Covet the Curves: a Romance Collections Anthology

by Morgan, Nicole

  Except now she was nervous.

  Elliot closed and locked the door behind her and then crouched down by the mini fridge. “I don’t suppose you want something to drink? Are you hungry?” She hadn’t eaten anything all night, which was unusual for her. Maybe if she ate something, they could break the ice again. She turned her back to the window. When he looked up at her, she nodded.

  “I am. A little. What do you have?” They hadn’t been together under any normal circumstances. Was this supposed to be normal?

  “Cheese, crackers, some grapes…a little ham.” He pulled some deli wrapped packages out and placed them on the table. “I also have some Perrier, is that okay?”

  That was great. She’d taken one of her antibiotics earlier and wasn’t supposed to have any alcohol. Maybe he knew this too. Probably the pharmacist had given him instructions. “That sounds perfect.”

  He took her by the hand and pulled her to one of the chairs. “You sit down. You’ve been on your feet all night.” Grabbing two paper plates, he laid out a perfect assortment of snacks, twisted open two bottles of water and then sat across from her. “How do you feel tonight?”

  Sincerity shown from his eyes. “Much better.” She popped a grape in her mouth. This was nice. Not as weird as she’d imagined it might be. “I slept most of the day.”

  Elliot made a little sandwich, out of miniature bread slices and handed it across the table. “Good.” He took a swig of his water and then stared at her.

  The passion flaring in his gaze made her mouth go dry.

  She didn’t want to eat.

  “I’m not all that hungry, Elliot.”

  He licked his lips.

  Noel rose from her chair and came around to his. When she stood before him, he pulled her onto his lap so that she straddled him. “Thank God!”

  And then their mouths met, clashing almost painfully. Noel clutched her hands in his hair, relishing the soft springy texture. At the same time she ground against him, his arousal thrust between her thighs.

  This was gonna happen. Noel lifted her arms in the air as he pulled her t-shirt over her head for the second time since they’d met.

  So much different this time.

  His eyes were half closed as his sensual gaze caressed her. “God, Noel. You’re glorious.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not.” But she wanted to believe him. And when his arms wrapped around her and unhooked her bra she shrugged her shoulders as he slid the straps down her arms.

  She knew her breasts were larger than was fashionable. She’d often bemoaned the fact that she had to buy larger sized shirts so they would fit her around her chest. But as Elliot’s eyes glazed over in appreciation, she didn’t try to hide herself from him. “Absolutely glorious,” he whispered before leaning forward.

  The sensation of his mouth on such sensitive skin, skin that had been largely ignored for way too long, pulled at her very core. And when he took her in his mouth she nearly cried out.

  Both his hands still clasped her around the waist, squeezing and clutching her. The wet heat of his mouth laved, and sucked and tugged. “Elliot.” She held onto his head. Did he realize what he was doing to her? Hot liquid flooded between her legs and she pressed into him, rubbing along his erection behind his trousers.

  “Oh, fuck, Noel.” Before she could respond, he’d risen from the chair and staggered both of them toward the bed. Her legs automatically clasped around him.

  Oh, god, yes. The bed.

  She was laying back and his mouth had latched itself onto her again. But now his hands were unclasping her jeans and dragging them down her legs.

  Noel lifted her hips as he peeled them off. When he was done, he hovered over her, on his hands and knees, and did … nothing. She was laying there in just her panties and his gaze roved over her from head to toe. His eyes burned with something she’d not seen in a long time. Those same damn eyes that had jolted her to life the first time she’d looked into them.

  “What?” She wondered what he was thinking. Her tummy was soft and slightly rounded, her hips flared out more than she would have liked and her thighs were not the thighs of a woman who went to the gym.

  “I am going to taste every inch of you.” His voice came out gruffly.

  Noel swallowed hard.

  * * *

  Looking at her, Elliot felt as though he’d waited his entire life to find this woman.

  It didn’t make sense. She didn’t make sense.

  They didn’t make sense.

  But his body, everything within him, hungered for her.

  While staring directly into her sultry green eyes, he lifted one of her legs at the knee, leaned forward and flicked his tongue along the soft skin there.

  He would work his way higher, but enjoy every second of her anticipation.

  She already squirmed beneath his touch.

  The flesh, inside her thigh, just above her knees, was delicate, tender.

  He licked, and kissed it, and slid up a few inches.

  Her hips rose off the bed and he tucked his hands inside the slick material of her panties.

  He molded the flesh of her ass in his palms. And he squeezed as his lips moved higher.

  By now, the scent of her arousal drew him even closer.

  Woman. Nothing tasted like a woman.

  Now he removed her last covering. She was his.

  As he pressed his mouth against her, she cried out, knees falling open wide. She was hot and wet for him. He rolled his tongue around her swollen flesh and nub.

  She was whimpering now and would have been squirming even more if he didn’t have tight hold of her. How could her sounds do so much for him? He loved it, the mewling, the high-pitched sighs.

  He growled a little and her inner muscles twitched.

  She wanted more. He’d give her more. He’d give her everything she wanted… a little at at a time.

