-Major Gen. Frederick C. Blesse
Saturday morning, Mark awoke with his lips resting against the top of Karma’s head. He blinked drowsily and smiled.
Last night had been amazing. She had come three times and responded to him better than he’d anticipated. He had expected her to be nervous, more bashful. Instead, she had eagerly and willingly embraced the entire experience, pushing herself into the unknown without a blink, even asking for more at one point.
He brushed his fingertips over her face to push back her hair. Even tousled with mascara rubbing off on her eyelids, she was gorgeous. It made her look sexy. Like a woman who’d just been fucked silly and had lost all inhibition. What a turn-on.
She twitched, and her eyes eased open.
“Oh wow,” she said.
“Sleep well?”
She stretched and groaned. “Too well.”
“You must have been tired.”
She snuggled closer and burrowed her face into his chest, and didn’t that just make him feel all warm inside. “Very tired.”
“What do you want to do today?” He secured his arm around her waist and held her against him.
Without hesitation, she said, “What we did last night.”
He grinned. “I think that’s a given.” Most definitely. He wouldn’t let the day end without a replay of the prior evening.
She sighed and looked up at him, her slender hand flattening against his chest. “What are my choices?”
“Well, I think I need to make you breakfast first. Then shower.” His gaze burned into hers. “Hopefully, you’ll join me for that so I can show you a few more things worth learning.”
Her mouth widened into an expectant smile. “Sure.”
He paused a moment as the weight of showering together sank in then said, “I don’t want to keep you inside all day, but obviously, going out around here is out of the question.”
“Obviously.”
In Clover, the odds of running into one of her coworkers were greater. It wasn’t worth the risk.
“So, I thought we could drive down to Brown County,” he said. Brown County State Park in southern Indiana was large and remote enough that they could spend the day hiking or shopping in the small nearby tourist town of Nashville and not bump into anyone they knew. “The weather’s supposed to be beautiful, and we can make a day of it.”
“Sounds perfect.”
He tapped her bare bottom under the covers. “Okay then. I’ll make us breakfast.” He kissed her forehead, slipped out of bed, and pulled on a pair of sweats. Then he stepped into the closet and pulled a white box with a pink ribbon around it from the shelf. “This is for you.” He sat on the edge of the bed and handed it to her as she sat up and held the burgundy satin over her chest.
“What is it?”
“Just a little something I thought you could use this weekend.”
She untied the ribbon and lifted the lid off the box. Inside was a pink and cream satin robe. “Thank you.”
“You can wear it for breakfast.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
* * *
Karma watched him go then eased from under the covers. Her whole body hummed. Every muscle ached and sang at the same time, and in such a glorious way. As she slipped her arms through the kimono sleeves of the robe and shrugged the airy material over her shoulders, she pattered to the bathroom.
Her eyes shot wide when she got a look at her reflection. The hair on one side of her head was mashed to her scalp, and flaked-off mascara darkened her eyelids, giving her mock circles under her eyes.
How embarrassing.
Kneeling beside her bag, she dug out her facial cleanser and cotton wipes, cursing herself for falling asleep before removing her makeup. In a flurry of agitation, she washed her face then hurriedly brushed out her hair before securing it with a scrunchie.
Much better. Not as scary.
When she joined Mark downstairs a couple of minutes later, he was ladling pancake batter onto a griddle. Bacon sizzled in an iron skillet.
She sat at the bar. “Smells good. Do I smell peanut butter?”
He set the bowl of batter to the side and wiped his hands on a towel. “Mm-hm. Peanut butter pancakes. It’s kind of a specialty.”
The man never ceased to amaze her. “I suppose you won’t give me the recipe?”
“We’ll see.” He winked at her then turned the bacon.
After breakfast—and yes, the pancakes were amazing—he took her back upstairs, turned on the shower, pulled the scrunchie from her hair, and helped her out of her robe.
She wore nothing underneath.
“How about that shower?” he said.
She was pretty sure she was about to get her first taste of shower sex, especially when he grinned mischievously and pulled a condom from the drawer under the sink.
He set the condom on the shelf that held bottles of shampoo and soap, took her hand, and tugged her under the cascading water.
“Let me guess,” he said, “you’ve never had sex in the shower.”
“No.”
