Between Embers (Lost Kings MC 5.5)

But I think we’ve come as far as we can with this conversation for tonight.

“Come back here.”

I’ve been hard for Lilly all day, but the way she reacts to my no-room-for-argument tone, works me up even more. Her breathing kicks up. Short, quick breaths that make her chest rise and fall.

“Turn around.”

She hesitates before turning. There’s a rush that comes with telling a willful woman like Lilly to do something and watching her struggle between telling me to fuck off and doing it that’s hot as fuck. My hands find their way to her smooth legs. Tracing my fingers behind her knees and up to the backs of her thighs makes her giggle softly.

“That tickles,” she whispers. Laughter turns into a sharp moan when my hands find their way to her ass and squeeze. Perfect.

Reaching up, I drag the zipper of her dress down.

“Take it off.”

Her shoulders lift, letting the dress fall to the floor. Gracefully, she leans over and pulls the dress off her foot, tossing it on my desk.

I like the way Lilly holds herself—there’s nothing about Lilly I don’t like—but I admire her confidence. Straight spine, shoulders back. Her long hair almost reaches the small of her back

Standing, I wrap one arm around her waist and press her tight to me.

I drag my lips over her shoulder. “Admit we’re good together, Lilly,” I whisper as I kiss my way to her ear.

“So good.”

The fact that she didn’t bother with a bunch of half-hearted protests or a smart-ass comeback makes me say something else I wasn’t planning on. “You know you’re the last thing I think about before I go to sleep? The only face I picture when I close my eyes?” It’s so much easier to tell her these things when she’s not facing me.

“Me too,” she whispers so low, I almost don’t hear her. Surprised she’d admit it, I squeeze her a little tighter. Her head falls forward. But one of her hands sneaks between us, closing around my dick, rubbing the hard length through my pants. I groan, jerking my hips forward.

“You want that?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you deserve it?”

She snorts. “Probably not.”

I add my rumbling chuckles to her softer laughter. “Think you can take it?”

“Oh, I know I can.”

I move my hand up, cupping her breast and grazing my thumb over her nipple. Against my body she shivers.

“Z,” she says on a ragged exhale of breath. “Don’t make me wait.”

“Why not? You made me wait. Tortured me last night, knowing you were here and I couldn’t have you.”

“That’s not fair.” I can practically hear the pout in her voice.

“No, it wasn’t.”

Guiding her with my hands on her hips, I turn her to face me. She’s tired of me messing with her, because she twists her fingers in my hair and pulls me to her for a rough kiss. She crushes my mouth against hers, but that’s where I take over. I brush my fingers through her hair, wrapping it tight around my fist and give her a gentle tug. It’s enough to make her pause so I can slide my tongue inside her mouth. She breathes a soft moan into me and kisses me back so hard I groan. My lips slide down her jaw to her throat, and she arches her back, pressing herself into me.

I pull away and grip her exploring hands. “Get my dick out.” I slip off my shirt and it lands somewhere on the floor. I’m not real worried about it. No, all I can think about is her hands quickly working my pants open, pushing everything down to free my aching dick. A soft hiss of air eases out of me as she takes me in both of her soft hands.

“What do you want?”

Instead of answering, she lowers herself to the floor in front of me. My eyes zero in on her tongue as she runs it over her lips. I’m dying to get inside her, but I’m also having fun teasing her. Gently, I press my hand to her forehead, pushing her back.

“Stay still. I’ll let you know when you can have it.”

She flicks her eyes up at me in surprise and probably annoyance. I give her a second, and she sits back, waiting for what happens next.

“Open.”

The second her lips slide over the head of my cock, my legs hum with pleasure. The sensation travels up my spine. Pleasure leaves me groaning as her warm, wet mouth surrounds me. She swirls her tongue around me, then sucks greedily.

“Good girl.”

I get another pissy look for that one, but it only gets me harder.

“Take it all, Lilly.”

