Stop at Nothing (12 page)

Beneath the table, his knee was touching hers, but she couldn't tell if it was because he wanted the contact or because they were so crowded around the table that there was no alternative. But even
that
slight contact was making her squirm restlessly, longing for more.

“And then that bastard has the
balls
to tell me that I should be barefoot in the kitchen baking him pies!” Elle laughed, drawing Abby out of her brooding.

“He obviously doesn't know you at all, baby girl,” Charlotte teased, arriving just then with a plate of nachos for the group.

“No kidding,” Elle drawled, sharing an amused look with her aunt. “My pies would land him in the hospital—or maybe a coffin.”

“So,” Charlotte said as she set the platter of nachos in the center of the table, “aside from the prodigal son returning and throwing Fairfield County into total chaos, what have I missed?”

They all traded glances before turning their gazes to Abby, as if asking permission to share what had happened over the last couple of days. All of these people were her closest friends, more family to her than her own blood relations. And yet suddenly she felt cornered, claustrophobic. The coeds who'd been giggling an hour ago were now rowdy. The jukebox was blaring Bon Jovi so loudly her head was beginning to ache. The chatter of the pub's regulars, normally a welcome buzz of activity and congeniality, suddenly seemed shrill and grating.

Grimacing, she pushed back from the table. “You know, it's been a crazy couple of days. I think I'm going to head home.”

Kyle was on his feet in an instant. He pulled her chair out for her as she rose, then said to the rest of the gang, “I'm going to take Abby home. Charlotte, we'll come back tomorrow morning for Abby's car.”

Charlotte nodded, looking a little confused. “Sure thing. I'm sorry, Abby, honey. I didn't mean to upset you.”

“No, no!” Abby said, waving away her words. “Really. I'm just tired.”

Joe jerked his chin. “You guys be careful. Call us if you need anything.”

“One of you guys driving Gabe home?” Kyle asked, nodding toward where Gabe was leaning against the wall chatting up the pretty blond who'd taken his picture earlier.

Elle glanced over her shoulder. “Looks like he might already have a ride for the night,” she drawled, not doing a very good job of hiding the hurt in her voice. Her smile was forced when she turned back to Abby. “But if not, we've got him.”

Abby quickly made her good-byes and headed for the door, not even bothering to wait for Kyle in her haste to get out of the pub. But when she reached to push open the door, he got to it first and was holding it open for her, his brows furrowed in a concerned frown.

“You okay?” he asked as she rushed outside, taking in great gulps of night air.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “Yeah,” she assured him. “I just didn't want to relive everything right then. And it just felt too close inside all of a sudden. I'm sorry to rush out of there like that.”

He tenderly slid his hand up and down her arm. “Don't worry about it. Let's just get you home.”

As she turned toward his Mustang, he placed his hand lightly on the small of her back, gently leading her forward. “You know, if you'd like to go back and hang out with them, I can take a cab,” she offered. “I know you have a lot of catching up to do. I don't want you cutting your night short because I needed to get out of there.”

“No way,” he said, the pressure on the small of her back increasing slightly. “I'm not going to let you stay at your house on your own. We've already covered that.”

She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry, and nodded. “Okay.”

His hand slid around to grasp her waist, and he pulled her closer, drawing her to a stop as they reached his Mustang. “If you'd rather I not stay, we'll find you a hotel room. It's no problem. I'll just crash at my brother's.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head ever so slightly, unable to tear her eyes away from the intensity of his gaze. “I want you to stay.”

His frown eased at her words, but the heat of his gaze intensified. She saw his throat move as he swallowed. And then his gaze flicked down to her lips briefly. But it was enough to make her heart pound and her breath quicken.

“We should go,” she managed, vaguely noting the sound of thunder rumbling as a spring storm moved in.

He nodded, leaning close to grasp the door handle behind her, bringing them so close she could feel the heat of his body. Her breath caught in a quiet gasp, but he must've heard it because he paused, his hand on the handle, his head hanging down while he seemed to consider his next move. Her heart pounded, every nerve in her body on alert as she waited to see what he would do next.

The moment seemed to stretch out for eternity, the charge building between them and echoing that of the night air, tense from the storm that threatened to break at any moment.

Her body began to tremble with the intensity of the tension and her efforts to rein in her desire to turn into Kyle's embrace, to feel his lips on hers, his hands on her skin. She shuddered, images of them in a naked tangle filling her mind.

Apparently mistaking her shiver for trepidation, Kyle suddenly stepped back, putting space between them, and at last opened the door.

Abby cast a regretful glance his way before getting in. She flinched when he closed the door, and again when he got in and slammed his own. Kyle silently started the Mustang, the deep growl of the engine drowning out another roll of thunder.

