The Wrangler (The Yacht Club #2)

Chapter 11

Eleven

SJ POV

Amy fills my cup of coffee while I slather one of her delicious lavender scones with lemon curd. I’ve got to do a workout today—a long one. Get my head on straight, because Alex literally has me tied in knots. An extended yoga session will do the trick to clear the confusion and get rid of some the pastry calories I’ve been consuming.

“Are you packed?”

“What?”

“For the weekend in Colorado Springs. Pandora? I assumed you were going. For research.”

If I go, there’s no way I won’t be bound in Alex’s ropes and naked in his bed. It was a close thing last time, there’s no way I could resist after I’ve gotten to know him better, after I’ve found the taste for being tied up. The way he bound my arms, so tenderly, so tight, with perfect precision and symmetry. The effect was nearly overwhelming, the urge to drop to my knees—I choke on a crumb of scone. Tyler pats my back until I can take a breath. A sip of coffee helps to clear the sensation of airless panic. I wipe the tears from my eyes. “I have to work this weekend. My editor is not happy with my progress. He’s given me an extension, if I can stay a little longer?”

“Of course. I don’t have anyone else booked for the room. In fact you’ll likely be the last guest we take before the resort opens.”

Relief swamps me until I realize I’ll have to ask my uncle for permission to stay as well. But that can wait. “I’d love to go to Pandora again, maybe before I leave?”

“Sure. And don’t worry about this weekend, Tyler and I can stay here.” Amy plasters a fake smile on her face. Tyler flashes a frown at me but nods reassuringly at Amy.

Stone has an unreadable expression and Eliot and Cade are ignoring everything, filling their plates.

“I’ll stay.” Alex’s voice is behind me and I jump in my seat, hopefully not enough to notice. But I’m sitting next to Tyler and he’s looking at me like I’m a clue on a murder board. “I’ll take point on the inn so you and Tyler can go. Besides, I found a fireproof door in stock in Denver. I’ve got it on hold, but that crew isn’t available again for a couple weeks and they’ll only hold it for forty-eight hours. Gabe and I are getting it tomorrow. I’ll probably finish up the painting too.”

Not good. He’s who I’m trying to avoid. I shoot a plaintive look to Amy, but her focus is on Stone. His expression hasn’t altered—blank slate.

Amy’s gaze flits from Tyler to the buffet, to Alex and she swipes a hair that escaped from her ponytail. “I have plenty of food, eggs and bacon. And there are bagels in the freezer, just need to be thawed and toasted they should be great. Cream cheese is in the same bin as the butter.”

Alex grips her in a one-armed side hug. “I got this. Managed to feed myself for years before coming out here. And I promise not to let SJ starve either.”

“She skips meals,” Amy says.

Are they seriously talking about me in front of me?

“I know,” Alex nods. How could he know. He’s never here. And why would he bother to notice? “I promise to make sure she’s taken care of and has plenty of writing time. I’ll even make her lunch when I make mine so we can both have sack lunches.” His tone is teasing and he’s slanting one of his sweet, Southern-charm grins at me. And dang it , it works.

Why does he have to be so nice? So adorable? He’s supposed to be a monster. It would be so much easier if he acted like what he was. Or maybe not. Maybe I can’t condemn someone for their past when I know how situations can spiral out of control in seconds.

After breakfast, I hide in my room and actually write in between long session of staring at my keyboard. Not sure I can do this. Actually get an entire novel written. It’ll probably be horrible. But I have to try. The book was the reason I came out here. Maybe not the reason my uncle sent me, but I didn’t know when I hopped on the plane. At least by writing the book, I’m not a complete liar, only mostly.

There’s a rush after lunch, suitcases dragging from the rooms and down the stairs. Conversations in the hall about where they’re staying and if Cade and Eliot need a hotel room. It hits me that these people are a family. They care for each other in all the ways a family should. All the ways my family used to. Before I told the secret that made my dad and mom to divorce. Before Alyss moved away from Texas with her mom. Before I made the worst decision of my life and my creepy uncle started holding the photos he took over my head.

Was my family ever really normal or was it just the make-believe innocence of my childhood? Do Cade and Eliot and Amy and Tyler realize what they are to each other? Does Stone? What will happen to this family when I take Alex from them? Can I do that? Break them apart for a man who claims to be my family but who isn’t interested in protecting me at all?

