Bare It All

by Lori Foster

  Until determination overrode everything else. He saw the shift in her expression, in the way she moved.

  Looking her over, Reese badly wanted to strip away the towel that kept her slender body hidden from his view.

  Instead, he made himself sit there, the epitome of patience.

  Movements measured for effect, Alice finished freeing her hair so that it tumbled down around her shoulders. “That was fast.”

  “You thought I’d linger?”

  In a small, telltale sign, the hand holding the towel clenched, and her breathing deepened. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  She stood there a moment longer, maybe working up her courage—or figuring out how to proceed. As sexual as they’d been, as open and honest as she was in bed, this was new for her.

  She dropped the towel.

  Just like that, with no warning. Reese sucked in a breath, soaking up the sight of her. It didn’t matter how many times he’d already seen her, this was a new attitude for her, and it fired his blood.

  His gaze moved to her tight nipples, the damp curls between her legs, her soft, pale skin now rosy all over.

  He did his own heavy breathing.

  Beautifully bare, she turned and closed the bedroom door. He heard the quiet click like a blast of thunder.

  “Damn, you have me tightly strung.” Her ass was a special source of lust for him, and she knew it. “Come here.”

  Facing him, she murmured, “I’d like to get your clothes off, okay?”

  “Great. Clothes off.” He reached for her, but she shook her head.

  “Raise up your arms so I can take off your shirt.”

  Reese started to strip it off himself, but she stepped between his thighs, and the sweet scent of her body filled his head.

  Catching his shirt, she tugged it from his hands. “Arms up, please.”

  Jesus. Unable to recall the last time he’d been this frantic for sex, he lifted his arms.

  Alice worked the shirt up, slowly, over his chest and arms until it cleared his head. After tossing it toward her discarded towel, she stepped closer still. Her plump pink nipples were right there, close enough to kiss. The spicy scent of her arousal mixed with the scent of her soap, the scent of his need.

  She touched his shoulders with both hands, gliding her delicate fingertips over his skin, around to his nape, up and into his hair—which brought her closer, so close he couldn’t resist.

  He ducked his head to move his tongue over her left nipple.

  Her fingers knotted in his hair. “Lay back.”

  Tension coiled tight.

  “This time,” she told him, “I want to touch your big, gorgeous body.”

  He met her gaze.

  And she whispered, “Without you taking over.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  REESE FELT RIGID enough to break as he tried to recline. Now he knew what she had planned, and it ratcheted up his temperature and his need until he couldn’t get enough oxygen into his lungs.

  “Relax.”

  With every second that passed, Alice gained new confidence. He wanted her to have that confidence. With him.

  Only him.

  Letting out a long breath and concentrating on unkinking his muscles, Reese put his hands behind his head.

  Until she stroked him through the athletic pants.

  Every muscle knotted again in expectation of more to come.

  She cupped his balls, cuddling until he clenched his teeth. “I love how you feel.”

  “I love when you feel me.” Speaking wasn’t easy, but Reese hoped some errant humor might lighten the mood before he totally lost his grip.

  She obliterated that plan when she stroked up along his erection, squeezing him through the material, then kept on stroking up his body until she sprawled out over him.

  She kissed the bruised skin under his eye, then again near the cut on the bridge of his nose. “Even battered, you are the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.”

  The way she rested on him, her breasts to his chest, one slender leg between his, the other outside his thigh, drove him nuts. “You said something about getting me naked?” And using that pretty mouth on me...

  Her eyes looked darker, deeper. Full of secrets.

  Secrets that, this time, he might enjoy.

  Sitting up beside him, Alice touched his chest again, used her thumb to explore his nipple—almost making him leap off the bed—then moving down to his abs. “You stay in such incredible shape. I can’t imagine any woman not wanting you.”

  Looking for reassurance? “Right now I only care about you wanting me.”

  “Of course I do.” She bent to kiss his other nipple, and Reese bit off a groan.

  Down to his sternum. Such a hot little tongue...

  Over his abs. He locked his hands together behind his head.

  She lightly bit his shaft through the material of the loose pants and his snug boxers, and before he could catch his breath again, she moved off the end of the bed and grabbed the waistbands of both. “Lift your hips for me.”

  No problem. Anxious to be rid of clothes, Reese lifted up so she could strip them down his thighs. She got everything as far as his knees—and zoned in on his dick.

  He tried to finish kicking off the pants, but Alice lay down crosswise in the bed, giving him a good profile view of her body, and he stilled.

  He could feel her breath.

  Taking him in both hands, her hold firm, she shattered all thought. The way she watched him so intently kept him on a precipice of suspense.

  She nuzzled against him, breathing deep, making a small purring sound of pleasure. “I love how you smell.”

  Ah...fuck. Reese squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on keeping it together.

