by Koko Brown
Tired of fighting the inevitable, Celeste whispered, “I want you.”
His expression, what she saw in his green eyes, told her what he was going to do before even before he lowered his head. His tongue slipped between her lips and she followed with her own. She couldn’t hold back. His mouth was too damn intoxicating.
Without releasing her lips, Shane slowly guided her backward until her bottom brushed against the kitchen table. Lifting her with a hand under each butt cheek, he placed her on the table top.
Inch by inch, he lifted the hem of her dress. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist and drew him closer.
The imperceptible rip of fabric was followed by a cold rush of air along her spine. Celeste gasped as he cupped her breasts gently, almost reverently. He lifted and rotated them slowly, while his thumbs grazed her nipples, turning them into hard little peaks and her insides into quivering mush.
He dipped his head at the same time he gripped the edges of the back of her dress and tugged. The fabric stretched then gave way with a loud popping of stitches. Instead of removing her clothes, he’d ripped them right off her back.
Celeste had little time to dwell on the loss or the fact that she was naked from the waist up. As soon as he divested her of her garments, he closed his mouth over a throbbing peak. Groaning, she gripped the back of his head and held him against her breast.
He suckled her with his tongue and blew softly across the wet tip, causing her to buck and arch against him. The room tipped and revolved around them in the most peculiar fashion. Celeste felt tossed about, caught up in a tidal wave and swept along with the quickening rush of her blood and the erratic hammering of her heart. It wasn’t like she was a virgin for goodness sakes, but he seemed to know exactly how to ply her flesh and create sensations she never knew existed.
Driven by sheer primitive instinct, Celeste snatched at his shirt, yanked it open and sent buttons flying in all directions. She was desperate to touch skin to skin.
Of the same mindset, Shane lifted her dress until it floated around her waist and he quickly divested her of her silk tap pants.
“Hurry,” she panted as he plucked furiously at the buttons of his trousers.
But once undone, he didn’t come inside. Instead, he rubbed the flesh where her legs joined her hips. Each stroke opened her wider and brought him closer to her center, yet never touching.
“What are you waiting for?” Celeste gripped his lean hips with her thighs. “You’re torturing…”
The rest of her plea wedged in her throat as his fingers slid inside her.
Oh, God! Celeste thought dazedly. This wasn’t some drunken fool’s fumbling that always left her dry and irritated. Shane’s fingers were pure magic as they moved with tantalizing slowness over her sex with bold strokes. Long fingers parted her folds and latched onto the hard nub. In varying degrees of intensity, he pinched and played with her sensitive flesh.
Celeste clutched his shoulders.
“Easy.” His fingers—long and thick and perfectly capable of driving her out of her mind—pressed deeper, making her toes curl. “I’m going to give you what you want soon enough.”
Temporarily conceding, Celeste rode him out. Smart move. He touched her where and how she wanted to be touched. Even the rough texture of his clothes excited her. He was her drug, his lips, his tongue, his fingers. Altogether they targeted nerve endings that had her thrashing uncontrollably, moaning and close to tears.
But what moved her most was the fact that he made her feel cherished Celeste thought bemusedly as he stroked, traced and kissed every curve and dip on her body until she became light headed and her inner thighs became slick.
Ashamed, she buried her face in his neck. Unfortunately, his cologne, a spicy mix of orange, cedar and tarragon shot through her system.
“I want you,” she groaned against his neck.
“Shhh,” he soothed. His gaze hers and held it. He positioned himself at the apex of her sex and pressed upward. An uncommonly tight fit, the smooth, fat head wedged between her folds and she gasped.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
He promised, but it soon became unnecessary as he proceeded to seesaw himself deeper and deeper. And with each subsequent thrust, the pain gave away to another kind of feeling, which made her welcome each stroke.
***
Shane meant to take it slowly, to take his time. Ease her into it. But she was begging it for it and running those little hands all over his body. She had him so on edge, he was afraid he’d spill his seed. Before he embarrassed himself, he buried his cock to the hilt.
