Like Fresh Fallen Snow

by Tara Wyatt

  “Ellie, I can’t give you what you want.” He rubbed a hand over his mouth.

  “But what I want is you. Even if it’s just for tonight. I want tonight.”

  “Fuck.” And then his mouth was on hers again, hungrier and more desperate than before. She moaned softly, and he tightened his grip on her. She gasped when she felt how spectacularly hard he was. Hard and . . . Jesus, that couldn’t all be him, could it? Caressing his tongue with hers, she rocked her hips against him and was rewarded with a low groan.

  She pulled away, kissing down his neck. “Let’s just . . . not think, okay? Let’s just enjoy this for what it is. Because I’m having a lot of fun.” She nipped at his skin as she spoke, and he sucked in a sharp breath when she drew her lips over the spot where his jaw met his ear.

  “I’m definitely having a lot of fun.” His lips brushed the shell of her ear as he spoke, sending delicious shivers coursing over her skin. “And we’re not even naked yet.”

  She swayed into him as her bones turned to Jell-O. Oh, God. Naked. With Matt.

  Yes, please.

  “Then let’s keep having fun. Okay?” She looked up at him, squashing down the sadness that she couldn’t keep him. She didn’t have time to feel sad. Not if she was going to enjoy every second with Matt.

  “Okay.” He scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest, and kissed her again, each kiss hotter and deeper and more urgent than the last, and she knew he was fighting down the same sadness she was, kissing her like a man who had no time to waste.

  As she melted into him, she knew that this was going to really hurt, but right now, with Matt’s arms around her, his lips moving against hers and sending heat spiraling through her, all she cared about was living in this moment with him and savoring what had so far been the best night of her life. She was jumping out of a plane without a parachute, and it wasn’t the fall that was going to kill her. No, the fall would be exhilarating and thrilling. It was the sudden stop that would do her in.

  “You’re cold.” Matt spoke the words against her mouth, as though he couldn’t bring himself to completely sever the contact.

  He was wrong. She was burning for him.

  “Can we go to your room?” he asked. She nodded, but a realization zapped through her.

  Oh, shit. Well. This could put a damper on their night. “I don’t have any condoms.” She bit her lip and looked up at him.

  He laughed. “I’ve got it covered. Don’t worry.” He grabbed the champagne bottle from where it sat in the snow and began walking them toward the door.

  “So, what? You just bring condoms with you everywhere you go?” Suddenly the image of Matt sleeping with some random woman infiltrated her brain, and she blinked quickly, wanting it gone.

  “No. But I happen to know my brother has a stash.”

  “Thank God.”

  He set her down and twined his hand with hers as they started down the stairs, his free hand wrapped around the neck of the champagne bottle. “We could’ve done other stuff.”

  “I don’t think it would’ve been enough.” As if the possibility of them not having sex was at all legitimate.

  “Luckily, we don’t have to find out. What’s your room number? I’ll meet you there in five.”

  She told him, and he handed her the champagne bottle and then adjusted his jacket around her shoulders. “I like how that looks on you.”

  Truth be told, she liked it too. Not because of how it looked, but because it smelled like him. The idea that she could wrap herself in his warm, foresty scent was extremely appealing. Matt’s hands trailed down to the jacket’s lapels, and he pulled her close, brushing his lips over hers in a whisper of a kiss. She trembled slightly and pressed her face into his neck, inhaling his Matt-scent.

  “Ellie.” His voice was quiet. “If you don’t want to do this, I understand.” He slipped a hand under her chin and tilted her face up to his. Concern furrowed his brow.

  “No, I do. I’m just . . . trying to implant this in my memory. You know?”

  He nodded, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I know.” Sighing, he stepped away from her. “Five minutes.”

  “I’ll start my timer.”

  “Are you going to punish me if I’m late?” A wickedly sexy grin stretched across his mouth, and she blushed as her mind conjured up the various ways she could punish Matt. Her favorite was the image of tying Matt’s wrists to the bedpost while she tasted and explored every inch of his skin. Ooh, maybe he’d brought his handcuffs with him . . .

  “Don’t tempt me, officer.”

