Chapter Nine

I wanted to run and scoop her up in my arms. Instead, I walked, closing the gap between us, each step feeling like an eternity.

“May I?”

She nodded, putting her arms over my shoulder. I gripped her hips and pulled her against me. I bent and pressed my mouth against her.

I delved deeper, asking her to open for me. Her lips parted. My tongue swirled with hers, gently biting her plump bottom lip. I drank in her moans. They were fucking delicious.

“You said we shouldn’t,” she gasped, her voice husky, between kisses.

“Will you let me change my mind?”

“I will.” She sucked in a deep breath. “But keep convincing me.”

I sucked on her earlobe. She moaned with approval. When I nipped it, she melted against me. I whispered into her ear, “I’m going to love every beautiful inch of you, Angel.”

I pressed my hands against the thin fabric of her shirt, feeling the rise and fall of her chest. She swung her arms around my shoulder. I pressed her against the wall, finally getting to trace her clavicle with my tongue.

Then Septimus nipped my ankle.

I groaned and pressed my temple against hers. “Can we exile the cat?”

She gave me the dimple-smile and poked my chest. “He’s beginning to like you.”

“He wants to battle me for alpha male and tear my balls off so he can have all of your attention, Angel. I don’t blame him. Although I think I have the advantage with my opposable thumbs and all, but let’s not chance it.” Never underestimate a male in love.

My hand slipped inside the waistband of her skirt, trailing the edges of her panties. I bent toward her ear, whispering my pledge. “The things I want to do to you don’t need an audience, especially one so hostile.”

A blush swept across her clavicle. “Yeah, I get that.” She swooped up the cat and took him out of the room. Septimus gave an argumentative meow, but Scarlett told him to play by himself or maybe with himself. She put her back against the closed door. We stared at each other, every sense on overload, the air so thick with sexual tension that not even a knife, or machete, or chainsaw could cut it.

“Come here,” I said, holding my arms out. She ran, her body slamming into mine with surprising grace. I picked her up and swung her onto her desk.

She lifted her shirt off to reveal a black bra with yellow stripes. Her nipples hardened as my thumbs burnished across the thin fabric of her bra. Grumbling in frustration, I watched her fingers work through each button on my shirt. Why the hell had I picked a button-down shirt? Was I some kind of masochist? I almost ripped it off, craving the feel of her skin on mine. Finally, she shoved the shirt off my shoulders.

Her eyes widened as her fingers ran down my chest. She traced the lines of the leafless tree etched onto my right side.

“Why this?” she asked.

“I saw a tree like this in Central Park. It stuck with me.”

“The shadowing is really in-depth.”

“Thank you. I went to a really good artist.” She moved her hand up to the words etched on the left side of my chest, right where my heart was beating.

“‘Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. Charles Dickens,’” she read, touching each word with her fingertip. “When you chose this, did you pick it based on the author or the quote itself?”

She asked some really deep questions. “Neither.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

I laughed. “It’s hard to focus when you’re touching me like this.”

“Should I stop?” she asked.

I placed my hand over hers before she could move. “Never.” I picked up her hand and kissed the underside of her wrist.

Her face flushed, causing her freckles to disappear for one brief second.

I cleared my throat, hoping I could force out a few coherent words. “I do like Dickens, but I picked this quote for more personal reasons. My mom wrote this line in her journal. I think it’s good advice. I try to live by it.”

“You have a temper that never hardens?”

“That’s the goal, but I don’t think he means temper in the normal sense. It’s more about passion.”

“It’s a nice quote.”

Her fingertips skimmed the hard muscles of my torso. I closed my eyes, both relaxed and frustrated by her touch. Did she see something familiar in my body, too? Clearly, I had an effect on her, but did she feel protected and comforted when I was near?

“Guess it’s not an urban legend,” she said.

“What?” I asked, counting the scattered freckles across the bridge of her nose.

She pulled back, her eyes skimming my lower half. Her hands rested on my hips, her thumbs rubbing the muscular lines below my abs. “The v-spot.”

I chuckled, partially because it tickled. “V-spot?”

“The cut lines on a man’s hips. I’ve seen them but never in person. I thought they were a Photoshop myth. How hard do you have to work to get a pair of those?”

“Very hard.”

Her eyes widened as she circled her hand over the solid black band inked over my left arm. It was about the width of her hand. Her fingers didn’t touch as they went around my bicep. “What made you choose this?”

