Crystal Jordan - If You Believe

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Kneeling on the bed, he reached for her and froze. Then he stood and turned away.

She propped herself on one elbow, her fingers stilling as uncertainty darted through her. “Price?”

He flipped on the light in his bathroom and rifled for something in his medicine cabinet. When he came back, he lifted his palm to show her a handful of silver condom packages. He tossed them on the nightstand.

Oh. Embarrassment curled through her. She hadn’t even thought of protection. She always practiced safe sex, and she was so out of her head for this guy… she hadn’t considered something as basic as condoms. Her lips twisted. This was not good. In fact, it was dangerous and stupid. What the hell was she doing messing with someone like Price? He had the tall, dark, and cynical thing that she found incredibly attractive, even likeable. He was the kind of man who was easy to fall for, and she wasn’t interested in falling. The kind of man she avoided, the chemistry too potent to control, too dark, too complicated.

She shuddered and refocused on him when his fingers curved around her knee. Instant reaction, her body flashing hot as tingles exploding over her skin. His other hand lifted her palm to his lips. “Something wrong, sugar?”

His heavy-lidded gaze watched for her response, assessing her. But desire underlay the penetrating look. He wanted her—she could see how much. Answering need throbbed through her, reminding her why she had agreed to this in the first place. Could she do this just once and not get addicted?

His lips played over the sensitive flesh of her palm, biting the base of her thumb. The slight pain was nothing to the dart of pleasure that went through her. She closed her eyes and swallowed. Fire skated over her flesh in rolling waves. She wanted this too much. She couldn’t turn away from it. From him.

Just this once.

“No, nothing worth mentioning.” She grinned at him, holding his gaze as she reached for his cock. Every muscle in his big body tensed as she stroked up and down the long length of him. She massaged the glistening beads of cum that dripped from the head of his dick into his hot flesh. His veins pulsed beneath the skin, his cock jerking in her hand.

His breath hissed out when she rolled her palm over the head of his dick and used the other to cup the heavy sac at the base of his thick shaft. “Aubrey.”

“Kiss me.”

He chuckled, swooping down to cover her mouth with his. There was no gentleness now, no slow seduction. Just hot, naked want. His hands cupped her breasts, pushing them together so he could suck each of the nipples into his mouth. When he bit down on one tight crest, she slid her fingers in his hair and tugged on the silky strands. Her body bowed and writhed underneath him as he batted her nipple with his tongue, shoving it against the roof of his mouth.

“Condom,” she gasped.

Lunging, he swiped a foil packet off the bedside table. A light tremble shook his fingers as he unwrapped the condom and rolled it down the long, hard length of his cock. She loved that she could push him to the edge of his control—she doubted much could make the man’s hands shake. It turned her on even more that she could do that to him. She opened her arms as he moved between her thighs.

She arched as he seated himself to the hilt in one swift plunge, wrapping her legs around his flanks. Her pussy fisted around his cock, the stretch almost painful, but even the pain was edged in ecstasy. She bit down on his shoulder hard, the taste of his sweat-damped flesh bursting over her tongue. He shuddered and fucked her hard, his rhythm deep and relentless. She was right there with him, raking her nails down his back, silently demanding everything he had and then some. She wanted more and deliberately clenched her inner walls on his cock.

“Jesus, Aubrey.” He groaned, the sound as helpless and needy as she felt. He ground his pelvis against her, every thrust hitting her just right until she was sobbing for breath. His hot scent filled her nose, as well as the musky smell of sex and sweat. Their flesh slapped together with ruthless strokes, the carnal sound echoing in the room. She was so hot, she thought she’d burst into flames at any moment. And she didn’t care. She grabbed the taut globes of his ass, urging him on with soft gasps and cries.

Reaching between them, he rolled his fingertip over her clit, still hammering his cock deep inside her pussy. It was too much. It was exactly what she craved. “Price, Price, Price!”

