No Reservations (6 page)

Just a lick at first. One swipe of her tongue up the exposed side of his cock. She
swore she heard him groan. Wanted to hear it again.

This time, she concentrated on swirling her tongue around the head. Keeping her hand
at the base, she played with him, flicking at the slit then sliding her lips around
the head. Just the head.

He groaned again and, in her peripheral vision, she saw his neck arch, his head digging
into the cushion.

Though she noticed he didn’t thrust into her mouth.

So much control. She wanted to break it.

She worked her way down the shaft in tiny increments, using her tongue to torment
every centimeter she covered. At first, she only sank halfway before lifting back
up to the head. Minutes passed as she concentrated only on those few inches and deliberately
avoided taking him in totally.

And still he didn’t ask her for more, didn’t beg her to take it all.

A challenge. She’d been so careful to avoid them for so long.

Now she started to take more.

In. Out. Wetting him with her tongue. Letting her teeth scrape gently against the
shaft.

He made a deep, guttural sound and his hand tightened in her hair. Not so calm anymore.

She drew back until the head popped out of her mouth then looked up at him, found
him staring down at her. Deliberately, she smiled, just a slight curve of her lips
that made his gaze narrow.

Then she opened her mouth and slid down his shaft until she had his entire length
engulfed.

And then she got serious.

She sucked on him like he was her favorite lollipop, making her cheeks hollow, his
taste an aphrodisiac.

And finally, he lost his grip on all that control.

Both hands rose to cup her head, urging her without words to take him as deep as she
could. He didn’t hold her down or force her in the direction he wanted. Instead, he
stroked his fingers along her scalp, sending sensation pulsing through her body.

She took him, enjoying the power to make him groan, loving the sharp ache between
her legs.

How long had it been since she’d felt this excitement?

And whose fault is that?

No one’s but her own.

Pushing those thoughts out of her head, she concentrated instead on the feel of him
in her mouth, losing herself in the motion, in his scent. In the deep sounds of pleasure
he continued to make.

She wasn’t prepared to relinquish her hold on him when he finally eased her away.

“Kate. Stop. I don’t want to come in your mouth.”

The blunt words in that husky tone caused her to suck in a deep breath as she pulled
away and looked up into his eyes.

But she didn’t have much of a chance for more than a glimpse because he moved. Suddenly
she found herself flat on her back on the chaise, blinking up at the ceiling.

The intricate molding and detail caught her eye but the second his lips fastened on
to her nipple, her eyes closed, blocking out everything but him.

He curved one arm around her waist, arching her back, forcing her breasts higher.
With his free hand, he cupped one breast while his lips stayed on the other.

Sucking her in, his teeth grazed the tip, sending sparks of heat to her pussy. With
her eyes closed, she swore she could see those sparks as bright pinpoints of lights.

She let herself sink into the sensual vortex Tyler created with his hands and mouth.
Her fingers dug into his hair, the feeling decadent. So different—

Cutting off that thought, she clutched him closer. He responded by sucking harder,
then leaving a trail of stinging kisses from one breast to the other. His teeth sank
into the side of her breast for a brief moment before he licked that nipple into his
mouth and started the wonderful torture all over again.

She existed in a state of heightened awareness, feeling Tyler all around her. His
hands on her breast and hip, his mouth teasing her nipple, his body blanketing hers
in heat.

When he released her breasts and began to kiss his way down her body, she sucked in
a deep breath, unaware until then that she’d been holding it. She had the vague notion
that she didn’t want him to move but he slipped free and continued on.

He stopped at her navel to flick his tongue in the tiny indentation, making her shiver.
As he moved lower, her hands fell to his broad shoulders, brushing against the muscles
there. Such strength beneath the surface. So much leashed power.

His mouth brushed against the soft, short hair on her mound. She had baby-fine hair
there to begin with, so she kept it trimmed to a bare minimum and waxed between her
legs. She did it for herself. Arnie had never seemed to care one way or another. At
least, he’d never indicated and he’d never gone down on her like Tyler was about to.

Anticipation made her muscles tighten as Tyler pressed his lips to the soft flesh
just above her clit. His breath tickled the hair there just before she felt the brush
of his tongue. Just a flick against the tiny bundle of nerves and she moaned as electricity
flashed through her lower body.

Her legs fell open even wider as he pushed his hands under her butt and tilted her
up. So he could get a better angle

The perfect angle.

His mouth closed over her sex in an intimate kiss, sucking at her labia. The sensitive
skin tingled, and an orgasm began to gather low in her body.

