Tempering Steel

by Lea Barrymire

  Words poured from his lips as he stalked through her house. “You taste so fucking good. I could drink you down every day of my life. You’re so hot and wet for me. I can’t wait to be inside you, feeling your body wrapped around mine. I’m going to make you come again so I can watch you fall apart under me.”

  Every statement was met by a gasp or shudder. Her body heated against his and a new wave of arousal enveloped them. Even as she wiggled, she reached out and tweaked his nipple. A giggle escaped her lips when he growled at her. Gods, I love this woman.

  Connor nearly tripped and fell. Love? Where the hell had that thought come from? Looking down into Margie’s upturned pixie face had his heart clenching. Yeah. Love. His coyote gave him the equivalent of an animal shrug. Once again, Connor the man wasn’t really connected to reality.

  Throwing off those thoughts, he sniffed out Margie’s bedroom, pushing through the door and entering her space. He pulled an asshole move and sucked in a large lungful of air, tasting it for other men. Both he and his animal were relieved. There wasn’t even a subtle hint of a man in her room.

  “Smell anything of interest?”

  Looking down, he found a very amused woman cradled in his arms. Her kiss-swollen lips quirked up at the corners. Shit. She knew what he’d been doing. Connor decided it was better to admit to his possessiveness before it caused issues between them. “I’d say I was sorry, but I’m not. We’re both really happy there haven’t been men in this room.”

  She mumbled something that sounded vaguely like ‘you could have been stinking up my room months ago’ but he let it go. Instead of asking for clarification, he launched Margie toward the bed. She squealed and flailed a little, but he was right there to grab her and pull her under his body.

  “I love your eyes. They fleck with this deep emerald color when you’re aroused.” Leaning down, he whispered against her lips, “So fucking sexy.”

  He loved how her body melted under his, a pliant puddle of femininity readying for him. As he’d spoken her legs had spread, letting him sink against her pussy. The heat already burning against his cock through their clothing. How much hotter would she be once he could get them skin to skin?

  The kiss was supposed to be gentle, coaxing. Instead he threaded his fingers through her auburn hair and took her mouth with all the need he’d been pushing away for months. Her release was strong on his tongue and he wanted more. She opened with a sigh, giving him access immediately. He slid his tongue against hers, tasting and trying to brand his flavor onto her mind, tangling together with hers until he needed to breathe.

  Nipping her bottom lip had her squirming beneath him. He grinned and nibbled along her chin and neck. The animal within wasn’t far from the surface and wanted to bite her, mark her skin. Margie didn’t help by baring her throat and moaning as he licked a path along the column of her neck.

  He spent a few moments biting lightly across her shoulder, which she enjoyed if the amount of groaning and sighing she was doing was any indication. For his coyote, Connor gave her one harder nip. He wasn’t prepared for her reaction.

  “God, that feels good,” she whispered, and goose bumps erupted under his mouth.

  Grinning, he let his animal out a little, lengthening his canines. With a move she probably couldn’t have tracked if she’d been looking, he flipped her onto her stomach. Before her squeak of protest had even left her lips, Connor swept the hair away from the back of her neck and nipped her lightly on the sensitive skin at her nape.

  “Oh.”

  *****

  Hot breath feathered over her skin and she couldn’t help the full-body tremor. She wanted more—she craved the feel of his teeth on her. Margie had never really been into biting before, but with Connor she wanted it. Needed to feel his teeth lightly nipping her, but needed him inside her more.

  She tried to climb to her knees but his body pinned her to the bed. His hands were everywhere, sweeping over her spine, touching her ass, tugging at her dress. Between the feel of him pressing her into her mattress and the insistent, needy touches, she was going out of her mind.

  “Let me up.” She ’hadn’t meant for it to sound so breathy or whiny. She needed to be naked, needed him equally so, and they couldn’t be skin to skin until he moved.

  “Sorry. God, sorry Margie.”

  Confusion stilled her for one moment until she could turn her head and stare at the now-contrite man. “Strip, Connor. Get naked.”

