Chapter 13
—You were not supposed to happen.—
Lucy leaned back against her front door and shoved out a breath. Tonight had gone…well, she wasn’t sure. Things had seemed normal enough with her uncle, but she was second-guessing everything. Especially since she’d made the decision to plant that tracker.
Groaning to herself, she slipped off her bright red Manolos before she hung her coat by the door. She’d texted Leighton, simply telling him that she’d planted the tracker on Marco’s vehicle. He hadn’t responded and now she wasn’t sure if she should call him or what.
When she stepped into her kitchen, she nearly yelped to find Leighton sitting there all cool as ice.
“Sorry,” he murmured, standing. And he actually did look apologetic.
“What are you doing?” She didn’t hang back this time. She wasn’t afraid of him. Maybe she should be, but…she was going with her instinct on this. Of course, her instinct hadn’t set off any alarm bells where her uncle was concerned, so maybe she should get that checked.
“I got your text. I was worried.”
Rolling her eyes, she headed over to her refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. “Well don’t be. I’m not going to tell my uncle anything.”
“I meant I was worried about you.” His expression was so sincere, those haunted eyes watching her carefully. “What you did was dangerous.”
“Oh.” She fiddled with the bottle, not sure what to say. “I thought you might be angry about it.”
“I am. I hate that you put yourself in danger like that.”
Oh. She bit her bottom lip, not sure how to respond to his honesty.
“How did things go with your uncle?” he asked and some of the tension in her shoulders loosened.
“Okay, I think. I…I second-guessed my decision to plant it on Marco’s car,” she admitted, stepping closer to the island. She set the bottle down as she leaned against it. Nerves still rattled through her, making her edgy.
Leighton let out a low curse and stepped closer. Then he paused and grabbed one of the high-back chairs. “Sit.”
For some reason it didn’t sound like an order, but more like a request. Gratefully, she took the seat and was glad when he sat too. The man was so tall it was easier to talk to him when they were more at each other’s level.
“Did anyone see you?”
“No. Maybe.”
His entire body tensed as he went into what she thought of as predator mode. “Maybe?”
“Yeah.” Lucy quickly relayed what had happened and didn’t pull back when he took her hands in his as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I don’t like that.”
“Well, what’s done is done. My uncle pushed me a little on ‘Spencer’ but mostly left it alone. We talked about family stuff mostly.”
“Family stuff?”
She nodded, but didn’t mention Liliana. She would never do that.
“Like his daughter?”
She froze. “Excuse me?”
“We know he has a daughter. And we’d never hurt a child. Ever. He’s the monster, but that doesn’t mean his family should pay for anything he’s done. He deserves to go to jail for what he’s done though.”
She nodded, thinking of one of the files she’d read. “He really does.”
“I’m sorry you’re in this position. I’m sorry…I dragged you into this.” Leighton cupped her face and gently wiped her cheek.
And she realized a few tears had spilled over. Jeez, she hadn’t even known she was crying. All this was too much to deal with, however.
Then, suddenly, his mouth was on hers, sweet and teasing.
Oh, no. This was not good.
She leaned into him, surprised at the minty flavor as his tongue teased against hers. Heat bloomed inside her as his hand slid back, cupping her head now.
What was she doing? What was he doing?
She jerked back suddenly and he let her, though he was breathing as hard as she was. “You don’t need to seduce me,” she muttered, angry at herself for getting caught up in the moment.
He blinked, confused. “What?”
“I’ve already planted the tracker and I’m not saying anything to anyone.”
“I kissed you because I wanted to. Even though I know I shouldn’t. I kissed you because it’s all I’ve thought about since I met you—even when I thought you were a criminal like your uncle.”
Oh. Well, then. She nervously bit her bottom lip and was surprised when his gaze landed on it.
He let out a low groaning sound. “I really want to make you come.”
She jolted at his boldness. “Did you just say that?”
He did that groaning, growling thing again as his gaze landed on her mouth. Again. “Yep. I want to taste your pussy—”
She grabbed his shirt, pulling his face to hers only to shut him up. Okay, it was to kiss him senseless. She’d never been with anyone into dirty talk and she really liked it. Even if it made her feel inexperienced and out of sorts.
He took over immediately, shifting slightly so that he was standing between her legs even as he continued kissing her. Or dominating her mouth was more like it.
He wrapped her up in his arms, holding her close as he teased her tongue with his, learning what she liked. She moaned into his mouth, her breathing growing harsher when he slid a hand down her back, cupping her butt.
When he said he wanted to taste her, he didn’t mean right now. Did he? Even the thought of him going down on her, of seeing his dark head between her legs, got her more than hot and bothered. Heat detonated inside her, warmth flooding between her legs as she squirmed against him.
He pulled back slightly, nipped at her jaw. Her nipples beaded tightly as he nipped again.
“Where’d you go right now?” he asked.
“Hmm?” She wasn’t quite beyond talking, but she was getting there. She didn’t want to talk right now. And she definitely didn’t want to think. Because then she’d get all caught up in her head. Then she’d start doubting herself and right now she really, really wanted to just feel. To experience whatever was going to happen with Leighton.
“Something got you turned on,” he murmured, nipping at her earlobe now. “Something more than just my kisses.”
“God, you’re a talker,” she murmured, making him laugh.
He pulled back slightly, watching her intently. It was seriously unnerving, especially because she could imagine him watching her like this while he was thrusting inside her. Oh God, that thought made her squirm too.
