A fortnight later, just after midday on a Friday, Yvonne found herself disembarking from an airplane with Nolan and not a kid in sight. When she’d tried to wriggle out of going to Auckland, using the café as an excuse, he’d made a personal appeal to her aunt.
Gina, who never took sides, agreed Yvonne deserved a weekend away from her job and the boys. She’d cut Yvonne’s arguments short by saying if Yvonne took a weekend off, then Gina would feel justified taking a break later in the month. Her aunt—the workaholic. Shocked, Yvonne had stuttered her assent, and now she was suffering the consequences.
“Where are we staying?” she asked, once they’d navigated the airport and collected their bags.
“Tyler recommended a place.” Nolan wheeled his bag outside and headed for the cab rank. “Susan is expecting our call.”
“Have you met her other friends?” Yvonne asked once they were in a cab and on their way to the city center.
“I have. There’s Maggie and her husband Connor. Julia is the owner of Maxwell’s, and she’s married to Ryan. You’ve met Christina already. Don’t worry. You’ll like them.”
“What’s Maxwell’s like?”
“Did you see the clip on Farmer Seeks a Wife?”
Hell no. She shook her head, and hopefully didn’t reveal the flash of fury that punched through her like a bullet. She hadn’t watched the show on principle.
“We filmed a segment there.” His gaze bored into her for excruciating long moments, and her heart rate did a little change-up. “You’ll see the club for yourself. It’s on K’ Road and has been in Julia’s family for several generations. All the girls—Susan, Christina and Maggie—dance a few nights a week. Julia too.”
Yvonne’s brows shot upward along with her respect. “Wow.” She presumed the costumes were skimpy. “They must be fit.”
“Most people hear the word K’ Road club and turn up their nose, but it’s not like that. The clientele span the ages and you’ll see groups of women on their own.”
“That’s unusual. When I think of a club, a group of horny men comes to mind. Drunk men.”
Nolan chuckled and laced their fingers together. Her heart did another one of those gear changes. Lord, this man was getting to her. She was trying so hard to remain aloof, to keep her scabbed-over heart safe, but he made detachment difficult.
“I thought the worst when Susan announced she was a dancer on the very first day of the reality show. My mind veered in the wrong direction,” Nolan said. “You’ll see when we visit the club.”
Yvonne stared out the cab window at the buildings—first commercial ones, but soon residential properties butted against shops and businesses. Office blocks. “I haven’t visited Auckland for years. It’s much busier than I recall.”
“More traffic too. Is there anything in particular you want to see?”
“Will we have time to catch the ferry to Rangitoto? The boys are keen on volcanoes and Michael wanted to know if we were going to visit.”
“Sure, we can do that on Sunday morning. Our flight back is an early evening one, so we have plenty of time. Would you like to bungee off the Sky Tower?”
Yvonne snorted. “You have rocks in your head if you think I’m jumping off a tower, but you go right ahead.”
“Just teasing, but I wouldn’t mind going to the top. I didn’t get a chance to last time I was up here. We should walk to the top of Mt. Eden too. We can get some shots of the crater and some city views for the boys.”
The hotel was quiet and luxurious and not far from the harbor. Yvonne gave a gasp when they entered their room. A large king-size bed dominated the space, but the view beyond drew her straight to the window. The blue water sparkled in the sun and yachts raced across the waves, their sails bulging with air. The classical cone shape of the dormant volcano Rangitoto was evident from where she stood, and she knew her boys would have loved seeing the island.
“You’ll need to take some photos,” Nolan said with a smile.
“I will.”
His arm curled around her waist and she managed not to jump. Since the television show had ended, he stroked her at every opportunity. Other people present—no problem. And if they were alone, he still touched her.
Holding her hand.
Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
Kisses.
It was those kisses that struck the killer blow. She didn’t have any immunity, and damn it, those barricades around her heart kept cracking. The sticking-plaster fixes were useless. They didn’t last.
“I’ll give Susan a call. Do you want to change first?”
Yvonne glanced down at her jeans. “I didn’t bring many clothes. Will I be okay like this?”
