He drew her into his arms again for one lush, exploring kiss after another until she whimpered with growing need. She’d never been this hot and out of control before, never ached to her very core for a man.
With slow deliberation he pushed her pants off her hips along with her panties and they fell around her ankles. She stepped out of the garments and pushed them aside with her foot. Matt touched her reverently as he got down on his knees. He palmed her belly and shivers of desire moistened the folds between her legs. She knew he could scent her excitement, knew he’d discover her femininity again soon. With one sweep of his fingers he combed through her curls.
“Mmm.” His murmur of satisfaction made her part her legs. “Wet and soft.”
His blunt statement, heated by the husky flavor of his voice, sent a wild rush of arousal pouring through her loins. High up in her core she ached with a desire to get him inside her. She closed her eyes, giving him opportunity to take what he wanted. The incredible vulnerability of standing here with her body open to him blew her away but she felt one hundred percent safe. With one lick he stroked her folds and she gasped as the white-hot pleasure took her higher.
“Oh God.” She couldn’t keep still, her hips moving as he cupped them. “Matt.”
“Like it?”
“Yes.”
She slipped her fingers into his hair as his tongue and lips made intimate acquaintance with her body. Every stroke over her clit threatened to break her into blissful orgasm. She twitched and gasped as he slid one finger deep into her. With slow, certain thrusts he caressed her walls, drawing murmurs of unbridled pleasure from her very depths. She’d never felt this uninhibited in her entire life, surrounded by his gentle lovemaking and acceptance. He didn’t take so much as give, and no man had ever been this tender with her before.
He licked softly over her clit and thrust his finger repeatedly until her breath gasped from her throat. Rising higher and higher, she flew into orgasm. Her body welcomed the rush of pleasure so stunning she cried out sharply. He kissed his way up her body and when he reached her naked breasts he tasted them again. He urged her against him but she made short work of his jeans. He took her hand and drew it to his hard flesh and the silky steel was hot and thick.
She stroked him for a short time before his breath hissed inward. He was warm and hard and all male and she didn’t want to stop anything. He stripped off the rest of his clothes in short order. He stood naked, aroused and ruggedly handsome. She closed her eyes and smoothed her hands over his beard, feeling his bristled jaw and pressing against every inch of hot, strong muscle. They tumbled onto the bed as they stroked and explored.
He leaned over Melanie, propping on one elbow as he looked down at her. With tender kisses he explored her, drew her deeply into a place so feverish with desire she wondered if she’d ever surface. She palmed his hip, wanting him now with a heated desperation. If she had to beg him to take her she would. One kiss grew into two, then four. His kisses were endless and drew her into a sweet surrender.
“Melanie, honey.” His voice was ragged, his chest rising and falling. “I hope you have condoms. I’m not prepared for this.”
“In the bedside table.”
Within moments he’d sheathed himself with protection, and he settled his hips between her thighs. She ached for him and lifted her hips. His thickness slipped just inside her heat and she moaned softly in anticipation and pleasure. He seemed to know how to tease her, bring her excitement to a fever pitch. He slid along sensitive flesh and rotated his hips slowly. Tension and torment rose higher.
He looked down on her, his eyes hot with need. Slow and sweet he thrust, pushing a bit farther. “Melanie you’re so tight. You all right?”
His concern only made her need more intense. She dared look into his eyes and saw the caution there.
“I haven’t been with anyone in so long,” she said. “Don’t stop.”
Movement after movement he went a little farther until his entire length stroked deeply within her. His hips moved slowly, steady thrusts that drove her to the edge. As he stretched her deep within, the pleasure became more than she could stand. He was powerful and predatory and every thrust promised and gave luxurious, delicious pleasure. She wanted to scream out in ecstasy but it was out of reach, hovering almost there. She almost pleaded and begged but couldn’t form the words.
“Matt.” She sounded tortured but didn’t care.
He groaned into her neck, his breath panting and hot against flesh. The feral response only enhanced her arousal. She followed his flexing muscles downward until she reached his tight backside. When she squeezed his butt he hissed in a breath and groaned. Her breath caught in her throat as she fell into a world where sensation became the only reality. Their bodies moved together, struggling to find the ultimate pleasure. The hot, gliding sensation of his cock within her set her on fire. The bed creaked slightly, the rhythm driving them forward. Thoughts disappeared under his relentless strokes and as the heat rose she felt her body react, little contractions that built bit by bit until they stole her breath. Her body clenched around him, tightening as the pleasure became too much to contain.
She whimpered as the orgasm hit. Her world came apart as she shook in his arms, tightening on the thick flesh still thrusting deep inside her. But if she thought he’d finish quickly, she was wrong. When she opened her eyes he paused and the pleasure registered on his face rekindled her own pleasure. Another orgasm threatened and that about blew her mind, because she’d never had two orgasms so close together and couldn’t imagine coming again so quickly.
A tender smile touched his mouth and then he said something that assured her they weren’t done by a long shot. “Fuck. God you’re amazing. You’re going to come again if it takes all night.”