Shrugging, I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “No idea.”

“Come on.”

“I’m serious.”

“The other ones mean something to you. Are you honestly telling me you don’t know why you picked this of all things to permanently be on your body for all time?”

The thick band of black was something I’d gotten on a whim. It made no sense, not even to me. “There’s no back story. Weird, right?”

“Yeah, it really is.”

“Where is this so-called butterfly I’ve been hearing about?” She didn’t have one in the dreams.

She turned around. On her lower back, there was a bright turquoise butterfly with an intricate yellow pattern on its wings. The artist had drawn it so that it looked in mid-flight. I traced the wings and let out a low whistle.

“It’s beautiful.”

She shivered and leaned back against me. I put my arm around her waist.

“Oh, wow,” she said. “Is that you?” She wiggled her ass.

Fuck. My hard-on was right against her butterfly.

“Yeah.” I took in a sharp intake of breath. “You’re really going to fast-track this if you keep moving your ass like that.”

She turned toward me.

“Are we done exploring?” The question came out much more desperate than I wanted.

She nodded and tugged on the strap of leather across my waist. “Your belt is officially offending me now. May I take it off?”

“Please,” I groaned. Hell, I pleaded or maybe begged her to do it.

Her hands worked the buckle. Her soft hair brushed against my naked shoulder. If this took much longer, I would rip the leather to shreds. Finally, the belt landed with a dull clunk against the shag carpet. I unbuttoned my jeans and kicked the clothes out of the way. I grasped her leg, bringing it up to my hip. I followed its long beautiful curve, caressing the smooth and silky skin all the way to her thigh. Her head rolled back. With one palm pressed against the wall, I hiked her skirt up.

A need to please her rushed through me. I fell to my knees. She lifted herself on her palms. I pulled down her skirt, tossing it across the room where it landed on top of my shirt. Lowering my gaze to her navel, I took in the star-shaped purple belly-button ring. Smiling, I remembered all the different ones I’d seen her wear in dreams. A peace sign, a red heart, a blue infinity symbol. I liked the purple star best. This had to be an omen.

I said a silent thank-you to the Goddess of beautiful girls and belly-button rings as I kissed the area around it.

Her legs hooked over my shoulder. I pressed my mouth to the cotton of her panties. “My guess was correct.”

“Your guess?”

“About the color of your panties.”

“You guessed yellow with purple polka-dots?”

I followed the patterns with my fingers, feeling her arousal through the material. “I guessed they would be pretty, and they are.” I traced all of those tiny circles with my tongue.

She squirmed, reaching for the waistband. Growling, I placed my hand over hers. “Mine.”

“Yours?”

“They are mine to take off. I plan to fuck every inch of you, Scarlett, but I want to savor you first.”

Her eyes widened, the blush spreading across her cheeks. She moved her foot and gently kicked my shoulder. “Then start savoring.”

How she made me laugh at a moment like this, I had no idea. “As you wish.” I gripped her ankle and pulled her legs further apart, kissing the skin between her thighs, going higher, until I started licking. She sucked in a breath.

“Please…”

Not answering her, I slid the patch of material down her long legs and twirled it in my fingers before throwing them on top of my jeans. I didn’t trust myself to speak just now. Whatever little control I had was slipping fast. Pressing my fingers into her hips, I pulled her toward me until she was right at the edge of the desk. My mouth and tongue explored her. I could have lived off the sounds she made. The gentle moans gave way to sharp, demanding pleas. I didn’t just tease her with my mouth or flick her with my tongue. I lapped at her, like a starving man with no shame. My craving for her was stronger than anything I’d ever felt.

“You’re delicious, Scarlett.”

“Jason,” she said, as warm as sand and sunshine.

My name had never sounded so good. She threaded fingers in my hair, gently at first. Then she tugged until the tugs became pulls and pulls transformed to rough yanks.

She came undone. I stood and watched her face as it broke bliss. When she’d finished, I kissed her once more. She tightened her legs around me and pulled me closer. We shed the rest of our clothes.

We stared at each other in the dim light. The rain danced on top of the roof with a softer rhythm now.

“Sweet Jesus, you’re hot,” she said, gaping at me. Her eyes lowered. Her blush deepened. She took my hand and walked us to her bed. The bed dipped with my weight.

I twisted my fingers through her hair. “And you’re beautiful.”

Her hand circled around my shaft. Oh God. Clasping her wrists, I pushed her back against the bed. She stared at me with wide eyes.

