Chapter Fifteen
Nick could barely think, much less think clearly. The thought of getting his hands on Amanda had his blood stirring, every nerve ending lit up and alert. Once they got back in his car, he asked her to tell him where to turn to get back to her apartment building. At least after she said, “Umm . . . I don’t have condoms at my place. Any chance you have one?” he had the presence of mind to pull into the first Walgreens he saw.
“Can we also get some snacks?” she asked with a grin.
He smacked a kiss on her mouth and tweaked her nose playfully. “Whatever you want, tell me now.”
“Any kind of cheddar popcorn,” she said. “And peanut M&M’s.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. I have a feeling you’re going to make me work up an appetite tonight.”
“You know it.” He kissed her again. “Be right back.”
Fifteen minutes later, they stepped into the lobby of her building. Nick scanned his surroundings. The five-story building was small and modest, with a buzzer, security doors, and security cameras. Clean and well cared for . . . seemed like a good place.
“You approve, Officer?” Amanda asked, watching him with a bemused smirk.
He couldn’t help but grin. “Yes. Did you read my mind?”
“You’re casing the joint.”
“I am not.”
“You so are.”
Still grinning, he finally shrugged. “Occupational hazard.”
“This is a safe building, really. Also a nice one. I’ve lived here for four years and, luckily, never had any major issues,” she said as they walked. “Never heard of any break-ins. The other tenants either say hi as they pass or mind their business, but no one’s been nasty.” She pressed the button at the elevator. “And the best part is, my roommate—who’s lovely, by the way—is rarely home the same time I am.”
“Hope she’s not there tonight,” Nick said as they stepped into the chamber. “Because she’ll get an earful.” As soon as the doors slid closed, he backed her against the wall and lowered his head for a deep, hungry kiss. His free hand stayed at her waist, but gave a little squeeze. As his tongue swept into her mouth, her hands came up to hold his face and run through his hair. His other hand, still holding the plastic bag, made a crinkling noise as his fingers curled into a fist. God, he wanted her. Blood raced through his veins and his cock already felt heavy. He kissed her until the doors opened.
When Amanda opened the door to her apartment, it was dark. “Yessss,” she whispered victoriously. He chuckled as she flipped on the lights and he followed her inside, looking around as he set the plastic bag down on the glass coffee table. Small living room, decorated with a clearly feminine bent. Modern, neat, earthy colors.
His gaze traveled back to Amanda, who was removing her coat. His pulse pounded beneath his skin, and he worked to calm down. He wanted her too much. “Your roommate works on Saturday nights? That sucks for her.”
“Not always, but I guess she is tonight. Or maybe she had plans. I really don’t know.” Amanda smiled. “Hey, we have the place to ourselves. That’s what matters.” She took his leather jacket from him and hung it in a closet by the front door, then turned to him. He let his eyes run over her again as she stood there in a formfitting white sweater over navy leggings and knee-high brown boots. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders and her face looked a little flushed. She smiled at him again and her eyes, so blue, sparkled at him. She had that thing—it just flattened him. . . . She was laidback, easygoing, yet drop-dead sexy at the same time. Jesus, this woman had him in knots. His heart rate started its slow climb again.
She smoothed her hands over her hips, blushing as she said, “So . . . what now?”
Warmth flooded him. He held out a hand. “C’mere, mi reina.”
Her brows puckered as she asked, “What’d you call me?”
“Mi reina.” His smile turned seductive. “My queen.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened a bit as she stepped to him and slipped her hand into his. “I . . . like the sound of that.”
“It fits you.” He pulled her gently to the couch and they sat. His heart started beating in heavier, harder thumps as he gazed at her. He lifted his hand to caress her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “You okay?”
“Completely.” She smiled at him and he smiled back. “You said something,” she murmured, “about ten different ways . . . ?”
Her voice was as sexy as her gaze from beneath her lashes, both hungry and challenging. It made his cock twitch in his jeans. “I believe I did.”
