Perfectly Broken (30 page)

His dreams of sex with her were strictly physical, but now the magnitude of the moment hit him. He’d never
made love
to a woman before. It had always just been sex, and this would be more – much more. And on top of that, she was essentially giving him her virginity. He hadn’t been with a virgin since he was a teenager and didn’t want to hurt her — or worse, remind her of her attack in any way.

Peyton let out a soft purr, her body responding to his touch, aching for him, with just his careful attention to her mouth and neck. But his slow pace was torture. She needed more. She needed him now. She’d waited way too long. She pulled his shirt over his head and slid down his pants, hoping he’d get the message. But Reed continued to go slow, to take his time, gently running his fingertips along her spine. His tongue brushed against her neck, and his stubble sent sparks through her entire body.

“Can we do slow another time?” she asked, panting, and unhooked her bra. “Right now, I need you inside me!”

Reed didn’t waste another second. He grabbed her and took her down to the bed, hard, her breasts smashing against his chest. She spread her legs wide, begging for him. He reached between her legs and ripped off her thong. She let out a moan and pulled his hips down on top of her.

Reed lifted himself slightly. “Condom.”

Peyton pulled him back down. “I saw the doctor. We’re good.”

“While we were apart?”

“Yeah, I got the shot.” Breathless, she grabbed at his boxer briefs. “Please stop talking!”

Without another word, he slid himself over her, finding she was more than ready, her slick wetness gliding over him. He pushed against her and slowly moved inside, tight and warm, then released a loud moan, making sure she knew just how unbelievable she felt. He pushed deeper, feeling her breath catch, then stopped abruptly. Peyton groaned and reached for his ass, pulling him deeper inside, tightening herself around him. She slowly moved her hips underneath him, as Reed gently slid in and out, relishing each thrust, not wanting the moment to stop.

She grabbed his hips with her hands. “Harder! Faster!”

Reed’s eyes widened and did as he was told, now pounding himself into her, each thrust stronger than the last, the entire bed starting to creak and shake on the wood floor. Then Peyton dug her nails into his back and began to scream. He was certain they were waking up the neighbors — below, next door, across the street, the entire Warehouse District. But he didn’t care; he wasn’t about to tell her to quiet down, not about to squelch her first time. Besides, he was loving every minute of it.

Peyton gripped a pillow. “Oh God, yes!” she cried and spread her legs even wider, pulling him tighter, wanting him deeper. She arched her back, needing release, on the verge of exploding. He pushed hard into her, and she screamed his name, her entire body shaking beneath him. “Oh my God, Reed!”

The bed came to rest, but Reed wasn’t done with her. He lightly kissed her neck, letting his tongue linger on her warm skin, and rolled his hips into her, burying himself deeper inside, sliding a hand to her ass. Peyton purred and wrapped her leg around his waist. “God, you feel incredible,” he whispered, feeling a wave of heat roll over her body as he slowly slid in and out.

She tightened around him, wanting more. Reed softly kissed her lips, massaging her tongue with his, and felt Peyton smile under his lips. He pulled back slightly and locked his eyes on hers, wild with pleasure. He gave her bottom lip a gentle suck and thrusted inside a few more times. Then he stayed deep, moving ever so slightly, watching her build.

She grabbed his hips and held him there. “Stay,” she whispered.

“Fuck!” Reed groaned, lowering his forehead onto hers. “I want to stay buried inside you forever.”

Peyton rolled her hips under him, and Reed thrust with her, their bodies moving together in a perfect rhythm. He took her breast into his mouth and sucked hard. She clenched around him, tightening her muscles, the ache between her legs building, unrelenting. Her hands flew across the sheets, trying to find something to grip.

Reed lifted his head. “Come with me, baby.” He lowered his head to her breast and sucked hard, moving faster into her, the bed once again starting to shake.

She reached around his back and slid her nails down his spine. “Yes!” she screamed, holding his hips, pushing hard against him.

“I’m there!” he groaned and finished with her.

They lay for a few minutes, panting together, before he rolled off and cradled her to his chest – with no desire to run away or plan his escape or think about work or another woman. He peeked down at her face, soft and relaxed, a small smile on her pink lips. She didn’t seem to give a damn they probably woke up the entire French Quarter, which was fine with him. He didn’t give a damn, either.

