Uncovering Annabelle

by N. J. Walters

  Mike grabbed her hands. “Up you go.” He helped her to her feet and made sure she was steady before picking up her dress. It looked delicate in his large, masculine hands. He shook it out and brought it to her.

  “My bra?”

  He shook his head, snagged it from the floor and stuffed it into his back pocket. “You don’t need it. We’re going straight home.”

  She slipped on her dress. It felt strange to not be wearing her bra beneath it. She couldn’t seem to make the buttons go into the holes, not with him watching her so intently.

  “Need some help?” Before she could answer, he was already there, pushing her hands to one side and taking over the task. He did up all the buttons on her dress. When that was done, he went down on one knee and, one at a time, slipped her shoes on her feet.

  He stood and eyed her hair, clearly at a loss. “I can’t do anything about your hair, sweetheart.”

  Annabelle scooped her pins off the shelf and handed them to Mike. “Just hold these.” This she could handle with her eyes closed.

  Bending at the waist, she combed her fingers through her hair and then expertly twisted it. In seconds, her familiar bun was in place on her head and she reached out and plucked the pins from Mike’s hands and poked them into place.

  Mike canted his head to one side. “I still don’t know how you can to that.”

  She slipped on her glasses and gave him a coy smile. “A woman has to have some secrets.”

  “I don’t know about most women, but you continually surprise me.” Clasping her hand in his, he started to lead her down the aisle. “Let’s go home.”

  “The books.” Annabelle left him long enough to scoop up the books that had fallen to the floor during their lovemaking and put them back in their proper places. Satisfied everything was in order, she took her husband’s hand and smiled. “Now we can go home.”

  They turned off the lights and locked the door behind them, leaving the library dark and empty. The only sign that they’d been there was a single hairpin that lay on the floor, forgotten.

  Excerpt from Enticing Emma

  Keep reading for an excerpt from

  the next book in the

  Summersville Secrets series,

  Enticing Emma,

  coming soon!

  Chapter One

  As soon as the door shut behind them, he kissed her. His lips barely grazed hers as he moved from side to side. Unconsciously, she leaned forward, wanting to deepen his touch. A whimper of need escaped her when he pulled just out of her reach.

  She opened her eyes to find him smiling down at her. Well, maybe not a real smile, more of a slight upturn of the corners of his mouth. It was the expression of male satisfaction on his face that set off the first warning signal. But it was faint, and before it could take hold, he slowly leaned down and covered her mouth again.

  Sighing, she parted her lips and invited him in. The man certainly knew how to kiss. Taking his time, he lazily tasted her lips, nibbling on the bottom one. Her purse fell to the floor with a thud when she raised her hands to his broad shoulders. Thick muscles rippled beneath her fingertips.

  When he finally slipped his tongue inside her mouth, she sighed with relief. Still, he took his time, slowly stroking her tongue with his before exploring every crevice of her mouth. He didn’t challenge or try to overpower her. It was more an invitation to share with him.

  Emma Howard couldn’t resist.

  Her hands crept up the side of his neck and tunneled through his short, spiky black hair. She gripped the back of his head and angled his face so she could deepen their kiss. She felt a heady surge of power when he moved as she wished. Then she was lost in the erotic sensations assaulting her. She couldn’t get enough. Coffee, peppermint and Tucker.

  Her brain barely registered the fact that she was moving. She was so wrapped up in their kiss she didn’t care where he took her. Nothing mattered except for the fact she was kissing him. The door pressed against her spine, stopping her backward momentum. He loomed over her, surrounding her with his sheer size and bulk.

  Tucker Martin was six feet tall, but seemed much larger towering over her five-foot-five frame. His shoulders and chest were wide, his waist lean. His legs were long, his thighs thick with muscle.

  Usually, large men made her uncomfortable, but somehow Tucker had managed not to intimidate her with his size. Until now. Now, she was very aware of the difference between them. But instead of alarming her, it only served to send a torrent of sexual awareness zinging through her.

