by LuAnn McLane
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, you do.”
“I have devoted myself to Madison. To my career.” She lifted one shoulder. “Sure, I dated here and there, but . . .” She closed her eyes and swallowed. “It’s been years since I’ve been with a man.” She put a hand to her mouth. “My God, I can’t believe I’m telling you this. Damn that shot of bourbon!”
Ty cupped her cheeks with his hands. “You’re not telling me anything I haven’t already guessed.”
“Oh, great . . .” She laughed without much humor. “I feel like the forty-year-old virgin. I mean, okay, I know the mechanics, but I would be a bumbling, fumbling fool.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“No, really, it has been years.”
Ty laughed shortly. “That’s not what I meant.” He took her hand and gently placed it against the hard ridge of his erection. “That’s what you do to me. Jessica, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Even more color rose in her cheeks. “Yes, that might be what I do to you. But what would I do with you?”
Ty gave her a slow grin. “As they say here in Cricket Creek, anything your li’l ole heart desires. Do as little or as much as you wish. Happy birthday. I’m all yours,” he offered in a teasing tone to keep the mood light, but in reality he meant what he said and he didn’t mean just for tonight. He just wouldn’t let her know it yet.
Her chest rose and fell, but she remained silent.
“Hey, I’ll be your guinea pig. To get you back in the game.” As long as you only play with me, he thought.
“Ah . . . taking one for the team?”
Ty laughed, but when her smile trembled, he sobered. “I want you to know you are a beautiful, desirable, sensual woman. I don’t care how long it’s been. You are capable of bringing a man to his knees.”
Frowning slightly, she shook her head and looked away.
Ty gently cupped her chin and tilted her face back in his direction. “Let’s start with a simple kiss. If you want to stop there, I won’t push. Deal?”
9
All Tied Up
Wait . . . what? Ty watched Jessica walk toward him with a tie dangling from each hand. Ty thought she had been teasing, and he had simply played along.
“Scoot up to the pillows,” she said with the air of one used to giving orders. Wait . . . she wasn’t really going to tie him up, was she? “Good. Now put your hands against the headboard.”
Ty inhaled a deep breath. Apparently, she was.
Jessica kicked off her shoes and then scrambled onto the bed and knelt next to him. “Okay, now put your hands against the posts,” she requested in the same tone, but he noticed that her fingers were trembling. And yet she managed a quick, impressive slipknot that he couldn’t get out of, thereby truly putting him at her mercy. Oh, boy.
“Okay,” he agreed, but was hit with a sudden bout of uncertainty. Ty was used to being on top, in control and in charge. Instead, he had to trust her, and that was something that didn’t come easy to him. Too many people had used him, betraying his trust. As a professional athlete, Ty was used to being treated like a commodity, a franchise rather than a flesh-and-blood human being with feelings and emotions, who bled red just like everybody else. And while he was eternally grateful for his success, he wanted to shed the Mr. Triple Threat persona and simply be Tyler McKenna.
Allowing Jessica to bind him to the bed gave him an oddly vulnerable feeling, something foreign to his nature, and yet sent an exciting blast of anticipation humming through his veins.
This is nuts.
What is she going to do?
About a dozen suggestions popped into Ty’s brain, but this was her gig and so he remained silent. She nibbled on the inside of her bottom lip, making him want to know what was going through her mind. After a contemplative moment, she leaned forward. The billowy tunic gaped, showing him a hint of cream-colored lace and a mouthwatering view of her cleavage. He dearly longed to bury his face there, but the ties restrained him from getting close enough. Damn. Not being able to touch her made his desire to do so even more intense.
He studied her while she contemplated her sweet torture. She really didn’t look her age and he couldn’t blame Lannigan for hitting on her. At that thought, he ground his teeth together. Unlike hotshot Logan Lannigan, youth had passed him by. Ty had strands of silver in his hair, crow’s feet from squinting into the sun, and a three-inch scar on his chin from a collision at home plate. He did his best to keep in good shape, but he had a bum knee that gave him fits, and a shoulder that ached when it rained. The Toby Keith song “As Good as I Once Was” popped into his brain, and yet Jessica gazed down at him as if drinking in the sight and liking what she saw.
