Flawed (Blaze of Glory #2) (8 page)

My hand shifts to my stomach and I rub it gently as I drink my water. I can’t afford to be selfish right now; there’s no longer just myself to consider. Groaning, I drop my head to the table and bang it lightly against the wood a few times. How did my life come to this? Fresh out of college, pregnant by a one-night stand and hopelessly attracted to a man almost twice my age. There’s no question about it, I’m completely hopeless.
My parents must be turning over in their graves.

I’m woken a short time later as I’m picked up from my seat. I weakly protest, but I’m just too tired to argue.

“Stay still,” Keets mumbles gruffly as he carries me effortlessly through to the office and deposits me gently on the bed. He reaches for the blanket and drags it up over my legs before turning to go back to the couch. Grumbling, I stretch out my arm and snag the edge of his shirt. “Stay,” I mumble. He seems to hesitate, but through my sleep clogged eyes I can just make out his shoulders slumping in resignation. Pulling his shirt and jeans back off, he slides beneath the blanket, as far away from me as possible. Groaning, I roll over and tuck my top leg over his, my head in the crook of his neck and my arm thrown around his waist. He lies there stiffly, I can’t even hear his breath. Stroking his abs with my hands, my fingers brush over the hardened peaks of his nipples and I’m rewarded by his sharp intake of breath. Snuggling up closer to him, I press a sleepy kiss against his bare neck and close my eyes. He exhales a shaky breath, his arm moving to rest heavily across my hips as he entwines his legs with mine. I know it’s risky, sleeping next to a half naked man I’ve only just met, but for the first time in a long time I feel safe.

“Natalie,” he growls in a low voice. “You keep that up and you’re going to get a lot more than you bargained for.”

I shiver in a combination of lust and fear, but I wiggle up against him again, unable to help myself. He leans up on one elbow and I let out a squeal as he flips me over onto my back, pinning my wrists at the side of my head. “I warned you,” he whispers harshly, before claiming my lips with his own. His tongue probes heatedly at my mouth, demanding access that I’m all too ready to give him. Sweeping his hands down torso, I give a slight shudder when his palm passes over my sensitive nipple. Obviously encouraged by my response, he uses his thumb and forefinger to pluck at the distended nub until I gasp from the exquisite sensation.

Hooking his fingers into the waistband of my skirt, he tears his mouth away from mine. He stares into my eyes and silently asks permission. I don’t even have to consider it. Arching up off the bed, I allow him to pull my skirt and panties down my legs in one swift movement, leaving me naked and open to his gaze. His arms move beneath my knees as he spreads me open as he drags me down the bed until my legs are suspended in mid air, over his shoulders. Kneeling on the floor at the end of the bed, he gives me a deliciously wicked grin before leaning forward and inhaling deeply. “Fuck me,” he breathes. “You smell like Heaven.” Sweeping his tongue all the way up between my thighs, he leaves me laying in a puddle of molten lava. Gasping, I try to arch up again, but he pulls his mouth away from me and pushes my hips back down on the bed. “Stay,” he orders before returning between my legs. Using his fingers to separate the soft folds of skin, I cry out when his tongue latches on to my clit and sucks rhythmically. Overwhelmed with sensation I try to close my legs, but he growls against my clit and forces them open once more, sucking the sensitive nub harder. A warm feeling spreads through my stomach and causes my legs to start shaking. Still, he doesn’t let go. “Keets,” I cry out as my insides pulse with need. I feel myself building… building… building…

“Oh my God, I scream as he holds my legs open and devours me like a starving man. My pussy clenches and then I’m coming hard against his mouth. Keets stays there, sucking my clit, until my legs are shaking and I’m covered in a thin sheen of sweat. He lets go of my clit with a
pop
, then he’s moving over me and kissing me, thrusting his tongue inside my mouth.

Running my hands over his rock hard abs, I pull at the buttons on his jeans, desperate to take them off of him. “Slow down,” he mutters. “I’m barely maintaining control as it is.”

“Don’t,” I whisper. “I need this.”

