“Shit,” Hazel whispered. She slumped over, buried her face in her hands, and shook her head. Her whole body trembled, with waning anticipation, with shame.
God, she felt so ridiculous.
Obviously, she couldn’t jump into bed with Gareth again simply because her body wanted to, craving an end to it. Naturally, they couldn’t start an affair simply so they could have a fresh start afterward.
They were working together! They didn’tlikeeach other.
Groaning softly, she rubbed her temples. She didn’t know how long she sat there, how long she tried to calm herself andfailed. Her whole body was on fire, demanding release. For Gareth. It was merely muscle memory that wanted him, but if she couldn’t have him, then at least…
Trembling, she hiked her skirt up and bunched it around her hips. She ran her own hands over her legs, imagining they were his. Hated it, wanted it, needed it. She sank deeper into the couch cushions, placed her legs on the low coffee table, and rolled down the waistband of her pantyhose before slipping her fingers into her panties. She knew how wet she was before she touched herself. Sighing softly, she closed her eyes as she slowly circled her center with her index finger, adding a second when she needed more pressure. Imagined she wasn’t alone, that she…
A floorboard creaked, and her eyes flew open.
Her heart froze, as did her hand. Gareth hadn’t closed the door. He must have left it ajar because he was standing in her damned living room again, staring at the hand between her legs.
Her breathing quickened and her mouth went dry as he licked his lips.
“Oh, please, don’t stop on my account,” he said darkly, strolling toward her. His gaze was so hungry it gave her goosebumps.
“What the hell are you still doing here?” she whispered, unable to move or even remove her hand from her panties.
Gareth ignored her question and calmly crossed the room until he was standing directly over her. He examined the hose bunched around her ankles. Then his gaze slid up her legs, and she saw his hands clench in his pockets when his gaze reached her damp panties.
“Keep going,” he murmured roughly.
“What?” She swallowed. Was she daydreaming?
“Okay.” Gareth nodded slowly, placed his large, rough hands on her knees, and spread her legs wider. His fingers on her bare skin sent electric shocks directly between her thighs, making hertremble. But he paid no attention, and instead, stepped over one leg…before slowly kneeling between them. He turned his head, ran his rough stubble down the inside of her thigh, and kissed her soft skin.
Hazel shuddered. She pressed her fingers harder against her core, not daring to move them…but needing the friction more than her next breath.
“Take your hand away,” Gareth commanded. “I need space.” He dragged his fingertips up her thighs and gently brushed the edge of her underwear. The next moment, he tugged at her wrist. “I gave you the opportunity to continue on your own,” he whispered. “But I’m not a patient man, Hazel.” He peered into her eyes as he roughly ran the knuckle of his index finger over her midsection through the fabric of her panties. “So I’ll take over.”
Hazel’s hips jerked forward, and she gasped throatily. More. She needed more. But…
“Gareth,” she breathed. “What…why…”
“I thinkthat’sobvious,” he whispered, kissing her knee and slowly working his way forward as he pushed her panties aside with his right hand – “We were just discussingwhy” – and sank a finger inside her.
A moan escaped her, and she clawed at the white fabric of her couch.
“And just for the record,” he whispered, kissing a path of heaven and hell up her thigh, “I no longer have a girlfriend.”
The next moment, he pressed his lips to her hot core and sucked her into his mouth.
Hazel melted into the couch. Sweet lava surged through her veins, robbing her of her senses. She had heard Gareth’s words, but they made no sense — and shit, she didn’t care right now because he added a second finger and joyfully slid it inside her while he tortured her with his tongue. She lost herself in thesounds coming from his throat, the sounds that had her clawing the sofa cushion.
Her hips lifted from the couch as Gareth curled his fingers and simultaneously pressed his tongue against her most sensitive spot, but the bastard held her pelvis in place with his free hand, leaving her at his mercy.
Shit, it was better than she remembered. And Gareth wasn’t even giving her everything! Still, it was too much, and when he whispered, “If I’d known back then that it would be our last time, I would have done this twenty times just to remember how you taste,” she came just from the desire in his voice.
Wave after wave ripped at her body as Gareth continued to torture her with his fingers and mouth until she was nothing more than a mindless, ecstatic mass. Only then did he pull away, flashing her a wolfish grin. “Better or worse than you could have done yourself?” he asked innocently.
She stared at him — and laughed. Everything about this was…absurd. And wonderful. And horrible. And stupid. And the best thing that had ever happened to her.
She grabbed one of the nearby pillows and struck his head.
Laughing softly, he caught it and tossed it over his shoulder. “No physical assault. It’s in our contract.” He frowned. “On the other hand, our contract also states that we strongly discourage physical contact, so…”
