“If we start, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop.”
“I don’t want you to stop. Stay with me tonight.”
He dropped his forehead to her shoulder, releasing a heavy sigh littered with frustration and tension. “I can’t, Ember.”
His rebuff stabbed at her chest.
An onslaught of feelings, rejection and humiliation, filled her with the need to bolt, but there was nowhere to hide. She was trapped in his damn truck. Ember shoved at his shoulder, but she may as well have been trying to move a granite statue. He wouldn’t budge.
“Believe me, I want to.”
Fury gathered force, but wounded pride brought a sting to her eyes. He still had hold of her face and she twisted, trying to get some distance between them. There was no way she was going to let him see the tears welling on her bottom lashes.
“I guess we’re all business then, huh?” she bit through clenched teeth.
“It’s not like that. You’ve been drinking. I gave my word that I wouldn’t. How ‘bout if I pick you up for breakfast. We can spend the day together.”
“No because I’m still going to be pissed at you in the morning! I can’t believe this.” Dipping her head, she tried hiding behind her mane of dark hair, moving side to side, shoving at his shoulders.
He refused to let her out of the truck.
“I gave my word. I can’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“Before we left the party, I promised Reed that I wouldn’t—”
Ember’s head snapped upward, eyes locking on his. Sexual frustration boiled over. Her fingers curled into his shirt, tugging aggressively, bringing him inches from her face.
“You’re telling me that you won’t have sex with me because you promised Reed you wouldn’t?”
He buried his face in the slope of her neck, kissing and nibbling, trying to soften her annoyance. “I can’t take much more than just a kiss. Let me make it up to you tomorrow?”
She straightened her legs, pointing her toes toward the ground, sliding between his solid form and the seat of the truck until her feet hit the dirt.
Desire lost to a big case of pissed off.
For a second.
Shoving him out of her way, she stomped toward the door. Nash caught her around the waist, his mouth buried in her hair. The heat of his long fingers spanned across her ribs, locking her back to his broad chest.
Instinct drew an arch from her back, lifting her breasts as her hips pushed against his. She gasped at the stiff, galvanized pressure of his erection.
“Don’t be angry. I’m trying to do the right thing here,” he murmured into her hair.
She protested adamantly, “The right thing for you to do would be take me inside and fuck me senseless. Not leave me hanging.”
Unpleasant flashbacks of being hung out to dry by her last boyfriend on far too many occasions began building like an inferno inside, raising her level of disappointment even higher.
Nash rocked against her hips, teasingly, making a point, assuring her of the pleasure he could bring. The hard lines of his body felt heavy on her back.
Powerful.
Promising.
Every part of her ached for him, needing him to extinguish the firestorm raging inside. A low groan, full of yearning, rose in her throat and floated through the night sky. She privately cursed herself for whimpering. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Ummm Another moan slipped from her parted lips feeling the rhythmic grind.
“Sweetheart, I assure you, there’s no pony express here. I’m all cattle drive.”
God, I need a cattle drive.
A round of fireworks exploded inside her chest. Ember was falling too fast and too hard. For an instant, she prayed he wouldn’t be a stampede—a stampede that would trample her heart and soul.
Ember had never experienced a one-night stand. Previously, all her sexual encounters started with boyfriend first then sex. She’d had a total of five relationships and none of them made her feel the way she felt now. Over the years, she’d listened to a few of her girlfriends recant stories of grand, orgasmic sex. Part of her always thought they were exaggerating, until now. She’d never endured the feelings of such raw need.
Somewhere deep inside, she knew tomorrow would bring feelings of guilt for jumping into bed for one night of unadulterated, no holds barred sex, but he felt too damn good. She couldn’t deny the attraction consuming her every thought.
Fumbling blindly through her purse, she retrieved her phone, dialing JC’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, JC.” She kept her tone curt and to the point. “I need a word with your husband.”
“Is everything okay?”
“No everything is not okay.” Ember spun in Nash’s arms, glaring heatedly. “He’s standing between me and an orgasm, maybe several. Put him on the fucking phone.”
