Lawless (19 page)

His words stunned her.  She'd known she'd
caught his eye, but she had no idea he experienced the attraction to the degree
she did.  He might not agree they should have their moment in time, but she
couldn't be sure she'd ever feel like this again, and she wasn't about to miss the
opportunity.

She slid next to him, snuggling a leg between
his and resting her head on his chest.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh…"  It was her turn to silence
him.  She took his face in her hands, finding his lips with her thumbs.  He
didn't move as she slid her mouth across his.  The warm, soft feel of him
against her was all the encouragement she needed.

She paused, rubbing a thumb across his bottom
lip, reveling in the moisture she'd left there.  Still, he didn't move.  Stubble
tickled her fingers as she traced them along his jaw.

She kissed him again, adding pressure to his
lips this time, sucking his bottom lip, and running her tongue along the crease
of his mouth.

Soft streams of moonlight returned as he
growled and rolled her over, once again pinning her down.  He held her wrists
on the pillow next to her head.  "We can't do this."

"Why?"  She wasn't going to take no
for an answer this time.

"It's unethical."

"The hell it is.  You're not working in an
official capacity.  You're doing a favor for a friend."  She tried to
wriggle free, but he was too strong.  "This is right, Milo.  Maybe not
tomorrow.  Maybe not ever again, but for tonight, it's meant to be."

"I'd be using you when you're vulnerable."

"Don't tell me that.  I might be in a
state of flux, but I'm far from broken.  We deserve to be happy.  Making love
with you will make me happy."  She tried to break loose again, but couldn't. 
"Are you saying you don't want me?"

He remained silent, and she could sense the war
raging inside him.

"Let me go, Milo."

He released her wrists, but still hovered above
her.

She ran her hands beneath his shirt and up his
sides, his skin warm and taut beneath her fingers.  She hadn't touched anything
quite so wonderful.  "I want you," she whispered.  "Please don't
deny me."

She slid her arms around his neck and tugged on
him until he surrendered.  His lips met hers in a frantic kiss, as though now
that he'd reconsidered, she'd somehow disappear.  His tongue tangled with hers as
he possessed her mouth, tasting, demanding.  His kisses threatened to steal her
soul.

"Milo," she whispered when he pulled
away, afraid that by breathing, she'd broken the spell.

"I can't do this.  It goes against
everything I've believed."

Ariana climbed on top of Milo, straddling his
waist.  "It goes against what you
thought
was right, but maybe
things aren't that way.  Maybe this
is
right."  She slipped his flannel
shirt from her shoulders and the tank top over her head.  Night air caressed
her, cooling her heated skin.

He watched, an enthralled look on his face as she
took his hand, cupping her breast.  She sighed as he rubbed a thumb across the
lace covering her nipple, sending an explosion of excited shivers through her. 
It didn't take much to break him.

He teased her bud until it strained against the
black lace of her bra.  "Oh," he said on a breath.  "Ariana." 
He lifted his other hand, claiming both breasts.  She leaned into his touch,
allowing him to take the full weight of them as he molded her to his hands.

He slipped his fingers around her back and
undid the clasp of her bra.  Her unrestrained breasts fell forward, heavy and
aching with desire.  He captured a nipple, sucking her inside his hot mouth,
making her muscles clench.  A second later a breathtaking firebomb of desire
erupted inside her.

She sucked in a ragged breath of fresh mountain
air, trying to regain some semblance of control.  She'd never known a man's
touch could be so powerful.

"Damn," he whispered.

Her brain spun in a million different
directions, focusing on sensation and ignoring any sensible thoughts.  The only
thing she knew was she needed more of him touching her and tasting her.

Her slack bra fell off with a shrug, and she
jerked at the button at her waist.  It popped open, and she unzipped her pants.

"Whoa, darlin'."  He stilled her
hands.  "There's no hurry.  If we're going to do this, I intend to enjoy
every second of it.  We've got a couple of hours before the sun comes up."

The thought of making love to Milo for hours
was more than she could have asked for.

