by Jenna Harte
He covered her petite frame and captured her lips in a hungry fervor. Her tongue snaked out to meet his, teasing his lips, then delving deep to taste him. He moaned at her invasion. She was thrilled by his response and eager to see just how far she could push his control.
He captured her breast with teeth and lips, biting, sucking and bringing her again to the brink of oblivion. Her body arched beneath him, and her hands gripped him as need coursed through her. The same need she felt pulsing through him. His body was tense, taut like a bow string as her hands touched every part of him. She lifted her head and drew her tongue across his nipple.
“Christ, I’m drowning.” He rolled away and reached for the condoms. He tore two foil packets with his teeth and sheathed himself with both condoms. “Open for me.”
But she was ahead of him, her body waiting, arching to take him. Without any preamble, he slid in hard and deep.
Lexie cried out in a combination of exquisite pleasure and pain, as his size and length challenged her petite body.
He cursed and withdrew. “I’m sor—”
“No, don’t stop.” She wrapped her legs around his waist to keep him close. “Gawd, Drake. Don’t ever stop.”
He drove in again, growling. He moved fluidly with power, in and out. The tension built in Lexie until she thought she’d die from the release. She sought it with him. Moving under him, her hands gripped at his hips, pulling him deeper with each thrust.
He let out an expletive. She opened her eyes, wanting to see the always-restrained Drake as unbridled passion robbed his control.
He threw his head back, sweat beaded on his brow, as he pistoned in and out. “Come, Lexie. Dammit, come for me.”
Oh, she wanted to. It was there, within her reach. But then it would be over and this moment was too delicious, too perfect to end so quickly.
Drake shifted back on his knees, dragging Lexie’s hips up to meet his. Holding her bruisingly tight, he continued to pound.
Lexie’s hands clutched the sheets, holding on to keep from coming completely apart as he possessed her. With each brutal stroke, the sweet torment built. This time, when her release came, it wasn’t the same hot, hard explosion he’d wrenched from her before. No, this time, it was a tidal wave, starting at her center and rolling big, fierce, and powerful through her entire body. Her body clenched and her breath caught as the wave of ecstasy rumbled through her.
He let out a long feral groan as he powered deep inside her, held her tight and ground his hips against hers. He withdrew and plunged again; this time, his hips pulsed against her as his release tore through him with a violent growl.
He fell forward, one hand releasing her hips, and dropped to the bed next to her head to support his upper body. He withdrew from her, slowly, lowering her hips with his other hand to the mattress. Then, with a groan, he rolled and collapsed on his back next to her.
She turned her head, the only action she had the strength to do. His eyes were closed and his breath was slowly coming back to normal.
“Wow. I think I just saw God,” she said.
He turned his head, but she didn’t see the same dazed and sated look she was sure was on her face. His features were reminiscent of the time he kissed her. He liked it but wasn’t happy about it. It made her second guess herself. She bit her lower lip as she gave him a tentative smile. She started to roll her body toward him, but before she managed it, he bolted from the bed.
“I need to take care of the rubber.” He headed to the bathroom.
Standing over the sink, Drake studied himself in the mirror. His face was still flushed, his chest covered in a damp sheen. He swallowed hard, trying to wrangle his torrent of feelings. He shouldn’t have left her there like that, but when he’d looked at her sated smile, something gripped hard in his chest, pumping an emotion he couldn’t name. It scared the hell out of him.
Never before had a woman made him feel powerless to control his desire. This petite, outspoken woman with the beguiling smile surrendered, letting him take what he wanted and needed. She was uninhibited and amazingly responsive, which drove his need harder and faster. Her body was tight. The friction spectacular. And when she came, squeezing, pulsing, his release exploded until he felt he’d shattered into a million pieces. He couldn’t deny it was the best sex he’d ever had, but it had involved something more than just his body. Something he wasn’t willing to risk.
He had to get out. Hopefully, she wouldn’t think he was a complete jerk. After all, she’d been in agreement this was just sex, a physical release. Of course, if she did end up thinking he was a jerk, that could work out too. Then, at least, he’d be sure she’d avoid him.
He splashed water on his face, inhaled a deep breath, opened the door, and fell again for the tousled-haired woman with the brilliant smile spread naked on the bed like a piece of French Renaissance art. The need for her welled and consumed him again.
“Hey, you okay there, slick?”
“I need—” He searched for the box of condoms he’d tossed aside in the throes of desire.
“I think your pants are near the door.”
He turned to look at her.
She sat on the edge of the bed, looking disappointed but resigned as she slipped one sexy leg through the hole of her panties.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting dressed, like you.”
“We’re not done yet.” He picked up the strip of condoms and tossed them on the bedside table.
“We’re not?”
“I hope not.”
She sent him a sexy grin. “Well, then, big boy, come here.” She reached out, wrapping her hand around his shaft and gently pulled him toward her. He was fully erect before her lips made contact.
Drake re-entered the room from disposing the condoms after making love the second time.
“So, what’s the deal with two condoms at a time? Do big men need added insurance?”
