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“Did the lights just flicker?” I question East as he starts setting stuff out on the counter prepping to cook me dinner. Boneless chicken breasts, onions, mushrooms, herbs, and spices.
“Not sure. There’s supposed to be some thunderstorms rolling through. Nothing serious.” He slices the onion into strips on the cutting board mindlessly, not meeting my gaze. There’s this uneasy tension crackling between us. He can’t even look me in the eye.
The lights go dim and flicker a few more times. “Okay, see. I’m not crazy.”
East pulls his cell phone out of his back pocket and looks at the local weather radar. It’s a blob of green, orange, and red. There’s a strong wind advisory with possible hail. Wind gusts are expected to be as high as thirty-five miles per hour.
Thunder booms in the distance and I jump. East chuckles. “I see you’re still scared of a little thunder.”
“That nearly shook the house.”
He shakes his head. “God, you’re adorable.” I want to ask him how he would know being he still hasn’t glanced my way since we got here.
“Do you have candles?”
“Yeah. Upstairs in my bathroom closet. You okay to go get them on your own, scaredy cat?”
“I’m not scared. I just don’t exactly like the dark when it’s storming.”
“I bet we don’t even lose power but help yourself.”
“I will.” I shoot him a dirty look as he continues prepping the chicken, dashing it with different herbs and spices, ignoring my presence. I start up the stairs and thunder roars again and the house freaking shakes. It feels like it is right on top of us and the sun has completely disappeared. It’s purple outside. I keep to my task though. East is downstairs I know there is nothing to be afraid of truly.
I rush to the bathroom and fling the closet open. I pull down a few baskets, but neither of them have the candles I am looking for. These hold his razors and manscaping junk. I shove them back in place and bend down. Thunder rumbles louder then lightning cracks across the heavens and there’s this loud boom that sounds like an explosion as the lights go out.
Chill bumps fan up and down my arms. I still haven’t found his damn candles.
“East, what was that?”
“Not sure,” he calls up the stairs, his voice drifting closer. I hear him at the top of the stairs, and he shines the flashlight on his cell phone in my direction. “Did you find the candles?”
“No.”
“Can you see?”
“No.”
“Where’s your phone?”
“In your truck.”
“Well c’mere, and I’ll call the electric company.”
“Okay.” I stumble forward and he catches me.
“Easy, Lady.”
“You didn’t call me little,” I point out.
“Guess I didn’t. Here.” He guides me to the couch that takes up most of his Tv area by his bedroom. The same couch where I caught him watching porn. I wonder if he’s remembering that night too. If he is, he isn’t mentioning it.
He sinks down on the couch next to me, his hand curves to my kneecap. I wrap my hand around his thick arm and lean into him, laying my head on his shoulder. He doesn’t push me away as he lifts his phone to his ear.
He sits on hold for what seems like forever. I stroke my fingers up and down his arm when he finally gets an operator on the line. They inform him that lightning struck a transformer and it could be days before they can get out here with a new one.
“Sorry about dinner.”
“You can owe me one.”
“I’ll make it up to you before you leave for college.”
“I’m going to hold you to it.”
“I should probably get you home. Your mom’s gonna wonder where you are, and I’m sure you’d rather go hang with your friends than sit in the dark with an old man.”
“East.” I suck in a breath and stop him when he goes to get up. “I want to stay.”
“Wylla Mae.” I can see his head shake slightly. His cell phone powers off and he curses under his breath. “I need to find the damn candles.”
I reach for his hand and find his firm bicep. “Do you remember that night.” I know I don’t need to tell him which one.
He tenses up but doesn’t pull away from me. “Don’t go there.”
“I couldn’t sleep.” I trace circles up and down his arm. “I left my room to get a water, and I could see your Tv illuminated in the dark. I was afraid you were asleep, so I was quiet in case you were. Only you weren’t. I saw you sitting right here looking like the most beautiful man I had ever seen. You were shirtless.” I move my hand until I find the hem of his tee. He catches my hand, but I tap my fingers against his abs. “I saw what you were watching, and I wasn’t sure what I was experiencing at first. Maybe shock, but it went much further than that. I wanted you to catch me. I wanted to do to you what the woman was doing to the man on the screen.”
“Wylla Mae, stop talking.”
