Bachelor’s Return (3 page)

“What’s the problem, Mel?”

It was the bouncer from the door, a big Hawaiian-looking guy in a black muscle shirt and jeans. Even though the dude was the same height as him, James knew the guy could easily pound him into the floor, but there was no way in hell he was letting Melissa stay.

“It’s fine, Cal. It’s my friend,” Melissa said in a rush.

James straightened and puffed out his chest when the bouncer looked him up and down. Not that it made a difference since the bouncer could easily lift him and throw him across the room, but he stood his ground. “She’s leaving now.”

The bouncer turned to Melissa. “That right?”

James narrowed his eyes at Melissa, daring her to oppose. He watched as she glanced at the line of drooling men staring back at her, and she tugged at the hem of her skirt. James wanted to take his shirt off and cover every inch of exposed skin. With an agitated sigh, Melissa shouted to the other two bartenders that she was leaving. Triumph surged through him as she moved to the end of the bar and lifted the wood panel to exit.

James walked down the length of the wooden counter and took her elbow in a firm grip. “Where’s your purse?”

“I didn’t bring one.”

“Keys?”

She lifted her hand to her chest and his gaze dropped to her breasts.
Oh, hell.
He lost all train of thought. He bit his cheek at the urge to press his mouth over her sweet flesh and seek the keys out with his teeth.

A nearby shout brought him back to reality and he pushed his perverse thoughts away. “What the hell are you doing here, of all places?”

“I knew you’d be like this.” She tugged out of his grasp, and he slid his arm around her waist before she could get away. She elbowed him in his stomach and he ignored her. No way was he going to let her loose in this sex-starved hellhole. “I work here. I told you. You’re lucky my shift is over.”

“Why? It’s not as if you don’t have a respectable job, brat.” James frowned.

His nickname for her didn’t sound right all of a sudden. Somehow, he couldn’t associate her with the short gangly girl with braces.

No. Melissa Johnson had turned into a sexpot.

“Where’s Liv?” she asked, looking around, then stopped when a couple carelessly bumped into her.

“At a booth. We’re leaving.” James pulled her to him and stifled a groan as her bottom rubbed against him. His cock hardened at the contact. An image of dragging Melissa into Alan’s car and hiking her short skirt to her waist sent another jolt of heat to his groin. He saw her long legs wrapped around his hips with him pushing into her, filling her. He was ready to burst.

Melissa gasped and looked at him over her shoulder.
Shit. She felt it.

But instead of moving away, she pressed closer and his breath caught.

He swallowed hard. “Melissa.”

She turned into his arms, laying her hands on his shoulders. He almost growled at the feel of her breasts against his chest. His hands itched to grab her bottom and grind his hardness into her. “This is wrong.”

She licked her lips. The overpowering urge to taste her brought him to lean down toward her before he could stop himself. She rubbed against him, her cheek grazing his as her breath tickled his ear. “Take me.”

His head spun. The sensation roared down his spine, fueling his lust. Desire fought against his conscience.
This is Melissa. She’s supposed to be like my little sister.
But there was no brotherly love anywhere. Just hot, feral need.

With a ragged groan, he pulled her along, looking for the exit.

Melissa stopped and led him in the opposite direction. “This way. We can go out the back.”

James followed her, keeping his arm around her waist as she led him toward the back exit. Male eyes paused to admire Melissa as they passed, and he almost growled out loud.
What the hell is wrong with me?

A bouncer, guarding the exit, nodded at Melissa, then assessed James before he held the door open for them. Melissa took his hand and led him through. His eyes trained on the bounce of her leather-clad bottom as they made it down a flight of stairs.

He stopped when they reached a landing.
This is Melissa. The brat.
“Mel--.”

She cut him off before he could say another word, pushing him against the wall and covering his mouth with hers. He groaned, unable to think, unable to focus on anything else but the feel of her in his arms.

Soft curves rocked against his frame as her tongue dueled with his. Her sweet minty taste sent heat coursing through his veins, overloading his brain. His hands curved around her butt, pulling her tight against him, and he hefted her up, her legs wrapped around his waist, then turned to the opposite wall and pressed into her. She felt amazing. Her breasts poked at him, pushing the swells over the tight leather.

