Chapter Sixteen
At first, when Jeremy heard the knock on his door, he’d considered ignoring it.
But on the off chance it was Elle, he pushed up from his mattress, where he’d been laying on top of the covers in a pair of sweats, staring at his ceiling.
For the past half hour, he’d been willing sleep to invade his body so he didn’t see Owen’s lifeless gaze whenever he closed his damn eyes.
No luck, so far.
He headed down the hall wondering what it was about Elle that had motivated him to get off the bed. Tonight, was not a good night for them to get together. He was too disgusted with himself to be good company.
But it was a work night, so he was worrying for nothing. No way would she be knocking on his door. Elle had stuck to his rules without incident, sometimes too firmly, but that thought and the slight rippling through his chest were best left to dissect another day.
Another knock echoed through his house. Since it wasn’t a loud rap, he knew it didn’t belong to any of his buddies. Besides, they understood his need for solitude, so it had to be a female.
Probably his sister.
He’d noticed the concern in her eyes a second before he’d shifted his attention to Elle. Her gaze was also full of concern, along with something he didn’t recognize but made him feel good.
If she hadn’t been there with her friends, Jeremy knew he wouldn’t have left. In just those few minutes of sitting by him, she’d eased the tightness from his body, something the remarkable woman was good at.
Hell, she was good at a whole lot of things.
One more thing for him to dissect another day.
Exhaling, he walked through his living room, which opened to a vaulted entryway.
He was prepared to convince his sister he was fine and send her home.
Jenna was sweet, and Jeremy appreciated her concern, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
He also didn’t want to talk, and that would no doubt be her number-one priority.
With that in mind, he opened his door and shock instantly rocked his heart. Elle stood on his porch, looking beautiful and sexy, and a crazy thing happened. Air caught in his lungs.
“Hey,” she said, color washing into her face as she stared at his bare chest. “I…Oh, sorry, were you sleeping? I didn’t mean to wake you.”
He shook his head. “No. I wish.”
She frowned, and that concern from earlier trickled through her gaze. “I know today and tomorrow are work days for you, and we aren’t supposed to do get-togethers, but I felt I needed to be here.”
Indecision, joy, and dread, along with a lot of need rushed through Jeremy at once.
Incredibly, something cracked in his chest, allowing warmth to seep in.
She’d looked at him with hunger and happiness before.
This was different. This time, compassion, warmth, and concern filled her eyes.
And damn, that warmth seeping into his chest increased.
But he believed in being honest. “I appreciate it, Elle, I do. But like I said before, I wouldn’t be good company. I’m not up for talking.”
“Then we won’t talk,” she said, stepping closer, sending his pulse on a race it would never win. “You had a rough day. I want to make you feel better, and we’ve proven we are pretty good at that without talking.”
His lips twitched. “Agreed.”
She rocked his world and, God, he needed that right now. Needed her.
“It’s up to you,” she said, lifting a hand to lightly touch his chest.
And just like that, his world righted itself, his footing firmed, and warmth returned to replace the bone-chilling cold from his body, bringing with it a deep-seated need.
Oh, yeah, he needed this woman. Needed to lose himself inside her sweet warmth. Needed to hear her hitched breaths and long, drawn-out moans more than he needed to breathe.
Helpless against the pull of her, Jeremy crushed Elle close, capturing her lips as he tugged her into his house, kicking the door closed behind him. They staggered into the entryway, mouths fused, hands touching everywhere. He couldn’t get enough.
They were both breathing heavily when he pressed her against the wall near the small table, and they broke for air.
She removed her purse and sweater and set them on the table at her side.
Using his body, he trapped her against the wall again and was rewarded by the sound of her sucking in a breath—not born out of a need for air—but one full of desire.
With the need to hear it again, Jerermy lowered his head to kiss her jaw and the column of her neck, lingering on the sweet spot beneath her ear, because, yeah, that’s where she made the sound again and clutched his shoulders.
