Chapter Nineteen
Meredith lifted her mouth to his.
Wade dipped his head to meet her halfway. His thumb continued a path from the scar on her chin to her bottom lip, which trembled from the contact.
“Meredith,” he said softly.
“Everyone in my family called me Meri for short, so it’s technically not wrong to—”
He cut off her words. She accepted the kiss eagerly, desperate to end the conversation. She couldn’t talk about Tripp, or her future plans, or her family anymore. She could do this. She wanted to do this.
He didn’t bother with the slow buildup or aching tenderness he’d shown before.
He dove right in, plundering her mouth in hot, hungry strokes.
She threaded her fingers in his thick, damp hair and plastered herself against him.
Their tongues met and tangled. The afternoon’s encounter flashed through her mind in warm pulses.
She became instantly aroused, her body responding as if they’d been lovers forever.
Before she knew it, he was carrying her toward the bed.
She landed on the mattress with a soft gasp.
He settled between her legs, still devouring her mouth.
Her breasts flattened against the hard wall of his chest. She clutched at his hair in encouragement.
He thrust his lower body into the apex of her thighs, over and over again.
An urgency she’d never known before struck her. She yanked at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin. He broke the kiss, panting against her neck. Then he obliged her by pulling his shirt over her head.
Though she’d seen his chest many times before, she marveled at the sight.
Her fingertips skimmed the whorls of hair around his flat nipples, and the striated muscles along his rib cage.
His fingers curled into the waistband of her leggings.
With a swift tug, he stripped them away.
Either by design or by accident, her panties came off, as well.
Then she was bare below the waist, and he was bare above it.
They stared at each other for a long, hot moment.
His erection jutted at the fly of his jeans.
Meredith figured she might as well go for broke. She removed her T-shirt and bra, tossing both aside. He moistened his lips as he studied the length of her body. He seemed unable to decide which part of her to kiss first.
She helped him by bringing his mouth back down to hers.
With a low groan, he resumed kissing her, his hands exploring her bare bottom.
She squirmed with delight as her nipples abraded his warm, hard chest. His denim fly rubbed against the triangle between her legs, adding another hot layer of sensation.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he said gruffly, his lips trailing down her neck.
“Then take me.”
Grunting an assent, he moved his voracious mouth to her breasts. He sucked her nipples into tight points. Then he moved lower. Spreading her thighs with his hands, he examined her quivering flesh. She moaned at the memory of his actions this afternoon, his features taut as he pleasured himself.
God.
His hands traveled from her thighs to her hips. He paused at her waist with his thumbs pressed on either side of her belly button. He panted raggedly, his gaze searing every part of her. “You are exquisite.”
She flushed at the compliment, torn between pride and disbelief.
She’d grown stronger since she’d left Tripp, physically and mentally.
She wasn’t lush, but she was feminine. She had sinewy muscles and sleek curves.
Wade obviously liked what he saw. He seemed transfixed by her nudity.
Her skin was pale against his suntanned hands.
When she arched her spine, he nuzzled her exposed breasts.
“Your nipples drive me crazy,” he breathed.
She gripped his broad shoulders and smothered a moan. He sucked one of the tight buds, then the other, leaving them wet and pink.
“Please,” she said.
He pushed her thighs apart, which felt wicked.
She trembled with anticipation as he brushed kisses along her inner thigh.
The muscles inside her womb clenched with longing.
She wanted his tongue on her, licking and stroking.
When he reached his destination, bright sparks of pleasure suffused her.
Throwing her head back, she surrendered to sensation.
Before she knew it, she was hurtling over the edge, sobbing his name.
She lay there in a boneless heap for several moments. Her body felt vibrant and alive and dewy with bliss.
“Not that I’m complaining, but this feels very one-sided,” she said.
His gaze dropped to the apex of her thighs. “I disagree. You’re doing your part beautifully.”
She remembered what he’d said this afternoon about being easy to please. She imagined that he liked being in control, as well. He would happily do all the work and play her body like an instrument.
