Hitting The Mark

by Jill Monroe

  “So, do you trust me?” she asked, really needing to know. Afraid of the answer. Who’d trust her?

  He blinked at her, his gaze slid away, then he met her eyes full force with those sexy brown eyes of his. “Yes,” he admitted.

  Danni laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised.”

  “I guess I hadn’t thought of it until this moment.”

  Eric signaled for the bill, and she placed her fingers on his hand. “I should get this. You’ve paid for the last few meals.”

  “I’m using my free comps,” he told her in a conspiratorial whisper.

  “You see, I’m having a bad influence on you already.”

  “I think I kind of like it.”

  A few minutes later, they walked hand in hand through the casino. She noted that there were lots of new games since her last extended stint inside a casino, not including the other day. But she didn’t get to gawk for long since Eric had her buzzing across the floor at a quick pace.

  “Wait,” she said, and he halted beside her. “Casually look at the guy in the blue polo shirt.”

  Danni watched as Eric’s gaze slid toward the man she indicated. “What’s wrong with him?” he asked.

  “He’s cheating.”

  Eric’s body instantly turned rigid, all attention focused on the man. Danni tugged on his hand. “Come on, you’ll warn him.”

  Eric reluctantly followed beside her. “What was he doing?”

  “He was card-holing. Did you see the woman with the glasses standing behind the dealer? She was trying to spot the dealer’s hole card. If she spotted it, she’d signal to the man in blue and he’d make his bets.”

  “I take it you don’t approve?”

  Obviously he’d heard the disgust in her voice. “Advantage gamblers are the worst. I mean, where’s the sport in that? You don’t take someone’s money without at least giving them something in return. A good story at least.”

  He stopped, his hand turning her to face him. “Do you really believe that?” Eric’s expression was serious. “All this talk, all this hype about conning and taking, is that really behind you?”

  A tense energy seemed to surround his body. As if a lot was riding on her answer.

  Danni nodded her head to indicate yes. “Absolutely. I went to jail for it. And believe me when I tell you, jail is no place I ever want to go back to.”

  Eric traced the curve of her cheek tenderly. The tension was gone, replaced now by a look so heated her nerve endings felt scorched. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that,” he said against her lips.

  His kiss did scorch her. And she wanted to be burned all over her body.

  9

  AFTER THAT KISS in the hallway, Eric quickly led her to the elevators. Her legs were weak and her stomach muscles tightened in need.

  “Come upstairs,” he said. He wasn’t asking. He was only voicing what they both wanted.

  Danni nodded, her heart pounding and nipples hardening in anticipation. Soon he’d be touching her. Kissing her.

  They managed to keep their hands off each other until the elevator door closed, then Danni slammed his shoulders against the wall. He reached for her hips, deliciously crushing her body to his rock-solid chest. The hard ridge of his erection rubbed between her legs, sending a shaft of wet warmth through her core.

  She kissed him hard. Long. And with passion. Her tongue traced the lips she’d thought about during lunch. Eric clutched her upper arms, and his breathing grew harsh. She smiled against his mouth. Her controlled corporate man had lost his smooth, methodical moves from the night before. Now Eric was raw and instinctive as he stroked and palmed her breasts through her blouse.

  Danni loved it. Reveled in knowing her body, her mouth, she caused this controlled man to sink to primal need. The ding of the elevator alerted them to Eric’s floor. She was almost reluctant to pull away.

  The door opened with a whoosh, and a puff of air hit her heated skin. With his hand at the small of her back, Eric guided her to his room. She’d never walked so fast to get someplace, even when she was late for class. They reached his room and Eric smashed the keycard into the slot and the door unlocked.

  Once inside, her purse hit the floor, and he kicked the door shut. Eric leaned against it and pulled her to his big strong body, mirroring their positions in the elevator. His hands sank into her hair, bringing her mouth closer, harder to his.

  “I want you naked.” They were his rough words, but she felt the same way.

