by Jenika Snow
The longer I stared at her the more I wanted her. The urge to stand up, grab her around the waist and throw her over my shoulder, then head straight to one of the empty bedrooms, rode me hard. Pain shot up my fingers and arms the tighter I held on to the corner of the table. I could hear Noah and Johnny talking, could hear Mia and Flora in conversation, as well. No one seemed to be paying attention to Andra or me at the moment. That’s exactly how I liked it.
Her perfume made me drunk, had my head dizzy, my body strung tight. Her green eyes were wide, her pupils dilated. Her lips were pouty, red, and this gorgeous sheen covered them. And her hair, long and red, piled high on her head, had my fingers itching to push the wisps of hair away from her face and curl them behind her ear.
The longer I stared at her, the more vivid my thoughts became. I pictured her spread out on my bed, her hair fanned around her, my scent covering her body. She’d be naked for me, her breasts round, perfect. Her nipples would be hard, rosy peaks awaiting my mouth.
She’d spread her legs and be so wet for me, so primed. My cock jerked, the fucker demanding to be free, to be buried deep in Andra’s tight pussy.
I thought I could control myself, that I could act like she didn’t affect me. But it was clear as fucking day that Andra got under my skin.
I couldn’t walk away. I wouldn’t.
CHAPTER FIVE
Andra
I couldn’t even enjoy my meal because the way Liam was staring at me had me on edge. But it was the best kind of on edge, the kind I wasn’t used to. I was the type of woman who got her way, who knew how to shut a man, hell, anyone, down if they wanted to challenge me. But I could also look at Liam and see he’d unravel me, that he’d make me so damn confused about what I wanted and needed that I’d just give him the reins. This back and forth game, love and hate relationship we had going on turned me on, but also frustrated the hell out of me.
I wanted him and it was obvious he wanted me. The sexual tension was so damn thick I could cut it with a knife. I should’ve declined the offer when Mia and Flora all but cornered me at the jobsite and invited me over for lunch. I was a business associate of Ash Lumber, but here I was socializing with them, eating lunch in Noah’s house like we’d been friends for years.
I couldn’t help but smile as I watched Noah and Johnny clean up. Liam was back outside chopping wood, and I kept finding myself looking over at him. We hadn’t said more than a handful of words today, yet our nonverbal cues had spoken so loudly they were deafening.
All throughout the meal I felt his eyes on me, and maybe he felt mine on him. Seemed like I couldn’t keep my focus off the man. Since first coming to Rockbridge and meeting him, he was all I’d thought about.
I started playing with the edge of my napkin, staring at the white linen and wondering if I should just go out there and be friendly. It seemed all of our encounters had been a push and shove kind of interaction. It would be nice just to talk to him, to really get to know him. I excused myself and headed outside, stepped off the deck and made my way toward him. The sound of his axe cutting into the pieces of wood was strangely arousing. When I was about ten feet from him I stopped and just watched the play of muscles on his back as he brought the axe over his head and slammed it down on the wood.
He’d taken off his button-down shirt and now just wore the white T-shirt he’d had underneath. I couldn’t help but focus on the way his biceps bulged as he held the axe, the sinew and tendons in clear definition under his skin. I took a step to the side, but my shoe snapped a twig, causing him to turn around and look at me. He seemed momentarily surprised that I stood there, but he regained his composure pretty quickly.
“You like watching men sweat as they work?” I could hear the teasing note in his voice and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I wanted to tell him that I liked watching him sweat while he worked, but I bit my tongue and glanced away, knowing my cheeks were probably red.
“Well, hell,” he said and I glanced up at him.
“What?”
“I didn’t think it was possible.” He set the axe down, leaning it against the big slab of wood he used as a chopping block.
“You didn’t think what was possible?”
He full on grinned this time, flashing straight white teeth. “I didn’t think it was possible to get you to blush.”
And just like that I felt my face get even hotter. I glanced away again and touched my cheek, feeling my warm skin. Yeah, probably red as a damn tomato.
“I just figured that maybe we could talk.” I walked over to one of the large tree stumps and sat down. After a moment he did the same on the chopping block stump. Whenever we were around each other there was this…intensity.
“How about I pick you up and take you to the construction site tonight? Makes more sense than both of us driving to the same place, right?” He smirked at me again, the corner of his mouth lifting up and making him so damn attractive.
The independent part of me, the one who hadn’t let any man do anything for her, even something as small as picking her up and taking her someplace, wanted to tell him that I would just meet him there. And maybe this made me seem weak, but I wanted to be that female who had the man pick her up, open doors for her…just take care of her. I’d never had that before, and I could see that Liam would probably fit the bill pretty damn well.
“Yeah, that would work.” I hated that it sounded so formal coming out of me. We exchanged phone numbers and I gave him my address. He kept grinning at me, and I couldn’t help but return the expression. There was definitely something about Liam Ash that made me just want to rip my clothes off, turn around, bend over, and grab my ankles.
