Tasting.
Teasing.
Tempting her.
Warmth spread through her until her entire body was pulsing with need and awareness. Her nipples tightened, and as his broad chest rubbed against them as he pressed closer, she nearly moaned at the sweet pleasure. Arousal dampened her panties as Brent’s large hands slid from her waist, gripping her hips. Hell. His hands were so big, he could practically wrap them all the way around her. What would it feel like having them tug her jeans down, slip beneath her panties, and touch her swollen flesh? Invade her intimately? She was so wet and aching for him. She’d had boyfriends clumsily make it to third base before without the slightest clue on what to do next.
That would never be an issue with him.
His fingers tightened at her hips as he nipped at her, tugging her lower lip between his teeth, and a moan escaped from her. She fisted his tee shirt, not sure if she was trying to pull him closer or push him away. Uncertain if kissing Brent was the best idea she’d ever had or possibly the worst mistake of her life.
The worst, she decided as his hands slid higher, edging up her ribcage. She’d never recover from this. Never. She had to leave freaking tomorrow, and the biggest, baddest SEAL of them all was kissing her against the door with no intention of leaving. Maybe lots of women were up for one night of fun, but that wasn’t her. Shouldn’t be her.
But sometimes something so wrong felt oh so right.
“I should go,” Brent muttered between kisses.
“Yeah, you should,” she agreed, clutching his shirt tighter.
Pulling him closer.
“I told myself I wasn’t coming into your house.”
“This isn’t my house—it’s Kenley’s apartment.”
Brent’s eyes sparked as he gazed down at her. “Hell, sweetheart, don’t tempt me. I’m hanging on by a thread as it is.”
Stretching up on her tip-toes, she kissed him again, effectively ending the conversation. Brent kissed like no one she’d been with before, like his whole world was honed in on her in that moment. She swore she could feel the Earth move as his mouth took hers. His hands slid higher, leaving a trail of warmth across her ribcage, until his thumbs grazed the undersides of her breasts. Driving her out of her mind.
He moved slowly, leisurely, as if giving her a chance to stop him, and it was sexy as hell. Somehow that small touch aroused her more than anything or anyone in the past.
One hand drifted higher, palming her breast. He squeezed gently, kneading her flesh, leaving her shamelessly arching into his touch. His thumb grazed over her nipple, slowly sliding back and forth as it pebbled beneath her tank top. She wanted to feel his touch on her skin, to feel his calloused hands dragging over her. For him to cover her entire body with his and never leave.
His other hand slipped beneath the back of her tank top, just barely caressing the skin on her lower back, and she arched against him, desperate to get closer.
Every nerve ending tingled with awareness for him. Every part of her body screamed for his touch. His fingers teased the small of her back, lightly caressing her skin. And then his tongue was thrusting inside her mouth, rubbing alongside hers, demanding more.
“Brent,” she whimpered, and a second later he’d hauled her up into his arms. Strong forearms supported her thighs, and her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his broad shoulders. He pulled her tighter against him, and she sharply inhaled as she felt his thick erection rubbing up against her core. He was huge, and she resisted the urge to shamelessly rub against him. To relieve the ache building inside her. To come apart right here in his arms.
“Hell, gorgeous, the things I want to do with you.”
“Have to unlock the door….”
Somehow she pulled the key free from her handbag, and Brent neatly took it from her, sliding it into the lock and pushing the front door open. He barely even glanced around as he stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind them.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked gruffly, ducking down for another searing kiss. “Say the word, and I’ll go.”
She clung to him, desperate for more of his kisses, more of his touch—more everything. “Please don’t stop,” she whispered. His erection rubbed against her again as he shifted, and pleasure shot straight through her.
God, she’d die if he stopped now. She was so turned on, her entire body felt like it might explode.
