Chapter Five
Ellie’s nerves hummed the entire ride back to the motel. She was entirely focused on the man in the driver’s seat next to her. Every shift of the muscles in his thighs, every quick glance he cast her way made her stomach clench with delicious anticipation.
It did something funny to the area around her heart, too, but she wouldn’t let herself focus on that. This was just sex. Hopefully really, really amazing sex with the man she’d dreamt of for so long.
The scene from only minutes before played on a looped reel in her head, telling her that her imagination had barely even touched on how good this was going to be. She’d just gotten mostly-naked with Nathan Archer. And the depths of her response to him had blown her mind.
She was keyed up; her skin stretched tight. She wanted to put her hands on him again. Wanted his hands all over her.
Nate remained silent as he pulled into the small lot of the Ruby Sunset Motel, sliding the car into a spot close to the door of their room. Ellie’s pulse began to beat double-time as she realized that this was it—she was going to walk into that room with Nate, and then they were going to have sex.
Flushing all over at the idea, she busied herself undoing her seatbelt. Before she could unlatch the metal buckle, Nate’s strong fingers did it for her. Grabbing her around the waist, he hauled her over the center console so that she was sprawled against him.
“Last chance, Blondie.” He caught her earlobe between his teeth—God, God, she’d never even known before tonight just how hot that made her. “We go through that door, and you’re mine.”
“Then why are we still in the car?” Ellie barely managed to get the words out before Nate’s mouth was on hers, his tongue demanding entrance in a slow, skilled kiss that was dirtier than any actual sex that she’d ever had before.
His mouth slanted over hers, and his hands tangled in her hair, guiding her movements. She couldn’t catch her breath, because every time she thought he was going to pull away, to break off the kiss, he pulled her even further under.
The interior of the car heated, their panting breath steaming the windows, just from this kiss.
Restlessly, she wiggled on his lap, jolts of satisfaction shooting through her when she felt the very hard evidence that said he was as ready for this as she was. Freeing one of her hands, she reached down and stroked his arousal, working her fingers up and down the rigid length, through the fabric of his jeans.
Nate caught her around the wrist, stilling her movements. “I don’t think so.”
She stretched out her fingers and danced them over what she could reach, causing him to hiss. “Why not?” She grinned when he reflexively thrust his hips up against her. “I want to return the favor.”
“You are far dirtier than I ever imagined you’d be, Blondie.” With a groan, Nate dragged her hand away from his length, placing it safely back on his chest. “No touching until I say so.”
“That’s so not fair.” She tugged against his grip, felt another surge of excitement when she noted the predatory spark in his eyes.
He set her back in her own seat, quickly exited the car, then rounded it to open her door.
“Fair has nothing to do with what’s about to happen.” Nate extended a hand for Ellie. She slowly tangled her fingers in his. “We’re going to do things tonight because I want them… but also because you’ve given me your permission and told me that that’s what you want, too. You want to be taken over by me as much as I want to lose myself in you.”
A full body shiver took her over, emotions far beyond the physical wracking her every sense. She knew, she knew that this would never become anything serious. It couldn’t. But she’d never had a man say anything like that about her before, and she couldn’t quite stop her heart from doing a little dance.
“Hope that wine’s ready.” He grinned down at her, the expression wolfish, and Ellie’s heart thundered.
Except… the wine. Right. The wine that he’d ordered because he’d known he would be bringing a woman back to this room. It was just convenient that it happened to be her.
Though she tried to hide it, her smile faltered.
“You know, I had big plans for that wine before you decided you wanted to jump my bones.” Nate’s voice was mild as he led her to the door of their room and slid the old-school metal key into the lock.
“I’m aware,” Ellie couldn’t stop herself from snapping. “This isn’t really a great time to bring that up.”
