Chapter Four
Stone held Soph in front of him, his arms circling her waist, and watched the auction. They’d found a spot off to the side of the room, out of the way, where no one seemed to take any notice of them. He wanted to keep it that way, and not only because she needed to keep a low profile.
No. Stone wasn’t going to hide from the fact he wanted her all to himself. It was the reason he’d decided to risk bringing her out tonight. If they’d stayed in their room a minute longer, he’d have lost the battle against his libido and taken her. Instead, he’d taken a cold shower, and she’d skipped out of the room, giving him a heart attack when he’d discovered her gone.
That moment right there. The razor-sharp slice of terror that slashed through him, almost took him to his knees. Definitely not his usual work-mode reaction. Nowhere in sight was the stone-cold professional he’d been in the past. Nope. This Stone felt like he’d been gutted. With a blunt letter opener.
He pulled Soph in a little tighter just to remind himself that he hadn’t lost her. She fit so perfectly in his arms, with her head resting on his shoulder, that Stone knew his control was history. Hell, maybe it had been from the second he’d touched her yesterday.
There was no way he could walk away from this woman after they dealt with her stalker. But until then, he needed to keep a clear head, and fighting his attraction to her wasn’t giving him that—so maybe he should accept it, stop struggling against their chemistry and enjoy this unexpected connection. He wouldn’t take it far, but he wouldn’t deny himself the opportunity to touch her, hold her. Possibly steal a kiss or two.
His body tightened, his jeans growing a little more uncomfortable at the thought of tasting her. Stone shifted his feet to keep from pressing his erection into her back. The hard-on wasn’t a new development. He’d sported some level of hardness since he’d first put his hands on her. Damn awkward, and certainly not conducive to doing his job with a clear head. He needed to nix the thoughts of getting Soph naked until they were somewhere less public.
Somewhere he knew her stalker couldn’t get to her.
He scanned the crowd around them, looking for anyone who might be a threat. None of the pictures Ford had emailed him had been clear, and with various hair colors and lengths, and the facial hair Hagar had, there was no way Stone could get a good idea of his bone structure. And Soph wasn’t any help, the only clear thing she could tell them was the guy she’d seen had ice blue, almost clear eyes, which meant he was still working blind.
They’d gotten nothing at the hotel in Omaha either. They were hitting dead ends every direction they went.
From across the room Jack caught his eye and subtly lifted his beer in acknowledgement. His colleague had rolled into town earlier this afternoon. Stone didn’t know where the other man was staying, and didn’t care as long as he was close at hand. While he hadn’t wanted anyone else here, he had to admit he was relieved to know he had backup.
The auctioneer’s voice boomed through the speakers, announcing the final candidate on the auction block, dragging Stone’s gaze back to the stage area. The cowboy who strutted out onto the stage quickly sold for a respectable fifty dollars.
Declaring the night a success, the auctioneer revealed the grand total of three thousand raised. One thousand of that had come in for a woman named Kate. There was a bit of back and forth about her not being eligible but the crowd had hooted and hollered when the man who’d made the only bid jumped up on stage, tossed a check at the auctioneer, threw the leggy blonde over his shoulder and made off backstage with her.
Soph shifted against him and Stone couldn’t resist dipping his head and nuzzling the hair behind her ear. He’d managed to keep himself in check so far. He might have wanted to drag her farther into the dark and do some scandalous things, considering their location, but he hadn’t.
She tilted her head, moved into his touch, and Stone smiled. Her hands covered his, their fingers weaving together where they rested on her belly. He felt her moan more than heard it and his hips bucked forward, his cock thickening with the hot throb of his blood.
“Soph,” he murmured in her ear.
“Please.” She ground her ass against his groin.
“Fuck.”
“Yes. Please.”
Stone buried his face in the side of her neck and sucked in a breath.
Her scent surrounded him—filled him—and if he opened his mouth he’d be able to see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled. He held back though. He didn’t want them to go any further. Not here. A little suggestive movement to the music would be acceptable but keeping her in this dark corner away from prying eyes was bound to get them into trouble.
Reluctantly, he cupped her shoulders and pushed her forward. “Let’s dance.”
She looked over her shoulder, blinked. “What?”
“Dance. C’mon.” He grabbed her hand and started for the dance floor but she dug in her heels and pulled him back. Glancing at her, he asked, “You don’t want to dance?”
Soph looked past him at the dance area, her expression apprehensive. “I can’t.”
He tugged her closer. “It’ll be fine. We’ll keep to this side of the floor. It’s shadowed, and with how crowded it is, no one will see you.”
She shook her head. “No. I can’t.”
Studying her closely, he tried to determine what the problem was. If it wasn’t fear of her stalker finding her then what— A thought struck him. “What do you mean can’t?”
A deep sigh raised and lowered her chest and a frown tipped the corners of her mouth down. She stepped into him, went to her toes and whispered in his ear, “I’ve got two left feet. Actually, it’s more like fifty.”
