“You wouldn’t?”
He shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t. I want you to feel comfortable.”
“Liar.”
“Hey.” He tried to look offended, but he couldn’t fool her. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t be disappointed,” he said, moving his hands down her arms and then pulling her against him. “Which bed do you want?”
She glanced at the pair of queen beds with the hideous pink bedspreads and laughed. “You choose first.”
“Whichever one you’re in.”
“How did I know you were going to say that?” She tilted her head back, closing her eyes as he kissed her and then stopped too soon.
“You want to eat now or later?” he asked against her mouth.
In answer she yanked his shirt from his jeans.
The bags stayed right where they were on the floor by the door. Lucas unfastened her blouse buttons with impressive speed. His patience slipped when he went for the zipper of her jeans and their arms got tangled because she hadn’t finished with his shirt. He took over, stripping off her clothes first and then his own.
She tried not to stare. Tried not to wonder how he’d gotten his jeans off without hurting himself. He was so hard already and they’d barely kissed. “You know what,” she said. “I think I want a shower.”
He was staring, too, first at her breasts and then into her eyes. “I was thinking the same thing.” He slid his palm behind her neck. “Mind making room for me?”
“As long as you don’t get any bigger.”
Not moving, he just looked at her, and then he laughed.
Melanie let out a small whimper. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
“Come here,” he said, still laughing as he caught her before she could escape to the bathroom.
“I’m embarrassed,” she admitted, slowly turning to him, and then he was holding her close and kissing her neck and lifting her into his strong muscled arms.
“Not with me, honey,” he whispered. “Don’t ever be embarrassed with me.”
He’d managed to get them into the small bathroom and to turn on the shower before she knew what was happening. While he adjusted the water temperature, he kissed her lips and each of her breasts, and then she watched as he took her pearled nipple into his mouth. Kept watching as he suckled her, his stubbled jaw working greedily against her pale skin until her knees threatened to buckle.
She clutched his shoulders, and he lifted her into the stall.
“I should shave first,” he said, frowning at the slight redness on her skin and rubbing the side of his jaw.
“No.” She pulled him toward her. “Please.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” She held on so tight she gave him no choice.
He stepped into the stall, backing her up against the wall, pinning her bottom and shoulder blades against the cool tiles. She barely had time to let her head fall back before he caught her lip between his teeth, tugging gently, his breathing coming faster and more urgently. Huffs of warm breath slipped into her mouth along with his tongue.
Her own eagerness had her shaking, her whole body throbbing with a craving that both frightened and excited her. No other man had ever lit this fire inside her, awakened this intense ache between her legs. Lucas knew exactly what she needed. He plunged deeper into her mouth, thrusting his tongue against hers and swallowing her quiet whimpers. He cupped both of her breasts, kneading them with unsteady hands. She could feel his erection, the thick hot flesh, straining against her belly. At some point her hands had closed into fists, and she slowly opened her fingers and touched his chest, ran her thumb across a hard beaded nipple. She skimmed her other palm lower until the heel brushed the silken head of his penis. For a moment he stilled, and so did she.
He tore his mouth away from hers, drew in some air, expelled a harsh breath. “Do it, Melanie,” he said, his voice husky and raw. “Touch me.”
She leaned into him, burying her face against his shoulder as she closed her hand around his fully aroused cock. He shuddered, and she licked his arm, traced her tongue over a ridge of muscle, tasting the saltiness of his skin. She tightened her hold and felt him jerk against her palm as she stroked upward.
Releasing her breasts, he pulled away, dislodging her hand. Blindly he reached behind, slapping the tiles until he found the soap. It was still wrapped, and he let out a short growl of impatience while trying to tear off the paper.
“You have to stop doing this to me,” she said, frustration making her bold. The man was gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. And all hers—at least for now. And she wanted to touch him. She looked up when he didn’t respond.
He wasn’t listening. His gaze was fastened on her mouth. The soap was in his hand, the wrapper gone. “What?” he murmured.
“Not letting me touch you.”
Lucas met her eyes. “Right now I want you too much.”
“Last time you said, ‘Later.’” She splayed her fingers across his chest, slid her hand to his waist. “This is later.”
A faint smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “You can’t starve a man, dangle a banquet in front of him and expect him to take only one bite.”
“Same goes for a woman.”
The smile reached his eyes. He bent to steal a kiss, but before she could get him in her grasp, he lowered himself and kissed each breast. Then pressed his damp mouth to a spot between her ribs while he slid his soapy hands around to her back.
Until now his body had shielded her from the shower spray. But with him crouching, water bounced off his shoulders and splashed her face. Startled and laughing, she abandoned her mission and tried to twist away. His large hands cupped her bottom, holding her still as he put his mouth on the damp heat between her thighs.
She stiffened, wouldn’t let his seeking lips in too far, even as she held his head prisoner. She jerked at the feel of his tongue, hot and determined, the rough tip pushing past the sensitive folds of flesh, teasing her, tempting her to part for him.
“Lucas,” she murmured, her voice a breathy thread of a whisper.