  Moisture pooled between her thighs. She fought the urge to rub her crotch against the bulge in the front of Tucker’s jeans, but it wasn’t easy. She knew it would feel so damned good and help ease the throbbing ache.

  Tucker still hadn’t touched her except for where their mouths were joined. His hands were flat on the door on either side of her head. She was the one who had moved closer to him, so their bodies were barely touching. She couldn’t stand it any longer. She needed his hands on her.

  “Touch me.” Her voice sounded strange to her own ears. Breathy and low, not the usual no-nonsense, well-modulated tone that she’d cultivated over the years.

  His lips left hers and he nuzzled the sensitive skin around her ear. “Are you sure?”

  If she was any surer, she’d explode with the amount of heat her body was generating. Instead of answering, she leaned forward and rubbed her breasts across the broad planes of his chest. Even through the fabric of her blouse and his shirt, the pressure of his hard, muscled pecs against her swollen nipples made her moan with pleasure.

  Tucker cupped her face in his large hands, swooped down and recaptured her lips. She’d thought his earlier kisses were devastating, but they’d only been an appetizer, a small taste of the real thing.

  This time, he took total control and staked his claim. He drove his tongue deep, demanding a response. Helpless beneath the onslaught of his passion, she gave him what he wanted. She rubbed her tongue over his before she sucked it deeper into her mouth.

  He groaned, slid his hands down her neck and used his thumbs to tip her chin higher. When Emma arched her neck, ceding to his unspoken demand, his hands continued their descent. He lightly traced his fingers over her collarbone before moving on to the top button of her blouse.

  She sucked in a breath when his nimble fingers slipped the first button free. Then the next. He never stopped kissing her while he finished unbuttoning the garment. The man certainly knew how to multitask.

  He traced his forefinger over the lacy edge of her bra. Her breasts felt heavy and swollen. She wanted him to touch them but couldn’t stop kissing him long enough to tell him.

  Tucker groaned and slid his strong hands down to cup her lace-covered breasts. He weighed both mounds in his palms before running his thumbs over her distended nipples. Need rushed through her like a river raging out of control. She dug her fingers into his shoulders for support, angled her lower body toward his and rubbed her mound against his hard erection, struggling to get closer.

  Tucker traced the outline of her swollen nipples through the soft, lacy fabric, keeping his touch light and undemanding, until she thought she might go mad. She craved more of his touch. “Harder. Touch me harder,” she managed to gasp out.

  She fought to keep him close when she felt him pulling away, not wanting to lose her grip on him.

  “I want to see you.” His voice was rough, his demand one she was totally willing to fulfill. She shrugged out of her blouse, not caring when the expensive silk hit the floor. Tucker had already reached behind her and unhooked her bra. He dragged the straps down her arms and tossed the lacy covering aside, leaving her naked from the waist up.

  The cool air pumping out from the air conditioner wafted across her nipples, making the tips pucker even tighter. Goose bumps skittered down her arms. Tucker’s eyes were filled with pure unadulterated lust as he stared at her breasts. His obvious enjoyment made her feel sexy and she arched her back slightly, the small mov
ement thrusting her chest toward him.

  “I’ve got to get you naked.” His words, so blunt and unadorned, thrilled her. So did his impatience. She obviously wasn’t stripping fast enough to suit him.

  Tucker already had the button of her slacks undone and the zipper open. She didn’t utter a word of protest when he shoved her pants down her hips, taking her lace underwear with them. Going down on one knee in front of her, he lifted her feet, one at a time, removing her shoes and sliding her clothing off.

  Emma could barely breathe as she looked down at the man kneeling at her feet. The hum of the air conditioner and Tucker’s heavy breathing were the only sounds she could hear over the pounding of her own heart.

  As she watched, he undid several buttons on his shirt before just giving up and yanking it over his head and tossing it aside. His chest was magnificent. Bronzed and heavily muscled, it had a light sprinkling of hair that spread from nipple to nipple before angling downward and disappearing into the waistband of his jeans. Her fingers curled into her palm, longing to stroke him.