Nolan’s quick grin flashed—the one that shot a bolt of lust through her every time she witnessed it. “I was impressed by your light packing. I’m going in jeans, but I know women worry about things like clothes, so I’m giving you the option.” He picked up his cell phone and hit speed dial.
Yvonne listened to him speak to Susan. He didn’t flirt, but his voice held warmth. She’d heard gossip, of course, even though she hadn’t watched the reality show. He mightn’t have found love with Susan but their friendship was obvious.
He hung up. “Susan said we can go now and to knock on the door. Do you fancy a walk up Queen Street? We can grab a coffee and something to eat on the way.”
“I’d love to walk and window shop. I want to get the boys a small treat. Maybe a toy or a book.”
Drawn by the excitement on her face, Nolan reached for her and closed his mouth over hers. His lips lingered as she pressed closer, fitting her curves against his body. He groaned and lifted his head, affected by the simple kiss.
“We’d better go or we’ll never leave this room.” He hustled her out, and unable to resist, he grasped her hand as they walked through the hotel foyer. He enjoyed the slight widening of her eyes each time he touched her in public, but it also showed him what an ass he’d been before appearing on the reality show.
He’d treated Yvonne like a naughty secret. Even though he hadn’t meant to, he’d demonstrated his lack of care when he’d merely wanted to keep his feelings for Yvonne private. He’d known his mother would assassinate her character because she’d done that with every woman he’d dated. He’d wanted to save Yvonne the drama, the gossip, but in the end his mother had done her worst.
That wouldn’t happen again. He wouldn’t let his mother’s warped mind hurt Yvonne, and damned if he’d let Tyler disappear from his life either. Tyler might live in Auckland, but there was no reason he, Yvonne and the boys couldn’t visit.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Just enjoying the moment,” he said, sensing if he spoke of what was really on his mind, he’d scare her. She didn’t trust him. He got her misgivings, even if his stupidity in letting the wall build between them pissed him off. He needed to work to restore their relationship, to regain her trust.
“There’s a bookshop,” Yvonne said.
“The boys have lots of books.” He steered her past. “Why don’t you buy them a T-shirt? Or a model plane?”
“Please,” she said. “Have you seen the instructions on those things? Besides, they’re too young.”
“I’m sure they have models for all ages. What about a football or a game they can play outside now that the weather is warmer?”
“Good idea. I like to tire them out so they sleep well.”
Nolan tugged her close and kissed the tip of her nose. “I like them to sleep well too.” He’d like it even better if she let him stay the entire night instead of kicking him out after a couple of hours.
Shopping for Yvonne’s sons proved more fun than he’d expected, and they ended up buying the boys a puzzle each plus a rugby ball and T-shirts.”
Almost two hours later, Nolan knocked on the front door of Maxwell’s.
Susan opened the door. “You’re here,” she said. “We’re in the middle of dance practice so I won’t hug you.”
Nolan watched Yvonne’s curious face as they followed Susan into the club. It was a big room, but with its midnight blue walls and gold stenciling it looked nothing like a traditional strip club. Tables and chairs waited for the arrival of customers while the bar gleamed. Up on the stage about a dozen dancers went through their paces. Julia stood in front and gave them a wave.
“We won’t be much longer,” Susan said and ran up on to the stage.
The music started again.
“This reminds me of my ballroom dancing days,” Yvonne said.
“Were you good?” Nolan noticed her right foot had started tapping to the beat.
“My partner and I won a few prizes.”
“Why don’t you jump up on stage and join in? I’m sure they won’t mind.”
Her head started to shake in the negative.
The music came to an abrupt halt. “No, like this,” Julia said and demonstrated a few quick steps and a leg raise that impressed the hell out of him. “Let’s do it again.”
“Julia, can Yvonne join in? She used to do ballroom dancing.”
“Sure,” Julia said.
At the same time Yvonne said, “No, I don’t want to get in the way.”
“You won’t,” Julia said.
Yvonne hesitated for a moment before pulling off her vest and unbuttoning her long-sleeved shirt.
An instinctive protest rose in Nolan before he saw Yvonne was perfectly covered by a white tank top. She ran up the side steps and went to the back.
“Dance beside me,” Susan said, indicating a space at the front.
