Chapter Nineteen

Tess froze, shocked into absolute and complete immobility.

His lips were warm, his tongue gentle yet insistent as it invaded her mouth.

Don’t do this.

What she ought to do—no, make that what she needed to do—was push him away, and the time to do that was now. “Eric, I—”

“Mmm,” he said against her lips, kissing her deeper, cutting off the words she would have spoken next.

I have to tell you something. The truth.

But oh, this feels so right. He feels so right. And she didn’t want him to stop.

She slid her hands up his hard abdomen, over his muscled pecs and kissed him back, inherently understanding she was clinging to a perilously shaky limb that might very well break beneath her, sending her crashing to the ground. Because once he learned the truth, he’d never forgive her.

He wrapped his arms around her, molding his big body to hers. Heat and longing licked at her breasts, her thighs, and at the very core of her being, battling with the last vestiges of her willpower and common sense. This was wrong, and she needed to stop things before they went too far.

Instead, she dragged her hands down his back, digging her nails into his skin through his shirt. Maybe just this one time. One incredible night with him before my past destroys everything in its path.

It would be the most selfish thing she’d ever done in her life, but there it was—her justification. All she had to do was reach out and grab hold. They would both be horribly hurt in the aftermath, but for now…just for one night…

Then I’ll walk away.

Eric slid his hands to cover her buttocks then up the sides of her rib cage. His hands, so big and gentle, curved over the tops of her breasts, cupping them, urging her to lean into him, increasing the exquisite pressure of his touch.

God, how she wanted his mouth on her bare breasts, sucking and teasing her tender nipples.

“I love this yoga outfit,” he murmured as his mouth left hers to nip at her earlobe then drop hot kisses along the curve of her neck. “It’s the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.” He drew back, breathing heavily as he slid his hands slowly, teasingly, down her waist. “But it’s gotta go.”

He hooked his thumbs beneath the waistband of her yoga pants, taking her thong with it, and in one smooth, steady motion tugged them to her ankles. Heat pulsed between her legs, and with it came a rush of longing she hadn’t known existed.

I want him. I want to be with him more than anything.

When she stepped out of the garments, he tossed them aside. A soft snort reminded her that Tiger was still in the room, watching them curiously, tilting his head first to the left, then the right before lowering slowly to the floor and resting his muzzle between his front paws.

“Voruit.” Eric pointed to the open door.

With obvious reluctance, Tiger rose and stalked from the room.

“Poor baby,” Tess managed between heavy breaths.

“Poor baby?” Eric arched a brow. “No cop makes love to a woman with his partner watching.” One corner of his mouth lifted then he tugged her top up, forcing her to raise her arms. He let the yoga bra fall to the floor then stood completely, utterly still. His chest rose and fell, his nostrils flaring as he stared long and hard at her breasts. He wasn’t even touching her, yet when he ran his tongue over his lips, her nipples tightened and puckered as surely as if he’d laved them with his wicked, wicked tongue.

She shivered at his unabashed perusal. The intensity of his gaze was both sexy and awkward. She was completely naked, while he was totally clothed, from his black cargo pants and shirt to the holstered gun, belt badge, and—oh, yeah—handcuffs.

Unable to bear his scrutiny a moment longer, she moved to cover her breasts. His hands shot out, gripping her wrists gently and pulling her hands away.

“Don’t. I want to look at you. You’re so, so beautiful.” Releasing her wrists, he laced their fingers together, holding her arms out from her sides, making her feel even more uncomfortable. “You’re everything I dreamed you would be, and more.”

Somehow, his words penetrated her thickening haze of lust and passion. “You dreamed of me?” He had to be joking. A man like him could have any woman he wanted. Why her?

“Honey, I’ve dreamt about you at least once a week since the moment I first saw you.”

“You’re kidding.” He had to be. Right?

“No, I’m not.” The look on his face turned serious.

