by Lake, C. J.
It took Emma only a few seconds to react. Matt was kissing her, and it was what she’d been waiting for, wanting more than she’d realized. And she was kissing him back.
She didn’t waste time protesting; she couldn’t deny her attraction to him for one more second. The same energy that had crackled between them the night before was there again. This time there was no alcohol to blame. This was pure, sizzling chemistry. Eagerly, she gripped the front of his coat and pulled him in closer.
He made a low, rough sound in his throat as his lips coaxed hers wider, and his arm snaked around her waist. His tongue was hot and seductive as it slicked against hers, sliding deeper into her mouth until she moaned. Heat rushed through her and pulsed between her legs. She suddenly had no memory of why she’d been resisting him, resisting this. His palm burned on the back of her neck, while his grip on her waist tightened with possession.
“Jesus, Emma,” Matt rasped, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. His breath feathered warmly over her lips. The sensation was strangely erotic. “Why do you torture me?”
Gazing into those intense, dark eyes, Emma became overwhelmed by a longing that was almost painful. She reached up and brushed her lips across his. “I didn’t mean to,” she said softly, and it was the truth. Then she kissed him again, slowly and sensually. “Don’t go,” she whispered, digging her fingers into his hair and keeping him close. Lightly she bit his lower lip. “Don’t go…”
“I won’t,” he promised huskily, studying her for a moment. “You’re so beautiful,” he added, before crushing his mouth to hers.
Matt’s tongue was as skillful as his hands--seducing her and overpowering her just enough. Emma moaned weakly as she clung to him, kissing him back.
Soon they were barely in control. Matt’s kiss was intoxicatingly aggressive. Emma was devouring him back, trying to keep up. The same hands that had clutched his coat were now shoving it off his shoulders.
His jacket dropped to the floor at the same moment he growled, “What the hell are you wearing tonight?”
“I…” Emma began breathlessly, looking down at her robe.
“God, it’s driving me crazy,” he muttered and reached his hands underneath her robe and tee shirt to grab and squeeze her ass. He groaned at the feel of her, and gripped her like he couldn’t think of letting go.
She could barely catch her breath as she tugged at his shirt, trying with trembling hands to yank it off.
“Do you want me?” Matt asked, his voice low and thrilling.
“Yes,” she breathed, and watched as he stripped off his shirt for her and tossed it, revealing a strong, powerful chest that was even sexier than she’d imagined. Her mouth ran dry as her eyes coasted over him. His shoulders, his arms, his…everything. He looked solid and muscular and protective. And so achingly masculine. The hot relentless need between her legs pulsed harder.
Too aroused to be shy, Emma reached for him. With a shaky breath, she ran her hands up Matt’s stomach. He shut his eyes for a second, as if savoring her touch. Then he watched her face as she touched him. His dark, hooded gaze sent her pulse racing. He suddenly looked possessive and intense. Abruptly, a picture flashed in her mind: the two of them rolling around naked in her bed, sweaty and frantic. She could see herself licking and sucking him, feeling him everywhere. She couldn’t believe her mind had gone there so fast--that her thoughts could be so visceral--but apparently that was what Matt did to her. All she knew with certainty was that she wanted more of him. She even surprised herself by blurting, “Let’s go up to my bedroom.”
Now Matt’s eyes sharpened as he studied her. He ran his hand over her cheek. “You want to?” She bit her lip then whispered yes. His chest rose and fell harder based on that word, as he slid his hands over her ass again and lifted her up. Emma straddled his waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and clung to him as he walked them to the staircase.
They didn’t get very far before they ended up sort of spilling onto the stairs. Matt’s body covered hers while they kissed feverishly. With her legs still wrapped around him, Emma dug her fingers into his back, and moaned as he moved his mouth to her throat. Lightly he scraped his teeth on her neck like he’d done last night and she thought she’d go insane. Whispering his name, she arched her neck for more. “You like that?” Matt said in a low, intimate whisper.
“Yes…I like everything you’re doing.” Everything about you.