  “You are so beautiful.” His words were low, his voice thick with need as he reached out and wrapped his fingers around her ankles, encircling them both in his grip. Inch by inch, he slid his hands over her shins, past her knees, finally coming to rest on her thighs. He slipped his hands to the inside, his touch featherlight as he silently encouraged her to spread her legs wider.

  Emma couldn’t tear her eyes away from him as he watched her, his green eyes glowing with desire. She’d never seen anything so erotic or beautiful in her life as the sight of him sitting between her thighs, his mouth just inches from her sex. She spread her legs wider, inviting him to taste her.

  Lowering his gaze, he brushed his thumbs over the swollen folds of her labia. She was wet and slick with a need unlike any other she’d ever known. She’d had lovers before, not many, but enough to recognize that this was something far outside her experience.

  He dipped his head between her thighs, his breath hot on her sensitive flesh. He flicked out his tongue, rasping the small nub of desire. Her entire body clenched and her breath caught in her throat as he continued to stroke her with his fingers and tongue. All her concentration focused on the wondrous sensations he was stirring to life within her.

  She unconsciously moved her hips, undulating them toward him, urging him to deepen his caress. She gasped when he picked up one of her feet and draped her leg over his shoulder. It opened her wider to him and he slipped his tongue inside her slit.

  Emma clutched his hair with both hands and pulled him closer. There was no way she was letting him stop now. He laughed and the low, sensual sound vibrated through her sex, sending shivers of desire racing through her.

  He suddenly grasped her other leg and lifted it over his shoulder. Totally off balance, she felt herself starting to fall. “Tucker,” she cried as she dug her fingers into his back for support, her fingernails lightly scoring his flesh.

  “I’ve got you.” His strong hands gripped her hips, holding her steady, as he buried his face between her thighs and devoured her.

  With her legs spread wide and draped over his shoulders, Emma had no control over what he did. And she no longer cared. Nothing mattered but reaching completion. She bucked her hips against his face as he licked and sucked at her. She was so close. She thumped her feet against his back, closed her eyes and held on tight.

  Tucker released her hips and slid his hands over her rib cage, not stopping until they covered her breasts. He kneaded the full mounds, plumping them in his palms before gently rolling the tight buds between his thumbs and forefingers. At that exact moment, he sucked her clit into his mouth and lapped at it with his tongue.

  Emma screamed, her orgasm exploding like fireworks. Heat shot through her, spreading to every part of her body. Tremors shook her. She dug her heels into his back, desperately trying to get closer, even though she knew it was physically impossible. She wanted to take him inside her and never let him go.

  When she finally recovered her senses, she was slumped against the door and her feet were flat on the floor. She had no memory of him moving them off his shoulders. The sound of something tearing caught her attention and she blinked, trying to bring the world back into focus.

  Tucker had his pants undone and shoved partially down his hips. He’d pushed aside his underwear as well and released his swollen cock from its confinement. He was big, much bigger than any other lover she’d ever had. Fascinated, she watched as he sheathed himself in a condom.

  It belatedly occurred to her that she had come, but Tucker obviously had not.

  He surged to his feet in one smooth motion, cupped her bottom in his hands and lifted her high. Wedging his body between her thighs, he held her with one hand as he reached between their bodies and guided his cock to her slick opening.

  The broad head of his shaft pressed against her swollen flesh. For a brief second, she wondered if he would fit. Then he was pushing his hard length inside her, stretching her in the most delicious way. He kept up a slow, steady pressure until he was seated to the hilt.

  Emma struggled to accept him. He was large and she was swollen and sensitive from her orgasm. A whimper escaped before she could stop it. Tucker stilled and buried his face in the curve of her neck.

  He took a deep breath. The inhalation expanded his chest, making it brush against her taut nipples. Already overstimulated, Emma moaned. Her inner muscles clamped down hard on his shaft. Tucker’s entire body tensed. His control was tenuous, at best.

