Part 17 (2/2)

Her hand still in his, he grabbed the other one, too. He raised her arms over her head, bracketing her wrists in one hand to hold her captive as he slowly, ever so incredibly slowly, slid back into her waiting flesh. His eyes holding hers captive, he pumped in and out. Audra pressed forward to meet each thrust.

It was the look in those eyes, that ever-narrowing look of hunger, that seduced her as much as the delicious things he was doing to her body.

The curling heat in her system climbed again. Her lower lip tight between her teeth, she watched his eyes for the signal of his own loss of control. Jesse's movements came faster, his breath harsher. Audra struggled to hold on, to keep control. She wanted his mouth against hers, but couldn't bear to release his gaze.

He thrust, held. His gaze flickered. Her entire body so tense she felt she was going to rip apart, she started to lose her grip. Audra's lids fluttered as the climax started deep in her belly, its power ripping through her in a vicious rush of pleasure so intense it bordered on pain.

Not willing to go over alone, she met his next thrust with a grinding motion, her leg wrapped around his waist so she used her foot to press him deeper. To hold him tight as she undulated against him.

Jesse's guttural cry of release was the last straw. Audra exploded with a panting cry of pleasure. The o.r.g.a.s.m was like a wild storm, ripping through her with devastating ferociousness.

She'd finally met a guy good enough for her bad self. That was her last thought before she lost all awareness of anything but the pleasure.

IT WAS at least five minutes before Jesse could even consider raising his head from Audra's shoulder and trying to breathe again. at least five minutes before Jesse could even consider raising his head from Audra's shoulder and trying to breathe again.

”d.a.m.n,” he muttered against Audra's hair. ”I can't feel my legs.”

Audra's foot did a long, slow slide down his a.s.s and over the back of his thigh. Her spiked heel caught in the jeans pooled around his ankles. He winced at the reminder of his tacky haste. What kind of guy took a woman against the wall with his pants still halfway on?

Shame tap-danced its way over his conscience. What a jerk. He should be shot. Oh, sure, he'd made her scream as promised. But where was finesse? Gentleness?

Dread filled him as he forced himself to pull back.

An apology on his tongue, Jesse got a good look at Audra's face. Her head still against the wall, her features were slack with pleasure. A faint smile played around her lips like a naughty secret just waiting to be shared.

Sensing his stare, she opened her eyes to meet his gaze. After a couple seconds, she c.o.c.ked a brow and tilted her head in a considering way.

”Well, well...”

Jesse's ego swelled at the considerable pleasure in her voice. He tried to keep the grin from taking over his face, but doubted his success.

”Look at you, all satisfied and smug,” she teased.

”As long as you're satisfied and smug, too,” he returned, sliding away from her with regret. ”Never let it be said I'm the kind of guy to hog smug satisfaction all to myself.”

Audra laughed with delight. Then, in a move that sealed his heart's devotion to her forever, she stood on tiptoe to brush a sweet kiss over his lips. The act, pure affectionate joy, was even more emotionally intense than their lovemaking.

Jesse had to swallow his declaration of devotion. He was sure nothing could be more guaranteed to get his a.s.s kicked out of her apartment and her life. And he planned to do everything in his power to stay in both.

Instead, he pulled away to dispose of the condom. He watched as she slipped off what was left of her ripped blouse. She eyed it, then him, and winked.

”I'm proud and humbled to say you, my amazing man, scored a sweet eight on the 'O' scale.” She glanced at the shredded fabric again, then grinned. ”Actually, I swear just the memory of that little session gives me a mini-o.r.g.a.s.m. That has to kick you up to an eight and a half.”

Pride and affection mingled as Jesse returned her smile. He brushed his finger over her bare breast, just above the nipple. Her body gave a satisfying response, the dark coral bud tightening.

”What do you say we try for a nine?” he suggested.

She rolled her eyes, but her smile told him she was pleased.

”I have to warn you, if you stay you won't get any sleep. I doubt I'll be able to keep my hands off you.”

”I still don't want to leave,” he admitted.

”I thought you were a good boy?”

”I'm good enough to score that nine,” he promised.

”I like a man with a goal,” she said with a laugh. Then she unsnapped her rumpled skirt and pushed it off her hips.

With a wink, she stood before him in a garter belt, black stockings, those wicked gladiator-style sandals and a glittery belly b.u.t.ton ring. Jesse's body, so recently satisfied, stirred with interest.

”Let's try it horizontal this time,” she suggested. Then she turned and led the way to her bedroom. She shot him a wicked glance over her shoulder. ”Don't forget, it's my turn to take advantage.”

His eyes glued to the hypnotic sway of her bare-except-for-the-garter-belt hips, he realized he couldn't wait.

A FAINT CHIME FAINT CHIME sounded from somewhere far away, tugging Audra from her deep sleep. She felt Jesse pull away from her, immediately missing the comfort of his warmth. sounded from somewhere far away, tugging Audra from her deep sleep. She felt Jesse pull away from her, immediately missing the comfort of his warmth.

That thought pulled her the rest of the way out of sleep. With a frown, she watched Jesse's sweet b.u.t.t as he bent over to tug the chiming cell phone from the pocket of his discarded jeans.

When had a man's body in her bed brought comfort? Pleasure? Often.

Satisfaction? Mandatory.

But this sweet sense of comfort and sappy emotions? Audra wrinkled her nose. What was up with this? Not that the sight of Jesse's naked body in the soft morning light wasn't a total turn-on. But to want to cuddle just as much as she wanted to make him arch his body in gasping pleasure beneath her mouth?

Panic overwhelmed the desire in her stomach, taking control and making her pulse skitter.

She understood s.e.x. But emotions? What did she know about emotions? If she wasn't careful, she'd start thinking crazy. Start considering futures and having hopes and depending on someone other than herself.

Since the entire concept was impossible, and she knew it, she'd have to nip this in the bud. Send Jesse on his way with a thanks and a kiss, like she'd done so many guys before.

And if her heart spasmed at the concept, well, all the more reason to do it.

Audra caught sight of herself in the wall-to-ceiling mirrored closet doors. Her hair was spiked in bad girl wildness, and her chest was red with whisker burns. Swollen lips and heavy eyes greeted her inspection. She looked well-loved, satisfied and d.a.m.ned smug.

Exactly as she should after a night of incredible s.e.x. h.e.l.l, Jesse had even scored the mythical nine. Maybe nine and a half, but she'd pa.s.sed out, so it was hard to tell.

This wasn't gooey emotional c.r.a.p, she a.s.sured herself. It was s.e.xual satisfaction. No reason to kick the guy out of her bed for that.

Happy now that she'd settled that in her head, she raised her arms overhead, pointing her toes to the foot of the bed, and stretched the stiffness from her body. Thoroughly satisfied, she slid her hands over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in pleasure. Maybe they had time for another go-round before work?

<script>