Alone At Last Read online

  “Well stop! You’ve been a gentleman for ten years already.”

  She unzipped his jeans, maneuvered aside his satin boxers, and wrapped her fingers around his engorged member. James groaned at the sensation of her small hand around him.

  “Hope,” James whispered.

  She pumped him in her fist. His breathing became erratic and words failed. The sensation of her soft hands moving on his taught flesh made his entire body stiffen.

  “You’re so big,” sighed Hope, “even better than I imagined.”

  A guttural moan was his only response. He was barely breathing; moans and grunts were the only communications he could muster as he watched her handle him. Her empty hand began to dislodge the tortoise shell buttons on the shirt he’d thrown on after being kicked out of her room.

  Before James realized what he was doing, his hands joined in the effort. When they’d freed him of the fabric, Hope peeled off her own t-shirt. His mouth watered at the sight of her tanned breasts confined in a black satin bra. He wanted to trace his tongue over the mound but leaning forward would make her stop touching him. That wouldn’t do.

  Instead, he began to remove her jeans. By the time he’d gotten the zipper down and pushed the denim halfway down her ass, her handy work caused him pause. James growled. He was dangerously close to coating her hand.

  Hope yelped when he grabbed her waist and lifted her off his lap. James didn’t bother trying to explain; he just pulled off his pants and went to work getting hers off too.

  “How fucking tight are these things?” James grumbled.

  Hope shrugged. “Yeah…I’ve got more ass than a little bit. Probably more than you’re used to.”

  James stopped pulling and met her eyes. “I’m a fast learner.”

  Two more tugs and Hope was down to her pinstriped underwear.

  “You’re so beautiful,” breathed James.

  “I think you said that already.”

  “It’s true, it needs repeating.”

  He knelt beside her and ran his hands up her legs, over her thighs, and kissed her stomach. James hoped she wouldn’t notice how his hands trembled. Continuing his exploration, he found her bra clasp in the valley between her glorious globes. He freed them with a pinch of two fingers.

  As soon as her breasts were free, he feasted. Her nipples were dark and puckered. He tugged one then the other between his teeth. Hope gasped as he laved and sucked. Her hand fisted in his dark blonde hair. “Oh, James,” Hope moaned.

  He answered with a groan and slipped his fingers between her legs. The panties were soaked.

  “You’re all wet,” James whispered, letting her nipple slip from his lips.

  Hope began to blush and close her legs.

  James forcefully pushed her legs apart again. “Is this all for me?” he asked as his fingers rested on her mound again.

  Hope nodded.

  “Say it,” James commanded.

  “It’s for you,” Hope whispered.

  “What’s for me, Hope? Say it.”

  “I’m wet for you, James. It’s always been for you.”

  James felt like a dam had burst in his chest. Feelings he could never have imagined began pouring out as he watched Hope wiggle under his hands. Suddenly, everything made sense, all the cogs snapped into place as he allowed himself to feel what he’d been denying for over ten years.

  “Come on,” he said standing and pulling her to her feet. He grabbed her hand, lacing her fingers through his as he headed for the stairs.

  Hope could barely believe that she was in her panties, with James leading her upstairs. Her heart was pounding out of control; her knees wobbled uncontrollably, and she was barely breathing. Somehow, she made it up the stairs and into his room without collapsing.

  James pulled her into his bedroom and shut the door behind them. He swept Hope into his arms and she went up onto her toes to kiss him.

  He plunged his hands into her dark curls and slanted his mouth against hers. Hope opened for him, teasing his tongue, inviting him to play.

  A growl vibrated from his chest, making Hope even hotter.

  James walked them both to the bed without breaking the kiss. Hope felt herself falling. When she opened her eyes, they were on the bed, she was on top of him and he was tugging the panties down her legs. She flicked them off with a twitch of her ankle and watched James pull off his own underwear.

  Hope covered her mouth when she saw him completely nude. He was better than any dream or fantasy. He was absolutely beautiful, his deep brown eyes were locked on hers and his already squared jaw was set. She reached out a shaky hand and touched him. At first she just used her fingers, up his solid forearms and over his bulging biceps, then across his pecs, hard and rounded.

  He grabbed her wrist and flattened her hand on his chest. Hope moaned. How could one man be so…so…perfect? Then her hand reached his stomach and the trembling began again. It was like touching sculpted, heated marble.

  “You’re hard all over,” she whispered.

  “You have no idea, sweetheart.”

  James rolled them over and settled between her thighs. She felt his powerful erection against the inside of her left thigh and her head swam. They were so close to the moment she’d desired for over ten years. He reached over her and pulled open the drawer in the nightstand. She watched him tear the foil from the condom and slip the protection over his long, thick shaft.

  “Are you ready for me, sweetheart?” James whispered hotly into her ear.

  “Yeah,” Hope answered.

  James rubbed his cock along her drenched hole and growled again.

  “Please,” Hope whispered before she could stop herself, “Please James.”

  “You don’t have to beg me for anything, Hope.” He buried himself in her cunt and she screamed. “Oh sweetheart,” James groaned, “you’re so tight.”