“You just went somewhere else again. What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
He simply lifted an eyebrow and went back to nibbling along her jaw. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, arching into him as he lifted her up onto the countertop.
“If you won’t tell me, I’ll just have to guess what you want.” His words were as sensuous as the hungry look in his eyes. He started to push her skirt up, but paused. “May I?”
She should say no, but she really, really wanted to let this go wherever it was going to. Would she regret this later? Maybe. But she’d never know if she didn’t let go. “Yes.” The word was a whisper, but there was no hesitation.
“We stop if you say stop.” Then he leaned forward at the same time she did, teasing her with that wicked tongue as he pushed her skirt up and over her hips.
The countertop was cool against her butt, making her shiver. When he reached for the flimsy material of her thong, she shivered again.
He barely took his mouth off hers as he pushed it down and off, tossing it to the side. Still kissing her, he cupped her mound gently, not penetrating.
Everything about this moment was exhilarating. It felt weird and seriously hot to be half dressed with him holding her like this. Her nipples were tight points against her bra cups, oversensitized more than they’d ever been. All her muscles were pulled tight as they kissed, as she waited for…something more.
Something like him sliding that thick, callused finger inside her. When he did just that, she moaned into his mouth. He felt so good and she was so wet.
She could admit that she was nervous and questioning her decision right now. But not enough to stop. Nothing could stop her now.
Feeling bold, she slid her hands down his chest, wishing she could feel all that expanse of muscle under her fingertips. That there was no barrier between them, that they were skin to skin. She roved her hands over him, greedy to feel every inch. With one hand, she continued farther down, not stopping until she covered his very impressive erection.
Holy wow. Impressive was the only word for it.
He jerked against her hold, tearing his mouth away from hers. He placed his free hand over her hand, stilling her. “I want you to touch me everywhere,” he rasped out, as if he was barely hanging on to his control. “But now I need to touch you.”
“We can do both.”
“I’m on a razor’s edge now, beautiful.”
She warmed at the endearment, her breath hitching while he started to kneel down in front of her. Oh God, he meant to… Oh, he did.
He stared at the juncture of her spread thighs as if he wanted to devour her. “I love that you’re bare.” He did that growly thing again.
She had no time to deal with grooming so she got waxed regularly. But that didn’t matter. Nothing did except the way he was staring at her as if he might die if he didn’t taste her. This had to be the single hottest moment of her life. No one had ever looked at her like that. As if she was the only thing that mattered.
But this man, this virtual stranger who scared and turned her on simultaneously, had all her nerve endings tingling, ready for him to—
He leaned forward, flicking his tongue along her folds, and she lost all ability to think.
He growled against her slick folds, teasing them as she fell back against the counter, spreading wider for him. Her feet dug into his back as he slid two fingers inside her, eating her out as he stroked his tongue against her clit.
“Yes,” she managed to get out. “Yes, yes.” It was perfect. Almost. The pressure was so close she couldn’t stand it.
She shouldn’t be close to climaxing. Even the thought of that was crazy. But her body was primed as she teetered on the edge of orgasm.
His tongue. His fingers. His sexy, dirty mouth. It was too much, culminating inside her.
“Your taste,” he growled against her in that sexy voice that made her want to strip him naked and taste him.
When he started moving his fingers faster and increased the pressure on her clit just a little more, her hips arched off the countertop.
With a firm hand, he reached up, pressed her lower abdomen down, keeping her in place as he continued teasing and torturing her. Soon it was too much. Her orgasm hit hard and fast, her entire body reacting with the pleasure.
So. Much. Pleasure.
Her inner walls tightened around his fingers as she came. Even if she’d wanted to, there was no way to control herself as she writhed against his face and fingers. On her kitchen countertop.
She couldn’t believe she was doing this. And she liked it. Scratch that. Loved it.
Eventually, her orgasm started to recede, little pleasure points threading through her entire body as he lifted his head. She was too weak to move, simply laughing lightly as he pulled her up to him.
He kissed her while her come was still on his mouth, making this the second hottest moment of her life. Everything about him was so raw and unfiltered, it was making her brain go haywire. Where had this man been her whole life?
Even as she started to reach for his erection again, he was pulling her skirt down. “What are you doing?” she murmured.
“Told you I wanted you to come.”
He’d also said he wanted to taste her pussy. Though it should be impossible, more warmth flooded her as she replayed those sexily growled words in her head.
“I want you to come too.”
“I will…later. I wanted that for you.”
She blinked. “Why can’t I make you come?”
He groaned, laying his forehead against hers. “Because I don’t want you to regret anything. And yes, I know you’re capable of making your own decisions and know what you want. But…I can’t stand the thought of you regretting anything.”
She knew she wouldn’t. Or she hoped she wouldn’t. She’d sort of dived headfirst into this thing with him even though she had no idea where things would lead. Even so, she didn’t think she’d regret any of this. “I don’t want you to go,” she blurted, surprised at herself. She sounded so damn vulnerable and needy and that wasn’t her. Not normally. But some of her walls had cracked and she found herself being brutally honest.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, lifting her off the countertop.
“You’re staying?”
“All night.”
Surprised but pleased, she cuddled up against him as he carried her to the living room. She wasn’t sure what he intended for the rest of the night and found she didn’t care.
As long as he stayed.