Too Much Temptation

by Lori Foster

  “Grace,” he chided with mock seriousness, “you’re excited. Here I am trying to help you, and your nipples are stiff little points.”

  With the dress open, she breathed hard, her chest rising and falling.

  Noah worked the bodice open more to completely expose her. Her breasts were held captive by stiff material, pushed together, lifted high. “Is that uncomfortable, Grace?”

  “Not…not too much. At least now I can breathe a little.”

  Noah couldn’t stop staring at her. She made him feel breathless, too. “You’re beautiful.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Grace?” He caught her nipples again, and this time she could feel the rough texture of his fingertips. He played with her, tormenting her. “You are beautiful. I hope you know that.”

  She reached for him in a rush, but Noah stopped her. “No, I’m not done yet. Now Grace, I know your skirt is tight, but I want you to open your thighs for me.”

  She looked down at the constricting material. “I can’t.”

  “Then I can’t touch you.” He pinched her nipples just enough.

  Grace widened her stance, moving her feet apart while bracing herself with a firm hold on Noah’s upper arms. “Is that enough?”

  He smiled gently. “A little more.”

  Grace hesitated, and Noah could see her thinking, trying to figure out how to obey. She wanted him to touch her, and that made him want to all the more.

  Finally Grace reached for the hem of the skirt and hiked it higher, giving herself more freedom. She boldly met Noah’s gaze, braced herself again, and said brazenly, “There.”

  Noah could see a few feminine curls and his knees nearly buckled. As he’d suspected, Grace wasn’t wearing panties. And that fact pushed him over the edge.

  He wedged one large hand between her thighs and stroked her. She was silky wet already, her soft flesh swollen and hot. Noah cursed even as he dragged her close and kissed her, taking her mouth hungrily while pushing his fingers into her, hard and deep.

  Grace was so responsive, fingering her was more exciting than having sex with other women. She moaned and moved against him and clutched at him, and far, far too soon, Noah knew she was nearing a climax.

  “I want to taste your nipples,” Noah growled in harsh demand. He hooked one arm around Grace’s waist to raise her.

  Grace arched her back, forcing her breasts high, and Noah caught one swollen pink nipple in his mouth. He sucked strongly.

  Grace cried out, writhing against his fingers, pumping her hips, grinding—and then she exploded, her hands tangled hard in his hair to keep him close.

  Noah damn near came in his pants with her. “Yeah,” he said against her breast, “hell yeah, Grace.”

  He still had two fingers pressed deep inside her, feeling the last squeezing spasms of her orgasm, when she went limp against his chest. The arm Noah held her with trembled.

  His legs trembled.

  His heart quaked. Damn.

  As gently as possible, given his own heightened state, Noah lowered her feet back to the floor. In record time, he finished unbuttoning the uniform and tossed it aside. He cradled her head, loosening the band that kept her hair in the ponytail. He pulled it free and smoothed her hair.

  Grace gazed at him through heavy, sated eyes, swaying a little, smiling in satisfaction.

  Noah watched her, turbulent in his lust, peaceful in the comfort of being with her. He sensed that he’d known her forever, yet he’d never really known her at all. Emotions too foreign and deep to contemplate were forced aside. He couldn’t deal with them this soon. Maybe not ever.

  Determined to keep things physical, Noah lifted Grace into his arms, took two steps to the bed, and stretched out on top of the coverlet with her. When he started to move atop her, Grace lifted a hand to stall him.

  “Noah, are you forgetting something?”

  Grace reclining on a white comforter, wearing just that particular look, was as enticing as it got. He cupped her face as tenderness threatened to choke him. “What am I forgetting, babe?”

  “My turn?” Her eyes were dark and smoky, filled with sensual suggestion. “You did promise, remember, before we got interrupted.”

  Lust surged, exploded. “Yeah,” he croaked, “I remember.”

  “Good.” Grace turned so that she was sprawled on top of him. She wiggled, causing her breasts to tease his chest, her belly to stroke his groin. “I’ve been thinking about this off and on all day, and I know just what I want to do.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Nope.” Grace shook her head, and her smile was equally sweet and wicked. “I’d rather show you.”

