by Wendy Byrne
“How about if I sleep on your couch? You can maintain your integrity, and it would make me feel much better.”
She shook her head. “Not a good idea.”
“Are you afraid I’m going to jump into your bed in the middle of the night?” He clenched his fists as frustration rattled through him.
A trace of a tear appeared in the corner of her eyes. “You don’t understand. We have to go back to the way things were before. If you spend the night that would only make matters worse. I have to do this alone. I can’t have you complicating my life. Why can’t you understand that?”
“Maybe because I don’t think it’s complicated at all. It’s very simple. You’re attracted to me. I’m attracted to you. So far, I’m not coming across any problems that I can see.” He tried to reason with her despite the fact he knew the effort was pointless. The stubborn tilt to her chin told him she’d already made up her mind. But he wanted to keep an eye on her. “It’s still early. We’re both used to being up late, so let’s do some sparring at my place. Then I’ll bring you back home.”
She frowned for a moment, then exhaled. “I must need my head examined, but sparring might be what I need about now. Just let me get changed.”
Chapter Thirteen
Sammie figured engaging in a bout of sparring would help her keep her focus off Enrique’s sultry dance moves. There was nothing sexy about sweating and takedowns.
An hour later, she struggled to regain her breath. He held nothing back. Neither did she.
“You satisfied?” He sucked in gulps of air. Bent over, he stretched the muscles in his legs.
She’d intended to channel all her frustrations into physical exertion, but somehow it had dissolved into something totally different. Foreplay, plain and simple.
“Wanna go another round?” He stood upright and stalked toward her. The sultry look in his eye made his intent clear. And it had nothing to do with any kind of martial arts. He had something much more lethal in mind.
Instinctively, she began to back up as he advanced. It didn’t seem like there was enough room in the world to escape the waves of testosterone coming off him.
Her already accelerated pulse rate sped up another notch or two. Sammie shrugged—a fling wouldn’t be bad. He was hot and sexy. And gorgeous. And maybe he’d gotten that tattoo in his younger days and had outgrown the whole bad boy phase. Maybe getting rid of a little sexual frustration was the key to getting her thinking straight.
“It’s getting late,” she whispered even as she stepped closer.
He grabbed at her wrist. “I think it’s time, don’t you?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
He advanced. She retreated. Her back hit the wall. When she attempted to slide out of his reach, he put his hands on either side of her shoulders.
Before she knew what was happening, he kissed her. Sure, he’d kissed her before and it had always felt amazing, but this was at a whole different level. This was about a prelude. His lips made promises his body would validate later. Her blood pulsed with a sense of the unknown. The unexplored. And snap—he sucked her in.
She wanted—no, needed—more of him. More of his touch. More of his lips. More of his body. If every hormone in her body wasn’t screaming for his attention, she’d be able to think. But she didn’t necessarily want to think right now.
He groaned. Or was it her? Perhaps it was both of them. Need tunneled through her, lighting every nerve along the way.
With her pinned against the wall, his tongue invaded her mouth. Her body tingled. Her mind fuzzed, and sensation remained the only cognizant thought within her head.
“I’ve wanted you forever.” Enrique spoke while his hands slipped off the shorts and underwear she wore. Without so much as a scintilla of hesitation, her legs encircled his waist.
Rubbing her exposed female parts against the front of his sweatpants felt incredible as his erection pulsed against her. All she could think about was having him inside her.
Now.
His hand snaked up her torso. In her mind it was a toss-up which direction he might explore, but either one was fine with her. But it appeared he had every intention of making her suffer a bit longer, if the teasing movement of his fingers was any indication. They brushed against her breasts until she wanted to beg for release. Before she could, he pulled down the top of her sports bra and his mouth captured her nipple, sucking until she felt the resultant tug between her legs.
He slid his lips up her neck, catching the sensitive spots along the way. At this point, on sensation overload already, she didn’t care if he was a card-carrying bad boy—she wanted what he was offering her. He held her captive with his body, grinding into her until she pulsed with desire. Desperate for the release only he could give her, she grabbed at his pants to slip them off his hips.
He chuckled against the curve of her neck. “I don’t mean to rush things, but…you seem to be in a hurry,” his gravelly voice whispered into her ear.
“Stop teasing.” Her tongue entered his mouth while she placed both of her hands on his ass and pushed, just in case he hadn’t gotten the message already.
His dick pulsed against her like it had a mind of its own. She felt the tremble in his arms as he fought for control.
His fingers tracked down her torso. While his thumb sought out her clit, his middle finger entered her. The tiniest hint of release slid through, but she was greedy. She wanted it all.
“Damn, you’re wet,” he growled outside her ear.
“Inside me. Now. Before I die.” Clearly she had no filter when he got her to the point of no return. She needed release, and he was the magic ticket to that particular party.
Despite the tension in his body, he hesitated a second, giving her a dimple-wielding smile before he entered her. Everything about him was larger than life, including his dick, if the fullness she felt was any indication. Once again she felt a smidgen of release, followed by the need to have it all.
