Abel was not about to admit it to anyone, but the idea of having Nellie around 5th Street more often was one that pleased him. Between his intense training, which was getting even more grueling as the fight approached, and all the interviews and appearances he was contractually obligated to do lately, his free time was becoming increasingly non-existent. So when Noah and Gio had brought up the possibility of her not just coordinating events at 5th Street but the ones leading up to his fight, including the ones she’d have to travel out of town with him, he immediately agreed. Her success with the cocktail mixer for their charity foundation further confirmed she’d be a perfect choice.
Nellie was still staring at him, waiting for a response. “Well, we were thinking, since we have a few publicity events coming up for the fight that are gonna take place at 5th Street and a couple out of town, that you could be the one to get it all coordinated.”
Abel squeezed her hand when she lifted that sexy eyebrow of hers. He fought the urge to kiss her. It was something he’d been aching to do since they got there, but since he’d come on so strong when he first got to her place, he was trying to tone it down now. She’d made it clear once again that the way things were now between them was for the best. He completely agreed, but he felt so crazed around her that it was beginning to unnerve him. Telling her that she drove him crazy as he almost had at her place earlier might spook her.
Back when her divorce was going on, Noah had talked about her split with her douche bag ex-husband. Abel hadn’t really paid attention, but one thing he did get was that it was a bad one. It was so bad that the last thing she’d be looking for, for a while, was getting back into any relationships. Abel was more than fine with that, especially because serious relationships were the last thing he had time for anyway and certainly not with a divorced older woman. Saying things like what he almost did might have her backing out of this all-too-perfect set up. He didn’t want to blow it now. There was all this sexual tension that had built up between them for months. They’d let it go on for too long, and now he couldn’t get his fill, but he was certain it would start waning soon enough.
“Wow,” she said, putting her fork down then wiping her mouth with her napkin. “I’m flattered that you think I can handle something this big. I mean the cocktail mixer is turning out bigger than I had expected, but that’s because of this last donation. Otherwise, I wasn’t planning on this event being so big.”
She took another sip of her wine and licked her bottom lip as she’d been doing all night each time she took a drink. That was it. He’d held back long enough. Leaning into her, he kissed her softly, trying to not go overboard as he did earlier. This time he took his time savoring every inch of her delicious mouth. After that much needed and very long satisfying taste of her, he pulled his lips away but just barely. “Of course I think you can handle it,” he whispered against her lips.
Abel brought his hand to her face, lifting her chin to him so he could kiss her as deeply as he’d been dying to since they got there. It felt as if he’d never get enough of tasting her mouth, and the taste of her sweet wine only added to his frenzy. As usual, she kissed him back with just as much desire as he was feeling for her. Feeling the craze coming on that he felt every time they kissed like this, he forced himself to back off a little, and he came up for air.
Staring at her soft pink lips as he tried to catch his breath, he spoke again, trying to calm the yearning he was feeling already. “We meet again with the director of PR in charge of this whole fight in a couple of weeks. You think you can be there?”
She nodded as she too obviously struggled to catch her breath. Unable to hold back anymore, he placed his hand on her thigh, thankful that he’d gotten to her house before she’d changed out of her sexy-as-shit skirt suit. His fingers found their way under her skirt and caressed the soft warm inner thigh.
Feeling her quiver made him smile. “What day?” she asked.
“I’m pretty sure Noah said a week from next Friday after closing,” his lips were on hers again as soon as she nodded.
She pulled away mid kiss and thought about it for a second. “If that’s Friday the 13th, I can’t. I have plans that night.”
Abel’s hand froze on her thigh, and he stared at her for a moment, not sure if he should ask, but he sure as hell wanted to. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” she said, nodding, her eyes rushing from his lips to his eyes. “If it were any other night, I could, but that’s the only night that I can’t. Will you be meeting again with him another time?”
Abel continued to stare at her, hoping she’d shed a little light on what those plans were exactly. When she didn’t, he pulled away from her slowly. “I don’t know,” he said, trying to keep his tone as normal as possible. “Probably, but it’d be best if you were in on everything from here on out since it’s getting down to the wire.” He reached for his drink, not wanting to have eye contact with her when he asked his next question. “Any chance you can get out of your plans?”
He turned to her when she didn’t answer immediately. She was frowning then inhaled thinking about it. “I don’t think so. It’s a concert, and the tickets have already been paid for.” He swallowed down a bigger drink than he had originally planned. Maybe she was going with a girlfriend. “Oh, yeah? Who you gonna go see?”
She smiled suddenly.” Slightly Stoopid at the House of Blues.”
Feeling the slightest bit of relief and not really understanding why, he remembered Noah recently mentioning that Roni wanted to go see them too, but . . . “I thought Noah said they were sold out.”
“They were,” she said, taking a sip of her water this time. “At least when Roni and I tried getting tickets they were. Somehow, a co-worker of mine was able to get tickets.”
