Code Red

by Amy Noelle

  “I love that noise you make when you’re frustrated with me.” He kissed my cheek and moved down to nuzzle my neck. “You make it a lot. Kind of like a mix between a scream and a sigh.”

  “You make me do it a lot. You’re driving me crazy.”

  He laughed and nipped at my skin. “What do you think you’ve been doing to me, every day at work? Even before we were together, you teased me relentlessly. And then when we were together, when I knew exactly what I was missing each and every night when I went home to an empty bed, it was even worse.”

  I ran my hands over the taut muscles of his back. Good lord, there were muscles back there, too? I really should start working out. Tomorrow. No, next week sometime. “Your fault. I wanted you from day one.”

  He sucked on my earlobe. “I know, but I wanted this.” He moved his hand over my heart. “I wanted more. And you’re finally giving it to me, aren’t you?”

  “I . . . I’m giving you more than anybody else has had.” That was as much as I could give him.

  He flashed a smile. “I’ll take it. For now.” Then he was kissing me again, and I lost it. I wrapped myself around him and tried to hump him through his clothes. He chuckled. “I can’t take that pretty top off if you don’t let go of me.”

  I let my arms drop to the bed but kept my legs around his waist. He boosted himself up, took the bottom of my tank top in his hands, and kept his eyes locked on mine as he slowly raised it. Our connection broke only when he tugged it over my head. There was something incredibly erotic about how he kept staring into my eyes even as he was getting me naked.

  He looked over my body, and for the first time ever, I had to fight the urge to cover myself. What if he didn’t think I was beautiful now that he could see all of me? Then he looked into my eyes again, and my mouth went dry when I saw his expression.

  “My imagination didn’t do you justice. You’re stunning.”

  I blew out a breath of relief just before he kissed me softly, slowly. He moved his hands over my stomach. I wanted those hands on me more than I wanted my next breath. Breathing was highly overrated. Joshua Daniels was not. Every inch of my body was tingling, and he was just tracing light circles over my torso. After what seemed like hours, he finally cupped my breasts in both hands.

  “Perfect,” he whispered as he kissed his way down my neck. “I’ve wanted to taste you here so badly. You can’t even know.” Then he ran his lips over my nipple, and I moaned. I held his head, and he watched my face as he licked me. My nipple had never felt so hard in my life. He sucked it into his mouth, then used his teeth and tongue to drive me crazy. I called out his name and tugged on his hair as he savored me.

  He moved to my other breast while I writhed beneath him. I’d never come apart just from having my breasts played with, but I felt that tug that told me I was close to exploding. I rubbed myself against him in a frantic effort to let go, which was something I’d been fantasizing about for ages.

  He watched me, those electric blue eyes on my face while he flicked my nipple with his tongue. He reached between us, and I gasped as he used his fingers on me. Jesus, above the clothes and I was nearly gone.

  Josh released my nipple and sat up. I wanted to reach for him, but every single one of my muscles felt locked in place. He hooked his fingers into my pants and pulled them down over my legs. It wasn’t until they were off and on the floor that he looked at my body.

  “So sexy. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.” He stroked my thigh, and I dug my fingers into the bedspread. “You’re so ready, aren’t you?” His fingers crept higher, and I shuddered. So close. Just two more inches, and he’d be touching me where I needed him most. “I wonder what you’ll do if I touch you like this.”

  “Fuck!” I yelled as one finger moved over me. I ground myself against him shamelessly, and thankfully, he didn’t toy with me any longer. He pressed his fingers against me firmly, working me over. It took no time at all. Less than minute later I erupted, gripping his hand with my thighs while I came apart.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered, continuing to touch me as I came down from the high. “It’s not nearly enough.” He was staring at me. “This won’t be enough for either one of us. I want more. I want it all.”

  Before I could ask him what he meant, he was between my legs, his tongue was on me, his fingers were inside me, and the whole world disappeared. I was fairly confident there was nothing sexy or beautiful about the way I was grinding against him and breathing like a ninety-year-old with emphysema. When I felt the scrape of his teeth over me, I lost it again and clamped down on his fingers as I screamed his name.