CHAPTER SIX
Andra
I pulled my jacket closer to my body and stared at the building that was really starting to come together. I was glad I’d changed out of the dress, because the mountain nights, even during this time of year, were chilly.
We’d sat in his truck silently on the ride over, but once there we’d sat with the truck idling, small talk filling the air.
I learned about his family starting the business, and how he and his brothers had taken over. Liam was a hardworking man, as were his two brothers. This business was their life, and as such he’d devoted all of his time to it.
“It’s really coming together,” I finally said and glanced over at him. He was already staring at me. The sun was just starting to set, and although it would be dark soon enough, he’d turned on a few work lights. They barely touched the middle of the building, but it didn’t matter because inside was what I really wanted to see.
“Come on,” he said, and before I knew what he was doing, he took my hand in his and led me inside. I liked the feeling of his much larger hand encompassing mine, the slight callouses I felt pressing against the smooth skin of my palm. I stared up at him, took in his profile, the way his nose was broad, masculine. His lips were full, his jaw square. I lifted my gaze to his hair, the short strands looking so dark in this lighting.
He took me to the west side of the building and showed me the different rooms, the offices and areas that would soon be furnished, decorated, and hold many new employees. It was crazy to see this once empty lot with walls and doors, lighting fixtures and the prospect of the future.
And then he took me to the last room at the end of a long hallway, this one unfinished, with sawhorses in the center of the room, clear tarps hanging over parts of the walls and windows. It was the least finished room I’d seen thus far, but it had so much promise.
I let go of his hand and walked the room, touching the walls, the exposed wood that would be sanded, stained, and made into beautiful banisters and exposed beams.
“You guys have done so much in such a short amount of time.” When the company I worked for had hired Ash Lumber, I didn’t think we’d expected them to be so versed in so many things. They didn’t
only manufacture the wood that built this incredible structure, but they were also doing the construction itself. “It’s going to be wonderful once it’s all said and done. It already is,” I said and turned around. The air left me when I realized he was right in front of me, his big body blocking out everything behind him, his focus on me.
“I have to admit,” he said in a husky drawl. “This back and forth we have going on turns me on like a motherfucker.”
My mouth went dry, the words leaving me. I felt my eyes widen when he lifted his hand and cupped my cheek. His skin was warm, his palm so big. “Mr. Ash,” I said, trying to be professional, but I was failing.
I want to fail.
“Mr. Ash?” he asked and grinned. “I kind of like you saying my name all formal and shit, but let’s be real.” He stepped closer. “Call me Liam.”
“Liam,” I said softly and he groaned.
“Tell me you don’t feel this chemistry moving between us, this sexual intensity.” He was stroking my cheek with his thumb now.
“This needs to be professional,” I whispered. It didn’t sound convincing to me even as I said the damn words.
He smiled but it was forced. He leaned in close to me and stared me in the eyes. “Liar.”
He stared at me for long seconds. I felt the air heat, become thicker.
“Now, lie to me again.”
I swallowed the thick lump in my throat and shook my head slowly. “I can’t.” I was being honest. I didn’t want to fight this anymore.
He groaned and closed his eyes for long seconds. When he opened them again his stare was intense. “I haven’t been with a woman in years, Andra. Fucking years I’ve had no interest. Not in relationships, being intimate…nothing.” He rested his forehead against mine and groaned again. “And I’m so fucking happy I haven’t been with a woman. I’m glad you’re the one who is breaking that celibacy streak, who is finally going to be mine.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that last part, but elation filled me at hearing those words.
Liam had his hand wrapped around my nape, his mouth slammed against mine. He pushed his tongue between my lips, fucking me there, stroking the interior of my mouth. My body was on fire, my nipples tingling, my pussy wet. He walked us backward until the wall stopped us. I braced my hands behind me, the plaster cool, dry under my sweaty palms. He was pressing his pelvis against my belly, his dick thick, long, and so damn hard.
I was breathing heavy, not even about to talk myself out of this. He broke the kiss and started dragging his mouth down my cheek, along my jawline, and finally stopped right at the pulse point beneath my ear. Liam licked and sucked at my flesh, causing my inner muscles to clench painfully. I wanted him deep inside of me, stretching me to the point of pain. He was thrusting against me, back and forth, adding more pressure, more force with each passing second.
“I could devour you until there wasn’t anything left, until you were a writhing mess under me, begging for more.” He growled low against my neck, and I felt the vibrations all the way to my clit.
I was already to the point of begging. I was wet now, so wet that my panties were soaked. My mind and body were on the same wavelength, screaming for Liam to have his way with me, to take me in any way he saw fit. I didn’t want to be the powerful one when I was with him. I had that every day in my life. With Liam, I wanted him to call the shots.
I noticed the way his breathing changed, how it was more ragged, broken. I knew I was helpless to stop anything he wanted to do to me, anything I wanted him to do to me.
Liam pulled me forward until our bodies were flush with each other. My breasts pressed against the hard planes of his chest, and the air gushed out of me at the feel of his hard body right up against mine, at the fact he was so masculine where I was feminine.
