Stay (6 page)

“You’re injured,” she pointed out.

“That won’t stop me.” He stared at her until she felt like she was melting from the heat of his gaze. “Come here, Crystal.”

She shook her head slowly. “No.”

“Say yes and let’s see where this goes,” Hart offered. He dropped his voice a few octaves to a sexy growl. “Let me kiss you.”

Crystal put her hand on her hips. “You see, that’s the problem. Saying ‘let’s see where this goes’ makes me worry. Usually that means ‘let’s sweat up the sheets and then I’ll blow town.’”

“Listen, Crystal, I can’t see the future, none of us can, but I don’t want to be judged on the merits of your dead ex.” Hart stood and winced. “I can’t be the personification of his demon.”

“I can’t just jump into bed with you. I already feel something and shutting off my emotions is not a possibility,” Crystal said.

“Who says you have to?” Hart asked.

“I do because you’re…” She waved her hands around as if trying to pluck the words from the air. “Impulsive and reckless. You started a bar fight and, hell, destroyed my front office. You get your rocks off on the chase and that motorcycle of yours. My daughter and I are staying with friends because my motel got shot up and it’s a direct cause of you!”

“Tell me how you really feel.” Hart sat back down.

“I’m sorry…”

He held up his hand. “No need to apologize. I’m the reckless fuck who got your motel shot up. Let’s not blame the sheriff who actually lets the assholes take over your town.”

“You know what I mean,” Crystal said.

“I do, actually. You got accustomed to living in fear and here I come to wrinkle the plan,” Hart said. “You know us reckless types don’t know how to care for anyone.”

“You’re being an ass now,” Crystal pointed out.

“One more notch on the con side when it comes to me. What’s new?” Hart muttered. “Thanks for the breakfast. Now I’ll get back to my book and you can get back to being pious.”

He leaned back on the sofa in the same position she’d found him. He reached for a book on the floor and saw that it was a book of short stories by one of her favorite authors.

“You read Edgar Allan Poe?” Crystal asked incredulously.

Hart threw her a bored look. “As a matter of fact, I ready many things, including this and a few other classics by Arthur Conan Doyle. Big dumb soldier knows how to read and tie his own shoes. I can even balance my checkbook.”

“Bite me, Hart. You are just set on misdirecting everything I say,” Crystal snapped.

“It seems we all have the wrong ideas about each other then,” he replied and opened the book.

Crystal felt dismissed and stepped out of the room, making sure to slam the door. A childish move, she knew, but he made her mad. Back in the kitchen she poured herself another cup of coffee and sat at the counter. Crystal flipped through a magazine aimlessly and tried to keep occupied. Unable to go to the motel to even clean up because of the impending danger meant she was stuck where she was with nothing to do. She was losing her livelihood, but it was out of her hands. She had never felt as helpless as she did now. Her thoughts went back to Hart and she felt like a complete bitch for putting everything on his shoulders. He was trying to help, to protect, and he was right, everything in Honeywell had been broken long before he got there.

“Screw this,” she muttered and left the coffee and magazine where it was and went back the way she came.

Crystal burst into the room without even knocking and Hart looked up in surprise. Maybe he saw the look in her eyes or could feel her intent rolling off her. But he dropped the book as she moved toward him and pulled her against his chest as she fell to her knees by the sofa. She closed her eyes as their lips met and succumbed to his bruising kiss. Hart wasn’t about play it gentle and sweet and Crystal didn’t want him to. She wasn’t about to try to restrain the man he was. She’d spent too many years trying to do that with Liam and change the leopard’s spots. Maybe it was time to accept a person for who they were and let the dice fall where they may.

It would be imprinted in her soul forever—the sweet taste of his kiss and the smell of his aftershave as he pulled her close. She needed him and all the denying she had done did no good. Crystal never felt so complete as she did when being touched by Hart. He was rough around the edges and that made him even sexier. There was no taming him and she didn’t want to.

“You smell so good,” she said and gave a husky laugh as she sprawled across his body. “Here I am trying to woo you with my words.”

“I don’t mind in the least, please continue,” Hart drawled. “We men also like to know that we’re sexy.”

“I don’t know…it may go to your head,” Crystal replied.

For her remark she got a swat on her bottom and she gasped as he pulled her hips against him. She could feel the hardness of his cock, and the temptation of what was to come excited her.