Nolan could see the reluctance on Yvonne’s face, but she stepped into the gap between Susan and another girl. The music started and after a brief hesitation, Yvonne started moving with the others. Initially, Nolan could see she was a bit rusty, but she soon picked up the moves. Damn, she was good.
“Hey, Nolan.”
Nolan turned to see Ryan, Julia’s husband, and his friend Caleb. Both men were tall with dark hair and most people mistook them for brothers. Nolan had when he’d first met them. “Great to see you.”
“Where’s your lady?” Ryan asked.
“Who’s the new dancer?” Caleb asked.
Nolan let out a low growl. “Mine. Eyes off.”
Caleb grimaced. “Aw, damn. All the pretty ones are taken.”
Ryan laughed. “You’re too slow, man.”
“Women like it slow,” Caleb shot back.
“After you catch them,” Nolan said. “Slow is no good if you don’t catch them first.”
Caleb scowled at both of them before speaking to Nolan. “I thought you were a country bumpkin.”
“I’m the modern breed. Once we know what we want, we don’t mess around.”
“So I’m learning,” Caleb said. “Your brother snapped up Susan and now you have this lovely lady.”
“She’s a natural dancer. You’re lucky you live in Clare because Julia would want her to work for Maxwell’s,” Ryan said.
She was good. Nolan couldn’t tear his gaze away and thought she was better than most of the other women.
The song track ended and the women froze in position.
“Much better,” Julia said. “Once more from the top, and we’ll finish for the day.”
The two men left—something about meeting up with friends—and Nolan continued to watch Yvonne. Right now, after watching her move, he wanted to drag her back to their hotel room and get naked. His cock stirred, as if in agreement with his mental musings.
The practice ended and the dancers drifted away, until just Yvonne, Susan and Julia remained.
“You’re good,” Julia said. “We’re one dancer short tonight. I don’t suppose you’d agree to go on stage. Two routines. The one we just practiced plus another one. Susan and I can show you the moves. It’s a repetitive one—fairly easy.”
“No, I don’t—”
“She’ll do it,” Nolan said. “They wear masks. No one will know it’s you.” The idea of watching her dancing and knowing she belonged to him and other men couldn’t have her made him so hot, he wished they were alone so he could show her.
“I’ll pay you,” Julia said.
“No, I don’t—”
“I’ll pay for your dinner tonight then,” Julia said. “And buy a bottle of Champagne. The good stuff. You have to wait for us to finish at the club anyway. We can’t leave until after nine. It doesn’t get really busy until later than that, so you wouldn’t have to perform for a full house, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Yvonne, you did great.” Nolan kept his gaze on her face. “Please, I’d really like to see you dance.”
“Maggie, Christina and I are dancing tonight,” Susan said. “Julia too. Dance with us. It’ll be fun.”
“What about costumes?”
“No problem,” Julia said. “We have heaps of different sizes.”
“I… Are you sure I’m good enough?”
“Yes,” Julia said. “I’m the boss, so I should know.”
“Good, you’re here,” Connor said to Nolan from behind them. He set his briefcase on the floor. “We have rugby training in about an hour. Can you come?”
“We’ll have to stop by the hotel so I can pick up my training gear.” Nolan turned to Yvonne. “Is that okay with you? We could meet back at the hotel, grab a quick snack then come back here.”
“We’ll drop you back at your hotel,” Julia said. “After we sort out your costumes.”
Nolan almost smiled when Yvonne hesitated. He tilted up her head to kiss her. It ended too quickly for his liking, when he wanted to drag her to a private place and fuck her stupid.
Later that night, Yvonne found herself standing on stage beside nine other dancers, her courage dipping, diving, knees knocking while they waited for the curtains to open. The temptation to dance again and embrace a part of her old life had been too much for her to resist.
Her husband hadn’t liked her dancing, had said she was making a spectacle of herself and really, she was too big for her partner to lift. Her chin tilted and determination started to pump through her veins. Well, she’d dance tonight. Besides, not even her mother would recognize her in the skimpy red-and-black costume and stage makeup—the pouting red lips, the glittering black mask that screened half her face.
