by Kim Law
She’d called earlier to make sure he would be home, offering to pick up dinner and bring it over since she would be working tonight. It had made him wonder if she’d been annoyed when she’d shown up last night and hadn’t found him at the house. Had she wanted to make sure he stayed in?
He hoped so. He liked the idea that she was thinking about him when he wasn’t around.
When he had her in front of the kitchen counter, the new stainless steel stove top to one side and the built-in oven to the other, he finally answered her. “I wanted to show you something.”
She looked around and her eyes lit up. “You got the new appliances put in.”
He gripped her by the waist and hoisted her, plopping her on the top of the granite. She let out a breathy “oh” as he stepped between her legs.
“I installed the new counters, too,” he said. “Do you like them?”
She wiggled her rear back and forth. “I do. They’re very…” She lowered her gaze to his crotch. “Hard.”
“You’re evil.” His hands found her thighs. He’d been itching to touch them since he’d walked out of her house the other night carrying her cat. He rubbed his thumbs back where they lay against her legs and she slowly lifted her gaze to his. “We could still change our minds,” he said.
The gray of her eyes deepened. “I think I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me anything, sweetness.” He gripped her behind the knees and tugged her closer, hitching her skirt up and spreading her legs wide around his hips. The tops of white stockings showed beneath the hem of her skirt and his heart skipped a beat.
Her smile made his jeans completely uncomfortable.
He grasped the bottom of her pale yellow sweater and slowly began to lift it over her head, the blood roaring in his ears as he did. She locked her gaze to his and raised her arms, letting him do as he pleased. When he had the top off, he tossed it behind him. Her small, firm breasts were now displayed, plumped up in a pretty half-cup yellow bra, and he couldn’t care less about whether her sweater picked up sawdust from the floor where it fell or not.
“I’m kind of small,” her voice was soft. He lifted his gaze, finding hers not quite meeting his, and he believed it was the first time he’d seen her exhibit any amount of shyness.
He reached out and cupped a breast in his hand. “You’re amazing,” he said. He gave a small squeeze, enjoying it when her breathing picked up and her top teeth clamped down on her lip. “I’ve been dreaming of touching you like this.”
She wiggled forward another inch and slipped her fingers inside the waistband of his jeans. He sucked in a breath when she grazed over the top of him. “I can say the same thing about you,” she whispered.
Ignoring her wandering fingers as best he could, he focused back on his task. Her skin was a smooth, light cream, and he wanted to taste every square inch of it. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra and let out a low growl as the straps slid slowly off her shoulders. She put both palms over her to keep the garment from falling to her lap.
The mischievousness he liked so much looked up at him then and he felt another kink in his armor go. He was screwed.
“I think you should take your shirt off before I let this fall.”
“You do, huh?” He grabbed the bottom of his T-shirt and ripped it over his head. “No problem.”
He tossed the shirt in the same general vicinity as hers, feeling his chest expand as she took him in with her eyes. There was nothing to compare with a hot woman looking at him the way she was. As if she wanted to have him for dinner and breakfast, and then do it all over again.
He focused on her hands. “Your turn.”
The bra fell to her lap and he lost all ability to think.
They reached for each other simultaneously. Him capturing a breast in each palm, and her running the tips of her fingers over the terrain of his chest. He scraped the pad of a thumb over one nipple and her spine arched.
“I like that,” she breathed out the words. “I’m pretty sensitive there.”
He flicked over her again and she moaned. It was a soft “oh” sound that came with a hot breath. “That’s going to make this a whole lot of fun, because I happen to be a fan of this spot.”
He leaned in and closed over one nipple, sucking it deep into his mouth, and she pushed out further toward him. His hand worked her other breast, alternating between gentle squeezes and tweaks, as her body practically vibrated against his.
Her hands fell to his waistband, where she gripped the denim, and he stroked his tongue against her, noticing that she somehow managed to taste like lemons as well as smell like them. He gave a moan of his own when she lifted her legs to clamp around his waist. The movement put her flush against him.
“Oh shit, Jo.” His words didn’t sound like his own. “I’m trying to do this right, but you’re so…” He trailed off as she dug her heels into his ass and ground herself hard against his jeans. She’d come the other night by doing exactly that, and though it had been the hottest thing he’d ever seen, he wanted a piece of that action tonight.
Lowering his hands, he went for the waistband of her skirt, searching around until he found a zipper, then jerked at it until it would go no farther. He pushed the material off her hips, grateful as she lifted herself up so he could tug it below her butt, and equally happy when his hand slid over bare cheeks while doing so.
“Another thong?” he guessed.
She nodded. “Always.”
Hell. Her underwear was going to kill him.
“We’re leaving it on,” he said.
She lowered her legs and helped him get the skirt past her feet, then went to work on his zipper while he fumbled in his back pocket for his wallet.
“There’s a condom in here somewhere,” he muttered, trying to keep focused long enough to complete the act before he looked back at the woman sitting practically naked in front of him.
“Hurry,” she whispered. She had his jeans open and was pulling him out into her soft, seeking hands.
When he got the packet freed, she threw the wallet to the floor and took over.
