by Jodie Becker
“Jesus, Erica. I promise another time, but for now, I wanna be in you.”
“Oh.”
Released from her boa-like grasp, he jerked out of his pants while she worked her bra. He paused in mid-motion as the garment fell free, her breasts swaying beautifully. By sheer force of will, he cut his gaze from her and found the unopened packet of condoms. Rolling one on, he rejoined her on the bed, his hand on one thigh to spread her for him. He hovered over her, his elbow pressed by her ear, and stared into her guileless hazel eyes. His heart did an unsteady trip-up and he swallowed the strange lump in his throat. He eased into her. Her hot flesh hugged him and welcomed him home.
He withdrew to the tip and thrust forward, their gasps intermingled and punctuated the air. With deliberate ease, he pistoned into her, learning the subtle vibration of her canal, and rejoiced at every little quiver. Every little moan. A hand slipped under her to cup her ass and brought her body into his as he increased the pace. Hot pleasure spiraled around his cock and shot up his spine. He clenched his teeth against the need to swear. It’d never felt so damn good. Ecstasy raked him over hot coals of lust and he hissed in a breath. Sweat trailed down his back and he lost what little remained of his control. Dylan pounded into her and reveled in the pleasure of being inside her. Hot, luscious waves raced across his skin and in the distance he heard Erica cry out. He opened his eyes and drank in the sight of her, taken by the feel of him inside her. Hair splayed about her head in a fiery halo, her bee-stung lips parted in awe. Their gaze caught and held, her eyes glazed with lust. The first tremble of her canal wrapped around his cock and foretold her approaching orgasm.
He worked harder, desperate to fly with her. Just as she screamed his name, Dylan grunted. Her pussy clenched around him and pushed him over the edge. He came with a muffled curse against her shoulder. All strength left him and he rolled off her to stare up at the ceiling. That was the best fuck he’d ever had.
“Wow,” Erica gasped.
He couldn’t have said it better himself. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew something major had shifted and he worried for it. Knocking aside the apprehension, he sat up and cleaned himself. Rolling onto his side, he ran a finger over her shoulder and drew little circles. Erica lay much as she did before, her hand over her forehead and a secretive smile on her face. Dylan kissed her shoulder and her attention shifted to him.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
She turned toward him, both hands cupped under her cheek to create a very sensual cleavage. Her knee touched his upper thigh and desire began to stir in his cock.
“I don’t think I’ve ever come like that before.”
Inwardly Dylan preened but he kept his features neutral. “I gathered. I think the neighbors heard.”
Erica’s mouth dropped open and he chuckled as she took a swipe at him. “You rat!”
Dylan captured her hands and rolled her onto her back. He kissed her nose and smiled. “You rat? You’re cute when you’re mad.”
She writhed beneath him. “I am not.”
Dylan could barely hear her as his dick hardened between them. “Stop, Erica, unless you want a repeat performance.”
Erica stilled, her eyes wide. Then a mischievous grin raised her lips as she rubbed her body against his. She threw her thigh over his hip, bringing her wet pussy against his semi. Dylan groaned, his fingers clenched over her waist.
Erica licked his lips, teasing him as he’d done to her. Nails raked over his chest and along his lower abdomen. Damn if his cock didn’t jerk. His semi hardened as she rocked into him, her gasps skating over his cheek. He turned his face and captured her mouth, hand fisting in her hair. Ruthlessly he plundered her mouth, tasting her desire. Her foot hooked on his ass and brought him into the wet cradle of her body. Carnal heat shot through his body and he rocked into her, mimicking the movement with his tongue. Her lips trembled and her breathing hitched.
Dylan wanted to shift his body and slip his cock inside her wet center, but common sense stopped him. Fuck, she’d feel so good, naked and clasping his aching cock. Erica’s soft arms wrapped around his neck, turgid nipples pressed against his chest. He groaned, rolling her onto her back. Hand pressed on her knee, he spread her farther and lifted himself from the cradle of her body. A shiver ran down his spine, his dick bobbed with need.
