His eyes snapped up to hers, realizing that her dark eyes were worried. Because he couldn’t speak to reassure her, he did the next best thing. He picked her up so that her mouth was level with his and kissed her as he pinned her to the wall. Immediately, he divested her of the robe, letting it slip down to the floor with barely a whisper.
“Take me to bed,” she whispered when he finally released her mouth.
He glanced up the stairs, shaking his head to release some of the lust clouding his thoughts. But it didn’t help. “No time,” he groaned. He lifted her higher so that her breasts were at the same level as his mouth, capturing her nipple, teasing it, loving it, torturing the stiff peak until she cried out and her sexy legs tightened around his waist.
He turned and aimed for the couch, but she ground against his erection and he could feel her heat through his clothing. With a groan, he lowered her to the floor and kissed all the way down her body. “Too hard,” he hissed and rolled so that he was on the floor and she straddled him.
He wanted to slow down, to help her catch up to where he was, but she reached for his belt and he just about lost it. She freed him and he watched as her eyes drifted closed. Fumbling in his pocket, he found the condom and tore it open. She grabbed the protection from his hands and scooted down his body. His clothes were still on! Hell, he hadn’t even loosened his tie! But when she touched him as she fumbled with the condom, he didn’t care. He’d take his clothes off later. Right now, he just needed to be inside of her, to feel her clench around him!
“There!” she gasped and shoved him, so she was on top. “Now, Jackson!” she gasped, bracing her hands on his stomach. With a sigh, she lowered herself onto him and Jackson clenched his teeth, fighting to maintain control. Watching her taking over like this was so hot! So incredibly sexy!
All of that was before she started moving. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Melanie’s head fell back slightly, her eyes drifting closed as she started moving, her body angling in ways that made her feel good. He’d thought she was sexy before, but watching her now…! It was the hottest thing he’d ever seen!
Taking charge, he lifted her hips and pulled her forward, giving her more friction. She gasped at the first thrust, but he needed her to…faster! He helped her until she was right on the edge. He could feel her body tense, watched as her mouth fell open as she hovered…right there. He pulsed again, sending her over, then hung on as she screamed his name, writhing against him. Her frantic movements were all it took for him to reach his own orgasm and he held on, praying that his hands weren’t too tight as he buried his face against her neck.
A long time later, the hard floor started to make itself known. Opening his eyes, he looked at the ceiling, then at Melanie, smiling with satisfaction as he heard her soft breathing. She hadn’t moved, not even an inch, he loved the feeling of being connected with her. She was like a shy, sexy lightning rod for him. Yes, she was beautiful, but there was something more to her. Something about her that just clicked for him. He didn’t understand it, but he loved it. He loved the way she felt against him, the weight of her and the feel of her soft curves draped against him was…perfect!
That’s when she giggled and he lifted his head, looking down at her again. “Want to share the joke?” he asked, skimming his fingers along the curve of her bottom. Damn, she had a perfect ass!
Melanie rested her chin against his chest. “You’re still fully dressed,” she teased, then tugged playfully at his tie.
Jackson lifted one arm, noticing that he hadn’t even taken off his suit jacket. “Damn it!” He shifted slightly, smiling as she gasped in disappointment as he pulled out of her. “I was ready for you as soon as I got on the phone with you.” He kissed her gently, and stood up. Reaching down to help her up as well, he kissed her again before heading into the powder room to clean up.
When he came back, Melanie wasn’t around. “Mel?” he called.
“Up here!” he heard her say from upstairs. A moment later, he heard the shower turn on. With a smile, Jackson strode up the stairs, pulling at his tie as he stepped into her bedroom. “Shower it is,” he murmured, mostly to himself.
Eventually, he ordered Chinese food and had it delivered to the house since neither of them had the energy to go out and get it. She offered him a beer and she pulled down a bottle of wine, then they stretched out on her couch and watched a movie, bickering cheerfully about whether they should watch a chic flick or an action movie. In the end, they compromised, watching the action movie first and the romantic comedy second. But about five minutes into the second movie, Jackson glanced over to find Melanie sound asleep.
