by Donna Grant
Myles could feel the eyes of his brothers and Riley on him, and he didn’t care if they could see the hunger, the yearning for Addison in his gaze. “My place,” he whispered and held out his hand.
There was a smile on his face as she laced her fingers with his. They walked from Gator Bait together, no words spoken. None needed.
Myles was alert and wary as they strolled down the sidewalk. He was wound tight by the time they reached his building. After quickly punching the code to open the door, Myles ushered her inside and up the four flights of stairs, bypassing the elevator.
He unlocked the steel door and slid it open. “Make yourself at home,” he said as he waved her inside.
“I love the space,” she said looking around.
Myles shut the door and watched her. He looked around the large room with its fifteen-foot ceilings. He’d left the brick walls and the air vent piping exposed, using them as part of his décor.
His bed had burgundy bed curtains that he could pull closed to shut out the light from the many windows was against the far back wall. The kitchen was small but adequate. He had no cabinets, instead storing what little he needed on shelves.
There was a small table in the kitchen where he ate if he didn’t take the food to his brown leather couch that separated the bedroom from the living room. Opposite the couch, a TV hung on the wall.
“It’s amazing,” Addison said with a smile as she looked over her shoulder at him.
“It’s simple.”
She stopped and turned to face him. “It suits you perfectly.”
Myles locked and pushed off the door. “I’ve got movies. There’s an Xbox if you prefer. I can also make you something to eat if you’re hungry.”
“I’m not hungry, I don’t play video games, and I don’t want to watch a movie.” She pulled her purse strap over her head and dropped the bag on the couch.
Myles held his ground, afraid to move or utter a single sound and break the spell. Addison removed the too-big flip-flops while holding his gaze. He’d seen those amazing eyes up close. There were flecks of gold in her hazel eyes, and when she was scared, there was more green than brown.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
She smiled a little shyly and glanced down. “This,” she said and closed the distance between them before she kissed him.
Myles locked his arms around her and gave himself up to the fiery, fierce kiss. This time, he didn’t have to worry about an attack. This time, he didn’t have to end it.
He backed her across the space to the bed and lifted her up. A laugh escaped her as she broke the kiss and looked down at him. Myles carefully tossed her on the bed and quickly placed a knee on the mattress as he crawled over her.
“That look makes me feel as if I have butterflies,” she whispered.
Myles paused. “What look?”
“This one,” she said and placed her hands on his face tracing his nose, brows, jaw, and lips.
He turned his head to place a kiss on the inside of one of her arms. “Ah. You mean the one that says I crave you more than anything.”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “No one has ever looked at me like that before.”
“Stupid fools. Then again, they saved you for me.”
He lowered his weight atop her as they kissed again. She began to tug at his shirt. Myles stopped kissing her long enough to yank it off. The way her body cradled his caused his blood to pound relentlessly with need. He wanted to take his time, to love her accordingly, but he’d spent too long fantasizing about making her his.
He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. As he did, he pulled off her shirt and tossed it aside. Her skin was warm, soft. Her lips were enticing, tempting.
It took little more to remove her denim shorts, leaving her in nothing but her plain white cotton bra and panties. With a flick of his wrist, he unhooked her bra and slid the straps down her arms. It was Addison who pulled it from between their bodies and flung it. He returned her to her back and leaned over her.
“My God,” he murmured as he looked down at her pert breasts and pink tipped nipples. He skimmed his hand along her flat belly and then up to cup one breast. “You’re gorgeous.”
Her blush stained her cheeks, her chest, and even her breasts. How one compliment could embarrass her only made him want more time with her. He watched her face as he flicked his thumb across her nipple. She inhaled sharply at first. As he circled the taut bud, her hips began to move.
She was a lovely sight, a mixture of innocence and seduction that was slowly driving him mad with lust. His hand moved to her other breast and teased the nipple until both were hard peaks. Only then did he bend down and fasten his lips around them, suckling first one, then the other. He used his tongue, and his teeth, to arouse.
Small cries of pleasure filled the area. With a nipple still in his mouth, he caressed down her stomach to her panties and then between her legs. His cock jumped when he felt the wet spot from her arousal.
It sent him over the edge. Myles turned his head away and closed his eyes as he struggled to get control.
“What is it?” Addison asked softly.
“I want you,” he ground out.
“Then take me.”
Her words, simply spoken, surprised him. He looked down at her and frowned. “I want to go slow, for you to savor every moment, but I want you too desperately. I can’t do slow.”
“Then don’t.”
CHAPTER TEN
Addison was on fire. Every place Myles touched made her ache, long for more.
His confession only made the flames of need grow higher.
With a moan – or was it a growl – Myles jumped off the bed and jerked off his pants. Addison rose up on her elbows and stared open-mouthed at the magnificent specimen before her.
Myles was sculpted to perfection. Every muscle defined, every inch of sinew rock-hard. She rose up on her knees and reached for him. His hands were clenched at his sides, his jaw locked as she ran her hands over his chest and shoulders. There were a few scars – more than he should have – on various places of his body. But she wasn’t interested in the scars.
