Fearless (Rosewood Bay Series Book 1)

by Carly Phillips

  He waited for understanding to dawn, and when it did, her eyes darkened to a deeper hue. “Kane,” she said, more breathlessly than before.

  “What’s it going to be, beautiful?”

  She swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. His dick perked up at the sensual gesture.

  “Get out of the car.” Her voice was deep and husky, a definite current of sexual desire flowing from her words.

  Relief flowed through him that they were on the same page. He shut the engine, telling himself to calm the fuck down so he didn’t jump her the minute they got through the door. Just because she’d agreed didn’t mean she was ready for a fast, hard tumble. A woman like Halley deserved more.

  He wanted to give her more.

  He came around her side of the car and placed a hand on the small of her back, leading her up the path and to the house. She pulled her key from her purse and put it in the lock with shaky hands. He grasped the key and inserted it into the lock for her. He was steadier but not by much.

  Once inside, away from passing cars and prying eyes, he grabbed her purse, tossed it onto the nearest chair, and pulled her into him.

  She gasped at the needy way he banded her against him, holding her close with his arms, his head coming down, his mouth capturing hers. Their tongues tangled, dueled, their hands fumbling with clothing.

  She grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. He pushed the elastic neckline of her dress down, revealing her breasts to him, as they overflowed the cups of her lacy bra. Reaching around her back, he unhooked the garment and let it fall to the floor, then leaned down and licked his way from the top of her breast down to the tip of one nipple, laving and nibbling before moving to the other one and giving it the same thorough treatment. She tipped her head back and moaned, her body shivering in delight.

  He spent a good amount of time on the tight buds before she wrenched out of his grasp and shimmied the dress down and off, till it pooled at her feet. Then, her hot gaze on his, she hooked her thumbs into her barely there panties and got rid of them, too. Bared to him in every way, she was every dream he’d had come to life and more. Breasts not too large, just the right size for his hands, full with dusky nipples, red from his teasing. And her neatly trimmed pussy a treat for his eyes.

  She reached out, fumbled with the button on his jeans with those trembling hands, causing him to take over. He unhooked, unzipped, and stripped them off, kicking them aside, unable to bear the clothing against his skin a minute longer, his boxer briefs going with them.

  They were frantic for skin-on-skin contact, and as soon as he was naked, he backed her to the nearest wall and fused his lips to hers. He grasped her hips, gliding his hand upward until he cupped her firm breast. He massaged her nipple in his palm, then began to pull on the tip with his thumb and forefinger. She writhed against him, hooking her leg around his and grinding herself against his straining shaft.

  Her pussy, hot and needy, rubbing into his cock was all he could take. “Bedroom,” he said, breathing into her hair.

  He grasped her hand and she led him to her room, a feminine place of yellows and white ruffles and pillows. Unable to wait, he picked her up and laid her on the bed, coming down over her, his cock nestled in her soft, heated flesh, pulsing and demanding to be allowed inside.

  She arched her hips up, as if she could pull him into her by virtue of sheer need and desire alone.

  “Not so fast,” he said, pushing himself up and meeting her gaze. “I don’t want this to be over before we even begin.” And if he even felt a hint of her warm sex wrapped around his dick, that’s exactly what would happen.

  “It’s torture, feeling you on my skin and not inside me, where I need you,” she said, surprising him with her open, honest words.

  “Then let me see what I can do to take the edge off.” He slid between her legs, pushing her thighs apart with his hands. He took in her sweet pussy and lowered his head, swallowing a groan at the heady scent of her desire.

  Parting her lips with his fingers, he dipped his head and began to feast on her damp sex. She moaned, her hands tangling his hair, pulling on the long strands as he teased and suckled her swollen flesh. He braced his hands on her thighs and brought her higher, licking and suckling her clit.

  She yanked his hair harder and ground herself into him. He didn’t let up, sliding his tongue inside her, while using his fingers to tease and play with her clit, wanting her to come and come hard before he took her in the most basic way.

