Under Your Skin

by Shannyn Schroeder

  His hands slid around and cupped her ass. He lifted her up to him. She wrapped her legs around his hips, her hot center rubbing against his hard cock. The denim between them was killing him. He carried her to his bed and laid her down, flicking the bra open. Sliding her bra off, he stared at her chest. Nipples stood upright, begging for more attention. He tossed the bra aside and took a nipple in his mouth. The other he pinched lightly.

  Norah moaned and rocked her hips. A moan was good, but he wanted more. He wanted her to be as wild as she made him feel. He pushed his hips into her, letting her feel how hard he was for her. She grabbed at the back of his shirt and gathered the material, pulling it over the back of his head. He lifted his face for her to remove it completely.

  While he was up, he unbuttoned her jeans and hooked his thumbs in the sides to take them off. He debated on taking the panties with them, but he kept them in place. Her hips wiggled in invitation for him to continue. With her jeans gone, she was quite the sight splayed out on his bed. Dark hair spread out. Soft, pale skin, flush with desire.

  Nothing like a waiting woman’s body. He let his hands roam—over her neck, her shoulders, across her ribs to the edge of her underwear—until she whimpered.

  “Kai.” Her voice was strangled. “I like slow, but this is crazy.”

  Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Bracing her heels on the edge of the bed, she shimmied out of her panties. He immediately thought of her legs around his head. He’d get to the fast part soon enough. He grabbed her wrists in one hand and pulled them over her head.

  “I didn’t want those off yet,” he whispered gruffly in her ear.

  She bucked under him. “Well, I did. I want more.”

  She wriggled again and he realized she was using his hip to get off. He used his legs to pin her down and slid a hand between them. “Looking for this?”

  He stroked her clit. Swirled his finger over the nub knowing she liked that particular motion.

  “God, yes.”

  Her arms relaxed under the pressure of his hands. Her knees widened to give him better access. She was wet, but he still wanted more. He lifted his torso and lowered his mouth to her nipples again.

  She moved her hips. “Inside, Kai,” she begged.

  He could’ve used his hands, but he wanted the first thing inside her to be his cock. “Not yet.”

  He continued his manipulations until she was climbing him to seek release. Her hands yanked the band from his hair and she gripped him at the scalp. He held her tight as she rode the waves of her orgasm. As she started to come down, he kissed his way up her body, back to her mouth.

  “That was good,” she said against his lips.

  “Not screaming good, though.” He stood and took off his jeans and underwear. Grabbing a condom from the nightstand drawer, he slid it on. He ran his hands over her thighs and she opened in invitation. With a single finger, he stroked her. She felt plenty wet, but he asked, “Do you need lube?”

  “No, I’m good.” She pushed up on an elbow and looked at him suspiciously. “Why?”

  “I read that after a baby you might.”

  “You—”

  He felt stupid for saying it, so he cut her off with a kiss. Her fingers were gentle across his shoulders and up his neck. This girl was the master of making him stupid.

  * * *

  Norah could barely see straight much less think, but something pinged in her heart. She shifted and angled her body to line up with his dick. She desperately wanted him inside her; she had for weeks now. He rubbed against her, causing a jolt of pleasure from her clit spiraling through her every nerve.

  Then he pulled away again. She tightened her grasp on his hair and pulled his face up. When he looked into her eyes, she said, “Stop playing games.”

  “I’m playing by your rules. Enjoying myself.”

  He lowered his head and nipped at her neck. The following swirl of his tongue almost made her forget. When he moved like that, she’d let him do whatever he wanted. He was obviously good at everything.

  But when his lips pulled her nipple into his mouth again a steady throb of want reminded her how empty she was. She pulled his hair again. This time, when his eyes met hers, they weren’t playful. He disentangled her fingers and yanked her arms over her head again. Nose to nose, he said, “I told you I’m going slow. Move again and I’ll tie you like this.”