She’d never come from oral stimulation alone. Usually it took both penetration and
clitoral stimulation to get her to the point that she shattered. Otherwise, it was
a weak shimmer rather than flood. Now, she could already feel the dam begin to crack
under the strain.

Her breathing rasped out in harsh gasps as he worked his tongue inside her, fucking
her with it then sucking her clit and nibbling on that with his teeth.

Every move he made seemed calculated to drive her wild while he maintained total control.
Forcing her eyes open, she looked down.

Naked, legs spread and a man between them.

She should have been shocked at how wanton she looked.

Instead, she felt . . . free.

A sharp spasm of pleasure caught her unawares and she moaned, trying to curl in on
herself to hold the pleasure closer.

One of Tyler’s hands shot to her shoulders to press her back into the chaise while
the other tightened on her ass.

Her eyes opened again—she didn’t remember closing them—and found Tyler staring up
at her. She could barely breathe as he held her gaze while his lips sucked on her
clit.

She came, a longer, sharper sensation than the one only seconds before.

Unable to keep her eyes open, she melted into the cushions and concentrated instead
on the stunning feelings bouncing around her body.

Electric and all-consuming, they were almost too much to handle.

So she didn’t try. She let herself ride along on the wave, which Tyler didn’t seem
to be close to letting fade.

She didn’t know how long he played with her, licking and sucking. She only knew that
when he drew back and flipped her onto her stomach, she barely protested.

She thought about turning back and reaching for him but then he put both hands on
her shoulders and ran them in a rough caress down her back then up again.

Moaning at the sheer pleasure, she went boneless, only to suck in a sharp gasp when
he gathered her hair in his hand and wrapped it around his fist.

He didn’t tug or pull, just held the mass with a firm hand. Behind her, she felt him
moving, heard a drawer open then close. He knelt between her spread legs, his knees
brushing the inside of her thighs.

Yes. Hurry.

She didn’t say the words aloud but he had to be able to read her body language. Her
hips shifted restlessly, the ache between her legs growing sharper with every second.
She reached behind her with the intention of grabbing his leg or any other part of
him and urging him on.

He caught her hand and leaned over, putting his mouth right at her ear. “I want you
to grab the top of the chaise and I want you to hold on tight. Don’t let go. Okay?”

Swallowing hard, she nodded. Or tried to, at least.

“Kate?” His voice rubbed against her skin, raising the hair all over her body with
the rich timbre. “You need to answer so I can hear you.”

“Yes,” she said, though the word came out as little more than a whisper. So she tried
again and this time, she made sure he heard. “Yes.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. I’m going to make you come so damn many times.”

His voice sounded strained but his words held a conviction that made her quiver.

Oh, she was so far out of her league here, but she didn’t care. Only cared that he
continued to stroke her.

She held her breath until he began again. This time, his hands fell first on her thighs,
kneading the lax muscles there before palming her ass. He molded her nonexistent curves
as if she were the most voluptuous woman.

“Absolutely fucking beautiful.”

Almost unbelievably, another orgasm began to build just from the sound of his voice.
Her hands curled around the edge of the chaise and she pressed her face against the
crushed velvet as his hands continued up her back to her shoulders. She felt him moving
again, repositioning. His weight shifted off the cushion and he drew her legs together.
She didn’t have time to wonder what he was doing when he put a hand on her hips and
said, “Lift up, Kate.”

Obeying without thought, she lifted her hips off the chaise and felt smooth, cool
fabric being shoved underneath. A pillow.

Her ass now higher than her head, she sucked in a deep breath and anticipated . . .
what?

She had no idea. She only knew she wanted whatever it was.

When Tyler positioned himself behind her, she waited with baited breath for him to
spread her legs, settle his knees between hers and finally,
finally
fill her with that gorgeous cock she’d recently had in her mouth.

She wanted him to just take her already, to give her the friction she needed so badly.

Instead, he put his knees on the outside of hers, bracketing her legs. Then he pushed
his hips forward and rubbed his cock in the crease of her ass.

Hot, hard, and thick. If she hadn’t already been flat on her face, she would’ve been
then.

“Oh God. Tyler . . .”

One of his hands spread across the small of her back while the other gripped her hip
and kept her steady as he rubbed his shaft between her cheeks.

“Your skin is so goddamn soft.” Tyler’s voice held a more pronounced rasp now and
it stoked her desire even higher. “No, don’t move or this will be over way too soon.”

She realized she’d been grinding back against him, trying to relieve some of the ache
in her pussy.

“Then maybe you should start already.”

