Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Sloane stood there, gaze locked on Nick’s, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs. A hint of pine radiated off his skin, tempered by the lingering scent of antibiotic cream she’d spread on his leg. His words hung in the air, daring her to deny what she’d been fighting for months.
That in the end, the only one stopping them from being together was her.
She reached up, palmed his cheek. “I…” She paused, still trying to find the right words when the truth slipped free. “If we cross this line, there’s no going back.”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “Good, because I can’t live with things the way they are.
Me, here. You…” He sighed. “Everyone keeps saying Oregon looks good on me, but the truth is, it’s missing a piece because I left the best part of me back in Virginia.
So, either tell me you don’t have feelings for me — that you’re not dying inside every second we’re apart — and I’ll let this go. ”
Sloane tilted her head to the side, heart thrashing, fire burning beneath her skin from the mere thought of where this was heading — where she’d wanted it to go for far too long. “Or…”
He dipped down, hovered his mouth a breath from hers. “Or shut up, and let me make love to you.”
Nick waited, his eyes searching hers, the weight of his statement adding to the electricity sparking between them. She stared up at him, aware there had never really been any other option but to fall — trust he’d catch her.
She took a breath, the hand on his cheek shaking as she slid her fingers back, tangling them in his hair. “Then, what are you waiting for?”
A sexy smile curved his lips before he stepped into her, pinning her between his chest and the wall as he slanted his mouth over hers, delved inside.
Sloane moaned, wrapped her other hand around his back, held him tight, all that heat beneath her flesh burning to life. If she’d thought the kiss on his bed the other night had been intense, this made it seem tame, all lips and tongues, his body hot and hard against hers.
He shifted, had her riding his thigh for a few moments before he scooped her up, headed for the bed.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, tried to bridge some of her weight in case his one leg buckled.
Not that Nick seemed concerned, one hand fisted in her hair, holding her head steady as he claimed her mouth.
They tumbled onto the bed still kissing, his weight crushing her into the mattress, spiking her need until she thought she’d go over before he’d even touched her.
He eased back, looked down at her, his brown hair teasing his eyes, all the shadows from the previous week fading into heat and need and something far more dangerous.
He shifted his weight onto one elbow, traced his thumb across her jaw with his other hand. “You really are stunning.”
She smiled up at him, brushing his hair back from his eyes. “And you’re downright gorgeous when you’re not bleeding all over the furniture. Which seems to be your default.”
“Not tonight.”
“Night’s not over.”
He laughed, the rich sound settling low in her belly. “God, I’ve missed you. Never knew how much you kept me sane simply by being in the same space. Just breathing.”
He drew a finger down her neck, across her chest, pausing to circle her breast. “Last chance to back out before I’m too far gone to hear anything other than how much you want me to make you scream.”
She swallowed, coughed, arching into his touch as he lowered his hand to her waist, fisted the hem.
She pushed onto her elbows, nipping at his lip before licking the small hurt.
“Whatever happened to shutting up and just loving me? Because I don’t want an out, Nick.
I want you, pounding me into this crappy mattress until neither of us can move. ”
Nick closed his eyes, a low rasp rumbling free before he tugged her against him. “Then I suggest you get comfortable because this could take the rest of the night.”
He kissed her hard, demanding, as if she’d unlocked a part of him he’d hidden away. Hadn’t trusted anyone enough to expose. She responded in kind, tearing off his shirt, working his belt and fly until she had the sides apart, a swath of white cotton visible beneath the denim.
Her sweater vanished a heartbeat later, Nick’s muscular form disappearing behind a flash of blue before he tossed the garment on the floor, moved both hands to her chest. A tug and a lift, and her sports bra flew over her head, landing somewhere behind him.
With a little shimmying on her end, he had her pants yanked over her hips, pooling at her feet before he pulled them free, leaving them in a heap.
She shivered, nothing but a flimsy scrap of fabric left between her and him. He thumbed the delicate edge, tracing her outline through the cotton before easing it over her hips, leaving her wearing nothing but the cool air and all his sizzling heat.
He moved between her thighs, easing her against him as he kissed her so damn softly, she thought her heart would pound out of her chest — try to join his.