  Grace felt charged, filled with power. She could easily understand why Noah enjoyed taking the lead. It was so exciting.

  She pushed to her elbows and smiled down into his face. His silky black hair was disheveled, falling over his brow with rakish appeal. She smoothed it back, kissed his forehead, then the bridge of his straight nose, his long, lush lashes. “You are so incredibly gorgeous,” she murmured, meaning it with all her heart.

  Noah smiled. “Flattery will get you everything.”

  “It’s true, you know.” She stared into the pure blue of his eyes and felt herself turning to mush. Noah had eyes that expressed so much, and right now they were filled with a stormy glitter. “You’re beautiful.”

  His mouth twisted with wry amusement. “Yeah. If you say so.”

  “Noah.” Grace sat up next to him, uncaring of her own nudity with the prospect of his soon to come. Everything about Noah enthralled her—his innate strength of character, the incredible generosity in his heart, his protective nature.

  But she also couldn’t deny her appreciation of his physical assets. His body was a study of solid, perfectly sculpted muscles, silky dark hair, long bones, and masculine grace.

  And his face…Grace sighed in wonder. Noah had the face of a dark angel, able to seduce with just a look.

  Combined, his personality and his physique made him beautiful inside and out.

  Noah gazed at Grace’s bare breasts with avid attention while she trailed her fingers over his wide chest, absorbing the wondrous feel of him through his pullover. “You don’t sound like you believe me.”

  Noah shrugged. “I look like my father, Grace, and I’m not altogether sure that’s a good thing.”

  Her heart filled with pain. Noah had never been as vocal about his father as Ben had. He was more private, and he had a core of family loyalty that had likely been forged from desperation, from a burning desire to have a family. But Grace knew he was equally disappointed with Pierce Harper’s lack of responsibility toward his sons.

  Agatha shared that disappointment as well, though she’d never admit it.

  Grace caught the hem of Noah’s shirt and began working it up. “Pierce Harper was a very handsome man.”

  “I don’t give a damn about that.”

  “Because of what he did to you?”

  Noah raised his arms to assist her and gave a grunt of reply when she tossed the shirt to the side of the bed. “He didn’t do anything, for me, to me, or about me.”

  “Noah…”

  “I don’t want to talk about this right now, Grace.” Deliberately, he trailed his fingertips up her thigh, higher and higher, until he stroked her pubic hair. “I’d rather fuck you instead.”

  Grace saw the stirring of desire in his eyes and the set expression on his face. Regardless of how Noah tried to hide it, she also saw his pain. His harsh, crude words were a cover, but she knew him too well to let them bother her.

  She put her hands on his chest, spread her fingers wide, and explored the textures of iron-hard muscles, thick body hair, and warm skin. “Did I tell you,” she whispered, “that I like it when you talk dirty?”

  The pain left his eyes, replaced with burning need and a touch of amusement. “No. Do you, Gracie?”

  She nodded slowly. “I like everything you say to me, but especially the sex stu
ff.” She glanced up at his face and away. With her fingertips, she found his nipples. “I like everything you do to me, too.”

  Tension seemed to pulse off Noah in waves. “Then you’ll definitely like this.” He reached for her, his intent plain, and Grace caught his thick wrists.

  “Ah, ah. It’s my turn, Noah. You just mind your manners.”

  Noah laughed. “I’m a street rat, remember? I don’t have manners, especially not in bed.”

  True enough, Grace thought. But then, he’d already shown her that bed was no place to be polite. Noah gave and took what he wanted, and made her burn with release in the bargain. She could find no fault in that.

  “How about,” Grace murmured, “if I promise to make it worth your while?”

  Neither of them relented. Grace still held Noah’s wrists, and he still strained against her hold. “Yeah? And just how’re you going to do that?”

