“Pretty much.” He ran a hand through his hair, doing his best to ignore the way his body was buzzing. She stood there, her back against the counter, looking at him. The only sound in the room was the water boiling and percolating as it made her coffee.
“Ehm…” He offered her a hesitant grin. “Everything all right?”
“Of course.” She grinned back, but had a strange look in her eyes. He couldn’t read her. “So… let me ask you something.”
“Go on.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited.
She grasped one of her long curls, twisting it around her finger. “How do you feel about summer flings?”
His heart started to beat in thick, heavy pulses. “Seriously?”
“Yup.” Her eyes didn’t leave his. The machine behind her gurgled and steamed.
“Well, frankly, I’ve never had one,” he said.
“Would you like to?” she asked, her voice quiet.
“With you? Hell, yes.” He crossed the kitchen to stand right in front of her. “What about you?”
She chewed on her lip, the nervous gesture endearing to him. “Well… we can’t deny there’s some serious chemistry here.”
“True.”
“Last night was pretty damn hot.”
“Also true.”
“And you’re leaving on August first. That gives us only three weeks.”
“Also gives us a definite end date,” he said.
“Right. So…” Pink crept into her cheeks, but her eye contact held steady. The look on her face was a fascinating blend of determination and nervousness. “I think we could have a really fun, hot three weeks together.”
He edged closer, but didn’t touch her. The pulsing energy between them was almost palpable. “I think you’re probably right.”
She nodded, chewed on her lip again, and put her hand on his chest. He watched her intently, letting her lead. The room suddenly fell silent as the Keurig stopped its brewing. Slowly, he took off his glasses and reached around her to set them on the counter. Their eyes held for a long beat. He lifted his hand and covered hers, holding it against his chest, wondering if she could feel how hard his heart was beating.
“And hey, guess what?” she whispered.
Barely able to breathe, his brows arched in reply.
“I’m stone cold sober.” She winked and a mischievous grin burst through.
“Well, in that case…” He lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers, leaning her back against the counter as his fingers threaded through her hair. She responded instantly, kissing him back with matching fervor, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting his tongue tangle deliciously with hers.
Holding her tight, feeling her lush softness against him, tasting her sweet mouth… the sensations all battered him, and he pulled her in even closer.
“Take me upstairs,” she whispered against his lips. “Take me to bed. Now.”
Drawing back, he took her hand and led her up the stairs without a word. Deciding her room would be more comfortable for her, he headed straight for her door.
Chapter Eight
‡
As soon as her door closed, Gavin grabbed Toni by the waist, yanked her against him, and crushed his mouth to hers in a possessive, hungry kiss that stole her breath. She couldn’t believe this was happening, and she couldn’t believe how openly wanting he was. He groaned into her mouth, making her almost dizzy with lust and need. Her fingers ran through his soft, fine hair as his lips trailed along her throat and his hands slid up her back. He pressed her body tighter against his as his mouth found hers again, his obvious desire sweeping her away with him. By the time they broke apart, they were both panting as if they’d run a race.
“I’ve wanted you since the night I met you,” Gavin whispered, leaning his forehead against hers as he tried to catch his breath. His hands moved up her sides, stopping under her breasts as he kissed her. “It probably sounds mad, but it’s the truth. You just… I dunno, it was like a spark or something.”
“Really?” she asked, her body heating more by the second. She flashed him a naughty smile. “Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
He leaned back enough to look at her, but kept her locked his embrace. “I… I didn’t think I should,” he admitted. “I thought you might be offended or something.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, I’ve only been here for what, six days now? When exactly was ‘sooner’?” He grinned, stealing kisses in between his sentences. “Not to mention I’m a guest in your home.”
“Pffffft,” she said, effectively dismissing both concerns. “Anything else?”
“Aye. You’re friends with my sister,” he said. “I didn’t want you to think I was, well… like a perv or anythin’.”