  He blinked and then smiled, wicked and promising as he pulled the shirt apart, popping every single button from the cloth. She shouldn’t have found that as sexy as she did, but what woman couldn’t see the power behind a move like that? He tossed the ruined item onto the floor and slowed as he unbuckled his belt. Margie’s fingers stilled. She’d dreamed of what his cock would look like. What Connor would look like aroused and naked. The muscular chest he’d already bared made her mouth water for a taste. It was the slight trail of dark hair leading under the top of his pants that she wanted to follow with her tongue.

  The torture was wonderful. He slowly popped his belt open, the jingle of his buckle loud in the still air. Steady fingers unbuttoned the pants and spread the flaps slightly. Oh God, he goes commando. A rush of lust and need coated her pussy with moisture. A small groan might have left her dry lips.

  Connor looked up and raised a brow. “Show me. Take your dress off.”

  Right, they were both getting undressed. She didn’t tease. Instead she pulled off the dress with shaking fingers. It made a satisfying plop when it hit the floor close to his shirt. She could get it dry-cleaned to get the wrinkles out. Connor’s body needed all her attention.

  He devoured her with a heated stare. His hands had stilled for a moment, but she enjoyed the way his eyes flared as he swept his gaze down her body. When he reached down to squeeze his cock behind his zipper and gave a little groan, she almost came again.

  “I don’t know if I can be gentle.” His whispered admission ramped up her need.

  “Like I need it gentle. Naked. Get naked. Now.”

  For once he listened, unzipping his pants quickly and pushing them off with ease. His cock sprang free and had her licking her lips. Not many dicks made her want to get to her knees for a taste, but she fought the urge to do just that. He was long and thick, not scary in size but big enough that she knew he’d stretch her. The vein throbbed along the full length of his shaft, the beat of his heart making the entire length bob with the same beat. A clear drop of fluid gleamed in the light at the tip, beckoning, teasing. She wanted to taste him, see if he was salty and bitter or if he hid a little hint of sweet in his essence.

  “Don’t look at me like that. I’m barely holding on as it is.”

  The near-pain in his voice dragged her eyes from his gorgeous cock. A flush had crept along his chest and cheeks, making his eyes look even darker as they clearly showed his coyote. She knew what they both needed.

  With efficient movements, she climbed to her hands and knees, showing him her ass, and slowly lowered her shoulder to the mattress. Margie spread her legs farther and waggled her butt to make her needs known. The air cooled her pussy, so he had to have seen the moisture coating her lips. She’d never been so ready, so wet for anyone before. She had one moment to wonder what he was doing before she jumped.

  “Shhh. I’m going to enjoy this view and your offering.” His voice was quiet and rough. It puffed across her left ankle an instant before his tongue snaked out and gave her skin a swipe. Could someone come from being licked on the leg?

  He kissed and nipped up the inside of her leg. Hot breath tickled sensitive skin, rough-palmed hands skated along the outer parts of her calves and thighs. He wasn’t moving fast enough. She wanted his mouth on her, his tongue inside her. When a hot tongue finally drew a line up the inside of her thigh, she thought she’d die. He paused inches from her pussy and she groaned, rocking on her knees. “Please.”

  He chuckled and a warm puff of breath wafted across her swollen pus
sy. Her stomach clenched.

  “Please. I need you in me. Touch me.” She just needed a touch, something, and she’d come again. An orgasm was building. She would’ve laughed if she ’hadn’t been concentrating on where he was. So close.

  The slow, torturous slide of a single finger through her folds had her legs shaking. When a second slid through the wetness and circled her clit, it was enough. Even as a laugh of relief left her lips, her body shook with the release. She gasped with the strength of it, nearly painful as her channel clenched on nothing.

  Even as she was trying to catch her breath, Connor moved behind her. This was what she needed, not a couple of empty orgasms. She wanted him inside her, wanted to feel the stretch of his cock, moving.