Muffled laughter filled her ear as JC passed the phone to Reed.
“Is there a problem?”
“This isn’t funny, Reed.”
“What’s not funny?”
“I’m home and I’m perfectly sober. FYI I’m taking back Nash’s word that he gave you. He’s staying the night with me and there’s not going to be one bit of guilt about it on his part.”
“Honey, I was just looking out for your best interest. You’re like a little sister to me.”
The sincerity in his voice diffused her anger. “I appreciate your concern, but I can take it from here. Are we good?”
Murmurs between JC and Reed rustled through her phone. They had her on speaker. “We’re good.”
“Do I need to put him on the phone?”
“Nope,” Reed assured, his typically rugged tone cracked with laughter. Husband and wife chimed simultaneously, “Have a good night.”
Ember didn’t bother to reply, merely pushed the red button before shoving the phone back into her purse. “Do you feel better?”
He kissed her.
The reservation he’d shown minutes early abandoned to the heady swell of desire. His fingers delved through her hair, clasping the back of her skull, holding her firm as he took her mouth in the most lewd, indecent, sensual kisses she’s ever endured.
His tongue sank into the heat of her mouth, tangling with hers in a wild rush of excitement. The carnal kiss went on and on until she went weak, molding herself to the hard terrain of his body, indulging in the ravenous kiss. The thrill of it, maddening, frying every brain cell, leaving her drunk on his kisses.
Kissing Nash surpassed any kind of foreplay she’d ever experienced. Licking, sucking, wet slippery friction, the scrape of his shaven jaw, all worked together, turning her inside out until her entire body quaked with need.
Standing on tiptoes, Ember’s arms fell over his shoulders, clinging to his heavily muscled back. His arms went behind her, hands coasting beyond the small of her back to her bottom. Reaching under the hem of her dress, his fingers pressed firmly on her bottom, locking their hips together.
Heat washed over her in layers. Each place they touched ignited a new spark. The man made her feel better than she’d ever felt, and they were still fully clothed.
Her hips rolled upward, probing in a lazy, rhythmic motion. Nash possessed her mouth, devouring the hums of yearning spilling from her throat. Intense pleasure, sweet and addictive, spurred her on, squashing any thoughts of cattle or oil. Quivers, strong in their force, began to build and tumble through her, all moving in one direction.
Panting, she tore her mouth free from the pleasurable assault of his tongue. “Nash, take me inside.”
His quiet chuckle curled through the cool night air. He swept soft kisses over her cheek, moving to the slope of her neck, drawing another whimper. Hovering at the sensitive spot beneath her ear, he nipped and nibbled, before sinking his teeth into her flesh.
Twisting her neck, she searched his eyes. They’d never looked so enticing.
“Nash, please. I’m gonna combust.”
He gave a thr
oaty chuckle. “Are you begging?”
Lust trumping pride, she conceded with a swift nod, not caring how pathetic her soft whimpers of pleading sounded. She heard him murmur, something to the effect that he hadn’t even started with her yet, right before he grabbed her by the waist and hauled her over his shoulder.
A squeal whooshed from her lungs. Ember snickered, allowing her hands to fall toward the ground, grabbing his firm buns with both hands. “I love this view.”
He swatted her ass, seizing a handful as he adjusted her higher on his shoulder, twisting to take a bite of her bum. “I concur. Keys?”
“Are you kidding? No one locks their doors here.”
Nash threw open the door, strolled inside, and kicked it closed with his boot, provoking another stretch of soft laughter. She pointed toward her room, wiggling out of her sandals, letting them fall to the hardwood floor.
He walked into her bedroom and tossed her onto the center of her unmade bed with a soft bounce. The hem of her dress wafted above her hips. Broad rays of moonlight shone through the windows filtering the room in a muted gray, allowing her to see him clearly in the darkness. Their tan bodies glowed against the stark white sheets.
