The Heartbreak Contract (Castle Ridge Small Town Romance Book 6)

by Allie Burton

  He drew her down onto the edge of the bed. Caressing her bare arm, he wanted to caress other, exposed parts of her body. Her silkiness was the exact opposite of his chapped and weathered skin from his work outside and hiking in the mountains. The differences sent an electric sizzle through him, making him crave her touch. “You’ve had quite a shock tonight.”

  He almost hadn’t gone on the call. The accident was too close to the place where his parents had died. The trainee would’ve been fine with the other EMTs.

  “I have.” She curled up against him like a kitty and he wanted to stroke her.

  Inside and out.

  His semi-erect cock turned rock hard. Shifting on the bed, he readjusted himself. The last thing he needed was her noticing his body’s response. He’d already kissed her as if she was his sole source of air. “I don’t want to take advantage of the situation.”

  “I’m the one propositioning you.” She placed her hand on his thigh, so perilously close to his crotch.

  “I’m not comfortable—”

  “I can help you with that.” She trailed her fingers from the inside of one thigh to the inside of the other, grazing his excited erection.

  He shivered, not the cold kind of shiver but the need-to-fuck-you shiver. “You’re cold—”

  “You can warm me up.” Lifting her face, she quirked her plump luscious lips, and his resistance weakened.

  “And wet.”

  Her laughter struck him deep in the gut. Sensual, delighted, thinking-dirty-thoughts kind of laughter. Her hands went to another button and she quickly undid it. “You can make me wetter.”

  “You need a shower.” He stopped himself from adding young lady. He wasn’t talking to one of his sisters, and he felt nothing sisterly toward Vivienne. Only concern about her getting sick.

  She jumped off the bed, grabbed his hand, and yanked him toward the bathroom. “We’ll shower together, just as you told me to do.”

  Her actions were so fast he tripped. She pulled him along like a tugboat, and he didn’t have time to stop her. Or at least that’s what he told himself.

  Entering the bathroom, she kicked her muddy coat out of the way and turned on the shower. Steam started to rise.

  In the shower and inside him.

  God, he wanted her. It had been so long since he’d been with a woman and she’d peaked his interest from the second she’d shined the cell phone light in his eyes. Brave and beautiful. And obviously hurting.

  The green pools of her gaze displayed fear and reminded him of a turbulent tropical ocean. Her thick parka hadn’t hidden the delectable figure underneath. And her nervous-hysterical giggle had soothed his own pain. He’d been interested.

  “I don’t want to move so fast into…this.”

  “You mean, sex?” She could say the word and say it in a sultry tone that tantalized and tugged on his desire. Her lips curled into a slow smile showing her tease. “I want…this.” Another slight, teasing and tempting smile. “I want you.”

  He wasn’t a virgin. He’d slept with multiple women, just not anyone recently. Years, actually. He’d been too busy taking care of his younger brother and sisters. He didn’t have time for a girlfriend and he didn’t do one-night stands. Since she was visiting from out of town he’d never see her again. So many reasons why this was a bad idea. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She whipped off her panties and bra exposing her attributes. Again, the move was quick. Practiced. He sucked in a sharp breath taking in her luscious beauty.

  “Don’t worry. My heart doesn’t break easy.”

  Something about her voice made him pause. A hard edge he hadn’t heard before. Yet the sexy smile was on her lips and her expression swam with desire. He trailed a finger from the tip of her shoulder, down her arm, to her naked waist.

  “Good to know.” He tried to add a light tease, while keeping his head in the game. His other head was already enlarged to play.

  “I can put it in a contract if you prefer.” Her hand reached for the waistband of his pants.

  Lust had his mind going fuzzy. He had a naked, willing woman in front of him. What did he have to lose? “A non-heartbreak contract?”

  “Exactly.” She quivered, her perfect breasts jiggling with the movement.

  She needed to get in the shower. Concern outweighed temptation. Almost. He needed to get warm, too. “You need to get in a hot shower.”

  “And you’re going to join me.” She grabbed his waistband and pulled him through the glass shower door.