“Let me taste you.” The slight vibration of his lips nearly drove her to the edge. “Please, Melanie.” He sounded as if he’d run a marathon. “Please.”
She relaxed and let him spread her thighs a little, wedging his hand between them. Touching her first with his thumb, parting her, stroking her, before pushing his tongue against her and taking long broad licks that sent her up on her toes.
He squeezed her butt, and she bucked against his mouth.
His groan sounded like a curse. It might’ve been one. Her senses had gone haywire. All she knew for sure was that her response had triggered him in a big way. He’d tried to slow down, then got carried away, sucking and licking and thrusting his tongue until she nearly lost her mind. She wanted to get out of the shower. Get to the bed while she could still walk. Still breathe.
“Lucas, let’s get out. Let’s— Oh.” She gasped at the first jolt. “Oh...oh, God.”
It was too late to do anything but hold on to him.
The spasms rolled through her, setting off bursts of pleasure that swelled up from between her thighs to her breasts. She bit down hard on her lip, trying to stifle the cry rising from her throat. Tears burned behind her eyes, and he kept flicking his tongue, ignoring her panic and setting off a firestorm of blazing sensations that threatened to incinerate her.
His strong fingers, digging into her buttocks, were the only thing holding her up as she rode out the inferno. Weak and shaky, she fell back, her head hitting the tile a bit hard, but she didn’t care. Her energy had been sapped, and it was enough that she hadn’t slid down to the shower floor.
Lucas must’ve realized that he’d wrung everything out of her. His lips took over for his tongue and he brushed soft feath
erlike kisses up her belly to her breasts as he rose. The gentle controlled meeting of their mouths surprised her. Not on her part—she still had trouble staying on her feet. But Lucas’s body was tense, his arousal even harder than before.
He lifted his mouth off hers, and she looked into eyes so dark there was no trace of blue. “We’re going to make this fast,” he murmured, his voice husky and deep.
She didn’t know what he meant until she felt the soap glide between her breasts up to her throat. No lingering this time. In seconds he’d lathered her entire body, and then it was her turn. She started with his back and butt, feeling the tension humming through him. Skipping his legs for now, she guided the soap to his chest. She looked down at the broad head of his penis and her lips parted on a gasp.
The soap flew out of her hand as he lifted her in his arms and placed her under the shower spray. He took a half-turn, got some of the suds off himself, then shut off the water.
Melanie laughed. “We’re not finished.”
“No, we’re not,” he said and grabbed a pair of white towels off the rack. His rough kiss made it clear what he was talking about, and already she was starting to ache for him in places that should’ve been sated.
The towels were pretty awful, slightly scratchy, or maybe it was her skin’s sensitivity. Lucas dried both of them, leaving too many damp areas in his rush to get them to the bed. He had trouble pulling back the quilt, and she laughed when he finally wrestled it to the floor.
Her humor met with an abrupt end when she saw what he pulled out of his bag. “You brought a whole box?”
He set the condoms on the nightstand between the beds. “You have a problem with that?”
“No.” The word came out a squeak. “No,” she repeated with more conviction, her gaze inexorably going to his cock.
She slipped under the covers on her side, instantly realizing there were no sides with Lucas. He yanked the sheet and thin blanket to the foot of the bed and slid his naked body up hers. His skin was damp and hot, his mouth even hotter as he nipped at her breast, lightly tugging at her nipple with his teeth. When she squirmed he moved to her lips, kissed her briefly, then fastened on to her earlobe while slipping a hand between her thighs.
“You ready for me?” he murmured against her ear and sank a finger deep inside her. They moaned together. “Jesus.”
He withdrew his finger, drawing moisture out with it and spreading it around her opening until she thought she’d hit the ceiling.
Quickly he tore open a packet, then sheathed himself and moved between her legs. One arm supported his weight while he guided himself inside her. He took the first push slow and easy, his attempt at restraint clear.
Melanie didn’t want him to hold back. All it took to let him know was a small lift of her hips.
Lucas bit off a curse, looked into her eyes and pushed hard into her. The whole mattress moved. She clutched the sheets so tightly she thought they might rip.
“Harder,” she whispered.
He stayed where he was, braced on one elbow, looking down at her. And then he was moving inside her, never looking away, muscles cording along his neck and across his shoulders.
The pressure was building in her again, and she kind of wished he’d just lose control. He was so ready. How could he hold back? “You still want it hard?” His breathing had grown so harsh he barely got the words out.
She nodded and he drew back, then drove into her. Spurred on by her startled whimper, he kept rocking his hips, each thrust forcing him deeper inside her body. She tensed, her muscles gripping his erection and tearing a groan from him.
In seconds his taut body went still, and then he shuddered violently. Even before he finished climaxing he tried to reach between them, tried to find the sensitive nub that would make her crazy, but she shoved his hand away, wanting only to hold him in her arms through the last of the shock waves, just as he’d held her.
Too weak to argue, he sagged heavily against her until the tremors subsided. “Well, Teach.” He kissed her, then rolled onto his back. “We’ve got some serious homework to do.”