Brent let out a low guttural sound and carried her over to the sofa, gently setting her down amongst the cushions. He leaned her back onto the pillows, and then his large body folded atop hers. His weight settling atop hers was heady. Arousing. He dominated her but was surprisingly gentle with the way he held his weight slightly above her, preventing her from being completely crushed. She was trapped between his muscular arms. Beneath his broad chest. Under his massive bulk.
And she freaking loved it.
He lightly tugged on her earlobe with his teeth, causing her to gasp beneath him, and then he nipped his way down her neck, scraping his teeth over her tender flesh. His whiskers abraded her skin, and she wanted to feel that against her swollen breasts. Between her thighs.
She inhaled his clean, masculine scent, her heart pounding in her chest as she simply let him consume her. Brent trailed kisses down toward her cleavage, and her breasts heaved up and down. Suddenly he kissed his way down the long necklace she wore, catching the pendant between his teeth. There was something sexy as hell at his mouth between her breasts, her necklace in his mouth. It was like he’d declared she was his.
And oh how she was down for the count.
“I’ve been wanting to inspect this all night, beautiful,” he said, softly rubbing his thumb across the gold pendant. “I love the way it sits right between your gorgeous breasts. Taunting and teasing me. I’ve wanted to touch it all fucking night.” He gently set it back against her skin, placing his palm between her breasts, and she knew he could feel her heart racing.
“Don’t be scared,” he assured her, his voice gruff. “Never be scared of me. I’d never hurt you.”
She nodded, and then suddenly his hands fisted the bottom of her tank top, dragging it up alongside her body before he tugged it over her head. He kissed her softly, once again teasing her lips with his tongue, and then he was gazing down at her pink lace bra, his eyes hungry with desire.
Warmth pooled in her core at the heated look in his eyes. Had a man ever looked at her that way before? Like he simply wanted to eat her alive? He was going to kill her with those feverish looks, but oh, what a way to go.
He ducked down, kissing each breast through the lace, and Ella tried to remember how to breathe. His warm mouth and gentle kisses had to be the absolute sexiest thing ever. There was something incredibly erotic about his mouth moving over her lacy bra. About only the tiniest scrap of fabric separating those lips from her skin.
The lace rubbed against her tender nipples, and she needed more. More of Brent’s touches, more kisses, more everything.
Most guys she’d been with were in a hurry to get to the main course—and Brent seemed content to linger over her, taking his sweet time. His tongue flicked over one nipple through the lace, and she cried out, clutching onto his broad shoulders. It was good, so good, and the man hadn’t even fully undressed her yet. He sucked on one nipple through the lacy bra, taking his sweet time as he enjoyed teasing her, and then she was begging, actually begging him for more.
“I’ll give you anything you want, sweetheart. Everything you want.”
His tongue dragged along the outline of her bra, tracing the swells of her breasts, and she nearly came undone.
Finally, he tugged one cup lower, exposing a nipple, then dipped his head down and sucked it into his mouth. Ella gasped and arched against him as desire shot straight to her core. Her clit throbbed with every nip and suckle, and she ached for him to reach down with one of his muscular hands and send her straight to ecstasy.
He lightly flicked his tongue back and forth over her taut b
ud, sending electricity shooting through her entire body, and she cried out, arching up off the sofa.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” Brent murmured. “I could spend all night worshipping you. Sucking on your nipples. Squeezing these gorgeous breasts. Making you scream in pleasure.”
His hands slid around her back, and a second later her bra was coming off, tossed aside. Forgotten. Brent gazed at her bare breasts and lightly grazed one nipple with his thumb, watching her reaction. She whimpered beneath him, desperate for more of his mouth and tongue laving against her breasts. Afraid to move and break whatever the spell between them.
Finally he leaned over and ran his tongue all the way around one areola. His other hand cupped and caressed her breast, and he licked her nipple again, causing her to whimper. Arousal dampened her panties, and she could feel her slickened walls aching for him. His tongue was doing wicked, dangerous things as he played with her breasts, and she could only imagine him going down on her. An ex-boyfriend had tried it once, and it was less than satisfying. But with Brent? She was practically about to come already with her panties still on.
