"More," she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand. "Please."
Connor brushed his mouth over hers. He lingered at the corner, nibbled at her lower lip. Touched it gently with his tongue, soothing the little bites. Tiny explosions of need rippled up her arms. Her legs. In softer, more hidden parts, as well.
"I'll give you whatever you want tonight, Raine," he murmured against her mouth. His hand crept up her abdomen, traced her lowest rib. "My way. Not fast and dirty on the couch."
He slid his tongue along the seam of her lips. "We've already done fast and dirty. It was amazing." He urged her mouth open, slid his tongue along hers. Tasting the pizza they'd eaten. Letting her taste the beer he'd drunk.
"Time for something different," he breathed into her mouth.
She tightened her grip on his hand so much that her fingers hurt. He shifted beneath her until the hard length of his cock was between her legs. She tried to reach down, unbutton his jeans, but he restrained her hand.
He drew his mouth away from hers and she followed, desperate to have it back. Desperate to feel the softness of his lips against hers, to taste him again.
Instead of kissing her, he drew lazy circles beneath her ear with his tongue. Tugged her earlobe into his mouth, sucked on it, let it go. The tiny pop made her breasts swell until they were painfully heavy.
She needed to touch him, too. Needed to feel his skin, hot against her hands. Needed to trace all those muscles in his chest and arms. Needed to make him want as much as she did.
Untangling her fingers from his, she tugged the tails of his shirt out of his jeans and burrowed beneath it. The hard ridges of muscles tensed. Jumped when she drew a circle around his navel. His hand on her belly stilled. Pressed harder into her skin.
She caressed the line of fine hairs on his belly, tickling one finger beneath the waistband of his jeans. He sucked in a breath. Whooshed it out slowly. Then, hands trembling, he shifted on the couch until she was lying beneath him.
His heart thundered against hers. His chest rose and fell too fast. And his skin burned against her fingers.
"What happened to no fast and dirty on the couch?" she murmured, touching her tongue to his skin, smiling into his neck. The salty, slightly musky taste made her want to lick him all over. Head to toe. Map his body, searching for all his different flavors.
"Mmmm," he said, letting his hands drift up her sides. Higher, until they brushed the sides of her breasts.
Every part of her clenched. "No...ah shit...no answer?"
"Too fast?" he murmured. "I'll slow down." He found her mouth and kissed her again. Lazily this time. This was her favorite flavor of Connor, she decided. She curled her tongue around his, stroking, tasting."
His fingers lingered on her breasts, brushed over the tips, his touch so light it was barely there. She arched into him. Wriggled her hips until she could feel his hard length. Moved until it was exactly where she needed it.
She circled her hips on him once, then again. Connor groaned, then slid further down her body, taking his hard cock out of her reach.
Her hips twitched once, then again. Looking for him. He touched his nose to hers, and she opened her eyes to find him smiling down at her.
"That better?" His fingers fluttered over her breast again, making her gasp. "Slow enough for you?"
"Too slow," she whispered, flexing her hips again. Her clit throbbed and ached. "I need...I need you. Now."
His bright blue gaze softened. "Don't want to make you suffer." He trailed his mouth down her cheek to her neck, taking little sucking bites along the way. He reached the neckline of her tee shirt and he tugged it down so the top of her bra was exposed. "Like this," he murmured. "You look good in blue." He skimmed his finger along the edge, and she squirmed, trying to force his fingers where she needed them.
She could barely keep her eyes open. Through her fluttering lashes, she saw him smile. "I want to taste you, Raine."
"I thought that's what you've been doing." Her voice was thin. Breathless.
His smile widened. "I'm just getting started."
Releasing the top of her tee shirt, he dragged the hem up, inch by torturous inch. His mouth followed his fingers, sucking gently, until she was lifting her hips beneath him. Finally he reached her bra. He popped open the front closure, but instead of moving it to the side, he nuzzled between her breasts. Sucked at the tender skin there, soothed it with his tongue.
