All the Right Moves

chapter 10

CASSIE TOUCHED HIS CHEST with the reverence it deserved. So much warm flesh, hard muscle; the man took care of himself. She drew her hand down to his belly, flat and firm with just enough muscle to keep it that way. “Do you have to work out for your job?”

“Cassie?”

It wasn’t easy...she had so much to look at...but she lifted her gaze. His eyes were dark and full of purpose. “What?”

He raised his hands. “I can’t unbutton you while you’re doing that.”

“Give me a minute.”

“It’s just a chest,” he said. “Every guy has one.”

She laughed, which didn’t help either her exploration of his chest or the unbuttoning of her blouse.

John looked down at her with one raised brow.

“After you have more blood going north, you’ll understand,” she said. Then she took over button duty, enjoying the view as John undid his belt.

“Done.” She let her blouse fall to the floor and smiled in victory. The raw hunger in his eyes made her swallow, though, and flex her hands as she fought the urge to cover herself. Although why she’d want to do that when he approved so demonstrably, she’d never understand.

His gaze skimmed her bare breasts, swept up to her face and surprisingly stayed there. He touched her cheek before lifting a lock of her hair. Smiling, he watched the strands sift through his fingers. His focus returned to her breasts. As he rubbed his thumb over her hard nipple she could see the struggle for control in the flex of his jaw and his flaring nostrils.

“I knew they’d be perfect,” he murmured, and kissed her shoulder as his hands moved down to her jeans.

Arousal flushed her entire body. The feel of his warm lips brushing soft kisses up the side of her neck made her dizzy. When he retraced the path and headed for her right breast, she clung to his waist for support, digging her fingers into his jeans, feeling her way to the snap. She unfastened it, then couldn’t maneuver the rest. “Wait, wait,” she said, breathless from his tongue and teeth doing amazing things to her peaked nipples. He wouldn’t listen so she shoved at him until he looked up at her as if she were the most horrible person on earth. “I’m having trouble—you’ll have to take them off yourself.”

He already had her pants halfway down her thighs, and he stared at the front of her tiny red thong instead of doing as she asked.

Hoping it would get him moving, she got down to panties in record time. He took longer, but only because he had to be careful with his zipper. He made up for it by taking off his boxers along with his jeans. She hurried around to squeeze between the bed and the wall to pull back the covers.

As long as she lived, Cassie would never forget the sight of his aroused body. Mind-blowing didn’t describe how stunning he was in the raw. Those broad shoulders, a muscular chest that tapered to a flat, slim stomach. His thighs were an athlete’s and his erection exceptional. Her gaze swept over him from head to knee and back again. She was used to sevens or eights, and John was an eleven and three-quarters.

With a humph from the opposite side of the bed, John took over the task of yanking off the bedding. Which was good because she was busy.

“Do you have condoms?” she asked, the sudden thought jolting her. “Please tell me you do. Because I don’t.”

He seemed mildly surprised, then fished two packets out of his wallet. “They’re right here,” he said, setting them on the thrift-store cherry nightstand. “In case I forget.”

“Are you planning on losing your short-term memory?” she asked.

His gaze touched her breasts, then ran down to her thighs, his mouth curving up. “Along with all my other higher functions.”

Oh, God. She crawled onto the mattress, absurdly happy that she’d sprung for a top-notch bed. “Why were you surprised I don’t have condoms?”

“Was I?”

“Come on.”

“I honestly don’t remember thinking anything. Short-term memory issues.” He kissed her mouth and toyed with the elastic of her panties. “Let’s get rid of this.”

She’d forgotten about the thong. Before she could take care of it, he moved down to kiss her belly. She tensed, waiting to see where he’d kiss next as he pulled down the red silk. His moist breath bathed the skin at the top of her thighs. Next came his lips, his teeth, the tip of his tongue...until she interrupted to help him draw the panties to her ankles. She used her toes and heel to speed the process. It wasn’t fair that she couldn’t touch him. She wanted to very badly.

“Come here,” she said, then added, “Please,” when his slow smile told her he had no intention of hurrying.

