What had she agreed to?
Chapter Seventeen
Caterers had come, set out food, and gone. Guests from the record label and the marketing agency drank, talked, and mingled. And still, Kendel hadn’t emerged.
Burn tried to hold a conversation with a flirty brunette from the agency’s publicity division, but he couldn’t concentrate. His gaze kept going to the rear of their condo. How long did it take to don a dress?
Dan’s blonde came around the corner, beaming like she had the best secret. Burn’s stomach fluttered. He ceased pretending to listen to the brunette and took a step of anticipation toward the center of the living room.
Kendel turned the corner and almost sent him to his knees. She wore four inch red pumps that screamed come fuck me. No hose covered her white, toned legs, which showed all the way up to the hem riding slightly higher than mid-thigh. Red spandex hugged every curve, leaving her arms bare and nothing to the imagination. No bra or panty line marred the dress’s cling, and he realized she wore nothing underneath. Absolutely nothing.
Her sexy curls swept high and loose, leaving her slender neck bare. A tendril draped her temple and caressed her cheek, its spiraled end resting upon the delicate indentation above her collarbone.
For the first time since they met, she wore makeup. Dark eyeliner graced only her upper lids, deepening the blue of her eyes. Mascara blackened her already long lashes, and clear lip gloss made her kiss-me lips obscenely sexy.
Her eyes met his, and her nipples hardened. In immediate reaction, his body quickened and he sucked a breath through his teeth.
“Do I look alright?” she asked when she reached him.
“You’re drop-dead, gorgeous. Didn’t you have a peek in the mirror? Glance around. That you’re standing here talking to me has every guy in this room ready to defenestrate me so he can have a chance at you.” He grinned. How could she have a single insecurity looking like this? Women this stunning owned a certain power he admired. “You’re much taller in those shoes.”
She smiled, and he stopped breathing for a second. God, he should’ve suspected he had a world-class beauty under his roof when she’d looked so good in faded jeans and not a bit of cosmetics. Shit.
“Do you like me taller?”
His grin grew as he drowned for a moment in her endless-sky eyes. “Undecided. Fancy a drink?”
“Please.”
He went and poured her a glass of white wine. She kept her gaze on him, not moving. Was she nervous? She had no reason. Looking like she did, she could sit supreme over the party.
Dan went to her and said something that drew her attention and made her laugh. He didn’t want to harbor jealousy for his friend, but he couldn’t help it.
“Here you go.” He handed her the glass, and when she accepted it with both hands, he realized she didn’t wear her bandage. “Your hand appears much improved.”
She glanced at it while Dan moved off. She offered Burn a small smile. “I took more medicine. The swelling’s gone, and it doesn’t hurt at all.”
Gently, he drew the wine from her grasp. “If you’re on pain-killers, no drinking for you.”
Her smile widened a fraction. “Actually, I hadn’t planned to drink. The glass just gives my hands something to do. You probably didn’t notice, but this dress doesn’t have pockets.”
He had more than noticed. Narrowing his eyes, he reluctantly handed her the glass. “Promise you won’t drink any.”
Her eyebrows arched and she leaned forward. “I won’t. Trust me.” She chuckled.
He smiled at her teasing. “Let me introduce you around.”
He spent the next thirty minutes purposely avoiding looking at her lovely curves. He couldn’t escape her subtle perfume or the allure of her beautiful, smiling mouth, and he didn’t want to.
Part of him hated that every male eye followed her progress, yet part of him preened. She stood at his side and nobody else’s. Now he had to convince her she belonged next to him. It wouldn’t take these jackals long after tonight to come hitting on her.
As she made conversation, he began to realize how truly well-educated she was. She’d spent the past week learning her job and dealing with new situations. He hadn’t had a chance to hear her talk to people on a social level. She really understood business, especially marketing, and she impressed him.
The hour grew late, and their guests began to leave. She continued to mingle as he showed people to the door. She may not have been a party girl before, but she worked this one like an experienced hostess.
