“That’s exactly how I ended up at your place tonight. Not for the Wi-Fi, but he said you were open late.” She wrapped her arms around her torso as her body rolled with a shiver. It was still eighty and sticky, common for July nights around here. I wanted to believe I gave her that chill.
“Really? Well, I’ll have to thank him in the morning—or laterthismorning.” I shoved my hand into my pockets, my fingertips still jonesing to touch her. “I’m really glad you came in, Caterina.”
“Me too.” Her voice was small as she came closer. “After…everything, today, thanks for renewing my faith that nice guys do exist.” She brushed her soft, warm lips against my cheek, lingering a moment past polite.
“It was my pleasure.” I kissed her forehead as my hand snaked around her waist. I’d battled with myself for hours, but having her this close to me finally made me crack.
My lips caught hers when she lifted her head. She froze but didn’t pull away. I gave her a soft kiss and ran my thumb along her jaw, starting with sweet and tiny pecks before grazing my bottom lip across hers. A whimper escaped her as she fisted the collar of my shirt.
“If I’m being too forward,” I threaded my fingers into her hair, smiling as her eyes fluttered, “tell me to stop.”
She’d come in flustered and upset, and the last thing I wanted to do was take advantage. If she asked me to stop, I would. Although I wanted this woman so badly I couldn’t see straight, I’d walk away if that’s what I had to do.
Her eyes thinned as she glided her finger along the seam of my lips. Now it was my turn to shiver. Parting my lips and holding her gaze, I sucked on the tip of her finger, drawing out another whimper.
“Not on your life,” she murmured against my lips before her mouth was back on mine.
I’d only known this woman for three hours, but she was about to ruin me.
4
Caterina
When our lips met again,I expected a spark. Even fireworks from all the flirting and sneaky glances of longing over the last few hours, but I hadn’t expected a kiss like this. An earth-shattering, senses-robbing kiss that literally made my knees give out as I grabbed Joe’s biceps for purchase. My body melted against him as he ruined me with his lips. They were demanding yet sweet: seeking, tasting, and devouring. Regret and repercussions were so far from my mind, they weren’t even on the same planet. When his tongue met mine, gently stroking with long sweeps as I mewled into his mouth, the only word echoing in my frazzled brain wasmore.
My head was spinning, yet I’d never known what I wanted so clearly in my life.
“Come inside,” I pleaded against his lips.
What did I yearn for the most? The comfort I’d found in his presence tonight? The payoff from the chemistry simmering between us? Or just to prove to myself that I couldfeel? That I wasn’t cold and hollow, but warm and beautiful. Joe made me believe I could be that—that Iwasthat—and I didn’t want it to end.
His gaze was pained as he pulled away, panting and flushed but shaking his head.
“I want to. Believe me, I want to—sofucking badly. But like you told me, you had a day.” He grinned, cradling my face. “I don’t know if you realize what you really want right now.”
On the long drive up here, I thought of all the regrets I had—from the things Ididn’tdo. Saying goodnight to Joe and heading into my hotel room alone was the right and sensible thing to do. But if I sent Joe away, the second I shut the door behind me, I’d know I’d made a mistake. Spending the night with him was most likely a different kind of mistake, but one I wanted to make. One Ineededto make.
“I don’t want you to leave. For once in my life, I don’t want to put tomorrow before today.”
I dug into my purse for my key, finally palming the scratchy lacquered keychain at the very bottom. Quivering and needy, I managed to unlock the door and pushed it open.
I glanced back at Joe. The heat in his eyes contrasted with the deep furrow of his brow.
“It’s a good thing it’s already tomorrow.” He grabbed me by the waist and brought his lips back to mine before backing me into my hotel room and shutting the door behind him. I reached back to turn the locks before pulling at the hem of his shirt.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since I first saw you,” he whispered as he dragged open-mouthed kisses down my neck, grazing along a sweet spot no one else had ever found. I cried out as he cupped my breast through my tank top, teasing the nipple peaking against his thumb. “I need to taste all of you.” He moved his mouth back to my neck, the silk of his tongue and scrape of his stubble driving me out of my mind.
“Please, I want everything, Joe,” I begged. My voice was sandpaper, gravelly and rough with need. All the inhibitions I usually had during sex, especially with someone new, vanished as I sank my teeth into his swollen bottom lip and then ran my tongue along his jaw. He muttered a curse before dropping his head back.
“Be careful what you ask for,” he warned. His moans vibrated against my lips as I licked a trail down his throat and over his Adam’s apple. He was sweet all over, and my mouth watered for more.
I’d never been so ravenous for anyone before tonight, and I didn’t care to figure out the whys of it all. If I thought about it too much, I might come to my senses, and it was way too late for that.
I tugged his shirt up and over his stomach, still nipping at his neck when he stepped back to peel it off.
My hands shook as they glided across his chest. My fingertips traced sculpted muscle, his skin hot and smooth as I made my way lower, halting at the thin trail tempting me inside his jeans.
“I want you…” I trailed off when his hands slipped down my torso, feeling for the hem of my tank top and raising it over my head.
