by Marie Force
He pounced, biting gently on her finger.
She screamed and then busted up laughing. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Without opening his eyes, he smiled and continued to nibble on her finger. “Someone is awake early.” His hand ventured under her T-shirt to rest on her belly, infusing her with his heat.
Daisy moved closer to him, wanting to feel his skin against hers, but was frustrated when her shirt got in the way. She could tell she surprised him when she removed it and tossed it across the room. Watching him look at her was among the sexiest things she’d ever experienced. “David…”
“What, honey?” With his arm around her now, he drew her in closer so her breasts brushed against the hair on his chest.
She’d never known how arousing chest hair could be until that moment, and the needy tingle between her legs intensified into a flashpoint of desire. “I feel so… So…”
“Tell me.”
“Desperate,” she said, the word sneaking out before she could filter herself. She was mortified until his hand covered her sex and she had no brainpower left with which to be anything other than incredibly turned on.
“Here?”
“Yes. I’ve never been like this before.”
“Like what?”
“Forward, needy, asking for things. In bed.”
“I love all those things. I love when you’re forward. I love when you need me. And I love, love, love when you ask me for whatever you want in bed or anywhere else.” He captured her earlobe between his teeth and bit down just hard enough to ensure she felt it throughout her entire body. “Tell me what you want,” he said, pressing his fingers into her cleft and then backing off, over and over again.
She clung to his shoulders, holding on for dear life. “I…I want… I want you. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”
“You have me. Hook, line and sinker. Now tell me what you want me to do.”
Daisy wasn’t sure what was more arousing—his fingers pressing against her most sensitive area or him trying to get her to say words she’d never before spoken to a man. “I want to come.”
“How do you want me to make you come? Do you want my fingers or my tongue or my cock? You can have it any way you want it. You just have to tell me, so I can be sure you’re getting what you want.”
“I want your fingers.”
Through her panties, he rolled her clitoris between his fingers, making her cry out from the unbearable pleasure.
“And your tongue.” She couldn’t believe she’d actually said those words, but now that they were out there, he moved quickly to comply, removing her panties and settling between legs that trembled in anticipation.
“Relax, honey. Open for me.”
Somehow Daisy managed to move her feet farther apart, but not far enough for his liking. He used his shoulders to spread her open even more.
A heated flushed took over her body when he pressed his tongue into her folds and lapped at the flood of moisture that had gathered there.
“Oh damn, you’re sweet. I knew you would be.” He kept it up for what felt like an hour, teasing, licking, sucking, nuzzling, inflaming every nerve ending in her body on fire, until her skin was covered in a fine sheen of perspiration.
He knew exactly where to focus and drove her toward climax, but when he pressed his fingers into her, the combination set off a full-body release that made all others pale in comparison. It was positively incendiary.
She thought it was possible she screamed, but she wasn’t entirely sure. Afterward, as he petted and coaxed her down gently, her throat felt achy. “Did I scream?”
“You sure as hell did,” he said with a proud smile as he kissed his way up her belly to her breasts.
“That was incredible.”
“It was incredible to watch.”
Embarrassment reclaimed her. She looked away, but his finger on her chin brought her right back. “It was sexy and beautiful, just like you.”
She smoothed her hand over his chest and stroked the erection that rested long and proud against his belly.
Keeping her gaze fixed on his, she kept a firm hold on his cock when she straddled him and guided him to her entrance.
His hands encircled her hips, his eyes widening with surprise. “What’re you doing up there?”
She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth and lowered herself onto his rigid length. “That.”
“I like that. Do you?”
Because words escaped her, she nodded.
“Do we need protection?”
“I’m safe and protected. If you are.”
“I am.”
She placed her hands on his chest, seeking leverage as she slowly took him into her body. All the while, he kept his gaze fixed on her face, probably watching for any sign of freak-out or meltdown. But there was none of that this time. There was only pleasure, the kind of pleasure Daisy had never experienced so acutely before, except for in her dream.
“Lift up a bit,” he said, his voice sounding rough and sexy. “Now come back down. Yes, yes. Like that. Do it again.”
Each time she raised herself up, she came down farther than the time before, until she had taken all of him. She could tell from the strained expression on his face that he was trying to hold himself in check. He was giving her exactly what she needed without her having to tell him. He was giving her full control.
“Look at me, Daisy.”
She lost herself in the gorgeous eyes that looked up at her with care and concern and affection.
“Don’t look away. I want you to know it’s me the whole time.”
“Does it feel good?” she asked.
“It feels too good.”
“How can it feel too good?”
“You’ll find out in about thirty seconds, if I last that long.”
Daisy hadn’t expected to laugh while making love, because she never had before. But that, like everything else with him, was different.
“Can we move a little bit? Maybe onto our sides?”
“I haven’t done that before. How do we do it?”