“Can’t wait to see what you have in mind.”
“Then I best get started.” He leaned down and unzipped her boots, one and then the other, and slid them off her legs. Then he grasped her hips with both hands and pulled her onto his lap, facing him. Relishing the look in her eyes, a combination of surprise and desire, he eased her down onto him, spreading her legs to help her straddle him, settling her open thighs along his. “Ahhhh.” He slowly ran his hands up her legs, leaving his hands on her hips as he looked into her eyes. “That’s better.”
Her arms snaked around his neck as their gazes locked. “Well, hello,” she said, smiling as she edged closer. His breath stuck in his lungs as she pushed down gently, positioning herself until the warm core of her settled on his erection. The position was intimate, raw . . . wicked. His hips lifted a bit to grind into her and her breath caught.
“You like that?” he whispered.
She nodded and licked her lips. Blood flushed her skin, spreading from her chest, up her throat, into her cheeks. Her fingertips played in the back of his short hair.
“Tell me,” he whispered, husky and low. “Tell me what you like . . . what you want.... Don’t be shy tonight, mi reina.” He ground into her again, a little harder this time, and she let out the tiniest squeak. He watched her eyes darken with lust, felt her searing heat against his cock, and his eyes almost rolled back in his head.
“I like when you call me that,” she revealed in a whisper. “And I won’t be shy.”
He leaned forward to take her mouth with a deep, commanding kiss. His fingers sifted through her silky hair, and she pressed herself against him as their kiss flared, a red-hot collision of want and need. They kissed hungrily, recklessly . . . like restraints had vanished and they were free at last to dive into each other. His arms banded around her as her hands ran over his hair, the planes of his face, his shoulders. She sighed into his mouth and it nearly undid him; his whole body burned whenever she did that.
He held her slowly undulating hips; she cradled his head as their tongues tangled. They wrapped around each other, holding each other close, and the kisses intensified, deepening as the minutes fell away. His hands glided along her lower back, sliding down to grab her ass. When he realized what he was feeling—no panty lines, but there, the tiniest bit of fabric . . . he groaned into her mouth. “Jesus,” he managed. “You’re wearing a thong?”
She flashed a triumphant smile of sin and seduction as she ground against him, circling her hips in a wanton way that made him almost dizzy. He kissed her hard, wanting to possess her, claim her, own her. He thrust his tongue in her mouth with the same rhythm as his hips beneath her. His fingers dug into her lush hips, gripping her ass tighter as he held her in place, letting her feel how rock hard he was. They kissed and rocked and fell into the abyss together.
He pulled out of the kiss to trail his open mouth along her neck, licking, kissing, taking little nips that made her suck in her breath and purr. His fingers slipped beneath her sweater to touch her skin, velvety soft and so warm. “Amanda . . .” he whispered against her skin. “Baby, you feel so good.” As if in answer, she ground herself into him harder and he groaned. His hips met hers, rocking back against her as they kissed. He was lost in her, lost to nothing but sensation, and he welcomed it.
She leaned back enough to pull her sweater over her head and toss it aside. As his eyes feasted on the sight of her, he dropped kisses everywhere he could reach. His hands slid up the sides of her rib cage, savoring every inch, before moving around to cup and caress her breasts through her lacy pale pink bra. “Gorgeous,” he murmured, kissing her, licking her, touching her. “So goddamn gorgeous.”
She smiled at him, luminous, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire. “So are you.”
Vaguely aware of her fingers undoing the buttons of his shirt and spreading it wide open, he reached around to unhook her bra and let it fall away from her body. He drew a deep breath at seeing her fully exposed to him for the first time. Her breasts were perfect, she was perfect. With a low grunt, he lowered his head to draw her nipple into his mouth. She gave a soft cry as he sucked and nipped, her head lolling as her back arched, giving herself over to him. Her greedy hands swept across his chest, his shoulders, as his fingers dug into her hips to grind her against his cock again. Even through his jeans, he could feel her heat. A breathy moan floated out of her as she rocked against him, meeting him in a building rhythm heavy with tension and need.
