Page 36

WILLOW

T he word "beg" hangs in the air between us like a challenge I'm not sure I want to accept.

My pride rears its head, the same stubborn streak that's gotten me in trouble my entire life.

I don't beg. I negotiate, I argue, I fight, but I don't beg.

Especially not to Blaise Dalton, who's spent years acting like I'm nothing more than his best friend's annoying little sister whenever we were near each other.

But then his fingers slow to a crawl, barely moving inside me, and my body betrays every principle I've ever held.

"Please," I whisper.

"Please what?" His thumb circles my clit with the lightest possible touch, just enough to make me squirm. "Tell me exactly what you're begging for, kitten."

I want to tell him to go to hell. I want to flip him off and storm out of this room with whatever dignity I have left. Instead, I hear myself saying, "Please don't stop. Please make me come again."

"Better." His fingers resume their rhythm, but still not fast enough. "But I want more than that. I want you to tell me how badly you need it."

"Blaise—"

"Say it, Willow. Say you need me."

The words feel impossible. Too big. Too real. Too close to admitting something I'm not ready to face. But his fingers are moving just enough to keep me on edge, not enough to push me over, and I'm rapidly losing the ability to think about anything except the orgasm I’m desperate to have.

As if I didn’t just have one less than an hour ago.

"I need you," I gasp. "I need you so badly it's making me—-" I stop talking because I’ve lost the ability to describe this feeling.

The desperation in my voice breaks something in him. I see the exact moment his careful control crashes and burns. His eyes go dark, pupils blown wide, and suddenly his fingers are moving as if this is his only purpose.

"Fuck, when you sound like that..." He leans down to capture my mouth in a kiss. "I can't hold back anymore."

His free hand tangles in my hair, tilting my head back so he can trail his lips down my throat. Every touch feels electric and when his mouth finds my nipple, my eyes slam shut and I nearly launch off the bed.

"That's it, baby," he murmurs against my breast. "Let me hear you."

His fingers work faster now, hitting my G-spot and I swear I’m starting to see galaxies form behind my eyelids. I'm so close I can taste it.

“Look at me, kitten.”

The nickname makes my eyes snap open to meet his gaze. There's something raw and vulnerable in his expression that takes my breath away. He's watching me like I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever seen, like he can't quite believe this is real.

"There you are," he whispers, his thumb pressing firmly against my clit. "I want to see your face when you fall apart for me."

The combination of his words, his touch, and the intensity in his eyes sends me falling over the edge. My orgasm crashes through me and I’m left wondering how it’s stronger than the first time.

When I finally come back to myself, he's pressing soft kisses to my collarbone while his hand gently strokes my thigh.

"Holy shit.” My voice is slightly hoarse. “What was that?”

He lifts his head to look at me, a satisfied smirk on his lips. "Good?"

"Stop fishing for compliments," I say, but I'm smiling as I pull him up for a kiss. "You know exactly how good that was."

He chuckles against my mouth. "Maybe I just like hearing you say it."

"Praise kink," I remind him, and he groans.

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Not a chance. But I like it. A lot." I trace my fingers down his chest, following the line of hair that disappears beneath his boxers. "Now can I touch you? Please?"

"Wait. Before we...we should probably talk about a few things."

I pause, studying his face. The responsible side of Blaise is reasserting itself, and while part of me appreciates it, another part wants to tell that side to shut up and let us have this moment.

"Okay," I say carefully. "What kinds of things?"

He sits back slightly, running a hand through his hair. "The practical stuff. Are you...I mean, when was your last test?"

"My last—oh." Heat creeps up my neck. "I got tested three months ago. Clean bill of health. You?"

"Same. I get tested regularly, and it's been a while since..." he trails off, looking embarrassed.

"Since what?"

"Since I've been with anyone," he admits quietly. "Like, a long while."

This surprises me. "Really? But you're you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I cringe at what I said. “I didn’t mean that. I shouldn’t have said that. People don’t have sex for all kinds of reasons. I mean you're hot and charming when you want to be. I just assumed…”

"That I was sleeping around?" He shakes his head. "I've been too focused on school and hockey. And honestly, after what happened between us before, I couldn't stop thinking about you. Made it hard to want anyone else."

