The Blackstone Lion: Blackstone Mountain Book 5 Read online

  “No!” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “I mean, let’s go before dinner gets cold.” She turned around and walked into the house.

  Luke never thought he would find a woman adorable, but that’s what Georgina was, especially when she got flustered. And it wasn’t that he didn’t notice how she acted around him; rather, he had chosen to ignore it, so wrapped up in himself. He also did not fail to notice how turned on she was last night and how her sweet scent wrapped around him as they made out on the dining table.

  He wasn’t planning on having sex tonight, no matter how much he wanted her. They would have to take things slow. He wasn’t an expert on women, much less human women, but he knew he couldn’t just jump into bed with her, not until she understood what she would be getting into.

  Luke followed her into the kitchen, the smell of food wafting into his nose. It was delicious, but what made his mouth water was the sight of Georgina bent over, taking something out of the oven. Her shapely, pert ass pressed against the fabric of her dress, and his eyes traced her curves all the way down to her knees, calves, and ankles. Sex wasn’t on the agenda, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a repeat performance of last night.

  “Need help?” he asked, coming up behind her. He had to shove his hands into his pockets to keep them from touching her.

  She stood up. “I’m good.” She brought the tray with a roast chicken over to the dining room then laid it on the table. It was set for three people, and the potatoes and salad were already waiting. “Please,” she motioned to the empty chair, “it’s not fancy or anything. It was the fastest thing I knew to make that was fool proof.”

  “I’m sure it’s delicious.” He put the napkin over his lap.

  She chuckled as she walked around to serve him the sides. “Just be glad you didn’t try the first couple of times I made this. Or any meal.”

  “You learned to cook by yourself?” he asked. “Your mom didn’t teach you?”

  Her hands shook as she spooned the potatoes onto his plate. He caught her hand to steady it.

  Georgina took a deep breath and pulled her hand away. “Uh, no,” she said in a quiet voice, and then went back to her seat across from him.

  Luke’s gut twisted, seeing how her eyes suddenly dropped to her lap. He realized she’d never talked of her past, of what happened before they came to Dr. Mendle’s lab. But Luke didn’t care about that; maybe someday she’d be comfortable talking to him about the past, but all that mattered now was the future. “So,” he said as he grabbed a piece of chicken and placed it on his plate. “Do you like working for Lennox?”

  “Oh, it’s fine,” she said.

  “I hope Matthew and Jason aren’t working you too hard.”

  She gave a little laugh. “I can handle it. It was tough at first and it may not seem like it, but it’s easy once you get to know both their routines and personalities.”

  He knew well enough how the two dragons could be different, despite their identical looks. “I imagine Matthew can be more demanding.”

  “That’s because there’s more pressure on him,” she said. “But they’re both fair bosses. And the benefits and being able to bring Grayson to the daycare without extra cost can’t be beat. I used to spend half my paycheck just for a babysitter during the day while I was working.”

  “So you think you’ll stay and work for them?”

  She cleared her throat. “My, you’re awfully chatty tonight,” she remarked. “What about you? Do you like your work?”

  “Can’t complain.” He took a bite of the chicken and swallowed. “It’s good work and, like you said, the benefits from Lennox are great. I don’t really need much to get by.” Food, gas, and beer were all he needed. He had tucked away most of his salary from working at the mines; it wasn’t millions, but it was more than most people had.

  As they continued to chat and eat dinner, Luke couldn’t help but be even more drawn to her. She seemed so animated when she talked, but it was the little details that caught his eye. Like the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed or her teeth sank into her lower lip when she was thinking of something. Of course, his enhanced hearing couldn’t ignore the way her heart sped up when their hands accidentally brushed when he was passing her the salad. He didn’t need a reminder that she wanted him too, but it was nice to know.

  “Coffee?” she said as she stood up.

  “Sure.” After what had happened last time and how she thought he was brushing her off, he didn’t want to say no to her offer of coffee. Hell, he probably wouldn’t be able to say no to her ever again. “Maybe we should have coffee on the couch.”

