All the Different Ways Read online

  “I kinda want to hide in the bouncy house.” Which is shaped like a castle, no less.

  He lightly brushes his lips along my ear, “No way, you promised me a sugar high.”

  I roll my eyes, “Selfish.” I’m rewarded with a husky laugh.

  My mom strolls up and gives me a huge hug, “Hey, my baby girl, who’s this handsome man?”

  I can feel the red burning up my neck when she lets me go. “Ugh, Mom, so embarrassing. This is Cullen. He’s…”

  “Incredibly sweet, I’m sure,” she interrupts. Cullen offers her his enormous hand and charming smile of perfection. I’m positive she’s swooning. “I’m Laura and so glad to meet you. Now come with me so we can find Tom, Violet’s father. You look athletic. What’s your sport?”

  Cullen flashes me his smile over his shoulder as Mom walks away with him, arm in arm no less. I’m standing on the back deck dumbfounded with my mouth hanging open.

  “I guess I’ll see if Charlotte needs help,” I mutter to myself.

  ***

  After singing, cake, and presents, I’m rewriting the gift list into a more legible script on a lounge chair out back when Dad and Cullen saunter up. Cullen is a good four inches taller than my dad and has him beat in the muscle department for sure, but despite the size difference, neither one could ever make me feel safer than when I’m with them. With that thought, I give them a satisfied smile. It’s been a good day.

  “So, you finally decide to come back around to me, huh?”

  Dad claps Cullen on the back before Cullen comes to pull up a chair and sit beside me. “We were talking about my game last night.”

  “Apparently, it was quite the home opener and a certain someone who loves football didn’t go,” Dad tilts his chin down at me making a tsking sound.

  I roll my eyes, “Well, if that’s the rumor, then I guess it’s true.”

  I look back down at my notebook. Dad laughs and heads back up on the deck, pinching my toes in passing. Cullen’s eyes follow Dad’s retreat, because surely that’s what it is, and then looks back to me.

  “Wait, what does that mean? You were at the game last night?”

  “I was.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “You didn’t ask. You assumed I didn’t come,” I bite my cheek trying not to smile. Clearly, Cullen doesn’t know what to do with this information.

  “Why didn’t you come see me?”

  I drop my pen and roll my head side to side. “Seriously? What was I going to do? Skip down to the fence, shouting your name, hoping you’d let me blow your whistle?”

  He leans in and utters thickly, “You wanna blow my whistle?”

  I whack him with my pen, “Good God, Metz! You know what I meant.”

  “Yeah, I did!” We’re both laughing now, and I can see Charlotte eyeing us from the bouncy house. “So, you were really there, huh?”

  “Why are you so surprised?”

  “I just—you keep me sharp in the pocket, Violet.”

  I smirk at his quarterback reference. My pen drops to my notepad when I angle more in his direction.

  “I have to say my favorite play was in the middle of the third when Hart faked like he was going to hand off to Boone, but dropped back in the pocket instead. But then no one was open to throw to. Then that big number thirty-four came barreling through our line and you started flipping out. You ripped off your headset, screaming along the sideline. It was really exciting! But, I tried to focus on Hart to see what he was going to do, right? Scramble? Get sacked? Who knew? But then he looked towards the bench—over at you—nodded, and just ran for it. He got twenty eight yards before anyone brought him down. It was amazing! I don’t know what happened to that thirty-four that was coming or what you told him, but it worked!”

  I keep from bouncing in my chair recalling the energy from the game, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to. The whole crowd was screaming and cheering, stomping on the bleachers and waving banners. I’ve never missed a home opener; I love football games.

  Cullen’s staring at me like I’m from another planet. “I told him to move his ass.”

  “Oh, well, like I said, it worked.”

  The glimmer in Cullen’s eyes holds me captive. He grabs my hand and holds tight. I smile up at him, butterflies taking flight in my stomach.

  “Thank you for coming to our game. It really means a lot, even if I didn’t know you were there.”

  “Well, it just so happened that two of my favorite things were on the same field last night, so I just couldn’t stay home.”

  “Cheerleaders and popcorn?”

