigh brushing against hers. There seemed no part of him she’d consider soft.

A surreptitious glance at his crotch showed him affected by her there as well. Oy. Was he.

She shifted in her seat. Several times.

Until Lou put a hand on her leg to stop her. “This isn’t working.”

Should she play dumb? “What do you mean?”

He used the remote to mute the TV. “I mean I can’t concentrate on the movie with all your squirming.”

She flushed.

“And because that squirming has me so hard, I’m afraid I’ll come in my pants.” He leaned his head back on the couch and groaned. “I’m sorry, cariña. I’ve been trying to behave, but I can’t stop thinking about how good you feel. How good you taste, smell. Damn, everything about you gets me going.”

So glad it’s not just me. “Lou, it’s okay.”

He opened his eyes. “It is?”

“I’ve thought about it a lot. About how you make me feel.”

He sat up straight. “How’s that?”

“Like my skin is on fire. Like if I don’t kiss you, I might burn to a crisp.”

“We can’t have that, princesa. No dying on the couch at Lou’s.” He gave her a half smile. “Was that so hard to admit?”

She groaned. “Yes.”

“Good. You said it anyway. Because you understand that you need what I can give you,” he crooned, his voice having gone deep, thick. Filled with lust, she could only hope, because she needed to see tonight through. No matter what he said, she did want to be with him. Sexually. Connected together in the most intimate way possible.

Joey took a huge metaphorical leap. “So can we play? With you being in charge, I mean? Like you talked about?”

Lou sighed as he pulled her over his lap, forcing her knees on either side of his legs. “Honey, I think I might die if we don’t.”

He watched her while he stripped off her shirt, slowly fingering each button and sliding it free. He pushed her shirt apart and stared at her barely there breasts while she waited for him to tell her what next to do. “Man, I love your body.” Then he tugged her shirt completely off.

Though she’d always felt too small up top, under his gaze, she felt beautiful. Lou wrapped his arms around her back, pressing his face against her chest, and unfastened her bra. He leaned back and slid the straps off her shoulders.

“Let it go.” He tugged it down until the bra fell off her body. “So fucking hot,” Lou whispered, his breath teasing her nipple before he took it between his lips. He nibbled and sucked his way to her lips, and she writhed on his lap, wanting more. When he gripped her hair to control her movements, she moaned into his mouth and couldn’t stop herself from touching his cloth-covered chest, wishing she felt skin.

He pulled back, reading her mind. “Take if off me,” he growled. “Then I want your mouth again.”

She paused, taken aback at the demand in his tone. But his wink eased her, and she removed his shirt. He gripped her ass, then tugged at her zipper as he pulled her pants down, distracting her.

Somehow Lou had her naked and straddling his lap before she knew what he’d done.

She started to cover up when he grabbed her hands in one of his and stopped her.

“Oh, damn. You are just…” He pulled her close and drew her nipple back into his mouth. He sucked while he played with the curls between her legs, sliding through the arousal she couldn’t stop.

When he shoved a finger inside her without warning, the intrusion was almost enough to make her come.

“You are so beautiful.” Lou fucked her with his finger, watching her watch him, and she didn’t know where to look. Or not to look. Should she close her eyes, to stop staring into his all-seeing gaze?

“Take me out,” he said, still playing with her.

She reached between them and awkwardly unfastened his jeans. His erection poked stiffly through his underwear, and she saw a damp patch before he slid the material down, baring his shaft but not much else.

“Oh.” She stared in awe at the size of him. Lou was big all over. A glance back at his chest showed the tattoo she’d started studying before he’d pulled her away with that kiss. He had vines and flowers across his chest, a skull in the center. And on his left bicep, thorny vines streaked with diamonds and hearts.

“Get me nice and ready for you,” he rasped and fitted her hand around him. She squeezed, and he gasped, then he fucked her faster with his finger.

She pumped him, staring into his eyes as she took him closer to the fulfillment she could almost reach.

Lou groaned, then removed his finger. “Scoot back, then don’t move.”

She followed his orders, too enraptured to feel any kind of embarrassment, and watched while he fished a condom out of his pocket and put it on. Then he settled his hands on her hips and guided her over him.

“Hold me before you take me inside.”