"You...you're trying to drive me insane, aren't you?" she panted.
"I'm trying to make you forget everything but me. Is it working?"
"Yes," she groaned. Connor crowded out everything but him – his delicious taste. The heat of his smooth skin. The hardness of his muscles. The softness of his mouth.
She was so aroused, so ready that she could focus on nothing except the ache between her legs. Nothing but the need building inside her, hovering on the edge of release.
He eased the cups of her bra to the sides and blew on her breasts. Her nipples hardened with a drift of warm air. His breath, scented with him. Finally, he curled his tongue around one tip.
She was certain she levitated off the couch. When he drew it into his mouth, then tugged on the other one with his fingers, she trembled. Panted his name. As he sucked on her, mimicking the movements of his mouth with his hand on her other breast, a climax rolled through her. She moaned his name. Wrapped her arms and legs around him. Bucked against him. Pressed her open mouth against his neck, letting his taste flow through her.
He slid his hand between her legs, pressing into her, letting her ride out her orgasm. When the last spasm faded away, she shifted to get closer. Fumbled at the waistband of his jeans. He drew her hands gently away.
"We're just getting started, babe," he murmured. He tugged her panties down her legs, tossed them onto the floor. Let his gaze travel from her breasts to the junction between her legs. Lingered there.
"So beautiful," he whispered. He slid one finger down her crease and she whimpered as sensation built again. She needed his fingers there. Needed him to touch her. She grabbed his hand, but he drew it away gently. "I have a better idea." He kissed his way down her belly until he was wedged between her legs. "I said I wanted to taste all of you. I've been looking forward to this part."
He pressed his mouth against her, sucking gently, and she whimpered. Clutched at him. She couldn't control her hips. They moved against him as she wound tighter and tighter.
She came again, sobbing his name. He waited until she'd started to relax, then he slid off the couch and picked her up in his arms.
She was completely wrecked. None of her muscles worked. Her breath sawed in and out. Her arms and legs trembled uncontrollably. As if she'd been on a mat for hours. Used every bit of her strength to win a match.
And she wanted more.
Connor set her on her bed and drew the tee shirt over her head. He tossed it into a corner, then disentangled her bra from her arms. Completely naked, she lay in front of him.
He stilled for a moment, his heated gaze drifting over her like a caress. Finally, his gaze lingering on the junction of her thighs, he unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it on the floor. Then he unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. Before he shucked them off, he pulled out his wallet and removed a silver packet.
She managed to lift her arm and grip his wrist. "Don't...don't need that. I'm on the pill. Clean. Haven't had..." her voice trailed off. He was going to know all her secrets. "It's been a long time."
"I'm clean, too. But are you sure?"
She nodded and he put the condom on her dresser. Then tugged off his pants. His dark blue boxer shorts shaped a long, thick erection. As he started to pull them down, she sat up and reached for him.
"Let me."
He moved closer to the bed, and she slid her hands beneath the elastic. Tugged them slowly down his belly, soft hairs tickling her palms, until his penis sprang free. She skimmed her fingers along his length, loving the contrast of his soft skin and rock-hard erection. Trai
led her fingers over his tip, swirling through the drop of liquid.
She touched his tip with her tongue, tasting the saltiness. He shuddered and pulled away, reaching for her, but she put her hand on his chest. Smiled at him. "What's the matter? I thought you liked slow."
"Used to like slow. Not anymore." His voice was a low rasp that prickled her skin. He dropped onto the bed and gathered her into his arms. When he twined his fingers with hers, she felt him trembling. "You're making me crazy."
"That's fair." She cupped his cheek, let her thumb rasp against his five o'clock shadow. "You've already driven me crazy. Twice."
He eased back and smiled at her. Pressed his mouth to hers and settled between her legs. "Then how about we go for the hat trick?"
She laughed as she wrapped her arms around him. Lifted her hips so he could slide into her. They moved together, so in sync it felt as though they'd been doing this forever.
