Strength In Release (The Charistown Series Book 5) Read online

  “YOU KNOW, YOU could have been a bit more smooth back there.” Sebastian chuckled as he raised the heat in his truck.

  “What do you mean?” Lyla grinned, knowing exactly what he meant.

  “Sweetheart, you stood up while everyone was still eating and announced that they had to leave or we would. And when they didn’t move fast enough, you all but darted out the door. I had to run to keep up with you. “

  “So?”

  “Ly, you’re barely dressed.”

  She looked at her tank top and leggings. He had a point. “Bastian, we’ve been waiting a long time to be together. Are you trying to tell me you’d rather be eating bagels than fucking my brains out? ‘Cause we can turn around and go back, you know.”

  Sebastian grabbed her hand and placed it on his erection. “What do you think?”

  Lyla squeezed his shaft, enjoying the groan from deep in his chest. “Hmm, didn’t realize this truck was a stick shift.”

  Deep masculine laughter permeated the cab of the truck. “Joke all you want now, funny girl, ‘cause when we get to my place, the only thing coming out of your mouth will be my name.”

  His comment had heat pooling between her legs and lust-filled visions floating through her mind. She didn’t even notice they had pulled up to his house until Sebastian whipped open her door and scooped her out of the truck and into his house.

  “Quite the caveman, picking me up and bringing me right to your bed,” Lyla said as she peeled Sebastian’s shirt off and stared at his sculpted chest.

  “You weren’t wearing any shoes, sweetheart.” Sebastian unlaced his boots and crawled onto the bed next to her. “Besides, weren’t you the one in a hurry to get back here?”

  Her brow arched. “And you weren’t?”

  “Sweetheart, I brought you right to my bed, what do you think?”

  “I think we need to get back to where we were before we got interrupted this morning.”

  Sebastian pulled her onto his lap and slowly lowered his head. His kiss was warm and sweet and gentle. As was his touch. It made her feel… nice.

  “You’re holding back,” she accused.

  “Maybe.” His eyes settled on hers. “But only because I want our first time—fuck, every time—to be about you.”

  “Sebastian, this is about both of us. But if you’re thinking about me, let me ease your mind. In all the times I’ve thought about us naked together, never once did I fantasize about slow and steady. Now fuck me with the passion I see in your eyes, or I’m gonna take over.”

  ***

  DAMN!

  Walls were down, and the light was green. Like an animal finally off his leash, Sebastian whipped off the flimsy tank top that had been teasing him since he laid her in his bed, then he dove on her neck. Her scent surrounded him as he ran his tongue down the smooth skin, nipping his way to her chest.

  Her breasts were firm under his touch, and her nipples hardened when he pinched them. Sweet moans guided him as her fingers tangled in his hair, pressing his face tighter to the nubs.

  She arched her back, feeding herself to him. “More, harder.”

  Suckling her tits, one then the other, his hand moved down her flat tummy. Her warm skin heating him up made his cock pulse in his jeans.

  “Yes,” she crooned when his fingers drifted beneath the waistband of her leggings and under her panties, to the apex between her thighs.

  “Fuck, you’re so wet for me.”

  “Been waiting forever.” Her palm caressed his pecs. She pinched his nipples then slid her hands over his shoulders.

  His body was overheating, tightening with need, lust, and desire for the woman beneath him. He sat back on his heels to inspect her. The lost look in her blue eyes was cute, but when he peeled off her leggings and panties, cute morphed into sexy-as-fuck.

  Sprawled naked on his bed was his fucking fantasy come to life. Her pussy glistened, an invitation he refused to ignore. Draping her legs over his shoulders, he kissed her inner thighs and reveled in her pleas.

  “God, Sebastian, stop teasing me.”

  “Shh, let me play, sweetheart.” One finger entered her hot core, then a second one joined. As he moved them in and out, her arousal glistened on them and her body moved. “That’s right, greedy girl, fuck my fingers.” He rotated his wrist, finding the sensitive spot inside her that made her thighs shake with need. But he refused to let her fall over the ledge until he had her in his mouth.

  “Sebastian… I need…”

  “You’ll get what you need. But this is me not holding back. And I need to eat you.”

