He kicked his pants away, and she heard the crackle of paper, but she was too busy pulling at his shoulders. Touching every part of him she could reach, until he was there. With his mouth on her hers, he slammed hard into her.
She stiffened. Pain and fullness overwhelming her.
He stilled. “Fuck. Are you okay?”
She nodded.
He moved slightly and she saw stars.
“Yes,” she hissed.
He moved again, and she met him this time.
“Damn, you are so tight.” He paused, his breath hard on her neck.
Her arm wrapped around him and slid down his spine. Those muscles she loved looking at jumped under her hands, and she rolled her hips.
“Need.” She heard a voice that sounded a lot like hers plead.
And he gave. Over and over. Moving hard. Fast. Her cries muffled by his kisses and body. He took her. Owned her. And she couldn’t get enough.
“Ethan.” She screamed his name, her heart pounded in her ears as he quickened and pulsed deep within her.
Their heavy breathing filled the air. He leaned up on his elbows, still buried in her, and looked down at her. Shadows kept her from reading his face, but she was in total awe. She had no clue it could be like that. Past experience had left her wondering why people even did it. She brushed her hands along his face.
“Is it always like this?”
She felt his frown, and he pulled out of her. It left her hollow and empty.
“Bathroom?” he asked.
She pointed to the left and watched as he got up, no shame at all from his nakedness. Seeing his tight ass made her blush, but honestly after what they did, it was silly. He disappeared, and she heard a water faucet turn on. Cold and self-conscious without his warm body, she grabbed the corner of the blanket to cover herself.
“Don’t do that.”
She looked up, realizing he was already back. Standing over her, a towel in his hand.
“What?”
“Cover yourself.” He kneeled down and pulled the blanket back off. “You’re fucking perfect.”
He tried to push her legs apart, she tensed.
“Just a cool rag.” He got his way, and the coldness did ease the throb between her thighs.
She blushed again, because it seemed so weird to her to be so wide open to him. But he seemed matter of fact about it. When he finished, he put it on a side table.
He settled himself so his back was to the sofa. Not touching her, but his gaze never left hers. He had one leg stretched out, the other bent. One arm lay over his knee, his hand drooping.
In the dim light she could make out the outlines of his tattoos and muscles. He was so big…and sexy. Yes, she could admit that to herself. She sat up, feeling out of sorts under his scrutiny and her state of undress.
“You not going to answer me?” she asked.
He looked down and scraped a hand through his hair. “It’s a weird question. I don’t know how to answer it.”
All those uncertainties caused by Andrew came rushing back. She jerked the blanket around her. The awe dissipated and left a cold lump in her stomach.
He snagged her and the blankets and hauled her into his lap. His lips brushed against her ear, and his hand snaked into her hair.
The butterflies were back. Except this time, her body instantly responded to his touch, and she knew exactly what he could do to her. Make her feel.
“No. It’s not.” His teeth nipped at her jaw. “I don’t think I could handle why you wouldn’t know. I’m good, but I swear you acted like I was the first one to give you an orgasm.”
“You are.” She turned her lips against his. She wasn’t a prude, despite what Andrew had said. It wasn’t like she hadn’t given herself one. But no one else had. She hadn’t even thought it possible. But then…she’d never even seen Andrew naked.
She didn’t miss Ethan’s stunned expression. But she ignored it and opened the blanket, straddled his lap, and settled against him.
Flesh to flesh.
“I told you I was inexperienced.” Her hands framed his face. “Teach me. Show me. Make me feel.”
She kissed his tense jaw. His eyes were nothing but endless black, and she couldn’t read his thoughts, but she got the idea he was hesitating. So she snuggled down on his lap and couldn’t hold back a tiny gasp when they lined up perfectly.
“I have to be the luckiest bastard alive.”
His lips claimed hers. Teasing, biting lightly, while his hands got busy making those butterflies become a horde before they turned to ash from his heat.
*
Ethan spent the better part of the night fulfilling her request. The more they touched, the more alive and demanding she became. He’d lost count of how many times she’d screamed his name. Every time she did, it packed a punch.
No holding back, she gave…and gave.
Even after she knew some of his worst secrets. Even though he’d told her what the Olanders had planned. Even then, she’d kissed each one of his eyes like she could heal him.
He picked up her sleepy and exhausted body and carried her to her room upstairs. When he laid her on the bed, her eyes cracked open, and she pulled him down with her. She’d fallen asleep instantly in his arms.
Shelby made no sense to him.
He pushed back her hair as she cuddled into him. His thumb traced the line of her jaw and behind her ear. She was so soft. Everywhere. The light from the morning sun slowly brightened the room through the filmy curtain, and he rolled her so he could see her face. He tugged down the sheet, exposing her breasts. Her skin was honey colored everywhere. Only faint bikini lines marred the perfection. Her breasts were full, nipples a dark rose that matched her lips.
It was one thing to see her in the moonlight, another thing entirely to see her in the full light of day. The tips of his fingers skated between those tempting mounds, and she gasped. He looked up into those golden brown eyes.
“I want to see you come in the daylight,” he murmured.