  Despite her calm exterior, he saw the pulse in her throat jump. “Just black?”

  “Yes.”

  He walked over and sat on the couch and waited for her. A few minutes later, she came out with two cups, set them on the coffee table, and sat next to him. He picked up the mug in front of him and took a sip.

  “I like it with a little cream and sugar,” she said. “But not all the time.”

  She was only a few inches away from him, and in the soft light of the living room, her skin seemed to glow and her eyes were like dark pools. It was intoxicating—her smell, her entire being. Luke knew he had to get a hold of himself or else he would lose control and scare her away.

  He put down the mug, fully intending to calm himself enough to talk to her. “Georgina, I—” His back slammed against the couch as Georgina launched herself at him and pressed her mouth to his. This wasn’t what he was expecting, but he’d take it.

  As he kissed her back, his hands slid down to her waist and lower to cup her buttocks, then lifted her onto his lap. He could feel every curve of her delectable body pressed up against him as her weight settled on top of his. Fuck, everything about her was delicious, from the way her mouth tasted to the warmth emanating from between her thighs, and he was hard in an instant. He shifted his hips up so he could rub his cock against her. She mewled against his mouth and ground down hard on top of him.

  Her hands slid up from his shoulders and into his hair. Fingers scraped against his scalp and tugged at his locks, a move that had him nearly creaming his pants like some inexperienced teen. The smell of her arousal was making his brain go haywire, and he just had to touch her. He pulled her dress up to her waist, so she could straddle him, and dug his fingers into the soft flesh of her thighs.

  She gasped as his erection pressed against her pussy through the thin fabric of her panties. He slipped his hand between her legs from behind, skimming his fingers over the damp cotton. Her body shuddered as he traced over her.

  Fuck, he wanted her so bad. All he had to do was unzip his jeans and he could be inside her in seconds. Which was why it took all his might to pull away from her. “Georgina, we can’t—”

  “Oh!” she cried and scrambled off his lap. “Oh. God. I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” She turned away from him and put her face in her hands, letting out a groan.

  She was embarrassed, that was obvious. “Georgina, it’s fine.”

  “I just thought you wanted to do that,” she said. “I figured that was why you had Sybil come and take Grayson away.”

  “I did?”

  She scooted away from him. “I’m sorry; I read things wrong. I thought you wanted—”

  “Hold on.” He moved closer to her, but she scurried farther away. As she got to the end of the couch, he placed a hand across her to bar her from getting up. “I do want you, Georgina. I thought that was pretty fucking obvious after last night.”

  Big brown eyes looked up at him. “You do? Then why did you pull away just now?”

  “I want you, but I wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into before we jump into bed.”

  “Oh.” Her shoulders relaxed, and she shook her head. “I don’t know how to do this anymore. It’s been so long since ….”

  “I don’t either.” When her eyebrow shot up, he gave a small laugh. “I’m not inexperienced, but this,�
� he took her hand, so small and delicate in his big, rough palms, and kissed her fingers, “I’m no good at this.” When she tried to protest, he held up a hand. “I’m broken, and I don’t know if I’m good for you.”

  “Luke ….” She placed a hand on his cheek.

  He wanted her to understand. But where to start?

  From the beginning, he guessed. “When Hank and Riva took me in, they didn’t know I’d turn into such a monster.”

  “You’re not—”

  He turned his head and kissed her palm. “Let me finish. My animal broke that day they found me. Or it was already broken long before that, who knows? Hank was strong enough to keep me reined in. Until one day, he just couldn’t.” He took a deep breath, his stomach clenching at the thought of her knowing what he had done. How he tore their family apart. But she had to know.

  Slowly, he told her every bit, every detail. He didn’t make excuses; he had none, after all. He was afraid of her reaction, imagining the look of disdain on her face. It was his biggest fear; she was a mother and if Grayson ever told her what he had said to Riva, she would be devastated, too.

  But he was surprised by what he saw when he had scrounged up the courage to look at her—tears forming in her eyes as she reached for him. “Luke, I’m sorry.”