The admission makes my heart skip, but before I can process it fully, he's leaning down to kiss me again. This time it's softer, more tender, and when he pulls back his eyes are searching mine.

I speak before he has a chance to. “I’ve been on the pill for years."

"Good. That's...that's good." His hand slides higher, cupping my breast. "But I'm still going to wear a condom."

The fact that he's being so responsible while his thumb is circling my nipple makes me want him even more. "Such a good boy," I whisper and watch his pupils dilate.

"Willow.”

The warning in his voice is apparent, but I don’t care. "What? You are. So careful, so thoughtful. And you’re taking such good care of me."

"You're going to kill me with that mouth."

"Then let me kill you properly," I say, reaching for the waistband of his boxers again.

This time he doesn't stop me. I slowly pull the fabric down and free him completely. Holy shit. Maybe if I’d known he was this well-endowed before, I might have prepared myself mentally.

He's thick and long, and the sight of him fully aroused makes my mouth go dry.

I wrap my hand around him and when he groans at my touch, I swear it shoots straight to my pussy again.

"Fuck, kitten," he says, "Your hands..."

"Good?" I ask, using his own words against him as I continue stroking.

"So good," he confirms, his head falling back. "But if you keep doing that, this is going to be over before it starts."

I reluctantly let go, but not before pressing a kiss to his chest. "We can't have that."

He reaches over to the nightstand and quickly finds what he’s looking for: a condom. For someone who hasn’t had sex in a while, it’s interesting that he has condoms ready to go, but once again, he’s prepared.

"Let me," I say, taking the packet from him.

He stares at me as I tear it open and slowly roll it down his length. The simple act feels intimate in a way I wasn't expecting, and when I'm done, he cups my face in his hands.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks quietly. "Because once we do this, there's no going back."

I know what he means. This changes everything between us. Our history, our future, whatever fragile peace we've managed to maintain recently. But looking at him now, I realize I don't want to go back.

"I'm sure," I whisper. "Are you?"

Instead of answering with words, he kisses me deeply, pouring all his want and need into it. When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine.

"I've wanted this for so long," he admits. "Wanted you for so long."

"Then have me," I say as if this is a normal, everyday decision.

He positions himself between my thighs and within seconds, I feel the head of his cock pressing against my entrance. We both hold our breath as he slowly pushes inside, inch by inch. The stretch is intense, bordering on overwhelming, but Blaise is taking his time.

"Okay?" he asks.

"More than okay," I manage. "You can move."

He starts slowly, letting me adjust to his size, which I’m so thankful for. He's bigger than I expected, stretching me in ways that make me make sounds I’ve never heard come out of my mouth. Every nerve ending feels like it’s on fire, and I can't decide if I want him to go slower or faster.

“Just a little bit more, baby.”

It takes me a few seconds to realize what he’s referring to. He's not fully inside me yet. The realization makes my eyes widen because I already feel so full and there's more? My hands grip his shoulders as he continues his slow advance, every inch making me gasp.

"Breathe for me," he murmurs, pressing soft kisses to my jaw. "Just breathe, kitten."

I follow his instruction, forcing myself to breathe deeply as he finally ends up completely inside me. The fullness is overwhelming in the best possible way, and for a moment we both go still. Given how his arms are trembling, I can see that it is taking everything in him not to move yet.

He lets out a shaky breath and says, "You feel incredible. So tight, so perfect." His hands grip my hips again and then he says, “Give me a second or this is going to be embarrassing."

I love that I have this effect on him. I shift slightly beneath him and his grip tightens.

"Willow.”

"What? I'm just getting comfortable." I shift again, deliberately this time, and watch his jaw clench.

"This is the way you want to do it? Fine.”

Before I can process what he means, he pulls out almost completely and thrusts back in, hard. The sudden movement makes me cry out, my back arching off the bed.

"You want to tease me? Then I'm going to fuck you until you can't think straight."