He tried to say coherent and sensible goodbyes and well-wishes for a pleasant holiday, but he struggled to get his gaze off Kendel’s body. She had his brain muddled. He could only contemplate how much he wanted to slide a hand between her thighs and learn if, indeed, she wore nothing underneath.
When he said goodnight to their final group of departing friends, he closed the door and pressed his forehead to the cool wood. He wanted Kendel so badly he shook.
Unbuttoning the top three buttons of his shirt, he went to the kitchen where she loaded flutes and glasses into the dishwasher. He said, “Leave that. The maid will see to it on Tuesday.”
“But it’s Christmas Eve. I thought it might be nice to have the place look clean in the morning.”
He glanced at his watch. “It is morning.”
Dan and his blonde came to the doorway. His flat mate jingled car keys and said, “We’re headed over to her place. See you in a day or three.”
Burn raised his eyebrows. Were they more serious than he thought?
His girlfriend offered a broad smile and draped her dresses over Dan’s arm. She said to Kendel, “Keep that one. It looks better on you, anyway. Merry Christmas, you two.”
“Thank you. Merry Christmas.” Kendel took two steps toward them, but they simply waved then headed out. She turned sad eyes to Burn. “And Merry Christmas to you, too.”
Closing the dishwasher door, he said, “I have something. It’s not wrapped. Sorry about that.”
“Please don’t.”
Ignoring her, he retrieved the bag from under the island. Handing her an envelope, he said, “Your pay for this week. There’s a Christmas bonus. Personally, I consider it a putting-up-with-my-shit bonus.”
She took it very slowly and stared at it, not opening it. “Thank you.”
“Get with our accountant next week so he can start direct depositing into your bank account.”
She didn’t respond. Didn’t move.
Holding out the bag, he said, “I got this for you. Merry Christmas, Kendel.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
Venturing half a step closer, he said, “You can. You must. I bought it especially. Won’t you at least have a look?”
Giving him a wary glance, she hesitantly brushed her soft fingers against his as she took the bag. She peered inside, and her lips spread into a wide smile. Lifting out the pink bean bag lion, she said, “I love it. It’s just like yours, but pink.”
“I wanted to thank you for not passing judgment. For not giving me a hard time about my lions. You were so accepting about the whole thing, and I know you’ll keep my secret.”
Her smile turned kind. “Of course I will. I hope you know I would never do anything to… I mean, well, I’ll always be loyal. I didn’t get you anything, though. I feel rotten.”
He took the final step that closed the distance between them. Putting his hands on her warm hips, he said, “There’s only one thing I want for Christmas, and only you can give it to me.”
* * *
Her heart thudding, Kendel fought to force air into lungs that failed her. Need unlike anything she’d experienced slammed into her then settled around her like a mantle of aching desire. Her entire body pulsed.
Burn took the bag, lion, and envelope and placed them on the island. “Kendel.”
She met his dark, intense gaze. After spending the day sorry they’d kissed on the plane then the entire party wishing he’
d pull her aside and do it again, she trembled in confusion and arousal. Should she tell him she planned to quit?
She put her hand to his chest then rested her forehead there. How could such a powerful need feel both wrong and right? If she did this, she would have to live with the guilt. If she didn’t…
She’d regret it the rest of her life.
“I want you,” she whispered.
“God, Kendel.” He buried his face in her neck and cupped her ass, squeezing hard.
Moisture coated her folds where a throbbing began. She grasped his thick shoulder and let her head fall to the side, giving him access to her throat. He planted a line of licking, sucking kisses toward her ear.
“There’s no turning back,” she said.
He stopped and looked her in the eye. Placing her hand to the firm bulge filling his slacks, he said, “I wouldn’t want to.”
“I can’t work for you after this.”
His gaze dropped to her mouth. “We’ll worry about that later.”
He lifted her to the island’s cold marble top. Spreading her knees, he stood between her thighs and claimed her lips in a hot, open-mouthed kiss that engaged their tongues from the moment of contact. He cupped the back of her head, holding her where he wanted her. Flitting excitement in her stomach moved lower and blossomed into full arousal.