“They don’t fit so well when all is said and done.” Drake stood in the middle of the room, uncertain of his next move. He should leave. It was as if he was standing on the edge of a cliff and was precariously close to jumping into the unknown. It wasn’t a good feeling. But he understood enough about women to know they liked to talk and cuddle. Normally, he didn’t care about that but, for some reason, he didn’t want to leave. While he didn’t want to admit being with her was more than just sex, leaving would somehow cheapen it. Christ, he was in trouble.
“It sounds like there’s a story in that,” Lexie said.
He didn’t respond. He didn’t want to talk about his life or mistakes. With Lexie, he was different. He didn’t want to bring that other Drake into the mix.
“Are you hungry? Can we get room service?” She seemed to understand he didn’t want to talk about his past sex life. “Or, I know.” She shifted to her knees, her naked breasts bouncing. “How about ice cream?”
He really should go, but there she was, naked, eyes sparkling, gushing over ice cream. “Sure.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lexie sat on the bed, savoring a spoonful of chocolate fudge sundae. She wore Drake’s shirt, which came nearly to her knees, and yet she knew first-hand that, despite their size differences, they fit together very well.
Drake sat at the little hotel room’s table in only his chinos, giving Lexie the chance to savor his sexy, sculpted chest. As usual, he sported an expression of uncertainty. She was surprised he was still there. She’d never seen anyone sprint from a bed so fast. She tried to not take it personally. She felt certain he’d enjoyed the sex. Still, she wouldn’t have guessed he was the after-sex snuggling type, so it was a happy surprise when he stayed and made love to her again. After that second time, he had seemed ready to escape, and yet, he stayed. She wouldn’t read too much into it, especially since he appeared as surprised about his actions as she was.
“You’ve never done this before, have you?”
Finally, he turned his broody-gray gaze to her and added a smirk. �
��I’ve done this a few times.”
She laughed. “I don’t mean sex. I can tell, you’ve done that before. I mean, have a one-night affair.” She didn’t want to call it a one-night stand, even though she knew that was what it was.
He shrugged. “That’s not quite true either, but it’s been a while.”
She studied him. He hid so much, and she could tell he didn’t want her prying. But curiosity always got the best of Lexie. “You strike me as a guy who has a friend, maybe even a couple of friends, with benefits.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You’re too careful to engage in one-night stands with strangers, and too guarded in your personal life to have a relationship. But it’s very clear to me you do have sex. At least on occasion.” She waggled her brows.
He nodded with a small smile curving on his lips.
“Will she be mad you’re with me?”
“As you said, I don’t have commitments to any woman.” His eyes narrowed in a way Lexie took as a warning.
She took another bite of ice cream, giving her a moment to decide if she should push or pull back. Sometimes, talking with Drake was like dealing with a skittish cat. Any little thing could close him down and send him running.
“Is Oliver the reason you don’t want a relationship or children?”
“Partly.” He turned his intense gray eyes on her. “If you’re wanting to get personal, maybe you can talk about why you have trouble holding a job.”
“I can hold a job.” Lexie blew out an annoyed breath. She understood that on paper she looked like a flake, but she knew in her heart it wasn’t wrong to seek employment that fulfilled her. “My first nursing job was in Richmond, which is a big commute from Charlotte Tavern. The job was okay, but I was planning a wedding and it just seemed like I should work closer to home. So, when a job opened up at the local hospital, I took it.”
“How did you end up working for Oliver?” He sat back, looking slightly more relaxed. Lexie was glad, as it made her feel less like she was being interrogated and more like they were having a simple conversation.
“I was working in the ER when he came in. At first, he was just a sick old man, but then he gained enough strength to bluster and complain. It’s never easy to have a difficult patient, but it’s harder when their illness is terminal. You don’t feel you can tell them to stop whining.”
He smirked. “You don’t seem to have a problem with that.”
“I don’t, no. Although I didn’t tell him to stop whining per se. Anyway, he and I got along alright, but once things are stable in the ER, they get admitted or they go home. He was admitted. Word got back to me he was giving the staff a hard time and they’d heard I’d been able to deal with him, so they asked me to visit him, which I did a couple of times each shift. The hospital wanted to send him to a long-term care facility or arrange hospice and Oliver, being Oliver, didn’t want any of that. But I told him if he wanted to go home, he needed continuing care and if not hospice, then he could hire someone.”
“So it was your idea?”
Drake’s tone sounded almost accusatory. For a minute, Lexie wondered if he still thought she was trying to take advantage of Oliver.
“I gave him options. He’s the one that approached me about being his nurse. Since I wasn’t fully satisfied with my job, I thought it would be a good change and an opportunity to explore other options.”
Drake toyed with his spoon, but kept his steely gaze on Lexie. “So, what will you do when Oliver dies?”
She considered saying she’d move to New York, just to see the annoyance or panic on Drake’s face. He could be such a sourpuss at times.
“I haven’t decided. But I’ll find something.”
She finished off her ice cream and mentally readied herself to get dressed and leave since all the sexual tension and afterglow were gone. Except, the night was still young. Could she entice him just one more time? Using his own tactic of changing the subject, she sought to lighten his mood.
