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🩷 🔥 🔥 🔥🩷
If you want my lovin', if you really do.
Don't be afraid, baby. Just ask me. Ya know I'm gonna give it to you.
Go right ahead. I don't mind.
All you got to do is snap your fingers and I'll come a-runnin'. I ain't lyin'.
Aretha Franklin
“That man said I have a face.”
“You do have a face.” Athena stared at her friend like she’d grown a second head, and Hen shrugged with a nonchalance that was not helpful. “Truth’s the truth.”
“Have to agree, Athena.” Karen looked between her wife and their friend. “Hell, I have a face, too.”
“Oh, you definitely do,” laughed Hen before turning back to Athena. “When Karen gives me her face? I know I better pull my damn head in, ‘cause she ain’t playing.”
Karen smiled and leaned in to peck her wife’s lips.
“Happy wife, happy life,” she said, smiling sweetly before addressing Athena again. “So, Bobby knows your face. That’s not a bad thing.”
“Except I don’t have a face!” argued Athena, rolling her eyes at both Wilsons when they arched their brows at her. “Whatever. Pour me some more wine.” She held her glass out to Hen, who filled it. Pursing her lips and creasing her brow, she held her wine to her mouth but didn’t drink. “I do have a face, don’t I?”
“You really do.”
Karen nodded in agreement.
“But that man had no right to tell me – ”
“ – what? That he pays attention? Because that’s what he was telling you. That man sees you.”
“He does,” she admitted. “But he can also be wrong. Two things can be true.”
She wasn’t giving up yet.
“Girl, please.”
“What?”
“’Thena, you are a badass. You don’t have to say a word to get your point across. Grown ass men tremble in their boots. You have a face, and you know how to use it.”
Athena rolled her eyes again. She hated to admit that Hen was right, but she knew she was. Bobby was committed to her in a way no other man ever had been. Saw her in a way no one else ever had. Loved her with every fibre of his being.
And she had a face.
She knew it.
Hell, everybody knew it.
Her kids knew it, and Michael sure as hell did.
Half the LAPD knew it, too, and the other half would if they’d ever met her. That face was LA-famous – perhaps not in the way of a movie star, but it was safe to say that Athena’s reputation preceded her and everyone who knew her knew she didn’t suffer fools.
But surely that face wasn’t the one she’d given Bobby.
Not sweet, tender Bobby, that giant of a man with a touch so gentle it simultaneously took her breath away and made her feel like the safest woman in the world. How he did it, she might never know, but she was already addicted to it, and she would have a lifetime to figure it out.
She glanced at her watch and took a sip of her wine. It had been a long week – complete with a couple double shifts and too many days that didn’t end with her sinking into her man’s arms – but she’d missed Hen and Karen these last few months, too, and if she was going to spend the weekend in bed with Bobby – which she had every intention of doing – well, she’d needed a little time with her girls, and tonight had been their night.
Even if she did wish a certain fire captain would knock on the door right that minute and sweep her off her feet and into his truck.
Then she’d give him a face.
Maybe two, if he was damn lucky.
“Earth to Athena. Earth to Athena.”
She lifted her gaze to see both Hen and Karen looking back at her. Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Athena tried to act as if they hadn’t just caught her daydreaming about her big, strong fireman.
“Y’all think you know somethin’, don’t you?”
“I know you were not in this room a minute ago,” said Karen. “That’s what I know.”
“So, where was I then? Hmmm?”
Hen shrugged, barely biting back a smile.
“If I had to guess? I’d say my boss had a starring role in whatever little fantasy you just had.”
“Mmmm hmmm,” Karen agreed. “And I’m gonna need some details.”
“And I’m not,” added Hen.
That time, Athena’s eye roll was more dramatic, accompanied by a huffed breath as if they were being so ridiculous it was a waste of her time to respond.
She did, anyway.
“I wasn’t fantasizing – ”
“ – uh huh – ”
“ – I wasn’t.” If she wanted an easy win, she’d bet she was probably displaying that face right about now. “I was – just – thinking.”
“Mmmm hmmm.”
She grabbed a couch cushion and threw it at Hen, who ducked and somehow managed to not spill a drop of her wine. Just then, Athena’s phone buzzed, and she might have broken speed records reaching for it, neither noticing nor caring that Hen and Karen were both watching her, brows raised and lips curled into knowing smiles.
Bobby: Hey, baby. Just missing you. Having fun?
Athena considered not responding for half a heartbeat before her fingers flew over the keypad.
