“Joel,” she whispered his name again. His hands cupped her face.
“I need to kiss you,” he admitted. Having her in his home away from home, looking cozy and so damn pretty, made his teeth ache. Her eyes brightened and he knew she needed the same.
“I’d like that… a lot.” He groaned at her admission, his body warm and hardening as all the blood in his body felt like it was rushing south. “Kiss me, Joel,” she coaxed him with a whisper, leaning in closer, their lips a mere couple of inches away from one another. He couldn’t stop himself if he had tried. He felt her brace, and as much as he wanted to kiss her to sate the hunger he felt, he wanted to keep her guessing.
He kissed her. Gently teasing the edges of her lips, his hands holding the sides of her face tenderly but strong enough to keep her where he wanted her. His tongue peeked out and licked the edge of her mouth. He wanted to beat on his chest like some kind of caveman when she opened for him, silently pleading for more.
“Joel,” she whimpered, and he felt her soft plea in his heart and his gut like a jolt of adrenaline. Bringing her bottom lip into his mouth, he felt her fingers creep their way over to his waist as he kissed her, harder this time, not by much, but he was starting to lose control and needed to rein it in before he lost it. Pulling back slightly, he began his soft teasing, sucking and nibbling, while her hands on his waist moved to the hem of his shirt and under it. The tips of her cool fingers hovered over his skin that was suddenly on fire. He wondered for a moment who was teasing whom. She kissed him back, more demanding with every tick of the clock, and Joel could feel himself starting to reach the point of no return. which he knew she wasn't ready for. They weren't ready to go there. Not yet. They would. He knew they would go down that road, just not yet.
Pulling his lips from hers, tilting her head back, his lips moved from her lips and down to her jaw. Her smooth skin under his mouth made him want to keep exploring. Just a little more. His lips reached the line of her slender neck, where he kissed and licked, enjoying each and every soft and hungry sound she let escape. Wearing each one like a badge of honor over his own heart. Going back over the road of kisses he had just taken, he switched sides, leaving a trail of fire over the other side of her neck. Her easy mewls and purrs turned into moans and pleas for more and he knew he was skating over dangerous grounds. His hands let go of her face, travelling downward, memorizing the angles and curves of her torso until he reached his destination, both of his hands right above the swell of her perfect ass, and he went lower, cupping it and bringing her up, her legs wrapping around his narrow waist as he swallowed her gasp of surprise. Her center settled right over the ridge of his hardness that was impossible to hide in his pajama pants.
Chapter Eleven
Carrie
He lifted her like she weighed nothing at all, while her hands held on to his shoulders, quietly appreciating the way the defined muscles of his biceps flexed as he walked them to the couch. Carrie pulled away from their kiss. His eyes were so dark they were almost black, desire and something else staring back at her. She smiled. Her hands on his shoulders moved upwards, tangling into the back of his hair as she took control of the kiss and he let her. She kissed him, savoring the taste of his mouth, the feel of his strong lips against hers. She had never been an overly sexual woman, and she had always wondered if there was something wrong with her. But at that moment, kissing him, feeling the grip of his fingers digging into the back of her thighs, she couldn't think of anything else she would rather do than make out with Joel Vega.
He took them to the couch and let her fall on her back. She only bounced once before his body was draped over hers and her hands went back to the sides of his face, pulling him closer, arching her body into his, needing to be closer.
“Carrie,” he groaned as he pulled away slightly. She couldn't help the desire and hunger that hit her like a lightning bolt. Taking advantage of the moment, her mouth sought out his neck. He tasted even better there. Inhaling deep as she kissed and licked, she suddenly felt completely and utterly enveloped by him as if in a lust-ridden bubble she couldn't find in herself to stop drowning in. His groans deepened. She smiled at the way he cursed and held his body tightly, fighting to stay in control. She had done that. To him. To the most handsome, masculine, sweetest, caring man she had ever met in her life, and she felt herself start to smile against his skin.
"Baby, we should stop," he murmured against her ear, the combination of his voice and scruffy skin making her shiver.