She takes me right to the back of her throat over and over, never backing off until I hold her head still. “Up.”

* * *

ONLY SLIGHTLY ANNOYED, I kiss my way up Z’s body. When I’m standing, he brings his mouth near mine, hovering for a second. I want him to kiss me more than anything.

And he does. He grabs the back of my head and kisses fiercely. I open for him because there’s no point denying how much I want him.

I push, but Z’s a mountain of man and muscle. Impossible to move.

“What do you want, Lilly?” he asks.

“You.”

His lips curve, and there’s a hint of arrogance in his eyes that makes me want to smack him. Then he drops his gaze, uses his thumbs to roughly pull my bra down. Frustrated because the material refuses to cooperate, he reaches around and unhooks it, flinging it away. One roughened hand cups my breast the other one dips lower. He holds my gaze as he slides two fingers between my legs. They slip into place easily because I’ve been ready for him all day.

I’m not prepared for the intense look in his eyes when he spins me around, pushing me onto his bed. The noise in my head goes silent under the weight of his stare. He climbs on the bed after me, kicking his pants and shoes off. “Come here, pretty girl.” His raspy voice pulses through my body, filling me with desire.

The crinkle of a wrapper draws my attention from his eyes. I watch him slide into a condom. He eases my knees apart, opening me.

“Yeah, this is what I’ve been waiting for, all fucking day,” he says, closing the distance between us. He circles and taps my clit with his cock. Teasing me again. How the hell can he stand it?

“Will you fuck me already?”

My demand finally snaps his iron control, and he pushes into me. Z’s a lot to handle, but I love every bit of his thick length inside me.

He groans and halts his movements. “Fuck. You’re tight as hell. Miss me?”

“Yes,” I whisper because I’m tired of playing hard to get with him. Uncomfortable being so open, I bury my face in his neck. He takes mercy on me and works his hips, each thrust slow, hard and deliberate.

“Give me your mouth, Lilly.”

Shaking my head, I nip at the muscles of his shoulder. “Careful. I might bite back.”

I can’t help it, though. His massive frame is such a turn-on. I’ve never been with another man who’s such a solid wall of muscle. Who knows how to use all those muscles to please me in every way.

“Lilly,” he warns.

I roll my hips up to meet him and he groans. “Fuck. So fucking good,” he mutters. His pace slows to a lazy grind and one of his hands grips my chin, turning my face, kissing my lips.

He forces his tongue into my mouth at the same time he drives into my pussy hard and relentless. The dual assault leaves me panting. I raise my legs, wrapping them around his waist.

“Good girl,” he praises, slipping a hand under my ass, angling me up even more.

If he wasn’t balls deep inside me, I’d smack him for that good girl comment. But all I care about are his primal grunts and punishing thrusts.

Every muscle in my body tightens around him, and Z slows, not wanting me to come so quick. But it’s too late. I gasp and arch my back and get carried away by a sweeping orgasm.

* * *

MAYBE IT’S the wedding that has her so hot. She claimed not to be the marrying kind, but she’s wilder than she’s ever been before.

And Lilly is pretty

fucking wild.

When she opens her eyes, I slide out of her and urge her onto her hands and knees, thrusting back inside before she’s fully ready for me.

“Fuck!” she yells out, and I grunt in agreement. My arm bands tight around her waist pulling her against me at the same time as I plow into her. It’s hotter. Heat’s just pouring off her. Slicker.

So fucking amazing.

Every little flutter, every muscle tightening around my dick rockets through me. Why aren’t we doing this all the time? Why am I waiting for her to figure her shit out instead of telling her how it’s going to be? We’re fucking amazing together. And if she’d let us, we could be more than fantastic fucking sex.

“Lilly,” I groan her name through my release. My entire body stills, tightens, pouring everything I have into her.

I pull in a few shaky breaths before sliding out of her and staggering off the bed. She collapses into a cute little puddle, all plush ass in the air, perfectly thick thighs, unblemished skin and sex-mussed hair.