  “Just relax, honey,” he told her. He licked a tender spot on the curve of her neck before nipping at it. The love bite made her jerk and she dug her fingernails into his muscled biceps. “You can take me,” he crooned. He tightened his grip on her hips, but other than that, he didn’t move.

  His cock throbbed deep inside her, pulsing like a heartbeat. In response, her channel squeezed his hard length. He filled her, surrounded her until she couldn’t think about anything but Tucker.

  She finally began to relax and ran her hands over his broad shoulders. That was the only encouragement he needed. He flexed his hips, pulling his cock almost all the way out until only the tip was inside her. Then he pushed back in.

  It was overpowering at first and slightly uncomfortable. But after a few strokes, her body relaxed, eagerly accepting his. She began to anticipate his movements. She not only welcomed them, she wanted them.

  “Emma.” That was all he said as he trailed a path of hot, stinging kisses across her chin before claiming her mouth. He slid his tongue inside, the rhythm keeping time with the thrust of his cock.

  Each stroke was faster and harder than the last. She locked her ankles together at the small of his back and levered her pelvis toward him. The musky smell of sex wafted around them and the sounds of sex filled the air. Moans and groans were punctuated by the sucking noise her body made as Tucker pulled almost all the way out before forging inward once again.

  Emma’s slick channel quivered. The broad head of his shaft stroked a particularly sensitive spot inside her, pushing her over the edge. She broke away from their kiss, gasping for breath as she cried out. She shook her head from side to side, trying to deny the power of their coming together, but nothing could stop it.

  Tucker grunted and ground their pelvises together. There was no finesse now, only the drive toward release. He hammered his lower body against hers. Emma was swept up in his desperate need. She didn’t know if she orgasmed again or if the first one had never ended. He thrust one final time and yelled his release. He slapped one hand on the door for support and lowered his head to rest on her shoulder.

  Emma was totally drained. She was also shocked by the lack of control she had over her own body. In her experience, sex was pleasant, something to enjoy on occasion. She’d had no idea she was capable of such explosive orgasms. She didn’t know whether to be pleased by the discovery or scared out of her mind.

  She was still trembling with the occasional aftershock
when she finally managed to unhook her ankles from behind Tucker. With no energy left to support them, her legs slid down his flanks, driving him even deeper inside her. She moaned and clung to him for support.

  “Hmm,” he agreed as he thrust his pelvis against her.

  “Tucker,” she panted. “You have to stop.” She was physically and emotionally spent. She couldn’t take any more.

  Tucker went from playful lover to totally alert in a heartbeat. “Are you all right?” His concern washed over her as he carefully withdrew. She shuddered at the separation, feeling empty without him.

  She nodded, although she wasn’t really sure she would ever truly be okay again. Tucker had shown her a side of herself she’d never known existed. She felt vulnerable, not an emotion she particularly enjoyed.

  Tucker wrapped his arms around her and simply held her. He was strong and steady. She buried her face against his chest and returned his embrace with a fierceness that surprised her before she forced herself to release him.

  He leaned down and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ve got to get rid of this.” He gestured toward the condom. “I’ll be right back.” Hitching his pants up, he turned and walked away.

  She watched as he disappeared down the short hallway. He’d never been in her apartment before, but he knew where to find the bathroom. Her home had the exact same layout as his.

  He hadn’t even taken off his shoes and she was totally naked. That thought galvanized her to action. Her underwear was tangled with her slacks. She freed her panties and hauled them on, ignoring the sticky, wet sensation between her legs. She dragged on her slacks and zipped them before grabbing her blouse. She had it buttoned in record time. Her lacy bra was still lying on the floor. She picked it up and stuffed it in her pants pocket just as Tucker came back down the hall.

  His eyebrows came together in a scowl when he saw she was dressed. Ignoring his frown, she picked up his shirt and handed it to him. He didn’t say a word as he yanked it over his head, not bothering to fasten the rest of the buttons.