Want Me (10 page)

He took her hand. “And you’re amazing. Now stop talking so we can start kissing.”

She nodded. “Excellent advice.” Shannon sat down next to him and put her hand on his thigh. “Think we can do this without getting ourselves in trouble?”

Shit. He wasn’t about to lie. Besides, they both knew the answer to that question.

“There could be consequences.” Her voice was low and serious, but her hand had moved up his thigh. Not far enough up his thigh.

“Like going to your bedroom?” he asked. “Because no one else is home? And we have the house to ourselves? Alone?”

She grinned at him. “You must be smoother than this. It’s impossible for you to have lived your incredible life and been this dorky with women. Look at the way you dress.”

“You’re not just any woman.”

Her breath caught and he watched the beauty of her blush blossom across her pale, pale skin. He stared into eyes that had grown dark with want. He was hoping as hard as he’d ever hoped that she’d want to use that bed of hers right now. He had a condom…well, two condoms…in his wallet. And he wanted to take off her sweater more than he wanted to breathe.

“I’m pretty sure we’re about to make that mistake we were talking about,” she whispered as her hand moved one last inch.

* * *

H
E
LED
HER
UPSTAIRS
,
AND
Shannon could hear his harsh breathing, but that wasn’t caused by the climb. Neither was her own thundering heartbeat. They were going up to her room, and she was being stupid, stupid, so stupid that it broke records for being stupid. Not that she cared. Because she wanted him, and this might be it. Her one chance.

Honestly, it wasn’t that much of a mistake. She was already going to go through hell when he left. At least now she’d have a sexy memory to keep her warm at night. Until she got over him, which she most definitely would.

They reached the second floor, and he walked so fast she was practically running to keep up with him. She liked that a lot. He pulled her inside her bedroom, then slammed the door so hard she jumped, and then he locked it. The next second she was in his arms and his mouth covered hers.

He slid his hands under her sweater and the first touch on her warm skin was electric. He moved quickly up to her bra and surprised her by passing right by her breasts.

“Off,” he whispered against her lips. “Off now.”

Ah. She stepped back and let him tug up the sweater and toss it away. Good thing she’d decided to wear one of her pretty bras and matching blue panties.

He stared, wide-eyed with wonder, as if he’d never seen such fabulous lingerie, which she knew couldn’t be true. If he liked the undergarment so much, she wondered what he’d look like when she reached behind and undid the clasp.

She stretched out the moment, the performer in her loving the standing ovation in his pants. When she finally let the bra fall to the floor, his lips parted and he slowly blinked.

“Pink,” he said.

“Pink?”

He nodded. “Perfect and pink. God.”

She wouldn’t have guessed she’d be this nervous, not with Nate, but the way he was staring at her…wow. With unsteady fingers she undid her jeans and let them drop, then toed off her socks.

He was unbuttoning his shirt so fast she thought he’d pop a button. She’d already seen his chest, but it was a welcome sight especially since she would get to touch it this time.

He ripped his wallet out of his pocket, took out two condoms and put them on the nightstand. Then he shook off his jeans the same way he danced. Adorably. Next it was shoes and socks, and he didn’t even try to pretend that he wasn’t hot and aching for her. When he stood up after slipping off his boxers, he was so hard his erection pressed against his stomach.

She swallowed thickly at the heat that filled her from the inside out. He was stunning, and, oh, the way he wanted her.

10

N
ATE
TOOK
HER
HANDS
AND
pulled her back with him until he sat down on her bed. Her breasts were a most incredible sight, but not nearly enough.

He put his fingers underneath the edge of her panties and pushed them down, laying kisses on the soft, sweet, pale skin all the way down to the top of her red, red triangle. “Oh, God,” he said as her panties dropped and he sat back, needing some distance to see the total picture and also to slow down. It would be a shame to hurry through this. “You’re…”

“Thank you.”

He looked up at her. “You are.”

“So are you.”

He reached behind her, his large hands on her waist, and he drew her closer. He breathed in the scent of her as he bent to that incredible patch of brilliant red hair and he kissed her right there before he moved down. He nuzzled against her until his lips found her soft folds.

She gasped above him, her fingers snaking through his hair.

“Spread your legs,” he whispered.

Either the words or his breath did something for her, if her shiver was anything to go by. She parted her thighs, and he moaned as he kissed her, savoring her taste as he explored with his tongue.

He wasn’t able to reach everything, not in the position he was in, but that would be all right. He got far enough to make her squirm, to make her tug at his hair as he became more and more focused. God, she tasted so good, and his hands had moved down to her lush, round buttocks. He squeezed them none too gently. Her moan said she had no complaints.

He’d felt her tense. Her body had grown rigid, and dammit, he couldn’t stand the angle so he pushed her back until he could drop to his knees.

Now it was both hands on his head, and she quivered in his arms. He had that little nub of hers held between his lips and he sucked hard before he used his tongue once more.

