by Lucy Monroe
“Nnn…OOOH…” Her voice went up an octave as he rolled her turgid peak between his fingertips. Goose bumps rose around the hard bud.
“Damn, woman, you are molten.” Go him, talking in whole sentences.
“You…” She bit his chin—this time just enough to sting.
A raw sound came from deep inside him as he jerked his head around so their lips could mesh.
“Too…” she whispered against his mouth just before their lips converged.
The kiss was amazing. No shrinking violet, Elle met his tongue thrust for thrust and changed the angle only slightly when their teeth clashed. No complaints about it being too rough. She wanted it as much as he did. She was squirming against him, her fingers digging into his nape and, man, didn’t that feel fine.
Beau didn’t know how long they stood there necking right outside her bedroom door, but his arousal grew so intense, he was on the verge of coming in his jeans. He could deal with that—he knew he was good for more than one go-round tonight—but hell if he was going alone. Changing the angle of his hold on her, he tunneled his long fingers into the honeyed depths at her core.
Her body went rigid and she keened against his lips.
He dipped into her wet center, spreading her natural lubricant upward so his fingers slid over her clitoris as easy as pie. Oh, shit—she was perfect there too. A hard little nub that pulsed with her desire. He was careful not to press too hard, but rubbed with a gentle rhythm as his own balls drew up in preparation for shooting.
He felt the point of no return coalesce in the base of his dick and he pinched her clit, once…twice…three times. She ripped her mouth from his, a harsh cry sounding as her body convulsed and he let his own pleasure explode out of him.
He milked her pleasure with his fingers until she gave another set of miniconvulsions, and then whimpering, she sort of just went limp against him. He carefully adjusted his hold on her so that he wasn’t pressing directly against her overstimulated clitoris.
Letting her head rest back against his shoulder, she gave a very satiated sigh. “Mmm. Nice appetizer.”
His laughter rang around them as he finished carrying her into the bedroom. She was perfect for him.
Elle decided that there was something incredibly decadent about being carried the way Beau was holding her. He still had one hand cupping the apex of her thighs, the tip of his middle finger sliding just into the opening of her vagina. His other arm was crossed over her chest, his hand pressed protectively over her breast—or was that possessively? Either way, it felt good. Right. For now, anyway.
When they reached the bed, he stopped and let her down so she was standing, his hand sliding up and brushing her pleasure spot and making her body jolt. He didn’t let her move away, though, but kept her close with a hand on her hip. “Stay there.”
“Okay.”
“I like it when you’re all agreeable.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Oh, I won’t.” His voice was laced with laughter, though, and she got the impression that that humor was directed at her.
“You’re only in charge if I let you be,” she warned him.
“You think I’m not aware? We Texans aren’t that stupid, princess.”
“All right, then.”
He laughed softly. “Don’t you worry, sugar. I know you’re a warrior under all that fierce feminine desire.”
“And you’re still a brainiac under all that alpha attitude.”
“We make a good pair, then, don’t we?”
“Why? Because we’re more than what you see on the surface?”
“I like your surface and what’s underneath.”
Elle believed him. Beau wasn’t intimidated by her dangerous side or her uninhibited desires. A lot of men weren’t comfortable with a woman who gave as good as she got. She liked the fact that Beau wasn’t one of them. Maybe even adored it.
“Ditto.” It wasn’t hearts and flowers, but it was truth and a rare one.
He kissed her temple in acknowledgment of that unspoken reality. “Thank you.”
Without another word, he pulled her tank top off over her head. Then he skimmed his hands down her sides until both thumbs hooked in the elastic of her thong. “Let’s get this off.”
“Yes.”
He pulled the thong down and she stepped out of it. She could hear him inhaling behind her and she turned to see.
He was sniffing her wet panties with a feral expression that sent more pleasure pulsing between her legs. His eyes narrowed, the brown irises glittering with primal hunger. “I want to taste this.”
She fell back on the bed, spreading her legs, and waved her hand airily, belying the gush of pleasure his words had caused. “Be my guest.”
“Oh, I plan to.” He dropped to his knees and leaned forward to plant a single kiss to her moist curls before lifting his head. “These boots are going to have to go too, princess. Sexy as they are, I’m not risking my John Thomas to those stiletto heels.”
“John Thomas?”
“You bet. J.T., he’s my best friend, don’t you know?”
She laughed, delighted by his silliness. “You think my feet are going to get close to your groin in the next round?”
He winked. “You never know, what with wild sex and all, anything could happen and those stiletto heels are dangerous.”
“You think sex with me is wild?”
“I’m from Texas, sugar, and you’re a warrior princess, for sure. Tame ain’t gonna cut it.”
Elle found herself grinning in a way she hadn’t during sex since Kyle. In fact, she wasn’t sure she’d ever been this amused and hot at the same time even then. She schooled her features into a facade of seriousness. “Then the boots definitely have to go. We can’t put J.T. at risk.”