Stone stared at her when she plopped back down on her heels. “But…you sing.”
She laughed. “One thing has nothing to do with the other.”
“But…” He shook his head and tried to get his mind around what she was saying. “You sing.”
“Obviously all the musical talent is in my vocal cords, because the second I try to move to music, I’m a danger to myself and those around me.”
“I don’t understand.”
She sent him a sympathetic smile. “You and every dance instructor in Australia.”
“You really can’t dance?” It seemed inconceivable.
“Nope.”
“But it’s not that hard.” Hell, if he could do it, anyone could.
“It is for me.”
Stone looked over his shoulder at all the couples moving to the slow number currently playing. Focusing back on Soph, he said, “You don’t really have to move, not to this song. I’ll just hold you and we’ll sway. I’ll lead, you follow.” Confident it would work, he tugged on her hand.
“I don’t think—”
“No thinking, that’s probably where you’re going wrong.”
“Going wrong? Really?” She arched one eyebrow at him.
“Maybe that was the wrong choice of words. C’mon, it can’t be that bad.”
With a tip of her head, she pursed her lips and eyed him for a moment. “Fine. It’s your toes.”
Soph let him lead her onto the floor and pull her into his arms. He held her close, kept his feet planted and rocked to the music. They swayed together, her body pressed along the length of his, and he couldn’t stop himself from pulling her closer.
A second later she stepped on his left foot—then the right as she tried to get off the first one. Half a minute after that, her knee bumped his shin before once again her foot came down on his as she attempted to move to the song. At the minute mark, her elbow connected with his ribs—twice.
His toes took another hit and she huffed out a breath. “Told you I was dangerous,” she muttered.
He chuckled. “The injuries aren’t life-threatening.”
“Not yet. Give me a few more minutes.”
They lasted through the first song and a few words into the next before she lifted her head and smashed the top of it into his chin. Her hand came up and he had to duck his to the side to avoid an index finger to the eye.
She grimaced as she rubbed the back of her head. “You still want to do this?” she asked.
He grinned. “Aren’t you having fun?”
Staring at him wide-eyed, she asked, “Are you?”
Smiling, he dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Every second with you is fun.”
She laughed. “Is that what you call what we’ve been doing?”
“What would you call it?”
“Torture?”
“Not touching you is torture. This is pure pleasure in spite of your unruly limbs.” He softened his words with a smile and lowered his head. With his mouth millimeters from hers, he said, “And this is pleasure so sweet, I’m not able to deny myself any longer.”
He slanted his lips over hers and took her mouth.
She parted for him instantly, her tongue tangling with his as though they’d kissed a million times before and knew exactly how to get what they wanted, what they needed. Tightening his arms, he snapped her closer, her breasts pressing into his chest, the tips hardening, digging in, as their kiss went deeper.
Heat flashed through him, consumed all caution in a blaze so scorching, he thought he might burst into flames. His pants really did feel as though they were on fire now. She pushed to her toes when he cupped her ass. Their bodies lined up in all the best places and Stone struggled to remember why he’d kept his hands off this woman. Why he couldn’t take her here and now.
She broke her mouth away from his. Panted through her parted lips as she stared at him with dilated eyes and flushed cheeks. “Bloody hell. We need to leave. Now.”
“Agreed.”
He spun her around and put his hands on her hips, steering her off the dance floor and towards the exit.
They were almost to the door when she jerked to a stop and stepped back into him.
“What?” he asked, trying to see past her to what had brought a halt to their progress.
“I…” Her gaze searched the people around them. She shook her head. “Nothing. Sorry. Let’s get out of here.”
“Soph?”
“No. It’s fine. C’mon.”
Stone let her lead them outside and to his SUV. He unlocked her door and helped her in. “Soph.”
She turned his way and smiled. “Don’t you dare back down now.”
“I wasn’t going to.” He leaned into her. “But you need to be sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“I won’t stop once I start.”
“And yet here you are, stopping.” She smiled and dragged a fingertip down his chest, hooked it in the top of his pants and yanked. “Take me back to our room, Stone.”
***
“Soph.”
Her name left Stone’s lips like a prayer and she shivered, her eyes rolling back in her head. The man knew how to kiss, but his hands…god, his hands.
They swept up her sides, his thumbs grazing the bottom swells of her breasts, and she arched, wanting him to move higher. Wanting him to touch her without her clothes between them.
“Soph…” He murmured her name once more, against the curve of her jaw. “You taste so sweet here. I need to find out if you taste the same all over.”
She hummed in approval. If he wanted to move that talented mouth all over her body, she wasn’t going to stop him. In fact… She tangled her fingers in his hair and tugged downwards, urging him lower, until he took the hint and trailed his lips down her throat and across her chest.
“We need to get rid of these clothes.” He pulled at the collar of her shirt, dragging it out of his way. “I want to see all of you.”
“Yes.” Her eyelids fluttered open and her gaze met his heated stare, that tremor she was growing accustomed to vibrated through her.
“Every single inch of you, Soph.”
