She wasn’t going anywhere. No thinking about tomorrow. No thinking about the code of ethics she was about to break in a hundred different ways. She welcomed the distraction, and frankly, she wanted to divert his attention.
The commission offer rattled her. Her financial problems were her business, not his. She didn’t need his charity. She’d gotten along without his help all of her adult life. He couldn’t swoop in now and act the savior. She wouldn’t allow it. Her pride couldn’t take the hit, but more than that, her heart might mistake his thoughtfulness for something else. Something meaningful.
Right on queue, her heart rate soared.
She remembered this feeling well. The skin-shivering, blood-pumping, stomach-clenching, nerves-rattling thrill of anticipation. Like that moment when the roller coaster crested its first peak, when all you could do was look down the steep slope ahead and understand there was no turning back. The plunge was inevitable, necessary to get to where you were going.
Abby didn’t know where she and Tanner would end up when the roller coaster stopped. If history served, it wouldn’t be anywhere good.
You aren’t teenagers anymore. It’ll be different this time.
Yes, different. This time they weren’t making commitments. They weren’t discussing a future together, planning a life. They were keeping things light. Enjoying each other’s company. Sharing meals and a few sweet kisses here and there.
The way Tanner ushered her into the bedroom, closed the door, and crowded her against the wood didn’t say casual at all. The hand against her stomach said Don’t move. The tension in his arms and shoulders said, If you do, I’ll catch you. The tongue across his slightly curved lips said, I dare you. Run.
The sudden zing of lust took her by surprise. Whoa. She was into that? To date, her sex life had been fun and playful. Dirty talk and the caveman act usually came across as cheesy and ended up making her giggle.
She wasn’t giggling now. She was ramped up, willing and ready to find out how far he planned to take them. She wanted more of this new, intriguing version of Tanner. More filthy words. More bossy hands. More … everything.
Abby slid her hands up his chest, loving the hard warmth of him.
Tanner’s gaze burned with raw expectation and promises better left unspoken. “You’ve gotten more beautiful over the years, if that’s even possible. It’s a fucking miracle I’ve managed to keep my hands off you this long, you know that?”
Abby didn’t consider herself beautiful. Average maybe, only with longer legs and smaller boobs. “I thought your questions were about the room?”
He smirked. “Oh, I have questions. For instance … does this door lock?” He brushed her side as he reached for the doorknob. A soft snick and rattle followed as he turned the lock and tested its effectiveness. “I see that it does. Moving on.” He raised his chin. “How are the acoustics?”
Abby followed his gaze toward the tall ceiling, confused. “I’m not sure. There’s a whole house stereo system, but the control panel is in the living room. We would need to—”
“I don’t care how the stereo sounds.”
“Then why did you ask?”
Tanner chuckled, the throaty sound deep and husky. “I’m curious how my name will sound, yelled from your lips when I shove my hand under your skirt and finger you until you come.”
Her lips parted on a gasp, the shock of his words causing her pussy to clench hard.
“Guess there’s only one way to find out.” Tanner’s fingers worked the top two buttons of her shirt before she grabbed his wrists.
“You’re sure we should go down this road again?” Obviously he was, but some part of her needed to hear him say it.
“Do I seem unsure?”
A nervous laugh escaped her lips. “Not exactly.”
Tanner continued to work her buttons and gently tugged the fabric from her skirt. He spread her shirt wide, taking a moment to stare before he slid the material from her body. “How about now?”
Her barely B’s were fuller than they were in high school. Her stomach wasn’t as firm and her hips were a tad curvier, but Tanner didn’t appear to mind. “You seem pretty confident.”
He trailed a finger down her sternum, stopping to hover above the front clasp of her bra. “Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be. Do you want me to touch you?”
She did. She really did. “Y-yes.”
In one smooth move Tanner flicked open her bra and pushed the cups aside. Instead of touching her breasts, Tanner eased a hand behind her neck. He firmed the grip, forcing her to tilt her chin. His lips met hers in a gentle caress.