  “Wait. My clothes.”

  “You need to wash them anyway.” She giggled that tantalizing giggle and continued to pull him under the water.

  He let her. Quickly removing his coat, shirt, pants, underwear and socks, he shoved her further under the spray.

  She gasped, her mouth pursing in surprise.

  He enjoyed changing the playing field. She might’ve been the proposition-er, but he’d be the aggressor for the rest of the night. The thought of his powerplay thrummed through his system. Grabbing the soap, he started his plan to conquer. The almond scent tickled his nose and he knew he’d never use almond soap again and not think of her.

  She shifted toward him and gripped his sex. He held in a moan. Taking control was going to be more difficult than he expected. “Let’s get warm and clean.”

  “I don’t want to be clean. I want to be dirty.” Again, the sultry tease. He could explode from just her voice.

  “Great play on words.” Chuckling, he removed her hand from his very hard appendage. “The first time we make love I want to do it properly on a bed. Now the second time…” Presuming there’d be a second time. How long did she say she was in town for?

  Her plucked eyebrows wiggled. “Sex in the shower would be hot.”

  He weakened. “While I want you, I don’t want you to catch pneumonia. The second time, we can make it more interesting.”

  She pouted.

  He wouldn’t be swayed. He was a medical professional. A hot shower, followed by getting dry would be best. Than they could slip between the sheets and get really hot.

  His movements hurried to finish. He turned off the shower and grabbed two towels. One he wrapped around his waist to protect from her bold advances, while the second he used to dab Vivi dry. The process was exquisite torture for both of them.

  She moaned with each fondle and stroke causing desire to whisper through him. A bead of perspiration formed on his upper lip trying to maintain control.

  Her body resembled the Venus de Milo statue he’d seen in Paris. He’d spent a semester studying abroad before coming back home. Alabaster skin, hour-glass figure, and a smile making him weak at the knees.

  Finally dry, they tumbled to the bed. With one hand, he gripped both of her wrists and held them above her head. He nuzzled her neck letting the fall of her wet hair cool his desire.

  “Now. I want you now.” Guess the drying and grazing and stroking had gotten to her.

  It had gotten to him. His muscles were taut, his nerve endings were frayed, and his cock throbbed with need.

  “Not yet.” He wanted to go slow, to appreciate every curve of her body and every skin-to-skin contact. He wanted to revel in her touch and see every change of expression as he skimmed his mouth across her chest, tweaked her breast, trailed fingers down her stomach, and thumbed at her apex.

  “Paul!” Her body jerked and slammed into him.

  His cock responded with a nudge. Sensual sparks caught fire between them. The flames spread from his head to his curling toes. He was burning with need for her. He wanted to poke his head into her warmth, feel her core wrap around him, pump until he was done.

  “God dammit.” The heat swelling his lower head blasted to his cheeks. Any normal male person would always be prepared. “I don’t have a condom.”

  Chapter Three

  What kind of man didn’t carry a condom?

  Every man Vivienne had ever dated always hoped to have sex. Came prepared to have sex, a
nd not become a father.

  She lay on the bed, her body tingling from Paul’s ministrations, her core aching for fulfillment, and her mind whirling. She was on birth control. Still, having sex without other protection would be stupid.

  She was never stupid.

  “I might have a condom…” She hadn’t had sex in several months. Too busy. No one of interest. No one at all.

  “Really?” His inflection rose to a hopeful high. He didn’t want to stop either.

  Good. She was glad he was as invested, as carried away, as her.

  Rolling off the bed, she opened her suitcase and pulled out her toiletry bag. She dumped the contents onto the floor. A few months ago, she’d planned to meet up with an old lover for dinner and wanted to be prepared.

  Toothpaste, moisturizer, aspirin. Her fingers fiddled through the products. Where was the damn packet?

  There.

  Her pulse thumped as she spotted the foil and pinched it between her fingers. “I’ve got one!”

  His eyes brightened with relief while his elated grin lit up her veins like streaks of lightning. “Eureka.”

