Michael
Once I heard the shower running, I sat on the bed in Lauren’s room. Being there, in her bedroom, didn’t bring about the claustrophobic grip that always came when I went home with some girl. Something about being their place messed with my head. Pictures of themselves scattered throughout the place would try to convince me they were more than just the girl I was going fuck for the night. But here in Lauren’s room, the pictures she had on her bookshelf over her dresser of her and her mom didn’t behave in the same aggressive manner.
It had a homelike feel to it. A thunk came from the bathroom, followed by a soft laugh. “Just dropped my shampoo, don’t come charging in!” Smartass. I turned my attention back to finding her some pajamas.
Finding her in that gangway with a knife pressed up against her throat had stolen several years off my life. When I stopped by, I expected her to be asleep. I wasn’t even going to ring her bell, I was only going to sit for a minute, make sure everything looked okay, then head home. When I saw her walk up the street, I had to check my temper at her being out so goddamn late by herself. But when she made the dash through the gangway my heart nearly stopped.
Tossing the punk off her had been easy; putting my fist through his face didn’t take much work either. Looking at my knuckles, I could see a bruise starting to form, but it was worth it. That asshole put a knife to Lauren. He was lucky to still be breathing.
His pockets had turned up an ID in his wallet. Remembering Lauren telling me not to steal anything made me want to laugh again. The woman was pressed up against the wall, eyes clenched shut, trying not to come unglued, and she was worried about me stealing something from her attacker’s pockets. She would never cease to amaze and dumbfound me.
The name on the ID confirmed what I had suspected when I had the asshole pinned to the ground. Matthew Schmidt. One of Taylor’s cronies. Mickey Taylor proved to be a cement block around my fucking feet, continually dragging me back under the water. As president of the Predators MC, he ran a few different operations, mostly car overhauls; that was where I did my best work when I ran with the club. Years ago. I got out, told him to fuck off. You don’t really tell him to fuck off; you politely back away and hope he doesn’t follow you. He’d let me go, only because Bixby was on his case, chasing him down whenever an auto theft crossed his desk. Bixby helped save my ass more than once when it came to Taylor.
That was years ago. Before I could really stand on my own two feet. A while back I bumped into Taylor at the dump. I was looking for spare parts, and he was looking to clean up a mess. He didn’t need to tell me what he was doing ther. I’d been part of that club long enough to know why Taylor took the time out of his day, and mucked up his leather shoes, to go to the dump.
Once in a while he’d send one of his lackeys by the garage to feel me out. See if I’d jump back in to the club. Legit now, he would promise me. Body work and such. Except I wasn’t an idiot. When he said body work, he meant stripping cars. No thanks. I did a year in the joint for him once, and I was in no hurry for a repeat performance.
What didn’t make sense was why Matthew would be after Lauren. She had no connections to anything he’d be interested in. Not even me. There was no love lost between me and that crew, but no reason for retaliation I could think of either. Hell, a handful of the brothers worked for me.
If Matthew was going after Lauren, there was a reason. Nothing small either. Maybe it was the accident. Could one of his crew have been driving the Challenger? Up until that afternoon, Lauren wasn’t a part of my life, so why would they gun for her?
One thing was for damn certain, until I figured out all the pieces, Lauren wasn’t leaving my sight. Now I just had to convince her staying with me would be the best thing to do.
The pipes screeched as she turned the water off, reminding me that she was standing in the bathroom completely naked. I rifled through the top drawer of her dresser but only found long t-shirts. Didn’t women have lacy things to sleep in?
“What are you doing?”
She wasn’t naked. Not totally. A towel had been wrapped around her torso, where she held it closed at her chest.
“Where do you keep all your nightgowns?” I let my eyes wander down her body. A thin coat of moisture remained on her skin from the shower. The towel covered the essential parts of her, but her legs were completely exposed. I could make out the firm curves of her thighs, and the slope of her calves. When I tried to look back up at her face, my eyes snagged on the swell of her breasts peeking out of the towel.
“I usually sleep nude. Just hand me one of those shirts.” She waved a hand at the drawer hanging out of the dresser.
Nude? The woman had no idea what giving me information like that did to my body. I was already using up all my energy to keep my cock from jumping out of my pants at her in that goddamn scrap of a towel. I closed the drawer and walked toward her, empty handed. “If you’d rather sleep naked. I won’t stop you.”
A fresh blush covered her cheeks and my cock pushed against my jeans. Her eyes widened when I put my hands on the towel, but she made no protest or move to stop me. Slowly, I pried it open, and let it drop to the floor. Her fully exposed naked body stood before me. She swallowed and tried to look away.
