by Carrie Elks
“I just want to escape from it with you.”
Until he said it, Josh didn’t realize how much he wanted that escape. Needed it. Needed her to push it all away until it was only the two of them and nothing else.
His body ached for her in a way he didn’t understand. But he was giving into it nonetheless.
A blush stained her cheeks as her eyes locked with his. “I want that, too.” She put her silverware on the plate, her chest rising and falling with her breath. “It sounds like heaven.”
“Have you finished?” He glanced down at her plate.
Holly nodded.
“Then come here,” he said, his voice thick and low.
Her breath hitched. “I should clean up.”
“Leave it. I’ll do it later.”
She bit her bottom lip and stood, and he reached for her hand, pulling her toward him until she was straddling his muscled legs. He inhaled sharply, the sweet smell of her perfume invading his senses.
He was as hard as a rock, aching with need for her. She was staring at him with those wide, melted chocolate eyes, and he felt like the king of the damn world. “I want to make you feel so good you forget your name,” he told her. “And call out mine instead.”
Her eyes grew wider still. She shifted on his lap, the movement making his cock thick with pleasure.
“I want to taste you until you arch your back off my bed. I want to be covered in you.” He ran his finger over her lips, and she exhaled softly. Her face was flushed, her chest high. He could feel her thighs clenching his. “I still remember how sweet you taste.”
She ran her hands up his chest, her palms brushing his nipples, and he had to bite his lip not to let out a groan.
“You’re full of promises,” she murmured. “But will you deliver?”
They shared a smile. “If I don’t,” he said, standing, and lifting her into his arms. “You can sue me.”
“I always play to win.”
Josh had said that to her in the Cold Fingers Café, when she’d refused to admit she remembered him. And now, as he stared down at her, his eyes heavy-lidded, his full lips parted, Holly wondered if he knew that he’d already won.
There was an intensity to him that took her breath away. After their kisses got hot and heavy, he’d threaded his fingers through hers, wordlessly taking her to his bedroom and kicking the door shut.
His bed was a California King that dominated the room, the thick mattress barely giving as he lay her down on it, her dark hair fanning out around her like a halo. He stood at the foot of it, his burning eyes raking down her body, his jaw set tight as he slowly slid his hands along her stockinged legs from her calves to her thighs.
Her chest hitched as he reached the seam of her stockings, his fingers sliding onto her bare, soft skin. His thumbs pressed into the sensitive flesh of her inner thighs, the ridge in his jeans thickening as he ghosted them over her satin panties.
Hooking his hands beneath her thighs, he hitched her legs up, pulling her toward the end of the bed. Dropping to his knees, so his gaze was in line with her body, he pulled her stockings down one by one, throwing them to the floor before returning to touch her once more. His hands were firm and sure as they slid back up her legs, his mouth soft as he pressed open kisses against her thighs. Holly had to grip the bedcovers to stop herself from arching her back, closing her eyes as he pressed his nose against her damp panties.
“You smell like I’ve died and gone to heaven.” His voice was rough.
“Don’t die yet.”
He chuckled and hooked his thumbs into her panties, dragging them down before pushing her legs further apart, lifting them over his shoulders to give him better access to her aching core.
She should have known he’d be good at this. But it still came as a shock when he found the sweetest of spots with the tip of his tongue, sending shockwaves of pleasure through her body. He softly licked her again and again. It was too much and not enough. A maddening pleasure that made her want more.
Then he pushed his face against her, sucking her between his lips, the vibration of his moan making her clench hard. Damn, he was really good at this.
“Watch me.”
She propped herself up on her elbows, his dirty gaze catching hers, and he pulled at her again. She was still wearing her dress – and Josh was fully clothed. The carnality of his touch and his tongue was overwhelming.
She was twenty-eight years old. She’d had boyfriends, a fiancé. She wasn’t inexperienced, for goodness sake. But she’d never seen a man so intent on giving pleasure. He slid a finger inside her, then another, hooking them to hit the spot that made her back lift off the bed.
With his free hand, he pushed her back down, his hand firmly on her stomach as he sucked and licked until vibrant colors appeared behind her tightly closed lids. Her breath was stilted and fast, her heart hammering against her chest, and the pleasure… she wasn’t sure she could take much more.
“I’m going to…”
His eyes softened, as though he was smiling against her. Then he slid a third finger in, the pressure making her eyes widen before it tipped her over the edge. She trembled around him, the power of her orgasm making every muscle in her body tense. He slowly slid his fingers in and out, coaxing every last piece of pleasure, before pulling them away and sliding them between his lips.
“Take your dress off,” he said. He watched, fully clothed, as she pulled it over her head. “And the bra.”
She did as instructed, unhooking it and throwing it to the floor. His eyes flashed, a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re beautiful.”
“And you’re overdressed.”
His smile widened. He took his time undressing, unbuttoning his shirt to reveal a broad, muscled chest with a slight covering of hair. Holly swallowed hard, her gaze dropping as he unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his jeans, taking his time as though he was completely in control of the situation.