He lightly bit down on the hard bud, and she called out his name at the slight nip of pain. Seconds later he blew on it, soothing her, easing away the sting.
“Did you like that, baby?” he asked huskily.
“Brent,” she murmured, her chest rising and falling beneath his gaze.
“So fucking gorgeous,” he said. “I want to make you come again and again tonight. All night. In every way imaginable.”
He slowly kissed his way down her ribcage and stomach as she sucked in a breath and trembled beneath him. Brent expertly undid the button on her jeans, slowly sliding the zipper down, acting like she was a present he was intending to savor. He kissed lower and lower as he tugged down her jeans, barely moving over her panties before nipping at her inner thighs. Thank God she’d worn matching sexy panties tonight. They weren’t expensive, but she’d never gotten any complaints from ex-boyfriends before. Lingerie was lingerie, right?
Moments later her jeans were gone, and Brent was lightly caressing her calve with one muscular hand. She’d never considered that an erogenous zone before, but holy hell. Brent’s hands anywhere on her body were about to send her up in smoke.
“How do you want me, baby?” Brent asked huskily, lifting her leg slightly to kiss her ankle.
“Huh?” she gasped as his hand wrapped fully around her ankle and he began kissing his way back up her leg. The idea of Brent’s hands holding her legs apart, spreading her wide, was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. This man could break her in an instant, and although she knew he’d never harm a woman, there was something arousing about all his strength and power. He was asking her questions but fully in control. And she was at his mercy.
“Tell me your favorite position. I’ll take you however you want,” he said between kisses. “You on top. Me on top. Doggy style.”
He reached her inner thigh and lightly nipped at her skin as Ella stiffened. She still hadn’t told him she wasn’t very experienced. Here he was, listing an entire menu of sex options, assuming she’d done it all before. Her face heated.
Brent glanced up, seemingly expecting a response, and his gaze darkened as his eyes met hers. “Shit,” he muttered, releasing her ankle and grabbing a blanket from the back of the sofa. He quickly tossed it to her as he pulled away. “Have you ever been with a man before?”
Embarrassment flooded through her, and she clutched the blanket to her chest as she struggled to sit up. “Of course I’ve had ex-boyfriends. I just—I’ve only had one serious relationship.” Suddenly, she felt foolish sitting on the sofa in her lacy panties while Brent stood before her fully clothed. The regret flashed across his face was obvious. His intent to leave crystal clear.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you. Shouldn’t have come in here tonight—not when I promised to stay away. To never fucking touch you.” He ran a hand through his cropped hair as he shook his head.
Ella’s fists tightened in the blanket as her heart pounded in her chest. Brent’s rejection stung. Had he changed his mind because he knew she was not as experienced as the women he was usually with? Or did he just not want her?
She couldn’t even get up and stomp around and yell at him because she wasn’t wearing any clothing.
Damn him.
Damn her for even letting him in here.
“You didn’t seem to mind it a second ago,” she pointed out sarcastically.
“I’m not the man for you, Ella,” he said, his voice gravel. The lust in his eyes and way his chest heaved gave him away though. He wanted her but still was going to leave. Wasn’t interested in her enough to stay.
“I wasn’t exactly expecting you to get down on one knee.”
“I’m too old for you. And not the type of man for you to be with. I’m so fucking wrong for you it’s ridiculous,” he said, angrily pacing in front of her.
“So why the hell are you in here kissing me like you’ve never been with a woman before?” she snapped.
He smirked, irritated at her. No, it was more like he was…laughing at her. Of course. Because he was the one with the playboy reputation. The bad boy of the SEAL team. And she was the one who’d only had one serious boyfriend.
“Men who’ve never been with a woman don’t kiss like that, sweetheart.”