“Hold on to me, and don’t look away.”
With his arms around her, he shifted them ever so slightly so they were still joined but facing each other. She trembled from the full-body caress of his skin against hers.
“Don’t hold back, David.” She put her arm around him and swiveled her hips. “I’m fine. I promise.”
Her words seemed to shatter his control as he gave her what she wanted in deep strokes that had her crying out from the sheer pleasure.
“Eyes,” he said, sounding as breathless as she felt. “On me.”
She once again forced her eyes open and blinked him into focus, her heart skipping erratically at the sexy sight of him aroused, slightly out of control, his dark hair falling over his brow and his eyes on fire as he gave himself to her.
He covered her bottom with one big hand and brought her even closer to him. The change in position sent him deeper, which started a chain reaction of sensation moving through her body like mini-lightning strikes. His chest hair rubbed against her nipples, setting off another series of reactions that had her clinging to him as a deep stroke triggered her release.
“Yes,” he whispered, “let go. I’ve got you.” His arms tightened around her, but he never broke the eye contact when he joined her, surging into her repeatedly until he shuddered and collapsed next to her.
While he continued to throb inside her, Daisy held him close, breathing in his distinctive scent as his whiskers rubbed against her chest. She hooked her leg around his hip to keep him there awhile longer.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m great. You?”
“Spectacular.”
“Yes, it was rather, wasn’t it?”
His grunt of laughter made her smile. “Rather. But we might need to do it again so I can be sure before I give you a definite answer.”
“It would be irresponsible to make such an important decision without havi
ng all the facts.”
With his arms tight around her, he turned her as he laughed, and the lighthearted, joyful expression on his face stunned her. She’d never seen him look like that before.
“What?” he asked when he had her settled on top of him.
“You look really happy.”
“I am really happy.”
“I’m glad. I want that for you.”
He tucked her hair behind her ears. “I want it for you, too.”
“I’m getting there.”
“We’re getting there together.”
Daisy rested her head on his chest and let out a deep breath that was equal parts relief and anxiety. Surely nothing this good could last. It never had before. Unwilling to let that thought ruin her afterglow, she closed her eyes and tried to quiet her racing mind by enjoying the moment.
For right now, everything was perfect.
The next time she woke, David was moving quietly around the room. He was dressed in plaid shorts and a navy polo shirt. When he saw that she was awake, he came over to sit by the edge of the bed. He brushed the hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. “I was wondering if you were ever going to wake up.”
“What time is it?”
“Almost eleven.”
“Wow, that hasn’t happened since high school.”
“You were worn out. You’ve been working too hard.”
“Speaking of work, I should check in.”
“I thought Saturday was your day off.”
“It is, but…”
He bent to kiss her. “Then take the day off.”
“Are you off, too?”
“I do house calls on Saturday mornings, mostly for elderly people who have trouble getting to the clinic. I’m off this afternoon, though, barring any emergencies.”
Daisy linked her fingers with his. “That’s really nice of you to do house calls.”
He shrugged as if it was no big deal, when she was certain it was a very big deal to the people he visited. “Part of the job.”
“No, it isn’t. Do you charge for the visits?”
“Not usually.”
“You’re a nice guy, David Lawrence.”
“Shhh, don’t say that too loud. You’ll ruin my reputation around here.”
“I hope you know that by now, when people think of you, far more of them remember your kindness to them or their family members in their time of need than what happened with Janey.”
“Is that right?”
“Are you blushing?”
“I don’t blush.”
“Um, yes, I believe you do.”
“Want to come with me to check on Marion? She’s the only one I’m planning to see today.”
“I’d love to! Could I take a quick shower first?”
“Sure. I’m not on any particular schedule.” He surprised her when he put his arms around her and rested his head on her chest. “Thanks.”
Daisy ran her fingers through thick, silky strands of hair. “For what?”
“For helping me to realize there’s more to me and my story than everything with Janey.”
“There’s so much more. Maybe it’s time you let yourself see that, huh?”
“I like the way I look through your eyes.”
The softly spoken statement slayed her and battered her defenses. “I should be the one thanking you.”
“For what?”
“For what happened earlier. I don’t think I could’ve done that with anyone but you.”
“I sure as hell hope not. You’d better not be doing that with anyone else, or you’ll see my not-so-attractive jealous side.”
“You have a jealous side?” she asked, enjoying the playful banter. That was another thing she’d never had before in a relationship with a man.
“Only where you’re concerned.”
“What does this jealous side look like?”
“It’s very ugly and green-eyed and focused on anyone who dares to look at my girl.”
“Mmm, your girl,” she said with a sigh. “I like the sound of that. Now how about you let me up to shower so we can go see Marion and get everything done. Maybe we’ll have a little time before the party to…get to know each other better?”