  Hope felt her body open more for him. It had been so long since she’d had sex, she needed a moment to adjust.

  “You okay?” he asked, his eyebrows drawn together in concern.

  “I’ve never been better,” she whispered lifting her hips up to spur him on.

  James moaned as her pussy slid up his dick. With one swift movement he thrust into her.

  “Oh, God,” Hope cried barely registering the fact that she was clawing at his back. “So good. So good,” she panted at the top of every stroke.

  I’m dead, she thought, I died of embarrassment earlier and this is my heaven.

  “Look at me, sweetheart,” James commanded, “I want to see those beautiful brown eyes.”

  Hope did as he said, lifting her gaze to his. Seeing his face dotted with perspiration reminded her that she was not dead, and certainly not dreaming. Her orgasm built deep in her belly and her mind went black. She couldn’t think of anything besides that incredible feeling curled inside, spreading outward by the second. She wanted to slow it down, but James wasn’t having that. He pulled her hips higher, to get even better access.

  Hope’s toes curled; her eyes rolled, and her nails dug into his impossibly solid back. She couldn’t hold back the scream that tore from her throat as her orgasm took her. James didn’t slow down and he certainly didn’t stop. He weathered her spasms and kissed her slowly when she finally began to come down.

  “You’re absolutely beautiful,” he whispered against her kiss-swollen lips.

  She couldn’t speak; her brain wasn’t yet functioning as it should…not with him inside her making her feel ways she’d never imagined.

  James groaned and slammed into her with such force, her breasts bounced wildly. “Fuck,” he grunted as he filled the condom.

  Hope wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed her nose into his neck.

  “You’re fucking amazing,” sighed James. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

  Hope nodded and he left her alone in his blue room. She climbed out of the bed and pulled down the covers. She was getting a chill lying on top of the comforter.

/>   By the time James came back, she was tucked in and dozing.

  “Hey,” he said slipping in beside her.

  “Huh?” moaned Hope.

  James slipped an arm around her. She adjusted so her cheek was against his chest, right over his heart. She rested her hand under her cheek and sighed her contentment.

  “Thank you,” he whispered into her hair.

  “For what?” Hope was fighting sleep.

  “Thank you for trusting me, and giving me a chance.” James was pulling his fingers through her hair, which made her even sleepier.

  “You always had a chance,” Hope yawned, “I’m just glad you finally decided to take it.”

  “Me too, sweetheart, me too,” he whispered.

  When Hope blinked awake, she watched James yank a sweater over his black t-shirt and pull a pair of boots out of the closet. “I’m going to get some firewood before it gets dark,” he explained before Hope could formulate a question.

  “Why? It’s not cold.”

  “Well,” he said sinking onto the bed beside her, “I think we should put these fireplaces to good use. Ever since I saw the one in your room, I’ve had the strongest urge to make love to you by firelight.”

  Hope felt herself blush, but didn’t look away from his gaze.

  James pulled on the boots and ran his hands through his hair, it was still unkempt from their bedroom play, but he looked amazing. “Do you want to come with me?”

  Hope wrinkled her nose. “I think I’ve traipsed around in the outdoors quite enough for today.”

  “You’re probably right,” James said with a nod. “Besides, you’ll need your energy for later tonight…once I get that fireplace going.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll start dinner when I get back. You just stay in this bed and look beautiful.”

  Hope opened her mouth to correct him, but he silenced her impending contradiction with a kiss. She watched him leave and listened for the door to close signaling he was out of the house. She slipped out of the bed and pulled on a t-shirt that James had left on the bed. She listened to the silence of the house and squealed.

  “Yes!” she shrieked jumping back onto the bed. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” With each word she bounced on her knees and threw her hands into the air. Hope fell back onto the bed and kicked her legs up into the air. “Yes!” she repeated.

  Finally, she collapsed in a fit of giggles. When she couldn’t laugh anymore, or possibly be any happier, she got back under the covers and sighed. For a fleeting moment she thought about calling Val. She told Val everything, after all. Then she thought better. What would she say?

  Hey, girl! I fucked your brother and it was so good my toes are permanently curled.

  No, that wouldn’t work.

  James was back in an hour. He removed the sweater and hopped into the bed.

  “You’re freezing,” Hope gasped when he pressed his cheek to hers.

  “Warm me up, sweetheart.” He pressed his nose into her neck and she squealed. He found her lips and teased her mouth open.

  Hope framed his face with her hands. “I think I can help you out.”

  Chapter Five

  “What do you think Val’s going to say?” Hope asked as they washed dishes after breakfast Sunday morning.

  “Probably something smart-assed,” James answered with a slight shrug.

  “That’s a given, but do you think she’ll be cool with this…whatever this is?”

  James gazed out the window in front of him. “I think my sister wants me to be happy and your best friend wants the same for you.”

  “You’re probably right,” Hope said smiling.

  “Let’s not talk about Val right now, she’ll be here tomorrow and we’ll deal with her conniving ass then.”

  “So you think she set this up too?”

