Twenty Times Tempted: A Sexy Contemporary Romance Collection

by Petrova, Em

  “Oh, fuck…” She arched her back and tightened around him. A chill ran down her spine as he fisted her hair. Her head jerked to the side.

  “That’s not even all of me, baby,” He swirled her clit faster and pushed further in.

  She moaned louder, losing herself in the feel of him, in the thickness that spread her wider, in the throb of his cock when he sank the rest of the way in. He stilled his hips as she contracted around him. His fingers kept swirling but she couldn’t move from the weight of his body. His cock pulsed the harder she tightened around it. How did he have so much restraint?

  “Please, Theo. Fuck me. Make me yours.”

  He withdrew slowly then drove back inside. “You’ve always been mine, Cassie. You just didn’t know it.”

  His teeth scraped her skin as he pumped his hips and slammed into her. Her body heated. Every inch rose with goose bumps. Not even the coolness of the wall could keep her from sweating. She was on fire and he was the flame burning her alive.

  She rotated her hips, taking him deep when she met his thrusts. Low, gritty groans left his lips. He began panting.

  So did she.

  Pressure built within her. She tried to push off the wall, but his body kept crashing into hers. There were no complaints. She loved it, loved getting fucked hard. Knowing it was by Theo turned her on even more.

  A moment later, it all came to a halt. The heat of his body faded as he withdrew from her. She turned to see what was wrong when he yanked her to his chest. His mouth covered hers then he lifted her. By the time she wrapped her legs around his waist, they were moving across the floor. His body jarred hers with every step.

  The bedding teased her back as he lowered her to the mattress. One swift thrust and he was back inside her, driving his cock in and out, hard and deep. Each roll of his hips caused the friction between them to increase.

  He felt so good. The way he pressed to her, the natural rhythm of their bodies, the feel of his hands all over her. Each touch drove her insane with want. He didn’t dare stop again.

  As his hand curled underneath her ass, he lifted her higher and plowed into her again. She cried out. No discernable words left her mouth, only moans and grunts. Her hips rose to his. His rocked hers back to the bed. Thrust after thrust he pounded into her. She fought to keep her eyes open, but the pleasure he was providing kept making them flutter closed. Then he kissed her again.

  “Cassie…”

  “Yes…?” She forced her lazy lids open.

  “Submit to me.” He brushed her lips with his. “I want to feel you come. Don’t hold back.”

  Her voice grew shaky. “I’m not.”

  “Yes, you are.” He plunged deep again and accentuated his thrusts. “What are you afraid of?”

  She couldn’t tell him the truth, that she feared never feeling this type of pleasure again with him. It would make her seem weak—needy. Guys hated needy women, and she’d never needed anyone.

  Until now…

  “I don’t want you to stop.” She slid her hands down his back, over his ass. She grabbed it and wiggled her hips faster. Her clit pulsed. “Please. Don’t ever stop.”

  She dug her fingers into his skin, causing him to groan this time. He leaned his head to hers. The heat of his breath warmed her face. She couldn’t explain the desperation choking her, the desperation to wrap her legs around him and never let go.

  So she did.

  He didn’t mind. His hand ran over one leg, down to her ankle and back. Then he pinned her hips to the bed, delivering short, hard thrusts.

  “I’ll never stop. I can’t.” Another sweep of his lips left her in a haze. “You belong to me.”

  “Then you belong to me too.”

  “I have since the day I met you.”

  His words did more than shock her. They sent her over the edge. The delicious tickle that formed grew out of control. His next thrust caused a series of spasms. She tightened around him.

  “Yes,” he whispered. “That’s it, Cassie. Submit to me.”

  His voice sounded distant, or maybe it was the fact her mind had shut down. The ache overwhelmed her. She bucked against him and cried as the first wave of contractions hit.

  “Oh…” As he sank deep and held his position, she writhed against him. “Oh, God… Theo.”

  “Fuck yes,” he growled. “Come for me.”