  She squeaked when his tongue flicked her clit. Her juices coated his hand as he fucked her with his fingers and his mouth. Her taste invaded his senses, connecting them further.

  When her thighs shook and her inner walls trembled, he muttered, “Let go.”

  As if awaiting his command, Lyla gripped his hair, grinded her pussy on his face, and… let go.

  Afterward, he kissed his way up her body, making sure not to miss an inch of skin. “Christ, you’re beautiful.”

  “You make me feel that way,” Lyla said as she wiped the hair from her face. “Now it’s time to show you how hot you are.”

  His cock jumped in appreciation. “I won’t turn that offer down.” The sentence hadn’t left his lips before his jeans were undone and halfway down his hips. “Eager?”

  “You have no idea.” Lyla pushed him flat on his back and started kissing down his body. Her lips felt like silk as she pulled his nipples into her mouth.

  Slowly she went, not missing a muscle or ridge, until her face was level with his rock-hard cock. His eyes wide when she wrapped her small fist around his length and kissed his inner thigh. He couldn’t hold back a groan.

  “Shhh, I’m playing,” she teased.

  Before he could say a word, her soft tongue wrapped around the throbbing head of his shaft. “Fuuuck.”

  Her blue eyes focused on him, she opened wide and took him deep in her throat, coating him in warmth as she blew his mind. With shallow licks and deep sucks, she controlled his body and he fell under her spell. “Mmm, you taste so good.”

  “Stop, baby.” He pulled her off and threw her on her back. “The first time I come with you, I want to be buried deep in your sweet pussy.”

  He moved to get out of bed, but Lyla reached for his wrist. “Where are you going?”

  “To get a condom. Be right back.”

  “Sebastian…” Her grip tightened around his wrist. “Have you always been careful? You know…before?”

  His heart pounded at the question. He hadn’t had unprotected sex since Angie, but that Lyla would trust him enough to want that… “Yeah, sweetheart, always careful and clean.”

  “I know I have a reputation, but, I swear I’m on the pill and I’ve always been protected.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Her cheeks pinkened as she released his wrist and brought the sheet up to her chest. “I want you, Sebastian. Only you. With nothing between us. I-if you want that too?”

  There it was. Trust. It glowed in her eyes. It was sexy as hell, and it was all his.

  “Never wanted anything more.”

  She lowered the sheet, her naked body singing to him like a siren, and he was helpless to her call. Sebastian lifted her chin until their eyes met before he crushed his lips to hers. His tongue plunged into her mouth in a claiming kiss. She was his.

  Their naked bodies came together in an erotic dance. Hips grinded, pulses raced, thighs squeezed, and hands roamed. His fingers caressed her center, making her wet and needy as she screamed his name in climax, and when he finally entered her, he knew he’d found home.

  Their hips undulated, bringing them closer, moving him deeper. He slipped his hands ever so slowly up her body, caressing her cheek, making her quiver as his own body began to come undone. His climax built like an avalanche from the base of his spine to his balls, tightening up for release.

  “Let go.” His command
sounded more like a plea, but his mind was losing control to his body.

  When her walls gripped his cock and her body shook with release, Sebastian Gage soared to an awesome, shuddering ecstasy of his own.

  Chapter Thirty

  Sebastian, Huh?

  WRAPPED IN SEBASTIAN’S arms and truly sated for the first time in her life, Lyla took in her surroundings. The bedroom, like its owner, was masculine and sturdy, the sheets smelled of sex, and the man made her body sing. One entire wall was windows, leaving Lyla with questions about the man who had captured her heart.

  “Are you a morning person?” she asked, snuggling deeper into his chest.

  Sebastian chuckled. “I get up around five in the morning to work out before work, but with the right motivation, I’d stay in bed for hours. Why?” He stroked her back, sending chills up her spine and moisture between her thighs.

  She shrugged. “I wanna read all of your pages. Know all of your stories.” She pointed at the windows. “That wall is amazing. I was trying to decide if it was east or west-facing.”

  “Mmm, ask away, sweetheart. For you, I’m an open book—as long as I get to learn everything about you as well.” He nodded at the wall. “The sun sets there each night. I had the house built on this lot for that reason alone.”

