Love Me (Coopers Creek Book 1)

by Bronwen Evans

  She gasped and stepped back. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m being economical.”

  Her forehead puckered in confusion. “How is you getting in the shower naked with me being economical?”

  He smiled when her eyes darted downward and then jerked back up again. “See? You want to look at me as much as I want to look at you.”

  “That’s not an answer.”

  “Well, the spider incident used up more hot water and I still need to shower. So, to conserve hot water, I figured that we could shower together.”

  “I’ll get out,” she said, but didn’t move.

  Her lovely hazel eyes looked even larger with her hair slicked back from her heart-shaped face and her wet lips parted as she looked at him.

  “No. Don’t,” Tyler said softly.

  “Why?”

  His mouth curved in a coaxing smile. “Because I want to wash your back for you, among other things.”

  He didn’t bother trying to fight the surge of desire through his body. Didn’t try to hide his reaction to her nearness. His need for her was too great and he was too tired of fighting it.

  “I already washed.”

  “Nothing wrong with being thorough,” he said, cupping her cheek. “I remember the first time we showered together. We’d just made love, but I wanted you again. You’ve always had that power over me, Emily. I’ve never been able to get enough of you.”

  “You haven’t?”

  “No, and I never will.” Hooking his arm around her waist, he pulled her against him. “I want you, Emily, and I know you want me. Let me make love to you.”

  Her slick, bare skin against his, sent his hunger for her skyrocketing and he grew harder by the second. She didn’t agree, but she didn’t reject him, either. He ran his thumb slowly over her full lower lip and watched her eyes turn greener. It was one of the small ways he’d always known when she was aroused.

  Slowly, to give her a chance to change her mind, he lowered his mouth to brush his lips over hers. She rested her hands on his chest and a jolt of electricity shot through him. He took her lips in a slow deliberate kiss, leisurely relearning her taste.

  He glided the tip of his tongue past her partially open lips, dipping it inside the warm recess of her mouth. A groan escaped him as she started responding, pressing herself against him, and looping her arms around his neck. Fisting a hand in her hair, he dragged his mouth from hers and nibbled his way along her jaw to her ear.

  Her shudder of delight as he traced the pretty shell of her ear with his tongue made his blood throb in his veins. His fingers traced the curve of her spine down to her beautiful backside. “Last chance to get out?”

  Thank God she shook her head. “You’re probably right. We shouldn’t waste water.”

  Smoothing his palms over her ass cheeks, he said, “You have the most fantastic body, Emily. I want to kiss every delicious inch of it, taste you everywhere.” He squeezed her sweetly rounded bottom and growled. “You feel so good. Turn around, baby.”

  *****

  Emily lifted her eyes to his and felt a thrill shoot right through her. The heat in Tyler’s eyes could’ve made an arctic glacier melt and crumble into the ocean. His jet black hair had gone curly from the steam and his sensual mouth was damp.

  She should tell him to get out again, but she didn’t have the strength. The truth was that she wanted him to make love with her. Needed him to make love with her. Looking down, she watched and felt his hardening arousal throbbing against her lower stomach. A corresponding ache began between her thighs.

  “Turn around,” he repeated.

  Her mind swirling with desire, she obeyed. In a moment, she felt his large hands settle on her shoulders and begin massaging them. Sighing, she bent her head forward as he caressed and worked on her tight muscles. He moved his way down her back and then returned to her shoulders.

  He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her shoulder. She shivered when he scored her skin with his teeth and she felt herself grow damp as he slid his soap-slick hands up to cup her breasts.

  “Oh, God,” she moaned when he teased her nipples. She gave up any thought of stopping at that point and pressed his hands harder against her breasts.

  He tightened his hands around them and growled against her ear. The husky, primal sound reverberated through her body, heading straight to her core. Restlessly, she moved her hips, hitching them forward a little. The more he played with her nipples, the hotter she grew. Obviously, he remembered how sensitive they were.