Shaky tremors coursing through her body began to settle into small, jerky, uneven breaths.
One knee at a time, he climbed onto the bed, crawling between her bent legs. His eyes turned soft and sexy taking in the view before him, slowing his haste. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“Me too.” Her admission came as a whisper.
Heat radiating from every pore, she started to reach for the clasp and zipper at the nape of her neck, but he shook his head, falling forward on his hands.
Ember lifted her palm to his face.
Stroking.
Feeling.
Falling.
Eyes gleaming, his jaw twisted, insisting in a rough tone, “Turn over.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. His request sounded more like a demand which turned her on far more than she’d ever care to admit.
Lifting her hands above her head, she shifted beneath him and rolled to her stomach, pressing a cheek to the bed. Nash brushed her chestnut hair to one side. The heat of his breath on her neck sent goosebumps skittering down her spine. Her back arched, reflexively lifting her bum, gently pushing against his hips.
His mouth wandered over the tip of her shoulder as he unbuttoned the clasp of her dress, removing the gauzy material over her head, discarding it to the floor.
Sensing his eyes roaming over her backside, Ember’s heart began to thump into a deafening roar, thundering in her ears.
The heat of his hands made contact with the skin at her waist drawing a low purr from her throat. “Umm, yes.”
Depraved laughter, soft and knowing, fell over her flesh right before he laid a trail of wet kisses down her spine. Ember didn’t stand a chance in hell of containing the shameless, imploring moans spilling from her mouth.
The tips of his strong fingers slipped beneath her white panties, grasping her hips with both hands. The power in his grip was absolutely maddening. Torture. Heaven.
Feeling the heat of his breath drift over her bottom, her fingers curled over the edge of the bed, nails digging into the mattress. She sucked in a sharp breath as he lifted her bum higher and peeled the silky material over her cheeks with his teeth, leaving the thin fabric stretched across her upper thighs.
The way he had her arranged on the bed left her body on full display under the moonlight shining across the bed. Lying there for what felt like forever, she heard his voice, a low murmur full of desire and a few scattered curse words, uttering how much he wanted her, how good her skin felt, how much he wanted to fucking taste her.
“This okay with you, Ember?” he had the nerve to ask, his tone mocking, right before swiping his tongue down the slit of her pussy.
A shock of raw pleasure ripped through her as she cried out, “Yessss!”
He licked into the wetness, searching, marauding, taking with a mouth full of force and tenderness. Sensations gathered force, rolling up on her in waves, each one stronger than the one before. Her muscles strained and clenched at the emptiness. The sheer power and pleasure of it, erotic and seductive.
“Nash, touch me. Please.” The request came as a low, pleading whimper.
He pulled back, leaving her on the cusp.
In one swift move, he flipped her to her back and ripped her panties from her legs. She lurched upright into a sitting position. Shaking with need, she pulled frantically at the hem of his shirt, desperately needing to feel his flesh, thick and rearing, inside of her.
He took hold of her hands, hindering her efforts. “Sweetheart, lay back.”
Ember shook her head, reaching for his belt buckle. “Can’t.”
Nash moved over her, hovering, until her back pressed into the mattress. Palms resting beside each side of her head, he covered her mouth with his, kissing her long and hard until the squirming left her body and the tension slipped from her limbs.
Sitting back on his calves, he dangled the silky white panties from his finger before stuffing them in the pocket of his jeans. “These are going home with me.”
A tiny grimace puckered her brow. “Is that a fetish or something?”
“Nope.” His eyes were heavily lidded. Crescent shadows dusted his cheeks. “I’ve just been thinking about them every hour of every day since our first encounter, so I’m confiscating them.”
“I have a drawer full. T…take what you want.” The rush of words poured out in an anxious stammer.
Nash rested his palms on her bent knees. Coasting downward, his fingers gently gripped her inner legs, spreading her thighs wide. “I intend to.”
She gulped.
