Mixing Temptation (13 page)

“Then we better keep our clothes on and order pizza. Because when I said you look like an impending orgasm, I didn't mean I would come from staring at you. I'm hoping you'll make love to me until you trigger a reaction so big that I'm begging you for another the minute it subsides.”

“Caroline, I'm trying to be careful.”

“Well, stop,” she shot back. “You've never treated me like I might break apart at any second. Please don't start now.”

He studied the fierce woman who'd been undressing him until he threw on the brakes. She was right. If he trusted her, he didn't need to question his every move. She'd speak up for herself.

“All right.”

She stepped closer, but still didn't touch him. Her chin high, her green eyes flashing with a combination of desire and determination, she stared up at him.

“Talk to me. Touch me,” she said as her fingers curled around the edge of her black T-­shirt. Then she drew it over her head. She tossed it aside and reached behind her to free her bra. “Don't hold back.”

Josh kissed his restraint goodbye and placed his hands on her bare chest. The weight settled into his palms. Her nipples formed tight peaks as he lifted and pressed her breasts together. He hunched his shoulders and lowered his mouth to her skin. And his tongue dipped into her cleavage.

Her fingers worked into his hair, holding him close. “Josh, for the record, I love the way you use your mouth.”

Love.

It was too soon to tell her he was falling for a helluva lot more than her mouth. No, he still needed to prove that this—­his lips exploring her body—­worked for them.

He pressed one more kiss to her breasts. Then he released her chest and lowered down to his knees. And he reached for her steel-­toed boots.

“First I'm going to get you out of these ass-­kicking shoes.” His fingers worked the laces. “And then I want another look at your panties before I slide them down your legs and show you exactly what I can do with my mouth.”

 

Chapter 14

J
OSH
S
UMMERS HAD
turned stripping off her socks into foreplay. She'd never thought of her ankles as an erogenous zone. But when he touched them, she'd felt a rush of heat and need settle beneath her black lace undies. Then the feel of his fingers against her skin as he unbuttoned her pants and drew down the zipper had pushed her so close to a climax that he might as well have been vibrating.

Now her boots rested at the foot of the motel's queen-­sized bed. Her cargo pants lay discarded in a heap beside them. She'd lost everything but her panties. She looked down at the man kneeling at her feet. He'd tossed aside his shirt and pants too, but kept his underwear. His head was cocked to one side, and his gaze fixed on her last piece of clothing.

“Not complicated,” she murmured. “Just grab ahold of the top and pull them down.”

Don't mind me,
she thought.
I might come before you get them off.

“Hmm.” He ran his hands up her calves, over her knees, and paused at her thighs. Then he leaned forward, captured the top of her panties between his teeth, and drew them down to her thighs. “Like that?”

Oh God, yes!

But she went with a swift, sharp nod. Not that he could see her affirmative gesture. His gaze remained focused on the dark curls between her legs as he drew her underwear down her legs. She stepped out of them before he asked and the slip of black lace joined her pants on the floor.

“Place your foot on my shoulder,” he said.

She allowed him to guide her left foot into a position that left her knee raised practically to her chest. Balancing precariously on her other foot, she felt open, exposed, and ready—­for a physically impracticable event.

Kneeling in front of her five foot five frame, his mouth was level with her chest, not her . . .

“Impossible,” she murmured.

“No, Caroline.” He looked up at her with his trust-­me grin. “This will work. Believe me.”

And here, in this room, when it came to pleasure and sex, she had faith in him.

With his hand on her right hip holding her steady, he sat back on his heels and brushed his tongue over her bare flesh. She ran her hands through his hair and held on hoping she wouldn't fall away from . . .

Oh my . . . goodness. . .

Josh had offered to give her a demonstration of just what he could do with his mouth and wow had he delivered. She closed her eyes and narrowed her focus to his tongue. Pleasure rippled through her like the waves she'd watched earlier. And it overrode her other emotions.

She pulled on his hair, silently begging for more. More pressure. More teasing, tantalizing stokes designed to turn her legs into a trembling mess . . .

He read her mind and gave it to her.

She'd been a fool to wait for this. For over a year, this man had been bringing her pies, brownies, and cupcakes. But if she'd let down her guard, if she'd agreed to go out with him before now . . .

Later, much later, she would have a moment of silence for all of the orgasms she'd missed out on because she'd been too afraid to fall for this man.

“This is so much better than pie,” she groaned.

He chuckled as he drew his mouth away. “Even the pecan?”

“Yes.” Her fingers still woven through his curls, she tugged his head back into position and he complied.

Another lick . . .

“Oh wow, that's better than key lime with homemade . . .” She moaned. “Whipped . . .
oh God
. . . cream! Yes!”