  “Actually, it’s detective. Or, at least, it will be soon.”

  “Is that why you’re moving to Seattle?” At the mention of Seattle, the lightness of the moment shifted, giving way to something much more sober.

  He nodded, shoved his hands in his pockets and pushed open the door of the stairwell with his shoulder, a swath of light slicing across her feet. She mulled things over as she slowly descended the stairs, her hand skimming over the metal railing.

  It didn’t matter how well things went tonight. There was nothing she could do or say to try to convince him to stay. He was moving for a job. She couldn’t ask him to give that up for . . . what, exactly? She didn’t even know. And for a long-distance relationship to work, there had to be a foundation to build on. She’d known him for less than eight hours. That wasn’t a foundation. That wasn’t even a blueprint. She shook her head and forced herself to smile, reminding herself that there wasn’t time to feel sad. Hell, there was barely even time to think. She was going to enjoy this. She’d start playing it safe tomorrow. That wouldn’t count as breaking her resolution, would it? At the memory of Matt’s mouth on hers, she couldn’t bring herself to care. She had a feeling her crappy sex streak was about to end, because if the connection she felt with him translated as she hoped it would between the sheets, she was in for one hell of a night.

  * * *

  Matt’s pulse throbbed in his neck as he knocked on Ellie’s door, holding his breath as he waited for her to answer. He felt keyed up, tense, like he was going to burst out of his own skin. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted a woman the way he wanted Ellie right now. Wanted her and needed her. Clenching his jaw, he shoved down the bittersweet current sweeping through him.

  She flung open the door so hard, she almost stumbled forward. Some of the pink had faded from her cheeks, and she chewed on her bottom lip as she stared at him. “Did you find them?” she asked.

  Smiling, he stepped into the room, and as the door latched closed behind him, pulled the strip of condoms he’d taken from Luke’s shaving kit out of his pocket.

  Ellie’s eyes widened. “Do you . . .” She swallowed and licked her lips. “Do you think we’ll need all of those?”

  “God, I hope so.”

  Her eyes locked on his, and for a heartbeat, they just stared. And then it was like something snapped, and they were kissing again, a current of urgency arcing between them. He slid his tie free of his collar and yanked his shirt out of his pants as Ellie’s fingers began working on the top buttons. Eager to feel his skin against hers, he unfastened the buttons starting from the bottom, meeting her hands somewhere around his sternum. He shrugged out of the shirt and let it fall to the floor before circling his hands around her ribcage and finding the zipper at the back of her dress. Tugging on the pull, he eased the zipper down, and before he’d even reached the bottom, she broke the kiss so she could push the straps over her shoulders. Clearly, she was as eager for this as he was.

  But then she stopped, going very still as her eyes raked over his chest. “Oh, wow.” Her voice came out as a breathy whisper as she reached out a hand, skimming her fingers over his right arm and the nature-themed sleeve tattoo that started with the sun on his shoulder and flowed down into mountains with a stream running through them, and ended in a row of pure, black pines around his forearm. “Oh, Matt. This is . . .” Her hands moved to the intricately detailed compass
over his heart. “So gorgeous. I wasn’t expecting this.” She traced her fingers over his bare back and the oak tree on his shoulder blade.

  “Because I’m a cop?” He wasn’t offended or surprised. This wasn’t the first time he’d had this reaction to his ink.

  “Well, I . . . yeah. I guess so. Do they have a meaning?”

  He reached out and skimmed a hand over her neck and down to her collarbone before easing her dress down until it was a puddle of fabric at her feet. “I’ll tell you after.”

  “Right. The sex.”

  “Unless you’ve changed your mind.” He wouldn’t blame her if she had, considering all he had to offer her was tonight.

  “I feel like you keep expecting me to.” Before he could respond, she reached behind her and unhooked her bra, and her mouthwatering breasts spilled free. Taking one of his hands in hers, she laid his palm against her hardened nipple. “I’m not changing my mind. Matt, I want this. I want you. For as long as I can have you.”