He was pretty sure that she was developing feelings for him, and even crazier than that was the fact he had feelings for her, too.
He wasn’t developing them, though. Hell, no.
They were there, front and center. He had no idea what to do with either.
Somewhere over the past few weeks, their well-laid plans had hit the fan.
She was strong, beautiful, smart, possessed a killer wit, and an amazing way of making him feel important and accepted.
Jeremy craved contact with her in a way he’d never experienced before.
But instead of feeling out of his league, he felt encouraged by the way her cheeks were flushed, her lips were parted, and her gorgeous eyes were heated, telling him that he affected her every bit as much as she affected him.
“Can’t think when you look at me like that,” she murmured, her gaze wild with need.
Even though they weren’t supposed to talk, he was all for this type of conversation. She was damn good for his ego.
A smile tugged at his lips. “Right back at you.”
Her fingers found their way into his hair, giving him a shiver before she pulled his mouth back down onto hers. She kissed and nipped and teased him with her tongue. He’d had no idea how much he needed this, needed her, until this very minute.
Still kissing her, he turned them around and walked her backward to his couch before breaking the kiss. She smiled a sexy, sinful smile as she deployed the turning maneuver, then pushed until he sat on the couch.
His heart hammered in his chest as he waited to see what she planned to do next. But when she dropped to her knees and reached for the top of his sweats, he grabbed her hands.
“Not now,” he said, his voice rough because he was at full tilt and had just turned down a blow job.
He loved the feel of her warm mouth surrounding him, but the last time she’d gone down on him, he couldn’t find his bones for almost an hour, and he had way too many plans for them tonight to waste a single minute.
Her wicked smile returned. “Then tell me what you want.”
If he hadn’t already been cocked and loaded, he sure as shit was now.
Jeremy cleared his throat and placed his hands behind his head. “You…naked.”
She arched a brow, but her gaze smoldered. “Okay.”
His heart rocked and mouth dried as she rose to her feet and reached beneath an arm to tug a zipper down her side.
Slowly. Too damn slow. The sound of each tooth clearing the zipper upped his already crazy pulse.
And as the material began to part, he stopped breathing altogether, anticipation ruling his pulse.
But when she held her arms straight out at her sides and the dress fell to her feet, he sucked in a breath.
She stood in front of him wearing nothing but skimpy white lace panties.
Jeremy sat up, dropping his arms as he dragged in air. “You weren’t wearing a bra?” he asked, his voice much rougher now, thinking about her walking around in Timbers with just the scrap of lace under her dress.
Her smile widened. “It’s built into the dress.”
And she was built for sex…with him. Only him. Her breasts were gorgeous and full, and her nipples were two delectable, tight buds beckoning for attention.
But first, the lace.
He shifted forward and ran his hands up her legs to hook his fingers under the material, and as he pulled the lace down her legs, he leaned in to kiss her belly, loving how her skin quivered at his touch.
“Step out of them,” he murmured, placing openmouthed kisses to her hip.
Elle set her hands on his shoulders and did as ordered. “And the shoes?”
“Leave them,” he muttered, leaning back to take her all in. “God, you’re beautiful, Elle.”
A blush rose into her face, and he mentally changed beautiful to breathtaking. Because she was. She stole his breath.
“Now what?” she asked, lifting her chin. “Where do you want me?”
Everywhere. Around him. On him. Just with him.
Done talking for now, he gently turned her around, and his heart took another beating at the sight of her sweet ass.
Jeremy grasped her hips and leaned forward again, this time kissing his way across a sweet cheek.
Then he helped her sit on his lap with her back to him.
But when she wiggled her ass, he saw stars, so he shifted her forward a few inches. He’d never last, otherwise.
“Just relax,” he said, moving her hair aside so he could nibble her ear. “Let me take care of you,” he murmured, flicking his tongue on her lobe.
