He was probably standing on the other side of the door, watching through the peep hole trying not to laugh out loud at her.
“Stubborn, Stupid, A…”
The door swung inward without warning as her mouth hung open on the last word.
“Stupid what?” he asked.
“Wha…ahh…” she uttered as she took in the sight of him. He was naked, well no. Technically there was a white towel wrapped around his waist, but the rest of his body was open to her perusal and what a body it was.
He was definitely ripped. Lean, but muscled in all the right places. Broad shoulders and chest tapering down to a trim waist to the towel that hung low on his hips. His hair was mussed and wet, sticking up at odd angles and her eyes had to stop themselves from running the length of his body again. Instead she focused on his eyes. Eyes that seemed to assess and then dismiss her just as quickly, it seemed.
“You’re naked,” she blurted nervously.
“Yeah well, I just got out of the shower and heard this awful racket. Thought maybe my house was on fire. What are you doing here, Anne?” he asked as one hand raised and rested on the door frame. It gave her a better view of his corded arm, which she tried to keep from staring at.
“Umm…you’re leaving tomorrow,” she stated as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“I’m well aware of that, yes,” he stated in a serious tone.
“Right, so…I couldn’t get any time with you…this week…to go over that…list,” she finally achieved her sentence although it was difficult getting her brain to reboot.
“So you want to go over it now?” he asked with a serious expression to match his tone.
“Ah, sure?”
“With me dripping and freezing my baws off at my front door?” One of his eyebrows rose as he spoke.
“You could invite me in,” she responded as adrenalin seemed to fuel her.
“No. Go home, Anne.” He was closing the door.
Her hand shot out and her palm splayed against the smooth lacquered surface of the wood.
“Ian! Dammit. Five fucking minutes,” she grated out and instantly regretted the profanity.
“Listen to you, mouth.” At least it stopped him from further closing the door on her. He blew out a breath, hung his head for a moment and gazed back up at her. “Look, I have an obscenely early flight. I need to pack and I need to get some sleep. I don’t want to talk about your list. I’m a bit of a crabbit, right now.” he admitted.
Actually, the reason for his dour mood was standing in front of him. It was all he could do to keep his hands to himself as she stood fidgeting nervously on his front stoop. She looked so damn kissable…
“So, you can’t even spare me five whole minutes just to plead my case?”
“No.”
“How about four?” she asked feebly.
“How about none,” he stated with finality. She could feel the pressure of the door pushing her hand back.
“What the hell kind of game are you playing?” she grated out as she pushed the door but it didn’t budge.
“It’s not a game. It’s just business. Nothing personal, Anne,” he lied smoothly.
“Bullshit. It is a game. I’m here to tell you, you won’t win.” She crossed her arms over her chest and shot him a narrow eyed glare. He could go right ahead and slam the door. She was through with him. He was being a complete dick anyway.
“Bullshit,” he mimicked her. “If it was a game? I already won,” he stated with cool confidence. “Hence the fact that you’re standing on my front porch.”
Her mouth opened then shut immediately before opening again but nothing came out. He was right. Wait. Was this a game? Was he playing with her?
They stood and stared at each other for an indeterminate amount of time, neither speaking, but his eyes went from cool and calculating to hot in a split second. His intense gaze swept her up and down before settling on her face once again.
“So what do you want to do, Anne?” he asked in a course whisper.
She didn’t respond although her arms uncrossed and hung next to her torso. She should take a step back, turn and stomp to her car. Maybe she should flip him off and then turn…or…
“Get yer arse in here,” he growled before grabbing her wrist and yanking her through the door. Instantly, his hands were jammed in her hair, her body was pressed against his and his lips were on hers, his tongue just as quickly filling her mouth as she held on. The door slammed and she was being lifted. Something hard hit her back as she matched the movement of his mouth with her own, her hands snaking up his back, to his neck, pressing his head closer to hers if that was even possible.
She was up against the wall, her leg lifting and instinctively wrapping around him as he grabbed under her thigh and ground into her, never letting his mouth stray from hers. A momentary lapse in the pressure from his lips allowed a small gasp to burst from her throat before their tongues met and tangled once again. Her body was being lifted, his arms clamped around her back and she immediately folded both legs around his waist. He was carrying her somewhere and quite frankly, she didn’t care. As long as his mouth was on hers, he could pretty much take her wherever he wanted. Her mind was completely fogged by him as she angled her head to deepen the kiss.
“Hang on,” he whispered attaching his lips to her neck, caressing the soft skin and causing tingles to pass through every nerve in her body. Slight jerking motions up and down caused her eyes to pop open as he ascended the stairs. One arm was firmly holding her torso to his; his other hand was firmly planted on her backside, kneading the tender flesh as he continued to climb for what seemed like forever.
“Damn, long staircase,” he muttered, matching her thoughts and almost causing a nervous giggle to erupt from her before his mouth was on hers again. The jerking stopped and his pace seemed to quicken. She was vaguely aware of her surroundings, seeing, but not really concentrating on the interior if the home.
Suddenly she was on her feet and the warmth of his body was removed from hers.
