Page 19

19

T alia was getting too used to having Zip around in the evenings. She wasn’t back at work yet, but she would have to go back soon. Her bills wouldn’t pay themselves, and she needed money.

It sucked that she did all that work as a teen and never got paid a dime. Since she was the one who earned the money to buy her sister’s bar, she should own part of it, but she feared telling authorities about her past. They didn’t like people who did porn, even if it had been forced on them.

Besides, her sister had threatened arrest if the cops ever found out. It seemed silly now, but when she could have sued her sister, she’d been too afraid. Now, she was sure whatever limitations on time would have passed.

“Hey, Talia, I’m home,” Zip called out as he entered the house. She liked that he called out when he came in. It made her feel safe.

She stepped out of the bedroom and froze. He had a bruise on the side of his face. “What happened?”

“Nothing much. We were doing training and I ended up getting hit. I’m okay.”

“Hit by what?”

“Just some stuff. Nothing big. It happens.”

She moved to him and lifted her hand but didn’t touch his face. “It looks bad.”

“I know. But it’s not awful. I’ll be fine.”

“You look worse than I did.”

He rolled his eyes, then looped his arm around her and pulled her close. “It’s not a competition. I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Just need to take it easy for a few days.”

“Caroline called today.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I was surprised she could get my number so easily. She asked if we were free on Saturday. I said yes since I won’t be back at work yet.”

“Good. I think you’ll enjoy getting together with them.”

“I’m sure I will. I also made us dinner. Nothing fancy, just some stew.”

“Nice. I’ll be out in a few. I just want to change.”

“Sure. And I think you should take it easy tonight.”

“We both can. How about we find a movie and stretch out on the couch?”

“That sounds nice.”

“Good. I’ll change clothes, and then we can eat and watch a movie.”

Talia checked on the stew and decided it was done. She unplugged the slow cooker and grabbed two bowls. She was about to serve dinner when Zip came back into the room. He looked amazing in his blue t-shirt and sweats. She couldn’t help but stare. It was difficult being around someone as good looking as Zip and not watch his every move.

She knew whatever they had wouldn’t last. He was nice for now, but after a few more run-ins with over-enthusiastic men, he would tire of the hassle. She might as well enjoy being with Zip while she had the chance.

On Saturday, they headed to Wolf and Caroline’s place. She was disappointed she and Zip hadn’t had sex, but both of them were still banged up. She worried about him and what had happened. One morning, when she’d been heading to the bathroom, she’d glanced into his room and saw his side, which looked fairly heavily bruised. She hoped he was okay. If she knew him better, she would know if it was safe to question him about it. He hadn’t divulged anything to her, so she kept the questions to herself.

Caroline had invited a few other people over, and they were outside on their patio. The weather was perfect, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood.

“Talia, this is Remi and Kevlar.”

She shook Kevlar’s hand first, then Remi’s. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”

“And this is Safe and Wren.”

She turned to them and smiled, shaking their hands. “It’s good to meet you, too.”

Neither Remi nor Wren asked about her fading bruises. She was surprised that all the women were so nice and open. She’d never experienced much female bonding, so them talking to her and including her in their conversations seemed like prime bonding to her. They were all talking about a sale on shorts they’d found out about the day before.

“Talia, do you like to shop?” Caroline asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t have much time, and I clean offices after hours for a living, so I don’t really have time to wear anything cute.”

Remi snorted. “When I’m working, I just wear whatever I have on, which is usually a t-shirt and sweats.”

Wren chuckled. “If the clothes are priced well, I like them better.”

Caroline nodded. “I do love a bargain.”

“Oh no, more bargains,” Safe said as he pulled Wren up and kissed the side of her cheek. “Tell me where, and I’ll go buy it for you.”

Talia liked how the guys were teasing and having fun with their women, but the teasing wasn’t mean. They got along, which impressed her. She wondered if it would ever be as easy with her and Zip.

