He shook his head. “No. Why?”
“No reason.” She toyed with a piece of her hair and took another sip. “Can I ask you something?”
He looked less than sure. “What?”
“Did you ever have a crush on me?” She moved closer to him, and his lids dropped to cover his eyes, but not before she saw the desire in them. Desire for her. The knowledge gave her the confidence she needed to continue on. “Ever want to see what it would be like between us?”
He inhaled deeply. “You’re drunk already, aren’t you?”
“No.” She set her glass down and grabbed hold of his shirt, tugging him closer. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out anything else he said. “I’m not. I just want to let loose tonight. Have fun. With you.”
“Kiersten…” Her name seemed to be ripped out of somewhere deep within him. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his hands fell to her hips. “What are you up to?”
“You’ll see.” She smoothed the shirt over his shoulders, then ran her hands down his hard biceps. “Now answer me.”
He stiffened. “What are you doing?”
“Touching you.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “Why? You want me to stop?”
“Yes. No.” His eyes darkened, and his knuckles whitened on the glass stem. “Shit. You better think twice about what you’re doing. Once you start this, I’m not backing down.”
She bit down on her lower lip. “Who says I want you to stop? Now answer me.”
“Kiersten…” He stepped back from her, his entire body hard and unyielding. “Are you sure you’re not drunk?”
Please. She wished she was, it would make this easier. She should have waited longer. Gotten some more drinks in them both. But it was too late to back down now that she’d started the ball rolling. She took his glass out of his hand, setting it beside hers. “No. I just want you.”
His hands fell to her hips. She couldn’t tell if he wanted to push her away or pull her closer. Maybe a little of both? If he rejected her, she would never be able to show her face in front of him again. “Are you sure?”
“Very.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him closer still. “Did you ever have a crush on me, or wonder what it might be like to spend a night together? To kiss me? Touch me?”
He groaned, and his fingers tightened their grip on her. “Yes. God, yes.”
“Good. Because I did, too. I still want to know what it would be like. Tonight.” She lifted her chin and looked into his eyes. “Kiss me.”
His gaze fell to her mouth. She was so close to victory she could taste it. “Why now?”
She played with the curls at the nape of his neck. “Why not?”
His jaw flexed. “I need a better answer than that.”
“I need to have fun tonight. Forget why I’m upset. Forget it all.”
“And what about Chris?”
“He’ll never know, will he? He’s not here.” She fought the desperation clawing its way up her throat. If he rejected her, she would die. Just. Die. “Please, I need you tonight, Garrett. So badly.”
“I never could say no to you.” He let out a tortured groan and lowered his head. He stopped just short of her lips. “But this will change everything because—”
“Just stop talking and do it already.”
She rose on tiptoe, closing the distance between them. When their lips touched, electric sparks had to have shot off of them. Once their lips met, she forgot every other supposedly amazing kiss she’d ever had with any other man in her life. All that existed was Garrett. Like there hadn’t been anyone else in her life but him. Always him.
It terrified her.
She started to pull back, to change her mind, but then his tongue slipped into her mouth and he tipped her backward over his arm. She clung to him, completely wrapped up in the way he held her. The way his lips moved over hers, tasting of Asti and pure Garrett. Digging her fingernails into his shoulders, she ripped her mouth away from his with considerable effort.
“Upstairs. Now.” She wasn’t risking him changing his mind.
He swept her into his arms and flung her over his shoulder. He smacked her ass hard enough to sting, but not so hard it actually hurt. “Right away, ma’am.”
He took the stairs two at a time and reached her bedroom door within seconds.
Thank God.
Chapter Three
Garrett located her bedroom in record time, his heart pounding in his ears the whole way. He didn’t know what had gotten into Kiersten, but he wasn’t about to question it too deeply. If she decided she was ready to start something with him, then so be it. He’d take it.