They rode in silence. Every now and then, Abby could sense Kyle's gaze on her—just a glance away from the road as the rain began to fall. She studied the steady trickles of water as the rain hit the windshield and slid down the glass slowly like a lover's touch, only to be knocked away by the brutal slash of the wiper blades.

Is that how she'd been with Kyle? Inviting his touch only to rebuff him? Sending mixed messages about her feelings for him when they were really quite simple?

When Kyle pulled into her driveway, he turned off the engine and sat for a moment, staring straight ahead. Finally, he turned toward her, his jaw tight. “I'm going to go check things out inside,” he told her, his voice strangely gravelly and rough. “Stay here.”

Before she could respond, he was throwing open the car door and sprinting up the steps to her house. Fear spiked in her veins when he entered the house without any trouble and for a moment she thought the door was unlocked once again, but then she remembered he'd never returned the key she'd given him when they were dating. The knowledge that he still kept the key on his key chain made her heart pound for another reason entirely when he returned a few minutes later.

The rain was coming down in sheets now, the storm raging in full force, drenching Kyle as he came toward the car, soaking his hair and plastering his shirt against the solid muscle of his chest. He raked a hand through his black hair, sweeping it back from his eyes in a careless move that was one of the sexiest things Abby had ever seen.

Before he even reached the car, she threw open the door and got out, slamming the door behind her as he stalked closer. He halted mere inches from her, his gaze intent on her face as if trying to read her.

“Why did you still have my key?” she asked, her breath coming in gasps at the nearness of him.

He looked at her with such unabashed desire that it paralyzed her. “Why did you never ask for it back?”

Thunder cracked and lightning split the darkness. As if that was the signal Kyle had been waiting for, he grasped her nape and his lips found hers in a savage kiss, his mouth plundering hers in pure, raw need.

Abby gasped as he pressed her back against the car, spreading her legs with his knee so he could settle between her thighs.

She clutched his muscled back, rolling her hips against him, letting him know that she was
so
onboard with where his thoughts were headed. When he broke that savage kiss to nip at the curve of her throat, she cried out, already teetering on the edge of release. The rain pelted her face, the erotic caress of the droplets adding to her pleasure.

“Kyle,” she panted as he found his way to her earlobe, his tongue teasing the sensitive skin there. “
Please
.”

Was she asking him to stop before things went too far? Or was she pleading with him to give her the release that was rushing up on her swiftly? Kyle wasn't quite sure, but that single word brought his head up in an instant.

He pulled back and smoothed her hair away from her brow, marveling at the way the raindrops clung to her golden lashes. His hands framed her face, holding her tenderly as he peered down at her. His thumb smoothed over her bottom lip. He desperately wanted to feel their warmth again but needed reassurance that his kiss was welcome.

Abby's eyes closed at his touch, and her hands came up to cover his. Then she turned to press a kiss to the center of his palm, sending a jolt of sensation through every nerve in his body.

When she opened her eyes and held his gaze, the desire he saw there was so intense that he half expected to see steam rising around them in the stormy air. When she grasped his hand and led him toward the house, his heart began to pound as they slowly ascended the porch steps.

When they reached the door, she turned to search his gaze. Something in his expression must have amused her because her delectable mouth turned up at one corner and her lids lowered slightly, giving him a look so sultry that he couldn't help himself.

This time the kiss was slow and languid as they drifted inside. He swung the door shut with his foot and blindly fumbled with the lock and deadbolt until they slid into place. They stood in her entryway, dripping water on her floor as the kiss deepened, his hands gently cradling her face.

Her arms went around his waist, bringing him in closer, holding him against her. Then her hands were tugging at his shirt, untucking it, the attempt made more difficult by the water weighing down the material. And then she was shoving the shirt up his torso.

He broke their kiss long enough to take a step away to grab the back of his shirt and haul it over his head, dropping it on the floor. Then his arms were around her, dragging her back into his embrace so he could once again know the bliss of her kiss.

“I want you, Abby,” he muttered against her lips, his hands grabbing her ass and pressing her against him so there was no mistaking his intentions. She moaned deep in her throat, the sound sending a thrill along the length of his spine. He ravaged her lips again briefly, breaking the kiss abruptly and leaving them both panting.

When he pulled back to look into her eyes, he saw hunger, raw and primal. She licked her lips as if she might devour him. Then she grasped the hem of her shirt and swept it over her head and tossed it aside to join his on the floor. “If you want me,” she said, her voice low and sexy as she reached behind her and unclasped the white, lacy bra she wore, “then take me.”

Her bra slipped from her shoulders, baring the perfect swells of her breasts, her nipples already erect and begging for his touch.

Kyle didn't need to be told twice. He closed the distance between them in one swift stride, his head dipping to take one of those sweet little buds in his mouth as his arms went around her waist.