Athena: You also thinking about how you’re gonna make up for all that nonsense this morning?
Bobby: … (writing message)
Athena, perhaps a little impatient: A simple yes would suffice.
Bobby: … (writing message)
Athena, definitely a little impatient: No need for a novel, Bobby.
Bobby: Yes.
Athena: Took you a long damn time to write three little letters.
Bobby: Sorry. Chim interrupted.
Athena gave a little huff and smiled as she shook her head. It was impossible to stay angry at Bobby – not that she wanted to – hell, not that she was. He’d been a little silly when he mentioned her face, but there’d been no malice in his words or his actions. She’d nearly laughed out loud, if she was honest, but she couldn’t let him know she’d already forgiven him.
Let him work for it a little while.
Make him earn it.
Bobby: I will grovel at your feet.
Athena: Not my feet I want you focused on.
She could imagine him grinning, maybe a little hot under his collar, and it made her smile – which made Hen and Karen laugh. She looked up at them, pursed her lips, and lay her phone on her lap.
“Bobby?” Hen asked.
“Now, baby, you know nobody except Bobby makes Athena smile like that.”
Athena smiled again – this time for them.
“Says he misses me and wishes I was there.”
“Mmmm hmmm.”
“Says he’ll grovel at my feet.”
“Girl, please!”
She smirked and got a bit sassy – and loud.
“Told him he doesn’t need to focus on my feet.”
All three women howled with laughter before Hen finally tried to rein it in.
“Girl, I know way too much about your sex life with my captain!”
“Don’t listen to her, ‘Thena. No such thing as too much.”
Athena fell back against the sofa.
“Y’all care if I call it a night?”
“How’re you getting home?” Athena lifted one shoulder to her chin, smiling. “Bobby’s coming to get you?”
“He is – he just doesn’t know it yet!”
Thirty minutes later, there was a quiet knock, and Athena perked up. She’d been slowly sliding downhill as exhaustion and at least one glass of wine too many took their toll, but knowing her man was on the other side of that door hit like a shot of adrenaline. She’d missed him, too – and she had every intention of showing him exactly how much she’d missed him – but, first things first, she had to keep her hands off him long enough to get back to her place or his.
She nearly tripped over her own feet rushing to the door, which Karen opened just as she reached it – and there he was. Her own fire captain, smiling down at her and looking fine as hell. Not even trying to hide, Athena’s eyes travelled over him, taking in a view she would never grow tired of – and the big damn diamond on her finger gave every assurance she’d have the rest of her life to prove that theory.
“Baby!”
Athena pressed her body into his, loving the way his arms wrapped around her so naturally. It briefly crossed her mind that she was supposed to still be annoyed with him, but snuggles with her man trumped any fun she might have in making him sweat a little. Besides, he’d been cute when he told her she had a face.
Bobby chuckled and squeezed her tighter, and Athena was grateful once again for this man and his love. She took a deep breath, inhaling him.
“Ready?” he asked quietly, and she nodded, humming her response. Bidding their farewells, they walked as one to Bobby’s truck. “Still mad at me?” he asked – with more than just a touch of amusement in his voice, she noted – when they were out of earshot of the Wilsons.
“Depends. Still gonna make it up to me?”
“Right up until you fall asleep.”
“That could be a while,” she said, even as she yawned.
“So I see.”
“You ain’t seen nothin’, boy.” She yawned again, but ignored it, acting like it hadn’t even happened. “When I get you home – or when you get me home – mmmm – things I’m gonna do to you.”
Her voice trailed off, and Bobby smiled and kissed her temple.
“I’ll get us home as soon as I can.”
“You better, ‘cause you know you want some of this.”
Athena leaned into him, jerking awake a moment later. He laughed, and she wanted to slap him. Instead, she gave him that look, making him laugh even harder.
“There’s that face – ”
“ – Bobby Nash, I swear to God – ”
He opened the passenger door of his truck and helped her inside, smirking throughout.
“Make sure you remember my name, baby; you’ll be screaming it later.”
His name?
She didn’t even remember the drive home.
Didn’t remember the way he’d carried her inside his apartment and lay her gently on his bed, undressing her just enough to make her comfortable.
Didn’t remember that he’d lay down beside her, holding her in his arms as he, too, fell asleep, a tender smile on his lips.
When she woke the next morning, the sun was filtering through the blinds, and his side of the bed was cold. Blinking her eyes, Athena propped herself up on her elbows and looked around the room, realizing Bobby had brought her back to his place rather than driving her home. She looked down and saw that she was still mostly dressed, and a slow smile crept across her lips.