“That was a year ago,” she countered. In that time, there had to have been a long line of gorgeous women—tall, runway-model women—in and out of his bed. She had to believe that. Needed to believe that, because she couldn’t allow herself to think that she was special to him in any way. This was just sex, that’s all it was. Keep telling yourself that. Otherwise she doubted she could find the strength to walk away.

“Nine months, actually,” he said with conviction. “And I haven’t been with another woman since.”

Uh-oh. “At the risk of being redundant, you’re kidding.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “A man never kids about his celibacy.”

She gulped. This is not good, not good at all. When a man says things like that, a woman can’t help but start to—

Fall for him. Which she already suspected was happening.

How could she not? Because, God help her, she’d dreamt of him, too. So many times she’d lost count.

He gave her a sheepish grin. “The first time I saw you, I practically choked on my tongue.” His blue eyes darkened. “Right now, I can think of more constructive things to do with my tongue.”

Oh, yeah. So can I.

He released her hands to cup her breasts, leaning down to lave one nipple with his tongue, swirling it around and around until it puckered and hardened into a tight little peak, while tugging the other between his thumb and forefinger.

His mouth was hot and hungry as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, sending jolts of pleasure shooting…everywhere.

Her head fell back, and she pressed her lips together to keep from screaming out: yesss. His tongue and lips were everything she imagined, and so much more.

The powerful life force in his touch made every energy-imbuing crystal she owned seem like a piece of worthless rock.

She sifted her fingers through his hair, and when he scraped his teeth gently over her distended nipple, she moaned from the heart-stopping pleasure and clutched his head tighter to her breast. The need to have his mouth lower, between her legs, doing the same incredible things built and built, and she undulated her hips against him.

An appreciative rumble sounded deep in his chest as he kissed the valley between her breasts then knelt on the floor. He cupped her buttocks, massaging them while his mouth trailed lower still. His hands—so close to her most private, sensitive parts—were incredibly sexy and delicious.

Her body thrummed from the inside out, his mouth teasing and tormenting her flesh everywhere he touched. All the months of waiting, dreaming of this man making love to her, were about to culminate in something wonderful, something beautiful she never wanted to forget.

Her breaths came quicker as he drove her to the brink of begging him to fasten that incredible mouth on the hot, throbbing source of the ecstasy building at the entrance to her core.

He was so incredibly male, so incredibly sexy. All she could think of was him taking her. Anywhere.

In the bed. On the floor. Up against the wall. Location was irrelevant as long as she could wrap her legs around his muscular body while he drove inside her.

When he stuck his tongue in her belly button, it tickled and she giggled, trying to pull away. Vibrations from his laughter reverberated through her body as he held her tighter against his mouth, sliding his hands down the backs of her thighs, urging her to part her legs.

She could no longer breathe through her open mouth, and she let her head fall back farther, curling her fingers tighter in his spiky hair. Not that she’d been with all that many men, but she couldn’t ever remember feeling such heady anticipation. Eric’s touch was magical, casting a spell on her and lighting her up in ways she’d never thought possible.

He kissed the top of her damp curls, inching ever closer to where she wanted him most. When he parted her wet folds with his thumbs, she sucked in a breath. He pressed his mouth to that same spot, drawing her slick flesh into his mouth, and she moaned, a deep, sensual, throaty sound. “Oh, yesss.”

She began rocking against him, giving herself over to the building ripples of ecstasy. She was wet, so wet, and this was going to be good. So, so freaking good.

Another deep rumble came from the back of Eric’s throat, a sound that sent shivery tendrils up her belly to her breasts as he feasted on her, sucking and licking, driving her to the brink, then pulling back just before she went sailing over the edge. Part of her wanted to experience the mind-blowing orgasm that was only a heartbeat away, while the other part never wanted this moment to end.

He eased one long finger inside her, making her gasp louder and tighten around him. When he began pumping his finger in and out of her slippery flesh, sucking harder on her clit, she threw back her head, grabbing at him to keep from falling.

Already, this was far beyond her expectations. Thoughts of him naked and pulsing inside her pussy invaded every square inch of her brain.

