Ravenous (novella)

by Eden Summers

  “Do I have your attention now?”

  “A little.” she rasped and swallowed over the dryness in her throat.

  He smiled and she had to press her lips together to fight from smiling back.

  “I don’t have to go back to the city for a few days.” He let the words hang between them while his gaze searched her face.

  Erin concentrated on suppressing a reaction. The reminder that he would soon be leaving made her chest ache.

  “I want to spend some time with you before I leave.”

  “Uh, huh.” She dropped her grip on his arm. Grasping the railing with one hand she blindly moved up to the next step, needing space to think. “Do you really think that would be a good idea?”

  “Give me one good reason why it wouldn’t be.”

  Because we can never be together. Because I’m still in love with you. Because I’m already certain I won’t move on once you leave.

  “You may not love me anymore, Erin, but we still have chemistry. Great sex should never be turned down.”

  So that’s what all this was about, a dirty weekend with no strings. She stared into his eyes and wondered if she had the strength to emotionally disconnect. It had been a damn long time since she’d had sex with a guy who didn’t fumble around her body. Jesse had always known how to work her into a frenzy.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  He moved onto the step separating them and grasped her hips with his hands.

  “Let me try and convince you.”

  Before she could protest his lips were on hers, his tongue seeking her own. She moaned into the kiss, loving the contrast between his soft mouth and the tight grip of his hands.

  “Ahem. Don’t mind me.” Karen’s voice sounded from beside them. “Jess, when you’re finished dry humping my sister, can you send her back inside to do her job. I’m kinda under the pump in here.”

  Erin squeezed the railing to gain her balance and glanced over at her sister. She should be thankful for the interruption, right? Clearing her throat she gave Karen an innocent smile and slid from Jesse’s embrace.

  “I was just coming.”

  “Yeah, I was almost there too,” Jesse mumbled.

  Chapter 5

  Erin stacked the last of the dried serving platters and took off her apron. Karen still hadn’t stopped smirking. The evil expression had appeared earlier in the day when Erin had been caught running down the stairs, still straightening her blouse after she’d ran from Jesse’s room.

  Karen had been waiting in the hall–a knowing gleam in her eyes. Her sister had pressed her lips together, holding in her laughter and walked toward the kitchen. Then later, Karen had found her in the compromising position on the back porch and ever since her sister’s expression hadn’t varied from the mocking smile that tilted her glossy lips.

  The pressure was getting to Erin. From the moment they drove up the driveway her determination to stay away from Jesse wavered. And now that he’d asked to spend more time playing with her lady bits, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.

  “Would you quit it!”

  Karen glanced up from placing the last of the savoury skewers onto a white serving tray. “Whatever do you mean?” She grinned. “My little hussy of a sister.”

  Erin groaned and took a deep breath. “I can’t believe you think I slept with him in his old bedroom,” she hissed under her breath, “with his parents downstairs.”

  “No really,” She nodded with sarcasm, “I believe you.” Karen wiped her hands on her apron. “I’m done.” She handed the loaded tray to one of the waitresses they hired for the night. “Help me pack up so I can get home to a cool, relaxing bath. My feet are killing me.”

  Crap. It was already time to leave and she still didn’t know what to tell Jesse. She hadn’t had enough time to think. Well that was a lie. She’d had enough time and her mind was definitely thinking about sex with Jesse, only she hadn’t contemplated the consequences. Her thoughts were stuck on the image of heated skin on skin, of clashing lips and tongues and teeth.

  Turning to the stove she grabbed a pile of trays, hoping a quiet walk to the car would reveal the answers she needed. On her second trip back into the kitchen she passed Karen, her arms loaded with baking dishes and her handbag over one shoulder. “The man of the moment is in there waiting for you. Have fun.”

  Erin rolled her eyes and tried to ignore the excitement that burst to life in her belly. “You’re so funny.”

