With These Two Hands

by Lori Ryan

  She swallowed hard, feeling a little like a hunted animal. “Yeah, uh right now, or, whenever.”

  He slid closer to her, closing the distance she’d put between them on the couch, and took her glass from her hand. He put both on the coffee table again then grasped her thighs and twisted her until her legs were laid out straight on the couch.

  “What are you doing?”

  He kept one hand on her abdomen and reached for the book he’d brought inside with them.

  She moved to sit up but he held her down. “Aaron.”

  “I thought maybe I’d read you a bedtime story. I mean, since we’re not going to fool around or anything, right?”

  Her face heated with embarrassment.

  “What’s wrong, Dr. Montgomery? Don’t you want to read some of your new book?”

  “Not with you.” She bucked against his hold and found it only aroused her more. Fantastic.

  He smiled, a wolfish grin. “I want to see if she gets in the carpenter’s pants.” Aaron studied the cover. “Wow, this is hot. The chick has her shirt half off. Shit, is that some nip I see?”

  She lunged for the book but he held it just out of her reach. God, she hated being so small. “Give it,” she said, sounding every bit like a bratty little sister.

  “I’ll give it to you,” he said, staring down at her. “But it will cost you.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  His large hand slid down her stomach, his fingers raising the hem of her shirt.

  She grabbed his hand to stop him. “My book,” she ground out. “What will it cost me?”

  His lips curled into a delicious smile that melted her insides. “Take off your shirt.”

  She swatted at his hand. “No.”

  He shrugged and thumbed through the book, stopping on one page she’d already dog-eared. “Oh, an excerpt Dr. Montgomery has so kindly marked for us.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s see, where did we leave our carpenter…” His lips moved as he skimmed the words.

  “Oh, give it to me.” She reached up to grab the book but again he held it beyond her reach. “Dammit, Aaron. It’s my book.”

  His hazel eyes cut to hers. “I’m already hard as stone. Did you read this shit?”

  She bit down on her lip. Yes, she had, and it had made it very difficult to say no to this man.

  “All of it, Candice. I want it all off.” Aaron began reading the book. His voice was deeper as if he were in character. “Shaw ran a hand over the smooth skin of Candice’s lower back, letting his fingers dip beneath the edge of her jeans. He wanted to see all of her. Touch all of her. Taste all of her.”

  Well, shit. She swallowed hard.

  Aaron continued, unfazed. “Candice moaned and Shaw thought he could easily fall to his knees and worship at her feet.” Aaron looked to Kayleigh and she thought for a minute, he might drop to his knees and act things out, too.

  Part of her wished he would. “Aaron,” she reprimanded but her tone sounded needy even to her.

  He continued despite her objections. “Candice turned and faced Shaw as she unbuttoned her jeans. Her eyes were locked on his as she drew the zipper down and shimmied out of them. It was possible he was drooling at this point, and it took every damned bit of restraint he had not to tear the clothes from her body.” Aaron glanced down at Kayleigh’s shirt. He worked his fingers up to her collar and with impressive dexterity undid two of her buttons with one hand.

  “Aaron,” she swatted him again.

  He smirked and turned his attention back to the book. “When she was standing before him in nothing but a lace bra and panties, Shaw ran his hands over Candice’s shoulders, down her sides, and around to the sweet curve of her ass.”

  Aaron stared down at her, his eyes lingering on her hips.

  She squirmed from his heated gaze.

  He cleared his throat and kept reading. “He lifted Candice, ignoring her gasp, and set her on the table behind her, sending nails and his hammer flying off with the move. He didn’t care. He pulled the straps of her bra down her shoulders, lowering it all the way to her waist to expose the breasts he’d been dreaming about for weeks. ‘I said all of it, Candice.’”

  Aaron closed the book and tossed it on the table. “Take off your shirt,” he demanded.

  Kayleigh stared at him for a long moment, wondering if he could see her heart beating out of her chest. It wasn’t the book that turned her on, it was the man reading it.