  “I’ll understand if you want me to go and never want to see me again.” His chest tightened at those words.

  “No, I don’t want that.” She placed both her hands on his jaw and moved her face up to kiss him. “You were young, and you said and did something stupid. I remember what that was like.” She scoffed. “People you’re related to by blood aren’t always any better.”

  “She’ll never forgive me.” And that was the truth he had always been afraid to say.

  “What? She’s your mother, Luke, she’ll forgive you, if you ask.”

  It was nice of her to say, but he knew it wasn’t true. What he had done was unforgivable. He tried to turn away from her, so she couldn’t see the shame on his face, but she refused to let him, holding firmly onto his jaw.

  “Luke,” she said. “Look at me. I don’t care about that. I mean, I do because I know it’s hurting you and your family, but I still think you’re a good guy and … I like you. A lot.” She smiled. “Like, a lot.” She kissed him square on the mouth. “And I want you too, Luke.”

  He let out the breath he’d been holding. She said those words, but he still couldn’t quite believe it. “I promise you’ll only get the best parts of me. Not the broken pieces.”

  “I want all of you,” she declared, looking straight into his eyes. “Every part. Even the broken pieces because that’s all you.”

  God, he didn’t deserve her. She didn’t even know what she was getting into. “We need to take things slow.”

  She sighed. “You’re right. It’s complicated with Grayson and everything.”

  “I don’t want to confuse him, especially with what happened to you.” She nodded in agreement. “But I’d like to spend more time with you. Both of you.”

  “You don’t mind?” she asked in a small voice. “The baggage I have?”

  “He’s not baggage,” he said. “He’s your everything. I get that. Which is why we need to take our time.”

  “I’m sorry I jumped all over you.” Her cheeks turned red.

  He chuckled. “Don’t be sorry.” He gathered her into his arms. “I want it to happen and it’s taking every Goddamn ounce of my strength not to rip this dress off you.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead. “There’s something else you need to know.”

  “There is?”

  “Yes. I’ll tell you when the time is right.” It was too much tonight, after everything he’d said. He was afraid she’d run in the other direction if she knew how devoted to her he already was.

  “We don’t have to jump into bed or anything, but the other stuff … was nice,” she said in a low, sultry voice.

  He buried his nose in her hair. “I could definitely do other stuff.” She let out a laugh when he hauled her onto his lap again.

  “What time does that movie end?” she asked.

  He gave an annoyed snort and checked the time. “Probably not long enough.” Sybil warned him it wasn’t a long movie, and he guessed they’d be back soon.

  “We’ll make do with what time we have.”

  Luke slid his fingers behind her head again and pulled her down for a kiss. He didn’t know how, but he swore she tasted sweeter each time he kissed her. Her mouth opened to him, and their tongues danced as they touched.

  He moved his hands up to cup her full breasts through her dress. She moaned and pressed down against him, her knees parting to straddle him. He could smell how aroused she was, if the fact that she was grinding down on his cock wasn’t obvious enough.

  She threw her head back and shuddered. Her scent flooded his nostrils. He clamped his lips on her neck, right on the sweet spot under her ear, sucking on the soft flesh.

  “Luke!” Her hands dug into his hair; she tangled her fingers as she pulled and her body shuddered. Fuck, the friction was too much, and his cock was leaking with pre-cum, soaking his underwear.

  He moved a hand behind her again, lifting her dress up so he could slip his fingers into her panties. She was Goddamn dripping onto his fingers, and when he pushed a finger inside her pussy, she let out a loud cry.

  “Ffuuck,” he muttered through clenched teeth. He leaned back and watched her grinding on top of him, her teeth biting into her lower lip and her eyes closed. He lifted his hips off the couch, his cock seeking out the heat and friction between her legs.

  “Luke, I’m—” She cried out, her fingers clutching at his shoulders as her body shook. Even through the layers of clothing, he could feel her pulse and throb as she came. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, his control thread-thin.

  Her breathing slowed down, and she fell against him. He rubbed his palms down her back in a soothing manner. A few seconds passed, and she looked up at him, her cheeks pink and an embarrassed smile on her face.

