Chapter Eight
“A gain, Isla.” He thrust deeper now, harder, longer, pulling back each time until he was just barely inside her, making her clutch at him.
He was amazing, and the delicious torment and ecstasy, the feel of his hard body took her on a journey to somewhere she’d never gone before. It was almost too much, but at the same time, not enough.
“Sinjin…”
“I know.”
Moving so he was on his knees and resting back on his calves, he dragged her up with him, and she found herself straddling his lap. The angle had him touching a spot she hadn’t even known existed. Magic. She arched back and cried out, lost in the sensations, lost in him.
Sinjin slid his hand into her hair and stared deeply into her eyes. Her pulse leaped a second before his mouth came down on hers, hot and demanding, pretty much the epitome of the man. With one hand on her hip and the other cupping her head, he completely controlled their movements.
That probably should’ve been annoying.
No. Heck, no. It turned Isla on, big-time. Her breasts were crushed to his chest, her nipples hard and aching, sending jolts of pleasure to her core every time he moved.
With his teeth scraping along her throat and all his delicious muscles flexing as his hips rolled into hers, she was right back to that blissful edge again.
“Look at me, Isla.” His voice caressed her into complying. “Come with me.”
And as he moved inside her, she held his gaze, and a second, stronger orgasm burst through her. Gripping her hips, Sinjin thrust hard inside her and stilled, finding his own silent release.
He kissed her again, slow and long as they both came down from wherever the hell he’d taken her. Then he gentled the connection and touched his mouth to hers, moving it along her jaw to her forehead.
A second later, they collapsed together onto the mattress. Isla couldn’t feel her bones. They were mush.
“That was…my new favorite way to relieve stress,” she said, small tremors continuing to shake through her body.
His mouth curved with a hint of a smile as sprawled onto his back and pulled her against him.
“I mean, holy smokes, Sinjin,” she said, still trying to catch her breath.
He made a sort of grunting sound. “I wasn’t aiming for holy smokes. My goal was to make you feel good.”
“Well, you did that and more. I’m so glad Lyndsey left that box of condoms.” She tipped her head back to meet his gaze. “Did you have any with you?”
“No.” He lifted a hand to caress her arm. “Despite my attraction to you, I came over to help you with your dog. Not to…” His voice trailed off.
“Relieve my stress? Rock my world? Give me multiple orgasms?”
He chuckled. “Yes. That.”
Smiling, he kissed her again, then rolled off the bed and vanished into the hall, no doubt to use the bathroom. After she heard the bathroom door open and he hadn’t returned, Isla reached for the box of condoms and shook them.
Sinjin appeared in the doorway, clothes in his hand, and Loki at his feet. He was still semi-hard, and it was clear he was ready for more.
“You aren’t going yet, are you?” she asked, shaking the box again, bringing a slight smile to his lips. “There are still a few left.”
His gaze slid over her, and her body reacted as if his hands had caressed her. “Sounds like it,” he said in a thrillingly rough voice.
Loki left the doorway, jumped on the bed, then back down.
Isla sat up. “Go to your bed, Loki,” she said, and he shocked her by doing just that. She met Sinjin’s gaze. Since that actually worked, she thought she’d give it another try. “Come to my bed, Sinjin.”
Heat flashed in his eyes. He dropped his clothes on the floor as he walked until his knees bumped the mattress. “More world rocking?”
“Yes, please.”
With a slight smile curving his lips, he got on the bed and crawled up her body, dipping down to kiss and nip until she moaned. He entwined their fingers and lifted their joined hands to either side of her face, kissing her lightly. “You’re something else.”
“Right back at you,” she said. “I’m feeling some stress coming on. Got any ideas on how to relieve it?”
His soft chuckle disturbed the hair at her temple as he pressed his lips there. “I’ve got a few.”
***
T he next morning, Sinjin woke up alone. He glanced at the pillow next to him—indented but empty—and blew out a breath. Last night, Isla had rocked his world several times, and then just after dawn, she’d crept from the room and left…her own house.
He was usually the one who split well before the sun came up.
“Woof.”
He turned to find a pair of dark brown eyes staring at him from eye level.
“Don’t judge,” he told Loki, who promptly sat his butt down on the floor and blinked at him. “They all knew upfront that I wasn’t staying.”
Loki barked again.
Sinjin huffed out a breath. “Think I lost one too many brain cells last night. I’m talking to a dog.”
That garnered a lick on the chin and nose, thanks to the dog’s big-ass tongue.
“I know, tables are turned,” he mumbled. “My bed, and I have to lay in it.”
“Woof.”
He glanced down at the blue sheets covered in daisy print. “Okay, not my bed.”
Rolling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling and couldn’t stop memories of last night from crowding his mind.
