He squeezed her fingers as if assuring her it wouldn’t be long now.
Lately the man in her dreams that would take her over the edge had been Jared. And now her fantasies were about to become reality.
He pulled into the underground garage of his building and circled down a few floors, taking them deeper beneath the streets of Chicago. He pulled up to a single door, hit a button in his pocket, and the garage door opened to reveal several of his other bikes and his car. Even though the bike still idled, he maneuvered it into the space using his legs.
Jared removed her helmet, then his. He pulled her into his arms, his mouth millimeters from hers.
“You’re sure?” he asked at the last second.
“More sure than I’ve ever been of anything.”
They crashed into each other in a jumbled mass of arms, legs, and lips. She couldn’t touch him fast enough, and he couldn’t seem to decide where he wanted to touch first. They banged against the cement wall as his mouth devoured hers and then tripped entering the elevator when she pulled him up close and gripped his rear.
The ride up to his floor was a blur. Somehow they managed to get off the elevator. Linked at the mouth, he hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as they moved down a wide hallway. The next instant they were in a room with polished wood floors and a bank of windows that glowed with the city’s skyline. Maybe later she’d have time to check it out, but none of that mattered now.
Knowing they finally had privacy sent an explosion of heat to her every nerve ending. She slid down his body as they stood in the center of the room and kissed his neck, licking his salty flesh as her tongue found his pulse point.
He pulled her chin up so he could reclaim her lips.
“You taste so good.” She ran her tongue over his lips. His soft groan and shudder gave her the courage to thrust her tongue into his mouth. “I can’t wait to make love to you.”
His body stiffened, but she kept kissing him, running her hands over his body, pressing up tight. So excited with the way he felt beneath her fingers, it took her several minutes to notice that his lips had become cool and unyielding. So had his body. He tasted different. Moved differently. As if his passion had been replaced by the not so sexy moves of a robot. His hands found all the right places, but his fingers felt rigid, as if he were following an instruction manual in his head. And she hated instruction manuals.
She wanted this to be perfect, but perfection had started to slip away. Had she done something wrong? Touched him in a way that made him lose the heat of the moment?
Or could he be just as nervous as her? After all, it wasn’t just her first time, but it was their first time being together, too. To be naked and vulnerable with anyone new had to be a bit frightening.
It definitely is.
Allison pressed against him, running her hands down his back, sucking in air and trying to slow down. She hoped to alleviate the bunched muscles between his shoulder blades. With palms flat, she snaked them around to his front and slid her fingers between the folds of his shirt. They both stiffened when he grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest, squeezing her fingers.
“Am I moving too fast?” she asked as she pulled back, her heart pounding out of control. Her chest ached as she held her breath. “What happened? What did—?”
...
Fuck. He wanted her so badly he’d frozen up. When she’d told him she wanted to make love to him, he crashed back to earth. “Nothing, babe. I-I… This is your first time and I… Shit, Al. I can’t get Nick out of my head.” Or that this was Allison. He’d never looked at her the way he had lately. It not only scared him shitless, but the guilt had started to consume him. He ran his hand through his hair, gripped the length at his nape, and gave it a small tug—as if punishing himself with a dose of pain would ease his conscience. Once he crossed this line he could never go back. They could never go back.
She leaned her forehead against his chin and sucked in a breath of air. “I thought I’d done something wrong.”
“Hell no. I’m sorry. You are perfect, it was going perfect, and then… I can’t get it out of my head that you’re Nick’s little sister.”
“Way to kill the moment.”
“Tell me about it.”
Her lips pressed together tightly before she gave him a weak smile. The disappointment in her eyes matched the feeling soaring through his entire body.
The heat that had boiled between them dropped to a low simmer, and he wanted every ounce of the fire back that had burned between them moments ago. She drove him crazy with her touch, the way she moaned into his mouth, how she melted into his arms.
She grabbed him by the collar. “I’m more than Nick’s sister, you know. I’m a confident woman. I go for what I want. No ifs, ands, or buts.”
Adrenaline coursed through him at the strength of her words. The fire in her eyes stoked the fire in his blood. Her grip on his collar tightened and she shook him playfully, but with enough force so that he knew she meant business. His heartbeat went into a mad gallop at the way she took control.
She pulled him toward her until their eyes locked. “You need to knock it off. Forget this is my first time. And, for God’s sake, forget about Nick. Can’t you just close your eyes and pretend you’re making love to the most beautiful woman in the world? Or keep your eyes open, but concentrate on this.” She shoved him back with the thrust of her wrist and unbuttoned her blouse, peeling the material off one shoulder to bare her creamy white skin.
Suddenly her cherry blossom scent filled the air, intoxicating him. She teased him with a soft smile as she pressed her shoulder to his chest.
“Go ahead. Kiss me.”
He couldn’t do anything but obey. His lips touched her skin, and then he moved his attention to the hollow at her neck, sucking at the pulse point pounding there until she shivered and her head fell back, lips parted. The movement shot a thrill through him. He loved the way she came to life when he touched her, and he continued to trail his mouth over the soft skin of her neck, pushing her shirt farther down her arm and creating a path with his tongue over her warm flesh.
