On the Line

by Liz Lincoln

  Something about that felt intimate in a nonsexual way. To his surprise, he liked it.

  He liked even more when he turned to pull her into his arms and she slid against him willingly, her curves pressing against him exactly like they were made to fit him. He let the pounding beat of the music guide him as he began to move.

  Before long, Carrie’s body moved in perfect synchronization with his. He no longer needed the music; his movement triggered her countermove, which had him moving, going in an endless circle.

  He couldn’t tell when one song ended and the next began but it didn’t matter. He bent his mouth to her ear to be heard over the music and said, “I’m not sure what you were talking about, darlin’, because your dancing feels perfect to me.”

  Her eyes smiled as much as her lips as she looked up at him. “You make it easy.”

  He pulled her tight against him. “Whereas you make it hard. Very, very hard.” Fuck. He should not have done that.

  Except the spark in her eyes as she stared up at him said she didn’t mind. And the way she moved her body against him said she might even like it. He felt like he couldn’t breathe from how near she was and how much he wanted her.

  Gripping her waist, he turned her so her back was to him. Maybe he’d have a little more control this way. He stepped back just enough to let a breath of air move between them.

  Except instantly he missed the touch of her body against his. Apparently so did she, as she backed into him, her back sliding against his chest, her feet slipping between his.

  Ah, fuck it. He pulled her even tighter against him and was rewarded with her ass rubbing against him. His hand slid from her hip to around her waist, holding her in place.

  Carrie turned her head to look at him, her hair brushing his chin and catching on his beard. Tangled up in him; that’s where he wanted her.

  He’d reached his limit. Again gripping her hip with one hand to spin her, he thrust his other hand into her hair and kissed her. Hot, hard, hungry, his lips claimed hers. He didn’t have to ask permission—her lips parted for him and his tongue slicked into her mouth. The contact seared him.

  Jesus, he wanted her. Wanted every bit of her, and he was done fighting it. Nothing else he’d tried made his hunger for her go away. Maybe it would complicate things. Maybe it would ruin their working relationship. But in that moment, he didn’t care.

  She tasted like wine and desire, and Seth never wanted to stop kissing her. Her arms wound around his chest, palms flat on his back, holding him as tightly as he held her. Her body molded against him, and he could feel every curve of her. He wanted to explore all of them, with his hands, with his lips, with his tongue, and finally with his naked skin sliding against hers.

  When his hands started to slide down over her ass, he stopped himself and reluctantly drew his mouth from hers. But his hand remained in her hair, his forehead pressed to hers, as he slowly opened his eyes.

  Hers were still closed, and in the dim, pulsing light of the club, he could see her red, swollen lips. A fresh wave of desire rolled through him. He’d done that. He’d put that debauched look on her face.

  He needed her. Now.

  He looked deep into her eyes. “I think we need to go. Very, very soon.” She couldn’t mistake his intent, not with his throbbing cock pressed against her and his fingers digging into her hips to hold her against him. If they didn’t get out of there soon, there was a very real chance he was going to take her to a dark corner and fuck her against a wall.

  “I think you’re right.” Her hand covered his on her hip, fingers sliding between his, entwining them.

  Goddamn, there was too much sexual imagery in his head. “How about now?” He trailed a kiss down the slope of her neck. He couldn’t stop tasting her.

  “I think—” She broke off on a moan when he nipped at her collarbone.

  He pressed his lips to the side of her neck and breathed in deeply, taking a moment to gather his scattered brain before they hurried back to the VIP lounge, gathered their things, and said hasty goodbyes.

  He managed to get Carrie outside before he lost his latest battle with self-control. As soon as he handed his keys to the valet, she fell into his arms, tilting her head up in a silent request he couldn’t resist.

  Her mouth was somehow more delicious this time as he sucked hard on her tongue. She let out a squeak that had him pulling back with a smile.

