Fever (7 page)

Her body went rigid. He was cupping the cold powder against the part of her that burned the hottest. And the brightest. Her sensitive nerve endings screamed.

Her mouth opened in a silent cry, and his tongue dove deep. Shudders of pleasure and distress rocked her body as his cold, wet fingers began to probe.

“I’ll make it better,” he promised. His voice sounded tight. “I swear. We’ll get through this together.”

His fingers were persistent. Delia bucked and swayed, but she couldn’t shake him. He lodged his fingers deep and began to draw out her own, hot moisture.

She cried out when she felt the demon rise inside her again.

“Turn it loose, hot stuff. Let me at it.” He moved until he hovered over her way down low and dipped his head. Her fingernails bit into his shoulders when she felt warm puffs of air caress her inflamed core.

“Shh.” Still curling his fingers inside her, he let his mouth touch her. Her thigh muscles clenched. Opening his mouth, he used his tongue. He laved it over her, licking at her swollen tissues and delving into the sensitive dips.

“Ooh! What are you…? Oh, God.”

“Tell me what feels good, Delia. Tell me what you need.”

“I don’t need this.”

“Yes, you do. We both know you do.”

He replaced his fingers with his tongue, and her discomfort swiftly morphed into pleasure. “Oh, damn you. Yes! Right there.”

“Like this?”

“Yessss.”

Suddenly, it didn’t matter that icy water was pooling between her breasts and under her body. The fever was back at fighting strength, but he was there to take it on. He spread her legs wider to give himself more room, and snow worked its way into the crease of her bottom. Her body roiled, but he just snuffled at her with more intent.

“Ahhh!” Her fingers clawed at him, leaving scratch marks on his shoulders and the back of his neck.

Curtains fluttered when she cried out, but Delia didn’t care.

Her lover did.

His head swung towards Mrs. Sneed’s window, and he let out a curse.  Quickly, he grabbed the blanket. He swung it around his bare shoulders and up over his head, hiding the private interlude from the old woman’s prying eyes.

Delia felt waves of heat and cold alternately roll through her body. It was too powerful to last long. He ate at her, drawing out her wet juices and driving her upward. He settled down deeper into the vee of her legs. With the blanket over him, she couldn’t see him. Couldn’t prepare herself.

She jerked when his mouth latched onto her clit. The suction was tight and hot. She felt herself climbing. Her head rocked back and forth, grinding into the snow until her hair was sopping. The wet tendrils lashed against her shoulders, but he still didn’t stop.

He grabbed more handfuls of snow. They hit her torso in soft splashes, making her squirm. Her hips pumped steadily against his mouth.

“I can’t,” she whimpered. “No more. Make it end.”

He urged her legs back toward her chest, and soft smacking sounds echoed from between her legs. She reached under the blanket and cupped the back of his head.

“Please, I can’t take it.”

“Just this,” he said. “Take this.”

Suddenly, she felt a handful of snow rub against her lifted bottom. Unhurriedly, he scraped his thumbnail against the top of the crack of her ass. Burrowing between her cheeks, he trailed the cold snow all the way down to her anus.

The icy pad of his thumb pressed against her there hard.

He nipped at her clit at the same time, and Delia came.

She came with a rush. Opening her eyes, she felt herself catapulting toward the stars. She clung to him as the swells hit her, one after the other. It went on for a long, long time. When the quakes turned to tremors, she fell back into the snow, not caring about the cold, the wet, or the muck.

She was replete.

“God, hot stuff,” he said, breathing heavily. “You just went off like a fucking volcano.”

He braced his hands against his thighs as he fought to get himself under control. Finally, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Now we can go back inside. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

With unsteady hands, he wrapped the blanket around her and swept her into his arms. He pushed himself to his feet and adjusted her until his grip was sure. The look on his face was so severe it should have frightened her, but Delia just curled her body toward his.

He didn’t intimidate her anymore. She was a strong, independent woman, and his protective instincts turned her to mush.

“What about you?” she said into his ear as he walked swiftly toward the building. His stiff erection was bumping hard against her hip, but she was suddenly more concerned when she felt the shudders running through him. He’d been half-naked out there, too.

