Page 34 of Safety Net (Mendell Hawks #3)

LINCOLN

Celeste tasted like those moments between wake and sleep. When life was flawless and without anything weighing you down. I prayed I'd get to do this forever. Prayed that time would expand for me to spend every waking moment between her legs.

I'd been hard from the moment she asked to see my room. And I nearly finished when she placed her hand on the back of my head, holding me steady against her as I had the best fucking meal of my life.

She'd come twice, and I was still going. Still tasting every drop she had to offer. I glanced up at her, finding her eyes closed and mouth parted as she let out moans that made me hungry for every inch of her. She'd gotten lost in the feeling, more comfortable in her body than I'd ever seen her.

A sense of pride overtook me. I’d been able to give her an escape. Made her feel safe enough to let go of everything outside of us.

Her pleasure became my reason for breathing. I was put here to satisfy her. I paid attention to every moan and whimper. Every time a shiver ran through her. I was hyper-aware of all her reactions, cataloging them to understand how to be better for her.

She preferred when my tongue made bigger, slower circles. She loved when I pressed harder against her. Her strongest reaction came when I moved my tongue back and forth instead of up and down.

Her orgasms were soft explosions, fingers threading through my hair, tugging on me for more.

Celeste's thighs tightened around my head, holding me in place in case I had any plans on teasing her again.

I smiled through her climax, amused at how bossy this woman could be when she was sexually frustrated.

She let out a laugh once she recovered from her third climax. Her thighs fell away from my head, permitting me to regain my range of motion. But I longed for the restriction.

"How was it?" I murmured, kissing her clit once more.

"Earth-shattering," she said, her voice breathy from fulfilled desire and fading laughter. "You're incredible."

I shook my head. "It's all you. You demanded. Took it."

Her eyes were half-opened, so I couldn't tell if she believed me. By her lazy smile, I'd say not entirely, but I did notice something clicked in her. It was in the way she moved, no longer hesitant but sure in where she wanted to put her hands, how she wanted to receive her pleasure.

"On your back." She patted the spot beside her.

I crawled onto the bed, landing on my back with a hard enough thud that made her bounce up.

She laughed and turned over to kiss me. I had a few kinks, one of which she'd offered me perfectly when she wouldn't stand for my playfulness at a certain point.

Being under her command had me stiff and aching to please.

Another was her tasting herself on my lips. She was shy about it, but still so curious. Still so willing to try.

"Condom?" she whispered against my lips.

I nodded, about to sit up and reach for my drawer, when her hand urged me back down.

"I'll get it."

My breath caught in my throat when she reached over me, opened the drawer, and pulled one out. When Celeste moved back, she straddled me, studying the condom's wrapper.

I held onto her waist, trying not to lose the final bit of calm I still possessed, even though I could feel the warmth of her on my stomach. She was wet still, clit swollen from my mouth and her orgasms. I gave in to the call, my thumb circling her as she opened the condom.

"You want to put it on?" I asked, oh so turned on.

"Mm." She nodded and moved so my length was within reach. "It should be easy…right?"

I chuckled and nodded, my fingers still playing with her. She closed her eyes for a second, getting distracted by my teasing. I slipped two fingers inside, earning a head tilted back and a mouth parted.

"This is what you want?" I asked. "This is how you're going to take me?"

She nodded, placing her hands on my shoulders, steadying herself as she moved in tandem with me. She was a bit tight, which made me a little concerned about her comfort.

"You sure you're ready?" I asked, serious about the inquiry.

Celeste opened her eyes, gaze confused. "Do I seem like I'm not?"

"You do." I slipped another finger inside, briefly pulling our attention back toward the beauty that was her pleasure. She pulsed around me, and I wanted to take her then and there. Wanted her to ride me until every part of me gave out.

"Are you?" she asked, the first to come back to center.

"Of course."

She raised a brow. "You sure?"

"Never been surer in my life," I promised.

Celeste nodded and lifted herself so my fingers slipped out of her.

I groaned at the sight of her sticky, wetness, leaving behind a thin string that connected her to me for a second longer.

She became entranced by it, too. There was something in her eyes.