“Then relax, babe, and let me do my thing,” he said, his breath warm against her lips.
His thing started with the light drag of his fingers up her stomach. His mouth turned demanding, his tongue diving past her lips with purpose. She accepted his tongue with a greedy pull, reveling in the taste of him.
The hand playing on her skin continued its path, curving along the edge of her breast. He circled her, his motions getting smaller and smaller until he traced the outer edge of her nipple. A shiver worked its way up her spine. Twin groans filled the air as he captured the aching bud between his fingers.
His hands … she’d missed his hands. Slightly calloused and strong. Warm and protective. Eager to please.
He abruptly ended the kiss. “Pull up your skirt,” he demanded softly.
The request turned her knees to jelly. Not wanting to twist an ankle in her three-inch heels, she clutched his shoulders for support.
“What about you? Take this off.” She tugged at his shirt.
He shook his head, stopping her. “Not about me this time. Although I am going to enjoy the hell out of touching you.” He gave her nipple another gentle pinch. “The skirt, Abby.”
Okay, she felt that all the way to her very damp panties. The pinch and the demand.
Who is this man?
Anxious to find out, Abby grabbed two fistfuls of material and hiked up her skirt. Beyond the point of making the act sexy, her jerky tugs were driven by the growing ache between her legs.
His hand pressed against her inner thigh, stealing her breath and encouraging her to widen her legs as she gained freedom from the restrictive garment. As soon as the cool air tickled her pink lace panties, Tanner slipped his fingers under the waistband.
His touch traveled through her like lightning—sharp, fast, and hot. Bracing her shoulders against the door she curved her hips into his hand, silently begging him for more.
“Christ.” Tanner dropped his forehead to her shoulder with a groan. “You weren’t lying were you?” He teased along her sex. “You’re so wet and ready I’d have no problem sliding right in.” As if to prove his point, his fingers slipped inside, working her. His thumb grazed her clit over and over until her legs quivered.
Abby moaned and lifted her leg. Hooking her foot around the back of his leg, she let her knee fall to the side, opening herself farther. She rocked her hips against his hand, forcing his fingers deep. “Do it, Tanner. Do it. I don’t want this to be only about me. I want you. Please.”
His breath puffed against her collarbone. “I’d love nothing more than to fuck you right now, but it’s not gonna happen.” He pulled back, looking genuinely disappointed. “Sorry, babe. No condom.”
“Never stopped us before,” she panted. So close. “I’m on the pill.”
Tanner stopped moving.
“Nooo,” she groaned. “Don’t stop.”
He leaned his weight against her when she tried to move, locking her in place. “We aren’t sixteen anymore. The fact you’re on the pill is not a smart answer. Don’t you know how dangerous it is to have unprotected sex these days?”
Damn it. She clenched her inner muscles around his fingers as hard as she could, trying to get him to take the hint and finish what he started. “Now is not the time for a lecture.”
A throaty sound came from his throat. “I can’t wait to feel you do tha
t around my cock.” His fingers twitched inside her, hitting the spot that lit her up. “How many other men have you let bare inside this sweet pussy, Abby-girl?” His palm curled tight around her sex. “How many men have felt this?” He pumped his fingers once. Twice. “Answer me. How many?”
“N-none.”
Abby thought she heard his breath catch.
“Not one?” he asked slowly, suspiciously. He pumped a third time.
“Just you,” she finally admitted on a groan. “Only you. I’ve never been close to tempted with anyone else.” Why was he pushing her on this? Lord knew how many women he’d been with, and she wasn’t demanding the details.
The sobering thought brought another along for the ride. There’s one detail you should ask for. A big-ass, life-saving detail.
Tanner braced his arm above her head as though her revelation sapped his strength. “You can’t say shit like that to me, Abby. Knowing I’m the only man who … fuck. Fuck.”
“You’ve been safe, right? Tested and all that?”
“We share a commonality, it seems,” he muttered, voice thick with lust.