Those words seem to be his undoing, and with a low growl he stands and unfastens his jeans. I lie back on the bed and slowly lick my lips as I watch his little strip tease. When he finally drops his jeans I get my first good look at him and my jaw drops open in surprise. He’s
huge
. He fists his cock and slowly strokes it up and down as he cups his balls with his free hand. Grabbing a condom from the small table next to the bed, he sheaths himself. He watches me with hooded eyes as I lick my fingers and rub my clit in small circles. A husky moan escapes his full lips and he climbs back onto the bed and grabs my hips, dragging me over until I’m straddling his strong thighs, my pussy lips wrapped around his cock. Gripping my hips tighter he moves me back and forth, the rigid length of his cock rubbing up against my clit. Unable to take it any longer, I raise myself up and sink down over his cock in one fluid motion. “Jesus H. Christ,” he mutters. “You’re so fucking tight.”

His words undo me, and I thrust back and forth along his length, taking him almost the whole way out, before slamming back down on him again. His fingers dig into my hips as he rocks me back and forth, then he sits up and pulls me down until I’m seated on his lap, my legs wrapped around his back. “So. Fucking. Tight,” he says again, punctuating each word with another jerk of his hips. “I’ll never get enough of you.” His lips cover mine again as he pistons in and out of me, leaning his arms back against the bed for support. I gasp as he lifts me up and off his cock, but then he grabs one of my legs and drags it to the end of the bed. “Come here,” he orders, waiting until I crawl on to my hands and knees. Positioning himself behind me, I cry out as I feel his cock probing my entrance from behind, demanding access. Gripping my hips in his fingers, he eases into me in one long, smooth thrust. His hand threads into my hair, fisting it tightly as he drags my head back. “Get ready,” he grunts, pulling my hair as he thrusts in and out of me. “I’m nothing but physical sensation, overwhelmed by what I am feeling.” I feel the pressure building once more, then I’m crying out as I fall, hearing him call out my name as he comes.

Slowly pulling out of me, he’s silent as he ties off the condom and throws it into the trash bin by the desk. The mood seems to have instantly changed, but I don’t really understand why.
Did I do something wrong?

He climbs back into bed as I dress, keeping my back to him as I work through a myriad of emotions. Confusion, doubt, and self-consciousness wrap themselves around me and I lie back down on the bed, careful to keep as much distance between us as possible.

I wake at some point during the night when he rolls over and gathers me into his arms, brushing the hair away from my shoulders and kissing the back of my neck.

KEETS

Throwing back another mouthful of coffee, I rub my bleary eyes. I barely slept a wink last night, not at all helped by the way she’d felt in my arms. It’d been a mistake to kiss her, and even more of a mistake to pick her up and carry her into my bed. I was
definitely
a mistake to fuck her senseless. But my worst mistake of all had been lying in that bed next to her, holding her in my arms all night. Even when my arm had cramped and gone to sleep, I’d stayed in that one position, scared to move in case I disturbed her sleep. It was only when those first rays of the early morning sun had streaked across the bed that she’d rolled over, taking the blanket with her, leaving me in nothing but a pair of briefs and a raging hard on. As much as I try to deny it, I can’t help myself; I’m attracted to Natalie Harper.

The only problem is there’s nothing I can do about it. She’s almost half my age, and I’ll be gone soon. Everything is screaming at me to stay away from her. The office door opens and she steps out in a pair of denim shorts and a white tank. Despite all logic, I find myself hurrying over to offer her a coffee, trying desperately to keep my eyes on her face, rather than on the hard nipples that are blatantly obvious though her thin tank top. She declines the coffee and instead makes herself a cup of tea, and we sit in silence for a few moments, each apparently unable to think of something intelligent to say.

“So,” I finally break the silence. “What did you study in college?”

“Art,” she replies, putting her mug of tea down and toying with the end of her hair. It seems to be a nervous habit. I wish I knew how I made her nervous so I could stop doing it.

“Art?” I smile, thinking back to the sketch I made of her last night. Maybe we do have something in common after all. “Why art?”

“I don’t know,” she confesses with a shy smile, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I guess I like to see the beauty in things. It makes me happy when I do.”