  How could he be this perfect? “Your place is incredible. I’m guessing you had to push all the ladies out of this place kicking and screaming when you were done with them.”

  His brows furrowed.

  “What’s the matter? You need your ego stroked?” she teased.

  “I’d like you to stroke more than just my ego, gorgeous. But no—I don’t know why you think I’ve brought a woman here before.”

  She could have been knocked over with a feather. “Shut up, you think I don’t know all about you? Fuck and release, remember? Your reputation rivaled my own.”

  His embrace tightened around her, leaving not an inch of space between their naked skin. “The only reason I’m able to talk calmly about the men you’ve fucked is because you keep using the past tense.” His jaw clenched anyway. “I swear to Christ, I’m hanging on by a thread here, thinking about you with anyone but me.”

  Butterflies stormed her belly as his words and serious tone bathed her mind. She swatted him playfully. “I’m ignoring that statement because I’ve seen the women who’ve gravitated to you, Gage the Great One. The squeals that come out of their overly plumped lips only dogs can hear. Now stop deflecting and tell me the truth. Have you really not brought women here?” Please say no.

  He shook his head.

  “But why?”

  “You did meet Carla, right?”

  Lyla nodded. What she wouldn’t do to forget that whole day. Yet the opportunity to learn more about her man was intoxicating.

  “The only lesson she ever taught me was that people aren’t who they seem. They would use me for my money, take advantage of my kindness, and toss me aside. Including her.”

  “Your fiancée?” Lyla asked, hoping she was wrong.

  “Yeah. At twenty-three, I learned that the woman I was gonna marry was lying to me so she could get her hands on my money to pay my mother, who was blackmailing her. Instead of trusting me with her truth, she used me. Looking back, Carla did me a favor. I never loved Angie the way I love… I just never loved her enough.”

  Lyla’s heart burned for Sebastian’s betrayal. “Damn, I should have run her ass over when I had the chance.”

  “As entertaining as that would have been, I needed to deal with her on my own. But you coming to my defense… I have no words for that.” Rolling Lyla to her back, Sebastian looked down at her, blue eyes blazing. “I’ll just need to show you how good that made me feel.”

  “Please do.”

  ***

  “ARE YOU SURE you don’t mind?” Sebastian asked once again as he and Lyla walked up the driveway to his grandmother’s front door early the next morning.

  Lyla laid a hand over her heart. “I told you, I want to be here with you. Plus”—she grinned—“I promised Florence I’d come back to visit.”

  Her sincerity had him counting down the minutes until he could get her alone and beneath him once again. Wendy greeted them at the door, her usual smile replaced with what Sebastian knew was painted on cheer.

  “The last few days have been rough. She’s been sleeping more than she’s been awake,” Wendy said as they walked into the kitchen to get Florence a glass of ginger ale. “She may perk up when she sees you though.” Wendy shifted her gaze to Lyla and winked. “He always has been her favorite topic of conversation.”

  Lyla giggled. “Of course he is.” Sebastian smirked when Lyla plucked the beverage from his grip, along with a second glass from the counter. “Would you please cut one of those limes and bring the wedges with you on your way back? I’m heading to Florence’s room.”

  Lyla smirked at Sebastian before leaving him in the kitchen with Wendy, but he followed a few steps behind. She went into Florence’s bedroom, and Sebastian stayed outside, eavesdropping in the hallway.

  “Florence? It’s Lyla, Sebastian’s… friend. Can you wake up for me, lovely? You promised me cocktails, and I came to collect.”

  “Tequila?” his gram uttered in a dry voice that made him smile.

  “You got it, lady. And your grandson is bringing in the limes any minute. You think you have it in you to have a drink with me?”

  “I haven’t bathed yet today.”

  Sebastian moved so he could see into her bedroom and saw Florence slowly move her hand through her tangled hair, which made Sebastian grimace. His grandmother had always been one to care about her appearance even if she had no intentions of leaving the house. But according to Wendy, Gram had barely been able to sit up in bed, let alone maintain her appearance.