“You’re cute when you’re jealous.” He brushed a kiss over her lips, just a whisper, and it still stole Ellie’s breath. “Yeah, I had big plans. See, when I ordered it, I already knew that the only woman I wanted was you. But I tried to convince myself that it was a bad idea. I planned on getting drunk on good wine until I passed out, so I wouldn’t have to think about you getting naked with whatever asshole you’d decided to scratch your itch with.”
“What?” This was so far from what Ellie had expected him to say that she stopped still.
“I didn’t have plans with any other woman tonight.” Nate arched an eyebrow, gesturing back toward the parking lot. “You were my first choice. My only choice.”
“I … just … wow. Okay.”
He grinned. “Glad we got that cleared up.” Nate splayed a hand across her back and walked her into the room, shutting the door behind them. “Because I believe you said something about returning a favor.”
Just like that, the entire world narrowed until it was just her and Nate, and the heat pulsing between them.
Before she could lose her courage, she reached for his waistband, gasping when he pushed her hand away, pressing her up against the cool metal of the door.
“I said no touching.” Slowly, deliberately, he undid his belt, pulled it from the loops. Let it fall to the floor. “Not until I say you can.”
As he regarded her intently, Ellie watched, breathless, trembling just the tiniest bit as he untucked his shirt from his jeans and loosened the top button. Undid the front zipper of his jeans.
Ellie couldn’t stop herself from looking, and also couldn’t hold back the small murmur of pleasure when the head of Nate’s cock, straining to be free of the black underwear, made itself known, glistening and ready.
“Lose the dress.”
Ellie’s attention snapped back to his face. Surely he didn’t expect her to just strip for him?
She’d pictured this more as a frenzy of them ripping each other’s clothing off, a frantic coupling that left no room for thought.
Nate remained still, watching her. Apparently not.
She hesitated, not sure she could do this. Good girls didn’t do erotic stripteases for demanding lovers, right?
Well, good girls didn’t have orgasms in coat closets, either, and she’d already done that. What was one more step into craziness?
Raising her chin, she reached around back for the short zipper that fastened her dress. She could reach it easily enough, but the position felt awkward, thrusting her breasts forward, putting them on display.
Nate didn’t offer to help. Instead he just continued to watch her with that serious expression, missing nothing as she slid the straps from her shoulders, then, with a great big breath, let the dress fall to the floor.
She was naked except for her shoes. Oh God, oh God. Her hands fluttered, anxious to cover her breasts, the embarrassingly damp space between her thighs, but a low growl from Nate stopped any movement.
“Don’t you dare.” He caught her hands, tugged, arranging her so her hands were clasped behind her back. Something about being so exposed while Nate watched her hungrily was as awkward as it was exciting.
“You agreed that tonight you’re mine. And if you try to hide what’s mine, there will be consequences.” The harsh words were contrasted with a sweet, wet kiss.
Nate clasped her chin in his fingers and guided her movements as he took her mouth. She had the fleeting notion that she should be a more active participant, but after always giving in to what everyone wanted and needed, it just felt so damn good to let go and let him be in control.
By the time he ended the kiss, she was warm and relaxed like she’d just drunk a big glass of wine while soaking in a hot bath. One of those wolf-like glances from Nate, though, and the searing need came rushing back, right into her veins, making her high.
“Are we agreed?” he asked.
“Agreed,” she whispered.
“That makes me very happy, Blondie.” He grinned as his hands returned to the waistband of his jeans. Ellie felt her mouth go dry as he slid them and his briefs down over his hips, freeing his rock solid erection.
“Now, back to returning that favor. Leave the shoes on, and get on your knees.”
* * *
Nate was feeling the pressure.
He’d imagined this exact scenario a million times, in a million different ways, but he’d never fully realized the weight that he would feel when it happened.
He wanted to make this good for her.
More to soothe his own nerves than hers, he walked deliberately across the room to where the clerk had left the bottle of wine chilling in a plastic ice bucket. Classy, but it served its purpose, he supposed.
He knew that Ellie’s gaze was on him as he picked up the bottle, approved the label, then uncorked it. He made a show of pouring an inch of the straw-colored liquid into the cheap glass, then lifting it to his lips and sampling.