Erica pouted, glazed eyes shining with fervor. He couldn’t last. He knew it. She was too God damn hot. Dipping his fingers into her, he drove into her succulent cunt. She threw her head back, the column of her alabaster neck exposed. He raked his teeth over the pulse point and swirled his tongue along the rosy skin. Salted taffy. Damn, another thing she tasted of. She was a confection he wanted to devour.
Short and shallow breaths caught on the air. The walls of her vagina shimmered over his fingers. Erica clutched his shoulder and a silent scream burst on a harsh breath as her body bowed. Slick juices coated his fingers and his shaft thrummed with urgency to fill her. To fuck her hard until he couldn’t see straight.
As the grip on his hand eased, he pulled from her. She smelled of the ocean and peaches. Unable to resist, he licked the moisture off his fingers, tasting the salty sweetness of her climax. Erica’s breathing hitched and he caught her wide-eyed stare.
“You fucking taste like heaven,” he rasped.
He kissed her rapaciously. Hungrily. Pain seared at his nape but he didn’t care. She could rake him with her nails until he bled. He wanted her more with every passing second. Pushing away from her, he snatched up a condom and rolled it on before pulling her up and turning her around. Knees nudged her legs farther apart, exposing her to his gaze. Pressing her ass cheeks apart until he could see her rosette and the swollen folds of her pussy, he groaned. Gorgeous. Positioning himself, he eased into her juicy cunt. The walls tightened around him, making him gasp. Erica whimpered and he reached around her to fondle her clit. Her desire coated his fingers and he gritted his teeth, pulled out, then pushed back in. Settled deep inside her, Dylan groaned. He could stay here forever.
Gripping the soft globes of her ass, he pulled out and began to fuck her. Flesh hit flesh, the scent of her desire and sweat intermingled in an erotic perfume. Eyes rolled back as pleasure cascaded over him. Hungry for another release, he gathered her hips close and shoved into her. Hard. Erica’s moan filled the air, mixing with his. White lights flashed behind his eyelids as his balls tightened. Ferocious passion rode him relentlessly and he fucked her. He tasted her passion on the air. Tingles marched over his skin. Her vagina sucked on his cock and he grunted as he exploded inside her. Robbed of breath from the intensity of his release, Dylan barely stopped himself from falling on her in a dead weight.
He dropped beside her, his chest heaving, cock still throbbing from the orgasm. He turned his head to find Erica sprawled on her stomach, eyes shut and a satisfied smile on her lips. Elation burst in his chest, his heart stuttering at her beauty. He’d never experienced sex like this. His smile froze. The difference in all the others was now his heart was involved. With that came fear.
Erica’s eyelids fluttered open. A frown drew her brows down. “What’s wrong?”
Dylan forced a smile and brushed hair from her face. “Nothing. That was amazing.”
She sighed and snuggled into him. “Yes. It was.”
Dylan wrapped his arms around her, tracing lines up and down her back. It was too good to be true and he feared his past just might come back to try to snatch it away.
Chapter Eight
Erica stared out the window of Deb’s Bakery, a fork in her hand, her thoughts a million miles away…or rather a few miles away. As far as Dylan’s to be exact. Few cars drove by and it gave her a view of Bill’s shop. It’d been two days since she’d returned home. Dylan had walked her to the door like a gentleman and kissed her as though it was the last time she’d see him before leaving her hot and needy on her doorstep. Since then she hadn’t spoken to him. At first she thought it might’ve been some obscure man code
, but now she wasn’t so sure.
“Earth to Erica.”
Erica blinked and turned toward Tammy. “Huh?”
Tammy’s eyes glimmered with mirth. “Does your distraction have anything to do with both you and Dylan going missing over the weekend?”
Heat exploded on her cheeks and she dropped her fork back into the bowl to move around the cherry pie. The whole town knew both she and Dylan disappeared for the weekend and everybody wanted the juicy details. “I haven’t seen him since Sunday night.”
Tammy frowned. “What do you mean?”
Erica shrugged and pushed away the bowl as her appetite abandoned her. “I thought we made a connection over the weekend. He was so very sweet. He took me to Los Angeles and showed me the markets, his favorite bistro. We had fun at the beach and the whole time he acted like a boyfriend would. But since we’ve been back I think he’s been ignoring me.”
