Unable to deny him any longer, I leaned forward and brushed his lips with mine. And, as if that was a catalyst, a groan escaped him, and then he was kissing me, licking and sucking first my top lip, then my lower one.
A needy moan broke free, and my fingers tangled in his hair. He gripped the back of my hair, and his tongue slid into my mouth, finding mine in a desperate tangle of need. I rubbed my aching clit against his rock-hard cock. His hands lowered, sliding under my t-shirt, and then he was squeezing my bra-covered breasts, gently tweaking my sensitive nipples—a tug that strummed straight to my core.
God! I panted as his fingers teased my flesh while dragging his mouth down my jaw. He drew back, his burning eyes holding mine, he pulled off my t-shirt, leaving me in just my bra and shorts. His darkened gaze lowered to my chest.
“You’re damn beautiful, Blue. I could eat you for breakfast, lunch, supper, and in between.”
He trailed a finger down my sternum and across to circle my bra-covered nipple before replacing it with his mouth on the silky fabric. At the sharp tug from his teeth and tongue, I whimpered, held in the grip of an impossible need, one I desperately needed him to fulfill.
“Take this off.” I lifted his tee from him, revealing sculptured, inked pecs and ripped abs.
God, the guy was sin, made for sex.
A growl rumbling from his throat, he pushed my bra cup lower, and his warm mouth covered my nipple. I groaned, the sucking and tugging sensation stealing my mind, and pushed into his mouth. With a low rumble, he reared up, his mouth back on mine, and he devoured me in a kiss so hot and sensual that I grabbed his hair, grinding against his rigid cock, desperate for him.
“Fuck—” he grunted, moving with me, then he grabbed my hips, stopping me. “Charli, wait,” he rasped. “I want you so damn much, but there’s something you need to know. Straight-up fucking is not enough for me when it comes to you. I want more.”
More?I blinked, his decree finally piercing the passion-filled haze in my mind.
He was leaving it up to me?
Breathing hard, I struggled to swallow, my throat gone bone-dry—feeling as if my entire being hovered on a precarious edge with my growing feelings for him. Terrified to take that leap after my past fails.
His gaze flickered between my eyes, and his hands tightened briefly on my hips, but a nerve pulsed on his jaw. Then his lips compressed. He set me aside, and rose. His erection evident.
“At your lack of a response, I guess I have my answer.”
His cell buzzed. He removed it from his jeans pocket and read the message. “Get ready. We’re meeting with the guys and your friends at Screamers.” He grabbed his shirt and stalked off.
Desire faded, and my belly knotted, I watched him go.
He was upset that I’d turned him down again, and I didn’t like the way it made me feel, as if a crater had opened in my chest, one I had no way of filling. With no idea how to fix this mess, I picked up my shirt, dragged it on, and ran after him as he headed down the corridor. “War, wait—”
He turned, his expression shut off.
“What you’re asking me,” I rushed into speech, so sure my hammering heart would crash through my sternum, “I’ve tried it before, and I always ended up hurt. And you, you don’t have the best rep…”
The tick on his jaw grew more pronounced. “What is it you want to say, Charli? For me to leave you alone? Go fuck myself? Yeah, got it.”
“No, no!” I yelled, rubbing my chilly palms down my shorts, wishing I could trust my heart. “I’m terrified because I like you too damn much, and-and—”
And then I recalled him taking me to the amusement park, and I knew it wasn’t for him but formesince it made me feel closer to my father. And there were the daisies he’d gathered from the rain and put on the old table because I said it was the little things that counted when you liked someone.
Swallowing my wariness and risking my heart once more, I whispered, “Okay.”
His gaze skimmed my face, and I shut my eyes, feeling as if I were falling and there was no one—
And then he was there, his warmth surrounding me, his calloused roughened palms stroking my upper arms. My eyes flashed open, and I met his tender gaze.
“That’s all I wanted, Charli,” he said softly, caressing my face with his knuckles, “to know you wanted me enough to try. We’ll take this one day at a time.” A little smile flickered on his mouth, reflecting in his eyes.
But having his arms around me, it felt like I could be brave enough to take this step and see where this went as long as I kept my stupid heart, the root of my problems, bolted.
“As much as I’d like to finish what we started in the living room, our friends are waiting,” he said in a low voice, his breath caressing my skin as he trailed his mouth along my jaw to kiss the corner of my mouth, stirring me like a lit fuse. “And I don’t want to rush making love to you.” His hands gently squeezed my butt, stoking the embers of desire again.God!“Go, get ready.” He turned me to my room, and I bit back a groan. A light smack landed on my tingling bottom—
Eeep! I jumped and pivoted, glowering at him.
“I love your ass.” He cast me one of his sexy half-smiles that melted my glare. “Later, when we get back, I will kiss it better, kiss every inch of you. Hell,” he groaned. “Talking about it isn’t healthy or good for me.” He pivoted to his room, pressing a hand to his groin.
I stared after him, trying to catch my breath. Then shook my head, a smile starting as I headed for my room. Well, it made two of us.
