CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Drifting somewhere between slumber and a dream-like state, Zoe decided it was a lovely place to be, and she didn’t want to wake up anytime soon. Not when she was curled up to Sean’s warm, muscular body, the musky, male scent of his skin teasing her senses and eliciting a slow burn of desire down low, between her thighs.
Sighing and embracing the luxurious sensations, she snuggled even closer, pressing her face against his neck and sliding her calf between his, wishing they were both completely naked. Her hand, which had been resting on his flat stomach, began to move in a curious exploration, up over the pecs defining his chest, skimming across the nipples that were as stiff as her own, and down the ridges lining his abdomen.
His muscles grew taut and his breathing deepened, but if he was conscious he didn’t make any move to stop her.
She was glad, because he felt good. Really good. Touching him and letting the arousal and anticipation simmer and build was such a nice, pleasant distraction from the reality of what she knew she had to face once she awoke.
Slowly, blindly, she followed the sexy trail of hair dusting his belly as it spiraled downward, and when she reached the waistband of his briefs she slipped her hand beneath the elastic barrier. The moment the tips of her fingers grazed the taut crown of his engorged shaft and her thumb caught the slick moisture beading on the plump head, her lazy quest came to an abrupt end.
With a deep, animalistic growl, he circled his fingers around her wrist and jerked her hand from his shorts. Quicker than she could gasp, he had her flat on her back, her hand pinned next to her head. He loomed over her, his masculine features etched with lust, the dark stubble on his jaw adding to the edgy, bad-boy attitude. The blatant heat in his eyes pierced straight to her soul, the depths of his gaze an intense shade of midnight blue.
A shameless excitement rushed through her veins, and his stare dropped to the pulse beating wildly at the base of her throat, then lower, to the unbound breasts and hard nipples outlined in the soft fabric of the T-shirt he’d given her to wear. A muscle in his cheek ticced and he dragged his gaze back up to hers, blasting her with a look so carnal she felt branded.
Last night he’d held her without sexual intent, comforted her with platonic caresses, and played her knight in shining armor with chivalry and respect. He’d proved to be a man she could depend on and trust, which was becoming a rarity in her life, and his kindness had been exactly what she’d needed at the time.
There was no trace of that subdued gentleness this morning, and the aggression and barely leashed need tightening his body was exactly what she wanted from him now.
“Don’t…” His gruff voice trailed off and he shook his dark head, looking agonized and conflicted. “Just don’t.”
Her heart was beating erratically in her chest, and while she heard the warning lacing his voice she didn’t heed it. “Don’t what?” she whispered in a challenge.
His jaw clenched. “Don’t touch me like that.”
She smiled, which he didn’t seem to appreciate. After everything that had happened to her yesterday, she wanted to replace all the pain, fear, and even the awful truth with something she could believe in and trust. And that something, that someone, was Sean.
With her free hand, she glided it up the slope of his back, letting her fingers dig into firm muscles, and felt him shudder beneath her palm. “What if I want to touch you like that? And more?”
The fingers still trapping her other arm on the mattress flexed, but he didn’t let go. “You don’t know what you want right now,” he snapped irritably. “You’re still half-asleep.”
Not anymore, she wasn’t. She was wide awake and knew exactly what she craved. “You don’t want me?” It was a stupid question, but it was the only way to get him to respond the way she knew he would.
He didn’t disappoint. Swearing beneath his breath, he ruthlessly shoved his solid erection against her hip, so there was no mistaking his desire for her. “Does it feel like I don’t want you?” he asked, his eyes shining with frustration. “I’m so fucking hard right now, have been all night long; that’s how bad I want you.”
He was being so noble, and it was the very last thing she wanted from him. “Then take me,” she said, and lifted her head, touching her lips to his in a soft, teasing kiss.
Another curse fell from his lips, and she felt something in him snap loose—like his too-gallant restraint. Letting go of her hand, he slid his palm around to the nape of her neck, his fingers delving into her hair, then fisting in the strands as he kissed her back, much harder and deeper than what she’d just offered. His tongue swept into her mouth, seeking, searching, demanding, and she responded just as avidly.
