Chapter 18
Axe
By the time I managed to unlock the door, my cock was painful enough I had to stop and adjust my crotch.
Right before sliding the chain lock into place. I dared anyone to interrupt us.
“At least we have a lovely view of a car repair shop parking lot.”
“I beg to differ,” I told her as I took a step closer. “The view is pristine, the mountains just over the canopy of trees.”
“Then we’ll need to snap a few pictures tomorrow morning for our wedding album collection. Too bad I forgot my wedding dress.” Kenzie rubbed the flats of her hands down her abdomen to her hips and all I could think about was fisting a handful of her hair, holding her while I fucked her.
“Trust me, darling. You look absolutely gorgeous just the way you are.”
“You do much better flattering a girl than you used to.”
“Are you saying my compliments were lame?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You wound me,” I told her.
“I assure you you’ll survive. You’re a big boy now. Quite the big boy.”
“Should I take that as a compliment?”
Her shrug was nonchalant, driving me even crazier than the words she’d issued. “That’s entirely up to you.”
She backed away, laughing softly in the same lilting voice that had permeated my eardrums. When she flicked on a light, we stood where we were, both fighting laughter.
“Well, if we do end up getting married, we’ll need to return for the real honeymoon.” She finally allowed herself to laugh, swaying back and forth as she covered her mouth.
The room itself apparently hadn’t been renovated since the facility had been built, deep within the nineteen-eighties.
With a garish turquoise bedspread and an attempt at creating a canopy with gauzy material draped over what had to be white plastic pipe, the only appealing aspect to the room was the mini-fridge and wet bar complete with glasses.
Even the lamp was early Miami Vice, the shade reminiscent of an early morning sunrise, blushing pink crossing the horizon.
She winced when I thudded the box of crackers onto the counter, giving me a playful eye while I twisted the cap on the bourbon. Being the gentlemen I was, I offered her a swig.
“We have glasses,” she murmured, but took the bottle into her hand.
“Yeah, so we do. Those are for later. I’d hurry up if I were you. I have other things on my mind. Urgent things.”
She tipped back a swig, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand afterwards. “You do, huh?”
“Oh, yeah.”
The banter from before had certainly whet my appetite. When a man was at the point of physical agony, it was time to get some relief.
And it was far past time with the beautiful woman.
She held out the bottle, still licking drops of the drink from her voluptuous lips. We’d touched before many times, but tonight, the ghosted touch of our skin forced a deep breath. There was more chemistry between us than I’d ever experienced before with a woman.
She could obviously tell, her smile slowly growing since I’d yet to pull the bottle to my mouth. With the tip of her index finger sliding back and forth, I was at the point of losing myself in the moment.
And in the woman.
She had no freaking idea what she did to me.
“A parachute save?” she purred. “Have you ever done that before?”
The fear I’d seen was gone, replaced by sinful curiosity. I snorted, taking a glug before I answered. “Hell, no, and I hope it never happens again.”
“You’re a hero. But you could have died becoming one.
” She was enjoying herself at my expense, turning in a full circle as she laughed again.
She wasn’t intoxicated, maybe a little tipsy, just enough to allow the inhibited side of her to slide away.
Granted, I’d say by the way she was shifting her hips back and forth in time to some silent music, she’d enjoyed more than one cocktail.
“I knew what I was doing.”
“Like you did with me?”
“Exactly like I did with you.”
Her eyes were full of mischief. Meanwhile, my cock was in utter agony. “What are you trying to prove, smokejumper man? That you’re the best at everything?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Maybe I’d prefer you alive.” Shrugging, she drove her finger into her mouth, pumping it several times.
Fuck. Just watching her was pushing my boundaries. She twirled further away from me and I continued taking one swig after another.
“Tell me something,” she pushed.
“Sure. Anything.”
“Why did you hook up with Mandy?” Her question stunned me.
“Did Wade tell you that?” I should have known. Damn it.
“Nope. He doesn’t talk to me about his personal life. Char did.” She stopped dancing long enough to level me with a look and grab the bottle.
Or maybe a dare not to lie.
“We went on two dates and no, I had no clue she was supposedly about to move in with Wade. If I’d known, do you think I would have ever touched her?”