It’s only what he’d been secretly wishing for the last ten years or so. No big deal. She’d never once looked at him the way she was looking at him tonight. He’d known he was in the friend zone and never dared to hope he might get out of it.
But now he was. It was surreal.
Hopefully Mike wouldn’t find out—because he’d fucking kill him. But it just might be worth it.
He tightened his grip on her thigh. Her short skirt had ridden up a little bit, and he got a peek at the black satin panties covering her perfect ass. His mouth dried out at the sight. Fuck, he might not be able to last long at all. He needed her that bad. He set her down on her feet by the bed after locking the door behind them.
He briefly wondered if he was trying to keep her inside the room, or other people out of it. She wasn’t exactly the type to seduce a man like this. Especially him. He knew that—yet here she was. Seducing him. He half expected her to stutter an excuse to send him away. For her to come to her senses. Instead, she met his eyes and didn’t back off. Good.
Because he didn’t want to let her go.
He ran his hand through his hair. “Turn around for me.”
She raised her brows. “Why?”
“Because I said so.” He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around so that her back was against him. He slid his hands down her spine, over the curve of her hip, and then cupped her ass. Grasping the hem of her shirt, he gently lifted it over her head. He left the bra on…for now. Leaning down, he nibbled on her bare neck. She shuddered and leaned against his chest. “God, I love your ass.”
She chuckled. “Is that all?”
“No.” He trailed his fingers over her stomach, then up to the curve of her breasts. By the time he reached her nipples, she was breathing heavily and he was sure he’d died and gone to heaven. He ran his thumbs over her hard nipples, cursing the thin fabric barring him from touching her completely, and she let out a breathy moan. He made quick work of her bra, and then rolled the hard buds between his finger and his thumb, pulling her ass back against his cock. “This, too.”
She dropped her head back on his shoulder, reaching behind her to grab his upper thighs and yank him closer. “I want you,” she murmured.
“Oh yeah?” He bit down on her shoulder hard, and she trembled in his arms. “Know what I really want?”
She ran her fingers over his ass. Her light caresses sent a fist of pure need to his gut. “No. What?”
He closed his hand over her mound. “This.”
Without another word, he spun her around and onto the bed. She landed on her elbows, her cheeks flushed and her skirt sitting high on her thighs. Her blond hair already looked like she’d been thoroughly fucked and he’d barely begun. He dropped to his knees between her legs, his eyes on hers the whole time. He’d given her enough chances to change her mind about this. But even so, he took his time, slowly lifting her skirt higher. Baring her thighs to his touch.
And man, those thighs were fucking perfect.
Lowering his head, he kissed the flesh just above her knee. Her legs fell open more and she flopped back on the bed. That was all the invitation he needed. Moving closer, he placed another kiss an inch higher. He grabbed her skirt and yanked it down her hips. Next went the panties and then she was naked and all his.
Leaning back on his heels, he looked at her naked body. She was even more incredible than he could ever have imagined in his wildest dreams. And she’d starred in a lot of his dreams. She sat up and tugged at his shirt, ripping it over his head. He let her do that, but then climbed over her and held her hands down by her head. “No more.”
“But—”
“No.” He nibbled on her ear, relishing in her shudder. If he let her undress him, this would be over too fast. He needed a clear barrier between them. A safety net, so to speak. “Tonight, I’m in charge. And first things first…do you have any condoms here?”
She bit her lower lip. “I’m the one in charge. This was my idea.”
He cocked a brow. “It doesn’t look like you are to me, but you’re free to take over…if you can get loose.”
She squirmed and wiggled but didn’t move even an inch. He nibbled on the side of her throat, and she eventually stopped fighting. Instead, she arched her neck to give him better access. “Done fighting?”
“Y-Yes,” she groaned.
“Good.” He drew back and looked down at her. “Condoms?”
She blushed. “Top drawer in the nightstand. I’ll get it.”
“No. I will.”