Sinjin had known from the start they’d be great together. Their chemistry and the way awareness always prickled his spine before she walked into the room was off the charts crazy. Isla was special. She woke his body and much more. And her reactions to him were addicting. He’d loved watching her beautiful, expressive face. She was an open book, held nothing back. There was no subterfuge, no deceit, just pure reaction and enjoyment.
For both of them.
Since his teens, Sinjin had learned to keep every emotion in check, which was compounded by his military training. He was good with that, embraced that…until Isla. With just her presence, a touch, a kiss, a soft sigh as her body trembled beneath him, he couldn’t get enough of her or the way she made him feel. Alive. Worthy. God, it was addicting. She was addicting. Her taste, her moans, her scent, the way she tugged his hair when his mouth explored her thighs…
Damn. He muttered a curse as he glanced down at the tented sheet. He was hard again. Or was that still? Christ, he feared it could become a constant state now that he’d been with Isla. Tasted Isla.
“Woof.” Loki set a paw on his arm and groaned, grabbing his attention.
Sinjin concurred. “I know, pal. We’re both under her spell. That’s good for you. Not for me.”
He rolled out of bed and decided to shower at his place. The last thing he needed was to be surrounded by her scent. Muttering a curse, he strode to retrieve his clothes from inside her doorway where he’d dropped them last night, only to find them neatly folded on the couch with a note on top.
His gut tightened and apprehension squeezed his spine as he neared. Yeah, he enjoyed being with the woman last night. A lot. A hell of a lot. But he didn’t want her to get any ideas. Christ…had he been clear enough with her? He couldn’t exactly remember. He thought he was.
Holding his breath, he read the note.
Had an early class. Can you please take Loki out before you go? Thanks, Isla
His exhale echoed through the cottage as relief erased the stiffness from his neck. No endearments or demands. She had understood. Smiling, he reread the note.
No mention of their night.
His smile slowly faded as a vaguely familiar emotion whispered through him. It took a moment to recognize it was disappointment swirling in his gut.
Damn, he hadn’t felt that in years. Hell, a good decade or more.
What was his problem?
She’d wanted a night of stress relief and he’d delivered. His muddled brain remembered her mentioning it at some point between relief sessions . They both wanted one night and that’s exactly what they got.
So why wasn’t he grinning like a guy who’d gotten his rocks off three times, instead of brooding about her leaving him in bed? Because that was usually his role. Tables were turned.
What did it matter who left?
Didn’t change the fact it was an agreed upon one night—one hell of a great night—but one night, just the same.
“Need my head examined,” he grumbled, and Loki barked in agreement.
Shaking his head, Sinjin pulled his clothes on and took the dog outside.
A beautiful, sexy woman had her way with him, using him to relieve stress through releases they both enjoyed, then saved him from dealing with the awkward morning after speech, and he was acting butt hurt.
He was an idiot.
The situation with Isla was good. They were in a good place.
Loki finished his business and walked over to set his paw on Sinjin’s leg. “Woof.”
He glanced down at the dog, who thumped his tail on the ground. “The name of this county should be Hopeful, since even the rescues are optimistic.”
He led the dog back into Isla’s cottage, made sure he had fresh food and water, then locked up and returned to his place for a quick shower before heading to ESI.
The distance between his place and work was approximately a block. The three-story brick building that butted up against the backyards of the cottages on his side of the street was owned by Mac and the ESI headquarters. He walked past the front door and turned down the alley to enter through a large bay garage door that the guys usually had open during their morning sparring sessions.
Sinjin nodded to Carter and Dex, who were currently beating the shit out of each other on the mats occupying the center of the bay. SUVs were parked outside to make room for the morning workout. He walked to where Mac sat on a bench with Hunter in front of a large cage where two cockatoos roosted. Both birds rooted for their owners sparing together.
“Feeling lazy today?” Mac asked, nodding toward Sinjin’s jeans and ESI polo.
Both men he approached wore sweats but were shirtless, no doubt waiting for their turn on the mat.
When he nodded, Hunter’s brow raised along with the corners of his mouth. “Not like you.”
Truth be told, he’d had just enough energy to shower, dress, and drag his ass to work. A certain sexy neighbor had syphoned all his reserves. There wasn’t an ounce of pent-up energy or aggravation in him at the moment.
A smile tugged at his lips. It felt good.
“Pretty sure he’s already gotten a workout in, Mac,” Hunter said, a grin evident in his tone.
Sinjin could feel both men staring at him, but he chewed on a piece of jerky he’d removed from his pack and ignored them.
Even though he was prone to one-night stands, he never talked about them. But, yeah, he’d definitely gotten a great workout all last night.
“Well, ‘bout time you two stopped circling one another,” Mac said, but didn’t push for anything more.
He heard the footsteps coming up behind him and knew they belonged to Rylee, the only female employed at ESI. She was beautiful, smart, and tough, and lived with Dex. She was also Gabe’s kid sister.
“Hey, Sinjin,” she greeted, settling down next to him. “How are the sessions with Isla going?”