  Warm hands rested on her hips at the same moment he began to enter her. Margie wanted him to thrust in, not hold back. She wanted to feel the power banked in his legs, shaking him. But instead the slide was agonizingly slow, every inch a torturous stretch and press. She tried to make him go faster, but he anticipated her attempt to push back onto his length by pinning her with his legs and hands.

  Instead of pleading for more, faster, harder, as her mouth wanted to, she groaned, burying her face in her comforter and letting Connor set the pace. Being on her knees forced her to accept his invasion and it made her liquid inside and out. He could easily have powered into her and pounded away until he came, fast and sweaty. Instead he was taking his time, making her take him at his pace.

  “You feel like Heaven,” he gasped. “I’m not going to last. You’re so hot. Tight. Perfect.”

  When he bottomed out, they both moaned. His legs were hot and firm behind her, his pelvis tight to her pussy. He paused like that for a moment before pulling back out just as slowly. The feel of his cock over her folds, caressing her channel, was like wet silk. Hot and smooth. When he was nearly all the way out of her aching body, he thrust back in a little faster. His breath caught in his throat and a growl vibrated against her spine when he bent over her, covering and caging her body under his.

  “I can’t hold it back.” It sounded like a curse. His hips started swinging faster, pistoning his hard shaft in and out of her. She could feel each sweep building her tension again. She clamped down on his dick, dragging a feral sound from his mouth. “Don’t.”

  Her body couldn’t help it. On the next push and pull her channel pulsed again, grasping him inside. His mouth settled on the skin of her back, teeth dragging across her sweaty skin. A flick of his tongue pulled a gasp from her. Her legs started to shake. Unbelievably, she was going to come again, and this one was going to be deep. She could feel it building from within, like a bottomless pit, dark and wet. Each slide across her tissues pushed her closer, made her flutter around his shaft.

  “Coming.” It was his promise, as were the teeth that clamped down on her nape.

  The word, growl, feel of his mouth on her, teeth pressing tightly into her and the jets of hot semen did her in. She was thrown into a full-body orgasm. Cries left her lips, lights flashed behind her lids and a supernova of pleasure erupted deep inside her.

  Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard him, felt the kisses to her hot skin. Knew he moved her, positioned her on her side and cleaned her up. She acknowledged him with a grin and a few incomprehensible words before he gave up trying to communicate and just chuckled, folding her into his arms.

  Sleep claimed her long before she was ready, but her body and soul were at peace.

  Chapter Eleven

  The morning started with birds singing and bright sunshine peeking through Margie’s window. Oh, and a warm arm draped over her side. Groggily, she turned over and snuggled deeper into Connor’s embrace. His face, while in sleep, was missing all the stress lines around his eyes and mouth. He looked rugged and handsome with a day’s growth of beard and rumpled hair.

  She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She had things to do, but he looked as if he needed the rest. He growled something in his sleep but didn’t stir. She covered her mouth and tried to stem the giggle threatening to erupt. Connor Manning was in her bed, snuggled up in her pink-and-white comforter looking all sexy and hot. She wanted to grab her phone to take a picture. When he woke, would he be the loving guy who’d slowly seduced her last night? Or would the grumpy sheriff who’d kept her at arm’s length for two years be the one waking in her bed? She hoped with every ounce of her being that it was the former. She didn’t think she could survive another brush-off, especially after making love the night before.

  The twist in her gut let her know it was not the need to get things done on a Saturday morning that had her sneaking out of bed. In actuality, she couldn’t stomach the thought of things being awkward between them. If he woke and was distant, it would kill her.

  So instead of sticking it out and being brave, she was taking the chicken way out. She’d go down, start some coffee and breakfast and wait, biting her lip, to see how he’d act around her.

  Tiptoeing around her room was difficult. The house she owned was old and creaked. Everywhere. Gathering her clothes had never been so intense. Every time a board made a noise, ’she shot a glance at Connor, waiting with bated breath to see if he’d woken. Each time it was a blessing and a regret that he slumbered so deeply. But he had been working really crazy hours since the shooting at Cammie’s house. Maybe he really was tired…or was he playing as if he were asleep so he could wake up alone?