“I wanted to make you feel good.”

My mouth sought out hers in soft, apologetic kisses while my mind tried to articulate my hasty actions.

I hovered my lips against her ears, keeping my voice low but hoping it was loud enough to be heard over the escalating decibels of my beating heart. “It’s just if you touch me right now, this will be over quick. I want to stretch it out as long as our bodies will allow. Can you let me have that?”

She didn’t speak, except for the soft moan that escaped her lips, affirming the answer. Finally, I kissed her clavicle. I ventured lower and flicked my tongue over her nipples. The soft flesh hardened in my mouth.

My usually steady hands shook as I took in the familiar sights of her body, giving each delicious inch of her special attention, becoming anxious and excited with every new discovery. The voluptuous curve of her hips bucked as I grasped them, the smooth satin of her creamy skin flushed as I tasted her. I flipped her to her back, kissing down her spine and enjoying the shiver her body made with my advance. I took in every freckle there, knowing for whatever reason that if I connected them, they formed a constellation resembling Pisces. I continued kissing down the back of one leg while caressing the other and doing the opposite on the way back up. She turned around and placed her hand on my cheek. I leaned into it, closing my eyes, grateful for her touch. But I was hungry and greedy to quench the raging need inside of me.

She turned so she lay back again. I leaned in as she stroked my hair. Then she yanked it, pulling me up to her. Her eyes were blazing with energy. “I know you have to be in control, but I can’t take much more. I love foreplay as much as the next girl, but I’m ready for the main course.”

I nodded, feeling the same pain.

Heading north, my tongue forged a path until I reached her mouth. With my eyes closed, I pushed her thighs apart and angled myself to enter her warmth.

I barely had my tip inside of her when she smacked my chest, halting my progress. God, please don’t let this be a dream, I prayed before opening my eyes, but she was still beneath me, warm and soft and full of lust. “Jason.”

“Yes.” I inspected her face closely for any signs of discomfort but saw only the same raw longing I felt.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“You said no more foreplay? Did I misunderstand?” I asked, nuzzling her neck, not sure if I was capable of anything else.

“God no. I’ll literally die of angst if you do any more.”

“Then what is it, beautiful?” I asked, sliding forward.

She smacked her palm against her forehead. “Do you have a condom? For the love of God, please tell me you have a condom.”

“Shit, sorry. Yes, I do.”

How could I be so careless?

My hands didn’t want to work right as they dug through my wallet. I grabbed the gold foil packet before it fell to the ground. And then the rest of my condoms tumbled out.

“Jesus, are you having a cross-country sexual marathon, New York?”

I flexed my jaw, feeling her unease. I offered her a smile I didn’t feel. “I may have forgotten this time…” I smacked my chest. “But I’m always responsible.” I slipped on the protection. “The only marathon I’m running is with you.”

She propped herself on her elbows. “Be prepared. I’m gonna exhaust you,” she said in a throaty murmur.

“Good. Make me work for it, Scarlett.” I grinned wider, sucking in a sharp breath between my teeth. “Make me earn it.”

She crooked a finger toward me. “Get over here.”

I jumped on top of her. She wrapped her long stems around me.

She gasped.

“You okay?”

She nodded but didn’t speak. She just bent her head up and kissed me. At last, we were one. I was inside her, each thrust bringing us closer to the precipice.

I prayed I’d hold out and watch her as she came undone. She enveloped me with her arms and legs.

“Don’t stop!” she commanded when I paused.

I titled her face so she was looking at me. “Don’t come yet.”

But when she sank her teeth into my shoulder, I couldn’t control any kind of pattern. I held her face, drinking in every sensual stare, swallowing every delicious moan.

Watching her as she tightened around me was the most intoxicating thing I’d ever experienced. I wasn’t very far behind. We fell into a warm tangle of arms and legs and beating hearts and satisfied smiles.

It took everything to separate from her. I kissed her softly.

“You okay?” I asked, checking in.

She nodded, a sleepy smile on her face.

“Bathroom?”

“Down the hall,” she said.

I cleaned up, and when I came back, she was under the sheets, lifting the other side for me. She rested her head on my chest, and then, as if that wasn’t enough, she shifted her body so she was on top of me, creating the warmest, softest blanket in the world. In the moonlight, I could just make out the tear-shaped birthmark on her upper right arm. I’d seen it somewhere before in a dream.

