Road to Reason (The Road Series Book 4)

by Ann, Natalie

  She wrapped the now damp towel around her neck, holding both ends in front of her chest, then turned to look at him with a smirk. “Too late for what? I’m staying tonight.”

  ***

  His eyes lit up. Thank God. He didn’t think he could wait much longer. It had been killing him. Today went as well as he could have expected, better if the truth were known. “In that case, the full tour can wait until tomorrow. We can start with my bedroom right now.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs, bypassing the entire main living area, then up another set of stairs and straight to his room.

  Shutting the door behind them, he walked over and picked up the remote on the bedside table, then pressed the switch. Soft lighting glowed from a small lamp in a seating area near the window overlooking the lake. Turning, he pulled her into his arms, his mouth hovering over hers. “Are you sure?” He really didn’t want to ask—was afraid she might say no—but felt it was the right thing to do.

  “I’ve been sure for a month now. Don’t make me wait any longer,” she said, grabbing his head and pulling him down for a kiss. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed while she continued to cling to him desperately.

  “Sweetheart, you need to let go of me so I can lay you down.” He tried to chuckle, but it sounded forced even to his own ears. He wanted to go slow, needed to make this perfect for her.

  “Don’t you dare stop,” she said in a warning, then unwound her arms from behind his neck.

  “I don’t plan on it. Unless you ask me to,” he said, tilting his head.

  “I won’t be asking you to stop. You can count on that. Matter of fact I would appreciate if you got on with it.”

  “No rushing,” he told her. “My way. It will be better. Trust me, OK?”

  She reached her hand up and laid it on his whiskered cheek. “I trust you,” she said softly.

  He lowered his head to hers and kissed her once more. “I’m glad.” Then he laid her on the bed, covering her with his own body, keeping his weight on his forearms.

  He cupped her face in his hands, deepening the kiss. When he felt her hips automatically rise up to his he knew he was in trouble. Her hands went to his lower back, then under his shirt, touching him, her nails lightly scratching in her urgency. When she started to tug it up, he reminded her, “No rushing. Not yet.”

  “I need to touch you,” she said with a gasp.

  “You will, but not yet.” He knew if he took any of his clothes off he would be done. It would have to be the very last thing he did. He would start with her dress first, though.

  He reached behind her neck and untied the straps of her halter-top, then lifted her hips with his hands until he found the small zipper on her back and drew it down. He pulled her dress down her body, leaving her only in a nude-colored strapless bra with white lace trim and matching panties.

  He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her breasts again, had been having dreams about it. Not only was he going to be touching them tonight, but he would be seeing them, too, for the first time. Up close and personal.

  He pressed his lips to her collarbone, lightly sucking, moving his tongue up her neck, tasting her, savoring the flavor of her skin that was only Kaitlin.

  He felt her shiver, then whispered in her ear, “Arch up. I need to see you, all of you.”

  She lifted her back, pressing those lush curves into his chest. He held her tight a moment, delighting in her body against his, then quickly unfastened her bra and discarded it. He leaned back and looked his fill. She was beautiful. Exactly what pinups were made of—soft, round and just begging for his touch.

  He couldn’t wait a second longer to touch her. First with his hands, cupping and squeezing her, lifting her up, pressing them together, watching her body’s reaction to him.

  Next, he had to taste her. Lowering his head he took one tight nipple in his mouth, drew her in, until she arched up even higher against him. He released her and moved his mouth to the other breast repeating the same.

  She was killing him, her nails digging into his shoulders, her hips against his, along with all the little noises escaping her mouth. “Tell me what you like,” he said hoarsely.

  “Everything,” she said, slightly out of breath. “Don’t stop.”

  “Oh, I won’t. Don’t you worry.”

  He cupped her breasts again and began to taste some more; he could spend hours here alone.

  Testing her, he bit down, teetering just on the edge of too much, heard the growl low in her throat, and felt a lightning bolt of heat course through his body.