Just moments ago, Abel thought he might need another drink maybe two. Now he was overcome with the urge to kiss her again. “That’s cool,” he said, leaning into her again. “I know Roni really likes them.” With that, his mouth was on hers, and his fingers once again were making their way up her thigh under her skirt. He murmured against her lips, “Ever had sex in public, Nellie?” The thought of taking her right there was already driving him to the brink of madness.
“No!” She gasped, pulling away slightly.
“Shhh! It’s okay,” he whispered, laughing softly. His hand moved further up in between her legs. Technically, they’d been in a public place on the cruise, but they were behind a closed door. Even though this was a private booth, he understood her apprehension, so he wouldn’t push her. “We don’t have to do that. You said this was exciting on the cruise.”
“It was,” she said breathlessly. “But—”
“We won’t go there. Trust me,” he whispered quickly then pulled away to look her in the eyes. “You trust me?”
She nodded, licking her lips, and he dove in again. He kissed her hungrily, feeling her moan in his mouth as he gently pushed her thighs apart.
Not only did she allow it but she adjusted in her seat for him so his hand could travel as far up as he wanted it to. And he wanted it all the way up. His fingers reached the damp warm paradise that they sought out. “Nice,” he said against her lips then bit her bottom one as his finger pushed her panties aside.
Feeling her gasp again, he kissed her softly. “Relax.” He easily slid a finger in her then two more before she could protest. The moment his thumb rubbed that perfect spot, she let her head drop back as her legs spread slowly for him. “That a girl,” he whispered as he dove into the open invitation to take her neck and suck as he fucked her with his fingers.
She was beginning to pant and tremble all over as he worked her steadily with his thumb. He brought his mouth back over hers to muffle her moans. Sliding his fingers in and out of her faster now as he felt her getting close to that magic moment, he continued to kiss her deeply mimicking with his tongue what his throbbing erection wanted so fucking badly to be doing to her body.
As her body began that now-familiar trembling, which he thought about too often even when she wasn’t around, he slowed his kisses. He wanted to live the moment with her through her mouth. Hearing her struggle to keep her moaning to a minimum, Abel felt something he hadn’t felt in years—the panic of feeling that he might mess his pants right there.
Over the years, he’d mastered what he and the guys referred to as not shooting off their load prematurely. This was way premature. He hadn’t even taken off his clothes yet! What? Was he back in middle school?
Luckily, she pulled her mouth away from his to breathe; her chest heaved up and down as she let her head fall back and rest on the back of the booth. Abel had to literally pry his fingers away from between her legs before he embarrassed the hell out of himself. He squeezed his legs closed. Hearing her continue to breathe heavily as she came down from her climax wasn’t helping matters either.
He, too, let his head rest on the back of the booth. The next words out of his mouth flew out without thought. “Your ex-husband ever do that to you?”
The second he heard his own words, he regretted them, not because he didn’t want to know but because it was an unspoken rule between them. Though they’d never said it, it was implied loud and clear: no getting into personal stuff, including what they did when they weren’t around each other now and in the past. The subject of her failed marriage was one that Noah had made clear was a sore one.
He glanced at her before she could respond. “I’m sorry. Don’t answer that. That’s none of my business.”
Nellie cleared her throat then took a sip of her wine. She turned to him, taking a deep breath as if she were still trying to catch up with her normal breathing. That made him smile despite having asked his stupid question.
“You’re right that it’s none of your business, but it’s not a big deal, so I’ll answer anyway. No, he didn’t. In fact, we never did most of the things you and I have done.”
Her smile was one he hadn’t seen before; it was bittersweet. He almost regretted having brought up her ex-husband—almost. In the very beginning, he didn’t care to know any details of her private life—not the current or the past—but he did now. He chalked it up to curiosity. Of course he was curious. Why wouldn’t he be? He’d been around her a few times. They’d had amazing sex in many different positions now. And now here she was telling him she’d never had this with her ex-husband. How could he not be curious?
Was her ex insane not to take advantage of a woman like Nellie? She was everything a guy could ask for in a sexual partner. She’d been willing and just as eager as he’d been every single time. In fact, he’d be willing to bet he might’ve talked her into letting him take here right there in their booth, but he hadn’t wanted to push.
Sure he’d been with girls who were more than willing to do things anywhere anytime, but with Nellie, it felt different. There was an elegance to her. She was sophisticated, smart, and professional, not an immature, squealing, ready-to-party groupie. Even though Noah had mentioned Nellie wanting to let loose—make up for the lost time she’d wasted being married to her ex—there was something about her that made him sure that wasn’t the case. Yeah, she was doing it with him, but he couldn’t see her jumping from one bed to another as Noah had implied she might. And convincing her to do the things some of the groupies would gladly do in a heartbeat felt like a far more rewarding challenge.
He stared at her, his thoughts suddenly going back to what she’d just said about her ex. “Really? Some of the stuff I’ve done to you so far,” he stopped and smirked, “has been pretty tame by most standards.”
Even as she sat there, her panties now soaked after she’d just climaxed at their dinner table, she had the audacity to blush. He had to laugh.
