Page 21 of Fortune’s Control (Fortune’s Creek #1)

“Do they know we’re up here?” Lilah’s cat-like stretch pulled her further over my chest as heavy footsteps echoed through the walls. “I think they’re stomping around on purpose.” A blender started up. “Margaritas.”

Emma and Sophie hit it off after meeting, due to their mutual connections and shared sense of humor, which they liberally applied to my friends. “If they do, we won’t be bothered. Come here.” I crooked my finger, beckoning her closer.

“There’s nowhere to go without crawling inside you.”

“That’s kind of the point.”

We ended up stripped down to our underwear and on my bed, content to be close, with no demands or expectations.

“Shane, where is Fortune’s Creek?”

I shook my head, half-convinced I’d misheard. “What?”

“Is it real? I mean, does it exist, or is it a metaphorical place? Come here and find your fortune.”

I moved to sit up against the bed frame. “The town’s origin, including all fortune-seeking myths, is a question for my sister. But yes, it’s real. You want to see it?”

“Absolutely.”

“Right after we take gator fighting lessons.”

I closed my eyes and waited for her inevitable reaction.

“What?” she squawked.

“You need to protect yourself.”

“You’re joking. I don’t believe you.” Lilah put a leg over my hips, straddling me, and looped her arms around my neck. She crooked her neck to study me. “Why didn’t you tell me about your baseball game?”

“Baseball?” My features scrunched up, confused. What did my high school curriculum have to do with anything? “I’m not…. Aiden. Either him or Jack. Either way, I’ll wring both their necks to be certain. They’re probably in cahoots.”

“Cahoots?” Lilah’s voice changed, lowering into a deep, off-key tone reminiscent of an old film. “Hey, chief. We got ourselves a crime caper, you hear? We’re going to bust this thing wide open.” My jaw dropped as her cheeks reddened. “I think it’s best if we pretend that didn’t happen.”

My lips moved from a smile to a flat-out grin as my chest shook with laughter. “That was impressive, and I can’t pretend. The bell can’t be unrung, Lilah.”

“If you can take that, this is an excellent time to say I enjoy filling out tax forms. That’s not a joke.”

“Are you human?”

“I think so.”

“There’s the occasional semi-friendly baseball game against nearby towns. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.” I finally answered her question. If my friends did sign me up, I’d appreciate at least one fan in the bleachers.

“Please do. I want to take part in the wave.” She motioned with both hands.

My head fell back, hitting the headboard behind me with a dull thunk. I tightened my grip on her waist, letting myself enjoy her soft skin and the soft traces of lemon that followed her everywhere.

A faint emotion struck me after we first met. It grew stronger as the days passed, and she entered my life. My withdrawal ended without my noticing, as something else replaced it. Lilah brought joy back into my life.

My hands drifted up her sides and back until they found where her bra strap closed. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, as mine did the same.

Lilah rocked her hips against mine, causing my already hard cock to swell even further.

I ground against her and smiled at her breathy pants.

Lilah put a hand on my chest, steadying herself, as I undid the bra clasp.

The straps fell down her arms as she wriggled out of them before tossing the garment aside.

My breath hitched. “You’re stunning.” Her arm fluttered to cover herself, so I settled it back on my chest. “Are you nervous?”

“Shane, have you looked at yourself?”

Her innocent question brought out my protectiveness more than it could ever stroke my ego. More than a year of discomfort with my body, of trying to understand its strange new fit, and Lilah stared down at me with a worshipful expression.

“I’d ask the same of you. Don’t be nervous, not with me.

” I held her breasts, enjoying their heavy weight in my palms. Lilah’s nipples hardened, causing the dark brown skin around them to pucker.

I licked my lips before doing the same to each of her nipples, leaving a wet sheen behind.

“You’ve worn that dark green bikini in front of me several times now.

I imagined myself pulling the front down or the top slipping off while you swam. ”

“Now, that would be embarrassing.” Her head tilted to the side as she watched me fondle and stroke. All the earlier nervousness had disappeared.

“Embarrassing for you and wonderful for me. You’d emerge from the pool, water dripping down your cheeks to your neck.

” My fingers slid under her chin and lower to the top slope of her breasts.

“For me.” I replaced my fingers with my tongue, licking my way to her nipple before taking it into my mouth.

Lilah’s head fell back as her body quivered. Her hips rocked, and I lost it.

