by Shayla Black
“Is that an invitation?” She turned to smile at him.
Willow froze. Unlike earlier in the evening when she’d teased him, he wasn’t flustered now. The way he was looking at her, it made it hard to breathe. He took a step toward her, then another until her chest brushed his when she inhaled. Then he took a third step, forcing her back until she ran into the dresser.
“What if it was?” he said in a low rumble.
All at once her body flushed hot. It was that tone, the way he was staring at her.
She swallowed and tipped her chin up, giving in to the seductive pull of the moment.
“If it was, I might be interested.” She slid her hands down his chest.
Before she got to his jeans, Keegan grasped her by the wrists and pulled her hands away from him. He held her wrists behind her back, his arms around her in a cage she didn’t want to escape. His nose bumped her cheek and a lock of his hair that had come free from the elastic holding it back brushed her skin. She shivered and licked her lips.
“Might be?” he parroted back to her in a husky whisper.
With another man she might play coy or even disinterested. But this was Keegan. She wasn’t kidding anyone when it came to what she wanted from him.
She sighed and leaned against him. “Oh, I’m very interested.”
His thumbs rubbed against her wrists and he looked down at her, those hazel-blue eyes of his twinkling.
“How did a virgin get to be so good at seduction?” she asked.
His chin dipped and he glanced away, his cheeks flushing. “I might have a plan.”
“A plan? Did you research this plan?”
“Maybe?”
“How does one research seduction? Because I’ll be honest, I’m very turned on right now.” She tugged at his hold on her wrists.
“I read things,” he answered honestly. The pink tinge of his skin hadn’t gone away and she decided that she liked his honesty.
Of course he’d research. Normal guys watched a bit of porn, but not Keegan. She was curious just how thorough he’d been, and what he wanted to try. Exploring pleasure with him wouldn’t be a hardship.
“Oh? What kind of things? Should I quiz you?” She pressed closer to him, lifting her chin.
He straightened just enough so she couldn’t reach his mouth. “Are you volunteering to help me study?”
Willow’s whole body screamed a resounding, Yes!
“I think I’m willing to help further your education.” She grinned at him. “What did you read about first?”
He didn’t shy away from looking at her. “Erogenous zones.”
She could practically feel him touching her everywhere, and all he was doing was holding her wrists. “And what did you learn?”
Once more his thumbs rubbed circles against her inner wrists. “That I think I’d like to touch a few.”
“One condition?” She held tight to the few brain cells that hadn’t drowned in lust already.
Keegan froze and frowned. “What?”
“Take your shirt off. I want to touch you, too.”
He looked down at her for a moment, his frown fading.
This was different. Everything about the intimacy of this moment was heightened, and yet she didn’t feel any uncertainty or nerves. It was perfect.
Keegan lowered his head, his lips sealing over hers. His hand cupped her cheek and his tongue teased her mouth. That was one erogenous zone he had down pat.
He stepped away from her and she was glad for the dresser at her back. Without it she might have slid to the floor.
Keegan pulled his shirt off, then tossed it on a chair in the corner of the room. She hated the scars, the pain he’d gone through. What mattered was that he was alive, and here.
“Where do you want to start?” she asked.
He reached out and took her hand in his, turning it over so he could look at her palm. Without answering, he lifted her hand to his face and pressed a gentle kiss to the middle of her palm, all while staring into her eyes. Then he turned her hand over and kissed each knuckle. He did the same to her other hand.
Hands.
Who would have known hands were this sexy?
“Sit on the bed,” he said.
Willow was glad to get off her feet. Her legs just weren’t capable of holding her up anymore.
She let him guide her to the side of the big bed and sat on the edge. He kneeled on the rug in front of her and removed one boot then the other, followed by her socks. He studied her toes, his fingers running over the bottoms of her feet.
She tensed up. “I am way too ticklish for you to mess with my feet.”
“I know.” He glanced up at her and flashed a grin while his hands slid up her legs all the way to the hem of her sweater. “I’ll leave them alone this time.”
This time.
That sounded like a delicious threat.
His hands dipped under her sweater and she leaned back, granting him more access. He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her leggings then her panties and tugged them down her hips and legs.
“How about here?” He slid his hands up to cup the backs of her knees, his fingers drawing patterns against her skin.
Willow squirmed a bit. It was both sensual and ticklish, which made it hard to sit still.
Keegan grinned at her and relented. His hands coasted up her inner thighs. He wedged her legs farther apart, exposing her to him. Only, his gaze was on her face, not her pussy.
“How about here?” he asked.
“That’s always a good one.”
He arched a brow at her. “Really? You’re still squirming. Should I stop and never touch you here again?”
“Only if you don’t like getting laid, smart ass.”
His grin was bright and hungry, his eyes dancing. “I don’t have much experience in that area, but I liked it last time.”
Willow laughed and reached for him, sliding her hands over his shoulders and biceps. He leaned in, wrapping his arms around her waist, and tipped her face up. She bent her head and kissed him, winding her legs around him, holding him there against her.
