by Amanda Usen
He pushed the material over her shoulders and the fabric fell from her body into a pool on the floor, leaving her clad in her bra and panties. His rough chuckle sounded strained. “Aren’t you?”
She laughed, hoping it didn’t sound as weak to him as it did to her.
His hands cupped breasts encased in thin satin, skimmed her bare waist, lingered on her hips. “I have to be honest. My high school fantasies never got much past this point.” He pulled her body forward into his and found the perfect way to fit them together.
“What about all the things you said in the restaurant in New York?”
His eyes flashed silver. “I’ve had a lot of time to refine my plans since then.” He reached forward to pop the front clasp of her bra, making a low sound as her breasts spilled into his hands. He cupped them, rolling her nipples under his thumbs until her breath came fast in her throat and her knees felt weak. Pleasure shot in a direct arc between his thumbs and her sex and she moaned softly when he took her mouth. His clothes felt rough against her sensitized skin, yet she pressed closer.
His lips drifted down her neck, pausing to lick warmth across the top swell of each breast. He kissed each tender nipple. She sank down to sit on the bed. His fingers caught the fabric of her panties and tugged them over her hips. “You don’t need these.”
He pressed her down to the bed. She felt very naked, lying beneath him while he was fully dressed. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Hmm?” he asked, shifting his weight to the side and trailing a hand over her breasts, down her belly. His finger dipped into her belly button.
“You still have your clothes on.” She was glad she had finished her sentence before his fingers reached her freshly waxed bikini line. The appreciative sound he made as he traced the smooth skin chased every coherent thought from her head.
“Not for long.” He sat up and slowly pulled his shirt over his head.
His unhurried movements as he kicked his shoes to the side and unbuttoned his pants made her want to shriek. “Take your time,” she said tightly.
He grinned and shoved his pants and boxers off his hips and kicked them to the floor. He stripped off his socks. Again, he stretched out beside her, but this time the long, warm length of his body was completely naked. Sudden, unwelcome panic made her throat feel tight. You want this. You just begged for it. Demanded it. You can’t wimp out now.
He rolled on top of her, keeping his weight on his elbows. His hairy legs felt rough against her smooth ones. She could feel his erection touch her belly. She reached between their bodies. She’d be more comfortable once he was inside her.
Sean caught her hand. “Not so fast.” He chuckled softly and brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “My fantasy, remember? Yours can be next.” He shifted so he was kneeling between her thighs.
She bit her lip, trying to take a deep breath without looking like she was nervous. It wasn’t like she’d never done this before, for God’s sake. She’d been married for two years. To a guy whose idea of foreplay was taking off his pants. Sean looked like he might spend the rest of the damn night making love to her, and she had no idea what to do.
“Relax,” he said, reading her mind. His hands stroked slowly down the length of her thighs and back up to her waist. She shivered and it felt like every inch of skin under his hands missed his touch when it was gone. “I’ve been picturing you like this all week, naked, spread out on a bed with yes in your eyes.”
She swallowed hard. “Do I have yes in my eyes?”
His smile was tender. “Not exactly, but I know you want to be here. I know you want me.” He hooked his hands beneath her thighs and pulled her into a more yielding position. “I know the last man you had sex with was an asshole.”
There it was. He’d said it. “I’m trying not to think of him.”
“I promise you won’t be thinking of him for very much longer.” She loved his grin, the one that challenged her to be as brave as he was. She felt a smile tremble across her lips. This was Sean. She’d known him almost forever. He’d never hurt her.
“Welcome back.” He bent to kiss her, a soft kiss that turned searching. She closed her eyes, didn’t flinch when the hand he tangled in her hair slid down to cup her breast. He pinched the tip and she gasped under his mouth. His groan was rough and exciting.
She opened her mouth to deepen their kiss. When their tongues touched, Sean’s hips jerked forward in a response that thrilled her. She wrapped her legs around him, shifting her hips to embrace him.
He lifted his head to whisper. “I knew I would love being naked with you.” She was disappointed when he broke the perfect mesh of their hips and slid down her body. She grabbed his shoulders and tried to pull him back to her.
“You’re doing it again. My fantasy.” His words were muffled against her breast. He lingered there. She had to listen hard to catch his words, spoken between nibbles. “I mean, sure, we could just go right at it, but I don’t want to rush you.”
“It’s okay, rush me.” She gasped as his lips closed around her nipple.
She felt his tongue, his teeth. Strangely, she felt it in her breast and her groin, as if they were somehow connected. Sean moved to the other breast and cool air hit her flesh. She gasped, feeling it everywhere. She moved her hips, trying to ease the growing ache, feeling liquid and languid, as if his touch, his hands on her body removed the necessity for thought.
Sean shifted his weight lower. His hand moved from her breast, down her belly, lower. His fingers were gentle and warm. He groaned and stopped.
“What? Is something wrong?” she asked.
His chuckle was weak. “Not a thing. You’re ready for me.”
She felt a blush start on her cheeks and spread quickly. She tried to ease away from his hand, but he slid a finger inside her, making her writhe against his hand. “That’s a good thing, Olivia. But I’m hard as a rock and fighting against the urge to nail you to the bed right now. I want this to be good for you.”