  His fingers trailed up her back, a touch like fire against her skin. She sucked in a breath as he teased and tormented each vertebra and she twisted and ground her hips against him in pleasure.

  “So sexy,” he breathed.

  Eric found the loop of fabric holding the top of her camisole in place. With a few deft turns of his fingers the material fell to her waist and his hands caressed her shoulders, lifting her gently away.

  “I want to look at you,” he said, his voice tight with tension.

  Her nipples hardened even more before his gaze, increasing her pleasure.

  For a moment, he simply stared at her near naked body. She felt like the sexiest woman alive.

  “You’re so beautiful and exciting. I wasn’t expecting that,” he told her on a husky groan.

  “What were you expecting?” she asked.

  Eric’s eyes widened for a moment, then he lowered his mouth to first one rose-tipped breast, and the other. She gasped in red-hot need at the rasping of his tongue. All her thoughts and questions disappeared and she only felt. Felt his heated breath against the sensitive skin of her nape. Thrilled in the delicious sensation of his warm, wet mouth.

  She’d have preferred to have been the seducer, the one setting the pace. Then she’d have the control.

  Danni moaned as he swirled her nipple with his tongue.

  But sometimes sacrifices must be made.

  Eric grabbed her skirt, bunching it higher along her thigh. Her skin tingled as he ran his fingers along her bare legs.

  “You’re so soft.”

  “Mmm,” she moaned, and lifted one leg to bring her most responsive areas into direct contact with his erection. She rubbed herself against him, sending sparks of delicious intensity crashing through her.

  “Do that again,” he urged. His voice was a seductive invitation. His hands cupped her backside, dragging her higher against his body, harder against the long length of his cock.

  She rubbed her body up and down the ridge of his penis, seeking the best spot. They were all good.

  His tongue slid along the sensitive area above her collarbone, and she bucked against him. “Right there,” he said, his voice full with need.

  Her movements became more frantic. Eric’s hands wound around her hips, guiding her frenzied motion. She moaned, rubbing herself harder. Faster. Every muscle contracted. Danni squeezed her eyes tight, clutched his shoulders. She was so close. So close.

  He thrust his hips against hers.

  “Oh, my—I’m c—” She couldn’t speak. Her words broke off as one amazing sensation overtook another. Every muscle of her back stiffened and the sound of her gasping cry echoed throughout the small entranceway of his hotel suite. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t open her eyes. How her heart managed to beat she’d never know.

  Corporate was so hiding something good.

  She should be a wreck. She should be nothing but a lump, but that orgasm only left her energized. Her body ached to do that again. This time with them both naked between the sheets. Or against the wall. Only the naked part mattered.

  She lifted her head, already missing the heated clean scent of his neck. Her eyes drifted open to see the strain around his lips. The tightness of his shoulders. Sweat beaded along his forehead.

  Her heartbeat slowed to a mere race and her heavy panting subsided. The air unit kicked on. They must have generated some incredible heat. An embarrassed blush rose in her cheeks. She’d barely let the man pass the threshold before she romped on hi
m.

  Their eyes met in the fading daylight coming from the bedroom window. It was too dark to make out what lay in his beautiful brown depths, but the force of his passion bombarded her.

  She worked up a weak smile. “I can’t believe that. I’ve never…I mean, I don’t even have my clothes off. And you…you didn’t even get to enjoy anything.”

  His deep laugh turned into a low, pained groan. Every muscle in his neck strained. His skin hot to the touch.

  “Believe me, I enjoyed it. But I’m in a bad way,” he told her.

  Every nerve ending in her body let out one big hmm. She’d gotten him in that bad way. Her embarrassment faded. Obviously seeing her orgasm, relish in her own pleasure made him want her. He’d be an amazing lover. Danni couldn’t wait to find out.

  She grabbed his hand as Eric pushed himself from the wall. “I can take care of that,” she offered, her gaze shifted downward to openly admire his body.

  She’d never been in such a large suite before, but had no urge to explore the space. Danni found his bedroom off a small sitting area. The king bed was topped with a soft comforter, which she quickly shoved away. She turned and saw Eric lift his shirt.