Trailing his lips over her jaw, he sucked on the throbbing pulse below her ear. She whimpered and moved in closer. Her intense response set him on fire. He trailed his lips over her throat, then over the ripe swells of her breasts. He cupped them gently, lifting the magnificent globes out of her confining corset. Another thrill rocked down his spine. Looking up into her face, he saw the same molten desire mirrored in her eyes.

Growling, he latched onto her nipple, rolling the hard bead against his tongue. Melissa gasped, dragging her hands through his hair and gripping him tighter as he laved over the hard bud. Her legs squeezed him as he slid his hand across the smooth leather of her skirt and found soft silky skin. The contact singed his fingertips, and he reached under until he found her sex. Sliding a finger over the edge of the lace, he moved the material aside and found something better. Hotter.

Her breathing escalated, pushing her chest against his face as he slid his finger into her tight warmth. The wetness and heat enshrouding his touch sent him onto another plane of lust. He needed more, but hesitation stopped him.

He loosened his grip and drew away. A cry erupted from her lips as he allowed her to slide down the length of him, and he stifled a groan at the feel of her body pressed against his. He took a step back. They were moving too fast. “Melissa.”

“Don’t.” She shook her head and held a finger against his lips. “I want you.”

Her words sent another jolt to his groin. Concern with consequences leapt away from him as need knocked all thoughts out of his mind. He gathered her in his arms and covered her mouth again. Her fingers dug at his waist, slipping her palms under his shirt and he growled at her touch as she caressed his abs. Her fingernails reached up and grazed his nipples, and goose bumps rose on his skin.

A loud bang from above broke through their haze and his muddled brain cleared. He drew back and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

They fumbled their way down the rest of the stairs and went out the exit at the bottom of the stairwell. Instead of the parking lot, Melissa pulled him along the side of the building and they turned left down a block to a two-story apartment complex.

“Where is this?” he asked once they reached the top landing.

She reached into her corset and pulled out a gold key. “I live here.”

He frowned. This area of town wasn’t suitable for a woman to live on their own. “What happened to living at home?”

“It’s convenient for me.”

Melissa unlocked the door and swung it open before turning back to him. She held out a hand and he stared at it, hesitating. Could he do this? This was the brat.

“Don’t think about anything.”

His gaze shot upwards as she reached behind her. The sound of a zipper scratched against the ill-painted walls. Her leather corset dropped, baring her full breasts. His breath caught. With a low growl, he closed the distance between them, pulling her into his arms and kicking the door closed with his foot.

Melissa let out a laugh as she kissed him. He backed her into a stand under the mirror in the hallway. She held him off, then reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head before she allowed him to touch her again.

“Where’s the bedroom?” he asked against her lips. He lifted her up on the smooth surface and spanned his hands over her breasts, testing the weight in his palms before covering them. He dragged his lips across her shoulder, then down to her taut nipple. She gasped at the contact and he sucked harder.

“Down the hall, but I don’t think I can wait that long.” She reached for the zipper of his jeans. He groaned in relief as his cock sprang free.

Melissa pushed him back to look at him. Her eyes widened for a moment, and he thought he saw a flicker of fear before she wrapped her dainty hand around his girth.

Holy hell, I’m not going to last.
Pulling her to the edge of the table, he hiked her skirt up. Wetness seeped through the black lace of her thong. He needed to taste her. Dropping to his knees, he ran his hands over her knees and trailed his fingers across her silky skin. He heard her breath hitch, and he looked up to gauge her reaction. Her teeth worried her bottom lip, and she stared at him, eyes darkening. She couldn’t be any sexier.

Pressing his lips to the inside of her thigh, he worked his way up. His palms slid over her hips, and she lifted for him to pull off her underwear. He slid the scrap of lace down her long legs and threw it to the side. His attention focused on her glistening sex. He swallowed hard as he ran the pads of his fingers over her skin. Once he reached her center, his thumbs parted her drenched folds and he leaned in. Her arousal heightened his senses. His cock hardened even more as her scent filled his nostrils. His tongue darted out and met heat. The feel of her undid him. As he circled around the tight bundle of nerves, Melissa cried out, pulling at his hair so hard that he almost winced. He lapped at her, her sweetness lighting a torch in him. Working his tongue over the rim of her sex, he slid his finger in. She was wet and hot--for him.