  “You like that?” His whiskers were probably scratching up her face, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

  “Yes.” Her word was barely more than a breath, and he got a thrill that he turned her on that much. It was only fair, since he wasn’t sure he could safely drive home in his state of arousal.

  When his car arrived, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, then helped her in. They didn’t talk as he drove toward his house. She took long, slow breaths, as if she were trying to control herself.

  Finally they reached his house and pulled into the garage. He turned to face her, and forced himself to ask the question nagging him the whole drive.

  “Are you positive you want to do this?”

  *

  —

  Yes. Hell yes. She wanted him to take her inside and strip her naked and screw her brains out. She wanted him to magically change things so she wasn’t his nanny and he wasn’t her boss.

  But what she wanted and what she should do were two very different things.

  She couldn’t look at him as she said, “I can’t afford to fuck up this job.”

  With those eight words, all the false calm she’d managed to build up on the drive home shattered. The desire came back, the lightheaded hunger, the driving need.

  Without a word, Seth got out and came around to her side of the car. His movements were stiff as he offered a hand to help her out. She accepted it, because she had to touch him. He made her feel so good. Amazing. Beyond amazing.

  She needed to know how good it could be between them. If it fucked up her job, they’d deal with that later. She would throw caution to the wind, consequences be damned, tomorrow was another day, and all those clichés. She wanted him too much to give up this one night.

  She didn’t let go of his hand as they walked to the door. When he started to pull away, she tightened her hold until he relaxed.

  She shoved open the door and stepped inside. Once they were in the living room, she faced him and grabbed his shirt, pulling him to her. “I can’t afford to fuck up this job,” she said again, “so we’ll have to figure out how to do this without fucking it up. But I need you,” she said. Then her lips met his and she kissed him with all the hunger she felt, the desire she’d been trying to hide for too long. Her arms went around his neck and her tongue slid along his lips until he opened to her.

  He groaned and hauled her against him, kissing her with as much fervor as she kissed him. Abruptly, he pulled away. “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.” It wasn’t smart, but his kisses were like a drug, her own personal blend. She couldn’t say no.

  He lifted her, guiding her legs around his waist. His mouth found hers as he started toward his bedroom.

  She ran her hands over his shoulders, then one hand went to his ponytail. Too aroused to be gentle, she tugged at the band until it slid free. Once his hair was loose, she ran her fingers through it.

  As he walked, Seth held her with one hand squeezing her ass, sending sharp pleasure up her spine. His other hand slid up her back, caressing the bare skin above the top of her corset. She felt like she was on fire, in the best way. As if he were the oxygen feeding her.

  He tweaked open the hooks along the back of her corset, then the garment loosened and her breasts seemed to overflow from the cups. Amazing. She was sleeping with the only man alive who knew how to unhook a corset.

  “Impressive skills,” she murmured against his lips.

  Grinning, he pulled back. Slowly he bent over to lay her on his bed. “Darlin’, I got all kinds of impressive skills,” he said, laying
his Texas accent on thick.

  With one hand, he gripped the back of his shirt and yanked it over his head. Tossing the shirt on the floor, he reached over to turn on the bedside lamp.

  The dim light cast shadows over him, highlighting each individual muscle of his sculpted torso. His flat pecs with a dusting of hair, his sculpted six-pack, and that sexy line at the bottom of his obliques, along his upper hip.

  Her mouth watered as her eyes traced that line. She wanted to taste him.

  “Hey, eyes up here. What am I, a piece of meat?”

  She couldn’t help laughing, not at his dumb joke but because she loved how easy it was between them. Had she ever laughed during sex? Maybe a few nervous titters her first time, back in twelfth grade. But never real humor that she felt deep inside.

  When she looked up to meet his eyes, they shone with humor and lust. In contrast to his words, his hands went to work on his belt, then his pants. A few more smooth, efficient movements and he was naked.

  She probably would have drooled at the sight if she weren’t swallowing repeatedly.

