Celina (Connelly Cousins #1) (12 page)

“Hey, Lina, before you guys go, do you mind if I borrow him for a bit?”

Lina blinked, and just that fast the hardness in her eyes returned, flashes of silver clearly visible beneath hooded lashes.
Oh, man. She
was
jealous!
He could feel it pouring off of her in waves. To her credit though, she simply turned her eyes to Amy.
Damn.
And she thought
his
eyes looked like ice?

Amy lifted up her hands, giving a wink and a mischievous smile. “Well, you’re running out on me and I’ve got these huge boxes that need to be moved into the back.” Amy’s eyes raked over his chest and arms again. “He could make short work of them, I’m sure, then I would be able to get everything stocked in time for tomorrow, while you’re off doing ... whatever it is you’re going to be doing.”

Lina blushed, and Kyle felt his already-hard shaft turn to granite.

“I’d be happy to help,” he offered, keeping his eyes solely on Lina. He saw the ice melt and the Lina he knew returned in full force.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Lina asked. Her voice stroked him as tangibly as the fingers she placed lightly on his forearm, the ones that had fire shooting up through his shoulder and back down into his groin. Just a simple touch and his whole body screamed for her. No one else had ever affected him this way, and he was at a loss to explain it. He only knew he craved it like nothing else.

* * *

A
s anxious as Lina was to be alone with Kyle, Amy really could use the help. It would take the two of them forever to move all that stuff; the boxes were far too heavy and they would have had to empty the contents and move them piecemeal. Plus there was definitely something to be said for the chance to watch Kyle put those muscles to use. Amy must have been thinking the same thing, because she gave Lina a sly wink.

Kyle did look good enough to eat in those snug-fitting jeans; they hugged his ass and did nothing to downplay his generous endowment. Lina swallowed hard at the sheer size of him. His black button-down stretched across his chest, cuffs rolled back to his elbows, showing his muscular forearms. His clear blue eyes were hypnotic when he pinned them on her, which seemed to be most of the time. Lina licked her lips and tried to breathe past the raging hormones sending tsunami-force waves down to her core where they slammed powerfully against the walls of her womb. With any luck, she would be with him, soon, and he would have those strong hands on
her
.

In the meantime, she’d get to watch him lift, and stack, and bend over ...
oh my
. And she knew that despite Amy’s teasing, her friend would never make a real move on him, because she’d been listening to Lina cry her eyes out for the past two weeks.

“Not at all,” Kyle said. “Lead the way.” He grabbed Lina’s hand, making sure that she was coming, too. And damn it if she didn’t almost melt into a puddle right then and there.

* * *

“S
o, where shall we do this?” Lina asked, and every thought in Kyle’s head just stopped. She looked around his small rancher casually as if trying to find a comfortable place. Placing her hands around the hem of her dress, she started to lift as she took a step toward his sofa.

“Best to lie down, I think,” he said, but he barely recognized his own voice. It sounded deep and gravelly. Strained. Or maybe the thundering of his heart and the roar of blood in his ears was distorting it.

“Sofa?” she asked.

“Bed.”
That’s it. If you keep your answers to single syllables you can do this.
He pointed to the closed door off to the right.

Without another word, she swung her backpack over her left shoulder and went in the direction he’d indicated. Kyle hesitated. Was he really going to do this?

His conscience prickled. Jamie really liked this woman.

But she’s in
your
bedroom
, a little voice reminded him.
And she doesn’t want him, she wants you.

That did seem to be the case. He didn’t know the details, but it was pretty clear that Lina and Jamie weren’t exactly couple of the month. She was a grown woman, capable of making her own choices. And she chose to be here. In his house. With him.

Kyle took a deep breath and followed in her wake.

He watched from the doorway as she slipped off her sandals and curled her toes into the deep pile carpet. That – and the bed – were his only extravagances - outside of cycles, that was. For the most part, his place was typically male - based on function, not fashion - but he had splurged on his bedroom. At the end of the day, he liked a comfortable place to crash.

