It Started with a Snap by Piper James

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ethan

Ileft the house shortly after Ember. I’d gotten a message that the a/c unit I’d ordered was delivered early, and I wanted to get started and hopefully get the damn thing up and running by the time the heat of the afternoon set in. I still had the key she’d given me when I first started the renovations, so I’d have no trouble getting in there to turn off the breakers so I could start the condenser install.

“Shit,” I mumbled, wiping the sweat from my forehead with the back of my arm.

It was getting hot out here already, and I’d barely gotten the old unit unhooked and removed. The job was taking forever, mostly because I kept getting distracted by memories of last night. My dick kept getting hard, and I’d have to force myself to refocus on the job at hand to get the damn thing under control.

But honestly, for the first time in my life, I didn’t really mind the distraction. Being with Ember had been better than my wildest fantasies, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands—and my mouth—on her again.

There’d been a moment of uncertainty this morning when I saw her trying to sneak out. My stomach had plummeted, assuming she regretted coming over and was trying to get out of there without having to talk to me.

But everything had turned out for the best, and I was pretty sure my explanation finally earned me Ember’s true forgiveness for the insults I spewed about her that night at Chase’s. If the way she kissed me was any indication—as well as practically begging me for my cock—it truly was water under the bridge.

I knew this thing between us wasn’t going to be a cake walk. Ember didn’t really do relationships, and I didn’t have a lot of experience with them myself. But I did know for certain I didn’t want this to be a casual fling. I already felt committed. I wanted Ember. And I wanted this thing between us to grow deeper and stronger. To turn into something real.

It seemed like maybe she wanted that, too, but I made the decision not to ask. Not yet. I didn’t want to push her or make her feel like she was being backed into a corner. I would just be there, bringing her all the happiness and pleasure I could manage, and hope that she came to the decision on her own.

By the time I finished installing the condenser outside, the sun was beating down from straight above me, and I was a hot sweaty mess. Thankfully, I’d done all the inside work this morning before Ember returned from the ranch. The work was done, and I couldn’t wait to tell her about it.

My phone chimed, and I pulled it from my pocket.

Ember: Where are you? We opened a half an hour ago, and I miss your face. And…other parts, too.

I smiled, my thumbs flying across the screen as I typed back a teasing message.

Me: Just working on your surprise. Have to make sure its presentation is perfect. Besides, the anticipation is half the fun. Am I right?

Ember: Oooh, are you wrapping it in a big bow for me? And I hate waiting. Get here and give it to me.

Me: Aren’t you working?

Ember: Yes, but my sales associate Patty is here. I can slip away for a while to…accept your surprise.

Me: Patience, lotus flower.

Ember: Don’t know the meaning of the word.

Me: I’m going to give it to you, soon.

Ember: My panties are so wet right now. I’m headed upstairs to take care of myself. Want to watch?

Me: Fuck.

Ember: See you, soon. *winky face emoji*

I slammed through the front door of the boutique ten seconds later, startling the girl behind the counter. My chest was heaving as the blood pounded in my ears, and my gaze searched the place for the blonde vixen responsible for my…condition.

I found her by the rack of western hats, rearranging them with a wicked grin on her face. I narrowed my eyes, stalking toward her. When I stopped beside her, she looked up with an expression of false surprise.

“Oh, hey. Where’d you come from? I wasn’t expecting you until later,” she said, her voice light and her face the picture of innocence.

“Upstairs. Now,” I hissed, barely hanging onto what sanity I had left.

“I’m working,” she said, her lips twitching with amusement.

I leaned in close to her ear, whispering, “Unless you want to let Patty and your customers watch me drive my cock into you until you scream my name, I suggest you get your perfect ass upstairs as quickly as possible.”

Her nostrils flared, her breath catching in her throat as her hand discreetly reached out to brush over the front of my jeans. Her eyes widened at the feel of my hard-on trying to bust the denim at the seams, and she quickly called out to Patty that she was taking her lunch break early.

She rushed toward the back and up the stairs as I followed slowly behind. I made a quick detour to the stock room, flipping on the breakers for the HVAC unit. The new thermostat I’d installed was nearby, and I pressed the power button. A few seconds later, cold air hummed through the vents, making me smile.