“Arms up”, he commanded as he grabbed the bottom of her pullover. Her arms started to rise but stopped when she noticed one distressing detail.
“Lights off,” she demanded.
“What? No! I want to see the body I’ve been fantasizing about, love,” he growled out in mild frustration.
“Lights off,” she stated again with a bit more force. “I’m…shy,” she added in a softer tone. Hopefully he didn’t notice her apprehension.
“Shy…that’s…pish,” he muttered but quickly turned and complied, plunging the room in muted darkness.
She raised her arms as soon as he was back, allowing him to pull the fabric up and over her head before his lips sought hers once again almost frantically. His fingers maneuvered between her skin and the waistband of her yoga pants, pulling the fabric down before his mouth trailed down her neck, between her breasts, her stomach. He was kneeling before her, holding the bunched fabric. “Leg up,” he stated before he removed the fabric, she immediately raised the other leg without being told to.
As soon as she was divested of her clothing, she felt his strong hands encircle around her hips, planting on her ass and holding tightly. The jolt of heat between her thighs from his warm breath shocked her. Immediately, something warm and moist touched between her folds as his tongue gave a firm lapping. A sharp intake of breath sounded in the room as her hands immediately gripped his head to steady herself.
“Mmm,” he moaned, causing a slight vibration, arousing her even more as his mouth covered her mound and sucked. Her head fell back and small pants escaped her throat as he continued to assault her with the most tantalizing torture. It almost tickled but then he would change tactics and suck again, soothing and arousing in a completely different way.
“I’m sorry, love,” he groaned as his mouth moved from her. He was standing, the towel definitely gone as his erection prodded her stomach. He pulled her close to him, the hard length of him fi
rmly pressed between their bodies as he walked her backward. She felt the bed behind her legs as the rest of her body laid back on the soft surface.
“I have to tell you, I usually have a bit more finesse, but I want to you so badly, Anne,” he admitted as his hands gripped beneath her knees and folded her legs up before spreading them wide. “God, I wish I could see you,” he muttered before sweeping a finger up and entering her. Anne’s back arched and she gripped the sheets on either side of her as his finger circled. He added another finger causing her to gasp out as her head raised and she watched him. Light from the hallway beyond afforded a glimpse of extreme concentration on his face as he continued to touch her, using one thumb to apply delicious pressure in a swirling motion on the top and the other hand to gently push in and out.
“You’re so wet,” he breathed out. “I can’t wait…”
“Condom?” she choked out.
“No, love. I’m clean, though. Trust me, I couldn’t…” get you pregnant if I tried, he thought but held the words back. Now was not the time to have that discussion. Hopefully she wouldn’t ask.
“I have an IUD,” she offered instead which caused him to smile. She wouldn’t need it with him…
This is really happening, he thought as he gripped himself, rubbing his tip against her trying to ease his entry when all he really wanted to do was thrust into her. It was complete madness, holding himself back like this. For the first time in his life, he was in danger of exploding before he even had a chance to enter. Maybe it was the sounds she was making or the way she was opening even further for him or maybe it was just the fact this was Anne. Someone he never in a million years thought would be so passionate, so willing…
He let out a shaky breath as he pressed into her slowly, her warmth surrounding and squeezing him as he gave a few short thrusts. Her hips rose up as a choked moan burst from her, changing the angle and pulling him into her a bit further. “You’re so…ahh. You’re so tight,” he whispered before grabbing under her, raising her hips even more and thrusting even further before backing off then seating himself fully. She cried out causing his body to stop immediately.
“Are you all right?” he asked cautiously, searching the darkness for her face.
“Don’t… stop,” she panted. That was all the encouragement he needed. He pulled back and pushed forward again and again, the sound of skin slapping against skin mingling with her ragged breaths. He was so close and maybe later he would marvel at how quickly his orgasm built but at that moment his only wish was that she was close too.
“Harder,” he heard her voice crack and his thrusts intensified against her moving hips. Every gram of blood in his body rushed to where their bodies joined causing a familiar tightening before a shattering release overtook him, causing his entire body to tremble. He continued to move, only intensifying the sensation ripping through him.
“I’m…Aahh. I’m… Oh, gawd…” she yelled out as her back arched and her legs shook beneath his fingertips. Every muscle in his body seized up as her walls squeezed him even further. Another wave crashed through him and it was all he could do not to fall forward and crush her. He leaned over her instead, keeping his weight on his elbows as he sought and found her lips. His tongue immediately entered her mouth and she responded just like he had hoped she would. Her fingers threaded into the back of his hair as her head angled to suit him. Her legs wrapped around his waist and squeezed causing him to thrust a few more times as a loud gasp from her throat filled his mouth.
He swept his tongue across hers before pulling back, kissing her lips lightly and planting a small peck on the tip of her nose before staring down at her. He could barely make out her expression, but from her reaction, it didn’t really need to.
His fingers swept the hair from her forehead as he continued to look down on her.
“Why did we wait so long to do that?” he asked softly.
“What?” she breathed back.
“I said, ‘why did we wait so long to do that?” he asked a bit louder.
