On a Gamble (10 page)

The smoldering fire in his gaze, and the heat he emanated, she didn’t stand a chance. Warm palms cradled her face, and proved to be her undoing. The scary truth is she wanted things to get out of hand. God help her, she wanted Alex, and couldn’t look or step away. She held her breath as her eyes continued to lock with his, as if she’d given him the match, he lit the still burning fire. Disturbing embers not forgotten. Her entire being, from head to toe, warmed as he slowly stroked her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. She bit her lower lip in anticipation, when his lips finally landed on hers.

Her eyelids drifted shut, as she rested her hands on his chest, before eagerly traveling up and around his neck. Cocking her head to greet his tongue, she relished the taste, the feel of Alex, the pressure of his mouth against hers. He groaned, moving his hands to her waist, then slid down to grasp her buttocks, pressing her tightly against him. Her insides came all unglued, liquefied, as blood pounded fiercely in her brain, like a raging river. Her senses bubbled over. Joy sung a happy tune in her veins.

Then reality engulfed her in its strong grip.

Charlie paused, breaking the kiss, realizing where this would lead. With force born of irritation, and self-directed anger for weakening, she placed her hands on his chest, and stepped back slightly. “Alex, please. Don’t tease me. No mind games.”

He lifted his gaze to rest on hers, and damn it, she could only see honesty shining through. Gently, he grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. The move alone had her heart banging against her chest.

Finally, he whispered, “No mind games.” Before he recaptured her mouth, more demanding this time, urgency, and hunger driving the kiss. Longing, flaming, pulsing scalding-hot need, raw with sexual energy, as though it had a life force of its own. He cradled the back of her head, devouring her lips, diving into her mouth with his expert tongue. This was it. Tonight he would make love to her, and she would let him. Every nerve ending screamed for this incredibly sexy, and gentle man.

Charlie lost her ability to speak for a moment. The bedroom seemed too far away, so she said the only thing she could think of. “Hayloft.” Her voice came out cracked, and wobbly.

She met pure desire in his eyes. His expression spoke volumes. He took her hand as they made their way to the hayloft.

Charlie blushed as he quirked a brow at the blankets neatly stacked in the corner. She chuckled, reading his unspoken thought. “Just a happy coincidence.”

Making quick work, she laid several blankets down, and jumped in the middle of her task. He stood behind her, hands on her hips, cradling her bottom into his groin.

Righting herself, she stood until her entire body pressed into his. He moved his hands from her hips, toward her waist, until they wrapped completely around her. The intimate contact, even with clothes on, stole her breath. Her shoulders bunched as he swiped her hair aside, nipping at her exposed neck, a heady combination of lips, teeth, and tongue. After weeks of no physical contact, the moisture already pooled between her thighs. Her chest tightened, and ached with pleasures yet to come.

Back still pressed against him, he unbuttoned her blouse achingly slow, chucking it aside. She bit the inside of her cheek as brisk night air hit heated flesh. Leaning down, he kissed one bare shoulder, then eased first one, then the other strap over. In one forceful tug, he pulled the bra down, and unhooked it, until her breasts sprang free. Nipples already puckered, ready, eager, and waiting to be touched.

Melting into his heat, she closed her eyes. A gasp escaped her lips, as he crossed his arm over her chest, and palmed one of her breasts, stroking the sensitive flesh back and forth. Her head lolled back, as his mouth struck a cord, suckling at her neck. Giving her several quick, love bites with his teeth, while his other arm wrapped around her waist. Bringing her closer, he flattened his palm against her belly, his hand moved sinfully lower. Low enough to slide into her still zippered jeans, dipping into her panties. Dear God, what he was doing to her . . .

“Damn, you’re so wet.” His voice a seductive whisper as his large hand cupped her sex.

She gritted her teeth, aching all over. Damned near bursting from the excess, intoxicating heat. Curious fingers continued their sensual exploration, delving into the moist flesh between her thighs. Her legs parted further, giving him greater access. But still, it was not enough, and pure agony to wait, to wonder what he would do next. Her body hummed like a V8 engine, thrumming, vibrating, and ready to go. The garage was open, the keys were in his hands, and she was more than ready for a ride.

“Charlie.” He paused, voice trembling, heavy with longing. “Open your eyes and look at me.”