  “Tyler, I can’t…I need.” Roughly she grabbed one of his hands and drew it down toward the greedy, wanting part of her body.

  Chapter Twelve

  It had been his intention to take things slowly and make the experience last, but Emily apparently didn’t need that. That he was making her lose control so quickly told him that she was more than ready and, frankly, so was he.

  Her silky skin felt so good against his palm as he slid it over her mound and grazed his fingers over her sensitive nub. She gasped and pressed forward into his hand. Tyler clamped down on his own need and concentrated on hers. Touching her so intimately again was both foreign and familiar and completely intoxicating.

  Deftly moving his fingers over her, he remembered all the times he’d done this for her and it made him even more excited now. She clutched at the arm he held around her waist, her nails biting into his skin a little.

  “I’m going to make you come, Emily. I want to make you feel good, baby.” He smiled a little as she started trembling. “That’s right. Enjoy yourself. Or do you want me to stop?”

  *****

  Emily was on fire. Every muscle in her body was tense as his nimble fingers worked their magic. She’d always loved it when Tyler had talked dirty to her and taunted her just like he was now.

  “I swear if you stop right now, I’ll never speak to you again,” she said in a strained voice.

  “What happens if I keep going?”

  “You know what happens.” He was driving her insane.

  “Say it, Emily. Say it or I’ll stop. What’s going to happen if I keep going?”

  The tension built to a sharp crescendo. “I’m going to come, Ty.”

  “Mmm. That’s right. You are going to come. And there’s a lot more of that in store for you,” he said.

  His touch, his deep, sexy voice, and warm breath against her ear was a deadly combination. The first ripple of pleasure hit her and she let out a gasp.

  “Yes!”

  “Yes, what?”

  “I’m going to…”

  Emily couldn’t finish the sentence because every nerve in her body lit with bliss as she climaxed. A low throaty cry escaped her as pleasure washed over her and her body trembled hard against him.

  “Yeah, that’s my good Emily. Shit, baby. I love making you feel like that,” he said, gently caressing her.

  As the waves of intense sensation ebbed, she rested back against him for a moment. “Oh, Ty.”

  “I know. Switch places with me, honey. I need to wash off quick before the hot water really does run out, but don’t think I’m done with you yet,” he said.

  Emily turned around and ran her hands over his chest. “It’s my turn to wash you.”

  He grinned. “As the lady wishes.”

  They scooted past each other, their wet bodies brushing against each other.

  “You wash your hair and I’ll wash everything else. That’ll save time and be more economical. I know how concerned you are about that,” she teased.

  His laugh was infectious. “That’s right.”

  As he grabbed the shampoo and started washing his hair, Emily lathered him up with the sandalwood soap. It had always been his preferred scent and she thought that even though he was a wealthy tycoon now, it still suited him.

  Emily didn’t rush. It had been too long since she’d been able to touch him like this. Although he was muscular, he wasn’t bulky. Instead, he was long and lean, his br
oad chest narrowing to a trim waist and hips in a delectable V of male flesh. The short, dark hair on his chest felt good against her hands.

  She giggled when he sucked in his stomach as she ran her fingertips over it. “Ticklish, huh?”

  He chuckled as he finished rinsing his hair. “As ever.”

  His erection hadn’t flagged in the least and she took him in her palm, slowly stroking his rigid shaft.

  “Enjoy yourself, but not for too long,” he said, his thighs tensing.

  Wanting to pay him back for teasing her, she said, “What’s going to happen if I keep doing this, Ty?”

  His gaze turned hotter even as he smiled. “You know what’s going to happen.”

  “No, no, say it or I’ll go to my room and leave you just like this.”

  Sobering, he said, “If you keep doing that, I’m going to come and it’ll be over. I need you too much, Emily.”

  Emily’s smile turned wicked as she bent down to flick her tongue over the tip of his cock.

  *****

  Tyler let out a hiss as his groin tightened almost painfully when her pretty pink tongue touched him. Exerting all of the control he could muster, he didn’t stop her as she took him in her mouth. She fluttered her tongue around the head and it was almost more than he could take. He was a volcano of desire and unless he stopped her, he was going to erupt.

