by Lisa Lewis
“Tom,” she whispered. “I need you. Inside me.”
He wriggled his fingers, causing her hips to jerk upward and another groan to slip out. “I am inside you, honey.”
He gave one more stroke of his fingers to illustrate his point, and another sound, like that of a cat in heat, came from her mouth.
She slapped him hard on the shoulder. “Don’t be a jackass. You know exactly what I mean.”
Tom withdrew his fingers from between her thighs and moved back above her, sliding his hair-roughened skin against her on his way up. He captured her face between his palms, and she could smell her sex on his flesh.
He held her gaze as his hips ground against hers, once more teasing her with the possibility of fulfillment. “Yeah. I know. But I want to hear you say it.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “What do you want, Beth? Tell me.”
Beth opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t do it. No matter how forward she’d been in stripping for him, she couldn’t say the words. They remained lodged in her throat.
Well, actions speak louder than words anyway, she thought. So she slid a hand between their bodies and grabbed hold of his erection. She firmly squeezed it and gave a slight upward twisting motion. “This,” she said. “Inside me. Now.”
A slow smile spread across his face, proving her short but to the point response was quite acceptable.
Tom shifted to the side and leaned over the edge of the bed. She heard him fumble with his discarded jeans and then he repositioned himself to sit back on his heels. In his hands was a condom.
Beth watched as he donned the protection, shocked that she hadn’t given it a thought. He looked up and saw her stunned expression. “I don’t always carry these around. I was just hoping…”
“It’s all right,” she said as he trailed off. “It’s fine. I’m glad you thought of it.”
Tom moved over her again, took her hands into his and intertwined their fingers. He pressed his chest against hers as he pushed her arms back and into the mattress.
“Good,” he said softly, his lips closing in on hers. “I’m glad we’re in agreement. Because I don’t think I could stop at this point.”
“Thank God for that,” she said, stretching up to seal her lips to his. Tom’s tongue thrust into her mouth at the same time his shaft thrust into her wetness. They both groaned at the utter pleasure of him completely filling her.
He rested his forehead against hers. “Oh, baby. You feel so good.”
“So do you.” She let out a deep breath. “Oh, yeah, so do you.”
Tom kissed her forehead, then her lips, clenching her fingers tightly within his own as he slowly began to move his hips. In and out. In and out.
With each thrust, the sensations flowing through Beth grew stronger. Not only between her legs but also in her heart.
As he moved ever faster, she fell deeper and deeper in love with the man. She wrapped her legs around his and pushed her hips upward, eagerly meeting his hot skin with her own.
Tom murmured his approval and rocked even faster, harder. They continued to kiss as their bodies moved together in a rhythm as old as time, until finally he emitted a long groan and shuttered in a release so powerful, and a thrust so deep, that it triggered her own climax.
For the next few minutes, only their erratic breathing and the humming of the air conditioner broke the quiet of the room. Tom released her hands and rolled to his side, pulling her to face him.
He gently trailed his fingers over her cheek, and her eyes lazily drifted closed, a contented smile on her face. “Any regrets?” he asked.
“Yeah.” When his fingers stopped moving, Beth forced her lids to open once again. “That we didn’t do this sooner.”
Tom rolled his eyes, then gave her a hasty kiss. “Lord almighty, darlin’. You almost gave me a heart attack.” He slid to the edge of the bed and got up. As he walked toward the bathroom, he threw back assuredly, “Don’t worry. We’ll definitely be making up for lost time.”
The door swung closed behind him, and Beth rolled to her back, her smile growing bigger. She stretched her satisfied body, grateful that reality had far surpassed her imagination.
Tom emerged from the bathroom and came back to sit by her side. “What’s that smile for? You happy or something?” His gorgeous mouth curved upward into a grin that matched hers.
“Or something,” she answered pertly.
He combed his fingers through her hair, pulling a section of it forward to lie across her breast. The cool, damp strands made her nipple pucker, and the ever-present longing she felt for Tom surged higher once more. He continued to watch her, his hand resting just below the swell of her bosom.
And, slowly, the smile faded from his face. “Are you sure you’re doing okay? I want you to tell me if you need anything. That little gift you got earlier had to have shocked you, at the least. And I want you to know that I’m here for you.”
Beth reached up to cradle his firm jaw. “Thank you. But I’m fine now. You’ve already seen to my immediate relaxation, and I’m sure security will take care of the rest. I don’t want what’s happened to ruin the rest of the tour.”
Furrows appeared as his dark brows pulled together, and he shook his head. “I don’t understand how you can act so calm. I know this has been weighing on your mind—the possibility that Eric Sharpe is pursuing you.”
She felt a bit strange having this conversation with Tom when they were both naked, but evidently it couldn’t be avoided. “What makes you think that? I’ve told you over and over since Baltimore that I doubt Eric would waste his time coming after me.”
“That’s just it. You’ve said and done things to fool others—maybe even yourself—but all your fears about Sharpe came out anyway.”
“Huh?” She waved her hands in the air, exasperated. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Your dream.” Tom stood up and paced to the window. He turned to face her, one hand on his hip and the other buried in his short, dark hair. “The one you had on the bus. I know it wasn’t about your mother.”