  To hell with trying to resist this. She couldn’t. It was stupid to even try. She knew she’d pay for it later when he eventually left, taking a piece of her heart with him but she couldn’t resist him right now.

  “You do it,” she whispered.

  A slow smile spread across his face. “With pleasure.” He leaned next to her on the couch as she lay on her back, legs extended. He undid each button of her blouse, his fingers tracing lower until her shirt lay open, her emerald green demi-bra exposed.

  “Christ, Kayleigh,” he growled.

  “You sound like the carpenter.” She laughed.

  He slid his finger into one of the cups of her bra and pulled it down, exposing one breast. He lowered his mouth, sucking on the pert nipple he’d exposed.

  “Oh, God,” she moaned, sliding her fingers into his hair. Without thinking, her body arched into him.

  He moved his attention to her other breast, pulling down the other side of her bra. Extending the same attention to her other nipple, he slid his hands around her ribs to her back until he found the clasp. With little resistance it snapped open.

  “Sit up,” he said, pulling away from her breast.

  She did as instructed. There was no way she couldn’t.

  He slipped her shirt and bra from her body and tossed them on the back of the couch.

  “What are we doing?” she asked to no one in particular. She knew this was a bad idea, but somehow, she didn’t want to stop.

  “I’m about to feast on your body. And you’re going to lay there and enjoy it.”

  “Oh,” she sighed. “Okay.”

  His mouth moved from one breast to the other then down her abdomen. He worked the button on her jeans and with little difficulty had her pants half way off her body.

  She grasped his hands.

  “We’re at your mom’s, Aaron. We can’t do this on her couch.”

  He smiled. “It was always a fantasy of mine to bring a hot chick home and bone her in my room.”

  “Nice.” She laughed. “You’re going to bone me in your childhood room.”

  “Among other places.” He winked. His fingers sunk into the waistband of her jeans but he hesitated. “Does no mean no, Dr. Montgomery? I won’t go any further if it does.”

  Shit, she was already halfway naked. And she wanted him more than she’d wanted anyone in a long time. What the hell? She shook her head.

  “Words,” he said. “You need to answer me in words so I know what you want.”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Yes, I can get you naked and feast on you?”

  She couldn’t stop the small laugh that slipped out. “Yes.”

  His smile widened as his gaze traveled down her half-exposed body. He pulled off her sandals then tugged at her jeans until they were gone, too.

  She lay on his mother’s couch in nothing but a tiny pair of lace panties. She moved to put one leg over the other to cover herself but he caught her by the knee.

  “You’re beautiful,” he sighed, lowering his face. His lips skimmed up her thighs. “Please don’t cover up.”

  She trembled as goose bumps spread over her skin.

  Slowly her knee fell back open, her legs spreading for him.

  His warm breath moved to the apex of her legs as he crawled on top of her, spreading her legs so he could kneel between them. He gently grasped behind her knee and pulled her leg up and over the top of the sofa.

  She was totally exposed to him, except for her barely-there lace panties. She opened her mouth to protest but stopped. She
felt defenseless to his touch, but somehow not quite vulnerable. This was Aaron and she trusted him.

  “Beautiful,” he sighed as he stared down at her.

  A slow smile spread across her face. She’d been at the center of society events many times during her life, but this was the first time she actually felt truly desired. She’d felt like nothing more than an object, a prize to be won, in the past.

  “You’re not so bad yourself, Dr. Sumner.”

  He laughed as he lowered his head, pressing small kisses against her stomach. His lips moved higher and sucked in a nipple as his hand moved down to stroke her over her panties.

  “Oh, God,” she said, pressing into him, her fingers digging into his thick hair.

  He sucked and laved at her breast, shooting sparks of desire directly where his fingers now moved against her.

  “Yes,” she said, her hands sliding down his arms.

  He broke free of her and sat up. Her body nearly cried out for the loss of his mouth on her nipples. Taking her hands in his, he slowly raised her arms above her head. “Hold on to the arm of the couch,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Wh-why?”