  “No, dummy. Football and your whistle.”

  ***

  We get back to my place stuffed with pink cake, pink icing, and all kinds of other ballerina-themed goodies. I rush upstairs to brush my teeth before I need to make an emergency dentist appointment. I hear Cullen’s footsteps on the stairs and then he appears in the bathroom just as I spit out my mouthful of foam.

  “You wouldn’t happen to have another toothbrush would you?”

  “I have a baby toothbrush. Hollyn’s never used it, not yet anyway. It’s still in the package. You want it?”

  “That would be great. I’ll buy her a new one.”

  “No biggie,” I say as I pull the teeny purple toothbrush from the drawer and hand it to Cullen. I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing as his giant hand wraps around the handle. It’s ridiculous and I can’t look away.

  “Are you gonna watch?” Cullen’s voice cracks as he tries not to laugh at himself and the itty-bitty brush.

  All I can do is shake my head and retreat to my room to look for something more comfy to wear. I’m staring at the clothes in my closet, lost in thought, when I feel Cullen approach the doorway of my bedroom. He’s walking in, and I can feel each step like my nerves have been looped through the carpet fibers. His warmth radiates into the space behind me. He smooths his hands down my shoulders, then down my arms. He kisses the sweet spot on my neck right below my ear. I shiver. Goosebumps form all over my skin despite the heat that’s churning inside. The air becomes heavy. Saturated.

  “I had a lot of fun with you and your family today. Hollyn is lucky to have you.” He kisses the other side of my neck and my head starts to spin.

  My voice is low. Thick. Trembling slightly like my insides. “Hollyn really likes you; she doesn’t usually take to strangers like that. They all liked you.”

  “I like you,” he confirms, nibbling at my ear. Sweet Jesus, what were we talking about?

  I move my hair to the side, exposing the single button at the top of my Boho dress. It’s an invitation. I’m asking Cullen to anticipate this next play. In a few seconds, the charcoal-colored fabric loosens across my back. Cullen’s warm hands slide under the lining and gently push it off. It silently hits the floor; a poof of air the only confirmation it’s made it.

  I close my eyes and try to breathe as he minimizes the gap between us, his impressive erection presses into my back. He puts his fingers under each of my bra straps and drags them down, kissing the exposed flesh on one side, then the other. I feel the clasp release between my shoulder blades and I move my arms just a bit to help the satin meet my dress on the floor. I turn and tilt my head back to look up at Cullen and expose myself to him fully for the first time. He stares into my eyes, though, instead of my full breasts, and I reclaim a few lost pieces of my self-worth.

  I start unbuttoning his shirt, and it’s slow torture for sure. He’s watching me with amusement, and I swear he wore it just to make me crazy. Finally, I get all of the buttons undone, and I slide the cotton back over his shoulders, off his arms. I tug on the bottom of his t-shirt but it’s unrelenting. I blow out a breath, working it again. When did undressing get so complicated? Sensing my frustration, Cullen takes mercy on me, grabs hold of the back of his shirt, and pulls it forward over his head. All of his muscles bunch and tighten with the movement, and I almost tell him to put it back on then take it off
again so I can see it one more time. His torso is gloriously naked and this time around, I’m going lower than just his belt buckle.

  I’m aching for Cullen to touch me, so I grab the waistband of his shorts and pull him into me. He takes my face in his hands, fingers in my hair, and slants his mouth over mine. He tastes like fresh toothpaste as his tongue dips in between my lips and takes what he already knows he can have. I get busy undoing the button and zipper of his shorts; I slide them off, hands grazing his ass. I tug him closer and slide my hips across his boxer briefs. His cock pulses and he groans deep in his chest. He starts walking us over towards my bed until the backs of my knees touch the mattress.

  His mouth releases mine. “Tell me now if you want to stop…I will stop.”

  “Don’t you dare stop.”

  I press my mouth back to his, sliding my tongue along his lip, and we tumble to the bed. With one more kiss, Cullen lets go to stand at the edge of the mattress between my knees. Very slowly, he peels my panties down off my hips, over my thighs, past my feet, and onto the floor.