She lifted her hand and checked her watch. I undid the band, kissing the underside of her wrist before depositing it on the nightstand. “Why do you keep looking at the time?”

“Just curious how much longer we have.” Her mouth turned down. “It’s almost morning.”

I kissed her forehead, gathering the courage to ask her to sacrifice for me…for us. I had no right to it, but I couldn’t just step aside while she slipped out of my life. “I have a big ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s really selfish, but will you consider putting off your trip for a week and spending that time with me?”

“What’s the use?“ She frowned. “The more time I spend with you, the harder it will be to say goodbye. I feel that already.”

She echoed my frame of mind perfectly. I would have followed her, but it seemed way too stalkerish. Besides, there was something right about being in Serenity with her. There had to be a reason I’d made it down here in the nick of time before she’d left. I couldn’t chalk that up to coincidence.

“We just met, but you can’t deny we have something between us. You feel it, too. All I’m asking is that you explore it with me. A week maybe…just a week. I would never ask you to give up your dream.”

“Okay, so play this out with me. What happens if I end up really liking you?”

I twirled a strand of her hair. “You already really like me.”

“Yeah and it’s sort of scaring the hell out of me. You know what I’m asking. What if I want more at the end of the week?”

“I’ll go to Nashville with you. But only if you’ll have me. You set the terms, Scarlett. Just give us a chance.”

“You would do that?”

“Yeah, I would. But only if we both decide it’s right.”

She was quiet for a while, laying her head against me. Water dripped from the roof gutters. A car drove over rough gravel. Somewhere, close by, a very loud frog croaked. I stroked her hair. My nerves twisted in anticipation.

She got up, scrambling off the bed. “I need ice cream.” She scrounged around the room for a shirt and found mine. It was long on her, reaching just above her knees. She left all the buttons undone.

She’d either free me or kill me.

Scarlett came back with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Nutty Caramel Swirl and a spoon. Sitting cross legged on the bed, she opened the container and fed me the first bite.

“Are you going to keep torturing me?”

“I’m thinking.” She took another spoonful, turning the spoon in her mouth.

“Do you want to let me in on your thinking process?” I grabbed her watch off the nightstand, holding it up to her. “We’re against the clock.”

“You know I rescheduled my ticket twice. The first time was three months ago. I decided I needed to save some more money. The second time, I decided I wanted to see the turtles leave for their lost year. I had this weird need to help them get to the ocean again. I almost rescheduled my trip again because…”

“Why?”

She turned to me. “It’s not important.”

I took her hand and squeezed it. “It is to me.”

“There was a ceremony I wanted to go to. Anyway, this is a hard choice to make. I feel like someone is whispering in each ear, and both arguments make sense.”

“The angel and the devil?”

She shook her head. “No, they’re both me.”

“Two angels then. What are they saying?”

Her hands began to fidget. I took the carton from her. She started braiding her hair. On the third braid, she finally spoke. “One says I am not some weak girl who changes her plans because she met a boy. A boy she’s known for less than a day. Who does that?”

“What about the other girl?”

“She’s saying if I say good-bye to you, I’ll always wonder for the rest of my life…what if?”

“For the record, I like the second girl. She seems incredibly intuitive.”

She laughed, bringing her face close to mine. I lifted the spoon to her mouth. She closed her eyes, her mouth moving slowly in obvious enjoyment. My dick jerked like a surprise guest I hadn’t expected to return so soon. She took the spoon from me, feeding me another bite.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” she asked.

I shrugged, arching a brow. “I’ve tasted sweeter tonight.”

She wiggled the empty spoon against the air, her lips pursed tightly to keep the smile at bay. “Naughty boy.”

“Wicked girl.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, a week I can live with, but you have to accept that I am going. If this doesn’t work out, I’m going alone. Got me?”

My body flooded with relief. “I promise.”

“We’ll just have a week. No guarantees and no expectations. And if I decide to go, you let me without argument.”

I lifted my hand and placed it across her heart. “I promise.”

“You’re supposed to do that over your heart.”

I nodded, shifting my hand to my own chest acknowledging I’d made a mistake, but the truth was I hadn’t. Her heart meant more to me.

She kissed my cheek. “We should go to bed, Flynn. It’s almost time to get up.”

“You called me Flynn. Does that mean we’re friends, Texas?”

“After that, I think we’re something more, but I don’t really know what it is just yet. Let’s not label this. Let’s just let it play out.”

“Fine by me.”