Peyton rolled over, feeling his dick harden against her again. She gave it a sideways glance then smirked at Reed.

“He missed you.” Reed ran his fingers across her blushed cheeks. “Are you good?”

“You tell me,” Peyton teased. “Am I good?”

“Such a smart mouth.” He looked down at her, smiling. “Slow next time, right?”

Peyton turned bright red. “Not quite yet.” She rolled on top of him and slid him back inside. “Let’s try like this now.”

* * *

With Peyton curled naked beside him, Reed woke up around lunchtime to banging on his front door. He rubbed his eyes and draped the covers over her then stumbled out of bed, ready to confront whatever angry neighbor had come to complain about the melody of screams during the night. As he threw on some clothes, there were a few more knocks followed by a few doorbell rings. He hustled to answer before the angry neighbor woke Peyton up. He opened the door with a yawn, then his eyes flew open.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

Marion walked inside like she owned the place, tossing her purse on the table. “I just wanted to check on you, to see how the party went, to see if you made any progress with Peyton.”

Reed grabbed the back of his neck. “Couldn’t you have called?”

“I suppose I could have.”

He quickly scanned his apartment and shot a glance to the bedroom door, praying Peyton didn’t walk out naked. He tried to usher his mother into the kitchen, away from the slate blue dress pooled on the den floor. “I actually did make some progress,” he said nervously. “Lots of progress.”

“I’m so happy to hear that,” she said. “I’ve missed her. What are you doing today?”

“Not much,” he said, figuring his mother didn’t want to hear he planned to spend the day in bed having sex in multiple positions.

“Good, because I was hoping I could take you out to dinner. Hopefully Peyton can come, too.”

Reed stole another glance at his bedroom door, smiling.
She’s already come several times.
“I don’t want to really see Dad.”

“I know that. It would just be the three of us.”

“OK, fine,” Reed said, desperate for her to leave. “But maybe not tonight.”

Marion’s face lit up. “I just know Peyton is the one.”

“Mom, can we talk about this another time?”

“You have to tell me: what is it about Peyton that is so special?”

Reed squirmed then exhaled, knowing there was no hope she’d ever leave before he answered. He said another quick prayer that Peyton stayed asleep. “Everything with her is just better.” He cocked his head, slightly embarrassed. “It’s like she was made just for me.” Marion wiped a tear from her cheek. “Mom, please don’t go all mushy on me.” Reed put his arm around his mother and nudged her to the door.

“Please bring her to the house for dinner soon.”

“I will, Mom,” he said, opening the door and handing her purse to her.

“And it will just be me, you, and Peyton.”

“Sounds good, Mom.” He patted her on the back to get her out. “I’ll see when we can do it.”

She kissed him on the cheek then pointed to his bedroom. “Give my best to Peyton.” The blood rushed from his face, and she pinched his cheek. “And for God’s sake, no accidents, OK?”

“Goodbye, Mom,” he groaned, shutting the door behind her, shaking his head on the way back to his bedroom.

Reed slipped through the bedroom door, finding Peyton had kicked off all the covers and was sleeping on her side, naked.
Not modest now.
He looked her up and down and stepped out of his clothes, sliding in behind her and pulling the covers over them, thankful his ever-doting mother was gone. Peyton arched her back, stretching, pushing her ass into him. She felt him harden against her and turned over, half-asleep, flashing a glowing smile. Reed pounced on top of her, and she let out a high-pitched squeal.

“What time is it?” she asked, yawning.

“Shit, it’s almost noon. Are you supposed to be working?”

“I’m off until Tuesday morning.” She wrapped a leg around his waist.

Reed grabbed it and pushed against her. “In that case, I’m taking off Monday.” He kissed her slowly on the mouth then heard her stomach growl. “You need to eat.” He rolled off her, and she pulled him back, pouting her lip. He got up from the bed and threw her over his shoulder, swatting her naked butt. “I need you well-fed for the workout you’ll be getting the next three days.” He brought her to the kitchen and placed her down on his kitchen table, leaning close to her. “First I’m going to feed you,” he whispered, “then I’m going to enjoy you.”