He readjusted her legs around his waist and began to slide in and out. His fingers tantalized her tender outside, making her want to scream. Would anyone hear if she did? And did she really care? She couldn’t seem to get enough. Her legs grasped his hips, trusting that between him and the wall behind her she’d remain upright. His hands surrounded her, steadying their pace, while his lips worked their magic on hers.
Her body pressed against the wall as he surged inside her, one long stroke after another. His kisses covered her face and neck while he murmured words she didn’t understand. Either they were in Spanish or she was more delirious than she’d originally thought.
“Querida,” he rasped as his fingers flicked her sweet spot. Holy shit. Instant orgasm. His resultant groan seconds later let her know they’d both been on the fast track to the big O.
His head dropped against the wall while his breath fluttered the hair on her neck. “I’m way too old for standing-up sex.” Enrique bit out the response through a smile. “But it’s your fault, enticing me with that hot body of yours.”
Sammie laughed. “I’m sure I look very sexy in a pair of old cutoff sweatpants and a T-shirt.” She kissed his neck. “I suggest you take responsibility for your actions and stop putting the blame on others. I think you have issues.”
“Issues, huh? All I know is there’s no way in hell I can go round two in this position. Unhook your legs from me. We need to get to the bed before we collapse.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m having no problem with this arrangement.” Despite her cheeky reply, her Jell-O legs proved the fallacy of her words when she disengaged and her body did a slow descent.
Somehow, he managed to stop her slide before her butt hit the floor, and he picked her up and placed her on the bed. Sitting next to her, he pulled off his sweatpants that were halfway down his thighs. Then he slid off the condom she didn’t remember him putting on and deposited it in the trash can. He opened the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out several foil packets and threw them on the b
ed next to her.
Sammie eyed the packages, then him. “You’re awfully ambitious.”
He chuckled and lay down next to her. “There’s nothing worse than not being able to find the condom when you need it. This way, I’m covered.”
“So to speak,” she quipped.
He nodded, the grin spreading across his face. “But you’ve got way too many clothes on for what I have in mind.” He pulled the T-shirt she wore over her head. Stopping, he ran his finger down her chest. “Sports bras. You never wear a bra, but now, when it really matters, you have one of those contraptions on. Damn, they’re a nuisance to get off. Must have been invented by a woman. No man would have made something that pressed a woman’s breasts flat with no easy way of removal.”
Sammie laughed as he pulled the bra over her head with a minimum of trouble, despite his complaint. “If you think they’re difficult for a man, you should try being a woman struggling to get one on, or off—all sweaty—it’s impossible.”
His right eyebrow lifted, and he stroked his finger down by her nipple, causing it to distend immediately. Bending down, he took it into his mouth as the resultant shiver rocked through her.
“Oh, man.” Clear fascination had him staring at her breasts and then touching each one, paying homage in equal measure. “You’re really fair skinned. This is the pinkest nipple I’ve ever seen.”
“I…I…I’m not quite sure how to respond to that.”
He laughed, pulling her on top of him, pushing her legs wide so she straddled him. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you’re a natural blonde.”
She felt the blush start at her hairline and work its way down. “And what do I say to that? Thanks for noticing my…”
His chuckle stopped when he pulled her toward him, taking a nipple into his mouth. The suction of his mouth lit every nerve on that side of her body as it responded to the pressure.
“Ohh.” It wasn’t a word that escaped her mouth, merely a sigh born of pleasure.
His hands cupped her breasts. “You keep saying you’re flat chested, but you’ve got more than enough to make me very happy.” To emphasize his words, he once again pulled her closer so he could take advantage.
Her hands surrounded his head while he nipped at areas of her breasts she hadn’t thought of before. Now, however, those areas were more than aware of his attention.
“I’m going to let you do most of the work this time, since I did more than my fair share last time.”
“You don’t hear me complaining, do you?” She brushed her lips along his neck. “Besides, we both know I like to be in control.”
His left eyebrow shot up while he suppressed a grin. “I haven’t noticed.”
Skimming her hands down his torso, then lower, she teased him by avoiding the area he wanted her to touch.
“Come on, Sammie. Are you going to torture me?”
She shrugged and ran her hands inside his thighs, eluding his penis by inches.
“You’ve discovered my secret. It’s the way I stay in control.”
Her hands traced the outside of his thigh as she bent down to kiss his neck and chest. Like the rest of his body, his legs were solid, encased in muscle.
Her hands stilled when she felt something unusual. Straightening, she scooted down to midthigh in order to examine what she’d discovered.
“Enrique, what’s this?” She traced the outline of what looked to have once been a gaping hole. A scar from a bullet wound?
Enrique brought her hand to his penis until her fingers encased him. “An old construction accident. I’d much rather you concentrate on more important areas of my body.”
His attempt at distraction was obvious. Right now, his wound didn’t seem important.
Smiling, she feathered his penis with fingertip touches. “Maybe I need to kiss it and make it better.”
“Now we’re talking.”
…
Enrique trailed his fingertips down Sammie’s back to rest on her incredible ass. Dealing with a dwindling erection after another mind-blowing orgasm, he pushed himself into her farther in order to savor the last few moments of being inside her.