Bending closer until she felt the fine hair on his chest brush against her back, he
spoke close enough to her ear that she felt his breath brush against it. “When I’m
ready, sweetheart. When I’m ready.”

“Then be ready now, because I sure as hell am.”

She swore she heard him laugh, an almost silent exhalation of amusement, before he
ran the hand at her back along the curve of her ass.

“Maybe I don’t think you’re ready yet.”

“Then why don’t you check?”

She couldn’t quite believe the words coming out of her mouth but she wasn’t about
to swallow them because Tyler didn’t seem at all put off by it. He seemed to get more
turned on when she talked.

He petted the back of her thigh before wedging his hand between her legs. There wasn’t
much room to maneuver and he didn’t move his legs to accommodate his fingers. He seemed
to enjoy the tight fit.

And she realized how much tighter she was going to be when he finally penetrated her.

Another moan escaped as she felt his fingers tweak her clit.

“God damn it, Tyler. Stop teasing.
Now.
”

He didn’t say anything, but she heard him suck in a sharp breath. Then he pulled away
for several seconds, the crackle of plastic letting her know he wasn’t so far gone
he wasn’t thinking clearly.

Arching her back even more with one hand flat between her shoulder blades, Tyler pressed
the tip of his cock to her exposed entrance and began to push inside.

Tight. Hot.

She wanted to spread her legs but Tyler would not budge. And his every move was a
deliberate tease.

He made slow, shallow thrusts, tormenting her with the pace. She stayed still under
his hands, absorbing each sensation as it washed over her.

The fullness of him inside her. The friction of his cock against her delicate internal
tissue. The heat of his skin against hers.

As he set a deliberately slow rhythm, she felt herself drift into a state of sheer
sensation. Another orgasm gathered but flirted just on the edges of her consciousness.
Each harsh breath he took made her respond with one of her own until they were breathing
in sync.

Her hips began to move in a slow grind, causing him to groan and his rhythm to increase.
Her heart pounded as the hand on her back slid down to her shoulder.

His thrusts became more forceful, his grip tighter. Curving around her, he covered
her back with his chest. Surrounded her.

The sensation became almost overwhelming. She could barely catch her breath. Her body
tightened, not in fear, but in anticipation.

An anticipation that detonated in an explosive orgasm, rippling through her body with
a force that left her boneless, nearly insensate with pleasure.

And with a rising sense of fear that she’d liked this way too much.

Five

When his cock finally stopped pulsing, Tyler collapsed over Kate with a rough sigh
before quickly shifting to the side so he didn’t crush her.

He’d couldn’t remember coming that hard or feeling this . . . sense of satiation in
years. Definitely not since Mia and possibly not even
with
Mia. He’d always been so careful with her, knowing he couldn’t lose control and risk
frightening her.

He didn’t think Kate frightened easily.

She lay facing away from him, her hair a dark swath across her back. He wanted to
wrap his hand around it and keep her anchored to him but figured that might be a little
too much for her.

Instead, he laid his head on one bent arm and wrapped the other around her waist.
She started slightly when his skin made contact with hers but wriggled back against
him in the next second.

She fit perfectly. Her head under his chin, her ass snuggled against his thighs and
his cock pressed against the small of her back. Rolling away for a second, he took
care of the condom before rolling back to draw her close again.

She let him wrap himself around her for several minutes while her breathing settled,
but he realized she was growing stiffer in his arms with each passing second.

When she finally shifted away from him, he thought she was going to get up. Now that
the heat of the moment had passed, was she having second thoughts?

Instead, she rolled over until she lay facing him.

Her gaze held his steadily, but she definitely had something on her mind and it wasn’t
another round of sex.

“Are you okay?”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back.

Damn it, he didn’t want to treat her like a child but she definitely had something
going on.

She didn’t seem to take offense as she nodded slowly. “I’m fine. It’s just . . . been
a while since . . .”

He heard what she didn’t say. It’d been a while she’d been with anyone but her fiancé.
And he got that. Of course she was going to have nerves.

And now came that awkward moment as they were both naked and had no idea what to say
or do or—

“Thank you.”

Okay, maybe Kate was going to be better at this than he was. “For what?”

“For helping me realize I made the right decision.”

It wasn’t what he’d been expecting and his expression must have shown his surprise
because she grimaced and her eyes closed.

“Sorry, that didn’t come out the way I intended.”

Putting one hand on her cheek and rubbing his thumb against her flushed skin, he waited
until her eyes opened. “You can say anything you want to me, Kate. You’re not going
to upset me or make me angry.”