She gasped. He cradled her head in his palm, pulling her body closer to his. Electricity zipped between them, and she thrust her hands into his hair, pulling him in as he sucked, licked, kissed, and nipped her skin.
God. She felt good. Tasted good. Smelled good. All his pent-up sexual desire surged through him, and he walked her backward until they hit the window. She shivered as the coolness of the glass penetrated her skin. He broke away to look into her sultry dark eyes, and she parted her lips, giving him the invitation he needed to reclaim her mouth.
She opened, and their tongues danced. So lost in their kiss, he didn’t put up a fight when she reversed their position and thrust his back against the window, yanking his shirt from the waistband of his jeans. As her hands reached for the button at his waist, he spun her around until she was up against the window again, and he plunged his tongue into her, catching her surprised gasp in his mouth.
He pressed her hard against the windowpane, pulling her blouse from her pants. At the same time she undid the top few buttons of his shirt, sliding her hands down to the hem and fisting the material. A satisfied sigh rose from the back of her throat as his fingers moved along the goose bumps flecking across her skin. Not bothering with the remaining buttons, she lifted his shirt over his head and let it fall to the floor. Her hands pressed hungrily into his shoulders, down his biceps and back, and around his waist.
He needed to feel her skin so badly. To taste every inch. Learn every inch. But he didn’t intend to allow himself to get out of control and go too fast. This was her first time, and it had to be special. Perfect. She deserved perfect. She deserved beautiful memories. That’s all he wanted for her.
But shit, she drove him mad.
He lifted her in his arms, banging his shoulder against the wall, sucking in the pain as their mouths collided again and they fell onto the couch.
Allison’s knee bounced up and hit him in the groin, and he swore in pain, doubling over. The sound of his voice made her jump at the same time he came back up to a sitting position, and they bumped heads. The next thing he knew, he’d fallen to the floor, hit his chin on the metal coffee table, and a new round of pain surged through him. This one sharp and intense.
“Mother fuck!” His stomach quivered as he bit back another curse. He gripped his chin and pinched, applying as much pressure as he dared to stop the bleeding. At the same time he pressed his knees tight to ease the shooting pain spearing his nuts.
He rocked back and forth, biting his tongue. A warm liquid filled his hands, and he looked down to see blood dripping off his chin, even with his hand covering it. The searing pain between his legs was quickly forgotten.
“Shit. Damn. Fuck.” The words flew from Allison’s mouth in rapid-fire succession. If he didn’t hurt so much he’d laugh. She didn’t swear often, and although pain zapped his brain, the concern in her eyes kind of soothed him.
She knelt down, parting his fingers to check out the damage. Her eyes grew wide and bright with tears, and then she ran for the kitchen. Cupboard doors crashed open, and several drawers banged shut, and then the faucet kicked on. Soon she was back, a dishcloth in her hand, as she skidded to a stop in front of him and fell to her knees with a thud.
“Oh my God. Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” She pressed the wet cloth to his chin, tilting his head back as if he had a nosebleed and she could stop the bleeding.
He clenched his jaw from the pain, pressing his lips together to stop from cussing again. From the watery concern in her eyes, she already felt bad enough. Moisture spiked her lashes, and he folded his hand over hers in hopes he’d ease some of her tears. She managed to hold the dishcloth in place, but her hand shook.
“It’s okay, babe.”
“No, it’s not. My God. I kneed you, we knocked heads, and now you’re bleeding. And it’s not letting up.” She pulled the cloth away to take a peek and grimaced.
“It looks worse than it is. I’ll be fine.” But it sure hurt like a bitch.
“I’m going to get another towel. It’s not slowing down.” She moved toward the kitchen, and he heard the cupboard door open and bang shut again.
Jared leaned his head back against the sofa cushion and pulled the cloth away. He’d never minded the sight of blood before, but this time all the red filling the white towel made him a bit nauseous. He pressed the towel to his chin again as Allison practically ran across the room a second time. She switched out the towel, balling up the other one and glancing around.
“I was going to ask about your laundry, but I think this towel is a lost cause.”
“Trash is under the kitchen sink.” He nodded toward the kitchen as if she didn’t have a clue where it was, and she gave him a shaky grin. At this point any grin was better than none. “Could you grab my shirt on your way back?”
Ten minutes and two more towels later, Jared stood. Allison grabbed him by the elbow as if he needed to be steadied. He liked that she wanted to help him, take care of him. It felt good. “I think I need to go to the hospital.”
“You need stitches.” She ran her fingers through her hair, then buttoned her blouse, tucking in the hem. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I’m such a klutz…”
His heart ached at the thickness invading her voice, the tears brightening her eyes after she’d just gotten them under control. She turned away, and he pulled her back around with his free hand and cupped her cheek. When she pressed into his palm and closed her eyes, a little piece of him became hers. How could someone be so sweet and caring? He’d never seen a woman go so soft—over concern for him.
“This isn’t your fault, Al. And you’re not a klutz.”
“None of this would’ve happened if I’d known what the heck I was doing.” A sob escaped, and she snorted, then she pressed her face into her hands.
