by Lori Foster
She couldn’t bear it. She’d rather die than cause him pain. Not that sex with Clint would kill her. Just the opposite. He’d already shown her more physical pleasure than she’d ever known. She almost smiled at her absurd, errant thoughts.
Forcing herself to relax, Julie took two deep, shuddering breaths, then lifted her legs around him, opening herself to him. To let him know it was okay, she stroked Clint’s chest. She wanted him. All of him. Every single inch.
Clint opened his eyes, his face strained as he studied her. “You’re okay, Julie Rose?”
“I’m…wonderful.”
His eyes narrowed. His jaw worked. And with one hard thrust and a guttural groan, he buried himself deep. Julie gasped, but didn’t cry out.
“Stay with me,” he urged before covering her mouth with his. Other than the consuming kiss, he kept himself still inside her, waiting until she uncoiled, until she softened around him.
When he felt the sting of her nails on his shoulders, he pulled out—and sank back in.
They both groaned.
He did it again, over and over, his patience unending. Julie felt the sweat glistening on her skin and on Clint’s shoulders and chest. His biceps were huge as he braced himself a little above her, sparing her his weight, watching her, absorbing the sight of her. He was so attuned to her every move, each small sound she made, that Julie felt beautiful for the first time in her life.
Tears dampened her eyes as they strained together, and Clint dipped his head down, licking them from her cheek. “Come for me again.”
Julie shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Yeah, you can,” he insisted.
“No, Clint.” A whimper bubbled up with just the thought. “It’s too much.” But even as she said it, she felt the response building. Like a sexual being, a woman focused only on the excessive needs of her body, she had no control at all.
Eyes burning and bright, Clint murmured, “I’ll help,” and he slipped one hand between them. Rough fingertips touched her clitoris, and she flinched away. “Easy, baby. Shhh.” Using his fingers, he opened her more, adjusted the tilt of her body so that her clitoris was exposed, so that she couldn’t escape the thrust and drag of his penis as he entered and left her body.
More tears gathered in her eyes as her swollen flesh burned.
“Just go with it, baby,” he crooned, and he thrust harder, keeping his pelvis tight to hers, using one arm to draw her left leg up along his side, penetrating her more, leaving her no room to maneuver—and Julie exploded for the third time that night.
Clint’s low rumble of pleasure barely penetrated her lacerated senses. As if in a dream, she felt the rough shuddering of his body as he came with her, the utter stillness that settled over him moments later, before she faded away to oblivion.
With utmost care, Clint separated his body from hers and fell to his back. He labored for breath—and he smiled. God almighty, Julie Rose was a powder keg waiting to be ignited. She wasn’t experienced enough to recognize her own body’s reactions, not the way he was. When she’d begun tightening around him, signaling the rise of another climax, he’d almost lost it. Three times. Three orgasms, all from him.
One arm up above his head, the other resting across his middle, Clint allowed himself to focus on the possessive pleasure he felt. They were good together. Hell, they were great together.
After his heartbeat slowed and he could breathe normally again, he turned his head to look at her.
She looked like a woman who’d been ravaged—which he supposed fit. Her nipples, a pale pink, were now soft and velvety and looked very sweet. He rolled to his side, examining her.
Her slim, pale legs were still slightly sprawled, her chest still rising and falling in labored breaths. Dead to the world, out for the count, her limbs were lax in the way of sound sleep.
His heart filled his chest. Damn, but he liked her. And he loved her body. Slim, trim, and very soft. Pure woman. Her mousy brown hair was a mess, half over her cheek, one long tendril caught in her lips. Gently, Clint smoothed it away from her face.
A plain face—that made him so fucking hot he could have taken her again if she’d been awake. But she needed her rest, and he needed to curb his lust a bit if he didn’t want to wear her out.
He lowered his hand to her breast, cupping around her, smiling at how delicate she was even here. She’d be an A cup, and it suited her to perfection.
