“Cat got your tongue?” he murmured, rubbing his fly back and forth, coaxing a response from her.
“Okay, you’re right!” She was beginning to quiver all over, so she talked fast to hide it. “When you were determined to save me, I decided to turn the tables and have some fun with you for the weekend. Only the weekend. Then it would be over between us.” Because that’s what you would want. “If that qualifies as using you for sex, then I’m guilty. So shoot me.”
“I had something else in mind. Did you get enough this weekend?”
She knew what he meant, but she just tightened her jaw and stared at him, refusing to answer.
“Let me put it another way. You’re a liberated, fantasyminded gal who likes good sex with no strings attached, right?”
She gripped the edge of the dresser so hard her fingers ached. “Yes.”
“Then, darlin’, you’re going to love what happens next.”
16
NOAH HAD FOUND OUT THE truth and it wasn’t pretty. If he’d been entertaining the faint hope that Keely had some deeper emotion going on, that she had more than sex on her mind and would like to continue their relationship somehow, that hope had been crushed. She obviously saw this weekend as a one-time experience.
Okay, if that’s the way things were, he’d make it a hell of an experience. He’d stuffed more condoms in his pocket than he imagined ever needing, but as he stood there breathing in the scent of raspberries, he wondered if he’d brought enough. Time to get that first urgent need taken care of. Then he’d be able to experiment a little. Or a lot.
Maybe in the back of his mind he hoped he could love her so hard and long that he would break through that protective shell of hers and make her care about him. He might be kidding himself about that, but even if he didn’t succeed, he’d have a terrific time trying.
He looked into her green eyes and found desire mixed with uneasiness. Good. He wanted her to be uneasy. He was planning to turn her inside out once he took the edge off his own needs.
“We’ll start with the basics and work up from there.” He hooked his thumbs inside the waistband of her pants and before she could react, he’d dragged them, along with her underwear, down past her knees.
She drew in a sharp breath, but whether she was shocked or delighted, he wasn’t sure.
“Kick them off,” he said as he unbuckled his belt.
Her eyes sparked green fire. “You seem so determined to run this show. Let’s see if you can make me.”
“Love to.” Using the strength and sure-handedness that had won him ribbons on the rodeo circuit, he lifted her to the glossy surface of the dresser. As he’d calculated, it was the perfect height. Holding her there with the fingers of one hand splayed over her firm bottom, he slid two fingers of his other hand deep inside her. His penis throbbed as he probed her slick heat.
She moaned and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Are you going to kick them off?” he asked softly as he stroked her.
“Oooh, yes,” she whispered, keeping her eyes closed.
“Glad to hear it.” He eased his fingers free and unfastened his jeans.
Opening her eyes, she held his gaze as she braced her hands behind her on the dresser and kicked the pants and underwear to the floor. “Done.”
“I’m nearly there.” He was shaking, but he managed to rip the condom package open, shove down his briefs and roll the latex over his rigid penis.
He even made small talk. “In case you’re wondering, this is the ribbed kind.” His heart pounded like a jackhammer as he cupped her bottom in both hands and pulled her to the edge of the dresser. “I hope you like it.” Then he entered her in one smooth stroke. He nearly passed out from the relief of finally being inside her.
Her gasp this time was all about pleasure. He could see it reflected in her eyes and the delicate wild-raspberry flush of her skin. Without mascara darkening her eyelashes, and her hair in that ponytail, she looked young, almost too young to have a man planted firmly between her thighs.
“Ribs…are good,” she said.
“I’ll…I’ll make a…note of it.” His breath hissed out between clenched teeth as he fought to keep from coming instantly. She wasn’t too young, he reminded himself. She might not be as sophisticated as she’d led him to believe, but she was old enough to know exactly what she was doing.
And she felt so damn good. He should have known that he and Keely would be a perfect fit. He should have known that once he’d connected to her in this basic way he’d feel a surge of possessiveness so strong that he doubted he’d be able to leave his heart out of the equation.
Too late to reconsider. It was done. He was deep inside her, and very soon he would seek the release he had to have or go crazy. But first he wanted to burn this moment into his memory. Standing very still so he wouldn’t climax while he looked at her, he let his gaze drift to her mouth.
He’d thought nothing could be sexier than the sheen of freshly applied lipstick on her sensuous mouth, but he’d been wrong. Her bare lips, naturally rosy and parted with desire, tempted him beyond belief. He remembered what that mouth could do, had done in the hallway of the hotel. Just thinking about that would take him past the point of no return. And he didn’t want to go there yet.
Instead, he was going to look. His gaze traveled over the golden skin of her throat as he listened to the sexy, liquid sound as she swallowed in air. More memories rose, memories of losing control and listening to that same sweet sound as she’d taken all he had to give.
His climax hovered ever nearer as he savored the view of her breasts, plump as honeydews beneath her tank top. It pleased him to leave them covered this time and watch the snug white cotton pucker over her erect nipples. Then his glance dipped lower, past the hem of her tank top to red-gold curls surrounding the spot where his penis was buried to the hilt.
He tested his control by easing slowly out and sinking deep again, all the while absorbing the sight of that perfect connection. And he nearly came apart from the visual high that gave him.