Tammy made a commiserating sound, her hand rubbed over Erica’s arm. “Maybe he’s a bit frightened? Men have been known to be commitmentphobes.”
“Yeah,” she agreed halfheartedly. “Or maybe because I put out.”
Tammy’s eyebrows shot up. “Get out. You slept with him? No, surely he wouldn’t avoid you because he got some. He has been acting weird around you ever since he came to this town. Don’t think much of it.”
Erica slanted a look over Tammy’s empty bowl. “Are you finished?”
“Yeah? You wanna walk to the car?”
With a nod, Erica stood and started back to where she parked. Tammy sidled up beside her and hooked her arm around Erica’s elbow.
“Don’t worry about it,” Tammy assured. “I’m sure he’s quaking in his boots, wondering how he can impress you next. He did fly you out there. That’s pretty romantic if you ask me.”
Erica’s lips pursed. “I suppose.”
Tammy sighed. “Look, if you’re really wondering about it, why not go over to his place and ask him. You are his neighbor after all. He can’t avoid you forever, even if that is what he’s doing.”
The thought of finding out he truly wasn’t interested in anything more than a weekend fling filled her with dread. It ate at her stomach and left her feeling ill.
Tammy patted her arm. “If all else fails, you can always flash him and see if he gets hard up. If he does, you’re in with a shot.”
Erica laughed. “Is that how you answer all your relationship issues?”
“You know it.”
By this time, they’d reached their cars and Tammy opened her car door and slipped inside. She tilted her head toward Erica. “Besides, you’re both grown adults, it’s time for men to stop acting like little boys.”
Erica nodded and waved goodbye. As she started up the car, she glared at herself in the rearview mirror. Tammy was right in a way. She’d spent the last two days moping like a misbegotten teen and conveniently forgot she was an adult. She pulled out of the parking spot and turned toward her house, a new approach to her current situation fired in her blood.
But the minute Erica pulled into the front drive, her resolve wavered. She glanced over to Dylan’s house and heard a high-pitched scream of a saw coming from the back. Lingering by her vehicle, she clutched her bag, the fight having left her in a rush.
With a defeated sigh, she trudged toward her porch only to spot a large bouquet of red roses. Curious, she picked it up and read the tag. I love you. Please forgive me.
Her heart thudded once. Could it be? Dylan had never said the words during their stay in LA, but she could tell by the way he looked at her. Scooping up the flowers, she inhaled the thick aroma and held them to her chest while she unlocked the front door. Dropping her bag by the entrance, she took a peek through her window at Dylan. Joy lit deep inside. He wore a pair of jeans. Sweat glistened off his back and highlighted every ripple of muscle as he sanded something. Her body pulsed with heated arousal, a responding blush across her cheeks.
She’d thank him later for the wonderful flowers. As she passed through the living room to the kitchen she caught a flash of light on the phone. She had a message. Casually she flicked it on as she passed by. In the kitchen she listened to Tammy call her to remind her of their get-together. Finding a vase, she put it on the table as the next message froze her on the spot.
“Uh, hi, Erica, it’s me Greg. I’ve been thinking about you a lot and I was just wondering if you got my flowers… Happy anniversary.”
Ice pricked her skin and nausea gripped her stomach. Today was supposed to be their anniversary had they still been going out. In fact, it was also the day she found out she’d contracted chlamydia. She recalled the cold shock and denial at the results. The sympathetic looks from the nurse hadn’t soothed her and instead she’d felt the sickening mantle of shame. The betrayal of knowing her last exam had been clean and she managed to catch an STD left her with only one conclusion. Greg had cheated on her.
She spent the rest of the day at her house waiting for him to return, alternatively running between hope that it’d been all a mistake and despair that she’d trusted him to be faithful. Finally, she broke past her misery and settled into a comfortable rage that’d stopped her tears. In a rush of fury she’d packed up all his things and chucked them out on the front lawn. She even went so far as to change the locks.
He’d come home with red roses and taken one look at her face and knew. A story tumbled out that admitted to the truth but also placed the blame squarely at her feet. And now this.