“Hmm…” He’d drugged her with his kisses. Made her dizzy with his caresses.
He smiled. “So this is where you agree to do everything I say.”
She bit her lip and nodded.
His smile grew bigger. “Well then,” he shoved her shirt up her torso, “let’s get naked.”
He pushed her top higher and she raised her arms to help him. Clear of the first barrier between them, she reached for his shirt. “You too.”
“Of course.” In a quick yank, Stone had the t-shirt over his head and tossed on the floor behind him. He grinned. “Your turn.”
She chuckled. “Are we taking turns?”
“Mmmm…” His lust-filled gaze caressed her breasts where they swelled over the top of her bra. “I think you’ve got more clothing on than me, so you should take off two pieces to every one of mine.”
Sophie studied him. He’d kicked off his shoes when they’d entered the room, and with his shirt gone, it left four pieces by her count—jeans, underwear and socks. She had five remaining—bra, jeans, panties and shoes. “I’m only one ahead of you.”
“Two.”
Before she could argue, Stone popped the button on his jeans, yanked down the zipper, and shoved them over his hips. Bending, he lifted each foot in turn and slipped free of his pants, taking his socks at the same time. He straightened and kicked the clothes aside.
“You’re…” She licked her lips, her gaze glued to the large erection pointing right at her. “Commando?” The word came out high-pitched, as though her vocal cords were being strangled.
“Always.” He shrugged. “Makes for easier traveling. Less laundry.”
“Oh.” She wanted to touch him. Wanted to wrap her hand around his shaft and feel the heat and strength beneath the flushed skin. “Can I…”
Stone emitted a choked growl when she reached out and gripped him.
He was hot and silky-soft against her fingers, and she couldn’t resist sliding her hand up and down his length. Squeezing a little tighter on the up stroke.
“Soph,” he rasped, spurring her on.
“I want to…” Giving in to the impulse, she dropped to her knees, bent her head and sucked him between her lips.
His whole body jolted. “God. Soph. Fuck.”
She hummed, bobbed fast. Lashed with her tongue and sucked. She couldn’t get enough of him. Couldn’t fit as much as she wanted in her mouth. The taste of him, masculine and hot, made her mouth water, the extra saliva aiding the slide of her lips.
His hands found her head, his fingers weaving through her hair, but he didn’t force her to move a certain way. It was like he was holding on, as though he couldn’t remain on his feet without that simple connection.
She gripped the base of his cock with her left hand, cupped and rolled and squeezed his balls with her right, all while sucking him deep, until his cock head hit her throat. When she swallowed around the spongy tip, his shaft pulsed on her tongue and his fingers dug into her scalp, delivering a sharp surge of erotic pain.
“Soph. I’m close,” he panted.
It never entered her mind to pull away. She never thought about anything except giving him the ultimate pleasure. Hollowing her cheeks, she sucked harder and rolled his balls on her palm. His hips bucked, his length throbbed and hardened, and he gripped her head and held her still—took control.
Keeping the rhythm she’d already set, he drove his shaft in and out for a few more strokes before he plunged deep and stiffened.
Warm fluid filled her throat and mouth. She swallowed and sucked every drop he gave her.
She’d never done that before. Never taken a man to his release with her mouth.
“Jesus. Fuck.” Stone’s legs shook, his grip on her head loosening. “What was that?”
Sophie licked up the last of his come as he pulled from her mouth. “A blow job?”
“No. That wasn’t a blow job. Fuck, woman.” He sank to his knees in front of her. “I’ve had blow jobs. But they were never like that. I think you blew the top of my head off.”
The stab of jealousy that hit her at the thought of some faceless woman giving him pleasure was instantly soothed by his praise of her efforts. “I’m never done that before.”
“What?” He stared at her, eyebrows high on his brow. “You haven’t sucked a cock?”
She laughed. “No. I’ve done that. I haven’t…” Heat filled her face. “You know.”
“Swallowed?” He smiled, reached out and traced his thumb along her lips. “Thank you.”
Sophie smiled. “It doesn’t seem right to say ‘you’re welcome’.”
Stone cupped her jaw and leaned in to kiss her.
Losing herself in the brush of his lips, the thrust of his tongue, she didn’t notice he’d reached around and unhooked her bra until the fabric gave way and the straps slipped from her shoulders.
“I think someone still has too many clothes on,” he murmured against her mouth.
She drew in a breath. “We should do something about that.”
“Yes, we should.”
Without any effort at all, Stone hauled her into his arms and stood. He strode to the bed and gently placed her across it. Eyes on hers, he slid the button on her jeans free and lowered the zipper. Tucking his fingers into the waistband at her hips, he dragged the denim down, hooking her underwear as he went.
When he reached her feet, he slipped off her ankle boots and her pants followed. Expecting him to crawl back up the bed, Sophie was surprised when he dropped to his knees on the floor and ran his hands up her shins.
“You’re so gorgeous, I don’t know where to start.”
Anywhere. Just touch me.