“Do you want to?” His gaze fell to her breasts as he swirled the tip of his index finger around her nipple, making it form a tight peak.
Water spilled over his chest, and the hair flattened against his skin. “Yes.”
His mouth widened into a pleased grin then he bent and took her nipple between his lips.
She dipped her head back and dug her fingers into his wet hair. Now that they had opened the gates to this new dimension of their relationship, it was as if they’d been together forever. Touching him was easy. Being touched by him was easy. Letting him see her naked was as normal and effortless as breathing. In less than twelve hours, she had overcome almost all her inhibitions.
“Turn around for me,” he said, straightening and nudging her toward the wall.
She did as he said, and he eased her forward.
“Put your hands on the wall.” He took hold of her wrists and lifted her arms.
“What are you doing?” She glanced over her shoulder and saw him rip open the condom.
A moment later, his left arm circled her waist and he pressed in closer behind her. “You’ll like this.”
“This?”
Then his fingers were on her, parting her, guiding his penis into place. “Yes, this.” His voice sounded hot, gruff, on the verge of breaking.
In one smooth glide, he was inside her, and his hands gripped her hips. Oh, now this was different. She immediately felt the contact with her G-spot. Now she knew what he meant by this.
“I feel it,” she said, closing her eyes as he penetrated her again and rocked her forward.
“And what do you feel?” His voice came from right beside her ear. His whiskered chin scratched her shoulder.
“My G-spot,” she said breathlessly. “You’re hitting my G-spot.”
He thrust into her, a bit more forcefully, making her gasp as he hit her special place again.
“That’s right,” he said. “Taking you from behind allows me to stimulate you better, especially when you tilt your hips this way.” He applied pressure with his hands and angled her hips so that her back arched, showing her what he meant. When he surged into her again, the contact was harder, more direct. And a bolt of pleasure rippled viciously down her legs.
“Oh!”
“You like that?” He thrust again, then again before she could reply.
“Yes. God yes.” She slapped one palm against the wet tile wall.
“Was Hank ever this good?” He practically pounded himself inside her.
“No!” In no time at all, her body was on the verge of something cataclysmic, her legs shuddering, her muscles quivering.
“I told you I would take care of you, didn’t I?” He was practically growling.
“Yes! Oh my God!” Over and over, his erection assaulted her pleasure zone. Each thrust awakened another set of nerve endings, lighting up her body on its way to another blinding climax.
“I promised I would make you come.” His grip on her hips was almost brutal, but she didn’t care. If he bruised her, at least the bruises would be shaped like his hands.
“Yes!” She practically saw stars, hovering over yet another soul-rupturing, Mark Strong-induced orgasm.
He released her hips and clamped his hands down on her breasts. His fingers pinched both nipples at the same time he closed he lips over the side of her neck and laved her with his tongue.
Explosion!
The invisible fuse from her vagina to her neck and breasts ignited, and a snap later, as she shrieked in pleasure, every muscle in her body contracted at once then blew apart. Her legs spasmed as Mark continued pumping relentlessly into her, stimulating her beyond comprehension, then he, too, shuddered with release.
He grunted against her neck, his arms once more secured around her waist.
Moments later, breathing hard, her cheek pressed against the wall, she opened her eyes. Mark’s forehead rested on her shoulder, his soaked hair hanging over his face. She could still feel him pulsing inside her.
After another few seconds, he opened his eyes, blinked drowsily, smiled, then lifted his head. “Now it’s a good morning.”
That it was.
* * *
An hour later, Karma sat in the passenger seat of his BMW as they hopped on the interstate. A cooler filled with water, a container of green grapes, and turkey and lettuce sandwiches on Italian bread sat on the floor of the backseat. The drive to Brown County was long, but by eleven o’clock, they arrived, ate lunch, and spent the next three hours hiking. Of course, Mark had chosen one of the more challenging trails, which required climbing up and down a few ridges. They spotted a pair of eagles, a fox, and a doe with her fawn. Eventually, they made their way to the horse barn and took a thirty minute guided ride.
After spending a few hours in the park, they drove into Nashville, wandered among the quaint shops, had a dinner of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and fried okra, and ordered biscuits and apple butter for dessert at a cozy country café decorated with blue and white checkered walls and wood tables. Mark liked the apple butter so much that he bought a dozen jars to take home, promising six to Karma.