  She shivered partly because the idea thrilled her and partly because holy fuck Kai was hot when he got bossy. When he kissed her this time, he bit her lower lip, enough to leave a sting, and then went back to driving her crazy with his hands and mouth. He drove her to another orgasm with his tongue and still didn’t enter her with his dick or his fingers, but she was so relaxed she no longer cared.

  “Falling asleep?” His voice was gruff and hoarse and sexy.

  “No.” She licked her lips. “Let me use my hands and I’ll show you how unsleepy I am.”

  He looked up to where her arms extended, in nearly the same place he’d pushed them. She’d moved them briefly while she came, but he couldn’t hold her accountable. She wiggled her fingers at him. “It’ll be fun.”

  “I’m having plenty of fun.” He reared back and spread her knees. Then he sank between them, settling against her. With one hand, he guided himself into her.

  The motion stole her breath. He slid in and waited. “Okay?”

  She took a moment as her body adjusted to him. His heart raced in his chest against her and he had one hand possessively on her boob. She nodded and hooked her legs on his hips. He pulled back and eased in again, so fucking slow. The man was deliberate in every movement. She thrust up to meet his hips and he groaned.

  He released her boob and braced his elbows on each side of her and started a movement so rhythmic it was almost hypnotic. Norah had thought there was no way she’d come again. In general, a dick was not the way to get her there, but something about the press of Kai’s huge body on hers and the swivel of his hips had the tension coiling again.

  Kai reared up taking his body heat with him, causing another shiver. He grabbed her hips and brought her body high so she was basically lying only on her shoulder blades. He growled and drove into her fast and hard.

  He was a glorious sight above her. Dark, wild hair, dark skin with darker ink swirling everywhere. Muscles in his arms and shoulders bulged.

  “Come now, Norah.”

  “What?” Her mind blurred. “I can’t.”

  “Touch yourself.”

  When she didn’t move, he barked, “Now.”

  She moved a hand and bumped a finger against her clit, which sent shock waves through her. Every muscle in her body contracted and pulsed. She was briefly aware of Kai going still, but then he was on top of her again.

  They both gasped for breath. Her heart raced. She slid her hand out from between them and threaded her fingers through his sweaty hair. Holding him tight, she came back to the world, Kai’s room, the weight of his body on hers.

  He kissed her neck and pushed up. His arms seemed wobbly. “You okay?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  A buzzing caught their attention.

  “Shit.” Kai rested his forehead on her shoulder. “My phone.”

  With what appeared to be Herculean strength, he climbed off the bed and reached into his pants pocket. The phone had already stopped ringing, but he cursed again. Before she could ask who it was, he dialed. “What’s up?”

  “Uh, yeah.” He slid a look to Norah. “I thought she was staying there.” He wiped a hand across his forehead. “Yeah, okay.” He disconnected.

  “Problem?”

  “Jaleesa’s dropping my mom off. The kids wore her out.”

  Norah bolted up. “Jeez. How long till she gets here? Do I have time for a shower?”

  Kai’s fingers wrapped around her wrist. “Whoa. You’re not going anywhere.”

  “I am not having sex with you when your mom is here.” She swallowed and found her throat a little raw. With that recognition,
she realized other parts of her were feeling pretty tender too.

  He held her jaw and kissed her gently. “Take a shower. Relax. Spend the night. You’ve done it before.”

  “Yeah, but that was before . . .”

  “Before what?” The smirk on his face told her he knew exactly what.

  “Before you had me screaming.” She patted his thigh as she stood on wobbly legs. “Besides, I don’t think my body can handle any more of you tonight.”

  Oh yeah, the soreness was settling in as she moved across the room.

  Suddenly Kai was in front of her. “Did I hurt you?”

  “I’m fine.”

  He touched her jaw again and forced her to look up.

  “A little sore. It’s expected.” Worry stole across his face. She patted his cheek. “It’s a good kind of sore. Kind of like when you’re lifting weights in the basement, and when you’re done, you can totally feel it, but it was worth it.”