She laughed, a clear and delightful sound. “I adore your sister. If anything, you sharing her DNA is a big plus in your favor.”
He smiled, opened his mouth as if to say something more, than shook his head and kissed her again. He ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth and she opened for him. With a low groan from deep in his throat, one of his hands tangled in her hair while the other pressed at the small of her back, holding her close. Their mouths played and teased while their hands roamed, learning each other as they lost themselves.
Well, Toni thought as he pulled her dress off carefully, over her head, letting it drop to the floor. Watch out for the quiet ones was right! Gavin was a livewire beneath his reserved exterior. Jesus, she was swooning. Her legs felt wobbly; the only reason she was still upright was because he was holding her in his strong embrace. The way he kissed her, and touched her, with such unabashed passion and seductive skill… the way he looked at her like she was some kind of goddess, like he was now as his eyes traveled over her body… she couldn’t think clearly anymore. Her mind had gone wonderfully blank, her bones had melted, and she was putty in his hands. At that moment, she was all his.
“Did you wear matching bra and panties for me?” he asked, his voice dead sexy and commanding as his hands lightly drifted over the hot pink lace.
“Yes,” she breathed, her nerves jangling. “You like them?”
“I love them.” His lips dragged along the side of her neck as he added, “But I’ll love you even more out of them.”
She gasped and her fingers twisted in his hair as his hot mouth nipped, kissed, and licked her skin. When he nibbled mercilessly at the hollow between her collarbone and her throat, her head fell back, her eyes slipped closed, and a raspy moan floated out of her. His fingers tightened on her hips and she could feel him smile against her neck.
“Ah, ya like that?” he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.
“I love that,” she moaned blissfully. “You’re damn good at this kissing stuff.”
“I’m just getting started.” He scraped his teeth along that sweet spot, making her breath catch and her fingers clench tighter in his hair. “I swear to God, Toni, I could kiss you all day long.”
She smiled at him, her mind too fuzzy to form words.
“You’re so bloody beautiful,” he whispered. “So, so beautiful…” His warm mouth trailed kisses along her jaw, down her neck, again finding the tender spot behind her ear that made her shiver and exhale a throaty sigh as his hands roamed over her.
Wanting to feel his skin, she slid her hands up inside his T-shirt and ran them over his back. He pulled away only long enough to yank the T-shirt over his head and drop it to the floor, then dove back to her mouth. As she ran her hands over his smooth chest and broad shoulders, she realized her hands were trembling slightly.
“Gavin,” she murmured, “it’s been a while for me…”
“Me, too. It’s okay.”
Her head fell back and her eyes slipped closed in delight as his hands left her hair to fondle her breasts. She felt the sweet, torturous tension building quickly, tearing through her like fire, pulsing through her blood, making her skin tingle… that aching, throbbing need between her legs
… she needed release. She needed him.
As he reached around to unhook her bra with deft fingers, she reached down to caress the length of him through his shorts. He was rock hard and groaned deep in his throat when her hand brushed him.
Grinding against her palm, his warm breath hitched against her ear. “Christ, Toni, I want you.”
“Oh no, wait,” she whispered. “Condoms…”
“Shit.” He kissed her, then said, “I, ehm…”
“Wait, wait here,” she said breathlessly.
She grabbed her dress off the floor, pulled it on, and all but ran down the hall to Wren’s room. Wren had told her and Anna if they ever needed condoms, she had plenty and to help themselves. Blessing Wren in her head as she found the box in the closet, Toni pulled out a strip of them and got back to her room in mere seconds.
Gavin was sitting on the edge of her bed now. “That was fast,” he remarked with an amused grin. “Pharmacy open, was it?”
“I’ll thank Wren later,” Toni said, whipping her dress off over her head and pouncing on him. She straddled his lap and kissed him fiercely, threading her fingers in his soft hair. They fell back onto the bed, primal desire taking over, a tangle of greedy hands and demanding, hungry mouths. Panting like animals, groping wildly, skin heating, they fell into each other, lost in brutal, burning need.