“I can’t. I want you to know what I was thinking and feeling.” I slide my other hand up his neck and stroke his beard that he’s started growing. “I wanted you that night. I’ve wanted you every day since.” I angle his head toward me. “No one would know,” I repeat the same words I spoke that night, hoping for a different reaction.
“I’d know,” he replies, his voice hoarse.
“Lynn was here. I wanted to kill you both. I wanted to claw her eyes out and tell her to never touch you again. You took her to bed, and I laid downstairs in mine. I could hear you through the vent in my ceiling, and I wanted to die. Hearing you fucking her nearly killed me, but I told myself one day there wouldn’t be anything or anyone standing in our way.”
“You want me to admit that I thought about you the whole time I was inside her?”
“Yeah, East. I want to hear you say it.”
“I can’t do that, Wylla Mae. I won’t lie to you.”
“But you are. You’re lying to me and to yourself. You wanted me then and you want me now.”
“We can’t.”
“Say it, East. I need to hear it. You were thinking about me.”
“Fucking hell. Yeah, Wylla Mae. Did you hear me call your name, because I did, and she walked out? Took me a long time to come to terms with that. Took me a hell of a lot longer to convince her to give me another shot. I told her what happened and that you were on my mind, but I couldn’t admit to her or hell even to myself at the time it was because deep down I fuckin’ wanted you. I wanted to take you to my bed and fuck you raw. Till you couldn’t walk. I wanted to bury myself inside you.”
I knew it. I knew I wasn’t completely insane. East wanted me as much as I craved him.
I still do.
I yearn for him.
“Kiss me, Easton Reed.” I lean in closer. So close his breath washes over me with every breath he takes smelling of beer and tobacco.
“I can’t.”
“But you want to.”
“Yes,” he confesses.
“I need you to kiss me, East.” I lean into him. His breath fans over my lips. I can practically taste the beer. “Please,” I whisper the plea against his lips, the scruff of his facial hair scratching me in a the most delicious way.
“If I start, I’ll never stop, and I don’t want this life for you. You’re all that is good and pure. You have a whole life ahead of you. I won’t be the one who holds you back.”
“I’m not asking for forever. All I want is tonight. One night. I want it to be you. I don’t want to go off to college and give myself to some jerk who won’t care about me. You’ll do it right.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I know what I want. I’ve wanted it for two years maybe more.”
“I can’t, sweetheart.”
“Make me yours. Just for tonight. I need it to be you. Fuck me, East. Give me you. All of you. You can pretend I’m someone else if that helps.”
“Wylla Mae, I could never pretend. Not with you. Nothing or no one would ever compare.”
I stand up feeling braver than I ever have as I push the straps of my dress down. East shifts, and I’m sure it’s to get up and drive me home but his hands grip my waist, head falling against my breasts. “You drive me fucking crazy. For two years I’ve tried to rid myself of thoughts of you. Memories of that night. Because I’ve felt like a pure bastard ‘cause what I wanted was to claim you. To make you mine, but that can never happen and we both know why.”
“Is this because of my mother?”
“Partly and I told you, I don’t want this life for you. I won’t be able to give you what you want.”
“All I need is you.”
“For now, maybe you believe that, but you’ve not been out in the world yet. You need to experience life, Wylla Mae. There is so much out there waiting for you.”
“Maybe but all I’ve been waiting for is you, East.” I stroke my fingers through his dark hair and tilt his head up so I can kiss him. I bring my mouth down on his and he hesitates to return my kiss.
“I’m not going to kiss you or ever fuck you,” he swears, though neither of us believe that, because we both want it. He’s going to give in, I sense him wavering, teetering on the edge of heaven and hell.
Shifting to his feet, his arms come around me in a tight embrace, caging me in. “I’ve never wanted anything more than I want you right now, but I care too much about you to take what you’re offering me. I’m a bastard and no good, but I won’t ruin you, Wylla Mae.”
I try to push him away. Tears stinging my cheeks as they fall. He doesn’t mean it. I shake my head. “Stop. We both know we want this. I’m old enough and begging you, East. I want you...I need you.”
His hold on me grows stronger. “No. What you need is to forget all about me. Find a guy your own age. One who can build a life with you. I’ll never be anything more than this.”
“All I am asking for is one night. Nothing more. We’ll never speak of it again. One night to make me feel like a woman.” I push against his shoulders. He lets me go, and I make my way to the door that leads to his balcony. I throw it open and step onto the deck. I need air.
East follows me. The clouds move away from the moon, and I can see him clearly.
