Disgruntled (14 page)

***
Reva lifted a hand and stroked it down his cheek. The dayold stubble felt rough and sexy. She had to admit, it was
really a turn-on to know that he cared enough to notice
someone skulking around in her backyard. He was so close
she smelled the aftershave he’d donned that morning and
the very male scent that was just—him. She sucked in a deep
breath and leaned into him, placing a light kiss at the base of
his neck. She trailed more kisses up to his earlobe and took a
quick nip of skin.
“Probably not a good idea to start something like that right
now, Reva. We’re both a little stressed out at the moment.”
She closed her eyes and slid her lips along his skin until she
met his mouth. Her hand had dropped to his chest where
she felt his breathing quicken. “Yes, you’re right. Not a good
time.”
“Hey.” He framed her face with his hands. “There are a lot
of ways to relieve stress but this one is probably not in your
best interest.”
Reva huffed and stuck her fingers through his belt loops and
yanked him into her. She pulled him close enough to slide
legs
along
his
hips
and
lock
her
knees
to
make
him
somewhat captive. To ensure he didn’t get another boy
scoutish urge, she ran her fingers up his back and dug in.
Todd’s eyes popped up to meet hers. “I think I can decide
for myself what’s in my best interest. Question is, can you?”
She countered every move he tried to get back, to pull her
arms down and away. Reva kept her mouth moving over
him as he did. She hadn’t been with a man in
that
way in a
long time, and certainly not one that cared enough about her
state of mind to hold back. It was a novel and very, very sexy
trait.
“Reva, the couch.” He stood, his body hard against hers. His
hands running up and down her back made little circles and
curves tracing sexy hot little tattoos on her skin.
“Couch is good.” She pulled up on his shirt and started
dropping feather kisses on his chest. He groaned.
“I meant—” he said.
“Yeah, I know.” She pressed her breasts into him and felt
the warmth of his skin on hers. Apparently that started the
wall tumbling, because he rained kisses on her shoulder and
neck. Todd bolstered her hips and carried her to the couch.
Caution slowed him. He hesitated when his knees met the
fabric of the cushions and dropped her legs to the floor.
Reva sighed. Threading her fingers into his hair, she pressed
into him and gave her lips over to another kiss. She opened
her mouth and flicked her tongue against his, taunting him
to join her. The feel of her hips pressed into his very healthy
erection confirmed that he wasn’t completely immune. She
smiled, leveled her eyes on his, then turned him and pushed.
Todd lost his balance, fell backward into the cushions, and
she dropped onto him. “Couch it is,” she said.
Reva settled her smaller frame heavily into him and lowered
to
plant
more
kisses
on
Todd’s
chest,
which
had
conveniently become barer by the second. She tugged his
shirt over his head. He reached behind and yanked it the
remainder then dropped it. She liked that he didn’t force it,
that she initiated the contact. Having control was a turn on,
but his
passivity was
a problem. Had she misread the
attraction? She ground against him. No, his body hadn’t
been immune even if he kept a tight lid on it. He had fought
it enough in her mind. She wanted his passion,
needed
it. It
had been long enough and painful enough. This was her
time to blot out the past and find out what sex could be with
someone that cared about mutual enjoyment. Cared about
her. He did, didn’t he? Why else had he watched and noticed
the intruder?
It bothered her. She didn’t need or want him to care about
her. She had no reason to warrant it. She’d done nothing all
that great. He was a successful business owner and a father
of a terrific kid. She was what? The manager of a group of
technical staff. The woman who ran out on a man that
wanted to marry her?
Still, he looked at her like she was ice cream. She sat on top
of him, fully clothed—well, okay, in her pajamas. She was
covered. And his eyes said she was dessert. No one had
looked at her like that before. Like he wanted to lick and
close his eyes and revel in the taste.
“God, Reva. I don’t understand it.” His hand stroked up her
arm and settled on her stomach with his thumb rested in her
belly button. The feel started a tiny rolling, tumbling surge
that settled a bit lower than his hand.
“Understand what?”
“How could anyone look at this beautiful skin and your
gorgeous face and want to discolor it? You’re—so perfect.”
She sat still for a moment. No response came to mind.
“Perfect. That’s rich.” She snickered. “Just today, Brent told
me I was a control freak. That if I’d trust someone and stop
forcing my ways on him, he might surprise me.”