Before long, tension built again. He seemed to sense it, because he shifted, hitting a spot that made her eyes roll back in her head. "Come for me, Raine," he whispered. "With me. I want to fly together."
His words pushed her over the edge. He followed, crying out as he came inside her.
The contractions went on and on. Finally, he collapsed on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight.
Burrowed her face into his neck, breathing in his scent. Musky. Masculine. Connor.
As she was falling asleep, she felt him shift to her side and draw the sheet and blanket over her. He moved away, and she reached for him, wrapping her hand around his. "Stay. Please."
He tensed for a long moment, then squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, babe. I'm not going anywhere."
She drew in a ragged, relieved breath and snuggled close to him. She was boneless. Lighter than air. Floating in blissed-out pleasure, unable to put any distance between her and Connor.
In the still-breathless aftermath of mind-blowing sex, she wanted only to touch him. To have him wrapped around her.
To wake up in his arms tomorrow morning.
She'd lost control in front of him. Let herself be vulnerable. Revealed secrets.
She'd stripped herself bare even before she took off her clothes. She'd given him all the power.
She didn't care.
Connor wouldn't abuse it.
She trusted him.
Connor stroked his hand down her back, making her shiver. She took a deep breath and inhaled his scent. It soothed her. Comforted her. Conjured the memories of their lovemaking.
She edged closer to Connor, and he wrapped his arms around her and fitted her against him. He kissed her head, smoothed her hair. "Sleep, babe," he whispered.
Her breath shuddered out. Sleep tugged at her, and she twined her fingers with his where his hand rested on her abdomen.
For the first time since Genie died, she fell asleep thinking about someone other than her sister.
Chapter 20
Connor stared at the light from the living room as Raine slept in his arms. Murmured voices from the courtyard drifted through the open windows, and the cooler night air swirled over his skin.
She felt...perfect in his arms. Curled around each other, they fit together seamlessly. Their legs tangled together, and her fingers curved loosely around his. She'd been clutching his hand when she fell asleep. Her fingers had gradually loosened, but they hadn't fallen away completely.
He was afraid they never would.
He turned to kiss her cheek and tasted the dried salt from her tears. Sighing, he rested his cheek against hers. Closed his eyes and tried to sleep, as well, but his skin was still jittery and his heart rate was taking a long time to slow down.
It had never been like this with any other woman.
He hadn't just had sex with Raine. They'd made...they'd connected on some deep level. If he believed in that shit, he'd say it was mystical.
He didn't do mystical. Or deep.
That he wanted to with Raine was scary as hell.
He felt raw. Exposed. As if Raine knew all his secrets now.
He didn't get involved with women. He didn't do serious. He dated casually – always. No ties, no commitments. It was the way it needed to be. His job was his focus.
When he dated, he kept it light. Easy. Fun
It had never been light or easy or fun with Raine.
With Raine, it was intense. All-consuming. Powerful.
He shifted, moving her head to his shoulder and wrapping his arms more tightly around her. What had happened tonight, the tenderness, the care, the openness, had been about the circumstances. She'd been upset. Horrified by the pictures. She'd needed comfort. He was a cop. He'd been trained to comfort people in distress.
That's all it was.
A tiny voice in his head laughed. He ignored it.
They'd had amazing sex. Sex that had blown him away. But that was all it was.
He wouldn't make it more than that.
But as he finally allowed his eyes to close, he curled around her as if she was a magnet and he was the iron. Compelled together by forces impossible to fight. And with the scent of her hair and her skin surrounding him, he slept.
***
An insect buzzed around his ears, and Connor scowled. Reached up to bat it away. But his hand didn't move. It was caught in something.
The insect continued buzzing. Rhythmically. Puzzled now, Connor dragged his eyes open.
Raine was draped across his chest, her face buried in his neck. One of his hands was trapped beneath her body. The other was wrapped around her like gift wrap on a present.
He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent. Parts of him, he realized, were very enthusiastic about where he was. Those parts were trapped beneath her thigh.