She flushed, anger and embarrassment coursing through her. “You know what I mean.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Matthew will kick my ass for this. Brianna, too. I shouldn’t have come in here and come onto you like that. I’m not the guy you think I am.”
She glared at him. “Yeah, you’re kind of a jerk. I guess the others were right.”
He looked stunned for a moment but took a step backward, bending over to grab the keys that had somehow fallen to the ground as they’d kissed their way through the front door. “Lock the door when I go,” he said, tossing them onto the coffee table and turning around. Four long strides and he was already at the door. Pulling it open. Walking right out of her life.
“Sorry,” he muttered, almost as an afterthought.
His jacket was still lying outside where he’d dropped it, almost like the way he’d discarded her.
Her jaw dropped open as the door slammed shut, but she remained on the sofa, too mortified to even move. The blanket she was clutching to her chest barely even covered her breasts, and tears smarted in the corners of her eyes. He’d just undressed her, kissed almost every inch of her body, then run out the door like the place was on fire. Was this just some sort of a game to him? To see how far he could take things? How easy it would be to get her to sleep with him?
How could she have been so stupid?
Seconds ticked by, each feeling like an eternity, and she finally rose from the sofa, snatching up the keys on her way to the door. The apartment was dark, silent, and suddenly empty as hell. The click as she turned the key in the lock seemed to echo throughout the empty space. A lone sob escaped from her, and she leaned her forehead against the door, trying to pull herself together. Brent was an asshole, a womanizer. Just like everyone had said he was. What had made her think she was any different from his endless stream of conquests?
And was it better or worse that he’d refused to have sex with her?
Against her better judgment, she peered through the peephole and caught one last glance of Brent straddling his Harley. He yanked the helmet over his head and briefly gazed in her direction, before he looked away, revved the engine, and roared off into the night.
Gone.
Just like every other man in her life.
Chapter 7
Brent grumbled as he rode onto base the next morning. The long, tree-lined road leading to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek was usually a pleasant ride, but he had a killer headache. And for once it had nothing to do with being up all night obsessing over the death of his sister.
The hurt look in Ella’s eyes last night flashed through his mi
nd, and he bit out a curse. Way to fucking treat her with kid gloves—he’d pinned her against the front door like she was his. Hauled her inside with every intention of fucking her. Making her shatter beneath him. Maybe he’d started off with a gentle kiss, but the moment he’d tasted those soft lips? It was like need had exploded inside him. She was so damn sweet—exactly what he needed to keep his nightmares at bay. He could’ve taken her again and again all night long.
But he’d stopped when he’d realized just how goddamn innocent she was.
Fucking hell.
His pulse pounded, and he was itching to beat the shit out of someone. To pound out his frustration and relieve the tension still coursing through his entire body. Too bad his SEAL team wasn’t sparring today—just drilling out on the water. Preparing for the next op. He needed to do something to get out of his own head. A couple of rounds with some of the guys would’ve done the trick. Or maybe getting in a ten-mile run down by the water.
Too late for that now.
He flashed his military ID at the guards on base and rolled into a parking spot, climbing off his bike just as Christopher got out of his truck a few spaces down. Brent stashed his helmet and slipped on his aviators, grabbing his bag of gear. Usually a ride on his Harley cheered him up, but after a restless night, it seemed like nothing would improve his mood this morning.
“How was the pool hall last night?” Christopher asked as he walked over.
“Smoked ‘em like always,” Brent said.
“Sonofabitch. What we need one of these days is a poker night.”
“Like hell. Didn’t you figure out some computer hack that helps you count cards? You should’ve come last night if you wanted a game. Or were you too busy playing house with the little lady?”
“Lexi would bust your balls for saying that,” Christopher said good-naturedly as he fell in step beside Brent. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing that myself. Maybe tell her the next time you see her, see how it goes over.”
“The woman is whip smart; I’ll give her that. Don’t know if I want her near my balls though.”
Protected by a SEAL (Alpha SEALs, Book 6) Page 8