  “Well…” Her face heated; this was all very new to Grace, and she still felt timid on occasion. But more than anything in the whole world, she wanted to give Noah some of the same pleasure he’d given her. So she pushed the timidity aside, forced her gaze to his face, and lifted her chin. “I’m going to touch you all over.”

  “My cock?” Noah’s blue eyes were direct, alight with challenge, with suggestion. Grace knew he was deliberately giving her the “dirty talk” she’d professed to enjoy.

  “Especially…there.”

  His expression froze, his cheekbones colored with excitement and his nostrils flared with his indrawn breath. He stared at her mouth as his eyes turned smoky.

  “I’m going to kiss you, too,” Grace added, emboldened by his reaction. “And…and lick you.”

  His whole body jerked and his jaw locked hard. “Grace…” He said her name as a warning.

  “Even…even your cock.”

  Noah groaned long and low, ending with a strangled laugh. “Damn, you’re good at this.”

  Noah’s praise filled her with delight. Sliding over him and off the side of the bed, Grace held out her hand. “Come on, then. Stand up so I can get your pants off you.”

  “Lord have mercy.” Noah pushed to his feet. He moved to stand between her and one of the tall posts at the foot of the bed. He smiled at her in anticipation.

  Slowly, provocatively, Grace dropped to her knees. Being in front of Noah, naked and kneeling and wanting to please him, was a turn-on. His erection pressed against the front of his slacks, making her smile, too. Her heart beat hard, her pulse raced.

  She felt Noah’s fingers in her hair, gently massaging her scalp as she untied his shoes and instructed him to step out of them. She set the shoes aside and removed his socks. Noah braced his bare feet apart.

  Grace looked up at him, saw the expectation in his expression. In her submissive position, she felt more like a sex slave than ever. It freed her from her inhibitions and made her wild.

  She leaned closer and went to work on his belt buckle, anxious to see him naked, to touch him and taste him and hear him moan. Her knuckles brushed against his crotch again and again, and she became aware of the slight trembling in his hands as he continued to hold her head.

  When she slid his belt free of his pant loops, his hands tightened in her hair. Grace paused, surveying Noah. He looked rigid and more than ready.

  This was going to be so much fun.

  Using one finger, Grace traced his long, thick erection through his trousers. “I’ve never done this before, but I know what I want to do.”

  “Yeah.”

  Grace hid a smile and wondered if Noah even knew what he was saying. His eyes were narrowed, his face flushed. His inky dark hair hung over his brow and his lips were parted.

  With her own hands now shaking, Grace undid the button to his trousers. “If you don’t like what I’m doing—”

  “I’ll like it.”

  Drawing out the anticipation, she slowly slid the zipper down until his slacks opened. He looked uncomfortably contained in the tight boxers, his penis long and hard and straining against the soft cotton material. Taking him by surprise, Grace leaned forward and rubbed her cheek against him.

  “Mmmm,” she said with sensual realization, “you smell good.” She hadn’t realized that his scent would be so delicious, so hot.

  “Damn.” Noah pressed her head, holding her to him for a heart-stopping moment. “You little tease. You’re killing me.”

  Grace laughed softly at his growled, barely audible comment. “Turnabout is fair play.”

  Noah edged his thumbs under her jaw and tipped her face up to him. “I’ll get even,” he promised gruffly, and Grace believed him. She shivered, already looking forward to his efforts.

  Getting her mind back on the task at hand, Grace tugged his pants down his long, strong legs. She removed his boxers at the same time. “Step out.”

  Noah kicked the clothes away. Grace felt the stillness of him, the way he held his breath. She liked it that he was so excited, and she especially liked it that she was the cause.

  Though they’d already made love and Noah had done incredible, awesome things to her, Grace hadn’t yet had a chance to explore him. Now it was her turn, and no way would she waste it. She smoothed her hands up his hard, hairy thighs, all the way to the lighter, smoother skin of his hipbones. Noah shifted.

  “Be patient with me, Noah, okay? I’ve never seen…this, up close.”

  “This?” he croaked, and even above his arousal, she heard his amusement. Grace ignored it, too intent on her study of his male parts to be distracted by his misplaced humor.