“Really?” She let him slide his arm under her shoulders and draw her close so she could snuggle against him. “What’s that?”
“We have to work on our timing.” He turned on his side, bringing his other arm around her so they lay face-to-face.
“Timing?”
His eyes were serious, his nod somber. “Don’t get me wrong.... I like giving you an orgasm right off the bat. But after that I’d like it if we could practice coming at the same time.”
Startled, Melanie just stared at him. Then let out a laugh.
“Hey, I’m serious.”
“I see that.” She ordered herself not to blush, then did anyway. “I must admit, I wasn’t prepared for this conversation.”
Lucas flashed a shameless smile.
“You’re enjoying my embarrassment? Really?” She got him back by pretending she was getting out of bed.
“Honey, no.” He tightened his arms around her, struggling to look contrite and failing miserably. “I’m not trying to embarrass you.” He kissed her nose, then her lips and started rubbing her back, his hand moving in a slow caress. “I’m serious....” He found the spot by her ear that drove her wild. “I want to be inside you when you come.”
“How serious?”
“Very.” He traced her bottom lip with his tongue. “Extremely serious.”
“All that homework,” she murmured, getting into the swing of things. “It’s a pity we have only two days.”
His hand stopped moving. He stared into her face, his eyes narrowing...enough for her to wonder if she’d said something wrong.
“Lucas?”
He blinked, his mouth relaxing into a smile, and she nearly sighed with relief. “You’re right, honey,” he said, continuing the rhythmic stroking along her spine. “We don’t have much time, so we’d better get to it.”
“I don’t even care if we skip dinner.”
“You might later.”
No, she wouldn’t, but she felt no need to correct him. She did need a kiss, though, and pressed one to his lips. He accepted it as an invitation to slide a hand down to her butt and pull her against him. He was half-hard already.
“Wait,” she said. “I want to ask you something before I forget.”
“What?” His impatient frown thrilled her all the way down to her toes.
“Isn’t your ranch near here?”
“About an hour.” A wary expression settled on his face. “Why?”
“Show it to me.”
Lucas released her and exhaled a harsh sigh. “It’s in bad shape, Melanie,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t take you over there.”
“I know you travel a lot for PRN. I didn’t expect you’d have it back in tip-top condition yet,” she said and felt the tension ripple through him. What on earth was wrong with her? She was being horribly insensitive. The place had to remind him of Peggy and their broken engagement. “Never mind.” She smiled. “It was just a thought.”
He focused on the ceiling. “I’ve only been back once.”
“Since you were released?” she asked, and when he nodded, she felt a lump forming in her throat. He might want to believe he was over his ex-fiancée, but clearly he wasn’t. “I’m sorry I brought it up.”
“The bastard still lives there.”
“Who?”
“Cal Jessup. His ranch still borders mine and I know I shouldn’t let—” Lucas stopped and frowned at her as if she’d just gone off the deep end.
Realizing her silly smile was inappropriate, she sobered. “That’s horrible. Of course you wouldn’t want to run into him.” Seeing that he was still confused, she let out a sigh. “I thought it was about Peggy. That you still had feelings for her. Not
that it’s any of my business.”
It was Lucas’s turn to smile. He shifted back to his old position, hugged her against his chest. “No, Peggy has nothing to do with it. She has what she wants,” he said and kissed Melanie’s hair. “And I have what I want.”
The huskiness in his voice sent a jolt of pure joy through her. She knew he didn’t mean her, but for a few hours what was the harm in pretending? He tightened his hold, and contentment settled over her like a warm fleece blanket. Nothing mattered more than the safety and comfort of his arms around her, feeling the slow steady beat of his heart against her breast and knowing he wanted her.
For now, nothing mattered more than being with Lucas.
16
HE WOKE FROM the best dream, only to find it really was Melanie’s hand brushing over his cock, her lips meandering across his chest. He growled low in his throat, stopping her dead still. For a second.
Her chuckle sounded pretty smug as she went right on with her exploration. The feel of her body pressing against him was as much of a turn-on as her featherlight touch. Damn if he wasn’t getting addicted to her silky skin.
The only problem with this was his need to touch her. To pull her in tight and slide between those amazing thighs. He groaned as he lifted his head. Moved his hand to her nape.
Her lips, still ghosting over his flesh, curled up just before they swept over his nipple. The tip of her tongue made him jerk, and he pressed too hard on the back of her neck.
She returned the favor with a squeeze that was just enough to make him moan and ache for more.
“Come up here,” he said, his voice hoarse.
“Why? I’m having a good time.”
“Hey, and I’m loving it. But we still haven’t perfected—”
“Our synchronized coming?” she said, lifting her head up enough to meet his gaze.
He couldn’t stand it another second. With her tousled hair and wicked grin, she was everything he’d imagined during those long years alone. No, way better than his paltry imagination had managed. It didn’t take much to help her up, and the soft purring sound she made when they kissed lit up something deep inside.
Need You Now Page 17