  “Emily, you have to stop. Oh, God, you have to stop.” When she released him, Tyler said, “I’m not going to make it to the bedroom. Condom. We need condoms.”

  “Top drawer of the bathroom cabinet.” She smiled. “Plural? Not sure we have time.”

  “I’ll make time.”

  He reached and opened the drawer. She watched him. Her eyes filled with desire, building the anticipation as he sheathed himself before he grabbed her ass and lifted her off her feet. The needy, wonton expression on her beautiful face made his heart knock against his ribs. She knew what to do, what they’d done so many times. In the shower, the hot tub, the swimming hole. Anywhere that making love upright was necessary.

  She smiled at him as she locked her legs around his waist and hung on to his shoulders. Her eyes widened as he slid her down to slowly impale her on his hard length. Even though he raged with the need to possess her, wanted to drive into her, Tyler held back.

  He held her tightly against him and gave her a hard, demanding kiss while he let her body adjust to him. She was just as hot and tight as he remembered and he’d never encountered another woman who made him feel the way she did. With care, he lifted her up and brought her back down, just a little further than the last time.

  Exquisite sensation sizzled along his skin and he devoured her lips, biting and sucking them until Emily grew restless. She tightened her thighs around him, lifting up and wrapping her arms around his neck.

  Suddenly, she broke the kiss and stared into his eyes. “Love me, Ty. Make love to me.”

  *****

  The change that came over Tyler’s face enthralled Emily. His eyes darkened to charcoal and his jaw clenched. Gone was the teasing man, replaced by an intense version of the man she loved. The storm of passion that had been brewing between them all these weeks swept over them as Tyler got a firmer hold on her and began following her order.

  “You asked for it,” he ground out between his clenched teeth. “Buckle up, sweet cheeks. It’s going to be a short but bumpy ride.”

  He completely filled her, making Emily wild for the kind of pleasure that only Tyler could give her. Her desire for him was unquenchable and she knew that even though they were making love now, she’d want him again almost immediately.

  Those powerful arms of his lifted and lowered her easily as she held onto him. Their eyes locked as they started moving in time with each other. Every thrust sent them higher along the climb to the summit.

  Emily’s heart raced even faster when Tyler growled and gripped her buttocks harder. “I’m not going to hold out long. It’s too good, too incredible and I’ve been without you for far too long.”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve missed you so much. I’m ready.”

  Immediately, his tempo increased and his jaw tensed as her pace matched his. Their rhythm grew almost frantic in their quest for fulfillment. It was even hotter than in the past and every nerve in her body was centered on where they were connected. He was long and thick and she wanted all of him.

  She tightened her legs around him, raising up and coming down harder, taking him to the hilt. Their bodies slapped together as Tyler’s thrusts grew in power.

  Emily grasped Tyler’s shoulders tighter as her release began. “Oh, God. Yes. Don’t stop.”

  “I won’t. I can’t. Not now.” His voice was hoarse. “Come for me, Emily. I want to feel you come.”

  The pulses in her center became more intense as he repeatedly drove into her. Suddenly, she soared over the edge, held prisoner by the sheer ecstasy that crashed over her. She screamed his name and hugged him close, hanging on as the undulating waves of her climax threatened to sweep her away.

  *****

  When Emily repeatedly clenched around him, Tyler’s control snapped. Her scream of pleasure sent him over the precipice.

  “Shit, baby,” he said. “That feels so fucking good.”

  He rocketed into an orgasm that robbed him of his breath for several moments. His back arched forward a little as he exploded inside her. Reasonable thought left him as he spilled his seed and let out a few raspy groans. It seemed to go on forever and he wouldn’t have minded a bit if it had.

  But finally the storm of passion began to abate and he relaxed his grip on Emily’s rear end a little. Leaning forward, he kissed her thoroughly, drawing her tongue into his mouth and sucking on it.