“Are you okay?”
Relieved, Shane squeezed his eyes shut and placed his forehead against the bookcase. She was so warm and tight, like a custom glove, he was beginning to see stars.
In an effort to remain in control, he concentrated on establishing a rhythm. It was hard when her words kept bombarding him.
No matter how much he tried denying his feelings for this woman she kept sucking him in, each time deeper and deeper until he couldn’t walk away.
Despite the obvious risk and his overriding guilt, she proved to be an irresistible force he couldn’t readily forget despite his best efforts.
And now as he pumped into her over and over, he knew without a doubt he was claiming her as his own.
Yes, she had a past, but so did he. One, that if he were as forthcoming as she, would make her hate him…perhaps forever.
Shane cursed his bad luck. One moment of cowardice and he’d derailed his entire future, his dreams. And now he’d added her to his mess of life.
He should’ve walked away after the wake. Paid his respects and made a clean break. But that night he’d found a kindred spirit trapped in a dark isolated world, pretending they didn’t need anybody or anything.
Only their defenses were different. She’d built her walls with booze, good times and men, while his were fortified with selfish desires and violence.
Tonight, she’d become privy to both. He’d let loose on three men who hadn’t deserved the beating they’d been dealt. And now his single-minded obsession and hard fought pursuit had been won. She was finally his.
With a loud, lustful grunt Shane buried his face in the soft spot between her neck and shoulder. Despite his tortured thoughts, his body continued to move of its own volition like a pulsing, mindless machine.
He liked it that way. He didn’t want to think about his tattered future. He didn’t want to dwell on the consequences of his misguided choices.
All he wanted was to feel. Feel the crush of her perky breasts against his chest. Feel her arms wrapped around him as he thrust into her welcoming heat. Feel the soft texture of lips as he plundered her delectable mouth.
His guilty conscience gave way to a strong surge of lust. Like the adrenaline rush he experienced whenever he stepped into the ring, it pumped though his veins and filled his groin. Gripping her hips, he drove himself home.
But the ride wasn’t smooth, she gave as good as she got. She kissed him with the same vigor he used on her. He stroked deeper, she bucked back. This was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. This passionate sensual creature was making him her slave, reducing his reality to nothing but her body beneath his, wrapped around him, filling the emptiness he’d run from since he was a boy.
Caught up in the moment, his need suddenly shifted to high gear and demanded satisfaction. He took one of her nipples in his mouth and clamped down. His free hand massaged and played with the nipple. Her breath came in choked gasps as he pushed in as deep as she could take him.
“S-Shane,” she panted as if out of breath. Shane wasn’t in any better shape. He could barely breathe and he’d popped a sweat. Still, he outlasted her in the end as she arched her back and cried out.
Shane gritted his teeth. In her release, she’d continued to move against him while planting wanton kisses down his throat. For the second time that night, Shane cursed his luck. Known for his endurance in the
ring, it also came in handy in the bedroom. He could usually hang on for two or three more rounds.
Not now. Not with her. The force of her release sent him over the edge as well. His groin tightened and his stomach muscles clenched.
Unable to hold back or maintain control, Shane as promised pulled out and ejaculated on the floor between their feet. Whispering frantically, he exploded over and over again.
Of course, later he’d deny everything down to the letter. Right now he meant every word of devotion and fond affection because for the first time in life his life he felt what came close to love.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The sun peeked through the lace bedroom curtains, much too soon for Celeste’s liking. Groaning, she snatched the pillow from under her head and placed it over her eyes.
It couldn’t be morning already. It felt like she’d just closed her eyes. Shane and his endurance comparable to a prized work horse kept her up through most of the night…making love.
Celeste rolled over onto her back and an unaccustomed soreness made her blanch. Due to her aggressive nature in bed, maybe she’d goaded Shane a little too much.
Her body felt clobbered but in a good way, considering he’d taken her up against the bookcase downstairs, on the stairs, on the floor in her bedroom then finally on the bed.