The sounds she heard next were a throaty mixture of moans and tiny gasps as her breath came quicker, her heart racing out of control.

Oh, my. Yes, yes, yes!

She dug her fingers into his scalp, rocking against him as the wondrous pleasure intensified. The orgasm pulsed through her body, and she cried out. Wave after wave of sensation—so intense she tried pulling away—kept coming, but Eric wrapped his arms around her buttocks, preventing her from separating his mouth from her incredibly sensitive, incredibly swollen flesh.

“Eric, please,” she gasped. “I can’t—take anymore.” But she did, and the orgasm renewed itself, sending more pulses crashing through her nerve centers, and she cried out again and again, gripping his head, her body jerking one more time before going limp.

Strong arms came around her, lifting her then lowering her gently to the bed. All she could do was lie there and breathe as shooting stars blurred her vision.

Transcendent. Sublime. Miraculous. All words that came to mind at how wonderful her body felt. Sated and yet not. She wanted more.

Soft lips pressed against hers as Eric kissed her. She tasted herself on him, an erotic, heady musk that had her slipping her arms around his strong neck, urging him to kiss her deeper.

“I’ll be right back.” When he pulled away, she nearly whimpered.

He went out of the room, closing the door behind him. There’d been no mistaking the ice-blue fire in his gaze, or what would happen next. They would make love again, this time with him deep inside her.

The thought of his naked body on top of hers, thrusting and filling her, was enough to make her shiver. But she wasn’t stupid, and there was no escaping reality. Despite his conviction that he’d been dreaming about her all this time, she couldn’t forget that he’d also informed her in no uncertain terms that he didn’t do commitment, or marriage, or any of the things she found herself wanting.

You can have those things. Just not with him.

When he returned to the bedroom, Tess rose on her elbows to watch him. Except for a pair of tight black undershorts, he’d ditched his clothes. Now, it was her turn to choke on her tongue.

She’d seen his naked upper body before, but now she concentrated not on the smattering of scars but on the chiseled work of art standing before her, and she couldn’t wait to run her tongue over every inch of his taut golden skin.

Broad, powerful shoulders tapered to a trim waist. Ripped abdominal muscles bunched as he returned to her side of the bed. The man had more moguls on his upper body than a ski slope. A light smattering of dark blond curls covered his thick pectorals and long, heavily muscled thighs and calves. In his hands were several packets. Condoms.

His eyes, a beautiful light blue, flared with unmistakable heat. After tossing the condoms on the bedside table, he hooked his thumbs in his waistband and tugged off his undershorts. She followed the path of dark material as he slid it down his legs, then her breath caught in her throat. She could barely breathe. Eric was a big man, far above average height. As is the rest of him. Every long, thick, hard inch.

A soft whoosh told her the undershorts had been flung somewhere on the floor, although she still couldn’t take her eyes off Eric’s powerful body. Next came the sound of a condom wrapper being torn open, and she watched him expertly sheathe himself then gently lower on top of her.

For a man so adamantly opposed to commitment, the way he was looking at her made her feel as if she were the only woman on the planet, the only one in his world that mattered. For now, she reminded herself, because the here and now was all they would ever have.

He took her mouth in a sweet, seductive kiss that made her heart race and the blood pound at her temples. He lifted his head and gazed down at her. The skin over the bridge of his nose creased. Eyes that only seconds earlier had been heavy lidded with passion looked at her with what she could only interpret as confusion.

She’d been about to ask if something was wrong when the harsh lines of his face softened, and he kissed her again, deeper this time, and with a passionate fervor she could feel in the way he held her, the way his ardor emanated from his very touch.

Using his knee, he parted her thighs. The tip of his erection pressed against her, parting her wet folds and slowly pushing inside her, giving her tight walls time to expand and take all of him in.

This was what she had waited for, wanted for so long. It was perfect. He was perfect. If she could select one moment in which to suspend time for all eternity, there was no doubt in her mind as to which moment she’d choose. Right here. Right now.