Balanced on the knife’s edge of release, he looked into her eyes. “This one’s for me.”
She sucked in a breath. “Go for it.”
Tightening his grip, he felt the muscles of her buttocks contract beneath his fingers. With a groan of anticipation, he began to thrust. Oh, yes. Deeper and faster.
Her breasts jiggled from the impact. His excitement ratcheted up a notch, watching them shake faster and faster the quicker he pumped. Oh, damn, this was good.
Panting, she wrapped her legs around his hips and threw her head back.
He listened to her soft but urgent moans and knew she was close, but he couldn’t wait, couldn’t make sure she’d take off with him. Not this time. She’d have lots of turns later.
But now…now…the world tipped and he plunged forward with a moan wrenched from deep in his chest. Spasms ripped through him as he poured himself into her tight warmth. Fireworks exploded in his head and his knees began to buckle. “Noah! Please!”
Her desperation broke through the song of joy bubbling through his body. He’d meant to be selfish this time, but he couldn’t leave her writhing in frustration. Trembling with the aftershocks of his own climax, he sank to his knees, rested her thighs on his shoulders and pressed his open mouth right where he knew she needed him to be.
In no time she arched away from the dresser with a wild cry. And as he listened to her breathless words of gratitude, he decided to settle in.
But she seemed to have other ideas as she struggled weakly, as if to get away. “You…were right.” She gasped for breath. “I’ve never…I don’t think I can….”
He ignored her and kept going.
“Noah…you don’t have to prove any—” She gasped and her thighs began to quiver.
A fierce sense of pride surged through him. Ah, she tasted so good, and he was going to give her something no man ever had.
She moaned. “Oh…my. I’ve never… I think maybe… oh…
oh…my!” Words became unintelligible whimpers as she arched like a bow once again.
He thought he had the combination now, was pretty sure he’d found the right rhythm and the right pressure, but he needed one more run to lock it in. Loving every second, he took her up a third time as she laughed and shrieked and called him a genius.
At last he stood, lifted her quaking body from the dresser and carried her to the unmade bed. Considerate of her not to have had the maid come in yet. Keely was limp as a wet mop when he settled her on the bed. While he shucked his clothes and tossed his remaining condoms on the bedside table, he enjoyed basking in her satisfied expression. As for him, he was already erect, already wanted her again. But he could wait.
KEELY WONDERED HOW MANY women had made the mistake of thinking that sex this good must mean that Noah was in love with them. She felt loved, even though she kept reminding herself that all he wanted was one action-packed weekend with her, and then it was adiós, muchachas.
Still, he sure made her feel cherished when he looked at her like that, his brown eyes warm and appreciative.
She was pretty darned appreciative, herself. She glanced at his stiff penis. “I’d be happy to return the favor.”
“Maybe later. Considering the difference between guys and gals, I want to pace myself.” He walked to the bedside telephone and picked up the receiver.
“What are you doing?”
“Ordering up some food.”
“Food?” It was the last thing she’d expected him to suggest, considering he’d just had breakfast. She, on the other hand, was starving.
“Yeah, food.” He grinned at her. “I tried to eat before I came up here but I didn’t get much down. I’m willing to bet you haven’t had anything either. And, right now, I’m damn hungry. How about you?”
“I could eat.”
“Good.” He punched in the number for room service and looked over at her. “How about a couple of club sandwiches and some fresh fruit?”
“Sure.” Anything sounded good. And suddenly she realized that this was what a honeymoon would be like—making love and ordering room service afterward. But she had no honeymoon in her immediate future and she’d do well to remember that.
Noah placed the order and hung up the phone. Then he sat down on the bed beside her. “One of us has more clothes on than the other.” He reached for the hem of her tank top.
“Wait.” She placed her hands over his. “Won’t we have to be dressed when the food arrives?”
“Will we?” His eyes sparkled.
“Yes. Taking a chance in a deserted hallway at night is one thing. Stripping down and inviting the room-service waiter in is beyond where I want to go.”
“Okay. We’ll put on clothes again. But I’ll bet they won’t show up for at least twenty minutes, and I want to see your breasts. Kiss your breasts. I’m crazy about your breasts. And look at that. They’re crazy about me, too.” He leaned down and gently bit one of the nipples that had stiffened under his gaze.
She sighed with pleasure.
“They want out,” he murmured, moving to catch the other nipple between his teeth.
“Maybe so.” She offered no resistance as he pushed her top up. She wanted to feel his hot mouth against her skin.
He licked and nibbled until, despite the satisfaction he’d given her not long ago, she began to ache for him again.
“Tell me a secret fantasy.” He covered her breasts with tiny kisses. “Something you’ve never done. Something we could do in this room.”
She didn’t have to think very long about it, especially considering the sensual daze he’d put her in by stroking and lapping at her breasts. “To be tied up,” she murmured. “Gently and considerately, of course. And then teased to distraction.”
“You wouldn’t be scared of me doing that?”
“Not with you.” Her blood heated just thinking about it. “I’d be safe with you.”
“Yeah, you’d be safe.” He rolled her nipple against his tongue. “Let’s do it.”