Her eyes widened, but his mouth closed over the closest nipple, and her hands slid over his shoulders and into his hair. He fucking loved her hands on him. It shot his pulse up quick. He sucked and tugged until she was squirming under him while his hand drifted lower.
A car door slammed, and her startled eyes met his.
“Shh, it’s only Zak.”
He slid his finger between her legs and her wet folds. She arched and dug her nails into his arms.
“But Zak—”
“Look at me, Shelby.” He pinned one leg wide and moved his fingers. Her hips arched into it. He leaned his head so his lips were near her ear. “I want to see those eyes when you come for me.”
She stared up at him, whimpering, her lips doing this incredible pout that drove him insane. He slid two fingers in, and she clenched around him.
“So wet.” He watched her eyes darken, and when his thumb pressed and rode her clit, those golden flecks sparked.
She flung her head back and drenched his hand. His heart pounded out of his chest with her mewling cry. Just like that, she turned into a wildcat. Her lips slanting hard on his, her tongue tangling with his. She tried pulling him atop her, and he shook his head.
“Darlin’, I got no more protection. Otherwise, I would.” He tried to tell her as her teeth bit into his neck.
“I’m on the pill,” she answered and sucked on his lip ring.
“Fuck baby, I—”
She growled at him. His little innocent Shelby growled, hooked her leg around his waist, and jerked him atop her.
“My turn to watch you come.” Her lids were heavy, her eyes bright, and he lost all sense.
He drove in, and she cried out in triumph.
He didn’t last long. He’d never fucked anyone without latex, and it was unreal the sensations that shot up his spine. Her moans echoed in the small room, the old iron bed squeaked, the headboard hit the wall and when he lifted her hips to drive in one last time, she left marks on
his back.
He leaned his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes. Their heavy breathing was loud, but not as loud as the air compressor that came on.
“You don’t think he heard, do you?” Her naked and blushing was a perfect combination.
He laughed. “I think the next county heard.”
She smiled and kissed him. “I’ll claim innocence.”
He arched a brow at her and shook his head. “Darlin’, I ran all the innocent out of you.”
“Mmm…yes you did.” She looked like a satisfied kitten and just as sleepy.
“If I don’t get to work, my boss is gonna fire me. And Zak might use the nail gun on me.” He slipped out of her, walked to the bathroom across the hall, and rinsed off with a quick cold shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist and opened the front door where Zak had left his work clothes. He went back into her room and smirked at her.
She was curled up on his side of the bed, her hair a tangled mess spread out over the white pillow. He got a peek of one bare foot and a bare shoulder. Her eyes mere slits, but he knew she was awake. He dropped the towel.
“Holy mother of pearl.” Shelby sat straight up and didn’t even try to hide the fact that she was checking him out from head to toe.
He laughed and grabbed his shorts and started pulling them on.
“Wait. Please tell me you’re not going commando?”
“Does it bother you?” He cocked his head, buttoned his shorts, and zipped them up.
Her mouth opened and shut a few times, then she clenched at the sheet that hid all the good parts but left her legs bare. A hand clenched in her messy hair, and she sucked in her lower lip.
His eyes crossed. “You keep looking at me like that, and I’ll never get any work done. Got a roof to finish, remember.”
He grabbed his shirt, and even though he knew better, walked to the bed, leaned down, and tugged her hair so she looked up at him. Her neck curved in that sexy way, and he kissed her. She sighed, blinked, and dropped her sheet.
He released her and backed up. “Girl, I knew you were gonna do something like that. Going to work so your stuff doesn’t get wet.”
He was halfway out of the room when she burst into a fit of giggles. He stopped and turned. She fell over and laughed, her eyes sparkling in the sun.
“Wrong choice of words, but glad you enjoyed laughing at my expense, Brown Eyes.”
Ethan walked outside and climbed the ladder to the roof with a pack of shingles. He couldn’t keep the grin off his face. The image of her laughing in a twist of sheets danced in his head. She was something. He looked up in time to see Zak glaring at him.
“What?”
“She’s not your type,” Zak said firmly.
Ethan dropped the shingles on the roof with a slap. He knew exactly what Zak was getting at. His type was tatted up with big boobs, a fake smile, a quick bang in the sack, and a see-ya-later. He was a lot of things, stupid wasn’t one of them. “I know.”
Zak arched a brow under his shaggy hair and grunted.
Chapter 11
Shelby heard the stomp of more boots and the drop of something on the roof. She turned and buried her face in the pillow and released a tiny scream of happiness. Giddy. She was giddy, and it was just plain dumb to even go there. She sat up and blew hair out of her face. She hurt in places she never dreamed would hurt.
She’d had sex.
And enjoyed every moment. Skye would split her eardrum when she got the nerve to tell her. She hopped out of bed and noticed Ethan’s shirt lying in the floor. She tugged it over her head and snorted. It was like a dress on her. The armholes were so big, if she turned to the side, she could see her boobs. She gripped the neck, brought it to her nose, and inhaled. It smelled like him.
She looked into the mirror above the long dresser. She leaned in closer. Did she look different? Except for the overly full lips and very bright eyes, she looked the same, but in no way did she feel the same. Twenty-two years old, and she was just now experiencing what it meant to feel like a woman. It was kind of sad, really.
