A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(55)

“Condom.”

She looks sexy as f*ck and I feel on the verge of coming again. I find a condom and sheath myself as fast as I can. When I get back and place one hand on her hip, I’m inside her. It’s not quite the same, having felt heaven, but it’s good enough, especially when she starts pushing her ass into me to spur me on.

“What do you want, baby? You want it hard and fast.” She nods. “Then say it.”

“Please.”

I move languidly, angling to hit the spot that I know excites her.

“I want to hear you say it.” With my hands on her hips and swallowing a groan, I command, “Say it.”

“Hard and fast,” she whimpers.

So I give her exactly what she wants as she cries to the heavens for a release, which grips the both of us and milks me dry. I collapse on top of her and roll us to our side still joined. I circle one arm around her middle and cup her breast with the other.

As our breaths slow, she takes a while before she asks the question. Belatedly, I think being inside her has the calming effect I need to answer.

“When did your best friend die?”

Normally, I don’t like talking about it unless it’s Cate because she understands. But somehow the words dislodge from my throat.

“Over a year ago,” I begin. “He was my best friend since before we were old enough to go to school,” I choke out. “He was like my brother.”

She tries to move, but I hold on tighter. I know she probably wants to face me and share her compassion, but I don’t want to pull out even though I should take care of the spent condom.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s been hard on you.”

Her sentiment is far different from Karen’s. And more thoughts launch out of my mouth as if I’d been holding them back forever.

“I watched him waste away into a shadow of himself.”

She nods. “I’m sure he appreciated you being there.”

I hope so.

“There were times I didn’t know what I would do without him. I still miss him. It’s hard losing the best friend you did everything with, you know?”

This is the point of the conversation where Karen accused me of being gay. I brace myself for it.

“Getting over someone who was a brother to you will take a long time. I’m not sure you will ever fully be over it. But in time it will get easier and maybe you’ll be able to think about the good without the loss hurting quite so much.”

And hearing someone not related to me say it eases something inside me. I whisper the words, “I hope so.”

She reaches up and covers my hand and something warms in my chest. I swipe hair away from her neck.

“This girlfriend thing is turning out better than I hoped,” I whisper in her ear before I gently bite her lobe. Then I press a soft kiss at the base of her neck. Her eyes close and I nip there before I trail nips and kisses back up to her jaw. I squeeze her breast before pinching her nipple.

Her giggles and moans stir my cock to life and even I’m surprised by my recovery time.

“Is it the girlfriend thing or the fact that you can cop a feel? I’m not sure it’s me you like or my boobs.”

She’s referring to the hand that hasn’t let go of her breast like it’s the Holy Grail.

“What’s not to like about you? You’re beautiful, you get along with people, you’re hard working and determined, and you don’t let me get away with my shit. And your tits are definitely up there. You have to know that as a breast man I can stamp yours as spectacular.”

Her grin dims. Before I can question it, her eyes glaze over with pleasure as I move in and out a few strokes before I know I have to take care of business. Girlfriend yes, being a father is a no. Slowly, I pull out grabbing the base of the condom.

“Where are you going?”

I hold up the condom. “To take care of this.”

“I should get my suitcase.”

Slyly, I smirk at her. “Don’t bother. You won’t be needing clothes the rest of the night.”





“Aren’t you forgetting something?” I ask.

“What’s that?”

“We have a poolside party to attend, which means we need to get our butts in the shower and I need to get ready. Like now.” I move to get out of bed, but he pulls me to him and instead, I find my mouth trapped by his lips. He does one of those quick flips and I find myself hemmed in beneath him as he deepens the kiss. All my buzzers are going off, but I have my duties to see to, so I reluctantly pull my mouth free of his.

“You’re not making this easy.”

“Neither are you.”

“What am I doing?” I ask.

“You’re naked, in this bed, with your tits pressed against me, and I’m already hard again for you. Now my dick is going to be giving me fits, unless you do something about it.”

“Damn, Ben, you’re insatiable.”

“I wasn’t until you pranced into my life.”

Steel gray eyes pin mine and my lust for him intensifies. “The shower. But give me a minute. I need to go across the hall and get my bag.”

“Not a f*cking chance in hell. You stay here. Give me your key and I’ll go get your bag.”

“No! You’ll do something to Nick and I can’t chance that. Besides, I have to give him some sort of an explanation.”