Chapter 8
He’d gone too far. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? Why did he have to push her boundaries and ask for more than she was willing to give?
Because he’d meant what he said. Before stumbling to her cabin, he’d been fascinated by McKenna.
Not enough to approach her on a personal level.
Not enough to even talk to her other than when he purchased one of her goods.
But every time she’d passed him in the grocery store, every time her lips had turned up in acknowledgment of his presence, he’d been struck by the damn lovebug or whatever nonsense the fluttering feeling in his stomach was.
Being close to her, able to ask her questions and learn more about her, was like torture. He craved more. He needed to touch her. To comfort her. To know her. And hell, he needed the connection.
But now, the inch-high hike of her eyebrows told him he’d overstepped. Fuck it. He couldn’t take it back. He deserved to feel vulnerable for making her uncomfortable. If it hadn’t been for that kiss—that hard-on inducing, cock-throbbing swiping of her tongue—he probably could’ve kept his cool.
Her stunned expression slowly fell away.
Pink crested her neck then quickly spread to her cheeks.
She lifted her hand but stopped it in the air between them as if she’d had second thoughts.
Then she opened her palm and rested it on his cheek.
Her thumb moved over his beard and for a flicker of an instant, he wondered if she preferred clean-shaven men.
The last time he and his mom had talked over FaceTime, she’d said he looked like a true mountain man now.
“I like this,” she said softly. “I’ve never kissed a man with a beard before.”
He tugged the short whiskers between his thumb and forefinger. “I’m not sure it’s long enough to be considered a beard.”
Warmth melted her eyes. “I’d say so. It suits you.” Her fingers curled away from his cheek, and she brought her hand to his shoulder. “I don’t want to regret this, Jaxon.”
He cupped her hips in his hands and brought his chin to her chest. God, it felt good to touch her.
Promises burned his tongue, but he stayed true to his word and choked them down.
Telling her that he was different, that he wouldn’t hurt or humiliate her, was pointless.
At the end of the day, they hadn’t spent much time together.
He couldn’t tell her he’d move heaven and earth for her, for god’s sake. But he could promise decency.
“I hope you don’t regret anything with me. Worst-case scenario, we don’t continue seeing each other after this. We can still be respectful of each other.”
Her eyes locked on his. She lifted her fingers and scraped them softly over his scalp. He fought a moan.
She leaned her face closer, and the scent of lavender emanated from her skin to tangle with her rose-scented shampoo.
Her lips hovered over his. Her breath warmed his mouth, but she didn’t kiss him.
Instead, she held herself back barely an inch.
His body raged with need. He dug his fingertips into her hips to stop himself from lifting her into his arms and taking her on the couch.
“One night, right? That’s all we’re agreeing to?”
He nodded, not moving his attention from the milky swell of her pink lips.
“That works for me,” she said.
He snapped his gaze to her eyes. A surge of lust blasted from her irises, and relief coursed through him. He let out a low groan of approval and let his hands run over her ass.
She swept her palm around the back of his neck and closed her mouth over his. He wrapped his arms around her waist, locking her to him. Her breasts flattened against his chest as he stood with her in his arms. Her legs swept easily around his torso, allowing him to cradle her.
Her tongue worked between his lips, hot and slick. He opened his mouth wider and her heat filled him. He brushed his fingertips between her legs and she arched forward.
“Ah, god,” she panted.
The motion exposed her throat. He buried his face into the crook of her neck and licked her skin. Her thighs tightened around his waist. His skin heated with desire, and his balls tightened. If he didn’t get inside her now, he’d burst.
“Bedroom,” she breathed, jerking her head toward her room.
Jaxon moved down the hall, and her lips came down on his again. His knees bumped into the edge of the mattress, and he lowered her to the bed. He caught her sweater, dragging the material over her head.
She stared at him with large eyes rimmed with dark lashes. Her lips parted, and shallow pants broke through her teeth. Her breasts lay nestled in the pink cups of her bra and her navel dipped just above her yoga pants. The most stunning sight he’d ever witnessed.
“Jaxon.” She spoke his name on a whisper, but the plea held not even a sliver of hesitancy. She positioned herself on her knees on the mattress, the motion bringing the top of her head to his sternum. Her hair spilled around her shoulders as her fingers lifted the hem of his shirt. “Your turn.”
He let her wiggle the material up his chest and over his head. The shirt hit the floor, and her hands dove for his chest. Her fingers ran over his muscles, down his abdomen, and to the snap of his jeans.
“God, I’ve wanted to feel these since the first time I saw you chopping wood.”
He frowned, but when her fingers unfastened his jeans, all clarity left his mind. She brought her lips to his pec and kissed his chest.
“When did you see me chop wood?” He managed to ask.
“At the summer fair. You were in the wood chopping contest.” An impish smile drew up her lips. “I’m pretty sure all the women came for your eye candy.”
He drew his head back and scoffed. “Please.”
“No, seriously. It was hot as hell that day. No one in their right mind would’ve chopped wood fully clothed. You had your shirt off just like this.” She dragged her palms down his front again. “Don’t worry, I didn’t hear any complaints.”
He brought his hands to the waistband of her pants. All humor left her face, and a slight gasp hiccupped from her throat. He pushed her pants down her thighs then bent to trail kisses from her breasts to her panties. Her hands caught his head and her body melted in his hold.
“Oh my god,” she cried. She quickly reached behind her back, and her bra came loose. He peeled it from her arms and dropped it at his feet.
He gestured for her to lie down then pulled her pants off the rest of the way, leaving only a pair of pretty mauve lace covering her sex.