  Not wasting any time, he grabbed her ankle and pulled off her black heel. He paused, turning the shoe to the side. “I like these.” Then he tossed the shoe over his shoulder, plucked off the other one, and did the same.

  She laughed. “Yeah, I can see they’re very special to you.”

  He pressed a kiss to the inside of her ankle, then started his way up her leg. “I like them.” He nipped at the apple of her calf through her jeans. “But I like this more.”

  He had her jeans around her ankles in seconds and without warning, he slid a finger under her panties. “I like this even more.” He circled her wet opening, sending electric sensation shooting out from her core. Her hips raised, seeking his touch.

  “Do you know how hot it is to know how much you want me?” His mouth found its way to her knee, then started along the inside of her thigh.

  Probably about as hot as every time he’d pressed his erection against her while they were dancing. “Yes,” she breathed.

  “I don’t think I have the patience to undress you.” Without further warning, he covered her with his mouth. Even through her now-drenched underwear, the sensation was intense. She arched into him, needing more. It was crazy that she could be this close to orgasm already, but the dancing had turned her on as much as any other foreplay, and the weeks of pent-up desire had only fed the need for release.

  “I knew you would taste amazing.” Seth’s hot breath burned her thighs, but it wasn’t direct enough. If he wouldn’t take care of things, she’d do it herself.

  She lifted her hips, rolling slightly away so she didn’t hit him in the jaw, and slid her panties down her legs. A few kicks of her feet and they, along with her jeans, hit the floor.

  Then she shoved her fingers into his hair and pulled him back into position. “Come on, Iron Man. Stop screwing around. Make me come.” Who was she? She’d never talked to a lover like that. But he set something free inside her.

  Maybe that was why she couldn’t get over her attraction to him.

  With a grin, he touched his tongue to her and licked her from back to front. His eyes stayed on hers the entire time as the intensity inside her built. To say nothing of the intensity in the air, wrapping around them, holding them together in his bed, and shutting everything else out.

  He gave her clit a gentle kiss. “With pleasure, Ivy.”

  He sucked her. Hard.

  The sensation burst through her, white-hot and delicious. When he did it again, she flew so high, she could almost feel the orgasm, just beyond her fingertips. It was too soon, yet she needed it now.

  Her fingers dug into his scalp and she pulled him tighter to her. He licked her again, followed by another two hard sucks. He repeated the pattern until she was so close she could taste it.

  “Please,” she sobbed. She didn’t know if it was tears or sweat running down her cheeks and into her ears. All she knew was the pleasure Seth’s mouth brought her and the need it created inside her.

  “Please what?” he asked between sucks.

  She was too busy moaning to answer right away. But when he licked her yet again, she dug up the strength to say, “Please make me come.” She fisted her hands, twisting his hair and tugging hard enough to show she wasn’t messing around.

  She felt his chuckle against her pelvic bone an instant before two thick fingers slid inside her. He immediately curled one and massaged her in a way that made her see stars.

  He withdrew his fingers, then plunged them back in, all while circling her clit with his tongue and sucking hard. In an instant, she was lifting to him, shifting to find just the right angle so she could—

  “Yes! Oh God, Seth, yes.” She pulled his hair and yanked his face tight to her and shamelessly ground against his mouth as the orgasm poured over her, sharp and intense and so, so beautiful. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t see, she couldn’t hear anything but the pleasure rushing through her and somewhere, far away, Seth’s voice encouraging her and telling her how sexy she was.

  Then everything released. The pleasure, the tension, her stress, her worries, her skeleton, her muscles—everything went limp. She flopped onto the mattress, vaguely aware of Seth’s gentle kisses on each hip.

  He tugged at her corset and it disappeared over his shoulder. Once she was naked, his mouth returned to her skin, pressing firm, openmouthed kisses in a line up the center of her body. He ran one hand in a long stroke from her knee, over her hip and up to her waist, then back down again.