By the time they left for the two-hour drive home, it was after seven o’clock.
Once back at his condo, Mark carried in their things while she went upstairs and took a bath. He showered downstairs then joined her in bed.
“I think you got a little sunburned,” she said, noting his reddened cheeks and nose.
“So did you.” He pulled her on top of him and pushed the tips of his fingers under the back of the tank top she was wearing.
“I had on sunscreen, so it’s not that bad.” She settled against him.
He kissed her. “No, not that bad.” His hands roamed more freely as he pulled her down.
She rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Like the rest of him, the cadence was full and strong.
For a while, he simply caressed her back, saying nothing, but she could feel him getting harder. Her breathing deepened. He smelled clean but outdoorsy, his subtle masculine scent breaking through that of his soap.
“I was wondering,” he said a couple of minutes later, “when you might like to show me what you’ve learned from those books you’ve been reading. You know, about how to give a man pleasure.”
Was he asking her to go down on him?
“Is it too soon?” he pushed against her shoulders, making her sit up. He searched her face, his gaze hopeful yet cautious.
She nibbled her bottom lip. “Um…”
His palms smoothed up and down her back. “I like when you touch me with your hands, but I’m wondering how good your mouth would feel.” He brought his hands around to her thighs. “Am I asking too much?”
She wanted to do this. Wasn’t that why she had read those books in the first place?
“Right now?” Her eyes met his.
“I’ll even turn off the light if it makes you more comfortable.” He reached over and clicked off the lamp on the bedside table, throwing the room into darkness except for the night-light plugged into the wall by the bathroom door.
Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Mark would be the first man to experience her naïve oral talents. But if she hadn’t planned on giving him a blow job at some point, she wouldn’t have bought those books on how to give stellar head. The only problem was she had zero faith in her amateur abilities. And what if he came in her mouth? Was that what he expected? She wasn’t sure she could do that.
“You’re overthinking it, honey.”
She met his eyes. “I’m sorry. I just—”
“I won’t come in your mouth, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
She blushed and looked away, embarrassed, before meeting his eyes again. “How did you know I was thinking about that?”
His lips curved into a sympathetic smile. “You looked apprehensive. So I assumed.”
With a lift of her eyebrows, she nodded. “I am…was…am. A little.”
He placed his hand over his heart. “Well, I promise to be good and not do that. I just want to feel you.”
She bit her bottom lip, considering the situation. Finally, she said, “I trust you. I’m just nervous.”
“I’ll help.” He took her hands and kissed each one before lowering them to the waist of his sweats.
She scooted down between his thighs, and he lifted his hips off the mattress. With his help, she maneuvered his sweats and undershorts off his legs then took a deep breath as she situated herself on her knees and took his erection in her hand.
He drew in a sharp breath, almost as if he hadn’t been expecting her to touch him so quickly.
She smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“No…it’s okay.” He took her wrist and held her hand in place before she could pull away.
“I’m not very good at this.” She hung her head. Seriously, her confidence in giving good fellatio was about a negative five on a scale of one to ten. Even with all her reading, she was still just a newbie. Book smarts didn’t make up for real world experience.
“I’m a man, Karma.”
She met his shadowed gaze. “What do you mean?”
Another of those award-winning smiles closed the distance from his heart to hers. “It means that any head is good head. Men don’t distinguish between good and bad when it comes to blow jobs. If a woman’s mouth is on it, it’s good. Trust me.”
Well, since he put it that way.
He must have sensed that she was still unsure, though, because he wrapped his hand around hers. “I’ll help you. Would you like that?”
His strong fingers slipped between hers, and his palm gripped her hand securely as he pulled her fist up his shaft to the head.
“Yes,” she whispered, fascinated by the smooth, velvety feel of his skin over such a hard interior.
His penis didn’t look as smooth as it felt. Veins protruded the length from the base to the ridge that separated head from shaft, but other than the natural feel of edged muscle, engorged with blood, he was as smooth as a tube of sugar cookie dough.