She gasped as he suckled her hard, his teeth lightly grazing her nipple. Her head fell back, her fingers tangled in his hair as he ravaged her. She moaned again when he switched to the other breast, the sound of her need eliciting an echoing groan from deep in his gut.

His hand moved between them, slipping under her waistband until he reached her sex. The moment the pad of his middle finger touched the sensitive skin there, she cried out, her entire body going tense.

Holy shit.

She was already coming. Her body tensed and spasmed as waves of ecstasy washed over her. Her hips began to move rhythmically, urging him on. He slid his hand down further, slipping into the slick, swollen folds, warm and wanting.

“Jesus, Abby,” he breathed, raising his head to watch the effects of his caresses. “You're so wet.” He slid a finger inside her and felt her muscles grasping him, clenching as another release shook her. God, he could caress her like this all night, just to watch the way her orgasms played out over her beautiful face.

As the shudder of her release began to slow, he withdrew his hand to unbutton her pants. Drenched from the rain, they clung to her. Kneeling at her feet, Kyle peeled them down her legs. He pulled off her shoes and lifted each foot, freeing her of her jeans.

But with her sex now at eye level, he couldn't resist. Her knees buckled when his tongue flicked the hypersensitive bud of nerves and she cried out again, her fingers fisting in his hair as he stroked her with his tongue.

“Oh God,” she panted, her hips rolling against his mouth. “I can't… I'm going to…”

She couldn't even finish the sentence, a fact that made Kyle's male ego swell with pride and his balls ache with desperate need for his own release. But he wasn't done pleasuring her, not even close.

He eased her down onto the hardwood floor of her entryway, then spread her thighs wide, drinking in the sight of her with hungry eyes.
Goddamn
she was beautiful. He pressed his mouth to her sex once more, chuckling when her body bowed off the floor. And as his tongue teased her clit, stroking and flicking until she moaned, he slipped his finger inside her again, then another, moving slowly at first, the tempo increasing until he was ramming her with rapid, harsh strokes. Her entire body was writhing, her breath coming in harsh gasps.

“Oh God,” she panted again. “I'm coming. Don't stop. Don't—”

Her words broke off in a cry of release that echoed through the house.

Kyle withdrew then, pressing kisses to her hip, her belly, and the valley between her breasts and finally reaching her lips. She grasped his neck and kissed him savagely. When she broke the kiss, he rolled away and to his feet, toeing out of his shoes as he fumbled at his belt with hands that shook with his desire to bury himself in her.

Abby rose to her knees and took over, undoing his belt and the fly on his jeans, pulling them over his hips and down the length of his legs. When his erection sprang free, she took him into her mouth, sucking hard as she pulled back slowly.

He cursed under his breath, afraid another move like that would send him careening into mindless oblivion. He pulled her to her feet and pressed her against the wall in one swift motion. Then he lifted her leg, hooking his arm behind her knee, and thrust into her.

* * *

Abby clutched Kyle's shoulders, clinging to him as each powerful thrust pounded into her. God, she'd missed the feel of him, the way he filled her. She loved his masculine power, how he made love to her without holding back or treating her like some delicate flower. She loved how he moved, the power of the orgasms he wrung from her, the heat of his breath on her neck when his head dropped into the curve of her throat as he was getting close to his own release.

Her lids snapped open on a gasp. “Shit,” she panted. “Kyle, we forgot—”

But he was already pulling out of her with a groan and a juicy curse at her reminder, snatching up his jeans and pulling his wallet out of his back pocket, fumbling for the foil packet inside. A few seconds later, he was unrolling the condom over his shaft. But for some reason he paused, not immediately coming back to her.

“Kyle?” she asked, coming to him instead. “If you've changed your mind…”

His fingers came up to caress the curve of her jaw. “Never,” he whispered. “I just needed a minute to look at you.”

Heat bloomed in Abby's cheeks at the look in his eyes, the love she saw shining there. She didn't deserve that look, not after what she'd put him through when she'd broken his heart. But she welcomed it nonetheless. And hoped he could see the truth of her heart—even if she wasn't quite ready to give voice to it.

He must've seen
something
encouraging in her gaze, because he bent to press his lips to hers for a kiss so tender that Abby's throat grew tight with emotion. When he lifted his head, she took his hand and led him from the entryway to her living room where she playfully pushed him down onto the sofa.

A grin curved his lips as she moved to straddle him, guiding him once more into her body. This time they moved together slowly, savoring the friction where they were joined. Kyle's head fell back against the cushions, his eyes closed as he grasped her hips, guiding her up and down along his shaft.

“My God, I've missed being inside you,” he murmured.