  Carrie was just getting her mind back, at least a small piece of it, when Seth reached the valley between her breasts. His beard tickling the delicate skin, he sucked one nipple into his mouth.

  She cried out, arching into the sharp pleasure. Already her mind was slipping away again as the pulse between her legs returned. He was a master at playing her body; he knew exactly how to touch her to bring maximum pleasure. It was almost unreal how quickly he could make her want him again so desperately.

  By the time he moved to her other breast, she was squirming and writhing against him, gasps and moans spilling from her mouth. She rocked against him, seeking friction and some measure of relief. But what she really wanted was the solid erection pressed against her thigh.

  She needed it now.

  Using his hair, she tugged Seth’s head up. Her nipple popped out of his mouth, sending another jolt of pleasure from her breast to her clit and pulling another cry from her throat.

  Seth grinned down at her. “I think I could spend an entire day exploring your body and finding new ways to make you squirm.”

  Carrie’s chest burst with heat, a decidedly nonsexual sensation that spread to mingle with all the sexual ones flowing through her. “I would be OK with that,” she managed. “But right now, I need—”

  He cut her off with a kiss that instantly turned desperate. Their mouths fused and their tongues explored. She liked the way she tasted on his lips and how his mustache was damp as it rubbed against her.

  He shifted his large body on top of hers, spreading her thighs wide. Without thinking, her legs wrapped around to the backs of his, her feet tracing up and down the tense muscles there.

  His thick cock stroked between her legs, sliding through her wetness, teasing her clit until she thought she might go crazy if he didn’t get inside her.

  Abruptly, Seth ripped his mouth from hers and pushed up on his hands. “Fuck, Carrie. You are so damn hot tonight.” His hand came up and skimmed over her hair, down the side of her face to her shoulder, finally resting on her upper arm. His flame-blue eyes searched her face for a long moment, so intense she forgot to breathe. She met his gaze, and the hunger and passion and other unidentifiable elements there made that heat in her chest swell until it felt like she might burst.

  When she couldn’t take it a second longer, she slid her palm up his neck, over his beard and rested on his cheek. “Please. I can’t wait.”

  But befo
re she could give him a chance to find a condom, she leaned up for a kiss. Because damn, his mouth drove her crazy. He dove into her, his lips against hers sending zips of pleasure all through her. Her hands explored, sliding down his back and over his hips until she could grab his fantastic butt. She squeezed and he moaned. A second squeezed caused him to flex into her, which again slid his cock between her wet folds. His root caught her clit and she cried out as he moaned deep.

  “Jesus, you’re killin’ me.” He pulled her lower lip between his teeth, nipping gently. His hand cupped her breast, thumb flicking back and forth over her nipple.

  Which was killing her. She bucked her hips, a reflex she couldn’t have stopped even if she wanted to. And it caused more friction and sliding and moaning and pleasure and already she was getting dangerously close to the edge.

  “Now. Please, now,” she breathed, unable to make her voice more forceful. “I need you.”

  Seth lifted his head and looked down at her, body stilled for a moment. His gaze searched her face, lingering on her lips, until it came back to hers. He smoothed her hair off her face. “You are so beautiful.”

  She was imagining the reverence in his voice. She had to be. This was just sex. She didn’t doubt he found her attractive. But it was lust that made him sound like he meant anything more than he found her beautiful because she was naked and begging him to have sex with her.

  She didn’t know how to respond. Thankfully, he gave her a quick, firm kiss, then twisted his upper body away from her to get a condom from his nightstand. She watched as he rolled it down his length. He was already dripping, the head a deep purple. He wasn’t going to last long, but she didn’t need long either.

  Talk about beautiful. She’d never been with a man who was in shape the way he was, and as much as she didn’t want to admit she could be that shallow, it did hold major appeal. She wanted to run her tongue over every dip and ridge of muscle, explore him for a hidden spot where he was still soft, where she could sink her teeth into him.