As his mouth ravaged hers, he shifted closer, and she twisted her legs around his, trying to adjust their bodies so the length of his rigid shaft was grinding against her sex, but all he allowed was the press of his muscled thigh between hers.
It wasn’t enough. She wanted her clothing off and full body contact—skin on skin. Her entire being shook with need, and she clutched at his shoulders, arching desperately into him. Her hips undulated frantically against his, aiming for a deeper, hotter connection he didn’t seem inclined to give.
He broke their kiss, and she whimpered in frustration, which was quickly replaced by a soft sigh of relief when his hands reached between them and tugged her shirt up and off. Tossing the wad of material to the floor, he didn’t waste any precious time in dipping his head and pulling a nipple between his damp lips. He groaned against her breast as he sucked hard on the taut bud, then bit gently.
She inhaled a quick, shocked breath, then purred with pleasure when he soothed the sting with his soft, velvety tongue before switching to her other breast and giving it the same delightful treatment. The swirl of his tongue laving her nipple and the deep suctioning heat of his mouth had her moving restlessly beneath him.
She fisted her hands in the covers to keep from thrashing. “Sean, please.”
“Shhh. I’ll give you what you need,” he promised as he scattered hot, damp kisses down her torso, then flicked his tongue into her navel.
She gasped, feeling that wicked stroke even lower, between her thighs. Impatiently he tugged the front ties loose on her drawstring shorts, and she lifted her hips so he could pull them, and her panties, down her legs. The clothing joined her shirt on the floor, leaving her completely naked for the first time in front of him, while he still wore his briefs.
So not fair, but she figured he’d get around to removing them eventually.
“Spread your legs for me, sweetheart,” he murmured huskily.
She complied, and he let his appreciative gaze slowly trail over her body—across the straining peaks of her breasts, the softness of her belly, then finally where she was wet and swollen with need for him.
His eyes darkened, stealing the breath from her lungs, but not as much as his next calculated move did. Moving lower on the mattress, he settled between her thighs, his broad shoulders forcing her legs even farther apart. He glanced up over her prone body, capturing her gaze with his, the unbridled hunger gleaming in his eyes making his intentions very clear.
Oh, God, he was going to go down on her.
Then every thought flew from her mind as he did just that—with enthusiasm and passion. She moaned, her hips jerking involuntarily at the first wet, rough rasp of his tongue against her. Then she shuddered when he added longer strokes and a firm fluttering of his tongue on her clitoris. He gave a murmur of approval and added his talented hand into the mix to explore her intimate folds, rubbing her slick flesh, and slipped one finger, then two, inside of her.
Between his wicked mouth and skillful, thrusting fingers mimicking the act of sex, she turned liquid with desire. The tension coiling within her escalated, higher and tighter, making her restless with the need for more. His fingers slid from her channel, but before she could issue a form of protest his tongue was there, pushing deep inside of her in a greedy, openmouthed French kiss.
It was like nothing she’d ever felt or experienced before. Her initial gasp of shock gave way to a low, sultry moan and total body ecstasy. She threaded her fingers through his soft, silky hair as what promised to be a rapturous climax rose inside of her. She fought the sensations, wanting to savor every last second, but Sean was so avid, so determined, and she didn’t stand a chance against his seduction tactics.
Closing her eyes, she tossed her head back on the pillow and cried out as a wave of sexual bliss crashed over her and she came in a hot rush of intense pleasure. He rode out the orgasm and kept kissing her intimately, deeply, until the tremors wracking her body finally subsided.
She expected him to move over her and take his very generous foreplay to its logical conclusion, but instead, with an agonized groan, he pressed his cheek against her stomach, as if he was trying to regain his composure. His breathing was so harsh, his body undeniably aroused and strung tight, and she didn’t understand what he was waiting for.
Gently she dragged the tips of her fingers through his hair, wondering what had gone wrong when everything had felt so right only moments ago. “Sean?”