He watched her for a long time, noticing her long lashes, the fullness of her lips, and her cute nose. All of those things were usually evident when she was awake. But with her eyes closed, he could focus on the rest of her. When she was awake, Melanie was vital and gorgeous. It was hard to notice the small details about her when there was so much else to notice.
Normally, this was the part of the evening when he would kiss her goodbye and head home to his own bed. Hell, normally, he would have been gone hours ago! But this was nice, he realized. Yes, he’d love to wake her up and make love to her again. Although, having her snuggled up against him was pretty damn nice too! So instead of heading home, he gently picked her up and carried her up the stairs.
“I can walk,” she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“I know you can. But I like carrying you. I’m staying the night, by the way.”
He waited, tensing, expecting her to say he should leave. But instead, she gave him a sleepy smile. “I’d like that.”
She brushed her teeth and washed her face, then yawned as she grabbed for a short nightgown. “You’re not going to need that,” he said as he borrowed her toothbrush, watching her. Jackson realized that he simply enjoyed watching her move. With a blush that was barely visible in the dim light of her bedroom, she smiled shyly and dropped the nightie back into the drawer before stripping off her clothes and sliding into the bed.
Jackson finished up in the bathroom, then stripped off his own clothes and slid in beside her. Flicking off the lights, he pulled her into his arms and proceeded to make love to her slowly and thoroughly.
Chapter 6
Four weeks. Four weeks! He and Melanie had been together for four weeks! What the hell was going on? But even as he thought that, he took the stairs to her house two at a time, eager to spend time with her. It wasn’t just sex either. He loved being with her. Ringing the doorbell, he slid his hand into his pocket, fingering the ring concealed there.
Four weeks into a relationship and he’d already bought a diamond ring. How stupid was he?! And it hadn’t been four weeks into the relationship. He’d bought the ring last week.
The feelings Melanie inspired in him were…amazing, overwhelmingly so. He loved cooking with her, laughing with her, making love with her…he loved just coming over and watching a movie, sitting on the couch with Melanie curled up in his arms.
If anyone had told him a month ago that he would be a snuggler, he would have laughed in their face, and probably punched them too. He’d never liked it when the women in his life snuggled. It was such a ridiculous idea that he’d rejected even the thought.
But now he didn’t like it when Melanie was too far away. Even when she cooked, he wanted to be touching her. Or just close to her. There were two perfectly comfortable chairs in her tiny den, but the chairs were forever ignored in favor of the couch.
Or the bed. He chuckled, thinking about how much time they spent in her bed. He should probably be embarrassed by how much he wanted her, but he wasn’t. Their sex life was incredible and getting better by the day. Every time she touched him, he wanted to make love to her. Hell, she just had to look at him for his body to react. It was instantaneous and intense.
The door opened and there she was. “Jackson,” she smiled.
“You’re overdressed,” he warned as he stepped into her
house and lifted her into his arms.
Melanie laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You’re early.”
“Does that mean you would have put on something more interesting if I’d come five minutes later?” he teased, setting her down and pressing her against the back of the sofa. His hands slipped under her shirt and Melanie shivered with the heat of his fingers.
“It means I might have finished dinner in anticipation of you doing this to me.”
He glanced over her shoulder at the kitchen as his hands moved higher, discovering she wasn’t wearing a bra. “Dinner? I’m not hungry for dinner,” he warned.
“Oh, you want to go for a walk?” she teased, but he was way ahead of her. In punishment, his thumb flicked over her already hard nipple, causing her to gasp and grab his wrist. “Not in the mood for a walk?” she asked, her eyebrows lifting as if it were an innocent question.
“Not really,” he replied, lowering his head as he nibbled along her neck. “I think you know what I’m in the mood for, Melanie.”