  He was ready to burst and that wasn’t good. Not for him and definitely not for her.

  Releasing her nipple, he made his way down her trim waist, promising himself he would spend more time there later, but he had another target in mind. Resting his hands on the top of her panties, he dipped his tongue under the lace edging, teasing her, licking her lightly, then raised his eyes to watch her reaction.

  Her responses were an aphrodisiac in itself, the urgency chasing him down like a hungry wolf. Her eyes were closed, her face tense, her nails digging into the bedspread now. He heard his own rapid breathing, felt his heart race and forced himself to move on.

  Gripping the tops of her panties, he pulled them down her legs. She was even more beautiful than he imagined. He raised his eyes again and watched for her reaction while he spread her legs and rested between them in anticipation. Any sign she wanted him to stop, he would, even if it killed him.

  But there was nothing, just her eyes remaining closed and her breath coming out in short pants, causing her breasts to rise and fall.

  He massaged her inner thighs, slowly moving his thumbs closer and closer to the heat of her. Her head was thrashing around on the pillow now, her hips rising. That was all the permission he needed.

  Lowering his mouth, he touched her, tasted her with the tip of his tongue, sending moans out her mouth. He stayed there, showing her what it was like to be loved, and prayed that he could get her prepared enough for what was to come.

  With one finger, he slid inside of her. So tight—it was going to feel so good when he finally made her his. Not yet; she wasn’t ready enough. He didn’t want to hurt her, no more than necessary. And even that was going to bother him.

  He settled his mouth completely over her and began to suck, moving his finger in and out. His shoulders were burning from where her nails started to dig in, and he couldn’t have cared less. All he cared about was her—pleasing her, making her feel good, making her want more of him.

  “Oh my God, Ryan,” she cried out, lifting her hips closer to him.

  Her muscles tightened around his finger, and he knew she was close. He applied more pressure with his mouth, continuing to slide his finger in and out at a steady rhythm until she let go, clapping down on him and sobbing out her release. He didn’t let up until she was lying limp on the bed.

  He moved his mouth up her body, kissing her everywhere as he went. Covering his mouth over hers, letting her taste herself on his tongue, while he waited for her to start to feel that rise of pleasure again.

  Shifting, he brought his mouth back to her breasts. She seemed to enjoy that, so he gave them more attention. It was no hardship; he could spend days there alone tasting and touching, squeezing and kneading. He didn’t think he would ever get enough.

  When he thought she was truly ready for him, he stopped and tried to climb off the bed. Only she grabbed him and pulled him back. “Don’t stop,” she demanded.

  “I need to get undressed,” he said hoarsely. She seemed oblivious to the fact he was still fully clothed. But it was time now. He couldn’t wait any longer, even if he wanted to.

  He made quick work of his clothes and the condom, then climbed back on the bed. Back over her body, settling between her legs.

  With his mouth spreading kisses along her neck and shoulder, he reached down and pushed her legs up a bit, only she resisted. “Bend your knees a bit,” he said soft
ly.

  Her breath was rasping out, she seemed to be in no more control than him.

  “Try not to tense,” he whispered to her, while he positioned himself at her entrance. “Breathe in and out. Tell me if I’m hurting you. Tell me if you want me to stop.” He really hoped she didn’t tell him to stop, but he would immediately, if he had to.

  He slowly entered, then stopped. “Keep breathing, Kaitlin. Try not to tense so much,” he reminded her gently. Oh God, he hoped he made it. She was so tight and she was clenching around him, making it almost unbearable, the pleasure greater than ever.

  She let the breath out, but it was hard to relax, he knew. He was far from relaxed himself. He did the only thing he could think of to relax her—he kissed her. Hard and deep, distracting her from what was happening, knowing she would fall into the kiss like she always did. And she did, not even realizing that he was slowly sliding into her more and more, until he was almost there, completely covered by her.

