Indelibly Intimate (16 page)

This was torture, feeling her luscious body and choosing to ignore his lust. But she needed this and he’d be damned if he ignored her needs because of what he wanted.

“That feels incredible,” she sighed into the pillows.

“Good. I’ll do it as long as you want me to.”

She rolled to her side and Hammer’s breath caught as she revealed her breasts, belly and that tantalizing strip of curls between her legs.

Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. “I think it’s your turn.”

Chapter Sixteen

Quinn hadn’t intended to sleep with him tonight. But feeling those big hands, slick with oil, rub all over her body was too much. Her breasts had tightened, swelling as his fingers brushed their sides. Her belly throbbed down low, tensing as his palms kneaded her hips. The movements designed to ease her tension had thrown sparks on the dry tinder of her desire and she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

“Here.” She stood, pulling her turban free and tossing it aside. “Lie down.”

Hammer sat on the edge of the bed, expression serious. “You don’t have to do this, Sparky. I never meant for you to reciprocate.”

She pushed him the rest of the way down onto the bed. “I’m being selfish here, not generous.”

He obeyed then, stretching full-length on the bed. Quinn allowed herself a triumphant grin as she squirted a healthy amount of baby oil into her palm. This was going to be much more fun than she’d anticipated.

The cool oil dripped from her palm onto his muscled back, first on the bare skin of the low hollow of his backbone then higher, to each of his shoulder blades, where he was thoroughly inked. The slick oil coated his skin, giving the ink a glossy shine in the lamplight.

Kneeling beside him, she began to knead the muscles of his strong back. Starting at his shoulders, she dug her thumbs into the knots of tension at the base of his neck. His low groan was all the verification she needed.

After working on his shoulders for a few minutes, she let her hands trail lower, down the ridge of his spine. She let her fingers move there for a moment. Her smile spread when his pelvis shifted restlessly, rustling the sheets beneath him.

“Are you okay?” she asked, running her fingers beneath the waistband of his shorts.

“Are you sure you want to be doing what you’re doing?” His voice was a little rough, husky. She could have purred.

“I’m certain.” She peeled the shorts from him, tossing them aside before straddling his thick thighs. She nearly gasped aloud as she brushed her wet folds against his leg, but stopped before she gave herself away. She wanted Hammer to think she was totally in control of the situation.

Making sure both her hands were slick with the oil, she began rubbing the rounded muscles of his ass. It was perfect, not flat or hairy. Smooth male skin with obvious muscle tone. From the first time she’d seen it, she’d wanted to touch it. And now—she smiled as she closed her eyes—she was.

“Sparky, you’re driving me crazy.”

“That’s the point,” she laughed. He shifted again, pressing backward into her palms.

An idea sparked then, a deliciously wicked thought. Before she could stop herself, her hand crept down, between the legs she straddled, to cup the twin weights of his testicles. Hammer nearly bucked her off.

“Be still,” she cooed, raising her body from his so he could spread his legs farther. “Let me.”

The skin of his back and ass had been smooth, but nothing like the silken heat of his cock as she curled her fingers around the tight length. As she shifted so she knelt between his legs, he came to his knees to give her better access to the throbbing heat of his erection. The sight of him kneeling before her, naked and spread for her pleasure, was such a potent drug.

Dipping her head low, she kissed his sac above the slickness of the oil she’d applied. Keeping her hand moving on his cock, forward and back, she licked up the small seam.

A heavy drop of fluid came from the slit in the tip of his cock, dripping onto her sliding fingers.

“You keep that up and this will last no time.”

“I know what I’m doing.” She blew across his testicles. “Let me.”

After one last long, leisurely stroke of his cock, she rose. Pushing him back down, she pressed her breasts against his back, closing her eyes as their bodies slid across each other, aided by the oil. Hammer’s hips pumped furiously into the bed and he moaned as she rubbed herself against his ass.

