by Tawny Weber
Desperately, he tightened his fingers in her curls and pulled her head back.
“My turn,” he insisted.
LARISSA RELUCTANTLY LET Jason pull her to her feet, licking bits of chocolate off her lips as she rose. Sweetness filled her mouth, desire burned through her body. She leaned forward to nibble at the chocolate still smeared on his chest, starving for his taste and unwilling to be deprived of a single bite.
He didn’t give her time for more than a nibble, though. Apparently at his limit, he swung her into his arms, then kicked the blanket out flat on the floor before kneeling down on it.
His arms still holding her tight, Jason kissed her. Hot and wild, it was like he was starving. For her. Larissa’s heart raced, as much at the idea of him wanting her so much as the passion that his kiss incited.
Slowly, gently, he lowered her to the blanket. The soft fluffy fabric brushed erotically against her back, a vivid contrast to the hard strength of his body brushing against the front of her.
Making quick work of her camisole and panties, he slid down her body, the rough hair on his leg scraping erotically over the softer flesh of her inner thighs. His mouth took her nipple, sucking and nipping in delicious torment.
His hand skimmed her hips and he shifted so he could curve his fingers deep inside her, tweaking and teasing her wet sex.
His fingers swirled, his mouth sucked. Her mind spun.
She couldn’t think. It was all too incredible, too wild.
He rubbed his thumb against her sweet spot, making her moan. Stars exploded behind her eyes as a tiny climax ripped through her body.
Larissa shifted, lifting her hips higher, silently begging for more.
“You want me?” he asked, obviously wanting her pleas to be a little louder.
“I want you,” she gasped as his thumb pressed again, his fingers dancing in and out, in and out. He played her like he was a master and she was a finely tuned instrument crafted just for his pleasure.
She clenched her thighs, trying to hold his hand still. He wouldn’t let her. Her body bucked against his fingers as another orgasm flashed through her.
Jason gently coaxed her back down to earth with soft fingers and tiny kisses. Her head thrown back, eyes closed as the pleasure still shimmered through her body, she felt him move away. Heard the rip of a foil wrapper. Anticipation tightened, her thighs quivered.
She shifted, opening heavy eyes to watch Jason position himself between her legs. She bent her knees, offering herself in silent supplication.
He plunged. She gasped, quaking at the sudden impact. Pleasure screamed through Larissa’s body. She arched her back, trying to take him in deeper.
“More,” she gasped, trying to breathe as the power of her climax teased and tormented her, just out of reach. “I need more.”
Jason shifted lower, his hands slipping under her knees to lift her legs over his shoulders. Larissa’s eyes flew open. He shifted higher, lifting the small of her back off the floor. She whimpered at the change in pressure, feeling like he was filling her like never before. Pounding deeper, harder. His face was in shadows as he gripped her thighs, but she knew he was staring down at her. At them.
The idea of it, of him watching their bodies slide together, sent her over the edge. Passion coiled tight in her belly, then released as a huge orgasm washed over her. Larissa’s head tilted back and she lifted her body onto her shoulder blades to meet Jason’s thrusts.
She whimpered, stars flashing behind her closed eyes as one orgasm after another pounded through her. Her body exploded in delight, her thighs clenching tight as if she could wring every drop of pleasure from him.
Make every drop last.
Because it was the last. This was too good. Too delicious. Even as her body gloried in the incredible feelings, her heart wept at the reality. Desperation added a sharp bite, an edge of pain that only intensified her passion.
If this was it, she’d take as much as she could.
JASON DROVE INTO LARISSA’S BODY, plunging deep and hard.
He jerked, growling so low in his throat, Larissa swore she felt rather than heard him. Needing to watch his pleasure, she pried her eyes open to stare at his taut face. He stared back. His blue eyes glittered, his breath came in pants.
He was so close.
Wanting to push him over the edge, needing to know she had that much power, she scraped her fingernails up her belly to cup her own breasts. He jerked.