“You . . .” She gasped, looking down at him through eyes clouded with pure lust. “You’re staying all night, right?”
“Yes,” he said, nipping at her chin. “Hell yes. Why?”
“Because I’m close already,” she panted. “Too close . . .”
He grabbed her hips and ground her pelvis into his again, hard and merciless. She cried out, her fingers digging into his shoulders, her short nails biting into his skin. “I’m not kidding,” she whispered.
“Good.” He let her set the pace, find the sweet spot and work it. Natural rhythm kicked in and took over; he watched her face as her eyes closed and her lips parted, as her heavy breaths turned into soft moans. Her urgency drove his desire higher, and it was burning hot, making him sweat. He met her sinuously rolling hips with his own, rocking against her, kissing her skin, savoring the scent of her, learning her.
He’d suspected she’d be passionate, but this was better than he’d dreamed. She was on fire. He held her tight and enjoyed the ride. They moved together, wrapped around each other, simulating sex, shameless and dirty and needy and panting.
“Nick,” she gasped. “Oh, God . . .”
“Go with it, mi reina,” he whispered against her lips. She moaned, low and throaty. His arms banded around her as he kept moving against her, rubbing into her damp heat. The friction was so good, almost unbearable. “You’re so fucking hot.” He dipped his head and licked up the column of her throat, tasting her. “I wanna watch you come for me. Let go. Come hard.”
She broke apart with a lusty shout, riding him, grinding into him, moaning as her hands splayed against his chest. Listening to her moan with her head thrown back in ecstasy and watching her climax while he held her . . . it was the sexiest thing he’d seen in a very long time. Passion and need seared through him, making him so hard it almost hurt. The blood racing through his body had all pooled south, and he was as feverish as she was. But he tried to breathe deeply; he had to wait. He wanted to come inside her, not his jeans.
Panting hard, she finally fell against him, her heavy breaths hot against his neck. He rubbed her back and kissed the side of her face. “That was fun. And hot. You’re so beautiful, Amanda.”
“Ohhh, my God. That was . . . damn, I came too fast,” she said with a laugh.
“No, you didn’t. We just got that fast and furious one out of the way.” He pushed her hair away from her dazed eyes and kissed her, long and sweet. Then he gingerly lifted her off him to lay her on her back across the couch. She was boneless, sated, and smiling, her gorgeous blue eyes locked on him. “I need to get these jeans off.”
“Good, because I want more,” she said between gasps for air. “I want you inside me. I need to feel you fill me.”
“So soon? You sure?”
“Yes. Now.”
Grabbing for the plastic bag on the coffee table, he got out the box of condoms and ripped one free of the strip. His eyes raked over her, lying there half naked and watching him, her cheeks and chest flushed pink and her sweet lips parted, curving into an admiring smile. Her body was all sweet curves and pale perfection. Christ, she was beautiful.
But he pulled her up to a sitting position. “Do you really want me to take you here on the couch?” he asked. “I mean . . . maybe we should lock ourselves in your room, in case your roommate comes home.”
“Good point. Never know.” She bit down on her bottom lip, then giggled and shook her head. “Come on!” Rising quickly, she practically ran. Condom in hand, he followed her to the last room at the end of a short hallway. They didn’t even turn on the light as they quickly shucked the rest of their clothes. She peeled off her leggings and said, “Hey. Officer.”
As his already opened shirt fell to the floor, his eyes met hers. She grinned wickedly and put her hands on her hips. She stood there almost naked . . . except for a scrap of pale pink lace. She did a little turn, showing off the thong completely. She even wiggled her ass a bit for his benefit. “You like it?”