Unable to resist, he leaned forward and drew her nipple into his mouth, softly suckling. She moaned, and her nipple tightened.
Satisfied, Clint raised up again. Damn, he felt content. He had a million things he should be doing, when all he really wanted to do was shut out the real world and sleep with Julie Rose.
He left the bed to dispose of the condom, and when he returned, he saw that she hadn’t moved at all. Wearing another asinine smile, he pulled the sheet loose and tucked her in. If he kept seeing her naked, he’d ruin his own good intentions and take her again.
Naked, he went into his living room with the cell phone. He figured while he was up, he might as well call Robert’s place again. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to hear: a few cancelled appointments, a brief phone discussion with Drew. Julie’s uncle wanted to come over to see Robert, but Robert put him off. He told Drew that he didn’t know anything yet. Robert’s voice sounded funny, sort of garbled and filled with pain.
Was he worrying about Julie? Clint snorted. No, that one didn’t worry about anyone—but himself.
Julie’s uncle would have to be told something soon. It wasn’t fair to keep him in the dark. Then Robert got another call, this one from a woman he called “sweetheart.” She wanted to see Robert, too, but just as he had put Drew off, he apologized to the woman and told her he’d see her soon, but not then, and not the next day. Probably not the entire week. The cheating bastard.
Well, he’d see Clint—tomorrow—because Clint wasn’t asking for permission. He’d just show up, and he wouldn’t be turned away.
When the recording ended, Clint reset it and went back to his bedroom. One look at Julie, sleeping like a peaceful angel after all the hell she’d been through, and he pulled back the sheet to join her. Hell, it was still early, but he couldn’t resist cuddling her.
Other than sexual relief, he hadn’t wanted anything from a woman in a long, long time.
With Julie, he wanted everything he could get, the sex for sure, but he also wanted to tease her, and laugh with her, and he damn sure wanted to keep her safe.
What he didn’t want to do was return her. And right now, with her sighing so softly on his throat, he wasn’t sure he would.
Chapter Ten
Two hours later, Clint woke hungry, for Julie and for food.
Still in slumber, she curled around him, her hair spread out over his chest, her cool palm over his left nipple, her thigh over his crotch. Jesus.
Clint lifted his head and stared down at himself. Yep, he had a boner. At thirty-eight, he could no longer claim to be a sexual dynamo. He’d left that distinction in his twenties, when sex had been a driving force in his life. These days he cared more about stability and financial security. He was working on both.
Sex, more often than not, was an afterthought that had to be dealt with when his body grew too taut to ignore. With Julie, he stayed taut.
Well, first things first. Since they’d missed dinner, he was starving, but another hour wouldn’t matter.
Turning Julie to her back, he pressed a kiss to her lax mouth. “Wake up, babe.”
She mumbled something and swatted at him. Amused, Clint kissed her left nipple, once, twice…he drew her into his mouth and stroked with his tongue.
“Clint?”
He raised his head. “That better not have been a question.”
She looked at him with sleepy eyes that quickly warmed. Putting a hand to his jaw, she whispered, “Hello.”
“Hello yourself.” He slid one hand between her thighs, just cupping her, nothing more. “Are
you sore?”
She frowned, shifted, then nodded. “A little.”
That stymied Clint, being he’d expected her to say something different.
She wiggled. “But not too sore, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It is.” He put his forehead to hers. “Sorry, but you’re irresistible.”
“Uh huh.”
Clint chuckled. “Now, why do you sound so skeptical?” He moved on top of her, and she naturally opened her legs for him. Framing her face in his big hands, he kissed her and, against her lips, said, “I haven’t been this horny in years.”
“Ummm. I’ve never been this…horny.”
The prim, hesitant way she said the word had him laughing outright. He’d be willing to bet Julie Rose had never used such language before now. “You’re a daring wench, you know that?” He kissed her again, longer this time, and when he ended the kiss, her breath was rough and uneven. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes.”
“Want to eat first?”