“This wasn’t about sex,” he grunted as he let them in with her key. The lobby door swooshed shut behind them. He pushed the up button for the elevator and tucked the blanket around her more closely as they waited. “I don’t think your fever broke, but you’re not so flushed. How do you feel? Tell me you’re better.”

She looked at him, stunned.

It hadn’t been about sex—and he actually meant that.

Her heart squeezed. Feeling incredibly humbled, she opened the blanket and wrapped him inside with her. She pressed her breasts against his rippled chest. She had body heat to spare, and he needed it. “I’m better.”

His stern countenance disintegrated, and he pressed his face hard into her neck. “I’m so sorry I had to put you through that.”

“You made it a lot more pleasant than it could have been.” She wove her fingers through his soft hair and kissed the sensitive spot behind his ear. “Thank you for not taking me to the hospital.”

He took a deep breath, but didn’t lift his head. “If this doesn’t work, that’s where we’re going.”

She caressed the tense muscles at the nape of his neck. “It worked,” she whispered.

She threw one last look out the window over his shoulder and saw the lewd snow angel they’d left under the tree. His treatment had been unorthodox, but it was something she’d never forget—both for the sexual revelations and for the depth of the caring it had exposed. She’d never dreamed she’d find that in him.

She nuzzled his ear as the elevator door opened. “It worked,” she whispered. “Now, take me back to bed. It’s time I took care of you.”

Delia slept. She slept for hours in a deep sleep, never once budging from the spot on the bed on which he laid her. It was only the morning sunlight pouring through the window that finally roused her. She woke with a groan. She didn’t feel rested. Her head was still foggy, and her body felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. Why had she woken?

She squinted as the sun nearly blinded her. It was bright. It filled the corners of the room, reflected off the white sheets—

And stoked the ever-present fire inside her.

Her hand instinctively went to her belly. That was why. Anxiousness threatened to overwhelm her. The low burn was still there, simmering deep in her core. She could feel it. It was controlled for now, but she knew the signs. She knew where they would lead.

She rolled onto her back and restlessly kicked off the sheets. Had that dip in the snow been for nothing?

She’d told him it had worked.  And it had—but only for a while.

She couldn’t ignore her fear any longer. This fever had taken her by surprise, and she didn’t have the strength to fight it on her own anymore. Not even with his help. She was ready to go to the doctor.

But not like this.

She squirmed on the bed and tried to ease the throbbing that had started between her legs. It wasn’t simmering any longer. It was as if she’d kicked the embers and fed it the oxygen it needed. The hunger was roaring back to life.

Feebly, she looked across the rumpled bed to her lover. He’d been up with her all night, but sleep had taken him down for the count. His strength needed replenishing, too. He looked as if he wouldn’t wake for hours.

And she needed him.

Her gaze drifted over him longingly. His hair was still tousled, but this time it was of her doing…as were the scratches on his shoulders and the faint hickey on his neck. She watched as his chest rose and fell. A dark shadow of whiskers had appeared along his jaw line, and she pressed her legs together tightly. She could imagine how that prickly hair would feel along the tender skin of her inner thighs.

The quickening set upon her again. Hard.

Her gaze slid down the canvas of muscles until she saw the part of him that could ease her ache. Even after such a never-ending night, a morning erection still rose. Desire made her shiver, and she glanced up at his face again. She hated to wake him.

Yet she had to do something.

Her body tingled when realization set in. There was only one option. She was going to have to handle it herself.

Nerves assailed her. Could she do it? With him lying so nearby?

The fire inside her told her she had to. She couldn’t wait any longer.

Lying back, she took a deep breath. It didn’t have the calming effect she wished for. Excitement and trepidation sizzled through her veins.

She stared blindly at the ceiling, unable to watch what she was doing. Slowly, she slid the hand on her stomach lower. Her muscles quivered, but she didn’t stop. Spreading her legs, she let her fingers explore. Hesitantly, they slid through the tender, wet folds of her pussy.

She winced softly. Their sexual marathon had left her sore, but the tenderness didn’t matter. Her need outweighed it a thousand times over.

Anticipation made hurry. She reached deeper and bit her lower lip as two fingers slid into her damp channel. Her heels dug into the mattress, and her body bowed.