  Lifting his head to watch, both what he was doing and the expressions on her face, he slid two fingers into her opening. She clenched at him and he slowly withdrew them.

  Then pushed in again.

  She moved with him.

  Holy shit. Maybe he couldn’t do this slowly.

  With her moisture around his hand, he watched her breasts quiver with each movement.

  And her lips, and the sweet curve of her face.

  She was coming already. Clutching around him, crying out in what he would only call ecstasy.

  That was all he could take.

  Fumbling, almost, he unbuttoned his pants and fell on top of her. His mouth seeking hers again.

  And then she was tugging at his shirt. Sliding her hands over his skin.

  He put himself at her opening and pressed inside. God, yes. Oh, fuck yes. She was wrapped around him, clutching around him.

  He was gonna make a fool of himself.

  He gave her everything, thrusting to the hilt, driven by her cries and sweet feminine gasps.

  And again, deeper. She felt so fucking tight. So fucking right.

  Everything about her stimulated his movements. The softness of her breasts and thighs, the taste of her mouth, mingled with the taste of her juices, her hair flowing over the pillow.

  And her heat wrapped around his cock.

  He moved slowly inside her as long as he could. Her passion was building up again. He wanted her with him. All the way.

  There she was.

  His motions increased as he reached higher inside her. And she took him. Every inch. The bed rocked as his motions became more purposeful, higher, harder.

  And then he was there.

  And she was clutching at him with everything, her hands, her legs, her womb, and he came.

  Only after he had collapsed on top her and reluctantly moved to withdraw, did he realize he’d forgotten about the condoms on the nightstand.

  Chapter Six

  Never.

  Never in her life had it been like this. Like sex had been created just so that the two of them could be together
in this way.

  It was that perfect.

  Too perfect.

  As he rolled off her, she sensed a change in him. Something in his breathing, in the sudden tensing of his arm beneath her palm.

  She’d disappointed him. He was already regretting it…

  She would not cry. She couldn’t. That would be pathetic.

  Except the hot tears behind her eyes weren’t minding very well.

  She curled away from him and grabbed the only covering she could find: his shirt.

  His hands hooked her around the waist. “Where do you think you’re going?” God, she loved his voice. She fricken loved too many things about him.

  She was in for a world of hurt.

  “I just – ”

  “Come back here.” He pulled her back onto the mattress and tucked her up against him.

  “I, God, Noel. I’m so sorry. You’d think I was seventeen. I haven’t done anything this stupid in a long time.”

  That was it. She needed out of here now. “Than why did you ask me up here?” She sort of moaned as she asked the question and struggled to get away from him.

  “What the? Oh, hell, sweetheart, no. I forgot to use a condom.” His mouth was by her ear as he spoke, his breath hot against her skin. “I was so fucking excited to be with you I wasn’t thinking. God, I’m so sorry. I’ve never done that. Never.”

  He’d forgotten? Oh!

  Oh!

  “I’m on the pill.” She rushed to reassure him. “Not that I – not that this is – well, its.” How did she explain that her periods could be so painful that she artificially manipulated them with birth control? “It’s okay. I’m good.” And then… “You’re good too, right?” It had been stupid of them. Stupid of both of them. “I didn’t think of it either.”

  “I’m good.” He had relaxed again and was kissing her neck. “I can’t believe you think I regretted… everything else.” God, this felt so good. Being cuddled.

  Being hugged from behind. “Hmm…” she hummed a little. Now that they’d cleared that up she felt completely relaxed. “Elliot?”

  “Yeah?” He chuckled a little as he answered.

  “Now I’m hungry.”

  * * *

  By the time the sun peaked over the mountain tops they’d managed to use the condoms on the nightstand – more than one, in fact. And in between they’d eaten his perfect little snacks and finished off the bottles of Perrier.

  And cuddled.

  She’d told him how she liked to take little hikes on her days off, sometimes with her sister, but usually alone. He’d told her about some of what he did for work. And they’d both admitted to wishing they had a dog.

  Noel wished the sun would never rise. She wanted the night to go on forever.

  But it did. And it didn’t.

  She needed to rouse herself and get over to the condos. She couldn’t miss two days in a row.

  Real life wouldn’t hold off for long. And already she was behind this month.

  This time, when she woke though, she lay in bed and watched him sleep. She needed to memorize his face, his scent, the feel of his skin.

  She was an interlude for him. Fun, and she knew he liked her.

  They were good together.

  But he had this big, important, high falutin life back in Manhattan. He’d told her he did trading. Not like how they showed it in movies. Most of what he did was done online. He said he researched companies for potential investment.

  His job, as she understood it, was managing his family’s wealth.

  But he wasn’t a snob. God, no, he wasn’t a snob.

  He was worried about his sister. He was afraid she was killing herself and the rest of his family had washed their hands of her.

  Noel leaned forward and touched her lips to his.

  When his eyes fluttered open, she savored that look. This man was unforgettable. “Hey,” she whispered.

