Making the Grade (Wicked Warrens, #4) Read online

  “Take her. Fuck her ass. Harder,” his friend growled, and she noted he’d hardened once more and masturbated in a frenzy. “Come, Brian. All inside her.”

  Brian ground her clit and leaned down to kiss her, and she came, locking around him.

  He removed his hand from between them while he furiously finished, coming hard on a cry as he poured into her. The muscles in his chest, arms and belly constricted as he released.

  Behind him, his friend swore and came again, the scent of sex and pleasure thick around them.

  “Oh Faith. Baby,” Brian whispered and pulled out a bit, only to shove back inside her. “You’re so warm.”

  “So fuckin’ beautiful,” his friend murmured.

  She felt beautiful. A real woman, one capable of pleasuring men because she owned her sexuality. Her desire felt pure, untainted by anything out of bounds. She’d loved every bit of fucking Brian, with or without their audience.

  “Thank you,” she said to their watcher, who nodded.

  “My pleasure. Sincerely.” He tided himself and left. The door closed behind him and snicked shut.

  “You okay, honey?” Brian asked, still embedded inside her.

  “Yes. That was so amazing.”

  He sighed. “Yeah. I don’t want to move. Ever.”

  Yet he softened inside her and finally withdrew. He left her and quickly returned with a warm cloth to clean her.

  After taking care of the mess he’d left between her legs, he untied her restraints and led her into the bathroom.

  There, he washed her, taking care of all her sore parts needing attention.

  “Brian...”

  “Yeah?” His gritty voice and the affection in his eyes sent her spiraling into love—a dumb place to be following sex, but Faith had never been able to separate the two.

  “Thank you.”

  He smiled, and his simple joy shook her foundation. “No, honey. Thank you. You were so open, so incredibly lovely.” He paused. “I don’t think I’ve ever called a woman lovely in my entire life. But you...you get to me.”

  He hugged her, the embrace passionate but not sexual. A coming together of two people who’d needed to fill a void. She could only hope she hadn’t read more into the situation than he meant. Faith had a nasty habit of always wanting more.

  “You were okay with my friend watching, weren’t you?” he asked, a smile in his voice.

  “Were you?”

  “Knowing how hot it got you made it that much better for me. What turns you on turns me on.” He pulled back to look down at her. “That whole dominance thing about killed me. I really got off on it. It was okay for you, right? I didn’t misread things?”

  “More than okay.” She sighed. “I guess we’re both perverted.”

  He laughed. “Here I always thought I was the tame one compared to my sister.”

  She blushed. “I tried to talk my ex into being a little more adventurous once, and he basically called me a slut.”

  Brian frowned. “He was a dick. I doubt it had anything to do with his money either. He sounds like a grade-A shithead.”

  She had to laugh, no longer so pained at the memories of Jeremy. “He was. But you... You’re a grade-A lover. No two ways about it.”

  He puffed up with pride. “I am, aren’t I?”

  “Now don’t get a big head.”

  His eyes widened, and he deliberately misunderstood her. “You want to give me more head? Seriously? Man, you’re a nympho.” He sighed dramatically. “Okay.”

  “Shut up.” She slapped him on the chest, and he trapped her hand there.

  “Faith, I’m just teasing. I mean, if you want to blow me, I won’t say no. But maybe we could take a short rest before starting again. We have a whole armoire full of toys we haven’t gotten to yet, and a weekend to use them.”

  “Really?” Her voice rose.

  “Really.”

  After they dried off and decided to rest on the plush rug by the fire, she snuggled into his arms, feeling the soft kiss he placed on top of her head.

  Oh man, she was getting in deep. An amazing night of sex and she thought she might love the guy. It didn’t help that he had skills, a large cock and an imagination that included doing things she wanted to do.

  God, I had sex in front of a stranger. A stranger who beat off to it, twice.

  Yet the thought didn’t make her feel dirty or ashamed, because the thrill had given Brian one hell of an orgasm too.

