His mouth melded to hers, soft and gentle. As if he was afraid he would scare her off. He kissed a path down her neck and over the curve of her br**sts. He flicked his tongue over her nipple through her sheer bra, but didn’t suck it into his mouth. She gulped in a breath as he kissed a path down her stomach and over her hip. He nipped her inner thigh and then lifted her legs over his shoulders.
Her stomach quickened in anticipation of his lips touching her. She needed him. Now. Tilting her upward, he closed his mouth around her clit. The blood rushed out of her head and centered on her middle. On what he was doing with his tongue.
She groaned and tightened her legs on his head, not wanting to let him go. Not wanting him to ever stop. Reaching down, she grasped his erection and squeezed. He groaned and rocked his hips, urging her on. When he scraped his teeth against her and shoved a finger inside of her, she squeezed her eyes tight. Stars burst in front of her, and her whole body shuddered from the force of her orgasm.
He dropped her hips back to the bed and shoved inside of her, his hands on her shoulders. When he withdrew and pushed inside of her again, she miraculously came once more. Her body had still been humming with the previous orgasm, and this one sent her flying over the edge. Still, he didn’t stop. He pressed his thumb against her swollen clit, deepening his strokes.
She buried her face in his shoulder, biting back the cry that almost escaped. She didn’t know whether she wanted him to stop or to continue, but she could feel another orgasm building. Could feel him bringing her to the edge again. She’d never had a double orgasm, yet alone more than two. The man was a miracle worker.
He kissed her gently, but his hands on her were rough. The contrast drove her wild. His mouth caressed her ear. “Come for me. Now.”
She moaned and let go. Let go of all her reservations. All of her fears. And she let him all the way in. And this time, when she came, he came with her. And she swore she heard him whisper he loved her, but she was too far-gone to know for sure. By the time she could breathe again, he was lying next to her, running his fingers gently over her belly.
“Wow.” She turned to him and smiled. “Just…wow.”
He didn’t smile back, but he splayed his hand on her stomach. “Is everything okay in there?”
“Huh?” She looked down at her stomach. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”
He sat up and dragged his hand down his face. “I could’ve hurt you.”
She hugged her knees to her chest, swallowing hard. He didn’t exactly look happy that they’d made love. While she? She couldn’t be happier than she was right now. “I’m fine. We’re fine.”
“What was this about, Kiersten?” He looked at her, his eyes vulnerable. “Did you mean what you said? You want to try making this thing between us work?”
She took a calming breath. She was on the brink of something huge and deep and frightening, and she was scared she would screw it all up. “I did. I want to try.”
“I see.” Instead of pulling her into his arms and kissing her, as she expected, he flexed his jaw. “One more question.”
Why did he look so angry? “Anything.”
“Are you only doing this because Chris said to?” He turned to her, the vulnerability gone from his eyes. Instead, a glinting hardness had taken place. “Are you doing this for him, and him alone? Or because you want me?”
“Well…” She wasn’t sure what to say. Chris’s words had made her realize she was hurting him by refusing to give in to her weakness for Garrett. Garrett wanted it. Chris wanted it. But she wanted it, too. “No. Yes.” She bit her lip. “I want to try. Does it matter why? Isn’t this enough?” No, that wasn’t enough. She needed to tell him more. He deserved more.
He let out a harsh laugh and stood. He jerked his jeans on. “I can’t do this anymore, Kiersten.”
She flinched. So she finally told him she wanted to try out a relationship—a real one—and he left her? See? She shouldn’t have listened to her feelings. “Can’t do what anymore? Me? Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“I heard you.” He gave her his back and ran his hands down his face. “But I can’t be a live-in booty call. And I absolutely refuse to be in your bed because your son wants me to be. I love him just like you do—but I refuse to stay here because someone else told you to sleep with me. It’s not happening.”
“That’s not what this was about,” she managed to say. “I…”
A million thoughts raced through her mind. A million ways for her to explain her feelings for him. But none of them formed into words. The words just wouldn’t come. She was like a deer in the headlights. Frozen.
He spun around and faced her again, his eyes haunted and empty. He thumped his hand on his chest. “This isn’t what I want. Do you have any idea how much it hurts when you push me away constantly, and then come looking for me when you’re horny? Or when someone else tells you it might be a good idea? If you don’t have feelings for me, then say it. And just leave me alone from now on.”
“But I want to try.” She clung to the comforter. “I’m ready to try. Isn’t that what you wanted from me?”
He looked at her closely. “It was. But you’re not. I can see it in your eyes. You’re not sure.” Shaking his head, he added, “You’re even gripping the bedspread like a shield.”
“But I think I am.” She dropped the blanket and held her hands out, trying to make him see what she wanted. See that it wasn’t just her desire to make Chris happy talking. “If you give me a chance—”
“When I said I didn’t want to be with you, I really planned to win you over. But now? I’m thinking it’s better we stick to the plan you admire so much.” He grabbed his shirt and headed for the door. “We need to keep away from each other. We’re no good together.”
“If that’s what you want,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We can just be friends.”
He stiffened, his back muscles flexing. “It’s what I want now. I can see no other way.”
“Are—?” She tried to speak, but her voice broke off. After clearing her throat, she asked, “Are you still going to live here?”
She couldn’t believe her voice sounded so steady and unaffected. As if her heart wasn’t falling apart over the fact that she’d lost the one man who had always supported her. When had she gotten so good at hiding her feelings?