She was barely aware of how she got naked; she was too caught up in getting him naked. But then they were, and the kisses were scorching and his smooth, taut body felt so good aligned with hers. She gasped raggedly when his mouth closed over her breast, the feel of his lips and tongue flooding her with renewed want. Reaching between them, she found his erection and stroked him, delighting in the sounds that ripped from his throat. Thrills shot through her as she touched him, as he touched her… her free hand roamed over the solid, masculine hardness of his back and shoulders as his hips ground into her hand. Then he shifted and his fingers found her, so wet and ready for him it was almost embarrassing, making her cry out as he slid two inside. He murmured her name against her lips with reverence, crushing his mouth to hers as her hips undulated beneath him.
“Now,” she demanded. “Take me now.”
He reached for the condoms, tore at the foil, and laughed at himself. “My damn hands are shakin’,” he said, fumbling for a second as he rolled it on. “That’s how much I want you.”
“I want you that much, too,” she whispered breathlessly, pulling him back to her.
He positioned himself on top of her, settling between her thighs as her legs wrapped around him. She looked right into his eyes, those mesmerizing, blazing blues. When she did, he thrust into her smoothly, never breaking eye contact. They both moaned from the incredible sensations, holding each other tight. Then he started to move inside her and she held on for the ride.
Carnal desire took over as he thrust deeper, faster; her hips rocked to meet his desperate pace. She felt the surges of intense sensation building inside her way too fast, but she couldn’t hold them back, crying out as they overtook her body and left her mindless. The orgasm hit hard and she cried out again, her nails digging into his back as her body shuddered with waves of explosive pleasure that swept her away. Almost in answer, he groaned her name, burying his face in her neck as his body stiffened. Grunting into her skin, holding her tight, her hands went to his ass to hold him deep inside her as she arched her hips to draw out his release. They clung to each other as they panted, until his mouth sought hers, kissing her over and over.
Tangled in each other’s limbs, a light sheen of sweat coating their skin, Gavin swept Toni’s curls back from her face as they worked to catch their breath. “That took, like, at least an hour, right?” he joked wryly. “Maybe more?”
She laughed, free and uninhibited, and his head dropped again into the curve of her neck. Her fingers trailed down the length of his smooth, toned back, delighting in how he felt on top of her, aligned with her, still inside her. “Don’t worry,” she said, kissing his ear. “That was the best ten minutes I’ve had in years.”
His whole body shook with laughter and it made her laugh, too.
“Next time,” he said, lifting his head to look into her eyes, “it’ll be much longer than that. And even better, I promise.” He kissed her mouth once, twice, with a tenderness that made her shiver.
“Hey, Doc, I’m not complaining,” she said. “That was hot.”
“Aye, it was,” he agreed, tracing the outline of her face with his fingertips. Carefully he pulled out of her and they both shifted. “Just a minute.” He rose from the bed, discreetly pulling off the condom and cleaning himself up, all with his back to her.
She let her eyes roam leisurely over his naked body, more than happy with the view. His broad shoulders and smooth back led down to a fantastic ass, tight and perfect. Her head was still spinning, but her heart rate was finally returning to normal. She saw her nails had left long red marks on his back and she winced. Oh, God. Ohhhh, God! She’d just had wild animal sex with Anna’s brother. Her eyes scrunched shut. Anna would give her an earful, good or bad. But really… right now, she didn’t care. Not one bit. Gavin was a wonderful guy. Sexy and sweet and wonderful.
He got back into bed and reached for her. “Not regrettin’ it already, I hope?”
“Not even a little bit,” she assured him.
“Good.” He smiled and kissed her. “Just have to say… I swear I’m not usually that… quick. I just… you felt so damn good and… Jaysus, I’m a bit embarrassed now.”
“Shut up,” she purred sweetly. “I loved every clawing, greedy second of it.”