She licked her lips, grabbed the steely shaft, on fire to feel him again. “I-I thought you didn’t like that.”

“Christ. I love you on top of me—since I’m doing the driving,” he said as he yanked her down over him.

Pleasure burst, and she cried out as the climax seized her while he pumped, harder and faster. Until he groaned and ceased all movement. He held her there, thick inside her while he trembled in release.

“Shit.” Lou moaned. “So good. Oh fuck. Don’t move. Stay right there.”

Reality returned, and she blushed. She sat naked on top of Lou and felt both exposed and protected. Confusing, yet the pleasure refused to let her dwell too much. A warm lethargy overwhelmed her while she watched Lou still taking his pleasure.

She’d had another orgasm in mere seconds. That made three more with Lou than she’d ever had with any other man. No wonder women wanted him constantly around. He was like a pleasure magnet, sexy, powerful, and domineering. Yet kind when it counted.

He hugged her close, warming the parts of her starting to feel the cool evening air.

Lou lifted then nudged her off him. “Hand me a tissue, baby.”

She grabbed one for him, and he tucked his spent condom in it and tossed it to the floor. He tugged her back into his arms and leaned back on the couch, half-dressed, his jeans bunched under his ass, while she sat naked.

“That was… That was the best sex of my life…not counting doing you in the flower shop.”

She buried her head against his chest and groaned while he laughed.

“Yeah, you’re dysfunctional, all right. Can’t orgasm with a man. Probably cold, frigid. A nightmare when it comes to sex.” He kissed the top of her head. “A load of crap. There’s nothing wrong with you, Joey. You just needed the right man to show you that. And Joey, that happens to be me.”

She glanced up at him. “Yeah?”

“Oh yeah.” He loomed, so big and strong. For once, Joey didn’t have to worry about doing the wrong thing, picking the wrong choice. She could bask in the knowledge Lou would take care of her and make everything right. “You good with all this? I’m starting to understand what gets you off. You like it when I take charge.” He paused. “Has this always been something you’re into?”

She didn’t want to own up to it, but he already knew. “I guess. I just thought I wasn’t any good at sex, to be honest. But it’s better when you, um, when you kind of do what you want and I follow along.”

“Better?” He grunted. “If you were any better, I’d be dead.” He stroked her back, her arms, then cupped her breasts. “Man, I love touching you. You fit so good right here.” He hugged her, and she sighed with contentment, waiting to wake up at any moment. Because this could not possibly be real.

And it couldn’t possibly last.

“I—”

“You’re going to stay naked, for one,” Lou interrupted. “And we’re going to go snuggle up in my bed while I get my second wind to prove I’m not a one-second wonder. Christ. I’ll really take care of you. I promise I’ll last next time.”

“Next time?” She blinked.

He laughed. “You didn’t really think that orgasm was enough, did you?”

Having one in the first place had already tipped her scales. “I guess not?”

He smiled. “Right.” Then his smile faded, and the menacing male sitting underneath her turned her to jelly.

“Lou?”

He palmed her ass, dragging her over his growing erection once more. “We might not need too long before I’m ready again. So let’s get back to my bedroom now. Where I have more condoms.”

* * *

A good move on his part, because Lou wanted her. Now. This time he wanted to take her while he was on top, staring into her eyes while he pounded inside her. Just thinking about it got him rock hard, and he followed her tight little ass into the back, toeing off his socks and dropping his jeans as he walked.

She darted to his bed and under the covers, as he’d assumed she would. The woman had a shyness completely at odds with the sexual creature he’d just made love to on his couch. Damn, but he’d come hard. And fast. So embarrassing.

It normally took him a little longer to get in the mood, to play with his partner and seduce her, and himself, into a long night of passion. But with Joey, he’d been too excited, too needy to wait. Thank God she’d been ready to go off, or he feared he might have left her behind. And that had douche-move written all over it.

He stood, arms akimbo, and studied her in the middle of his bed, clutching his sheets to her chest, her hair flowing over her shoulders and teasing her breasts. Man, she had a fine pair of tits. He wanted to suck on her pretty little nipples all over again, get her all hot and wet and begging.

Groaning, he felt himself now roaring to go once more.

Her big brown eyes widened, and she bit her lip.