“Enough,” he snarled, lifting her as if she weighed nothing at all. He caught her arm and flipped her off him, pinning her facedown. “You think you can tease me all you want and get away with it? Not happening, Sparky.”

Before she could gasp or blink or even rise on her knees to receive him, he’d lifted her and driven his cock deep into her throbbing pussy.

She cried out in surprise, in ecstasy as he began a merciless rhythm. He grasped her firmly, giving her no power over their movement. She lay there helplessly engulfed in the lust she’d inadvertently sprung free like a caged beast. She clutched at her breasts, pinching and rolling the nipples as Hammer’s hand connected sharply with her ass cheek.

“I should punish you,” he growled as he fucked her. Another smack rent the air and she gripped her turgid nipples harder. “You can’t treat me like your toy and get away with it.”

Her left cheek burned with the hot, throbbing memory of his blow. She whimpered, running her hand down the front of her body to rub her clit.

“No,” he growled, grabbing both her wrists. “You’ll come when I say you can come, not a second before.”

He pressed her wrists into the pillows, imprisoning her with his sexual punishment. Tears of lust and frustration streamed down her cheeks. The excitement and helplessness of her position thrilled her, her clit throbbing to the music of their hips smacking together.

“Don’t move.” He gripped her waist again, bringing her high and hard against him.

She clawed at the pillows, doing her damnedest to obey his command. In this position, her hardened nipples bounced against the sheets, each brush of the fabric against her tingling skin sending bolts of sensation straight to her burning, wet core.

“Hammer, please,” she sobbed, desperately twisting the pillowcase. “Please, I need to come.”

“You need to
what
?” He punctuated the last word with another open-palmed blow to her jiggling ass.

“I need to come,” she gasped. He spanked her again.

“When…
I
…
say
.” Each word brought his punishing cock deeper into her wet body. Her frustrated sobs changed to desperate cries.

“Goddammit, Hammer, I can’t wait!” Unheeding of the consequences, she let her desperate fingers find her clit.

As soon as she brushed that throbbing cherry, her world exploded. Heat filled her, wrenching deep cries of pleasure from the place where Hammer invaded her body. His cries joined hers as he poured himself into her. They both collapsed onto the mattress, a trembling mass of humanity, still joined hips to groin.

Oxygen seemed a foreign concept as Hammer lay atop Quinn’s back. What the fuck had happened between them? What started out as an innocent gesture on his part had changed into a wild, lust-filled spank fest. Not that he was complaining. Well, he wouldn’t complain as long as Quinn was happy.

The pleasured buzz lasted long enough for him to pull out. An icy blade of realization stabbed him through when he realized. He hadn’t put on a condom.

Of all the thoughtless, inconsiderate, lazy things to do. He’d let the pleasure take him away, unheeding of the consequences. Hammer was clean but what if that asshole boyfriend of hers had given her something? What if she wasn’t on the Pill? A ton of unintended worries obliterated all sense of pleasure their intimacy had granted.

“Hammer.” Quinn’s sleepy voice rose from the pillows. “What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t put on a condom.”

She yawned, seemingly unaffected by his earth-shattering pronouncement. “Is that all?”

He pulled her upright. “Sparky, listen to me. I’m so, so sorry. It completely slipped my mind. I promise you I’m clean but I’ll pay for testing again if it’ll make you feel better. As far as anything else, well, if you’re not on the Pill…”

“What the fuck are you talking about? You’re harshing my glow here. I’m clean, you’re clean and I’m on the Pill. Relax already, will you?” She yawned again, dragging him toward the bathroom. “Now come on. We’re both greasy as hell and we need to get some sleep.”

A numb Hammer allowed Quinn to lead him to the shower. He’d never expected her to be so blasé.
She’s the one who insisted on just having “fun”, right?
Was this becoming something more or did unprotected sex not mean as much to her as it did to him?