  His heart caught in his throat at her words. “I want that too.” He kissed her again and caressed his hands over her breasts, teasing his knuckles over her nipples before sliding his hands down over her stomach, then to her round, incredibly sexy ass. Cupping her cheeks, he lifted her against him, and her legs wound around his waist. He walked them to the bed, and he groaned as she writhed against him. He could feel the heat emanating from between her legs against his stomach, and the need to bury himself inside her almost overwhelmed him. They crashed down onto the bed together, a tangle of flesh and limbs, mouths still tasting and exploring. Each time the kiss broke, something hitched in his chest, and he instantly missed the contact, the connection with her.

  And how do you think it’s going to feel tomorrow, when you leave after spending the night making love to her?

  But even that somber thought wasn’t enough to stop him. He swatted it away, not wanting to think. He closed his mouth over one of her nipples, and she moaned softly, arching her back up off the mattress.

  “Sensitive?” he asked, scraping his teeth as lightly as he could over her tight, hard nipple.

  She whimpered and nodded. “Very.” Her voice came out as a squeak, and he smiled against her skin.

  “Oh, Ellie. Sweetheart.” He sucked her nipple back into his mouth, swirling his tongue over it and thanking the universe for the gift she was giving him. He brought his hands up to cup her breasts, squeezing them together and kissing, sucking, licking, and biting her delicious flesh until she was panting, moaning out his name. He could’ve done just that all night. Her breasts were gorgeous, full and firm with lovely dark-pink nipples, and her sensitivity was so fucking hot. And the noises purring from her were incredible. Especially when she moaned out his name, her voice trembling slightly. Especially that.

  Keeping his face buried in her generous breasts, he slipped a hand down, tracing the outline of her ribs, the dip of her waist, the swell of her hip before cupping his hand between her legs. He sucked in a breath at the heat he found there, and he pushed the fabric of her panties aside. His eyes caught hers as he teased a finger along her lips, swollen and wet and so incredibly warm.

  “Oh, God,” he whispered, slowly sliding one finger into her. “You’re so turned on.”

  She nodded, her eyes fluttering closed when he brushed his thumb over her clit. “You make me feel good,” she breathed, and in that moment, he wanted to make her feel as good as possible for as long as possible. He slipped another finger inside her and circled his thumb over her clit. Her hips writhed, and a bolt of satisfaction shot through him when her legs fell open. He teased his fingers in and out, pressing his face into her sweet-smelling neck and savoring every damn thing about her. The warmth of her skin against his. Her scent. The sounds she was making, moaning and purring. The wet heat of her against his hand. How completely perfect she felt underneath him. An arrow of regret sliced through him at the thought that he only had tonight to explore her.

  He brought his mouth to hers, wanting to taste her again, once again pushing away the hint of melancholy teasing at the edges of his awareness. The only thing he wanted to be aware of right now was Ellie. Beautiful, amazing Ellie. His Ellie.

  He began to kiss his way down her body, stopping once again to lavish her breasts with attention. As soon as he kissed lower, trailing his lips over her stomach and hooking his thumbs into the waistband of her panties, she tensed and tried to pull her legs closed.

  “Oh, I . . . um. You . . . You don’t have to.” She gripped his shoulders, and he stopped.

  “I want to.” He eased her panties off and slid his fingers through her wet folds, just once, a slow, upward movement and she moaned softly. “We only have tonight, and Ellie . . . I really want to see you come.”

  “I, I just . . .” Her voice trailed off as her grip on his shoulders tightened. He could tell, even in the dim light of the hotel room, that her face was nearly scarlet. He didn’t want to pressure her into something she didn’t want to do, but he also wanted to taste her. To feel her come against his mouth and to know that he’d given her everything he could.

  Well, in bed, at least.

  He stood up off the bed, and with Ellie’s eyes tracking his every movement, undid his belt, and then pushed his pants down and stepped out of them. He toed off his shoes and pulled off his socks. Fishing the ribbon of condoms from his pocket, he tossed them on the bed before lying down beside her, only wearing his boxer briefs. “I have an idea.”

  She propped herself up on one elbow, her thick, blond hair cascading over her shoulder, her cheeks still wonderfully red. “An idea?” One of her eyebrows arched over her glasses. Mirroring her posture, he propped himself up and slid her glasses from her face, placing them carefully on the bedside table.

