Page 74 of Praising the Pitcher

Her chest rises and falls, and her eyes are soft, almost looking right through me and straight into my soul.

“And now?” she asks quietly. “Now what do you think?”

My eyes float to her lips, but I only allow myself to keep my gaze there for a few seconds, knowing if I do any longer, I’ll have my mouth on hers. After the shit I pulled the past few days, she may not want that. And if she doesn’t, I’d have to respect it.

Even though it would fucking suck.

“And now … I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything or anyone the way I want you, Smoke. I was so sick earlier when you were out with—” I can’t even bring myself to say his name, afraid she kissed him but knowing I’m in no position to ask her. “Him,” is all I say before I drop my face closer to hers, our lips almost brushing. “You consume every thought now. And even though I’m scared of fucking it up, afraid to risk showing you my insecurities, I’m almost more scared not to. Because the thought of you not being around me?” I cringe. “I can’t fucking stand it.”

Her eyes cloud with tears, and her brows pinch slightly together.

“You want me?” Her lip trembles as she asks the question.

“So fucking bad, Gigi.” I slide my hand to her cheek. “So. Fucking. Bad.”

A single tear floats down her cheek when she blinks a few times. Nodding once, she tilts her chin up the slightest bit more, and with that little bit of movement, she brushes her lips to mine.

“Then kiss me, King,” she whispers, and my cock throbs as the blood quickly flows south.

TWENTY-SEVEN

GIGI

Noah’s hard dick presses against me as he kisses me harder. The back of my head aches from being pushed against the wall, but I don’t care because I don’t want this to stop.

I don’t want him to stop.

Part of me is scared—afraid he’ll freak out again and run out of here like he did the other day at his parents’ house. I don’t know if my heart could take that again because wow, that hurt. But the need to be close to him cripples the fear, making me unable to form a logical thought.

I’ve had sex one time, but aside from that, I’ve had to rely on my fingers and my toys to bring me pleasure. And yeah, I’ve gotten pretty good at it. But Noah hasn’t even touched between my thighs yet and I know this is going to blow anything I’ve ever felt before clear out of the water.

Roughly lifting me up, he walks across the room and drops me down onto my bed.

“Tell me,” his deep voice commands gruffly. “Tell me what you want, Smoke.”

“You,” I say instantly, not even needing a second to ponder it. “I want you to—” Suddenly, the shyness I always seem to carry comes back.

“It’s okay,” he coos, his hands now on my ankles as he looks down at me through a hazy gaze. “You are strong and worthy, Gigi. Tell me, with your own words, what you want from me.”

“Right now, or …” My voice trails off.

Right now, I want to feel him inside me. I want to know what sex—the good kind—feels like. After tonight, though, I want him to be my boyfriend. I want him to take me on dates, and I want to fall asleep beside him. I want to wake him up in the middle of the night by pressing my naked body up against his. I want to be with him on holidays and every day in between.

I can’t blurt all that out though. I don’t want to scare him away.

“Both, beautiful,” he murmurs, running his hands higher up my legs. “Right now. Tomorrow. Next month. Hell, a year from now. Tell me it all.”

I chew my lip bashfully.

“Well, right now, I’d like to feel what it’s like to … you know.” I freeze up again, feeling so damn timid.

“Use your words, Gigi,” he murmurs softly. “Whatever it is, all you have to do is tell me and I’ll give it to you. Anything at all.” He blinks slowly. “It’s just me, and I will never judge you.”

“I want you to … fuck me,” I force out, trying to channel the female characters I read in my books who are so brave. They take the initiative, say what they want. “I want to know what real sex feels like with someone I—” My voice cuts off. “Someone I actually care about.”

In an instant, he’s dragging in a sharp breath as a curse slips from his lips.

“You’re sure?” he asks, watching for any tell that I’m not. He won’t find it though. Not even a hint.