“Emma,” he groaned as he slid a hand between them to pull her robe open. As he kissed and sucked her neck, he worked her tee shirt up and bra up over her breasts. Then, with both hands, he caressed her breasts, running his palms over her nipples. Shocks of pleasure rippled through her--and it wasn’t just her, because Matt let out a deep groan as he touched her and murmured, “You’re so sexy…you have no idea how much I want you.”
“I want you, too,” she told him, even though that was blatantly obvious at this point.
“I was so jealous when you went out on that date,” he went on. “Thinking of you in that little black dress and high heels--for some other guy. I couldn’t get it out of my mind all night.” Breathlessly, she ran her fingers over his smooth, hard bicep, wanting to kiss it, bite it. “I can’t bear the thought of another guy kissing you like this…”
“I only want to kiss you,” she whispered brokenly as she felt Matt’s fingers curling around the fabric of her panties. Her breath hitched in anticipation. Hot arousal thumped wildly between her legs. In seconds, he had her panties at her knees and his hand between her legs. Then he was sucking on her nipple and sliding his finger inside her.
“Goddamn,” he swore under his breath.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. You’re just so wet, I want to fuck you right here,” he rasped. Before she could respond, Matt added, “We can’t do this here,” and stripped her panties all the way off. “C’mon,” he said and lifted her up again, wrapping her legs around his waist and carrying her the rest of the way up the stairs as if she weighed nothing.
Emma sighed and pressed her cheek against him. “My room’s at the end of the hall,” she murmured into his shoulder. “Believe it or not, I have a condom,” she said. “I got it at a sci-fi convention I had to go to for the magazine.”
With a chuckle, Matt crossed the threshold to Emma’s bedroom and asked, “They give out condoms at sci-fi conventions?”
“No, I think it was part of some misguided author’s press materials,” she said, and pressed a kiss to Matt’s neck. Then another. “But I still have it,” she added softly.
“I have one in my wallet,” he told her, then set her down on the bed. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, tossed it onto the night stand, and then climbed on top of her. “This is better,” he said, tugging off what remained of her clothes, then trailing his mouth up her throat and his hand up her stomach. “I need to lay you out…and take my time…”
Emma let out a small whimper of disappointment. She didn’t know how much more erotic foreplay she could withstand. He already had her overheated and practically vibrating for him. Now that they were in her bed, all she wanted was to get Matt’s pants off and feel him inside her. Even though it had been a long time, she knew that she used to like sex. Now the mere thought of sex with Matt made her blood course hotly through her veins and her body ache. “You need to be naked, too,” she told him.
At that, he grinned. “Whatever you say.” Swiftly, he shed his shoes, jeans, and boxers. Before he came back on the bed, Emma managed to catch a glimpse of him and her mouth dropped. Obviously she was no expert, but…wow, he looked big. The thought sent a tremor of both fear and excitement skipping down her spine.
Now he stretched out alongside her. And was prepared to torture her some more.
“Matt, please…” Emma whispered urgently, as his hands crept between her legs again. Now he stroked her with two fingers. Helplessly, she sighed and arched her back. Thrumming with pleasure, soon she was riding his hand with aba
ndon and letting out choppy little moans. “Oh, my God, I can’t wait,” she breathed after endless moments of near-ecstasy. “Please…”
“What do you want?” he murmured, driving his hand harder as he began sucking on one of her nipples again. She almost couldn’t answer; her head was twisting against the pillow as desire inflamed her, staggered her, made it impossible to think. He had her so worked up, her first climax hit quickly, fast and hot. As she cried out, Matt groaned with deep satisfaction and ran his mouth back up toward her neck.
Finally it was too much to take. She could only bear so much stimulation before she’d go crazy. “I want to feel you,” she said when she caught her breath, and reached down to wrap her hand around him. “Oh my God,” she mumbled, because her impression had been right--he was huge. With her heart racing, she pulled on his cock suggestively, squeezing him. There was no missing her meaning. Still, she spelled it out for him. “Please, I can’t wait anymore.”