"I just, I want you to touch me before I
wake up and realize this is a dream."

"Trust me.  This is so much better than a
dream."  He tugged her down with him, onto the sleeping bag.  "Get
under here with me.  It's cold out there."  He pulled the quilts up around
them and then rolled partially on her, covering her thighs with his leg.  "I
can't believe I let you talk me into this."

"Touch me, Milo."  The center of her
ached for him like a sinner at heaven's gate craving forgiveness.  This was nothing
like the innocent attraction and awkward first time she'd had with Danny.  The
intensity was a thousand times as strong.

He drew a finger across the top elastic of her
panties and slowly traced upward.  She shivered as he neared her breasts, but
instead of touching her there, he continued through the valley to her
collarbone where he followed along its lines.  "Is this good?"

"No, not even.  Don't tease me, Milo."

He trailed down, caressing the sensitive flesh
on the underside of her breast, and the ache rose to a new level.  "How
about this?"

"Better."  She shifted and closed her
eyes on a moan when he circled her nipple with his tongue.  The open air
reacted with her wet areola, tightening it, sending a ripple effect straight to
her core. 

He cupped her breast, massaging the mound upward
and forcing her nipple out.   He nipped her and another brilliant explosion
tore through her.

"Milo," she whispered.  "I need
you now."  She recognized the fact that she'd had very little experience
with men, and that she probably came across as a novice, but the building
sensation between her legs demanded a proper release.  "I can't wait."

Milo chuckled.  His warm lips covered hers,
stealing her attention away from other areas, but not for long.  Soon his hand
slipped along the edge of her panties again, this time dipping beneath the
silky fabric.  She gasped against his mouth as she arched to give him better
access.  "Yes."  He was so close.

"Ariana."  He gazed into her face,
but the moonlight behind him hid his expression.

Tiny sensations burst as he crossed her mound. 
She inhaled in anticipation as he slipped between her folds.

"Good God almighty.  You're so wet."

"I know," she whispered in a shivered
breath.  Her body acted of its own accord.  She whimpered as he drove a finger
inside, making her arch, and increasing her hunger for him.

What he'd found there must have changed his
mind about going slow.  He nearly ripped her panties and jeans from her body
and discarded his clothes just as quickly.  He fussed for a minute with a condom
before he pulled her against him, resting a naked thigh between hers.  His rock
hard penis pressed against her hip, tempting and taunting her.

"Oh, God, Ariana.  This is just…"  He
claimed her mouth in a possessive, dominating kiss.  She wrapped her arms
around his neck, holding him to her.  He was so close, and she wasn't going to
let him go.  Not until he gave her what she craved.

He cupped her, dipping another finger inside.  "Shit." 
He rolled on top of her, spreading her thighs with his knees.  "I can't
wait, either."

She smiled as he positioned his penis at her
apex and buried himself inside her.  She cried out as he filled her, and she
hurried to cover her mouth so she wouldn't wake the others.

"Damn, you're tight."

"Don't stop," she gasped as
pain-tainted pleasure rushed through her.

He thrust again, stretching her to accommodate
him.

She knew she would be taut.  She'd only ever
made love the one time.

With each stroke, her body softened and warmed. 
She loved the sensation of him filling her and then leaving a void, only to
fill it again.  The feel of him slipping into her was beyond compare.  He was
so large and hard, and it was as though each thrust claimed another piece of
her, leaving her in awe of this powerful act.

She angled her hips to give him greater access,
and she swore she could feel him hit rock bottom.  Another shiver of desire
raced through her at the thought.  "More," she whispered.

He pulled from her and rolled her over as
though she was nothing but a ragdoll.  He lifted her bottom until she was on
all fours.  Grasping her hips, he filled her again, hitting different muscles,
creating a mass of delicious sensations.  She gripped the sleeping bag as he
slammed into her, her breasts tingling as they rocked each time he drove inside.

When she could no longer contain the white,
frenzied heat licking at her, her muscles contracted and went slack.  She lost
her balance and fell forward into the pillow.  He rolled her again, penetrating
her over and over until her mind was a blurry haze of sensation.  She gasped
and clenched again.