  Karen waggled her eyebrows. “Have you decided if you’re going to stick around? Because I’m ready to go.”

  “Wait. What?” She still hadn’t made a decision. She’d wasted her time in an X-rated daydream. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. Just give me five minutes to speak to him.” She wanted to spend the night with him, she really did, only she wasn’t sure if her heart would let go in the morning.

  It was Karen’s turn to roll her eyes. “Fine. I’ll wait in the car.”

  Stepping into the kitchen, Erin held her breath. Jesse was leaning back against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest, his focus on the floor. When she reached for her handbag, his chin lifted. He didn’t smile, didn’t grin. He stared at her with longing that stripped away her layers, leaving her exposed and feeling naked.

  “Mum said to thank you for all the work you and Karen did. She was pleased with the way things turned out.”

  Erin nodded, afraid to open her mouth.

  He unfolded his arms and pushed from the counter. He covered the distance between them in two steps. “We need to finish what we started.” He was calm, in control, the complete opposite to the way her emotions had her reeling.

  “Right here?” she raised a brow and smiled. “Right now?”

  He stepped into her, snaking his hand around her neck and into her hair. His firm grip sent the air from her lungs and shot a pulse of desire through her core.

  “The last of the guests are gone, the waitresses are leaving and my father passed out over an hour ago. It won’t be long until we’re completely alone.”

  Erin bit her lip. Oh, she wanted him, but her heart fluttered in a mad salsa rhythm, convincing her that it wouldn’t be easy to walk away after the hot and sweaty moments were over. “Karen’s waiting for me in the car.”

  He leaned in and nuzzled the sensitive skin of her neck. “Can you tell her to leave without you?”

  Yeah, she could. If only her hands would work. Her body buzzed, unable to handle the potent mix of adrenaline and ecstasy flooding her veins. There was no denying her need. Heartache be damned.

  She concentrated on steadying her trembling hands, grabbed her phone out of her handbag and dialled her sister’s number.

  “I’ll make love to you… ” her sister’s out of tune voice echoed through the phone.

  Witch.

  “I’m going to hang around here for a little while,” she spoke over Karen’s singing, “Jesse can give me a lift home later.”

  “I bet that’s not all he’ll give you.”

  A frustrated cry escaped her lips. Monday would be hell dealing with Karen’s teasing. “Your maturity never ceases to amaze me, Karen.”

  Jesse took a step forward, gripping her around the waist, pulling her body against his. She tried to ignore the way her heart fluttered with his embrace, the all-consuming warmth that flooded her heart and her pussy.

  Her sister chuckled into the phone. “Have fun cleaning the cobwebs from between those grandma thighs. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  Suppressing a pleasure filled moan at the brush of Jesse’s erection against her abdomen, she ended the call and placed the phone back into her handbag. When she looked up, Jesse’s mother came into view over his shoulder, causing Erin to stiffen. It was never cool to be caught by your make-out buddy’s mother. Never. Ever.

  “Night, Jesse. Night, Erin.”

  Jesse straightened, moving his head from Erin’s neck, but he didn’t turn to face his mother.

  “I’m heading to bed.” Mrs H
ackett grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water from the tap, not sparing them a second glance. “Your father is snoring like a bear. Not even the apocalypse could wake him. Looks as though I’ll be sleeping with earplugs in tonight.” She started walking from the kitchen. “I won’t hear a single thing.”

  Erin groaned at the lack of subtlety. Jesse must have noticed the obvious implication too, because he chuckled into her hair.

  “I want you,” he growled, gripping her ponytail and pulling tight. “Please don’t deny me again.”

  Her head fell back, exposing more of her neck and her handbag fell to the tile floor. She couldn’t deny him, couldn’t deny herself. Not anymore.

  “Yes.” The word came out breathy–filled with passion.

