Taste

by Cambria Hebert

  “Oh, good.”

  “Everything that is humanly possible to put an end to this is being done.” He reassured me, his eyes automatically going around the room. He smiled when he saw the ice cream.

  “You want some?” I asked.

  “Got any cookies?” he asked.

  I rolled my eyes. “No.”

  He debated.

  “Is that a yes or a no?” I asked.

  “Does a horse have a tail?”

  I assumed that meant yes, so I went to get another bowl.

  “How did you get in here?” I asked. “What if someone saw you?”

  He scoffed. “I’m a Secret Service agent. Before that, I was military. No one saw me.”

  “A ninja with lots of training,” I said, looking up from my task. “Good with kids, attractive, sexy car.” I continued to list. “How is it you’re single?”

  He leaned across the counter and gave me a penetrating stare. “I’m a lot sexier than my car.”

  I smiled. “Maybe.”

  He took the spoon, which was covered in ice cream, and set it aside. Grasping my hand, he pulled me around the island, towing me up against his chest. “You know it.”

  “Hmmm.” I pretended to debate.

  “Do you question my sexiness?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow. At the same time, he reached for the hem of the T-shirt I put on after I got home.

  “Maybe you should prove it,” I purred.

  What the hell was I doing? Getting involved with a man was not in the plans for me. Getting involved with one during a time when my life was a complete shit storm was even worse. ‘Course, at the moment, I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do than feel his hands on me. Jack was safe; he was out of immediate danger. My mother was safe. The police were working with a witness and a sketch artist.

  There really was nowhere I needed to be. Except right here in his arms.

  “Darlin’,” he drawled, sending tingles of excitement shooting through my lower body. “When I’m done with you, there won’t be a single doubt in your mind.”

  I shrieked a little when he grabbed me around the waist and spun me off my feet. My bottom hit the island, and he stepped between my knees. His muscled arm wrapped around the small of my back, and he pulled, jerking me against him, and my core brushed up against the jeans he was wearing.

  He was already hard. The front of his crotch strained against the jeans and pushed against me urgently.

  It had been so long since I’d had sex that a groan ripped out of my throat. He grinned, looking rather smug, and swooped down, taking my lips. His kiss seared me to the very core. His lips were urgent and demanding. They were rough and enticing. There was a hint of stubble on his jaw and chin, and it rasped against my skin as he moved across my lips. The sensation was maddening.

  My hands gripped the sides of his hips, flexing tightly and pulling him closer. I wrapped my legs around his hips just below his buttocks and returned his kiss with everything I had.

  I wanted to make him feel the way he made me feel.

  Out of control.

  Horny.

  On fire.

  Ready to explode.

  I ripped my mouth away from his, enjoying the sound of his heavy breathing, and scraped my teeth over his chin where the stubble was. Then I kissed down his neck and across his jaw, moving upward to capture his earlobe between my teeth.

  He made a sound, and one of his hands flattened on the island behind me so he could throw all his weight onto it and lean into my kiss. I dragged my hands up the back of his neck and delved into his hair, taking fistfuls of it and guiding his mouth back down to mine.

  His tongue delved into the depths of my mouth with ease, stroking around the inside of me, and caused shivers to rack my body. Spencer disconnected our mouths and pulled back, I watched him through desire-heavy eyes.

  Spencer grabbed the hem of my T-shirt and yanked it up over my head and tossed it aside.

  “Oh fuck,” he said when he saw I wasn’t wearing a bra. Both my nipples were rock hard, pulled into tight little pearls, standing at attention in the center of my full, perky breasts. I throbbed for his hands. I needed him to grab me, to massage the swollen flesh.

  He dove down, sucking one into his mouth, and I arched my back upward, granting him all the access he wanted. Little sounds of pleasure filled the kitchen as I yanked at the shirt still keeping his skin from my hands.

  With a little chuckle, he pulled back and his shirt joined mine.

  I sighed just looking at him. His bronzed, toned body was on display for me for the first time. He had a long, narrow waist; it rippled with muscle and begged for my fingernails to scrape across it. His shoulders were so broad and strong it made me squeeze my thighs together around him.

  My hands were greedy, and I reached for him. I wanted to touch every last part of him. I wanted to admire the rough and smooth contrast of his skin. I wanted to tangle my fingers in the golden chest hair that spanned his remarkable chest.

  On impulse, he grabbed me and lifted me off the counter. I tightened my legs around him, and with one hand, he yanked the shorts I was wearing down over my ass. The counter was cold against my bare bottom when he sat me back down. His hands ripped the clothing the rest of the way off, and then I was totally naked before him.

  His lips fastened on mine again as he pushed me down so I was lying across the island, completely on display for him. He didn’t kiss me long enough, but pulled back and picked up the can of whipped cream right beside my head.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice thick to my own ears.

  Spencer’s smile was wicked as he yanked the top off with his teeth and spit it on the floor. Then he shook the can and held it upside down, angling right above my breast.

  The sound of whipped cream dispensing filled the kitchen as the cold, light topping landed on my skin. He twirled it around, covering both my nipples with it and then drawing a trail down the center of my belly all the way down to my crotch.