Her raised eyebrows told him she didn’t really believe him. But she didn’t contradict
him, either.

Instead, she shivered a little, and he was about to reach for her to draw her closer
when she sat up. “I think I’d like to get dressed.”

Disappointment bit at him, but he nodded and immediately rose to find her clothing,
forcing himself not to question her.

He couldn’t help but realize she was uncomfortable. And thinking way too hard. Her
gaze darted all around the room, everywhere except at him.

Damn it, he’d fucked up. What the hell had he said? What had he done to make her uncomfortable?

Picking up his pants, he shoved his legs into them then picked up her dress and handed
it to her. He tried not to stare at her as she dressed though his eyes kept going
back to her.

She slid the dress on, hesitating only a second before she presented him with her
back. “Could you . . . ?”

He’d much rather be stroking that bare skin than covering it but he pulled up the
zipper before sliding his shirt over his shoulders.

“Kate, are you sure you’re okay?”

She turned to face him then, nodding. “Yes. Everything’s fine. It’s just . . . I’m
tired. It’s been a long day. I’ve been up since five and I think I’m starting to wind
down. Tonight was . . . amazing. Thank you.”

Then she smiled, trying to reassure him but only managing to worry him even more.

Feeling awkward with his shoes in his hands, he nodded then led her to the door. Silence
fell heavily around them as he led her down the hall to one of the two guest rooms
on this floor. He’d hoped she wouldn’t be using it but . . .

Pulling out his wallet, he withdrew a keycard, opened the door, then held it open
for her. “I had your bag delivered earlier. If you need anything”—
give me a call—
“just let the desk know. They’ll get you whatever you need.”

She nodded, looking around the room before meeting his gaze. Damn, she did look exhausted.
How had he missed that before?

Because he’d been too damn hot for her, that’s why.

Feeling like a total heel, he leaned forward to stroke a kiss along her soft cheek.
His hand clenched into a fist at his side, wanting to grip her hair and pull her close.
Tumble her back into bed and wrap himself around her for the night.

Not going to happen.

When he drew back, he was really afraid he saw tears in her eyes, but the smile she
gave him this time seemed more genuine.

“I’m sorry, Tyler. I’m just so ti—”

“Hey, no need for apologies. Get some sleep. When you wake up, dial star-forty-five.
It’ll connect you to my apartment. We can get some breakfast, if you’d like.”

“That would be nice.” She stopped, and he thought she might say something else but
then she just shook her head and he figured retreat was his best option right now.

“Good night, Kate.”

“Good night, Tyler.”

Her words were barely audible as she stepped back into the room and closed the door.

He stood there for several seconds, staring at the door like some lovesick fool, before
he forced himself to head to his apartment.

Once there, he headed straight for the fridge and a bottle of beer, though he knew
he didn’t have enough alcohol to put him to sleep tonight.

He settled himself on the couch with the remote and prepared for a restless night.

**

Kate sat on the edge of the sleek gray couch in the living area.

The room had a definite modern vibe, with interesting patterns and color combinations.
And at any other time she’d be checking out the design styles.

Tonight, she barely registered the visuals.

She’d freaked. Why the hell had she freaked?

She’d just had the best sex of her life. She could be sprawled all over Tyler in his
bed and wake up at any moment to have more great sex.

What the hell was wrong with her?

Maybe it’d been too soon after the breakup. Maybe she hadn’t been ready.

Which was a total joke.

She’d been more than ready, had been lusting after the man since she’d met him New
Year’s Eve.

Hell, she’d broken off her engagement because she couldn’t get him out of her head.

And now? Now that she’d had him, was that it?

She so wanted to talk to Annabelle, but Annabelle was probably in bed with Jared and
wouldn’t be answering her phone anytime soon.

Those two were so in love, it made her ache to be in their proximity. And it had shown
her what she’d be missing if she’d settled for Arnie.

Dropping her head in her palms, she groaned, wondering when the hell she’d gotten
so far off track with her life.

She’d had such amazing plans. Finish college. Move to New York or Philadelphia or
Chicago, maybe even LA. Snag an apprenticeship with one of the costume companies working
for the stage. Work her way up to designer.

Have a career. Build a life away from small-town Pennsylvania.

Then her mom had died and she’d been frozen with grief.

Like tonight, she’d been afraid to move on.

She wanted to kick her own ass. She wanted Tyler to open the door and not take no
for an answer.

But she knew he’d never force her into doing anything without getting her consent
first.

And she’d told him no tonight.