“You’re so sexy, Hart Temple, my panties are wet,” she said in a teasing, breathy voice.

“I like it,” he growled and nipped her neck. He slipped his hand between her legs and rubbed her mound from the outside of her tights. “Tell me you like how that feels.”

“Oh, yes,” she moaned. “Let’s get naked. I want your hands on me.”

“I like the naughty girl under the innocent girl persona,” he said. “Let’s see how bad we can make you tonight.”

Her response was his name and a moan as he took her lips. His tongue delved into her mouth and she could taste the coffee he’d had from his breakfast. He sat up on the sofa again taking her with him and pulled her across his lap. Crystal undulated against his hardness until a soft growl escaped him. Their tongues tangled and the intensity grew as each minute passed. Crystal leaned back and stripped off the red top she was wearing.

“Let’s get this stuff off,” Hart encouraged.

There was a mad scramble between both of them to rid themselves of their clothes and then they were a tangle of arms and legs on the sofa once more. She gasped as her skin met his hot flesh and he filled his hands with the full globes of her breasts. Hart slipped his hand between them and rubbed her clit until her body shuddered. She was slick and hot when he sank his finger into her sex. She whimpered against his lips as heat washed over her body in waves.

“I want you inside me” she whispered against his lips urgently. Crystal reached between them and guided his rigid cock into her pussy.

Hart’s groan mingled with her cry when he was buried inside her. “I’m going to fuck you hard and fast until you come.”

She was already riding the waves toward release when he captured her face in his hands. Hart kissed her hard as he thrust upward and started a frantic rhythm. She opened her eyes to see him watching her face. His eyes took on the look of intensity as he filled her again and again. He rubbed her nipples against his fingers and she could feel calluses on his hands. He was a hard worker whether it was in the military or on fixing his bike.

The feel of his hands on her was causing such a pleasurable friction that when he gently bit her nipples she couldn’t help but moan his name. Hart ran his hands down her body and held on to her hips before increasing the pace and fucking her hard. She threw her head back and cried out as he amped up her arousal and sent her over the edge of reason into her first orgasm.

“Dear God, yes,” she moaned as she bit his shoulder.

“I’m not done with you yet.” He nipped her lips. “Not by far.”

She was a willing recipient to his arousal and being the object of his desire. She hadn’t felt this level of need in such a long time and greedily wanted more. Crystal sank into bliss once more as they sampled each other. Biting each other’s lips and neck, every expanse of skin they could reach, as if desire caused them to devour each other’s responses.

“I want your cock in my mouth,” she said feverishly.

Crystal pushed away from his body and slid down between his legs. She filled her mouth with his cock and could taste her own flavor on his skin. He groaned and she felt a primal surge of adrenaline flow through her. She became carnal as she sucked and loved him with her mouth. His body strained against her lips and he grabbed her hair to push himself deeper into her mouth. Crystal took every inch of him while she scraped the sensitive sack that held his testicles, feeling them tighten in her hands.

“My turn.” She barely heard the words before he was lifting her off her knees and placing her on the sofa where he just sat.

He buried his head between her legs and she cried out when she felt his hot mouth against her pussy.
Oh, sweet Jesus!
The thought flashed through
her mind when she felt his tongue penetrate her. With a primal growl, he roughly spread her legs wider and took more. Hart was ravenous as he sucked on her clit and used his fingers to spread the soft folds of her vulva. Crystal could hardly stand it yet she didn’t want him to stop. She moaned and each sound was punctuated with an urgent plea for more. He drove her beyond reason and all she wanted to feel was him inside her again, fucking her until they both found release. Crystal caught him off guard and pushed him back against the soft carpet. Straddling his body, she took him into her hot velvet sex.

“Jesus, Crystal, you’re so damn hot and tight.” His hands squeezed her firm ass as she began to ride him.

“Take me hard, and don’t stop,” she commanded urgently. “Make me feel everything.”

He thrust up and pulled her down hard and asked harshly, “Is this what you want, to be my dirty, naughty lover, to feel me fucking you hard like every dirty little fantasy that has ever passed through your dreams? Tell me that’s what you want, Crystal, tell me.”

“Yes, it’s what I want!” she cried out. Her body began to shake in pleasure.

