by Tee O'Fallon
The powerful life force in his touch made every energy-imbuing crystal she owned seem like a piece of worthless rock.
She sifted her fingers through his hair, and when he scraped his teeth gently over her distended nipple, she moaned from the heart-stopping pleasure and clutched his head tighter to her breast. The need to have his mouth lower, between her legs, doing the same incredible things built and built, and she undulated her hips against him.
An appreciative rumble sounded deep in his chest as he kissed the valley between her breasts then knelt on the floor. He cupped her buttocks, massaging them while his mouth trailed lower still. His hands—so close to her most private, sensitive parts—were incredibly sexy and delicious.
Her body thrummed from the inside out, his mouth teasing and tormenting her flesh everywhere he touched. All the months of waiting, dreaming of this man making love to her, were about to culminate in something wonderful, something beautiful she never wanted to forget.
Her breaths came quicker as he drove her to the brink of begging him to fasten that incredible mouth on the hot, throbbing source of the ecstasy building at the entrance to her core.
He was so incredibly male, so incredibly sexy. All she could think of was him taking her. Anywhere.
In the bed. On the floor. Up against the wall. Location was irrelevant as long as she could wrap her legs around his muscular body while he drove inside her.
When he stuck his tongue in her belly button, it tickled and she giggled, trying to pull away. Vibrations from his laughter reverberated through her body as he held her tighter against his mouth, sliding his hands down the backs of her thighs, urging her to part her legs.
She could no longer breathe through her open mouth, and she let her head fall back farther, curling her fingers tighter in his spiky hair. Not that she’d been with all that many men, but she couldn’t ever remember feeling such heady anticipation. Eric’s touch was magical, casting a spell on her and lighting her up in ways she’d never thought possible.
He kissed the top of her damp curls, inching ever closer to where she wanted him most. When he parted her wet folds with his thumbs, she sucked in a breath. He pressed his mouth to that same spot, drawing her slick flesh into his mouth, and she moaned, a deep, sensual, throaty sound. “Oh, yesss.”
She began rocking against him, giving herself over to the building ripples of ecstasy. She was wet, so wet, and this was going to be good. So, so freaking good.
Another deep rumble came from the back of Eric’s throat, a sound that sent shivery tendrils up her belly to her breasts as he feasted on her, sucking and licking, driving her to the brink, then pulling back just before she went sailing over the edge. Part of her wanted to experience the mind-blowing orgasm that was only a heartbeat away, while the other part never wanted this moment to end.
He eased one long finger inside her, making her gasp louder and tighten around him. When he began pumping his finger in and out of her slippery flesh, sucking harder on her clit, she threw back her head, grabbing at him to keep from falling.
Already, this was far beyond her expectations. Thoughts of him naked and pulsing inside her pussy invaded every square inch of her brain.
The sounds she heard next were a throaty mixture of moans and tiny gasps as her breath came quicker, her heart racing out of control.
Oh, my. Yes, yes, yes!
She dug her fingers into his scalp, rocking against him as the wondrous pleasure intensified. The orgasm pulsed through her body, and she cried out. Wave after wave of sensation—so intense she tried pulling away—kept coming, but Eric wrapped his arms around her buttocks, preventing her from separating his mouth from her incredibly sensitive, incredibly swollen flesh.
“Eric, please,” she gasped. “I can’t—take anymore.” But she did, and the orgasm renewed itself, sending more pulses crashing through her nerve centers, and she cried out again and again, gripping his head, her body jerking one more time before going limp.
Strong arms came around her, lifting her then lowering her gently to the bed. All she could do was lie there and breathe as shooting stars blurred her vision.
Transcendent. Sublime. Miraculous. All words that came to mind at how wonderful her body felt. Sated and yet not. She wanted more.
Soft lips pressed against hers as Eric kissed her. She tasted herself on him, an erotic, heady musk that had her slipping her arms around his strong neck, urging him to kiss her deeper.
“I’ll be right back.” When he pulled away, she nearly whimpered.
He went out of the room, closing the door behind him. There’d been no mistaking the ice-blue fire in his gaze, or what would happen next. They would make love again, this time with him deep inside her.
The thought of his naked body on top of hers, thrusting and filling her, was enough to make her shiver. But she wasn’t stupid, and there was no escaping reality. Despite his conviction that he’d been dreaming about her all this time, she couldn’t forget that he’d also informed her in no uncertain terms that he didn’t do commitment, or marriage, or any of the things she found herself wanting.
You can have those things. Just not with him.
When he returned to the bedroom, Tess rose on her elbows to watch him. Except for a pair of tight black undershorts, he’d ditched his clothes. Now, it was her turn to choke on her tongue.
She’d seen his naked upper body before, but now she concentrated not on the smattering of scars but on the chiseled work of art standing before her, and she couldn’t wait to run her tongue over every inch of his taut golden skin.
Broad, powerful shoulders tapered to a trim waist. Ripped abdominal muscles bunched as he returned to her side of the bed. The man had more moguls on his upper body than a ski slope. A light smattering of dark blond curls covered his thick pectorals and long, heavily muscled thighs and calves. In his hands were several packets. Condoms.