Later, after they’d eaten, she stepped out of the bathroom and ran right into Zip. She might have let out a small yelp, but it was overshadowed by Zip’s grunt. She narrowed her gaze, taking him in. “You’re more injured than you told me.” He opened his mouth, but she held up one finger and shook her head. “Do not lie to me.”

“I’m fine, or I will be. I’m taking it easy for a few days.”

“What happened?”

He shrugged and her frown deepened. He let go a heavy breath and shook his head. “We were doing an exercise and a piece of equipment broke. I fell and hit my side on the building.”

“What the hell? Something broke?”

“Yeah. And it wasn’t because someone did something wrong. It really was something that broke and no one was prepared for it. I’ll be fine.”

“Let me see.”

He shook his head. “Not right now. When we get home.”

She couldn’t force him. He was much stronger, and they were at his friend’s place. Later, she would make him show her the injury.

After another twenty or thirty minutes, they said goodbye and headed out. She was ready to find out exactly how injured he was.

Once back at his place, she stood in the entryway and put her hands on her hips. “How bad is that injury?”

“Really, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“Let me look.”

He rolled his eyes and then pulled up his shirt, exposing a bruise. She moved to him and put her hand on his side. He winced, and she pulled back.

“That is significant. Why didn’t you tell me? You’ve been doing so much for me, and I could have?—”

“I’m fine.”

She shook her head. “You should have let me help.”

“I didn’t want to bother you.”

She pursed her lips together. “It wouldn’t have been a bother.”

He cupped her face. “I’m sorry. I should have said more about it, but I really didn’t want you to worry.”

“Why not? You’re worried about me.”

He opened his mouth and then closed it. “I guess no one has ever really been worried about me before. I mean, the guys, sure, but they all know I can handle myself. I was able to catch myself when the equipment failed.”

She took him by the hand and led him to the couch. “Tell me about it. I want to know everything.”

Zip couldn’t believe Talia wanted to hear about what happened. Before, when he’d been with a woman, they hadn’t wanted to hear about his life. With Talia, it was different. She wanted to know about him.

“It was a routine training. Nothing should have gone wrong. I was two stories up on a climb, and the anchor we were using broke. It had been checked over multiple times by different members of the team. All of us were using it, and it was my turn. It broke. I fell about ten feet, caught myself, and then landed hard on my side.”

“Shit. You told me you were hit by equipment.”

“Really, it’s not a big deal.”

She held his face so he was looking at her. “It is a big deal. You could have fallen and broken something.”

His eyes burned, and he wanted to look away, but the intensity in her gaze drew him in closer. His lips hovered next to hers and she closed the distance. He didn’t pull her too close, and she didn’t squeeze him.

He thought the kiss would end, and that would be that. Then Talia pulled her shirt off, and he lost his mind at the sight of her breasts barely covered by some thin, lacy material that begged him to touch.

His gaze stayed on her breasts for ten, maybe fifteen seconds, as his cock grew hard. When his gaze lifted to hers, he saw fear. He cupped her cheek, wanting to assure her she wasn’t doing anything wrong.

“You’re so freaking beautiful.”

“I want to see you.”

He slowly drew in air through his nose then nodded before he ripped his shirt off. Her fingers were like feathers over his skin. He moaned, and she reached down to the button of his shorts.

“I want you. I don’t want to put it off.”

He nodded. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She shook her head as she ran her fingers over his shoulder. “You won’t. We’ll be careful.”

Her touch sent sparks along his skin. “I want to shower. I don’t want to stink.”

“You don’t stink.”

“Still, I want to be clean.”

“Let’s shower together.”

He couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to be with this beautiful woman. He let her use the restroom first and get into the shower. She seemed a little shy when he entered the stall, but it didn’t take too long for them both to relax.

They weren’t getting out of the shower until he got her warmed up. When he first slid his fingers down her belly to her pussy, she sucked in air. He paused.

“This okay?”

She nodded. “Yes. I just don’t want to disappoint you.”

He shook his head. “You won’t.”

She ran her hands down the side of his body and around to his butt. “What do you like?”

“I like sinking my dick into a hot pussy. But first, I want to get you off. I want you to be so ready for me, you’re begging.”