“You think you can take me again, princesa?”

She nodded.

“Drop the sheets.”

She turned pink but did as ordered. Sitting there, his sheets pooled around her trim waist, she looked exactly as he’d pictured she might. He slowly pushed his boxer briefs off, pleased when she followed the movement without blinking.

“See how hard you make me? I’m ready for you all over again.”

She swallowed.

He could only hope they’d get to that one day, where she swallowed more than her nerves. He grinned and advanced. “Now let’s show you what making love is all about, hmm?”

His cutie frowned. “I’m not a virgin, Lou.”

“I’m sorry.” He paused at the foot of the bed and forced a dark scowl. “Are you mouthing off to me?”

“I’m…huh?”

“I said”—he yanked the sheets down and away, leaving her naked and wary—“are you mouthing off to me? You need a spanking, cariña?”

She gaped. “You want to spank me?”

He sighed, gave her glorious body a once-over, and couldn’t help a naughty grin. “Want? No. But obviously you need it.” He tugged her by the foot down the bed while she gave an undignified squeal and turned over onto her belly.

Her protest only made him harder.

“Joey, Joey.” He tsked, realigned his hand, and tightened his grip on her ankle. “Stop moving.”

She immediately stilled.

“That’s better.” He sat on the bed next to her, staring at her toned back and thighs. Cupping her taut ass, he started rubbing, not surprised when she gave a small groan and buried her head in her hands on the bed. “You’re a little tense, hmm?”

She didn’t answer.

“Maybe because you’re being a little stubborn.” Lou gave her a light swat that shocked her into rolling onto her side to stare at him.

“Back on your belly,” he ordered, though it pained him to deny himself her beauty.

She stared, comprehension dawning as she realized he was playing with her. She quickly rolled back over.

“Hands together, under your chin.”

She put her hands where he told her, and then he started stroking her. Because he had to. She had the softest, prettiest skin.

“You’re a beautiful woman. Responsive. Silky.” He heard her breath catch as he caressed the inside of her calf, her knee, then her thigh. He nudged her legs wider and continued to stroke upward. But before he reached her slick sex, he slid his hands to the sides of her body, around her thighs and over her ass. She had dimples there, and he leaned down to kiss them both.

She gasped, and he chuckled. “Look, Joey. I’m already kissing your ass.”

“Lou.” The half groan/half chuckle came out muffled against the bed.

He kneaded her, wanting badly to spread her wider and take her from behind, on top, shoving deep inside. Touching her aroused him anew, because learning her showed him how much she belonged with him. Right now, she was his, to touch, to please, to love into a mass of writhing desire. So first he’d relax her, and then he’d drive her wild.

Lou continued to treasure her, loving the feel of such soft woman over hard muscle. She might be small, but Joey worked for a living. He could feel it in the tender strength of her frame. Moving up the small of her back, he shifted to straddle her for better position.

And knew he’d have to concentrate to last. Leaning over her for a side dresser, he fished out a condom and put it on. Then he returned to Joey, more than ready to satisfy his lover.

He didn’t put his full weight on her; rather he balanced on his knees. But the urge to lower himself, to rub over her, increased. Instead, he dug his fingers into the taut area between her shoulder blades.

“You’re too tight.” He heard her groan and smiled. “Need to loosen you up.” He rubbed at the knot until it softened. She seemed to melt under him, and he had to taste her again. So he leaned close and kissed her shoulder blades, then continued up her spine, pushing her hair aside so he could kiss his way up her neck to her cheek.

She turned her head before he could ask and met his mouth, ravenous to feel his lips on hers, apparently.

He indulged her a moment, then whispered in her ear, “How about you turn over so I can do your front?” He nipped her earlobe, and her breathing grew erratic.

Lou leaned back and moved off her, waiting for her to turn.

She did, slowly, and he was treated to her blushing breasts, tight nipples, and slender belly. So fucking ripe, so feminine and pleasing. God, he wanted her.

Watching him with dark eyes full of trust and need, she twisted that desire inside him into a fuller, richer sense of emotion. Lou straddled her again, settling on his haunches and resting his balls on her belly, his dick so hard that just a few rubs and he’d go off.

“You’re big,” she said, breathy.

