Almost in Love (15 page)

She tried to look at him, but he was kissing his way down the column of her throat. She swallowed. “There’s a bad way?”

He stopped and looked up at her. “You know, like ‘you’re taking too long, finish already.’” He frowned. “Some women have complained about it.”

“That you take too long.”

He nodded. His hands were moving again, touching and stroking her everywhere at once, watching her responses.

“There’s no bad way about that,” she said, arching into his hand where he’d just managed to free her breast from her bra. “What kind of women have you been with?”

“No one worth mentioning,” he muttered before claiming her mouth again. Her bra sprang free, and his fingers rolled her nipples, tugging on them, and she felt an answering throbbing between her legs. He lifted his head. “So you don’t mind?”

She sat up and peeled off her top. He did the same. “Hell no,” she said.

He stared at her breasts, then slowly dragged his gaze back to her face. “You are so beautiful. I have to have you.”

He tossed her flat on her back, suckled her breast, his teeth scraping, while his other hand slid down her belly, dipping into her bellybutton, tracing her piercing. She wanted her jeans off, him naked, but she couldn’t form the words as his mouth and hands worked her. His mouth moved to her other breast, his teeth teasing, while his hand slipped lower, cupping her sex, pressing on her, making her arch into his hand. Finally he worked off her jeans, and she grabbed for him frantically, yanking his breeches down.

“I want you,” she said, grabbing a condom from the nightstand and handing it to him. “Now. I can’t wait.”

He dropped his breeches and boxers and rolled on the condom. “Please tell me you’re not just man on top.”

“I’m anything. Whatever. Just hurry.”

He flashed a quick smile, crashed down on the bed next to her, and pulled her on top of him. “Ride me hard.”

His words rolled through her, stoking her desire. She immediately settled herself over him, feeling the surge and the stretch as her body adjusted to his. Oh, yeah, this was good. He grabbed her hips, already moving her in the rhythm he wanted, hard and fast. Her breath quickened, thrilled he had some of that take-charge pirate attitude even without the costume.

His eyes were dark with desire. “Come on, love, ride me.”

She did, keeping up the rhythm he’d set. He held her hips lightly, urging her on when she moaned. She quickly learned he was like that, praising her for responding to him. His voice, a low, hypnotic sound, registered dimly as sensation clouded her brain. He was a talker, and the words pushed her along as much as his touch. She tightened, felt herself clamp around him, shockingly quick. She shook with it, tried to stop moving to prolong it, but his hands kept her going, moving her up and down his shaft relentlessly.

“Yes,” he urged. “Come apart for me.”

His hands moved up to cup her breasts, and she moved again on her own, slower now, wanting it to last, but then he pinched her nipples hard, and she exploded, rocking helplessly with it. His hands clamped on her hips, moving her as he liked, filling her impossibly deep each time he slammed her down onto him, over and over, until he groaned and shuddered with his own release.

She collapsed on top of him, her heart thundering, and heard his matching heartbeat. They lay like that for few minutes, catching their breath. Amber let out a deep sigh of satisfaction. He gently rolled her to her side while he took care of the condom. Then he was back, pulling her on top of him again. His hands stroked up and down her back, relaxing her even further. She felt like a limp noodle, and he was so warm, she started feeling sleepy. She must’ve dozed off for a bit, until he said her name.

“Yes?” she asked, not bothering to lift her head.

“Good, you’re awake.”

His hand that was stroking her back so warmly kept going, sliding down her back, down her bottom, dipping his fingers lower to slide inside her sex, and hold her like that. She was too relaxed to move or protest.

She felt him harden underneath her.

“I want you again,” he growled.

She lifted her head. “Already?”

“I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you.” His eyes gleamed. “Like a craving.”

The words turned her on, but she said nothing because her body spoke for her, tightening around his fingers. She moaned and rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes, knowing she was in for more.

“Yes, good,” he whispered in her ear as he slid another finger inside her. Her body tightened around him again. His fingers spread wide and a moan escaped. “Let me take you like I read about. Like a werewolf.”

She felt suddenly awake. What kind of magazine was he reading?
Hunt and Get Fit
had werewolves?