His other hand went to her exposed mound, and he groaned into her mouth. Her abdominal muscles bunched in anticipation a second before he slicked two fingers through her swelling, aching folds. She tensed then relaxed as he stroked and circled. Pleasure hardened her nipples and focused her brain. Only Burn existed. The scent of his cologne surrounded her, and she hungrily tasted the whiskey that flavored his tongue.
Her need increased, growing urgent. She wrapped her legs around his hips and rocked in time to his fingers’ strokes.
“Baby.” He growled against her lips as he moved his fingers to her opening. He circled once then tried to ease inside. He froze. “Fuck.”
She closed her eyes as he straightened. Now that he knew, would he change his mind? “I’ve had secrets, too.”
His voice sounded strangled when he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Relaxing her legs from around him, she met his gaze. His brown eyes had darkened to near black.
She swallowed. “I didn’t think we’d ever do this. As far as I was concerned, it was a non-issue.”
“It’s an issue.” He scooped her off the counter and strode from the kitchen.
She snaked her arm around his neck.
“I’m not going to take your virginity in a fast and dirty on a kitchen island. How have you reached the age of twenty-four and— Never mind.” He carried her to Dan’s room and had her grab a box of prophylactics on his bedside table. Then he continued to her room and deposited her on the bed.
Bending over her, he urged her head back and captured her mouth in a kiss so intense it made her wet and throbbing anew. He took her dress by the hem and peeled it upward. Releasing her lips, he moved so she could raise her arms. He removed her dress and tossed it onto her chair.
“Lay down so I can see you,” he said, pulling his shirt free of his slacks.
She stretched atop her covers, loving his eyes on her. For once, with the way he gazed at her, she actually believed he considered her beautiful. In that moment, she became the most beautiful woman alive.
“Kendel, my God. You’re gorgeous. I’m going to do this right. I swear to you.” He unbuttoned his shirt and sent it to join her dress.
His muscles rippled and bunched, creating the illusion that his dragon tattoos writhed upon his skin as he unfastened his pants and stepped out of his shoes. He removed his slacks and underwear in one bend to the floor. When he stood, her breath arrested.
The man was perfection. He’d grown the scruff at his jaw, which continued onto his throat. A dusting of dark hair filled a V at the top and middle of the squared muscled slabs of his chest. His shoulders rounded in striations of muscle that led to an array of curved bicep and triceps. Prominent veins webbed through his thick, tattooed forearms and continued into hands both manly yet fine from years of playing guitar.
His abdominals formed a series of chiseled squares to his belly button. Years of stage acrobatics had thickened bulges of muscle above his hips, and the flat expanse leading to his jutting member sported two prominent veins that attested to his lack of body fat.
Below his narrow hips, his thighs had lean but dense muscle under a liberal shadow of hair. His knees narrowed to flaring calves. Below strong ankles, he had feet as fine as his hands.
Her eyes returned to his hard-on, impressive in size and glistening at its pink head. She wasn’t ignorant about sex, but his size frightened her. At the same time, it excited her.
He went to her bathroom, and water ran. When it continued to run, she lifted to her elbows. The water stopped, and Burn emerged with a wet washcloth in his hand and a condom on his erection.
“What’s that for?” she asked, giving the washcloth a nod.
“You’ll see.” He came to the bed and touched her thigh. “Open for me, gorgeous.”
She spread her legs, and he pressed the cloth to her. She sucked a breath through her teeth. “That’s really hot.”
“Hot but not scalding. I know.” He held it there a few seconds then urged her to close her legs, which kept it tight against her.
Climbing onto the bed next to her, he said, “Do you have any idea how much I’ve wanted you? You’re so fucking sexy you make me crazy.”
She couldn’t fight a smile. Then he placed a possessive hand on her hip and took a nipple between his teeth. Her smile evaporated into a gasp of pleasure.