He rose above her, resting most of the weight of his upper body on his forearms and clasping the sides of her face as he pushed deeper. As if reading her mind, he whispered, “I’ve wanted this for forever.”

Yes, she thought mindlessly, completely lost in the wondrous sincerity etched in his features. Yes, yes…forever. “Me, too.” She hadn’t meant to say the words. Too late now.

She hooked her legs over the backs of his thighs, digging her fingers into his thick shoulder and back muscles, loving the strength of him, the feel of his body’s life force melding with hers.

He cupped one of her breasts then sucked on her nipple. She gasped, arching against him. A powerful orgasm built steadily in her core, but it was too soon. Too soon for this to end.

She bit her lower lip, denying the release her body craved. Just for another moment.

He caressed her breasts, licking and sucking her nipples as he pumped in and out, then skimmed one hand down her lower belly. His thumb found the sensitive nub between her thighs and rubbed seductively back and forth until she squirmed beneath him, trying to get closer, to feel every inch of him.

The tentative hold on her willpower quickly ebbed until all she wanted was this beautiful moment of passion and ecstasy with Eric.

Tension built, and she strained against him, thrusting her hips in time with his. Her muscles tightened, and she bit down on his shoulder to keep from screaming as the mother of all orgasms whipped through her. Her body convulsed, and she gripped his biceps, holding on for dear life.

“Oh, Jesus. Tess. Tess. Tess.” Eric shuddered, burying his face in the curve of her neck. The emotional connection between them right at that moment was something she would never forget.

Wrapping her arms across his back, she held him tightly while his big body continued to shudder, and he rocked into her one last time before resting his head on the pillow over her shoulder.

Unbelievable didn’t cut it. Incredible wasn’t even close, and she knew why.

As much as she willed it otherwise, her emotions were head over heels involved, and she might have just made the biggest mistake of her life.

One night with Eric would never be enough. She’d want him until the end of time.

Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life?

Eric’s heart pounded hard enough to fly right out of his chest. The orgasm that had slammed into him was the most powerful he’d ever experienced. It should have left him sated and rolling over onto his back to fall into a deep sleep. Instead, his mind was fully awake, repeating one question over and over.

WTF just happened?

Tess’s chest rose and fell rapidly beneath his, the thrumming of her heart racing in tandem with his own. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted. The pulse at her neck where he’d dropped so many kisses he’d lost count beat rapidly beneath her smooth, creamy skin. Skin he could lick and suckle for the rest of the night, if she’d let him. God, she was beautiful, and he’d wanted her more than he’d wanted anything or anyone in his life. Which was why he’d almost stopped, and why the irony of it had floored him then as it was doing now.

The most insane thought was fucking with his head.

When he’d told her that he’d been dreaming of her and had wanted her since the moment they’d met, there’d been more to it. So much more.

He’d just plain wanted her. For keeps.

The thought was still there, blinking like a giant neon sign. What really rocked his world was that he hadn’t been scared at all.

He rolled onto his side, tucking her against his chest. Her tiny hand slid over his hip to his ass. Christ, he loved it when she touched him. Anywhere.

Only now did he fully understand the selfishness of what he’d orchestrated. He’d wanted Tess and her brother to stay with him, but not because he’d been afraid Jesse would take off. He’d been afraid that if Jesse took off, Tess would go with him.

His chest tightened. Try as he might, he couldn’t make sense of what he was feeling. The only thing that did make sense was that what had just happened between him and Tess had been right. The way things always should have been between them.

The soft sounds of her breathing against his chest filled him with overwhelming protectiveness. Using his foot, he hiked up the sheets from the bottom of the bed and pulled the covers over them.

A low whine filtered through the door. His dog almost always slept in the same room with him, but he was too tired and too completely satisfied to move a muscle.

He didn’t know where this was going between him and Tess, or what would happen next, but something had altered his perspective and he wanted to find out what it was. The only thing he knew for certain was that he wasn’t ready for her to walk out of his life.

And he wasn’t about to walk out of hers.