  My knees trembled with excitement when he grabbed up the chocolate sauce and tossed the lid over his shoulder. He watched me suggestively as two of his fingers dipped into the sinfully sweet sauce and then lifted out, smearing it across my chest.

  He stared right into my eyes when he licked off what was left on his fingers and then climbed up to straddle me on the counter.

  A growling sound erupted from somewhere deep in his chest as he began to lick the dessert off me. Long, hungry strokes of his tongue lapped up the sweet stuff, and he was very thorough. My nipples began to ache because they were so hard, and I moaned, grabbing at one and giving it a squeeze.

  “What’s the matter, darlin’?” he drawled in between licking down my stomach.

  I made an impatient sound and he chuckled. As he continued lower, one of his wide palms came up and settled over my breast and squeezed. Relief washed through me. I was wound so tight I was going to snap at any second.

  Spencer withdrew his hand to grab my legs and drape them over his shoulders, positioning himself at my entrance. My eyes slid closed when his tongue made contact.

  It was so good. He knew exactly where to lick, exactly where to suck, and precisely where to touch. His fingers teased my swollen clit as his tongue speared my wet opening, causing me to arch up off the table.

  One of his fingers slid inside me, and I moaned. He shifted up so he could stare down at me. “You’re so fucking tight,” he ground out.

  “It’s been a long time.” I gasped as his finger moved inside me, tentatively stretching out my inner walls.

  “Good,” he growled.

  “Spencer,” I whimpered, wanting far more that just his finger. I pushed up onto my elbow and stared into his dark, honey eyes. They practically smoldered with freaking sexual power.

  He stood up and slowly withdrew the finger inside me. Then, keeping hold of my gaze, he put it in his mouth and licked off every last bit of me.

  The bottom of my stomach completely fell out. It wa
s hard to breathe. My body didn’t want to do anything accept feel him inside me.

  I looked down for his hard cock, ready to grab it. Ready to feel it slide into me.

  He was still wearing jeans.

  Disappointment was like a knife cutting deep. I sat up the rest of the way, swaying slightly. He grabbed hold of my waist as I attacked the button and zipper on his jeans.

  I wished I had the patience to kiss his body, to work my tongue all over him. But I didn’t. All I could think about was getting him inside me.

  Spencer pushed down his boxers and jeans, his thick rod shooting out between us, on proud display. I reached for it, wrapping my hand around the base and giving it a gentle squeeze. My hand dragged upward, pulling at the throbbing flesh, working him. I wanted him as desperate as me. I wanted him to take me hard, fast, and deep.

  His head rolled back on his shoulders, a low moan filling the room. I smiled and began sliding my hand up and down his shaft with a quicker pace. I enjoyed the way he throbbed in my hand, like he was anxious for more.

  I was about to lean down and take him into my mouth when he pushed me back and yanked my legs toward him. My ass was off the island completely now, but I was in no danger of falling. My legs wound around the narrow part of his waist and the firm tip of his cock pressed against my opening.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  He thrust forward, invading my body, immediately stretching out my tight insides with one single stroke. My mouth fell open, but no sound came out.

  He gave me exactly what I wanted, pounding into me with the kind of fervor that caused me to moan over and over again. I couldn’t see anything because I was blinded by passion. I couldn’t feel anything but his solid rod spearing me again and again.

  I rocked against him, wanting him as deep as he could possibly go. The veins in his biceps stood out with the bulging of his muscles, and the sound of our bodies slapping together was sweet music.

  “Spencer,” I whimpered as my body spiraled closer and closer to release. It was such a powerful feeling that it made me slightly nervous.

  “I’m right there with you, baby,” he murmured, his voice strained.

  My back was jerked up off the counter. He pulled me into a sitting position and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in to him farther, driving his length in deeper.

  His eyes found mine and a look passed between us, the kind of look I would never in my entire life forget. It went deeper than his cock ever could.

  He caught my lips in a gentle kiss. It was a direct contrast to the way in which he was making love to me. Our lips fused together as a shudder moved through him. With one last hard thrust, he began to come, his hot seed spraying my inner walls, and I moaned.

  Spencer swallowed every sound that resulted in the orgasm ripping through my body, and he kissed me until my limbs went slack and I collapsed, completely spent, against him.

  Somehow, he supported both our weight as our breathing returned to normal.

  “Shit, Elle,” he swore against my hair. “I knew you were hot, but that was…”

  I giggled.

  “That was fucking shattering.”

  I couldn’t agree more.

  Still totally boneless, he lifted me off the island and carried me into the living room, where he collapsed on the couch, not once separating our bodies.

  With his hands cupping my hips, he kissed me again. He kissed me like he hadn’t just been all over my body, like this was his first taste of me. I shifted my body, rolling my hips over him, and felt his cock stir to life.

  He pulled back and looked at me, surprise flickering in his gaze.

  “Again?” I said, rocking against him.

  “Clearly, I’m up for it,” he drawled.

  This time I rode him, pressing his hard body into the cushions of my couch and watching all the expressions of satisfaction that came over his face. I moved slower this time, taking the opportunity to feel his body, to get to know it. He seemed all too happy to lie back and let me touch him. His body was my own personal playground.