His erection was curved, too. Not perfectly straight as she’d thought. It arced slightly like a bow, as if the head wanted to curve back toward him. Was that why he felt so good inside her? Did he hit her differently because he was curved? Perhaps in a way that helped her achieve orgasm more easily? It was like his curved penis was made to hit her just right inside. Not that the curve was that pronounced, but she had to wonder if penis shape had anything to do with her own pleasure, given all she had read about the different types of penises and how each shape had a different effect.
“Slow and easy,” he said, bringing her mind back to him. “Not too much pressure.” His fingers loosened, indicating what he liked, and she in turn slightly loosened her grip.
“Like that?” She watched his face closely, looking for signs that she was doing it right.
“Yes. Perfect.” His chest rose, and his pecs rippled. Then he breathed out a contented sigh. “I like a little manual stimulation before…”
“Before oral stimulation,” she offered.
A distracted chuckle rumbled from his throat. “Yes.”
For another minute more, he helped her stroke him in long, even caresses.
“Give me your other hand,” he said, reaching out.
She did, and he directed her below his erection and placed her palm on his scrotum. Without saying a word, he manipulated her fingers, rolling the healthy twin weights against her palm.
“Mmmmm.” He closed his eyes. “I like that, too. A lot.”
His erection grew more rigid against her palm, and she licked her lips. His reaction made her naturally want to take him further. Without even thinking, she leaned forward and, taking the cues he’d given, she simply brushed her lips over the head. Just a simple, slow, back and forth motion.
His entire body lifted, tensed, and then relaxed as he groaned. “Yeeesss. God, that’s perfect.”
The glans felt just as velvety soft as the rest of him, smooth and firm. Parting her lips, she closed them again in a series of sensual, pouty kisses. Feeling his body’s shuddering reaction, and hearing the way his breathing increased and the way he groaned his approval, she continued the slow build and outlined the ridge between tip and shaft with her tongue, licking one long, luxurious line all the way around before closing her mouth over the top inch, just the way her books had taught her.
“Fuck.” The word bit out like the snap of a rubber band, and he let go of her hands and reached for the lamp. The light on the nightstand came back on, and he drove his fingers back into her hair, pushing it off her face.
When she looked up through her lashes, his chin was on his chest, his mouth open, eyes glazed and hungry.
“That’s good. Very nice.” His hips pressed forward involuntarily, but only a little, not enough to drive him deeper into her mouth. “Use your hand and mouth together,” he said. “As you take me in, stroke down. And when you pull away, stroke up. Please?”
Well, since he said please.
She did as instructed, taking things slow to get the feel. He seemed to like it slow, because he nodded, letting her know she was doing it right, and his hands gripped her scalp more firmly as his hips got a bit more involved.
“Is this okay?” He said between clenched teeth.
She nodded, her mouth too busy to answer as she hollowed out her cheeks and applied a touch of suction.
“God. Damn. Karma.” His shoulders and arms flexed and bunched, and his chest tightened.
Okay, so she was better at this than she thought.
“Stop,” he said, pushing her as he gasped. “You need to stop. Oh God.”
She sucked her mouth off the end with a pop. A moment later, with his face scrunched tightly, he groaned as semen shot out and landed on his stomach. His erection jerked in her hand, over and over, as he continued to come. It was sensual and fascinating the way his body convulsed and twitched, the way his breathing hitched, the way his hands fisted the sheets as he shivered through each wave.
After a long moment passed, Mark opened his eyes and grinned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“No, it’s okay. I liked it.” Watching him come—from just her mouth—was thrilling. Arousing.
He blew out an unsteady breath. “I wasn’t expecting that.” With his eyelids barely parted, he exhaled again then licked his lips. “You give undeniably good head.”
Pride bloomed in her chest. “I do?”
He grabbed a tissue and smirked as he wiped off his stomach. “Duh.” He tossed the tissue on the floor and took her hand. “Come here.”
She slid up his body and laid her head on his shoulder.
He kissed her temple. “Give me a few minutes to recover and I’ll pay you back.”
“A few minutes?”
An amused rumble rolled in his chest. “Okay, maybe fifteen or twenty. That was pretty damn good.”
Yes, it was. She had enjoyed giving him head. Such power. To hold him literally in the palm of her hand, inside her mouth, and lift him to the height of pleasure with her lips and tongue was more erotic than she could have imagined.
She was beginning to think there was nothing she couldn’t do now that Mark was paving the way.