“No.”
Damn. If he didn’t stop grinning, he’d lose his badass reputation. “Okay, nookie first, then food, then a shower.”
Apparently done talking, Julie bit his bottom lip and wrapped her long legs around his waist. Clint could take a hint. To give her time to warm up, he concentrated on just kissing her for a long time. First her mouth, which fascinated him. She tasted good, lush and hot and sweet. And when she curved her mouth into a smile, it transformed her face, making her truly beautiful.
Next he moved to her breasts, which fit his palms perfectly. He plumped them up, and when he sucked one nipple while plying the other with his fingertips, Julie went from warm to hot in a heartbeat. She had very sensitive nipples, and he had to hold her back so he could get a condom.
Sitting on the side of the bed, rolling on the rubber, Clint teased, “I’ve never been in danger of being raped before.”
Julie came to her knees behind him, reached around, and tried to help. “I’m not sure you can rape the willing.”
“Willing, huh?” He turned on her with a growl, and laughing, Julie tried to scamper away. He caught her hips and flipped her to her stomach, holding her there when she would have turned back over.
“Clint?”
“You have such a cute ass.”
She stuck her face into the mattress, a contradiction of brazenness and modesty. Clint stroked her bottom, down to her thighs, and finally between them.
Her voice muffled against the mattress, Julie said, “This isn’t very proper.”
“Neither is this,” Clint told her, and using one arm, he raised her to her knees and moved behind her.
Julie started to stiffen her arms, but he put his palm to the small of her back, keeping her upper body lower than her behind. “No, I like you just like this. Offered up to me.”
“Oh, God.” She was back to being muffled.
“Remember, baby, you wanted to do exciting and new things, you want to live a little.” Positioned behind her, his hands on her hips, Clint murmured, “Not too many things in this world are more exciting than seeing a woman like this.”
She breathed hard. “All right.” And with a lot of hesitation, “I’ll try.”
“It’s deeper this way, Julie Rose.”
She groaned.
“Tell me if I hurt you.” And using his thumbs, he opened her and began easing in. She was already softened and slick, her tender flesh swollen, flushed dark pink. As he watched the head of his penis sink into her, she moaned raggedly, pushing Clint right off the brink. He gripped her hips tight in his big hands and sank into her, being very careful not to cause her discomfort.
It felt so damn good, he knew he wouldn’t last. Balancing himself on one arm, he reached beneath her and flattened his hand on her belly. She went rigid in expectation, now knowing what he’d do.
“Open your knees a bit more, and arch your back.”
Her shoulders tensed. “I don’t think I can.”
“Do it, Julie Rose.”
She made a soft sound deep in her throat, then slowly spread her knees wider, lifted her bottom more, and Clint pressed his fingers to her, forcing her clitoris into direct contact with the friction of his heavy thrusts.
Julie cried out, pushing back against him, knotting her hands hard in the sheets as an anchor. She was so tight around him, squeezing him when he withdrew, accepting him with a sexy, shuddering moan when he reentered her. The sight of her pale bottom smacking against his thighs was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen.
He tipped his head back and gritted his teeth and came hard. Groaning, drowning in the racking pleasure, he still felt the moment Julie gained her own release.
He collapsed onto her, both of them flat, both of them gasping for air.
Clint started to move, but she whispered, “Please don’t. Not yet.”
He shifted so that his upper body weight was more to the side of her, kissed her shoulder, and said, “Better?”
She took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“Whatever you want, Julie Rose.”
“Thank you.” And then, a few seconds later, “I like how you feel inside me, Clint. I like the closeness with you.”
Clint’s heart tumbled over in his chest. “Me, too,” he whispered.
A few more minutes passed, and Julie gave a long sigh. “I think we need to shower before we eat.”
Skimming his hand down her side, he said, “I dunno. I kinda like you all sweaty and sticky.”
“Sticky from you.”
He bit her shoulder. “And you.”
“Yes.”