  James chuckled. “This week in the woods was her idea. She picked the place and made the reservations. Then, she decides to work overtime so you and I have to ride together. If she didn’t set this up, the sky is green and the grass is blue.”

  “She swore to me that she didn’t.” Hope didn’t know if she was grateful to Val or furious with her.

  James leaned down to press a kiss against her forehead. “Do you think she’ll admit to something as nefarious as abandoning us in the middle of the woods to force us into each other’s arms?”

  “You weren’t forced,” Hope said frowning.

  James laughed. “As soon as you got into my car to drive here, I was a goner.”

  She blushed.

  He nudged her with his elbow. “Dry faster, sweetheart. Let’s take another walk and get back to bed.”

  Hope wrinkled her nose. “Another walk?”

  “Yeah,” he said handing her a plate. “I won’t let the bears get you today either.”

  Hope smiled. A lot of good had come out of the walk they’d taken the day before. “Okay, okay, we’ll walk.”

  Hours later, they were in her bed. Hope nestled against the pillows, daydreaming and reminding herself that she was not actually dreaming. She was in fact basking in the afterglow of marathon sex with the man she’d dreamt of for years. James lay between her legs, head resting on her bare stomach. His fingers traced lazy circles along her thigh.

  Hope groaned.

  “What?” he asked looking up at her.

  “I just had a terrible thought.”

  “Share with the class,” James said turning his head to kiss her stomach.

  Hope felt her cheeks flush. “I wondered for a split second what my mother would say if she knew I was sleeping with a doctor.”

  James smiled. “Do you really care?”

  “Absolutely not,” she answered pulling her fingers through his soft hair. “I’m so glad that I’m finally at a place where her opinion doesn’t matter anymore.”

  James sighed. “I’ll let you know when I get to that place.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re the most successful person I know. Why should you care what your parents think?”

  “I’m successful because I busted my ass to prove that I wasn’t useless.”

  “You went through medical school, residency, and opened a successful practice to prove something to your parents?” Hope could hardly believe it.

  “Well, just my mom and stepdad. My real dad paid my way through school. He was pretty much banking on the fact that I wasn’t useless, otherwise he wouldn’t have kept a college fund.”

  Hope visibly started. She sat up off the pillows causing James to roll off her. “Your dad paid for college?”

  “Yes.” He sat up on the bed and nodded.

  “Medical school too?”

  “Yes.” James was confused by her reaction and his expression said as much.

  “I don’t understand,” Hope said shaking her head. She pulled the sheet around her and frowned.

  “What don’t you understand?”

  “How could your father pay for your education and not do the same for Val?”

  James frowned. “He did do the same for Val.”

  “I don’t…but…Val worked two jobs through school…just like me. Why would she do that if her tuition was already paid?”

  He shrugged. “I guess Val had some things to prove too.”

  Hope knitted her brows and chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t Val tell me about this?”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything,” James muttered sliding away from Hope.

  “No, no…it’s okay. I’m not mad or anything.” She tugged at his arm, urging him to come closer.

  James settled beside Hope, leaning against the headboard.

  She dipped her head, catching his gaze. He looked concerned.

  “I’m fine, see?” She tucked her head onto his shoulder.

  “Val’s gonna kill me.”

  “Don’t sweat it. This isn’t earth-shattering or anything. I was just…surprised.”

  James put a hand on her head; he curled his fingers and raked them throu
gh her black curls. “I couldn’t live with myself if I did something to negatively affect your friendship.”

  “Oh, please. Val and I could never break up; we’re stuck with each other forever. Our dysfunction runs too deep to be broken by some college fund.”

  Chapter Six

  James gazed at the fire he’d built earlier that night, the flames leapt upward behind the mesh screen. Hope shifted in his arms and sighed in her sleep. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and slipped his arm from under her head. The fire, the nest of blankets, and the heat emanating from her naked body was making him sweat.

  He pulled on his jeans and headed downstairs. After pouring a glass of water, he settled at the kitchen table. It was Monday night. After breakfast, they’d walked down the garden path and through the woods. Hand-in-hand they’d followed the creek for a few miles before heading back to the cabin.

  After they got cleaned up, he’d given her another massage…also known as the perfect reason to touch her. When they woke up in the afternoon, Hope told him they were running out of milk…and condoms. They dressed and drove into town to do some shopping.

  Val had dragged him shopping many times over the years and it had been akin to torture. Shopping with Hope was different…maybe it was the way she slipped her hand into his as they walked down the sidewalk. James had never really been comfortable with public displays of affection and Hope had admitted to having the same aversion, but when he was with her, he had no qualms with touching her…no matter how many people were around. By the time they were done with the errands, he was convinced that her hand was meant to be tucked into his.

  The past four days had been incredible. At first he’d been tentative about starting a sexual relationship with her. After all, they were supposed to be friends. He was still trying to figure out how he’d been so blind not to notice the crush she and Val had been hiding for years.

  In all the times he’d been alone with her, Hope had never seemed into him. In fact, half the time, he’d turn into a bumbling idiot. His mind wandered to the first time they’d been alone.