Ask Me Why(64)

His forceful thrusts shove me forward. The unforgiving grip on my sides yanks me right back. This tug of war makes me dizzy, my mind spinning in useless loops. I clench around him for more. Brance moves faster, his strokes punishing.

“You like this?” His panting breath accompanies the slapping of skin.

“Love it,” I moan. “Harder, please.”

His fingers trail along my waist and lower belly. He finds my clit, strumming with rapid circles. My inner muscles quiver while molten lava spreads through me. I curl my toes into the blanket, reaching for leverage.

“A-almost there,” I wheeze.

Rather than propel me over the edge, Brance pulls out. The loss of him is an instant blow to my impending orgasm. I whine low and glance over my shoulder. His focus is locked between my legs. Brance bites his lip, spreading my cheeks with a thumb on each side. His touch skims from ass to cleft. The slow slide makes me squirm.

He lets loose a long groan. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

“Stop teasing me.” I squirm in his hold.

I get a spank to my thigh for that.

“Roll over. I wanna watch you come.”

Before he can blink, I flip and stretch myself wide. Brance fills me to the hilt with a single drive. He drops on top of me, balancing his weight on a bent forearm. Our mouths fuse together, tongues meeting in the middle. I inhale his want, giving him my desire in return. When he stabs deep, I gasp into our kiss.

He breaks away from my lips with a snarl. Lust colors his naughty smirk. I scratch along the flexing muscles in his back. Our bodies pound together in a fevered pitch.

Brance licks a path down my tilted jaw. I arch into him, my soft breasts pressing into his hard pecs. Brance buries his face into the dip between my shoulder and neck. I hear him breathe me in, trembling when he nips along my ticklish flesh.

He rolls his hips, crashing into mine. We’re a fluid wave gaining momentum. “Is this what you want?”

I press my lips to his throat. “Yes. So much.”

Brance draws my earlobe between his teeth. “More?”

“Is that even a question?” My wispy tone dances across his cheek.

He punches into me with a new level of vigor. I raise my pelvis and meet his rough jabs. His movements become sloppy, bucking into me with jerky glides. I can tell he’s straddling the line with me. I dig my heels into his ass, slamming us harder together. He tweaks my nipple, pinching the stiff peak. That bite of pain is enough to hurdle me into oblivion.

“O-oh, t-there! M-more,” I squeal.

After one final push, Brance’s body tenses and spills into mine. The room fills with our shared pleasure. I shatter into a million sparkling pieces. Shooting into the sky among the stars.

He twitches with the last of his release, collapsing onto the bed beside me.

“Best yet,” he murmurs to the ceiling.

A soft smile lifts my lips. “I agree.”

“Damn glad you came over.”

“Mm-hmm, this is another spot to check off our list.”

Brance chuckles. “Seems odd considering it’s my house.”

There’s not much I can say to that. I burrow into the pillow with a heavy exhale. He crosses his arms behind his head, settling in for the night. A soothing silence envelops us. With every touch, he erases more empty space. These days, the hole in my chest is nothing more than a shallow divot.

When the floating sensation subsides, I sigh and struggle to sit up. I shuffle to the end of the mattress. My bare feet hit the cold floor, and a chilling spike snakes through me. I bend over, gathering my discarded clothes. Brance is quiet behind me, which I’ve come to expect. A quick peek over my shoulder tells me he’s drifting off. I tug on my shirt, turning away from his shuttered stare. The bed dips with his shifting movement. I glance at him again, finding him leaning forward.

Brance reaches for me, but stops before touching my skin. “Brae—”

I shrug off the placating tone of his voice. “Don’t worry, I know the score. This doesn’t mean anything.”

Protecting my heart is becoming a greater challenge lately. I seal my lips and gulp the romantic notions down like a bitter pill. Those words have no meaning in this space.

His grunt is a dull echo. “What if you, uh, don’t leave.”

The uncertainty wafting off him has me twisting around. Brance’s eyes are boring into me. His expression is stern and serious.

“What?” I need him to repeat that.

“Maybe you stay with me tonight.”

I gape at him. “I don’t get it.”

Brance frowns. “Did I stutter?”

My jaw is still popped open. “Let me get this straight. You,” I point at him, “want me to sleep here.”

He nods. I blink at him with a blank expression.

“In this bed? With you?”

Brance scrubs over his mouth. “Why is that so crazy? It’s just an idea. I hate that you run out immediately after we finish. No matter where we are.”

I quirk an eyebrow. “Does it make you feel cheap?”

That earns me a laugh. “Yeah, something like that. Are you just using me, Braelyn?”

I wrinkle my nose. “Are you?”

He strokes a thumb down my arm. “I’m the one asking you to stick around.”

“What about Ollie?”