“Don’t.” Jerking away from her touch, he stood up at the side of the bed, his gaze both anguished and angry as he yanked the covers up over her naked body. He muttered a curse word that singed her ears, then turned and stalked off to the adjoining bathroom, closing the door a little harder than necessary.
Stunned and confused, Zoe tossed the covers right back off and sat up on the edge of the mattress. She stared at the bathroom door and frowned.
What the hell was that all about? She honestly didn’t have a clue. For some reason, he was resisting her when that was the last thing she wanted, and she had no idea why he’d ended things so abruptly. Especially after what he’d just done to her. It didn’t get more intimate between two people than that.
She was a grown woman, capable of making her own choices, and her decision to have sex with Sean hadn’t been made lightly. He was the one person who’d been there for her, the person who’d made her feel safe and secure when her life as she’d once known it was falling apart before her eyes.
After the attack in her parking garage, she’d wanted that comfort, that closeness with him, and while he’d given her an amazing orgasm and her body was physically satiated, deep inside she felt empty, as though something vital was still missing—an emotional connection she knew Sean was capable of giving her, even if he had his doubts.
If he thought he was doing her a favor by walking away, he was wrong. And Zoe intended to prove it to him.
*
Physically aching and emotionally rattled, Sean stepped beneath the spray of hot, steaming water, his entire body screaming with the need for sexual relief. He’d never been one for cold showers; they were more torturous than helpful to the cause, and he’d learned long ago that it was just easier to take care of business and get it out of his system.
Yeah, like he’d ever be able to get Zoe out of his system.
Shit. After he had watched Zoe come apart for him, after he had felt her every response to his intimate kisses, after he had tasted the depths of her passion, everything about her was indelibly etched into his memory. And when she’d cried out with the force of her climax he swore he’d never heard anything so sweet, so sexy, so cock-swelling erotic that he’d nearly orgasmed right along with her.
The recollection caused his stiff dick to throb painfully, and with a scowl he dipped his head beneath the showerhead, drenching himself completely in the heated cascade of water.
As much as he’d been tempted to bury himself deep inside Zoe, to take what she was offering and slake the lust that had been riding him hard all night long, Sean ultimately couldn’t do it. He knew that sex meant something to her, and what scared the crap out of him was the realization that it was beginning to mean something to him, too, when he’d never allowed any woman to be anything more to him than a good time in the sack.
He honestly, truly cared about Zoe, and he knew developing any further feelings for her could lead nowhere. Their lives were too different, their pasts too intertwined and complicated. He despised her father for what he’d done to Sean’s dad, and once Zoe knew the depths of her father’s deception, along with Grant Russo’s connection to Sean’s dad, she’d never accept a man like Sean in her life—a man who’d also once been a con artist and used people’s weaknesses for monetary gain.
While he’d turned over a new leaf when Caleb had given him a second chance to clean up his act when he’d gotten out of prison years ago, Sean would never be able to erase his past or forget the less than honorable things that he’d done. And no woman—especially a sophisticated, successful woman like Zoe—wanted the stigma of being with an ex–con man.
For the first time ever, Sean experienced a twinge of pain at having to let a woman go because of the stupid, senseless choices he’d made in his past. And it royally sucked—which was why this was a great example of why he didn’t do relationships or long-term commitments. And a woman like Zoe would eventually want both.
He inhaled a deep breath of steam, not surprised to see that even his oppressive thoughts had done nothing to deflate his straining erection. No, there was only one way to take care of that particular problem, and if he was going to be spending most of his time around Zoe, then he desperately needed the release now.
Reaching for the liquid soap, he lathered his palms until they were slippery and took his cock in hand. All he needed was a few minutes, fast and furious, and he’d be able to get on with his day without being half-aroused around Zoe.
Closing his eyes, he began stroking his shaft in his fist and went with the first fantasy that tumbled into his mind—where he finished what he’d started with Zoe in his bed less than ten minutes ago. He imagined crawling over her soft, curvy body and groaned when he thought about how wet and tight she’d be when he sank into her and how she’d wrap her slender legs around his waist and encourage his heavy, driving, pounding thrusts….