Peyton leaned back on the table and pushed his phone and a little basket aside. Her eyes suddenly turned misty, and she stopped breathing, reaching for one of many pink rose petals inside. She rubbed the petal between her fingers and took in its fresh scent. Then she looked up at Reed over in the kitchen, a sexy grin on his face.

“You sent back all the flowers I sent,” he said. “I didn’t want you to forget me.”

She shook her head. “I thought I was going crazy.”

“I wasn’t going to give up,” he said, pouring a glass of juice. “If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I have to be patient.”

Peyton played with the petals, as she watched him move around the kitchen. She would’ve been happy with a piece of dry toast, but he proceeded to cook for an army, which was fine because it allowed more time to stare at his abs, at his muscles flexing in his chest and back. But mostly she just stared at him, hard as a rock, certain she was creating a pool on his table. The only thing she was hungry for was him. She wiggled her bottom, trying to squelch her desire, and reached for his phone, hoping some music could distract her. She hit the home button and saw her face pop up on the screen.

“I looked at you every day,” Reed said, walking over with a plate of eggs, bacon, toast, and pancakes.

Peyton smiled. “I should’ve listened to you that day.”

Reed put the plate down beside her and took a seat. “You weren’t in any condition to hear anything. I’m sure seeing that was like getting hit by a train.”

“Hearing it was no picnic, either,” she said, jumping at a blast of thunder outside.

“
Hearing
it?”

“I guess I never told you. Heather came by my shop that day....”

“Heather?” Reed jumped out of his seat. “She told you about my dad?”

“I only caught bits and pieces, really.”

Reed started to pace. “I thought you Googled him, or maybe Griffin said something. I can’t fucking believe this!” Reed stopped, a memory flashing back in his mind. “Your lip. You had a cut on your lip that day.”

Peyton grazed her mouth with her hand. “That was Heather, too.”

Reed released a ferocious string of curses — violent and loud — reaching all the way to the Mississippi River. Then he marched towards Peyton, grabbed the back of her neck with his hand, and pulled her to his mouth, kissing her with such force she could barely breathe. Reed pulled back but kept his grip, lowering his forehead against hers, his eyes clenched shut. “I’ll make sure she never bothers you again.”

Peyton pulled back slightly and picked up the basket of petals, sprinkling them around the table and her body. “Enough about her.” She took a single petal and grazed it across his cheeks, gently fluttering it across his lips, seeing his steel blue eyes light up. “We need to stop spending so much time and energy on other people.” She traced the contours of his body with the soft petal — down his neck, across his chest, circling his abs. She leaned back on the table. “I think it’s time you enjoy me.”

* * *

After breakfast and some fun on the table, they jumped back into bed, making a little fort with the covers, hiding from the howling wind and crackling lightning.

“It sounds like the world’s about to end,” she said.

He kissed her on the forehead. “It’s just a storm.”

“Sometimes it seems like more than that,” she said. “I was so scared and sad the past month.”

“Me, too. The thought of never holding you, kissing you again — it all crushed me,” he said. “I don’t ever want to feel that way again.”

“I don’t, either.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything myself.”

She nodded. “I know it’s hard to talk about painful things.”

“I didn’t know how to tell you — with your past and everything — and I didn’t want you to look at me differently, either.” He shook his head, knowing where this was heading, finding some irony in the fact that he was about to have this conversation while they were both naked in bed. “I’ve never talked to anyone about him before.”

“I understand,” she said. “I was just hurt you hadn’t opened up to me. Who your father is, what he’s done — it doesn’t change how much I love you.” She paused before continuing. “You know, I only caught a few things from Heather and only read some headlines on my iPad.”

Reed nodded and lowered his head. Though she didn’t ask, he could tell she was waiting for him to open up to her as she’d done to him, to face his own demons, to tell his side of things. There was no more holding back, no more escaping. He looked up at the light in her eyes, like a beacon showing him the way. “Do you remember the big sex scandal in the city about 15 years ago?”

“I was 11, so no.”

“You know about the sex clubs in the city, right?”

“Of course, Bourbon Street.”

“Those are mostly strip clubs. I’m talking about sex clubs.”