She swirled her index fingers around her areolas. He lost rhythm and gasped.
She tweaked her nipples between her thumbs and forefingers. Zinging shots of electric delight zipped through his body, sending him spiraling out of control.
Jason threw back his head and exploded.
He was dimly aware that his climax had sent Larissa over the edge of pleasure once more. This time she gave a high whimper that ended on a cry as he shifted so fast she didn’t know he’d moved until his mouth nipped at her inner thigh.
She screamed. Her body convulsed. Her breath came in pants as she came in waves.
He loved it. Loved her.
Breathing hard, Jason tried to stop his head from spinning out of control as the aftershocks of his orgasm pounded through him like a four-point-five earthquake.
Holy shit. He tossed back his head, shaking his sweat-dampened hair off his face with a shudder of pleasure. Had it always been this good? Why the hell had he ever left her bed? His brain was severely lacking blood, so he couldn’t remember a thing. But whatever the reason, he’d obviously been an idiot.
And he had no idea how to fix things. Especially now that Larissa only wanted him for his body.
LARISSA COULD BARELY BREATHE. Passionate aftershocks still quaked through her. She was pretty sure time had passed since Jason had blown her mind. Five minutes, ten, four days. Something like that.
She gave an exhausted sigh. Like it was some kind of signal, he groaned, then moved off of her, sliding behind her as she curled onto her side.
After shifting to take care of the condom, Jason cuddled her close, her back tight against his front, his arms crossed over her stomach. He nuzzled her hair off the back of her neck to scatter soft kisses across her shoulder.
“You really are the romance authority,” he said, a hint of laughter in his words.
“There’s more to romance than good sex,” she said, exhaustion pulling the automatic response from her. If his arms hadn’t been holding hers in place, she’d have slapped her hand over her mouth. This wasn’t time to climb on her soapbox. Especially since any romance lecture she’d offer would be hypocritical.
“But as good as the sex is, the romance adds a sweet layer to it, right? Kind of like we are hot together regardless, incredibly hot. But adding a little chocolate? Baby, that layer sent us into the stratosphere.” He laughed and pressed another kiss over the back of her neck. “Only you could make sexy that sweet. Only you keep me awake at night, desperate for just one more taste.”
Larissa’s heart melted a little. She didn’t know what to do, what to think.
“You know romance better than you give yourself credit for,” she murmured softly. Better, actually, than she’d ever given him credit for. It had been easier to perch on her high horse and judge Jason than to shift her own perceptions. Or to admit that maybe it wasn’t that they were lacking romance in their relationship, but that the romance she wanted just didn’t exist.
That he made her remember all of his good points wasn’t just the problem. It was that he made her doubt her own beliefs about romance. He could act so romantic. But the reality was, what they had between them was the epitome of gratuitous sex.
Maybe this sex thing had been a mistake. Because now she wanted things all over again. Things she knew she couldn’t have unless she was willing to settle.
Again.
With a sweep of her lashes to hide the distress in her eyes, Larissa focused on gliding her hand over the tempting hardness of his bicep where it crossed over her chest, wil
Because facing it meant questioning her entire belief system.
And she wasn’t willing to consider that for someone who wouldn’t stick around.
Since Chloe wasn’t there, Larissa would never have to admit to being a straight up liar. Instead, she promised herself that since tonight was her own final fantasy, she could do whatever she wanted.
And she wanted to do Jason. Again and again and again.
Rolling over to face him, Larissa scraped her teeth over his nipple. He groaned and his fingers tightened on her butt, pulled her tighter against him.
“Is there more chocolate?” he asked, his breath hot and moist against her throat as he lifted her over his body.
“Enough,” she said, gasping as he took her nipple into his mouth. He teased and tormented. Larissa had thought she was satisfied. No, she knew she had been satisfied.
But a whole new need exploded inside her. One that demanded she have him. As much of him, as fast as possible.
