by Jodi Redford
Securing that reminder front and center in his mind, he dialed down the vibe a few notches. Her breasts quivering as she struggled to catch her breath, she blinked at him. Before she completely came down from the rush of sensation, he twisted the dildo and pumped his dick in a lazy counterstroke. She whimpered and closed her eyes. He cupped the back of her head. “No, look at me.”
Her eyelashes fluttered open and he held her stare as he sank in deeper and retreated on a smooth glide. She shuddered, her gaze pleading. “Trig.”
“I’m here, baby.” He leaned his forehead against hers and stroked her cheek.
Her ragged exhalations slowed and synced with his. Slanting his mouth over hers, he kissed her with a soft tenderness that was in marked contrast to his earlier staged rough play. Their tongues met in a light, exploring graze. The intimacy they shared became something infinitely more powerful than the joining of their bodies. He’d had his fair share of sex partners, but this was new. He’d never felt more connected to someone as he did in that moment.
Ghosting his fingertips in a feather light caress, he trailed down the slope of her neck and torso, not stopping until he encountered the stiffened peak of her breast. He brushed the pebbled nub with a barely-there touch. She trembled and dug her heels into his ass, her back arching. He could feel her need for release. The desperate, aching hunger. Any thought of withholding her orgasm for even a minute longer evaporated, replaced with the burning desire to take her beyond the breaking point.
He reached behind her and gripped her cuffed wrists before thumbing the dildo’s motor up another notch. He swallowed her mewling gasps as the intense vibrations thrummed around them. Not succumbing to the insistent pressure became a million times more difficult when Marissa threw her head back, a choked cry tearing from her. He removed the vibe and hammered into her with all he had, the rippling contractions of her orgasm sucking him in with greedy urgency. He wanted to string her climax to the absolute max, but his own release was a looming beast refusing to be leashed. It crashed into him with blinding impact, ripping a shout from his throat. Sliding his fingers to twine with Marissa’s, he buried his face in her neck, kissing the spot where her pulse raced out of control.
He swore it took a lifetime for the post-orgasmic haze to clear from his brain. It took twice as long to summon enough energy to free the cuffs from Marissa and roll onto his side, taking her with him. Snuggling her to his chest, he stroked her hair, sleepiness already descending on him.
She giggled. “That was the most epic cuddle session ever.”
Recalling what they were supposed to have been doing on the couch, he chuckled. “Blame it on the foot rub. I have zero control around your cute little toes.”
“Oh, is that was it is?”
He nuzzled her neck. “Yep.” The unspoken part of his admission remained hostage to his tongue. He couldn’t tell her that control was a nonexistent factor when it came to her. She was slowly turning his world upside down and inside out. And he had no clue what to do next.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Waking up next to Trig was something she could easily get addicted to. It was amazing—and a little envy inspiring—that the man looked scrumptious even with a major case of bed hair. She scooted forward and kissed his jaw. He mumbled something and tried to grab her butt.
Snickering, she eluded his attempt at copping a cheap feel, and jumped out of bed. She snatched her robe and pulled it on. “I’ll get coffee going.”
Cracking a massive yawn, he rubbed his eyes and then squinted at her. “You’re one of those despicable morning people, aren’t you?”
“Yes. And it’s going to be nice out. So no lazing in the sheets, wasting the day away.”
“Come back to bed and I’ll show you how to spend a Sunday morning.”
Deliberately ignoring the smoky invitation in his gaze, she cinched her robe’s sash. “How do you like your eggs?”
“Sunny-side up. On your tits.”
Rolling her eyes, she headed for the kitchen before he could tempt her into his naughty version of breakfast in bed. As she measured the coffee grounds into the filter, her mind continued tormenting her with the intimacy they’d shared last night. No matter how much she wanted to cling to the delusion that she was fully capable of separating sex from love, her emotions were dead set on proving her wrong.
She knew Trig didn’t feel the same way about her. It’d be foolish to build a fantasy on that illusion. So why couldn’t she get the possibility of him having feelings for her out of her head? It’d felt like they’d connected on a deeper level than ever last night. But that was likely wistful hope on her part. She wasn’t so naïve to think that an intense emotional bond on her end was anything more than better than decent sex for him. Realistically, men and women were wired entirely different when it came to sex and love.
A noise sounded behind her and she turned to see Trig leaning in the doorway. “How can you work in the dark like that?” He flipped the wall switch, flooding the space with light.
“It wasn’t that dark in here.”
“I disagree.” He padded to her side and inched the front of her robe open, exposing her breasts. “How was I supposed to enjoy these lovlies without the proper illumination?”
She managed to get her robe closed again, but not before his sneaky breast fondling left her both aroused and laughing like crazy as she attempted to escape his devious clutches. “Stop that!” Certain her huge grin defeated the indignation in her retort, she swiveled back toward the counter. He pinched her butt, causing her to lose her stride and her dignity. Swatting his hand away, she poured a healthy serving of the hazelnut creamer into her favorite cup and tipped the plastic container over the spare mug with a questioning glance aimed at Trig.
He shook his head and she set the creamer aside before topping off their mugs with the aromatic French roast. Trig accepted his cup and eyed her over its rim as he took a sip of the steaming brew. “How are you feeling this morning?”