“But—”
He shot her a look and she shut her mouth. She didn’t want him in that drawer for some reason. Why not? He released one of her hands, leaned over her bed, and opened the drawer. When he peeked inside, he caught sight of a pink vibrator with funny little bunny ear shaped things on it. Ah. So that’s what she was embarrassed about. She shouldn’t be. In fact, he just might have to use it on her sometime. Watch her squirm as she came. But not tonight.
Tonight, he would be the only thing making her scream with pleasure.
He tossed the condom onto her pillow, then returned his attention to her. He ran his fingers over her thighs, then yanked them open. She gasped at the abrupt gesture, but didn’t fight him. No, she looked up at him with so much passion in her eyes he thought he might explode. He kissed the top of her breast, then flicked his tongue over her nipple. She dug her fingers in his hair and urged him closer.
Begged for more without saying a thing.
And the weird thing was…she didn’t need to say a word. He knew what she wanted. It was both exhilarating and scary. He scraped his teeth over the sensitive skin, then sucked her bud into his mouth. As he did this, he rolled his hips against her, rubbing his cock against her core. Christ, she felt good.
“Garrett,” she half moaned, half whimpered.
His name on her lips made him ache to be inside her. Her back restlessly bowed off of the bed, but he held her still. As he sucked on her breast, he let go of one hip and slid his hand between her legs. She was soaking wet. So ready for him. But he couldn’t give in to the temptation to have his way with her quickly. He wanted to make her squirm and beg and plead.
Lightly, he traced a finger down her slit, teasing her clit with a soft touch. She moaned and opened her legs even more. He drew slow circles over her swollen nub, refusing to apply any pressure. When he slid his finger inside of her, she grabbed his shoulders and yanked him closer.
“Please,” she begged, her breathing rough and her voice hoarse.
He could have stood his ground and tortured her some more, as he planned, but he made the mistake of looking into her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, her swollen lips parted and even redder than they usually were. Blazing hunger reflected in their green depths. Hunger for him. Growling, he lowered his body, settling between her legs. He might be ready to make love to her, but
she
wasn’t ready yet. Not until she came apart in his arms. Elevating her hips by cupping her ass, he flicked his tongue against her clit and savored her taste. He’d fantasized about doing this since they were in high school. But now they were all grown up.
And he was going to blow her mind.
He held her hips in place as he teased her with his tongue. She dug her hands into the mattress and cried out. The sight of her breasts heaving with each harsh breath spurred him on. As he pleasured her with his tongue, he let her drop back to the mattress a little bit so he could use his free hand to unzip his zipper.
He let his pants fall to his knees, then tugged his boxers down, too. Once his cock was free, he returned his hand to her body and lifted her hips back up, increasing the pressure of his tongue. He could taste her orgasm coming. Could feel it in the tensing of her legs and her sweet pussy. He slid a finger inside of her just in time. She froze, her entire body tensing, and called out his name. He didn’t stop licking her or moving his fingers until she collapsed to the mattress with a shaky moan.
He rose to his feet, kicked free of his pants and boxers, and grabbed the condom—his gaze on her flushed face the whole time. This woman drove him crazy with need. She, in turn, was examining him. When she bit her bottom lip and sat up, he stopped opening the condom and watched her. She crawled toward him, naked and hot and downright sexy. When she reached the end of the bed, she ran a finger down the line of his stomach, right between his abs.
“I want to taste you, too.” Her eyes flitted up to his and she licked her lips. “May I?”
He swallowed hard, but his voice still came out rough. He handed her the half opened condom. “Yes. And you can put this on, too.”
She nodded and scooted forward until she was eye level with him. Then, so soft he barely felt it, she licked the tip of his shaft. Pure pleasure jolted through his blood, making his balls tighten and his cock twitch in anticipation. His whole body stiffened, and he knew immediately that this had been a bad idea. He wanted her too much to let her do this to him without losing all control.