Turning his head, he spotted her cell phone dancing across her night table in time with the buzzing. Her alarm was going off.
Memories of the night before returned in a rush.
The parts beneath Raine's thigh lobbied eagerly for a repeat. But those memories were a little too vivid. A little too overwhelming.
A little too scary.
So he let Raine go, trying not to notice how hard it was. He reached for her phone. Seven AM. She needed to get ready for school.
He needed to get the hell out of here until he could wrap his mind around what had happened last night.
Pressing the button to turn off the alarm, he dropped it onto the night stand and eased his other arm out from beneath her. "Raine," he whispered, brushing her hair away from her face. Her eyes were still closed. Asleep, she looked young. Vulnerable. In need of protecting.
That's what had gotten him into trouble last night.
He moved far enough away that their bodies were no longer touching. He ignored the loss that felt as if he'd ripped a band-aid off his skin and said, "Babe, it's time to get up."
Wait. No. Not babe. "Raine. Come on, wake up."
Her eyes fluttered open. She stared at him for a long moment, as if she couldn't remember how he'd ended up in her bed. Then delicate color flooded her face and she smiled. Happy. Hopeful. She reached for him. "Connor. Hey."
"Alarm went off," he muttered, edging away from her touch. "Figured it meant you had to get ready for school."
The smile disappeared. She struggled upright, holding the sheet to her chest. "Yeah. It does. Thanks." She glanced around the room, saw his clothes scattered on the floor. His boxers hung from the corner of the bed's headboard. The color on her face deepened. "I'll just..." She nodded toward the bathroom. "I'll grab a shower."
"Sounds good." God, could this be any more awkward? There was a reason he never spent the night with the women he slept with. "I'll, uh, get dressed."
Raine tugged the upper sheet off the bed and wrapped it around herself like a toga. Exposing him. And his morning woodie. She stilled, staring at his cock. Which made it even harder.
"You don't want to do take that for a ride?" The sheet began to slip as she licked her lips. Still staring.
/> He leaped out of bed and yanked on his boxers. "Thought you had to get to school."
Her eyes shuttered. All the hopeful softness in her eyes, around her mouth, vanished. "Right. Yeah."
She stumbled toward the bathroom, tripped on the sheet and grabbed the door frame to stop herself from falling. Then she swept the sheet up in her hand like a bride with a train and shut the bathroom door firmly.
Yeah. That had gone well.
Almost as well as the awkward moments after oversleeping and waking up with a one-night-stand.
Was that what they were? A one-night-stand?
No.
The instinctive, vehement denial freaked him out even more. He threw on his clothes and headed for the living room. He paused at the door. Don't be a dickhead. Clenched his teeth and headed toward the kitchen instead.
The refrigerator was the first thing he saw. Pictures of him holding Raine against it yesterday, her body pressed to his, scrolled through his brain. Along with his instant reaction to the memory of her plastered against him.
Ignoring his body's demands, he turned away and spotted the frying pan in the dish rack. The two cups and two plates from yesterday's breakfast alongside them.
Domestic. Homey. Like they did this every morning.
He closed his eyes and curled his fingers into his palms. Get hold of yourself.
He yanked open her cabinets and spotted a box of granola. Found milk in the refrigerator. Started coffee.
By the time she appeared in the kitchen, wearing a pair of olive green khakis and a button-down shirt, her hair still wet, he was leaning against the counter, sipping a cup of coffee. "Cereal okay?"
Her gaze touched on the frying pan and skittered away. Her smile didn't extend to her eyes. "Great." Her chair scraped against the floor as she pulled it out. "My usual breakfast."
He watched her pour the cereal into a bowl, followed by the milk. She ate a spoonful, then raised an eyebrow at him. "You going to join me?"
"No, thanks. Coffee's good."
"Okay." She pulled her phone out of her pocket and began scrolling through it. Like he wasn't there.
Trust Me (The Donovan Family Book 4) Page 17