Abby leaned forward, pressing her breasts against his chest as she kissed him, the slight shift in her position intensifying her pleasure. Not wanting to come too soon, she drew away. When he opened his eyes, a slight frown of confusion creasing his brow, she met his gaze with a grin and brought her hands up to cup her own breasts, kneading them, pinching and rolling her nipples as he watched with hungry eyes.

She could feel him growing even harder insider her—as impossible as that seemed—and he sucked in a sharp breath when she rolled her hips in the way she knew he liked. When his tempo increased, his muscles growing tense, she leaned forward again, grasping the back of the couch as she rode him, letting the release she'd delayed rush up on her. This time as her orgasm shook her, she didn't hold back.

She screamed his name when light exploded in her head. His arms went around her torso, grasping her tightly as he continued to thrust. Then he shouted as his body bowed and his own orgasm overtook him.

When he fell back spent against the cushions, Abby collapsed against him, her body still pulsing with aftershocks. His fingertips trailed lazily up and down her spine, making her shiver.

“Sweet Jesus,” he whispered on a sigh. When she didn't lift her head or pull away, he added, “Abby? You okay?”

At this, she finally did lift her head to peer down into his beloved face for a long moment, then pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. “I'm fine,” she murmured against his mouth. “Better than fine. I'm fantastic.” She pulled back enough to trace the chiseled planes of his features for a moment, then rolled off him, allowing him to get up and remove the condom. He didn't say a word as he tied it off and left the room to dispose of it.

When he returned, he was still naked, and she certainly wasn't sorry he'd left his clothes in her entryway. She'd always loved to watch him move, had always been fascinated by the way his toned muscles bulged and flexed.

He sat down on the couch next to her and slipped an arm around her, pulling her against his side. She curled into him, draping her arm over his torso and a leg over his thigh.

“I'm so sorry for how things happened before,” she said softly, lifting her face and meeting his gaze as he peered down at her.

“You didn't love me anymore,” he reminded her, the hurt in his eyes belying his casual tone. “There's nothing to apologize for.”

For several long moments, they sat in silence, just holding one another. Then Kyle took a deep breath and let it out on a long sigh. “What's happening between us, Abby?” he asked. “Is this just sex, or do you think you might be able to love me again?”

Abby's heart ached at his words. If she was kind, she would've told him it was just sex, that they were just two consenting adults.

But her heart was too full at the moment to speak anything but the truth. “Love you
again
?” she repeated, pulling away just enough to meet his gaze. When he turned his head away, she laid a hand on his cheek and forced him to look at her. And with her eyes burning with tears of regret, she finally confessed what had been weighing on her for years. “Kyle, it'd be impossible for me to love you
again
because I never
stopped
.”

* * *

Kyle blinked at Abby in dismay, not quite sure he understood her. “You said you didn't love me. When you broke things off, you told me you never had.”

Abby averted her gaze, burying her face in his chest and clutching him tighter. “Could we talk about this later?” she asked, an edge to her voice.

For a second, he thought the sharpness in her tone was anger at him for reminding her of what had happened back then. But then he decided it sounded more like sorrow, anguish even. And he suddenly realized that he hadn't been the only one hurting these last three years. She'd apparently been just as heartbroken about how things had ended as he had. He'd never guessed that all this time she'd been hurting too.

The center of his chest ached at the thought. But that was over. They were together now, in each other's arms. If he had his way, he'd never let her go again. Joe was right. Life was too short to dick around and not at least tell her how he felt.

“I still love you, Abby,” he whispered. “There's been no one since you.”

The words brought her head up, her eyes searching his as if to test the veracity of his declaration. Her lips curved into a soft, oddly sad smile. His brows came together in confusion at her reaction, but when he opened his mouth to press her on the matter, she pressed her fingers to his lips, stopping his words.

“There's been no one else for me either,” she assured him. “My heart wouldn't allow it.”

Then she rose to her feet with that gracefulness he so admired and extended her hand to him. Standing there like that in the darkness, she called to him like a siren to a sailor lost at sea, and it was impossible for him to resist her.

As Kyle stood and took her hand, letting her lead him down the hall to her bedroom, he decided to stow his questions for later. Right now, all he wanted to think about was the woman walking ahead of him, her hips swaying hypnotically.

* * *

They'd just crossed the threshold into her bedroom when Kyle's grasp on her hand tightened and he pulled her to an abrupt halt. Abby threw a glance over her shoulder to see what was wrong, but before she could voice her question, he was jerking her into his arms and capturing her mouth in another savage kiss.

She pressed the length of her body into his, reveling in the warmth of his skin against hers. His hands smoothed down her back and over her bottom, then back up along her ribs and up under her arms until he reached her shoulders. He broke their kiss and eased her away from him, arching her back just enough that he could bend to take her nipple into his mouth.