  When I was finally coherent, he moved back up my body and took my face in his hands. “It’s so much better than I imagined. I’ll never forget what you looked like in that moment.” He kissed me, and I could taste myself on him. It turned me on.

  It was my turn now. So far I’d been useless, letting him drive me up and over twice when I’d yet to get my hands on him. He was touching me again, and I was ridiculously wet and ready for him, but I needed to bring him some pleasure first.

  I wiggled out from under him. “Where are you going?” He actually pouted as I stood above him. It was so damn cute, I had to grin.

  “You think I’m going anywhere? You’ve still got a lot of work to do, mister.” That made him laugh as I climbed on top of him. “I just thought maybe it was my turn to make you feel good.” I needed to take back some control. This emotional stuff wasn’t me. I bent and nibbled on his neck. “How’s that for starters?”

  “Really good.” I licked and sucked my way down his sculpted chest, loving the light smattering of hair there. I bit his nipples and made him jump, then licked his abs and made him grunt and tug on my hair. “I really, really like your body.”

  He ran his hands up my sides and cupped my breasts again. “Same here.” He tweaked my nipples gently, and I shook my head and pulled back.

  “Oh no, my turn, remember?”

  He held his hands up and grinned at me. “As you wish. Have your way with me.”

  If I’d ever received a better invitation in my life, I couldn’t remember it. I bit his hip bone and enjoyed the way he bowed his back off the bed. I smiled against his skin and unbuttoned his khakis. It took everything in me not to just yank down his pants and boxers, but I wanted to give him a little of what he’d given me. I watched him watch me as I moved his pants over his hips and down his muscular legs. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to get anything done at work now that I knew what was under those pretty shirts and slacks.

  I tossed his pants on the floor and moved two fingers over the waistband of his boxers. “Are you ready?” I asked and smiled when I saw the slightly dazed look on his face.

  “More than I can even say.” I smirked as I lowered his boxers and, though I wanted to be amazing like he’d been and keep my eyes on his beautiful face, I had to take a peek and, oh yeah, he was every bit as promising as I’d known he’d be. Good-bye BOB, you’ve been replaced.

  I took him in my hands, and he made a sexy growling noise as I moved my body up and down his hard length a few times. Then I moved farther down his legs and bent to give just the tip a kiss. He moaned loudly, and I smiled as I took him into my mouth and moved my tongue against him. I loved how he looked, the way his fingers moved gently through my hair, letting me control the pace. I needed to please him, too. I’d wanted to for so long.

  “Nic, I need you,” he said, his tone pleading. I released him and crawled up his body. Then I reached into my nightstand and took out a condom. He caught an eyeful of BOB and grinned.

  “Always be prepared,” I said.

  A laugh rumbled through his chest and tickled my thighs. “That’s for the Boy Scouts, remember?”

  “Maybe. It still fits.”

  He rolled over and took me with him before pinning me underneath him again. “As gorgeous as you look above me, and believe me, you do, I need you like this the first time.” I shivered. Even knowing t
here would be more times after this, I loved hearing him confirm it. He pushed himself up, and I watched as he slid the condom over himself.

  Josh smiled and lowered himself onto me. He pushed between my legs before sliding along my wetness. I spread my legs and moved against him, inviting him inside.

  He looked into my eyes as he entered me. He filled me perfectly, and my heart was pounding as he slowly moved in and out.

  “You feel it, don’t you?”

  I nodded. It was that thing between us. That attraction I hadn’t been able to fight. Now we were in this together.

  He chuckled before kissing me again. This was all so new to me. I didn’t usually worry about things like laughing and kissing when I was having sex. It was all about bouncing and riding and getting mine before he got his. This was different. This was a slow build. Josh moved inside me like he had all the time in the world, and maybe he did, because I didn’t want him going anywhere. I lifted my hips, keeping his slow, unhurried pace, not racing toward the finish line.