Matt pushed up on his arms to look at her. His face looked as dazed and hungry as she felt. Still, he reached down and moved her hand off of him. “Well you’re going to have to,” he said huskily. The next thing she knew, he had her hands pinned above her head. “Believe me, it’s more torture for me than it is for you.”
“I don’t think so,” Emma grumbled, meeting his eyes with her own.
Matt brought one of her hands back down and pressed it to his cock which felt as hard as steel. “Now do you believe me?”
When he set her wrist back onto the pillow, Emma moaned her disappointment--then reached up to run her tongue on his ear. “Don’t tease me,” she whispered, licking the rim of his ear again. Matt growled at that; she could tell he was losing his resolve. Emma took advantage of the moment. “Wait,” she said suddenly. “Let me get up for a second. There’s something I have to do.”
Matt only hesitated for a moment, searching her face, concerned. “Sure,” he said, and rolled over so that she could get up.
“Thank you,” Emma said, climbing up on her knees as though she were about to get out of bed, and before he could anticipate it, rolling on top of him. Matt’s back smacked against the bed and he let out a gruff laugh.
“Oh, this is something you have to do?” he said. “Pin me to the bed?”
“Not exactly,” Emma said and gave him a seductive smile. At least she hoped it was seductive. Then, without warning, she leaned down and licked his cock. “Emma…” he groaned, sounding desperate for her. “This is what I have to do,” she explained softly and then took him as deep into her mouth as she could.
“Jesus…” he muttered hoarsely, digging his hands into her hair as she sucked him. Then he let out a quiet string of curses, while Emma tried to remember exactly how to do this.
Just as Matt’s hips began to buck on the bed, she pulled back. Sat up on her knees. His hooded eyes immediately went to her breasts. “I’ve fantasized about you putting me in your mouth,” he admitted, his voice raspy.
“Me, too. Though…in my fantasy I didn’t know you were so big.”
“Emma,” he sighed, reaching for her breasts.
Quickly she ducked away and said: “How do you like being tortured?”
“I don’t,” he told her, his voice low and intense, as he sat up. Then he grabbed her, tossed them both back down so that he was on top and spread her legs around him. Eagerly, she rolled her hips underneath him, feeling this was the moment she’d been waiting for. “You drive me absolutely insane,” he muttered, as he grabbed the condom off the nightstand.
Settling back on top of her, Matt grinned down at her. Almost shyly, Emma bit her lip. It was like a silent conversation: Are you sure? Yes.
Then he kissed her. As his lips lingered on hers, he dug his fingers into her hair and tugged lightly, causing her neck to arch. “Is this what you want?” he said and slid inside her. She gasped as her eyes shut. Still gripping her hair, he thrust even deeper.
“Yes…” she whispered, holding him. “Oh, my God,” she softly choked out, unable to believe how good it felt. Having Matt so deep inside her was electrifying, and when he moved, the friction was unreal.
As Emma moaned and bucked underneath him, urging him on, Matt made love to her with a commanding kind of passion. Soon his thrusts became so powerful that their bodies shifted over and Emma ended up with her head hanging off the bed--as Matt rode his body hard against hers, each thrust punctuated by her escalating cries--until he grabbed the back of her thighs and tilted her legs up, setting her up for a mind-blowing orgasm. He had to be, because that was exactly what happened.
Emma’s body suddenly erupted in a rippling climax that rolled through her like white-hot ecstasy. Helplessly, she cried out as the sensations poured through her. Matt grunted thickly as he drove his body faster--then pushed up on his arms and shuddered with a long, rough groan.
They were both panting hard when Matt fell down on top of her. Emma felt like she was vibrating from the inside out. Her legs felt weak, and her mind muddled. With a shaky little sigh, she said, “I don’t know if I can even move right now.”
With an enervated chuckle, Matt rolled her over, so her head wasn’t dangling off the bed, and curled her in his arms. “Good, because I’m keeping you with me.”
Chapter 29
They lay quietly together for about ten minutes, before Emma remarked, “I can’t believe we did all that with the lights on.”
Matt burst out a laugh. “What’s that mean?”
“Nothing, just…it didn’t even occur to me to turn my bedroom light off when we got here.”