Her eyes widened. “You’ve never…”
“Only with you, babe. And yes, I’m as clean as a whistle. Tested and all that.”
They stood frozen, staring into each other’s eyes. His fingers, still buried inside her, had stopped mid-stroke. Her release hovered, waiting.
The air around them turned heavy. Thick with lust and emotions she was in no shape to deal with.
Tanner broke the silence. “I have no right to feel possessive where you’re concerned, but I’m hanging on by a thread here.”
A dark, ugly part of her wanted his possession. She wanted to mark him so every other woman he came into contact with would know a part of him belonged to her. She wanted his clothes and body to bear the scent of her perfume and the sweat from her skin. If only for an hour or two.
Seemed Tanner wasn’t the only one feeling possessive. And she’d be damned if he walked out of there unsatisfied.
If learning about the no condom thing was enough to bring him to the edge…
With a smile teasing the corners of her mouth, Abby took a shot at cutting that thread. “That’s not the only thing I’ve never given another man.”
Tanner’s lids flared. He pulled his fingers out of her. Almost absently, his eyes glued on hers, he brought them to his lips and sucked them clean.
“Show me.” He stepped back, his eyes darting to the floor. Did he think she planned to kneel in front of him?
Wrong answer.
As she turned in place, Abby felt sexy. A seductress about to bring her man to his knees. She flattened her palms against the door, widened her legs and stepped back, tilting her ass in the air.
She glanced over her shoulder in time to see Tanner’s jaw tighten. “Your past lovers preferred missionary, then?” He practically spat the word lovers.
She shook her head slowly.
She could practically hear the thread snap as his hand went to his belt. “Goddamn it, Abby. This isn’t how I wanted things to go.”
He worked the buckle, ramping her excitement with the quick efficiency of his movements. Finally. Finally. “This isn’t about you, remember?”
Abby gasped as he jerked her panties down. Leaving them strained between her knees, he smoothed a rough hand over the curve of her ass. “You have no idea what it does to me to know you’ve never given this ass to anyone else. That it’s only been mine. Mine.”
Grabbing her hips, Tanner pushed the head of his erection along her seam. “Is this what you wanted, Abby? To make me crazy to be inside you?”
“Tanner.” She swayed her hips, riding the rigid length of him.
“Fucking hell. Do that again.”
She reached back to lead him through her slick lips, her breath halting each time his head came in contact with her clit.
“I can’t wait another second, Abby. Put me inside you. Guide me home.”
Abby held the thick head of his cock as he reached her entrance and he pushed inside.
Abby bit her lip around a moan. Her body stretched so perfectly it brought tears to her eyes. She arched into the pleasure, taking him as deep as she could.
His warm weight curled around her. A growl rumbled from his chest as he nuzzled her neck. “You feel so fucking perfect. You deserve better than to be fucked against a door, but goddamn if I can stop.”
“Good. You can have me in a bed or on the floor or wherever you think I deserve next time, but don’t you dare stop.”
He sputtered a laugh. “Not a chance, babe. I should warn you, I’m not gonna last long. You had me halfway there before I got inside this silky wet paradise.”
Tanner eased out and back in, his hips angled so he hit her in just the right spot. The pleasure she’d been denied surged to the surface. They’d changed so much, but not this. She’d never had a man touch her, work her body into a frenzy the way Tanner did.
“I know you’re close,” Tanner murmured. “Don’t hold out on me, Abby-girl.”
Sweat formed on her upper lip as she pushed back, meeting him stroke for stroke.
“Tanner. I need—” Instead of telling him, Abby slipped her hand between her legs. He grabbed her wrist, halting her progress. She glanced back at him and his brows rose. “You think I don’t remember what you need? You think I haven’t dreamed about this over the years? About you?” His words were fierce, full of hunger. “I remember all of it. Every touch. Every sound. Every taste.”
His wet his thumb with his mouth. Her whole body jerked as she watched his hand lower. She knew what he was about to do. Had practically begged him for it. “And I remember this.”