After being her right-hand man all summer, I knew it was a want for something she didn't yet dare to ask.

"Tell me," I whispered. "I won't judge. I never do."

She smiled, her eyes softened as she remembered our constant promise to one another. "I've never… there's so much I want to try now that I'm doing this. Now that I'm into this."

"You can try it all with me."

She leaned in for a kiss. It's slow, on the hunt for comfort rather than pleasure. I gave in without question.

Celeste pressed her forehead against mine, gaze directed down as she rolled the condom onto me.

"You aren't going to tell me, are you?" I sighed, mourning the loss of her unvoiced desire.

"Another time," she said with another kiss. "Now, lie down. I want to be on top."

The command's music to my ears. The second I feel her on my tip, I know holding off my orgasm will be a feat.

I recited the titles of my favorite novels in my head when she leaned over me.

I counted the number of strings tacked on my wall when I'm completely inside of her, and her hands found my chest. I ran through every drill I've memorized this summer on the ice when Celeste started rocking her hips back and forth.

"Look at me?" she asked, grabbing my hands and putting them on her breasts.

I took a deep breath, knowing looking at her could do me in and ruin a good thing before it even started. "You feel so fucking good, sweetheart."

"So look at me."

"I don't know if I can without finishing."

"You can." She laughed, moving more slowly, probably thinking it'd make things easier. I got harder. "Please? Look at me."

I gave in. Celeste was everything and more.

The moonlight from the window highlighted her dark skin.

Her round lips were bare from all the kissing we’d done, and her braids were in a state of unravel with coils escaping to give her a halo effect.

This woman was an angel. Seeing her in this state, so brave and beautiful and perfect, had me come undone.

This couldn't be real. She couldn't be mine. I couldn't be inside of her, feeling every damn pulse and grind.

"You did it," she said in a soft, sweet cheer.

"Barely." I chuckled through a heavy breath.

Celeste smiled. "How long do you think you can last?"

"As long as you need," I promised, fully prepared to suffer. "I won't finish without permission."

"Good." She kept my hands pressed on her breast. "I want to go a little longer."

Her stamina was unmatched, but I was more than willing to keep up. Celeste grinded against me, testing different speeds and angles. I'm not sure if I'm the first person she's shared an orgasm with, but I'm cocky enough to believe I'm the best person to give one to her.

Celeste's curiosity was sexy. I watched her test out movement and sensation, feeling as if I was experiencing it for the first time, except there was no awkward fumbling. Exploring with someone I trusted my soul with was a dream come true.

"Holy," she whispered when she realized she could stimulate her clit against me if she leaned forward enough. I pushed into her, and she nearly cried from the pleasure.

"How long can you last?" I teased when her hands clung to my headboard as she found a way to steady herself.

"Seconds," she confessed, chasing her high faster.

True to her word, she came in seconds. In the midst of the wave, she begged me to, "Come with me. Would you do that for me?"

"You'd know I'd do anything and everything for you."

She nodded with a devious look in her eyes. "I've known for a while now, yes."

She leaned in to kiss me, and I couldn't hold back any longer.

As soon as I went over the edge, I flipped her on her back. With Celeste beneath me, I found my preferred rhythm. The headboard banged against the wall as I gave her what she asked for and what I needed.

"Lincoln." She'd tightened around me, every inch of me squeezed inside of her.

My taking the lead had surprised her and been rough and fast. "I'll be good next time, I swear. I'll let you take it from me how you want. I just needed to give it to you for the first time. I had to let you know I want it to be yours."

She was cognizant enough to nod. Her fingers trailed down my back, nails leaving faint scratches. The mix of slight pain and an overwhelming amount of pleasure made me lightheaded. It's a long, needy finish that left me spent.

"Shit," I groaned, still locked in the haze of post-climax bliss.

"Good?" she asked, her voice returning to its cautious tone.

"So good. I never want to live a life outside of this room," I said. "Everything I could want is right here."

She nudged her nose against mine, asking for a kiss that I happily provided. "My thoughts exactly."

The night's extended test of endurance. Celeste and I dedicated ourselves to memorizing every inch of each other. Our break came when she asked for a cup of water. I grabbed a warm towel to help clean her up.