“I think I do. But…”
He lifted his head, his fingers pausing their delicious torture. “But what? Are you okay?”
She stared up into his heated silver gaze, hesitating. Her mouth opened. Then closed. With a sigh, she shook her head as her mouth twisted into a derisive cringe. “I don’t have anything, Jackson. I was trying to keep teasing you but nothing else came to my mind.” Her hand covered his on her breast. “And if you don’t keep going, I’m might just melt into a puddle at your feet,” she whispered, her lips hovering just under his.
He continued to stare at her for a long moment, then his reaction kicked in and she yelped as he bent down and tossed her over his shoulder. “You’re going to pay for that,” he threatened.
Melanie laughed as she tried to push her hair out of her eyes. “Promise?”
In response, he swatted her bottom as she squirmed and giggled. “You can’t spank me!”
So, he did it again and flipped her over onto the middle of her bed. Leaning over her, he used his teeth to pull her shirt up and out of the way. “You’re not wearing a bra, Melanie,” he growled as his hands smoothed up her stomach before cupping her unencumbered breasts.
She rested her fingers on his shoulders, fascinated by the way he was stripping her down. Not with his hands, but with his mouth and teeth. Slowly.
“I know I’m not wearing a bra, Jackson,” she tried to wiggle away as his fingers continued to tease. “I…”
He froze suddenly, his fingers digging into her hips. “Don’t you dare say that you took it off right before I got here,” he warned as he pulled her shirt off. “Tell me that you’ve had your bra off all day long.”
She laughed, fully understanding where he was going with this. “I have been working on new school assignments, Jackson. Sitting at my desk, without a bra on, all day long. And thinking of…” he pinched her nipple, making Melanie writhe. “I thought about you all day long.”
“Tell me you weren’t wearing underwear too!”
She gasped as he pinched her nipple again, causing pain and pleasure to pool in her loins. “I was. But tomorrow, I have to go to the grocery store and I’ll keep them off.” She pushed against his shoulders until he was flat on his back and she straddled him. “I’m going to wear a skirt, Jackson,” she whispered as she unbuttoned his tailored shirt, hearing him groan. “And it’s going to be short.” He closed his eyes as he pictured her, so innocent, yet so….
She smiled and lowered her head, kissing his lips very softly. “Maybe, I’ll bend over a little. Just enough to make others…” he grabbed her and twisted until she was underneath him. “Damn it, Melanie!” he growled, pressing her legs apart and ripping her underwear off, tossing the scrap away as he unzipped his pants. “You know exactly how to drive me wild!”
He grabbed a condom and rolled it on as she slid her hands up her thighs. He watched, fumbling slightly as he tracked the progress of her hands. “Touch yourself, Mel,” he ordered roughly, pressing her legs wider. “Touch yourself for me.”
She did, sliding her fingers down her stomach to her core. With trembling fingers, she spread herself wider, exposing her pink folds to him.
“I can’t take any more.” A moment later, he was inside her, pressing deep and lifting her knees so her legs wrapped around his waist. He moved inside of her and she closed her eyes, too caught up in the friction and the incredible pleasure, the intensity that was building…
“Come for me, Mel,” he groaned and moved his thumb lower, rubbing against that sensitive nub. It was just too much. She arched against him, losing herself in the crashing waves of pleasure. Melanie wasn’t aware of anything but the heat, the pleasure and took all of it. Moments later, she felt him follow and squeezed her inner muscles, helping him to find his release.
It was all too much and still, not enough. She couldn’t get close enough to Jackson and the tears rolled out of the corners of her eyes as she buried her face against his neck when he tumbled on top of her.
“Thank you!” she whispered. She let her fingers drift into his hair, amazed at how soft his hair was when the rest of him was rock hard and rough. Even his voice was rough and grumbly, his lips seeking as he nuzzled behind her ear causing her to smile and shiver at the same time.
“You’re beautiful and you drive me wild, Mel,” he told her, nipping at the shell of her ear.
