She grabbed a pillow and positioned herself to the left of him so she could lean against his shoulder and watch his fretting hand up close. What was it about a guy and his guitar that made women drool with lust?
Dylan fingerpicked the introduction, barely swaying as he started singing, his eyes intently on her.
She’s tough and smart and doesn’t give her heart
But butter bees knees, she’s sweet
She’s got lots of class and she’s sharp as glass
But sugar snap peas, she’s sweet
Oh, oh, oh, you gotta ask her
What she sees in me?
Cuz I’m a wandering guy,
With my banjo on my thigh,
And I’m a going away tonight.
My, my, my Carina
My beautiful girl,
It’s a wonderful life,
If you’ll be my wife,
What do you see in me?
A mischievous grin snagged his face, and he slapped the guitar while making percussive sounds with his mouth, sang the chorus a few more times, then finished with a doo-doo-doo-dah-dah-doo.
The song made her heart light and fluffy, like flakey croissants. She suppressed a giggle. “That was funny, did you just make that up? Are you asking me to be your wife?”
The thought made her float like bubbles in a cloud. If she didn’t watch it, she could fall for him so hard she’d make a hole in the ground all the way to China.
He grinned as he put the guitar into its case. “Kind of hard to find a word that rhymes with ‘life.’”
“Likely excuse.” She hugged the shivers running up and down her arms. Now that he’d put his guitar away, he could use those fingers on her, strum and pluck her heart strings and make her his woman.
He grinned and shrugged. “Are you going to answer my question?”
“What question?” Her pulse was pounding so hard she was afraid she’d pass out.
“What do you see in me?”
She pressed a hand over her chest. Sure, he was gorgeous. A head of wavy chestnut hair dipped over ocean blue eyes, a strong nose and plush strawberry lips. But more than that, he was beautiful inside.
“You’re generous, kind-hearted, and a true friend. I was only your roommate and you shared your breakfast with me. You were always concerned about my safety, and considerate of my sleep. I see a lot of good in you. You go out of your way to avoid hurting people.” She took his hand and rubbed it. “I’m so lucky to know you, and I’m honored you want me as your forever girlfriend.”
Gulp. She sounded like a gushing teenager. Embarrassed, she studied his hands. The tips of his fingers were calloused from fretting the guitar and the pads of his palm were fleshy and warm. And even though he had the strength to crush her bones, she trusted his touch would be light and tender, downy like a baby chick.
“The honor’s all mine.” His voice grew raspy. He pulled the covers back and pressed the sheets. “Go ahead, get in. I know you want to.”
Last chance to act like a lady. She gave him a little shove. “Uh … aren’t you taking the couch?”
Dylan’s grin widened. “I’m not that much of a gentleman.”
The bed dipped as Dylan sank into it. His arm snaked around her, pulling her onto his chest. “Close your eyes and pretend I’m not here. Think about what you really want, if it’s only you. No one else.”
How the heck was she going to pretend he wasn’t here when her heartbeat catapulted and electric impulses traveled up and down her torso?
She swallowed and scrambled to deflect the war between desire and fear. I want someone to love me. But no, this was too soon. It would scare him away. A lump rose in her throat. “I want to mean something to someone.”
“Just something?” He played with the tie of her robe and ran his fingers up the outer collar, around her neck and down, trailing sparks of electricity. “You mean a lot to me.”
“How much?” She couldn’t resist sliding her hand up and around his shoulders.
“Oh, maybe about eight inches and eighty years.” He chuckled and nuzzled the back of her neck. “You sure you want this?”
“Yes, I want you, Dylan Jewell.” Carina’s pulse thudded through the back of her head. Heat sizzled between her legs and she clenched her thighs. She was about as relaxed as a live wire in a lightning storm.
His touch was soft as he stroked her hair, then traced her jawline before tipping her chin. She closed her eyes and waited, his warm breath hovering over her cheek. Now that the moment had arrived, she was a pulsating bundle of nerves.
“You’re scared,” he murmured, so in tune with her. “We don’t have to—”
She silenced him with her lips on his, then breathed into his mouth. “I want to.”
