Page 58 of Pick Me This Time

I arched my back to press my chest harder against his mouth as I wrapped my fingers around a thick, very hard, very hot shaft, and started stroking up and down. Sterling’s moans quickly started matching my own, running into one another as the pleasure consumed us both.

The orgasm I felt building was powerful, and when it released, I almost shouted, my toes curling and elation shooting through me like lightning. Sterling was there with me, jets of his release filling my hand as he let out a low, long groan.

As our bodies relaxed, he kissed me again, then pulled me into his arms and dropped another kiss on top of my head. “Sleep now, baby. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Without another word, I drifted off to sleep.

Slowly drifting into consciousness the next morning, the first thing I was aware of was that I was hot. A slight glow told me that it was morning, but the heat didn’t make sense. I tried rolling over, only to realize that the heat was coming from bands wrapped around my arms and legs.

Strong, warm bands holding me tight to a wall in bed behind me, and that was when it all came rushing back. Sterling.

My heart jumped into a higher gear, a smile spreading on my lips as I finally opened my eyes. He stayed!

The butterflies in my stomach woke up, zooming around happily. I relaxed back against him, closing my eyes once more to drink in the moment. His body was so hot and firm against mine, and he was holding me.

His steady, even breathing suggested he was still asleep—with me in his arms, while he held me like he’d never let go. My smile spread wider and I let out a soft sigh.

I can’t believe he stayed!

My insides threw a party and I turned slowly in the circle of those strong arms, careful not to wake him but wanting just a moment to see him while he slept. The sight didn’t disappoint. With his strong features relaxed and his eyes closed, he looked younger, long black lashes resting against the smooth skin beneath his eyes.

His dark hair was messy, sticking up in all directions. Heat flashed through me when I wondered if it was from my fingers or if he looked like this every morning. Something told me it wasn’t quite this mussed every morning, though.

I remembered pushing my fingers into those thick strands, tugging them through it and holding on as he brought my body to heights I’d never experienced before. Heat settled firmly between my legs. I squirmed, knowing there was every chance he was going to jump up and run as soon as he woke, apologizing profusely for having made a big mistake.

But there was also the tiniest possibility that he wouldn’t. That he’d wake up, pull me even closer, and kiss me again. Slide his hands down to the waistband of my panties and⁠—

“Good morning,” he murmured suddenly, yanking me out of what had fast been becoming an erotic daydream. “Penny for your thoughts?”

I blinked hard, focusing on those glittering, deep brown pools as they stared into my eyes with a mix of heat and amusement in them. He wasn’t running yet, though. I supposed that was an encouraging sign.

“Good morning,” I said quietly, almost whispering so I wouldn’t break the moment. Our noses were so close together they were almost touching. Our gazes locked as we lay tangled together. I gave him a slow, hopefully playful smile. “I’d love to tell you, but it might be better if I showed you.”

It was a bold move, propositioning him with the light of day slowly creeping from my windows to my bed, but that was why I’d hoped the smile was playful. If it was and he rejected me, I could always say I’d just been joking.

Sterling stared silently back at me for a beat before he finally ran his hand from the small of my back to my cheek, cupping it. He moved his head closer to my own. My pulse spiked, that heat becoming an inferno as I anticipated feeling his lips against mine again, but just before it happened, Eric’s voice filtered in from outside.

“Yeah, Mom. I know it’s early, but she’s always awake by now,” he called. “If she’s sleeping, it’s fine, but I need her help, so I figured it was better to stop by.”

My entire body froze, my lips parting in shock as even my eyelids forgot how to move. Sterling’s eyes widened, but his lips curled into a cheeky grin before he smacked a quick kiss on my mouth anyway.

“To be continued,” he whispered and rolled away from me, getting up and out of my bed. Then he mouthed, “Where can I hide?”

I sat bolt upright, my hand shooting toward the closet. “In there. Quick.”

A couple knocks rang out from my door and I slid my legs off the bed and reached for a shirt on the floor. After shoving it over my head, I called out. “Coming! Just a minute.”

Sterling pulled his pants on over his underwear and grabbed his shirt as he darted to my closet. The next thing I knew, I heard my front door opening and my heartrate kicked up another notch.

“Daph? Are you in here?” my brother’s voice rang out, much closer now as he entered my little house. “Daphne?”

I cringed, hurrying over to my dresser and grabbing the first pair of shorts I spotted. “I’m here. I said I was coming!”

“I didn’t hear you,” Eric said just as Sterling disappeared into the closet, the door closing only seconds before Eric knocked at my half-open bedroom door. “Are you decent?”

“Just give me a minute,” I said irritably, trying and failing to swallow my annoyance over his unexpected appearance and how pushy he was being about it. “The sun’s barely up. What’s going on?”

“My receptionist caught that flu that’s going around,” he replied, staying outside my room, his view of the inside shielded by the partly closed door, but he was right there. I could hear how close he was. “Do you think you’ll be able to help me out at the garage today?”