  “You look beautiful.” Lyla patted his gram’s hand. “I’ll let you in on a secret—I didn’t wash my hair today, hence the bun. If you keep my secret, I’ll keep yours. Now, how about a toast?”

  In a brittle voice, his grandmother said, “You, my dear, are sunshine. Yes, I’d love to toast with you.”

  Sebastian could barely swallow around the lump in his throat. Leaving his spot in the hallway, he entered the bedroom, rested the lime wedges on the end table, and assisted Lyla in raising the hospital bed.

  After dropping a kiss on her cheek, he said, “Hey, Gram.”

  “Bastian.” Florence’s eyes lit up as if it had been weeks since she’d seen him, rather than only a couple of days. “How are you?”

  Sebastian’s gaze shifted to Lyla as she hitched a wedge of lime onto each glass. “I’m happy.”

  It didn’t matter how sick his grandmother was—she caught his meaning and nodded. A small smile played on her face. “Bask in the warmth, boy.”

  Lyla looked between them and smiled. “Sorry, Sebastian, I didn’t get you a glass. This round is just for the ladies.”

  “It’s okay, you know I don’t drink and drive.” He winked.

  “Sebastian, huh?” Florence asked with her eyes on Sebastian, but it was Lyla who answered the older woman’s question.

  “You and I already established our honesty clause, Florence, so I’m not gonna lie. Gage was a sexy savage; Sebastian is a strong man. They may be one and the same, but until I found Sebastian, I couldn’t begin to appreciate Gage. Does that make any sense?”

  It might make him a pussy, but damn if his insides didn’t melt at her words. Had his gram not been awake and alert, Sebastian might have tossed Lyla over his shoulder and taken her to his childhood room to show her just how savage he could be. Instead, he lifted her hand and placed a slow kiss on the delicate skin of her inner wrist. Feeling her pulse race beneath his lips gave him satisfaction and temporary relief.

  ***

  “I BELIEVE I was promised a toast,” Florence said, her voice thick with fatigue—or was it emotion?

  Lyla wasn’t quite certain. All she did know was her declaration sounded a whole lot like love and she
’d made it in front of Gage’s grandmother. Hell, she hadn’t meant to say it at all. It was too much, too fast, too public. Shit! I wish it was tequila in these glasses after all. And after all the ways Sebastian had taken her body and consumed her soul, that kiss on the inside of her wrist felt like a brand. A seal. A declaration of his own. But he was smart enough to keep his words on mute. The damn writer in her always needed to verbalize.

  “Lyla, you going to leave an old woman hanging?”

  “Oh, of course not, Florence.” Sliding a straw into the glass, Lyla handed the drink to Florence before lifting her own. “Here’s to women with strength, beauty, and class. The world will try to knock us down, but they can… kiss our ass.”

  Florence’s brittle giggle made Lyla smile, but Sebastian’s large hand stroking her lower back had Lyla all but moaning as she clinked her glass against Florence’s.

  Florence peered into her glass, her brow arching in doubt. “Hey, this isn’t tequila. I may be dying, but I know my Jose Cuervo.”

  “All right, you caught me.” Lyla sighed. “I can’t stomach tequila. Let’s just say I had a bad experience and it tainted me for life.” While one hundred percent true, Lyla knew alcohol would wreak havoc on Florence’s already withering body.

  As if the older woman could read Lyla’s thoughts, she puckered her lips around the straw and took another sip. “You know, the lime really does help. I only drink this shit because it soothes my stomach. But seeing the two of you, that worked just as well.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Normal…Happy…Complete

  THE SOMBRERO WAS just beginning to fill with people as they took their seats at the table set for four.

  “I can’t believe we’re here together,” Janie squealed. “It’s our first double date with you guys!”

  After leaving Florence’s house, Sebastian had suggested dinner, and the thought of nachos and Janie immediately came to Lyla’s mind. She’d had no idea her friend would so eagerly agree to meet them at the last minute, but by the look on Janie’s face, she was glad Lyla had extended the invitation.

  “When are you gonna get your ass back in the garage, Gage?” Max asked. “A car came in this morning that you’re gonna get a stiffy over. I warned the guys not to even breathe on her.”