by Lori Foster
Taking her shoulders, he lowered her down to the mattress as he covered her, his mouth already on hers, his body on fire. Her warm, tender lips opened at the touch of his tongue. He licked in, tasting her deeply, going on sensory overload with the feel of her small body under his, cushioning him in all the right ways.
Trailing a hand down her side, he touched all that silky skin, over her hip, to the thin material of her panties, until he reached her slender thigh. Cupping his hand behind her knee, he urged her leg up and out until he could settle fully against her.
She gave a muted sound of pleasure and lifted into him.
Jason stared down into her smoldering gaze and gently rocked against her. Her eyes were heavy, her lips swollen and wet from his kiss.
“One of us,” she rasped, her fingertips digging into his shoulders, “is wearing too many clothes.”
Jason ignored that. If he shucked off his jeans, he wouldn’t be able to control himself. Better to leave them on for now.
Just looking at her was a turn-on and he wanted to enjoy it. He smoothed back her mussed hair, brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, and bent to kiss her neck, drawing in her soft skin before soothing with his tongue.
Her breath hitched, then released in a throaty moan of pleasure that he felt in his pants.
Sensitive neck, noted.
He couldn’t wait to see where else she might be sensitive, to figure out everything she enjoyed.
Trailing wet, open-mouth love bites down to her shoulder, then on to her breasts, he immersed himself in the taste and feel of her fragrant skin. Her breasts were plump, her legs restless, her hands continually touching him...keeping him close.
With her thighs now open around him, he cupped both breasts. So soft.
She tipped her head back, going still in anticipation.
Knowing his whiskers rasped her sensitive skin, he carefully nuzzled, drawing nearer to a straining nipple. Her legs shifted, tightening.
He traced her with the tip of his tongue.
“Jason,” she whispered, pressing up to him, trying to urge him to her.
He blew against her and saw her nipple tighten more. Her hips began a rhythmic rocking, making him a little crazed. He licked...then drew her in, sucking softly.
Ripe need vibrated in her quickening breath. She tangled her fingers in his hair, holding him to her while her hips continued moving, faster now.
And Jesus, he loved it.
He’d expected her to be shy, reserved.
But as usual, she was the opposite, her sensuality open and honest.
He kissed his way over to her other breast, realized she was holding her breath and instead of drawing her in he carefully caught her with his teeth—and tugged.
Groaning, she slid a calf up his side, then around his waist, locking herself to him as she continued that sensual grind against his erection.
He tugged again, insistently, flicking the very tip of her nipple with his tongue.
Her movements became more urgent, and he loved it. He loved teasing her, pushing her to the edge, the scent and feel and taste of her.
Holding back wasn’t easy, not when she continually stroked her heat against his straining dick. But her breasts were so soft, her reactions so satisfying, that he tamped down his own need in favor of hers.
Minutes later, to his surprise, she went taut with release.
Stunned, Jason remained still, letting her ride it out against him, but lifted his head to watch. He’d never seen anything as hot as Honor Brown lost to a blinding climax. There was no artifice, just the very real twisting of pleasure, her face tight with it, her cries guttural, harsh and real.
As she gradually went looser, then limp under him, Jason sat up beside her. Lust had him in knots, but insanely, tenderness took precedence.
It was a first for him.
Looking her over, he appreciated the picture she made with her bra tangled around her slim, lax arms, the blush of her dewy skin, her tight, wet nipples and parted legs. The scent of her, now richer, filled his head.
Idly he trailed his fingertips over the subtle curve of her belly, hipbone to hipbone, and saw her twitch. He glanced up at her eyes and caught a look so sultry it left him singed.
“Get naked,” she whispered, “and let’s try that again. Maybe with you inside me?”
The words made him shake, but he said only, “Soon.” Drifting his palm down her body, he slowly, deliberately, wedged it between her open thighs.
Her eyes closed. Her lips parted.
Against his fingers, he felt wet heat. “Nice,” he whispered, the word hoarse with need. He idly stroked her, and her panties got wetter.
“Jason...” Once again, she lifted into his touch. “I need you.”
“All right.” Getting naked sounded like a plan, so he straightened away from the bed and, after taking another leisurely look at her body, pushed off his jeans and boxers.
Honor lazily came up to her elbows to watch. She licked her lips and whispered, “I’ve thought about seeing you like this so many times.”
Far from shy, he went about fishing his wallet from a pocket, located the condoms he’d put there earlier and set them on the nightstand. “Whenever you want to see me, honey, just let me know.” He caught his fingers in her panties and said, “Rise up.”
Her hips lifted and he skimmed them off. For only a moment he touched her, slowly brushing the backs of his fingers over the neat triangle of her pubic hair, then lower, finding her sleek wetness. He teased over her with two fingertips.
“Jason,” she pleaded, her voice trembling and soft.
Silently he took her arm and flipped her over to her stomach, taking a few seconds to fondle that amazing ass before freeing her arms from the tangled bra straps.
Finally—he had her completely, beautifully naked.
When she started to turn to her back again, he stilled her with one hand on the small of her back. His spread fingers spanned the width of her from hip to hip. So small, but still so damn shapely. Visually he traced the length of her graceful spine down to her full, rounded bottom.
