by Desiree Holt
“I want it,” she whispered, and saw the relief in his eyes.
He stood and carefully lifted her from her chair, cuddling her against his chest as he carried her to her bedroom. She loved the feel of his body against hers, the strength of his arms around her. The heat she felt through the fabric of his T-shirt. She inhaled his clean male scent.
When he lowered her to her mattress, it was with such tenderness she had to blink back tears. Had anyone ever seen the man who’d been hiding under the crappy exterior all those years?
“I want to be careful of your foot,” he told her, kneeling on the floor beside her. “But Jesus, Georgie. If I don’t get you naked soon I think I’ll lose my mind.”
“I think we can work around it,” she told him.
The first thing he did was release her pony tail and comb his fingers through her hair.
“There.” He smiled. “Much better.”
When she began unbuttoning her blouse, he brushed her hands away.
“Uh uh. I want to do this myself.”
She was surprised to see his hands shake slightly as he unbuttoned each button slowly and tugged the tails of her blouse from the waistband of her jeans, spreading open the fabric. His eyes widened when they took in her breasts in the satin and lace bra, and hunger flared sharply in them. He bent lower and trailed the tip of his tongue over the upper swell of her breasts, sending shivers skating down her spine.
But instead of concentrating on them as she expected him to, he slid his hands up to cup her cheeks, turned her head and took her mouth again in a hungry kiss. He nibbled her lips, swept his tongue inside, sucked her tongue into his own mouth. When they were breathless again, he trailed kisses across her cheeks and forehead, then he found the spot behind her ear that always drove her crazy.
“Move over here next to me,” she urged, sliding her body to make room for him.
“Your foot,” he reminded her.
“Is on the right and you’re on the left. It’s fine.”
But he still very carefully slid his hands beneath her to rearrange her body before stretching out full length beside her.
She wound her fingers in the thick strands of hair the color of melted dark chocolate, holding his head close to her body as she arched up to him. When he’d paid homage to every inch of her face and neck, he moved his attention back to her breasts. His hot mouth sucked in first one nipple and then the other, pulling the now-wet fabric into his mouth along with her flesh. Nibbling and tugging until she could feel the pull at the center of her core.
Just when she was sure he was ready to flick open the clasp on her bra and take her bare breasts, he moved back to her mouth. This time, he was gentle rather than savage, licking lightly, tracing the outline of her lips, nibbling at the corners until she actually grabbed one of his hands and moved it to a breast.
His laugh was low, hoarse and sensual. “Getting eager, are we?” But his face when he looked at her was serious. “I’m not going to hurry this, Georgie. I’ve always looked at sex as a physical exercise. Tonight, with you, I want to make it an emotional one too. Take my time.” Then his lips curved in a hot smile. “But I will get this damn bra out of the way.”
He expertly opened the front clasp and pushed the garment to the sides. The look in his eyes as he stared at her ramped up her pulse even more. She didn’t think she’d ever before had a man look at her with such a combination of desire and appreciation.
“Your nipples are like rosebuds.” He licked first one then the other. “Pink and perfect.”
He took each one in his mouth again, sucking them one at a time until her breasts ached with the tension. His teeth lightly grazed the taut buds and he finished his attention to them by licking circles around them until the sexual tension in her body threatened to break loose without any further stimulation. She couldn’t ever remember a man who paid as much attention to foreplay as Cade was doing. She didn’t want him to stop, but she didn’t know how much more she could take without telling him to rip both their clothes off.
But Cade seemed determined to take his time about this. From her breasts, he traced a line with his tongue down to her tummy, pausing to swirl his tongue around the soft flesh of her belly button. She’d never thought of that particular area of her body as an erogenous zone, but the light sweeps of his tongue sent hot flames right to the center of her cunt. If her panties hadn’t been damp before, she was sure by now they were soaked.