Matt never talked much during sex but Melanie had changed him in some fundamental way he couldn’t even define yet. He felt like talking dirty all of a sudden, like seeing how far he could push her, how much she’d take.
He rocked inside her once more, his hips gyrating. He gotten off on the expression of ecstasy crossing her face as she’d come apart under him a moment ago and he wanted to recreate it. He could have exploded inside her right then but he wanted more pleasure for her, and he slowed his thrusting. She was silky smooth and tight, her sheath hugging him in a hot embrace. Fucking God. It flashed through his head this was the best sex he’d ever had and they hadn’t done anything kinky, hadn’t taken hours to fall into bed. Yet he couldn’t remember ever feeling like this while having sex. As if she’d captured a part of him he couldn’t get back and didn’t wish to.
He’d never felt this out of control in his life and he struggled with it, afraid he’d shoot off like a teenage boy inside his first female. God, he loved watching her. Just the sounds she made drove him to the edge. She panted softly, little moans still leaving her throat—a flush across her cheekbones. She was so pretty, so damn, achingly feminine. She was soft and yet strong, a woman he admired to the core.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, listened to the sounds and sensations of them making love. The groans he couldn’t suppress, the tiny whimpers coming from her, the bed creaking, the heat of their bodies. Desperation fueled him, because the pleasure was rising higher by the second. He pulled out of her and she gasped.
“Oh but you haven’t—” she started to say.
“It’s okay. We’re not done.” His voice sounded raw in his own ears. “Turn over, honey. I want you from behind.”
With a shy smile she did as he asked, getting on her hands and knees. He swallowed hard at the sight of her rounded ass cheeks, and when she parted her thighs the sweet scent of sex about drove him insane. He touched those pink wet folds and Melanie gasped again. Jesus, God. She’s a sex goddess. He must be the luckiest fucking man on the planet. With a solid plunge he speared straight inside her and she cried out. He kept the strokes inside her slow and deep.
“Matt, please!” She panted, and he saw her clench the pillow i
n her fists. She went down on her forearms, tilting her ass up and pushing back into his thrusts. “Faster. Please faster.”
With a growl of satisfaction he fucked harder and faster. He would have driven off a cliff right now if she’d asked him. He maintained a steady pace, determined she’d climax. Her whimpers grew higher, her panting faster. She was moaning louder and the sound of her pleasure made him thrust like a madman. Her body quivered, her cries escalated and then it hit her. She came with a whole body convulsion and her channel clamped and released around him in a shuddering wave. She wailed as the orgasm broke her apart, and he couldn’t take it anymore. He let go, allowing scalding pleasure to escape him as his orgasm tore him into little bits. He roared, shaking as he finally came down to earth.
* * * * *
Melanie woke to the scent of freshly brewed coffee. She groaned in sleepy ecstasy. That smelled so damn good, and yet she felt as if she hadn’t slept. Her mind was murky, a jumble of half-formed ideas and memories.
The mall. The gun-toting man.
She sat up with a startled sound, her heart pounding like crazy as fear gripped her.
The bedroom door snapped open and Matt stood at the threshold, a frown narrowing his eyes. “Hey. I heard you cry out. You okay?”
Embarrassment heated her cheeks. She rubbed her cooler palms over her face. “I just remembered what happened yesterday.”
He walked in and sat on the edge of the bed, fully dressed. His hair was damp and the steamed-up shower explained why. Then she remembered that she was stark naked, and she couldn’t mistake the eyeful he was getting of her breasts. She snatched the sheet up over her chest and he laughed.
“I’ve seen it before,” he said.
“Yeah, well…I’m not used to it yet.” She regretted saying that immediately. After all, didn’t that mean she’d have some time to get used to it? That they’d be in this position again? Not likely. She glanced over at the bedside clock and moaned. “Oh no. Ten o’clock. I can’t believe I slept that long.”
“We were up late and you needed the rest.” His voice sounded assuring and deep.
“I feel so foggy.”
“You went through a significant trauma yesterday and you might feel out of it for a few days.”
“I didn’t even hear you get out of bed or showering or anything. How long have you been up?”
“A couple of hours. I just started coffee. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. I’m…” She was what? Surprised as hell that he was still here? She was. After all, this thing they’d done last night, the hot as hell sex…that wasn’t something she experienced on a regular basis.
Who are you kidding, Melanie? You’ve never had sex like that before.
She rubbed one hand through her tangled hair and groaned. “I’m so sorry. You probably have a ton of things to do today and I need to get in touch with the ladies about the engraved present.”
“You don’t even know if the mall is open today. If the cops are still doing their investigation you may not be able to get in.”
“Right. I didn’t think of that. And tomorrow is Thanksgiving. That only leaves Friday to finish up at the engraver’s and the wedding Saturday.”
He slipped his hand into her hair and brushed it away from her forehead. “We’ll work it out. I’ll talk to my brothers and if you can speak with the ladies maybe we can get there later today if the mall is open. Or maybe this present needs to go on hold until after the wedding.”
She sighed. “You’re right. It isn’t like this was planned way in advance anyway.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t know some asswipe was going to start shooting up the mall. I’m sure Danelle and Patrick are just happy we’re all safe.”