Her fragrant skin drew him, and he took several more soft love bites before nuzzling her nape. He was inside her, wrapped around her, his head filled with her scent, his chest tight with emotions. It was almost…scary. And damn satisfying.
Too much, too soon. “C’mon, lazy. You ready to move yet?”
“I suppose if we must.”
Clint kissed her ear. He couldn’t stop kissing her. All over, all the time. “I’ll be a gentleman, all right?” Before Julie could question him, he left the bed and hefted her up into his arms.
“Your head…”
“Is fine. Like the boys told you, it’s hard enough to take a blow every now and then.” Clint carried her into the bathroom and prepared the shower. They spent a nice leisurely half hour just soaking under the warm spray, washing each other. Playing.
Not since he was a kid had Clint played around. There hadn’t been much room in his life for frivolity, not even with women. But Julie wasn’t just a woman, and she made him feel like more than a mercenary—more than the man he’d always been.
At one point, Julie kissed his chest and said, “I love hearing you laugh.”
Knowing he hadn’t laughed much in the last few years reminded Clint of the things he wanted to explain to Julie.
He turned off the water and reached for the towel. Julie wanted to take it from him, but he insisted on drying her himself. “Let me have my fun, babe.”
She shook her head at him. “You’d think I’d be used to dominating males by now, after—”
“Yeah, I know.” Clint went to one knee to dry her legs, trying not to think too much about the future and where it might take him. “All your hulking male friends in Visitation, right?”
“Yes.” Julie stared down at him. “Their wives complain, but jokingly. I don’t think they really mind. Well, except for Alyx Winston. She’s sort of chasing the deputy, Scott Royal. But Scott, like I said, is especially bossy, being he’s in a position of authority. Maybe that’s why Alyx hasn’t caught him yet.”
“Maybe Scott’s outrunning her.”
“Oh, no. He lets her catch him all the time.”
Why that struck Clint as funny, he couldn’t say. He wrapped the towel around Julie. “Is Alyx Winston related to Joe Winston?”
“She’s his younger sister. She’s a lot like Joe.”
“Now, that must be interesting.”
/> Julie shrugged. “I’m not sure Scott would agree. Alyx is pretty outspoken and outrageous—like Joe—but she’s also very beautiful, too. She and Scott have a strange relationship. I’m not sure what’s going on there, but then, I’ve had other things on my mind.”
Clint looped his arms around her waist. “Yes, you have. But time and again, you bring these people up. You miss them?”
“Yes.” Her brow puckered. “I suppose I keep mentioning them because, while I’ve had acquaintances all my life, I’ve never really had friends. Money can be very isolating. That’s one reason I’m anxious to move to Visitation.”
“To live off your teacher’s salary?”
“Why not? A lot of people live without a trust fund. I don’t need much in my life, just the basics.” She wrinkled her nose. “As you might have already noticed, I’m hardly aware of fashion, so keeping up with the times isn’t important to me.”
Clint considered that. He should have used it as an opening to what he needed to discuss, but he wasn’t quite ready yet. “Let’s find you something to wear.”
Back in his bedroom, he pulled on underwear and jeans, but when he started to pull on a black T-shirt, Julie took it from him.
“How about I wear this, and you go topless.”
“Topless, huh? You telling me you like my chest?”
“I love your chest.” She smoothed her hand over his pecs up to his shoulders. She sighed, then stepped back and pulled the T-shirt on over her head.
He wanted to ask her what she didn’t like about him. She’d said plenty already on dominating men, enough to let him know her preferences. Problem was, he’d been a take-charge guy from his early teens. Never had he been the type to follow the pack.
Julie held out her arms. “What do you think?”
Her hair was still pinned up from the shower, looking sloppy and sexy and very feminine. His extra-large shirt hung on her slight frame, but her breasts and bottom did interesting things to the soft material.
“Good idea,” Clint said. “You look better in my shirt than I do anyway. Now, let’s find food.”