  There was no prelude, no teasing kiss or tentative lick. One second Alice held him—and in the next she slid her soft, moist mouth down around him.

  A groan ripped from his chest. Without even realizing it, he pulled his hands out from behind his head and tangled his fingers in her hair. He’d had blowjobs before. Always enjoyable, absolutely.

  But this was Alice. And that meant it went beyond the sexuality of the act. It was Alice’s scent, the way she looked while doing it, the soft sounds she made—how she meant so much more to him than any woman he’d ever known.

  The emotional connection made everything different, more severe, sweeter and...hotter.

  He couldn’t keep from growling, from urging her to take more of him.

  Keeping her lips firm around him, she moved her tongue, teasing around the head.

  She pulled back with a long, leisurely lick. “Good?” she asked with innocent curiosity.

  His heart pounded. “Fucking great.”

  “Mmm.” Pleased by that, she went back to work on him.

  Not wanting to miss a thing, Reese rose to his elbows. He was draped across the bed. Alice rested on her belly perpendicular to him, legs bent at the knees, her pretty feet in the air, crossed at the ankles.

  She could have been a posed centerfold model, she looked so enticing.

  The fact that she had his dick in her mouth only enhanced the image.

  Cupping his fingers around her nape, his thumb in the hollow of her cheek, he guided her, watching as her lips moved over him, as her fawn-colored hair fell onto the paler skin of his pelvis.

  So fucking erotic.

  Her narrow shoulders flexed each time she dr
ew back, and her toes curled each time she took him deep again.

  Two more strokes and he’d be in oblivion. And much as he liked the idea of her finishing him off with her mouth, he wanted her to come with him.

  He tightened his hand in her hair. “You have to stop now, Alice, or I’m a goner.”

  She did, pulling away with another hot lick that damn near did him in.

  Sitting up in a rush, she said, “Don’t move.” She finished yanking his pants and boxers off. “I’m going to grab a condom.”

  Gaze molten, Reese watched as she left the bed and rummaged in the nightstand. Seconds later, she crawled back atop him.

  What a sight. Alice naked on her knees, her hair loose, her breasts free, her expression lustful...

  She settled on him with her legs open around his thighs. “Lie back.”

  “Let me touch you first.” All over, with my hands and my mouth. “You need to catch up.”

  She caught his wrist before he could reach her breast. “On your back, Reese.”

  Damn. Their gazes clashed.

  Putting both hands to his chest, Alice whispered, “Please?”

  As if in slow motion, fascinated with this new take-charge mood of hers, Reese stretched out again.

  “Tell me if I do this wrong.”

  Not possible, because anything she did at this point would only add to the growing sexual tension. But he nodded.

  She worked the rubber onto him—and, yes, that tormented him in wonderful ways. As soon as she had that done, she straddled his hips. “Reese?”

  God, she looked amazing poised over him like that. Urgent breaths lifted her breasts and left her nipples darkly flushed and puckered tight. Excitement pulled her belly taut. She bit her bottom lip as she searched his face.

  “What is it, sweetheart? Tell me what you want.”

  Instead, she took his hand and carried it to her body—right between her legs. Her head tipped back the second his fingers brushed over her damp curls, then lower, where he found her hot and slippery.

  Ready—but not quite enough.

  He pressed his middle finger barely into her, testing her, teasing the slick, swollen lips, then used her own wetness to glide that fingertip over her clitoris.

  Whimpering, she clenched her legs around his.

  With his other hand, Reese stroked her breasts. “You are so damn beautiful, Alice.”

  Even now, lost in the carnality of the moment, she shook her head, denying that. “I’m just...me.”

  I love who you are. Reese kept the words to himself and instead censored that thought to make it more acceptable to the moment. “You’re rare. And genuine. And, yes, Alice, beautiful.” He caught one nipple, rolling it gently, tugging carefully, insistently, until she groaned. “Especially now, like this.”

  That seemed to bring her around. Eyes heavy, she moved his hands away and instead scooted up over him. “I want you inside me.” She flexed her legs, lifting up to arrange him for entry. “Now.” And with that, she eased down over him.

  Tight. Slick. He throbbed as she worked the head in, stretching around him. Lips parted, she paused.

  Putting his hands on her taut thighs, Reese whispered, “It’s deep this way, Alice. Tell me if I hurt you.”

  She nodded—and took more of him, her breath catching with every inch that went deeper.

  Apprehension trembled through her as she tried to adjust to his size.

  Reese didn’t mean to, but his hands contracted on her soft flesh, keeping her from retreating again. “How does that feel, honey?”

  She sucked in two fast breaths, pressed down more, and said on a moan, “Wonderful.”

  Nothing could be more of a turn-on, Reese thought, than watching Alice as she took him, seeing how she enjoyed the snug fit despite any discomfort she felt.

  Still on her knees, she stopped short from taking all of him, her head down, her hands braced on his chest.