  He felt so good inside me. His eyes were open and he was kissing me as if I was made of glass. It was beautiful and confusing. I didn’t know what to do, so I just ran my fingers through his hair.

  “It’ll never be enough,” he said as he started moving faster.

  No. No, it wouldn’t. My vision began to blur as we moved together. He lifted my hips. There it was. I gasped, and he smiled and did it again.

  “Josh,” I whispered, or maybe begged. I didn’t know what I was asking for, but he did. He moved faster and hit that spot again that sent me flying. I exploded, and he groaned as his thrusting got more erratic.

  “Nicole,” he said, his voice strained as he followed just a minute later and collapsed on top of me.

  For the first time ever, I didn’t want to shove a man off me and kick him out of my apartment. Instead, I scratched his scalp, and he kissed me in between my breasts where his head lay.

  “Will you stay?” I asked. It was silly. He didn’t have any clothes here. I would be seeing him tomorrow. I should let him go back to his place, but I didn’t want to.

  He peered up at me with his hypnotic eyes. “Why would I want to go? I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  This was where he should always be, I nearly said. “Good.”

  He slipped out of me and went into the bathroom to clean up. Then he came back and climbed into bed next to me. He turned off my light and took me into his arms. I burrowed into his chest. Cuddling was uncharted territory for me, but I wanted to be held by him.

  “That was worth the wait, I guess,” I said, and he laughed.

  “Yes it was.” I lifted my head off his chest and he kissed me like he had earlier. It was that light, sweet kiss that made everything go fuzzy. “Thank you for inviting me in. I hope you’ll let me stay.”

  “I just asked you to, didn’t I?”

  He laughed and tightened his arms around me. “Yes, you did. It’s a good start.”

  Chapter 24

  Every muscle I had, and some I was pretty sure I’d never known about, ached when I woke in the morning. So that’s what happens when you have an all-night sex marathon. Four times. Four fantastic, orgasmic times. A glance at the clock told me the last time had been about two hours ago. I rolled over to find out if Josh was feeling the same kind of pain and found the spot he’d occupied, empty.

  I sat up. His clothes were gone. So that’s what actually happens when you let a guy spend the night. He sneaks out after you’ve passed out from sexual exhaustion.

  I sighed and managed to drag my ass out of bed. My legs felt like jelly as I staggered into the bathroom. A look in the mirror showed me I hadn’t imagined anything. I looked like I’d been fucked all night long. I smiled despite myself. I had been. Then my smile fell as I wondered where he might have gone. Maybe he needed some time to clear his head. I knew I did.

  I stepped into the shower and let the hot water soothe a few of the aches. It made me kind of sad to wash the scent of him off my body, but I could hardly go around all day smelling like sex. I’d probably get a few hundred weird looks at the aquarium. I assumed we were still going. Josh wasn’t the love-them-and-leave-them type, nor could he be, since we worked together. Maybe he ran home to get showered and changed. Shouldn’t he have woken me, though? What was the protocol here?

  I pondered calling Kim or Jen, but I knew Jen was probably with Ryan, and Kim liked to sleep in on Saturdays. Plus, if I was being honest, for the first time in my life I didn’t feel like sharing all the dirty details. Even though I’d had the best night ever, it felt weird to talk about it. Maybe because he was my boyfriend, and there were all these feelings involved?

  Kim, Ashley, and Mandy didn’t really talk about their sex lives other than the occasional joking comment. It wasn’t like it was when we had random hookups in college and compared size, technique, and skills. I still did that. And even though they liked it, I didn’t want to this time, which was screwed up because I had some major bragging to do. Mandy would probably have her own orgasm just from my talking about the ones he’d given me.

  I pulled on a robe and headed into the kitchen as I called for the boys. It was odd they hadn’t joined me on the empty bed once Josh had gone. Hunt was probably sulking, but Win should have given me some cuddle time since Josh hadn’t. Well, he had, up until I fell asleep.