  “It’s been a while,” she said. “I got a little carried away.”

  He pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. “I like it when you get carried away.”

  She moved her hands down his chest, and lower still, over his abdomen. “How about I—”

  The sound of the doorbell made them pull away from each other. Luke adjusted the front of his jeans as Georgina sprang to her feet and smoothed down her dress. She walked over to the front door and opened it.

  “How was the movie?” she asked as Grayson and Sybil walked inside.

  “It. Was. Awesome!” He raised a fist in the air. “First there was this explosion that turned Jack Lee into Marvel Man! And then later the aliens came! Then boom! Marvel Man saves the world!”

  “Sounds like a fun movie,” Georgina said. “Did you behave for Auntie Sybil?”

  “He was a complete angel,” Sybil answered, giving Grayson a wink. “Right squirt?”

  He winked back. “Right.”

  “Well, it’s almost your bedtime,” Georgina said. “Why don’t you say good night and thank you to Sybil.”

  “Thank you, Auntie Sybil,” Grayson said.

  Sybil bent down and opened her arms, and the little boy eagerly hugged her. “Thank you, squirt,” she said. “Maybe we can do it again.” She gave Georgina a wink. “I’d be happy to babysit any time.”

  “Good night, Luke,” Grayson said.

  “’Night.” When Grayson wrapped his small arms around Luke’s legs, he patted his head.

  “Go and get ready for bed,” Georgina instructed. With a last wave, Grayson ran out of the living room.

  “I really appreciate you taking him to the movies,” Georgina said to Sybil. “I’ve been meaning to do something with him; I just never have the time or chance.”

  “My pleasure. Really, it was the best date I’ve had in years,” Sybil joked. “I know pathetic, right? Anyway,” she looked meaningfully at Luke and then back to Georgina,
“I hope dinner was good?”

  When Georgina turned beet red, Luke cleared his throat. “I’ll walk you to your car, Sybbie, if you don’t mind waiting for a sec.”

  “Sure, I’ll just be outside.”

  As soon as Sybil left, he turned back to Georgina. “Should I come by tomorrow? Maybe you, me, and Grayson can go downtown for lunch. Then to the park?”

  “That sounds great,” she said. “I’ll see you then.”

  He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “I’ll see you at eleven.” Luke walked out the door and closed it behind him. When he got outside, he rolled his eyes as Sybil stood on the stoop, her hands over her mouth as she danced excitedly.

  “Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod! Is it done? Are you mates yet?” she asked.

  He chuckled. “No.” Not yet, he thought, and his lion roared with pleasure.

  “But … you guys are good, right?”

  “Yeah,” he said with one last glance at the door. “We’re good.”

  Chapter Nine

  Georgina slept like a baby last night. Why wouldn’t she? After such a delicious orgasm, anyone would sleep soundly and with a smile the size of Texas on their face. She still blushed, thinking about it this morning as she cleaned up last night’s dishes in the kitchen.

  Luke wanted her. Hell, he liked her. He didn’t see her as some pest. Well, that was pretty obvious based on how he touched her and that sizable bulge in his pants last night.

  Oh God, could she really do this? It wasn’t just going to be sex, that was clear to her. Even now, her heart was hammering, thinking about it.

  And then there was that itch, scratching at her brain. You know you can’t stay, a voice inside her said. You know what you are. And if he found out—

  The sound of the glass breaking as it hit the floor made her jump. She winced in pain as she bent down to remove the small shard that got stuck in her foot. “Darnit!”

  Georgina hopped over to one of the chairs by the kitchen table, grabbing a clean rag to wrap around the wound. She winced as she pressed down, hoping to stop the flow of blood.

  She sighed and planted her face in her free hand. Luke had told her his truth, wanting to come clean with her. Frankly, she thought it would be worse. And she did mean what she had said. She knew if Riva loved him like a son, nothing would ever take that away. Grayson could tell her a hundred times she wasn’t his mom and it would never be true in her heart.