  God, he needed her to move. He could feel her body clasping him, squeezing in little spasms; he felt her wetness and her heat.

  “Reese?”

  Sliding his hands down to her knees, he opened her legs wider so he could better see where they joined. Voice rough and deep, he ordered, “More, Alice.”

  Almost as if she couldn’t help herself, she rocked once, then stopped. “Not...just yet.”

  Reese groaned.

  And she asked in the softest of whispers, “How do you feel about me?”

  He swallowed hard, doing everything he could to resist the urge to thrust up into her. She was so slight in comparison to his height and weight and bone structure that he could easily hurt her without meaning to, and he’d die before doing that.

  This was her turn, and he’d give that to her no matter how difficult it might be on him.

  She did another single slide of her hips before pressing down enough that they both gasped.

  His cock swelled more, and he felt on the verge of exploding.

  Breathy, strained, she asked again, “How do you feel about me?”

  “You’re killing me here, Alice.”

  “You want me?”

  “Yes.” More than that, he needed her. Not just now. Not just for the physical release. But for...everything. A scary thought, one he tried to abolish by saying, “Ride me, honey.”

  “Yes.” She lifted, sank down again, taking a little more of him.

  Almost there, almost buried inside her.

  “As soon as you tell me how you feel.”

  It stunned Reese, but he finally caught on to her game. She was turning things around on him, using sex to get the answers she wanted.

  Answers about his emotional commitment.

  Admiration hit him first, followed by sultry acceptance. His heart thundered in his chest, and with every fiber of his being, he was aware of their connection, of the clasp of her body holding him so tightly and her hungry gaze watching for his reaction.

  And still he wanted to see how far she’d take it. “I think you’re incredible.” He cupped a breast, plied her stiffened nipple with his thumb. “Now, ride me.”

  As he said that, he lifted up a little, and she gasped. He rocked up again, slowly, giving her his entire length by degrees.

  Eyes closed, body accepting, she whispered, “Are you interested in more than...sex?”

  While continuing those easy, shallow thrusts, he used both hands to play with her nipples. “With you, yes.”

  She groaned, gasped. “More than...ah! More than just...now?”

  Now, tomorrow, next week and next month. “Yes.” He lifted harder, sank deeper. Release beckoned, boiling closer to the surface.

  “Maybe...” She gasped, cried out, closed her hands over his, pressing his hands into her breasts. “Maybe commitment?”

  Commitment? Well, hell, that startling question almost blew it for Reese—until Alice took over, riding him hard and fast as she sought an orgasm. She lifted so that he almost left her, then dropped down to grind on him with breathy moans.

  Jesus, talk about torture.

  “Reese,” she cried. “Tell me.”

  He caught her hips, holding her closer, trying to slow her down. “Let’s talk about it after.”

  Closing her eyes on a shuddering groan, Alice held still. “Let’s talk about it now.”

  With him buried deep inside her, her breath coming in pants, she waited for his reply.

  Why not tell her? Caressin
g her hips, Reese said, “I’m insanely attracted to you.”

  “To this?” She clarified by lifting up and sliding down again, slowly this time, so slowly that they both had to struggle.

  “Yes, that.” Reese strained under her. “But also you, Alice. Talking to you. Holding you while you sleep.” He held her hips and kept her flush against his body, knowing he filled her, loving the way her breath caught, how her muscles contracted. “I even like arguing with you. And, honey, I love the way you do payback.”

  But for right now, he couldn’t take a second more. He brought her down to his chest, rolled to put her under him and took over. “Okay?”

  For an answer, Alice opened her mouth on his chest, and he felt her sharp little teeth, not hard enough to break his skin, but definitely enough to send a rush of pleasure through him.

  Luckily, he brought her with him.

  Four strokes, five—and they were both coming hard. Alice held him tight until the last waves of her climax receded. Lying fully atop her, their heartbeats in sync, Reese felt her ease—her body, her thoughts. It took him another minute to recover enough, and then he pushed up to his elbows.

  She wasn’t asleep. Her eyes were drowsy.

  Sated.

  She touched the bruise under his eye with gentle fingertips. And then the mark she’d left with her teeth. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not.” He smoothed back her hair. “I like it when you lose control.” He kissed her mouth and wanted to go on kissing her.

  Her small laugh stalled him. “You’re insatiable,” she teased.

  He put his forehead to hers. Only with you. But again, he held back. They still had so much up in the air, with killers on the loose and her safety in danger—far too much for deep declarations.

  Cash whined at the door, giving Reese the perfect distraction. “He has impeccable timing.”

  “He’s wonderful,” Alice whispered. “Like you.”

  “Speaking of wonderful...” After levering off her, Reese sat on the side of the bed and rested a hand on her thigh. “That was...straight out of a fantasy.” He brushed his thumb over her silky skin. “Thank you.”