With his free arm, he gathered her against his chest, an easy feat since she didn’t put up a fight but instead sagged against him, rubbing her hands down his back. “We both got carried away. That’s all. You might claim you didn’t know what you were doing, but believe me, you were doing all the right things.”
Her soft chuckle came out muffled as she buried the side of her face into his shirt.
She stepped out of his arms and brushed her hands across his shoulders, smoothing his shirt down his arms. “And now I’m letting you bleed to death while I cry like a baby.” Her lower lip quivered as she fought to gain control.
He lifted her chin and held her gaze. “I’m going to live.”
“Well, we better make sure. I’ll drive. Where are your keys?”
Not only did she have a soft side—which he couldn’t help but adore—he also liked how she took control. Hell, he liked everything about her.
Especially her kisses. Fuck. Especially her ass in those damn jeans.
She gave him a liquid smile, removing her hand from her pocket and opening her fist. “I have a few chocolates. Hershey’s Kisses can get you through anything.”
“Even stitches?”
“Especially stitches.” She unwrapped one, and he opened his mouth so she could drop it in.
He pressed the chocolate to the roof of his mouth with his tongue. “You’re a girl after my own heart. Chocolate is one of my weaknesses, too. Especially Hershey’s Kisses.”
Her eyebrow shot up.
“What, you don’t think men like chocolate?”
“I’m more surprised we share a Hershey’s Kiss addiction. How come I never knew that until now?”
“I have a couple secrets.” He waggled his brows, and her smile filled her face. He preferred that face over the one filled with tears any day.
“You mean besides the dancing pecs?” she said beneath her breath as he offered up his car keys.
“Dancing pecs barely scratch the surface.”
“You’re a man of mystery.” She guided him toward the door with one hand around his waist as if he were unstable on his feet. He didn’t fight her. He could definitely get used to being taken care of.
More than three hours later, Jared grimaced and sucked in a breath as the emergency room doctor stitched him up. The last piece of chocolate Allison had shoved into his hand before he’d been brought back to an examination room lay in a puddle on his tongue.
He’d had worse injuries as a kid—one required twelve stitches on the top of his head after Roth shoved him into a wall and a picture fell, the corner of the frame cutting his scalp. And another time they’d been wrestling by the screen door and Jared had crashed through it, requiring more stitches. Over the years he’d lost count when it came to accidents that involved horseplay between him and Roth. But he’d never had to have stitches because of a woman.
“Almost done. How you holding up?” the doctor asked.
“I’m good.” But he wasn’t. He felt like a fucking shit.
He hated the fact that Allison felt inadequate, and he’d been the one to put her there. He’d wanted her first time to be special. The best. Something she’d look back on years from now and smile about.
Instead he’d let his nerves paralyze him. When she’d told him to close his eyes and pretend he made love to the most beautiful woman in the world, he’d gotten a little carried away. Hell, a lot carried away. The image tattooed into his eyelids had been of a very beautiful woman.
Allison.
Her smile encompassed her face and made his mind numb, her sexy eyes hypnotized him to the point he could barely speak, and her touch made his entire body ache for more.
He couldn’t get her out of his head. Even now with the pinch of the needle piercing his skin. Where had all his good sense gone the last week?
Since when had he become attracted to a nerdy girl who could weave a spell around him with just a few words or looks? Not to mention she kissed like she fucking did it for a living. He might be a good teacher, but he hadn’t taught her any of that. Her sex appeal was al
l natural, and it drove him fucking over the edge.
“All set.” The doctor slapped him on the knee and stood. “I’m going to prescribe something for the pain if you want it. Otherwise you should be good to go.”
Jared hopped off the hospital bed. “Thanks, doc.”
“And watch out for those coffee tables, hmm?” The doctor gave him a knowing grin.
...
Allison shut her apartment door with a thud, leaned her back against it, and sank down to the floor. She kicked off her shoes, not caring where they landed as she leaned forward to grab her slippers. It didn’t matter that she’d put them on the wrong feet. Nothing mattered. Not even the continuous sinking feeling of her gut. She flung her arm over her eyes as she slid down the rest of the way until she lay flat on the floor. She wiggled her legs in frustration and groaned as she stared up at the tiny crack that ran the width of her ceiling. She’d have to call the super to have him fix that.
She closed her eyes for a second in an attempt to put some moisture back into them that contacts and lack of sleep had sucked out of her. If she were more experienced with the stupid things, she’d take them out right there on the entry room floor.
She and Jared had sat in the crowded emergency room for hours. By the time they’d left the hospital, found a twenty-four–hour pharmacy, and gotten his prescription filled, the sun had already started to peek over the horizon.
Even if she wanted to try to pick up from where they left off, her bones ached with fatigue. Not to mention Jared needed some rest, too. Of course, those pain pills looked like they were well on their way to knocking him out when she’d left him tucked in bed so she could catch an E train home. He’d tried to talk her into staying over at his place, but she wanted to be alone.
She felt like the world’s biggest loser. Her first attempt with Lance still left his laughter ringing in her ears after all these years, and now she had the added guilt of practically maiming Jared.
A Friendly Flirtation (Friends First #3) Page 12