The music started, soft and flirty, and the din of the crowd muted. The curtains swished aside and experience kicked in, the beat flowing through her body. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and she intended to squeeze every bit of enjoyment from her Mum-vacation.
Her legs kicked high as she found the seductive rhythm of the music and fell into the pattern of the steps she’d learned earlier that day. Her stage smile slipped into place, and she felt the gazes of the men and women in the audience stroking her body.
She sought Nolan in the crowd and found him smiling, his attention on her, rapt. Her steps faltered before she snapped back into professionalism. Her arms stretched, and she displayed the line of her body. The music segued into faster, sexy.
Yvonne flirted with the crowd, her lips curling into a playful pout. The dancers formed into a line and performed a series of high kicks. Yvonne managed to kick as high as the others and quiet satisfaction flowed through her. She’d feel her muscles tomorrow, pay for the steps into the past. But, oh, it was worth it.
This heady feeling, the buzz of excitement and the taste of success lifting her head high with pride. She bowed with the others, her gaze seeking Nolan again. He was on his feet with the rest of the crowd, clapping with a full-out grin on his face.
“Great job, Yvonne,” Susan said once the curtains swished back into place. “I don’t suppose you’d consider shifting to Auckland and dancing permanently here at the club?”
“Good try, Suzy,” Nolan said, striding onto the stage from the rear and skirting the other dancers as they headed for the dressing room. “Yvonne can dance any time she wants while we’re visiting, but I intend to keep her with me in Clare.”
A possessive hand landed on her hip, heat burning through her skimpy bathing suit-size costume. Part of her wanted to argue, to tell him he had no right to speak for her, but the truth was she liked living in Clare. The boys were settled, and she owed Gina for extending a hand when she’d been homeless and desperate after her divorce.
“Well,” said Susan. “We’ll have to entice you to visit often. Bring the boys next time. My cousin is Julia’s nanny. She’s going to look after Katey as well as Alex. She’s really good and won’t mind a couple of extra kids now and then.” Susan checked on the time. “Julia’s doing her fan dance next. Get changed and go out front to watch. It’s really something.”
“Yvonne.” Nolan stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “You were breathtaking.”
Heat stole into her cheeks along with pleasure, his former highhandedness consigned to the back of her mind. “Thanks.”
He drew her closer and nuzzled her neck. “And very, very sexy.”
“Nolan, stop manhandling my dancers,” Julia said in a crisp voice, seconds after she appeared from the direction of the dressing room. Her grin negated her order. “I don’t suppose you’d like to move to Auckland?”
“Susan has already tried that,” Nolan said.
Yvonne scowled at him and poked her finger into the middle of his chest for emphasis. “Hey, I can speak for myself, mister.” She dialed down her frown into a genuine smile for Julia. “Thanks for the offer, but I love living in Clare.”
Julia tossed her head and her blonde hair flowed across her shoulders. “Pity. My friends have a knack for finding great dancers.”
“I’ll see you out front,” Nolan said, not chastened in the slightest, judging by his expression. “Would you like a glass of white wine?”
“Thanks.” Shaking her head, Yvonne headed for the dressing room and felt Nolan’s gaze until she turned the corner.
“Great job, Yvonne,” Maggie said. “Here’s some makeup remover.”
“Thanks.” Yvonne removed her mask. “What a rush.”
“I know. That’s why I dance a few nights a week,” Maggie said. “It also keeps me fit. Julia is like a drill sergeant. I’ve never been in such great shape.”
“You should start up dance classes in Clare,” Susan said. “The kids really loved the few classes I taught. You could do some fitness stuff for the women too. There’s nothing like that in Clare at present.”
“The café keeps me busy,” Yvonne said.
“Pity,” Susan said. “That’s a business opportunity going to waste.”
Yvonne took a quick shower and changed into her good clothes before heading for Nolan and her glass of wine. Susan walked out with her.
“There you are.” Nolan drew her close for a quick kiss.
“At last,” a familiar voice said. “My big brother has come to his senses.”
Yvonne took a step back and smiled at Tyler. “We’re just friends.” And maybe if she kept telling herself that, her heart would get the message.
“Good friends,” Nolan said in a sharp voice.
Tyler’s brows rose, but he didn’t say anything.
