6. Carlee
Chapter 6
Carlee
Grayson slides his black Amex card back into his wallet and snatches up the box containing the dessert he didn’t eat. Wrapping his free hand around my elbow, he practically drags me toward the door. I bite my lip to hide my grin.
The poor guy has reached the end of his rope.
The unadulterated craving in his eyes as he watched me eat was palpable. It made me all hot and bothered. Nobody has ever looked at me like that before.
The moment we step outside, he turns me so I’m facing him. “Address now?”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t play cute with me, Carlee. I’ve held up my end of the bargain, now it’s your turn.”
“I’m still considering it,” I say, tapping my finger against my chin like I’m pondering. I’m playing with him of course.
His eyes light up with a challenge as he casually slides his free hand into the pocket of his jeans. “What do I need to do to sway you?”
“Well, for one thing, you’ll have to kiss me first. ”
“Is that so?” He gives me a cocky smirk, once again showcasing his captivating dimples.
I shrug, feigning indifference. Truth is, I love this back-and-forth banter we have going on. “I refuse to go home with a man who could quite possibly be the world’s worst kisser. What if you’re all tongue and no substance?” I tuck my hands behind me, rocking back on my feet.
His brows furrow. “I can assure you I have plenty of substance, sweetheart, and I have no doubt you’re going to love my tongue.” He speaks with such confidence I know he’ll be able to back those words up. “Once you’ve had a taste of me, you’ll be ruined for all the men that follow.”
“That’s a pretty big statement. You like talking yourself up, don’t you?” I tease.
He gives me a boastful wink. “Just stating facts, sweetheart.” This man has swagger in spades.
“What if your kisses are all sloppy.” I scrunch up my nose in disgust as I speak. “I’d hate to end up all wet, half-drowned in your saliva. Because that would be seriously gross.”
He chuckles, his eyes illuminating with amusement. “I have it on good authority I’m an excellent kisser, Miss Just-Carlee.” My gaze moves down to my shoes, as I bite back my smile. I look up at him through my lashes and find him grinning. Boy, do I want to take this man for a test drive. “But I can guarantee once I’m done with you, you will be wet.” He moves his face so close to mine, we’re sharing the same air. “ Soaked actually.”
He makes me feel giddy, like I’m high on dick, or him, possibly both—I feel like a lovesick teenager discovering the opposite sex for the first time. It irks me because I’m not usually that sappy kind of girl.
“Prove it,” I challenge, throwing his own words from earlier, back at him .
He growls, dropping the box in his hand onto the pavement below. Part of me wants to cry about the discarded dessert, but I’m far too desperate for this kiss to care. Snagging me around the waist, he tugs me forward until our bodies are flush.
“I’ve been dying to taste you all night,” he whispers against my mouth.
His lips gently brush mine, once, then twice. It’s like he’s testing the waters. He draws back slightly as our eyes lock. The look he gives me is so hot it has my panties disintegrating… poof gone .
I can feel his erection digging into my stomach, so I know he’s just as affected as I am. “Is that the best you’ve got?” I tease, pushing onto my toes and running my hands up his chest until they’re settled around his neck.
“Not even close,” he murmurs before crashing his lips against mine. This time he’s not so gentle, gobbling me up like a starved man and I’m his last meal. I love it. His kiss is soul-shattering… burning me up and scorching me from the inside out. He’s practically murdering my mouth; it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I feel tingles right down to the soles of my feet. I’ve been kissed a lot of different ways in my life, but I’ve never been devoured with such debauchery.
The flirting and the banter we shared over dinner has brought us to this moment. The perfect aphrodisiac. We attack each other with a depravity I’ve never known before.
I moan into his mouth as one of his hands fists in my hair, tugging it slightly. It’s hot . He tilts my head back to gain better access to my mouth, plunging his delicious tongue inside. His other arm skates down my back until he’s palming my ass. He groans and my toes curl in my shoes. He most definitely wasn’t talking himself up; this kiss is sizzling, scorching me from the inside out. He’s everything he claimed to be, and so much more.
We eventually part, gulping in much needed air. My head is spinning, but I don’t dare open my eyes and look at him. I can’t . If I do, I’m pretty sure I’ll burst into flames.
I need more .
I’m uncertain if he reads my mind or if he feels it too, but he’s suddenly walking me backward away from the illuminated shop front. He stops once we reach the side of the building. We may be in public, but we’re now shrouded by darkness and away from prying eyes.
He effortlessly lifts me until my feet dangle in the air. His beautiful face is now level with mine, and the heat I see in his hooded eyes burns with such ferocity I think I might self-combust.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he commands and I don’t hesitate to do as he asks. I don’t usually like being ordered around, but he’s rendered me powerless in this moment. I lock my ankles together and draw him closer. His hard length grinds into my core as his lips meet mine once more. He kisses the life out of me, seemingly as desperate for this as I am.
Cheese on a cracker this man .
I’m not sure how long our lips remain locked, but with every stroke of his tongue he’s making me greedy; I don’t want him to ever stop. I can feel the rough surface of the brick wall snagging on my top and digging into my flesh as he crushes my body with his, rolling his hips in a hypnotic rhythm. I already feel like I’m going to explode and he’s not even inside me yet. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I crave him in this moment.
