She smiled, if a little bit sadly. “Somehow you would have gotten the information out of me.” She decided honesty might as well be the policy considering what she'd already told him. If he dropped her now...well, he wasn't worth keeping close. “What happened affected my relationship with men from that point forward.”
“I'll bet.” He reached for her hand again and this time he brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “You don't trust men?”
“Well, I trusted you. I slept in your house.”
“That says a lot.”
“But I never would've trusted another guy like that.”
“Are you saying even while in college and Costa Rica you haven't dated?”
She drew in a slow breath. “I had one boyfriend in Costa Rica. Another volcanologist.”
“Beyond the vegan doctor?”
“Yep. It never went too far. We weren't compatible, and the sex was...I think I was holding back. I wasn't engaged enough. I couldn't...”
Her face heated when she almost admitted the nitty-gritty. Hell, she'd already told him things she'd never explained to another man, and that blew her mind to bits.
His voice went low and soft. “Couldn't climax?”
Her face turned hotter, and she hated that he had the ability to discompose her this way. She looked away. “Yeah.”
He tilted her chin up so she had to look at him, and she couldn't avoid meeting that platinum gaze. “Have you ever had an orgasm?”
She gave him an embarrassed smile. “Yes. On my own.”
“Damn.” His eyes smoldered with interest. “I'd love to help you with that. I'd love to watch.”
The sensuality in his voice stoked a flame already simmering inside her. “I'll bet you would.” Another idea came to mind, and she rushed forward, unable and unwilling to hold back anymore. “Just watch?”
“Hell no.” He kissed her hand again. “Cassidy, if you want...tonight or any night we're free and you want...I'd love to be with you.”
She licked her lips, fired up at the idea. Doubts remained deep. She wrinkled her nose up. “I’m not sure I could climax with a man's help.”
He shifted on the seat, and when she looked down she noted he was supporting a hard on again. “Maybe if you were totally in control. If you told me how, when, and where. What you wanted me to do.”
“Sounds wonderful.” And it did. She'd never experienced that kind of control.
His gaze dropped to her chest. She knew her nipples had to show through the thin bra and top. The way he looked at her emboldened her confidence and made her body yearn.
“Let's do it,” she said.
Another country song came on, and this one had a sweet, slow sound in a light female voice.
“Want to dance?” he asked.
“No.” Suddenly she couldn't stand waiting. “Take me to your place.”
His eyebrows went up, doubt clear. “You're sure?”
She leaned forward, putting her heart into her words. “I've never been more sure of anything in my life.”
Five
Cassidy followed Jeremy back to his house. All the while her nerves jumped and fired, and the excitement sang inside her. She was learning new things about herself she never expected. She especially hadn't anticipated both of them feeling this bold. Okay, maybe she didn't find it surprising that he wanted her as he did. She'd realized from the moment their eyes met in the motel room that he wanted her. That kind of male attention couldn't be mistaken for anything else.
Doubts couldn't derail her, which she found amazing and freeing. Urgency filled her veins and mind. When they reached his place, she left her rental quickly and they met on the sidewalk. He took her hand and smiled as he led her inside. Tonight would prove something special, and she knew it all the way to her soul. How she knew it didn't matter—she could never explain it. Once inside the house and after he locked the door, she expected him to launch into a kiss. Instead he wandered to the stereo equipment at one side of the room. Lighting spilled over the living area, but the dim illumination served as a warm backdrop rather than a harsh reminder of reality. Tonight she no longer wanted stark truth. She wanted illusion no matter how short a time.
He turned on music, found a country station. A man crooned about love everlasting, and even if she hadn't believed in it before, the voice would make her believe it now.
She smiled as they wandered toward each other and met in the center of the room. “Country music again.”
“Don't like it?” His answering grin was mischief personified. “What about this?”
He found another set of music, this one languid, rich with sex. The sensuality of the song smoothed over her, promising to ignite new passions.
“Wow,” she said.
He laughed softly as his hands touched her forearms and drifted with excruciating slowness upward. Everywhere he touched became fully alive, as if someone had wired her especially for his caress. Tingles raced over her skin as she palmed his chest. She stopped, her fingers over his pecs. Hard muscles flexed as he hissed in a breath. She liked how she affected him, watched as his eyes went dark with obvious need. With a gentle touch he cupped her left hand in his right and slid his other arm about her waist.
“Dance,” he said with a grin.
As he'd promised, they took it slowly. Their bodies barely brushed. Whatever happened between them tonight, Cassidy understood it would be special. The music didn't pluck her emotions with a twang, but coaxed as it tutored in the ways of love. When they’d finished dancing to that song, another one came on. The lyrics added to her arousal, forcing her to think of what she hoped to do with him and to him.
* * *
“You're touching me, making me forget about strife,
We don't have anything but this moment, this beautiful life.
Take me to the place where you go,
And I'll stay with you no matter where you fly,
Here in this genuine place, we'll love no matter how, no matter why.”