“Ha! You sexy thing.” Relief crept into his eyes and he pulled her even closer.
She settled gladly in his embrace, snuggling in, interweaving her legs with his and dropping a kiss on his shoulder. Her fingers trailed along the contours of his smooth chest as she said, “In fact, I want more.”
“Do ya, now?” His deep voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating against her cheek.
“I do. Like, again in a few minutes, as soon as we’re able. And the rest of today, and maybe every single night you’re here.”
“Demandin’ little miss.” He kissed her forehead as his hand swept up and down her back in long, slow strokes. “Bossy, too.”
“Only sometimes. You okay with that?”
“Absolutely.”
They laid together in languid contentment, exchanging caresses and soft, playful kisses. But then she pulled back and said, “Can we talk about this? Us? Whatever this is that we are now?”
“Of course.” Again he pushed some stray curls back from her eyes. “But can I keep holdin’ ya while we talk?”
“Yes, please,” she said, dropping a light kiss on his lips.
*
She shifted so they could look at each other, but still be entwined. “Soooo… well, you’ve already made passionate, reckless love to me—”
“Wow. Passionate? Reckless?” He stared at her, half amused and half in wonder. “I don’t believe anyone’s ever used those words in reference to me before.”
She blinked at him. “Well, you were those things. And more.”
His mind reeled. Four years with Siobhan, and she’d never said such things to him. Never even hinted she thought those things about him. And here he was, after one embarrassingly quick romp with this beautiful temptress, and she thought he was? That boded well. He smiled at her, inwardly stunned and pleased. “My God, you’re lovely.”
She kissed his mouth before continuing. “So… now I’m just wondering where we go from here. We should set some guidelines, I guess?”
He nodded and said, “Sounds like a good idea. You have any in mind?”
She looked into his eyes, hesitating. He saw different emotions battling there.
“Go on,” he coaxed gently. “Speak your mind.” He brushed tangled curls back from her face. “You can always speak your mind with me. I like you, Toni. Just be you.”
She blinked, apparently moved by
his words. “Oh, Gavin…” Moving in, she kissed his lips, sumptuous and slow. Then she took a deep breath. “Okay. I want to have these weeks with you,” she blurted. “Like we said, you’re leaving on August first, so right off the bat, our time together has a definite end date. That’s good. I mean… maybe it’s better that way. We can’t get caught up in false expectations, and can just enjoy each other, and then…” Her voice trailed off.
“And then I leave, and we go back to our lives,” he said quietly.
“Right.” Her gaze fell away. “I sound awful, don’t I? I don’t mean to.”
“Aye, ya sound horrible,” he teased, stroking her face with his long fingers. She looked back up as he continued, “I can’t stand the thought of you wantin’ to spend time with me, to abuse my body like a theme park and have your merry way with me while I’m here. Really, you’re a savage, cold bitch. I can barely stand to look at ya.”
She laughed, relaxing into him, and kissed his smiling mouth. “What about you, Gavin? What do you want?”
“You,” he said. “Simple, really.”
A shiver of delight ran through her. His voice and the look on his face were so earnest. “Well, for the next three weeks, you have me.”
He grinned, but then his brows furrowed as a thought struck him. “Know what? I do have one request. If it’s all right with you as well.”
“What is it?”
Looking into her eyes intently, he ran his fingers through her hair as he said, “Three weeks is what we’ve got. Okay, fine. But while we’re together… we don’t see anyone else.” He trailed his fingertips along her cheek, wrapping one of her long curls around his finger. “If my time with you is limited… I don’t want to be with anyone else. I’m not like that. And I don’t want to share ya.” His eyes searched hers. “Is that too much to ask? Too possessive?”
*
“No.” Something warm flowed through Toni, assuring and sweet. “I like that.”
“Good.” His easy smile spread, and he kissed her lips with lingering sweetness.
Something went through her mind, and she peered closer at him. “You were with Siobhan for a long time, right?”
His Love Page 7