“Touch me,” he finally said in a gruff, needy voice.
“Oh, but where?” She arched one eyebrow and pressed her lips together.
“I have a particular suggestion, but at this point anywhere will do,” he replied in a strained voice. Her eyes widened a fraction, and Ty knew that she suddenly realized the feminine power she had over him. She could tease him into a damned frenzy, and the slow smile she gave him told him that she knew it.
Oh, damn, he was in trouble now. . . .
She scooted closer, tossed a pillow out of her way with a determined flick of her wrist that almost made Ty laugh. Oh, but then she leaned in mere inches from his chest. He could feel the warmth of her body, smell her light floral scent. He clenched his jaw, and his muscles tensed when she lifted her hand, bringing the anticipation of her touch to a fever pitch. But then she hesitated. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?” he ground out.
Her gaze locked with his. “Yes,” she admitted softly.
Finally, she ran one fingertip down the center of his chest to the top of his sweatpants. The featherlight touch caused a hot shiver down his spine, tightened his nipples, and sent even more blood rushing south. She continued using just one fingertip, swirling as if painting his bare skin. Her touch tickled, teased, and made him hungry for so much more.
She added the rest of her fingertips, raking lightly with her nails until he arched his back from the sheer sensual pleasure. She paused, traced his collarbone, and then moved up his neck, over the rough stubble on his cheek. She frowned when she traced the scar on his chin, but then moved to his bottom lip, sliding her finger slowly back and forth. When his mouth parted, she just barely touched his tongue, but it sent an intense, hot thrill straight to his groin.
“Oh, my . . .” Without warning she dipped her head, and he braced himself for a hot kiss. But instead she lightly licked the stubble on his chin, making him long for more, and lowered her head and swirled the very tip of her tongue over his left nipple. Her golden blond hair trailed over his sensitive skin, and when her hand brushed against his rock-hard erection, he sucked in a breath. She tugged his waistband downward but only an inch or two, making him want to yank his pants off and offer his package to play with . . . but he was helplessly tied to the damned bedpost!
“Whose idea was this?” he grumbled, drawing a low chuckle from her. He watched the top of her golden head and longed to thread his fingers through her hair. He was frustrated . . . but so incredibly turned on, and when she placed butterfly kisses down his abdomen, it was almost his undoing.
“Jessica . . .” He tugged at the ties and arched his back. “Enough!”
“Really? I was just getting started.” Jessica looked up and met his heated, desperate gaze, knowing exactly what he meant but showing no mercy. She placed her hands on his chest and then slid her palms up across his shoulders, over his extended arms, and then back to his biceps. His heart pounded when she slowly leaned forward, and, God, finally pressed her mouth to his, soft and sweet at first and then with a hunger that matched his own. He needed to, had to touch her!
“Untie me.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Jessi—” he began, but his voice stopped working when she slowly started unbuttoning the rest of h
er blouse. He swallowed and watched, mesmerized as she unbuckled her belt and tossed it to the floor. It landed with a soft plop next to her shoes. With a breathy sigh, she let her sleeves slide off her shoulders, revealing a sexy push-up bra edged with lace. Her lovely Nicolina Diamante necklace enhanced her beauty—delicate, original, and yet natural—and matched Jessica’s personality.
“Holy shit . . .” Ty whispered when she came up to her knees and unzipped her jeans, exposing matching panties.
And then she stopped.
“Oh no, you don’t. Keep going.”
Color deepened in her cheeks and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Please.”
Her chest rose and fell and she closed her eyes as if gathering her courage. Ty wanted to urge her on, but he remained silent, giving her the time she needed. It had obviously been a long time since she had exposed herself both physically and emotionally, and he wasn’t about to force the issue. And yet this was sweet torture . . .
Finally she reached behind her back and unhooked her bra, letting her breasts tumble free.