My gut churns and the little bit of food I ate at Amy’s insistence threatens to reappear. The book can wait, I have to lie down right now.

Heavy footsteps coming up the stairs rouse me from the half-dreaming state I’ve been lazing about in. I must have slept for hours because the summer sun is brilliant but low in the sky. Any minute sunset will paint the sky in oranges and reds before the stars blink into being. I should get up and at least open sheers. Appreciate this beautiful space before I ruin it and my chances for coming back someday.

I drag myself out of bed. Everyone left hours ago, so it must be Alex I heard. I wash my face and freshen my makeup for dinner. The hallway of the inn feels colder, wider, and so empty. I glance to my left, toward Alex’s room. I should go downstairs and wait for him. But when I step out of my room, I turn in his direction. With slow, hesitant steps, I close the distance.

His door gapes the tiniest bit, like he shoved it closed but it didn’t latch. A deep grunt filters into the hallway and hits my neck as if it was my throat making the sound, shooting a sensation of longing and seduction right into my brain. What is he doing? I can’t really see inside unless I were to lean on the door or maybe knock. But I don’t want to disturb him. Another grunt or moan. Is there a word for both? Not really a great time to search the thesaurus.

“Fuck. SJ.”

That does it. I place my palm on the door and push.

Oh. My. Fucking. Damn.

Alex, is fully stretched out on the bed, naked. Muscles in his arms rippling as he strokes the most gorgeous cock I’ve ever seen with one hand and grasps the headboard with the other. That dim encounter in the hotel between the rooms while he hid himself behind his hands didn’t prepare me for hard, masturbating Alex. The way the muscles in the V of his pelvis would tense and relax as fucks his hand. The way his entire body arches up with need. He’s fucking glorious.

“SJ,” he grunts as his come splash over his hand on to his laddered abs.

I must make a noise, because he bolts up, grabbing the towel next to him and covering himself. So disappointing.

“Tie me.” I’m not sure why that’s what I say, but it’s the most true thing in this moment. I want him to tie me to the bed and fuck me senseless until I come as hard as he did.

“What? What are you doing?” Alex drops his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been doing that. Give me a minute and I’ll clean up. We can have dinner and?—”

“I want you to tie me up.”

He jerks his attention to me, his eyes wide. “No way.”

I slip off my shirt and drop it to the ground. “Please?”

He shakes his head, his gaze locked on my chest.

“There’s nothing stopping us.” I unclasp my bra and cup myself with my hands.

Alex blinks, he finally looks at me. I peel away the fabric and let the straps slide down my shoulders. He grips the towel and presses down on his cock. Nice recovery. I prop a breast in each hand, lifting them and pinch each nipple between my thumb and forefinger until I gasp and arch into the pain that shoots into my pussy. “You made me so wet.”

“What are you doing?”

I drop my hands and pop the button on my shorts. “Guess.”

“You shouldn’t.”

The zipper rasps as I pull the tab. A moment later, the fabric is pooled at my bare feet. I step out. Closer to him.

“We can’t”

I slip my fingers inside my panties and pull the wetness onto my clit, slow easy circles, never taking my gaze from his. Faster. My fingers move to match my need.

“Stop.”

His command freezes me.

“Show me.”

Oh fuck yes. I free my hand and stuff my juicy fingers in my mouth. Alex groans. His lips are on mine. I barely saw him move. A kiss so hot. But too quick it’s over. He drops to his knees at my feet. My panties are in his hands, down my legs.

“Step out.”

With pleasure. I grip his shoulder for balance and follow his instruction, gladly. He’s so damn tall, his eyes are practically right at boob level. But he’s not interested in boobs, he lifts my leg and plants it on his shoulder, spreading me open. Before I can figure out what’s happening I’m cradled in his arms, one arm along my spine, the other holding my ass. I’m not going anywhere. He’s locked me down without ropes. “I have to taste you.”

It sounds like a request. I nod.

“Words”

“Yes, Alex. Taste me.” Eat me. Make me come on your tongue. I squirm in his hold not quite believing I said any part of that out loud.