She blushed. “Sore.”
“Sorry. I might have gotten a little carried away last night.”
The reminder sent another heat wave through her. “I’m not complaining.”
“Good.” His gaze sparkled. “Because I’m planning on having my wicked way with you tonight.”
“Is there ever a time that you’re not horny?”
“When it comes to you?” He cocked his head to the side as if he was seriously pondering the question. “Nope.”
She took a gulp of her coffee in order to hide her smile. It was far from a declaration of love, but it still made her giddy to know that she inspired him to lusty excess.
“So what’s on the agenda for today, sexy?”
His endearment provoked another of her smiles, at least until she remembered the tentative plan she’d proposed to Jane earlier in the week. “I was supposed to have a girl’s night out with Sid and your sister.” She fiddled with the handle of her mug. “Doubt that’s going to happen now.”
“Don’t let Jane ruin your plans.”
“It wasn’t anything set in stone.”
Trig leaned against the granite-topped island. “Why don’t you call her and see where things stand?”
She chewed her lip, uncertainty percolating in her gut. On the one hand, it wasn’t her place to tell Trig what to do when it came to his sister. But considering the role she played in all of this, she felt responsible for helping them to mend their sibling discord. “Maybe you should talk to her too.”
He tweaked the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. “My issues with my sister won’t be resolved with a phone call.”
“Okay. Then I could always ask her to come over.”
Trig sat his mug down and strode to her. He linked his arms around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head. “It isn’t that I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do, baby. But I really can’t handle Jane in person right now. What I do want is to spend the day with you and not think about
anything but enjoying each other.”
She nodded, and he caressed her nape. Snuggling against his chest, she traced a fingertip over the impressive bulge of his biceps. “I’ll call Jane later. How about I get breakfast going while you grab the paper from off the porch?”
“Sure. But you’re gonna let me help with breakfast when I get back.”
“You can cook?”
“Yup.” He flicked her nose playfully. “I’m more than just a pretty face, ya know.”
She screwed her features into an expression of absolute disbelief. “You truly are a blessing sent straight from the gods. And by cooking, I meant something more than toast.”
Growling, he squeezed her butt. “Woman, I should ravage you for your impertinence.”
“No, you’re going to fetch the paper, remember?”
Pouting, he went to do her bidding. Happiness bubbling in her chest like sparkly champagne bubbles, she hummed to herself and rummaged in the fridge for the bacon, English muffins, and carton of eggs. When Trig returned he tossed the newspaper on the counter and took over her station at the frying pan.
Unable to resist, she took a step back and admired the delectable view he presented. She’d never been treated to a man in her kitchen before, much less one who looked deliciously sinful in a pair of low-slung black sweat pants and nothing else. There was something incredibly sexy about the way his sleek shoulders and back muscles flexed as he slid the spatula beneath the sizzling eggs. She snuffed a whimper, half certain that one of her ovaries just exploded.
Get a grip. Planting that command firmly in her mind, she scooted around him and grabbed two plates from the cupboard and turned on the faucet. Trig looked properly impressed when she ran the hot water over the plates, warming them up. She offered him a wink. “See, I’m not just a pretty face either.”
“Damn straight. You’re also sweet, smart, and have knockout tits and the tightest little pussy that makes me weep for joy.”
“Wow. You should really consider writing for Hallmark.” She shrieked and leapt out of the way when he flicked the dishcloth toward her fanny.
He gave her an innocent look. “I was only trying to give this to you so you can dry off the plates.”
“Sure.” She snatched the cloth from him and stuck out her tongue.
“That gives me some ideas.”
Snorting, she quickly dried the plates without providing any further encouragement for his naughtiness. Not that she wasn’t tempted. But if she allowed the man to sweet talk her back into bed for sure they’d stay there all day. “I was thinking we could go see a movie.”
“Sounds good to me.” He rationed out the eggs and bacon and buttered the muffins while she carried their coffee mugs to the bistro table. A second later he joined her and they ate in companionable silence as she scoured the movie listings in the paper.
Midway through her perusal she felt the heat of Trig’s scrutiny on her and she lifted her head to find him staring at her intently. She frowned. “What? Do I have something stuck in my teeth?”
“No. It just occurred to me that other than Jane and my mom, you’re the first woman I’ve ever had breakfast with.”
She blinked. “Seriously? Like never even at a diner or anything?”
He shook his head. “Usually I would sneak out before the option came up.” He cleared his throat. “I sound like a major dickhead. Way to win you over.”
Whoa. He wanted to win her over? A warm glow spread in her chest at the realization. “Well, I’ll do you one better. You’re the first man who’s even been in my house. Bet you feel pretty darn special now, huh?” she teased as she forked up a bite of eggs.
“No previous boyfriends?” He snapped his fingers. “Your dad.”
She shook her head and finished chewing before answering. “I bought this place two years ago, and it’s been at least that long since I was serious with anyone.” If you could even call it that. An occasional date didn’t exactly qualify as a relationship. “As for my father, I haven’t seen him since my parents divorced when I was twelve.”