“You are so fucking beautiful, and the fact you’re mine, only mine…” He shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe I was standing right here, about to give myself over to him.
“I’ve never wanted anything so much as I want you, Andra.” His words were spoken softly, but his voice was guttural. Liam was rough around the edges, brutal in his strength, in his personality, and I knew he was the type of man who didn’t apologize for these traits.
That’s what drew me to him, had me aching for him.
“I want you so much,” I said, not caring if I sounded desperate.
He lifted his hand and ran his finger along my cheek. The scent of the exposed, fresh wood filled my head, making me dizzy, seeming to make my desire climb higher. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch, needing more of it desperately. I knew this would be a fast and wild experience, and I anticipated that. I needed that.
He lowered his head to mine until our lips were a hairsbreadth apart. “You make me crazy with your stubbornness, with the fact you get under my skin.” His words were low, husky, full of promise. “But that’s what makes me want you so fucking much, Andra.” He ran the tip of his nose up my cheek. “You’re the first thing I think about when I wake, and the last thing to fill my head before I fall asleep.”
My heart was beating so hard and fast.
He leaned back and stared right into my eyes. “How much do you want this?” He lifted a brow, his face full of passion. “Tell me and it’s yours. I’ll give you anything you want, baby.”
“I want it as badly as you do.” I wanted to lean in that little bit and kiss him again, but I stayed still, looking into his eyes, waiting for him to make another move, to take that control.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “My cock has never been this hard, baby.” He took my hand and moved it between our bodies, placing it right over his dick. A gasp left me at his size, at his hardness. His warm breath slid along my face, making me drunk.
“Take me,” I whispered. I could hear my heart beating in my ears, feel it in my throat.
“I want to taste you, to run my tongue over every part of you, memorizing you.”
I licked my too-dry lips, tried to take in enough oxygen so I wasn’t so dizzy.
“Do you want that, sweetheart? Do you need that?”
“I need you, Liam.”
“Fuck, baby.” He held still for a moment, not speaking, not moving, as if he were trying to rein in his control. But I wanted him to break free, to just give me all of him, however he saw fit. I was tired to trying to be the one in control of my entire life. I just wanted to jump off that ledge and see how it felt to reach the bottom.
He pressed his lower half into my belly, and the feel of his huge erection prodding me had a fresh gush of moisture leaving my pussy.
“I hope you’re ready, because once I finally claim you there is no going back.” He slid his thumb along my bottom lip. “You’ll be mine and no one else’s.”
And truth was, that’s exactly what I wanted.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Liam
I was a fiend for Andra, so far gone that stopping seemed like a distant thought. Even if I had the strength to walk away from this I wouldn’t have. I needed her in all ways, needed to claim her in the way that only I could. To make her mine. Andra would soon see I was the one in control, that I was the one who would give her pleasure, hear her calling out my name as she came.
I stood there staring at her, unable to take my gaze off her. She was perfection, beautiful…mine.
Her cheeks were flushed, dotted with red from her lust. I started kissing her again, taking in her flavor, her very essence. My desire was so fucking intense that I ground myself against her belly. Her mouth was hot and sweet, and my cock jerked behind my jeans, the fucker needing out and buried deep in her body.
I swept my tongue into the wet cavern of her mouth, stroking it along hers, bringing out a moan from her. I swallowed that sound, wanting more of it. Sliding my hands down her back, I gripped her full, round ass and brought her closer to me, which was a
lmost an impossible act, given the fact we were pressed tightly together. My cock jerked at the feel of her softness, at the scent of her.
“I want you so fucking badly. I can feel it in my marrow, taste it on my tongue,” I said against her mouth, kissing her harder after the words left me.
The sound of her lightly moaning told me she was finding pleasure in this, that she craved me as much as I craved her. And the way she dug her nails into my arms let me know she needed more.
And I’ll give her so much more she can’t even fucking breathe.
Andra slid her hands up my chest and dug her nails into my skin. I hissed in pain…in pleasure. It felt good, so fucking good I could have probably gotten off on this alone.
I needed us naked, needed her bare skin pressed to mine. I wanted to feel her body shaking beneath my hands and mouth, losing control because she came, because I was the one who brought that out in her. I was purely working on instinct now, and there wasn’t anything on this fucking planet that could stop me from claiming her, from making her mine in every way I saw fit.
“You sure you want this, baby?”
“I want this. I want you,” she said instantly and looked into my eyes.
I kissed her harder and with more possession, needing her to see that she was, in fact, only mine. She moaned and pressed her breasts harder against my chest.
“I’m going to have you so sore tomorrow you won’t be able to sit comfortably, but you’ll want more. So much more.”
“Yes,” she breathed out, and I swallowed the sound.
I gripped the cheeks of her ass, slid my hands up and curled them around the material of her shirt, pushing it up and off her body. I had my hands back on her ass, squeezing the mounds and pulling her harder against me, right on my cock. I became frenzied as I took a step back and all but tore the rest of her clothing off then did the same to mine until we were both naked, panting, and ready. The sexual buildup had been too much, too strong for so long.