Shannon cried out above him. She pulsed her hips forward, pressing herself down on his tongue, and then she froze, just froze as he felt her body spasm in release.

He didn’t stop until she made him. When he stood, they were both panting, and her cheeks were as pink as her nipples. He kissed her, threw back the sheets and finally got them both horizontal.

The feel of her trembling from knee to chest was a full body rush. His hand went to her shoulder, then down. At the first hint of the curve of her breast, he paused, rolled over to grab a condom and sheath himself. When he came back to her, it was with a heartfelt sigh. “I want more,” he said. “I want everything.”

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice more breath than sound. She ran her palm down his chest, right to his nipple, which she proceeded to rub and tug between two of her fingers.

He moaned, and when he cupped her breast at last, she whispered, “Now, please.”

He moved his legs between her thighs, took hold of himself and entered her. Nothing in his life had ever felt better than that slow slide.

* * *

S
HANNON
TREMBLED
ONCE
he was flush inside her. Her head fell back on the pillow as she groaned her pleasure. He was made for her body, exactly the right everything that made her feel wonderful and wicked.

She’d already known his kisses fit her to a T, but she hadn’t known what his body would feel like as it rubbed against hers, and she hadn’t imagined how his hands would thrill her.

He rolled his tongue over her beaded nipple and she arched her back, pushing her breast into his mouth.

He caught her legs and pulled them around his hips, then ran his hand up the bottom of her thigh. Pushing with his palm, he encouraged her to bring her knees closer to her chest.

Nate moved in tighter, deeper. “Look at me,” he said, his voice as low as she’d ever heard it.

She hadn’t realized she’d closed her eyes. Staring into his gaze while they were so incredibly connected exaggerated every sensation. Not just the flush that was the beginning of yet another orgasm, but how his hard chest rubbed against her nipples and his breath brushed across her lips. Shuddering, she reached up to touch his face but she had no strength in her arm and it fell back against the sheets. He bent his head and kissed her right knee, his gaze never wavering from hers.

With a small controlled thrust, he drove in deeper, rocking against her, so deep, the pressure so unbearable that she gasped and jerked. Instinctively she clenched her muscles, squeezing him, and he tensed.

“Oh, God, no, no, I can’t be this close yet,” he said, his expression tortured as he held himself completely still.

Wet and slippery with longing, she bucked, trying to get him to move again. He slipped his fingers between them, knowing exactly where and how to touch, and way sooner than she’d have ever guessed a second jolt of heat shot through her body and she spasmed around him, knocking his hand loose and letting out a startled cry.

He started to withdraw, but before she could object, he drove in deeper and after two thrusts he cried out her name as he stilled, as the muscles of his body tightened.

By the time her legs fell to the bed and he rolled to her side, she had relearned how to breathe. She looked at him, all sweaty and gorgeous, lying on her pillow. “That was…”

“Amazing,” he said, his voice ragged. “Incredible.

Shannon grinned, feeling like she’d had too much to drink, or hadn’t had enough oxygen or some other crazy thing that made the world spin faster. She found his hand by her thigh and she folded her fingers between his. “You have to be back in Bali when?”

“Not for a while.”

“So you’re not leaving tonight.”

He smiled. “Nope. Why? You have something in mind for later?”

“It’s possible.” She smiled.

He brought their joined hands up to his lips so he could kiss her fingers. A different kind of pleasure shimmered through her.

She closed her eyes, letting her heartbeat slow as she rubbed her foot up his calf. He made contented sounds, and soon he was gently rubbing her from belly to chest. Sensual and slow, a perfect interlude.

When he moved, it was to kiss her tummy before he sat up. “Did I tell you how terrific you were at the property showings?”

She laughed. It was unexpected, but then he’d surprised her at every turn. “No, you didn’t.”

“I’m serious. You should run for office or something. You’d straighten this city out in six months. They wouldn’t know what to do with someone as clever as you.”

She looked up at him to find him looking back. He was completely serious. “Stop. I’ve already got too much of an ego.”

“I think you’re wonderful and I’m not about to stop saying so.”

“Well, thanks.”

He squeezed her hand before he let it go. “I’m going to make a run to the bathroom, then I’m going to get my robe, then I’m coming back here to ravish you again. But first—” he stood and pulled the comforter and sheet up across her chest “—I’m going to kiss you.”

It felt odd and sexy when he bent over her to capture her lips, him being naked when she was covered up. When that ended, which wasn’t for several long, delicious minutes, he disappeared out her door, and she stretched like a cat under the sheet. She closed her eyes and pushed her fingers through her hair and it was very quiet. No footsteps from the floor above, no music from Brady’s room. Just the sound of her breathing.