“Oh.”

He laughed, then ran his hands down to her pussy, sliding his fingers over her slit. He liked the way she moaned and how her body jerked against him. Imagining her underneath him was driving him crazy.

Talia couldn’t believe how good Zip was. He was touching her exactly how she liked it. His fingers on her clit felt like she was doing it for herself but better. The thought of him being the one touching and driving her closer to orgasm heightened her enjoyment.

“More,” Talia cried out when he slid his fingers into her and grazed her clit with his thumb. She threw her head back and gasped as he pushed her over the edge. She came hard against his fingers, clinging to him as she lost herself to him.

When she recovered, she wrapped her fingers around his cock, but he grabbed her wrist and stopped her movement. She glanced up and met his gaze.

“I’m not going to last if you touch me.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, I’m on edge and about to fall over. You’re so fucking hot, and I want to be inside you.”

His words made her shiver. “I want that, too. But we have to use a condom.”

He nodded, and she thought about relenting, but she’d never had sex without a condom. She needed at least that one little piece of assurance.

“I have plenty of condoms in the bedroom.”

“Good. How about we dry off and get in there?”

He shut off the water and grabbed a towel for her. She couldn’t believe how good it felt being with Zip. It was like they were meant to be together.

Sex had never meant so much to her. She’d been used and didn’t have great memories of sex. But with Zip, it was different. He made her feel good, like she was special. That was the biggest difference. She felt special with him.

Zip stood above Talia as she spread out on his bed. She’d been sleeping in his guest room on the futon, but this was where he’d wanted her. Her pussy was neatly trimmed and looked so inviting. He lowered, grazing his nose along the inside of her knee.

The way her body shivered made his insides tingle. When his lips pressed against her pussy, she gasped. He licked up her slit, forcing his tongue to press harder on her clit. The way she cried out made him even harder.

She tasted so good. He wanted to spend time driving her crazy as he ate her out, but he was too turned on to do everything he wanted. His cock wasn’t going to last, and he hoped he didn’t embarrass himself when he slid in.

After a moment, he lifted up and met her gaze. “I hope you know this first time isn’t going to be indicative of how the tenth time will go.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “The tenth?”

“You’re freaking hot. Too hot. You make me so turned on it’s hard to breathe around you. Sliding into you will be too much.”

“I’m ready for you to slide in.”

“Good. Because I need to be inside you.”

He grabbed the condom, rolling it on. She adjusted her hips and lifted her legs. He moved on top of her, and she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer.

He lined up and was ready to slide in when she met his gaze and held it. As he slid in, it felt like he could see into her soul.

She squeezed him, and he gasped, almost losing it all. He had to slow down, or this would be over within less than forty-five seconds. She had him so twisted up he couldn’t think straight.

Her hands were on his back, then his ass. They were going at it too hard, and his side ached, but he didn’t want to pull back, but he did slow so he didn’t hurt her.

“More,” Talia said as she squeezed her pussy.

His eyes rolled up as the sensation shot through him like lightning. “You’re driving me too wild. I can’t last.”

“Come. We can do this again later.”

“You should come first.”

“No, it’s?—”

He slid his hand between their bodies and found her clit. She gasped and bucked her hips. He needed more time to explore, but he wasn’t going to last. She was too hot, too kind, and he was falling for her. He was totally and completely taken in by her. This was the first time they’d had sex, and already he was head over heels. It should be impossible, but maybe this was exactly how it should work.

He pumped in fast, his hips thrusting deep before he stilled, gasping as his body spiraled out of control. She had taken everything, even his soul.

When he opened his eyes, he couldn’t believe that she’d allowed him to be with her. “Thank you. That was an incredible experience. I can’t believe you are with me.”

“I can’t believe you want me.”

“Every single day. I want you, Talia. I want all of you.”

He pulled out and kissed the side of her head before tossing the condom. This was the kind of relationship he vowed never to have, but he never wanted this to end. Talia was the perfect person for him, and he wanted to make sure she knew how much he cared for her.