“Hurry,” she whispered again, almost as if she were telling herself this time since she was the one now in control.
His breath hissed as she finished the act, her hand fitting snugly over him for brief seconds, and only then did he let himself fully take her in.
She was gloriously naked from the waist up. Her breasts flushed, dark nipples perky and begging for his touch, and blond curls wild around her face. Her gray eyes were slits as she seemed to be studying him just as intently. Her lips were plump and slightly parted, little pants bursting rhythmically from them.
Below the waist, she was a dream come true.
A small triangle of lemon-colored silk covered her where she met the counter, then white lace started the stockings on those long, long legs, disappearing behind the boots on their way down.
He couldn’t think of anything else in the world he would rather be doing.
When her gaze traveled back up his body, going slowly over his chest, with her fingers following reverently in their path, he couldn’t imagine wanting a woman more.
“You’re built like a freaking god,” she said, licking her lips. Her gaze finally locked on his and she wrapped those legs around him again. “Take me, Nick. Now.”
Yes. That was exactly what he was going to do. He gave her one long kiss, wanting to taste that mouth before he forgot all about it, and then he shoved the material of her panties aside and positioned his head just between her lips.
“Oh, God,” she whispered. “Crap, that already feels good.”
“You’re good for a man’s ego, sweetness.” He put his hands to her rear, gripped and lifted her just the tiniest amount, and then he plunged. He buried himself. And he almost died with the sensations that ripped through him.
They both gasped and froze, then he pulled out and did it again. She felt insanely good.
Again, he thrust, wanting all
of her. Wanting to make sure she wanted him in return.
“Nick,” she whispered. She had her arms wrapped around his neck, her head thrown back in pleasure. Her eyes were closed. “Nick,” she whispered again, not seeming to expect him to answer. “Yes. Oh, God. Yes. Nick. That feels so good.”
Shit. He wasn’t going to last a minute with the noises she was making.
He brought a hand around to touch her, determined to make sure she came before he did, and almost lost his bet when her inner muscles contracted around him. “Hurry, babe,” he whispered. “I can’t… I… hurry,” he growled out the last word.
He couldn’t stop pumping.
They were both wild, thrusting and grinding. He had one hand clutching the cheek of her ass, the other working furiously around front, and he could feel sweat rolling between his shoulder blades as he fought against his orgasm.
“I can’t wait.” Damn, she was too hot. “You’ve got to—”
His words were cut off by her scream and the way she stiffened in his arms. Then he quit worrying about anything else, and let go with her.
Joanie was still wearing her boots, but both of them had moved to the bed and were now eating the chicken strips and macaroni and cheese she’d brought from the grocery store deli. Nick had grabbed the food on the way through the house as if he’d needed sustenance to keep going. She would bring him chicken every day if it got her another round like they’d had in the kitchen.
“Don’t let me forget to take pictures before I leave tonight,” she said. She’d forgotten to bring her camera with her the night before.
“Are we taking pictures of us doing naughty things?”
She laughed. “No! I’m taking pictures of the house as it’s being worked on. To show them to GiGi during my visits.”
“Hmph. Not nearly as much fun. Which reminds me.” He pushed up and reached over to the small table she remembered having once been in her bedroom. He’d apparently dragged it in to be used as a bedside table. “I found something the other day I wanted to ask you about.”
He pulled a small piece of paper from the drawer.
No, not paper, but a picture. An old one.
“That’s you, isn’t it? You’re not blond in it, but you’re not really blond anyway.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, implying he’d gotten a good look at the fact she was naturally a brunette.
She took the small square from him and studied it, her heart squeezing a little. It was her and GiGi. She’d been six and had just finished the piece of birthday cake GiGi had made for her. They were sitting in the swing that had once hung on the front porch, both smiling, her missing front tooth obvious, and Lucky’s head lolling on her lap. She remembered how happy she and GiGi used to be.
“Yeah.” She nodded. “That’s me and GiGi. Pepaw took that picture.”
“I wondered if that was her.” He put the picture back in the drawer and gave her a quick, hot kiss on the mouth, effectively erasing the melancholy mood that had threatened to creep in with the picture. “You were cute back then.”
“You saying I’m not cute now?”
He roamed his gaze down over her, making appreciative noises as he went. “There are other words I’d use these days.”
Good answer.
Rising up on her elbows, she took a sip of the soda they were sharing, handed it back to him, then looked down at herself to see what he saw. “Hey, my panties are still on.”
She turned to him. She’d forgotten they hadn’t removed them. “Why are my panties still on?”
Dark eyes traveled over her body again, slowly and with more intent, before landing right smack in the middle of her crotch. He licked the chicken crumbs off his fingers.
“Nick?” If he was suggesting he would like to lick something else, she could get down with that. “My panties?” She wiggled her hips and watched his gaze grow warmer. “Why did you want them on earlier?”
A calloused hand stretched out and she began quivering even before he touched her. When his fingers did land, she lit on fire. He traced the triangle of her underwear as if in deep concentration, then gave her a fast, hot smile.