“How does Katey like the move?” Yvonne asked.
Her question lightened the mood, and soon they were joined by Nolan’s other friends. Julia did her fan dance, and Yvonne watched mesmerized by her smooth moves and manipulation of the large feathery fans. So sexy. Everyone in the club appeared riveted by her dance and when it came to an end, there was a moment of silence before the crowd jumped to their feet and applauded.
“She’s good,” Yvonne said.
“Susan does the fan dance too,” Tyler said with pride.
“Will you teach me?” Yvonne asked.
“Next time you visit,” Susan promised.
The evening dragged like a plough resisting rocky soil. Nolan managed to smile through dinner at an Italian restaurant, thought he chatted and acted pretty civilly. But the entire time, visions of Yvonne dancing in her skimpy costume flickered through his head in a never ending video. He glanced at Yvonne—currently chatting with Susan—the feeling of pride bursting to life in him again. It had been a close run thing—the fight between gratification and the urge to leap onstage and drape her curvy body with a long robe.
Now, he pushed the last bite of his veal escallops, Portobello mushrooms and Marsala wine sauce aside and set his knife and fork down at right angles.
“We’re going to the restrooms,” Susan said.
The two women weaved through the tables of diners and disappeared. Nolan blew out a hard sigh.
“Not hungry?” Tyler asked.
“Have other things on my mind.”
“Like what? Farm…oh,” Tyler said with an unexpected toothy grin. He shot a quick glance toward the restrooms. “Does Yvonne know you’re hung up on her?”
“She thinks I’m playing games until someone better comes along. She keeps telling me we’re friends with benefits.” He stirred on his chair, repositioning his body to relieve the ache from his hard-on.
Just friends.
“If I hear her say we’re friends again, I’ll bare my teeth and growl. And that will be just the start. Taking Yvonne out in public is dating, damn it.”
Tyler chuckled. “Does your mother know?”
“Yes, not that it’s got anything to do with her.”
Tyler snorted. “That’s never stopped Elizabeth before.”
“I intend to marry Yvonne, once she gets over this stupid friend business. Mum will have to accept Yvonne and her boys or she won’t have any family left.”
“What about Dad?”
“Dad just wants us both to find happiness,” Nolan said. “He’s changed during the last couple of months. He seems more content and active. Less depressed and moody than we’re used to.”
Yvonne and Susan returned and took their seats.
“Anyone for dessert? They do an excellent Tiramisu here,” Susan said. “The gelato selection is delicious too. Or coffee?”
Good god! He couldn’t sit through dessert and coffee. He leaned toward Yvonne. “Do you want to go soon?”
“Already?” she asked in surprise.
In answer, he took her hand and placed it on his lap. She froze, then a saucy grin split her face. “I fancy a coffee. Is anyone else having one?”
A low growl escaped him, and his brother smirked. Nolan shot him a dark scowl.
“Nolan is feeling tired,” Yvonne said.
Nolan growled again and decided spanking was looking good.
“He doesn’t need to growl like a grumpy bear,” Susan chided.
Yvonne cackled. Actually cackled like an evil cartoon character.
“We’ll get you a coffee at the hotel,” he said, standing abruptly. He didn’t care if anyone noticed his condition. He handed Tyler a wad of cash to pay for their dinner. “If I’m playing rugby tomorrow I need my rest.” He held out his hand in a silent demand.
Yvonne winked at Tyler and Susan and rose. “It appears we’re leaving. Thanks for the company.”
“Good move,” Nolan growled when she grasped his fingers. “If you’d dallied any longer, I would’ve carted you out dangling over my shoulder, and to hell with the stares.”
“Well,” said Susan. “I think I’m offended.”
“I’m not,” Tyler said, and Nolan heard the humor in his brother’s voice before they’d left earshot. “We can have an early night now.”
The cab ride back to the hotel was mercifully quick.
“That was a bit rude,” Yvonne said.
“They’re family. Tyler understood.” He wrapped an arm around Yvonne and drew her against his side for the short ride to their hotel.
“Good evening. Hey, aren’t you that guy on the reality show?” the man behind the desk asked when they walked past to reach the lifts.
“No,” Nolan said.