Last night had exceeded any and all of her expectations. And despite the soreness between her legs, she could handle more.
Even now, her libido was already kicking in and by degrees, a low simmer increased to a steady boil. Ravenous, Celeste turned her head.
Stretched out like a sacrifice, Shane lay on his stomach. Eyes closed in sleep, his muscular arms cradling his head he looked angelic, innocent.
Celeste rolled her eyes. What a stupid thing to think! The man was a satyr, a depraved soul that led a full on assault of her body. Even now he had her wanting him, craving the touch of his hands, his lips, and his tongue on her skin.
“You keep looking at me like that, and you’re gonna give me ideas.” Shane slipped his arm around her and rolled until she ended up on her back.
Embarrassed, Celeste punched him. “You were watching me the entire time?”
Shane nodded with a lopsided grin. Celeste felt her heart speed up. Even fresh from slumber, hair jutting all over his head and eyes half closed, Shane was devastatingly handsome.
“Weird.” His hand slipped between their bodies and Celeste moaned. “But I loved every minute of it.”
The slow, almost tentative, exploration of his fingers along her rib cage and the underside of her breast made her arch into him. Everywhere he touched it burned, jolting every nerve in her body.
“What do you say to another round?” He leaned down and he flicked at her nipple, teasing it and making her curl her toes. “I missed eight o’clock conditioning, so we got time to play.”
Did he say eight o’clock? Catching him unaware, Celeste flipped onto her belly to look at the clock on her vanity. Seeing the tiny hand on the number ten doused her raging libido like a bucket of ice water.
Unaware of her sudden change in mood, Shane growled. “A provocative position.” He nipped her shoulder and Celeste almost lost sight of her priorities.
“I’m going to be late.” Celeste bucked her hips, but he didn’t budge. “I’m going to be late,” she repeated. This time her voice had taken on a sense of urgency. Still, Shane ignored her. He was too busy kissing a hot path down her spine. Celeste sucked in a calming breath. His mouth was wreaking havoc on her stamina.
“St…stop, Shane,” she pleaded, while trying to squirm away from him.
“But what about all the wicked things I want to do to you?”
He gave her an example by slipping his fingers between her legs. He stroked her sex and she heard herself moan. He found the little bud at the top of her mound took it between his fingers and squeezed it gently. Celeste’s breathing came in short, harsh gasps.
Oh, but he was being a wicked beast. He seemed to know exactly how to arouse a woman’s body to the point she lost her better judgment and didn’t care about the consequences.
“I c-can’t,” she panted. “I have rehearsals in an hour at…at the Roseland ballroom.”
Two of his fingers dipped into her core. Celeste squeezed her eyes shut as a shudder rocked her frame. “How about I sweeten the deal and pay you a week’s wages.”
As if the two thick fingers sliding in and out of her wasn’t enough! Incredulous, Celeste rose up on her elbows. “A week’s worth wages?”
“A week’s worth.”
“And all I have to do is stay in this bed with you all day?”
Chuckling, Shane kissed the rise of her buttocks. “Well, not all day. I still got conditioning this afternoon.”
So it was fine for her to drop everything, but not him! Spots of red almost blinded her. If he thought he was going to have his cake and eat it too, he was sadly mistaken.
Celeste couldn’t, she wouldn’t take the bait. There was more at stake here than just money. Biting down hard on her bottom lip, she fought to regain some clarity.
“So, absolutely no conditioning at all today?” she choked around the knot of anger stuck in her throat.
“Of course not,” he scoffed. “I have a fight in a couple of weeks.”
With more resilience than she felt, Celeste said: “I have rehearsals in an hour, so if you’d please…”
“No,” he said matter-of-fact and unaware the tables had reversed. “You’re going to stay in this bed with me all morning.”
Even though she felt anything but cheerful, Celeste curved her lips in a false smile as she looked back at him. “And what do you plan on doing to me?” she asked, hoping he wouldn’t see through her saccharin sweet performance. For good measure, she batted her lashes at him.