  Jesse backed her up against the kitchen counter and gripped her hips, lifting her to sit on the cool surface. Placing himself between her legs he lifted her knee length skirt. His fingers trailed up her inner thigh, making her pussy clench in hunger. He stared into her eyes, his concentration unwavering while he gripped the waistband of her panties and pulled them down her legs.

  His unwavering focus made her chest fill with a familiar sensation she didn’t want to admit. When his hands ran back up her legs she gripped his wrists and halted the movements. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t stare into his eyes and make love to him. Heated sex she could do, but not passionate love.

  Scooting off the counter she stood in front of him, the back of her thighs tight against the kitchen cupboard. She moved her hands to the waistband of his charcoal pants, ran her fingers over the protruding erection and closed her eyes when he whispered her name. She wanted him. Oh, God how she wanted him. Her skin hummed, her heart thudded and if she didn’t look into his eyes, she chose to believe she could walk away unscathed. This was merely sex between old friends.

  She unclasped his belt buckle, undid the button to his pants and lowered his fly. When she began to tug the material down over his hips, he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a condom and placed it on the counter, allowing her to lower his pants to the floor.

  His hands worked the buttons of her blouse and he slid it from her shoulders to pool on the counter. As she stroked his erection through his briefs he wove his hand around her back and unclasped her bra. He murmured words of approval, “So beautiful,” “so soft,” but she ignored them, trying to drown them out. She didn’t want anything left behind to cling to when he went back to Sydney.

  Jesse lowered the straps of her bra down her arms and licked his lips slowly with reverence. His briefs went next, falling limply to the floor. Raising her chin she kissed him, rubbing her pelvis against his erection. Their tongues battled and their hands roamed each other’s bodies. She loved the man he’d become, with the hard planes of muscle and the light sprinkling of hair. He was her dream. The man she could enjoy for a night or a few days, but that was all.

  His hands ran down her ribs, over her stomach, to glide through the curls of her sex. The gentle touch grazed her clit and she gasped. She was ready for him. She could feel the slick heat between her thighs.

  The condom wrapper crinkled beside her and she leaned back to watch him cover himself. He held his cock tight, lowering the rubber with jerks of his fist. When he was finished he removed his shirt, threw it to the floor and peered down at her. Jesse’s eyes were filled with an emotion she didn’t want to name, didn’t want to contemplate. He ran his hand down her skirt-covered butt and tried to lift her leg but she wouldn’t allow it. Instead she turned, bending over the kitchen counter so he could take her from behind.

  “I want to be able to see you.” He ran his hand up her spine.

  She shook her head. “No. I need it like this.” Standing on tiptoes she ground her ass against his erection.

  “But–”

  “Please, Jesse.”

  His shaft nudged her entrance and she gripped the counter for support. His warm hands encased her hips as he teased her pussy with his length. He nudged in, withdrew, went deeper, and in one thrust he slid home.

  Her spine arched and he gripped her ponytail tight, pulling her backward until the heat of his chest warmed her. One hand played with her sex, teasing her clit with his fingers, while he continued to hold onto her hair.

  “Why won’t you let me see you?” He nuzzled below her ear and ground into her with slow thrusts. “I want you to look at me.”

  She shook her head and gasped when he thrust into her with more force. His hold on her hair tightened, the light pinch of pain making her nipples tingle. He continued to pull until her focus rose to the glass doors leading to the patio. Their gazes connected in the reflection and she whimpered at the image.

  Jesse was all muscle, all man, leaning over her. Her breasts were high, the top half of her body on display while his arm ran around her hips, slipping out of view under the counter.

  “Watch me take you.”

  Erin pressed her lips together and felt the first knife of heartbreak slice her chest. Self-preservation screeched for her to look away and still her eyes couldn’t bear to stop staring at him.

  “That’s it.” His cock slid in and out of her slick walls and he ground into her at the end of each thrust. She kept her focus on the glass and watched his head lower to her neck. He nipped at the sensitive skin, his fingers pinching her clit as his movements became frantic.