  Eventually, the playtime became too much and both our bodies needed more. Spencer pulled me close, bringing our bare chests together as I ground down on his lap.

  I called out his name when release rippled through me, and he held me even tighter.

  When we were done, my legs felt rubbery and the center of my body felt swollen, but it was a pleasurable feeling. I don’t think I’d ever been so satisfied in my entire life.

  In the kitchen, I slid his T-shirt over my body because it was the first one I saw. But it was also because I wanted to wear it.

  I stood gazing down at the melting ice cream, smears of chocolate, and whipped cream all over the island. I would never look at this kitchen the same way again.

  Solid arms encircled me from behind, and he nuzzled my ear.

  “You made a mess,” I said, rubbing a palm over his forearm.

  He grunted, and I laughed.

  My entire body felt sticky. “I need a shower.”

  “Me, too,” he said, pulling me closer against him.

  I shut my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being held. It had been so long, and even then, it never felt this right.

  “The bathroom is upstairs, first door on the left,” I told him. “Go ahead up. I’ll just take care of this and meet you in there.”

  He groaned and buried his face in the back of my hair. “You smell good.”

  “I probably smell like chocolate because someone made a giant sundae out of my body,” I said, smiling.

  “Best damn sundae I ever ate.”

  I spun in his arms and looped my own around his neck. “Really,” I said. “Why are you single?”

  The color of his eyes was incredible, and the intensity behind his direct stare had this way of taking over my entire being. “I’ve been focused on my career. In the Marines, I was too busy overseas and working to get serious with anyone, and then I signed on at the White House and I was too busy trying to establish myself there and to be taken seriously at a young age.” He shrugged beneath my arms. “No one’s ever made me want to make room in my life.”

  “I guess I can understand that.” I felt a little pang that he didn’t want to make room in his life for me. But it was for the best. I had Jack to think about. I wasn’t about to let another man into his life—into my life—that would only walk out again.

  He gazed at me seriously. “I want to make room for you, Elle.”

  I averted my gaze. He’d just said the words I wanted to hear, but now that they were out there, I wasn’t sure I wanted them to be. All the reasons I just thought of were still there. I couldn’t risk letting him in only to be hurt again.

  “Spence,” I said, lifting my face. He didn’t let me speak. Instead, he kissed me. It was soft and sweet; he coaxed my lips open like gentle rays of the sun on a flower after a rainstorm. He didn’t press me. He didn’t demand. He merely kissed me until I offered more.

  It stole away my heart.

  When he finally pulled away, I dropped my forehead down onto his shoulder, pressing my mouth together and trying to control my shaking insides.

  “Darlin’,” he drawled, whispering in my ear. “I know you have to think about Jack. I know that boy comes first, and I understand it. Hell, I’m in awe of you.”

  I pulled back and looked at him questioningly.

  “To have accomplished everything you have and be raising that boy all by yourself…” He shook his head. “I respect you for it. I’m damn proud of you.”

  I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

  “I’m not trying to rush you into anything. I’m just saying I want you. I want to know everything about you, and if and when you decide it’s okay, I’d like to know Jack, too.”

  My lips parted. “Most men don’t want anything to do with another man’s child.”

  “I’m not most men,” he replied. “And Jack isn’t some other man’s child. He’s yours.”

  Emotion we
lled up inside me, causing my chest to feel tight. I didn’t know what to say. I was so overwhelmed.

  He leaned down, hovering just above my lips, his eyes seeking something in mine. I closed the distance and kissed him, hoping he understood everything I was feeling.

  “Go shower,” he said when we broke apart. “I got this.”

  “You’re sure?”

  He reached around me and grabbed my ass. “I’m sure. Save me a spot under the spray.”

  I grinned. “‘Kay.”

  I left him to clean up the mess from our “snack” and went into my bedroom to get some clean clothes to take into the bathroom with me. On my way out of my closet, clothes clutched in hand, an eerie feeling came over me.

  I glanced over my shoulder at the window.

  It was open.

  It hadn’t been before.

  Spencer and I weren’t alone in this house.

  16

  My clothes hit the ground soundlessly, and I looked around with a powerful sense of fear. I knew for an absolute fact that window had been shut.

  And locked.

  Since all this started, I was obsessed with checking and rechecking the windows and doors.

  I stood stock still, listening for any kind of indication of where the intruder might be. The only thing I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breathing.

  Flashbacks from the night they first invaded this home rendered me petrified, and all I could think about was getting the hell out.

  Not taking another second to think about it, I crept toward the bedroom door and peaked out into the hallway. When I saw no one was there, I rushed to the stairs and crept down.

  I heard a sound coming from somewhere behind me, and it was all I could do to not scream. Instead, my heart leapt into my throat, and I rushed down the stairs at warp speed, afraid to look behind me. I rounded the banister and shot forward, running toward the kitchen.

  I collided with something hard and gasped.

  Spencer grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s someone in the house,” I whispered.

  His face grew angry and dark. My fear increased tenfold. What if Spencer got hurt?