She shivered, and he brought her against his chest and hugged her. She absorbed his touch, melting into him as his strength and heat sizzled through her. His touch sent a thousand sparklers of sensation dancing over her body and warmth pooled in her belly. God, even after that soul-stealing sex last night just a single touch from him turned her on.
“Don’t stress. Give yourself a break,” he said. “Everybody will understand if this gift doesn’t get put together until later.”
She wanted to kick herself seven ways until Sunday. “There’s still so much to do.”
“What about Lena and Kathleen? Aren’t they helping Danelle?”
“Yes but…” She shrugged. “I’m her maid of honor.”
“She’ll understand if things are a bit wiggy.”
“Sorry, I’m just freaking out and there’s no reason to.”
“I’ve seen marines do this. Get wound up when they’re trying to avoid thinking about battle experiences and trauma. They keep busy. But that doesn’t make the bad stuff go away, Melanie.”
“What does make it go away?”
“Well, short of counseling, there’s also kissing and making love.” He smiled and before she could say anything he dove in for a kiss.
Her mind blanked and she dropped the sheet she’d instinctively pulled up to cover her breasts. Their tongues mated and a shiver of pure desire hit her straight at the core. Her nipples hardened and she went moist between the legs. His arms went around her and he gathered her close. He held her gently, as if she was fragile and precious.
When he released her, she sighed. “God. You should bottle that and sell it.”
He laughed again. “Come on. Get up. You want some coffee and you know it.”
“I dunno. Staying in bed is looking mighty tempting right now.” She brushed her fingers over his bristly chin. “You, sir, look perfectly disreputable.”
One of his eyebrows twitched upward. “That’s because I am. And if you don’t get out of that bed and drink some of my coffee, I’ll have to climb right back in bed with you.”
Oh, oh yes. That was tempting. “Sorry, but I only have one box of condoms.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Damn. Sure that’s enough?”
Her mouth flopped open. Part of her had been absolutely and one hundred percent certain last night would be the only time they’d make love. A mind-blowing lovemaking session but nonetheless one time brought on by a need to affirm life.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing I was just thinking…” Oh holy hell. How did she say this? “You’re going to be busy with your brothers and helping out with the wedding too. Maybe right here and now is all we have. Then you’re leaving on Sunday.”
He nodded, and when his arms slipped from around her she saw a shadow come down over his rugged features.
“You’re right. Why don’t I get out of your hair right now so you can start your day. I’ll call you later after find out what my brothers are doing and you’ll know by that time what’s happening with Danelle. Maybe we can meet up tonight.”
She winced. “We’re doing an inventory thing at the library tonight and who knows how late that’ll go. I’d have to be at work right now if I didn’t have to be there tonight.”
He stood and started for the door. “I may be a marine but I’m nothing if not flexible. By the way, your cell phone has been making some interesting noises this morning. My guess is that you’re getting some text messages.”
“Probably.”
His smile was gentle but she saw something that almost looked a hardness in his eyes. “I’ll take off for now and talk to you later.”
He left and gently closed the bedroom door. She sat in the bed, frozen for a moment as she heard him leave the apartment. Only then did she get out of the bed and notice that he’d picked up the clothes she’d dropped on the floor last night and left them on a chair. She slipped into a terry robe and padded into the kitchen to find coffee. As she stood in the center of the kitchen and sipped coffee trying to get her brain to come online, several things occurred to her in a rush.
Matt Frasier was the most extraordinary man she’d ever met. The sexiest man she’d ever encountered. She already admired him more than any guy she’d d
ated, and she wasn’t even dating him in the strictest sense of the word. A pang struck her when she thought about him leaving Sunday and her not seeing him for a long, long time. He’d rushed out of here pretty fast once she awakened, and it made her wonder why he’d stayed so long this morning. He could have simply rushed out of here at first light. Obviously he did want to see her again and to make love. She smiled, happy with that thought if not with anything else.
Her cell phone chirped from her purse that was lying on the couch, and she put her coffee cup on the kitchen counter. She rushed to answer the cell. Danelle’s name showed on the display.
She answered with the cheeriest voice she could muster. “Hey Danelle.”
“Well, well, sleepyhead, what’s up?” Danelle said, her voice sounding a bit artificial. “You okay?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You didn’t answer my text this morning. I was a bit worried.”
“Sorry about that. I just got up.”
“Uh-huh.” Danelle’s voice was full of significant intonation.
“What do you mean uh-huh?”
“I got the impression you might be up late. Kathleen and Lena said they saw you leave with Matt.”
Melanie knew exactly what her friend insinuated. “Great. I thought I could keep that secret.”
“How and why would you want to? Did you…uh…connect last night?”
“None of your beeswax.”
“You did!” Danelle sounded way too delighted. “I knew you guys had some sparks flying at the party last weekend. I’m just sorry the shoot-up at the mall was what it took to get you together.”
Melanie wandered back to the kitchen counter and picked up her mug. “We’re not together. A little harmless sex.”
“Watch out, girl. Matt’s an honorable guy. But I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
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