  He let go of her hair and moved his attention to her breast, softly moulding the flesh in his hand. The image was hypnotising. Jesse’s hands on her body, his gorgeous head lowered to caress her neck, his thrusts increasing in pressure, driving her pleasure higher.

  “I wanna make you come again.” He scraped his teeth along her shoulder and his gaze held hers. “I wanna see your face as your pussy clamps down on my cock.”

  Erin thrust her hips back in reply, already feeling her impending climax. She matched his movements, pushing her ass back each time he plunged forward. Her core started to contract, the tiny spasms making her pant and she reached around with one hand and dug her nails into the firm cheek of his butt.

  Jesse groaned in her ear. He tweaked her nipple and her body jolted when he pinched her clit. Her release grew, the throbbing between her thighs becoming more demanding until she came apart. She jerked, she scratched, she moaned and Jesse followed her over the edge, his cock hammering into her in quick succession.

  He gripped her tight, holding onto her waist, while his movements slowed. Erin couldn’t contain her smile. She considered her reflection in the glass, at the way her chest heaved, the way Jesse snuggled into her neck and for once in a very long time, she felt alive.

  “Take me home, Jesse.”

  His body stiffened against her back, his cock still throbbing inside her with the last pulses of release. He placed a kiss on her shoulder and ran his hand over the flat of her belly. “And make love to you again?”

  Her stomach convulsed with her soft chuckles. “Yes.”

  Chapter 6

  Jesse stared over Erin’s shoulder, his focus on her breasts and the way water lapped at the soft peaks. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a bath. He definitely hadn’t had one with a gorgeous woman’s back nestled against his erection. And he loved having her there–between his legs, against his length. She was angelic, with her hair a tangled mess and her creamy skin visible to his hungry eyes.

  “How long have you been living alone?” When she gave him directions to a house in the middle of Holbrook, he assumed to find Karen there too. It gave him an odd sense of apprehension knowing she had no one here to protect her.

  “A few months.” She ran her fingers through the water, then dribbled wet drops along his exposed thigh. “I lived with Karen for years and it was nice to stay close after Mum and Dad moved to the coast. But when we started working together it got a little catfight crazy.” She leaned her head back against his shoulder and he could see the edge of her smile. “For the sake of the business and to ensure we didn’t shank each other, we decide
d to live separately.”

  The floral scent of her hair drew him closer and he placed a kiss in the strands above her ear.

  “At the moment Karen is still staying in Mum and Dad’s old place for free and we share the rental payments on this place.”

  After all these years she was still living in the same dreary small town existence. She should’ve moved to Sydney with him. Her home had minimum furniture and from what his mother had mentioned, her catering business was new and slow to find clientele.

  If only she’d given their relationship more of a chance and had faith in him when he left town. Both of them would now be living happily with a great outlook for the future. Instead she had nothing and he had everything–just no one to share it with.

  “I’m glad you’re doing well for yourself.” Her voice was soft, barely breaking the quiet.

  He didn’t know how to reply. Even though she hadn’t spoken the words, “even though you left me behind” still whispered on the end of her sentence.

  “I’m glad you’re happy, too.”

  Erin gave a humourless laugh that ended in a sigh. “Do you miss it?”

  He ran his hands under her arms, to trail his fingers in intricate patterns on her belly. “Miss what?” He knew exactly what she meant. He needed the extra time to form the right response.

  “Holbrook. Home.”

  Running his fingers lower, he played with the trimmed curls at the apex of her thighs, hoping to distract her. “I miss my family and friends.” Most of all, I miss you. “But I don’t regret leaving the farm. It’s not the life I was meant to live.”

  The vibes in the room changed. Her hands stopped dripping water along his skin and she slowly brought them to rest at her sides. Not willing to lose the connection growing between them, he ran his tongue up the exposed skin of her neck, savouring her salty taste. Moments passed as his licks changed to nips, then sucks and his fingers delved deeper to stroke down the middle of her pussy.