“Exactly.” Beau removed first one and then the other, along with the footy socks she wore under them, leaving her finally completely naked.
Her legs dangled off the bed, her body open to him, but she wasn’t even remotely embarrassed. Again that odd sense of rightness had settled over her. Being naked with him felt good. And yes, right.
“What about you?” she asked in a voice that came out more breathy than she’d intended.
His expression the epitome of innocence, he looked at her. “What about me?”
“You’re still dressed.”
“You want to see this magnificent body, you’ve got to earn it.”
No way would she admit it to him, but his arrogance was starting to charm her more than a little. “How am I supposed to do that?”
“It’s real simple, sugar. You just lie there all nice and quiet like.”
Beau’s drawl was thickening, his words elongating until even single-syllable words had more than one beat. Elle took that as evidence of his arousal and felt proud about bringing the primitive man out from the highly educated scientist’s shell.
“I’m just supposed to lie here?”
“That’s right.” Then he tipped his head to the side as if considering. “Well, maybe we could alter things just a hair.”
“How?”
“Let’s put your feet up here.” As he spoke, he lifted her feet so they were situated flat on the bed, her legs spread wide.
His dark chocolate gaze sizzled with heat as he looked at his handiwork. “Yeah, I think that’ll work.”
“Good,” she croaked out, her throat gone dry.
He grinned. “You like being all open to me, don’t you?”
“Yes.” He’d tapped into her deepest fantasies, arranging her as a sexual display about to be devoured.
“Fine. Now, remember…you just lie there. Got it?”
She nodded, then swallowed before speaking. “What will you be doing?”
“This.” And then his mouth was on her.
The sight of his dark head between her thighs and the feel of his mouth pleasuring her sent rational thought flying out into the ether.
He knew not to go directly for her clitor
is after she’d already climaxed so hard, so he began with his tongue on her labia and the opening to the heart of her. He knew exactly what to do with his lips, teeth and tongue. He knew when to use his fingers and where in order to intensify her pleasure. By the time he moved his attention to her clitoris, she was moaning and thrusting her pelvis toward his mouth.
He brought her to the brink of climax not once, but three times.
She was swearing, demanding and finally begging when he took her over. Her scream was almost as long as the climax, which wrung her out until she couldn’t get enough breath to make more sound.
He kissed all over her inner thighs and soothed her with gentle caresses before lowering her legs so they once again dangled over the side of the bed.
At some point, he disappeared from between her legs, but she couldn’t make her head move so she could see where he’d gone. She could just about manage to lie there and wallow in a sense of repletion unlike anything she’d ever known.
She didn’t know how long he was gone, but she felt his presence when he got back. Felt his eyes on her even though he said nothing.
Cracking her eyes, she looked up at him. He was naked. Finally.
She licked her lips and then smiled. “I earned naked Texan, huh?”
“You did, princess. You came so good.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “I think you’re the one who earned a reward.”
“I plan to have one too. Bath?”
Oh, that sounded good. “Carry me there?” She didn’t even feel bad about asking. It was his fault her legs were now limp noodles.
“My pleasure.”
Elle hummed with pleasure as Beau lowered her into the water. He’d guessed she liked her bathwater good and hot. The blissful expression on her face told him he was right. He’d found some of that stuff that makes water all soft and slippery against your skin and added it. He now took advantage of the slickness to begin a full-body massage.
Her eyes fluttered, exposing their clear gray depths. “I thought you were going to take a bath with me.”
“Naw. This little tub’s too small for both of us.”
“But—”
“I want to rub nekkid bodies together.”
“Yes.”
He smiled at her emphatic agreement despite the way her body lolled in the water, obviously exhausted.
“First we gotta get you a little revived.”
“Giving me a bath is going to do that?”
“It’ll get you ready for what I’ve got in mind.” The nice, long, slow ride he’d promised himself earlier.
She met his gaze, hers as serious as a heartbeat. “You’re an exceptionally generous lover.”
“That presupposes that I don’t get as much out of giving you pleasure as you do.” Didn’t she know how unbelievable her own level of response was. He was already addicted to the sounds she made in passion. “The way you react to my touch gives me a high better then aged Kentucky whiskey.”
Elle shook her head. “You’re a very special man, Dr. Beau Ruston.”
“You go right on thinking that, princess, but I don’t know a man who wouldn’t gladly drown himself in your desire.”
“No one ever has before. Not even…” Her voice trailed off, as she closed her eyes, as if she couldn’t deal with giving voice to what she was thinking.
But he could guess. Kyle. “A man learns a thing or two about appreciating the good things in life by the time he’s thirty-two, sugar.”
“Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure if she was thanking him for the surfeit of physical pleasure or making excuses for the man she had given her heart to, but it didn’t matter. “Welcome.”