Those dark torturous eyes bore into mine wild and depraved. Hungry for what I’m not sure, but East grabs me by the back of the head and angels cry from heaven because his forbidden lips crash down to mine. Hot, needy, and demanding with such force I’ll taste him on my lips forever. Rain pelts against us. Cold and unforgiving. A line has been crossed. I’ve never felt like this before.
Out of control.
Impulsive and free.
Wicked with desire.
Parting my lips, I invite him in.
I welcome him home.
We’re getting soaked but I don’t care. Easton Reed is kissing me.
“Let’s take this back inside.” He pulls me with him onto the couch. Lips on my neck, rough hands on my silky thighs. I can feel him. His hardness. The bugle in his jeans pressing against the crotch of my soaked panties. I rock against him, seeking the friction. We’re getting the couch cushions wet however that is the furthest thing from my mind.
He squeezes my thighs. “Christ, baby.”
He called me baby. I smile, knowing I’ve won. East is giving in. He’s giving me him, even if it’s for tonight and only tonight. Palming my breast, his thumb flicks over the white lace covering my nipple.
“Say it again,” I breathe out against his mouth.
“What?”
“Baby.”
“Gimme’ that mouth, baby.” He closes the distance between us, tongue thrusting hard and deep in my mouth tasting of beer. Warmth flows through my veins and spreads like wildfire in my lower belly. Hands on me, he touches me soft and sweet with those rough fingers up under my dress. Skin on skin. His heavy breath flows into me, tasting of desire. The way East handles me is raw and possessive. I’m on fire, and I’ll gladly burn in hell for this. I’d burn there for forever for this. For him. For Easton Reed to make love to me.
“Take me to your bed, honey,” I demand.
Saying nothing, he secures a hand under my bottom and rises to his feet. My arms around his neck, legs around his waist. “Since I already have a ticket to hell,” he grits, kissing me again, walking toward the bed. He lowers me to my back gently, trailing his fingers down my torso. I can smell him all around me, like rain and leather mixed with beer and tobacco, and it turns me on all the more.
“This thing got a zipper?”
I roll to my stomach, giving him access. His fingers meet their purchase. The sound of the zipper stretching down my back fills the room. I arch my back and flex like a kitten as he drags the dress down my body.
“Jesus,” he mutters. My bra goes next leaving me in my white cotton briefs. East looms over me, firm hands on my hips, full wet lips pressed to my spine and dragging down the path tenderly yet scratching his facial hair over my skin with that tongue tasting every centimeter of my flesh. I rock back sending my ass straight to his crotch and he lets out a growl that forces a shiver through me.
He flips me over to my back and I reach for his shirt. My filthy biker gives me what I want, lifting it over his head. I run my fingers over his muscled chest, knowing the designs inked there by heart. I need no light to trace the curves. I’ve dreamed of this moment so many times and now it’s real. When I go for the button of his jeans, he stops me. “Slow down, Lady.” He kisses my wrist. “If you want this, we do it my way. We have all night.” Weight pressing down on me, his body blankets mine.
Lips fused together we kiss for a long time. Him stroking my sides but not touching me anywhere else. If he doesn’t do something else soon, I may combust.
“East...you’re making me crazy.”
“That’s the idea.” Dipping his head down he captures my nipple between those torturous lips and sucks. My back bows up off the bed. His gaze meets mine, tongue snaking out and swirling over my hardened peak. Repeating the action with the other he continues his torture. I’m soaked between my thighs.
Gripping the sheets, I thrash my legs, pressure is building in my core and he hasn’t even touched me anywhere else yet. East is killing me softly and slowly. Just when I think I can’t take anymore he drags his tongue down the center of my body and kisses my navel as he slides my panties down my thighs.
“You still a virgin, Wylla Mae? Did you save that sweet cherry for me?”
“Yes,” I hiss, and I’m rewarded with his beautiful smile.
East spreads my thighs and settles between them, nose pressed to my most intimate area, inhaling me deeply. Thumb rubbing my clit, his fingers slide through my silken heat. “So wet for me, baby.”
“Mhmm,” I moan, needing him to take me all the way. “Take me, East. I’m yours.”
“Yeah, Lady, you’re all mine.” His mouth caps over me, tongue flattened, licking me from clit to ass. Oh god it’s even better than I ever imagined. I’m floating, drifting in a trance where nothing exists but East and me as he French kisses my pussy.