“You’re pretty overwhelming yourself,” she sighed. He started to pull out, but she held him in place. “Just for another moment.” He stilled and Melanie relaxed, loving the feeling of being connected with him like this. It was so intimate, so perfect. She knew that he’d make love to her again before they both fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, but this moment was just…perfect.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you?” she whispered, knowing that he was always hungry. Hungry for one thing or another.
“Yes,” he replied, lifting his head and looking down at her breasts.
Melanie laughed, holding his head to keep him from toying with her nipples again. They’d never eat dinner if they started over again. The first time was always fast, but after Jackson’s appetite had been appeased once, he took his time, savoring every reaction, making her mind spin and her body ache until he decided she’d had enough and gave them the release they both craved.
“I meant for food.”
He grabbed her wrists and held her hands above her head. “Depends on what you made for dinner.”
“Remember that chicken casserole with cheese and potatoes that you liked so much last week?”
He blinked and jumped out of bed, scooping her up into his arms to carry her into the shower. “Why didn’t you tell me that when I walked in? We could be eating already!”
Melanie laughed, loving this playful side of him. Both of them knew very well that he wouldn’t have stopped making love to her when he’d walked in. Nothing stopped him unless she was on her period or if she was stressed about something.
Even in the shower, he took her hands and pressed them to the wall behind her back. “I don’t think I can wait to eat dinner,” he told her as he nibbled along her shoulder.
“Um…Jackson?” She knew exactly what he was about to do and wasn’t sure she could…then he touched her. He knelt down and pulled her leg over his shoulder. Apparently, yes! She could! Melanie should have known better than to doubt Jackson’s amazing lovemaking skills. He was a master! His fingers and mouth were tantalizing, teasing, bringing her closer and closer to release until…!
“Jackson!” she gasped, her shoulders bracing against the tile wall as her fingers tangled in his hair. When he stood up, there was a look of triumph in his eyes.
“Oh, you think you’re the only one who can drive someone wild?” she taunted, pushing his shoulders so that he was in her place.
His deep, rich laughter only spurred her on to show him that he wasn’t the only one who was a master. Or mistress. Or whatever. She kissed her way down his body, tasting,
licking, teasing, and reigniting his lust. When her mouth wrapped around his erection, she could only take a portion of him into her, so she used her hands to cover the rest of him. Melanie knew that she was doing it right when she felt his hands in her hair, his fingers guiding her gently. But she didn’t want to be gentle. She wanted to make him as wild as he made her, so she pushed his hands out of the way.
“Mel!” he groaned, bending over slightly when she increased the suction, flicking her tongue against the underside. “You can’t…!” She looked up at him at the same moment that he opened his eyes to look down at her. That look was all it took to send him over the edge and he leaned his head back against the wet tiles as he lost control.
When it was all over, he lifted her up and kissed her, holding her close as he shuddered through feelings he couldn’t speak out loud. Then she felt his hands on her again, pulling her up against his hard, muscular body, cradling her gently. “You’re gorgeous!” he groaned as he lifted his head.
“And you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known,” she told him with a sincerity that showed through as she hugged him.
When his arms closed around her, Melanie knew that she never would find any place that made her feel as good as she did when she was in his arms.
Chapter 7
Melanie froze and stared at the man in her doorway. “Roy?” she yelped in surprise. “Oh my god, Roy!” Melanie threw herself into her brother’s arms. “What are you doing here?!” she demanded. “I thought you were backpacking through China!”
The big guy laughed as he hugged Melanie. “I was. Now, I’m not!” After a tight, affectionate hug, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders in typical brotherly fashion as he entered her house. Looking around, he surveyed her small, cozy cottage. “Damn, Mel, your house needs a bit of dust and someone to mess it up!”
She laughed, leaning in to hug him again. “Shut up! I know you love my house and it’s a whole lot better than the filthy tent you’ve been living in for the past year.”
Her Secret, His Heir (The Diamond Club Book 11) Page 6