  He took her hand and led her to the bathroom. He started the water and when it was warm, he pulled her into the tub.

  Norah looked at his serious face. “Your mom will be here soon. I’ll be mortified if she catches us in the shower together.”

  “Shh. She won’t be here for at least a half hour.”

  He said nothing else. He simply washed her body and his. His touch wasn’t exactly clinical and his tenderness aroused a lazy lust in her. Tender was not a word she’d normally use to describe Kai, but it fit perfectly here. Something happened to her in the shower, with his hands on her, taking care of her. Her heart felt too big for her chest. She needed to get out because she knew that feeling.

  When they stepped from the tub, she patted herself dry and twisted the towel around her hair. She avoided looking directly at him because she didn’t want him to see that she was falling for him. He’d said she couldn’t hide anything.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Kai squeeze his hair and wrap the towel around his hips. Even though she’d seen him exactly like that many mornings, her mouth watered.

  “My mom will be here soon. You want to put clothes on or just stare at me like dessert?”

  Norah felt her skin go hot, and not in a good way. “I’ll get dressed and get out of here.”

  Kai blocked her path. “I told you to stay.”

  She stared at his chest. Specifically at the ornate compass tattoo inked over his heart. She didn’t believe for a minute that Kai let his heart act as his compass. “I should go. It’s late and your mom is going to want quiet.”

  “It’s nine o’clock.”

  It felt so much later. She didn’t have another argument.

  “Regrets?”

  She tipped her face up to meet his. “Not one.” She looked him in the eye to make sure he knew that was real.

  “Then stay.” His hand touched her jaw, his thumb caressing the corner of her mouth. Quietly, he added, “I have art for you to see.”

  “My dragonfly?”

  He nodded. Then he kissed her jaw and her ear. His breath sent a shiver through her.

  “Are you holding my dragonfly hostage to make me stay?”

  “If it works.”

  She stepped back and pulled the towel off her hair. “Fine.”

  That he wanted her to stay should’ve thrilled her. He could’ve easily had sex and then expected her to leave, but he wanted her here. She liked to think he enjoyed having her in his bed, waking next to her. But as usual, she was afraid of seeing what wasn’t there.

  * * *

  Kai waited in the bathroom while Norah got dressed. He didn’t trust himself not to want more. He didn’t know what had gotten into him. He was fine spending the night with a woman he’d had sex with, but he’d never craved it like he did with Norah. She continued to pull things from him that he never trusted.

  He wanted to take care of her.

  And that was all kinds of fucked up. He barely managed to take care of himself.

  When he got to the bedroom, Norah had a pair of stretchy pants and a baggy T-shirt on. It was as if she was trying to hide her body. She combed her hair, sending a fine spray of water over the shirt.

  He dropped the towel and stepped into a pair of sweatpants. Then he reached for her comb and ran it quickly through his hair and handed it back. “I’m starving. You hungry?”

  She bit her lower lip. “I shouldn’t be.”

  “I’d say we both should be. That was a workout and a half.”

  “I’m good.”

  “I’m ordering pizza. What kind do you want?”

  She sighed. “Get whatever you want to eat. Don’t worry about me.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed. “Is that because you’re leaving or because you don’t want to eat?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, figure it out. Pizza will be here in thirty.” He picked up his phone and called in his order. He shouldn’t pressure her into anything. Doing so would give her the idea that their arrangement might be more than it was supposed to be. It didn’t matter he wanted it to be more. She’d be moving on as soon as his mom did.

  The doorbell rang announcing Jaleesa and his mom. Norah looked up with wide eyes.

  With a smile he said, “Might as well stay now. There’s no sneaking out without her knowing.”

  She stood and crossed her arms. “Shows what you know. I could go out the back and no one would know.”

  “Except your car is in front. My sister probably parked behind you and already noticed.” He put an arm around her shoulder and led her from the room. “We’re both adults, remember? Adults fuck. And they sleep in the same bed.”