Oh, damn. “Tom—”
“It was about Sharpe.” He resumed pacing back and forth between the bed and window. “You were terrified about him coming to get you, to hurt you, so you made up that load of crap when Cole mentioned the dream at breakfast.”
“Tom, actually—”
“And I just can’t stand the fact that you won’t admit to anyone—especially me—that you’re scared!”
“Tom, listen to me!”
That finally got his attention. He stood still, silent and waiting.
Beth should’ve known she’d have to come clean about this. It seemed like nothing escaped his notice lately.
She sighed and pushed up to lean against the wooden headboard. “Sit down. I have to be honest with you about something.”
He immediately sat next to her hip and picked up her hand. “Anything. You can tell me anything.” He pressed a soft kiss into her palm.
She chewed her lower lip for a moment, pondering her best course of action. In the end she decided to just get it over with. “I wasn’t dreaming about Eric on the bus. I was dreaming about you.”
The look on Tom’s face would’ve been comical if the topic under discussion weren’t so serious.
“Say what?”
She exhaled loudly once more, embarrassed to have to explain her thoughts. Beth focused on a point over Tom’s shoulder and rushed to get it all out. “I was having a sexual fantasy about you, but I couldn’t very well explain that to everybody, so I made up that lame story about my mother’s accident and the motion of the bus.”
She forced herself to meet his incredulous gaze. “It had nothing to do with Eric. Honestly.”
His lips twisted sideways for a quick second, and Beth couldn’t tell if it’d been the start of a smile or a frown. Regardless, he instantly schooled his handsome features into an unreadable expression.
“So you expect me to believe you’d
been dreaming about me, huh?”
Beth cocked an eyebrow at him. “Yes, I do. It really is the truth, you know.”
“Prove it.”
Now she was the one to ask, “Say what?”
“Prove to me that you’d been having a sexual fantasy about the two of us. What did we do?”
She couldn’t believe he was making her do this. “Umm, well I was lying on the bed naked and you were standing next to me.”
He stood up. “Like this?”
“Yeah, except you still had jeans on.”
Tom glanced down at his lower half before recapturing her gaze. “We’re past that. What’s next?”
She spoke softer. “You looked at me, then gave me a massage and kissed me.”
His eyes wandered over her body, lingering on spots guaranteed to respond to his attention. His arousal grew more and more noticeable as she watched him watching her.
“I’m not much of a masseuse, so why don’t you just tell me where I kissed you.” His voice was nearly unrecognizable, it was so thick with desire.
“All over,” she whispered, falling further under his spell.
“Hmm,” was his response. “I don’t think that helps. I need more specific information. Somewhere to start.”
“You sucked my toes.” Beth clapped a hand over her mouth, but the detail had already slipped past her lips.
“Interesting.” Tom moved to the foot of the bed and took hold of her ankles.
“Tom, no—oh!” He pulled her down so quickly she banged her head on the headboard. “Ow!” She rubbed the back of her skull.
“Sorry.” That funny sideways twitch flashed across his face again. He trapped her left leg between his thighs then lifted her right leg high, keeping a firm grip on it although she tried her best to pull it away.
“Now, Bethany, how am I supposed to pleasure you if you don’t cooperate?”
She couldn’t believe he was actually going to do this. Please God, don’t let there be carpet lint between her toes.
And she couldn’t imagine the view he must be getting with her legs spread open like a Thanksgiving turkey.
“Tom, I don’t think…” She trailed off as his tongue darted out to lick the tip of her big toe.
One of his hands kept a grip on her calf while the other slid up from her ankle to grasp her foot, his thumb pressing firmly into the arch.
And she flipped out, crying, “Oh, my God, stop! That tickles!”
The more she flailed around, trying to get her foot free, the more his fingers brushed over her sensitive sole. Ultimately he must have decided it was better to release her than to get kicked in the head.
Beth lay on the mattress trying to catch her breath. And staring disbelievingly at Tom, who was doubled over, holding his stomach because he was laughing so hard.
“What, may I ask, is so funny?”
He took a couple of deep breaths and stood up straight before answering. “You, sweetheart.”
“You’re laughing at me?”
That sobered him up quick. “Oh, no darlin’.”
But Beth caught on rather quick herself. “You were never going to do it, were you? You were just leading me on. Teasing me.”
Tom knelt on the bed next to her. “No, I wasn’t going to do it, and yes, I was teasing you. But I’d hoped it would lead to fun for both of us.” His finger traced a random pattern on her thigh. “And I’d also hoped to move my mouth to a more, shall we say, middle of the road location.”
Just like that, her irritation melted away and desire filled her. Again.
“I didn’t mean to tickle you—that was an honest mistake. But I really do love to tease you, sweetheart.” Tom’s hand stopped moving as his burning gaze locked with hers. “And I just really love you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Tom hadn’t meant for it to come out that way, but he was glad his feelings were out in the open. Settling back on his heels, he waited with bated breath for Beth’s response.
Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long.
Her beautiful, silver-blue eyes welled up and a tremulous smile formed on her face. “I love you, too, Tom.”