The first waves of orgasm began before he circled the tiny entrance of her ass. Abby cried out at the erotic sensation. Her body tightened, then flew apart. She breathed his name as she felt him tense. A few more strokes and warmth bathed her as he came.
She pressed her forehead to the cool wood of the door, fighting for breath. How would she go on with her life now? How would she stand the thought of another woman having him, touching him, kissing him?
Her heart pounded in her chest as old emotions wormed their way through the chambers to set up shop. No. Not old. Dormant.
Until now.
“Abby.” Tanner’s voice was low, full of reverence.
Oh, god.
He was going to break her heart. Again.
Chapter Six
Tanner set the last of his bags on the floor at the foot of the bed. His muscles ached from the four-hour workout he’d gotten in that morning. Moving all of his shit up three flights of stairs about finished him off. His legs were doing the post-workout shimmy, threatening to give up on him.
It had been worth every step.
The new suite sported a terrace off from his room. He opened the glass doors, letting in the fresh air and the gentle sound of the waves kissing the shoreline below. Two loungers took up the space to the right and a table complete with a brightly-colored umbrella commanded the area on the left. He wanted to have dinner with Abby at that table. They could watch the sun set over the water and then he would carry her to bed where he’d spend the rest of the night making her scream his name.
He couldn’t fucking wait.
Stretching his increasingly sore muscles, Tanner left the bedroom in search of his roomie. Tanner found him rummaging through the kitchen cabinets.
“What are you looking for?”
“Jackpot.” Mitch tossed a handful of single-serving bags of chips onto the counter with a satisfied smirk.
Tanner shook his head. How the guy could smoke like a chimney, eat a pound of chips, and still manage to keep up with him in the gym was anyone’s guess.
The sports page lay open on the counter. “Anything good?” Tanner flipped the page, thankful to not see his face splattered across the front for a change.
“There’s a bit about your return to Miami. Some speculation about why you haven�
��t been seen partying around town.”
“What else?” Mitch had the look of a man biting back a but.
“There’s also a sentence or two about a mystery woman seen coming and going from your room. You haven’t broken any of Ian’s rules, but you might mention to Abby to be more careful. At least for now.”
Shit. “I’ll talk to her.” Better yet, he should go ahead and buy a house, get them away from prying eyes. His pre-sex concern Abby wouldn’t want to see him after the ink dried wasn’t relevant anymore.
She let him fuck the ever-loving shit out of her. Whether she realized it or not, he wasn’t about to walk away. The taste he’d gotten hadn’t been near enough. He wanted more. Wanted to be with her, and not just naked between the sheets. Being with her did something to him. Calmed him in a way he hadn’t experienced in … well … ten years.
Never again.
Call it an epiphany. A wake up call. A left hook upside his head. Whatever. The brand of powerful sex they had changed things. It proved how perfect they were together. And he would fight tooth and nail to convince her to give them another shot.
Unfortunately, Project Persuasion would have to wait until tonight to commence. Abby had an open house and he had things of his own to do.
“I’m gonna grab a quick shower before we go.”
“Go where?” Mitch grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge, tossing one to him.
Tanner caught it and twisted off the cap. “Thanks, man.” He downed half the contents before he continued. “Sunday brunch at my parents house. Then I need to run drills later. I thought I told you.”
Mitch cursed. “What are you? The Energizer bunny? Jesus. We’ve literally been on the move since dawn. Don’t you ever just stop?”
“There’s nothing wrong with staying busy.” He drained the bottle and chucked it into the nearest trash can.
“Sure.” Mitch tore into a bag of chips. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m beginning to understand why you got into so much trouble in LA. You’re the kind of dude who chooses excess to dealing with the reality of your life.”
Tanner wiped his mouth with the collar of his tee. “You’re talking out of your ass. I deal every day. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with the reality of my life.”
Dare To Love Series: Dare's Wild (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 5