Her man was many wonderful things, and there was no way he would have ever done anything when she was off her face –
Her face.
She chuckled quietly, remembering their discussion the day before. She couldn’t even recall why she’d given him that face now – it obviously hadn’t been that important – but she did recall the amusement in his voice when he’d called her out on it. She’d protested – because of course she had – but she hadn’t really been annoyed with him.
Okay, maybe she had been a little annoyed with him.
Annoyed enough that she’d brought it up with Hen and Karen, who’d confirmed what she already knew; Athena Grant definitely had a face, and she knew how to use it.
But Bobby was so damn adorable and so in love with her that she simply could not stay mad at him. She could never let him know that, of course – that would be disastrous, and he would forever use it to his advantage, in his own Bobby-like way – so it would just be her little secret.
Just then, he appeared in the doorway, holding a tray with what she correctly assumed was breakfast in bed. Could this man be any more perfect? And what the hell had he done, anyway, to earn even a glimpse of that face?
She smiled up at him, and he smiled back.
“I was hoping to get back before you woke up.” He sat the tray on his side of the bed and leaned over to press a kiss to her lips. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Athena finally dragged her eyes from his to look at the tray. “All that for me?”
Bobby chuckled, and she felt like she was falling in love with him all over again. There was a tenderness about him and the way he took care of her as if he was put on this earth to do exactly that, and she hoped he never felt as if she took him for granted – not for one damn second.
“Well, I was hoping to maybe have a little of it, too.” He settled on the bed beside her and placed the tray on his lap. “Might need the energy for later.”
She looked up at him again and noted how he was doing his best to hide the smirk tugging on his lips.
“You think so, huh?”
“Well, I apparently have some grovelling to do.” He buttered a slice of toast and spread jam on it before taking a bite and holding the rest of the slice up to her. “And you have some screaming to do.”
“Oh, is that right?” She took a bite of the toast, too, her eyes never leaving his. “You think it’s that easy, huh?”
“Nope.” The smirk finally broke free as he reached up to wipe a bit of jam from the corner of her mouth. “But it’s definitely gonna be fun.” He licked the jam from his thumb, and they each watched the other for a moment, the air around them shifting. Bobby placed the tray on the bedside table. “You know, I think I’m feeling pretty energetic after all.”
“Mmmm hmmm.”
He rolled on the mattress to lay half over Athena, looking down at her as one hand cupped her breast and his thumb brushed over her nipple. She rolled her eyes at him, and he lowered his head, obviously intending to kiss her.
At the last minute, she turned her head, and his lips brushed against her cheek.
“Oh, baby, I thought we’d agreed it wasn’t gonna be that easy.”
Bobby laughed and shifted so that he was lying fully over her, protecting her from most of his weight by holding himself up on his forearms. Her legs were spread just enough that he lay between them, and he hooked one of them with his arm.
“Look at me,” he said. She didn’t, and his tone grew firmer. “Look at me.”
Athena finally turned her head so that she looked up into his eyes. Dark – sometimes more hazel than brown, and other times more brown than not; it didn’t matter, because the constant was the love hearts that danced in them.
The future she saw in them.
Now and again, her eyes darted to his lips; she couldn’t help it, dammit – it was like they had a mind of their own – and he noticed, because of course he noticed.
Bobby always noticed.
Always saw her – all of her.
“This what you call grovelling?”
There was little fire in her voice, though. She was his for the taking, and they both damn well knew it. All she could do was delay the inevitable –
“This what you call screaming?”
“Ain’t gave me nothing to scream about yet – ah.”
She gave a humourless little chuckle as Bobby reached between them, pushing his hand into the space where his body joined hers and into her panties, his fingers homing in on her clitoris as if he had it on a leash – and hell, maybe he did.
His brows arched as he looked down at her, and she knew what was coming.
Knew it like she knew her own name –
“You’re very wet for me.”
“What makes you think it’s for you?”
He grinned, and when his fingers slid through her folds, she damn near lost her mind – and when one and then another pushed inside of her, she all but forgot her own damn name.
But not his.
Never his.
“Bobby,” she whimpered, her body starting to rise to meet his gentle finger thrusts. She winced and bit her lip as he slid two of them all the way inside.
“Oh, this is definitely for me. Every drop. All mine.”
His tone was matter of fact.
Calm and measured.
