Dahlia Aldridge
Naps don’t fix everything, but they sure as hell fixed a lot. Especially when they were with Sterling Gates, curled up on the large sofa in my bedroom while watching a rerun of some home improvement show I had no doubt seen ten times. Still, when I woke up several hours later, I found myself staring into his handsome, sleeping face as I laid pressed against his chest. I knew we had to get up soon, but honestly, I could live with missing the bonfire tonight and all the drama that was sure to accompany it. As long as Sterling stayed right here with me.
I was a bit worried about him. I could see his lip was slightly more purple than usual, and I would bet he had injured it in practice. I thought it was amazing how hard they worked, but I also didn’t want the twins to completely exhaust themselves. Speaking of which, I was surprised that Lincoln had not found his way over here. I’d come back with the two of them, and the second had mentioned stopping home really quick.
Hearing a light snore, I lifted my head and smiled, finding the man in question laying on my bed, knocked out.Nevermind.He had made it here.
“Sterling,” I murmured, gently running my fingers up his chest to his neck. He made a small noise, his arms tightening more firmly around me before one azure eye squinted open, offering me a curious, sleepy look.
“Go back to sleep, sugar,” he mumbled.
“I can’t,” I teased, “I need to get up. We have the bonfire to go to.”
Sterling grunted, throwing a large leg over mine and squeezing me tighter against him as I let out a small laugh. Breathing out, I tilted my head towards the television, zoning out slightly as I turned in his arms to get more comfortable. The late afternoon sun was breaking into the room through my windows, and I was so cozy, I seriously considered just deciding to not get up.
I loved this event, but knowing Abby would be there, and considering everything else that had happened this weekend… I just wasn’t positive it was a good idea.
My face flushed as Sterling mumbled in his sleep, adjusting his hold on me as my eyes widened at how hard he was against me. I would like to say I didn’t arch back against him just a little bit, but my skin rolled with heat as he grew harder against my ass, his lips pressed against my neck. I know this was ‘morning wood’ or whatever, but it was turning me on like crazy, which was not good for anyone, least of all me.
“Dahlia.” His voice was deep and husky, still filled with sleep, and I wasn’t actually positive he was awake enough to realize he was pretty much kissing my neck. One of his large arms was locked around my waist, but his other hand was tangled in my hair that I’d pulled down from its ponytail before falling asleep. His fingers tightened their hold slightly and I squirmed, feeling just how wet I was getting.
Christ, he was big. Like way bigger than I had even imagined. Yes, for the record, I had imagined… often. Very often.
“Sterling,” I murmured hesitantly as a rumble broke from his throat, his nip on my neck making me realize that he was a bit more awake than I realized. My eyes fluttered shut as my pulse went haywire, my vision slightly blurring from the overwhelming desire coursing through me.
“Stop squirming, sugar,” he warned, his voice filled with a hot undertone.
A shiver worked its way across my skin as I turned my head slightly, finding myself nose to nose with Sterling. I found myself completely at a loss on what to do, because what I wanted to do was have him kiss me, but I… I didn’t know if he wanted that. My breath caught as his eyes swept over my lips before he pressed forward so that he was caged over me, his one hand sliding up my waist and spanning my ribs as I felt everything go dizzy, loving how close he was. I also needed more of his touch—my body was practically demanding it, my skin breaking out into goosebumps.
“Dahlia,” he murmured, his nose brushing mine as my fingers slid up his neck and into his hair, tugging slightly as a low, sexy groan broke from his throat.
When his lips pressed gently against my jaw, I arched into him further, loving the feel of his lips there as my nipples tightened against my shirt. His large hand cupped my breast hesitantly, as if afraid I’d pull away, his thumb running over my hardening nipple as a needy sound broke from my throat.Holy shit.Sterling had absolutely never touched me like this before.
I was not complaining in any way, shape, or form.
My fingers tightened in his hair as he looked up at me, hesitating with his lips over mine, as I felt everything narrow in on him. I wanted him to kiss me. Scratch that, I needed it. More than I had even realized.
This wouldn’t be the first time Sterling and I had kissed, although the last time had been when we were freshmen in high school… so a different tone, to be sure. I’d always thought that there was this tension between my boys and I, but I just assumed that they didn’t feel it anymore since they’d never done anything else. Clearly I’d been wrong, at least about Sterling.
“Tell me to stop,” he ordered roughly. I knew he didn’t want to stop—not only could I feel it, but I could see how dark his eyes were, rolling with heat and need. He wanted this as much as I did. Also, his fingers were still playing against my sensitive, covered skin, and I needed more. Always more.
“No,” I whispered before I could overthink it.
That was all it took.
Sterling’s lips were molded to mine as everything spun around me, a moan breaking from my throat at the demanding taste of his kiss. I hooked my leg around him as he ground against me, his chest rumbling as my nails dug into his shoulders. Instead of complaining, it seemed to urge him on more, and his hands slipped down to my waist, pushing up my shirt slightly as he kept our lips connected, his rough hands feeling amazing against my skin.
“Your skin is so fucking soft,” he groaned before sliding his tongue against mine, demanding entry. I softened against him, letting him have complete dominance over the kiss. There was a demanding edge to him I hadn’t expected, and it was causing my body to react like a high speed railway. I rubbed against him, rolling my hips as he let out a feral-sounding snarl against my lips.
“Fuck, Dahlia.” He pulled away slightly, his eyes wild and heated, making everything in my center tighten.
“That was amazing,” I felt my cheeks heat at the honest and somewhat embarrassing words coming out of my mouth.Way to play it cool, Dahlia.
A stunning smile broke out onto his face as he pressed his lips to mine again in a slower, almost deeper kiss than before. When he pulled away, there was a look in his eyes that I didn’t fully understand but had me feeling… well, a lot. Way more than I would have expected.
When a sudden groan sounded behind us, I froze and my eyes widened, remembering that Lincoln was not only in the room but clearly awake. Sterling’s lips pressed into a hot, cocky grin before he rolled slightly to the side, still keeping me trapped underneath him as his fingers rested on my bare stomach, my shirt pushed up. Lincoln’s face suddenly appeared above me, his eyes lit with humor and something a bit darker.
“Have a good nap?” he mused, as if asking about the weather.