A small laugh sounded from her. “I…I can’t hear what you’re saying. My ears…popped,” she admitted. “It’s like…when you descend in a plane? You actually made my ears pop,” she stated with wonder.
Well, that was a first, he thought, quite proud of himself.
“Try yawning,” he stated loudly into her ear.
She must have heard that because her mouth opened wide and a loud intake of breath followed.
“Better?” he asked with a completely amused expression on his face.
“Mmm, much,” she responded lightly.
“So, I asked why we didn’t do that sooner,” he stated as his fingers continued to stroke through her hair.
“We’ve only seen each other a handful of times, Ian. Actually, we’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks. Hell, you never even took me on a date…” she stated with furrowed brows.
“Not true. I did buy you dinner one night, if you recall.”
That was true. Of course that was the same night she mentioned Shelby and he took off and left her staring after him in completely bewilderment.
Suddenly, a feeling of unease began to overtake the bliss that enveloped her only moments ago. This was Shelby’s house, their house together. Maybe even their bed. Oh god…
What had she done?
She cleared her throat and gave his chest a slight push. Their bodies were still joined intimately and it caused a feeling of apprehension to wash through her.
What had she done?
“Could you…umm…” she gave another subtle push.
“Oh! Sorry, love,” he pulled out and quickly flopped over on his back next to her before wrapping an arm under her and pulling her to him. His hand guided her head to his chest and his fingers toyed with her hair.
“I need to go,” she whispered. He had a light smattering of chest hair that tickled her overly sensitive skin.
“No,” he stated loudly. “I want to sleep next to you. I need to…Aw, Anne, I dinnae do this right,” he sighed. “It was the first time, and I’ve been wanting you as long as I’ve known you, which, I am aware has not been verra long, but you don’t know what you do to me,” he admitted before seeking her forehead and kissing her gently then tucking her head beneath his chin again. “Just stay,” he added gently.
“I can’t. I need to go home and mentally kick myself in the ass for this,” she said without thought.
“Don’t tell me this was mistake. Don’t say anything, all right? Just let me hold you. I don’t want to argue with you, Anne,” his fingers were rubbing circles on her scalp, causing tingles to erupt anywhere he touched.
She let out a loud sigh as he reached down and grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his chest and holding it. His heart pounded beneath her palm.
“You need to pack. Early flight? Remember that?” she asked in an almost teasing voice.
“Mmm. Don’t remind me.”
“What time?”
“Hmm?”
“What time do you leave?” she asked again.
“There’s a car coming at 3:30. Flight leaves at 6 but it’s International so I have to be there early. I hate that…” his finger was tracing her ear lightly, lulling her even further into a relaxed state.
“Right, so I should go,” she stated but made no attempt to push up. His arm tightened around her anyway.
“You know? I even looked into a private jet just to avoid all this…”
“What? Ah…really?” she asked, trying to mask her sudden reemerging sense of unease from before.
“But, I decided against it. I need to use funding wisely right now,” he started before she interrupted.
“Speaking of…” she started before his hand immediately covered her mouth.
“DON’T say it. Don’t you dare mention that fuckin’ list,” he ground out before a burst of laughter rang out from Anne.
“What?” he asked, pulling his head back to look at her. Her shoulders were shaking.
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“You…I’m sorry. It sounds like ‘fookin’ when you say it. I don’t mean to…” she buried her face in his chest but her shoulders continued their jerky movement.
“You’re making fun of my accent? It sounds like ‘faahhhking’ when you say it, so there.” He kissed the top of her head lightly before angling his head down, intent on finding her lips with his.
“Stop laughing, love. Give us a nip,” he commanded as his hand grasped the back of her head. She jerked her face up to meet his.
“What?” she asked.
“A kiss, Anne. Come here,” he settled his lips on hers, caressing them languidly with his own.
“I really wish I could see you right now,” he whispered against her lips before his hand trailed down her neck and brushed against her breast.
She grabbed his fingers quickly and a sharp intake of breath followed.
“What? So they’re not real, so what, love?” he asked casually, causing her to lean back even further.
“You…how did you know?” she breathed out.
“I felt them. When we were at the Benefit? You let me touch them, right before you opened your mouth and…well, that’s behind us, eh?” he stated instead. He wouldn’t tell her about Margaret and her surgically enhanced breasts. Probably not the best thing to mention at the moment…
He suddenly rose up, pulling her with him. “Up you go, maybe we should lay the right way on this bed, eh?” He scooped behind her back and knees and tossed her easily before settling next to her. Her head was practically swallowed by the fluffy pillow.
Was this Shelby’s pillow?
“Oh God,” she groaned before rolling to the side of the bed and quickly stood up. It was too much. No matter what, her mind was going to keep this incessant, annoying practice of digging up the dumbest thoughts even though she should be contented and sated at the moment.
But, no. As always, her brain didn’t operate that way.
“Tell me you’re not planning on leaving,” he stated as he sat up.
“I’m planning on leaving,” she answered back as she rounded the bed, in search of her clothing.
Absolute Zero Page 25