So slowly she wanted to scream at him to hurry, he unfastened the snap of her jeans and lowered the zipper. He trailed kissed down to her mound, nipping her flesh lightly through the fabric before rising to his knees so he could ease both jeans and panties from her body. A line of kisses on each leg followed the slow glide of the fabric down over her knees and ankles. Even as aroused as she was, she couldn’t help noting how cautious he was slipping the garments over her injured foot.
When she was completely naked, he adjusted her carefully so her legs were spread wide and he was kneeling between them. The hungry need in his eyes was almost her undoing. Men had looked at her before with arousal but never with appreciation as Cade was doing. His gaze raked over her from head to foot, drinking in every naked inch of her.
“I think one of us still has too many clothes on,” she said in a whispery voice.
In response, he yanked his T-shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. Georgie swallowed a tiny gasp as she took in his broad shoulders, the muscles of his belly that two straight weeks of hard labor had tightened up. The soft mat of hair covering his chest that arrowed down below his waistband to his groin.
“If I take off anything else,” he rasped, “the party will be over before it starts. I’m so hot for you, Georgie, I need something to keep my dick from embarrassing me.”
She gave a breathy little laugh. “I’m not sure I can wait much longer myself.”
He leaned down until his face was scant inches from hers and his eyes bored into hers. “I hate to tell you this, but all my life I’ve been a selfish son of a bitch. I never appreciated what women offered me, just took what I thought was my right. I’m not that person any more. At least, I’m trying not to be. So let me pleasure you. I want that more than anything.”
Something turned over in her heart, an emotion she immediately pushed away. This was one night. One moment in time. Who knew what tomorrow would be like, or if Cade’s epiphany would even last.
So just lie back and enjoy it, Georgie. Make good memories.
He made slow, careful love to her with his mouth and his hands. Brushing his mouth over hers yet again, he slid it down to her wet heat between her thighs. When he gently opened her folds and stared at her, his breathing actually hitched and his eyes darkened to the color of black coffee. Without warning, he leaned forward and traced the length of her slit with his tongue, sending electricity jolting through her.
“Oh.” The sigh whispered from her mouth.
He did it again, and then again.
“Mmm,” he murmured against her wet flesh. “You taste so fucking good. I could spend all night eating you like this.”
As she arched her hips up to him, he proceeded to lap every inch of her pussy, her folds, her slit, rimming her opening and swirling his tongue around her clit. When he took that bundle of nerves into his mouth and slipped two fingers into her waiting heat, a moan vibrated in her throat.
“Come for me, Georgie,” he urged. “Let me see you orgasm. Let me feel you all over my hand.”
“I want…you…inside…me,” she gasped out. “Please.”
“Oh, you’ll have that. I promise you. But I want this first.”
Relentlessly, he aroused her with his fingers and his mouth, pushing her higher until she had no choice but to let the orgasm explode through her body. He rode her through it, sucking hard on her clit while he kept up the rhythm of his fingers. When she collapsed back on her pillows, pulse racing, she couldn’t miss the satisfied smile on his face.
“Most excellent
,” he told her. “Very, very excellent. But I knew it would be.” He kissed her, letting her taste herself on his lips. “I just had a feeling you’d be a very passionate woman, Georgie Zielinski. Now I’m going to prove it again.”
“I…want to see all of you,” she told him.
“I’m about to take care of that.” He reached into the back pocket of his jeans, pulled out his wallet and extracted a foil packet.
She was shocked to see his hands shaking.
“Just so you know,” he went on, “this one’s still good. I bought it three weeks ago in an alcoholic fog figuring I might get lucky.” He rested his hand for a moment on the curls covering her sex. “I’m glad I didn’t get the chance to use it before, because this is definitely lucky.”
He stood up to shuck his jeans and boxer briefs. When his cock sprang free, she sucked in her breath. Holy God. He was thick and hard and pulsing, the head a dark purple, fluid already sitting on the slit at the top of the velvety skin. She reached for him but he shook his head.
