“More.”
“I like that word.” Dalton pushed up on one arm and latched onto her nipple while working her into a writhing mass.
Rory kept a slow and steady rhythm as she braced her hands on Dalton’s thighs.
“You got me so riled up I’m hanging on by a thread,” he said. “What do you need to get there?”
“Your mouth on my nipple.” She groaned when his hot mouth enclosed the tip. “Move faster on my clit. Yes.”
He thrust his pelvis up, thumb flickering madly on the exact spot. His tongue performed the identical rhythm on her nipple.
There wasn’t a long build-up. Rory was lost in his mouth and his hands and then zing, there it was. The sweet throb that sent her body rocketing. Her hands squeezed his quads. She gasped when Dalton’s teeth scored the stiff peak of her nipple.
Then his hands were on her hips, pushing her higher and pulling her back down. “Squeeze me,” he panted.
Rory angled forward to hold onto his shoulders.
“Right. Like. That.” He slammed into her hard one last time and his body shuddered with his release.
After a bit, Dalton fell back onto the mattress and he dragged Rory down with him. Maybe it made her a sap, but she liked that he didn’t pull out right away. He kept their bodies joined as long as possible.
She connected their mouths in a deep soul kiss. She loved kissing him, but he needed extra kisses and touches tonight and it was such a joy to give them to him.
He swept her hair aside and placed his lips on the pulse pounding in her throat. “You are sexy as f**k and I’m lucky you’re here with me tonight.”
Rory felt that melting sensation.
His callused hands floated over her naked back. He kissed her temple. “Told you a dose of your sexy ways was the perfect antidote to my crappy night.”
“I’m sorry you had to deal with crappy family stuff.”
“They wanted an explanation on why I’ve stayed away. So I gave them one.”
“What did you say?”
His fingers stilled for a moment before resuming again. “I told them about Casper tracking me down five days after the wedding fiasco.”
“Five days? You saw him the same day we talked?”
“It was a few hours after that. And in that thirty minute conversation with him, my life changed.”
Rory lifted her head to look into his eyes, but he’d turned his face away from her.
This wasn’t good.
“Was that why you were—”
“Gone the next day? Yep. Had I planned on leavin’ before that conversation? No.”
“And you never told anyone what happened?”
“Not until tonight.”
She disconnected their bodies and covered them with the comforter. “Sorry. I was getting cold.” She snuggled into him. “If you want to tell me, fine. But if you’d rather not discuss it, I’m fine with that too.”
“You probably oughta know.”
With her cheek on his chest, Rory felt his heart rate pick up.
Then he began to talk. Relaying the conversation in a tone so dead and flat her stomach hurt.
And when he finished talking, her heart ached.
“Shocked you into silence. That’s gotta be a first.”
Don’t be flip. I can’t imagine the level of hurt you’re feeling. How isolated and alone you must’ve felt.
“Rory?” he murmured.
“Sorry. I’m stunned. I don’t even know what to say.”
Dalton kissed her forehead. “It’s okay.”
But it wasn’t okay.
The longer she lay there, the more upset she became. When she couldn’t hold back her anger and sorrow, she untangled herself from his arms and rolled across the bed, setting her feet on the floor.
Then the tears came full force. She had to clap her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. But she couldn’t stop her body from shaking.
“Rory? What’s wrong?” Dalton flipped on the light. Then he was crouched in front of her. “What… Are you crying?”
“Yes I’m crying.”
He waited for her to explain.
“You can’t tell me something that f**king heartbreaking and just expect me to roll over and go to sleep.” She covered her face with her hands. It was so wrong and she hurt for him so bad.
“This is exactly why I didn’t tell you. This is the reason I didn’t tell anyone.”
“No wonder Georgia said Tell wasn’t all right when he got home from talking to you.”
“That’s me. Mary f**king sunshine. Spreading love all over the goddamned place. My brothers couldn’t even look me in the eyes when they left the bar. And now you’re bawling in my bed.” He stood abruptly. “Just stop. I can’t stand to have your pity.”
She leapt to her feet. “My pity? That’s why you think I’m crying? Because I feel sorry for you? That’s not it. Not even f**king close.”
“Then why?”
“It’s because of guilt! From the time we were kids I knew that your dad was hurting you.”
Dalton winced.
“I did nothing, Dalton. Nothing. I could’ve told my mom or one of your brothers or even your mom but I didn’t. And to find out he’s still f**king with you? He’s still bent on reducing you to that scared little kid? It kills me. It kills me and enrages me and if that man were in this room right now I’d tear him to pieces. So I’m back to crying. That’s all I’ve been able to do for you is to weep like some helpless little girl. Then and now.”
“Baby. Please. Stop.”
“I can’t. You’ve deserved better from everyone around you including me. How you can even look at me…”
Dalton’s hands framed her face. “I look at you because I love you. That you’re crying for me shreds me inside. To know that crazy wild friend, a tough girl who refused to cry after you sliced open your knee, cried for me all those years ago? That grabs me by the throat and makes it hard to breathe.”
“You were always so tough, McKay. I didn’t want you to think I was a wussy girl so you’d stop coming around.”
“Nothin’ would’ve stopped me from coming around. I acted tough. A front I kept up for years. Probably why I picked so goddamn many fights. I had to prove I was tough enough to win. And if I couldn’t win, then I showed them I was tough enough to take whatever was dished out.
“Nothin’ you would’ve done back then could’ve changed anything. Do you hear me? I stood there every single time he brought out the strap. Until the day I didn’t.” His thumbs wicked away her tears. “You were there that day. I was so damn proud of myself.”