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—Simone—
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I felt sick. Torn. Giddy. Consumed by the butterflies that hadn’t left my stomach since Banks’s declaration.
He didn’t mention the L word again, nor did he try to broach the subject during the hike out. Faked or genuine, he remained composed and easy-going, plus a little flirtatious as per normal.
Me, however... I fluctuated between guilt and infatuation. My mind raced and glitched as if it couldn’t comprehend how the day had panned out far beyond how I expected. Despite the whirlwind, my innermost soul held a great sense of stillness; it believed everything would be okay even if my head was skeptical.
I internally squeed multiple times during the bike ride down the hill to my house, then out loud when Banks careened into my street.
“Too fast!” I screamed, holding onto his shoulders for dear life.
We bumped into my driveway and came to a screeching halt right before colliding with my car.
“That was too fucking fast!” I exclaimed, jumping off the back foot-pegs.
“It’s how I roll, baby,” Banks drawled, throwing a leg over, then lowering his BMX to the ground. “There’s something to be said for riding so fast it scares the living shit out of you.”
Laughter got the better of me. “I prefer a more sedate pace, thanks. Especially when I’m on the back of that thing.”
Banks checked his watch. “Well, I got you back in time for work. And with time to spare.” Pride oozed from him as he rocked forward on the balls of his feet and grinned. “You’re welcome.”
“You’re a psychopath!”
My laughter cooled as he walked me to the front door. Once there, I looked up at him and nervously twisted my fingers. “Thank you for today. I’ll uh... see you around?”
Banks snagged my wrist. “You will, but not tomorrow; it’s Hilary’s funeral.”
“Ah.” My mouth pulled into a downward arch. I hadn’t met Hilary, but the sorrow in Banks’s eyes hit me square in the chest. She obviously meant a lot to him too. I hated seeing him upset, and I realized that I wanted to do something to remedy it.
Taking another chance, I stepped close and wove my arms under his, hugging his torso and splaying my hands wide on his back. His heartbeat kicked under my ear and his body tensed as he leaned down to kiss the top of my head. My eyes fluttered closed, relishing the close contact. The warmth. The intimacy that I’d missed for so long but now found myself craving.
His arms tightened around me. “I don’t want to let you go,” he mumbled, the reverb low under my ear.
I squeezed my eyes closed harder, not wanting to lose our connection yet either.
We stayed hugging and gently swaying until I grew dozy. I could quite happily fall asleep wrapped in Banks’s strong embrace.
A quiet chuckle cut through my sleepy haze. “You’re getting heavy, babe,” he snickered. “Not going to sleep on me, are you?”
“Just comfy,” I mumbled back.
Another chuckle rumbled beneath my ear. “Can’t have you getting too comfy; you need to work later.”
I groaned and reluctantly collected my own body weight. The instant I looked up, Banks’s lips were on mine. Nothing but a quick brush at first, then coaxing mine to move with a gentle question. An unchecked hum left my mouth as I angled and welcomed the deepening of our kiss.
Teasing and delving, Banks’s tongue lashed mine. The magnetism pulled me onto my tippy-toes where I kissed him with heightening fervor.
Time slowed as we lost ourselves in each other, and when Banks’s lips left mine for the final time, we were left equally breathless.
“I should get going,” I puffed.
His forehead rested against mine and he smiled. “I’ll see you later, new girl.”
A giggle slid free. “You might.”
“I most definitely will.” Banks sealed his declaration with a chaste kiss, then smoothed his hands down my upper arms as he stepped away.
With one last gorgeous grin, he adjusted his cap, then jogged down the front steps. I couldn’t help but smile secretly to myself; I’d definitely become smitten with him.
He reached his BMX, picked it up, then looked back at me gently biting my bottom lip. There was a pause where he stared for a second, then threw down his bike.
“Fuck it,” he hissed and power-walked in my direction.
He cleared the porch steps in a single bound, then had my face between his warm palms, kissing the life out of me again.