He places a scorching kiss at the apex of my opening, teases my clit with the tip of his tongue and hums his delight.

I’m done for. Putty in his hands. Completely at his mercy.

Slow and certain. Tracking every twitch, every response I give him. He builds my climax, and retreats before I can go over. Again. Each rasp of his tongue, each twist of his mouth, each nuzzle of my pussy done with such deliberate intensity, I beg. “Please Alex, please let me come.”

He gazes up at me, the lust that wraps me in a tight cocoon radiates from him. I’m an extension of his arms, his plaything. His arms tighten around me and he returns to his work like a man possessed.

“Please.” I chant the word on repeat, lost in the pleasure he’s constructing like a cage around me, building the walls, sealing the doors. I’m trapped completely in his care, nothing to do but feel and beg. He sucks so hard on my clit, I feel the tug rip my heart from it’s anchor in my chest and I scream with the release of the pressure. He laps at me as my pussy floods his face.

Suddenly I’m flying. In his arms. He’s standing, moving me to the bed, following me down. My other leg over his shoulder and he buries his face between my legs again.

“I can’t.”

He presses two fingers deep inside me and twists. “You will.”

“Oh damn.” He’s right, I will come again for him. As many times as he demands.

He eats me to orgasm twice more before I beg him to stop. His cock is so hard when he stands by the side of the bed. He didn’t fuck me. I slide my hand through the mess he made and use my juices to stroke his length. He puts his knee on the bed, covers my hand with his, increasing the pressure, showing me what he likes. He leans forward and rubs the tip across my lips. My body stiffens and I turn my head. I can’t help it. I try to stroke him again, but he holds me in place as he places distance between us.

“Talk to me.” Alex’s voice is soft but still in command. He hasn’t released my hand, I’m still holding his hot length, but everything has stopped. “We clearly hit a limit. So I need you to talk to me right now.”

I blink at the wall and swallow down my disappointment in myself. Why can’t I get over this? Why do I feel shame about what someone else did to me? Why does it still matter? “I don’t give blow jobs. I should have said something before I let you eat me out, but?—”

“Stop.” He grips my chin, turns my head, and waits until I meet his gaze. “I ate your delicious peach of a pussy because I wanted to. Has nothing to do with you sucking my dick.”

“All men want blow jobs.” Or pictures of them.

“Doubt it. I’m sure there are some who don’t like it for whatever reason. Who cares why. Don’t matter. If you don’t want to do something, that’s enough of a reason. Just tell me. Talk to me.” He caresses my face so tenderly.

He’s not a monster. No matter what my uncle thinks, he’s wrong. Alex is a good man. I slide my hand up his cock. “Don’t let this be over. I want to make you feel good. I want to be with you, Alex.”

“Wait.” He takes a step back.

Fuck, I’ve lost him. If only I could get over my resistance to this one act.

He grabs a bottle from the night stand. “We need a little help.” He holds my hand palm up and squirts out some of the lube, cold at first, but quickly warming against my skin. With a quick nudge, he makes room on the bed to straddle me on his knees, his cock in full glory. Apparently my lack of oral desire didn’t dampen his ardor a bit. I grip him as hard as he showed me and work him up and down, learning every vein, every bump, savoring the way his skin shifts over the steely core. His hips move to my rhythm. He’s over me, topping me, but somehow giving me control. A smile forms on my lips and I speed up taking ownership of his pleasure the way he owned mine. I cup his heavy balls. Playing a little and get a moan from him. Yeah, that’s it. I swirl my hand over his crown with every stroke, adding pressure as if he was riding me, inside of me. His cock weeps with pleasure, adding to the lube. I speed my motions, adding heat, following the silent demands of his body.

“Fuck. Fuck. SJ. I’m gonna come so hard. Do it, baby. Make me come all over those glorious tits.”

“Yes.” I draw his length down, pointing the tip toward my chest, working his length. He grips my hand again, takes control and his body freezes in a roar as the first release arcs across my skin. Each shuddering shot paints me with his hot pleasure. The satisfaction of bringing this man to ecstasy makes me glow. He frees himself from my grip and I gaze into his eyes as I rub his come into my skin, over my nipples, squeezing my flesh to burnish him into my body. I don’t have to swallow him to infuse him into me.