  His tongue darted into her, his fingers played, and suddenly she stiffened, yelled, and called out his name as she came, riding out her orgasm until the very end. The sounds she made were sheer heaven, driving him insane.

  Only when he was certain she was sated did he slide up her body, dragging his dick along her thigh and settling between her quivering legs so he could kiss her, letting her taste herself on his tongue.

  His hips bucked of their own volition and he knew it was time. “Condom,” he muttered. “Hang on.” He eased off her, heading for his jeans. No, he hadn’t planned it but he did have one shoved inside his wallet. It was old but not too ancient and it’d do the trick.

  He ripped the foil packet and slid it over his aching cock. He glanced over to find her watching him with slumberous eyes, still hazy with desire. She lay against the bed, arms draped over her head, totally sated but her gaze focused intently on his dick in a way that made it stand at attention even more.

  He placed one knee on the bed and came over her, cock poised and ready for action. He held himself in one hand and glided his cock over her swollen clit.

  She moaned and met his gaze. “You have me ready again,” she whispered.

  “You’d better be, because this time you’re coming around my cock, beautiful.”

  Her body flushed a sweet shade of pink.

  Taking that as his signal, he lined himself up at her entrance and drove deep.

  “Kane!” She wrapped her legs around his waist and arched her hips into his.

  “Fuck, you’re so hot and tight.”

  Her fingernails dug into his shoulders at his words. “Move,” she gritted out.

  “My pleasure.”

  He pulled out, thrust back, beginning a rhythm she matched, her body clasping around his. Her fingers threaded through his hair, latching on. He pumped into her, harder with each consecutive plunge home, their hips grinding into each other, his dick hitting her pubic bone.

  “God,” she muttered, scoring her nails against his skin.

  He took the pain, used it to drive him higher. He wasn’t deep enough, needed more of her.

  More.

  Everything.

  He pulled out.

  “What?” she asked, surprised.

  “Hang on.” He flipped her over. “Knees,” he instructed.

  She scrambled onto all fours and he plunged into her. She screamed as his cock submerged completely.

  Utter fucking bliss.

  He wrapped an arm around her waist and began to drive and grind, covering her with his body, owning her with the force of his need and desire. She groaned, arching her back, her hips meeting him thrust for thrust.

  He cupped her breast in one hand, plucking and pulling at her nipple while taking her higher. Her guttural moans told him he was succeeding in bringing her to the same heights his body was reaching. It was raw, it was primal. It was unlike anything he’d experienced before and he doubted he ever would again.

  Knowing he was close, he slid his hand lower, massaging her clit with his hand at the same time he braced himself for his own orgasm, his balls drawn up tight, as he forced himself to hold back until she came.

  And she did, with a full-body spasm. “Kane, I’m coming. God, harder. I need it harder.”

  He slammed into her and she exploded beneath him, her entire being stiffening, then shuddering in release. He let go then, his climax overtaking him, mind and soul. He spurted into her over and over, losing what was left of his senses and his bo
dy inside this spectacular woman.

  And when it was finished, she collapsed beneath him, falling to the mattress as he tumbled on top of her. Reality was far away as he struggled to catch his breath, but he knew he couldn’t crush her much longer, so he pulled out and off her.

  He felt the loss as he detached from her body and rolled to his side. He rose, got rid of the condom and returned to bed, pulling her into him as he struggled to return to his senses.

  He wasn’t sure how much time passed before a light giggle sounded beside him. “Halley?”

  “That was spectacular,” she murmured, pushing herself deeper into the cocoon of his body.

  “Yes, it was.” He wrapped an arm tighter around her because she wasn’t pulling away and he took that as a huge win.

  Then again, they’d agreed on great sex. They hadn’t said as much, but taking things as they came pretty much defined casual to him. Not that anything he’d felt tonight had been casual.