"Why?" she asked almost breathlessly, letting her teeth scrape his skin, enjoying the way his hips bucked into her belly. She fruitlessly wriggled beneath him, needing the sweet relief she knew he would be able to bring her.
His hands took her captive over her head and she looked up at him, her chest heaving up and down. If anyone else had ever done something like that, she would have kicked him where it would hurt to get out of their hold, but not with him. With Joel, she liked it. She liked his strength, his power. The control he had over his power was obvious, and she knew he would never hurt her. She trusted him. How did that happen?
His face dipped low, kissing the top of her head. Her stomach did a warm, squishy thing before his forehead settled over hers. She blinked looking up at him, a leg still wrapped around his waist.
"We should watch a movie," he told her. It felt like the splash of a bucket of cold water hit her, so she dropped her leg and settled onto the couch. He didn't want her. Well, his buddy below his waist did, but he didn't. What had changed his mind? Had she read it all wrong? It doesn't matter. Stop making an idiot out of yourself, Carrie! she shouted at herself.
"Right," she breathed, gulping in air that seemed to be missing from her lungs. “I'm sorry,” she whispered and watched his eyes narrow, a frown on his face.
"Sorry?"
"You didn't want to— I got the signs mixed. I should really just go to sleep," she mumbled incoherently while trying to avoid any kind of eye contact, knowing her face was probably a charming shade of beet red.
"Carrie," he called out to her, and she turned her face to look at him.
"You didn’t get any signs mixed up. I want to."
"Oh."
“I don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for,” he shared. She pressed her lips together.
“But—“
“There’s no need to rush.” With those few words, she felt a tingle at the tip of her nose as tears threatened to fall but didn’t. He kissed the tip of her nose before standing, taking away the sinfully delicious weight and heat of his body, surprising her when he pulled her up. A small yelp escaped from her lips.
“Joel,” she whispered, and he turned. Holding her hand, he pulled her body flush up against his. She blinked and looked down at his neck then back up to his eyes. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Being a gentleman.” She saw a pink tinge grace the skin under his beard. “For somehow knowing what I need more than I do. I wanted to, well, you know. I mean, I want to—“ He put a finger over her lips and shushed her gently.
“Movie.” He strained his neck muscles taut. “We should watch a movie before I forget being a gentleman with you.”
“Would that be so bad?” she squeaked, and his groan sounded like it was stifled with a deep chuckle.
“You’re killing me, Carrie Blue. Do you have any idea how much I want you?” he asked her, bringing the hand he held to his defined abs, slowly moving it down the front of his body, letting her palm cup the long thickness of his erection. She could definitely feel how much he wanted her.
Without thinking, she cupped it, stroking upward and downward, watching his face contort with pleasure, his head falling back slightly then back toward her until their foreheads touched again. “Baby,” he moaned, making her feel powerful and sexy. This strong, beautiful man wanted her. Her. The realization made her feel almost dizzy. He wanted her and she wanted him.
“Why couldn’t we just—“ Before she could finish
her sentence, his own hand gripped her wrist, stopping her mid-stroke, and his eyes opened, looking at her. She could see his inner battle, and for a moment, she didn’t know if she wanted him to let her or to stop her.
“We will. Just not now. Not tonight,” he told her once he made his decision. She let go of him and wrapped her arms around herself protectively, feeling slightly rejected and ready to retreat from him, but he didn’t let her even think twice about it. Pulling her in close, he gave her lips a light peck. “I want more than some fling with you.”
“You do?” What ‘more’ might mean, she had no idea, but she liked it. She liked the idea of him wanting more from her than just an endless first date.
“What is it?”
“What?”
“You’re smiling?”
“I am?”
“Yeah.”
“Seems like I do that a lot when I’m around you,” she admitted, frowning once her words and what they might mean penetrated.
“Oh, no, don’t make that face now. Not after giving me such a great compliment.” His tone was playful, his body radiating heat as he stood in front of her. The tips of his fingers moved into the hairline at her temples, and she groaned.