  She jumped back onto the bed to get close to Paul’s body. His heat surrounded her. Arms made of rock. Muscular thighs. And a cock ready for business.

  “An interesting word.” She straddled his legs and ripped open the packet.

  “It’s what the miners shouted when they found gold in the mountains.” He moaned the last word when she slipped the condom onto his tip.

  He was so big. And heavy. And smooth at the top.

  Using her palms, she rolled the latex over his shaft even though she wanted to continue to stroke, wanted to feel, and wanted to pleasure but she was also impatient to get to the good stuff. “There.” Satisfaction swarmed through her.

  He grabbed her waist, the contact tickling and teasing. Flipping her off him, he placed her on her back.

  “Ahhh!”

  He was so strong and manly and buff. His naked pecs were carved into a delightful ridge. His six-pack abs appeared to come from real work, not a trainer or a gym. His strong legs held his body above hers. “I can’t wait for you.”

  Her body melted into the bed and wetness pooled between her thighs from his words.

  Nudging her legs apart, he lowered himself. His gaze caught hers, the blueness drowning her in their depths.

  He plunged into her. “Eureka!”

  His shout about finding gold moved her. Did he think she was worth as much as gold?

  His shaft stroked inside making her forget her thoughts and questions. He plunged in and out. She pushed to meet him needing him inside her to the hilt, reveling in the friction and the internal massage. He swirled his cock caressing her sensitive spots. Mini explosions kindled her core.

  “Oh my.”

  He plunged deeper and harder and faster. Her body arched into him, wanting to welcome him, wanting him deep. His fingers played with her breasts bringing an ache there.

  “I can’t wait much longer.” His mouth sucked on her lips as if trying to drink her essence and she wanted him to drink away, to get drunk on her. “Tell me your close.”

  She was so close, teasing herself at the edge. She wanted to experience his release more than her own. Something about him made her want to give more than receive, a new experience for her. “Don’t wait for me.”

  His body tensed. She knew he was fighting his instincts. He wanted to pleasure her first, which she appreciated. Her senses were already at maximum capacity. She only wanted to feel his pleasure. She stroked a finger from his shoulder to his ass, wanting to encourage him. “Come, Paul. Come for me.”

  His cock swirled inside her. His body strained. “Vivi!”

  The shout echoed through her and deep into her soul creating wave upon wave of pleasure. An orgasm that built softly upon itself, and then exploded in a burst of internal heat and light. “Oh, Paul!”

  “Vivi!” He emptied himself into her, well into the condom, and she enjoyed the completion. Bliss enveloped her in a cocoon.

  He collapsed on top of her. His delectable body damp with sweat. His heavy breathing moving him up and down. His fingers playing in the strings of her hair.

  A blanket of contentedness covered her. She never wanted this moment to end. She wanted him on top of her and beside her. Uneasiness filtered through her joy in a disturbing riptide. She didn’t do forever. What the hell was she thinking? Witnessing death must have made her clingy. She’d be back to normal soon.

  “I’m sorry I was so quick.” His lips landed on her cheek and suckled. “Your words.” He gave her a gentle kiss. “Your voice spurred me on.”

  “I loved it.” Loved every touch and taste.

  “If we had another condom, I’d recuperate and do it again. Bring you to a better orgasm.”

  He’d felt so good inside her. And the orgasm had been organic, not forced or sudden. It had snuck up on her and come to completion in pulsating light.

  “I only had one condom.” Or she’d definitely be up for another round.

  A wicked smile baring his teeth lit his face. “Doesn’t mean this is over.”

  The lethargy seeping into her bones disappeared. Intrigue stimulated her lady parts.

  He rolled to the side and removed the condom. Scooting down her body, he placed his mouth near her sweet spot. He blew out a breath and the air tickled her dewy lips sending billows of scorching shivers through her body. She arched toward his mouth.

  His tongue flicked out and licked her swollen nib, swirling and sucking and sipping. Each stroke sent a spark through her core, lighting up other nerves. Lighting up her entire body. Muscles gone lax after her orgasm tightened once more. Senses spiraling down perked. And already sensitive skin flared to life.