He continued the body massage, pressing into muscles that had been rigid during her orgasms. Her limbs were toned and a pleasure to touch. But then he enjoyed touching all of her. He spent several minutes using a deep, Swedish-style massage, bringing her down completely from her earlier arousal. When her breath was even and her muscles were relaxed, he changed to subtly enticing touches.
He watched in fascination as her body went from total lethargy to renewed need.
She undulated sensually in the water. “You’re exciting me again.”
“That’s the plan.”
“It’s different this time.”
“Yep.”
“Intense, but not so edgy.”
“Getting you ready for a slow ride that just might last ’til dawn.”
Her eyes flew wide open. “You’re serious.”
“As a heart attack, sugar.”
“You can’t possibly have enough energy.”
“You ever heard what a football player goes through during preseason training?”
“Um…no.”
“Riding your pretty little body isn’t going to be a patch on that physical challenge and it’s going to feel a million times better.”
“You’re a competitive bastard, aren’t you?”
“You think?”
“I should have known. Nobody puts himself through college on a football scholarship and then goes on to be one of the youngest PhDs in the country without having a competitive streak about a mile wide.”
Beau just shrugged. He wasn’t about to deny it. That would require a lie, and unlike Elle, dishonesty wasn’t built into his job description.
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s been a while since football training, though, jock-boy. You sure you’re still up to challenging physical feats?”
Oooh…he might be competitive, but she was a professional when it came to throwing down the gauntlet.
“I think I’m up to it, but you’ll just have to let me know what you think tomorrow morning.” He still ran five miles a day and did weight training six days a week. The exercise kept his body in shape and the blood flowing to his brain.
Beau popped the plug on the tub and then lifted Elle from the water. Before he had a chance to dry her off, she pressed herself to him from lips to toes and gave him a kiss that engaged his whole being. She was certainly doing her part to make sure he could meet her challenge.
He liked a woman who played fair.
Her hands were everywhere, rubbing, smoothing, scratching lightly with her nails, and he realized that rather than helping meet the challenge, she was upping the ante, driving his arousal up notch by notch.
He liked a woman even more when she pushed his limits.
They dried each other off, since she’d gotten him wet, and then kissed on their way to the bed. By the time he got the condom on and went to slide inside her, she was soaking and his cock was so hard it hurt. But he wasn’t going to come right away. No, sir. They were taking that long, slow ride.
He stopped once he was fully seated in her slick, tight channel and looked down into her eyes. Their gazes locked for several seconds before he started to move. This wasn’t lovemaking in the strictest sense because they weren’t in love, but it was as close to it as it got.
And damned if it wasn’t going to end up the real McCoy unless he watched himself.
Falling in love wasn’t on his imminent to-do list, but falling at any level for a woman who was lying to him about who she was? That would never be on his list of things to accomplish before he died.
That didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the physical intimacy. Damn right he could. And would.
And did.
It wasn’t quite dawn when they finally culminated their intercourse with another simultaneous orgasm, but it was enough past midnight to be respectable.
Elle skipped her morning workout and opted for a long, hot shower instead. She was sore in places she’d forgotten she could even feel. The steamy water helped, but oh, she was going to be feeling it today. Which probably made her perverse, because she liked it. Aching muscles and borderline tender flesh were witness to how different the night before had been from anything she had allowed herself to experience in the last few years.
She felt like she’d taken a necessary step forward. She had no de
sire to know the emotional vulnerability she had experienced with Kyle, but having amazing sex was something else. She might not have been prepared for it, but she realized now that she didn’t mind knowing that aspect to her sensuality wasn’t dead. She was surprised not to feel any guilt, but maybe four years of penance—of sex as nothing more than a tool and/or a physical release of tension—was enough.
Even for her.
Then again, while every unfamiliar twinge she felt reminded her of the incredible pleasure she’d experienced the night before, there was also a subtle tension clenching her insides. So, maybe not completely guilt-free after all.
Still, she refused to regret what had indeed been mind-blowing sex.
She was drinking her second cup of coffee and making breakfast when Beau came out of the bathroom after his own shower.
Biting back a moan at how yummy he looked in nothing but his jeans from the night before, she gave him a leisurely once-over and smiled. “Good morning.”
Still wet, his dark hair looked as black as hers and his brown eyes glinted with sensual lights that said he was remembering last night’s ecstasy as well. The dark whorls of hair on his well-defined chest led down in a sexy-as-sin treasure trail that ended enticingly at the waistband of his low-slung jeans. She knew exactly what the snug denim covered and her womb clenched in anticipation of experiencing it again.
Chapter 8
“You like what you see?” Beau’s morning voice was a sexy rumble.
“You know I do.”
He gave Elle a smile laced with smug male confidence.
She shook her head. “That arrogance again.”
“I thought we agreed it wasn’t arrogance if it was based on the truth.” He poured himself some coffee.
She turned the bacon. “I remember you argued that point, yes.”
“Let me help.” He took up the spatula for the pancakes and flipped them. “You don’t think I’ve got anything to feel smug about?”