“You have magical hands.”
“Like that?” he asked, his finger working their magic into her scalp. She mumbled her response, her eyes closing at how good it felt to have him massage her head. “Come on.” He stopped. “Pick out the movie, and I’ll rub your head once we’re cuddled on the couch.” She breathed in deeply before opening her eyes and nodding. She had not been wrong about Joel Vega. He was trouble, just not in the way she had first thought he was.
***
“Carrie…” a deep voice sounded, but her eyes were so heavy she couldn’t open them.
“Mmm,” she mumbled, bringing the thick comforter up and under her chin.
“Care,” the voice spoke again, and she let her mind wander.
“Mmm, Joel,” she muttered with a purr, letting her mind think about him as she fell back asleep.
“Damn.”
“Mmm…” She snuggled deeper into the hard warmth that lay beneath her, tightening her grip on the most fantastic pillow ever. It was a little hard but warm and comforting in its own way. Solid.
“Baby…”
“Hmm,” she rumbled, trying to ignore whatever was trying to wake her up.
“Carrie, baby, wake up.” She must be dreaming. Her pillow sounded just like Joel. Joel. Her body stilled as she fought to open her eyes. Lifting her heavy head, she fluttered her eyes slowly, her gaze landing on him. The guy of her daydreams and secret fantasies. Is she dreaming?
“We fell asleep,” he told her and she blinked. They fell asleep?
“In my dream?” she asked, her voice soft and peaceful. She didn’t miss the way his soft smile affected her deeply.
“Watching the movie, baby, but I like knowing you dream of me,” his voice rumbled and the cobwebs of sleep started to fade away.
“What?” Her eyes widened and she shifted, realizing he was under her. “Holy crap!“ She jumped off him and stood by the couch, looking around. Their date, she reminded herself. “I’m so sorry.”
“No need to be.” He grinned sheepishly, his eyes slightly hungry, and she wanted to let her eyes roam down to see if he was turned on, because a gaze like that meant you were turned on. Doesn’t it? He sat up, his hands in his dark hair. She wanted to run her hands through it. “You’re a deep sleeper.”
“Not usually,” she muttered honestly, trying to remember when she had slept as soundly as she had. Looking around the living room, she remembered how after putting on the movie they had settled into the couch, sitting close together. The sexual tension had been thick between them, but the moment he started to run his fingers through her hair, she was done. Relaxing into his touch, her head on his shoulder while watching the X-Men, she must have drifted to sleep, since that was the last thing she remembered. She felt slightly self-conscious, so her hands went to her hair and she tried not to wince as she imagined how she must look.
Not that Joel seemed to care if she went by the boyish smile he was giving her.
Standing tall, she stared at him wide-eyed, wondering how the heck she had got herself here.
“Let’s go to bed.” Okay, the slutty part of her that he had woken up jumped up and down.
Thankfully—or unfortunately, depending on which part of her you asked— she blinked before blurting out, “I thought you said not tonight.“ Smooth, Carrie! She felt like an idiot, especially when he started to laugh.
"I meant to go to sleep. Cuddling, remember? Unless you want to change your mind—"
"Cuddling?"
"Yeah." His hands brushed her messy hair off her shoulder and she wished she had worn a camisole instead of a V-neck tee shirt so she could feel more of him. "I told you, not tonight."
"Oh, right..."
"Unless you want the guestroom. It’s all done up and—"
"No," she blurted, grabbing his hand, her eyes on their hands clasped together. She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. "Cuddling sounds good."
"Nothing you don't want to happen will."
"I know. I trust you." She did. She trusted him completely, wholeheartedly. You hardly know him, a small voice reminded her so softly she easily ignored it as she followed him to his bedroom.
“Do you have a side you prefer?” he asked when they reached his room, and she blushed and shrugged her shoulders.
“I’m not sure,” she mumbled as she looked at the space decorated in neutral tones mixed with olive greens. His bed was huge, a dark wooden frame, made perfectly, a brown comforter over it, a flannel plaid blanket at the foot.
“Oh?”