  He’d had his share of women and he’d had good sex. He’d never had blow-his-mind, off-the-charts, nobody-else-would-do sex before Halley. And something told him he never would again, so he’d better fucking find a way to keep her in his bed… and in his life.

  Chapter Six

  Halley woke up earlier than Kane, but the fact that she’d slept while he was in her bed was a surprise. That she’d fallen asleep at all and remained out as long as she had, a bigger shock. No explanations about her insomnia needed, she thought in relief.

  Lifting his arm off her body, she slipped out of bed, feeling sore in all the best possible ways. Her body wasn’t used to sexual activity and she liked the feeling of knowing she’d been with Kane. And it had been incredible. It was one thing to be sexually compatible or to have an okay time in bed, another to practically have an out-of-body experience like she had last night.

  She was wide awake with the overwhelming desire to express herself. So she dressed in an oversized tee shirt she often worked in because it fell to her knees, covering enough of her from paint splatter. Then she washed up and headed for her easel to work while the sun rose in the morning sky.

  She was lost in her own world, she had no idea for how long, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

  “Hey,” Kane said in a gruff, sexy morning voice.

  She tilted her head back to meet his gaze and he treated her to a kiss on the lips. Her entire body sizzled at the touch of his mouth on hers.

  “I like this,” he said, hands in his jeans pockets as he gazed at the painting. “It’s different from what you dropped off at the gallery this past weekend. Brighter, more… joyful.”

  She nodded, surprised he’d noticed, a warm feeling flooding her because he had. “Yes. I’ve seen a change in the last week or so.” She shrugged because she couldn’t pinpoint why, and placed her brush down. “Are you hungry?” Or was he in a rush to leave?

  “I don’t want to put you out. I can grab something on my way home. I want to shower, change, and grab some things before I come back to work on the deck.”

  She rose to her feet. “You’re not putting me out. Let me feed you.” She was hungry herself and surprisingly comfortable with him after last night. “I’m in the mood for French toast.”

  “Oh, my God, you could spoil a man.”

  She laughed. “It’s a hazard for my figure but I can’t help it. I love cooking.”

  He spun her around, pulling her against him. “Your figure is perfect if you ask me.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  He tugged her head back and kissed her hard, his tongue sliding past her lips. His hands slid up under her shirt, his palms landing on her waist, his calloused hands gliding up her skin until his fingers caressed the underside of her breast.

  “Mmm,” she said, rising up on her toes to kiss him more thoroughly.

  “Not sure I need anything sweet for breakfast if I have you.” He nipped at her lower lip.

  Before she knew it, he’d scooped her up and carried her back to bed. “Kane!”

  “What? Isn’t this better than breakfast?” He teased her with another kiss and the thrust of his hips against hers.

  Before they could get any further, the doorbell rang. She groaned.

  “Expecting anyone?” he asked.

  She shook her head as he rolled off her.

  She glanced down at her bare legs, but she was covered enough, she supposed. She headed for the front door and looked through the peephole. She didn’t recognize the woman outside, but a feeling of déjà vu stole through her, like she ought to know her or she’d met her before but just couldn’t place her.

  She was older than Halley, with light brown hair that wasn’t styled and hung long and straight around her face, no makeup, and she was drawn and tired-looking.

  Again, that uneasy feeling crept through Halley. She knew but didn’t want to face it. Wary, she opened the door. “Yes?”

  “Halley?” the woman asked, almost expectantly.

  She gripped the door harder. “Do I know you?” You do, a voice in her head whispered. You know who it is.

  Her mouth ran dry.

  “It’s your mother.”

  Her knees almost buckled beneath her. Suspecting and being confronted by the truth were two different things. “Mom?” Her voice came out a croak.

  “It’s me, baby.”

  Halley remained frozen in place. “How did you find me?” she asked.

  Her mother twisted her hands in front of her, her nerves showing as much as Halley’s. “I looked you up.”

  “But I changed my last name,” Halley said.