She had to. No more quivering virgin. She’d seize the moment. Be brave, strong, aggressive. Excitement mounted along with the adrenaline racing through her veins. She wasn’t losing her virginity, she was claiming her femininity and the power to love a man on her terms.
Dylan’s touch was light. He curled her into his arms, side by side, and puffed a kiss on her lips, hot and breathy, but barely there, drawing her to move closer, to want with quiet desperation. Shuddering, she stroked his neck and flattened her palm on his shirt. This slow boat seduction wasn’t going to work. She’d been revved up since the moment she laid eyes on him, and dammit if she didn’t want him to hurry.
“Kiss me harder,” she demanded.
His eyes gleamed wickedly. “Little bossy, aren’t we?”
“I’ve been waiting all my—”
His mouth plunging over hers, he nipped and tugged at her lips, worked his tongue in and around her teeth, sucking on her hungrily, his palm caressing the back of her head. Oh, what would his luscious mouth feel like on her breasts? Breathing heavily, Carina grabbed his wrist, positioning his hand inside her robe.
“Touch me,” she murmured as she untied her robe and settled onto her back to allow him full access. Dylan caressed her with both hands, circling her breasts, but staying well away from her sensitive nipples. Frustrated, she sat and shrugged off her robe. “Are you teasing me or what?”
His eyes widened and a slow grin spread over his face. “You’re an impatient one, aren’t you?”
Carina panted with need throbbing between her legs. She pushed her breasts to his face. He cupped both of them and took one into his mouth while massaging the other one, softly, not crushing.
“Dylan … more, harder.”
“Greedy girl.” With a grunt, he stroked his mouth around her nipple and sucked hungrily, moving from one breast to the other while his fingers pinched and squeezed her flesh, caressing her belly and around her hips. A floating sensation overtook the electric sparks, lifting her to new heights. She threw her head back and closed her eyes, giving into the tides of pleasure washing over her.
Opening her legs, she grabbed his hips and moved him down on her. Holy shit. His weight pressed, comforting and alarmingly exciting. A thousand new sensations fought inside of her, so much that it was hard to figure out what to concentrate her enjoyment on.
Once again, his mouth captured hers, taking her dizzying breath from her. She wrapped her legs around him, seeking to rub herself against his massive erection. Instinctively, his hips rocked in a steady rhythm, the fabric of his pants sliding over her moist silk panties.
Carina ran her hands under his shirt, her fingers tingling over his rippled muscles. Her senses were bombarded with the insistent friction between her legs. If it felt this incredible clothed, what would it be like, skin to skin?
She ripped her mouth from his. “Clothes off.”
With those incredibly sexy eyes focused on her, Dylan rose onto his knees and shrugged off his shirt, exposing his well-chiseled chest. Carina wanted to touch and stroke everything. She greedily ran her hands over his torso and went for his belt.
“Slower.” Dylan’s voice rasped. “I won’t be able to last too long if you touch me.”
Hi
s distress only spurred her to greater curiosity. She loosened his waistband and unzipped his pants. Everything she ever wanted popped from his lowered boxers.
“Oh shit, you’re huge,” she cried out. This time, she grabbed without waiting. She could barely wrap her fingers around his girth. How. Big. Was. He? And long. What if she didn’t have enough room for him?
Carina stroked from tip to balls and back again. His skin was silky and stretchy over a barrel of steel. She’d never held a man in her hands before, and she felt, strangely, powerful. She licked her lips wondering what he’d taste like.
“Car, you’re killing me.” Dylan moaned, his eyes half closed.
She jerked her hand away. “Did I hurt you? I didn’t pull too hard, did I?”
“Huh?” He blinked, looking dazed. “It felt great. But, there’s this thing with guys. You probably don’t know, but we tend to come too fast, especially if we haven’t been with a woman for a long time.”
“Oh, sorry.”
He extracted a strip of condoms from his pocket and shucked off his pants. “No worries. I last longer after each shot, and I promise you’ll get as much as you want.”