He didn’t rush, as if he’d flicked a switch and decided they had nothing but time.
As if she wasn’t melting into a puddle of lust from the gentle press of his hand, or how he made playful swirls across her skin as he kissed his way down her neck, sipping her nipple into his mouth.
Her head fell back, her fingers landing in his hair as he tugged, then licked, switching sides until tears leaked out of her eyes, every nerve worn thin. He moved back to her neck, biting at the corded muscle, smiling against her skin when she cried out his name.
He chuckled, easing back enough to look her in the eyes. “God, you’re responsive. I could do this for days.”
“Try it, and I’ll shoot you, myself.” She palmed his chest, shoved. “My turn.”
“But I haven’t even gotten to the best part, yet.”
Sloane leveled her gaze at him. “Which is why it’s my turn, because I know once you touch me like that, neither of us will be able to stop, so…”
She shoved him, grinning when he nearly tumbled on his ass before getting his feet beneath him, staring at her as if he planned on ignoring her request and just jumping on top — licking her into oblivion.
She fisted his jeans, yanked them over his hips and down his legs.
It took some work to shuck his boots — avoid his hands as she peeled off the rest of his clothes— but worth it because…
Damn, the man was beyond striking. Thick rippling muscles, smooth, silky skin and between his legs… Nick Colter definitely didn’t disappoint.
Nick gathered her hair as she went to her knees, chest rising and falling as if he’d been chasing an asset, cheeks slashed red. He clenched his jaw as she smoothed her hands across his ribs, tracing the scattering of scars. “Just the price of admission, sweetheart. You’ve got your own set.”
She dropped a kiss on an obvious bullet wound to his side — one he’d gotten on that godforsaken mission five years ago when his undercover identity had been blown, and he’d had to fight his way out after weeks of torture. “Compared to yours…”
Images flashed in her head, but she shoved them aside. He’d survived, clawed his way back from the abyss. That’s all that mattered.
A firm tug on her hair had her gazing up at him. “Sloane…”
She smiled. This is how she wanted him. Edgy. Strung so tight any touch would drive him over. She leaned forward, blew a heated breath across the tip before pressing her mouth to his skin, slowly sinking down his length.
His fingers tightened around the strands as his head tipped back, the muscles in his abs straining — creating shadows along his torso. “Christ.”
She took that as her cue to move — to ease back, stopping just shy of him slipping free before descending again, stopping with him lodged deep.
He grunted, the guttural sound spurring her on.
She wrapped one hand around his length, holding him firm as she bobbed down, stopped, then retreated.
She paused for a moment, allowed him to catch his breath before dipping down again, increasing the pressure, taking him just a bit deeper.
He held on, thighs shaking, a heated, “Yes,” accompanying every pass.
She backed off when he started moving, arching a brow as she shook her head. “Are you trying to take over? Get yourself off?”
He hissed out a couple breaths, gaze boring into hers, his pulse jumping like a seismic needle beneath his skin. “I…”
She waited, gave him the opportunity to pull away — toss her back on the bed and pound into her. He stood there, back rigid, muscles strung tight before his shoulders drooped, and he closed his eyes.
His simple surrender squeezed her heart. Nick Colter rarely gave up control, and the fact he trusted her when he was at his most vulnerable, messed with her head. Made it hard to breathe without sharing his air.
She licked the length of him, grinning at his hushed curse. “I’ll get you there. Until then, enjoy the ride, baby.”
He huffed, inhaling sharply when she resumed her assault, faster this time.
He held off for all of a minute before his hips started pumping, his fist clenching and releasing in her hair.
She hummed, savoring the sheer strength of him, how he tasted like fire and spice.
Every pass drew a harsh rasp, as if she’d reached inside and dragged the sound from his chest.
The room dimmed, the storm rattling the windows, the constant tapping of the rain matching her rhythm. She let him set the pace, watched him slowly unravel until he reached the breaking point.
Everything tensed, thighs shaking, his fist so tight she could barely keep moving as he focused intently on her.
He pushed out a series of rough breaths, gaze looked on hers, and for a moment, she thought he’d stop — push her onto the bed and just dive inside.
Instead, he froze, watching her watch him. “Sloane, I can’t…”