The Girl Next Door
Chapter 43

Before Mia can untangle herself from me, I scoop her into my arms. She squeaks in surprise as I carry her to the bathroom before depositing her onto the long stretch of marble countertop. Silently she watches as I close the plug on the white porcelain tub and run Once it's at the right temperature, I swing around to face her. "A bath will help you relax."

the water.

She bites her lip. "Are you going to join me?"

"Nope." I shake my head. "This is for you."

When the tub is almost filled, and steam is rising from it, I position myself between her legs. I gather up the material of her pink tank top and carefully pull it over her head before dropping it to the floor. She sits before me in tiny white shorts with pink hearts stamped across them.

I reach out and cup the soft weight of her breasts, squeezing the fullness. Her n*****s pebble against my palms before I release them and trail my fingers down her ribcage until I reach the elastic band of her shorts. I hook my thumbs beneath the material before dragging them down to reveal even more sun-kissed flesh. She lifts her backside so I can slide the thin cotton over her hips and down her thighs. The shorts get added to the small pile on the floor.

She makes such a pretty picture sitting naked in front of the mirror. This girl doesn't understand the power she holds over me. She could have had me on my knees years ago.

I lean forward, kissing one breast before nipping at the hardened tip. Then I give the same treatment to the other. The whimper that falls from her lips has my c**k stiffening with need. I have to remind myself that what I'm doing isn't for me, it's for her.

I lick a hot trail down the middle of her ribcage to her bellybutton before sinking lower. My hands slide to her inner thighs, opening them gently until my mouth can settle on her p***y. When I swipe my tongue over her opening, Mia groans and arches her back. My hands slide from her thighs over her hips until I can cradle her backside with my palms. I bury my face against her heat, laving her sweetness with my tongue.

The goal is to make her forget about everything she saw tonight. Even if it's only for a few moments. I want the pleasure to overtake the pain.

When she's dancing on the edge, I pull back, not wanting her to spiral out of control. With one last kiss against her lower lips, I rise to my feet. Mia's head is tipped back, and her eyes are closed.

"Do you like that?" I press a kiss against her mouth before scooping her up and cradling her against my chest.

"Mmm." Her eyelids flutter open as she lifts her lips to mine for another kiss.

The moment my mouth settles on hers, our tongues mingle. She purrs before slipping her arms around my neck and tugging me closer.

I'm breathing hard and close to coming in my boxer-briefs when I pull away. "You should enjoy your bath before it gets cold."

The dazed look filling her eyes is like a punch to my gut.

I lower her into the tub until she's settled against the sloped porcelain. A sigh of contentment slips free as her body sinks into the steaming water.

"Do you want it hotter?"

"No." Her eyelids feather closed. "It's perfect."

My gaze roams over her naked body.

When we were kids, she was all long limbs, knobby knees, and elbows. It was around seventh grade when Mia's body changed. Her breasts and hips filled out. Every time I saw that short white tennis skirt against her tanned thighs, I would sport wood. Or I'd catch a glimpse of her in the hallway at school. The way her shirts stretched across the soft curve of her breasts left my mouth watering.

Even thinking about it now makes me groan.

I really need to get out of here and stop staring at her until I can get a better handle on myself. As I head for the door, her eyes crack open.

"Where are you going?" she asks sleepily. She's in full relaxation mode, and that's exactly where I want her.

"I'll be back in a minute. Just enjoy yourself."

I disappear from the bathroom before she can ask further questions. Once in the hallway, I cross over the catwalk and move down the staircase before heading to the kitchen. I grab a mug from the cabinet and fill it with filtered water from the fridge before setting it in the microwave. While the water is heating, I search the cabinets for tea. As I come across a box of chamomile, the microwave buzzes.

Perfect timing.

I grab the mug and seep the bag in the hot water.

When I return to the bathroom, steam has permeated the air, and Mia is lying against the rim of the tub with her eyes closed. I settle next to her with the mug in my hands.

Her dark eyelashes flutter. When she sees me, her lips lift into a satisfied smile.

"I brought you something."

She sits up and takes the mug from my fingers. "You made tea?" Surprise dances in her eyes.

I shrug. "It wasn't a big deal."

She glances at the drink before releasing a sigh. "You're making this awfully difficult."

Not understanding the comment, my brows draw together. All I'm trying to do is make her feel better. Maybe I'm doing a piss-poor job of it. "What do you mean?"

"I'm trying to hold myself back." Her gaze flicks to mine. "I don't want to get too excited about this." There's a pause before she adds, "About you."

Not that I blame her for it, but I hate that she feels the need to protect herself from me. It makes me wonder if I'll ever be able to earn her trust.

"I'm not that guy anymore." I reach out and trail my fingers along the curve of her jaw. "I'm trying to prove that to you."