“Who’s Brent?”
“The guy I’ve told you about before. From work.”
“Well, he’s an idiot. You’re as far from a control freak as
possible. But if you feel like trying a little control on me right
now,” he raised an eyebrow and looked her up and down, “I
promise I won’t complain.”
Reva laughed. She slipped a hand to the waistband of his
pants and played with the tab on his zipper. She levered the
tab down and flipped the button open above it which bared
his torso. No underwear. That was interesting. Todd rolled
his eyes and groaned. He reached his hands to her waist and
pulled her down against him.
“Reva, you can force your ways on me all you want…but,
I’m losing clothes left and right. It seems a little unfair.”
“Unfair how?”
“To me. I’m half undressed and getting more so by the
minute. God, I want to see you. Every inch of you that’s
been pressed against me the last few minutes teasing me.”
He slowly worked the sides of her tank up until it was
gathered under her arms, teasing at the undersides of her
breasts.
“I suppose that is a little unfair, isn’t?” She grasped the
fabric, yanked it over her head and tossed it. She worried
that he’d notice the small roll at her waistline. This had
always bothered Nick.
How can you work out like you do and have
muscles that rival most men yet you can’t get rid of that little area there.
You need to rethink what you’re doing.
Rethink? Yes, that’s
exactly
what
she
had
done.
While
he
was
in
jail,
she
rethought her entire life and realized it needed to be lived
elsewhere.
“Even more perfect than I imagined. Look at you.” Todd’s
eyes were warm and admiring.
Than he’d imagined?
Without
clothing to impede, he feathered a hand up her torso and
cupped it lightly over the mound of her right breast. He
teased at the browned tip for a moment with fingers that
melted her. Reva wanted more. It had been way too long
and his hands felt so good on her skin.
“You’re
looking
at
me
like
your
favorite
dessert,”
she
whispered.
“Can’t help it.” He sat up, wrapped his arms around her and
buried his face in her shoulder. His lips tickled and nipped
along the skin then lowered to the softer area of her breasts.
When he flicked his tongue over the very tip of her nipple, it
elicited
a
groan
that
surprised
even
her.
Damn.
An
overwhelming desire to feel more of it, to have more of him,
urged her on. She tugged on the cloth at his hips, but her
weight held it in place. She delved a hand inside the open
zipper and Todd sucked in a sharp breath. His eyes seared
into hers for a second then rolled closed.
“Still. Not. Fair. Honey.” He dropped his head to her
shoulder and didn’t move while she stroked against him.
“Then show me how you want to even it up,” she whispered
in his ear.
That seemed to be the only encouragement required. Todd
pulled her hand free and eased to his back keeping his grasp
on her skin as he urged her onto his stomach. He slid a hand
down her small hip slipping it gently into the fabric. He
cupped the curve of her bottom and held for a moment
while his mouth searched for hers.
The kiss wasn’t gentle or quick. He took her mouth and
thrust his tongue inside, lunging for her response. She met
him and for a moment their mouths stayed locked as the
rhythm of his thrusting tongue tightened up the intensity.
Her skin tingled from his hands as they stroked their way on
her bottom, easing the fabric free. The tides had turned; and
she had become almost void of clothing, yet his damn pants
still tangled low around his hips.
She frowned.
“You trust me?” His words buzzed against her lips.
“I trust you.”
“Good.” He rolled her onto the floor and lowered above,
balancing his weight on his forearms. He shoved a leg
between her thighs to help keep his weight away; leaned
down to plant another succulent, wet kiss on her lips. His
pants dislodged and they were skin on skin, torso to torso.
When he pressed against her, suddenly Reva hit clarity. This
was it. They either forged forward or not.
Forward, definitely.
The thud of her heartbeat pounded in her
ears.
Wait.
“Do you have a condom?” she breathed. She felt his heart
against her chest as it mimicked hers. He sucked in air and
stilled.
“Crap. Not with me. Hadn’t really intended to be here,
doing—this. I was trying to chase away a peeping tom,
remember? I never dreamed I’d. Shit. This wasn’t even a
remote possibility at the time.” Todd rolled to his back and
left a hand lazily tracing circles on her stomach. His chest
heaved up and down.
“You could go get one.”
“I’m not leaving. He may still be out there.”
“Then I could go get it if you tell me where to look.”