“Good. Who wants the lights off? You’re hot,” he said, stroking his hand down her side. Emma smiled into his chest, but said nothing. Then he blew out a breath. “Well, that was about four hundred hours of pent up frustration right there.”
She lifted her head to look at him. “Frustration?”
“Yes. Wanting you everyday. Going to bed hard every night, thinking about you.”
“Matt…” She hardly knew what to say to that. It was probably ironic after everything they’d just done, but a blush came to her cheeks. “I hope, um, it lived up to your expectations.”
With a rough laugh, he said, “Jesus, do you really have to ask? That was fucking amazing.”
Blissfully, she smiled. Then said: “You’ll still keep this between us, right?”
“Of course.”
Sitting up more, Emma suppressed a smile as she said, “What I really can’t believe is that I slept with an employee.”
Matt lifted his eyebrows. “Employee, huh? Really?”
She struggled to keep from laughing. “Yes. I mean, technically you haven’t cashed my check yet, so technically I haven’t paid you your wages. I’m pretty sure that means you still work for me.”
Laughing, Matt rolled on top of her. “Wages now? This keeps getting better.” Now Emma was giggling and Matt’s expression turned a little more serious when he said, “You’re something else, you know that?”
She blinked up at him, touched by the words. Something pulled at her heart, but she tried her best to ignore it, and to stay in the moment, which was lighthearted. She could be lighthearted and casual, couldn’t she?
Yes--she had no choice.
“Hey, how about tomorrow night I bring a pizza over? We can watch a movie or something,” Matt suggested casually.
“Oh,” Emma said awkwardly, “you’re coming over tomorrow night?”
“Yeah. Unless you have other plans.”
After a momentary hesitation, Emma shook her head then folded back into his arms. “No. I want you to come.” It suddenly scared her how much she wanted that. A sense of panic stirred in her chest; she quickly tried to deflect it. “You know, I hope my neighbor didn’t hear us. I just realized I got sort of loud. But is it my fault that you’re really good in bed?”
Grinning, Matt said, “So just explain that to her.”
“No, you cocky jerk, I will not explain that,” Emma stated flatly, and he laughed.
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“Nah, no worries about your neighbor,” he said, snuggling her against him. “As long as we didn’t set off any car alarms, we’re good.”
~
Matt was in Emma’s shower the next morning, running his fingers through her wet hair, and stroking down her back, as she sighed and leaned into him. He almost couldn’t believe they were standing here together--naked and wet and relaxed--after the little speech she gave him when he arrived yesterday. Damn, that had been such a buzz kill. Here, after a frustrating-as-hell day dealing with work-site issues and truck-repair problems, he’d been looking forward to seeing Emma’s face and just spending time with her. It had been the one thought that kept him from cursing his bad luck all day. Then, as soon as he walks in the door, she starts nervously going on about how she never wants to kiss him again.
At first, he hadn’t known how to react--so he didn’t react much at all. Even though, inwardly, he’d felt annoyed, stubborn, and extremely disappointed. Yet, somehow he couldn’t bring himself to go without at least trying to change her mind.
And now here they were. Showering together after some steamy morning sex. Effing best way to start his day. Now she tipped her face up for a kiss, and then reached behind him to turn off the shower.
As Matt wrapped a towel around his waist, Emma reached up and touched his bicep. “Hey Matt…what is this tattoo anyway?” she asked, tracing the row of stars with her finger.
“Oh,” he said, giving it a glance out of habit. Obviously he already knew what tattoo she was referring to, and what it meant. “That’s for my sister,” he told her.
Emma’s eyes widened. “Your sister? I thought you didn’t have any sisters or brothers. Didn’t I ask you that once?”
Matt hesitated for a second; he hated to mess up their fun morning with depressing shit. But Emma was blinking up at him, clearly waiting for some kind of answer. So he said, “My sister, Michelle, died when we were kids. When you asked about sisters or brothers…” He shrugged. “I didn’t want to get into the whole thing. I said no because, technically, no, I don’t have a sister anymore. I guess.”