  “Oh.” She couldn’t stop the moan.

  Stars swam in front of her closed eyelids and she reached for a second release. Stretched her body and her mind, felt the tension build and build and build. Bursts shot from her core, and her enflamed nib ignited. She exploded in a shower of light. A wave of pleasure traveled from her core outward. Her body jerked and contorted and her breathing shallowed.

  And she came. Again.

  Her body convulsed, pleasure encircling her. His arms wrapped around and held her tight. He kissed her on the cheek. “Good?”

  So good. “Yeah.”

  She curled into him. Enjoying how their bodies fit together during sex and afterwards. Wallowing in what had transpired. A man had never been so generous to make sure she was completely satisfied, overly satisfied. A man had never been concerned about her heart or her health.

  A man had never felt so right.

  The thought startled her. She wasn’t into permanence and certainly not with a man from a small, cold, mountain town. She should kick him out of bed and tell him to go home. Yet, snuggling up against him, swaddled in the scent of lovemaking, took her to a place of comfort, love, and relaxation. Tomorrow she’d tell him this meant nothing. Tell him goodbye. Tonight, she only wanted to be held. She drifted into a deep sleep knowing he’d keep his arms wrapped around her all night because that was the type of man he was—dependable, strong, loving.

  A light kiss on her cheek woke her. How long she’d been sleeping she didn’t know. Hours, most likely. Sleeping solidly. No nightmares or worries. Only pleasant dreams and comforting thoughts.

  Paul kissed her again and tiny tingles traveled from her lips to her core. “I’m sorry to say this. I need to go home.” The real regret in his tone soothed her immediate insecurities.

  She didn’t want him to go. She wanted him to spend the night, to keep her company, to wake up and have breakfast together in the morning. Her body stiffened, and unpleasant accusations congregated in her head. Maybe he wasn’t unattached. Maybe she’d made a fool of herself. “Why? I didn’t think you had anyone to go home to?”

  “I don’t.” He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. His gaze was clear and honest. No lies lurking in the blue depths. Except she k
new men were good liars. “I’m responsible for my younger siblings. They don’t know where I am, and I need to set a good example and be home in the morning.”

  She yanked her chin out of his grasp not wanting him to see the hurt. Not understanding the agony. When was the last time she’d wanted a man to stay in her bed? “And spending the night with me isn’t good?”

  His lips claimed hers in a long, passionate kiss. So passionate she forgot their discussion until he said, “You’re good. You’re wonderful.”

  “You need to leave.” She hated the neediness in her voice, wished it had sounded more like a demand.

  She didn’t know if it was the accident, or the dug-up memories, or the anonymous hotel room. She wanted to cuddle. Needed the reassurance and comfort, which was rare for her. Normally, she wanted to wake up in her own bed alone which meant leaving her lover’s bed or her lover leaving hers.

  “I wish I could stay.” He scooted closer, the exact opposite of his words.

  “I understand.” She forced herself to inch away and covered her body with the sheet. She wouldn’t play the clingy lover. The sex had been good. That’s all it was though. Sex.

  He flattened his palm on the bed, a huge chasm developing between them already. “I’d love to see you again.”

  Her mouth formed a yes. “I’m only in town for a few days.”

  “How about tomorrow?”

  “I’m meeting with my client and have work to do online.” Resisting, she didn’t agree. The urges swarming her body were foreign. She really couldn’t get involved with this man. She had to deal with her client Luke Logan and his emotional issues. She didn’t need emotional issues of her own.

  “How about in the evening?” Paul swung his feet onto the floor with a loud stomp.

  Jerking, she wondered at his perception. How easily could he read her mind?

  “Sorry. Business dinner.” Plus, she’d agreed to her client’s ridiculous scheme to make some woman jealous. She had to meet Luke on the slopes after a children’s ski race.

  Paul paced to the bathroom and picked up his clothes. His fine ass clenched as he walked. She wanted to take a bite.