“People tell him that all the time,” Yvonne said, laughter shading in her words. “I think the man on the show has a bigger nose. I think he might get a stomach paunch when he gets older.”
Nolan grit his teeth and urged her onward. They stepped inside the waiting car. Once the door closed, he moved, crowding her against the mirrored wall. “A big nose and a paunch?” His hands molded her to his body while he claimed her mouth in the way he’d wanted to for hours.
Some of his impatient tension left when her soft lips accepted his, cushioned the hard edge of his kiss. Her eager participation further blunted his frustration. God, she tasted good and the feel of her curves pressing into him…
Damn, this bloody just-friends thing.
They belonged together.
He lifted his head and glared down at her. “You’re mine.”
Her eyes widened a fraction before they narrowed. “I belong to me.”
The lift bell dinged, indicating they’d arrived on their floor. Nolan grasped her hand and towed her to their room. They weren’t going to have this conversation in the middle of the hotel corridor.
He wanted to rail at her, the words of dispute lying heavy and rancid on his tongue. Self-preservation and experience told him to save the temper. First things first.
“Has anyone ever spanked you?”
“Huh?” She stared at him.
Was that a hint of intrigue? He liked to think so. “Because, my darling Yvonne. If ever a woman needed spanking, it’s you.”
He tugged her over to the bed, sat and flipped her over his knee.
“Hey,” she said, struggling.
Nolan lifted the hem of her dress to bare her ass. She wore the sexiest pair of panties he’d ever seen. Black lace with a line of white bows down the sides. His palm smoothed over the silky material, and she ceased her squirming.
“Luckily I didn’t know what you were wearing underneath your sexy blue dress.” He cupped her butt and squeezed. “Does your bra match?”
She sniffed. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
Nolan took a deep breath while he silently acknowledged how much he loved the way she challenged him, her penchant for different when it came to sex. She never bored him. Then he lifted his hand and smacked her perky butt. She let out a satisfying squawk and tried to wriggle from his grasp. He held her firmly and smacked her again at a different angle. The third blow fell slightly lower, and this time she shuddered. Concern struck him for an instant, until he realized she could have put up more of a fight or demanded him to stop. But still…
His finger slipped under her panties to sink into her heat. Wet. Hot. That was all he needed to know. He struck her ass again.
“Ooh,” she moaned, the sound so sexy, he spanked her once more just to hear it again.
Her body relaxed, and he smoothed his hand over her bottom, over the silky fabric of her panties and felt the heat of her. He sucked in a deep breath and caught a whiff of flowers with a musky undertone. Her personal scent.
The more time he spent with her, the more he realized she was it for him—the woman who made him happy. “Can you stand?”
“Yes.”
He helped her rise and leaned back on his elbows, his legs spread wide. “Strip for me. Show me your sexy lingerie.”
Her eyes gleamed, and she tossed her head, her mane of curls shifting with the movement. She bent to unbuckle her sandals.
“No, leave the shoes. I like them.”
His compliments didn’t hurt either, he noticed.
“Undo my zipper for me. I can’t reach it myself.” She turned her back to him and his hand shook a fraction before he slid the fastening down.
Yvonne held her dress in place and turned to face him, a bright smile lighting her expression. She let one shoulder of her dress list down her arm, gave him a flirty grin and primly placed it back on her shoulder. She repeated the move with the other arm, giving him a peek-a-boo glance of her bra strap.
“Do you know what happens to teasing women?”
“What?” she asked, her lips quivering as if she were suppressing a laugh.
“They get spanked, and I’m pretty sure the next day they have trouble sitting with comfort.”
“Brute,” she said, but there was no temper or concern in her tone. “After the dancing, I’ll probably need a massage tomorrow. And after tonight, I’ll remember the spanking every time I sit down.”
“Good.” Call him caveman but he rather liked the idea. “I’d be happy to touch you any time. Buy some massage oil tomorrow.”
“Bossy much,” she said sweetly.
“Strip. Please.”
Yvonne released her dress and the fabric slid down her body. A twitch of her hips and it dropped to the floor. She stepped out and stooped to pick up the dress. After setting it over the back of a chair, she turned to face him.