I headed up the steps toward Ember’s apartment, my boots clomping on the wood as I hurried. Not bothering to knock, I pushed the door open. The sight before me took my breath away—Ember in nothing but a bra and a tiny thong, her back to me as her hands stretched above her toward a vent in the ceiling.

I leaned against the door jamb, enjoying the view as my dick grew even harder with each second that passed. Ember turned to face me, a brilliant smile on her face.

“You fixed the air conditioner this morning?”

“Surprise,” I said, smiling.

The window unit was running, too, and the air was already cool inside the loft. Stepping in, I closed the door behind me before leaning back against it.

“You said something about wet panties and taking care of yourself while I watch?” I said, lifting my foot to untie my boot before kicking it off.

“You said something about driving your cock into me until I screamed your name,” she countered, reaching behind her to unhook her bra.

“You go first,” I said, giving the other boot the same treatment before ripping off my socks and my t-shirt. “Get started while I hop in your shower to rinse the sweat off.”

“Bossy,” she said, dropping her bra to the floor before cupping her breasts.

I moved forward, pulled one of her hands away, and dipped my head to lick her nipple with the flat of my tongue. She groaned with pleasure and tried to clench a fist in my hair to hold me there, but I caught her wrist and took a step back.

“I’ll be right out. Do not come without me.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, her voice husky, and I almost fucking lost my resolve.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I stripped out of my jeans and underwear before stepping into her small bathroom. As badly as I wanted Ember, I knew I stank from sweat and was covered in a layer of dust and insulation from checking the ducts in the attic this morning.

I took the fastest shower in history and tied a towel around my waist before leaving the bathroom. My blood heated in my veins as I spotted Ember lying on her back in bed, her legs spread wide as she swirled a fingertip over her clit. Her breasts were bouncing as she panted.

“Fuck me,” I groaned, and her eyes popped open to find me.

So much for watching.

My towel dropped as I strode toward her, my shoulders set with determination. I climbed onto the bed and pushed into her in one smooth motion, knowing she’d made herself ready for me. Her pussy was drenched and her inner walls squeezed me as I pulled out and slammed back into her.

“Hold on tight,” I murmured in her ear. “I’ve been hard all morning, and I’m not going to be able to take this slow.”

“Give it to me,” she breathed, linking her ankles behind my ass and pulling me in deeper. “Give me everything.”

I pushed my weight up onto my arms to look at her face. She was so beautiful, flushed with pleasure as I drove deeper and harder, pumping my hips as she rose up to meet me thrust for thrust. I dipped my head and kissed her, and she sucked my tongue in a way that drove me crazy.

We were out of control, fucking with wild abandon as Ember’s fingernails raked down my back. I lifted my pelvis, driving into her from a higher angle as I made room for my hand between us. My thumb found her clit, stroking it only once before Ember screamed my name.

Her inner walls squeezed my cock, and I came with a shout. I dropped my head to her shoulder, my hips pumping slowly to extend her release. Ember sighed, and I lifted my head to see a dreamy expression on her face.

I pressed my mouth to hers in a soft kiss before rolling over to land on my back beside her. She curled onto her side, laying her head on my chest.

“Thanks for fixing my air conditioner,” she said quietly.

“It was my pleasure,” I replied, running a hand through her hair.

“But I liked this part of my surprise better,” she added, her fingers running lightly over my abdomen.

“Me, too,” I said.

She sat up and slid off the bed, sauntering toward the bathroom. I was admiring her gorgeous ass when she looked back over her shoulder with a saucy smirk.

“Just don’t make a habit of it. I do have to work, you know.”

“Oh, yeah?” I yelled, leaping to my feet with a growl.

She squealed and ran into the bathroom as I chased her, catching her just inside the door. Pulling her into the shower stall, I turned the water back on and pushed her up against the tiled wall. I nibbled on her neck as the water sprayed down on us. I licked the droplets from her hardened nipples as my fingers found her clit and rubbed soft circles around it.

Slipping my hand lower, I pushed a finger inside her, finding her hot and throbbing as she let out a husky moan. Pulling it out, I lifted her leg and bent my knees before pushing up into her with a deep groan. I was hard as a rock despite the fact that I just came a few minutes ago. It didn’t matter.

With Ember, I was always ready.

And I was pretty sure there would never come a time when I decided I’d had enough. It just didn’t seem possible.