“More,” I whimper against his mouth. “ Please .” It comes out like a plea; I’m not even sure what I’m asking for, but whatever it is I need it like I do my next breath.
Abruptly pulling out of the kiss he untangles my legs from around his waist and lowers me back to my feet. Disappointment floods through me. I never beg for anything, I’m stubborn like that. Did my desperation turn him off? I mean look at him, he’s flawless. He probably has women throwing themselves at him all the time. I open my mouth to protest, or maybe apologize, I’m not sure which, but before the words are spoken, he spins me around until I’m facing the wall.
Reaching for both my arms, he lifts them above my head, using one of his hands to hold them in place. “You’re driving me crazy,” he utters, sweeping my hair to the side and licking a path up my neck, tasting my skin. His other arm curls around my waist crushing my back to his front as he sucks my earlobe into his mouth, nibbling on the soft flesh. I tilt my head back and moan into the night as his hand slides down the front of my pants. For a moment I think he’s going to take me right here.
After growing up with a mother like mine, I’ve always shied away from exhibitionism, but this man makes all my reserves disappear. That should have the alarm bells going off in my head, but I’m too wrapped up in him to care. The anticipation of what’s about to come has all my senses on high alert.
Long, thick fingers delve down the front of my pants and inside my panties, skimming over my slit. He’s got beautiful hands; I was admiring them earlier tonight. I studied him with a ferocity. I’m always looking for the flaws in the men I date, it makes it easier for me to leave them behind when things start to get too serious, but I’m yet to find one thing I don’t like about Grayson Edwards… well apart from the fact he ate half of my pizza.
He’s almost too good to be true.
He bites down on my lobe with a growl when he feels how wet I am for him. “I want to taste you so badly,” he groans.
A finger dips between my folds, and I bite down on the inside of my cheek in an attempt to keep quiet as he circles my clit. He’s strumming me like a practiced musician; it feels so good, but it’s still not enough. Turning my head my lips seek his, and a shudder runs through me as he slides the first, quickly followed by a second digit inside me. Pushing them in as far as he can, stretching me in the most delicious way.
He uses his knee to kick my legs out further, widening my stance. His thumb moves to my clit as he crooks the two fingers inside me, delving even deeper.
“Fuck,” he hums, while my back arches and I cry out. He jerks his hips forward and his hard length digs into my lower back. “I’m beyond desperate to be inside you.”
His skillful hand works me over with precision and it only takes moments before I’m shattering. The orgasm that rocks me is so intense, I weep into his mouth as my inner muscles clench around him. He doesn’t stop until he’s drained every ounce of pleasure from my body. His hold on me tightens when my knees threaten to give out from underneath me.
Removing his hand from the front of my pants, he draws back, turning me to face him once again. The look he gives me has my already alarming heart rate quickening. Bringing his hand up to my mouth, his hooded eyes track his movements as he runs the tip of his fingers over my lips, coating them with my own arousal.
“I need your address now, sunshine,” he growls, using his tongue to follow the path his fingers just took. “I’m through playing games.”
My legs are locked around his waist, and my mouth is kissing a path along his strong jawline as he fumbles with my keys, trying to open the door to my apartment.
He drove us here at record speed, lecturing me the whole way on how unsafe it is for me to walk these streets on my own at night. He almost had a coronary when he found out how I’d gotten to the pizzeria. I just sat there reapplying my lipstick and refraining from rolling my eyes, because it was sweet that he cared. I’m going to need to be careful with this one.
His reprimanding reminded me a lot of Reece, but what he failed to realize is that I’ve been walking the streets on my own since I was a kid.
I lower myself to my feet once we enter my apartment, straightening my top and toeing off my shoes. I click the lock into place before turning to face Grayson.
“Would you like something to drink? I have beer or coffee?”
I grin when he gives me a stern look. “We both know I’m not here for a beverage, Carlee.”
His smile turns predatory as he goes about undoing the buttons on his shirt before whipping it off and flinging it across the room, like my own personal stripper. This man is off-the-charts hot. I could watch him undress daily and never get bored.
A strangled whimper permeates in the back of my throat as my eyes drink him in. His skin is golden and sun-kissed, and I want to lick him all over. My not-so-subtle gawking starts at his broad shoulders before moving to his toned chest, then down to his rippled abs, pausing when I reach the delicious V that disappears into the waistband of his low-riding jeans.
“Like what you see, baby?” he says, giving me a cocky smirk.
“Meh,” I reply, shrugging a shoulder. His ego certainly doesn’t need any more stroking.
Quickly closing the distance between us, I drop to my knees, curling my fingers into his belt loops, and dragging him closer. The sizable bulge straining behind the denim has me licking my lips. My mouth salivates in anticipation.
“Just meh huh?”
I roll my eyes.
He knows he’s all that and more; he doesn’t need to hear it from me. He informed me during my interrogation over dinner that he modeled back in college, that’s how he made the money to start up his own business with his douchey friend. You only have to take one look at him to know he’s had women fawning over him his entire life.
“Fine,” I say, popping the button on his jeans. “You’re a sexy bastard. Happy now?”
My eyes dart up to his as I reach for his zipper. He doesn’t answer, but his pleasing smile leaves me breathless.