As they twined together, their passion climbed higher, flamed hotter.
And the power of their coming together made it easy for her to ignore the tears soaking into her hair.
11
THE AIR WAS HOT AND WET, almost dripping with humidity. Jason’s body felt like liquid, he was so relaxed. Curled around Larissa, he sighed and let the pleasure wash over him. It wasn’t like he didn’t have a whole slew of incredible memories of their times together. Hell, he hauled the memories out every once in awhile just to torment himself.
But this time? It’d been intense. It’d been wild. It’d been like Larissa had tossed aside her inhibitions to kick things up a few—or few dozen—degrees.
He did a quick inventory, trying to assess how long it’d be before all his parts were ready to give it another go.
Then his stomach growled.
Larissa giggled.
“I thought you were asleep,” he murmured, brushing a kiss over her hair.
“It’s too hot and sticky to sleep,” she said with a sigh, turning in his arms. Her body slid damply against his, proving her point.
And turning him on.
Again.
Yep, his parts were definitely considering coming out to play. Maybe he should get an image of the Energizer bunny tattooed on his ass.
“What’d you have in mind if you’re not interested in sleep?” he asked, his hand tracing a swirling pattern on the slick skin of her hip. He was tempted to slide his fingers down and see what else was slick and wet, but before he could decide if his body would do justice to his thoughts, his stomach growled again.
“Maybe you should have eaten that sandwich earlier instead of taking off like that,” she teased with a laugh. “Where’d you go, anyway?”
“The janitor’s closet,” he joked. Actually he’d returned to the lunch room to give them both some space.
It wasn’t the aftertaste of that nasty sandwich that made Jason’s stomach turn, but a flashback of their dinnertime discussion. His having to admit his father’s deficiencies, Larissa shooting his proposition down, the realization of just how bad he’d hurt her.
Definitely unappetizing at the time, and even worse in reruns. He’d rather lick the chocolate jar than try that again.
“You don’t really think you’re like your father, do you?” Larissa asked quietly, not meeting his eyes but instead staring at her fingers as they traced a damp pattern on his chest.
“It doesn’t matter,” he dismissed quickly, wondering if she’d read his mind. “We’re here, naked and have at least a dozen condoms left. Why waste time talking about my family?”
“Well, you are the one who brought it up earlier,” she added sweetly. So sweetly that he knew she wasn’t going to just let the topic go.
Jason stiffened. At least his spine did. Not anything interesting unfortunately. Steeling himself against a discussion he didn’t want but could see Larissa leading up to, he tried to think of a distraction.
The lack of stiffness in his happy parts didn’t bode well for his favorite method of changing the subject.
“I’m just saying,” she continued, her fingers tracing lower and lower. He tried to focus on the soft caress. “You’re obviously pissed off at your dad. And with good reason. But have you talked to him? I mean, you two were so close, Jason. I hate to think of you losing a relationship that means so much to you.”
“Maybe,” Jason muttered. He didn’t know what to say—he’d thought the same thing.
“To tell you the truth…” Her voice dropped. So did her hand. He figured he’d focus on the hand. “Your parents intimidated me. A lot, really. I mean, they were totally on the same page. They had the same goals in life and the same interests. But I sort of wondered, didn’t your mom ever have other dreams? Other things she wanted in life?”
Sure. His mom had talked a lot, especially as they got older, about settling down for longer periods of time. She’d wanted to plant a garden. To see movies and go out to dinner. But that hadn’t been in his dad’s plan.
Too bad she’d had to have a stroke to get them. Jason dismissed the thought as stupid, but a part of him wondered if maybe she hadn’t been a little relieved to finally have an acceptable excuse to not follow his father on yet another dig.