Elle gasped. “But I’m supposed to take care of you.”
He grinned. “Oh, you are. Trust me.”
Then he brushed his mouth down the back of her neck, and she rewarded him with that sexy gasp of arousal.
“Grab your hair and hold it on top of your head,” he ordered. “And keep your hands there for as long as you can.”
She inhaled shakily and nodded. “Okay.”
Her breath was hitched, and the air around them heated and crackled. She was on the fast track to combustion, and he couldn’t wait to take her there.
With her hair out of the way, he put his mouth back on her neck while he slid his hands over her back, to her sides, before slipping around the front of her to stroke her ribs. He could feel her barely breathing, waiting for his next move. She needed the touch as much as he needed to touch her.
He was hard as a rock, tenting his sweatpants. But he didn’t care. Elle first, then he’d worry about him.
“So soft,” he murmured against her neck while he cupped her gorgeous breasts, brushing her nipples with his thumbs, wringing another gasp from her lips.
He did it again, then moved his hands to her legs, positioning them on either side of his, spreading her open.
“Jeremy…” she whispered, her hands still on her head, holding the position with a trusting sweetness that nearly did him in.
“I gotcha,” he said, reaching up to grasp her hands and move them down to her knees. “Keep them there.”
She nodded.
He caressed the inside of her legs, loving how her breathing turned shallow, before he cupped one of her gorgeous breasts again, teasing her tight peak while his other hand stayed south, sliding between her legs.
A needy noise left her lips, and she shifted her hips forward as if trying to meet his touch. But he wasn’t going to be rushed. He kissed a path over her shoulder while he stroked the spot where her thigh ended and her sweetness began.
“Jeremy…” she muttered and spread her legs further.
Needing no more encouragement, he slid his finger inside, and groaned when he found her deliciously wet.
He closed his eyes and forced his body back under control, all while he explored her sweetness.
When he reopened his eyes, he noted her white-knuckled grip on her knees while she began to rock her hips. Her eyes were closed too, her head falling back against his shoulder, and her breast bounced decadently in his other hand.
“I need…more,” she whispered without opening her eyes, but her hips upped their pace.
So did he as he slipped his finger deeper inside.
She moaned, straining against him. “Yeah...”
Strung tight, she panted, arms taut, and he could feel her trembling from the tension gripping her.
She was close.
Wanting to get her there, he added another finger and light pressure with his thumb, brushing her neck with his mouth and nose.
The combination set her off. Elle cried out as she shattered, and he didn’t stop his ministrations until she slowed her bucking.
He removed his fingers and set both hands on her hips while she recovered. Her heavy breathing and little tremors shaking through her were signs that he’d delivered the first part of her pleasure.
Because as always, he was far from done.
“Wow.” She turned her head to try to look at him. “You always know what I need.”
He smiled and kissed her cheek.
“So, can you tell what I need now?” she asked, twisting around to face him and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sensation of her breasts brushing his chest and her sweet heat centered over his rock-hard erection beneath his sweats.
After clearing his throat, Jeremy nodded. “I’ve got a pretty good idea.” He smiled. “A back rub?”
She chuckled. “Not now. I’ll give you another hint.” Then she undulated her hips.
Muttering under his breath, Jeremy cupped her ass and stood, then carried her down the hall to his bedroom, where he set her down on his bed.
She scooted back. “It’s cold in here.”
Temperatures always fluctuated in the spring. Tonight was a little below average, but he hadn’t bothered with the thermostat before. Hadn’t cared.
He did now.
“It won’t be for long,” he said, clicking the heat on.
“Of that, I have no doubt.”
He turned to find her smiling at him with her legs extended toward the ceiling, ankles crossed.
His entire body throbbed, and he nearly swallowed his tongue.
Memories of her in various yoga positions and the many fantasies and dreams that had followed flooded his mind at once.
He cleared his throat. Twice. “Hold that thought while I grab a condom.”