  It felt wonderful. She was so tight, tighter than anything he had ever experienced and he was terrified he was hurting her.

  She squeezed her arms around him, squeezed around him below, too. “You’re killing me, Kaitlin,” he said when he felt the movement of her hips. He placed his forehead against hers. “Give me second, please.”

  But she didn’t want a second; she wanted more and she told him so.

  He took another deep breath, kissed her deeply, felt her relax for just a moment and pushed in all the way. Then he held himself still while her body stiffened and adjusted to him.

  He continued to kiss her for long seconds until her hips started to tentatively rise up. Taking that as a good sign, he withdrew a bit, only to feel her nails dig into his backside. “Don’t.”

  “Does it hurt? Want me to stop?” he asked anxiously.

  “No! Don’t stop. I thought you were stopping. Don’t,” she rushed out.

  “OK.” He breathed out. “I won’t stop, I promise.” He withdrew a bit and slid back in, feeling her arch up and meet him. “Good?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she crooned.

  So he did it again. Out a bit more, then in again, slowly increasing the pace until she was meeting him thrust for thrust. He couldn’t hold off any longer, but he wanted her to be there with him at the end. Needed her there with him.

  Bracing himself on one arm, he slid his hand between their bodies, found the spot she craved and brought her back to the brink. When her head started to move back and forth on the pillow, her nails digging into him deeper, he knew she was there.

  He started to lose the controlled pace he worked so hard to maintain. The minute her muscles constricted around him he let go and followed her over the edge, falling into the moment right along with her.

  Once he was able to regain some strength, he started to pull away, but she held on tight. “I need to take care of the condom,” he said. “I’ll be back.”

  He was true to his word. He even came back with a warm washcloth. She let him help clean her up and wasn’t even embarrassed over it. Of course, she was still in a daze on his bed.

  He climbed back in and pulled her close. He couldn’t help but feel proud that he put that look in her eyes and that smile on her face. “Thank you,” he told her.

  She looked at him, trying to focus her eyes, but he saw it was too hard. In the end she laid her head on his chest. “I should thank you.”

  “True, you should,” he said with an unsteady chuckle. “But I got the better gift out of the deal.”

  Checking

  The next morning Ryan woke early, rolled over, and watched Kaitlin sleeping next to him. It was hard for him to imagine her as the awkward, shy, chubby girl from his childhood.

  No shyness there now. Awkward, yes. But that was part of her personality, part of her charm. That chubbiness, it was a thing of the past. She had curves in all the right places.

  The night before she had passed out cold, spent from nerves, exhaustion and lovemaking.

  Making love, that was exactly what they did. It wasn’t sex. She could put any name on it she wanted. But he’d had plenty of sex before, and last night wasn’t anything like he had ever experienced or thought he might.

  He had always been considerate of his partner’s pleasure. Actually got pleasure from what he could bring them.

  He’d always been adventurous, too, enjoyed trying new things and looking for someone who enjoyed finding that kind of pleasure with him. But last night was simple and basic—and quite simply blew his mind.

  She stirred in her sleep, the sheet slipping down off her shoulder. He wanted her to sleep nude like he did, but she refused.

  In the end he laughed at her modesty, especially considering how responsive she was in his arms the night before. Instead, he tossed her one of his T-shirts.

  Seeing her there in his bed wrapped up in the sheets, his shirt the only thing she wore did something to him. Made him feel possessive. And that was a new feeling, too, at least when it came to women.

  He had always been possessive of his family. They came first and foremost to him, second only to his career. But this…this was something altogether different. And better left for another day to explore.

  Quietly, he slipped out of bed and pulled on a pair of loose-fitting athletic shorts, then made his way to the kitchen.

  Twenty minutes later, holding a tray filled with French toast, coffee and sliced strawberries, he returned to the bedroom and set the breakfast on the table next to the bed. Running his hand over her head in a loving gesture, he leaned down and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.

