A tiny, needy sound almost escaped my throat. I swallowed it down, my thighs pressing together against the growing wetness. This was completely out of character for me. I barely knew Thayer, but my body was reacting like it belonged to him.
I was debating how reckless I wanted to be when I felt the subtle change in his breathing behind me. Then the arm around my waist tightened, his fingers flexing against my stomach like he was instinctively pulling me closer even before he was fully awake.
“Morning, beautiful.”
The rough timbre of his voice slid down my spine, sending a delicious shiver in its wake. I barely had time to register the words before his hips rolled forward, the hard length of him grinding deliberately against my butt. Heat exploded through me, and my breath hitched, a needy sound escaping before I could stop it.
Thayer’s hand slid higher under the borrowed T-shirt, his palm hot as it skimmed over my ribs. His thumb brushed the underside of my breast, sending sparks straight to my core. I arched without thinking, pressing back into him.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “You feel too good like this.”
His mouth found the side of my neck, his lips brushing the sensitive skin just below my ear before he nipped lightly.I gasped, my hand flying up to grip his forearm where it disappeared under my shirt. His other hand slid down, gripping my hip and holding me still as he rocked against me again, letting me feel every thick inch through the thin layers of fabric separating us.
My mind spun. Thayer was wrapped around me, his hard-on nestled between by butt cheeks while his mouth teased my neck and his hand explored my body like he had every right to touch me.
And he wasn’t wrong about that. The ache between my legs had turned into a throbbing need. I was wet and shamelessly pressing back against him, silently begging for more.
“Thayer.” His name came out breathy, almost a whimper.
He growled in response, the sound vibrating against my skin. One hand cupped my breast fully now, his thumb circling my tight nipple until I moaned. The other slid from my hip, his fingers dipping just beneath the waistband of my panties, teasing the sensitive skin there but not going further.
“You’re soaked for me already,” he rasped against my ear. “Have you been lying here thinking dirty thoughts while I was sleeping?”
Heat flooded my face, but I didn’t deny it. Instead, I turned my head just enough to meet his gaze over my shoulder. His hazel eyes were dark with want and locked on me.
“You can’t really blame me if I was,” I whispered, my voice trembling with need.
His mouth crashed down on mine in a demanding kiss. His tongue stroked deep, and his teeth nipped my bottom lip. It made my toes curl, and I kissed him back just as hungrily, one hand reaching up to thread through his dark hair, tugging lightly.
We devoured each other in the warm morning light until his hand finally slipped fully into my panties, his fingers glidingthrough my wetness. He circled my clit with perfect pressure, building me higher until I was panting into his mouth, already on the edge.
Then he found the perfect spot, and I flew apart. The sudden release left me trembling in his hold.
Instead of going further, he pulled his hand from my panties. His forehead dropped to my shoulder, his breathing ragged. The loss of his touch left me aching and frustrated, and a whine escaped before I could swallow it.
“Thayer?” I breathed, confused and still buzzing from my release.
He pressed an open-mouthed kiss to my neck, then lifted his head. His eyes were stormy, and his jaw was tight with restraint.
“Not gonna do more when you’ve got a fresh head injury, and I’m supposed to be watching out for you.” His thumb brushed my cheek in a surprisingly tender way. “When I finally take you, I want you clear-headed, begging, and one hundred percent sure you can handle everything I’m going to do to you.”
My inner walls fluttered at his words. I wanted that, now. Unfortunately, he was probably right about this not being the right time. But I wasn’t about to admit to that out loud, so I just puffed out my bottom lip.
He rolled me gently onto my back, still hard as he loomed over me. The heat in his gaze made butterflies swirl in my belly again.
“Make no mistake, baby.” He leaned down to brush a soft kiss to my lips. “This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
My lips tingled from his kiss, my skin burned where his hands had been, and the orgasm he’d given me had done nothing to ease ache between my thighs. I wanted to pull him back down, wrap my legs around his waist, and beg him to finish what we’d started.
But Thayer held himself perfectly still, his arms braced on either side of my head and muscles taut with restraint. His hazel eyes held the same quiet intensity he’d shown since the moment he crouched beside me at the track.
“You’re killing me.” My voice was shaky as my fingers gripped the front of his T-shirt. “I’m fine, Thayer. Really. The headache’s barely there anymore.”
“You’re not fine. You’ve got stitches in your temple and a possible concussion I’m still watching for.” His thumb brushed my cheek again. “When I take you, Hadley, it’s not going to be because I took advantage of you while you were under my care.”
I swallowed, fighting the ridiculous urge to argue. Part of me wanted to test how far his iron control would bend. But I also felt strangely safe knowing he was putting my well-being first.
As tightly wound my body was, at least I’d already come. He didn’t get any kind of release, so I decided to take it easy on him.