She was interested in him. In the skin so hot it scorched her, in the thick arousal that jutted between them. Addison looked at the muscles bulging in his arms and shoulders as she trailed her hand over his washboard stomach to his narrow waist. A quick glance showed his legs were as muscular as the rest of him.
Just as she began to close her hand around his cock, she found herself on her back once more. Excitement raced through her when he ripped her panties off and spread her legs. She trembled when he stared at her sex for long moments. Then he bent and licked her. She sighed, warmth spreading through her body. His fingers found her clit and rolled the nub between them.
Addison moaned and clutched the covers. The pleasure was too much, the need too great. She felt as if her skin were too tight, as if her body couldn’t hold in the ecstasy that threatened to shatter her.
“Open your eyes,” Myles demanded in a gravelly voice. “Look at me.”
She forced her lids open and met his gaze. He stood holding one of her legs in each hand. His rod jumped, brushing against her sex as he knelt on the bed. He released one of her legs so he could take himself in hand and guide his cock to her entrance. She swallowed loudly, her legs trembling with the need to wrap around his waist.
Addison bit her lip as he pushed inside her, stretching her. He shifted his hips twice, sinking farther each time. The third time, he plunged inside her, filling her fully. She cried out, her back arching at the pleasure that rocketed through her. He fell over her, locking his arms around her. The next instant, she was gathered in his arms as he began to drive hard and fast. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, meeting him thrust for thrust.
He was relentless, ruthless as he pounded her body. She closed her eyes, desire tightening inside her and pushing her ever closer to the pinnacle of pleasure. She was reaching for it when it struck
suddenly, sucking her breath with the force of the climax. Her body clamped around Myles’s rod and convulsed repeatedly.
He rose up on his hands, his hips jerking faster. His bright blue eyes shifted to her. She was drowning in her climax and his eyes when they flashed yellow right before he threw back his head and shouted her name.
Her body was still pulsing with the orgasm when he pulled out of her. Seeing his cock wet with her pleasure and his seed made her realize they hadn’t used any protection.
Myles fell to his back and reached for her. He tucked her against his body, their skin damp from the exertion. “I’ve not lost control like that in...well, ever.”
“Ditto,” she said with a smile. But it soon slipped. “Myles, we didn’t use protection.”
He was silent for a moment before his arm tightened around her. “I was so caught up in you, I didn’t even think about it.”
“Ditto,” she said again.
“I’m sorry.”
Addison turned her head to look at him. “It’s just as much my fault. The blame doesn’t rest on your shoulders alone.”
He ran a hand down her hair. “You’re one in a million, Addison Moore. I don’t know what brought you into the bar, but I’m glad it did.”
She looked down at his chest as she thought of that day that had changed her life. “At the time, I thought it was the worst day of my life.”
“Worst?” he asked with a frown. “Why?”
“I had just received a letter telling me I could no longer get financial aid for the fall semester.”
“Get a student loan.”
“I have several, all extremely large amounts, but they don’t cover everything.” She licked her lips and looked into his handsome face. “My mother died when I was four. I don’t remember her at all except for pictures Dad kept for me.”
“And your father?”
“A Navy pilot. He died in a training accident out in the Gulf when I was twelve. You know, I’ve never told anyone that,” she said wondering what made Myles so different.
He touched her face gently. “I’m sorry. I know what it’s like.”
“You had your brothers. I didn’t have anyone.”
“There was no family to take you in?” he asked, surprise flickering in his blue eyes.
Addison shifted on her elbow, her arm bracing her head so she could play with his ash blond locks with the other hand. “I lived with my grandmother for two years before she died. My mother’s brother took me in, but then he grew ill. They had three other children, and I knew I was a burden. I went to live with my dad’s only surviving sister. I thought I was so lucky to remain near everyone.”
“Did they mistreat you?”
“They never laid a hand on me. They were...cordial, but I never felt like I was a part of the family. They were very poor, but I didn’t care. I had a house, food, and clothing. We scraped for every penny. I got a job as soon as I could just so I could have lunch money.”
“My God.”
She shrugged. “We weren’t the only poor people, and compared to some, we were doing well.”
“How long did you stay with them?”
“Until I graduated. Unbeknownst to them, I opened a bank account and was putting my money there. I had enough to cover an apartment, but not nearly enough for a semester of college. I took a little over a year saving every penny I could. Once I had enough money, I registered at Tulane and found a roommate.”
Myles put his other arm under his head. “This sounds like the start of a happy ending.”
“It should’ve been.” It was supposed to have been. Addison swallowed and dropped her hand from his hair to rest on his chest. “I was able to get grants as well as student loans, but even all of that didn’t cover everything. It took me working two jobs to get by, and that cut into how many classes I was able to take.”
“Which extended when you should’ve gotten your degree,” Myles guessed.
Addison flashed a grin. “Bingo! I applied for another grant over the summer for the fall semester. The day I came into Gator Bait for the first time I got a letter stating that I wouldn’t be receiving the grant because my family made too much money.”