“Next time I make ‘oh God cream,' ” he murmured, his mouth still oh-­so-­close to the most needy, intimate parts of her body, “I'll cover you in homemade topping.” He stole a lick, then added: “With a cherry on top.”

“Not another dirty word out of you until you make me come,” she said.

He laughed again. But there was nothing cruel about the sound. Not this time. Not here. Not with this man.

She tensed for the rush of memory. Another man. In another place. Laughing
at
her, not with her. Promising pleasure she didn't want. And delivering fear. So much fear she'd lived and breathed it for months. She'd let it rule her life. All because of that bastard.

“Caroline?” the man kneeling in a seemingly impossible position at her feet asked softly.

She pushed the memories away. They wouldn't disappear. What Dustin had done to her, how much he'd taken from her . . . the invisible scars would fade but never disappear.

But they were no longer immobile barriers to her future.

“OK, maybe one or two more naughty images,” she said, wanting to hear his voice while the hand not holding her hip steady explored and stroked her.

“You know, I'm willing to share my whipped cream,” he murmured. “Anytime you want a taste, you can rub some over my chest—­”

“Just your chest?” she challenged.

“Use your imagination. My dirty mouth has some unfinished business.”

And then he buried his head between her legs again. She closed her eyes and let the sensations hold her right here, in this moment. His tongue drew tight circles around the bundle of nerves primed by his words and his touch to send her falling . . .

“Josh,” she whispered. “Josh.”

She repeated his name, over and over as she came bucking against his face, accepting all he had to offer.

A
FTER HIS ACCIDE
NT,
if someone had told Josh that he'd get a second shot at the life he wanted while crouched on the floor of a motel in Eureka, he would have called them crazy. But right now, listening to the woman he loved call out his name over and over, he knew he'd found what he'd been looking for. He didn't need the big house nestled in the valley, or the fancy kitchen . . .

Just Caroline.

“Josh?” she murmured. And it was no longer an
oh more, more, more, Josh,
but a question.

He drew his mouth away from her and looked up.

“We need to move to the bed or the floor,” she said, her eyes still glazed over with pleasure. “Your choice. But I can't maintain this position any longer.”

“The bed,” he decided as he placed his hand on her left foot and gently lowered it from his shoulder to the floor. But he kept ahold of her hip. As he rose up from the ground, his free hand reached for her. His fingers pressed into her backside. Using his firm grip on her hips, he guided her toward the bed, turning her until she lined up with the queen-­sized mattress.

“Lie down,” he murmured, releasing her. “I'll be right back.”

He rushed over to his duffel bag and rummaged through it until he found the box of condoms. He tore open the packaging and pulled one out.

And realized he was still wearing his freaking underwear.

“Josh?” she called from the bed.

He glanced over his shoulder.

“I want to watch this part,” she said.

“Yeah?” he arched an eyebrow as he turned and walked over to the bed. He tossed the condom onto the comforter and hooked his thumbs under the elastic band. Slowly, he drew down his last article of clothing. Her lips parted as he revealed his aching, eager dick.

“Next time, I'll do a striptease worthy of
Magic Mike
.” He pulled his underwear down his legs and stepped out of them.

“I don't need a dance,” she said. “You. I just want you.”

“You've got me.” He reached for the condom.

“You know,” she began. And his hand froze, holding the unwrapped condom over the head of his cock. “I might need you to paint me a picture of what you want.”

Paint her a picture?

But his brain kicked back into gear, and he searched for the right words.

“Caroline.” He covered himself and walked back to the foot of the bed. “I want you.”

He climbed up on the bed, his knees pushing into the mattress between her legs as he covered her body with his own. His elbows rested close to her shoulders, holding his weight off her body. “I've wanted you for so damn long. And I swear, I'll tell you everything I've imagined. How. Where. But right now . . . right now just know that it is all with you. You're my fantasy.”

“Yes,” she said with a soft laugh.

She reached between them and wrapped her hand around his cock. She drew him closer to where he needed to be as her legs wound around him.

“Now?” he murmured.

“Now,” she confirmed.

He pushed past her hand and slid inside her. He'd thought about this moment, moved through it in his dreams. He'd tried to prepare for each stroke and anticipate her reaction. He'd wanted to be ready . . .

And now he let it all go. He had faith in her. She'd tell him if she needed more, less, a different position . . .

He thrust into her again and again, holding nothing back. And she moved with him. Her body rocked up to greet him, opening to him. He didn't worry about hurting her or taking her too hard or fast. She was taking him right back, consuming him.

Her nails dug into his back as she arched beneath him. He wasn't lost in pleasure. He was right freaking here in their Eureka motel room, making love to her. This was it, what he'd been searching for. He'd found what he wanted. And he was all in, no holding back. No matter what the future brought them. She was
his
. And he'd hold on to her, love her, care for her with all his heart.