“I’ve never umm…“ she started to say shyly but stopped when his body came up behind hers, his front perfectly aligned with her back, his face at her neck, his arms holding her close.
“You’ve never?”
“I’ve never slept with a guy.” he stilled and she clarified, “I mean, just a sleepover, or like an overnight kinda thing.” She was completely rambling but couldn’t get herself to stop. “I just mean I’m not sure if I have a side…”
“Ever?” he asked, and she turned her face to look at him, clear curiosity reflecting back at her.
“Never.”
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t know. I don’t date often and, umm—“
“Their loss, my gain,” he cut her off and gave her a small peck on the lips before he unfolded his body from his hold on her and walked her to the bed. He pulled the sheets off, and she looked at him. Was he tucking her in?
“Come on,” he urged her, and she turned so that her chest was against his. He looked at her questioningly, but without a second to spare she stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him. Slowly, she relished in the way their lips danced together, completely in sync as if they’d kissed a million times over the span of endless years. His hands held her lower back, peeking their way under the hem of her shirt, and she smiled as they kissed. Ticklish tingles settled at the base of her spine, making her arch her chest into him, her nipples thanking her for the slight friction against his solid chest.
“Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?” he hoarsely asked after pulling his lips away from her. She bit her lip and shrugged.
“For being you,” was the only response she could give him. She watched him tilt his head to his chest, his eyes closed, his grip still firm on her waist, and she felt slightly confused. “Joel?”
“So damn sweet,” he mumbled, and she held still. “My girl’s so damn sweet.”
“Your girl?” she asked, her heartbeat picking up speed. She liked the idea of being his girl.
“Hmm. Come on, let’s go to bed. We have a bookstore to ravish tomorrow.”
“Lucky bookstore,” she sassed, his laughter making her warm from the inside out.
She was unable to stop the yawn that came. “
I’m sorry.” She liked how his eyes warmed further, reminding her of the delicious melty chocolate ganache Liz made at the bakery for some of her cakes. With a kiss on her forehead, he settled them into bed, her head on his shoulder, face settled into the crook of his neck, their limbs tangled up. It shouldn’t have been comfortable. But it was.
“Thank you for the best first date I have ever been on,” she shared softly right before yawning again and snuggling closer to his body.
“It’s not over yet,” he whispered at the top of her head. She smiled against his neck as her eyes grew heavy with every passing moment while he started to stroke her hair.
“Sweet dreams, Carrie,” he murmured, his hands rhythmically stroking the top of her head, and she couldn’t help but fall into a deep, restful sleep with nothing but dreams of Joel and what being ‘his girl’ could be like.
Chapter Twelve
Joel
He inhaled and felt himself smile as he started to wake. Her hair tickled his nose, but her scent made him hold her tighter. She smelled like his body wash from her shower mixed with her own unique scent, and all he wanted to do was memorize it. Hell, if he could bottle it, he would. Though he’d never sell it. He would hoard it for himself. On that thought, his eyes opened slowly, and he was more than happy to see her pretty eyes staring back at him.
Her blue eyes felt like they sparkled. His hand moved up to cup her face as he leaned forward to kiss her lightly, expecting her to push him away with some silly reason like morning breath, but he was pleasantly surprised when she didn't. She kissed him back, setting the tone of the kiss. Slowly, almost lazily, her lips moved with his. Both took their time, enjoying the feel of one another’s lips.
The slow burn between them heated up, the temperature between them rising, and he was starting to lose control. To gain it back, he shifted in bed, shocked when she rolled over him. She now straddled him, and he was in heaven and hell with her sweet body draped over his, her softness aligned with his hardness, and he couldn’t stop the groan that escaped. With his hands at the swell of her hips, he pulled away, ready to say something, when her mouth landed on his neck. Her hands on his chest moved off his and went to her own, shocking him as he watched Carrie pull her top over her head. Swallowing hard, he took in the sight of her in nothing but a black lace bra that made his mouth water as he watched her tight nipples pointing at him.
Hope Falls_Carried Away Page 7