Chapter Eighteen
His rod aching to drive into her, Burn willed his body to calm. Kendel deserved a gentle taking for her first time. It awed him that she honored him. What a tremendous gift she offered. Had he known about her lack of experience, he wouldn’t have asked it as a Christmas present.
She had let him go too far, however. Once he felt her smooth, firm slickness and smelled her musky arousal, he couldn’t deny his body hers. She’d said yes. He would suffer for days if he didn’t have her.
Taking his time, he explored her lithe limbs and nibbled her fingertips. He sank his teeth into the sexy round of her shoulder and nipped a sinew at her neck before sliding along her soft, nubile body until raining kisses between her high, firm breasts to her curved middle.
As he sank his tongue into her bellybutton, he pinched both nipples and grinned as she gasped and squirmed. He adored her responsiveness. His hard-on bucked to be inside her.
He licked a line to her auburn curls then spread her knees and settled between. Removing the still-warm washcloth, he inhaled her heady scent. He tossed the cloth into the bathroom then dipped his tongue to her parted slit.
She cried out, and her thighs clamped onto his shoulders. He stayed his course. Clearly she’d never had anyone pleasure her this way, and he determined to be her first in this, too.
Grasping her hips and meeting her widened gaze, he sent his tongue over her damp lips. Her eyes and thighs relaxed a fraction, so he lathed her once more then separated her folds with the tip of his tongue and licked from her hot opening to her hooded clit.
Her lids drooped. Her lips parted in invitation, and her thighs went slack.
“That’s right, baby. Relax.” Leisurely, he enjoyed the earthy flavor of new juices easing from her. Her untouched tissues glistened, pink and plump. He kissed, nibbled, and licked her until she moaned and let her head drop.
Her clit emerged from under its cover, and he wrapped his lips around it. Kendel’s breaths grew shorter as her clit grew harder. When her knees bent and she combed her fingers into his hair, he gently sucked upon her nub while sending two fingers through her wet folds.
“Yes!” she cried, her body arching and trembling.
He sucked and stroked her through the orgasm, making her shudder beautifully while his rod
became painfully hard.
“God,” she said on a sob.
“I can’t wait, gorgeous. I have to have you.” Burn went to his knees and positioned his tip at her opening.
Grasping her hips, he thrust through her barrier but stopped just past it. She hadn’t cried out or shown any sign of pain, but he didn’t want to give her too much too fast. She was such a small woman, and he’d been more than some of his past partners could take.
Her eyes met his, and he withdrew to her opening then stroked in a bit deeper. Hotter and tighter than anything he’d felt, she surrounded him.
“Jesus, Kendel. You’re incredible.” He inched deeper.
She grasped his shoulders and made a mewling sound.
“Am I hurting you?”
“No.” She breathed a couple times through her mouth then rolled her hips, taking him deeper. “More. Don’t stop.”
He withdrew a bit then ventured deeper yet. His body begged him to plunge and thrust, but he set his teeth and went slowly.
“Please,” she said, pleading in her eyes.
“Patience, love.” It was killing him, though. Her body felt bloody amazing around him.
When he filled her to his hilt, he almost released a shocked laugh. This petite, delicate creature accommodated his entire length.
“Yes,” she said on a breath and gave his shoulders a squeeze.
He withdrew then thrust. Pleasure spiked, sending an electrical charge down his spine and into his balls. He almost came then and there. He paused, tamping his need and regaining control.
“Again, Burn,” she said, her voice thick and sexy.
He stroked into her once. Twice.
She grew even tighter around him. As her head lolled back and she opened her mouth on an audible inhale, a rosy flush blossomed across her white breasts then traveled up her chest onto her throat.
“God. Kendel. Aa!” He couldn’t contain his need any longer.
He let his body seek release, pumping his hips as she grew tighter and hotter. She wrapped his hips in her legs, encouraging him faster. Harder.
Rock My Christmas (FlameSmith in Love Book 1) Page 12