“Yeah, there’s an option. No. Not happening.” He pulled his
hand away. Reva wanted to cry. Or scream.
No, don’t stop.
“Then we don’t?” she asked.
He leveled his eyes on her. “Guess not.”
“Hmmm.” She sat up and put a hand on his stomach. What
a fine looking man. And now, he was backing off, doing the
good guy routine again. Which
was
good. He was right. It
couldn’t go any farther. Not like this. “Okay. Get up and get
your clothes on,” she mumbled. He obliged.
Reva stood and pulled the tank over her head and shimmied
it down to her waist. She tugged the pajama shorts up.
Hands on her hips, she tapped her foot. She tapped. And
tapped some more. “Nope,” she said. “This isn’t going to
work. Come on.”
Reva tugged his hand and pulled Todd out the back door,
down the steps, and across the yard. “Boost me up.” She
stepped onto his knee, and waited for him to raise her over
the fence.
“So, we’re going to my house? You sure you want me lifting
you up? The last time we tried this, it didn’t end well.”
“There’s no tree involved so we should be good.”
Todd laughed. She wasn’t sure if his amusement was with
the
comment
or
her
desperation
to
finish
what
they’d
started. He bolstered her up and waited as Reva levered a leg
over the fence and dropped to his lawn. “I’m good,” she
whispered.
He boosted himself over and dropped to Reva’s side. Okay,
back on track now. Reva was certain if they didn’t get inside
and finish this, she’d melt in a puddle of hormones right on
the grass holding his hand. He tightened his grip on her
fingers and practically ran with her into the house. Neither
bothered to look back.
“For someone that’s so concerned about
my
safety, you
might take a few precautions yourself,” Reva noted the
unlocked door as she pushed through with his fingers doing
that sexy, swirly thing on her lower back.
Todd flung the door closed and flipped the lock, then
pressed Reva against it. “How’s that?” he asked with his lips
hard against hers. Reva answered by curving her legs to
pillow his thighs and lifting up as his hands slid to cup her
butt against him.
That’s when Todd’s foot hit the edge of the toy box that
Eric left by the door and he grimaced as pain shot up his leg.
“Holy Mother of...” He tried to hop but her weight caught
him off balance. Another flick of pain must have shot
through his shin, because he dropped a hand to rub it. He
tried to keep a good grasp on Reva with the other hand but
she slipped. Down his thighs. Right down onto the carpet.
Thud.
“Oh, man. I’m sorry. I—Eric’s toys—I didn’t mean that.”
Todd reached down to gather Reva up. She glanced at his
couch. Naw, too small. This’ll work. One hand was lodged
under her behind but she freed the other to reach up. And
twist into the shirt that stretched over his chest. She gave a
soft tug and he fell on top of her on the carpet.
“Oof. How bad did I squash you?” he huffed against her
forehead.
Reva couldn’t help but laugh. What a pair. Mister Klutz and
Miss Clunker. Todd rose and bumped his head against the
lamp by his chair. It crashed to the floor.
Reva clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle any further
outbursts. It wasn’t exactly the appropriate time for that.
“So, where are they?” she whispered when she had gained
control.
“Huh?”
“The condoms?”
“Oh.” He bear-crawled away and disappeared for a few
seconds then returned. “You sure about this?” He asked
upon return.
“Very.”
Damn, he’s not changing his mind now?
“Good. Then I just have one small request. Okay?” He
hesitated. “I know it’s more exciting here on the floor and
all, and God, you look sexy—I just think we’re likely to kill
each other if we don’t start out a little slower.”
He is changing his mind.
“Sure, I’m sorry. I’ll just—um.” She
stood and smoothed her top down. Awkward.
Just reach for
the door and go.
Reva stared at the doorknob.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Todd’s arms slipped firmly around her
waist and pulled her backward. “This way, girl. Not that.”
“You said slower,” Reva mumbled as she stepped back in a
moonwalk, stumbling over his feet as he pulled her along the
hallway.
“I didn’t say stop. If we’d kept going at the rate we were,
we’d probably need a trip to the hospital. Broken lamps,
falling on the floor, busted kneecap. Here we are.” Todd
turned her to face his room. The soft glow of a lamp left
long shadows across the dark brown sheets. He grinned.
“Call me old-fashioned but a bed sounds a lot better than
carpet-burn or broken glass in the ass.”