At least, she’d made it clear that she’d needed space.

When maybe that’s not at all what she’d wanted.

“Argh!”

Her frustration ate away at her fear. And she really wanted to talk to Annabelle.

Picking up her phone, she typed in
Hey. What’s
up?

But she erased it before she hit send.

Damn it, she didn’t want to be Needy Best Friend.

With a sigh, she trudged into the gorgeous bedroom, figuring if she told herself long
enough she was tired, she actually would be.

Lying on the bed, she closed her eyes—

And jolted awake from a dead sleep when her phone blared “Marry You.”

Fumbling around, she finally snared the obnoxious device and answered with a smoky,
“Hello?”

“Oh, thank God! Kate. You gotta get here as soon as possible. It’s a disaster.”

The panicked voice on the other end made Kate fly up into a sitting position. “Talia?
Is that you?”

“Of course it’s me. Who else would be calling you at six thirty on a Saturday morning
before I’ve had my coffee and right before
the biggest wedding of my career
!”

Uh-oh.
“Please tell me it’s not a problem with the dress.”

Talia Driscoll laughed maniacally and Kate cringed as she threw off the covers and
ran for her overnight bag.

“I could tell you that but it wouldn’t be true. I need you here. Five minutes ago.”

“Oh shit.” Kate froze, hands tightening on her jeans as pictures of the wedding dress
she’d custom made for one Margaret Mary Shanahan flipped through her mind.

Daughter of Pennsylvania senator Daniel Shanahan. Daughter of old steel money courtesy
of Daniel Shanahan’s wife, Tracy Carnegie Shanahan. And yes, she meant those Carnegies.

Her throat felt as dry as the Sahara and her stomach had clenched into a painful ball.
“How bad is it?”

Talia didn’t answer right away and Kate thought she might puke. “Not quite apocalypse
but definitely Armageddon.”

“Shit.” Kate put the phone on speaker and put it on the bed as she threw on clothes.
“I’m not at home. I’ll be there in an hour. Can you deal with it until then?”

Meaning could she deal with an already jittery bride who really was a sweet girl but
tended to crumble into complete meltdown at the first sign of trouble?

Talia groaned. “Oh God. I need a drink. And I don’t mean coffee. Just get here as
soon as you can. I will pay any and all speeding tickets or I will have Daddy Shanahan
wipe them clean. Kate—”

“Don’t panic,” Kate jumped in, knowing exactly what Talia was about to say. This was
way too big a deal for them to have something screw it up. “I’m on my way.”

She hung up before Talia could say another word and reached for the bedside phone.

“Good morning, Kate. Did you sleep well?”

She shivered in response to that voice even as she told herself she didn’t have the
time for it. “I need to be in Reading as fast as possible.”

A slight pause. “Give me five minutes.”

When the phone clicked in her ear, she sat, blinking at it. Anyone else would have
badgered her with questions.

Five minutes.

She sprang into action. No time to wash her hair but she could take a quick shower.

When he knocked at her door five minutes later, she was stuffing the last of her things
into her overnight bag.

And even though she didn’t have time to ogle him, she couldn’t help the sharp twist
in her gut at the dark stubble on his face, which he obviously hadn’t had time to
shave, and the wet and rumpled hair.

Of course, she couldn’t stop her gaze from dropping lower, taking in the tight gray
University of Pennsylvania T-shirt that exposed strong arms and the worn jeans that
molded to muscled thighs.

She was so totally an idiot.

And he was so absolutely not. “I’ve got the car waiting out front.”

She wanted to throw herself against that broad chest and cling for all she was worth.
Instead, she straightened her spine and nodded. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

He waved her out of the door then took her bag. “I hope everything’s okay.”

“Actually, I’ve got a wedding emergency.”

Dark brows curving, he shot her a look as they waited for the elevator to arrive.
“A wedding emergency. I thought—”

“Oh, God! Not mine!” She waved her hands like she was guiding in a plane. “No, I made
a dress for a girl but something happened to it and the wedding planner called me
in a panic. I don’t even know what’s wrong yet and . . . Damn, I just realized I won’t
have my box.
Shit.
”

The elevator doors opened and she hurried inside, as if that would get her to Reading
any faster.

“What box?”

“My sewing kit. I’ll need that to repair whatever happened to the dress.”

“Why don’t you call Annabelle and have her bring it to you?”

“I would, but I don’t want to disturb her.” The elevator took them directly to the
parking garage and they headed for Tyler’s car. “I guess I’m going to have to. She’s
gonna hate me.”