  Win didn’t come into the kitchen, and Hunt was nowhere to be seen, so I went into the living room and stopped in my tracks. Josh was sitting on the couch, fully dressed, petting Hunt. Winchester was in his lap, and Hunt was sitting next to him and allowing Josh to scratch his ears.

  I was having sex-induced hallucinations. Hunt didn’t even let the girls pet him, and he certainly didn’t let men. Especially a man who’d had me screaming all night long. Josh was supposed to be bleeding from several wounds. While I watched, Hunt actually rubbed his head against Josh’s hand and kissed him. He barely ever kissed me.

  “Good morning,” Josh said, sounding smug. I walked around the couch. He looked quite proud of himself.

  “What drugs did you give him, and can I get them in bulk?”

  Josh chuckled and pulled me down onto the couch next to him. “No drugs. He’s just high on me, much like his mother.” I smacked him, and he laughed and gave me a hard kiss. “We had a man-to-man talk, then a battle royale that ended in a Mexican standoff, and finally a truce.”

  I had to laugh. “I missed all that?”

  He put his arm around me, and I leaned my head on his shoulder. Win abandoned Josh’s lap for mine, and I petted him. At least one of my boys loved me best. “You needed some sleep.”

  Maybe I did. But I needed him more. “I thought maybe you’d left.”

  He kissed the top of my head. “I did, but only to get some breakfast. I’d hoped you’d sleep longer. I fully intended to get back into bed with you, but they wanted food, and I figured it was a good time to come to an agreement with this one.” Hunt batted at Josh’s fingers until he started petting him again.

  “And what did you agree to?”

  “I told him I’m not going anywhere, so he’d better get used to having me around.” That made me feel warm all over. “I promised I wouldn’t take you away from him, and that he was still in charge.”

  I giggled and sat up, grinning. “So he just gave in because you said he’s the boss.”

  “Guys like hearing that.” He smirked.

  “I can’t believe you got out unscathed.” I wagged a finger at Hunt, who ignored me as usual. “You disappoint me, Hunt. At the very least you should have been angry that he was sneaking out on me this morning.”

  “First of all, he did wound me.” Josh held up his index finger. There was a tiny scratch there. I scoffed but kissed it anyway, because he was pouting and his hair was flopping over his forehead.

  “Thank you. Second, I would never sneak out on you, especially after last night and this morning.” He stared at me until I was pretty much panting. “You know I�
�m not one of your one-night stands, so don’t act like I am.”

  He was angry, I could tell, but he wasn’t yelling and he wasn’t leaving. “I never thought you were.” He raised an eyebrow. “I think I tried to convince myself you were so it wouldn’t hurt my feelings, but it didn’t work anyway. I sort of talked myself into believing you’d gone home to get ready for our date.”

  “I will, but I won’t be gone for long, and you’ll be coming with me when I do.” His words and his posture were stiff.

  I sighed and kissed his cheek. “I’m not used to this stuff. You know that. This isn’t what I do.” Now he looked hurt. I had to say something to make it better. “I’ve never asked anyone to stay the night with me.”

  “Never?” he said, using those penetrating eyes to see right into my head.

  “Nope. I’ve never even thought about it. I’d send them packing with a smile, a wave, and a promise to call. My friends told me I was basically the man in those relationships.”

  Josh laughed. “You might be the man in this relationship, too.”

  I rubbed his stubbled cheek and smiled. “No, I definitely reacted like a girl this morning. It’s all different with you.”

  That made him smile again. “I’m glad.”

  “Me, too. So where’s this breakfast you left me for?” I asked. He gestured to a bag on the coffee table. “Mmm, Edison’s? They have amazing donuts.”

  He grabbed the bag for me, since I had a lap full of Winchester. “They did look good, but I figured you could use something healthy, so I got you some of those tofu scrambles. They say they’re a specialty.”

  I blinked and tried to force a smile but . . . tofu? “I’m actually not hungry, but you go ahead.”