She turned and eyed the rumpled bed. This used to be Gran’s room, now hers. Heavens. She sure hoped Gran meant it when she said she would approve of any decision she made. She made a mental note that while in town, she would get new bed linens. If she was going to make this her home, then she needed to make it really hers. Starting with her room.
She turned on some music and danced her way around the house in nothing but Ethan’s shirt. She had an appointment in a few hours, so she poured herself a bowl of cereal and ate at the island while standing, because she couldn’t seem to keep still. She didn’t even let the noise of the air compressor bother her.
She had a mouth full of cereal when both boys walked in through the back door. Ethan’s eyes locked on her, and his hand twitched. She tried to swallow her food without choking.
“Just wanted some bottled water.” Ethan’s gaze did a slow slide up and down her form. That was all it took for the tingles to hit. She clamped her arms to her sides so she wouldn’t flash them.
“Bathroom?” Zak asked with no expression at all.
She pointed around the corner without raising her arms too much and washed down the last bit of her cereal with orange juice. Again, being very careful not to lift her arms too high.
Ethan grabbed two bottles out of the fridge. “Problem?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I’m good.”
“Really?”
She nodded and smiled at Zak as he walked back through the kitchen, grabbing one bottle of water from Ethan as he did.
“I almost forgot. I need a ride to my car. It’s still at Booseys, and I have an appointment.”
“I have to run in for a couple of things, so I can give you a lift,” Zak said as he took a drink of water.
She glanced at Ethan, who remained silent, and was giving Zak an odd look.
“I’ll need to leave in about an hour.”
“Sure, just holler at me when you’re ready.” Zak left through the back door.
Zak had to know what was going on. Why hadn’t Ethan offered her a ride? He just let Zak take the job. He stepped forward, put both hands on the island, and lowered his head.
“Why are you holding your arms weird?”
She blew out a breath, confused and perplexed at his actions. “The armholes of your shirt are a little big.”
He barked out a laugh, his head falling back. She stared. She couldn’t help herself. He was beautiful when he laughed and smiled. He walked around the island and lifted up her arm.
“Looks better on you than me.”
“Don’t you have something to do?”
She squeaked, and he scooped her up to kiss just below her ear. “You want me to answer that?”
Her feet dangled, and she had to steady herself on his shoulders, while the shirt she wore slid up to her butt. His teeth raked her ear, and she closed her eyes and let him take over her senses.
“You should really fight it more, Shelby.” He kissed her hard then dropped her to her feet. “You’re making it impossible for me to keep my hands off of you.”
She frowned. It never even occurred to her to fight it. “I don’t understand?”
He made sure he was eye level with her. “Are you really that innocent?”
All the air left her. Her hands shook, and she hid them behind her back. How could he ask that? How could he make her naiveté seem so bad? No, she didn’t get it. He liked her. She liked him. To her, it wasn’t that hard. She inspected the vinyl floor, trying to figure out what she was missing.
“I’m not a good guy, Shelby. You gotta know that.” He sighed. “Last night, with Spaz, should have been a good enough warning.”
She jerked her gaze to his face. “You’re wrong.”
His smirk was sad. “I’m no one’s hero. And you are too damn sweet to be with the likes of me.”
“Do you realize how cliché you sound?” She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. �
��I didn’t ask you to be my boyfriend. I didn’t ask you to be more than what you are. And I hoped you understood that. You just stuffed me into the box you were so adamant about getting out of.”
“But you fit in the box,” he said with conviction.
Her jaw dropped, and she fought stupid tears. “Ethan, you don’t know a freakin’ thing.”
She stomped away from him, slammed the door to the bathroom, and turned on the shower. How in the world could he say that? Had he not heard a single word she’d said last night? She stood under the hot water and let it relax her. Rarely did something push her buttons so hard. But after last night, her emotions were running high and—how dare he say she belonged in a world that thought a boy with black eyes was evil?
She made quick work of getting ready for her appointment and stepped outside into the steamy weather. It might be mid-September, but summer still had a firm grip on Tennessee. She walked around the side of the house and looked up.
“Ethan. Zak,” she yelled over the racket they were making. She shaded her eye. Ethan’s head popped over the side.
“Yeah?” He wore shades, so she couldn’t read his expression.
“I’m ready.”
“Later.” She huffed in irritation at Ethan’s short reply and he was gone, replaced by Zak, who climbed down the ladder. He unbuckled his nail bags, dropped them on the porch, and she followed him to the truck.
She slid into the passenger side as Zak got in, and they drove in silence.
“Thanks for giving me a ride,” Shelby said and forced herself not to ask anything about him or Ethan. Obviously they were best friends, but other than that, she knew nothing about them.
“You’re not going to pry?” Zak asked without taking his eyes off the road.
She studied him a moment. The hair that hid his face and the lean muscle behind the baggy clothes told her his image was just camouflage. But she wasn’t going to pry, no matter how curious. “No.”
He arched a brow and glanced at her. “That’s a first.”
After five minutes, Zak broke the quiet. “My advice. End your relationship with Ethan.”
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