“Caroline,” he roared. Then he lowered his mouth to hers and claimed her lips, kissing her as the climax ripped through him.

I love you.

Now, buried inside her, wasn't the time to say the words out loud. Soon. But not now.

 

Chapter 15

C
AROLINE STARED AT
the brick pathway leading to the yellow colonial. Long, white columns stretched the full two stories of the impressive home. The house had wings, stretching from either side. They could easily fit Noah's three-­bedroom farmhouse in this mansion and probably the barn too. Though they might want to leave the old mechanical bull on the front lawn to annoy the neighbors. But that would ruin the mansion's equally impressive landscaping.

Manicured hedges lined the brick path leading from the sidewalk to the front entrance. On the right, a paved driveway wound around the side of the house. Trimmed grass filled the space between the bushes and the pavement. A glimpse of a stone pathway leading to a garden was visible around the left of the home.

“Ready to get out?” Josh asked. “The guard at the gate called up. She knows we're here.”

Caroline nodded and reached for her door. “We should have made a plan on the drive.”

Instead of talking about what they would say now that they'd finally arrived at the end of their road trip, she'd spent the drive down from Eureka staring out the window. She'd made love to Josh Summers last night. After all this time, she'd gone to bed with him. She'd spent the night curled around his strong, powerful body. And she'd woken up with her head resting on the red-­gold hair covering his chest.

She'd blown past impossible, pushed failure aside, and claimed her second chance. And now she didn't want to let go. She wanted to hold on to him with all her heart.

But she'd fallen for a man who didn't lie. He refused to pretend. Meanwhile she was afraid to use her real name. One glorious, orgasm-­filled night didn't erase the federal warrant hanging over her head.

Josh appeared at her side as her feet touched down on the sidewalk. “Ready?”

The white front door swung open and Helena waved down at them, a smile plastered on her face.

“She looks happy to see us.” Josh grinned and raised his free hand.

“Appearances can be deceiving.”

But he drew her forward, leading her down the brick path. Halfway to the front door, he inclined his head toward hers. “Say what you wish someone had said to you.”

“Chop off his balls?” she muttered.

“That seems a little extreme if we're wrong and her husband's just a giant ass who likes to yell at his wife,” he said.

“True.”

They reached the front steps and turned their attention to the woman who looked about as manicured as her hedges. There wasn't a strand of hair out of place on her blond bob. Her pale pink dress screamed ‘designer.' And her peep-­toe white patent leather heels made Caroline's combat boots look decidedly out of place. But who wore heels in their own home?

“Hello,” Caroline said.

“What are you doing here?” Helena hissed through her smiling teeth once they'd reached the top of the brick steps leading to the front door. “Are you crazy? I can't believe you
followed me home
after eavesdropping on one little phone call!”

Josh drew Caroline closer to his side. “We were in Northern Cali anyway—­”

“My husband will be back soon,” Helena snapped, her smile fading now. She looked close to tears again. “I'd like you to leave.
Please.
”

“Your friends were concerned,” Josh started. But she'd already stepped back and closed the door.

Caroline stared at the brass knocker and debated trying again. But if Helena didn't want them here, what more could they do?

“I guess you should have replaced ‘hello' with ‘cut off his balls,' ” Josh said. “Want to try again?”

She shook her head. “Let's go. We can have Lily call and see if she can convince Helena to meet with us at a bar or restaurant. Or at our hotel if Helena would prefer someplace more private. Even if she agrees to meet with us, all we can do is offer help. We can't force her to leave. We can listen. But we can't save her. She needs to make that call on her own.”

“We're hanging up our superhero capes?” he said as they reached his truck.

“She needs to be her own hero.” Caroline opened the passenger door and climbed into the truck. “We came down here so that she knows someone is here for her. There's a way out if she wants it.”

But the escape route comes with its own pitfalls.

Caroline glanced back at the house. She'd fought back, but she wasn't free. Not yet. And the only way to get there?

No, she pushed that thought aside. Turning herself in wouldn't set her free. She'd be locked up in a military jail.

“It's past lunch time,” Josh pointed out.

“And we need to find a place to stay,” she said.

Josh picked up his phone and asked SIRI for directions to the nearest hotel.

“You forgot cheapest,” she pointed out once the phone offered an address.

“This doesn't look like the cheap part of town,” he said as they pulled through the security gates at the front of the community. “If you want Helena to visit us, we can't expect her to drive an hour away.”

“I only have so much cash,” she said.
And no access to bank accounts or credit cards.

“This is technically our fifth date. My turn to pick the location and pay.”

“You paid for the motel last night too,” she pointed out.

“Extenuating circumstances. We were already right there.”

