Chapter 15
If Nash believed in signs from God, Addison standing in his living room watching their pets play was as big a sign as the neon sign above the Sip and Slurp. By the way she was biting her lip, he didn’t think she was seeing the same giant flashing arrow he was.
He set the litter box and cat food in the laundry room and filled a bowl of water for Lu before joining Addison in the other room.
“Is this Cade?” She pointed to a picture on the shelf.
Nash grinned. The boys in that picture were barely old enough to shave. “Yeah. That was right before we left for basic training.”
“Did you serve together?”
“No. We ended up in different squads.” He picked up Max and sat on the couch next to Lu.
He watched Addison move from item to item around his room. Her presence in his house sent shivers down his spine. Excitement? Nerves? What if she didn’t like his place?
“Oh, Davey was so cute as a baby.” She picked up the framed photograph.
Nash’s gut tightened. Davey. Yeah, he invited Addison, Nash’s coworker, to his game, but would he like them dating? Hell, would Addison? Because Nash sure saw this heading that way.
Yes, he’d kissed her, and she hadn’t decked him. If the night went well, he’d do it again, and more, but anything above a casual relationship and he’d need to factor his son into the equation.
That thought chilled the heat brewing in his pants.
She wrapped her arms around her waist and glanced around the room. Her eyes seemed vacant. Hollow. Her strength was waning, and Nash couldn’t stand seeing it. Addison had a shit-ton of self-confidence, but right now, the situation must be sinking in.
Nash put Max in his crate for the night and then crossed to the woman struggling to hold herself together. She’d deny it. He’d bet his torque wrench she would, but body language didn’t lie.
Stepping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her.
“It’s been a long day.” He inhaled her scent, and every muscle in his body relaxed. With everything in him, he wanted to whisk her up and carry her to his bed, but no. She’d had a tough day. They both had.
The tension that held her taut slipped from her shoulders. She settled into the security of his arms, and his frame curled around her.
“Maybe we should turn in.”
She glanced over her shoulder but kept her arms coiled around her core. “What’s the plan?”
“You can have Davey’s bed.”
Her expression softened. A spark lit her green gaze. “Any other options?”
Nash bit his inner cheek to keep a straight face. “The couch.”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to make me ask?”
“Ask what?”
She swatted his arm. “If I have to ask, never mind.” She pushed at his arms but didn’t step free when he released his hold.
“Hmm. Addison Benedict begging. That’s something I’d like to see.”
“I didn’t say anything about begging. I don’t beg. Ever.” Her steely glare was met with his playful smirk.
“We’ll see about that. Come on.” He threaded his fingers with hers and pulled her up the stairs. At the top, he gave her one more chance to change her mind.
Addison glanced into Davey’s room, then strolled across the hall and into Nash’s bedroom like she owned the place.
Damn it, if he didn’t like that. He leaned against the doorframe and watched as she surveyed his room.
She paused at the photographs on his dresser. With a light touch, she ran a fingertip over one of his Army buddies on a tank before moving to peek into his en-suite bathroom.
With her tour of his room complete, she dropped to the edge of the bed, bounced once, then cocked her head. “First, I want to thank you for your service.”
“I haven’t serviced you… yet.” At her scowling expression, he softened. “Thank you.”
“Secondly, are you going to come over here or not?” She patted the bed.
Addison was a woman who was used to getting what, or who, she wanted. Everyone knew it. Nash stayed planted in place. Waiting, he tamped down his desire to sprint across the room and divest her of her clothes. Instead, he smiled—the one that made women throw themselves at him.
True to her word, Addison didn’t budge. Instead, she raised a brow. Her look screamed, “game on.”
A kernel of excitement sprouted in Nash’s belly. Challenge accepted. He toed off a shoe, then the other, without moving from his position against the doorframe.
She dipped her chin and glanced at him through those long lashes.
Fuck. One look and he was ready to race to her. No, hold steady. If years of military training taught him anything, it was control. Patience. He clamped down on the need swirling in his gut.
She leaned back. With one finger, she slid the strap from her shoulder. The fabric clung to that toned bicep and gaped just enough to give Nash a peek at the outer curve of her breast.
Saliva pooled in his mouth.
Nash pulled off his socks, crossed his arms over his chest, and flexed his arm muscles. The competitive monster in his belly smiled when her eyes darkened. Her move.
The other strap slipped down. The edge of her lacy bra peeked out.
