Cedar Lane Properties—The Wallace Brothers

Chapter 13

Mike leaned against the F150 while Squeaker explored the grass behind where the truck was backed in.

“You know this is the awkward part of the night,” he began.

“Yes. The part where we either say our good nights or—,” Crystal laughed nervously.

“Yeah. Or. Look, I’m a man. I think you know how us men think. I’d love to invite you to my room, but I’m terrified of moving too quickly and f*****g things up.” There. He said it.

There was an uneasy pause and he couldn’t quite read the changing expressions on her face.

“Well, I won’t lie and say I’m not afraid of that either,” she said finally. “But I’m also afraid of missing an opportunity.” She moved closer. “I’ve missed a lot of opportunities in my life.” She took another step. “And I’m afraid of missing the opportunity to kiss you.”

And suddenly, her lips were on his. Gently at first, perhaps testing his response. He brought his free hand up to hold the back of her head and deepen the kiss. He felt her hands slide up to his chest and parted her lips with his tongue. He forgot everything else until Squeaker started pawing at his leg. They ended the kiss with a groan and a giggle.

Mike thought a moment about what Crystal said about missed opportunities before he spoke. “Do you have any recommendations for balancing opportunities with fears of going too fast?”

“Not really,” she smiled. “I realized that I wouldn’t see you for a week and I felt compelled to taste you. I definitely don’t have any answers, but I know—I know I want to taste you again.”

Her words hit him. He hadn’t really thought about the week they’d be apart. No running into her at a meal or catching a glimpse of her in the hot tub.

“I know I want you. I want to kiss you until your toes curl and then I want to kiss you some more. If we kiss again tonight, I know I won’t be able to stop myself from trying to keep you in my bed. So—first things first. This little s**t needs to eat. We can war with our consciences until then.”

“Fair enough,” she nodded. “First, I think I would like to get out of these shoes. So you go feed shithead and I’ll go change.”

They walked to the lobby together then parted ways. He watched her disappear down the hallway, truly at war with himself.

The problem with man is that God gave him two heads but only enough blood to use one at a time.

He would try his hardest to use both heads and made sure he placed his wallet with the condom in the bedside drawer. Just in case.

**

It’s the 21st century. We’re both adults. We can have s*x if we want, Crystal thought.

She definitely wanted to. Mike had a very valid point. Rushing often caused one to make mistakes. Ugh! Why did this have to be so difficult? They both obviously wanted more.

Crystal knew, as a bigger girl, she wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But she would be someone’s mug of Irish Stout. Mike wasn’t just handsome. He was caring, smart and looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Sometimes, Opportunity only knocks once.

She decided to rinse off in the shower. Because dancing worked up body odor. She wasn’t sure when she made up her mind, but she realized when she was standing in the water, she had every intention of knocking on his door.

She wasn’t sure what to wear. Her pajamas weren’t the sexiest and walking from her room to his in them didn’t seem appropriate. Although—

She had seen a couple emerge from the pool room in robes. Decision made, she pulled on a comfy nightgown, and tied her robe on before slipping into flip flops. Her heart was flip flopping, too.

She sent him a text: If this is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

She slipped a few condoms in her robe pocket, silently thanking Marissa for taking her to the clinic for testing and prevention, and headed out the door.

After the initial butterflies, she was calm. She wanted Mike, even if only for tonight. She knocked on his door and waited with a condom in her hand.

Brazen. Yes. She didn’t care.

She didn’t have to wait long. Mike, shirtless, threw the door open. When she held the condom out, he grabbed her arm, yanked her inside and let the door slam shut.

His mouth was almost instantly on hers. Fierce and demanding. His hands tangled in her hair. She was barely aware of slipping the condom back in her pocket before putting her arms around him and running her hands up and down his strong back.

His mouth left hers and explored her neck. She soon felt the bed against the back of her legs.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured before claiming her mouth again.

Without breaking the kiss, she shrugged out of her robe. She’d forgone a bra and wanted to feel his hardened chest against her n*****s she knew were hard. She stood on the tips of her toes, dragging herself up his body to tangle her hands in his longer hair. His hair fascinated her. Crystal had longed to do this for weeks.

Mike ran his hands down her back and under the bottom of her nightgown, gasping a little when he found her bare butt.

“Damn!” He whispered. “You must really like me some!”

“I do,” she whispered, pulling back to look into his eyes. “I have no idea if this will be a little fling or something long term. I don’t want to stress out about it. Whatever shall be, shall be. And right now, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“Dammit, girl,” he growled and kissed her hard.

“Just so you know,” she said, breaking the kiss, “Marissa took me to a clinic for, you know, testing, and I got an IUD. But if having a condom eases your mind, I understand.”

“Just so you know, I’ve had weeks of cold showers. The first time will probably be quick. But I’ll make it up to you.”

“Fair enough,” she winked.