It was good, but it wasn’t the same. Her hands weren’t as big as his or as sure. She wiggled her fingers and timidly began to pump. She closed her eyes tightly as her thumb nudged her clit.

“Need some help with that?”

The rumble of the low voice made her eyelids fly open. Her head jerked to the side, and she found him watching her. Caught! Her face flushed with embarrassment. The mattress shifted as he rolled onto his side and propped his head into his hand. His actions were lazy, but his eyes were alert.

So was his cock. He’d lengthened and thickened in the short time since she’d last stolen a peek at him.

She jerked her hand away from her crotch, but he caught her wrist and pressed it right back to where it had been. “Don’t let me stop you.”

“I can’t,” she whispered. “Not in front of you.”

“Why not? We’ve done just about everything else there is to do.” Weaving his fingers through hers, he gently wedged their joined hands back between her legs. He’d barely begun to teach her the movement when his dark gaze flew up to her face. “Damn it, Delia. You’re on fire again. Why didn’t you wake me?”

She groaned as her hips rolled up to meet their combined touch. “You needed your sleep.”

“I’ve dealt with less sleep before and lived. For God’s sake, you’re the one I’m worried about.” He let her fingers go and penetrated her deeply, examining her for himself. The lines of his face drew tight. “Come here.”

She gasped when he rolled onto his back and took her with him. His strength still surprised her. He lifted her as if she were light as a feather and settled her over his hips. She straddled him uncertainly as he let her weight come down onto her knees.

“There,” he said. “Use me.”

She spread her fingers wide on the muscled chest beneath her. Why argue with him? He was what she really wanted. Really needed.

Reaching down, she wrapped her fist around his thick erection. He grunted at her touch. A ghost of a smile lit her lips as she looked into his eyes. She’d been shy with herself, but with him, it felt natural. Gradually, she lowered herself onto his hard cock. It wasn’t as easy as it had been last night. He’d ridden her hard, and she was swollen.

His neck arched as she took him to the hilt. “God, you’re like a blowtorch.”

“Help me put the fire out.”

His fingers bit into her waist. “One time,” he said, breathing hard. “One time and then I’m taking you to the emergency room.”

Delia’s head fell back, and her hair brushed against the small of her back. She savored the connection between them. She couldn’t get enough of the feel of his cock stretching her. She loved how his fingers clutched at her. Her ears craved his grunts of satisfaction. She began to move, and a moan of delight left the back of her throat.

“Christ,” he hissed. His hands came up to cup her breasts possessively. “You are so beautiful.”

After hours of moonlight loving, the sun was glaring. It left nowhere to hide. Everything was out in the open and brilliantly displayed. Emotion mixed with the heat burning inside Delia’s chest, and she went a little crazy. Her hair swung wildly about her shoulders as she shagged him in quick, rough movements. Her breasts bounced in his hands, and her bottom slapped against his hips. The fever inside her roared, and the tingle at the back of her neck told her she was close.

She was going to come, and she’d hardly gotten started.

One, two… On the third pump, her muscles clenched. Her thighs gripped his hips as she ground herself onto him. Shimmering waves of heat and satisfaction swept through her. She went lightheaded and felt herself break out in a sweat. Suddenly, her body was coated with moisture. Droplets ran down her temples, and she shivered at the river running down her back.

“Yes!” he barked beneath her. His hips slammed up so hard, her knees left the bed. “That damned fever has finally broken.”

Delia’s eyes flew open. The constant haze that had filled her head finally cleared. Her mind focused on his voice. His familiar, authoritative voice. Her gaze snapped to his face.

“Mr. Lloyd!”

Shock hit her, and she nearly fell off him.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise, but understanding made his features turn hard.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” he growled. He caught her in his arms and rolled until she was flat on her back beneath him.

Delia’s breaths went short in her chest. Jackson Lloyd was in her bed. In her bed? He was in
her
, buried about as deep as he could go. They were connected as a man and woman, and it mortified her. She was screwing her boss—a man she could barely talk to on the best of days. When she thought of the things they’d done…              

“Damn it. Don’t back away. You’re not going to do this to me. To us.”

She couldn’t respond. Oh, God. What must he think of her?