Her brain, the one that had convinced her that this was the best idea ever, was starting to back down a bit, and the voice of real life was becoming more than a whisper. She’d known—how could she not have known?—that everything she’d felt about Nate before would be nothing compared to what she felt now. She wasn’t sorry. Given a chance to do it again, she would. But she’d better prepare herself for a hell of a blow when he left. It was going to take some serious time to get over him. She hadn’t considered the memory of his skin, of how they fit together, of what he looked like when his eyes were dark with want and, God, how he said her name.

Yeah. It was gonna be a bitch. Because while she had no doubt how very much he wanted her, she also knew he didn’t want her for very long.

* * *

N
ATE
SLIPPED
ON
HIS
BATHROBE
as quietly as he could, not wanting to wake Shannon. The light was on beside the bed, but that hadn’t stopped her from falling asleep. He wished he could succumb himself, but he had to get back to Myles’s room. It wasn’t likely that anyone would come knocking, but he wasn’t going to take the risk.

Leaving should have been easy. So much about Shannon was. Conversation, laughter, touching. He’d never had sex with someone who’d been a longtime friend before, and now he saw the appeal, although they hadn’t actually been friends. She’d been a presence in his life, and he in hers, the only thing they’d had in common was the rest of the family. In all the years he’d come to her home, they’d never sat down and had a private conversation.

They had grown accustomed to each other, nonetheless. Since first seeing her in her green bridesmaid’s dress, he’d felt drawn to her. He’d never have imagined he would know what she looked like when she came undone. That giving her pleasure would be right up there in the sexiest things he’d ever experienced

“What are you doing?” Shannon hadn’t opened her eyes and her voice was mumbles and exhaustion.

“Go back to sleep.”

“Don’t leave. It’s the middle of the night.”

He leaned over and brushed some hair away from her cheek. “I know. That’s why I’m leaving.”

She sniffed and rubbed her head into her pillow, shaking loose the silky hairs he’d pushed back. “Don’t leave,” she said again.

Was he going to break every rule? There was no reason to think anyone would come looking for either of them on a Sunday morning, but the chance existed. He kissed her gently, then whispered, “Sleep well.”

Shannon didn’t stir.

Nate went back to the bed from hell and tried to get comfortable. The sheets were cold, the mattress continued to suck, and instead of his usual après-sex relief at being alone, he felt…something else. He could imagine so clearly what it would have been like to curl up in back of Shannon, tuck in his knees, circle her waist and breathe her in as he drifted to sleep.

It would have been nice to watch her wake up. He had this image in his head that she was one of those people who went from sleep directly to alert. When he’d run into her after his shower, she’d had none of the somnambulist haze about her.

But he couldn’t be sure. She could wake up drowsy and tousled and blinking, and Christ, how was his cock even thinking of getting hard? They’d wrung each other out. He’d come twice, while she’d come at least three times, maybe more. He wasn’t good enough at reading her yet to be sure.

Now, there was a project worth tackling. He’d begun, but only in the most fundamental ways. Her nipples were moderately sensitive, which was rare, but the little spot behind her ear drove her crazy. She had a thing for being somewhat constricted. Twice, he’d held her wrists up above her head as he’d done wicked things to her body, and it was like plugging her into a socket.

He’d loved how responsive she’d been when he’d hunkered down between her thighs. God, she’d smelled incredible. His head still ached from where she’d tugged his hair a little too enthusiastically. Not that he’d minded.

But there was still much to learn. More to taste, to touch, to try. Problem was, how…and when? Far more problematically, where? She was incredibly busy with work and her side projects. He’d been astonished that she’d come out with him to look at the properties, and it wasn’t likely they’d have another night where they’d be alone in the house.

He should hear quickly about the offer on the co-op. Since the owners were out of the city Aiko had given them forty-eight hours to respond. He’d offered just under the asking price, so he figured he had a good shot. The furniture was already out, so he hoped they’d be willing to close quickly. And if not, he simply had to move back into the hotel. Yeah, he liked staying here with the Fitzes, but it was pretty clear that it had become more about staying close to Shannon.

* * *

I
T
WAS
LATE
MORNING
BY
THE
time she awoke. Still, she wasn’t anxious to hop out of bed right away. Nate’s scent was all over the pillows and the sheets, and she lazily rolled over, her body aching but in a good way. She buried her face in his pillow and inhaled deeply, the memory of him inside her still so vivid a frisson of excitement raced through her.

She’d stay there for an hour if she could, reliving every moment, basking in satisfaction, but she had to go to work for a few hours. There was payroll to do, and signs to be printed up for the Easter egg hunt. Then she needed to look over the baskets, check out the condition of the back room where her mother and friends had worked so hard.

Thinking of her mother propelled Shannon into her robe and into the bathroom. Best of all worlds, she would be gone by the time her parents returned from mass, but that was unlikely. Her mother would want to know what had kept Shannon up so late that she’d slept in. Mothers didn’t care how old their daughters were when it came to Sundays. Her mother in particular would poke at Shannon until she coughed up some kind of excuse.