On her elbows, she sent a curious look over her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
Rather than answer, he bent and kissed her lower spine, lightly bit one plump cheek, moved his whiskered jaw over her—and she lurched away with a yelp.
She’d been so bold, so openly sexual, it took him by surprise when she scampered to her back, clipping him in the nose with her knee.
As he rubbed away the sting, she frowned at him with accusation. “Nothing kinky, okay?”
The prim indignation made Jason grin. There was the quirky, adorable, modest neighbor he lov...
Those appalling thoughts hit a brick wall and stalled.
Jesus. He hadn’t known her long enough to be thinking things like that.
Sure, he couldn’t get her off his mind. And with her sitting there naked in front of him, his need for her had escalated through the roof. Her satiny curves hid a will of iron, and any man would be drawn to that.
Sex. That’s what he needed.
Once he had her, he’d clear out the fog of lust and be able to think clearly again.
“What?” Concern blooming, Honor glanced down at herself, then folded her arms over her breasts. “You’re making me feel naked.”
Belatedly, his brain kicked back into gear. “You are naked.” Looking at her smooth belly and thighs, and her now-damp sex—which she hadn’t bothered to conceal—he opened the condom. “Did you forget?”
“What? No.” She watched in fascination as he rolled on the rubber. “But you gave me a funny look.”
“I’m on the ragged edge.” He stretched out beside her, smiled and kissed the mulish set of her mouth. “I can barely think, so don’t hold a single look against me.”
Her frown smoothed out. “Okay, it’s just...”
Jason took her hands, kissed each one, and pressed them to either side of her head. “I like looking at you, honey. Every part of yo
u. You’re perfect.”
Modesty colored her cheeks. “No, I’m not. I have more flaws than I can count.”
Because he didn’t want to debate it, he kissed her forehead and said, “You’re perfectly flawed, then, and every part of you is sexy.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
Done talking, Jason eased her into a carnal kiss. He took a moment to play with her breasts, to tease over her stiffened nipples, then stroked down her ribs and over her belly, wedging his hand between her thighs.
She made a sound of pleasure and curled toward him, taking the kiss ravenous.
Suited him. He loved her mouth, how she tasted and the heat of her.
And speaking of heat...carefully, forcing himself to go slowly, he explored her with his fingertips, each touch a little bolder, a little deeper.
Getting wetter.
She’d already come once, and knowing she’d be sensitive, he kept the touch light as he stroked his now slippery fingers over her clitoris.
She gasped, retreated a moment, then pressed to him again.
“Easy.” He felt a new rush of moisture and knew he wouldn’t last much longer. “I love how you feel, Honor.”
Eyes closed, head back, she breathed, “I want to touch you, too.”
“Sure.” Later. If she got her hands on him now, he’d be a goner. “In a bit.”
“But...ah.” She arched her neck and whimpered brokenly.
“Damn.” At the end of his control, Jason hooked an arm under one of her knees and opened her legs as he rose over her. Her tender inner thighs cradled his hard hips, and her breasts cushioned his chest. “Honor, look at me.”
She lifted her lashes, her eyes dark and dazed.
“Yeah, just like that.” When Honor stared into his eyes, he didn’t even care that he was falling fast.
Secrets, he reminded himself.
They existed, but no way in hell would he worry about them now.
He reached down between their bodies, positioned himself and slowly, relentlessly, pressed into her, filling her up as she squeezed him tight.
Two years. God, she was snug and it made him shake.
“Don’t move yet,” she whispered, adding, “You feel good, but...” She shifted, trying to accommodate him. “You feel big.”
Choking on a laugh, Jason locked his jaw and struggled to stay still against the overwhelming urge to thrust.
Hard.
It wasn’t easy, but never would he hurt her. Then she moved, wiggling and adjusting—torturing him.
She touched his jaw, her fingertips brushing over his beard stubble, then down to his chin. “You’re the one who’s gorgeous.”
“You’re killing me, Honor.” He needed to move.
Her serious gaze warmed even more, and she whispered, “I’m not a very sexual person, but I swear, I could almost come just from looking at you.”
Groaning, Jason took her mouth and gave in to the cravings. He opened a hand on her lush hip, his hold secure as he gently guided her to match his slow, careful thrusts. At each retreat her body squeezed him, and at each glide in, the wet, hot friction tried to drive him over the edge.
As their rhythm meshed, he braced on his forearms over her.
Her breath labored, deeper, faster until each gasp became a short, desperate cry.
Her slim legs came around him.
Her arms held him as tightly as she could.
He rode her harder, heard her groaning, felt the frantic clench of her sex around his erection. Their skin grew damp and heat blanketed their bodies.
Suddenly she stiffened, and her sharp cries did him in.
Losing the battle, Jason gathered her closer to his heart, put his head back and gave in to his own thundering release.
* * *
Honor floated in a lethargic haze of pleasure. Nerve endings still pulsed and she couldn’t get rid of her small, content smile. Jason rested over her, his big body bearing her down into the mattress, his breathing now slow and even.
Loving it, she hugged him a little.