  “Wait,” she said. “Let me.”

  The material fell from his hands, as she stalked toward him. She had no plans to delicately recline against the headboard and watch the silhouette of her future lover remove his clothes. She wanted him naked. And she wanted to get him that way.

  She grabbed for the hem of his polo shirt, then lifted it slowly up his body, her fingers trailing up the warmth of his skin. Her fingers ached to touch the newly revealed hard muscles of his chest and to trace that tantalizing line of crinkly hair down the tautness of his flat stomach. First, she had to finish stripping him, leaving him in only his underwear.

  That is if he wore underwear.

  Danni’s whole body shivered as that image flooded her mind. Her fingers quickly found the button and zip of his pants, and she swiftly shoved them down his solid thighs.

  Boxer briefs. Sexy as hell.

  Danni fought a war between disappointment of him not being completely naked, and the thrill of knowing she’d be seeing him in the buff after tearing off that scrap of material. With her teeth.

  She scooted onto the bed, bringing him down with her. The bed dipped invitingly under his weight. She had no hint of “first time” nerves.

  “I want you so bad. Hearing you come like that, it was so damn erotic,” he whispered, his breath teasing her skin. He reached for her ankles, fingering the gold chain adorning the smooth skin above her left foot. His fingers traced the line of her calf, the sensitive skin behind her knee, up her thighs. Her body tensed in anticipation. “I’m going to make you come and come again.”

  Then his hand moved down.

  Danni sucked in a breath, holding it as he shifted to her right leg. With a firm push, he positioned her knees on either side of his hips and kneeled between her legs. He followed the path his fingers took again, but this time with his palms. His touch became more forceful, deepening her excitement. He didn’t stop at the barrier of her bunched up skirt. Her stomach muscles clenched as the calloused skin of his hands moved along her belly and up her rib cage.

  Touch my breasts. Hold them. Suck them.

  She arched toward him, her nipples tightening in expectation.

  A moan tore from her throat as he molded her breasts the way she wanted him to. Sweeter and more delicious than earlier. Her knees clamped around him.

  “Hey, who put you in charge?” she asked.

  He angled her face toward him. “I’ve always been in charge,” he said against her lips.

  She expected another firm, hard kiss. Instead, he tongued the outer ridge of her lips. He gently tugged her bottom lip into his mouth.

  He rolled and stretched beside her. Danni sunk her hands into the hair at the back of his neck, urging, drawing him nearer to turn his carnal caress into a real kiss.

  But he was too quick for her, his dark head sinking to her side. “I want to taste your skin,” he growled against her ear.

  Danni breathed deep, her body nearly writhing. The tip of his tongue touched the curve of her ear in one luscious stroke.

  “Take me into your body, Danni. Take me like this,” he told her, his voice urgent.

  Describing how he wanted her was almost as yummy as she knew the real thing would be. She reached for his hips. “Yes. Now.”

  “Wait,” he whispered. His hands stilled hers.

  He lowered his head to kiss the hollow of her neck. With a gentle squeeze, he released her hands and trailed his own down her body. Her nipples tightened against the light touch of his fingers. The fine hairs along her skin tingling as he stopped between her legs, his fingers searching between the folds of the material.

  After one long, agonizing moment, he cupped her. His fingers teased and stroked her slick heat. Deep pleasurable agony pierced her as his thumb found her clit. A shot of desire raced to her core.

  She wanted him now.

  A feeling of delicious rightness flowed through her body. Yes. The hardness of him pressed into her thigh. Everything felt so, so right.

  Eric groaned as he gripped the edge of her skirt and tugged. She was lying on it, and the voluminous folds grew awkward.

  “Just leave it. Rip it, I don’t care.”

  Eric grabbed the thin material of her panties and tore the material apart in such a way that the force didn’t hurt her. He tossed the material to the floor.

  The cool air touched her hot, bare skin, and she dug her toes into the softness of the mattress.