Honesty demanded honesty. “Sean, it’s already better than it’s ever been before.”
“Really?” He moved his finger. She blushed hotter.
His eyes glowed and his sexy half smile made her shiver. His hand moved faster. She looked away, feeling herself respond but not knowing what she should do. What did he expect from her?
“Stop thinking,” he whispered.
“Can’t.”
“Can’t think or not think?” he asked.
He was laughing at her, damn it. She twisted under his hand, trying to roll away from him. He caught her shoulder and flipped her onto her back again, mastering her attempt to escape by throwing his leg over her hip. He straddled her hips and forced her hands above her head.
He kissed her stiff lips. “Give it up, Olivia. Why don’t you just enjoy it?”
“I don’t know how.” She was not whining. She was not. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You do. Trust me.”
“Trust you? I wouldn’t be in this position if I didn’t trust you.”
“I know.” He kissed her cheek. His eyes were dark, all mischief gone. “Let me do everything for you.” He glanced at the clock on the bedside table, a wicked grin lighting his silver eyes. “Give me fifteen minutes to do anything I want.”
His suggestion shocked a giggle from her throat. “You weren’t kidding about high school fantasies, were you, counselor? You want to play seven minutes in the closet with me? But naked? And on a bed?”
“And with double the time limit.” He released her hands. “I figure we can kill two birds with one stone this way—you won’t be thinking about what you should be doing, and you won’t try to escape.”
She crossed her arms over her naked breasts. “You’ve given some thought to this.”
His nod was slow and definite. “
Say yes, Olivia.”
Her pulse beat heavily in her ears, her throat, her sex. Sean waited for her answer. His hands skated over her skin, caressing her arms and shoulders, the tops of her breasts. He pressed his lips to her throat, making it impossible to think logically.
“Say yes,” he urged in a rough whisper.
She didn’t have to do anything but lie here? All the pressure was on him? She cleared her throat. “Is this is kinky or silly? I can’t decide.”
He raised his head. “Quit stalling.” There was tension in his voice. The bones of his face stood out beneath his skin, and his jaw was clenched. His arms trembled and it wasn’t from the effort of holding his weight.
She lifted one hand to his cheek. What was the worst that could happen? Whatever happened between them tonight, she knew she could trust him. “Yes.”
He rolled his hips against her, forcing her thighs apart and settling himself firmly into the soft space between them.
She gasped.
His smile was the furthest thing from safe she’d ever seen.
He pressed forward. “It’s all I can do not to bury myself inside you. I can feel you, so close, so hot. You’re killing me.”
“Go ahead,” she encouraged.
He reached for the bedside clock and turned it toward the bed. “Nope. You gave me fifteen minutes, and I’m not going to rush a single second.” His body slid along her skin, moving downward. He licked her nipple and her body roared to life again, aching, making a demand.
“I hope you plan on sleeping in tomorrow.” He licked her belly button. Oh my God, he was going to…was his mouth headed for …Oh God. Thank heaven for the bikini wax.
Sean urged her knees apart to make room for his broad shoulders. Her thighs trembled. A thousand doubts crowded into her head.
No thinking, she remembered.
She wasn’t supposed to do anything but hold still. She looked at the clock. 1:14 AM.
One way or another, this would end at 1:29.
She stared down the slope of her belly. Sean smiled up at her, then bent his head. She closed her eyes. His tongue felt warm and wide as it moved slowly through her folds. She bit back a whimper.
His lips closed around her and she bucked her hips, unable to stop herself from pushing closer to him. Sharp pleasure rippled through her. It took her a second to realize she was moaning. She pressed her lips together and held her breath, trying to stay quiet.
Sean lifted his head. “Make all the noise you want, sweetheart. The walls are thick and the door is made of solid wood.” He began to tease her again. New sensations bombarded her until she could no longer keep track of what he was doing with his hands and his mouth. He settled into a steady rhythm that made her pant and claw the bed.
Higher, tighter, he drove her, until she no longer had coherent thoughts except yes and more. It seemed like any second, she was going to explode. She wanted to explode. She rode his hand, his mouth, his tongue, desperately straining, eyes squeezed tight, hips thrusting in time to his swirling motions.
How much time did she have? The thought stole into her head. She looked at the clock. 1:24. Ten minutes had passed in a heartbeat. Was five more minutes enough to make it happen?
Probably not.
The thought hit her like a bucket of ice water. Her hips stopped moving. Now she really was going to scream. And maybe cry.
“Olivia?”
“I can’t do this,” she whispered.
“Yes, you can.” Sean’s voice held utter certainty. “Open your eyes.” Reluctantly, she met the intense heat of his gaze. He didn’t look angry at all.
“What was I doing wrong?” He wiped his mouth.
She winced. “Nothing. You were fine. I just can’t. I don’t—” Olivia twisted to maneuver her leg around his body, so she didn’t feel so exposed.
“No way, sweetheart. You want this.” His fingers brushed her thighs, striking sparks. She felt her core clench. “See?” he said.