His words send heat racing through my veins. This is a side of Blaise I've never seen before and I love it even though I’ll probably never admit it out loud.

"Yes," I gasp as he leans forward, allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist. "Hell, yes."

"Look at you, taking my cock so perfectly," he growls against my ear. "Like you were made for me. Such a good girl, letting me stretch this tight little pussy."

My toes literally curl at his words. I claw at his back and my nails dig in just enough to make him hiss against my neck. I wrap my legs tighter around him in an effort to bring him closer because of that perfect angle he just found.

“Fuck, baby,” he groans, grinding deeper into me like he’s trying to live inside my skin. “You keep doing that and I’m not gonna last.”

“That sounds like a you problem,” I pant, even as my voice wavers on the edge of another moan.

His laugh is dark and low, and it vibrates straight through me. “Then I guess I’ll make it your problem too.”

He shifts his weight slightly, changing the angle, and holy hell. There it is. Whatever spot he just found, it makes my whole body clench like a vice. My head tips back and a cry slips from my lips.

“Right there,” I gasp. “If you stop, I’ll never talk to you again.”

"Never talk to me again?" He drives into that spot again. "That's a hell of a threat."

I can barely form words as he keeps hitting exactly where I need him. "I mean it."

"No you don't." His mouth finds my neck, teeth grazing my neck. "You'd miss this too much."

He's not wrong, but I'm not about to admit it. Not when he's being so smug about reducing me to a hot mess beneath him. Instead, I dig my nails deeper into his shoulders, earning another sharp intake of breath.

"Cocky bastard," I manage between gasps.

"You love it." He punctuates the words with another perfect thrust that has me seeing stars. "Love how I make you feel. Love how I know exactly what you need."

The worst part is he's absolutely right. Every movement, every touch, every filthy word from his mouth is exactly what I didn't know I was craving. Like he's been studying me, learning me, preparing for this moment.

"Blaise," I whisper his name like a prayer, and something in his expression shifts.

"I know, baby. I know." His pace becomes more urgent, less controlled. "You're so close, aren't you? I can feel it."

I am. The tension is building low in my belly, spreading outward like wildfire. My hands slide up to grab his hair. I pull him down for a kiss of pure desperation.

"Come for me," he says against my lips. "Let me feel you fall apart around my cock."

The combination of his words and one final, perfect thrust sends me tumbling over the edge. My orgasm crashes through me with an intensity that makes my vision blur, and I cry out his name as my body clenches around him.

"Fuck, Willow," he groans as his rhythm falters. "You're so…I can't?—"

His release follows quickly after mine and is punctuated with the most animalistic groan I’ve ever heard. For a moment, we're both completely still besides how hard we are breathing.

When he finally lifts his head to look at me, there's something almost shy in his expression. Like he can't quite believe what just happened between us. I feel the same way.

“You okay?” he asks with a raspy voice.

“Yeah.” I nod, still breathless. “Better than okay.”

He slowly slides out of me and I laugh at the expression on his face.

“Sensitive?”

He nods just before he helps me shift onto the bed properly, tucking the sheet around me and brushing damp hair from my face with surprising tenderness. His fingers linger, stroking along my cheekbone like he can’t quite believe I’m real.

“I’m going to toss this out and get a washcloth to clean you up and then we can go to sleep.”

I rise up slightly so I’m leaning on my elbows. “Are you sure? What about Tyler?”

He shrugs. “I’ll put a sock on the door or something.”

I laugh, but he does reach over to grab his phone so I assume he’s texting Tyler to let him know he might not want to come back tonight.

When he walks into the bathroom, I lay down on my back again and sigh.

I’m sure there’s plenty we need to talk about but I’m ready to just enjoy this small little bubble we are in for a while longer.

Of course I was just lying to myself because I hear my text message ringtone begin to play. I lean over and quickly find that at some point I put my purse on the nightstand so it takes me no time to get my phone. It’s probably just Madison or Ari checking on me.

That is also a lie.

Knox: Hey, call me when you have a chance.