“Wait, what?” he asked, his brow furrowed deeply. “You just said –”
“I know,” she interrupted him. “That was my thought as well, but the letter went on to explain that the government learned my aunt and uncle were actually part of a money laundering ring years ago.” She laughed lightly. “To think they could’ve paid for some of my college, that I didn’t have to have two or three jobs to make ends meet, that I didn’t have to sell my car infuriates me.”
“It should.”
She fell onto her back and looked at the ceiling. “I didn’t expect a lot from them, but if they had that kind of money, I would have only asked for a little bit of it if I thought they came by it honestly.”
“What now?” Myles asked as he rolled up on his elbow to look at her.
“I’m working and saving money so that I can, hopefully, return to Tulane for the spring semester. I only have a year left.”
“You never said. What are you getting a degree in?”
“Accounting.” At his smile, a burst of laughter left her. “I forgot, you’re an accountant.”
He shrugged, grinning.
“Did you get your degree from Tulane?” she asked.
Myles leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. “We missed lunch, and I’m starving. How about you?”
“Yep,” she answered as she watched him jump from the bed and pad naked into the kitchen area. She wondered why he hadn’t wanted to answer her question about his degree.
She forgot about his non-answer as she looked her fill at his splendid body. If she thought he was going to cook, she was sadly mistaken. He got his phone and sent off a text.
“No cooking?” she asked when he turned back to her.
Myles laughed. “I burn everything I attempt to cook. I’m a disaster in the kitchen. It’s so bad, Solomon has banned me from even thinking of cooking at the bar.”
Addison laughed so hard her cheeks began to hurt.
“What?” he asked with a big grin. “You find that funny? Didn’t you know there are those of us who can burn water?”
Unable to form words because of the laughter, she held up a hand, begging him to stop.
He was suddenly on top of her, his eyes twinkling with joy. “You have an amazing laugh.”
“I’ve not laughed like that in a long time,” she said when she was able.
“You should do it more.”
Addison was about to agree if it meant Myles was there, but the idea of hoping whatever was between them would be long-term was too soon. “You just like to see me laughing so hard I can’t even talk.”
“I like to see you laughing,” he said suddenly turning serious. “I like to see you moaning. I like to see you climaxing.”
Desire, only banked, flamed once again. With just words, he had her melting, aching for his touch. His head lowered, and she parted her lips for his kiss.
Just before their mouths met, something buzzed loudly throughout the room. Myles groaned in frustration and once more climbed off the bed.
He walked to an armoire that looked antique and opened the doors. He pulled on a pair of jeans. “Our food is here. I’m more than happy to see you naked, but if you want something to put on besides your clothes, feel free to dig in here. There are some old sweats.”
Addison remained on the bed until the door slid closed behind him. Then she rose and made a beeline for the armoire. She found the old sweat pants but opted for a pair of cut off sweats that she had to roll several times at the waist so they would remain on.
Beneath the cut offs was an old sweatshirt that had the sleeves and neck removed. It wasn’t until she pulled it on that she realized the bottom of the sweatshirt had been cut, as well. The steel door opened and she was only able to glance down at herself before she heard an appreciative whistle.
Addison smiled and faced him. “These look older than you. I’m thinking I shouldn’t be wearing them.”
“I told you to help yourself.” He set the bag of food on the table. “Those were my father’s. When he died, I couldn’t fit into them, so I cut them until I could.”
She knew she shouldn’t have put them on. Addison started to remove them when Myles’s hand wrapped around her wrist. How had he gotten to her so quickly across the large expanse?
“It’s all right,” he said softly. “They look good on you. Besides, they were just collecting dust.”
Addison lowered her gaze to his chest and noticed his scars again. She saw what looked like four slices cutting across his left side. The scars were old, and whoever had stitched it had done a good job. “What happened?”
“You know how crazy Mardi Gras can get. Come on. Let’s eat,” he said and tugged her after him.
Addison was beginning to think there was much more to Myles than he was telling her. Then she recalled how his eyes had flashed yellow.
The same yellow of the wolf that had saved her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Myles wasn’t surprised when Addison fell asleep midway through the movie she had chosen after they’d finished eating the crawfish etouffee. He carefully lifted her in his arms and brought her to the bed. Myles laid her down and covered her with a sheet. Unable to turn away, he stared at her for several seconds.
Her short champagne blond hair fell against her cheek when she turned her head to the side. Myles gently moved the strands away. Somehow, he’d known making love to Addison would eclipse anyone from his past. And it had.
She was sweet, tender, brave, courageous, beautiful, giving, and trusting. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he also wasn’t ready to tell her who he was. What he was. It wasn’t because he feared she wouldn’t accept it. It was because he was terrified that she would then want nothing to do with him.
Myles ran a hand through his hair and turned on his heel to clean up what was left of their meal. He didn’t take the bar receipts from the previous night out of the bag as he should, but instead, sat on the couch with his laptop.