  “Straddle me. You’ll feel less exposed, and you can move away whenever you want. If you don’t like it.”

  “It’s not that I don’t like it . . .” She sat all the way up. “Or, I mean . . . I think I like it.” She bit her bottom lip.

  “Come here and let me convince you.”

  Chapter 6

  There was something so tender, so sexy about the way Matt looked at her, and it hit Ellie that with him, she felt beautiful. Really, truly, beautiful, and it did wonders for her sexual confidence. This connection, this comfort she found in him was what had been missing in the past. Not feeling it was what had made sex so mediocre. In the relationships she’d had before, she’d been the one to give pleasure, and very rarely the one to receive it. She almost giggled as she eased her knees down on either side of Matt’s head, feeling selfish and greedy and deliciously wanton.

  “Oh God, Ellie. You smell so good.” The fact that she knew he wasn’t talking about her perfume sent a thrill sparking through her, and she settled her butt down on his chest, trying to still the nervous tremble quivering through her limbs. She clenched, flexing her thighs and feeling pitifully empty and unbelievably aroused. She was seconds away from begging when Matt’s mouth was on her, and she couldn’t have formed a coherent sentence to save her life. Her head fell back, and she lost herself in the intense sensation of Matt’s lips gently kissing her clit, and then his tongue sweeping slowly through her drenched folds.

  “Baby, you’re soaked.” He spoke the words against her, pressing kisses to her delicate flesh in between words.

  Her breathing was labored, and she had to fight to speak. “I’m sorry.”

  He licked her again and then kissed her inner thigh. “Do not be sorry. You are the fucking sexiest woman I’ve ever met. This”—And in case she had any doubt what he was referring to, he flicked his tongue over her clit before briefly sucking it into his mouth—“is incredible. I love it. Don’t be sorry.”

  She’d opened her mouth to say “okay,” but the word was stolen from her as Matt’s tongue circled around her clit, and a moan came out instead. She tipped forward and curled her fingers around the headboard for support, her hands flexing against the dark wood. Instinctively, she swiveled he
r hips against his mouth, intensifying the pressure building deep inside her. Matt groaned and deepened his kiss, his mouth moving against her with increased passion. And for once, Ellie worried about nothing in bed except enjoying herself. Enjoying the immensely pleasurable feel of Matt’s mouth against her, kissing and licking and sucking until everything tightened within her, and she bucked against his mouth as an intense orgasm tore through her, her fingers digging in to the headboard.

  He nipped at the inside of her thigh, and she looked down at him. He smiled up at her, a self-satisfied grin on his face. “As bad as you thought it would be?” He kissed her thigh again.

  She laughed and felt him smile against her. “What if I told you it was a hundred times better than anything ever?”

  “I’d say it’s a good start.”

  Oh, Jesus. She wasn’t sure if she could take any more.

  She climbed off of him, suddenly feeling self-conscious, folding her arms over her not-flat stomach and curling into him, trailing kisses over his arm, nipping at his impressive bicep. God, his body was just . . . it was gorgeous. She’d never been with a man who looked like him before, with tattoos like his, or with his fit, muscled physique. Inwardly, she high-fived herself. First guy ever with an actual six-pack and those drool-worthy cut lines along his hips. She began kissing a trail down his chest and over his hard stomach, kissing each defined muscle as she went. She paused, her lips hovering over the small, circular scar on the lower left-hand side of his stomach.

  She traced her fingers over the mottled pink and white skin, hesitating slightly. “Is this . . . is this a bullet wound?”

  He nodded, once.

  “Will you tell me about it?”

  “Sure. I’ll tell you whatever you want if you do what I think you’re about to.”

  A wave of sadness almost stole her breath, because she realized, as she continued to shower his abs with kisses, that it didn’t really matter, about the tattoos, or the scar. Because at this time tomorrow, he’d be nothing but a memory. Refusing to let the sadness suck her under, she slipped her fingers into the waistband of his boxer briefs, and he raised his hips off of the mattress, letting her pull his underwear down. She didn’t bother slipping them free of his legs because she was too distracted by the sight of Matt’s naked cock.