When he sucked in an audible breath, she opened her eyes. “I’m not very . . . big.”
“Ah, pure perfection, if you ask me. Bring those here,” he pleaded. “I need to taste them.”
Her eyes widened slightly at his request, and she made his thudding heart pound even harder when she straddled his legs, bringing her breasts up to mouth level. She placed cool hands on his shoulders and braced herself. He could feel her slight tremble and knew this was taking some major-league courage on her part. Ty wanted to purge the fear from her system and replace it with mindless need. With that goal in mind, he leaned forward and captured one dusky nipple with his mouth.
“Oh!” she said in a sexy tone even lower than her normal throaty voice. Her skin felt like cool velvet against his warm tongue. He licked the pebbled sweetness, and when he sucked, she inhaled sharply and gripped his shoulders tighter. She pressed closer, offering more, and he took her deeper into his mouth, laving, sucking, and nibbling until she tilted her head to the side and sighed.
The need to have his arms wrapped around her intensified, and he tugged his wrists until the bedpost groaned in protest. He pulled back and looked at her with pleading eyes, but she shook her head.
“Not . . . yet.”
“You’re killing me.” He looked at her rosy, wet nipple and groaned. “Seriously killing me.”
“I know.” And to torture him even more, she scooted away and got up from the bed.
“Where are you . . .” he began, and then swallowed hard. “Oh, my God,” he breathed when she shimmied out of her jeans and stood there in nothing but that mere wisp of cream-colored lace panties. She was toned from kitchen work, but with delicious curves instead of the wafer-thin look that women starved for and he had never found appealing. He’d take soft curves over sharp angles any day of the week. When she looked at him shyly, as if wondering about her sex appeal, he shook his head. “Wow. Forty and fabulous.”
She blushed at his compliment. “Really?”
“Absolutely. Now bring that luscious body back here, and untie me while you’re at it.”
She scooted back onto the bed but made no move to untie him. Instead, she straddled his legs, leaned in, and pressed her soft, moist lips to his. Her bare breasts against his chest had him moaning against her mouth. She threaded her fingers through his hair and kissed him hotly, deeply, and when she rocked her lace-covered mound against his raging erection, he arched his hips, wishing he could reach down and touch her moist heat. When she pulled back, he thought she was finally going to untie him, but instead she shimmied out of her panties and tossed them to the floor. Oh, God. Then she leaned down and tugged his sweatpants over his hips and down his legs in one swift, efficient move that had him grinning.
The breeze from the paddle fan felt cool against his warm body. His dick stood at full attention, as if begging for her hand, her mouth . . . her sweet body. “Touch me.”
She placed her palm on his chest, and Ty was about to protest, but she slowly slid her hand downward, and his voice was nowhere to be found. All he could make was useless groaning noises. She continued her sensual assault, caressing him everywhere except where he wanted it most. He could have pounded nails with his dick and was wondering how to politely tell her so when she suddenly curved her delicate hand firmly around his shaft.
Mother of God, have mercy on my soul. . . .
Ty sucked in a sharp breath, drawing her attention.
Her eyes widened. “Am I hurting you?”
He thought she was teasing until he saw real concern in her eyes, reminding him that she was unpracticed and unsure. “Yeah, it hurts so good,” he said with a strained chuckle. When she moved her hand up and back down, Ty was afraid he was going to embarrass himself and lose it. When a pearl of moisture popped out on the head of his dick, she swirled it around with her thumb. This simple movement was so sinfully sexy that he watched with fascination. “Please. I have to touch you. Feel your skin.”
“Okay,” she said, wringing a sigh of relieved joy from him. But she took her sweet time hovering mere inches from his body and yet not touching him. When her breasts grazed his chest, he had to grit his teeth.
And then he was free.
For a second he was stunned like a bird realizing the door to the cage was open, but then lowered his arms and wrapped them around her. With a sigh of pure pleasure, he rubbed his hands up her back, loving the exquisite sensation of her soft, smooth skin, and she seemed to melt into his embrace. “Jessica . . .” He threaded his fingers though her hair and kissed her like he could never get enough. After being denied, it felt so wonderful to have his hands on her body.