Oh, she liked the sound of that. But there was still the first time, looming. Her breath hitched and she tensed, swallowing. No pain, no gain, no pain, no gain.
Blowing out a deep puff, she counted six condoms. “What now?”
This time, a sly smile spread over his face. “I warm you up. You explode a few times, and when you’re soaked and ready …”
He propped himself over her and positioned his cock at the apex of her thighs, wiggled his hips. She gasped, almost choking. Nothing separated them but a thin layer of silk.
“I won’t hurt you. Promise.”
“It’s okay, go fast. Like ripping a band-aid off, hurts less.”
“And how would you know that?” He grinned, eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Have you, er … ever had a … uhm …” Stupid of her to remind him. Dang. What if he thought it a chore? Hadn’t he said he preferred experienced women because they knew what they were doing?
“Never had a virgin.” He lifted off her and cupped her buttocks—“and I intend”—he lowered his head and kissed her right breast—“to enjoy”—then licked her left—“every sigh, every shiver”—and nibbled his way down her belly to the waistband of her panties—“every long, drawn out moan …” He tugged the panties with his teeth, mumbling as he dragged it lower.
She arched her hips and wiggled out of her panties, embarrassed at how utterly drenched they were, but before she could apologize, his nose was tickling her small tuft of hair and he spread her legs wide open, like she was a feast prepared for him.
At the first touch of his hot tongue, she yelped, almost exploding. No one had ever, ever been there before. Thankfully, she’d just cleaned herself.
“So fucking perfect,” he mumbled, his firm tongue twirled around her clit before he kissed her there, then moved his lips, still planted in a circular motion while his tongue flicked softly.
Carina threw her head onto her pillow, writhing back and forth. Spikes of pleasure assaulted her, her blood roared in her ears and stars flickered behind her eyelids. A tremor surged deep inside her, then another, and another crest of sensation spiraled, shattering her with the most fantastic orgasm she’d ever experienced. Before she came off the peak, Dylan slipped his finger into her, stroking her into another set of explosions, each more exquisite than the last.
“Dylan, oh, Dylan,” she moaned, her toes curling while she dug her fingers into his strong shoulders. “I’m ready. Please.”
“Not yet.” He kissed her down there and laved her with his tongue while slipping another finger into her. A stretching burn accompanied the second finger, but it stimulated her to grasp for more as her thighs tightened against his wide shoulders.
She rocked her hips against his thrusting hand. “Please, inside me. Don’t you want me?”
“More than anything.” He sat back on his heels and rolled on a condom.
The look in his eyes was wild, over-the-edge, starving, stopping her heart. She trembled, knowing that once he entered, she’d never want him to leave.
He moved over her, his luscious body covering her, eyes never leaving hers, full of tenderness, concern, and love?
Carina held his gaze, melting as her heart opened to him. She grabbed his hips and pulled him toward her, guiding him to her entrance. He pushed gently and she tensed at the pressure stretching her.
His brow knit as he pulled back. “Am I hurting you?”
“It burns a little,” she whispered. “But don’t stop. Just go slow.” She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him back down, loving the warmth of his chest against hers. Spreading her legs wider, she allowed him to ease into her, her eyes never leaving his, hypnotized by the depths of blue, basking in the glow of his love.
He barely moved, pulling back a little then going back in. Meanwhile he smothered her with kisses, engaging her lips and tongue, and nibbled around her ears, whispering, “So sweet, beautiful. You feel so good, let me know if it hurts.”
“Mmm … I’m good.” She was more than good. Having this incredibly sensitive man, so gentle and considerate, caring about her pleasure and comfort—what could be better? She couldn’t have picked a better partner. Even if the future was uncertain, she could bask in his loving tonight and savor it for the rest of her life.
Once the burning dissipated, Carina shifted her hips to accommodate him. He continued a steady rhythm but pulled out a little further each time and went completely back in, stretching her with every plunge, until he was completely buried inside of her.
“Carina …” he breathed into her mouth. “I-I … you … perfect.”