* * *
The song grew on her by the minute, and he came closer by the second. They still didn't brush their bodies together, and she'd have to make the next move. Soon, as they circled the small area near the couch, she found her arms around his neck, her face buried in his shoulder. His hips moved against her, and she couldn't resist the sensation of hard cock wanting her this much. She hadn't resisted moving closer, the want growing by the minute. Her nipples pinched tight and tingled, and her pussy moistened as she ached between the legs. Urgency pulled at caution, destroyed it until all she wanted was to strip him naked. As he gave up all pretense of keeping her at a distance, she moved sinuously and brushed against his hips, his chest.
He moaned softly. “Damn, you're making this hard.”
She laughed. “I know. I can feel it.”
He returned her mischievous grin. “That's not what I mean.”
She wouldn't let him get away with being obtuse. “What do you mean?”
“I wanted to go slow, but you're burning up in my arms,” he said huskily.
She knew her eyes had to convey her wicked thoughts, and she loved it. “I thought this was about what I want. So if I want fast, I want fast.”
Cassidy knew she'd shocked him--or at the least surprised him. She'd thought she wanted it slow, until this crazy, amazing time in his arms changed her perception.
He cupped her face, lowered his lips to just above hers. “Whatever you want. However you want. It'll never be anything but safe.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, his gentleness turning up the heat on her desire.
She slid her hands up to his shoulders and tested his strength, then to the rough stubble along his strong jaw. She breathed deeply and caught his musk, a male scent that tantalized her to the edge. She slipped her glasses off and left his arms just long enough to put them on a table. When she came back to his arms he gathered her close and kissed her nose. His hard chest pressed her breasts and his cock felt like a long, thic
k bar of need. She wanted and craved, and as desire overwhelmed her, she gave into it. She accepted his fervent kiss, whimpered softly as he took her mouth with drugging intensity. His tongue stroked and tasted as she writhed in slow motion against solid muscles. Moving in his arms, she flicked her tongue against his, took him as he took her. His palms slid over her back, and she forgot dancing. The crooner had changed, the song a throbbing, low beat that promised sultry sex. While she'd never been the romantic type, she recognized pure animal need and desire. People could say what they wanted about hearts and flowers but this--oh this was raw and primordial. Pure, untainted desire. She didn't need or want to worry that tomorrow she could regret a hook up with nothing behind it but lust and longing. She'd thought if she ever found a man like him, if she ever felt as safe and ready to make love with a man as she did Jeremy Tate, that she'd want a tender, easy, traditional lovemaking. Surprise, surprise, but it wasn't so.
And as his lips trailed tenderly over her cheek and feathered over her ear, she shivered with a rampaging desire. The ache between her legs increased into a crazy need. She wriggled and sighed as he licked her earlobe. As he worked his way across her neck, she quivered at the pleasure. Her fingers thrust into his super short hair, and the silky cool strands teased her fingers. She found even that stimulated, and her nipples went harder, caressed by the inside of her bra, eager to feel his fingers and his mouth. He palmed her butt cupped and squeezed.
“Tell me what you want,” he asked softly.
Her voice rasped. “Really what I want?”
“Yes.”
Tell him. Tell him.
She pulled out of his arms, slipped the shirt off her shoulders and pulled the tank over her head and tossed them away. In a moment that could have been awkward, but wasn't, she leaned over and unlaced her small leather boots, she pulled them off, stripped away the socks and kicked it all aside.
“Damn.” His chest rose and fell, his eyes blazing with obvious appreciation.
The bra she wore was slightly padded, and she couldn't wait a moment more to get rid of it. She unhooked it and also threw it aside to land who knew where. She unbuttoned her pants, zipper, and drew her panties off with the pants and threw everything on the back of the couch. She stared at him, watching the way his pupils dilated, and a flush heated his face. Oh, yeah. He wanted her all right. His gaze drifted from her face to her breasts and down to settle on the patch of hair at the juncture of her legs.
“The bedroom,” she said, reaching for his hand. He led them to the bedroom, and she said when they reached the doorway, “No lights.”
“Whatever you want.”
The idea she controlled the situation brought a fresh rush of heat and moisture to her feminine folds. “Even if it's unexpected?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes adjusted quickly as he kept hold of her hand and brought them to the bed. She'd never known the turn on that could come with knowing she could order him to do this and that, and it surprised her. She didn't dwell on it. Instead, she reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. He allowed her to drag the material over his head and off, baring his chest and stomach. She unbuckled his belt.
“Wait,” he moved away long enough to remove his boots, socks and wrestle off white briefs and his jeans.
When he came back to her, she could still see the sculpted lines of his chiseled torso. Incredible, carved arms and chest, and the dark hair that fanned over his pectorals and took a line down his six-pack stomach. His cock was long and thick and ready for her. Without a doubt she understood what she needed.
She touched his erection, circling it in her palm and savoring hot smooth skin over spike hard man. “I want this now.”
He sucked in a breath. “God, sweetheart.” His hand circled hers, holding her there and keeping her from stroking him. “Are you sure?”
“We can go slowly later.”
He smiled, his eyes twinkling with a combination of delight and serious heat.