With his lips still locked with hers, he rolled her to her back, and needing a little payback, he threaded his fingers through hers and pinned her hands to the bed. For a moment he hovered above her, taking in the beauty of her flushed face. Her hair fanned out onto the navy blue pillows, and she met his gaze with shy determination. She was a study in contradictions . . . confident yet unsure, strong but vulnerable. After months of trying to get her to open up to him, it was rather surreal to have her naked in his bed. He moved his mouth to her neck and nuzzled her there before taking the soft shell of her ear into his mouth. She moaned, squirmed beneath him, and tugged at his hands, but he chuckled. “Payback,” he told her, and then took a rosy nipple into his mouth. When she gasped, Ty released his grip, and she immediately shoved her hands into his hair. She arched her back, offering her body to him, and he gladly accepted.
In all of her forty years of living, Jessica had never felt this kind of passion. When his teeth nipped and tugged, hot desire chased the last shreds of her inhibitions. She arched her back shamelessly and parted her thighs, giving him access to where she burned for his touch. When his long fingers found her slick heat, a hot shot of shockingly intense pleasure had her clinging to his shoulders and longing for sweet, blessed release. He sucked harder on her nipple, seeming to draw pleasure from within. His finger dipped into her body, and with a throaty cry, she arched up against his hand. He pumped gently and then withdrew, and began small circles that drove her crazy.
“Ty . . .” she pleaded, needing, wanting. Him. That thought drove her over the edge, and she climaxed with deep, aching shudders. He let her ride it out and then kissed her sweetly, tenderly, lovingly. He turned away while she was still reeling with pulsating aftershocks, but by the time she found her voice to call him back, he returned sheathed in a condom. The fact that she hadn’t considered protection gave her pause, but when his mouth met hers, her fear melted and passion took over.
His kiss was a hot tangle of tongues, bringing her sated body back to full-blown arousal in no time flat. He caressed her sensitive breasts, sending a shock right though her, and her thighs parted in silent invitation for him to make love to her.
He entered her in one sure stroke, and she loved the feeling of him buried deep. He mo
ved slowly at first, and she could tell he was holding back. She smiled, knowing he was trying to please her over his own needs. Her heart thudded, pulse pounded, and she matched his sweet, slow seduction with some heat of her own. He kissed her, stroked her, until she was mindless with need. With a cry, she wrapped her legs around his waist and urged him to go faster, deeper. She clung to him, and when he thrust deep and shuddered, he took her right with him.
He chuckled weakly and pressed his forehead to hers. “Dear God . . .” She noticed that he trembled slightly and was moved by the fact that he was just as blown away as she was.
Jessica put her palms to his cheeks and kissed him softly. “I know it sounds trite, but that was amazing. I don’t know how else to put it.”
He smiled and nodded. “I agree,” he said gruffly, and then rolled to the side, bringing her with him. She snuggled into the crook of his shoulder with her head on his chest. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
Jessica nodded and then sighed. This wasn’t just birthday sex. She wanted him. Needed him. And if she wanted to be honest, she had been falling for him for months now. Tonight is just the icing on the cake, she thought with a little contented smile. Birthday humor. Gotta love it.
But then a cold shot of fear clawed at her heart. As if reading her mind, Ty kissed the top of her head and hugged her closer. Jessica hoped she could learn to trust enough to allow herself to live, to laugh . . . damn, to have fun! And above all else . . .
To finally let her guard down and to love without holding back.
8
Sealed with a Kiss
As soon as Jessica nodded, Ty dipped his head and sealed the deal with a kiss. But there was nothing simple about his lush, moist mouth locking with hers. Oh no, the man kissed in layers: sweet and tender at first, then coaxing, playfully teasing with a lick across her bottom lip, a gentle nip before sliding into an erotic tangle of tongues.