“Take these off.” I peeled the back of her panties and sucked in a breath before using my prosthesis as leverage to flip us over. “Lie down and spread your legs. Show me what’s mine.”

Her mouth fell open, but Lilah did as told. “You as well.” She pulled at my boxer briefs’ elastic edge before letting go, so they snapped back in place .

I forced myself to relax even as my stomach twisted. “After I’m done with you.” I explored her body with my hands and mouth, licking up the pink slit and taking her sweet juice with me. Her body quivered and shook as I wrapped an arm around one thigh in a failed effort to keep her still.

Lilah yanked my hair, so I moved up her body and wiped my mouth. “Do you know how many times I’ve imagined my tongue on your pussy?”

Her eyes widened. “I might.” She craned her neck to kiss me.

Our lips met as one of her legs wrapped around my hips.

My left leg hung, as I became conscious of its heavy weight. The lightning and aches disappeared, as if Lilah’s pleasure trickled in to take it all away.

We kissed, slow and sweet, neither of us in a hurry, content to explore and indulge. My lips swelled as her red ones rubbed against mine. Her fingers traced down my spine to explore the slickness on my back.

“Shane.” She kissed me, repeating my name through our joined lips.

I knew what she wanted and pulled up while keeping our chests pressed against each other. “Are you sure?”

Her brows squished up. “Are you?”

My cock hardened every time she entered the room. “From the beginning.”

“Me too.”

Confession time. “It’s been a long time for me, over a year.”

“I’m on the pill, Shane, and I get checked by the doctor.”

As did I, but that wasn’t the point. I forced strength into my voice. “Since before I lost my leg.”

“But.. look at you? Frankly, I’m jealous of these women who don’t exist.”

I appreciated her attempted levity as my nerves relaxed.

We could figure this out. “Not even a handshake, and I want a hell of a lot more than that.” I stroked her stomach before my thumb landed on a nipple.

“I plan to leave you worn out and sore in the morning. If that will be a problem, tell me now.”

Lilah stared up at me with a deepening flush and dark eyes. “It’s your turn.” She pulled at my briefs again.

I sucked in a deep breath and sat up so my left leg rested between us and deliberated. I took off my prosthesis and the sock first, before finishing with my last piece of clothing. Lilah stayed silent, other than loud panting. Arousal. My heart skipped at her reaction.

We moved one last time, with me over her. I entered her, going slow, allowing my body to experiment and learn, before temptation took hold and I shoved, settling into her sweet pussy. Her breath hitched. “Did that hurt?”

“Not all pain is painful.”

My brows lifted with amusement and confusion mixed.

I moved, enjoying the wet sounds of our bodies as my hips found their instinctive rhythm. I used my right leg as a lever as her legs spread to take from my body.

We moaned together until I yelled and exploded inside of her.

I fell on her and fought for breath as the roaring in my ears quieted.

*****

“Do you want some water?” I stood and reached for my crutches without waiting for an answer.

“Shane, I can get-”

“No.” Our night wasn’t over yet, and I intended to keep my word. She’d be sore in the morning. A glass of water wasn’t unreasonable. I swiped a glass from the bathroom countertop, filled it, and returned.

Lilah took a few sips and passed it back. “You as well. We can share.”

I swallowed the rest without argument and lay back down, sated for now, but not for long. “You enjoy taxes? That wasn’t a joke?”

She put a hand to her mouth, pretending to convey a secret. “As an accountant, I swore an oath to enjoy all types of government forms.”

“Well, that’s bullshit.”

“Think of your artistry with my Pirate ship. It’s not that different.” She laughed at my glare, turning sober. “Thank you for sharing what you did tonight. My guess is that I’m the first one to hear a lot of it, and I promise to keep it between us. I promise to listen rather than run away.”

It took the same courage that Lilah had to share her family troubles. The only difference was that she had a reason to do so first. Her mother was a problem for another day. “You can ask more. It doesn’t bother me.”

Lilah put a hand on my left knee, and I moved it lower. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“It’s scar tissue. You won’t.”

“Shane, we should talk about our marriage. We did everything out of order, and it’s important we talk about this, don’t you think?”

I did not. My intent was clear, and the decision made. “The order doesn’t matter, does it? We’re here, and there’s plenty of time. Concentrate on this. Us. We aren’t obligated to keep to our original choices, Lilah.”

She looked down at the bed and twisted the pillow cover. “We see what happens and decide later.”

“Something like that. For tonight, we’re not done yet.”