The sight of her standing there wearing only that tiny piece of sexy fabric made him groan like a hungry animal. “Fuck yes, I like it. But . . .” He went to her and peeled it off her body, his fingers trailing down the soft skin of her legs. As he bent down, he nuzzled her thighs with his face. He sank to his knees, licking and kissing her incredibly smooth skin, reaching around to cup and squeeze her ass with both hands. “Now I’m even happier.” Her fingers twisted in his hair. He could smell and taste her arousal. As he lapped at her and she moaned again, his whole body surged with a fresh wave of eager lust and aching need.
“Take me to bed,” she gasped out.
Standing, he shoved off his jeans and boxer briefs. His rock-hard cock sprang free. She licked her lips and her eyes widened as they focused on it. “That’s what felt so damn good. I could’ve rocked against that all night.”
“Let’s go for it.” With a lustful groan, he reached for her and they fell onto her bed, a tangle of naked limbs as their mouths crashed in a searing, consuming kiss. Their greedy hands roamed over each other as they kissed, desperate and hungry.
“I need to touch you,” she said. “I mean, I want to touch you everywhere . . .” Her hands traveled over his shoulders, his bulging biceps, his smooth chest. The man was like a damn sculpture. She’d never been with someone so built in her life, and she wanted to savor his physical beauty. But she also wanted to please him, to give him some of the earthshaking pleasure she’d quickly stolen on his lap.
“Then go ahead and touch me,” he said huskily against her neck, biting her earlobe as his hands closed over her breasts. “I want you to touch me everywhere. Do it.” His hot mouth was everywhere. “Take what you want, baby. I’m all yours.”
Sweet Jesus, when he talked like that . . . Her tummy gave a little flip as a new surge of wetness pooled between her legs. She kissed him as her hands skated down over the length of his smooth back to rest on his perfect ass. Jesus, his tight, rounded ass was a work of art. She squeezed it in full appreciation, pressing him down to grind his impressive erection against her. He groaned softly, then louder when her hand slipped between them to curl around his thick shaft. God, he was big.
As he kissed her neck, his hips rocked into her hand. He whispered dirty things in her ear as his hands squeezed her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers until she was panting along with him. She felt a little dirty and a lot wild, and she loved every second of it.
One of his hands moved lower and he slipped a finger inside her. “Christ, you’re so wet. You are ready again.”
“Told you,” she said. They kissed and stroked each other and panted and moved. “See, you don’t have to wait. So don’t. Don’t wait.”
“Mmmm . . .” He added a second finger and slid them inside, drawing out a long, throaty moan from her. “You sure you don’t want me to wait?” he asked. His eyes danced as he teased her, and her heart nearly beat right out of her chest.
“No, I don’t want you to wait.” Her voice came out all high and breathless. Her hips circled, straining for more, as he worked her.
“No?” He smiled, pure sin, as he lightly brushed her clit with his thumb. Her back arched right off the mattress as she moaned. He dropped his head to kiss her neck. “Tell me what you want, mi reina,” he whispered in her ear, licking her skin, scraping with his teeth, making her crazy with lust. His voice, his words, his breath, his scent, his hands and mouth on her body . . . she’d never been this turned on in her whole life. He kissed her and commanded against her lips, “Tell me.”
“I need you inside me now,” she gasped out. “Take me. Now. Please . . .”
He grabbed the condom from where he’d dropped it on the bed and hastily got it on. With another deep kiss, he rolled on top of her and positioned himself. The tip of his cock teased at her entrance, sliding along the wet length of her, making her whimper as a long shudder racked her body. Her hands slid from his shoulders down his back to his ass, and she grabbed at him to push him in.
Finally, he slid inside her with a strong thrust. The feel of him filling her was the sweet relief she needed. Her insides welcomed him as he sank into her and they moaned together.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” he gasped. “Jesus, Amanda . . .”
Her legs wrapped around him as her hips lifted to draw him deeper inside. She moved with him, the delicious friction dizzying, the tension building. “Harder. Go harder.”