“Look at me, Lauren.” I pulled her chin back toward me until her eyes met mine. Large round pupils looked back at me. “What were you thinking about in the shower?”
“Nothing.” That lip sucked into her mouth again.
“Liar.” Using my thumb, I pulled her lip out from behind her teeth. “Do you know what I do to girls who lie?”
“You kiss them?” She played so nice. I only half expected her to resist, to push back, but the woman before me held more desire in her eyes than fear.
“No. I kiss good girls. Bad girls get slaps to their ass. Turn around, Lauren.” Putting my hands on her shoulders I turned her. Goddamn, her ass couldn’t have been more perfect. Round and curvy. I cupped her cheeks with my hands. “Do you understand that?”
“Y-yes.” She nodded. Her breath came in shorter bursts, her chest rising higher as she took in more air.
“So the next time you want to lie to me, you remember this.” I landed two hard swats to each cheek, groaning over how beautifully they bounced under my hand. She covered herself with her hands, but I easily captured them in one hand and pinned them to her back. “Nope. No covering.” I leaned against her, feeling the moisture of her skin seep through my t-shirt. I placed a warm kiss to her neck, then her earlobe. “I’ve wanted to touch you forever. But if you want me to stop, you need to tell me now, because in a few minutes I’m not sure I’ll be able to.”
Another nod. “Yes. Michael. Please.” She turned her head, searching for me.
I gave her ass cheek a hard pinch. I’d waited so long to have her body in my hands. With the moment finally upon me, I couldn’t help but notice the teenager in me grinning like an idiot, and scared out of his fucking mind. Lauren wasn’t going to be a quick fuck. I’d waited too long to take her fast and furious.
“Good girl.” I turned her back around to me, so I could see her. I licked my lips like a boy staring at a dessert case in a dinner. Her breasts were more than I could have asked for. Round and heavy. I cupped them, holding them in my hands while my thumb flicked over her taught nipples. She closed her eyes. “Open.” I pinched a nipple, and she complied immediately. “I didn’t think your tits would be this hot.” I leaned down, taking one nipple into my mouth. My tongue swirled around the peaked nub while my hand caressed its twin. Her moan nearly did me in, but I would be patient with her. “Have you done this before, Lauren. Have you had a man touch you like this before?”
My hand slid down her stomach, lower to the small patch of curls. Fuck, I loved that. Too many girls took away all the hair there. Having a patch of curls gave her a more womanly appeal. I ran my fingers through the slick curls, then moved lower. She sucked in her breath when the pad of my middle finger brushed over her clit. “Ah, there it is.”
Her head rested on my shoulder, her hot breath blowing across my neck as I continued on with my exploration. I rolled her clit under my finger several times, until she started to arch her back and push her pelvis forward.
“Nuh-uh, hold still, baby. I’m just looking.”
“Michael.” She nearly growled. My little Lauren was hungry.
“You haven’t answered me. Have you had a man touch you like this?”
“No. I mean yeah. I mean, ugh!” Poor girl.
My fingers slid farther down, through her wet folds until I reached her entrance. As much as I knew she wanted me to, I didn’t push inward, I only circled the opening. “That’s not much of answer.” I kissed her temple.
“I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you mean,” she finally managed to say. It wasn’t that I expected her to go untouched the rest of her life, but I didn’t like the fact that some other asshole had taken her virginity. Had he been soft? Did he take his time? Did she find fulfillment?
“Hmm,” I mumbled, driving two of my fingers into her tight, hot pussy. Her hands flew to my shoulders, gripping me hard as she threw her head back and moaned from the intrusion. “Ahh, you like that?” I moved my fingers slowly at first, in and out of her. Her knees bent and she tossed her head to the side. My thumb found her clit and began to rub it in circles, which made her nails dig into me harder. “Don’t come yet, baby. I have plans. Don’t come.”
She looked at me with a furious glare that I didn’t think possible until I saw it for myself. “If you can’t behave, I’ll take my fingers out.”
“No! No, I’ll be good,” she promised with a hard nod of her head. So easily she complied to my dominant side, just like I knew she would.
“Uh-huh.” I grinned. Nothing prepared me for the ease in which her responses came. I took one nipple between my fingers and pinched hard while fucking her pussy harder with my fingers. I could feel her thighs trembling, her fingers pushing harder into my flesh. She wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. “Lay back on the bed.” I pulled out of her, making her watch as I licked her juices from my fingers. Her eyes glazed over.