She sinks into my touch. "You're doing a good job of it."

"Guess I need to keep it up." That's all I can do.

Mia brings the mug to her lips and takes a sip before setting it on the edge of the tub. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." I pause before adding, "Whatever you need from me, all you have to do is ask, and it's yours."

Her body sinks beneath the surface of the water. When she's fully submerged, she widens her legs until she's completely exposed. My gaze drops to her spread thighs before skimming up her body to settle on her face. "Tell me what you need, Mia." My voice turns rough with pent-up arousal.

She remains silent as I trail my fingers through the water. Carefully, I circle one b****t until the n****e tightens before doing the same to the other. A sigh of pleasure escapes from her.

"Is this what you wanted?"

She shakes her head.

My fingers drift lower, swirling around the indentation of her belly button before moving downward and feathering over her lower lips. She widens her legs as I circle my thumb around her clit. Her body grows restless beneath my touch. "Feel good, baby?"

"God, yes."

Not once do I dip my fingers inside her tight sheath. I continue tormenting her, driving her closer to o****m. She bites her lower lip to stifle a whimper. "Need more?"

"Please."

I slip one finger inside her body. As I pull away, her inner muscles tighten, and a whimper of protest falls from her mouth. I circle her clit a few more times before sinking deep inside her. She replaces a rhythm and gyrates against my hand. Her body tightens as her muscles convulse around me. The pleasure that falls from her lips has my c**k throbbing with need. I don't think I've ever wanted anyone more than this girl.

Once her o****m dissipates, I lean over and take her mouth with my own.

"I love watching you fall apart," I whisper against her lips.

Her eyes flare as color flags her cheeks.

"You know what I love even more?" I ask.

The dazed expression clears as she shakes her head.

"When you orgasmed on my tongue at the club. Your p***y got so f*****g wet. I wanted to lap it all up."

When her mouth falls open, I grin before plunging my tongue deep inside her sweetness. How will I ever get enough of her? It doesn't seem possible. As much as I'd like to sink inside her body, that won't be happening. This is about Mia's pleasure, not my own. This is the first relationship I've been involved in. Everything before this was a string of meaningless encounters. There was never a reason to hold back or take things slow.

But Mia is different.

She's the first girl who has ever mattered. What we have, what we're attempting to build together, is more than physical. I don't want her to think it's based on s*x.

"Why don't you finish your tea before it gets cold, and then I'll help you out."

She lifts the mug to her lips and takes another sip. "I'm done."

I grab a plush navy towel from the rack before holding it out so she can step into it. She rises gracefully to her feet as water sluices down her body.

How is it possible that she's this perfect?

As she stands before me, I drag the towel over her damp skin, starting first with her shoulders. Once they're dried, I stroke up and down her arms. I move behind her, swiping at the long line of her spine before dropping to my haunches and running the towel over her rounded cheeks.

I press a kiss against each perfect globe before sweeping the plush material over her legs. When no moisture remains, I place my hands on her hips and turn her, so she's facing me. It's gently that I stroke the area between her thighs. She groans as the cloth slides back and forth with enough pressure to create friction.

Her hands grip my shoulders as her eyelids feather shut and her head lolls back. By the time I'm done, her p***y is more wet than before I started. I remove the towel and lean closer, pressing a kiss against her clit. My tongue swirls around the tiny bundle of nerves. Then I dry her belly and ribs before circling the plush material over her breasts. Her n*****s tighten as I swipe over them. When I'm finished, I pop to my feet, sucking one hard bud into my mouth before lavishing the same attention on the other. "I think we're done here."

"That's unfortunate." Her cheeks are stained with color, and her eyes are heavy-lidded.

I chuckle before scooping her up into my arms and carrying her into the other room. Gently, I place her in the middle of the queen-size bed. Her gaze stays locked on mine as her thighs fall open.

f**k, but she's beautiful.

Pink.

Soft.

Inviting.

Those are the only words that rush through my brain.

I kick off my shoes and yank the back of my T-shirt, pulling it over my head before tossing it to the floor. The athletic shorts and boxers are the next to go as I shove them down my thighs until the material is puddled around my feet.

I crawl onto the bed and up her body. Her legs wrap around my waist, cradling my thick erection against her softness. All it would take is one thrust of my hips, and I could sink deep inside her body. Instead, I keep a tight leash on my control. She moans and rubs her slick heat against my hard length.

"Don't you want to be inside me?" she murmurs.

"More than anything," I breathe, "but tonight, I'm going to hold you in my arms."

Questions circle through her dark depths. "Really?"

"Yup."

"Naked?"

"Damn right."

"I'm glad you're staying," she whispers, tugging me closer.

"Me, too." The only thing that matters is that Mia is here in my arms.

That she's mine.

Or, at the very least, on her way to being mine.

And maybe I'm on my way to being hers.