“This is nice,” she said, and he could hear the pleasure in her voice, see it in her face. Why was it that everything came through so clearly with her? Happiness, anger, sadness – she displayed them all so openly. Did she even know how to hide her feelings? She had to be the worst poker player ever. Good thing he had other activities in mind for her.

“Glad you like it.”

“Maybe we should go back out to the living room, though,” she said, biting her lip uncertainly.

Kyle raised an eyebrow in question.

Lina held up the jar in her hands. “I’d hate to mess up your bedding. Mo said new tattoos can be messy until they heal.”

“I don’t mind.” He was familiar with fresh ink after-care, and to have her here was totally worth a few stained sheets. That’s what they made bleach for.

“No, I suppose they’ve seen a lot worse.” Her words were spoken softly, but they hit their target. Of course she’d think that.

“Not really, no,” he said honestly.

She looked back at him, surprised.

“I never bring women here,” he explained. It was her turn to raise an eyebrow.

“Don’t want them to know where you live, huh?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Something like that.” Actually it was exactly like that. He’d never brought another woman to his house. Never invited one to share his bed with him. But this wasn’t just any woman. This was Lina.

Kyle walked past her and pulled down the corner of the comforter, revealing the inviting looking linens beneath. Giving himself a mental thumbs-up for having the foresight to change the sheets, he swept his hand, indicating she should climb in.

“You’re sure about this?” she asked, and he wondered if she was asking him or herself.

“Yes.”
No. I don’t know if I can handle seeing you in my bed.
He’d already given this a lot of thought. Even if, by some miracle, he was able to keep himself to just smoothing the salve on her back, her scent would remain on his sheets, his pillows. And then, when she was gone, he would bury his face in them for as long as he could.

Despite his assurances, Lina pulled a beach towel from her backpack and smoothed it out atop the sheets. Then, without warning, she lifted the loose-fitting sundress over her head, and Kyle learned quickly that she had absolutely nothing on underneath. He sucked in a breath when his lungs refused to expand on their own.

Holy Christ
.

He knew he should turn away, but he couldn’t. Her breasts were every bit as round and perfect as he’d imagined. Her waist curved in so beautifully, and when she turned, that sexy navel ring winked at him. His eyes went down farther – he was finally going to know if her hair color was natural - and he could not stop the oaths from crossing his lips. She was bare. Completely smooth. Brazilian wax job, all the way. No tan lines, not one. Just one continuous, perfect expanse of gleaming bronze satin.

Oh. Fuck. Me.

Lina only hesitated a few seconds, enough for her image to burn itself permanently into his retinas, before climbing into his bed and laying down on her stomach. She propped herself up on her elbows so that her body formed the most incredible curves.

“I can’t do this,” he whispered, more to himself than her.  

“Oh, come on, Kyle. I know you’ve seen it all before. I’ve learned quite a bit about you these last few weeks.”

Kyle clenched his jaw and picked up the jar of salve, choosing to ignore that last remark. Chances were, a lot of what she’d heard was true, and for the first time, that bothered him. He wasn’t about to apologize for his chosen lifestyle – it was what it was – but that part of his life had no place here, not with her. If he could shield her from all that, he would.

He had to be careful with his movements when he sat down; his erection was so big and hard it ached like a bitch against his jeans. It was a monumental effort to pull the sheet up over the most delicious looking ass he’d ever seen and concentrate on her tat, but hell, he couldn’t think straight with it exposed like that.

You’re a fucking angel. There is no way you can be human.

“Put your head down and relax.”
Don’t look at me. I can’t control myself when you look at me like that.

Satisfied that her eyes were closed, he took a deep breath to steady himself. He felt light headed, and a persistent hum buzzed in his ears. With shaking hands, he opened the jar and dipped two fingers in. He kept his touch light as he began to smooth the salve on her skin, tracing the design. She moaned and lowered her shoulders, stretching out beneath his hands.

Damn. She’s melting beneath my touch.

“Does it hurt?” Of course it did. He knew exactly how tender her skin was. He had a few tattoos himself.

“It did. But you make it feel ...
good
.”