  When the kiss ended, Tyler met her gaze. “Without a doubt, no one has ever made me feel as good as you do. I swear.”

  Emily lowered her gaze from his. “I doubt that. You’ve been with a lot of women. I’m sure that some of them are better than me.”

  “Look at me, Emily.”

  Hesitantly, she raised her eyes to his.

  “No one has ever excited me as much as you or given me the kind of intense pleasure you do,” Tyler said. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on and I was such a fool to let you go.” He lifted her from his softening member and lowered her onto her feet, before getting rid of the condom. “We need to talk.”

  Emily nodded. “Yes, we do, but the water’s getting cold.”

  They rinsed off quickly and got out of the shower. They took turns drying each other off, laughing and teasing each other. Tyler picked up his clothes and slipped his belt out of his dress pants. He put them in the hamper and grabbed his shoes. Neither of them bothered to put clothes on. Tyler followed Emily into her room and turned her covers down. Then he swept her off her feet.

  “What are you doing?” she enquired with a laugh.

  He deposited her on the bed and crawled in it with her. “We’re going to talk.”

  Snuggling closer to him, Emily pulled the covers up over them. The bathroom had been so much warmer and her skin was chilled. Tyler pulled her close and kissed her softly.

  “Emily, I owe you such a huge apology for the way I treated you over Lizzie. I was wrong in so many ways. I’m so sorry for being such a bastard and hurting you when you didn’t deserve it. I took my grief and anger out on you. I felt like I’d failed her and I blamed you instead of taking the responsibility for it myself,” he said.

  “You did not fail.” Emily put a hand on his jaw, her eyes full of sympathy. “You took on too much responsibility. You were young too. You shouldn’t have had to take on the father figure role. I think you didn’t have anyone to help you cope with Lizzie’s death. Your mother was a mess. Ty, neither one of us were at fault. We weren’t going to stop Lizzie. No one was. It was a horrible, terrible accident.”

  “I see that now. Chase told me a few home truths about Lizzie that I just didn’t want to face.” Tea
rs stung his eyes. “I was such a dick to you. Can you forgive me?”

  She grew misty-eyed, but smiled. “Yes. I forgive you.”

  Joy surged through Tyler. “I don’t know where we go from here. But I know that you’re in my heart. You’re a part of me and always will be. But we have Hayley to think of now. If she thinks we are together and it doesn’t work out….”

  A tiny sob escaped her as her face lit with happiness. “It would hurt her, confuse her…”

  Tyler wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Can we give this another shot? Will you give me a second chance?”

  Emily embraced him hard and he felt tears fall on his shoulder. “I want that so much. So much.. Let’s take it one day at a time for now. Let’s concentrate on getting Hayley home and well.”

  Even though he tried, Tyler couldn’t contain his relief. “Thank you. That’s more than I deserve.

  “Everyone deserves a second chance.” She sniffed and drew back to look into his eyes. “As long as you have really forgiven me. This isn’t just the sex talking, is it?”

  Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he replied, “I can understand why you might think that, but no. I recently admitted to myself that I wanted and needed you, but more importantly, I want you in my life.”

  She kissed him and stroked his jaw. “Want and need is not love. Could you ever learn to love me again?”

  “Give me time to sort out my feelings. So much has happened in such a short time. I don’t want to mislead you.” He pressed his lips tenderly to her forehead and rested his cheek against it. “We have a little time for a nap. Close your eyes, honey.”

  A feeling of such love and contentment filled him as she cuddled against him and she fell into sleep.

  “I’ll try not to disappoint you again,” he whispered. “Ever.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  A couple of days later, they brought Hayley home. Her dizziness had stopped and her headaches weren’t as severe. However, they followed Dr. Burnette’s advice to keep her as quiet as possible for a couple of weeks. She couldn’t do anything strenuous or watch TV or read too much since it could fatigue her mind and delay her recovery. If Hayley continued to improve, she would be able to return to school in a month.