Desire ignited on impact and seared throughout my body. My breasts hurt from the crush of our chests while the heavy ache returned to my core. It compounded with every hungered swipe of Banks’s tongue imploring mine. Hum after needy hum caught in his chest, drawing my own from low in my throat.
Breathless with urgency, our hands roamed and explored. My pulse skipped and spiked, then again when he boosted me into his arms without warning.
With my feet hooked at his lower back, Banks caged me against the cottage weatherboards.
Each of his panted breaths washed over my face as he pressed his forehead to mine. “Tell me you need me to leave.”
His hips jutted into mine, making the words slowly filtering onto my tongue completely disappear and be replaced with a breathy inhale.
A frustrated growl rolled up his throat. “Babe, please. I need you to tell me to leave for both our sakes.”
“Just once more,” I whispered against his mouth.
“Once more of what?”
“Of us...” Wanton with need, I initiated another kiss, and when he eventually pulled away, his dazzling hazel eyes burned into mine.
“Like we did at the falls?” he murmured.
I nodded with dizzying anticipation. “Except I want you to touch me.”
Banks’s head fell back with an agonizing groan. “You’re fucking killing me, new girl!”
Gently suctioning my lips onto his neck silenced all the other weak protests. “Please, Banks.”
Firm fingers flexed against my ass and pulled me harder into his growing erection. “Are you sure?”
I rocked my hips suggestively. “I am. Are you?”
He groaned again. “I am now. Gimme your keys before I make you come for all the neighborhood to see.”
I dug my shaking fingers into my shorts pocket and fumbled for the key. As soon as I had it in hand, Banks snatched it away and forcefully shoved it into the lock. I bucked my hips against his erection again and damn his gritty groan became music to my ears.
The door burst open with a loud bang against the wall as we stumbled in.
“Where?” Banks hissed, breathless and urgent while blindly flicking the door closed.
“Anywhere but my bedroom.”
“Living room it is. Sorry old Ms. Alden, your couch is about to be corrupted.”
I giggled and braced as Banks lowered himself to the couch, sitting with me straddling his lap.
He looked up at me with lust-darkened irises. “Gonna ride me again, sweetheart?”
Coaxed by his hands, I began to rock my pelvis. “Yeah,” I whispered. “I wanna ride your fingers too. Let me shut the curtains.”
I dragged myself off his lap, much to Banks’s protest, and closed the curtains. As soon as they blocked out the neighboring cottage, Banks’s chest hit my back and his hard dick dug into my lower back.
“Hmm, fuck you drive me crazy,” he growled against my ear.
I tipped my head back and welcomed his hands exploring my curves. From my neck to breasts, then stomach, each inch they dropped poured gasoline on my arousal.
“I can't wait to dip my fingers into you,” he murmured, teasing my core through my shorts.
A needy cry tumbled from my mouth each time his fingers delicately brushed the length of my slit. Panting and bucking to seek more pleasure, I arched back and linked my hands behind his head, giving him free reign of my body.
“So the question is: one finger...” he murmured, running one along the length of my core, “...or two?” came his gritty voice as a second traced across my needy clit.
It zinged with arousal and my hips bucked with impatience. I shifted my feet wider apart, spreading my pussy lips within my shorts, waiting for his intrusion.
“Two,” I replied.
“That’s my girl,” Banks whispered against my ear.
With one hand secured on my hip, the other dipped under my waistband. I gasped, then moaned when his bare fingertips finally slid through my arousal.
“Oh fuck,” I breathed out, jutting my pelvis farther forward.
Banks’s hoarse voice broke. “Fuck, you’re wet.”
Two fingers circled my opening, then pressed into me with one smooth, assertive movement. My hips rocked to their own rhythm, eager and unapologetically riding his hand.
“You like that, babe?”
I smiled and snickered a little. “Yes. Keep going.”
“Christ, you’re tight.”
“It feels good.”
Banks pumped his fingers, emphasizing my wetness. “It sounds good too.”