  The room spun. She closed her eyes and let go, allowing the spasms to overtake her. Wave after wave of pleasure shuddered her body. Her nipples formed peaks as he suckled both. It made her come harder.

  The more she contracted, the more he groaned. Then he was thrusting again. He pumped his hips so fast that the bed shook. It only heightened her orgasm. She could feel him swelling and knew he’d reach his release at any minute.

  And he did.

  His body jerked. His thrusts turned erratic, then he sucked in a shallow breath. “Fuck…”

  A gush of hot fluid filled her. She was too caught up in the moment to realize what it meant, and by the time she did, it was too late.

  Theo came inside her.

  ***

  Theo lay motionless as his heart pounded with a fierce beat. He didn’t doubt Cassie could feel it too. He felt hers. If not for the rapid pace of his, theirs would be in sync.

  He couldn’t believe his oldest fantasy came true, even if it didn’t happen the way he’d expected. He sure wouldn’t have chosen a fight to bring about the opportunity, but he sure as hell enjoyed every second after.

  The way he took his time teasing her body hadn’t been easy, not when the one thing he wanted was finally in his hands. Literally. He sensed her desperation, and knowing he was the cause of it turned him on.

  After all the years he’d spent longing for her, it all seemed worth it in the end. He incited a want so deep in her that she’d never know peace without him. But regardless of living out his fantasy, something else had happened, something he feared the minute he concocted this stupid plan to seduce her.

  It backfired.

  Cassie may be lying beneath him, conquered by his pursuit, but he didn’t go unaffected. He said things—things he never intended to tell her, things he’d never admitted to himself. She brought it out of him, and no matter how much he wanted to deny it, he couldn’t.

  He was falling for her. Again…

  This was no longer a game to see if his fantasies were as good as reality. The challenge was over, and reality surpassed everything he’d imagined. Yet reality was a powerful bitch that knocked a person on their ass if they weren’t prepared.

  It was the same in his case, because reality gave him one hell of a blow to the gut. The thought of leaving Cassie behind made it churn. His chest grew tighter as a wave of panic washed over him.

  What the hell had he done?

  As the last of him spilled inside her, another thought came rushing through his mind. They hadn’t used a condom.

  Christ…

  “I, uh…got carried away and didn’t use—”

  “I know.” Her cheeks flushed. “I didn’t think about it either until just now. I never forget something so important.”

  “Me either.” He forced the lump from his throat but remained between her legs. “I swear I always use one. I’m sorry.”

  “It was an accident… I, uh… I have a clean bill of health.”

  “Are you on some type of birth control?” He noted the way she stared at him as if she wasn’t sure she heard him right, but she finally nodded. “Then there’s nothing to worry about. I’m clean too.”

  “Okay.” Her eyes lowered. Did she not believe him, or was something else wrong?

  “Cass?” He ran his thumb across her cheek when she didn’t look at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  He brushed his lips to hers then whispered, “Liar.”

  She finally met his gaze. “You said things tonight…things you might have said because you’ve been drinking, or maybe they were said in the heat of the moment. If so, I
—”

  “Stop.” He kissed her softly then rubbed his nose with hers. “Yeah, I may be a little drunk, but the truth normally comes out when you’ve been drinking. Every word I said to you is true.”

  He felt her trembling but didn’t ask why. Instead, he curled his arms around her. Perhaps she was cold or uncomfortable. He remained atop her, but he didn’t want to move. In truth, he loved the way she felt against him. Besides, whatever was on her mind wasn’t over physical discomfort. It was something deeper.

  Guess his plan had failed after all. When she looked at him, she still saw the bad boy.

  “You don’t believe me, do you?”

  “Theo… You said I belong to you, that I always have.” The heat of her hand warmed his cheek when she cupped it. “You said you belong to me too.”