Once I had her settled on the bed, her head propped up on pillows, her legs spread for me, I began undressing. I tossed my shirt to the floor. Digging out a condom from my wallet, I tossed it to the nightstand before I unbuckled my belt. Her eyes were locked on the leather belt as I worked it open, and I wanted to grin. Oh, how much she was going to like it when I laid the leather over her ass. Not yet, no, she wasn’t ready, but one day. One day I’d have her bent over the bed, taking a belting, making her pussy drip for me, and her body crave mine. But first I needed to have her, to taste her, and devour her.
I slid my hands under her ass, kneading the flesh as I moved her lower, closer to my mouth. I could smell her arousal and it kicked mine up three notches. “Fuck, baby.” I looked up the length of her and saw her watching me with concerned eyes. “Don’t tell me I’m the first to taste this beautiful pussy.”
She nodded. My eyes nearly crossed. I gently spread her pussy lips apart, exposing her swollen clit to my attention. My tongue darted across it slow and easy. Her hands flew into my hair, holding onto me. I let her have her anchor, at least for the first time.
I licked her, dragging my tongue up her slit, enjoying the grunts she made as I swirled my tongue around her tender clit. My tongue swept lower through her folds to her entrance. Her fingers gripped my hair when I circled her opening. The burning of my scalp only added to my desire to drive her to the very edge.
She sucked in her breath when I took her clit between my teeth, and her legs tried to snap shut around me. I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly as I slid my hands up from her ass to the back of her thighs and pushed them farther apart and back, giving me even more access to her pussy.
Lauren’s moans came from deep within her as I continued to do my wicked dance over her clit and pussy. Each time I swept toward her opening, she tried to press her hips toward me, but I wasn’t going to give in that easily.
“So fucking sweet.” I groaned as I bit at her, enjoying the new hiss she gave me with each little nip.
“Oh!” She released her grip on me to shove her hands through her own hair when I lightly blew across her exposed clit. “Michael. Please. Fuck. Please.” I glanced up at her, at the wildness in her eyes, the fast raise and fall of her breasts.
“Such a dirty mouth.” I grinned up at her.
“Stop teasing me.”
“Okay.” I gave her a nod. Gradually I thrust two fingers into her warm opening. She stretched around my fingers, and she cried out as I slid deeper, filling her. “Is that better, baby? Is that what you wanted?”
Lauren’s large, dark eyes found mine. She licked at her lips as she nodded. “Almost.”
I thrust faster, harder into her, keeping my tongue playing over her clit. Her breath hitched; her pussy clenched around my fingers. So close, but so damn far away. Just as she was about to explode, just when I knew she would find that orgasm she chased, I pulled my fingers out and hovered over her.
“Michael! No!” Frustrated eyes glared down at me. If the haze of her desire hadn’t been hovering so close to her, she would have demanded I give her what she wanted.
“Not yet, baby. Almost, though. I promise.” I grabbed the condom and tore into the packaging. I could feel her looking me over, and when her gaze settled on my cock, I enjoyed watching her cheeks burn bright red. Not wanting to disappoint, I wrapped my hand around my shaft, pumping it a few times for her benefit. With the condom in place, I settled between her thighs, taking her lips with mine.
She moaned, and I knew she was tasting herself on my lips. Pressing the tip of my cock to her entrance, I pulled back from the kiss and locked her eyes on mine. I’d waited so many years for this moment, to finally be with her in such an intimate way. She wasn’t some passerby pussy, and it wasn’t just a quick fuck. No, I was claiming her.
Losing all patience, I thrust into her hard. Her head tilted back and she sucked in a new breath. I let her settle for a moment; she stretched around my cock, gripping me tighter and making it more difficult to stay still. “I gotta move, baby.” I kissed her again and dragged my cock out almost to the very tip before driving back into her.
“Oh, god!” She moaned and crossed her ankles around my ass.
Her nails dug into my back as I pushed deeper into her, grinding against her clit with each thrust. The harder I drove into her, the more she groaned with pleasure. I covered her mouth with my own, taking in her groans, mingling them with my own while I continued to fill and stretch her.
“Fuck.” She felt too good, too right. Looking down at her, I could see what I already knew: she was barreling toward the finish line. “That’s my girl. Are you going to come for me?”
“Yes, Michael. Please, please.” Her feet planted on the bed and her hips arched toward me, her pelvis meeting me at each thrust.
I reached down between us, finding her clit. “Is this what you need, baby?” I brushed my thumb over her clit and it sent her into a wild spiral. She nodded, gasped, and then burst out in a long cry as she found her orgasm.