His eyes, a beautiful light blue, flared with unmistakable heat. After tossing the condoms on the bedside table, he hooked his thumbs in his waistband and tugged off his undershorts. She followed the path of dark material as he slid it down his legs, then her breath caught in her throat. She could barely breathe. Eric was a big man, far above average height. As is the rest of him. Every long, thick, hard inch.
A soft whoosh told her the undershorts had been flung somewhere on the floor, although she still couldn’t take her eyes off Eric’s powerful body. Next came the sound of a condom wrapper being torn open, and she watched him expertly sheathe himself then gently lower on top of her.
For a man so adamantly opposed to commitment, the way he was looking at her made her feel as if she were the only woman on the planet, the only one in his world that mattered. For now, she reminded herself, because the here and now was all they would ever have.
He took her mouth in a sweet, seductive kiss that made her heart race and the blood pound at her temples. He lifted his head and gazed down at her. The skin over the bridge of his nose creased. Eyes that only seconds earlier had been heavy lidded with passion looked at her with what she could only interpret as confusion.
She’d been about to ask if something was wrong when the harsh lines of his face softened, and he kissed her again, deeper this time, and with a passionate fervor she could feel in the way he held her, the way his ardor emanated from his very touch.
Using his knee, he parted her thighs. The tip of his erection pressed against her, parting her wet folds and slowly pushing inside her, giving her tight walls time to expand and take all of him in.
This was what she had waited for, wanted for so long. It was perfect. He was perfect. If she could select one moment in which to suspend time for all eternity, there was no doubt in her mind as to which moment she’d choose. Right here. Right now.
He rose above her, resting most of the weight of his upper body on his forearms and clasping the sides of her face as he pushed deeper. As if reading her mind, he whispered, “I’ve wanted this for forever.”
Yes, she t
hought mindlessly, completely lost in the wondrous sincerity etched in his features. Yes, yes…forever. “Me, too.” She hadn’t meant to say the words. Too late now.
She hooked her legs over the backs of his thighs, digging her fingers into his thick shoulder and back muscles, loving the strength of him, the feel of his body’s life force melding with hers.
He cupped one of her breasts then sucked on her nipple. She gasped, arching against him. A powerful orgasm built steadily in her core, but it was too soon. Too soon for this to end.
She bit her lower lip, denying the release her body craved. Just for another moment.
He caressed her breasts, licking and sucking her nipples as he pumped in and out, then skimmed one hand down her lower belly. His thumb found the sensitive nub between her thighs and rubbed seductively back and forth until she squirmed beneath him, trying to get closer, to feel every inch of him.
The tentative hold on her willpower quickly ebbed until all she wanted was this beautiful moment of passion and ecstasy with Eric.
Tension built, and she strained against him, thrusting her hips in time with his. Her muscles tightened, and she bit down on his shoulder to keep from screaming as the mother of all orgasms whipped through her. Her body convulsed, and she gripped his biceps, holding on for dear life.
“Oh, Jesus. Tess. Tess. Tess.” Eric shuddered, burying his face in the curve of her neck. The emotional connection between them right at that moment was something she would never forget.
Wrapping her arms across his back, she held him tightly while his big body continued to shudder, and he rocked into her one last time before resting his head on the pillow over her shoulder.
Unbelievable didn’t cut it. Incredible wasn’t even close, and she knew why.
As much as she willed it otherwise, her emotions were head over heels involved, and she might have just made the biggest mistake of her life.
One night with Eric would never be enough. She’d want him until the end of time.
…
Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life?
Eric’s heart pounded hard enough to fly right out of his chest. The orgasm that had slammed into him was the most powerful he’d ever experienced. It should have left him sated and rolling over onto his back to fall into a deep sleep. Instead, his mind was fully awake, repeating one question over and over.
WTF just happened?
Tess’s chest rose and fell rapidly beneath his, the thrumming of her heart racing in tandem with his own. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted. The pulse at her neck where he’d dropped so many kisses he’d lost count beat rapidly beneath her smooth, creamy skin. Skin he could lick and suckle for the rest of the night, if she’d let him. God, she was beautiful, and he’d wanted her more than he’d wanted anything or anyone in his life. Which was why he’d almost stopped, and why the irony of it had floored him then as it was doing now.
The most insane thought was fucking with his head.
When he’d told her that he’d been dreaming of her and had wanted her since the moment they’d met, there’d been more to it. So much more.
He’d just plain wanted her. For keeps.
The thought was still there, blinking like a giant neon sign. What really rocked his world was that he hadn’t been scared at all.
He rolled onto his side, tucking her against his chest. Her tiny hand slid over his hip to his ass. Christ, he loved it when she touched him. Anywhere.
Only now did he fully understand the selfishness of what he’d orchestrated. He’d wanted Tess and her brother to stay with him, but not because he’d been afraid Jesse would take off. He’d been afraid that if Jesse took off, Tess would go with him.
His chest tightened. Try as he might, he couldn’t make sense of what he was feeling. The only thing that did make sense was that what had just happened between him and Tess had been right. The way things always should have been between them.