  “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one she’ll be grilling tomorrow.” In the living room, she separated from him and sat on the couch. Before he got to the door, she turned the volume up on whatever TV show she’d decided on.

  As soon as he opened the door, his mom said, “It’s about time.”

  “Sorry. I was changing.”

  She shuffled past him leaning on her cane more than she had been. “Saw Norah’s car.”

  Jaleesa followed her in and closed the door behind her. At their mom’s remark, she looked at him. As they made their way into the living room, she touched his arm. “Can we talk in the kitchen?”

  She didn’t wait for an answer. She just kept moving. Walking by, she said, “Hi, Norah. Good to see you.”

  Norah didn’t say anything. There was no reason to since she’d be saying it to Jaleesa’s back. She stared at him in wide-eyed panic. He gave a slight shake of his head. His mom sat on the chair instead of her usual spot on the couch.

  In the kitchen, Jaleesa stood leaning against the counter. “How could you?”

  “What?”

  “You’re sleeping with our mother’s caregiver? Really, Kai?”

  “What’s the big deal?”

  “I like Norah. More importantly, Mom likes Norah.”

  “I like her too. Your point?”

  “She’s a sweet girl. She doesn’t strike me as one of your”—she waved her hand around—“playthings. She’s been through a lot. She doesn’t need someone toying with her.”

  “You know nothing about it.”

  She shook her head. “Is that why you sent Mom to my house?”

  “That was Mom’s idea. Whatever happens between me and Norah is no one else’s business.”

  “Don’t fuck this up, Kai. Mom is healing, but she has weeks more before she’ll be ready to move back in with me.”

  “So you’re saying you don’t think I can handle a relationship for even a few weeks.”

  “Is that what this is? A relationship?”

  He crossed his arms instead of answering.

  “That’s what I thought. For all the changes you’ve made in your life, you’re still not ready to let someone in.” With another shake of her head, she left.

  He heard her say good-bye to Norah and their mom. He thought about what Jaleesa said. She was right. He didn’t want to let someone like Nora
h in. He shouldn’t have let Norah push things to where they were, but there was no turning back now. He wanted her too much, so he’d get all he could from her until she realized she was better off without him.

  He went back to the living room. “I ordered pizza if you’re hungry, Mom.”

  She waved him off. “I ate at Jaleesa’s.”

  “Did you have a good day?” Norah asked.

  “The movie with my friends was good. We walked around the mall a bit before Jaleesa came to get me. I think that’s where I made the mistake. By the time dinner ended and the kids wanted to read and watch TV, I was done for.” She heaved off the chair. “In fact, I’m going to bed now.”

  Kai went to her side. “Need some help?”

  She shook her head. “Keep it down and let me sleep in.”

  Norah clicked the volume lower on the TV.

  His mom winked at Norah. “I wasn’t talking about the TV.”

  Norah’s eyes went wide and her skin flushed pink. He laughed.

  “Good night,” his mom said.

  He sat on the couch next to Norah and laughed. She slapped his thigh.

  “Not funny.”

  “Sure it is. My mom isn’t stupid. I told you she knew everything.”

  “Can I ask what Jaleesa wanted?”

  “Nothing important.” He slipped an arm behind her head and curled it over her shoulder. He didn’t have too much experience with relationships because they tended to escalate and get complicated. Norah started out complicated and he’d handled it. He liked having her here. More than he should for a temporary arrangement.

  Suddenly the thought of coming home to an empty house didn’t hold the same appeal it once had.

  Yeah, Norah had definitely complicated his life.

  The complications felt worth it as she snuggled against him on the couch eating pizza. Thoughts of making this more than temporary swamped him.

  When they were done eating, she bounced with a burst of energy. “Let me see my tattoo.”

  “What’s your hurry?” He moved in for a kiss.

  She slapped a hand on his chest and leaned away. “Uh-uh. You want a kiss, I want art.”