His chuckle rumbled through her. “That sounds like a brilliant idea to me.”
Daisy took a leisurely shower, used soap that smelled like him and let the massaging showerhead work the aches out of her muscles.
The bathroom door opened. “You gonna stay in there all day?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Want some company?”
“I’d love some, but you’re all ready to go.”
The shower door opened to him in all his naked glory. “So?”
The sight of him in a whirl of steam made her legs go wobbly. She held out a hand to him.
He stepped into the shower with her and had his arms around her almost as quickly as he’d shed his clothes. “Good to know you can get naked that fast.”
“It all depends on the incentive, and you make for some pretty sweet incentive.” His hands and lips were everywhere, setting her on fire with the smooth glide over wet skin. “Ever done it in the shower?”
Daisy shook her head because she didn’t trust herself to speak articulately just then.
“First time for everything,” he said, pressing her against the tile and lifting her so her legs were wrapped around his hips. “Is this okay?”
As the hot water beat down upon them, Daisy curled her arms around his neck. “It’s very okay.”
He nudged at her with the tip of his erection. “How about this? Still okay?”
“Very, very okay.”
With the tilt of his hips, he slid inside her. “And this?” he asked, pressing openmouthed kisses to her neck that set her blood to racing.
“Very, very, very okay, but it could be better.”
His husky, sexy laugh made her smile as he let her slide down onto his full length.
“Still good?”
“Mmm, amazing. But…”
“If you say it could be better, I’m going to spank your ass.”
The words, which were rumbled against her ear, were like a live wire traveling through her body.
“I’m sorry, Daisy. I shouldn’t have said that. I told you I’d never hit you, and I meant it.”
“I knew you were playing, and I liked it.”
David groaned and tightened his hold on her bottom. “God, Daisy, you’re making me crazy.”
“Be crazy,” she said. “I swear I can take it.” Gripping his hair, she dragged him into a combustible kiss and let him carry her away in a storm of passion. While they were pressed together against the wall of the shower, he showed her what she’d been missing with every other guy who wasn’t him.
She held on tight as he drove them to an explosive finish.
He kissed her the entire time and drew back from her only when the need to breathe took over. “Wow,” he whispered, dropping his head to her shoulder as he continued to push into her in small movements that triggered a second, less powerful orgasm. “That was incredible. You are incredible.”
“So are you.”
He raised his head to meet her gaze. “We’re pretty incredible together.”
Nodding, she kissed him again. An astonishing array of emotions passed through her heart in that tender moment. The predominant emotion was love, as pure and true as anything she’d felt before. She loved him.
Only when the water finally turned cold did they disentangle, laughing in their haste to escape the chilly blast.
David grabbed towels and wrapped her in one before putting the other around his waist. “From hot to cold in two seconds flat.”
“At least it didn’t happen a minute sooner. That might’ve put a damper on things.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her again. “Nothing could’ve put a damper on that.”
She put her arms around him and held on tight. “You defini
tely saw to it that I’ll never forget my first shower sex.”
“Good, then my work here is finished. For now.” With one last squeeze, he let her go so they could get dressed.
Daisy, who was normally shy about being completely naked in front of a man, dropped her towel like it was no big deal to stand before him in the altogether. After this morning, it seemed perfectly natural to be naked with him.
He watched her intently, his gaze moving from her face to her breasts and then back up again. “You know, Marion is going to be home all day, and if we went there a little later, it would be okay.”
Daisy slapped his hands away as he reached for her breasts. “Marion first. More of this later.”
“Why?”
“We’re all clean right now, and we used all the hot water.”
“So?”
She picked up the clothes he’d discarded from the floor, pushed them into his arms and sent him out the door.
“You’re no fun,” he said through the closed door.
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I’ll prove otherwise as soon as we get back from Marion’s.”
“Promises, promises.”
Daisy smiled as she got dressed. She smiled as she brushed her teeth, which wasn’t as easy to do as one might think, and she smiled through coffee and breakfast of toast and cereal. He made her laugh, he made her think, he made her feel safe and treasured, and he made her want all the things she’d thought would never happen to her.
Chapter 15
Daisy’s euphoric mood stayed with her on the ride to Marion’s house. David held her hand the whole way, as if he couldn’t bear to be close to her and not touch her. She loved that. She loved him. She wanted to tell him but wasn’t sure he was ready to hear it—or that she was ready to say it. There was no rush, she told herself. They had all the time in the world.
David pulled into the Martinez Lawn & Garden complex, which was located on the island’s north end. The early summer Saturday had brought out scores of people who roamed the retail area, buying plants and flowers for their gardens. Behind the retail space were rows of well-kept greenhouses, and acres of planted fields. He took a right turn behind the greenhouses and followed the dirt road for a mile or so until a sprawling ranch house appeared at the end of the road.