The soft sounds of her breathing against his chest filled him with overwhelming protectiveness. Using his foot, he hiked up the sheets from the bottom of the bed and pulled the covers over them.
A low whine filtered through the door. His dog almost always slept in the same room with him, but he was too tired and too completely satisfied to move a muscle.
He didn’t know where this was going between him and Tess, or what would happen next, but something had altered his perspective and he wanted to find out what it was. The only thing he knew for certain was that he wasn’t ready for her to walk out of his life.
And he wasn’t about to walk out of hers.
Chapter Twenty
Eric sat in one of the chairs on his back porch while Tiger ran around the yard, his tail swaying back and forth as he sniffed the grass. As much as he loved having a dog for a partner, he also got a kick out of watching the big shepherd enjoy life, as every dog should.
At seven in the morning, the air was still crisp and clean, the grass sparkling with dew that hadn’t yet evaporated in the hot summer air. He glanced up at one of the windows on the second floor—Tess’s bedroom—where he’d reluctantly left her sleeping while he fed Tiger breakfast then took him outside.
With the blinds open, the early morning light had made her hair shimmer like copper and her smooth skin glow. After making love, they’d slept for a few hours then made love again, slower, sweeter, until she’d clung to him and cried out in his arms. Then, they’d fallen asleep, limbs entwined, while his hands caressed her bare back and buttocks.
He grinned like an idiot. Skimming his hand over her body was something he fully intended to resume the second Tiger finished his business.
His dog trotted along the fence, shoving his snout into a clump of ferns and scaring up a rabbit that he playfully chased around the yard, zigzagging after it, yet not really trying to catch the animal.
He repositioned the laptop on his knees then pulled up his email and scanned the twenty or so new messages. There were several reports from the teams of agents standing watch over the drums, one team via the real-time camera feed from inside the barn, and the other staging nearby in the school parking lot. He’d have received an immediate phone call if anyone so much as twitched in the vicinity of that barn. The only two emails of note were regarding the hit they’d gotten from facial recognition on the other two men with Pritchard yesterday, and one from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Charles Fenway and James Ruffalo had minor records relating to unpaid taxes. Ruffalo was a commercial truck driver who’d lost his license for smuggling large quantities of liquor across the Mexican border. Fenway was an assistant manager at the Excelsior Hotel in Newark. Turned out the barn property was owned by Fenway’s family, although it hadn’t been a functioning farm for decades.
Both men were known by local police to be associates of a loosely organized local sovereign citizen movement, one that had never gained a foothold in New Jersey and had never caused any real problems for law enforcement.
Until now.
The mere fact that Fenway and Ruffalo had been with Mark Pritchard at the barn was a bad sign. Pritchard’s close association with Harley Gant meant that Gant’s filthy fingers were all over this mess.
When Eric had been assigned to the Birmingham office, he’d never known Gant to set foot outside Alabama or to stick his nose in another sovereign citizen chapter’s business. Then again, there was a first time for everything.
Gant didn’t know it, but Eric’s boss had reached out to his ATF counterpart in Birmingham, advising them of the operation in New Jersey. There were currently several teams of ATF and FBI agents searching for Gant to verify his location. What worried Eric was that no one could find the man. Trash like Gant didn’t just vanish into thin air.
The email from AUSA Julie Chang was better than he could have hoped for. The U.S. Attorney’s Office considered the controlled delivery a success, and in exchange for Tess’s cooperation, no charges would be filed against Jesse. The kid’s record would remain clean, which me
ant he could still pursue a career in law enforcement. Eric looked forward to putting the kid on the right path to making that a reality. He liked Jesse. It was a gratifying opportunity to be a role model to someone who’d also grown up with a lousy father.
Tiger trotted up the stairs then sat by the chair, extending his paw and holding it motionless for Eric to shake.
“All done, buddy?” He clasped his dog’s wet paw. Tiger dipped his head down then up several times, as if nodding. “Good. As much as I enjoy watching you chase bunnies, I’ve got better things to do this morning.”
Like shuck his shorts and get naked again with Tess.
After going back inside, Tiger trailed him up the stairs. Along the way, he continued scrolling through his email. He was about to push open Tess’s door, but the last message indicated the audio and video recordings from the controlled delivery were ready for his review at the office. Which meant he’d have to get in there before his four-to-midnight surveillance shift at the barn kicked in.
He pushed open the door, and when Tiger would have bolted to the bed to give Tess a proper, sloppy canine wake-up, Eric stopped him. She lay on her back, near the side of the bed closest to the door, with the sheets twisted around her ankles. With every breath she took, her small, perfect breasts rose and fell, reminding him of just how sweet they tasted, and how crazy turned on he’d gotten closing his lips on the tight little buds and sucking them into his mouth.
“She is so beautiful,” he murmured. Now, it was obvious. He should have stayed in Springfield to find out what could have happened between them.
What is happening between us?
He still didn’t know. Whatever it was, he liked it.
“C’mon, boy.” He pushed from the doorway. “Let’s wake her up.”
Snorting with happiness, Tiger shot ahead to the side of the bed, stretching to give her a sound licking on her chin and cheeks.
As she woke, her face wrinkled. When she began giggling, his heart squeezed just a little.