“So, it’s like that?” Nash fisted the back of his shirt and whipped it off in one smooth move. He heard her intake of breath a second before the article of clothing hit the floor.
Yes! He was getting to her. But before he could really revel in his small victory, she pulled her tank over her head and threw it at him.
He caught the scrap of fabric as it hit his face. Sweet Mother of Pearl. That woman was blessed with a glorious rack. He hadn’t even seen it bare yet, and he was tenting his shorts.
Steady, Steele. He unbuckled his belt, and with one fluid motion, pulled it from the loops.
Addison’s chest rose and fell quickly. The color on her chest darkened to a rosy color.
My point.
She squinted at him, full of challenge, then stood and shimmied those tiny shorts from her hips.
He popped the button on his shorts and slowly unzipped, halting just shy of the point of no return.
Her brow shot up. She stood in front of him in less material than his shop rags. Her eyes flashed with power and not a hint of self-consciousness. Slowly and seductively, she reached around to unclasp the bra.
“Stop.” Nash’s voice was calm and commanding, which surprised the shit out of him. All the blood had rushed to his pants, and he couldn’t be sure of anything else, not even his tone. Hell, he was just happy he hadn’t squeaked.
“What’s wrong?” She reached for the blanket to cover herself.
“No. I want to do that.”
She dropped her arms.
In two steps, Nash stood in front of her. Close up, she was even more beautiful, with a light dusting of freckles across her collarbone.
She grinned and touched his stomach, her light fingertips trailing over his skin. “I won.”
His abs flexed, craving more of her touch, but he bit back the urge to lean into the feeling. Instead, Nash bent down, inches from those lush lips. “You touched me first, sugar.”
“What?” she sputtered.
Indignation looked good on her. Then again, everything did. Or nothing at all. He focused on her eyes, but God bless peripheral vision.
“Fine. You won. This time. Next time, we define the rules first.” She closed the distance and crushed her lips to his. The kiss was hungry. Powerful. And all consuming.
Nash cradled her face in his hands and gently laid her back on the bed.
Long, smooth legs slid up his and locked him to her.
Hip to hip. Chest to amazing breasts. He slid a hand down the smooth skin of her neck, over the ball of her shoulder, to rest on the curve of her soft breast. He squeezed.
Perfect mounds of woman encased in lace.
But not for long. That barrier, no matter how thin, had to go.
With deft fingers, he unclasped the one piece of clothing hiding them from him and whisked it away.
Leaning back, he took in the view. “Fuck, you’re perfect.”
“So I’ve been told.” She grinned.
Cocky. He liked it. He laid a bruising kiss on her lips, then pulled back. Her eyes were dazed, and those beautiful lips puckered from more abuse. “They weren’t wrong. But I don’t want to hear anything another man told you. Especially when I have you in my arms.”
She dug her nails into his shoulders, urging him closer. When he didn’t budge, she nodded in agreement. “Okay.”
He kissed her again. This time, it was soft and anything but sweet.
Her scent enveloped him, urging him on like a man on a mission.
Nash trailed kisses down her breastbone to her rosy nipples.
Delicious. Salty. Creamy. Who knew a sassy woman like Addison would taste so sweet.
He couldn’t wait to sample the rest of her.
Addison dug her nails into those sinuous muscles that banded Nash’s very fine torso.
Cords of strength wrapped around the man’s flat stomach and up the “V” of his back.
Mmm, she wanted to run her tongue over every single one of those muscles.
And she would, but not yet. The man’s tongue was doing a little exploring itself by trailing down the side of her breast, under the weighty crease, and following a line from her belly button to the apex of her legs.
She settled back and enjoyed his exploration.
He crested the curve of her motherland, and she moaned and melted deeper into the mattress.
Her hips wiggled, urging him to move faster, but no, he took his own sweet time. “You’re enjoying this delicious torture, aren’t you?”
She wasn’t an impatient person by nature. She understood the reward of delayed gratification, but with Nash’s head between her thighs, her control was hanging by a hair.
“Oh!” A zing of pleasure lit her core. She clenched. His day-old growth rubbed against her thighs. The rough texture and her heightened nerves amped up every touch.
He backed off, and she whimpered.
She did not just make that sound… in front of Nash of all people? No. But then, he slid one finger inside, and she heard it again.
Fuck. This was a fun escape, nothing more. So why did Nash have to be so good at reading her body?