  “Goddamn, you’re fucking gorgeous.”

  I can’t speak because I’m trembling again.

  He crawls so that he’s above me, and I run my fingers through his hair. He kisses me softer this time as if he’s savoring every movement of our mouths and flavor that our tongues have to offer. One arm is between me and the mattress, but the other is roaming free. As he kisses along my jaw and then nibbles at my neck and collarbone, the roaming hand finds my breast. Sparks fly as he cups its weight and then his tongue finds my nipple. He circles around it while alternating with tugging at the center with his teeth, and the sensation hits me like an arrow shot to my core. He licks his way to the other one, teasing and playing. Rolling the little pink marble between lips, teeth, fingers—I don’t even know anymore—it all feels so insane. I arch my back and moan out his name.

  Cullen chuckles, vibrating my skin, and sinks lower down my stomach. His fingers find my wetness and after a few strokes of my smooth folds, slip inside. I gasp and fist the comforter. His beard tickles my skin as he slides past my hip bones and finds my hard bundle of nerves. His tongue circles my clit and I’m sure the bed just caught on fire. He pulls it between his lips while pumping and swirling his fingers. Desire builds until it overwhelms me and I come hard, rocking my hips, until there’s nothing left to give.

  Cullen slides back up to kiss me and I taste the salty sweetness of myself on his lips. I shove at the waistband of his underwear, nudging them down while my lips tease his. Cullen easily takes them the rest of the way off, and I bite back a groan that his cock looks more massive than it felt pushing against my body. My heartbeat is chaos; the nerve relays throughout my body are in anarchy.

  He comes down to me, but I wrap my arms around his neck and push up with my feet. He holds me tight as we roll over. I sit atop his thighs and run my hands up his abs to his chest, then back down. I lean forward to trace his pecs with my tongue. I get to his nipple and do my own bit of teasing and nipping. His eyes roll closed and he lets out a low groan, tangling his fingers in the hair at the back of my head.

  His erection is full, mighty, and begging for attention. A little bead glistens at the tip as I curl towards it, giving the smooth head a slow swipe with my tongue. Cullen’s eyes flash open as he moans and releases my hair, gripping the blanket instead. I wrap my lips around him fully and slide down as close to the base as I can get. I gently squeeze and pump the rest with my hand as I swirl my tongue and suck his shaft. Rising and falling from tip to base, I feel his cock pulse and jump. With my other hand, I lightly stroke the insides of his thighs, massage his tightening skin, feeling his body respond to every lick and tug I give him. With extraordinary contact, I bring my lips back up to the head of his rod and swirl my tongue over it one last time before Cullen pulls me up and flips me onto my back.

  “Jesus, Violet, you’re gonna kill me like that.” He bites my earlobe and pulls on my lower lip with his teeth. Then he reaches over the side of the bed to dig around in his shorts’ pocket. A second later, he comes back up with a foil packet.

  My legs start shaking a bit wildly as the break in intensity allows the nerves to catch up. I press my eyes shut trying to hold off the flashbacks from the last time I had sex. Shit.

  Cullen is with me in a second. Brushing my hair away from my face, Cullen murmurs, “Hey, are you ok? Do you want me to stop?”

  I can’t tell him about Anden, so instead, I just reassure him about us. “I’m fine, perfect. I’m a little nervous; it’s been awhile. That’s all.”

  I kiss him to cover up anything on my face that might signal fear.

  Blindly, he reaches out for the condom, tears the packaging, and rolls it on. He settles between my legs. I feel the pressure of his tip and there’s an ache in my center that begs me to grab his ass and push him in. I just need him inside. I wiggle slightly.

  He nibbles at my chin, “So impatient.” Then he pushes all the way in with one long slide.

  I tilt my hips up to get everything. I want it all. He rocks his hips and I match his rhythm. Despite his size, our bodies fit perfectly. He hits just what he needs to inside while his pelvis rubs delightfully outside. I’ve got sparks hot enough to ignite fireworks in every particle of my body. Cullen is nothing like anything I’ve ever had before.