Damn. He felt like a class-A asshole. Planting that tracker inside her purse had given him a measure of peace.
Asshole. Once again the moniker circled his brain.
He wanted to be honest with her and tell her everything he knew, but past wounds made him stop short. Besides, if he stuck close to her and she started trusting him, maybe she’d open up and be forthright about what was spooking her. Once he discovered that, he could break the case wide-open.
She shifted, pulling away from his chest. A look of remorse replaced the look of pleasure there earlier.
“I shouldn’t have let this happen.” Hanging her head, she touched her forehead to his. Regret flashed in her eyes.
Smoothing her hair with his hands, he offered the only comfort he could. “From my perspective, I don’t think either one of us could have done a damn thing to stop it.”
“But you don’t understand. I shouldn’t get hooked up with guys like you.” Frustration glistened in the corners of her eyes.
“Okay, I’m insulted.” Although her words rattled him, he couldn’t help but notice the irony that he was still inside her.
Her body, which had been supple and loose, became rigid with tension. Her eyes fluttered closed for a second before she spoke. “Regardless of how good this feels, or maybe because of how good it feels, I let you work your bad boy magic on me.”
“Why are you calling me a bad boy?” After going two rounds together, that she was even thinking about regrets wounded his ego. Hell, he had enough regrets for both of them—sort of.
“You have the whole package, but not in a good way.” She removed him from her body, as if the separation would help her conviction. Sitting on her shins, she settled in alongside him on the bed. “You look like a bad boy, you ride a motorcycle, you have a tattoo, your job status is questionable. Need I go on?”
The fact that she remained naked didn’t seem to bother her like it did a lot of women. She didn’t grab the sheet to cover herself. Rather, she sat there deep in concentration.
If he wasn’t so ticked, he could savor the sight before him. But right now, he couldn’t concentrate on anything but her stubbornness.
He pulled his hands behind his head. Tucking them under the pillow, he tried to lose the imprint of her skin on his fingertips. “How about don’t judge a book by its cover?”
“Life has taught me to be cautious.”
“But life is also about risks, too.” And wasn’t he supreme dickwad of the year.
“This thing between us is purely physical.”
“And your point?”
“There’s more to a relationship than the physical. I should hook up with somebody safe and boring like Jack’s attorney, Jonathan, or maybe even Michael. They would make my life much easier.”
“The nerdy guy with the glasses and the briefcase? Or a lawyer? Really?”
“Exactly. I’m not the least bit attracted to them, so they’ve got to be good for me, because it’s in my cards to be attracted to somebody who isn’t what I need.”
“You shouldn’t complicate your life by getting involved with somebody because you think they’re safe.” Every bit of willpower he had warred within him. Touching her and pulling her back into bed to soothe her lingered in his mind.
She stood and picked her clothes off the floor then turned to face him. “I’m going to shower and then get back to my apartment.”
Without another word, she walked into his bathroom, closing the door behind her. A few moments later, he heard the shower turn on.
What was he thinking? To argue with her when he was guilty of keeping secrets didn’t set well with him. He was fairly certain she wasn’t involved with her uncle’s drug dealing in any way, but Teresa had fooled him, too. Could he be 100 percent positive she wasn’t doing the same thing?
Enrique waited about ten m
inutes. That’s about all he could stand before his hormones overrode that sliver of rational mind remaining.
While knocking on the door of the bathroom, Enrique decided on the best way to proceed.
“Please go away,” she called from the other side.
He opened the door anyway. “I came to wash your back. You want to make sure that kick-ass tattoo you have is squeaky-clean, don’t you?”
Pulling back the shower curtain, she poked her head out. “Maybe you didn’t hear me. I said go away.” Letting the curtain fall back into place once again.
“But I came to apologize.”
“Then what’s that?” She looked at his groin.
Chuckling, he advanced. “My mind is sincere. I can’t help it if certain parts of my body have other ideas.”
Without another word, he climbed into the shower.
“Keep your distance.” Her eyes drifted to his erection and back up to his chest. When she licked her lips, he knew he was making progress.
“I came to offer a compromise. I mean, if you have to go to hell for sleeping with me, you might as well go for broke. We’ve had sex twice already. What’s a few more times in the grand scheme of things? You’ve made it clear you’re not sticking around town, and we have this chemistry thing going between us.” He traced her collarbone down to the tip of her breast.
She moaned. “That is the sorriest line I’ve ever heard, but…a fling should be all about the physical, shouldn’t it…” Her voice trailed off as she closed the short distance between them and kissed him, inserting her tongue inside his mouth.
Compromise was a beautiful thing.
Chapter Fourteen
This playful flirtation with Enrique had turned into something much, much more, Sammie decided as she stepped out of the shower. The trouble clouding up the edges of her reality was now smack-dab in the middle of her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
A fling. A harmless sexual release to keep her mind off her troubles.
The crushing sensation told her to run far and fast before she could no longer escape. Although by this time, she might have already passed the point of no return.
