The Hookup Handbook(43)
Sienna’s big blue eyes peering up at me, the way her delicate hands trace over the muscles in my shoulders and arms—she makes me feel like I’m ten feet tall and made of steel.
“Case . . .” She whimpers when I find a pace that brings her right to the edge.
“Yes, baby. So perfect,” I groan.
Sienna comes apart, crying out and gripping me tightly as waves of pleasure rock over her. A few more deep thrusts and I erupt inside her, kissing her pouty mouth as I come.
We lie together, kissing softly as I withdraw. Neither of us is in any hurry to move. I lift up on one elbow and gaze down at her. The fear I saw earlier in her eyes is gone, replaced by something happy and calm.
I’m happy that I’m pleasing to her. And not in an I’m glad I satisfied a client kind of way. She’s done so much for me in the short time she’s been here—from helping me with my book, to nursing me back from the flu—I want to take care of her too. Even if the only way I know how to show my gratitude is between the sheets.
As much as I’d like to stay here and not move, the condom does need to be dealt with, and so I’m forced to head into the bathroom and wash up. When I return, I find her under the blankets, curled on her side. I climb in beside her, and when she nestles into me, a warm, heavy feeling of contentment settles over me.
“Still worried that I’m bored with you?” I ask, brushing her golden locks away from her forehead.
“Shut up. We can’t all have the confidence of a little boy who thinks he’s a superhero.”
“I didn’t always think that, you know. It wore off pretty quickly after I realized I was the only kid in first grade without a dad.”
She props her head up, resting her chin on my sternum, drawing circles on my shoulder with her fingertips. “I’m sorry, Case. I can’t imagine.”
“Nah, it’s fine. My mom did amazing, considering the shitty hand she was dealt. Even if money was tight growing up, she always made sure I was fed and warm and safe. That’s why I’m busting my ass to do something for her.”
“Well, I think buying her a house is a pretty nice way to say thank you.”
“I don’t know if I can ever really repay her, though, you know? What she did for me is so beyond just a roof over my head or food on the table. She had to give me twice the love, twice the support, and not once did I ever feel like something was missing. I wrote off that bastard of a father a long time ago, not just for what he did to me, but for the position he left her in . . . no money, a shitty job, a fuckload of debt to pay off. That’s what’s always pushed me to be better, to make something of myself. It’s always been for my mom, to make sure she never has to work as hard as she did to support me growing up.”
“Who’d have guessed that would lead you to the escort business?”
I smile down at Sienna, resting my head on my forearm. “Don’t knock it till you try it.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “My parents would murder me. Like actually murder me. No offense, though.”
“None taken. They’d really feel that strongly, even though Ryder does the same thing?”
She shrugs, rolling her eyes. “It’s a textbook double standard, I know. But Ryder just hasn’t been as . . . motivated as I have, I guess. He has no problem leaning on our parents’ money, so he never really pushed himself to be or do anything more.”
“But you have. First with your degree, and now with dance.”
“Exactly. I know I’ll never be a part of a professional company, but what can I say? I didn’t choose it; it chose me. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t freaking love it.”
“Have you ever thought about opening your own studio?”
“Honestly? It’s definitely a dream of mine. I just don’t know if I could ever make it a reality.”
I nod, the gears in my mind already spinning. I think I might know a way to make that happen.
“Hey,” she says, swatting my arm with the back of her hand, “don’t even think about buying me a studio. I appreciate you helping me get the teaching job—seriously, it means so much—but if I’m going to do this, I have to do it on my own. My whole life, other people have been there to make sure I succeed at every turn. I’m so grateful to my parents and my brother and now you, but this? This is a dream I need to pursue all on my own. For real this time.”
“Your wish is my command,” I reply, raising my hands in surrender.
“You know what I wish?” She arches a brow, her fingers grazing my chest, circling my muscle. Her other hand snakes down my side, quickly finding my already growing shaft.
I groan at her touch, my fingers immediately meeting her center, warm, wet, and ready. “I think I have a few ideas.”
Chapter Eighteen
Sienna
It’s been a tough few weeks powered by pure motivation and endless cups of coffee, but the book is finally done.
If I’m being totally honest, I wasn’t always sure it was possible. Less than a month to write a whole freaking book that’s supposed to transform its readers into bona fide sexperts? How about hell freezes over first?
But after hours of writing, revising, and desperately failing to ignore the sexual tension in the office, we somehow pulled it off. After spending almost all of our Saturday making final edits, Case sent it off to his editor. And with time to spare before the deadline.