Her pussy tightened around me, pulling my own orgasm from me. I gripped her waist and thrust hard into her once, twice, before I felt my release carry me away. The force of it shocked me, my breath caught in my throat, and beneath my closed lids I saw stars.
When my breath finally calmed, I realized her hand stroked me. Her fingertips lightly moved down my back and then back up. I moved my head to see her better.
She smiled at me. “I’ve never done that before.”
I froze. “You said—”
“Oh, I’ve had sex before, Michael. But it’s never been like that.”
I couldn’t help the prideful grin that crossed my lips. “Oh, baby, you haven’t seen anything yet.” I winked and slowly pulled out from her. “I’ll be right back.” I didn’t want to leave her, I wanted to snuggle right up to her side, but some necessities needed to be taken care of first. I pressed a kiss to her forehead then dashed off to the bathroom to remove and toss the condom.
When I returned to the bedroom, she had the covers pulled up to her chin.
“Aren’t you hot?” I asked, rounding the bed to climb in behind her. The AC in her apartment was shit, and even with the fan on from the dresser it was still overly warm in the room.
“Are you staying?” She looked over her shoulder at me.
I pulled the covers back, and slid in bedside her. I sat back against the headboard. “Yep. No arguments. It’s too late to drag you back to my place, and I’m not leaving you alone.” If ever there was a time I missed smoking, it was that moment. I needed something to calm my racing heart, and get my muscles to unclench.
She rolled over and rested her head on my thigh. If I hadn’t pulled the sheet up over my lap, she would be able to reach her tongue out and lick my cock. Just the damn thought of it made me hard again. I shifted beneath her, moving my dick so she wouldn’t feel it pressing against her. No need to scare the girl.
“You can stay, I don’t mind.” Her words came out breathlessly, as though she was between sleep and consciousness.
“How nice of you.” I gave her arm a slight pinch.
“Did you find out who that guy was?” Her body tensed at the subject.
I ran my hand over her hair, moving it from her face. How many times had we been that exact position when we were younger? Although we had clothes on, and I hadn’t just fucked her and myself senseless. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure I know who he is. That’s why you are going to be staying with me for a few days. Where I can protect you.”
She bolted up from my lap and narrowed her eyes at me. “Why? I’m safe here.” Propping herself up on her elbow she looked up at me. The innocence I once knew still lurked there in her eyes. For having seen as much as she did, and putting up with all the shit she put up with growing up, her ability to see the world as anything other than the cold, dangerous place it was still amazed me.
“You’re safer with me. It would be easier if you came to my place. Besides I’m closer to the shelter and the school.” I swiped my finger across her forehead, catching a strand of still damp hair and tucking it behind her ear.
“Can’t we talk about it in the morning? I don’t want to fight right now.” She sank back down, resting her head on my thigh again. “I just want to enjoy this moment. It’s almost like it was when we were kids. Before everything got messed up.” Her sigh warmed my skin.
“Lauren, things can never be like when we were kids. Not now.” I scooted my ass down, laying my head on the pillow and pulling her up to rest on my chest. My arm wrapped around her, holding her close to me.
“What happened, Michael? When you went away, what happened to make you so hard? You didn’t used to be this negative. You always told me things would work out, that we’d be okay. Isn’t that the case now? I mean, we’re adults now. We found each other after all these years, and it’s exactly like I thought it would be. Well, at least at this moment.” Not looking at me gave her back her backbone.
Staying out of her life had been the hardest decision I made. I remembered all the times we lay in her bed, not doing anything except holding each other and talking, or her reading my notes for class to me while I fantasized about getting her out of her sweater and under the covers. Things weren’t going to be that easy for us now. I went down a different road. I chose that road, my decision, not hers, but I would be damned if I was going to drag her down it with me. And now that Taylor jumped into the equation, protecting her became my only priority. Once everything died down, we’d go our separate ways again.
“Things you don’t need to know about. Now close your eyes and get some sleep.”
“I’m not moving in with you.” She yawned, which took away from her commanding voice.
“We’ll talk about it in the morning, tough guy.” I gave her arm another pinch and kissed the top of her head. Having her in my arms again, holding her while we slept, brought back too many warm memories to keep me comfortable. I reminded myself it wouldn’t be forever. Temporary. That’s all I could offer her.
“Whatever. There’s nothing you can say to make me do it.” Another yawn, and then she burrowed herself further into my chest. We would probably roast in her room with the heat, and us huddled so close together, but I didn’t give a shit. At that moment, I only had one thought on my mind. I had my Lauren back.