Completely at ease in her nudity, she turned toward him. One look into those, beautiful brown eyes, small gold flecks winked back at her, circling the iris. She’d never noticed them before, so small you could miss them if you blinked. A woman could lose her sanity in those beautiful depths. Eagerly, she greeted his mouth, kissing him with everything she had, weaving her fingers through his hair.

Alex broke the kiss, lowering his head, he scattered open-mouth kisses along her collarbone, as though he couldn’t get enough. He then traveled to the tops of her breasts, paying homage to the flesh there. Her toes curled at the contact, his lips full, and delectable.

He paused, turning to lie on the blanket, and she quickly followed. The closeness of him, combined with his sheer size, mere words couldn’t describe the incredible feelings coursing through her. She reached up to brush a lock of hair out of his eyes, taking her time to caress the side of his face.

“Charlie, I think there’s something you should
—
”

“Just shut up and kiss me.” Honestly, she didn’t want to hear what he had to say. She only wanted him, wanted tonight, his passion, his kisses, all of him, everything.

She closed her eyes, and grasped his hair. The bulge in his jeans pressed into her belly, and it turned her on more, knowing he wanted her just as much. “Alex . . .” she whispered into the hollow of his neck.

He leaned over until her chest pressed up against his, taking her face within the palm of his hand, and she’d never felt so safe, so treasured. He looked at her with a sense of wonder that made her realize, she’d have no regrets come morning. She could never regret allowing Alex to make love to her.

“You’re so beautiful, Charlie.” He lowered his head and took her breast in his mouth, using his teeth and lips until her nipple puckered. Her chest shook with desire as he took the other in his hand, gently squeezing. Her body prickled with awareness, from her hair to the tips of her toes. Closing her eyes, allowing him total control, as he traveled from her breasts, the flat planes of her stomach, to just above the fastenings of her jeans.

Charlie opened her eyes. Watching as he slowly removed her mud-caked boots, tossing them carelessly to the side. He never once broke eye contact. He then proceeded to unbutton and unzip her jeans, letting them roll slowly off her body, until only cherry red silk underwear remained.

“Red, is my favorite color,” he murmured against the skin above her panties. Hooking either side with his thumbs, he removed them until there was nothing left to his imagination. Surprisingly, she wasn’t even the least bit cold. The warmth of the loft, blankets, and Alex’s body made her feel hotter than a runner on a hundred-degree day.

Then he surprised her, and got up. The very devil glimmered in his eyes. Shamelessly, she watched, feeling like the worst voyeur, but unable remove her stare.

This felt like a game. A game she surely would lose, because he took his sweet damned time. Making her impatient enough to want to get up, and rip his clothes off. He quickly removed his boots, but then began undressing slowly. His coat came next, followed by his shirt. The smooth muscles rippled and flexed with the movement, and he threw a naughty smirk her way as the shirt went flying across the loft. It was as if he knew the affect he had on her.

Sinful enough topless, she could only imagine him completely nude. His arms, like bronzed steel, powerful, large hands that knew how to please. Shoulders wide and well cut, defined like fine granite, and every muscular, sexy inch made her ache. He unzipped his jeans, and the tawny expanse of skin on his toned stomach, came into view. Her lips parted, as the happy trail from his navel continued down into his jeans. It was hypnotic, and made her unable to look anyplace else.
Whoa.

He wasn’t wearing underwear.

With that last thought, he dropped his jeans, and kicked them off to the side.

Charlie gasped, greeting his large cock, already hard, erect, and ready to play. Her heart clamored against her ribcage, because the man was seducing, enticing, and teasing, without having laid a hand on her. She licked the corner of her upper lip, unable to control her body’s response to him. Openly staring, she flicked her gaze up and down, and back again, greeting his eyes. Desire flared hot, open, and untamed. He smirked, raising a brow at her sensual perusal.

Her mouth went dry.

Not wasting any time, he covered her body with his, and another blanket until they were skin against skin. The feel of him, sent a delicious, potent ache through her veins. Lowering his hands, he cradled her face, smoothing over her skin, as if to worship, memorize, and take in.

“Are you sure about this?”

She almost laughed out loud, and realized she couldn’t stop now, even if she wanted to.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” With this, she grasped the back of his neck, and made a landing on those lips, nibbling ferociously, hungrily. And he responded moving his hand to grasp her hair, crushing a fistful, while his other hand moved to cup her breast, as his fingers grazed the nipple.

Charlie came completely unglued. Her toes curled into the blanket, nearly levitating off the ground, and they were just getting started, could only imagine things yet to come.