Her sex milked his dick in never-ending waves that dragged her beyond any understanding of pleasure she’d ever had before. Tingles raced over her skin as he continued to penetrate her, driving her orgasm to new depths until every muscle in his big body locked and he came too. Another spasm shook her and made her sob, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

God, nothing had ever felt so perfect in her entire life. It was crazy. He groaned and sank on top of her. She held him close, allowing herself a single moment to breathe in his scent and feel the solid heat of his body against hers. It was comforting and warm contentment wound through her. She sighed. Her eyes drifted shut, and she stroked a hand down his back. She’d get herself together and go in a few minutes. She was asleep before she finished the thought.

Sunshine filtered through her eyelids. God, it was morning already? She rolled on to her back and stretched her arms over her head, arching her back. When she opened her eyes, she realized that she wasn’t in her own bedroom. These weren’t her sheets or pillows. When she took a deep breath, the mellow spiciness of Price’s cologne came to her. Glancing over, she saw that he wasn’t in bed with her. She could hear the shower running in his bathroom. She grinned and stretched, her muscles pleasantly sore from the night before. Mmm-hmm. The best sex of her life. With a very creative and naughty man. Images from the night before flipped through her mind. She’d lost count of the number of times he’d made her come. That same sweet contentment flooded her, and the smile widened on her lips. Then she stopped herself, every muscle going rigid. There was no contentment allowed with a man—that led to dangerous things. Like thinking she was in love. Believing he loved her back. Relationships. Entanglements. Complicated shit she’d written off when she signed her divorce papers.

Panic exploded in her belly. Time to get the hell out of here. Throwing her legs over the edge of the bed, she stood. Where were her clothes? Oh, yeah. Downstairs. Picking up the sheet they’d kicked off the bed, she tucked it around herself and tiptoed for the door. If she could get out of here before he got out of the shower, she’d be home free. Yes, it was gutless and cowardly, but she needed out of here. She needed to regroup and reassess. And to kick her own ass for even getting all warm and fuzzy with the guy. He’d even spooned her the night before. And she’d liked it. She was clearly losing her edge… that, or her marbles.

No strings attached. Damn it. She dated lightly, she had fun, she did not stay the night, and she did not spoon. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Snatching her bra off the newel post, she grabbed the trailing ends of the sheet so she wouldn’t trip on them and hurried down the stairs. Her clothes were right where she’d left them, piled in the living room near their discarded dinner. Except for her panties, which were still up in Price’s room. “Going somewhere?” Price’s deep voice boomed like thunder above her.

Every muscle in her body locked tight, rooting her in place. Shit. Caught. Turning her head, she saw him leaning his forearms against the banister. The picture of casual. Except when she met his eyes. Suppressed fury simmered there. She winced and didn’t bother to answer his question. They both knew where she’d been headed—out the door without a backward glance.

“You forgot something.” Her lacy panties dangled from his fingertip.

“Souvenir.” She smiled and tried to bravado her way out of what was turning into a sticky situation. Seriously? Seriously? What single man in his thirties didn’t know the one-nighter protocol? If the other party wanted to bail, you weren’t allowed to get upset. “Thank you for a lovely time, but I’ll just be go—”

“Freeze,” he barked in a voice reserved for criminals. But she froze just the same. There was no disregarding that tone.

She watched him stalk down the stairs in silence, every inch the dangerous man, the predator. It sent a thrill through her to watch him, and she stomped all over any kind of enamored feeling. That road led to ugliness and heartache. Her underwear hit the coffee table in front of her as he flung them down and crossed his arms over his chest, his muscles rippling with the movement. He wore only a pair of jeans, his damp hair sleek against his scalp. The fact that he had any clothes on reminded her that she was still naked. She snagged her panties from where he’d dropped them and pulled them on. Then her jeans, bra, T-shirt and shoes. Okay, it was way past time to go. He watched her dress, but didn’t say anything. The silence was suffocating. She sighed. “Look. I had a great time. I really did, but I can’t do this.”

“You did do this.” He braced foot on the low table, and propped a forearm on his knee. The morning sun streaming through the windows played over his broad shoulders.

She dragged her gaze away from his muscles and focused on his face. “You know what I mean. I’m not interested in more that what we did last night. And this morning. I don’t do serious.” “I haven’t asked for anything—”