And feeding right into that whole kink she has for how he carries himself when he has a job to do, whether that job is leading his team on an emergency or making her unravel beneath his touch. He leaned down to kiss her – soft, lingering kisses that still spoke of passion burning just below the surface. Her man could multi-task – that’s for damn sure – and he was always just as concerned about her pleasure as his own.
More, if they were being honest.
And then he pulled his fingers from her core, dragged them back up her body, looked her right in the eye, and sucked them clean.
“All. Mine.” His gaze never wavered, and she knew what he wanted. “Say it.”
“Yours.” She gasped at the weight of his hand on her lower belly. “All yours, baby.”
His hand again slid inside of her panties, once more finding her clitoris and applying exactly the pressure at just the pace she needed. Bobby Nash had become an expert at reading his woman no matter the situation.
Man was a legend.
His mouth moved along her jawline and dropped to lay a trail of kisses on her bare shoulders. He’d always loved her shoulders – had made no secret of it – and she’d used them to her advantage more than once, right from their first date when she’d dressed to kill and he had been unable to keep his eyes off her. He nipped at her skin, and she jumped, relaxing when he soothed the same spot with a tender kiss.
“Ah.” Her breaths were heavier now, the sound filling the room as her chest rose and fell with every lungful of air and every exhalation. “I’m close, baby.”
But before she could say don’t stop, Bobby – stopped, and if one thing in life was certain, it was that she was absolutely, positively giving him that face in that moment. She placed a hand on his, silently directing him back to where she needed him, but it was too late. The moment was past.
He had edged her.
Dammit.
So much for grovelling.
Man was digging a damn hole for himself.
Athena placed her hands on Bobby’s shoulders and applied a gentle but persistent pressure that left little doubt what she was asking of him. Maybe he didn’t have to get on his hands and knees, but he could damn sure put his head between her thighs and work a little magic with his mouth.
Not that he would see that as punishment.
Not that either of them would.
To his credit, Bobby wasted zero time shifting down the bed so that he lay fully between her legs, now bent at the knees. Resting his chin briefly on her mons, he lifted his eyes to meet hers, and she saw the fire smouldering in them. She knew he wasn’t quite asking permission – hell, she’d already given him that – but that he was letting anticipation build before taking his sweet time pulling her apart. It was one of his trademark moves – classic Bobby – and she both loved him and hated him for it.
Maybe that was why she’d given him the face.
And she swore to God if he edged her one more time –
Bobby lowered his head and tenderly kissed the spot where his chin had just rested, and all coherent thoughts vanished. Again making eye contact as he tugged at her panties, he slid them down her legs and tossed them over his shoulder before again taking his place between her thighs. She was now at his mercy – she knew it as well as he did – and he would not be coming up for air ‘til he’d driven her right out of her damn mind.
Athena gripped the sheets on either side of her, clenching her hands into fists as Bobby’s tongue flicked at her clitoris, reigniting the fire within. Squeezing her eyes shut, she bit her lip and tensed her core, determined to not let him know – not yet – the effect he was having on her. There was still a battle to be won, dammit, and she had to keep her cards close to her chest and oh, god.
Bobby hollowed his cheeks and sucked at her clit, making her see stars behind those closed eyelids, her sanity teetering. Athena knew he was just getting started – knew this was gonna be one helluva ride – and she was up for it – she really was – but Bobby didn’t have to know that.
Calm, cool, and collected – oh.
She gasped and she moaned, and she knew it was game over. The neighbours could have heard that moan. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Damn sure wouldn’t be the last.
There was the most minute change in rhythm, and she looked down at him, his hazel eyes meeting her brown ones even as he continued to eat her out. His favourite meal, he’d told her more than once. What do you want for dinner tonight, Bobby? You. Just you.
Neither looked away.
She wasn’t sure she could have, even if her life had depended on it.
One of his hands slid across the sheet to find hers, closing over it before moving to tangle their fingers.
This wasn’t just sex.
Hell, it was good sex.
Okay. Fine.
It was the best damn sex of her life – better than anything she could have ever imagined having – but it was so much more than sex. Anyone could get the mechanics right if they cared enough to learn, but this level of connection?
That was rare.
She knew it, and he knew it.
He gave her fingers a squeeze before pulling his hand away, landing it instead on the curve of her breast, cupping it in his palm. She watched as his eyes flicked briefly to her nipple and back to her eyes, and a moment later, he finally came up for air, licking his lips as he did.