His fingers pressed against the small of her back and she realized he hadn’t stopped. He was still searching out all the sensitive places, figuring out where she responded. That was what he’d been doing when he held her wrists.
Keegan really had put a lot of thought into this and that melted her heart that much more. There wasn’t a selfish bone in his body. She didn’t—could never—deserve a man like this. And yet here he was.
She’d be stupid to let him get away. If he wanted her, knowing full well what kind of a hot mess she’d been, then she was going to hang on to him, love him, be with him for as long as he wanted her.
Willow broke the kiss, but only to reach down and shimmy out of her sweater.
Keegan studied her breasts, not exactly hard since they were at eye level for him. “We aren’t to the torso yet, but I’m not going to complain.”
“Study time’s over. I think you’re more than ready for your quiz.” She reached behind her and released the catch on her bra.
“I don’t know. What if there’s a surprise question?” He looked up at her, somehow managing to seem so earnest. “We didn’t even cover the core areas.”
“Knowing you? You’ll get an A.” She grabbed his forearms and tugged. “Get up here.”
Maybe she should have let him keep the shirt. At least then she’d have had something to grab on to.
Keegan rose to his feet and leaned over her, his grin wicked. “I’d feel a lot better with just a bit more studying.”
“You’re going to kill me,” she whined, fully aware it was not becoming.
“I prefer you very much alive.” He draped his arms over her thighs, gripped her hips, and kissed her sternum, right between her aching nipples.
“Keegan.” She dug her hand in his hair.
He dipped his head, kissing down her stomach.
Maybe she’d see where this went?
He got to her navel and glanced up at her. “Lean back?”
Oh, God. He really was going to kill her with lust.
Willow eased back onto her elbows. Her stomach fluttered when Keegan kissed lower, to the juncture of her body and thigh. His hands coasted up her inner leg, fingers splaying. He applied just a tiny bit of pressure, easing her legs farther apart.
“You like your clit touched, yeah?” he asked, his attention now fully on her pussy.
“Yeah,” she managed to get out.
“How about here?” He slid his fingers along her labia.
“That’s okay. Mostly I just want you to fuck me already.”
He glanced up at her, his grin even wider. “Not yet.”
“Keegan,” she wailed.
“Sh.” He kissed her mound, his fingers exploring her folds, learning her shape, dipping into her wetness.
Willow eased back onto the bed and closed her eyes. It didn’t matter if he touched exactly the right spot, it was the intensity, the fact he cared to even try.
He slid a finger inside of her and she arched her back. “Did you know the opening of the vagina is called the A spot? Right here?”
He slid his finger in and out, focusing his pressure on the front wall of her channel. She lifted her hips up off the bed, her whole body throbbing with need. Her nipples ached and her skin was far too tight, the room way too warm.
Willow reached down and covered his hand with hers. She pressed down on his thumb, showing him how to touch her clit, all while his fingers glided in and out.
“Keegan,” she whispered.
He kissed her stomach, that sweet, gentle gesture tipping her over the edge into orgasm. She tightened her legs around him. Somehow she had one hand in his hair, dragging him up her body for a hungry kiss.
She wasn’t satisfied. She was hungry. For him.
“Study time is over,” she said.
He nipped her lower lip. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Get naked. Now.” She pushed him off her.
Keegan straightened and her gaze went to his jeans. There was no hiding that erection.
She watched as he freed himself, taking in the sight of him, committing it all to memory.
“You’re so beautiful,” he muttered.
Her gaze met his and her skin heated. He said the word beautiful with reverence, as if she was special.
Keegan shoved his clothes off while she scooted to the middle of the big bed. She watched in fascination as he took a condom from the nightstand, opened it, and rolled it on. Knowing him he’d even practiced that, and that only endeared him to her that much more.
She patted the bed. “Get over here.”
“You think I’ll ace my test?” He crawled onto the mattress.
“Oh, I do.”
Willow reached for him, but Keegan took her wrist in his hand once more, then the other one. He settled over her, her hands up over her head, his weight pressing her down into the fluffy comforter.
This was perfect.
It was too soon to tell him she loved him; she wasn’t ready to be that vulnerable. She knew the truth though.
“You’re amazing, Will,” he whispered.
“I think you’re pretty amazing yourself.”
He bent his head and kissed her, long and slow, until her toes curled. She hooked her leg over his hip and ground against him until he groaned.
“Keegan, I want you now,” she said, her lips brushing his as she spoke.
“Okay.” That word was shaky, his own lust finally showing through.
He let go of her wrists, but she kept her hands where they were, watching the top of his head as he looked down between their bodies. She felt the blunt head of his erection slide between her folds.
“There,” she whispered, moving her hips with him as he found her entrance.
“Yes,” she hissed and dug her heels into his ass. Not exactly subtle encouragement.
Keegan pressed into her, the delicious slow slide of his body against hers eliciting all kinds of good sensations. She finally brought her hands down to twine in his hair, pulling him to her for a kiss.
He thrust, sliding deep. She groaned and tightened her grip on him. His muscles tensed and for a moment they lay there, breathing deep as their bodies adjusted.