They washed the oil from their skin in the shower together, the perfunctory act quickly turning tender as Hammer washed Quinn’s back and she reciprocated. Sweet touches, soft glances and steamy water combined to rev them both up again.

After bundling Quinn in a towel, he laid her on the clean bed and entered her, slowly this time, meaningful, full of sweet kisses and soft gasps. Without the barrier of a condom between them, he was able to savor her body, the hot wet heat gripping him as he moved within her. Instead of the explosion of their earlier orgasms, these were quiet, gentle expressions of an emotion that neither could voice. Hammer prayed he wasn’t imagining the reciprocation he’d seen in her eyes.

She fell asleep quickly, almost as soon as he pulled out of her. He lifted the covers over her naked body and cradled her close. Propped on an elbow, he looked down at her sleeping face.

“Good night, Sparky,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her temple. He laid his head behind her and said the words he only felt safe enough to say while she slept. “I love you.”

The morning dawned hazy and overcast, fitting the anxiety that wafted through Quinn to a T. She slipped out of bed, reluctant to leave Hammer’s arms but all too ready to get the day over with.

Facing Guy would be hard but she had to do it. She needed to remain clearheaded, something that necessitated staying away from Hammer’s delicious body. Keeping her distance wouldn’t be easy but she needed to get Guy sorted out once and for all. Hammer deserved her best, and she couldn’t give it while looking back.

Her resolve set, she dressed quickly, donning a yellow sundress that perfectly matched the yellow tips of her phoenix’s feathers. By the time she’d slid her feet into white flip-flops, Hammer was awake.

“Good morning,” she said, turning back to her suitcase. “Sleep well?”

“Great.” Seconds later, strong arms wrapped around her waist. “You?”

She tried to ignore the lips that pressed against the nape of her neck, left bare by the sweep of her ponytail. “Just fine.” She slipped from his arms. “You should get ready.”

He glanced over at the clock. “We’ve got time.”

A nervous laugh escaped her. “No we don’t. Come on or we won’t have time for breakfast.”

Hammer lifted his brow at her, doubt written all over his features, but he didn’t argue. He was ready only a few moments later and when they made their way down to the convention floor, laden with coffee and croissants, they had to wait for security to unlock the doors.

She was grateful he didn’t comment. Her nerves were strung tight and the last thing she wanted was a stupid argument with the man she needed more than anything.

“So what’s the plan today?” Way too nervous to eat, she picked apart her croissant, buttery flakes scattering everywhere.

“Well, we’ve got a full day of appointments and the competition tonight.” His voice was soft. She didn’t dare look over at him, afraid she’d see suspicion or worse in those beautiful green eyes.

“Okay, great. I’ve got an errand or two to run so I might disappear a couple times today.” She spoke quickly to make sure she didn’t lose her nerve. “Nothing to worry about and I’ll be back before you notice I’m gone.”

“I see.”

She chanced a glimpse up at him and swallowed hard. His features had gone dark.

Impulsively, she grabbed his hand. “It’s nothing to worry about, just something I need to take care of.” She silently begged him to believe her.

After a tense moment, he nodded, his features relaxing. “Okay, Sparky. I trust you.”

The last three words might as well have been made of hot pokers. Each one wounded Quinn right through the heart.

But you’re doing this to be with him
, her heart whispered.

But you’re not telling him what you’re doing
, her brain replied.
Be honest with him.

But if I am, he’ll go find Guy and start trouble. I don’t want that for him. Not with his career about to take off.

Her internal argument over, she pinned a brilliant smile on her face. “Good. Like I said, back before you know it.”

She could have tap-danced with glee when the convention finally started. She’d been holding Hammer at arm’s length for hours at that point, almost ready to scream with frustration. Why did her life have to be so fracking complicated?

With Hammer finally ensconced with his first tattoo of the day, Quinn slipped away to find Guy. One conversation would be enough to tie up all their loose ends, freeing her to live the life she wanted without regret.

It was worth it. It had to be.