His face took on a ferocious cast.

“Spread wider,” he demanded. His hands caught the insides of her thighs and pushed her legs outwards until she had no defenses left. She lay open and vulnerable to his intimate thrusts, and he drew them out to make sure she knew exactly what they were doing together.

“Don’t look at me that way,” he said. “You knew it was me. Goddamnit. You knew it was me!”

Words couldn’t escape her tight throat. Conflicting emotions rocked her. Had she known it was him? She’d known she was safe. She’d known she was wanted. That was as far as her clouded brain had gotten.

“You thought I was Rob.”

The skin at his cheekbones pulled tight. His teeth ground together as his head dropped in defeat. His hips, though, weren’t giving up.

Delia didn’t know what to say. The look in his eyes had captured her. He was angry, but there was also hurt in those dark depths. Deep, cutting hurt. She lay still, accepting his thrusts, but remained uncertain as to what she should do.

“No,” she said, finally finding her voice. “I didn’t think you were Rob.”

He lodged deep inside her and stared at her face. The tension in the room skyrocketed. “Then what did you think?”

She couldn’t get enough air into her lungs.

Last night, she’d been confused. The fever had affected her thinking processes.

But never once had she thought she was making love with Rob.

“I wasn’t thinking at all,” she admitted in a tiny voice. She squirmed beneath him uncomfortably. “My head… I think I was delirious.”

His hips rolled. “So I was convenient? It didn’t matter who I was as long as I kept the fire in your pussy banked?”

She shrank back from his harsh words, but he had her pinned against the mattress. Nailed was a better description. He was hard, thick, and determined. If anything, he’d sunk into her even deeper.

“No,” she said on a soft cry. Oh, God. He was nudging against her very cervix. Her head rolled on the pillow. “It wasn’t like that.”

Any old stud wouldn’t have done. She hadn’t needed
servicing
. She’d needed him. Even now, knowing who he was, her body was still heating, straining to meet his.

He caught her face in both hands and made her look at him. “Then why are you so surprised? Why are you so upset? Damn it, Delia. Is it really that hard for you to be with me?”

“Yes!”

Her dream lover was Jackson Lloyd! Before, her instincts had always told her to run whenever he’d gotten close… And she suddenly realized why. He’d been right. They’d been quietly circling each other for months. She’d flirted with Rob, but that had been because he was safe. Safe and harmless.

Jackson was anything but.

“You scare me,” she whispered.

He snapped back as if she’d just hit him. The look on his face was stunned. Crestfallen. “I’d never hurt you,” he said hoarsely. “You’ve got to know that.”

“I do.” Oh, why had she said anything? She didn’t want to get into this. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

The tone of his voice made her shiver. He wasn’t going to let it go. She’d thought he’d been intense at the office, but in bed he was overpowering.

“You… You make me feel things that I shouldn’t. I don’t know how to act when I’m around you.” Reaching up, she covered her face with her hands. “You make me lose control enough as it is, but after last night... Now you know.”

She felt his tense body relax and then he was coaxing her hands to the side. “Is that all? Hell, hot stuff, you’re not the only one who went wild last night. You should have warning signs posted on you. Don’t you know you scare the hell out of me, too?”

Hesitantly, she peeked at him. “I do?”

“Yeah, but I’m not going to let that stop me.” He looked her dead in the eye. “Are you?”

Slowly, he wedged his hand between their bodies. Watching her closely, he flicked her clit. The sensation brought her need back with a rush. It percolated out of her core and bubbled through her veins. Her thighs tightened around his hips, but he refused to move. His lungs worked like a bellows as he braced himself over her, watching her face. Assessing her.

“Look at me,” he said. He fingered her again, and she groaned. “We’re good together. You can’t deny it.”

She couldn’t. Not with the way her body was betraying her. She ran her hands down his back, trying to encourage him to move. To thrust.

He shuddered, but stayed stock-still. “You’ve got to make the choice, Delia. Do you want some unknown dream lover or me?”

She wrapped her legs around his hips.

“What do you want, baby?”

She couldn’t fight it anymore.

“I want you.” She caught his shoulders as her back bowed. “
Jackson
!”

His control snapped, and he began to pound into her.