  He touched her hair, and then drew his fingers along her face. “Take the day off,” he whispered. “Show me one of your hiking trails.” She nearly cried at his words.

  “I can’t.” Oh, god, she wanted to. If she’d only herself to think about, she would. But there was Carley… “I didn’t clean yesterday. I can’t lose my job.” She sounded like such a loser. “I would. I want to.”

  He sort of half smiled and then pressed his lips against hers.

  “When do you go back?” She’d been afraid to ask. Afraid to hear his answer.

  He glanced at the clock and then winced a little. “Tonight.”

  Her heart stopped. It literally stopped.

  This must be what if felt like when a part of you dies.

  “Ellen wants to return to the rehab facility she stayed at before. I promised her…”

  “Oh, well,” She swallowed, trying to get her emotions under control. “I hope she finds what she needs. Don’t give up on her.” She forced her lips into a smile. She couldn’t help it that she was regretful. “I had a really good time.”

  But he looked serious. Like he couldn’t make up his mind about something. It was probably time for her to get dressed and leave. She wished he’d get up and go to the bathroom or something so that she could pull her clothes on and get out.

  He was touching the side of her face again. “You’re amazing, you know?”

  Yeah, really amazing. So amazing that she’d dropped out of college and now lived in perpetual debt. So amazing that she was willing to sacrifice her heart for, basically, a one night stand.

  But he was kissing her again, and his kiss didn’t make her feel like a one night stand.

  Because it wasn’t.

  This had been special. Sometimes two people, even though they lived completely different lives, needed to come together. Sometimes, the stars aligned.

  This morning, unlike last night, they made love slowly, purposefully, as though memorizing every detail, every sensation.

  And the sun slanted into the room so that she could see his face clearly. She saw tenderness. She saw arousal. She saw ecstasy and then she saw peace.

  And yes, in the end, she saw the tiniest bit of sorrow.

  This was not a one night stand.

  Likely, she knew she’d never see him again. Once his sister left, he’d have no reason to return to Alpine Creek ever again.

  But it meant something to him. For whatever reason, he liked her. He’d needed her as much as she’d needed him.

  She’d be happy with that.

  He kissed her and then climbed out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

  This was her chance. As quickly as humanly possible, she pulled her jeans on, slipped on her boots, pulled her t-shirt over her head, stuffed her bra and socks in the pockets of her coat – and slipped out the door.

  She absolutely hated goodbyes.

  * * *

  Just as he finished washing his hands, he heard the door close.

  She’d be gone, he knew. His bed would be empty and so would his…

  Life?

  He immediately dismissed the thought as ridiculous, maudlin. He barely knew her. They were worlds apart. He would not chase her down the hall like some lovesick fool.

  He’d probably latched on to Noel because of the discord within his family. He hadn’t been in a serious relationship for months, and the sexual encounters he’d had in between had felt cold and meaningless.

  Noel was just… something in-between.

  He rubbed his hand down his face. If she had stayed, they could have showered together. He would have covered her in soap and…

  He needed to get out of this town.

  He turned the water on, not waiting for it to warm up and stepped beneath the shocking spray of water.

  Fuck this.

  Fuck her.

  He showered, dressed and threw his belongings indiscriminately into his suitcase. Glancing around the room, he surmised he’d collected everything. Which made him wonder, a few minutes later, as he closed the door behind him, why he felt like he
was leaving something important behind.

  Chapter Seven

  When Noel arrived to work that night the first thing she did was scan the parking lot for his car.

  It was gone.

  In fact, the lot was practically empty. This was the time of year service workers breathed sighs of relief for the break, and yet, worried over the conditions of their bank accounts. More tourists wouldn’t start arriving again for at least a month.

  So the bar would be slow.

  And Noel didn’t care.

  Despite chastising herself over and over again, all she could think about was the giant hole she had in her heart now. This one hurt bad.

  Really bad.

  And although the pain would dim with the memories, the hole, she was certain, would last a lifetime.

  “Hey, Noel,” It was Lucas, one of the front desk clerks. “That guy, Mr. Stanton? He left something for you up front.”

  Noel nearly dropped another fricken glass when she heard these words.

  What would he have left? Surely not the sock she was missing when she got home? A letter? A thank you note?

  She flinched at the thought.

  His address? His phone number?

  All these possibilities raced through her mind as she calmly left the bar and approached the long counter in the lobby. “Hey Molly, Lucas said there was something left for me?”

  Molly, a pretty brunette, nodded and then furrowed her brows. “Where did I put that?” She opened a few drawers and looked perplexed. “Let me check in back.”

  Seriously? Really? If Molly lost it. Noel swore under her breath. She’d kill her! She nearly hyperventilated at the thought.

  What if he wanted her to stay in contact with him? What if he was declaring his undying love? And she would never know, and they would be tragically separated for all time because frickin’ Molly misplaced the –

  “Oh, here it is!” She returned to the desk, triumphantly holding one of the hotel envelopes with the name Noel Blake scrawled across the front.

  She casually thanked Molly and took hold of it with hands that suddenly weren’t too steady.