Tears wet her eyes. At this moment, everything was perfect. She was joined to the only man she’d ever want, love, and care for. Their mouths connected as he, she, moved, together, in harmony, stroke for stroke, feeling every inch of him rocking her up a rail of incredible pleasure.
As her guttural cries became more urgent, Dylan’s hand skimmed down to where their bodies met. He tickled her clit, creating a tingling feeling so good it was almost irritating. When he swayed his hips pulling in and out, she pressed toward him, wanting him deeper.
Pleasure built inside of her and begged for release. Carina’s entire body quivered and shuddered around him. The intensity of it caused Dylan to stop momentarily. A deep drawn out groan escaped him and he pressed his mouth against her neck.
“You feel so damn good, so tight.” He slammed into her, his pace becoming fast and urgent. “Come for me, again”—he spurred her on—“I love”—his words steamed the hairs in her ear—“you, Carina, so sweet.”
“Oh … Dylan,” she moaned into his mouth, loving him too, her orgasm racing and curling around the ache in her core, taking her breath and stirring wild, passionate, spiraling vibrations over her entire body, falling and screaming, like an out of control roller coaster.
Dylan’s eyes rolled backwards, his arms tensing. She clenched and fought and pulsed around him, writhing and heaving with aftershocks. Gripping him tightly, she sank her teeth into his shoulder as he powered through each thrust, rocking the bed and throwing her into another mind-numbing climax.
Huffing roughly, he joined her, his eyes dilating with pleasure as he sighed his release, her name on his lips, before settling on her sated body to catch his breath.
She held him close, her legs still wrapped around him, his weight comforting against the soft bed, but Dylan rolled onto his back and dragged her onto his chest. Burying her face into the crook of his neck, she couldn’t get enough of his delectable maleness. She wanted to be inside him, the way he’d been buried in her, inside his racing heart cascading with his thundering blood, embedded so deep that she’d forever belong to him.
Chapter 25
Dylan stretched and dismissed his cell phone alarm. Diffuse sunlight shone through the thicket of trees around Carina�
��s window. He wiggled his hips into her and cupped her breast, but she barely stirred, worn out by a fourth helping just before dawn.
He pushed the curtain of black silky hair from her face. Wrapped in a thin sheet, she breathed through her nose in a soft, steady cadence. He swallowed at the sight of her dark nipples and the clear outline of her breasts.
Lying there, her creamy skin satiny in the morning light, she was perfect: pretty, sweet and delicate. But last night, she’d been wild, fierce, and so freakin’ horny. Almost surprising. But despite her bravado and seemingly eagerness to lose her virginity, he wasn’t sure she wouldn’t wake up regretful.
He dragged a blanket over the small spot of smeared blood as guilt twisted deep in his gut. He’d bedded her under false pretenses, hinting about a permanent arrangement. She’d shown all the signs of falling in love with him when he’d mentioned marriage. Even worse, he’d sung those lyrics about making her his wife.
He wasn’t ready. He still had things to do, like go on the tour. Besides, she had to go back to school in a week.
Somehow that thought froze the blood in his veins. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent, held her warmth against him a while longer. She fit so perfectly in his arms, but her dreams were not his, and eventually they’d both realize it.
Sighing, he gingerly rolled off the bed, picked up his clothing, and walked to the bathroom for a shower. He needed to get on the money trail and find the identity of Pretty Kitty before signing the contract. Last time he spoke to his lawyer, he was still entangled in the layers of trusts and trustees behind the questionable enterprise.
Dylan took a quick shower and borrowed one of Carina’s towels. Her sweet, sunshiny fragrance wrapped around him, warm and accepting. She’d shared her bed, opened herself to him, and gave him the best sex of his life. But was it really just sex?
His heart thumped and a jittery feeling spread to his fingertips. The words to a song flowed through him. Writing songs for her was natural and easy, as if the words were whispered to him like petals in a breeze. There was no way he could leave her and pretend it’d been casual, part of the bed buddy contract or even an extension of Best Roomie Forever.
Whole Latte Love (The Jewells) Page 25