  And there they were. His words. The ones he hadn’t meant to tell her regardless of how true they were. Now she knew. There was no sense in hiding it anymore. “We flirted for years, Cassie. Didn’t you ever question if there was more to it?”

  “I won’t say it never crossed my mind, but the idea never lingered. You talked a good game. We both did, but you didn’t follow up on anything you said.”

  “Because I didn’t want you to shoot me down. You were beautiful and popular, and I was just a troublemaker.”

  “No, you weren’t. I saw through your façade. I still do.” She rubbed her foot along his calf as she stroked his cheek. “You care about people and you care deeply. You love your brother despite what you two have been through. You threw your life away for me. There’s always been more to you than people see…but I see it.”

  Her admission should have been a relief. It meant she saw more than the bad boy, but it also meant she saw the real him. The idea seemed okay when he devised this plan, but he clearly didn’t think it through. Now she had the ammunition to bring him to his knees. She had what it took to rip out his heart.

  But hadn’t she always?

  “I never told you this, but the reason I was there to see Parker threaten you is because I was coming to ask you out. Finally. Then I saw Parker, and I …”

  When he didn’t finish, she eased up and pressed her lips to his. They met in a series of kisses, sensual kisses that reminded him of where he was—between her thighs. He had an urge to work his hips with hers again until she broke away.

  “I wish I had run into you instead of Parker. Then none of this would have happened, including the scene at the bar tonight.”

  “I’m sorry for leaving the way I did. If I hadn’t walked away, I would have relived the past. I couldn’t stand the thought of him touching you.”

  “Why do you want to be around me, Theo? I’m more trouble than I’m worth.”

  She glanced lower but he tipped her chin up. “Listen to me. If I’d known Mike was talking shit, it would have turned out a lot differently. I sure as hell wouldn’t have given him the satisfaction of thinking I believed him.”

  Guilt weighed on Theo. He hadn’t been fair to her by judging her casual relationship with Mike. He’d had his share. Hell, he’d gotten blown in a storage closet the same night.

  “Some of what Mike said tonight is true, on both our parts. You left with him and I left with someone else. But there’s a bigger picture he isn’t seeing. If I’d stayed a minute longer… I don’t know what would have happened between us, but I know for a fact that you wouldn’t have gone to his place.”

  “It’s over now. As long as you believe I’m not with him, the rest doesn’t matter to me.”

  “I believe you.” He caressed her cheek. “But I don’t ever want him touching you again. I don’t want anyone touching you. You’re mine, Cassie.”

  Damn it. He had no control over his mouth. She would think he was some control freak who’d get pissed if he saw her talking to another guy. All he wanted was for her to know how much he wanted her for himself. Not just for a night either.

  And therein laid the problem. He’d be leaving Savannah sooner than he wanted. He couldn’t ask her to commit to him when he would be gone. Why should she wait for him?

  Cassie didn’t object to his claim on her. She nodded at his response, yet her eyes filled with wonder. “I can’t believe you’ve been under my nose all this time. I was convinced we were just friends.”

  “We’ve always been more than friends. We were neighbors, playmates, and partners in crime. Half the stupid shit we did to get in trouble was so I could impress you.” He trailed his fingers down her neck and over her shoulder, teasing her skin with the lightest strokes. “You’re the reason I took up guitar. All my songs…they were about you.”

  “And the ones now? The ones you just recorded?”

  He nipped her lips. “They’re about losing you and the hell I went through in New Orleans. They’re about the way I’ve been wanting you for all these years.”

  Her hips shifted. The erratic movements settled to a steady rhythm, and she swayed them left then right. “You’ve wanted me all this time?”

  “Cassie…no one else has ever compared to you.” He rolled his hips and slid in and out of the wet warmth surrounding him. “You’re the one I compared everyone else to. No one came close. Do you know what that means?”

  “No.”

  She barely had time to answer before a soft moan left her mouth. She rocked her hips with his and wrapped her legs around his waist. The next time he rolled into her, he sank deep. He grit his teeth to keep from groaning. Every inch of him was fully erect as she tightened around his sensitive skin.