That was one way to look at her meltdown on the beach yesterday. But so far he'd paid for everything on their road trip—­a trip that had been her idea from the beginning. Of course without him, she would have had to have relied on Noah or Josie to purchase a bus ticket for her. Hiking would have taken too long—­especially for their anxious friend in the air force.

“I'll pay you back for the rooms last night,” she said.

He shook his head. “Just have your golden lasso ready.”

W
HILE
J
OSH W
ENT
out to pick up a pizza instead of splurging on the overpriced room ser­vice, Caroline surveyed the five-­star room for something that resembled Wonder Woman's lasso. His cell phone's not-­so-­budget-­friendly selection featured a queen-­sized bed. The modern headboard and nightstands were permanently attached to the wall. Not far from the foot of the bed stood an oval-­shaped desk with a sleek black chair. Beside the desk was a cabinet that housed a flat-­screen television and the mini-­fridge, but sadly lacked a golden lasso.

She walked through the bathroom. Shower. Tub. Two sinks. A stack of white towels that might work if she cut them apart . . . But she moved on to the closet.

And after careful consideration she selected the white sash from one of the bathrobes provided by the hotel. She set the sash on the bed. She could do this. She could play the part of the superhero seductress.

“I have pizza,” Josh called. The smell of melted cheese followed him into the room. “I also talked to Lily. She promised to text Helena's number. We can try calling later. Maybe her husband will be out? Or in bed already?”

“Maybe.” She picked up the sash and dangled it in the air between them. “I found my lasso while you were out. How hungry are you?”

“For half a pie? I need a workout first.” He set the pizza on the table and headed for the bed. He pulled off his Moore Timber T-­shirt as he moved past her and tossed it aside.

“I think we'll work up an appetite.” She toyed with the makeshift lasso, pulling it taut between her hands.

He sat on the edge of the bed and held out his hands. “I'm ready for your best superhero impression.”

“Oh no, this is your date. You call the shots,” she said.

“You want me to tell you how I like to be tied up?” he said with a laugh.

She nodded as anticipation spread through her, honing in on the part of her body most likely to respond to his touch.

“All right.” He stood up and began stripping off his jeans. “First thing, I'll need you to lose the clothes.”

“Ah, the ‘get naked' step.” She pulled off her top. Her cargo pants joined her boots, shirt, and underwear in a pile. “You know, so many of the comic books skip that step.”

“It's a shame.” He kicked off his boxers and they flew across the room. “Now I want you to tie one end of the rope around my wrist.” He held out a hand. “And the other to yours.”

“Worried I'll run away?” she teased as she followed his instructions. She tied a double knot at each end, but struggled with her wrist.

“This way I'll be able to rein you in if you get too wild,” he said as he took the end of the rope from her and finished binding her left wrist to his right.

“I wasn't planning to go far.” She sank to her knees and ran her hands up his thighs. Unlike his position last night, her mouth lined up perfectly with his erection.

“Fuck,” he murmured.

“Soon. Very soon. But first . . .” She wrapped her hand around him and guided him to her lips. Pumping her hand up and down his hard, thick length, she ran her tongue around the tip of his cock.

“Caroline,” he gasped.

There was a power that accompanied giving him pleasure and hearing him call her name as her mouth moved over him. Her free hand—­unbound and not working his cock—­reached for his ass. The muscles tensed beneath her touch as his hips rocked forward into her mouth.

“Too much?” he murmured, pulling back.

She ran her lips up and released him. “Trust me. I'll tell you.”

“I do.” His fingers worked their way into her hair, drawing her mouth back to his erection. “Trust you, that is. But I have limits too. Lick me. Suck on me. But I want to come inside you.”

Her hand rose up to meet her lips and he pulled away. Still tied to him, she dropped to all fours and crawled after him . . .

He glanced behind him. “Shit. I forgot,” he said, eyes widened, before he turned back to his bag and retrieved a condom. She heard the rip and felt the tug on the tie holding them together as he covered himself. Then he looked over his shoulder. “To the bed?”

She nodded and rose up onto her knees. She placed her hands on his butt and held on as she shifted to her feet. “Work on your glutes while baking those pies?”

“You have no idea,” he said with a bark of laughter.

She stepped away and pulled on the sash. “This time, I want to ride you.”

He turned and backed up to the foot of the bed. Slowly, he sat down. “Ready?”

She nodded. And he leaned back on the mattress. She moved with him, climbing onto him, her legs straddling his thighs. She inched her way forward, her hands pressing into his chest as she rose up and then sank down onto his cock.

She welcomed the control. But more than anything, as she began to rock her hips, she wanted his pleasure. She wanted to push him over the edge and fall with him. She felt free, riding him closer and closer to the peak of pleasure—­even while bound to him.

Somehow, I'll find a way to make this work. I'll find a way to stay with him.