All that was left were his dark shorts, the thick outline of his desire jutting against the black fabric. She could see his plush tip pushing at the waistband, and she swallowed hard, because damn, he was bigger than she’d remembered.
With his shorts still on, he grabbed a condom from his wallet, then climbed onto the bed, caging her in with his arms. He fingered a loose tendril of hair that had fallen against her cheek, his expression almost tender as he pressed his lips to the dip at the bottom of her neck.
“Are you okay?” he murmured. His lips glistened from her.
“More than okay.” She reached up, sliding her fingers into his hair. Their eyes met, and her chest contracted.
He was so damn beautiful she wanted to cry.
Instead, she slid her hand down between them, dipping inside his shorts to circle her palm around him. Josh let out a low groan, closing his eyes as she slowly moved her fist, her thumb circling the moistness at the tip of his hardness.
“If you keep doing that I’m going to mess up my shorts.”
She laughed at his warning. “Maybe that’s what I want.”
Josh shook his head. “No you don’t. You want me inside you.”
Her breath caught, because he was right. She did.
There was an emptiness inside her. A void that only he could fill. She wanted to feel the thickness of him as he made her his. To feel the warm tautness of his chest against the soft swell of her breasts.
Holly tugged impatiently at his shorts. Josh moved so she could pull them over his muscled thighs, her fingers grazing against the soft hair that covered his calves. Then he was naked, too, looming over her in all his glory, and she felt her chest tighten again.
What was wrong with her? She felt like she was on the edge of tears. She blinked them away as he slowly brushed his lips against hers.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “I need you inside me.” She ran her finger along the ridge of him and the sound of his moan grounded her.
The rip of the condom packet echoed through th
e silence. He slid it on, then held himself at the base, sliding himself against her slick warmth, lining himself up with the part of her that needed him the most.
She held her breath, as he kissed her again. His lips warm and hungry. Dropping his brow against hers, he slowly pushed himself inside her until he’d filled her to the hilt. For a moment he held himself still, allowing her to become accustomed to the pressure, and she looked at him through half-open eyes.
His jaw was tight, his eyes burning. He took her calves in his hands and pushed her legs up, so her knees were hitting her chest, her calves grazing his shoulders. She was open to him. Vulnerable and oh-so-needy. His throat undulated as he swallowed. Then he rocked his hips until he almost pulled out, before he pushed back into her, building the rhythm between them.
She could feel it again. The pleasure built inside her, stroke by stroke, coiling and hissing until another release was inevitable.
Josh pressed his lips to hers, his tongue caressing and sliding, his skin heavy and slick as he rocked them both to oblivion.
“If you forget me after this, I’m quitting sex for good.”
She laughed against his mouth, then gasped because damn, he knew how to angle his body. She grasped onto his shoulders, her body arching to meet his, her toes curling with anticipation of the release his body promised.
“I knew you would feel like this. So tight. So good.” His rhythm increased, his jaw tightened, and his fingers dug into her hips as he held her. “Should have done this before. Should never have left.”
Tears stung at her eyes again. Her throat felt so tight it was getting hard to breathe. “Josh…”
“Say my name again.” His voice was as rough as his movements. His body was slick with perspiration.
“Make me feel good, Josh.”
Without missing a beat, he pushed his hand between their bodies, his fingers coaxing pleasure as he began to throb inside her. When it came, the wave was almost unbearable. It lifted her up so high that all she could do was cling to him, crying out his name as she convulsed around his thick, hard length.
Then he was joining her in pleasure. His groan low and thick, his hips stilling as he pulsed hard and hot. “Holly.” He kissed her roughly, releasing his hold on her so she could collapse bonelessly against the mattress.
For a moment they lay there, his hard weight intensifying the ache, his slow kisses, making her feel so wanted it almost hurt.
“I need to pull out,” he warned her. Holly nodded, still trying to regain the power of speech. Securing the condom with his fingers, he pulled his hips back, and the sudden loss of fullness made Holly sigh.
She was already missing him and he was still here.
“Don’t move,” he told her. “I’m just heading to the bathroom then I’ll be back.”
“I don’t think I could move if I wanted to.”
He laughed and walked away, and yes, she ogled his perfect ass, because perfection deserved to be admired. A minute later, he was back with a warm washcloth and a towel, telling Holly to stay still as he cleaned her up, his movements gentle against her sensitive skin.
“Would you like a drink?” he asked her.
“Water would be good.”
He gave her a smile, as though pleased with her answer. “Anything else? A sandwich? Some chips?”
She grinned. “I think you already filled me up.”
Josh chuckled and grabbed his shorts, pulling them on and walking out of the bedroom. Holly lay back on the bed, staring up at the white ceiling, her breathing still stilted.
He was an attentive lover. She’d expected that. But she hadn’t expected the sweet softness afterward. It made her feel warm and wanted, and so damn confused.
And despite the aching between her legs, and the sheen of perspiration covering her body, she wanted more. So much more.