Something wet hits my foot, and I glance down.

My dick’s poking out of the condom, cum leaking everywhere.

“Fuck,” I mutter. “Lilly?”

“Mmm?” She rolls over and I swear my dick’s already getting hard again from just the sight of her fantastic tits.

I point down. “Condom broke. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.”

Anger? Horror? Shock? I’m not sure. Maybe a mix of those three emotions flicker over her face. “I’m clean, babe.” Oh, I hate like fucking hell admitting this next part. “You’re the only one I’ve—”

She has the nerve to roll her eyes. “I’m supposed to believe that?”

“Believe whatever you want.” I stalk into the bathroom and just barely stop myself from slamming the door. I take a few seconds to clean up and calm the fuck down. No one twists me up the way she does. No one.

When I emerge, a little more rational, she’s sitting in the bed with her knees drawn up, the sheet covering her right to her chin.

“I’m sorry,” she says softly. “You’re the only…don’t worry. I haven’t been with anyone else in a long time. We’re good.”

Any lingering anger disappears, and I pounce on the bed, ripping the sheet away from her and replacing it with my body. “Really?” I ask, drawing the word out until I get her to laugh.

“Yeah, really. Don’t be so smug.” She reaches out and cups my cheek, her soft fingers brushing against my skin. “I think you’ve ruined me for any other man.”

“Nothing wrong with that.” I move in closer for a kiss and she makes this little noise that sounds like either agreement—

Or denial.

* * *

I COULD GET USED to waking up with Lilly next to me.

Even after the broken condom fiasco.

She makes me think about all sorts of things I never considered before meeting her.

But Lilly’s a tricky one. I try to talk to her about us moving from fuck buddies to serious couple, she shuts me down.

Every fucking time.

It’s annoying. And if she wasn’t the hottest fuck I’ve ever had as well as the smartest chick I’ve ever spent time with, I would have lost her number long time ago.

Soft scratching at my bedroom door pulls me out of bed. The pups wriggle and dance their way into the room. After being displaced last night, it was a miracle they hadn’t howled or scratched at my door all night. “Uncle Sparky take care of you?” I whisper as I bend down to scratch behind their ears. “I owe you two extra cookies.”

I throw a quick glance at Lilly—still sound asleep and slip on a pair of sweats before running the dogs downstairs and outside.

A few guys are still up. Stash and Ravage are busy smoking dope in the living room. Dex is there too but seems to be halfway sober. Swan’s sort of passed out in his lap. I lift my chin at her. “She okay?”

“Yeah,” he answers slowly.

“You should have seen the show she put on in the champagne room last night,” Ravage says, wiggling his eyebrows or emphasis and earning a scowl from Dex.

Great. Always has to be some complication around here.

“Where’s Willow? She go home?” I ask.

Stash raises his eyebrows and points to the basement door. “With Sparky.”

“Really?” Man, I can’t wait to rib Willow this week at the club.

Stash shrugs, but there’s a lingering smirk that makes me want to press him for details.

“Oh my God, why are you guys up at this hour?” Trinity asks from the hallway. I turn and find her dressed to work out, an inexplicable smile stretched across her face.

“What are you doing up so early? Shouldn’t you be exhausted from your maid of honor duties? Or from your man?” Ravage asks.

“Watch it,” Wrath growls coming up behind her and yanking her against him. He leans down, whispering something in her ear that makes her laugh softly and smack his chest. Without saying anything else, she turns and heads back down the hall.

“Why so grumpy?” I ask.

Wrath grins. “Oh, I ain’t grumpy at all.”

Intrigued, Ravage and Stash sit up. “What’s up, bro?” Ravage asks.

“Nothing. Later.”

With those cryptic words, Wrath turns and walks down the hall.

“Something’s up with those two,” Ravage says.