Her head fell back against the pillows, and she closed her eyes. “Time’s up,” she muttered.
“Not quite.” His hands touched her hips, stroking down the length of her thighs. Back up again and down, breasts to belly, never losing contact with her skin. She risked a peek.
He caught her looking. “Eyes open, sweetheart. I want you to watch.” His fingers dipped between her legs. She gritted her teeth but kept her eyes on his hand.
Olivia tried to relax, but every muscle was clenched tight. It took effort to breathe without making noise. What was he going to do when he realized he was wasting his time? She was going to hate seeing pity in his eyes. She turned her face to the clock.
Out of time.
Sean reached across and swept the clock off the nightstand.
“Hey! Not fair.”
“It was a stupid idea. I forgot you spend half your day trying to get orders done on time.”
She took a sharp breath, realizing he was right.
He leaned down to kiss her. “I don’t care how long it takes. You’re mine tonight.” He stretched out beside her as if they had all the time in the world.
“Sean, it’s late,” she began.
He nestled one leg between hers and cupped her breast. She could feel his hardness against her hip. “You going to turn into a pumpkin?”
Olivia tried again. “Maybe you should just…you know.” She raised her hands and wiggled her fingers in a bring it on motion.
He raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I should use your body to get myself off?” He shook his head. “Not my idea of a good time.”
“What is your idea of a good time? Because this isn’t working for me.” She crossed her arms. There. That should fix his little red wagon.
He chuckled, looking completely unoffended. “Nice try.” His hand moved from her breast to between her legs, and his fingers slid inside her with absolutely no resistance. Breath rushed out of her lungs.
“Turn your brain off, Olivia. Stop making comparisons. There’s nothing wrong with you, trust me.”
She did trust him. It was herself she wasn’t sure about.
The ramifications of that pathetic fact began crashing around her head. She didn’t trust herself to be a good lover. Or chef. Or best friend. She’d abandoned her husband, her restaurant, and Marlene. Now she was abandoning Sean before she gave him a chance.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be sorry. Be here. With me, right now. Just you and me.”
She bit her lip and he nibbled at the corners of her mouth until she opened to him. His hand moved between her legs again, slowly.
“Please?” he asked, after a spate of teasing kisses.
“I can do that.” I can at least try.
She felt him smile against her lips.
She couldn’t hide her reactions from him, and it both aroused and disturbed her. Like now, she stirred beneath his touch and he moved closer, stroked deeper, somehow knowing what to do to make her respond. She thrust against his hand, feeling closer than before. Damn, the man had clever fingers. If he kept doing that, exactly that and didn’t stop, maybe she could…
Not.
His hand stopped moving.
“Noooooo!” she groaned, a strangled sound that was not in the least bit sexy.
“Hang on.” Sean reached over the side of the bed and grabbed his pants. A condom appeared in his hand. She watched him roll it down his length, and she opened her thighs, trying not to be disappointed. A man could only be expected to have so much patience after all, and he had no way of knowing she never came during intercourse. Unless she told him. And she wasn’t going to do that.
He positioned himself between her legs and she raised her knees to accommodate him more easily. He slid inside, shuddered. Sweat beaded on his forehead as
he thrust in and out of her body.
Olivia settled in for the ride, determined to hide her frustration. For a minute there, she’d actually thought it was going to happen. She closed her eyes tightly. No way was she going to cry.
She forced her thoughts away from the shame and focused on something useful. Had wines been paired with the cooking class menus yet? It was a great opportunity to showcase Farfalla wines. She made room for Sean’s hand as he wedged it in between their bodies, still wondering if the Valpolicella would be too heavy for the misto.
She jumped, abruptly catapulted back into the present. “What are you doing?”
He moved his hand faster. “Looking for a way to drive you crazy.”
“Sean, it’s fine. Go ahead. It’s not a big deal—”
“Please, woman.” His implacable expression banished all thoughts of food from her mind. She arched beneath him, suddenly filled with heat and possibility. Sharp pleasure built under his touch.
Clever fingers, she chanted. Clever fingers. Clever fingers. “Ohh!” she cried, so full of longing and panic that she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Helplessly she met his thrusts, seeking his touch.
“Come for me, Olivia.” Sean continued the motion of his hips and his hand, holding her eyes with his sharp, silver stare. His other hand tangled in her hair and his lips met hers in a kiss so hard and resolute, so full of strength and longing that she couldn’t help herself.
She screamed.
Pleasure made her wild beneath him. She raced toward the edge and she no longer had any desire to stop. She ground her body against him, lifting herself, giving everything to him. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, clasping her so tightly she could barely breathe. His hips slammed into her, pushing her higher, farther, until she fell off the edge.
Sean caught her next scream in his throat and carried it with him as he fell too.
Chapter 14
Sean opened his eyes slowly, expecting to see Olivia sleeping beside him, but he was alone. She had escaped again. He wasn’t completely surprised. She had fought him every step of the way last night. Well, not exactly fought him, more like she’d had zero faith in herself and by association, zero faith in him, but he had thought they’d made some progress.