He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a deep sigh of relief, for he knew then that everything would be all right. The lurking specter of Eric Sharpe, Beth’s dislike of his musician lifestyle—there was nothing they couldn’t overcome together.
He stretched out beside Bethany, leaned over to caress her smooth cheek and kiss her still shaky lips. “I love you so much,” he said, brushing his lips against her chin, cheek, nose. His hand cupped her breast, fondling its tip until it grew taut. Then he slid down to take her hardened nipple into his mouth.
Over and around, his tongue flicked out to randomly sample her delicious berry-scented flesh. He reveled in the feel of her hands pressing against his head, urging him to taste her more fully.
After giving equal attention to her other breast, Tom shifted to lay between Beth’s thighs. He bent her knees and slid his hands beneath her shapely bottom. Her hands drifted over his ears and hair as he kissed his way down her torso.
He paused to dart his tongue in and around her belly button, causing her stomach muscles to clench.
“Tom,” she moaned.
“Shh.” His goal was within reach, and he would not be deterred from it.
He pushed up on her rear end, at the same time nuzzling through her dark blonde curls to find the sensitive nub hidden within. He gently clamped onto it with his teeth, then circled around it with his tongue, causing a high-pitched cry to emerge from Bethany’s throat.
It immediately became his favorite sound, and he was determined to hear it over and over again.
Using every bit of sexual knowledge he possessed, Tom set out to bring Beth to the most powerful climax of her life. Tongue, teeth, lips, hands, his very breath—all were used to pleasure her the best he knew how.
He touched every inch of her womanly center, paying close attention to which areas, and which maneuvers, made her squirm the most.
In the end she made little sound at all.
As he brought her to a shuttering release, tasting her moisture as it flowed over his tongue, she just emitted a long, soft sigh. Her arms fell to the sides, and her chest heaved with each deep breath.
Pleased with his results, Tom placed light kisses on Beth’s inner thighs as her body slowly regained equilibrium. Then she leaned up on her elbows, causing her nipples to point at him like two mauve missiles.
“Is that all you got?” she asked with a teasing smile.
He had to laugh. God, he loved her sense of humor.
His arousal was back full strength, and he made sure she could feel it as he eased back up the rumpled bedspread to lie against her.
“Oh, darlin’, I’ve got plenty more to give you.” He wrapped his fingers in Bethany’s tangled hair and kissed her, allowing her to taste her own juices. She ran her hands over his shoulders, holding him close.
Although he wanted to immediately plunge into her warm, wet depths, he pulled back from her embrace and grabbed another condom from his pants pocket. Beth sat up, too, continuing to touch his upper body as he covered himself. When he finished, he found himself flat on his back with Bethany sitting astride his hips.
She leaned down to kiss his jaw, then whispered, “I think it’s time for me to give you something.”
And she did just that.
Something exhilarating. Something amazing. Something which totally turned him inside out.
After lavishing his face and chest with soft kisses, her long hair brushing over his sensitive skin, she reached between them. Lifting her hips, Beth proceeded to slide onto his shaft so slowly, so sweetly, that he couldn’t help but thrust his own body upward.
“No,” she said. “Let me.”
He lowered his pelvis, and she grabbed his hands and placed them on her breasts. Suitably preoccupied, Tom skimmed his fingers over her soft curves as she rode him, her own hands alternately stroking and c
lutching his chest and stomach.
As her rocking motion drove him nearer to the edge, he ran his hands over her hips and up her back. He drew her down until they lay flush against each other.
“Love you,” he murmured once more. Then he hungrily captured her mouth, conveying his feelings in a way that couldn’t be confused. At the same time he thrust upward, driving deep into her. Beth’s moan vibrated through his mouth, and he thrust again.
He pushed her upright and guided her hips up and down. Her moist sheath welcomed him again and again, and she dug her short fingernails into his skin as they moved together, faster and faster.
At last she flung her head backward and let loose with her now familiar moan of pleasure. When he saw her in the throes of release, her wetness clasping hard around him, he let go, too, and experienced his second life-altering climax of the night.
Beth collapsed on top of him, stretching out her long legs as she tucked her head under his chin. Tom wrapped his arms tight around her and kissed the golden crown of her head. He would’ve liked to stay in that position all night, but he was still inside her and couldn’t risk a leaking condom.
Not to mention the fact that Beth would be an icicle by morning if the air conditioner continued to crank out its Arctic waves directly toward her. And despite her warm body on top of him, Tom was starting to feel somewhat chilled himself.
“Sweetheart,” he said, giving Beth’s shoulders a little shake. “We have to move.”
She took her time sitting up, turning to brush a leisurely kiss across his lips before doing so. Her impish smile and bedroom eyes almost tempted him to have her once more, but Tom resisted the urge.
They both needed rest, and there was still one other thing to do tonight.
So he shifted Bethany onto the mattress and went into the bathroom to clean up. It might seem spontaneous to some, but Tom was sure of what he wanted: Beth at his side for the rest of his life.
However, as he returned to the main room, he realized his question would have to wait until the next day. In the short time he’d left her, Beth had crawled under the brown and green striped bedspread. The steady rise and fall of her back indicated she’d already succumbed to deep sleep.