“Wow. You could be like a detective or something,” Stash snarks at him before lighting another joint and inhaling deep.

“Fuck off.”

“This has been fun, but I’ve got a hot, naked chick in my bed.”

“Need some help with that?” Stash asks, just to be a dick.

“No, ya fuck,” I growl at him.

The two fuckwits have a good laugh. Dex just rolls his eyes. The pups jump up on the couch and settle into the cushions behind Swan.

“Watch them?” I ask.

“Yeah. No problem,” Ravage answers.

I take the stairs two at a time and let out a breath when I find Lilly still sound asleep.

Fuck I like having her here.

I slip into bed next to her and watch as she slowly wakes.

“Morning.”

She gives me an uncertain look before stretching.

“How long have you been up?” she asks in her sexy-morning-husky voice.

“Few minutes. Had to run the dogs out.”

She picks her head up and looks around. “Where are they?”

“Downstairs.”

“Sorry. You didn’t have to kick them out because of me. I like dogs.”

In a sweet gesture that I don’t think she gives much thought to, she leans in and kisses my forehead before tossing the covers back. I admire her naked ass all the way to the bathroom and wait for her to come back.

She returns wearing one of my T-shirts.

“I can’t vouch for how clean that is if you picked it up off the bathroom floor,” I warn her.

Her nose wrinkles and she pulls at the shirt to smell it. “It smells good. Like you.”

She jumps on the bed and crawls back under the covers, snuggling up to me.

This is nice.

Real nice. I could totally get used to this.

Maybe it’s time to stop fucking around and be straight with her. No more jokes or half-ass attempts. Real shit.

And when she says no, I’ll fuck her until she says yes.

* * *

I HATE how much I liked waking up in Z’s arms. I like my independence. Sleeping in my own bed. Not having to worry about impressing someone twenty-four-seven.

But I really like Z. I’m comfortable around him. Something I never expected.

He’s so warm and hard against me, I wriggle, trying to get closer. Not because I’m cold, but because I like how he feels. How this feels.

Tipping my head back, I catch him staring at me with an intensity I’ve never seen. Not sexual.

Something’s on Z’s mind. On the outside he seems ca

lm, but I see his pulse at his neck fluttering. I reach over and place my hand over his heart. It’s racing.

“What’s on your mind, Z? You look like you’re about to have a stroke.”

He doesn’t even crack a smile at my idiotic teasing.

“Last night. Remember how we both admitted we’ve only been seeing each other?”

“Uh, I don’t think that’s what we said.” He keeps staring at me until I fidget. “We said we hadn’t fucked anyone else besides each other.”

“Same thing,” he growls, clearly frustrated with me.

But it’s a lie. I’ve dated a bunch of guys in between seeing Z. I just haven’t wanted to sleep with a single one. None of them. Try as I might to find someone else, my lady bits were on strike when it came to anyone other than this intense, sexy beast of a man.

“How about we officially only see each other.” He doesn’t really phrase it as a question. His voice never wavers and his eyes never leave my face, but he’s so strained. So serious. And I have the feeling it’s killing him not to declare I’m his like a caveman.

“You want me to be your girlfriend, Z?” I ask, just so I know we’re both on the same page.

“I’m a little old for girlfriends, Lilly.” He closes his eyes and when he opens them he’s staring somewhere over my shoulder. “But we can start there if that’s easier for you.”

Wow. I don’t know what else to think. My mind keeps repeating wowwowowow. “How does that look? You work in a strip club. You live here. Have girls around just to service you when you’re feeling randy. You’re on the road a lot. How…?”

The hardening of his expression makes me lose track of my own words.

“You never said anything about Crystal Ball before,” he finally says.

“You never wanted to be a couple before.”

“Bullshit,” he mutters.

“I didn’t say no. I’m asking questions.”

“Fine. You want me to quit my job?”

Shit, do I? It seems unfair. I probably get hit on more often working at the legislature than he does in a strip club.