“Touch me and I’m done. Jesus, Georgie, you just do it to me.” He knelt between her legs again. “I wanted to take so much more time with you, but I think I’m at the end of my rope here.”
“That’s fine.” Her words came out in a breathless rush. “I can’t wait any longer either.”
And just who is this impatient woman in your body, Georgie Zielinski? You sure are being bold tonight.
Because I want him inside me so badly. And what is up with that?
Then she had no more time for thinking, because he rolled on the condom, wrapped the fingers of one hand around his cock and guided its thick length to her wet opening. With the other hand, he lifted the leg with the uninjured foot and draped it over his shoulder.
“I’m going to take very good care of you, Georgie.” His voice was thick with lust. “Very, very good care.”
With agonizing slowness, he nudged himself inside her, his gaze locked with hers, watching for every emotion, every response. Her inner walls stretched to accommodate his thickness, his passage eased by juices from her climax. Even so, he was a lot for her to take. Cade Hannigan was definitely all man and a mile wide. But as she absorbed him inch by inch, her body responded, her nipples tightening again and heat flushing her breasts and her face.
And deep inside her, the erotic coil of release began unwinding. The muscles of her pussy clenched around him and every nerve in her body snapped and sizzled. Gradually, in increments so slow as to be torturous, he began the erotic in-and-out slide, his eyes still locked with hers as if he was intent on memorizing her every reaction.
Georgie hooked her ankle around his neck to give herself balance and moved her body with his, a rhythm that increased in measured strokes.
In, out, in, out, in, out.
Oh God, oh God, oh God.
Every part of her body pulsed and throbbed. She was sure the flame in his dark eyes was a match for her own.
Faster, she wanted to tell him. Hurry, hurry, hurry.
And yet she didn’t want it to end. Wanted the leisurely glide of his cock in and out of her channel to go on and on.
“Damn, Georgie.” The muscles in his face tightened. “I can’t hold on any longer.”
“Go,” she breathed. “I’ll be right there with you.”
“I’ll make damn sure you are.”
Sliding a hand between them, he found her clit and matched the tempo of his fingers to those of his shaft. The climax came roaring up from inside her, racing through her body, consuming every inch of her. At the exact moment that Cade stiffened above her, jaws clenched, she erupted and he followed her over the cliff.
They spun and whirled together, bodies shaking with the force of their orgasms. Nothing existed except the two of them and the intensity of what consumed them. It went on and on, his cock pulsing inside her, the walls of her cunt spasming and milking him until neither had breath or strength left.
At last, he slid her leg carefully from his shoulder and slowly eased his cock from the grasp of her body. She could tell he was as stunned as she was by the whole thing. Maybe blindsided was a better word.
“Be right back.” He kissed her lightly as he rolled to his feet.
She watched him walk toward her bathroom, the muscles of his very fine ass flexing as he moved, and thought to herself, What just happened here? She felt as if she’d been steamrollered. She certainly hadn’t seen it coming. Oh, there’s been that little pop and sizzle between them from the day he’d shown up telling her she was his last chance.
But still.
She could always blame it on the two bottles of beer, but what would he use as an excuse? She almost didn’t want him to come back from disposing of the condom. Maybe she could close her eyes and he would make a quiet exit. Not have to fumble for words.
But in another moment, that idea was out the window. Cade walked back into the room, his lips curved in a crooked smile, and as casually as if he belonged there, dropped carefully down on the mattress next to her. His kiss was sweet rather than sensual, and she wasn’t sure she knew how to decipher the warm look in his eyes.
I’ll give him an out.
“Listen,” she began, running her tongue over her lower lip.
“Whatever you’re going to say, forget it.” He brushed her damp hair back from her forehead. “That was incredible. I’m not sure how we got here, and I sure don’t want to fuck this gig up. But, Georgie, I think if we’re real careful we might have something here.”