Athena’s chest rose and fell more rapidly as she fought back an almost overwhelming urge to roll him onto his back and ride him to within an inch of his life. She knew he wasn’t finished with her, though – and she wasn’t finished with him.
Her hands flew to his head, gripping his hair. Eyes locked for another long moment, Athena felt her lip curl into a crooked smile and pushed Bobby’s head down between her thighs again. She hissed almost immediately, in response to his tongue lapping at her entrance and sliding through her folds time and again before he latched once more onto her clitoris.
“Bobby – ”
She noted the whine in her voice, and she didn’t care how needy she sounded.
She needed to come.
Needed a release.
Sooner than later.
God.
Her back arched off the bed, and Bobby dragged his hand from her breast and pressed against her stomach, holding her in place. It was almost cruel, the way he gave her every reason in the world to move – but didn’t allow that movement to happen.
She moaned again, hoping he got the message.
She was close.
So damn close.
And then –
And then, she bit her lip and let out a strangled cry as her orgasm washed over her, making her tremble and fall back against the mattress. Her chest rose and fell, and her hips wriggled beneath him, but Bobby showed no signs of stopping. Finally, Athena tried to close her legs and limit his access, pushing his shoulders until he looked up at her.
“Too much,” she finally managed to say, and Bobby rested his chin on her thigh, licking his lips and looking up at her. Catching her breath, Athena looked back at him, smiling when she saw the state of him. She reached down to place her palm against his face. “You’re glistening.”
Bobby reached up to drag his finger across his face, looking at it and placing it against his lips. Athena smiled and shook her head, and Bobby grinned.
“Too good to waste a drop.” He placed a tender kiss on her inner thigh, and she trembled once more. “Still mad at me?”
“I was never mad at you.” Bobby lowered his chin and raised his eyebrows, letting her know he didn’t believe a word of that. “I wasn’t – well, maybe a little.” She hesitated a moment before dropping the bomb. “But only just enough to tell Hen and Karen.”
Bobby groaned and closed his eyes.
“Should I be worried about how much you told them?”
“Maybe.”
He chuckled and buried his nose against her pussy, taking a deep breath.
“Can I look Hen in the face on Monday?”
He pressed his lips to her.
“You’re really gonna ask me about Hen when you’re sniffing me like that?”
Bobby chuckled again, placed a quick kiss against her skin, and shifted up the mattress to lie beside her. Leaning on his elbow, he looked down at Athena, resting one hand on her stomach and both of them admiring the way her ebony skin contrasted with his pale skin. She watched as his eyes travelled north again, over her breasts and shoulders and throat and back to her face.
“You’re stunning.”
“And you’re smooth – and don’t think I can’t feel you on my leg.”
He laughed and leaned down to press a kiss to her lips.
“I just didn’t want you to feel pressured into anything – not when you’re so mad at me and all.”
There was that smirk again, and god, if she didn’t love him so much, she might kill him.
“You do remember I carry a gun. Right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Truth was, though, she still wasn’t finished, either. She loved the feel of her man deep inside of her, moving slowly in and out or pounding the living hell out of her. She had a feeling this was going to be one of those slow and tender times, and she wasn’t at all opposed.
“You know, I am still wet. You could slide right inside of me – ” Athena was no fool; she knew what that would do to Bobby, and she was rewarded with a hiss with the sharp intake of air. He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, and she smiled. “You okay, baby?”
“Keep talking like that, and I won’t last long enough to get you inside you, ‘Thena.”
“Oh? You gonna come at the sound of my voice?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he confessed.
“Bobby Nash! Do tell!” He shook his head, and she chuckled. She wanted to tell him how adorable he was – how damn cute he was – but she knew that might be a bit too far. “There’s that Midwestern blush.”
“There is no such thing as a Midwestern blush.”
“You are from the Midwest, and that is one helluva blush, so do I beg to differ, baby.” She watched him until he opened his eyes and looked back at her, and then she slid her own hand down her belly and between her legs, smiling when he grunted in response. “Get inside me, Bobby.”
She didn’t have to tell him again.
Bobby moved to lie over her, his mouth closing on hers even as he reached down to join her hand in lining him up. With the head of his cock pressing against her entrance, Athena shifted her hips and mutual gasps filled the room as he filled her. Bobby stilled his hips long enough to let her adjust to him, and finally, by unspoken agreement, they began to move in unison.
“I love you.”
They each smiled at the other. They’d spoken at the same time – declaring their love – but words were not needed.
They had all they needed.
Right here.
Always.