Page 18

Chapter Eighteen

M aureen held onto Compass’s shoulders as they rode the last couple blocks to Nelson’s. Her stomach was churning. She didn’t think she’d be this nervous about their first time together. It was Compass. She’d slept beside him most nights, but today was different.

They were taking the next step. She was excited, but the what-ifs of all the things that could go wrong were plaguing her. What if, once they got together, sex was horrible? It couldn’t be horrible, could it? Because they loved each other, and love would make everything okay. Right?

Compass rolled the bike to a stop and backed it into the parking area. He held his hand out to help her off the bike, and she stepped off and stood beside him.

Oh my! Could she really do this? If she decided not to tell Compass about the room, then they’d be back at Bluff Creek, and she could have a couple more hours’ reprieve. Yep, that’s what she’d do. She’d just not say anything. They’d ride back with everyone else and then…

Compass’ hands cupped her face, and his mouth claimed hers. Each tease of his tongue swept her doubts away until her head was spinning. When the man finally pulled away slowly, all she could think about was him, upstairs in the room, and them finally together.

His hands left her face, and he grasped her fingers, leading her toward the table. She let him grab their card, but when he started to head toward the refreshments, she tugged on his hand.

She grinned at the look of consternation on his face.

“I need to go inside,” she said.

He nodded and let her lead him. When she turned toward the door to the upstairs with the code, Compass stopped her.

“Are you feeling sick? We need a code to get upstairs, and I can ask the guys for it if you need it.”

She felt a tad cruel not saying anything, but she wanted to see his face when he realized what was going to happen. She punched in the code without saying anything, walking up the stairs. She remembered where Ellie said the room was but then giggled a little. Ellie had left a post-it note on their door with a message.

Enjoy your Code Burke!

Compass chuckled behind her. “So Code Burke meaning the old guys or Originals have it, hmmm?”

Maureen opened the door and then turned to Compass. “We’ve waited a long time for this, and Ellie thought it might be nice if we didn’t have to wait until tonight. What do you say, old man? You up for a little consummation?”

He grasped her hand and rubbed it down his hard length. “I’m definitely up for anything you have planned. Do I need to carry you over the threshold?”

“Nope, but you need to come in the room so we can close the door and have our way with each other. I’ve fantasized about having you for months, Compass.”

The heat blazing in his eyes made her worry over coming upstairs disappear.

“Well, we can’t let your fantasies not come true, can we?” he said, sending shivers down her spine.

His hands slid under her arms and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and waited to see what he did next.

“How long do we have? Because I think this first time might be fast, as much as I need you.”

“I need to be back at three p.m., so we need to leave here at one fifteen.”

He nodded, and then a huge grin spread across his face. “I can do a lot to you in the next hour and a half. We might not get lunch, but we’ll be okay.”

He walked them closer to the bed, and Maureen looked in the basket Ellie had placed beside it. Maureen blushed at the bottle of lubricant tucked in beside granola bars, bottles of water, and a note saying there were protein shakes in the refrigerator if they needed a pick-me-up.

Compass chuckled. “I am so happy that now, when I see that blush spread across your face and down your neck, I can see how far it goes.”

Maureen trembled and wondered how she’d found a man she could love a second time in this life. Maureen let Compass take over. The man was magic because he was sweeping her away with his kisses so that she didn’t even notice him ridding them of their clothes.

For a second, she worried about her saggy skin, wrinkles, and gray hair, but then the heat blazing in his eyes as he looked at her reminded her he loved her and wanted her—wrinkles and all. If he cared about that, he wouldn’t have said I do .

He trailed kisses from her lips down her neck, across her chest before he captured her nipple. His fingers weren’t still. So many sensations she couldn’t keep track of them because the man was setting her senses aflame. He was seducing her with each brush of his fingers and graze of his lips.

Soon, she wasn’t content just to let him touch her and glided her hand down his stomach to grasp him. His groan at her touch had her grinning at him.

“Maureen, it’s going to be embarrassing if you make me come before I get inside you,” he said.

She giggled and slid her hand down his hard length, holding him at the base, she leaned up to kiss his lips. “Then you should get inside me because I ache for you.”

She relished the shiver that ran through him. He swallowed and nodded, then reached for the lubricant, cocking an eyebrow. She nodded, thankful for his thoughtfulness in making this perfect.

She stared at the man she couldn’t believe she finally had in her bed and told herself next time, she’d get to taste him, but now, she needed him inside her.

Her toes curled in anticipation as he paused at her entrance. She nodded.

“I love you so much,” he groaned as he thrust inside. Tears filled her eyes, not from any pain but from this moment with this man.

“Love you too,” she whispered, letting the sensations overwhelm her until she was shuddering in his arms and screaming his name. His shout followed hers as she held on to his shoulders. She had it all, and she was going to make sure she cherished each moment.

How Compass held back from coming before Maureen did amazed him. The heat and clasp of being inside her was everything. This woman. This moment was something he’d never imagined, but her love had given him hope for happiness again.

As soon as he heard her shout, he let go of his control and let the bliss overcome him. He’d known when they finally got together, there would be fireworks. The smell and feel of her skin had him on edge.

Maybe in a couple years, he’d get over the wonder of each touch and taste, but he didn’t think so. He and Maureen both knew how their time together could end in a moment. They’d both cherish each other for the time they had together.

He held the majority of his weight off her, but he loved the feel of her skin against him. He dropped a kiss on her nose, wondering what he’d done to be blessed with her in his life.

He grabbed one of the small towels that had been left by the basket. He would not blush at the thought of Ellie or Vivi preparing this for them. He slid the towel down between them and then rolled to bring Maureen to his shoulder. He didn’t want her legs all sticky because although it was friggin’ hot knowing his release was dripping out of her, he wasn’t going to make her uncomfortable.

“Today is the happiest I’ve been in a long time,” he said, dropping a kiss on her head.

Her hand slid across his chest, ruffling the hair. “Me too. It’s a new start. Now, how long until we can do that again?”

Compass chuckled. Longer than it had been, but if they had to make Maureen a little late back to Bluff Creek, then they would. Heck, he could always satisfy her with his mouth. Her fingers sliding down his stomach and rubbing along his cock had him rethinking what he could do.

“Umm, in less time than I thought,” he said.

She giggled and then slid down his body until she was breathing on his cock.

“Bet I can make that time even less,” she whispered, and Compass was positive his eyes rolled back in his head at the touch of her mouth.