If sex had ever before been that amazing, she probably wouldn’t have given it up so easily.
Pleased, stress free and sated, she stroked her fingertips up and down his broad back.
She loved the feel of him, his rich masculine scent, and she especially loved having him on her, around her, inside her. He wasn’t hard now, but the connection went beyond physical—at least for her.
He shifted as if to move away. Not yet ready, she squeezed him and he settled again without argument.
His shoulders were so impressive, his strength more so.
Especially his strength of character.
He was such a good man. Thinking of the amazing orgasms she’d just had, she mentally tacked on Good in every way.
Groggily he asked, “What are you thinking?”
She pressed a kiss to one solid shoulder. “How awesome you are.”
He huffed a low laugh. “So speaks a satisfied woman.”
“Mmm. Yes, very satisfied.” Trailing a foot up the back of his hairy calf, she purred, “You’re pretty good, aren’t you?”
Laughing again, he came up to his elbows and gave her a wicked, teasing smile. “If you want to think so, I won’t dissuade you.”
“I came twice.”
The smile turned into a grin. “Trust me, honey, I noticed.” He nibbled at her lips, then whispered, “You’re easy.”
“Hey!” Grinning with him, she denied that. “I never was before.”
He tipped his head, still smiling but more serious. “No?”
Now that he had that intense focus on her, she went shy. Why had she started this? She shook her head. “I always had a hard—” like almost impossible “—time with it. Guys get impatient.”
“As I recall, you were the impatient one.” Somber, sexy, he kissed the bridge of her nose, her cheekbone and jaw. “I wanted to enjoy you more.” He kissed his way down her throat.
Surprised, Honor pressed him back. “What are you doing?”
“Seducing you. Now hush.”
“Again?” He couldn’t be serious. “Now?”
“You’re tired?”
“No,” she said too fast. She wasn’t tired, she was anxious. Anxious to grab as many moments as she could before they got interrupted, anxious to feel what she could, to wallow in the freedom and sense of security he gave her.
He lifted a brow with cocky satisfaction. “Love the enthusiasm.”
Honor sighed. “You are good, but also dangerous.” To my heart. “You know that, right?”
“Just hush and go with it.”
Holding her face in his big, strong hands, he kissed her so gently, with so much...well, it felt like emotion, need and all things wonderful. Already her body tingled in expectation.
“Don’t move.” With one more kiss, he sat up.
Honor sighed again. She was a complete and total goner and she knew it. Scary. But she wasn’t a wimp, so after Jason removed the spent condom and reached for another, she took it from him, pushed him to his back and said with daring, “My turn.”
* * *
Jason woke before dawn and automatically reached for Honor.
He’d already gotten comfortable with the way she’d curled against him, her legs tangled with his, her breath teasing him all through the night. He’d never before been a cuddler, preferring his own space when he slept. For that reason, he’d rarely asked women to stay over.
But that was before Honor.
And now...he realized the bed was empty.
Sitting up, he fumbled for the lamp on her nightstand, then winced at the brightness.
She wasn’t in the room.
Naked and not caring, he left the bed and strode down the hall to the silent living room, the dark kitchen, back to the bathroom and the guest rooms...all empty.
Son of a bitch! He was a light sleeper, so how the hell had she gotten away without him knowing? Even from his own house, he heard her car—
A new thought struck him.
Rushing to the front door, he opened it—and saw her car was gone, too.
Quietly closing the door and relocking it, he forced himself to sort it out. Honor had snuck from the bed, presumably carried her clothes into the outer room to dress and literally left her house without making a sound.
She must have been extra cautious.
Meaning...extra sneaky.
But why?
He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck and growled out his frustration.
Pacing, he tried to decide if he should wait. But that felt as wrong as waking alone.
In her bed.
They’d made love twice. She’d climaxed four times.
He inhaled sharply, remembering everything, how she’d looked and the heady scent of her release, the sounds she made in her pleasure, and damn if he didn’t get semihard again. He frowned down at himself and said, “No.”
Given her absurd hours, she could be back in minutes, or late tonight.
Decided, Jason stalked back to the bedroom and grabbed up his discarded clothes. Sure enough, her clothes no longer littered the floor.
He’d planned to uncover her secrets this morning, and instead she’d skipped out on him. He’d go about his day, but when she returned they would damn well talk.
There’d be no more skulking around. He needed total honesty, and one way or another he’d get it.
* * *
Lexie wasn’t a timid person, but damn it, as she waited for Sullivan to answer, she couldn’t make herself stop pacing.
Last night he’d treated her like...what?
Someone he hadn’t slept with.
Usually that would have suited her just fine; she could be as commitment-phobic as any guy. But she liked Sullivan. Maybe more than liked him. So often she felt like the stronger personality with men—but not with Sullivan. He matched her, even exceeded her, in boldness, in flirting...and sexually. Thinking of it made her shiver.
She knew she was sometimes—okay, most times—outrageous. But it didn’t scare off Sullivan. If anything, he just upped the ante, giving as good as he got.
She got the feeling that not much scared Sullivan Dean. She wanted to know more about him, his background, what made him tick.