He withdrew his hand and sucked my arousal from his fingers. Instead of returning them to where I needed them the most, he plucked at my shirt.
“This has to go. I need to see more of you.”
Lifting my arms, I gave him wordless permission to strip my top and bra, then glanced over my shoulder. “Shorts too?”
“Fuck yes, shorts too. And panties.”
He lowered to his knees while his hands drifted down my legs, taking my clothing with them. Roughened hands palmed my ass.
“Fuck, this view... I want to fuck you so bad right now. Bend over.”
I panicked a little. “Banks—”
His attention cut from my ass to my eyes. “Fingers only. I won’t enter you any other way without your permission.”
The truth in his expression had me complying. I lowered to my hands and knees, opening them wide and exposing my most private parts, then gasped when Banks blew across my heated core.
He shifted slightly to my side and his voice shook as he slid multiple fingers up and down my slit. “Goddamn, babe. So wet.”
Welcoming his intrusion again, I arched, inviting his fingers deeper inside me, already rocking in time to each thrust. Murmured praise and curses heightened the rush of hands upon my body after so, so long.
My toes scrunched as sensations built and my breath became labored. I dropped to my elbows, shamelessly giving Banks a full view of my behind and was rewarded with an ass-cheek massage and more praise.
“That’s it, baby. Fuck, that’s hot. You like my fingers inside you, don’t you?”
“Uh huh.”
He shifted angles a little and my jaw fell slack. “Oh god, right there. Keep going,” I moaned.
“I can’t wait to see you come on my hand. I’m starving for a taste. Fucking starving,” he growled harshly. “And this ass...” Another low rumble of approval accompanied his roughened squeeze on my ass cheek again.
I dropped lower, feeling my breasts brush the old, worn carpet. My knees widened greedily, and my back arched so hard my spine screamed in pain.
“Oh god,” tumbled from my lips, chanting on repeat and mixing with Banks’s demanded, “That’s it, babe. That’s iiiit. Come for me.”
“I can’t—”
“You can!”
Panting and groaning, I gritted my teeth and internally begged for my orgasm to hurry up and ignite. And when it did... it speared through me, starting within the sensitive walls Banks so expertly stroked and ricocheted outward in wave after blinding wave of pleasure.
It left me seeing stars and struggling to catch my breath, and while I scrambled to recover, the muffled sounds of clothing being removed came from behind me.
Without warning, Banks’s hands landed on my ass and spread me impossibly wider. I gasped when his hot tongue met my sensitive flesh and laved at my pussy.
“Fuck, you taste good,” he hissed before devouring more of my arousal.
I stayed still, absorbing every sensation and storing it away in my memories. Having had his fill, he withdrew from between my legs but halted me moving with a firm palm pressed to the middle of my back.
“Stay still,” he commanded, voice deep with grit. “I want to come on you.”
My pulse kicked, then spluttered when I looked back to see his hand working up and down his long shaft in a punishing rhythm. The sight of Banks so openly pleasuring himself left me shocked. Never had I seen a man so free to express himself. Whether it was pleasure or pain, Banks didn’t hold back or try to hide what it did to him. Reagan had shown me what it was like to succumb to my pleasure, but never like that.
Lust-darkened eyes flicked up from my intimate flesh, and a wicked smirk spread across his face. “You ruin me, Simone. You have no idea how badly I want to fuck you. And this sight...” His attention dropped to my core again and a low hum tangled in his chest. “...has got me starving.”
His movements turned wild and reckless. His hand worked faster, harder, until he thrust his hips forward and arched his shoulders back.
“Oh fuck,” he groaned, squeezing his eyes shut before his entire body shuddered violently.
Warm jets of cum landed on my body. They marked from my forbidden hole to my slit and cooled within seconds of impact.
“Jesus H. Christ, I almost passed out,” Banks panted.
I giggled and lowered my ass. “Uh... sorry?”