“Open your eyes. I want to see you like everything I do to you,” Hart said. He grabbed her waist and flipped her under him. “Show me, baby.”

Crystal opened her eyes and was lost in his gaze. There was passion and need etched into his face as he continued to take her with savage intensity.

“You’re mine. Say it, baby,” he said.

“Yes, Hart, I’m yours,” she moaned.

Hart braced his hands in the carpet and pounded into her body, deeper with every thrust, pushing Crystal to a blinding orgasm. He fisted his hands in her hair and kissed her until they were one breath moving in unison. With his hands tangled in her hair, he lifted her head and their eyes connected. Crystal came hard and shattered in ecstasy with a keening wail of bliss. She felt him watching her tumble off that pleasurable edge. He slid himself to the hilt into her wet pussy with renewed urgency before he pulled out suddenly. He kissed her and his cock was trapped between them on the flat expanse of her torso. She felt his hot come against the flatness of her tummy and it sent her spiraling into another orgasm. Hart heaved a sigh as he fell to her side and she gave a soft laugh before pressing kisses against his chest.

“Damn, I knew you would blow my mind,” he said.

Crystal trailed her fingers along his abs. “I’m not all sugary sweet Georgia peach, you know.”

“Oh, honey, I tasted you and, yes, you are,” Hart drawled. “I plan to do it again.”

“Lyn is going to be home with Kaydee by at least four,” Crystal said.

“That’s plenty of time to get you screaming again,” Hart teased.

“Oh, is that all?”

He shook his head. “No, I want to hold you too. I’ve been dreaming of having you in my arms.”

His words melted her heart. It was totally unexpected to hear such an admission from him and that made it all the sweeter.

She stood up and held out her hand. “Let’s take this to the bed.”

“Be gentle with me, I’m injured,” he said the words somberly as he took her hand.

“Wouldn’t be fun if I did that, now would it?” Crystal’s voice was sultry.

When they were by the bed he took her hand and placed it on his cock. He was already hard and throbbing, ready to fuck her again. She was exhilarated by the fact that he was so damn virile and sexy and it was all for her and no one else. It was her name that he was whispering with desire in his voice as he kissed her neck.

“You make me want things, things I don’t know if I should want or deserve.” Hart cupped her cheek and looked at her with deep emotion in his eyes.

“You’re a good man, Hart Temple, and you deserve more than you think or realize,” she replied gently. “If you let me, I’ll show you.”

“If anyone could, it would be you, Crystal, it would be you,” Hart answered gently.

He pulled her closer and Crystal was suddenly breathless as she was pressed against his muscled body. She could feel every contour of him and it was more than just arousal. Goddamn it, she was falling in love and hard. Her thoughts fled as he pulled her head down to his for a long kiss. Crystal opened her mouth willingly to accept his tongue and his taste. His hands roamed against her back, massaging her body as if this time learning the feel of her. She made a sound of pleasure in her throat as his hands moved to cup her breasts, slowly massaging the firm round globes. Her nipples hardened against his palms and Hart groaned into her mouth.

Their tongues mated and Crystal pressed her body more intimately against him and trailed her toes along the lean muscled calf of his leg. There was this need inside her to be closer to his body and to memorize every little detail of being with him.

Hart tore his mouth away from hers and looked into her eyes. “Slow this time.”

She nodded and sighed as he kissed his way down her neck. “Oh, yes,” Crystal whispered the words. When their lips met once more and he laced his fingers with hers she was lost. The kiss ignited a slow burn in her that was too sweet to ever give up. So for the longest of moments they supped on each other’s kisses and learned the nuances of each other’s responses to each touch and sensation.

“I want you, Crystal,” he whispered. “I’ve never wanted someone so much and so quickly.”

“I’m right here. You have me,” Crystal responded.

He kissed his way down her body and knelt between her legs, and she looked at his hard length, erect and jutting out from between his legs. Crystal moved lithely until she was on her knees as well and kissed her way down his sculpted chest. She kissed the tip of his cock and took his length in her mouth inch by slow inch. He leaned back on his haunches and in that pose each muscle strained. He looked like a piece of art carved from granite. He combed through and buried his fingers in her hair and with every movement she took his cock deeper into her mouth. Hart voiced his pleasure and the sounds that he made fueled her need.