  With that thought in mind, she turned and stared at Connor, watching for a flicker of eye movement or a hitch in his breathing. Was that a toe moving under the blankets? Anger flared. If he thought he could get out of talking to her, well he was just going to have to buck up and get over his issues.

  Kettle, meet pot.

  Her internal voice could shut the hell up at any time. She needed the anger to go through with the plan she was formulating in her mind. Thinking rationally about her avoidance of waking with him could just wait until afterward.

  Dropping her shirt and sleeping pants in a puddle on the floor at her feet sealed the deal with herself. With two large, bounding steps she found herself standing at the edge of the bed. Before she could talk some sense into herself, she launched herself at Connor, landing on her knees next to his chest. In the next instant she bounced him in the bed. Hard.

  She had a moment of regret when he woke with a start, flailed and fell off the other side of the bed with a loud thump. Rushing to the edge and looking over, she found a befuddled and confused but very naked and aroused Connor. She cringed. “Sorry.”

  “What the hell? Margie? Did we have an earthquake?” His words were rough and growly, with a slight slur.

  “No. I, um, thought you were awake and faking being asleep.” She backed up on the bed when he stood. “I had the bright idea I’d make you face me and tell me what’s really going on. But you weren’t faking it, so I’ll just go down and make breakfast.”

  Margie tried to escape. Clambering off the bed didn’t get her far, though. Connor jumped over the bed and swept her up in his arms, pressing her very naked body against his equally unclothed chest. Why hadn’t she put on the clothes she’d tossed to the floor?

  Because you hoped for some snuggling or sex. If she could have stuck her tongue out at her internal monologue, she would’ve done it. Instead she struggled a little in his arms. “Put me down or you’re going to be sorry.”

  Connor huffed. “Right, like being woken from a deep sleep by a flouncing, naked, crazed woman isn’t punishment enough?” Even as he spoke, he dropped Margie onto the bed and came down next to her, pinning her with an arm and a leg thrown over hers.

  “You have an issue with throwing me?”she squeaked, and thrashed for a nanosecond until his hot, hard cock brushed against her hip. The bump on his bottom must not have gotten in the way of Mr. Happy’s giddiness. She snorted and threw a hand over her mouth. Laughing while naked and in bed with an equally naked man usually wasn’t a good thing. She’d found that out before.

  “W
hat’s so funny? Wait, I don’t want to know. I need to fix some misconceptions first.” Connor wiggled a little before using a gentle finger to angle her face up until she was staring deep into his eyes. “Margie. I am not going to give you up. Didn’t that make it through to your brain last night? Were you too dazzled by my superior sexual prowess?”

  He didn’t let her answer. Instead he bent and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. Her body reacted with a shot of heat and slowly melted against his side. Even as her mind played over a dozen things to say back to him about his manhandling and big-headedness, she dug her fingers into his short hair and held his mouth to hers. She could berate him later for having an ego problem. Preferably after she’d had him inside her again and she was sated from multiple orgasms.

  With a twist of her hips and a satisfied smile, she flipped Connor onto his back. Climbing on top of him and settling her already wet pussy on his cock gave her the chills. His shaft was hot against her wet folds. Each wiggle of her body rubbed the mushroom head against her clit. “Mmm. This is better.”

  His eyes had closed for a moment, but when she spoke they opened again. Half-lidded and lust-filled was a perfect look on her sheriff. She circled her hips and ground down on his pelvis. A growl had her grinning. With light, tickling fingertips, she tiptoed up his stomach. Loving how his muscles bunched and fluttered under her touch, she worked her way up to his chest. While she tortured him, she continued rocking against his cock, rubbing his hot shaft through her folds and the head of his dick against her clit. She wanted to come with him deep inside her, but it felt so good to have his silky, hot penis nestled within her pussy.