  “What does it mean, Theo?”

  He was so far gone that he’d nearly forgotten what he was saying. They were fucking again. He wanted to focus on the feel of her, how she spread her legs wider and accepted every ounce he stuffed inside her. That was his number one concern.

  Still, she deserved an answer, and he knew her well enough to know one thing for sure. She wouldn’t allow him to escape the question for long.

  “It means there’s no one else for me, Cassie. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

  Nothing else was said. Not with words. Their bodies did all the talking, and the confessions they made were soul shaking. He and Cassie were one and the same. They were two halves of a whole. Being with her completed him.

  The sensual sound of her moaning made him throb harder. He thrust faster, working his hips so precisely that he glided over her clit with every pass. She bucked against him and grabbed his ass, pulling him deeper. When he obliged, she cried out.

  He could never get enough of this or her. She was definitely his match in every way possible. He hadn’t come to Savannah for a relationship. He sure as hell wouldn’t have thought it would be with her even if he had. But the path that led him out of this town was the same one that brought him back. It led him home. It led him to her.

  Despite where his career took him, he’d always make his way back to that path. He’d come back home because home was where the heart belonged, and Cassie owned his heart. She was more than some girl he’d always wanted to fuck. She was the only girl he wanted. He’d be damned if he let anyone take her away, even after he left.

  One way or another, he’d find a way to make sure she remained his.

  Chapter Twenty

  The sweet slumber holding Theo captive finally released its grip. His eyes opened to a semi-dark room. What little light filtered in was drab and dim, making it difficult to judge the time. The clock was nowhere in view. Neither was his phone.

  It was daylight, yet the sky was dark. Millions of raindrops unleashed from the slate-tinted clouds. They raced toward the ground as lightning zipped across the horizon. The brilliant light flashed before him then disappeared.

  Thunder echoed in the distance.

  He ignored the storm and focused on the warmth surrounding him. It wasn’t just the covers providing heat. Cassie’s body was too. Her cheek rested on his chest as she snuggled close. The richest red locks splayed across his arm and down her back. Lush lips beckoned him
forward…

  He remained still, avoiding the temptation of her mouth. All he wanted was to stare at her. As if he hadn’t enough last night, or should he say this morning? After four rounds and four a.m., neither could move. He had enough energy to roll to his side and collect her in his arms. Once his head hit the pillow, it was over.

  Their entangled bodies made it hard to think about anything else. He reveled in the thought of fucking her all night. She’d submitted her body to him, right along with her will. He could have parted ways with her and walked away like he’d planned. She even mentioned something about getting dressed and out of his hair.

  Then the tightness returned to his chest. He’d wrapped his arms around her and refused to let go. She didn’t resist.

  Damn… He’d gotten himself in a mess. The two things he’d always wanted were lying before him on two separate paths—a chance for his band to hit it big and a chance for something more with Cassie.

  If he played things right, it was possible he could have both. If she was willing to accept him being on the road at times, he’d make up for it when he came home. There was no way she would go with him. She had a job, one she enjoyed. Asking her to give it up and follow him wouldn’t be fair.

  Even if she was okay with him being gone, it didn’t mean things would be easy. Each time he left would be like reopening a wound—raw and painful. Most wounds healed in a short amount of time. His wouldn’t until he returned to her. Then the time would come and they’d repeat the same agonizing routine.

  Still, it would be better than the alternative. He’d spent six years without her. To do it again was unfathomable.

  He gazed down her body, unable to resist the urge to touch her. He would suffer the pain of leaving each time if it meant he could come home to her. Maybe one day, he’d come home to her and their kids…

  There was no question about wanting a family, but he wasn’t in a rush. Thank God she was on birth control. Otherwise, they would be taking a huge risk. If they decided to be together, it had to be for one reason—because they didn’t want to be without each other, not because he’d knocked her up.