Oh yeah…he was so close, so damn close…
The soft click of the shower’s glass door opening, then closing, yanked him back from the orgasm gathering force. He clenched his jaw in frustration, knowing Zoe was standing behind him. Despite being caught in the act, he didn’t turn around, and he refused to release his nearly bursting, aching cock from his tight grip. Nor was he about to apologize for jerking off, either, because it was her own fault for coming into the bathroom unannounced and catching an eyeful.
“What are you doing in here?” he asked gruffly as the shower spray battered his chest and water sluiced down to his groin. He knew she was probably getting wet, too, but didn’t care about that, either. He just wanted her gone.
He tensed when he felt her hand on his back and bit back a groan as she oh, so slowly slid her fingers down the slope of his spine in a wet, sensual caress. “Why did you leave me?”
He didn’t have to ask what she meant. Even though he’d given her a shattering orgasm, he knew he’d left her wanting. He never should have touched her in the first place, but she obviously didn’t know the meaning of don’t, and he’d been weak and unable to resist her. “I left you because it was the right thing to do.”
“Says who?” she asked softly while the tip of one finger traced the crease in his buttocks, all the way down to the crux of his thighs.
Jesus. With his legs braced apart, her fingers dipped lower, brushing over the lightly furred skin of his taut balls. In his palm, his cock surged. Reflexively his fingers squeezed, and his heart thundered in his chest as he desperately held on to his sanity.
“Says me,” he rasped. “Trust me, you’ll thank me later.” When she discovered everything about him. Things that would shock and disappoint her.
She closed the distance between them, aligning the front of her body against his back. Her bare chest seared his skin, as did the pointed tips of her breasts. Against his ass, he could feel the soft, feminine tuft of hair that covered her mound, and it was all he could do not to turn around and take her up against the tiled shower wall.
Her flattened palms slid around his torso and over his abs, adding to the lust brewing within him. One hand glided up to his chest, where her fingers plucked at his nipple, while the other skimmed down his belly to his groin. She nudged his hand out of the way and replaced it with her own snug grasp around his shaft.
“I’d rather thank you now, by reciprocating the pleasure you gave me,” she said.
A deep, primitive groan rumbled in his chest. “Zoe…”
“Shhh. I’ll give you what you need,” she persisted, repeating the words he’d said to her earlier, just before he’d seduced her with his mouth. “Just put your hands on the wall and let me take care of you.”
He knew he ought to object and stop her, but his control was hanging by a thin thread and he was quickly learning that he had absolutely no willpower when it came to her. And when she dragged the pad of her thumb over the crown of his cock, teasing him with the promise of ecstasy, he decided that he’d rather come in her hand than his own.
He splayed his palms on the wet tiles and let her have her way with him. Whatever kind of sensual madness she wanted to inflict, he was game. And it was a good thing, too, since she seemed to want to take her time and make him suffer. Slowly, rhythmically, her wicked hand swept up and down his shaft, pulling and stroking his dick. At times, her fist crept up over the tip and the water and last remnants of soap created a suction over the sensitive head. The pleasure was so intense, so erotic, his eyes rolled back in his head.
If that wasn’t enough to short-circuit his brain, she grabbed a handful of his hair and gently pulled his head back so she could whisper in his ear how good he felt. She kissed his shoulder, licked the moisture from his skin, then gently bit the side of his neck, all the while her hips moved sinuously against his ass.
It was sensory overload. Desire coiled through him, his cock stretching and pulsing with a rush of blood. As if sensing how close he was to coming, she accelerated her pace, faster, tighter, each slick slide of her palm creating a heated friction that sent him over the razor-sharp edge of need and straight into oblivion. He groaned and shuddered violently as his climax roared through him, so powerful, so fierce, it drained him not only physically but emotionally, too.
It was the most amazing orgasm he’d ever had in his entire life, but it changed absolutely nothing between them.