  I dig my fingers into his hips and coax him to go faster. Instead, he sits and brings me up so that his knees are bent and I’m straddling him. His cock sinks even deeper into my core as we wrap our arms around each other and meld our bodies together. We bite and nip, lick and suck, all while I ride his length hard and fast. My breathing gets erratic when I feel Cullen start to throb inside me while he reaches between us and pushes on my clit. That’s all it takes for me to lose control for a second time. I bite down on his shoulder as my muscles clinch around his cock, riding out my orgasm. Cullen growls low as he comes, pulsating and pumping into my wetness. I’m tingling all over, and I have no energy left to even think about sliding off his body.

  We wait a beat just breathing raggedly together, but I have to be killing his legs. I kiss below his ear and begin to inch back. I can’t resist dragging my nails down his chest and stomach again, though, and he smiles and tenses his muscles like it tickles.

  Cullen reaches up to cup my face and nips at my lip. “Hey, I’ll be right back, ok?” he says softly.

  “I’ll be here,” I respond with a small smile. My limbs are like syrup as I scoot to the top of the bed and crawl under the covers. Cullen backs off the bed, watching me, then heads out to the bathroom, smooth and naked. I sit curled up with blankets and watch as his muscular thighs carry him away.

  “Mmm,” I hum to myself in appreciation.

  He returns quickly and as he stalks across the room towards me, I can’t help but think about how extraordinary he is. His presence fills my room, beyond his size. He emanates strength and tenderness; they roll off him in waves. It’s like I’m all he sees and I don’t really understand it.

  He pulls the covers back, giving me a little thrill, and climbs in beside me. Scooping me into his chest, we’re half-propped against all my pillows. I sigh.

  “Do you want anything? Need a water or something?” He strokes my bare back with just his fingertips. I arch into his hand and try not to purr.

  I start running my fingers across the definition of muscles along his ribs. I trail down his obliques and circle around his hipbone.

  “No, I’m good,” I draw out the words.

  I continue my pattern—back up to his ribs, down to his hip, and repeat—while we small talk about absolutely nothing either of us gives two shits about. One more day till school starts… football practice… ice cream… pets… It continues for what seems like an eternity. We fall silent when the motion of my hand changes. I’m following his trail of dark hair up and down now, lightly sliding my fingers over it. He’s breathing quite a bit heavier. I wonder if he’s recovered enough from our first round to try aga
in. I know I have; I’m practically dripping. The sheets pop and I have my answer.

  “This path right here,” I smooth it down as he exhales hard. His hand grips low on my hip. “Is my favorite.”

  “Everyone’s?” His voice hitches like it’s gone dry.

  “No…just yours.”

  I peer up at him. Cullen’s heavy-lidded, slow to blink, and breathing ragged. He’s fully erect beneath the covers, so I crawl onto his hips, his hard length resting on the crack of my ass. I lean onto his chest, pressing my pebbled breasts onto his scorching skin. His arms automatically wrap around me and push my butt down harder onto him. There’s pressure and friction on my nerve bundle and it sends a heavenly jolt of fire into my belly. I let out a low whimper as Cullen leans in to assault my mouth. There are still traces of me on his lips, but his own taste of sweetness is overwhelming and fills my senses.

  My breasts ache for his skilled lips, so I lean back for him to get his fill. Cullen partially rises, palming one, teasing the pink pearl while licking and nipping at the other. I cry out with the intensity and then fall back with him to the pillows. My core is literally throbbing and my folds are swollen and aching. Gripping his thighs with my knees, I reach over the edge of the bed for Cullen’s shorts and bring them back up with me. He searches in the pocket and pulls out another foil. I throw the shorts somewhere on the floor and take the packet. I make short work of it as Cullen rubs my thighs. Lifting up, I position his hot, swollen tip at my entrance and rub it back and forth a few times just to play. Cullen’s umber eyes turn nearly black as he squeezes my legs hard, “Oh, God… Violet…”

  “Now who’s impatient?” I give him a wicked smile before sliding down his entire shaft, filling myself with his thick goodness. Sparks ignite and shoot out every which way inside my body. Cullen palms my ass as I swirl my hips in slow circles. I feel like I’m dying and being born again in the same moment.