“After room service.”
“Before.”
“Before?”
“Now.” In a split second he’d pinned her to the mattress with his body and skimmed her tank top over her head, bringing her arms up with it.
Her wrists seemed tangled in the material and she tried to free them. “I’m stuck.”
He raised up on one elbow and looked down at her with a satisfied smile. “I know.”
Then she realized he was holding her wrists with his free hand. “Wait a minute! You can’t just do it! I have to let you!”
He shook his head. “Way too tame for a woman like you.”
“Tame was what I had in mind!” She tried to wiggle out from under him.
“Sorry.” He held her still with the weight of his body while he twisted the material of her top and looped one armhole over the bedpost. Then he slipped the scrunchie from her ponytail and wound that around her wrists for good measure.
That was about the time she remembered she’d just invited a cowboy who bull-dogged cattle for a living to play bondage games with her. She might be in over her head. “Noah, seriously, room service will be here any minute. Let me go.”
“Nope. This is fun.” As he slid downward he grasped one ankle.
“Stop it!” She tried kicking with her free foot, but with both hands tied above her head and one ankle in his grasp, she couldn’t get any leverage. “Noah! I’ll scream!”
“I imagine the folks in the neighboring rooms will only think you’re having another amazing orgasm, which, eventually, is what will happen if you’re a good girl.” Holding her ankle firmly in one hand, he picked up a corner of the sheet, put it between his teeth and ripped away a strip of it.
“You’re destroying hotel property!”
“I’ll pay them for the sheet.” He moved to the other side of the bed to repeat the process and there she was, neatly tied, hand and foot, naked on the bed. He surveyed his work. “Nice. Very, very nice. Are you comfy?”
“Well, you didn’t hurt me or anything, if that’s what you mean, but I didn’t mean for you to do it like this.” She was panting, both from the struggle and—she had to admit it— from excitement. He’d tied her up while promising her an amazing orgasm. And he’d been quick, but gentle. None of her muscles were stretched too tight and, God, she felt sexy. A fantasy didn’t get much better than that.
And yet she still felt honor-bound to complain. “I was picturing velvet ropes or silk scarves.”
“You got any velvet ropes or silk scarves?”
“Well, no. Even so, you could have led up to it and taken it slower.”
“You don’t lead up to a stunt like this. That’s boring.” His smile was positively wicked as his gaze traveled over her. “And, don’t worry, we’ll take it slow. Now.”
A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine. “My, how you’ve changed since Friday afternoon.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve had my fantasies, the same as you.” He walked slowly around the bed, eyeing her from every angle. “This is one we share.”
She didn’t dare ask him if she was the woman he’d fantasized about. If she hadn’t been, she didn’t want to know. Besides, if she hadn’t been his fantasy woman before this weekend, she would be after this.
Taking his gaze from her briefly, he reached down and picked up his briefs. They didn’t fit very well over his erection.
“I didn’t hear anybody at the door,” she said.
“Nobody’s there yet.”
“Then why—”
“I want to be ready.” He stepped into his jeans and winced as he zipped them. “Talk about bondage.” Then he walked casually over to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress.
Her pulse raced at the look in his eyes. An involuntary shudder of excitement ran through her as the fact of her vulnerability finally penetrated. She was totally at his mercy. Did she trust him that much? Yes and no. Yes, that he wouldn’t hurt her. No
, that he wouldn’t drive her beyond all her limits and strip away all her defenses. And that was where the thrill of danger came in. “Cold?”
She shook her head.
“I didn’t think so.” Reaching down to her ankle, he trailed a finger along the inside of her calf, then continued up the tender skin of her inner thigh, drawing closer, closer, closer… and stopping. Holding her gaze, he brushed his knuckles lightly over her damp curls and she discovered how incredibly sensitive she was as she responded with a rush of moisture.
“You smell so good,” he murmured. Boldly he slid a finger in deep, drew it out and licked it. “And you taste even better.”
She wanted more…much more. But he’d promised to take it slow. She wondered if she’d survive the wait.
“Remember finger paints?” he asked.
Her chest was tight with anticipation, her answer breathy. “Yes.”
“Let’s pretend this is a jar of finger paint.” He slipped two fingers back into her. “And I’m going to paint a beautiful picture on your soft body. You’re so wet I should be able to create quite a masterpiece.”
Delicious heat poured through her, flushing her skin and making her entire body tingle. “You’re going to torture me, aren’t you?”
He circled her breast with his damp fingers. “Yes, darlin’, I am. And you’re going to love it.”
As an erotic tease, it was world-class. He stroked every part of her body with the musky liquid of her passion, always returning to the wellspring to caress her into panting readiness again. Yet he’d only stay long enough to make her whimper, never long enough to give her the climax that soon became her entire focus.
And just as she was ready to offer him anything if he’d only give her that precious release, a knock at the door announced room service had arrived.
Noah leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “Our food’s here.”
She gasped for breath. “Who cares? Noah, I need—”
“Soon.” He climbed from the bed. “Be right there!” he called to the bellman.
“What do you mean, you’ll be right there? Noah, don’t open that door!”
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