He growled against her skin, biting her neck as his hands clutched at her hips. Her entire body shuddered beneath him as she moaned. He pulled out, almost all the way, then slammed back into her, buried to the hilt. She cried out and clutched his shoulders to hold on. He did it again, and again, until she begged him to go faster. They panted as they moved together, wrapped tightly around each other, rocking in a hard, primal rhythm. Her moans seemed to only spur him on as he thrust faster, harder, again and again. She held on and let the incredible flood of feeling course over her and sweep her away.
“I can’t hold back anymore,” he bit out. “I can’t, baby. Tell me you’re close?”
“Yes.” She saw the muscles in his neck and shoulders stand out as he strained over her, then met his eyes, so dark they were black. “Don’t hold back—let go.”
“Come with me,” he panted. “I want to feel you come with me.”
It was as if his guttural command made her snap. Gripping his shoulders, she cried out as the orgasm hit, the waves of sensation battering her, making her body go taut and her mind go blissfully blank. As soon as she went over the edge, he did too. He groaned loud and low as his body tensed, his broad frame stiffening in her arms. She rocked her hips to draw out his climax and his lusty moans made her buzz with elation. Feeling him lose control, knowing she had the same devastating effect on him he’d had on her, made her feel sexy and powerful. It was exhilarating, a heady rush like nothing she’d ever felt.
Slowly, his mouth sought out hers and he kissed her, lingering to sip from her lips while they tried to catch their breath. They both panted as if they’d run a race, and their bodies were coated in a light sheen of sweat. His head dropped into her neck as he carefully withdrew from her body.
“Jesus Christ,” he whispered into her skin. “Jesus, Amanda . . .”
“Thank you for that,” she murmured into his ear.
He lifted his head to look at her, his amused grin making that dimple show. She kissed it quickly, unable to help herself, and he chuckled. “You’re thanking me?”
“Yeah,” she said, smiling back. “When someone takes you like that, I think thanks are in order, no?”
He laughed and hugged her, his warm, dark eyes twinkling as he dropped a kiss on her mouth. “You’re welcome, then. And thank you too. I’m still recovering here.”
They lay side by side for a minute as they floated back to earth. She reached for his hand, wanting contact, and he didn’t hesitate to intertwine their fingers. It made her heart give a happy little flutter. He lifted their joined hands to his lips, kissed the back of her hand, then pulled away from her to rise from the bed. “Let me just go take care of this, clean up . . .” His deep voice was rough and ragged, and she loved it. “Bathroom?”
“Second door on the right,” she said, studying his insanely gorgeous body from behind as he left the room. Light from the hallway lit up his silhouette. There wasn’t an extra ounce on him; it was all tight muscle, like pictures in magazines. He was a goddamned Adonis. Lucky, lucky her.
“Could you bring me a glass of water when you come back?” she called out.
“Absolutely,” he called back.
She took a deep, cleansing breath and stretched her limbs. All her muscles burned and throbbed in the best ways and she knew she’d feel it tomorrow. The thought of that made her smile . . . but then the smile faltered. He was leaving tomorrow.
And she wished he wasn’t.
Shit. She didn’t want to think of that now. They still had a few hours ahead of them, and she wanted to just enjoy every minute they had together. She didn’t want to think of her life, which veered between dark sadness at work and too much quiet when she got home. Or to think of him going back to work, where his job put him in danger on a daily basis. Or to think of him back in sunny Miami, where scantily clad women probably threw themselves at him every damn day. He may have said otherwise, but he was too handsome, too appealing, too off-the-charts hot for her to believe that wasn’t the case. Just thinking about that made her a little jealous, and she knew she was being ridiculous. She had no right to be—she wasn’t his girlfriend. She wasn’t his anything.