“I guess it’s okay to tell you now, I worried that you’d expect the same from me. That absolute commitment…” Her words trailed off. Jason didn’t need to see her face to figure out what she was probably thinking. Maybe he had. And maybe she was right. Hadn’t he thought that if she’d just come with him on his travels, she wouldn’t have had time to stay home and date other guys? Stupid thought, yes. But he’d had it all the same.
“Nope,” he said. Then, not sure why but unable to keep the words quiet, he added, “I mean, I really did enjoy having you along. It was always cool showing you the places I loved, sharing my excitement. But I never expected you to give up your own plans, your own dreams, for mine.”
He just wished they could have meshed their dreams together a little better. With his arms wrapped tight around the only woman he’d ever loved, Jason stared off into the dark. Peter was like their dad that way. He expected total devotion. He insisted on bringing Meghan on trips. As many as possible. He always used to warn Jason that he and Larissa were doomed because she wasn’t into adventure. Sure, she’d liked the more romantic treks, the ones with a night or two in an exotic hotel or a hut on the beach. According to Peter, once in awhile wasn’t good enough. It was all or nothing for the Cantrell men.
Since their dad had seemed to be the same way—although Jason hadn’t ever actually asked him—he’d assumed Peter’s assessment of the Cantrell men’s code was right.
Which was probably why Jason had ended up with nothing.
He nuzzled Larissa’s hair with a sigh. Even knowing those things, he couldn’t imagine doing it any differently. Larissa deserved her own, incredible life. Proof positive was how she’d built such a great name for herself as a romance expert. Could she have, would she have, done that if they’d been together? Or would he have stifled her instead?
“I guess it doesn’t matter in the long run,” he muttered, thinking more of his own relationship than his parents’.
“Sure it does. I mean, they made it for a long time, didn’t they?” she mused. “That says a lot. They must have had a lot of passion between them.”
“What?” he yelped, both grossed out and grateful for the distraction.
“Not the naked kind,” she laughed. “You know, more like friendship. Caring and excitement. That kind of thing.”
“They were, you know, parents. It wasn’t like I was watching their relationship or anything.”
Or seeing them as people in their own right, he realized with a frown.
“Were there any hints of a problem before your mom had her stroke?” she asked, finally looking up to meet his eyes. Unfortunately her fingers stopped their sweet distraction, so he had to focus on her.
“I don’t know,” he said, shrugging one shoulder. “Is it getting stuffy in here? Maybe we should move into the mall. It’s a bigger space, more circulation.”
“Right, walk out there,” she said with a laugh. “No way. What if the electricity comes back on, including the security cameras?”
Jason imagined a bunch of security geeks watching the video of him and Larissa getting wild with the chocolate and decided the first thing he’d do when someone let them out of here would be to destroy those tapes. Before Conner saw them, of course.
“Aren’t there cameras in the stores?” Despite his anger at the idea of their private moments being recorded, he’d gladly dance naked for one as a thank you for the subject change.
“No. In-store security is the store’s responsibility. Didn’t Conner tell you that?”
“I didn’t talk to Conner, I talked to Daniel. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t listen to half the crap he said. I knew the space was what I wanted. I figure I’d leave the details to Peter.”
She hummed a little low in her throat. Like she had something to say about that, but in the interest of keeping the naked peace, she was refraining.
Grateful, Jason brushed a kiss over her bare shoulder and curled her tighter in his arms.
“So do you see your mom often now that she’s in a home?” Larissa asked, stubbornly returning to her torment…that was, the topic. She was like one of those little dogs. All cute and fluffy looking, but stubborn as hell when she got her tiny little teeth into something. And too sweet to kick out of his way.
“Often enough,” he finally admitted. He hated it, though. It was hard enough seeing his mom as a single person instead of part of a parental unit. It was harder still seeing how broken she’d become. “I drop in. You know, when I’m home and stuff.”
Why couldn’t Larissa feel how uncomfortable he was? Or maybe she did and she was ignoring it. Was this one of those stupid for his own good discussions? The last one of those they’d had ended with the word goodbye.
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