His pulse flickered at the mention of Isla and sessions , but he kept his expression neutral and didn’t move. “Good.”
“Is that what they’re calling it now?” Carter jabbed as he approached with a grinning Dex.
He raised a brow. “You two done bitch slapping each other already?”
Mac and Hunter chuckled.
“ Bitch slapping. Bitch slapping ,” Lex and Marilyn, the two cockatoos echoed one another behind them.
“Great. Thanks for teaching my bird a new curse,” Carter said, shaking his head.
“Lex was born with a potty mouth,” Dex said. “And what he didn’t know, he learned from Mel’s brother.”
Carter nodded. “Yeah, he has a fowl mouth.”
Everyone groaned at the lame joke, including Carter and Sinjin. That bird’s language was more colorful than a sailor’s.
Hunter and Mac walked toward the mat while Carter grabbed a water bottle near the cage and sat down on the bench. Dex pulled Rylee in for a kiss before taking the bottle of water she handed him.
“So, how are the sessions with Isla going?” Carter asked.
Rylee smirked. “Not letting that go, are you?”
“Nope.” The guy shrugged, his gaze still on Sinjin, apparently waiting for an answer.
So, he shrugged too. “Fine.”
Although, they were a hell of a lot better than fine last night.
“Just fine?” Carter asked.
“Yep.”
He could hold his own against any of them and their interrogation tactics.
Carter stared at him for a long moment. Sinjin wasn’t worried. No way his buddy could know that he had slept with Isla.
“So, Loki’s starting to listen to her?” Carter asked, wisely shifting the focus off Isla.
“Yes, he’s taking note of her tone and listening to commands much better.” He’d taken a few from her last night, too.
The sound of chatter alerted them to the approach of several people in the alley. He watched with the others as Stef, Mel, and Isla stepped through the open doorway.
His attention immediately snagged on her and the way her denim skirt clung to her hips, falling to mid-thigh, her white shirt hugged her waist and breasts, and the way the fringes on her sexy white sandals circled her slim ankles. But it was her expression that rooted him to the spot as she walked right to him.
“You look great,” he said before he could stop himself.
Her smile was soft, and warm, with a satisfied tilt of a woman who’d enjoyed several orgasms the night before. “You, too.”
“Hello, Isla. We were just talking about you,” Carter said, laughter in his tone.
Irritation made its presence known along Sinjin’s spine for the first time in over twenty-four hours.
“All good, I hope.” She continued to smile up at him.
“Yep.” Carter smirked. “About your sessions.”
Her grin widened. “My sessions were great.”
Shit.
“Can we have a few minutes?” she asked him.
“Sure, don’t mind us,” Carter said, grin still apparent in his tone.
Rylee snorted. “Come on, idiot. She meant alone with Sinjin.”
Dex and the smart woman tugged Carter to the other side of the garage, leaving him alone with Isla.
“Look, about last night,” he said, but then stopped, not exactly sure what to say.
Isla continued to stare at him, smiling, satisfaction still glowing in her eyes and coloring her face.
God, she was beautiful.
“Yeah? What about it?” she asked softly.
“Uh, do you need to talk about it?”
“No, not unless you do.”
Him?
He scratched his head and blinked. “Uh, no.”
She chuckled, reaching out to pat his chest. “If you need to talk about it, then we can.”
“I thought that was why you asked to speak with me alone.” Perplexity had never been his strong suit.
She chuckled. “I just wanted to give you a thanks for last night’s kiss.” She went up on tiptoe and kissed him long and thorough and deep.
When they broke apart, he was breathless and dizzy from the blood rushing to parts further south. But he wasn’t so oxygen starved for a red flag to flash in his head. Christ, he hoped she remembered he wasn’t the type to stick around.
“Isla—”
“Don’t worry, Sinjin,” she interjected, releasing him. “I’m not looking for a ring.” She lifted up to kiss his cheek. “I want stress relief,” she whispered, holding his gaze. “Light and fun. Remember?” She patted his chest. “Don’t sweat it. You can breathe.”
Shit. She was right, he wasn’t breathing. He inhaled and shook his head. “You’re something else.”
“That’s right. Don’t you forget it.” She grinned, and he found himself grinning back. “I think you liked those something elses’ last night.”
Hell, yeah.
She patted him again, looking playful and damn sexy. It was the short skirt with those fringy sandals. Nah, it was everything.
“I liked yours, too.” She winked.
“Care to elaborate?” he asked.
Laughing, she pulled his head down and kissed him again, blowing brain cells left and right when she touched her tongue to his. Just when he thought to hell with their audience and was about to pull her in close, she released him and practically skipped out the door, leaving him staring after her, wondering why he felt like he’d just been run over by a tank.
Because you got laid by a woman who wants nothing more than sex from you, and you want…damn...
He had no idea what he wanted.