Just like me.
Clearing my throat, I speak again. “I do a little art myself,” I admit, and I swear she blushes, excitement evident in her beautiful clear blue eyes. My mind drifts back to the sketch I made of her last night, and I inwardly curse at my carelessness of leaving it on the table.

“Really?” she asks, feigning innocence. “Like what? Will you show me?”

I shake my head then immediately regret it when the smile drops from her face and her shoulders slump in defeat. I’ve never intentionally shown anyone my art; it’s always been a deeply personal thing that’s helped me get through some of the darker moments in life.
Until recently.
“Maybe later,” I say, noncommittally. She seems happy enough with that and drops it for the moment.

“So, what do you normally do around here?” she asks, looking around the bar.

I pause to think about that. Normally right now, I’d be giving the girl of the moment one last fuck before putting her out the door, but I can’t exactly tell Nat that. “There’s a TV in the back,” I say, gesturing toward the office. “Usually, I lie in bed and watch movies until it’s time to open the bar.”

“That sounds kind of boring…” she says, scrunching up her nose. “And lonely.”

“It can be,” I agree, nodding. “Sometimes, I’m lucky enough to have some company.”

“You mean… a-a woman?” she squeaks, and I inwardly punch myself.

Way to go, Keets.

There’s no point lying to her. “Sometimes,” I reply, not able to meet her eyes as I say it. There’s a moment of tense silence as she absorbs this information. I’d give anything to know what she’s thinking right now.

“Well,” she finally says with a small smile. “I’m here now, so why don’t you show me what movies you have.” She goes to stand but I grab her arm, effectively stopping her in her tracks. I remember all too clearly the movie that’s currently in the DVD player, and somehow I don’t think it’s the sort of movie Natalie Harper would want to watch. Desperate to change the subject, I stupidly decide to turn the tables on her.

“Natalie,” I start quietly, caressing her inner wrist with my thumb. “Why do you cut yourself?” She pales and pulls out of my grip, crossing her arms over her stomach protectively, refusing to meet my gaze. I stand and try to draw her into my arms to give her a small measure of comfort, but she’s as still and firm as a statue. Sighing, I shake my head. “Okay, I won’t push it,” I tell her, finally getting her to look at me curiously. “But you will tell me one day why you feel the need to do this to yourself.” She says nothing, but nods once and allows me to take her hand, leading her back into the office.

Once she’s settled on the bed, I quickly take out
Candy’s Shizhole
when she’s not looking,
and
put in the DVD of
Paranormal Activity 4
, smiling when her eyes light up with excitement. “I haven’t seen this one,” she says, bouncing up and down a little on the bed.

I grin and indicate the spot next to her. “You like horror movies too? Mind if I sit?” In response, she scoots over and wraps her arms around her knees. I climb on the bed next to her and rest back against the pillows. She sits rigidly for a few moments, and I find my eyes straying to her frequently. “Are you okay?” I finally ask. “You seem a little distracted.”

“Hmm?” she says, glancing at me. “Oh… no, I’m fine. Sorry.”

“You’re sure?” I grin. “You look like you’re about to run right out the door.”

She relaxes a little at that, and returns my grin. “Sorry.”

“Here,” I say, sitting up more on the pillow and stretching my arms out for her. She hesitantly shuffles back between my legs and I wrap my arms around her from behind. She’s stiff for a few moments, but as the movie progresses I feel her begin to relax and melt into my embrace. Her head lolls back to rest on my shoulder, and my arms tighten slightly around her, my fingers stroking the tiny sliver of bare skin on her stomach that her shirt has exposed. She shivers and goosebumps break out across her skin, and I take the opportunity to sweep her hair to the side and place feather-light kisses against her shoulder and the side of her neck.

She moans a little and wriggles against me. I feel my cock growing hard in my jeans, and there’s little doubt that she can feel it, too. She jumps at something in the movie, and her ass jolts firmly back against my cock. My fingers inch higher until my whole palm is touching bare flesh. She’s as soft as satin; I could touch her forever. My hand finds the underside of her breast, and the movie is forgotten as she shifts in my arms and my hand covers the soft mound, tweaking the nipple with my thumb. Her lips part and her eyes drift closed, her fingers clutching at the denim of my jean-clad thighs.