  “Because I said so.”

  Oh, no, he was bringing out the dominant pirate.

  She was so done. Rather than fight she gripped the couch and held on tight.

  He smiled like the rogue he was. His mouth returned to her breasts as his hips settled between hers but not for long. He moved lower, his jeans rubbing against her skin, creating a delicious friction. His warm breath wafted over her panties and she nearly came just from the heat of his mouth.

  His tongue pressed against the material of her panties and her bare chest rose and fell as she fought for breath. His pressure increased as a finger slid into the elastic, pulling her underwear to the side.

  “Jesus,” he said against her skin, “you’re so wet, all for me.”

  She bit down on her lip and turned her head into the couch.

  “I want this so bad,” he said. His voice vibrated against her over-sensitized skin.

  She couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, no longer cared that she was laying spread eagle on his mother’s couch. “Aaron,” she begged shamelessly. “Please.”

  He chuckled.

  “What?” she glanced down at him. His chin was resting on her lower abdomen.

  “Are you begging for it, Dr. Montgomery?” His lips curled into a delicious smile.

  “Yes,” she practically panted.

  He let out a low laugh.

  “Well, then, what are you waiting for?” She cocked a brow.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He bent his head lower then stopped. “Wait, I’m the pirate captain in this relationship.”

  “I mutinied. Don’t you remember?”

  He bowed his head. “At your service, my pirate queen.” He tucked his thumbs into the edges of her panties. “But first, we need to get rid of these.”

  He worked quickly, stripping her bare, using his mouth and fingers to drive her over the edge.

  “Oh, God, Aaron. Yes.” Her voice broke as she cried out.

  He spread her farther, the imprint of his fingers burning her skin.

  “Let it go, Kayleigh,” he breathed against her skin as his mouth did wicked things to her body.

  She did, bucking against him as she screamed out incoherent words. Her body shattered and convulsed for what felt like hours. When she finally fell back to earth, her breathing evened out as she gripped the arm of the couch above her head.

  Kayleigh was still a little light-headed but was almost positive she heard someone speaking behind them.

  She definitely heard cursing followed by the shuffling of feet on the wood floor. She sat up and watched in horror as Maggie and Ben tripped over themselves, backing out of the living room and into the kitchen.

  Aaron swore as he sat up and tossed a throw blanket over Kayleigh.

  “What the hell, Ben?” Aaron yelled from his spot on the couch as he gathered up Kayleigh’s clothes.

  Ben’s answer came in the form of him yelling through the kitchen door. “Our place is getting exterminated. Ma said we could stay here.”

  Kayleigh took her clothes and started to dress, aware Ben and Maggie could come through the door any minute. When she’d gotten her shirt and panties on, Aaron lifted her over his shoulder like a caveman.

  “Aaron,” she squealed.

  “We’ll be upstairs in my room,” he called out, as if carrying a half-naked woman through his mother’s house was nothing new.

  “Duly noted,” Ben said.

  Kayleigh glanced behind her as she hung upside down over Aaron’s shoulder. Maggie was glaring at her, arms crossed over her chest like a disappointed parent. “Oh, shit,” she whispered. So much for keeping things light and uncomplicated.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Kayleigh squeaked when Aaron dropped her on his bed.

  He watched in rapt fascination as her body bounced around on the mattress. More specifically her delicious breasts. She’d put her shirt on, but without a bra and with only a few of the buttons done up, the picture was more than enticing. He thought he’d been hard as stone downstairs tasting her on his tongue, but now.…

  Kayleigh rolled over, moving to get up but he straddled her hips and held her hands above her head. Her breasts were pulled taut, her nipples puckered in the evening air.

  He released one hand and pulled her shirt open. “Jesus,” he moaned staring down at her. “Never seen anything more beautiful than you, Kayleigh, spread out on my childhood bed.”

  “That’s sick,” she said, bucking him. “Let me up. Your brother saw my tits.”