She took another sip of her wine and smiled, her lashes blinking slowly over her wine glass as she licked her lips. Just like that she took the upper hand, wiping the smile instantly off his face.
“Mr. Ayala, are you and Ms. Nellie ready for another drink?” The waiter asked from the other side of the curtain.
“No, but I’ll take the check now.” Abel responded without taking his eyes off Nellie even for a second, his mind already planning out the all the things he’d do to her tonight.
~*~
Nellie hardly had a chance to try and make sense of Abel’s interest in her asshole ex-husband, Rick. On the way home from the restaurant, he’d asked a few more questions such as if she still ever saw him and if she ever missed him. She answered both truthfully but kept her answers short: no and hell no.
They reached her place and were barely inside when Abel was already all over her. It was crazy how quickly he could have her feeling out of control and breathless. Just as he pinned her to the wall in the front room, already lifting her skirt, her phone rang. Abel slowed for a moment, breathing heavily against her ear. “You wanna get that?”
Like hell she did. She didn’t bother to even answer. Instead she turned his chin to hers, needing to feel his lips on hers again already. His tongue stabbed into to her mouth, making her moan in pleasure.
Roni had mentioned how insatiable her young husband was, and Nellie had imagined Abel would be the same, but it was almost embarrassing how easily she’d given into the scandalous things they’d done thus far. The cruise incident had even been her idea. And if what he’d done to her in the restaurant had happened during her marriage, it would’ve been more than enough to keep her happy for the entire next week at the very least. Yet here she was panting—needing more now as he ripped her panties off.
With her panties off now and her skirt pulled up around her waist, Abel spun her around, bending her gently but quickly over the sofa. “We’ll get to the tasting soon enough, sweetheart. But right now I have to get inside you.”
She heard the rip of a condom pack then his zipper open. Already throbbing for him in anticipation, Nellie squeezed the sofa cushions with both her hands as she waited the few seconds it took him to get the condom on, and then he was inside her. She cried out at the incredible sensation as he slid all the way in.
Just like the last time, he brought his hand around front to massage her as he slammed in and out of her again and again, groaning louder with each thrust. His fingers knew exactly what to do, and Nellie couldn’t help moaning in unabashed pleasure. The louder she moaned, the harder he slammed into her. “You like that, baby?”
“Yes,” she cried out. “Yes!”
As his fingers hit the perfect rhythm, she knew it was just a matter of seconds before she’d be crying out in ecstasy. With one hand, he continued to build her impending climax while the other one held on to her waist, pulling her back into his thrusts. As erotic as the sound of his body slapping against hers was, it was one she loved thinking about when he wasn’t around—when she was lying in bed at night alone. It was the very thing that had made her blush today when Emily called her on it.
Until now, Nellie had no idea sex could be this good. Crying out as the bolts of pleasure raced through her entire body, making her legs weak, she used the support of the sofa to help keep her standing. In the next second, he thrust into her one last time with an enormous groan.
They both stood there, enjoying the contentment with which their sexual encounters always ended. Never before had Nellie felt such satisfaction, and to think she knew this was just the beginning of their evening. He finally pulled out of her and away, turning her around to face him.
The lazy yet sexy haze that draped over his eyes made her smile. He was as satisfied as she felt. “I’d been waiting to do that from the moment I got in my car to come here tonight.” He smirked against her lips. “Hell, I’ve been waiting to do that since the last time I was with you.” He kissed her sweetly and softly, unlike the way he’d kissed her most of the night. “You look beautiful tonight by the way.” His words were so tender, and he looked so deeply in her eyes in a way she’d never seen him do, that something tugged at her heart. “I love seeing you in your skirt suits.” His playful grin teased. “You’re insanely sexy.” Just when she was beginning to exhale and remind herself to not over think things, he added with the same tenderness as before, “But still beautiful, Nellie, so beautiful.”
He kissed her longer this time but just as sweetly and softly. She tried concentrating on the sweetness of his kiss—enjoying every heavenly moment of it—but her mind was already fast at work. So he said she was beautiful. He was smooth. How could he not be? The man had probably looked this good his whole life. As young as he was, he’d still had plenty of years to perfect his lines and his delivery. God, what a delivery! She’d nearly melted into him from that one compliment alone.
Nellie knew she wasn’t beautiful. She never had been. Only just recently had she discovered she could even still be and feel attractive but beautiful? No. And nothing had reiterated the reality that she was lacking in the way of looks more than the fact that she’d never been enough for her ex-husband. The bastard had cheated on her from the very beginning.
Falling deeper into Abel’s embrace, she allowed herself to go with it. Why shouldn’t she? She’d take the compliment: this one and any more he wanted to throw her way. One thing she knew he couldn’t possibly be faking was that he was as turned on by her as she was by him. Even if it was just a sexual thing, for the first time in a very long time she felt sexy again—wanted. He’d reawakened a part of her she thought her ex had destroyed for good. She’d enjoy every unbelievable moment he’d give her, and when this was over, she’d walk away a better, stronger, woman because of it.