She released him long enough to lay back on his king sized bed. She had to have him before she could doubt, before she could imagine how sex had never worked before and may not this time. He reached into a drawer in his bed stand, found a condom. As he drew the rubber over his length, the ache between her legs grew tenfold.
He came over the top of her, parting her thighs and settling on his forearms. He smiled, the grin seductive and sweet. “Tell me what you want.”
A new rush of power overcame her. “Touch me.”
“Where?”
“Between the legs.”
He rolled to the side and as she parted her legs slightly, he slipped his fingers between them. With a deliberate but gentle exploration, Jeremy tested the generous cream that proved how aroused she was. She closed her eyes and gasped at the tingle that built moment by moment.
“Oh, baby, you're so wet,” he said softly.
All she could manage was, “Hmmm.” His fingers spread cream over her clit, and she gasped. “Please, Jeremy.”
“What do you need? Tell me exactly.”
She threw her arms around his neck and brought him down. “Take me now.”
He shifted over her once more, keeping his weight off her. He lowered his hips between her thighs and his thickness probed between her wet folds. She needed to do this with her eyes closed, to savor every delicious moment in case it never happened again. He teased her with the tip, the length of him intimidating and exciting all at once. He flicked his tongue over one nipple and she gasped as pleasure darted in a line straight to her clit. With slow, tantalizing thrusts he moved an inch into her, then out, two inches and out, every thrust deeper and deeper.
“More,” she gasped the word. “Now.”
He sucked her right nipple into his mouth and thrust his entire length into her, spread her wide and so, so deep. She groaned, blown away by the twin pleasures of his mouth sucking her nipple and his cock plunging a path as deep as it could go. He rested there, and he absorbed the incredible feeling while he flicked his tongue over one nipple and then the other.
“These are so beautiful,” he said, his voice ragged. “So damned pretty.”
She moaned, moving her hips. It made his cock slide deeper, slide so full and tight. His hips thrust again, the teasing a torment as each caress made his cock brush over and against a place inside her she hadn’t believed existed until now. The sensation of his hardness inside her sensitive flesh was too much. She wouldn't last long. He gyrated slowly, circling his hips with a maddening cadence. Pleasure rose, a sweet, heightened feeling so earth-shattering she knew it wouldn’t be long. It was building high and fast.
He growled low, the primitive guttural sound bringing another rush of desire. She was so wet and she could feel it. He held himself deep, pressing and pressing until she couldn't stand it. She grasped at his shoulders, her head tossing back and forth as he sucked and licked one nipple and then the other.
“You’re teasing me,” she said, her tone demanding. “You’re teasing me.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
He drew his cock out slowly then thrust deep, the movement languid and slow, each movement sure.
She writhed under him, thoughts obliterated. Before he could complete a half-dozen excruciatingly slow strokes, she exploded into orgasm. She cried out, shaking under the incredible heat that roared from her loins straight upward in a wild rush. She went limp under him, and he made one more stroke before he came apart in a deep-throated groan. He rolled off and gathered her in his arms, his strong arms cradling her close.
He petted her hair, the caress gentle. “God, that was…”
“Wow.” She smiled. “I’ve never…well, you know that. But I didn’t expect it so fast…”
“I’m sorry. This didn’t happen the way I expected—”
“No. Don’t apologize. It was just what I wanted. You said it was just what I wanted.”
He kissed her hair. “Good.”
Neither one of them seemed capable of another coheren
t statement, and within moments she fell asleep.
Jeremy woke up to the soul-shaking sensation of hot, wet mouth around his cock. He groaned, wondering if the pleasure was dream-induced or real. Let it be real.
He was on his back, arms spread wide and legs parted. His eyes flew open and sure enough, Cassidy knelt between his parted thighs, her right hand wrapped around his erection, her mouth joining the play. She made a motion, up and down, designed to drive him crazy. She looked up him, her gaze direct as she sucked him off with a talent he’d never guessed she possessed. Hell, he’d imagined her doing this to him, but he sure-as-fuck hadn’t expected they’d end up like this so soon. Assertively she pumped him, and his hips moved, adding to the motion. Bright morning light streaming under the blinds gave sufficient illumination to witness the torture.
“Don’t stop,” he said.
She licked his cock, drawing her tongue up one side and then the other. She painted him with languid strokes, faster and faster. Hell, he hadn’t lasted long with her earlier, and now he felt as if he wouldn’t last again. She didn’t stop, and in seconds he went off like a geyser, his groan full and long and right from the gut. Pleasure about popped his head off, a shout roaring through his throat again and again. All the while, he felt her mouth over him, her tongue still teasing as she took his liquid down her throat.
While his mind turned to mush and caught his breath, she crawled up his body and lay on top of him. He opened his eyes. Her slim body draped over him, and without her glasses her eyes were particularly clear and full of mischief. He snuggled her against him, enjoying her weight. She smiled, and everything inside him came to a full-on need to fuck again.
Her eyes widened, and her lips parted. “Again?”
He returned her smile, as surprised as she was. “Yeah. Hell, that’s never happened to me. Maybe when I was nineteen. But a woman’s never turned me on this fast.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
She yawned. “Wonder what time it is.”
“Too damned early to ask. Come here.”
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