He released his hold on her only long enough to slide her onto her stomach.

“Werewolf?” she asked, but he was already wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into position—head down, tail up. She was beginning to understand. “Doggie style.”

“More animalistic.” His hands settled on her inner thighs and spread her wide open. She waited, not exactly sure what he meant, but wanting to find out. She heard the rustle of the condom wrapper, a throaty groan, and then he thrust inside her fully, making her breath catch at the sudden invasion. “I want to make you howl like in
Carnal Werewolf
.”

Somewhere in the far-off reaches of her brain she knew that title. It didn’t sound like a magazine article.

“You’d better prop yourself up on your arms because I’m going to pound you,” he said. Her whole body quivered in response. “All fours, love.”

She’d no sooner gotten her arms into position than he was making good on his promise, pounding into her, one hand tucked around her center, just holding her, his fingers increasing the pressure with each thrust. Her mind shut down, and there was only heat and incredible pleasure rushing through her. Oh, God, she was close already, like she hadn’t come down from the aroused state he’d left her in not long ago. This was too fast, too much. She wanted to slow it down, but couldn’t seem to form the words.

“Howl for me,” he growled.

She panted. “I’m not a howler.”

“You will be.”

She hung on, her fingers clutching the sheets, as his fingers began to stroke her center, opening her more. She cried out and bucked, but that only opened her further to him. He groaned and covered her, pushing more fully inside, his fingers opening her folds, stroking, making her wild. But she couldn’t move, couldn’t slow it or stop it, could only go along for this ride that was fast becoming an overwhelming, unbearable tightening on the edge of release.

“Oh, God,” she gasped.

His voice was low in her ear. “Do it for me,” he urged. “Howl for me.”

She trembled, panting, fighting it as he pushed her with his words and devious fingers and unrelenting thrusts. The pressure built inside her, a wave that threatened to pull her under, even as he held her tight. A soft cry escaped.

“More,” he urged.

She quivered beneath him and clamped her mouth shut, only to gasp as his fingers became more demanding, and he plunged deeper.

“No,” she moaned even as she felt her insides clenching around him.

“Yes.” His fingers gave her a pinch and a twist just as his teeth sank into the side of her neck.

She let out a primal howl as her body racked with wave after wave of pleasure. He joined her a moment later with his own growly howl that she would’ve found funny if she wasn’t so shattered. He held her like that, catching his breath, then finally pulled out. She collapsed, completely boneless.

He rolled her so they were side by side, chest to chest, and tucked her close. “That was fucking awesome.”

“You made me howl,” she said, staring at him in wonder. “No one has ever made me howl.”

He stroked her sweaty hair away from her face. “I’m a lucky man.”

“I’m a lucky woman.”

He kissed her tenderly. “It’s you, Amber. I’ve never been like this with anyone.” His thumb pressed on her lower lip. “You just make me want to…I don’t know…”

She nipped his thumb. “Dominate?”

He met her eyes. “I need you to come apart for me the way I come apart for you.”

She felt herself throb. “Omigod, you’re getting me hot again.”

He gave her a slow, sexy smile. “Give me ten minutes.”

She groaned. “I need a little longer than that.”

He pulled her leg over his hip and tucked his hand on her bottom, slipping his fingers inside her again, holding her close. And though she thought she was absolutely done, she clenched around his fingers, hot and ready again. She moaned.

“Your body tells a different tale,” he said.

“Oh, God. Please,” she said, near desperate for what she wasn’t sure. More or less? She couldn’t think straight. His fingers slipped in and out, and she broke out in a sweat. “Please. Kate could be back any minute.”

He smiled devilishly. “I like playing with you.”

His fingers did a slow spiral, and she whimpered.

“You’re so responsive,” he said.

“Please,” she said. She couldn’t possibly take any more. Not the way he pushed her past what she ever thought her body was capable of feeling. And he couldn’t possibly, not after twice—

The front door opened and slammed shut. Her eyes flew to his. She pushed at his chest, but he still held her intimately, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. She was wild to get free. She wiggled and tried to pull away, gasping at the intense rush of sensation around his fingers. She didn’t get very far. He chuckled.