But he tightened his fists and stood there anyway. He’d said she could do it—and he didn’t break his word. No matter how
difficult it might be not to toss her down on the mattress and drive home inside of her heat. She closed her mouth over his head, sucking him in inch by slow inch.
Ah, shit
.
He was a goner. He threaded his hands in her hair and urged her on, not leading her forward but supporting her. He rolled his hips against her, hissing at the way she slid her tongue over him while she sucked.
“Kiersten,” he uttered, her name sounding like a prayer on his lips, sweat breaking out on his forehead. She moaned and the vibrations almost sent him over the edge. Enough. He’d had enough for now. He tugged her hair gently, pulling free of her heavenly mouth. “Condom.
Now
.”
She pouted, but did as he asked. By the time she had it in place, he was even closer to the edge. He flipped her over onto her stomach and ran his hand over her sweet ass, then leaned over her. He bit down on her shoulder and then slammed inside her. No teasing or slow motions.
They were past that.
He
was past that.
For a second he worried he might have hurt her, because she cried out. But she reached behind them and dug her nails into his backside. “More.”
And then? He lost it. He closed his hands over her breasts, squeezing them and fucking her until he forgot his own name. By the time she convulsed around him, he was seconds from the edge himself. But something held him back. He needed to see her when he came. Watch her.
Picking her up, he flipped her over onto her back and slid back inside of her. Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he moved inside of her slowly. She moaned and wrapped her legs around his hips. He thought he might die of pleasure right then and there.
“Look at me,” he whispered, his voice soft.
She did. And what he saw there was more than passion and need. He swore he saw something more. Something that just might make all of the dreams he had refused to admit existed until now come true. A future with her. Maybe even…love.
Who had he been kidding? He wasn’t over her.
She clasped her hands behind his neck and bit her lower lip. “Kiss me,” she said in reply. “Please.”
He lowered his lips to hers and moved inside of her, slowly picking up speed. He could feel his balls tighten. Warning of his impending orgasm. He reached between their bodies, never taking his lips off of hers, and rubbed her clit. She groaned and clung to him. He waited until her pussy clenched his cock, squeezing him so hard he knew no one else could ever please him like her, before he let himself soar over the edge.
And he knew it in that second, before the world exploded. No one ever would make him feel this way but her. No one else ever had.
They came at the same time, and he finally stopped kissing her and buried his face in her neck. When he came back down to earth, she was playing with his hair. It felt good. He could lie like this forever, buried deep inside her.
“Forget about crushes. I think I could fucking love you after that,” he murmured.
“Oh God, don’t say that,” she said, her voice breathy. “I know you’re teasing, but that’s the last thing I need.”
And just like that, his happy buzz dissolved away. Sure, he had been mostly kidding, but her utter disgust at the mere notion of him falling for her hurt like a bitch. He stiffened. “Wow. The last thing, huh?” He didn’t look at her. Didn’t move. “Even worse than the plague or nuclear warfare?”
Her entire body went hard and unyielding. “Yeah, maybe.” She stopped playing with his hair, her hands dropping to the mattress at her side. “So what if it is? It’s not like you feel any differently than I do, do you? We’re on the same page.”
No. They really weren’t. But it was too late to take back what had just happened between them.
“Right.”
He pushed off of her, and gave her his back, using the excuse of taking the condom off and disposing of it to avoid looking at her. But he couldn’t avoid her forever. And no matter what she said, it wasn’t okay. He’d made a fool of himself. Told her he could maybe love her, and now what? Would she laugh at him? Pretend it never happened? Pretend
they
never happened?
He couldn’t do that. Wouldn’t.
He wanted this to be a start. Not an end. And she’d acted like he was some sort of disease she didn’t want to catch.
He turned back to her and studied her face. It gave away nothing of her thoughts. She swallowed hard and sat up, tugging the blanket to her neck. “Are we okay?”
“Yeah. We’re great.” His tone betrayed his words.
She flinched. “That’s not what this was about. It’s just a night. I’m not going to start picking out a wedding date or anything.”