Chapter Eighteen PAISLEY
Chapter Eighteen
PAISLEY
Russell stared down at me, his eyes darkening. With the light fading as dusk took hold, I felt caught in the beam of his gaze. I could hear the vroom of my pulse picking up speed. My breath was shallow as heat bloomed through me in a wash, sending goose bumps prickling over the surface of my skin.
An owl called in the distance again, a magpie chattering in return.
The two birds’ activity intersected at this between time of twilight.
The sky swirled with the sounds of nature around us—the slow rhythm of the tide going out, a quiet splash in the water, the subtle sound of a chilly gust of air, and another call from an owl.
I felt pulled, all of me leaning toward Russell.
I didn't know if I was physically leaning, but it felt as if I were on a cellular level.
There was a tug in my heart as he looked down at me.
I was used to feeling small because I was short.
However, I wasn't accustomed to the feeling Russell elicited—this desire to let myself tumble into his strength.
I was so used to wanting to catch up, to be fast, to be strong, to be quick, to prove myself like the little sister I was.
And then later, the tomboy turning into a woman who'd fallen in love with a career primarily dominated by men. I wanted to forget that urge just now.
And somehow, Russell gave me that permission. That should’ve given me pause and made me more sensible. Yet I'd already been colossally unsensible with him.
I didn't know who moved first, but we both moved toward each other, erasing the distance between us. I could hear the rush of blood in my ears as the echoing beat of my heart reverberated through my entire body. Heat spun in fiery pinwheels as little bonfires alighted throughout me.
His dark eyes searched mine, and the only relief I felt at this moment was seeing the need in his gaze mirroring mine. I couldn't hide it. Sweet hell, I wanted this man so badly. My need was a fist pounding on the door.
“Tell me something,” he murmured, his words barely breaking through. “Is it crazy for us to do this again?”
Well, now, that was a really sensible question, but I wasn't having it, not right now. I lifted my chin. “We already did the crazy thing. We can't undo it,” I returned, pointing out the obvious.
His low chuckle cinched the need tighter inside me. He lifted a hand, brushing a wayward lock of hair off my cheek. Hot shivers chased down my side as his fingers brushed the sensitive shell of my ear when he tucked the hair behind it.
His palm was warm as it slid along my neck, his thumb tracing a blazing path over my collarbone.
Who knew that was an erogenous zone? It was certainly news to me.
But oh, my god, his touch there was a ticklish pleasure that sent licks of fire racing over my skin.
Time sped up and slowed down when he dipped his head, his lips following the path of his thumb.
He dropped fiery kisses on my collarbone.
His teeth grazed along the sensitive skin where my shoulder met my neck, and I shivered against him, letting out a shameless moan.
He murmured something I couldn’t even register, and then his mouth was on mine.
We tumbled into a kiss—licks, nips, ragged breaths, and then diving back into each other.
I couldn't get enough of him as I plastered myself to him, an arm snaking around his waist with my fingers pressing into the corded muscles along his spine.
His palm slid in a path down my back, cupping my bottom and pulling me fast against his arousal.
I moaned into his mouth, and he broke free, gulping in air as he murmured something indecipherable.
I breathed in deep lungfuls of the crisp autumn air.
Another owl called, and this time, a raven answered in the rapidly falling darkness.
Suddenly, I heard the sounds of tires on gravel, and headlights illuminated us in an arc as a vehicle turned into the parking area.
I didn't even have enough sense to jump away. I didn't really care.
Russell appeared to have a modicum of control and stepped back, slightly turning and catching my hand in his. “Let's go.”
We walked the short distance to his truck. Some teenagers spilled out of the car that parked nearby, ignoring us completely as they proceeded to build a campfire on the beach.
Russell and I climbed into the truck. He made sure I was buckled up before backing out.
The drive back to the house was in complete silence.
As far as words were concerned, that was.
He reached across the console, his palm landing on my thigh, his touch a hot brand.
Meanwhile, my body was a cacophony of sensation as need rampaged through me restlessly.
By the time we got back to the house, I was tied in knots of lust. I could feel the slick arousal between my thighs, and my nipples were chafing against my bra.
We tumbled out together, and he caught my hand as we ran across the gravel and into the house.
The door slammed shut behind us, my back pressing against it instantly when he caged me in his arms and pinned me to the door, kissing me as if I was the very air he needed to breathe.
He took deep sips from my mouth, and I loved that he couldn't get enough.
Because I definitely couldn't get enough of him.
Our tongues dueled, and our kiss was messy and wild.
His hands were rough as one pushed my jacket out of the way and slid up under my shirt, his touch was warm against my cool skin.
He had my bra undone in a hot second and let out a groan into my mouth when he cupped a breast, pinching the nipple slightly.
My hips rocked into his arousal. We broke apart out of our sheer need for air.
His eyes were hot on mine. We stared at each other, our chests rising and falling in rapid breaths.
Then it was a race. He stepped away from the door, shoving my coat off my arms as I pushed at his.
My shirt came off first, then my bra fell somewhere between the entryway and the kitchen.
We didn't make it upstairs or downstairs. A few seconds or minutes later, his hand was reaching between my thighs, and he let out a growl. “Fuck, you're so wet.” His fingers delved into me.
The insides of my thighs were damp from my arousal.
We never even got our boots off. My jeans were shoved down just past my hips when he bent me over the counter.
The tight friction created from where they banded around my thighs had my pussy clenching at the sensation.
I was slippery wet and needy, so fucking needy.
I felt the velvety heat of his arousal brushing against my thigh and arched back. The granite counter was cool under my belly and breasts as his fingers teased into my folds. His lips were hot as he dropped a line of kisses down my spine. I trembled under his touch, shamelessly begging, “Please.”
Abruptly, he stopped, and I looked over my shoulder, almost angry. “What?” I barked out.
“I need to get a condom,” he replied, his voice sounding strangled.
I swallowed. “I'm on the pill.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, I'm sure. I take it every day. I promise I'm clean too. I don't get tons of action if you were wondering.” He gave me a long stare. “Do I need to be concerned about you?”
He shook his head swiftly. “No. I swear, I always use condoms.”
“Well, if you insist. I’ll wait.” I rested my elbows on the counter and took a deep breath.
He stayed quiet for a beat, and then said, “If you trust me, I trust you.”
I felt the thick crown of him pressing at my entrance, and I let out another shameless moan as I arched into him.
With the friction of my thighs being pressed together by my jeans, the thick slide of him filling me was intense.
One of his hands gripped my hip, and I felt his forehead press between my shoulder blades.
His speech was slurred when he said, “Oh, fuck. That feels good. Oh, my God.”
He seated himself more deeply, and I pushed back into him. He held still for a long moment. I was already teetering on the edge of my climax and felt my channel rippling around him.