When he turned back toward her, her eyes were bright, intent. Focused on his face, even though his jeans were still hanging open.
He moved to the edge of the bed, sat, then patted his thigh.
“Come here.”
She made a choked sound, her hands twitching, and he knew that her instinct was to cover herself again. In response he simply arched an eyebrow and waited.
After a long moment in which she flushed the prettiest shade of pink, Ellie crossed the room, closing the space between them. It was obvious that she felt exposed, but that was the way he wanted her—exposed, open, on edge.
Now that he had her here, he was damned if it would just be about sex, never mind what she believed about him.
“Sit.” He again patted his leg, and couldn’t hold back the smirk when she squirmed.
“Nate. I can’t sit on your lap while I’m naked.” She reached again for her glasses, hissing with frustration when she found nothing there.
He waited without comment. Finally she heaved a great sigh, then settled herself gingerly on his leg.
Before she could catch her breath, Nate tugged her flush against his chest. She gasped when he ran his fingers through her hair, stroking her like one might an overly excited animal. With a small sigh, she settled into the touch, and Nate felt his pulse stumble.
He knew that she believed he was just a playboy, not capable of anything more. Hell, until he’d heard the news of this wedding, he’d believed that too. But he knew that after he’d been inside of Ellie Marshall, after he’d shared this experience with her, there would be no going back, at least for him.
The thought was terrifying and liberating at the same time. And from the way she shivered against him, he wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“Drink.” Holding the glass up to her lips, he tilted until the golden liquid tipped into her mouth. She hummed a sigh of approval, then opened her lips for more.
He let her have one more sip, then took one himself, laughing at the noises she made as she swallowed.
The sexy, sexy noises.
“Sorry.” Ellie caught him looking and twisted her lips into a wry smile. He tracked the movement of her tongue as it darted out over the curves of pink. “I don’t think I’ve ever had such expensive wine before. I don’t know if it’s worth what you paid for it, but it’s damn good.”
“I have high standards. And I only indulge in the best.” Nate held the glass up to her lips again, tugging it back when she reached for it with her own hands. “No. Hands on your thighs. Let me give this to you.”
He’d been referring to more than the wine with his comment, but when she didn’t seem to notice, he didn’t push. Something told him that this particular woman needed to be shown how special she was, rather than told.
She tilted her chin up for more wine, and he let her have one final sip before tugging it away. Her gaze flicked from the glass to him, and he watched as her chest heaved with a deep breath.
“Aren’t you going to finish it?” Her voice was pitched low, painted with a husky tone that he’d never heard there before.
It was like a siren’s call, and suddenly his capacity for patience, his desire to take it slow and draw out her pleasure were stretched tight and thin.
“Oh, I am.” Keeping a careful grip on the wine glass, he used his other arm to slide her from his lap to the bed. Her thighs parted, cradling him as he settled her onto her back, then knelt on the floor between her legs.
“What are you doing?” Ellie pushed herself up onto her elbows, staring at him down the length of her body. There was nothing sexier than seeing the beam from those sapphire eyes, looking down at him from that expanse of silken skin.
She was clearly aroused, flushed and short of breath, but he wanted more. He wanted her screaming his name, wanted her writhing beneath him.
He wanted to take her further than she’d even gone before. Wanted her to remember this night for the rest of her life.
Lifting the glass, he tilted it until a trickle of the gilded wine poured over the edge. It landed on her breasts, and he savored her gasp as he drizzled it down the soft plane of her stomach, then the swathes of her upper thighs.
“Nate! What are you doing?” She jerked up, gasping. Tossing the glass aside, he pressed on her belly with the flat of one hand until she laid back down.
And then he laid his tongue on the glistening dampness that lay on her thigh, sliding the wet heat into the crease where leg met stomach. She moaned, and he felt a surge of triumph, knowing it was him and only him that was making her feel this way.
“I’m finishing the wine.”