  She wanted to touch him. She needed to taste him, too. Danni shifted upward and kissed his chest, trailing her fingers down his stomach. His skin twitched as her fingers found the band of his boxer briefs.

  To hell with the slowness of taking them off with her teeth. She wanted them off now. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled them down. In the past, she’d hidden her boldness, what she liked in bed. Something about his open need of her bolstered her confidence. She wanted him to know how much he affected her. How much she wanted him. Period. Her hand found his erection and she encircled him, eliciting a broken moan.

  Her lips soon followed her fingers. At the base of him, she licked her lips then ran her tongue up his smooth hard length. Eric shuddered.

  “Do you want me to stop?” she asked, her voice teasing. She knew he didn’t want her to pause even a mini-second.

  “No, no.”

  She tormented the tip of him with her tongue, then fully took him in her mouth. Above her, he groaned and his hips jumped. His fingers twined through her hair. She loved what she did to him, never realizing the kind of power her touch had over him.

  With a jerk, he cupped his hands under her arms and pulled her up to him. He rolled her onto her back. The heat in his eyes told her he had big plans for her. Naughty plans.

  He kissed his way down her body, the tip of his nose tickling her skin. She arched even before his tongue found her. She gasped at the first gentle swipe, then he tasted her in one long glorious stroke after another.

  “Now, Eric, now.”

  “I need something to protect you,” he said.

  “Nothing in the nightstand?” she asked, a wave of frustration pummeling her body.

  “There was a sex toy convention at the hotel a few days ago. They were practically throwing the condoms around. I left them on the table in the front room.”

  “More comps?” Now, something for nothing was something her con artist soul could appreciate.

  She flipped on the bedside light so he could see where he was going. Watching his sweet ass as he walked away was something she could appreciate, too. Soon she’d be grabbing those muscular cheeks of his as he thrust into her. A new rush of warmth heated between her legs.

  A moment later, he returned to the bedroom. Eric was amazing to look at from the molded strength of his thighs, the muscled flatness of his stomach to those brown eyes
of his, almost black with sexual tension. Her eyes were drawn to his penis. Still thick and erect. She wouldn’t be turning off the light soon.

  Eric held up a package. “This one warms up with friction. Inside and out.” He tore off the corner of the package with his teeth, then sheathed himself.

  He stretched beside her on the bed, nudging her legs apart with his knee. The wide tip of him teased where she ached to welcome him. Frustration gnawed at her. She rotated her hips, his penis rubbing, making her blood heat. He entered her in one long, controlled thrust, filling her and making her tremble.

  He groaned when he finally rested totally within her, and her eyes drifted shut.

  “Open your eyes,” he said in a gruff voice, his words stilted and spoke of his need.

  With difficulty she happily blinked open her eyes. The lamplight fell across his face. Their gazes met. Fire blazed from his brown depths. When he had her full attention, he pulled almost all the way out, her body protesting every millimeter’s withdrawal. Then he pushed forward again.

  She raised her chin, gripping his shoulders tightly.

  “Do you feel that?”

  “I’m feeling everything.”

  He chuckled low in his throat. “No, the condom. Do you feel the heat?”

  She shook her head.

  “Wait,” he said, the assurance in his voice making all kinds of sexy noncorporate-type promises. He withdrew from her once more.

  She bit her lip as he sank back again. Ahhh. A strange stirring heat fired her from the inside. She tingled wherever he stroked. “That’s amazing.”

  He thrust inside her again and again. His body continued with the maddening rhythm until they were both gasping.

  He stopped suddenly, and every hormone in her body screamed. “This isn’t right,” he said.

  Danni clamored for release. “Feels right to me.”

  He drew from her body, then he wrapped her in those big arms of his. “I want it like it was in the hall,” he ordered.

  Her senses became even more in tune to him as he lifted her from the bed and put her back against the closest wall, settling her legs around his waist. He entered her in one incredible thrust. The heat from him scorched her. She met him, moved against him as she had in the entryway.