“So, Drake, how’d you get those great pecs? Do you work out?”
He sat up straight, giving her a better view of the chest she desperately wanted to cover with chocolate fudge and run her tongue across.
“I row.”
“As in a rowboat, or on one of the contraptions at the gym?”
“No. In a scull on the river.”
“Skull?” She had an image of Drake crushing heads.
“Do you know about rowing crews?” He sat back, crossing one leg over the other.
She nodded.
“A scull is like a crew boat, only for one person.”
“Well, that explains it.” Lexie hoped he recognized her appreciative gaze as she admired his body.
“Explains what?” His eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“The tan for one, and the great body and stamina.”
He had that look again. The one between not knowing what to make of her and the desire to do delicious things to her. Good. It’s working.
“Do you work out?”
She shook her head. “No. But my job requires a lot of standing and lifting. In fact, when I first decided to take Oliver up on his offer, some people didn’t think I was tall or strong enough to move him in and out of the bed. But I’m pretty strong.” She held her arm up to show off her biceps, but Drake’s shirt sleeve was too long. “Well, you’ll have to take my word for it.”
He stood, shaking his head. “No. I want to see.” He put her ice cream dish on the nightstand. Turning back to her, he grabbed the hem of the shirt and yanked it over her head. “How about your pecs?”
She smiled, relieved and excited the night wasn’t going to end just yet. “I’ve got ’em. Unfortunately, they’re hidden behind my breasts.”
He pushed her back and slid his hands up her body to cup the soft mounds. “Lovely breasts.” He took one taut peak into his mouth. Lexie sighed, savoring his hot, wet mouth suckling and nipping.
Sex with Drake was like nothing she’d ever experienced. On the outside, he appeared cool, calculating, and in control. But in bed, he was a generous, if demanding, lover. He took, but he gave even more. He spoke words not of love, but encouragement, praise, and sometimes demands. He made her feel beautiful, sexy, and womanly.
Drake didn’t love her. He probably wouldn’t make love to her again after this night, but she focused on the fact he was here now. Touching her. Telling her the things he wanted to do to her, things he wanted her to do to him. She wanted to do those things too. It’d be over soon, but she wouldn’t think of that. Right now, she’d only think about savoring this night, this moment, because she’d never have anything like it ever again.
Drake glanced at the clock. Two a.m. Two a.m. and he was still in bed with Lexie. Three times he’d started to leave; three times his body betrayed him, and three times he made love to her. He wouldn’t have believed it possible, but something about her made his body heat and his pulse race with need. He was powerless to control it. To be honest, he didn’t want to control it. Sex had never been so exciting, erotic, or fulfilling. Why wouldn’t he want to get as much of it as he could? Lexie didn’t seem to mind. And she wasn’t asking for a commitment. They’d agreed to one night, and he wanted his fill.
He watched her as she slept. She’d kicked off the covers, exposing her luscious backside. His groin tightened and hardened again. He reached out, caressing a hand along her waist up over her hip.
“Are you trying for some sort of record?” She turned to him, yawned, and gave him a sleepy grin.
“Apparently.” His hand palmed her breast, his thumb lightly grazing over the nipple.
It distended, as if it were asking to be sucked. He leaned in, taking the hardened nipple into his mouth, accepting the fact that he would make love to her four times. Maybe then, it would be enough and he could leave. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he worried it wouldn’t be enough. Would never be enough, which didn’t make sense. He enjoyed her company and appreciated her honesty
, but he liked many women. So what was it about Lexie that was different, distracting, terrifying?
She pushed him back and, taking two foil packets, she rolled the condoms on him. “Did I ever tell you I used to be a really good horseback rider?”
He groaned as her hands worked him and his mind imagined her riding him like the free spirit she was.
She smiled. “If you want, I can show you.”
“You’re killing me.” He grabbed her hips and positioned her over him.
“Let me make it better.”
Chapter Fourteen
Drake sat in the kitchen back at Oliver’s house, eating eggs and drinking coffee, trying to figure out how he’d ended up sneaking back into his grandfather’s house after having clandestine sex with Lexie. He was a grown man who should be able to sleep with whomever he wanted and come home whenever he wanted. He was long past being a teenager sneaking out of the house to engage in forbidden passion. However, it wasn’t just himself he needed to worry about. Charlotte Tavern was a small town, and it probably wouldn’t be good for Lexie if it were known she’d slept with her boss’s grandson. On the other hand, Lexie’s ex and his wife believed they were an item. It wouldn’t be crazy for two people in love to sleep together, even in a small town.
Except, he and Lexie weren’t in love. He’d be returning to New York soon, and she’d be back to her life. She’d meet another man, hopefully one with more sense than Danny or Bobby Lee, get married, and have a few kids. It wasn’t a life he wanted, and yet, a part of him felt … well, he wasn’t sure what he felt, but he didn’t like the idea of someone else touching Lexie the way he had the night before. Or her touching another man the way she’d touched him.
“Get a grip, Drake,” he muttered as he picked up his dish and carried it to the sink.
“You’re cooking in my kitchen again.” Claire glared at him from the doorway.
“I was under the impression you were off during the weekend.”