  “Go to sleep, Faith. Remember, this is our place. Here, what we say goes no further than the two of us.”

  “Okay. Good night, Brian. I mean, Sir.”

  He laughed softly. “Good night, sexy. Just wait until you see what else we’re going to do this weekend. You lost that bet, remember.”

  “You had to remind me.”

  He rubbed her ass. She flushed to remember he’d taken her there, and she’d loved it. “I haven’t come in your pussy yet, slave. We have a lot more to get to. Just you wait.”

  ♥

  Sunday evening, Brian followed Faith to her apartment complex and walked her to her door. After giving her a kiss goodbye, he left the complex and drove another ten minutes to his place. He parked, then entered his home and settled on the couch without a care in the world.

  He felt exhausted, and considering how many times he’d come over the last few days, it was no wonder. Faith had more than rung his bell. The woman had taken him to heights he’d never imagined. He’d put a collar on her. He’d pretend-forced her to swallow him down, and she’d played her part to perfection.

  He’d fucked her in front of Rex, for God’s sake. Had seen his friend jacking off to his beautiful lover and felt pride that he could make her so aroused, and that his friend had seen how Faith reacted.

  He and Rex had played around with a threesome and some voyeurism back in college, but this weekend had been a pleasant surprise. Brian didn’t feel jealous that Rex had watched his lover, just gratitude that Rex had helped Faith fulfill her fantasies.

  “I am so fucking in love with her.” The truth—but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

  The woman had baggage, no question. But so did he. Everyone came with something from their pasts. Now he had to figure out how to deepen their connection. Would she run from him after their intimacy this weekend? Or would she be okay with expanding their relationship? Only time would tell.

  A knock on the door interrupted his reverie.

  With a sigh, he eased off the couch, aware he still had aches in strange places. With a grin, he opened the door to find Rex standing there.

  “Come on in.”

  “Thanks.”

  Rex followed him inside. No awkwardness or weird staring, just Rex wearing a shit-eating grin. “So when are we doing that again? ’Cause I’m available. Even if I’m dead.”

  Brian laughed and flopped back on the couch.

  Rex sat across from him. “You look happy. Like, over the moon, in love happy.”

  “Don’t ruin it by warning me to cut her loose. I had the best weekend of my life. I’m due the afterglow.”

  “True. I mean, damn, son. She had me coming hard.”

  “That’s my Faith.” Brian smiled. “But you think of touching one hair on her head, and I’ll rip you apart.”

  Rex rolled his eyes. “Come on, Brian. I know you. You don’t do casual. Not in more than ten years.”

  “Exactly.”

  “But you need to be careful with this one. From all Derrick has told me—”

  “Warren has a big mouth.”

  “—she’s a little skittish. Not that you could prove that Friday night. Shee-it.”

  Brian laughed again.

  “I just don’t want you hurt. You took a nosedive with Sienna.”

  Brian scoffed. “That was college.”

  “Yeah, but she still hurt you. Using you to get to your dad. Then you had all those women fawning over you for your dough once you made your career happen.” Rex had been his go-to guy whe
n Brian needed an ear to bend. “Now there’s Faith, who isn’t into money or power or your connections. So if she nails you in the balls, I’m thinking you’re down for the count.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Killjoy.”

  “Sorry, man. I worry, that’s all.”

  “Well, worry about yourself. You’re thirty-four and single. And I know for a fact your parents want grandkids.”

  Rex flinched. “Not from me. Not yet. I’ve been so busy that I barely have time for even a quick fuck anymore.”

  “Sad.”

  “I know, right?” He sighed. “Thanks for the invite Friday. You know I’m like a vault. Nothing comes out you don’t want anyone to know. She didn’t see my face, anyway. I swear I won’t say a thing.”

  “I know you won’t. I trust you.” Brian arched a brow. “I also know you’ve got plenty of your own secrets.” He paused. “I know about Pete.”

