The bubbling flame exploded into bright white shards of lightning that flashed, so hot and so bright, she shattered. Incredible pleasure rippled through her. Over her. She couldn’t breathe or think. Could only enjoy the scintillating sensations rolling through her blood. Her veins had turned into conductors of the most intimate electricity, that her fingertips buzzed. Her nipples were hard as rocks, but as sensitive as butterfly wings.
Too soon, the fireworks faded into stars, and she was falling with them. But what a rush! Ashley drew in a panting breath, effervescence still popping under her skin, her core drenched with a need for more Tripp. He’d done that to her. And she liked it.
“Fudge,” she huffed, her chest rising and her bare breasts still happy in his very capable hands.
He grinned down at her, the handsomest smile splitting his tired face. “The first time should always be the best.”
If she’d died and gone to heaven, right then and there, Ashley couldn’t have been happier than she was inside Tripp’s arms. “Is it always like this?”
“It can be,” he replied. His cheeks ballooned, as he blew over her wet nipple. She shivered, and of course, the needy little beggar perked right up, turned hard and sensitive. He ran the tip of his tongue over it, then turned his attention to her other breast, lighting some kind of connection between it and her core.
Ashley held onto his broad shoulders while tremors of delight raced over her. It was happening again. She was coming undone at just the touch of his tongue. “Tripp, I’m… Wow, I’m… I think I’m... doing it again.”
“Then fly,” he commanded gruffly. Adding fuel to her fire, he slid one hand down her body and slipped one finger inside of her. “Fuck! You’re so tight. I know you can do it.”
She could. She did! Ashley flew so sweet and so high, the heart-stopping intensity of this second orgasm rocked her world and stole every last breath. Tears brimmed, even as she blinked them away.
“You’re so ready for me,” Tripp murmured, his voice guttural and deep. He lifted his head. He was watching her now, his eyes dark forest green, his pupils blown. “But if we go all the way, it’s going to hurt. This is your first time, and I’m afraid—”
“Don’t be afraid,” she whispered. “Please, Tripp, don’t be afraid. I’m not, and I don’t want to hide anymore. Not from you.”
The hunger in his eyes softened, but this man was thinking too much. Ashley cupped his angular jaw in her hands, loving the soft brush of scruff under her fingertips. The tenderness glimmering in his eyes was so much more than she’d experienced or had ever believed a man capable of. Until this moment, they’d all been users and losers. Braggarts and bullies. Or indifferent professionals, like her boss.
Could this tremendously high, weightless feeling be love? Probably not. She’d given up that pipe dream long ago, after watching her mom work her heart out for nothing but to get up the next day and do it all over again. Nothing good had come out of her mother’s sad relationship, except for Ashley. Whatever she did with the rest of her life, she refused to live one more day being afraid. No. More!
“Are you sure?” Tripp was biting his bottom lip again, scraping his top teeth over it. Worrying it. Adorable, simply adorable.
“Yes,” she told him. Feeling brave, she slid one hand between their bodies and past the waistband of his boxers. “I’m darned sure, Tripp. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Damn, he was tired, and if he’d been smart, he would’ve been asleep by now. But Tripp couldn’t help grinning at Ashley’s courageous declaration to ‘do this.’ What man could resist an invitation like that? Not him. But when her fingers circled his cock without hesitation... When she tightened her grip… He purred like a damned tame housecat. She’d known what she was doing. She’d planned to seduce him, maybe not this morning, but today. Unfortunately...
“I’ve got no condoms with me,” he had to tell her. “Don’t suppose you have any handy.”
“I… I…” Her head bobbed, and there was that sultry smile again. “As a matter of fact, yes, I do. I’m the outreach coordinator for the Health Department, remember? I’ve got free samples.” She made that sound like she’d just solved world peace.
He fell, right then and there, into the prettiest, most sincere, sapphire blue pools he’d ever come across. There was no way to catch himself or stop the freefall. For the first time in his life, Tripp was in over his head. “You do, huh?”
“Yes, I do. At least, I’ll give some away if I ever notify someone face-to-face again. They’re in the other room. I have a whole box!” She sounded so damned pleased with herself.
He grinned at the sassy woman in his arms. Everything about her was different now. From her feminine clothes and shoes, to the sexy as fuck underwear he’d peeled off her. She’d even left her hair loose and was wearing a titch of lipstick and blush. Which she hadn’t needed. Her lips were plenty swollen and wet, the loveliest shade of just-been-kissed pink, and after two orgasms, there wasn’t one part of her body not blushing.
“You want me to get them?” she asked.
“Yeah, sure. I mean…” Her body was thrumming with need that, suddenly, Tripp’s wasn’t exactly feeling. He dropped his face between her breasts and breathed. Just breathed. God, it had been a long, hard day and night. The scents he loved best, cherries and Ashley, filled the cracks in his heart. The cracks he’d known were there, but hadn’t truly allowed himself to acknowledge until