  Kaitlin blinked her eyes open, looking into his eyes as he stood next to the bed gazing down at her. She jerked and almost squealed with fright, he saw, then must have realized where she was. And what she had done the night before—if the blush creeping up her neck was any indication. Then a bright smile lit up her face. “Morning.”

  He pushed the covers back, pulling her up for a proper kiss. Leaving her breathless. She clung to his arms, laying her head on his shoulder.

  Her simple gesture caused a reaction in his stomach like never before. Fluttering heat, ready to erupt into full-blown flames.

  The way her eyes looked at him made his heart race, and those treacherous conflicting emotions started combating in his mind. Shaking them off, he said, “I thought you might be hungry,” running his hand over her head gently.

  She turned and looked at the breakfast tray on the table. “That was sweet of you. Thank you.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, pulled back, then watched his eyes searching hers. “Everything OK?” she asked nervously.

  A lopsided grin spread across his face. “That was going to be my question to you. No regrets?”

  She laughed, her eyes gleaming happily. “Are you kidding me? No way.” She leaned up and kissed him again, loudly smacking her lips to his. “It was everything I hoped it would be. Thank you, again.”

  “My pleasure.”

  She leaned over and grabbed a strawberry off the tray, seeming awkward and unsure of her next move after that cheerful display of affection. He stood up, giving her some space, which she looked thankful for. “Do you want to eat in bed or over on the couch by the doors overlooking the water?”

  “The couch is good. Once I find my bag and toothbrush.”

  “It’s in the bathroom. I brought it up a bit ago in case you woke up before breakfast was ready.”

  “Thank you,” she said again—he was really getting tired of her saying that and almost said something—but she hopped up and made a dash for the bathroom.

  A few minutes later she came out, running her fingers through her hair and tugging his shirt down. He handed her a poured cup of coffee. “I wasn’t sure how you take your coffee, or I would have made it for you.”

  “Just a bit of cream,” she said, then grabbed the small container he had brought up with their breakfast.

  “Same as me. And now I know,” he said, digging into his breakfast.

&n
bsp; Once they were both done eating, the continued silence started to make him uneasy. He wished she would relax and go back to the way she was before they made love.

  But now she seemed to be back to the awkward girl she was the first night he brought her home in the springtime snowstorm. Looking anywhere around the room but at him.

  He wasn’t expecting this reaction out of her and really hoped she wasn’t finding a way to end things now that she accomplished her goal. “Do you need to get back home by any special time?” he asked, hoping she would open up to him. His mind was racing, trying to come up with an argument if she said what he wasn’t ready to hear.

  “Oh, sorry. Do you have things to do? I can leave now, let me just get dressed,” she said in a rush, nervously looking around the room again.

  “No, Kaitlin.” He reached out and placed his hand on her arm when she tried to stand. “Let me rephrase it. I would like you to spend the day with me if you don’t have to be home for any special reason.”

  “Oh,” she said, then leaned back on the couch, searching his face. “Well, then I would like to spend the day with you, too.” A suspicious twinkle came into her eyes. “Besides, I didn’t get to see much of you last night, let alone touch you.”

  Her eyes were now staring at his bare chest and suddenly he had a feeling she was looking at her next feast, getting ready to gobble him up. “And I’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for,” she said coyly.

  He reached up and grabbed the hand that was now stroking his chest, held it tight, and watched her face blush with embarrassment, regardless of the words that just tumbled out. “No time like the present.” He pulled her to her feet and led her back to the bathroom.

  “What? Where are we going?”

  “To take a shower.”

  “Together?” she asked hastily.

  “Sure, why not? You can be as thorough as you want in there. I plan on being.”

  ***

  Oh, he was thorough all right, she thought back later when she was lying on the chaise lounge by the water. He had turned the shower on, pulled the borrowed T-shirt over her head, tossed it on the floor, lowered his shorts and climbed in under the warm spray, pulling her in with him.