  Rex blinked and turned beet red. “You do?”

  “Yep. I knew about him and all the others. That frat house was like a bordello. Everyone knew.”

  “About Pete?”

  Funny how high Rex’s voice could rise. “No, dumbass. That the frat house had a policy of not asking questions and keeping quiet about shit. I’m just telling you that I know things I’d never tell. You’re my best friend. That’s a rare thing for a guy like me to have.”

  Rex rubbed his chin. “You mean, for guys like us. Being in the spotlight isn’t easy. And my parents are just as conservative as your dad.”

  “Yeah, but they love you.”

  “They love who they think I am,” Rex said with a hint of bitterness. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

  “Oh?”

  “I wanted you to know I have a meeting this week with HLE.”

  Faith’s company.

  Rex nodded as if reading his mind. “Faith Sumner is my business liaison. Just wanted you to know.”

  Brian sat up and stared at Rex.

  “Hey, not my doing. I had my guys look into alternative shipping to cut costs, and HLE is the best. So happens the boss is assigning me his best—who happens to be Faith. I wanted you to know so you didn’t get weird on me.”

  “You can’t tell her about Friday.”

  Rex scowled. “I already said I wouldn’t. I’m not stupid.”

  “Not as stupid as you look, you mean,” Brian corrected.

  “Fuck you.”

  “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I have to figure out how to get the woman to open up more than her body. Any tips on how to get closer?”

  “That’s funny, you asking me for advice.”

  “I know. I’m desperate and tired.”

  “Yeah, no doubt worn out from that weekend marathon.” Rex sounded jealous, a balm to Brian’s ego. “My advice, since you’re so set on keeping this one, is to do stuff she likes to do. Women love that crap.”

  Just what Brian had planned. He could handle most her likes. But really, fishing? He shrugged, dedicated to getting under Faith’s defenses. He was going to claim her before someone else did. Only for Faith would he deal with worms, fishing lines and the boredom that came with them. But if she really wanted to fish, maybe he could work nudity into their excursion, somehow.

  Chapter Eight

  Two days later, Brian sat next to Faith on the shore of the lake and tried to appear interested as she explained the merits of one bait over another. He must have failed because she frowned.

  “Am I boring you?”

  “Oh, um, not at all. I’m fascinated by your skills.”

  She scowled, then reluctantly smiled. “Brian, why are we here?”

  “To be together.”

  “We could have gone out to dinner.”

  “I wanted to do what you wanted to.”

  The shy smile she gave made him want to sigh and hold her forever. “I appreciate that.”

  “Good. Because I’m not into worms.”

  She laughed. “I’m not either, but the fish seem to like them.”

  They sat by a private lake at her favorite fishing spot, far away from the rest of the world. Here, in this tiny section of rural Georgia surrounded by trees and the inky darkness of night illuminated by a full moon, he felt as if nothing but the two of them existed. Even better, she hadn’t tried to avoid him or ignore his calls after Sunday. She’d accepted his offer to accompany her tonight without hesitation.

  After a few moments, she asked, “So are you okay with what we did this weekend?”

  “Yes. You?”

  She nodded. “I just... I don’t want you to think I do that with everyone.”

  He raised a brow, and she turned bright red.

  “Well, I don’t. It’s kind of embarrassing, being turned on by being watched and bossed around.”

  “I don’t know. I thought it was pretty damn hot.”

  “So you don’t think I’m weird?”

  “Sure I do. Anyone who likes fishing has a screw loose. But the sex? Nah. That just makes you more attractive, that you like to be creative in bed.”

  She smacked his leg but didn’t do more than smile.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  Since Will you marry me? was probably too soon, he started with, “What’s your favorite color?”

  She gave him a look before answering. “Blue. Yours?”

  “Green.”

  She snorted. “Figures.”

  It took a moment to realize what she meant. “Damn it. Not because of money.”

  “Oh?”

  “Look in the mirror, moron. I like your eyes.”