Nolan’s mouth went dry and he had to swallow before he could speak. “You’re beautiful, and I was proud of you tonight. You looked sexy and powerful and every man in Maxwell’s wanted you.”
She gave her lips a slow lick. “Including you?”
“Especially me.” Nolan went to her, his heart thudding against his rib cage. He unbuttoned his shirt and discarded it on the floor. After toeing off his shoes and removing his socks, he stripped off the rest of his clothes. “And now I want to fuck you.”
“That’s not very romantic.”
“According to you, you’re not interested in that, but I can do romantic when my balls aren’t so painfully tight. When I’m in your pussy and sinking deep into you.”
Before she could respond, he scooped her off her feet and placed her on the bed. He followed her down, pinning her in place with his greater bulk. Part of him had prepared for an argument, but what he got was sweet, responsive woman. Her arms curled behind his neck and she met his mouth with hard passion.
He unclipped her bra, eager to get to her curvy breasts.
“Suck me,” she murmured.
“Anytime.” He shoved the bra aside, deciding to take the time to remove it properly. “I’ll take off your panties now too. They’re too pretty to rip.” Nolan drew them down her legs and dragged in a quick breath. “What—”
“I had to shave because of the line of the costume.”
His fingers drifted over the soft skin and slid down her folds into her warm heat. His cock jerked, but he ignored the tightness of his balls. This was something to savor. “I have to taste you.” She’d shaved everything and his mouth roved across bare skin, so different from her normal neatly trimmed pubic hair.
“I used to wax when I was dancing but my…” She trailed off and licked her lips before starting to speak again. “The regular appointments are expensive and it’s not as if I get time for personal stuff these days.”
Nolan made a silent promise to himself. She might be a mother, but that didn’t mean she didn’t deserve pampering. He could give that to her. He’d enjoy it, although first he’d have to get her past the stupid friends thing. His temper ratcheted up and he had to bite on his tongue to halt harsh words. No. Not when he was so close to getting inside her snug pussy.
He gripped her hips and lifted her to his mouth, his tongue busily lapping up her sweet honey. His tongue pushed into her and she shuddered.
“More, Nolan. Make me come.”
“After you’ve teased me all night,” he said. “I should make you wait.” But instead, he slipped two fingers into her, pushing easily into her heat. She was making those sexy little sounds again and lifting her hips up into his touch. He licked her clit, teasing the swollen nub with feathery touches, enjoying the hell out of her taste, savoring Yvonne. They’d been making love on a regular basis, yet right now, he was starved for her, couldn’t get enough. He stroked inside her, angling his fingers to hit the right spot, the one that set her off like a firecracker.
“Nolan. Nolan.” She gasped and trembled, and he knew it was time to push her harder.
He timed his strokes with the suction of his mouth, the flick of his tongue. Her channel pulsed around his fingers. She cried out and he sucked her clit extra hard. She came apart, the spasms gripping his fingers in tight rhythmic pulses. He lapped at her clit, slow and easy, because he knew from experience she became very sensitive. When the spasms finally ceased, he removed his hand and rose up her body. Her arms came around him in a welcoming hug.
The touch of their lips sent a jolt through him, and her hands squeezing his butt lit him up. All at once, the pressure in his balls was too much. He had to have her now. Nolan levered away from her to grab a condom from the packet he’d placed in the bedside drawer. Fully sheathed, he returned to her and slid between her legs. With his cock positioned, he rammed into her.
One. Two. Three. On the fourth thrust, he started coming so hard he saw stars. A shudder went through him, and the sensations coursing inside him yanked him into savage ecstasy.
Yvonne wriggled and tried to get a hand between their bodies. He stilled her hand. “Please,” she said, almost frantically. “Please, I’m so close.”
“Let me,” he said and levered up so he could see where they joined. He pulled back and pushed into her again because it felt so damn good. He massaged her clit using a gentle touch. She groaned and came almost instantly, her eyes fluttering closed, her cheeks pink from exertion.
“I’m exhausted,” she said.
“Go to sleep, babe. It’s been a busy day.”
She sighed, and her breathing slowed, evened out.
Nolan watched her fall asleep and his heart twisted with a wave of love and possession.
Mine.