“Amber?” Kate called loudly. “I’m ho-ome!”

She slapped at him frantically, and he finally let her go.

She dressed quickly before he could get his hands on her again. “Coming!” she called.

He chuckled again. She threw his shirt at him. “Get dressed,” she hissed.

He pulled his shirt on. “I can’t wait to have you again,” he said in a low voice.

The throbbing between her legs shocked her. That voice. The words.

“I know what you like,” he added.

She smoothed out her hair with shaking fingers.

“You like when I’m in command.” He pulled up his breeches. “You like when I’m demanding. You like when I talk dirty.”

She opened her mouth to say…what, she didn’t know. It was startling how well he read her so quickly. He crossed to her, pulling her in for a hard kiss, and she sank against him. He released her and smiled down at her. “I told you I could be whatever you want. That works for me too. I love watching you lose control.”

She swallowed hard. “What if I said I didn’t like that? Would you be sweet and gentle and let me be in charge?”

He tipped her chin up and kissed her gently. “Yes.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “But we both know what you really want.”

She was suddenly desperate to talk about anything else. This conversation was only making her hotter, and her sister was in the next room. She stood over by the door, needing some space between them. “You want to watch some
Zombie Bonanza
?”

“Actually, I don’t like zombies.” He sat on the edge of her bed and pulled his boots on. “In fact, I hate
Zombie Bonanza
.”

She did a double take. “You hate
Zombie Bonanza
. But you’ve been watching it with me for months!”

“It was the watching with you part I liked,” he said with a smile.

She took that in. “Well, what do you like to watch?"

“I like sci-fi. Want to check out
Dinomonsters 2
? It’s playing tonight at the theater in Eastman.”

Oh. That sounded horrible.

“I think I’d be lost,” she said. “You know, watching part two.”

He grinned. “No problem. I’ve got the first one on DVD. This will be great. We’ll have a
Dinomonsters
marathon!”

She got a sinking feeling she was in for a lot of creepy sci-fi creatures, but she wanted the watching with you part too.

“Okay, I’ll watch,” she said.

“That’s me girl.”

She smiled, and he smiled back. She was Barry Furnukle’s girl. Amber Lewis, artist, club hopper, bartender, sci-fi-nerd-loving Amber Lewis.

He crossed to her and gave her a kiss that started gentle and ended with her against the wall, mouth fused to his, his hand cupping her firmly between her legs.

She tore her mouth from his. “Please, Kate’s here,” she whispered.

He groaned. “Tonight. Send Kate on an errand, anyplace. She can have my credit card and go shopping just…please. I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone.”

A thrill ran through her at the words. It made her feel so desirable and sexy. “Yes. Tonight.”

Amber opened the door, and they stepped into the living room.

Kate was on the sofa, hair down, looking thoroughly tussled.

Amber rushed forward. “Kate, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” her sister slurred.

Amber put her hands on her hips. “What did he do to you? Did Ian get you drunk? Omigod, did you sleep with him? I’ll kill him.”

She headed for the door.

“Stop, sis, it’s fine!” Kate barked. “I just had a couple beers.” She fell to her side like a rock.

She studied her sister. “That’s it?”

Bare watched them with interest. Kate looked over at Bare and promptly turned red. “Amber, you’re embarrassing me in front of our guest.”

“He’s my boyfriend,” Amber said.

Bare’s chest puffed out.

“Why can’t you hook up with an artist like you?” Kate exclaimed. “Why do you have to go for the one kind of guy I can talk to?”

“Weren’t you just talking to Ian?” Amber asked.

Kate sat up and punched the sofa cushion. “We didn’t do much talking,” she muttered.

“That’s it,” Amber said. “I’ll kill him.”

Amber marched to the door, but Bare grabbed her before she could get it open. His hands landed on her shoulders, and he turned her so they both faced Kate.

“Do I need to kick his ass?” Bare asked Kate. “I told him to be on his best behavior.”

Kate blushed. “No. I told him I was saving myself, and he said he respects that.”

Amber relaxed. “Oh.”

“See, love,” Bare said to Amber. “It all worked out.”

Kate burst into tears.