He moved his lips from her mouth, taking a brief pause at her neck, before visiting the valley between her breasts. Frustratingly, he’d avoided kissing her breasts altogether, and went down further still, flicking her navel with his tongue, he took a quick nip with his teeth. She arched her back, unsure how much longer she could take of this sexy torture.

What the hell is he doing to me besides making me crazy?

Going sinfully further yet, he nestled between her legs, and she spread her thighs for him. Her body knew what it needed. No hiding, no shame. He raised an eyebrow, gifting her with another naughty smirk, before his mouth made contact with her womanly folds.

Her hips bucked, nearly levitating off the ground.

“Alex—my—goodness.” The last two words came out as a whisper, for she could scarcely breathe.

Trying to hang on to the last thread of her senses, she white-knuckled the blanket. His experienced tongue drew slow, lazy circles on her clit until it throbbed. Juices flowing, her body ready to greet him. As if they’d been intimate this way before, he knew exactly how to please, and push her off the brink of her desire. Curious, and wanting to watch up close, she brought herself up on her elbows. She partially lowered the blanket, until their eyes met. Transfixed, she stared, as he controlled her body in more ways than one.

“Fucking amazing,” she rasped.

Dark cocoa colored eyes met hazel, his twice as intense as before, continuing to taste her, taking his time. Using both hands, he cradled her bottom, as his tongue went deeper.

Oh, wow, and good grief this was . . .

She couldn’t finish the thought. Her head lolled back, and she closed her eyes. Her body sagged back against the covers. Gritting her teeth against a new wave of desire, stronger and more potent than the last.

Alex chuckled against her tender, raw skin, turning her inside out, but still didn’t speak as he continued to pleasure her. Her climax quickly mounted, and she’d lost all power of speech. Her hips levitated, and she threw her head back in wild abandon. A grunt emanated from between her parted thighs as his tongue flicked her clit harder. Her most sensitive flesh on fire, toes curling into the softness of the hay and blankets beneath. So overcome by need, her entire being on fire.

“Oh. Fuck. Yes,” she groaned.

She’d never felt so free in bed with a man, never been sent to the edge of the moon and back, as her entire being went lax, limp. And what a deliciously sexy feeling. Her legs turned to Jell-O as she lowered her buttocks back onto the blanket.

This time, he didn’t pause. He didn’t stop. He crawled upward until they were face to face again.

One arm braced over either side of her face, he studied her intently. He stroked her cheek, moving a wisp of hair trapped against her lower lip. His eyes burned into hers, as if silently asking permission.

She nodded, and as if that was enough for him, he swiftly entered her. Filling her up to the hilt, his hard length felt indescribable inside her. Her breath hitched, because she’d never felt so good, so whole. The earth and moon surely tipped on its axis, as if Alex was born just for her, to be here with her. She closed her eyes, and before she realized it, a tear escaped, sliding down the side of her face.

His hand gently grasped her chin, turning her face toward him. “Open your eyes, Charlie.”

She did as he requested, and by then more moisture pooled, blurring her vision. Goodness she’d never cried during sex before. Being intimate with Alex overpowered her emotions, and she couldn’t describe it if she had to. All she knew was that Alex was amazing, and she not only connected to him physically, but in every way a woman could connect with a man. Felt him in her bones, in her very soul, and it felt wonderful beyond words.

Genuine concern shone in his gaze. “Are you okay?”

“Never been better.” Leaning up, she grasped the back of his neck. “Kiss me.”

He did as requested, only this time he ravished her mouth, using his lips, tongue, and teeth in a fresh burst of urgency. Strong hands cradled her bottom, bringing her closer. Going deeper, until her insides melted, as though she were going to pass out from the sheer pleasure overtaking her.

He took her face in his hands. “You feel incredible and I don’t want to stop. Don’t want this to end.”

Charlie kissed him lightly on his shoulder, as a goofy smile no doubt crept over her face. “Me neither.” She grasped his buttocks and squeezed.

“You drive me crazy, Charlie. Since the first day I saw you.”

She lowered her lashes. “Really?”

Instead of offering a response, his body spoke, as he tipped her chin up until their eyes met. Alex leaned his forehead against hers, wrapping his arms tightly around her. He eased his pace, enough to make her crazy. She leaned up to place soft, gentle kisses against his chest, and onto his strong shoulders. Reveling in how the muscles jumped at the contact. Smiling, she continued, but started using her teeth and biting him gently.