A rush of hunger thrummed somewhere deep in his chest. “Jesus,” he breathed. He caught her knees in his palms and stared at her lush, pink-tipped breasts.
He’d lied to her.
He’d never get her out of his head in one night.
* * *
“Jaxon, stop.” She covered her face with her hands. Good grief, no man had ever looked at her the way he did. He was drinking in every inch of her body. It didn’t help that the afternoon sun glowed through the white blinds even though they were closed.
“Why are you embarrassed?” He caught her elbows and lifted her hands from her eyes.
The fire burning her skin became a scorching blaze. She studied the deep crow’s-feet at the corners of his eyes. His thumbs caressed her forearms, calming her revved nerves. So kind. So gentle.
She shrugged. “It’s just . . . I’ve never had anyone look at me the way you do.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “How do I look at you?”
She fought the urge to chew her lips. Heck, she was naked except for her panties. There was no reason for her to hold back now.
“You scrutinize me.”
“Scrutinize?” He moved his hands to her knees, and his fingers slid slowly up and down the outsides of her thighs. “You make it sound like I have a critical stare or something.”
She pressed her lips together. “It’s not that. It’s just how deep you look. Like there’s nothing that escapes your attention. I feel . . . exposed around you. Like you know more about me after one glance than any of the townspeople I’ve known for years do.”
He nodded slowly, his eyes darkening a bit. Had she worded it wrong? Said something to offend him? Crap.
Then the corner of his mouth hitched up. “Does it bother you?”
She shook her head quickly and wet her lips. “I’m starting to like it.”
His gruff laugh shook the bed. “I promise you’ll like me a helluva lot more over the next few hours.” His roaming hands slid to the triangle of material between her legs and moved it. Her pulse slowed. He dipped his head in the same instant as his words registered in her brain.
“Next few what—”
She cried out as his mouth closed over her sex.
He settled on the floor on his knees, hooked his elbows under her thighs, and drew her to the edge of the bed.
His tongue swept over her folds, spreading her slickness.
Moans burst on her tongue, the pleasure too great to allow a coherent thought to form.
He nuzzled deeper, his teeth grazing her clitoral hood. A murky fog rolled over her vision.
She tipped her head back, grounding into the softness of the mattress.
His mouth worked in a steady, gentle motion.
His tongue touched her clit and ecstasy took over her nervous system, making her arms and legs hum.
His ministrations lifted her to the top of an orgasmic cliff.
She squeezed her eyes tightly and let him take over.
His hands splayed on the insides of her thighs, he spread her legs wider, soaking every crevice with his saliva.
His tongue moved in one more long stroke and she bucked on a gush of pleasure.
Reaching forward, she clasped the back of his head, hanging on for dear life as he sucked every drop from her folds.
His raspy chuckle made her arm go slack.
He lifted his head and pressed a kiss to her mound, then her navel, before climbing between her legs and landing on top of her chest. Her body lay limp.
She couldn’t move, let alone thank him for his expert kisses.
He nipped the crook of her neck then planted a kiss on her lips.
“McKenna?” he said softly, speaking next to her ear.
She coasted her hands over the large contours of his back muscles. “Mmm?”
“We’re not done yet.”
She peeked up at him, and hunger singed her to the spot. If this was the first and last time she’d have Jaxon, she’d make sure he’d never forget it. Pushing at his weight, she nodded at the nightstand. “There’s a condom in the drawer.”
He scooted to the edge of the bed, and the old rickety wood creaked. The sound was followed by the crinkling of foil, and she turned to look over her shoulder as he shucked off his briefs and rolled the rubber down the length of his shaft.
She sat up, bit her lip, and reached forward, stroking her fingertips over the length of him. She closed her hand around his thick, pulsating manhood. God, he’d fill every inch of her if he even fit. She flipped onto her stomach.
He muttered a curse, and his hand smoothed over her ass cheek. “You want it like this?”
She cleared her throat. “Yes, like this.”
He grabbed her wrists and moved them to rest above her head. The position pressed her chest deep into the mattress, sending her hips higher into the air. He brought his palms to her thighs and the head of his dick found her slit. He pushed inside, spreading her.
She turned her face into the pillow and let out a long, slow breath as he filled her. The walls of her vagina throbbed and her desire slowly built.
“Is that okay?”
“Mmm hmm.” The syllables rolled off her tongue. He worked in a steady motion, riding her long and deep. Her clit begged for attention. She arched her back and Jaxon let out a groan.
“Jesus, McKenna. You feel so damn good.”
His girth threatened to tear her, but his slow, leisurely strokes activated her need. He brought his hands to her ass again, this time tracing the curves as he slid in and out, in and out. His fingers reached around her hip and flicked over her clitoris.
She jerked as her nerves sang beneath his touch. She stretched her arms in front of her head and pushed against the wall. Her hips hiked higher into the air, taking more of his length.
Jaxon let loose a growl and grasped her back. His pumps came in fast, sharp spasms. Her senses tingled and her folds grew wetter with every pulse. She buried her face in the pillow and cried out as another orgasm split through her. She screamed with pleasure each time he plunged into her.
Her mind slowly flickered with awareness as he sank his weight onto her lower back, his thrusts coming rapidly.
“Oh, god. McKenna,” he wheezed. He collapsed on top of her and they tumbled onto the sheets, still joined. He shifted so his weight pressed into the mattress then cloaked her waist with his arm. His kisses rained over her shoulder blades and neck while his hands stroked her back.
In a few short minutes she fell asleep to the constant rise and fall of his chest against her spine and his breath on her neck.