“I have no idea because I don’t know you.”
I snatched the bottle from her hand, gulping several swigs.
“No matter what you’ve heard, I’m not that kind of man.
However, isn’t that why we’re here? To get to know each other?
” Using caution, I placed the bottle next to where she’d dropped her purse, twirling the glass on the dresser’s surface to draw her attention.
While I accomplished my task, she wasn’t ready to give in to her carnal needs just yet.
A series of firsts with her, including enjoying the pregame before the main event. She was certainly worth waiting for.
“Perhaps. But sex is only learning about someone’s desires and their imperfections.” She resumed dancing, tossing her long hair in front of her.
“Then I must know everything there is to learn about you since you have no imperfections.”
She seemed pleasantly surprised, stopping long enough that when I yanked my shirt off from the neck, she took several deep breaths. She’d seen me before as well, but perhaps the heat of the moment had masked the slow dance of foreplay.
Watching her chest rising and falling, I pitched the unwanted material aside, taking a single long stride in her direction. “Your turn.”
“My turn? What if I don’t?”
Her gall in teasing me added to the excitement. There was nothing quite like when women refused to follow clearly laid out rules. A dare issued. Soon, I’d collect on my winnings.
“Then I’ll have no recourse but to provide you with that punishment I mentioned.” Her eyes never left me as I unfastened my belt buckle, taking the time to do so.
As soon as I started to slide the thick strap through the belt loops, her breath hitched just before she skimmed her bottom lip with her teeth. A sexy little move. Did she not understand she was tempting a beast?
Once the belt was free, I dangled it in front of me for several seconds, enjoying the combination of amusement and desire in her eyes. Yet she wasn’t obeying me. With another smile crossing my face, I cracked the strap onto the floor.
Her laugh brought sunshine directly into the room, so full of life that I stopped moving altogether. Seeing her long curls swishing back and forth, I did nothing more than enjoy watching her for a few minutes.
“Kenzie.” The single word was low and throaty, finally capturing her attention. She finally offered me an olive branch, tugging her shirt from her jeans. After pulling it over her head and shoulders, she tossed it in my direction, which I caught.
The teasing continued, which did allow me to enjoy the striptease act.
“Continue,” I commanded, not bothering to look where I placed her blouse.
She turned to face the other direction, exaggerating the sway of her hips. Every move she made was hot, so much so beads of sweat had already formed along my hairline.
She tossed her head over her shoulder, and I thought for certain she was preparing to unclasp her bra. No such thing. When she turned around, she blew me a kiss and made her way toward the liquor bottle.
I allowed her the time to take a swallow while closing the distance between us. The air in the room was already insufferable, the back of my neck clammy while my dick was still pressing hard against my jeans.
This time, I was barely able to wait until she’d removed the bottle from her lips, yanking it away.
I struggled to find a spot to place it, both our hands needed to keep the liquor from spilling onto the cheap-ass thin carpet.
This is where I showed my lack of interest in romance, wrapping both arms around her waist and dragging her against me.
“What do you want, big boy?” she dared ask while tossing her arms over my shoulders.
“Easy answer, Palomino Girl. Everything.”
What little gentleness I’d had was gone, tossed aside as I dropped my head and captured her mouth. I threaded my fingers through her long strands of hair, winding several around them before fisting a handful.
I held her head in place while feasting on her mouth, savoring the way she felt in my arms. When she pushed me away gently, I heard her breath catch just before she dived in, thrusting her tongue inside my mouth.
The kiss was brutal, hard enough our teeth gnashed together as the desire continued to swell.
But I was at the point of no return, incapable of thinking clearly or stopping what we were doing.
I continued holding her still as I swept my tongue back and forth, finally using her curls as a leash.
With her head jerked back, I dragged my tongue from one side of her jaw to the other, taking my time to do so.
The urge to fuck her was strong, enough so I could easily take her on the floor or against the wall. Ignoring rules of decency. Shoving aside any concept of comfort. But she deserved more. Shitty motel room or not, we were making love on the goddamn bed tonight.
I nibbled on her chin while she kneaded my shoulders, her eyelids half closed. With her breathing rapid, I sensed she was already in rapture. Little did she know what was coming.