“I’m gonna pin your hands over your head like this,” he said doing just that, “then I’m gonna take you on your knees.”
Celeste groaned. The thought of him dominating her, created a wave of sensation that rolled over her, settled in her core, and then zinged outward plucking all of her nerve endings.
Still, she maintained her focus. “What did you say?” she asked, fighting her way out of the erotic haze he’d induced.
Falling into her trap, Shane leaned down and repeated it in her ear. He barely spoke two words when she let her arm fly, connecting with flesh and bone. Not caring if she split his lip or broke his nose, Celeste wiggled from underneath him.
Before she could clear the bed, Shane grabbed her ankle, impeding her escape. “What you do that for?”
“Sometimes, you have to slap someone to get their attention.”
“You punched me,” he said, wiggling his nose.
“Punched…slapped…it’s all relative.” Celeste kicked back at him and he let her go. In one quick move, she tumbled from the bed.
“This isn’t going to work,” she said, jabbing her arms into one of her dressing robes. “I thought it would, but we’re just all wrong.”
Celeste avoided looking at him while she scavenged his garments from the bedroom floor and then dumped them on the mattress.
Even when she pivoted toward the bathroom, she remained resolved, refusing to even make eye contact.
While she turned on the bath water, she heard the bed springs squeak and then she felt him at the doorway. Tiny pricks of anticipation ran down her spine as she imagined him getting dressed. What then? Would he rail at her? Or simply walk out the door and never look back.
Although not entirely unaccustomed to a man walking out on her, Celeste couldn’t ignore the fact that his absence hit her like a sucker punch below the belt. It would serve her right! She mused. She’d basically pushed him out the door.
Blinking back tears, she reached to turn on the bath water, but suddenly realized she wasn’t alone. Disconcerted, she glanced over her shoulder and found him leaning against the doorframe. Although still heavy lidded with sleep, his eyes seemed to bore into her as if trying to pi
ck through the layers to the truth. Unsettled, Celeste looked away.
With an inner calm she didn’t feel, Celeste picked up a bottle of Epsom salts from the shelf above her bath, popped the cork and poured some in her bath water.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a bath before I leave.”
“Go right ahead cause I ain’t leaving,” he said, while slowly buttoning his trousers.
Celeste hated the fact that his words made her feel strangely delirious. Still, she refused to give him any quarter. “What if I asked you politely?”
Shane shook his head. “You’re a good time girl. ‘I’m trouble, you said. I’m no good, you said. But all I see is a coward.”
Celeste opened her mouth to lay waste to his assumption, but she choked. She’d been a fairly decent liar in the past. With him, she’d suddenly become woefully inept.
Why was it so difficult to open to another person? All she had to do was tell him the truth—that she was deathly afraid of messing up her second chance. And that she saw him as a potential impediment to her achieving her dreams. Pursing her lips, Celeste turned away from him and caught a glimpse of herself in the bathroom mirror.
The light streaming through the window picked up the golden flecks in her tousled tresses, and the greenish-blue mark on her upper arm. A battle scar left over from round two against the stairs. Celeste smiled ruefully.
Despite looking a wreck and slightly abused, she’d loved every single minute of his manhandling. Even now in spite of more pressing matters she wanted him to take her in his arms and make love to her until her vocal chords ached from screaming her head off.
Life wasn’t fair. Why couldn’t he see the writing on the wall and just shove off. He should be happy she wasn’t like other women, clingy and starving for attention.
“Coward.” He bent his arms at the elbow and flapped them. “B-bawk…b-bawk,” he crowed. “B-bawk…b-bawk.”
Provoked, Celeste flew at him. “I might be a coward, but you’re a bully,” she said, pushing him with all her might. It worked because he stumbled backward until his legs bumped up against the side of her bed. For good measure, she pushed again until he fell back onto the bed with his arms and legs akimbo.