“James…” She moaned. He shifted her legs over his shoulders and sucked harder. His finger slid into her heat, teasing her as her muscles tightened around him. He added another digit, loving her wetness. He couldn’t get enough of her. Her response fueled his desire.

Melissa stiffened for the barest second before her release struck full force. Her nails dug into his scalp as he finished her off. With one last shudder, she went limp.

Unable to wait any longer, he stood up and pulled her to the edge of the table. Rubbing the head of his shaft against her wet core, he pushed in a little. Her folds accepted him, but she was so tight. Melissa wrapped her arms around him, and his heart thudded against his chest. He stopped. “Wait. I need to find a condom.”

Melissa shook her head. “No. I want to feel you all the way.”

“Mel…”

She pushed against him. He growled. Her muscles tightened around him, shredding the last of his control, and he entered her in one hard thrust.

Her cry startled him as he realized what he’d done. Making sure not to move, he leaned back. “
You’re a virgin?
”

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and peered at him though wet lashes. She nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He moved to pull out, but she locked her legs around his waist, grabbing at his shoulders.

“Don’t. It’s going away.” Her slight grimace ate at his insides.

Gently lifting her off the table, he carried her down the hall and found her bedroom. She was lighter than he thought and his cock wasn’t getting any smaller. He laid her on the bed, following her down. “You should have told me.”

“Then you would have stopped.”

He glared at her, raising himself to look at her. “Damn straight. Do you know what we’re doing?”

She smiled. “You’re going to do what you wouldn’t allow all those other boys to do to me.”

He couldn’t help it. The corners of his mouth rose. He had stopped her from all those disastrous dates that led her to the park where everyone went to make out late at night. He’d shown up like a raging lunatic ready to pound whoever was ready to hurt her.

Recalling each time he’d dragged her home, he had enjoyed lecturing her on her carelessness. “So, what is this? Your attempt at getting back at me?”

She reached up and cupped his face. “No. It’s my attempt to take what you took from me.”

He didn’t understand, but didn’t question. Her tight clasp around him muddled his thoughts as if he’d drunk one too many beers.

Lifting her hips, she pulled him down and kissed him. His cock twitched and pressed into her. “This is bad,” he said.

“No, this is good,” she murmured, writhing under him.

“We’re going to hate ourselves tomorrow.”

“We’ll worry about it tomorrow.” She kissed him again as he lifted a little and sunk back in. Concern for his brat forced him to pause.

“Are you okay?” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever stopped for a woman and asked.

She nodded and closed her eyes as if savoring the feel of him. “More,” she demanded.

Growling, he deepened the strokes. He wanted to take his time, but there was no stopping now. He couldn’t. The feel of her was amazing--the softness under him, the tight grip of her muscles and the wetness. He sped up the tempo of his thrusts and watched her face. Her eyes shot open. The emotion burning in her gaze gripped him and he couldn’t help but pound into her harder. The tension in his balls quickened his movements, and he lifted her bottom to meet his thrusts. His control snapped when she tightened her legs around him. A possessive streak gripped him and he couldn’t imagine ever holding another woman.

“No turning back, Mel.”

He wasn’t sure if she heard. She moaned, twisting under him, hands clutching at his biceps. The need for release shot through him. Reaching a hand between them, he found her center and rubbed her clit. He waited for her to fall apart before he allowed himself to let go. She gripped him, milking him, taking more than he was ready to give. Surrender wasn’t a choice. His heart recognized his mate. Passion seized his whole body as he exploded and stars appeared. With one last thrust, he collapsed.

Head spinning, he couldn’t have moved even if he wanted to. Exhaustion kept him from opening his eyes but he forced himself to roll off her. He gathered her against him and allowed the heaviness in his mind to take over. He fell asleep with one thought: she belonged to him.