Chapter Eight #2
The question hit him like a ton of bricks.
A condom had been the last thing on his mind.
Usually, it was the first. No reaper had ever impregnated a human, but again, the rules had changed.
Plus, he’d used them since their inception.
It allowed his partners to relax. Remembering the contents of his wallet, he grabbed his jeans and retrieved the lone condom.
Maybe his father had known something he hadn’t.
Whatever the reason, he was damn glad to have it.
After rolling it on, he climbed onto the bed.
With the bulk of his weight supported on his forearms, he stretched over her.
The abrasions on his back protested, but the pain was muted by the pure pleasure of having Georgia’s breasts pillowed against his chest, his dick snuggled against her. Lowering his head, he kissed her.
It started out as a tentative exploring.
He traced the shape of her full lips, slipping inside when they parted.
His tongue slid across hers, and the sound she made had goose bumps rising on his skin.
He tasted her longing, her sweetness, hoarding the memory, aware there might never be another night.
His heart stuttered for a second before resuming its rapid pace.
The future didn’t exist. Not tonight. Tonight, there was only now.
Leaving her luscious mouth, he kissed the line of her jaw up to her ear, caught the lobe in his teeth, and tugged.
She groaned, her fingers digging into his biceps.
Pain and pleasure shot through him. Intent on mapping every mound, every curve, he worked his way to her collarbone, licking the length before going lower.
Her breasts drew him. Taking his time—it would be a crime to rush—he cupped the mounds and circled both nipples with his tongue.
He went back and forth until she was writhing beneath him, her nails leaving crescent-shaped imprints in his skin.
Then he sucked one into his mouth. She bucked, almost lifting him off her.
He wanted to linger, but he could no longer ignore the demands of his body.
His cock throbbed, the tip damp with desire.
He left a trail of hot kisses down her torso, lingering over the dark mark on her hip, before reaching the top of her sex.
Light hair, soft and downy, covered it. Backing off the bed, he knelt on the floor and pulled her to the edge.
Her eyes were closed, her hands fisted in the bedclothes, her skin slick with a layer of perspiration.
He nuzzled her inner thighs and draped her legs over his shoulders. The contusions on his back burned, but he didn’t care. She was wet, the scent of her arousal intoxicating, mouthwatering. He took his first taste and groaned.
“Oh God.” Her hips angled toward him, her body making its needs known.
He buried his face against her and plundered the treasure he’d been offered. He licked and sucked, teased and tormented until she was thrashing back and forth, crying out. She was close but not quite there. He pressed a finger into her core, his entire body humming when her heat surrounded him.
Heels thumping into his shoulders, she came.
He gritted his teeth and held on until she’d ridden out the orgasm.
The second she relaxed, he shoved her higher on the bed, knelt on the mattress, and positioned the head of his cock at her opening.
Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled into his eye.
He blinked to clear his vision. Every muscle in his body screamed for action, but he could go no further.
Her eyes fluttered open, their gazes met. When she opened her arms, he drove himself home in one hard thrust.
…
The intense pleasure bordered on pain but stopped just short.
Kieran was a big man, and he was in perfect proportion.
He’d also ruined her for other men. The way he’d stroked every inch of her body as though she was special had brought tears to Georgia’s eyes.
She’d blinked them back, knowing if one fell, he’d stop.
That wasn’t going to happen. She’d thrown away her common sense and gone with her heart.
Even knowing how it would end, she wasn’t sorry.
He was poised over her, every muscle flexed. “You okay?” Perspiration made his olive-toned skin glisten. His thick black hair was plastered to his head and neck. He could be a poster boy for an ancient god—a slightly battered one—grace the cover of any magazine. And tonight, he was all hers.
“I will be.” She hooked her legs around his thighs, moaning when he settled deeper inside her. The bruise on her hip protested the motion, but the discomfort was lost beneath a wave of pleasure. Turning her head, she nipped his thick bicep.
With a groan, he began to move, slowly at first, their bodies sliding together and coming almost apart before sliding together again. His thick shaft stimulated every nerve ending inside her. The first orgasm had been explosive. This was building to something even more spectacular.
Arms wrapped around his neck, she hung on as his thrusts grew shallow and fast. He shoved one hand under her behind and lifted, angling her pelvis so that every time he entered her, he stimulated her clit. Stars exploded behind her eyes.
Their moans and cries of pleasure filled the room.
Words were impossible. So was thinking. All she could do was hold on and let herself go.
She was lost in the heat of his body, the friction of his shaft, the scent of sex.
It was primal and beautiful and unlike anything she’d ever experienced. “Kieran,” she gasped.
His eyes seemed to glow, his expression almost feral as he drove them higher. “Kier, call me Kier.”
“Kier,” she groaned.