Mi reina. Her eyes slipped closed. When he called her that, all sexy and wanting, she melted inside. Between the warmth in his eyes when he said it, and the sweetness in his voice when he purred it at her, she absolutely melted. She knew it didn’t really mean anything, was just a term of endearment; that she shouldn’t read too much into it or add significance that didn’t exist. But that one little word, that one tiny gesture . . . the way his voice pitched low when he whispered it against her skin . . . had tipped the scales and helped to make her come undone.
Goddamn it. This was supposed to be casual. He’d warned her of that from their very first date. And she wanted the same. She wasn’t looking for anything, and since he was leaving, and a cop, and hotter than hell, he’d been a perfect candidate for a fling and then a good-bye.
So why did she feel something more now? Yes, the sex had been mind-blowing, the best she’d ever had, but this . . . this emotion welling inside her, unwelcome and unwise, was something else. Frowning, she burrowed under her blanket and tried to swat it away, but these sudden feelings weren’t letting go. She shivered as that realization washed over her.
One round with him hadn’t made things better, but worse. Because she knew now one night wasn’t going to be enough. She wanted more. More of his body, more of his thoughts, more of . . . oh, God. She wanted more of him, all of him.
And that wasn’t going to happen. Their lives were in different places. This connection she felt, no matter how real it felt, was temporary. He was in emotional flux and grabbing on to her as a distraction from his problems. She had to remember that. She had to keep her heart out of this.
Nick walked back in then, gloriously naked, the white plastic bag in one hand and a glass of water in the other. “Here, beautiful.” He leaned down to drop a light kiss on her lips as he handed her the glass. “Careful. Don’t spill.”
As she took it from him, she felt her heart slip deeper into his hold. She swigged down water as she cursed herself.
Oblivious to her turmoil, grinning leisurely, he got into bed beside her and made himself comfortable. He smelled of soap, sweat, and sex, a devastatingly masculine combination that made her head swim. His body was magnificent and the grin on his face was playful, but it was the warm and sated look in his deep brown eyes that did her in. Like there was nowhere in the world he’d rather be. It made her senses reel.
“So,” he said jauntily, reaching into the bag, “what do we have here?” He pulled out the opened box of condoms first and offered it to her. “Ah, yes. Want that within reach.” He winked.
Smiling, she took it from him and set it on her nightstand beside the half-empty glass.
He pulled out a big bag of cheddar popcorn, two small bags of peanut M&M’s, and a bottle of orange Gatorade. “Gotta replace my electrolytes, you know.” He handed her one bag of M&M’s, gulped down a third of the bottle before recapping it, then tore open the second bag of candy for himself. As he popped three into his mouth, he gave a little moan of satisfaction. “Mmm. I haven’t had these in a long time. Good call.”
“They’re my favorite.”
“Cool. Now I’ll think of you whenever I see them.” He flashed another grin.
God, you’re delicious. She leaned in, took his square jaw in her hand, and pulled his mouth to hers for a kiss. “Thanks for all this.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for inviting me over.” He gave yet another grin, making the dimple reappear. “Hope you’re not tired yet. I’m far from done with you. Still have what . . . seven or eight ways to go?” He waggled his brows, making her laugh.
Yeah, she was a goner. She couldn’t fight it, couldn’t deny it to herself. . . . These were real feelings she was feeling now. And that would lead to disaster, and she knew it, because it would only end. And there was nothing to be done. Did she have to fall for someone who not only lived too far away to be a real possibility but also broke a bunch of her personal rules at the same time? Apparently so. The Universe was laughing at her.
Swallowing the rush of emotion down, she decided to feed her sticky new feelings. She opened her bag of M&M’s and shoved a few into her mouth as she snuggled into his side. He was warm and solid, and felt like heaven. His arm wrapped around her and pulled her closer. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and her heart sighed in surrender.
Enjoy tonight, she told herself as she breathed him in, her fingertips playing along the ridges of his abs. Enjoy what you can. He doesn’t need to know you just broke the rules, both yours and his. He’s got enough of his own stuff to deal with. He never needs to know that despite all your bravado and wiseass talk, you went and fell for him.