  “You’re hot.” Tentatively, she cupped his hair-roughened testicles. They were heavy, firm, drawn tight. His skin there was very warm, and as she leaned close to inhale his scent again, his penis flexed, moved in reaction to her touch, her nearness. This part of Noah fascinated her. He looked enormous, so long and strong.

  “It’s amazing that we fit.”

  His hands continued to gently clench and unclench in her hair.

  While still cradling him in her palm, Grace leaned forward and brushed a kiss over his right hipbone. She liked that, so she did it again, this time taking a small, delicate lick to taste his hot flesh as well. He smelled good enough to eat, musky and male.

  “Grace…” he groaned.

  She glanced up and saw that his head was tipped back, his mouth slightly open. His strong, tanned throat worked and he moaned again.

  Keeping her touch light and careful, she wrapped the fingers of her free hand around his shaft. Noah jerked, then muttered, “Harder.”

  “What?”

  He swallowed, drew a shuddering breath. “I like it when you hold my balls so gently. That feels great. But here”—he put his hand over hers, his hold firm—“I want you to squeeze.”

  And he helped her, tightening his grip and breathing harder as he did so. “Oh, yeah, like that.”

  “It doesn’t hurt?” Grace stared at him in awe. He’d begun moving her hand, helping her to stroke him. Up, down, back up again until her fingers curved over the broad head of his penis, then pulled down to the base.

  Noah released her and leaned back on the foot post, bracing himself. His eyes squeezed shut and his jaw tightened. “Ah, God, that feels good, Grace.” His hands curled into fists. “I love having you touch me.”

  Grace stroked back down to the base of his shaft. He felt like warm velvet over solid steel, alive and powerful. A small drop of fluid appeared at the head of his penis. She stared, entranced.

  Suddenly she couldn’t wait. She leaned forward with a rush. “Will you love this, too?” she asked, and softly pressed her lips to him.

  She started to draw back, but Noah caught her head and held her close, silently encouraging her. “Yes.”

  His excitement made her excited. Grace kissed him again, this time with her mouth open so she could taste him, too. She licked, felt a shudder go through him, and licked again.

  Noah’s head dropped forward and he watched her with burning eyes and
fiery intensity.

  Feeling wanton and sexy, her gaze locked with his, Grace held him still and licked up the entire length of his erection until her tongue slid up and over the head. She tasted the salty fluid at the same time Noah let out a raw growl of pleasure. His whole body shuddered.

  “Grace?”

  He sounded strained, almost in pain. Loving his reaction and her own sense of feminine power, Grace licked the head again and again, down to the base, back up. Her tongue swirled, teased. Then she’d start all over.

  Noah shifted and groaned and he raised his arms, locking his hands behind his head. His broad shoulders pressed hard to the post, his legs stiffened, his abdomen pulled tight until every muscle was delineated.

  His breath rushed in and out in broken pants and moans. Grace, sensing the time was right, closed her mouth over him and drew him in. He was large enough, and she was inexperienced enough, that it wasn’t easy. She stretched her jaw wider, determined, hungry for him.

  Suddenly Noah’s long fingers molded around her head and he guided her, urging her to take him deeper, longer.

  “Grace…suck,” he rasped, and she did. Her own body was on fire. She curled her hands around his taut, narrow hips and held on as he began to rock into her, holding her steady, taking her mouth as he’d already taken her body.

  “God,” he moaned, and he stiffened, stilled. “Grace…that’s it.” He started to push her away. “I can’t take it.”

  Grace held on, moving her tongue, drawing on him.

  “Grace…” he warned on a growl so low and rough she could barely hear him.

  She sank her nails into his firm backside, warning him that she wanted it all, she wanted to drive him over the edge.

  And Noah let go. He came with a long broken moan, his hips jerking, his body burning hot and shivering, every muscle finely drawn. After long moments he slumped, his knees giving way so that the bedpost supported most of his weight. Slowly, he pulled back from Grace.