“Because I wanted to see you walk away from me in them.” He handed her the Coke and rose to a sitting position. “Did you know you have the best-looking butt I’ve ever seen?”
“Is that because you haven’t seen many butts or… oof!” She reached out her other hand to steady the drink as she found herself being flipped over onto her stomach. Nick threw one heavy leg across hers, straddling her thighs, and trapping her beneath him.
“The best ass,” he said, patting said body part. “Period.”
She smiled. He was fun.
She lifted her rear and wagged it at him and then squealed when she felt his teeth sink into her.
“You bit my butt,” she complained, looking back over her shoulder at him.
What she got in return was a wicked smile and a lecherous wink. “Hang on, babe. I’m about to bite it again.”
He did, instantly making her wet and wanting. The man knew what he was doing with a woman.
As he continued to gently tease at the flesh of her rear, she rested her head on her folded arms, over the lumpy mattress that should have been thrown out years ago, and enjoyed his ministrations. She’d come over the night before, fully expecting to find him there, maybe upset because she’d refused his “gift” of the cat, but also ready to put it behind them and move on. Or maybe she’d been projecting what she’d wanted to find.
Instead she’d found an empty house, two cats who’d wanted someone to play with, and the knowledge that his absence was making her jealous yet again as she wondered if he was out with Gina. Or maybe someone worthwhile this time.
Not that she had a right to be jealous. Sex only didn’t necessarily mean exclusive. Still, it had bothered her. A lot.
She’d called Lee Ann, who’d called her mother, who’d told her immediately that Nick was at the Bungalow having dinner. Alone. After he also hadn’t shown up for cupcakes today, Joanie had confirmed he’d gone home alone last night, too. Which meant what? He’d gone out for dinner simply because he’d been hungry, and then he’d been too busy for dessert today? Or he’d needed time away from her to think?
Probably it had been the latter. Especially since she’d been at the house until late and he hadn’t come home before she’d left. He’d been avoiding her.
After the small taste of being with him that she’d gotten at her house, she’d decided she would make it clear she was serious. She wanted a “relationship” with him. And she had come over tonight with the intention of pushing one. Thankfully, he’d already come to that same conclusion all on his own.
And she’d ended up riding high on a new kitchen counter.
She smiled as she felt his palms slide down her legs. She liked the way the rough spots on his fingers lightly scratched at her skin.
“I hadn’t realized until I saw it earlier that these things didn’t go all the way up,” he murmured, popping the elastic at the top of her thighs.
She peeked at him, glad she’d exchanged tights for stockings today. “They aren’t nearly as hot if they go all the way up.”
“I agree.” He inched farther down her legs and nipped on the inside of one thigh. She squirmed.
“Hold still before I have to spank you.” His low voice made her nipples hard.
She gulped. “You wouldn’t spank me.” Oh geez, would he spank her? One could only hope. She put the drink on the side table just in case this was about to get interesting.
Instead he began tugging on the zippers of her boots. When he got one loose, he yanked at it from the heel. As it came off, he leaned forward and nipped at her bottom again. This time she groaned.
“You’re teasing me, Nick.” Her breath was definitely not steady. “Do you think that’s fair?”
“Who said anything about fair?” He pulled off the other boot, and gave her a playful swat.
“Oh crap.” Her butt poked up in th
e air as if asking for more and she heard him chuckle.
In the next instant he began peeling down her stockings. He moved off her legs, but when she rolled to her side to help, he put a hand on her rear and held her down.
“I’m doing this, woman,” he said. “Stay put.”
No problem. She went back to her position on her stomach and enjoyed the feel of his hands slowly inching down her thighs.
“We’re going to be exclusive, right?” She mentally thumped herself on the head. She hadn’t meant to ask that. It made her sound so… needy.
His hands paused for a brief moment before he said, “We’d better be,” and then he continued moving on down her leg. When he got to her feet, his hands stilled and she smiled into the sheets.
“You’ve got socks on over your hose.”
“To keep me from getting so cold when I’m outside.”
“Hmmm.” He bent her leg at the knee and she could picture him craning his neck to look around to the other side. “They look like peeled bananas.”
“Yep.” She could tell from his tone that he didn’t get her style. “Aren’t they cute?”
He pulled them off. “Anyone ever told you you’re odd, sweetness?”
She slumped into the bed. “Plenty of times.”
She was on her back the second the words were out of her mouth, staring up at the giant of a man who’d just been worshipping her body with his hands.
“It’s a good odd,” he said. His look indicated that she needed to be sure she heard him.
“Okay.” She nodded. “Sure.”
He pressed a hard kiss to her mouth. “Good,” he stressed. “The kind that makes a room glow just because you walked into it. Everybody wishes they had some of that.”
Why was this turning serious? “Okay,” she said. “I get it. It’s good to be me.”
“It is,” he insisted. “And don’t you forget it.”
He kissed her again and then he was on her, touching her, and letting her touch him. When he finally pulled off her thong, she just smiled. She liked the idea of them being together in this way. It was a good one.
And if she had the occasional thought that it was also good to be him, she gave herself permission to have it. He was a really good guy. She even thought she might try to remember to lock her door that night just because of him.