Meredith wanted to be an equal partner, however.
She sat up and nudged his shoulder. When he leaned back, she kissed her way down the side of his neck, where a strong pulse beat.
His chest was the stuff of female fantasies, all hard muscles and golden skin.
She pressed kisses from his sternum to the dark trail on his stomach, worshipping him with her mouth.
His fly was half unbuttoned, his arousal rampant.
“Take off your pants,” she whispered.
He didn’t hesitate to oblige. Kicking off his jeans and boxer shorts, he bared himself completely.
She’d seen him this afternoon, gripping himself with a tight fist. His body was finely made, a picture of masculine perfection.
She couldn’t say how he matched up with other men, but he was thick and hard and pulsing.
When she curled one hand around him, her fingers didn’t quite meet.
He groaned when she touched her lips to him, and his hand cupped her head pleadingly.
Although he didn’t apply pressure, she knew what he wanted.
She’d done this before. She stroked her hand along his length, watching a pearly drop form at the tip.
Then she arranged herself over him on all fours, her back arched and her breasts swaying.
She could tell that the pose worked for him, because his gaze darkened with pure lust. Smiling, she bent her head to him and pressed her lips to his hard flesh.
He mussed her hair with his hands. She parted her lips around him and sucked hotly.
He actually jerked at the contact, as if he couldn’t stop his hips from bucking.
She’d been indifferent to this act in the past, performing it like a duty, but right now, with him, it was incredibly exciting.
His eyes were molten gold, his body shuddering with pleasure.
She was making him lose control, and she loved it.
She took him deeper, enjoying the slippery heat of him in her mouth.
He allowed her to continue for several moments, his brow furrowed with restraint. Then he growled a dirty oath and threaded his hand through her hair. “Stop.”
“Why?”
“I want to be inside you.”
She studied his magnificent arousal, and decided she wanted that, too.
She wanted all of that manly flesh all the ways she could have it.
He grabbed a condom from a box under his pillow.
She sat back on her heels and let him do the honors.
When he was ready to go, he gave her a come-hither look, as if inviting her to climb astride.
Meredith was eager to accommodate him. She liked her newfound sense of power, and the feel of his hard body underneath hers.
As she positioned herself over him, he held the base of his shaft with one hand.
She was beyond ready, swollen and slick with desire.
She sank down on his turgid length, inch by inch.
Her mouth made a soft moue of ecstasy. He sucked in a breath through his bared teeth.
“Christ,” he said. “That’s good.”
She reveled in the sensation with a moan of agreement.
It was clear that he enjoyed sex, from foreplay to finish, and there was nothing quite like the moment of penetration.
For her, it came with a slight pinch as she seated herself fully.
She hadn’t been with a man in over a year, and he was more man than she was used to.
He was thick at the base and she felt it, stretching her delicate folds.
He must have sensed her discomfort, because he didn’t push.
He held still and patient while her body adjusted to his size.
They paused together, hearts pounding in tandem.
She was so wet and pliant, it only took a moment.
Then she was moving on him, reveling in the sweet possession.
He watched her glide up and down, up and down.
His hands spanned her waist again. He buried his face in her breasts and let her have him.
She was aware of his mouth and hands all over her.
His touch spread goose bumps across her skin.
He alternated between pinching her nipples gently and stroking between her thighs, where their bodies were joined.
He petted and circled her clitoris until she was near orgasm, then backed off.
She made a whimpering sound, low in her throat.
She was so lost in pleasure, she could hardly think, let alone speak.
“Why are you torturing me?” she panted.
“Hmm?”
“Every time I get close, you stop touching me.”
He seemed amused by her accusation. “Sorry. My hand gets tired.”
She paused, her pulse thundering in her ears. It took her several seconds to realize he was joking. He was toying with her, playing his wicked games with her body. “You liar,” she said, smacking his arm. “You’re doing it on purpose.”