Trig frowned. “That’s fucking shitty.”
She shrugged. “It used to bother me. Now I see it as his loss.”
“Damn straight it is. You’re an amazing person, Rissa. Your dad missed out on a whole lot by not staying in your life.”
The sincerity in Trig’s gaze made her feel all mushy inside. Damn. If she wasn’t careful she’d start inventing names for their nonexistent future babies. “My mom made up for his absence. Sometimes I feel guilty that she didn’t have much of a personal life because she was so busy focusing on me.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t view it that way.”
“Yeah, I know she doesn’t.” She broke off the end on her strip of bacon and absently nibbled at it. “I think that’s why I went out of my way to be a model kid when I was growing up, though. Most of my classmates were into partying and goofing off. I just wanted to have high enough grades to get into a good college and make my mom proud of me.” No doubt her geeky book girl status had contributed greatly to her remaining a virgin well into her early twenties. She definitely took late bloomer to the extreme. “I didn’t even end up going to my prom. That’s how much my social life sucked.”
“I wish I’d known you back then.”
Twitching her nose, she peeked at Trig. It still blew her mind that he was sitting here, all gorgeously rumpled after a night of hot sex. With her. “You would have been what? Ten? A little young for me, buddy.”
“Smart ass.” He snatched the other half of her bacon strip and demolished it with two bites. “I was sorely lacking in role models during my youth. You could have whipped me into shape.”
“What about Jane?” She sighed at the look he gave her. “Okay, bad example. How about your parents?” She’d only met them on the few occasions that they weren’t traveling around the country in their RV. They’d seemed really nice, if not a tad on the eccentric side.
“Trust me, they were a big part of the problem. They believed in giving me and Jane free rein to express our unique individuality.” He used air quotes on the last two words, bringing a twitch to her lips. “We’re living proof why hippies shouldn’t be allowed to breed.”
“You guys aren’t that bad.”
“I’m not sure Jane would agree with your assessment. At least when it comes to me.” Grimacing, he took a swig of his coffee and glanced toward the paper. “Did you find a good matinee candidate?”
She recognized a blatant attempt at changing the subject when she saw one. Still, she wanted to honor his request to have an enjoyable day, and if that meant leaving Jane out of the conversation so be it. “I’ve narrowed it down to a romantic comedy or an action flick where something gets blown up every fifteen minutes.”
“Guess which one I’m rooting for?”
“The romantic comedy?”
He balled up his napkin and lobbed it at her. Grinning, she picked up the crumpled paper towel and stowed it on her plate. “If we get ready now we could hit the first showing.”
“Is that your way of telling me to get my ass in the shower?”
“Yup.”
“Bossy wench.” He abandoned his seat and planted a kiss on her that left her dizzy and gasping for breath. His smirk verifying that he was mighty proud of his ability to turn her insides to jelly, he grabbed their plates and rinsed them in the sink before loading them in the dishwasher. He sent her a devilish wink as he strode toward the doorway. “I could use some help scrubbing my back.”
“I will not be tempted by you, evil Kinky Claus.”
His wicked laugh trailed him down the hall. She managed to hold out for three whole minutes before darting after him. Who needed willpower when you had a wet, naked, sex-on-a-stick man waiting for you?
Fragrant steam clouded the shower’s glass doors, but not enough to completely obscure the mouthwatering sight of Trig wetting his hair beneath the spray. Slicking his fingers through his glossy strands, he beckoned her with
his free hand.
The man was the living personification of sinful enticement. She dropped her robe and stepped into the shower. Her gaze cruised to the condom packet he’d stashed on the soap cubby. “Am I that predictable?”
“No, more like I’m that hopeful.” He snagged her by the waist and hauled her under the cascading water with him. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and he groaned, both of his arms banding her in a slippery hug. His gaze dark and piercing, he lowered his face toward hers and claimed her mouth. She clutched at his shoulders, trembling under the fierce intoxication of his kisses. His knuckle grazing her cheek, he sipped at her lips. “You’re shaking.”
“I know.” She swallowed past the thick emotion in her throat. “It’s what you do to me.”
He stared into her eyes for an endless moment before drawing her in for a deeper kiss. She lost track of time and everything else beyond the wonderful heat of Trig’s body pressed against hers. Eventually his mouth slid from hers and traveled to her neck, blazing a trail of kisses toward her collarbone. He hunkered lower and swirled his tongue over her nipple, deliberately teasing the pebbled peak while the silky rivulets of water streamed over her sensitized flesh, adding to the exquisite torment. She shivered, and he looked up at her with a hot intensity that seared right through her.
His grip firm on her hips, he coaxed her closer to the dampened tiles of the shower wall. “Arch your back a bit. Yeah, just like that.” The water snaked down her belly and he eased up the hood of her clit, allowing the jettisoning spray to lave directly over the aching nub. Incredible as the sensation was, it only got a million times more intense when he wiggled his tongue inside her slit and began to slowly fuck her with it. She whimpered and sifted her fingers through the soaked ends of his hair, holding on for dear life as he steadily drove her toward the pinnacle of rapture. She broke on a shuddery wail, a thousand pinpoints of brilliant light shattering in her vision.