The haughty smile covering his face disappeared behind his shirt as he stripped it over his head. Anxiousness fled her body, taking in the magnificent sight of him. Each defined muscle stacked on top of the other, layer upon layer of yummy goodness.
A light dusting of dark hair covered his broad chest and trailed downward into the waistband of his jeans. Hesitantly, she reached up, letting her fingers roam through the course curls. A spasm rushed through her core. Her nipples tightened into hard buds.
Face intent, he cupped the weight of her full, round breast. “Had I known you weren’t wearing a bra all night, I might’ve hauled you off into the darkness and ripped that dress right off you.”
Her moist breath disintegrated into slow pants feeling his parted lips drag along the slope between her breasts. Nash curled his tongue around a taut, pink nipple, drawing the tight peak into the heat of his mouth. Each time he sucked, her center clenched on demand. The weight of his body settled between her legs. He rolled the tight damp bud between his thumb and finger as he worshipped her other breast. The maddening sensation went on and on, drawing sounds of pleasure from deep within.
“Nash, plea—”
“Sweetheart, you’ve got a very long night ahead of you. You can beg and plead all you want, but you requested that I fuck you senseless and that’s exactly what I plan to do. I get the feeling you need some good lovin’ and I intend on giving it to you…over and over again.” He paused. “Right after I get another taste.”
Nash slid lower, mouth and tongue laying a lazy trail of steamy kisses from her breasts to her navel before descending to the apex of her thighs. As he licked into the intimate channel with surety, he tore another hoarse cry from her parted lips.
Dropping her hands to his head, she tangled her fingers in his hair, locking him in place. “Don’t stop.”
A devilish mumble of amusement drifted upward. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Sensing her urgency, he pushed a finger into the sweet heat and then another. Following the sensation to its epicenter, he focused on her clit, the tip of his tongue flicking steadily, precisely, perfectly.
Contractions, strong in their force, rolled up on her, each wave more powerful than the one before. Her
body tightened around the thrust of his fingers, head flailing back and forth, wild with need. Drawing the sensitive nub into his mouth, the world around her shattered in a kaleidoscope of colors. Spasms tumbled through her, crying out his name as she crested a wave of raw pleasure. Her pulse hammered so violently she wondered how she’d survive it.
Moving from the bed, he stripped off the rest of his clothes. The site of him, long and rigid, heavily aroused, spurred her heart into a swift, pulsing tempo. Every elongated muscle, his sunbaked skin, the light dusting of dark hair, everything about this man was simply perfection.
Exquisitely masculine.
Ember reached for him, taking the solid weight in her hand, stroking the taut, silky skin. Nash groaned. Tipping his head back, he tolerated her curiosity, stomach muscles tightening with each caress.
Falling forward onto his palms, thighs between her legs, he hoisted her to the center of the bed. Blue eyes brimming with lust, he stared down at her, the angles of his face severe under the moon’s bright glow.
“Are you on the pill?”
“I’m the result of a one-night stand, Nash. Of course, I’m on birth control, but I’ve always used condoms.”
Affliction swam in his eyes, torment notched between his brows. Burying his face in the mound of hair at the curve of her neck, he dragged his parted lips over her throat.
“Me too. But the way you make me…fuck I want to feel you…take you raw. The softness of your skin, your taste…it’s blowing my fucking mind.”
Ember had never practiced unprotected sex, never felt comfortable enough with anyone. Beneath all the banter and unanswered questions, an innate sense of unspoken trust flourished between them since they laid eyes on each other.
The wild notion of feeling the texture of his skin dipping in and out of her nearly made her come undone. Clutching his jaw, she stared up at him, contemplating. The idea of going bareback had always felt wrong, yet at that moment, the whole world seemed right.
“Your choice, sweetheart. I’m clean,” he assured between ragged, hungry breaths. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Anything. Tell me how you like it.”
She understood his urgency to please. It mirrored the intimate feelings growing stronger inside with every passing second, but nerves suffocated her emotions leaving room for logic.
Catching Ember (Buckle Up Series Book 1) Page 13