Chapter Thirteen
THE SPOT WHERE Ford had bumped his head throbbed lightly, and he couldn’t have cared less.
Nothing could drag him away from Natalie standing naked before him, on full display under the bright overhead bulb.
She was a fascinating combination of soft and hard, curve and plane, and finally his to touch.
Sliding a hand into the soft curls between her legs, he groaned at the feel of her soft, slick flesh.
Her grip tightened on his shoulder and she arched her back, settling her right shin on his thigh, opening herself to him.
For this woman to bare herself so readily, to make herself this vulnerable was a priceless gift.
Her soft sighs and breathy moans grew louder as he discovered the moves that made her buck or gasp, and the ones that made her melt.
He licked her gorgeous breasts and grazed a nipple with his teeth as he slowly slipped a finger inside her, his erection heavy and eager behind the zipper on his jeans.
“Ford.” She tugged him up lightly—giving him a half-second of panic that she wanted to stop—and pressed her lips to his, plunging them into an all-consuming kiss that shot fire through his veins. It went on and on and on… Minutes passed, maybe hours. If he had his way, it’d never end.
Except, he also had other ideas.
Slowly, he rolled onto his back, giving her time to adjust to the new position without putting weight on her bad shoulder.
“Come here.” He reluctantly withdrew from her core and licked his fingers, her tangy taste exploding on his tongue and nearly making him come in his pants. Probably gripping her hips a little too hard, he urged her toward his face. “Up here.”
Her brow scrunched. “Is your head okay?”
“This one is, I swear.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Who is this playful man? Honestly, I never knew you had it in you.”
He couldn’t be offended that she saw him as such a stick in the mud. He’d cultivated that persona, especially around her, but it was nice to let out his lighter side. Especially with her. For her. “I’d like to get it in you.”
“Oh, my God.” She huffed. “You’re so bad.”
Bouncing his eyebrows at her, he said, “You love it.” He tugged her a little closer, and she finally moved to straddle his face.
“I do.” Her expression sobered and her eyes closed as he used his thumbs to expose her most private flesh, all flushed and pretty, and just for him.
God, he couldn’t remember ever wanting a woman like this. He considered himself a gentleman, and he always tried to ensure his partners were satisfied, but this was different. Right now, nothing in the world meant more than Natalie’s pleasure.
Taking his time, he slowly, gently explored her, reveling in every sharp breath, every hum, every twitch, learning her most intimate secrets and hoarding them away like a dragon with a stash of gold.
“Ford,” Nat whispered, writhing above him, one hand locked onto the headboard.
He let loose then, moving faster, working her harder, stroking a finger deep inside her body to elicit a needy groan that made his dick painfully hard.
Her free hand softly gripped his hair, and he moaned into her slick skin, more turned on than he could ever remember. What was it about this woman that made him so wild? Made him want to spend the rest of his life right here, watching her unravel?
“Ford.” She gasped, locked up, and squeezed her eyes shut, her breath coming hard and fast, sexy little whimpers escaping her lips.
Jesus, had he ever seen anything more beautiful than Natalie Nygaard-Brown coming on his face?
She shuddered and then jerked her hips back, sadly out of reach, grinning as she looked down at him, her short hair shadowing her pretty face. “Oh, my God.”
His chest swelled. “Passable?”
Laughing, she released the headboard and gave him a light swat on the hip. “Don’t play ignorant.”
He shook his head. “No, ma’am.” Staring into her eyes, he wished he could capture this moment for eternity.
The wanton, satisfied look of her, the heat in her gaze, the way she draped herself above him, without a shred of self-consciousness that he could see.
“You want another round?” he asked, urging her hips closer.
Shaking her head, she shifted back and lowered herself to kiss him on the mouth. “I want you.” She reached down and stroked him firmly through his jeans.
His eyes nearly rolled back in his head, but he had the wherewithal to grab her wrist before he embarrassed himself. “Hold that thought.”
Setting her aside so he could stand nearly killed him, but—careful to avoid the crossbeam—he found a condom in his duffle bag and made sure it was in good shape.
Tossing it on the bed, he shucked his clothes as fast as possible while she positioned herself to watch, eyeing him with a speculative gleam that made him even hotter.
She laughed. “What’s your hurry?”
“Have you seen you?” Climbing over her, he kissed her hard and deep. “Got any preferences?”