  Her mother met her gaze. “I know. When I couldn’t find you under your father’s last name, Gifford, I thought about your aunt and how family-oriented she is. When I told her about you girls, she just wanted to bring you home and make you part of the family. So, I decided to take a chance and look under Ward.”

  She paused, wringing her hands, then said, “I admit I took your number from my sister.” She looked down, embarrassed. “But you’re my daughter and I wanted to speak to you. But I got nervous and hung up.”

  “So that was you,” she murmured, staring at the woman in front of her who was a stranger… but wasn’t.

  She nodded. “Aren’t you going to ask me to come in?”

  From behind her, she heard Kane approach. She didn’t know if she could handle this. Was it worse to do it in front of him or alone? she wondered, uncertain of the answer.

  “Halley? Are you okay?” he asked.

  She turned toward him and nodded. “It’s my mother,” she whispered.

  Kane’s eyes opened wide. He glanced over her shoulder at the woman waiting on the step. “Do you want me to leave you two alone?”

  She shook her head, realizing she’d automatically answered her own question. She didn’t want to do this by herself.

  She pivoted back to her mother. “I’m sorry. Come in,” she said, stepping back for her to enter.

  Her mother was wearing a pair of old jeans and a beat-up sweatshirt. She looked tired and not at all like the fairy-tale version Halley had liked to make up when she was young and in foster care.

  Her mother strode past Halley and stopped short when she saw Kane. “Who is this handsome man?” she asked.

  Thank goodness he’d put his tee shirt on with his jeans, since he hadn’t been wearing it earlier. Halley was uncomfortable with the way her mother was ogling Kane, as if she were looking her fill, no matter that he was younger.

  “I’m Halley’s boyfriend,” Kane said, stepping up and wrapping an arm around her possessively. His body heat flowed into her along with strength she badly needed.

  They might have agreed not to label themselves, but she had to admit she was grateful that Kane had stepped up and let her mother know someone was looking out for her. Just in case her mother was up to something like her aunt thought.

  “So…” Halley wondered what her mother wanted. If she’d outright ask for money or—

  “I
thought we could talk.”

  Halley nodded. “Come into the family room,” she murmured, gesturing toward the sofa in the big room where her easel sat in the corner.

  “Hey.” Kane pulled her back to him before she could follow her mother. “Are you sure you don’t want to be alone with her?”

  Despite having wanted a warm, bonding moment, Halley was still uncomfortable with the woman who’d given birth to her. “If you don’t mind staying? I don’t want to put you in an awkward position, though, so if you want to go—”

  “If you want me, I’m here.” He squeezed her hand, then waited for her to be ready to head into the room where her mother waited.

  She drew a deep breath and walked toward the family room, Kane at her back.

  They settled on the sofa. Her mother had chosen a chair nearby.

  “Look at you, all grown up,” her mother murmured.

  Halley blushed, not knowing what to say.

  “And this house is beautiful.” Her mother rose and walked toward the sliding glass doors overlooking the beach. “Look at that view.” She stared out at the ocean for a few long seconds before turning around and reseating herself on the chair. “So tell me about yourself,” she said.

  “Well, I paint.” Halley gestured to the easel where her current work sat.

  “Oh! I’d love to see!” Jumping up, her mother walked over to her small painting area. “Oh, beautiful! I love the colors.”

  Halley smiled. “Thank you. My work is displayed in the gallery in town.”

  Her mother clasped her hands together. “That’s wonderful.”

  “How have you been?” Halley asked.

  Her mother sobered, her expression less pleased than before. “It’s been difficult,” she said. “Adjusting to life and looking for work.”

  “I can imagine,” Kane said.

  “But you’re managing?” Halley asked, concerned.

  “Well…” Her mother started to speak, then seemed to change her mind, shaking her head. “I’m fine. I do wish your sister would see me, but she seems to feel the same way your aunt does. That I haven’t changed. That I’m only out for myself and that I’ll fall back into my old ways.” She shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.