Milo swore and went rigid, not moving for a few
long seconds, before he collapsed on top of her.

The quiet night settled around them again,
cooling her overheated skin.  It was several moments before anyone spoke.

"I don't know what to say, Ariana." 
His voice was hoarse, breathless.

"I do."  She gave him a long,
lingering kiss.  "Thank you, Milo.  I'll always treasure this."

"Shit," he whispered under his
breath.  He rolled, hauling her against him, cradling her with strong,
protective arms.

*        *        *

The harsh morning light hit Milo square in the
face, waking him from a beautiful slumber.  He opened his eyes and blinked, his
brain slow to process the devastating scene in front of him.  Ariana lay next
to him, wearing only his unbuttoned shirt, the lower half of his body having no
trouble responding to her luscious breasts that peeked from beneath the
flannel.  Her hair had scattered in a tumbled mess on her half of the pillow
they'd shared.  Both of their jeans and a pair of silky black panties sat
tangled in an accusing pile to the side of her.

He closed his eyes, wishing he was home in his
bed and this had all been a sweet fantasy.

When he opened them, she still lay there in all
her beautiful glory.  Already, he craved her touch and the feel of her body
giving in.

"Hell," he whispered.  He'd really
fucked up this time.  Did he have no moral scruples at all?  He'd had the best
damn night of his life, but he'd tossed his self-respect out the window when he'd
allowed the midnight magic and Ariana's sweet charms to convince him honor didn't
matter.  The reprehensible part was, he knew without a doubt, he'd turn around
and do it again.  His father would be ashamed of his behavior.

He found his shirt and boxers and slipped them
on.  With stealthy fingers, he slid the quilts up to cover her so he wouldn't be
tempted to take her again.  He reached across her and snatched his jeans,
leaving her clothes to fare it alone.  He maneuvered his feet into his pants
and wrestled until they were over his hips and buttoned.

The gentle sounds of nature pervaded the area,
giving Milo one last shot at peace before he woke Ariana and the fallout
began.  He visually caressed her face, the contours of her cheeks, the graceful
curve of her lips.  In a perfect world, he'd be able to lean over and kiss her,
make fiery love to her once again in the early morning light before anyone else
woke.  Unfortunately, this was far from a perfect world.

"Fuck."  He blew out a breath and
leaned close to her ear, catching a hint of her lilac perfume.  The provocative
scent instantly took him back to the previous night and the third time they'd
made love.  She'd curtained them with her long tresses while she'd ridden him
to paradise.  That image of her would forever be etched in his mind.

This was going to be a hell of a hard mess to
clean up.

"Ariana."  He gently shook her
shoulder.  "Wake up."

She lifted her lids, peering at him with her
unforgettable turquoise eyes and smiled.  "Good morning," she said in
a sleepy voice. 

"Morning," he replied more gruffly
than he should have.  He climbed out the side of the truck.  "I'm going to
gather our chairs and cooler while you get dressed, and then we'll head home."

He caught the glimpse of hurt and confusion in
her eyes before he turned away, but she had to recognize there would be
consequences for their careless behavior the night before.  Whether they wanted
it or not, they had no future together.

*        *       *

With careful precision, Ariana sighted in one
of the coffee cans and pulled the trigger.  The bullet ripped through the late
evening atmosphere and nailed the can.  Hitting her target didn't make her feel
any better.  A week had passed.  She and Milo had barely had a decent conversation. 
He'd provided her with everything she needed as far as food and a place to
sleep, but he'd retreated inside a shell so far she couldn't reach.  Days were
spent with him working in the yard or fishing with his friends.  She'd been
allowed to tag along, but there had been no personal moments alone.  If no one
else was around and there were no chores left to do, he'd immersed himself in
his precious book.

His message had been loud and clear.  He
regretted their night together and intended to stay as far away from her as
possible.

She couldn't bring herself to feel the same
way.  Being with him, making love to him had been the best thing she'd ever
done.