Her blue eyes sparked with heat, the small burst of gold around her pupils glittering. “Just you. Inside me. Now.”
Yes, please. “What about your shoulder?” The last thing he wanted was to hurt her.
Grabbing the condom, she held it out to him. “Flat on my back, just like this, is perfect.”
Didn’t have to tell him twice. He quickly sheathed himself and lined up his body to rub himself against her clit.
She sucked in a breath at the contact, her face flushing. “Tease.”
He bit back a smile. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Maybe.” Her hips shifted and he slipped several inches inside her body.
Freezing in place while his brain nearly short-circuited, he waited to make sure her movement had been intentional. “You are,” he whispered, probably revealing too much as he continued. “Smart, brave, and sexy as fuck.”
She made an impatient little noise in her throat and moved to take him deeper, grabbing his buttocks with her good hand. “Then fuck me, Ford. Now.”
Who knew missionary position could be so freaking hot? Natalie could barely catch her breath as Ford began to move, stoking her pleasure with every thrust. His enticingly hard body worked gloriously above her, muscles bunching and gliding in a mesmerizing dance.
She stroked his steely buttocks, traced the tight muscles along his spine, her hand stuttering over the scar from his old knife wound. Her fault. Except he blamed himself.
What a pair they were.
Moving on before he realized where her thoughts had gone—and forcing her own focus back to the moment, to the delicious feel of him inside her—she lifted her hand to caress the eye-catching dent in his triceps. “You’re pretty damn hot yourself.”
Sweat slicked his back and dotted his forehead.
Lowering himself halfway, he gave her a too-short kiss and pressed up again, the display of strength making her belly tingle.
“Just hot?” He leaned back and slowed his thrusts, giving her a ridiculous show of rippling abs and bulging biceps while also making her feel amazing.
She licked her lips. “Yep.”
This time his kiss was harder. Not punishing or hurtful, just more urgent, more…desperate. He gently bit her lower lip and then sucked it into his mouth as he adjusted his angle to hit a spot inside her that made her back bow.
He gave her a knowing look. “You like that?”
She would’ve rolled her eyes, but she was in thrall, chasing the most intense pleasure she’d ever felt. “Do it again.” Her eyes closed as he obliged her. “Harder.”
Ford followed orders expertly, and soon their bodies were crashing together with abandon. Until he pulled back slightly, and she scrabbled to grab his hip, to keep him close. “I’m not going anywhere.” Instead, he slid his hand between them, caressing her clit. “Can you come for me, Nat?”
On command? The answer crashed through her like a storm surge, relentless and unstoppable.
Above her, Ford groaned and grunted as his hips slapped against hers a few more times, and then he collapsed, sliding toward her good side, because apparently even in the throes of amazing sex he never stopped being a protector.
Her heart tumbled a little at the gesture, and she forced herself not to panic. She didn’t do panic. Especially not over a man. Not even this one.
Closing her eyes against the shining light from the ceiling fixture, she catalogued the sound of his quick breaths, the scent of his skin, the feel of his body pressing her pleasantly into the springy mattress, the way her leaden limbs still hummed and fizzed.
She felt like a Fourth-of-July sparkler, all hot and bright and exuberant.
She could happily stay like this all night.
Ford lifted his weight and rolled to his side, but before she could complain, he crowded up against her with an arm slung across her hips. Within seconds, his muscles relaxed and his breath evened out.
She almost laughed. “Did I tucker you out?” she whispered to herself, not wanting to wake him.
The poor guy probably hadn’t managed a full night’s sleep in days. Maybe weeks. She lay next to him for several minutes, enjoying the feel of his heavy arm lashing her to the bed, the sated, floaty feeling in her limbs, the sense of calm that had briefly shut off the constant chatter in her mind.
But the swirling thoughts returned, and she had to pee, so she carefully slid from his grasp, grabbed her clothes, and tiptoed down the spiral staircase, awkwardly gripping the rail with her good hand, even though it was on the wrong side.
After relieving herself, she washed her face and brushed her teeth, still startled by her changed appearance in the mirror.
Her new, too-short hair was also annoying because she didn’t have a good way to pull it back.
No messy buns or ponytails in her near future.
She tried not to pout, and made a mental note to buy some barrettes or a head band next time they went shopping.