She tried again. “I don’t want you to think—”
He touched the tip of a finger to her lips. “What? That you’re easy? A slut? Any of those things?” He shook his head. “Georgie, I’ve had women like that. Far too many. And I can tell you’re nothing like them. I’m afraid you’ll wake up tomorrow and decide you’d better kick my rotten ass out of here.”
She smiled up at him. “Not a chance. I just—” She chewed her lip. “You’re just getting your act together. I’m trying to find my feet.”
“And we’ll help each other.” His face sobered. “Please, Georgie. I can’t believe someone like you, as good and clean as you, wants anything to do with me. Let’s see where it goes, okay?”
She allowed herself to relax. “Okay. One day at a time.”
“You know if those women find out, they’ll give you ten kinds of shit. For that matter, so will just about anyone in the county.”
“That’s their problem,” she assured him. “Meanwhile, let’s keep our own little secret and not let them intrude.”
Unless someone shows up here and sees it written all over our faces.
“Okay. Meanwhile, I’m going to get you something to sleep in and get some fresh ice for that foot. And a couple of Tylenol.” He smiled at her. “And I’ll be here all night taking care of you.”
As she closed her eyes, all she could think was, Please, let this be real. I’m due for some good luck. And so is he.
Chapter Five
Cade was up before it was even fully light. He leaned on one elbow, staring at a still-sleeping Georgie. With only one or two notable exceptions, the women he’d slept with—no, be honest, Cade—the women he’d fucked—went to bed with a full load of makeup on. The next morning, if he hung around that long, it was a mess on their faces, like a Halloween mask gone bad. This woman, with no makeup at all, outshone every one of them.
She was the first woman he’d ever met who didn’t try to conceal anything with artifice and decorations. She just—was. The light filtering into the room made her skin nearly translucent and outlined the sweep of her thick dark lashes and the fullness of her lips. Lips that had kissed him with such unexpected passion.
The sheet and blanket had slipped down enough for him to see the slope of her shoulders and the curve of her breasts. Remembering the feel of them in his hands, he felt his dick stirring with more than his usual morning woody. Along with the memory of her tight pussy clamped around his dick like a hot, wet vise. Heat rushed through him
and he had to force himself to take a deep, calming breath.
Jesus!
He didn’t remember ever having a night like this one. Or a woman. Oh, if he thought about it, maybe Amy had probably come closest to it, but he’d still been too much of a jackass to appreciate what she’d given him. He certainly had never had sex like this, a coming together on the most elemental level. Maybe he’d needed to lose all the bullshit to get to this point. He couldn’t deny the fact that he and Georgie had connected in a way that touched all the places deep inside him. This sudden flood of unfamiliar emotions scared him to death.
So now what? Maybe to her it was just sex. Damn good sex, though. Had he quite literally fucked himself out of his last chance for redemption? Would she wake up with her eyes filled with regret and tell him he needed to move on? Of course, if she did, he had no fucking idea where he’d move on to.
He sure as hell hoped that wasn’t what was going to happen. Last night, he’d felt as if he’d crossed a very high mountain from the crappy Cade Hannigan who treated people like shit to the new one who was developing a new appreciation for life. A life where he could face each day without booze, and without the gaggle of so-called friends he’d always felt the necessity to show off for. He’d come to appreciate the hard work that was sweating out the old person to make room for the new.
He had so many things to atone for, and damn did he ever think he’d use that word in conjunction with himself? Of course, he still had a fucking long way to go, but now he wanted to take that journey with Georgie Zielinski. So many emotions were swirling around inside him. He just hoped last night had meant half as much to her as it had to him.
Don’t rush it, idiot. Find out how she feels first. Something you never took the time to do with other women.
He took a moment to check on her foot. He’d removed the ice when he carried her into the bedroom so she’d been without it since then. But her foot looked a lot better than the day before. There was some discoloration, more redness than anything else. And the swelling had gone down. She’d still have to stay off it for another day or two, an idea he was sure she’d object to. But he planned to insist, and to do his best to take care of her.