15
“Closing a deal like this shouldn’t take so long. Why aren’t you home yet?” His grandfather sounded less tetchy than usual. Maybe a few days without his wife had mollified him. “Do you need me to come out there and sort things out?”
Josh shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips. Even a telephone conversation with his grandfather wasn’t dampening his mood today. Not after a night with Holly Winter.
She was still in his bed, fast asleep. He didn’t have the heart to wake her up. Not after they’d spent most of the night with him inside her. She needed the rest, from the way she was snoring.
He reminded himself to tease her about that.
“It’s all under control,” Josh said into the headset Willa had ordered for him. He was scanning today’s Wall Street Journal as they spoke, lifting a steaming mug of coffee to his lips.
“So when are you coming home?”
“When I’m ready.”
His grandfather grunted. “I don’t like it. You need to be in the office. The staff will start slacking off if you aren’t there. You know what it’s like, Christmas begins earlier every year. I bet they think every day is a party when you’re not there.”
“I trust my team. They work hard. And anyway, with all the technology I have it’s like I’m in the office.”
“It’s not the same,” his grandfather grumbled. “Do you have a date for your return?”
The bedroom door opened and Holly walked out. She was wearing his t-shirt, her long, bare legs making his body respond. Her dark waves were coiled into a messy bun on the top of her head. When their eyes met he gave her a long slow smile, pointing to his headset to let her know he was on a call.
She nodded and walked toward him, grabbing his half-drunk cup of coffee and lifting it to her lips, taking a long sip. The intimacy of the action made his smile widen.
Then she hooked her leg over his, straddling him, her hands still cradling the cup.
“I don’t know when I’m coming home yet.” Josh held his breath as he hardened at her closeness. “Probably after Christmas. Once everything is finalized.”
He’d made that decision last night. He couldn’t leave. Not yet.
“After Christmas?” Grandpa shouted. Holly bit down a smile, then leaned forward to press her lips against Josh’s throat. He shifted her slightly, the tumescence of his need almost painful.
“I want everything finalized. The escrow goes through on the twenty-sixth. After that nothing can go wrong.”
“Wanna bet?” Holly mouthed. He grinned at the challenge in her raised brows.
“But what about Christmas? It’s a time for family,” his grandfather protested.
“We never celebrate Christmas. It’s not a big deal.” He was getting bored of this conversation. He wanted to end it and bury his face between Holly’s thighs. Then he wanted her to ride him in this chair until neither of them could walk.
And after that he probably needed to do some work.
“I still don’t understand it. This isn’t like you, Josh. Surely there’s nothing you have to do there that you couldn’t do remotely from the office.”
Josh ran his hand up Holly’s bare thigh, biting down a smile as she closed her eyes in appreciation. “There are a few things that are difficult to do remotely.”
“Like what?”
Like Holly Winter.
She was kissing his neck again, leaving a trail of warmth along his skin as she caught his earlobe between her teeth.
This woman was going to be the death of him.
“I need to go,” he said, his voice strangled as she rolled her hips against him. “I have another call to make.”
“But we haven’t finished,” his grandfather protested. “Who’s going to tell your grandma you won’t be home for Christmas?”
“Goodbye, Grandpa,” he murmured as Holly lifted the headset, placing it on the desk. He had the presence of mind to end the call before she looped her arms around his neck and pressed her chest to his, kissing him softly and warmly until his grandfather and work were all but forgotten.
Yep, he was definitely staying here for a while. H
e had things he needed to do in person, including making Holly moan his name as he took her to heaven with his mouth.
Everything else could wait.
“I really have to go,” Holly murmured. It was almost eleven o’clock in the morning, and he’d gotten nothing done. Apart from making love to Holly twice, including on his desk. The floor around it was currently surrounded by the files and papers he’d swept away to lay her body down on there.
“Stay here. You can lay on my bed and wait for me while I make some calls.” He was only half-joking. He really didn’t want her to leave. Not least because he wasn’t sure she’d come back again.
“You have work to do.” Holly smiled. “And so do I. And our work is diametrically opposed.” She was wearing last night’s dress, her hair brushed and pulled into a high ponytail, her skin glowing from the long, hot shower they’d taken together.
“How about we call a truce and spend the next few days in bed. The result will be the same, but the waiting will be so much more pleasurable.”
Holly lifted a brow, looking amused. “You’re only trying to win again.”
“Being in bed with you for the next few days would definitely be a win,” he murmured threading his fingers through hers.
She pressed her lips to his. “How about you agree to give up on redeveloping the town? Then I won’t have to fight you.”
“Where would be the fun in that?” He smiled sadly. “No can do.”
“That’s a shame.” Her eyes were still sparkling. “Anyway, I need to go back to the Inn and change. Plus my cousins are probably wondering where I am.”
“What are you going to tell them?”
She tipped her head to the side. “That I’ve been trying a new angle on you.”
He laughed at her innuendo, sliding his hands down to her hips. “Come back tonight. Bring a bag. I want you in my bed again.” It was crazy how much he wanted it. Wanted her.
She stared at him for a moment, her gaze open. “We really shouldn’t.” She sounded hesitant.