  “Only for a split second.” He chuckled.

  “I’m not doing this, Aaron. Ben and Maggie are here. She’s probably pissed. She never wanted me messing around with you.”

  He lowered his head, his tongue tracing a path between her breasts. “Why?” His mouth slowly moved to one breast, capturing her nipple. He suckled hard and clamped his teeth down.

  “Oh, no, please,” she panted. “Maggie and Ben…”

  He laughed against her skin. “You said Maggie didn’t want you messing around with me. Why?”

  “I…I don’t remember. I can’t think when you’re…”

  His mouth moved up the delicate skin of her neck, sucking just behind her ear where he knew it drove her crazy.

  “They already knew,” he whispered in her ear.

  “What?” She jerked, trying to rise. “How? When?”

  “Don’t know, don’t care,” he said

  He sucked an earlobe into his mouth. “Why do you care?”

  “It’s my reputation. In the community.”

  He stopped and stared down at her. “So being involved with me would be detrimental to your reputation?”

  She sighed. “No, it’s not that, it’s…”

  He stayed above her, waiting for her response. When she gave none, he slowly released her hands. He didn’t want her to feel trapped.

  She’d been acting squirrelly all night. He’d been trying to ease her past her fears, but he didn’t want to force her to do something she didn’t want. Maybe there was more going on between them than he realized.

  She shook her head. “It’s just that you get to leave. We’re just temporary and in Chicago no one will know. For me, it’s different. I’m a woman, I have a practice here. People can’t think I’m hopping in and out of bed with men.”

  “Is the town that narrow-minded?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “Some people, I guess.”

  He leaned back on his knees making sure not to sit directly on top of her. “It’s more than that. What else?”

  Her eyes darted to the window.

  Now he was afraid to ask more. He went to move off her.

  “Wait,” she said, her hand stroking his jaw. “I’m sorry I’m being so…”

  ”Do you want this, Kayleigh?” He pointed between them.

  “I do, I just wanted
it to be ours, alone. You know? I don’t want everyone to know.”

  He could understand, somewhat. She was in a vulnerable position in the town.

  “Can we just be, I don’t know, careful for now?”

  He turned his head and gently kissed her palm. “Yeah, for now.”

  “Kiss me,” she said, smiling, her blue eyes dancing again.

  “Anytime, doctor.” He leaned over her, his lips pressing against hers.

  Her fingers dug into his hair, pulling him closer as her hips raised up against him. “Are you sure,” he whispered against her lips.

  She smiled. “Yeah.”

  He jumped off the bed and shucked his clothes.

  “Do you have a condom?” she asked.

  “Oh, shit. I almost forgot. Max had a box in the bathroom when he lived here.”

  “No way,” she said, sitting up on one arm.

  The moonlight cast a glow over her body, lighting her blonde hair on fire. The strands hung over her shoulders, brushing against her breasts. She was gorgeous.

  “What? Why?”

  She laughed. “You never heard the story?”

  “Uh, no, I don’t think so.” He stood there, completely nude, his dick pointing toward her like a divining rod looking for water.

  “That’s how Devlin ended up pregnant,” she said, falling back onto the bed.

  He grabbed for his jeans like a bumbling teenager, searching his wallet. Please, oh God, let him have a condom.

  “Apparently you really need to read the storage instructions on those things,” she continued.

  “What are you talking about?” Aaron was half listening, still praying for divine intervention as he searched for a condom. Shit. Nothing.

  “He’d had the box in the back of a rental car in Hawaii during the Pro Bowl in January.”

  “Okay,” Aaron said, about to pass out from loss of blood to his other appendage.

  “Heat wears down the latex, makes the condom less effective.”

  He stood straight up, all thoughts of finding his own condom gone. “Are you serious?”

  “Yep,” she nodded.

  “So those were the condoms he was using with Devlin?”

  “Supposedly.” She glanced over at him, her eyes fixated on his erection. “You okay over there?” she giggled.