“You make me that way,” he growled. “Now be quiet and lie back. I’m not done with you.”

Her small grin turned his heart inside out, but he steeled himself to hold back. Lou kissed her cheeks, her neck, her throat. He palmed her breasts and ran his mouth down her throat to her chest, taking his time with her.

So sensitive at her breasts, she arched and pleaded with him to give her some respite. But he wouldn’t be rushed. Not after waiting for her for what felt like forever. He finally had her all to himself, sequestered in his big bed. And the fantasy of having her didn’t come close to the reality.

She had a sweetness, an innate sense of purity that no amount of mussing would corrupt. He threaded his fingers through hers, keeping her hands occupied while he continued down her body, licking a trail down her taut belly to her sultry sex.

Lou sighed, nuzzled her there, the downy hair that covered her core, that thin strip of dark brown that hid her secrets. Then he let go of her hands to spread her wider and stared at the essence of Joey.

“Fuck me,” he whispered, not at all poetic, and finally did what he’d been dreaming of. He set his mouth at the juncture of her thighs and ferreted the sweet, sharp taste of her. Lou moaned and lapped her up. With his tongue and teeth, he drove her wild, exciting himself in the process.

She curled her fingers in his hair, moaning his name.

There, with him. She called for Lou, not some faceless partner in her bed.

“Yes, please. Lou, in me,” she begged.

And he knew he’d found heaven in the golden taste of Josephine Reeves. He thrust a finger inside her and worked her clit, teething the hard nub while he filled her with one, then two digits.

“Yes, yes. Oh God,” she cried out and seized, climaxing so prettily.

Lou kissed her through it, then couldn’t wait any longer. While she continued to tremble, he rose over her, nudged her thighs wide, then pushed inside. The tremors and tight glove of her pussy had him shoving hard, fast, and deep.

She continued to come, and he plunged in and out, staring into her slumberous eyes while he crested his own fulfilment. Joey’s tiny nails dug into his hips, then his ass as she held him while he poured into her on a roar, the shock of his climax obliterating.

What felt like a long time later, Lou came back to himself and worried he was crushing her.

“No, stay.” She stroked his arms, tracing the tats across his chest.

“Damn, baby. If I was a cat, I’d be purring,” he said, hoarse and still trying to catch his breath. She felt so snug around him, and despite the fact he’d recently climaxed, he felt thick, locked in her body’s embrace.

Lou swore and shifted, pulling out only to shove himself back into her warmth. “Joey.” He leaned down to kiss her, taken with the gentle kiss he received in return.

She nibbled at his lips, stroking with those small hands.

“You’re really good at sex,” she murmured.

He laughed, feeling sleepy. “Almost as good as you, huh?”

“No, not me. I have problems with it.”

They both laughed at what they’d proved a fallacy and snuggled together.

After some time, Lou felt sleepy, so he withdrew from Joey’s fine body and left for the bathroom. “Be right back.”

He returned cleaned up, the condom disposed of.

Then it was her turn for a pit stop. He pulled the covers over him while she was gone.

She came back and slid into his arms again.

He sighed and kissed her forehead while he held her tight. “You fit, Joey.”

“Hmm. My own personal electric blanket.”

“You say the sweetest things,” Lou teased. “But baby, I know I’m hot.”

She chuckled. “True. And so humble.”

He smiled. “I’m too sated to be humble. Gotta get some rest so I can fuck you again.” He heard himself slurring but didn’t care. “You’re so good. So sweet.”

“Not that sweet, because here I am.” She stroked his chest. “I should go.”

He automatically tightened his arms around her. “Not yet. Stay longer.”

“Just a little.”

He yawned. “Give me five…” and drifted into sleep.

But some part of his subconscious knew he held a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in his arms, and he woke up later in the dark of morning and had her again. And again.

When he finally woke to the sun shining through his window, she was gone. But the floral scent of her remained.

He stretched. “Joey?”

Nothing.

Damn.

He rose, hit the john, then found a note on the kitchen counter for him.

See you again soon, I hope. Thanks, Lou. Joey

And hearts. A lot of hand-drawn hearts.

Lou smiled. “Oh baby. I’ll be seeing you soon for sure. You can take that to the bank.”