Part 24 (1/2)

”Good. Because I'm tired of pretending to care what you have to say.” His smile only lasted a moment before his lips crashed into mine. He took hold of my jaw and forced my mouth open for his, tilting my head at the same time so his tongue could reach deeper into me.

I'm not sure how long we kissed and pulled at each other's clothing before I realized I needed this man naked.

Now.

I unb.u.t.toned his s.h.i.+rt, pulled it open, and slipped it over his shoulders. His body was a very pleasant surprise, not that I'd thought it wouldn't be great, but I mean, come on. ”When the h.e.l.l do you have time to work out?”

”Exercise is a great form of stress relief. I have a stressful job and need an outlet. But you've made me think I may take up other activities from now on.” He looked up, and a flash of color hit his cheeks. ”It's been a long time since I've...”

”Since you've what?”

”Been with someone.”

Huh? ”But you're-” I didn't want to say the word, as if not saying it would help us forget.

”Married to a wonderful woman who's been in love with someone else the entire time.”

”Oh.” Well, that put a few things into place.

His hands slid off me. ”I ruined the mood, didn't I?”

”Yes.” I took his hands and put them on my a.s.s. ”So you're going to have to work extra hard to get it back.”

”Extra hard. Got it.” Smiling, he pulled me closer, rubbing his c.o.c.k against my core. ”But if I...”

”It's like riding a bike, Hayden. Plus, if you do anything really wrong, I'll let you know. Consider yourself in training.”

His smile grew until it hit his eyes. ”Like riding a bike, huh?” When he moved his hand up my ribcage to my breast, he sighed contentedly.

”Is that all it takes to make you happy?” I asked, my smile just as big.

”I'm an easy man to please. But I'd like to stick around to see what else is going to happen.”

”You're lucky then, because I'd like to show you.” I rocked my hips against his.

Closing his eyes, he groaned. ”I hope you don't have any plans tomorrow.”

”Hmm...tomorrow is Monday, right?” I tapped my chin. ”Actually, since I'm no longer working for an impatient jerk, my schedule's pretty open.”

”I'm still impatient,” he said with a grin.

”Bring it, Hayden.”

He slipped his hand around me again and yanked me into him, our mouths landing together, hard. I pulled away long enough to stand and drag him with me toward the bedroom, our feet tripping over each other's, teeth b.u.mping and hands clawing at clothing.

As soon as we got to my bedroom, I shoved him backwards and spun around to my nightstand. I knew I had some condoms in there at one point, I just hoped they wouldn't be expired.

”What are you-?”

”Condom.” I glanced at him. ”I know I had a couple.”

Relief filled his face. ”I can't believe I forgot about that. Thank you.”

”Anytime. Really.” I started tossing things onto the floor-a magazine, iPod, vibrator. Doh! I kicked it under the bed so he wouldn't see it. Where the h.e.l.l were the condoms? I flung a book over my shoulder, hearing him grunt.

”Sorry!” I said without turning. Yesterday I was desperate. This was way beyond that.

”Keep looking.” He caught me from behind and slid his hands into the waistband of my boxer shorts, pus.h.i.+ng them down my legs. My underwear went along with them. I froze, bent over, completely exposed, my arms barely holding me up.

”I said keep looking,” he growled.

Easier said than done.

When he kissed the back of my thigh, I gasped. When he ran his lips across my skin, I moaned. Then, as the heat of his mouth inched closer and closer to my core, I made a sound only dogs could hear. I let my head fall, smacking my forehead on the nightstand. But it didn't hurt-all my nerve endings were too preoccupied with what Hayden was doing to me. I'd always known he was talented, but never imagined he'd be this talented.

”Hallelujah.” I finally felt the edges of a small cardboard box at the very back of the drawer and pulled it out, holding it up for him to see. He grunted his approval, his mouth too busy for speech.

Without being able to see what he was doing, every touch of his tongue and his fingers came as a surprise. A d.a.m.n good surprise. If I died right now, they'd have to shove me in a closed casket, because they'd never be able to get this look off my face.

Before I'd realized my legs had given out, he caught me and lifted me into his arms.

He smiled and licked his lips. ”I wasn't done yet.”

”Neither was I,” I teased. ”But I was pretty close.”

”Patience is definitely something we both need to work on.” He smirked. ”Starting tomorrow.”

I could taste myself when he kissed me, while we explored each other's mouths. I wrapped my arms around his neck, forcing him to follow me as he set me on the bed.

I squeezed my hands in between our bodies and fought with his belt buckle for a few seconds until I gave up and pushed him away a little. Thankfully, he took over pants duty so I could focus on the rest of him. His chest and abs and neck and- d.a.m.n, was there nothing imperfect about this man? Oh, wait.

”You have an outie,” I said happily, poking his bellyb.u.t.ton.

”Disappointed?” he asked, yanking his pants down and wiggling out of them with my help.

”Complet-” The word died halfway out of my mouth because at that very moment, I saw his c.o.c.k. No disappointment there. None whatsoever. ”Nope.”

Swallowing, I tried to stop staring, stop drooling. He helped by kissing me again, using my mouth for something other than gaping. He pressed his body against me, grinding into me, his erection caught between us. I pushed myself up higher on the bed until I felt his length between my thighs. Both of us moaned.

When he released me, I took a deep breath, making up for the last few I'd missed. I ripped open the box, quickly checking the expiration date-thank the heavens these things had a long shelf life-and slipped the condom on him.

I shouldn't be doing this. I should stop him until we'd had ”the talk.” And if I were smart, that's what I would've done. But l.u.s.t and logic rarely happen concurrently. Speech and thought were impossible, as if my brain had taken a siesta in everything but its response to pleasure.

”I've been waiting so long for this,” he said quietly, brus.h.i.+ng my hair off my face. ”I'm having a hard time believing it's real.” He looked at me with such softness, such care, I didn't know how to react. This was more than just two people wanting a physical connection. This was two people who'd already connected mentally, emotionally, and who were about to express it physically.