He whirled that finger before slipping in another. They stroked in just the right spot as those blue eyes, now as deep as the sea, smiled at her. “You taste better than my nana’s apple pie.”
Did she hear him correctly? “Did you just stop when I’m on the edge to compare me to food?”
“Not stop, just changing things up. Gotta keep you on your toes.” He blew across her clit, and her muscles contracted. “It’s a compliment. Nana’s pie is my favorite food.”
What was he saying? Addison lost track of the conversation when Nash’s thumb strummed across her hot button. He dipped his head and took her into his mouth. This time, he wasn’t playing.
“Holy shit!” She bucked off the bed. She’d had good sex before. Lots of times, but she’d never come this fast. This thoroughly. She rode that wave of pleasure to the edge of the next.
Nash stayed the course through her full release and back down. She twitched at his breath on her sensitive skin. “I. You. That was…”
“Yes?” Nash laid a gentle kiss to her belly as he moved up her body. His lips pressed to hers, and his tongue slipped inside.
“Damn. I do taste good.” Addison threaded her fingers through his hair and held on as if she’d slide right off the bed if she let go.
With a twist, she pushed Nash over and straddled him. “My turn.”
She kissed along his jaw, giving him a little nip or two on the way to his peaked nipple.
Nash closed his eyes, and a satisfied smile crossed his face.
She toyed with the light dusting of hair on his chest and outlined the tattoo on his left side.
The man was fit. No doubt about it. And the ink. She purred.
He giggled. “That tickles.”
“This?” She ran a fingertip over the scrolling font on his ribs.
He shook his head. “No. The feet.”
Addison paused. She wasn’t touching his feet.
A purr cut through the silence. Not Addison this time.
She turned. “Lucifer. Get out!”
Nash’s eyelids cracked open. “That’s a first. I never had a twofer with a cat before. Any animal, for that matter. Not really my thing.”
“Sorry about that.” She slipped from the bed and scooped up her cat. “This is a party of two. Time for you to go explore the house.” She set him down in the hall and closed the door.
Nash leaned on his elbow and watched her with laughing eyes.
She sucked in a breath and held it. Nash sprawled across the bed was one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen.
He patted the bed. “I believe you were in the middle of something.”
On an exhale, she grinned. “What kind of house guest would I be if I didn’t help you deal with that?” She gestured to the sizable bulge in his shorts.
“What do you have in mind?”
She sauntered over to him, hips swaying. “I have some thoughts on the matter.”
Addison gripped his shorts and yanked, pulling his briefs and shorts off in one swift move. Oh my. His package definitely delivered on size. She licked her lips.
He fisted his unit and gave it a stroke. Addison batted his hand away. “My turn.”
She wrapped her hand around his shaft and marveled at the size. She stroked, slow and steady, until a drop of precum appeared. She dipped her head and took him in. One long swallow and he was touching the back of her throat.
He flexed.
She sucked. And the dance of bodies began.
With each swirl of her tongue and suck of his cock, her own core heated. He wasn’t the only one ready to come apart. His hips flexed, his hands fisted in her hair, and she was ready to bring him over the edge when suddenly… strong hands gripped her shoulders and yanked her up.
“Stop!” Nash’s eyes were glazed. Sweat beaded on his brow. The man was on the edge.
So was she. “Let me finish.”
“No. Not that way.” He grabbed a condom from the bedside drawer and rolled it on. Ready, Nash maneuvered her to straddle him, and with firm hands, he guided her slick folds down on his rock-hard cock.
“Oooh.” Addison sighed at the way he filled her.
Every fiber of her being screamed to move, but Nash held her still.
Finally, after what felt like forever, his hips moved.
They fell into a rhythm as natural as sex itself.
Addison ran her fingers over his stomach, up his ribs, all the while feeling the build of her orgasm.
Yes. Yes. Yes. So close. She just needed to shift a little.
But before she could adjust her hips, Nash rolled her over and surged into her.
Oh, yeah. Right there. One. Two thrusts, and she soared over the crest of another orgasm, this one grander than the last.
Nash’s color deepened. His thrusts increased in speed. By the time she floated down from her high, he had followed her over.
They collapsed back. Nash lay beside her, one arm pulling her close. “I think we took care of the issue.”
She laughed. “You think?”
But as she looked at the sex-rumpled man beside her, she realized she had another issue. One that screwing him couldn’t solve. In fact, it revealed it.