He said nothing more. He finished applying the clear lotion, coating everything twice. Now what? Did he somehow find the strength to do the right thing and step away? Or did he do what every cell in his body screamed for him to do and make her see God?

Kyle placed the jar on the nightstand and stood up. Lina sighed softly, but made no move to get up. No, she remained naked and prone on his bed, looking relaxed and happy and fucking perfect. Seconds ticked by in silence, and still, she didn’t move. Had she fallen asleep?

His hands twitched with the need to touch her again. Just a little more before he did the impossible and allowed her to leave without branding himself on her fucking soul. Just one more fix.

Decision made, he eased onto the bed, straddling himself just above her upper thighs. The heat from her body seeped through the denim, adding warmth to a region already one step shy of a nuclear burn. He stared down at her bare back, reveling in the beauty of it, witnessing the tremor that started somewhere near her shoulders and travelled the length of her spine.

He inhaled and flexed his fingers, then started massaging her back and shoulders, carefully avoiding her tattoo. Her skin was hot beneath his fingers, radiating bolts of heat through him and pooling in his groin. Touching her was like stroking a live wire; it sent tingles resonating out to his nerve endings.

Soft moans escaped her lips. Kyle clenched his jaw, fighting every primitive male instinct that vehemently protested his restraint. It was torture and bliss at the same time.

“Oh, Kyle,” she moaned breathlessly. “That feels soooo good. You should take out a patent on those hands.”

“Am I forgiven?” he asked. He craved a fix of her liquid sunshine, but she didn’t give it to him. “Lina?”

“Don’t stop. I’m thinking.”

He laughed softly, then eased himself onto the bed beside her. “I think you’re taking advantage of me.”

“What’s your point?” Lina’s voice was low, seductive, thick as honey, a direct result of his touch.

He laughed again, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. “Don’t you think Johnny is going to start worrying about you soon?”

“No.”

“And why not, Lina?”

She hesitated. Her eyes darkened, a beautiful shade of deep green that made him think of priceless gems, her lashes closing halfway before she answered. “Because he thinks I’m with Amy.”

K
yle sucked in a breath. Was the universe conspiring against him, or giving him a gift?

“I thought that I might be able to persuade you to let me stay with you.” She looked at him with those big doe eyes and the blood froze in his veins. One by one he could hear the threads of his control snapping until very few remained. He was strong, but not that strong.
Fuck
.

“Will you, Kyle?” Celina turned her body toward his, cupping his face with her hand, brushing her bare breasts against his chest. “Will you let me stay with you tonight?” She placed her lips lightly against his, and he inhaled her sweet breath.

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t. Lina trumped every fantasy he’d ever had. Just this past week alone he’d dreamed of her begging him to take her dozens of times. Now she was asking to spend the night, and he couldn’t even speak.

“
Please
, Kyle.” Her voice was nothing more than a warm breath against his lips. A desperate plea. One hand moved slowly down his chest, over his abs, and into his jeans. His erection stretched toward his waistband as if reaching for her.

Lina gasped and moaned at the same time; it was sexy as hell. With a simple flick of her fingers she released the button and unzipped his fly, boldly sliding her hand right back in and wrapping her fingers around him.

“Sweet fucking Christ, Lina,” he gasped, thrusting into her hand. The way she touched him made him feel like it was his first time in the palm of a woman. The few remaining rational thoughts he had been so desperately holding on to fled instantly.

“Will you make me beg, Kyle?” she purred into his neck.

“Yes. No.
Fuck
.” The last thread of reason gave way, and he could not remember why he shouldn’t be doing this. There was only Lina. Her hand like warm satin on his cock. Her hard nipples against his chest. Her hot, sweet breath on his lips.

His hands found her breasts, palming them, wondering at the feel of her. He rolled the hard tips between his fingers, relishing the way it made her squirm with pleasure. His mouth watered with the need to taste. Unwilling to waste even one more moment, Kyle lifted her up to take her breast in his mouth. He circled the tight bud with his tongue, then sucked it between his lips, savoring. Lina arched into him, begging him to take more.