He threw his head back, exposing the strong column of his neck, and yelled his release. He ground his pelvis against her, sending her senses soaring. By the time she came back down to earth, he was sprawled beside her, claiming most of the bed with his feet hanging off the end.
She wanted to snuggle, but she wasn’t sure it was appropriate.
It wasn’t as though they were a couple. Should she get up?
Being naked in front of him was all well and good when they were both aroused.
Now that they’d made love, her insecurities flooded back, along with her aches and pains.
She nibbled on her bottom lip and considered her options.
He turned his head, their gazes meeting. “You’re thinking awfully hard.” Taking the decision away from her, he put his arm around her and carefully eased her against his chest.
“Does it hurt to have me leaning on you?” In the heat of the moment, she’d forgotten the road rash on his back and arms.
He kissed her temple. “I’m right where I want to be.”
With a contented sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder and placed her hand over his heart.
He lifted that hand, kissed her palm, and replaced it. Don’t read anything into it. It’s postcoital glow, nothing more. It would be so easy to start spinning dreams. That would be a mistake.
He nuzzled her hair. “Care to share what’s on your mind?”
She shook her head. “Probably best not to.”
He captured her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Regrets?”
“No. Not really. It’s just awkward. I’ve never done anything like this before. I don’t know the protocols.”
A rumble rose from his chest, and he began to shake. She smacked him lightly with her hand. “Don’t laugh at me. I’m serious.”
“I’m not laughing at you.”
“Could have fooled me,” she grumbled. His smile made her stomach flip-flop.
“You delight me. I find you endlessly refreshing and fascinating.”
“Why?”
Totally relaxed with his nudity, Kieran sat up in bed, forcing her to do the same.
He removed the condom, tied off the top, and tossed it into the wastebasket next to her nightstand.
While he was occupied, she tugged at the covers.
He yanked them from her hands. “Too late for that. I’ve already seen you naked. ”
“Yes, but we were having sex then, not talking.”
Hands around her waist, he lifted her as though she weighed nothing and sat her across his lap so she was facing him. His erection stirred between them. “Ignore that.”
“Are you out of your mind? That’s not exactly easy to miss.” Even partially erect, it was impressive.
He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “And you ask why I find you fascinating. You make me smile. You make me wish I was a better man.” His tone had turned serious.
“You are a good man.” She wondered what about his past made him think he wasn’t.
“You don’t really know me.” He trailed his fingers up and down her arms, momentarily distracting her. Talking while sitting naked on a man’s lap was not easy.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “But I like what I do know.”
“I admire the way you’ve worked to build the business of your dream.”
“You said you’re part owner of several restaurants. That takes work and dedication.” She’d worked at a restaurant while in baking school and had firsthand experience.
He shook his head. “No, that’s investing money. It’s not building something of my own from the ground up.”
“Then why haven’t you? You’re intelligent, you have skills, you’re not afraid of work, and you seem to have money to put into an enterprise.”
“Too much commitment. I like to be able to leave at a moment’s notice.”
She scrambled off the bed, grabbed her dress off the floor, and pulled it on. “The reminder wasn’t necessary.” Pride had her tilting her chin up and ignoring the pain in the region of her heart. “I’m not spinning dreams about you or us. I understand what tonight is.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and threw his legs over the side of the bed.
“I’m messing this up. I was honestly talking about business.
I’ve never found anywhere that felt like home.
I’ve wandered a lot. Investing allows me the freedom and money to do that.
” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to stand between his legs. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
That was inevitable, but that was on her, not him. He’d been blunt going into tonight. There was no point in getting upset and trying to change the rules partway through.
He brushed his mouth against hers, and her entire body softened. It wasn’t fair, the effect he had on her. “Do you want me to go?” he murmured.
She twined her arms around her neck and licked his bottom lip. “Do you want to go?”
With a hand on the back of her head, he deepened the kiss until she was breathless. “I only had the one condom.”
So, sex was out. Probably that was for the best. The pang in her chest said otherwise. “I have dessert.”
His smile was sinfully delicious. “I thought I’d already had that.”
She found herself smiling. There might be no future for them, but they genuinely liked and respected each other.
In retrospect, it was more than she’d had with her ex.
Determination rose from deep within. She would have it all.
Maybe not with Kieran, but with someone.
She deserved it and would settle for nothing less going forward.
She was done changing herself to fit into any man’s world, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the moment for what it was.
“I was talking about cupcakes and brownies.”
“I wasn’t.” He peeled the straps of her dress down. “We might not have condoms, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do other things.”
“Like eat dessert in bed?” Her tone was low, her words sexy and playful. Knowing their time was finite was somehow freeing. There were none of the worries or pitfalls of a “real” relationship.
He gave a low growl and finished stripping her naked. “Oh, I’m going to eat dessert. The cupcakes will have to wait until later.”