“You okay?” he whispered.
“So good.” She let go of his hair and slid her hands down his back.
Willow shifted her hips, rubbing against him. Keegan dropped his head to her shoulder and groaned.
“That feels too good,” he muttered.
“It feels better if you move.”
He pushed up on his elbows, his hair falling around his face, and smiled at her. “Can’t I just enjoy this?”
And just like that she wanted to live in this moment for the rest of her life.
He stared down at her, and she had to wonder how she hadn’t seen this. He said he’d had feelings for her since they were younger. Had she been willfully blind?
Keegan shifted his hips, his cock sliding out of her. He groaned and she watched the blue of his eyes shrink, overtaken by the blackness. She lifted her hips as he thrust.
He dropped his head to her shoulder and groaned.
“Keep doing that,” she managed to say.
And he did, proving that he was an excellent student. She let go of what she should and shouldn’t be doing or thinking, and just felt. Keegan wanted her before he’d had her body. This was about their relationship growing, becoming more, and sharing everything with him.
“Will,” he whispered into her ear, his voice strained.
She dug her nails into his ass, driving him deeper, and turned her face. He kissed her as he thrust, his motions jerkier now.
All at once pleasure washed over her, sweet and fulfilling.
Keegan’s body stiffened and his arms tightened around her, his mouth crushing into hers, and she knew her life would never be the same because of him. She was already better for having his friendship, but now she loved him. And that love was worth protecting, at any cost.
Keegan pulled the car up in front of the Eats and Treats bakery. The place had opened up not long after he’d graduated high school, so it was still the new and shiny place to him.
“Are you sure about this?” Willow asked.
He killed the engine and turned to look at her. She’d dressed in jeans, flip-flops, and a hoodie, her hair up in a ponytail. Her bottom lip was pinched between her teeth and she was staring at a line of people waiting at the glass case inside the little shop.
“We’re both hungry. What’s not to be sure about?” He was being obtuse on purpose.
Willow glared at him.
He reached for her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. Because he could and he liked the way she squirmed, sucked in a breath, or blushed. This time it was a bit of a squirm.
“Look, you said last night that Ingrid was going to tell the whole town. Why not get it over with?” He shrugged. “I don’t care who knows. In fact, maybe I could borrow that text app Dad uses to update the congregation? Just get it all over with in one go?”
Willow’s eyes went wide. “No. No way.”
“So, breakfast then?” Keegan chuckled and focused on keeping things light.
“Fine.”
He wanted nothing more than to stake his very public claim on Willow, and there were few ways to do that better than a public breakfast. But he knew her feelings were much more complicated.
Well-intended church folk had pulled him aside on plenty of occasions growing up to tell him about something Willow had supposedly done. They were looking out for him but often had their facts wildly wrong. So he understood that this was yet another thing for people to shame her about. He was hoping that the combination of them together might level things off a bit. But what did he know?
He got out of the car and met Willow on the sidewalk. He immediately held out his hand, watching her face, how her features softened. She cared abou
t him, might even love him back. He understood that their relationship was bringing her back into the public eye. She was the one who would have to deal with the brunt of it, no matter how he tried to mitigate things.
Maybe he should suggest her coming to Puerto Rico with him? Get away from all this? But what about her job and all she’d worked for?
He tucked that thought aside for later and led Willow into the bakery.
A curvy, dark-skinned woman braced her hands on the display case and leaned forward. She looked like Moana come to life, if Moana had wanted to be a small-town baker. “Hey there, Officer Taylor.”
“Hi,” Willow said and stepped into line.
Keegan glanced around the bakery. There were a few tables and chairs both inside and outside; only half were occupied. The display case had a decent offering of cookies, cupcakes, a few other treats he couldn’t identify, and a chocolate cake decorated within an inch of its life with curls, sprinkles, and little soccer flags.
The patrons were a mix. Two families with small children. An elderly couple. Two women he thought he recognized as the younger sisters of people he’d gone to high school with. And marching across the street were four of the L.O.L.s.
Keegan let go of Willow’s hand, opting instead for the more obvious arm around her waist. She was tense, probably braced for the worst. He wished he could make this easy for her, that they could just be happy. But that wasn’t reality, and in truth, he hoped people started talking about something else when it came to Willow. Like her community service, the way she’d overcome all the difficulties life had thrown at her. She was really amazing when he thought about it like that.
The door chimed as it became their turn at the counter. Willow stiffened a little but moved forward with him and placed their orders for lattes and muffins. When they turned around, it was to see Coralee along with three other deacons’ wives staring at them.
Keegan pasted on a smile. “Morning, ladies.”
He guided Willow away from the counter, then just because he could, kissed her cheek before steering her toward the small table in the corner.
“Oh my God,” Willow grumbled. “I’m going to kill Ingrid.”
He pulled out her chair, then sat himself while Willow continued to mutter.
“Are we sure Ingrid said anything?” He pulled out his phone. Experience had taught him that Ingrid had likely said something, but he also didn’t want to accuse her without proof.