He let out a roughened chuckle and sat back on his haunches. “That’s one apology from you I won’t ever accept. You’re welcome to make me pass out from coming any damn time you want.”
An unladylike snort left my nose as I tugged on my underwear. “Could get dangerous.”
“Worth it.” He rose to his feet and stumbled a little. “I’ll wait while you use the bathroom, then use it after.”
My eyes skipped down his bare, chiseled physique. “You’re sure? You’re the one still naked.”
He snickered. “Nothing like giving old Ms. Alden’s ghost a little somethin’ extra to look at, right?”
I shuddered and crossed the room. “Don’t mention ghosts, it creeps me out when I live by myself. And she’s probably rolling in her grave after what we did on her living room floor.”
Banks let out a hearty chuckle. “I can hear her from here...” His tone pitched an octave, “Banks Gatlin, would you touch your momma with those dirty hands?”
I burst out a laugh. “Oh my god, stop! That’s so wrong!”
His crowing laughter followed me down the hallway as I made my escape to the bathroom. I shut the door and, despite still smiling, I let out a shaky breath. My reflection in the mirror revealed rosy cheeks, wide eyes, and a wild mess of hair. The old me. Even the secret smile on my lips reminded me of my former self.
Cool stickiness between my butt cheeks had my top lip curling. It wasn’t a feeling I was fond of after the sex-crazed high eased. Intending to be super quick, I flicked on the shower, undressed, and bundled my hair on top of my head while waiting for it to heat.
After having the fastest woman shower on record, I emerged wrapped in a towel and called out, “All done.”
Banks strode out of the kitchen—redressed—as if he belonged here with me in the tiny cottage. “All fresh?”
“Sorry it took a little longer. I figured I’d shower since I have to work soon.” I grimaced.
“No harm at all, babe. Let me use the bathroom then I’ll drop you there if you’d like?”
I paused at the threshold of my bedroom. “You don’t have to do that.”
He smiled warmly. “I want to.”
“Um, okay.” I smiled, then sealed myself in my room while Banks used the bathroom across the hallway. The dressing process took as long as the shower thanks to forcing skinny jeans up my shower-dampened legs. The bra and work shirt were effortless, as were the socks and shoes, and swipe of mascara.
When I met Banks in the living room, he looked me over and chuckled. “What was with all the growling?”
Heat hit my cheeks. “Skinny jeans are the worst to get on after a shower.”
He stood, towering above me as he entered my space. “You’re adorable.”
“I’m really not.”
“You are. Ready? I’ll take you to the pub.”
I worried my lower lip with my teeth. “Slow?”
He chuckled and gestured for me to lead the way. “Of course.”
After locking the cottage, we walked to his BMX in unison. He picked it up off the ground and swung a leg over, then smiled back at me. Still without a word, I set my hands on his shoulders and climbed aboard behind him.
“You realize that the week I promised you is up, right?” I said as I got balanced.
He hummed. “It doesn’t have to be.”
A pang cut through my chest. “For the moment it does. I need to take this slow, whatever this is.”
He nodded, then reached back to give my hand on his shoulder a quick squeeze. “I have to admit, ‘this’ still feels real damn good.”
I didn’t admit it aloud, but inwardly I wholeheartedly agreed.
Banks biked me right to the front door of the Lakeside Pint and steadied the BMX as I dismounted. He snagged my shirt before I got away and gave it a little tug.
Without request, my mouth found his and welcomed the unhurried dance of his tongue against mine. Heat flushed across my cheeks until I pulled away out of fear of someone seeing us making out.
“No one saw, new girl,” Banks drawled. “Though if they did, they’d know you’re mine.”
“Well, I’m technically not yours,” I countered.
He smirked and set a foot on the pedal. “Not officially... yet.”
Leaving me stunned from both the kiss and declaration, he pushed off and biked across the parking lot without looking back.
Damn Banks Gatlin for pitching a tiny tent in my heart, then declaring it his home. And to be honest, I kind of liked having him there.