  She opened her mouth, then closed it. “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh.” Liking the fact she’d taken the rebuke in stride—and with a blush he could see even in the moonlight—he continued. “Your favorite food?”

  “Ice cream.”

  He smiled. “Mine too.”

  “Favorite movie?” she asked.

  As they traded information, the intimacy deepened. The stars grew brighter, the air crisper. She ditched her poles for the blanket on the ground, and he joined her, tugging another blanket over them.

  “I like this,” she said.

  “The blanket or me?”

  “Hmm. Tough question.” After he tickled an answer out of her, she said, “You.”

  “Me too, Faith. I don’t plan on seeing anyone but you.”

  Silence, until she asked, “Is this your way of saying you want to be my boyfriend?”

  “I guess. Although boyfriend sounds so high school.”

  “I know.” She hugged him closer. “I’m not seeing anyone but you. And I’m not a fan of dating multiple people.”

  “Good. So we’re exclusive.” Brian didn’t want to dance around the issue. It was too important to him.

  “Yes.”

  He grinned. “Then can I ask you for a favor?”

  “Ha. I knew there had to be something more to this.”

  “Oh? Besides wanting you all to myself?”

  “Yeah.”

  “See? You know me well.” Brian kissed her. “I told you I don’t get along well with my father. But I’m trying to be a good son.”

  “No pun intended.”

  “A play on ‘Goode’? Really?”

  She grinned at him, and he continued, “Anyway, my father has some stupid fund-raiser he’s throwing for a charity next week, and I’ve been invited.”

  “Have fun.”

  “Faith.”

  “Brian.”

  He blew out a breath. “I want you to go with me. As my date.”

  She tensed. “I don’t know...”

  “Please? Otherwise I’ll have to go and be at the mercy of rich society snots. They can get so clingy, touchy-feely, and—”

  “Fine. I’ll go. But I won’t like it.”

  He kissed her, pleased when she opened her mouth to accept his tongue. “Hmm. I won’t like it either.”

  “So convince me why I should go.” Her hand slid down to his fl
y and hugged his erection.

  He sucked in a breath. “Shit, woman. Don’t you know it’s dangerous to play with snakes?”

  She laughed. “I don’t think this one is venomous. I’ve sucked the poison out before.”

  He groaned. “You trying to make me come in my jeans, is that it?”

  “You make me laugh, Brian.” She let him go and scooted over his body to kiss him. “I like that. I like you.”

  She made him feel so good. “I like you too. A lot.” I love you. They’d come so far in so little time.

  “I want to make love to you out here.” She put her hands between them again and shimmied out of her jeans and panties beneath the blanket. Then she pushed down his jeans and underwear, trapping his bare cock between her legs.

  “Christ, Faith. You keep handling me, I won’t last two seconds.”

  “I like you hungry for it.”

  “Not it—you.”

  Her eyes warmed. “Make love to me right here.”

  “Anything for you.” He kissed her, loving her with his mouth.

  She did all the work, settling herself over him and taking him in one slick surge.

  He bucked up, moaning into her mouth, but she gave him no quarter as she slowly rode him, taking him all the way inside her before she eased off, almost, but never quite separating them.

  He kissed his way to her throat, her ear, and whispered, “There’s absolutely nothing better than making love to you. I love being inside you, baby.”

  She hitched her breath and slammed over him.

  “Touch yourself,” he urged. “I want you to come with me.”

  She levered up to look down at him, and everything inside him hungered for her. He raised a hand to cup her breast, still covered by her sweater, and she reached between them to finger herself while they made love.

  “You feel so good inside me, Brian. God, yes. Fill me up.”

  His climax neared, but he wanted her with him. Always with him.

  “Come for me. Yeah, all over me.” He gripped her hips, the urgency so close. He couldn’t stop the swell of pleasure as it crushed him into a mind-blowing orgasm. Her small cry hit him as he eased down, and he watched her grind over him while she came, so moved by the woman he could cry.