Clearly it didn’t work out with him and that homewrecker from Atlanta. The one thing she could be thankful for was that he’d left town and moved in with his lover. She carried the bouquet around the side of the house and shoved it in the bin, the lid slammed down with a satisfied clang. Smugly, she wiped her hands and brought Greg’s attempt to woo her to a satisfying end. Angrily, she stomped back into the house.
In the background, the circular saw shrieked to life and it cut through her frayed control. Men! She glared at Dylan through the window as he worked tirelessly on whatever it was he thought was more important than seeing her. Fists clenched, jaw locked, she stormed from the house and marched right across onto Dylan’s property. She flicked the gate latch and pushed it open so hard it rebounded as she passed it by.
Bud barreled around the corner, his fast little paws eating the distance between them. Like an exuberant puppy, he bounced around her, oblivious to the fury that moved her forward. Finally, she spotted Dylan, the saw thankfully winding down.
“Hey!”
Dylan straightened at her sharply spoken word and threw a look in inquiry. “Hi, Erica.”
“Why have you been avoiding me?”
His gaze cut to the ground and he put his tool down. “I haven’t been avoiding you.”
“What a load. You have too. It’s been four days, Dylan, and you haven’t made an effort to see me.”
He raked a hand through his unruly hair and she refused to acknowledge the way his muscles rippled or the hot things it did to her libido. “I thought you said we’ll see where this’ll take us?”
“Take us? At the moment, this relationship is at a standstill.”
His body stiffened, eyes narrowed on her. “Relationship?”
“Oh right, thank you for clearing that up,” Erica snapped. “You don’t buy women underwear and fly them to Los Angeles if you just want a booty call. You could’ve gotten it for far less with Mary-Mae.”
She waved a hand at him in disgust and twisted around to return home. Dylan grasped her hand before she could take more than five steps. He pulled her toward him, his features twisted between anger and frustration. “You think I want you just for a booty call?”
Erica’s hand settled over his chest to prevent him from drawing her completely into his body. Beneath her palm, she could feel his racing heart. “What am I supposed to think? We made love all weekend and since then, nothing.”
“That’s right, Erica. We made love. I don’t want anyone else but you. You’ve done some
thing to me and I really need to sort it out in my head.”
Erica didn’t want to rush in, even though her heart had already taken flight. She knew men could lie quite convincingly and she didn’t want to be duped again. “What could I possibly do to you to warrant you avoiding me?”
His eyes softened as he scanned her face. “Being you.”
He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her toward him. Their mouths meshed together in a ravenous kiss. A kiss filled with pent-up passion. Erica’s heart faltered, her thoughts jumbled in confusion. She didn’t want to be easily swayed, but every stroke of his tongue threatened to steal her thoughts. Ripping from him, she stumbled back, satisfied by the desire that glazed his eyes. His lips were moist from their kiss, his chest heaving, no doubt as much as hers. “You can’t kiss me and expect me to forgive you.”
Lashes fanned his cheeks. “I don’t want your forgiveness, I want everything you can give me. I wake up thinking of you, I cut a piece of timber and I think of you. I think of you before bed and damn it, you’re there in my dreams.”
He stepped closer, his hand sliding along her nape and setting nerves alight. “Do you know how much that scares me?”
Her breath caught at the desperation and lust vibrating off his frame. He slammed his mouth over hers in a voracious kiss. He swept inside and explored her mouth in ways that sent sensual warmth sluicing through her. She wound her arms around his neck, opening under his hungry exploration.
Dylan grabbed her butt and squeezed and his appreciative mumble made her sigh. A leg wrapped around his thigh to bring him closer. The evidence of his desire pressed against her stomach. Want coursed through her with fiery fingers, licking at her body. Her heart raced in her ears, her breathing short and fast. Everything was on high alert. Her body felt like jelly. Dylan shifted and grasped both her legs to wrap them around his waist. Instinctually, she hooked her ankles behind his back and her mons rubbed against the hardened edge of his cock. A whimper burst from her. Pleasure seared her flesh as she writhed in a timeless rhythm.