“What’s the rush?” He dragged the backs of his fingers up the inside of her thigh, and laughed when she clamped her legs together.

She didn’t care if he found out she was wet; she simply didn’t want it all to end in two minutes. “The reason I don’t have condoms,” she said, lifting her shoulders off the mattress and curling up until she could almost reach him, “is because I’ve been too busy for...this...”

“I’m honored you made time for me.”

“You should be.” She closed her hand around his cock, and the humor left his face.

His strained expression and low moan warned her to be careful or they’d both climax too soon. Leaning back, she stared at the thick hard flesh in her hand. She stroked him, following the upward curve with a light grip that made him pulse against her palm.

“Look who’s impatient now,” she teased, but payback was swift as he rolled, forcing her to release him, and then hovered over her, using his knee as a wedge between her thighs.

“What was that?” He gave her a sly grin as he stretched out, his leg pinning one of hers beneath him.

“Get off, you brute.” Her smile undercut her words.

“Brute? Are you kidding? I’m a sweetheart.” He didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he lifted her chin and took her mouth in a searing kiss that eased into a languid exploration.

Surprisingly, once she’d gotten over the abrupt change, she liked the slow, tense buildup of heat, although sooner rather than later, he’d better start revving things up.

As if he’d read her mind he moved his lips to the base of her throat, planting a kiss at the top of her breast before he sucked a nipple into his mouth. He used just the right amount of pressure and suction to make her quiver, make her want to beg him to ease the burning need inside her. But she wouldn’t, not yet.

Gripping his shoulders, she inhaled his scent, clean and as masculine as the muscles that flexed under his warm skin. Try as she might, with him still teasing her breasts, she couldn’t reach far enough down to get a grip on his amazing butt.

Balancing himself on his left elbow, he retraced the path on the inside of her thigh until she held her breath, waiting, desperate for him to touch her. She moved her hips against his erection, taking satisfaction in his groan. He lifted his head, and the moment seemed to freeze. He didn’t move, just watched her face.

She wasn’t sure what was happening, and then gasped at the invasion of his finger sliding into her damp heat. Her shoulders came up off the mattress and she couldn’t seem to catch her next breath. He pushed in deeper, and rubbed her with his thumb.

“No,” she said. “No. No. No.”

He stopped. Everything.

“Oh, God, no, it’s just...” She still couldn’t seem to catch her breath. “Not yet.”

His expression changed in an instant. The intensity returned as his desire flared. He reentered her with two fingers. Found the sensitive nub.

She bucked and clenched, which made everything worse. “You bastard.”

“Don’t fight it.” His heated breath washed over her still-damp nipple. “I’m not going to stop at one.” Surging up, he kissed her lips, parted them with his tongue and thrust in rhythm with his fingers.

Eyes shut, Cassie reached for him, but the pressure got to be too much. Everything inside her tightened. She arched against his hand, her body tensing, her breath held. When she came, she bucked so hard it dislodged his fingers. Another spasm hit, not as strong, but more than she expected. He was hot and it had been a while for her, but that didn’t explain her body’s reaction.

His tongue tracing a line down her torso made her open one eye. He kissed her tummy, then dipped his tongue into her belly button. When he would’ve slid lower, she grabbed his hair where it was longer on top and lifted his head up. His eyes were dark and hooded, sexier than he had any right to be. “Condom,” she said, her voice shaky. “Now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She released his hair, and when he wouldn’t move, gave him a shove. “Oh, my God. I’ve never...”

He kept his slow-eyed gaze on her as he reached for the packet. “You’ve never what?”

“Come more than once. I just don’t.”

He returned to his position above her. “We’ll have to see about that.”

God, he was hard and thick. And hot.

It was his turn to jerk when she rubbed her thumb over the slick tip of his erection. Moving out of her reach, his gaze so dark and piercing she had another after-quake, she watched him slide on the condom.

Her legs spread eagerly and he settled between them with a groan that made her squeeze all the parts of herself she could. She wondered if he were this focused when he strapped himself into his jet, making sure everything was ready for takeoff. The idea was surprisingly sexy.

He rose above her again, leaning on one arm as he guided himself into her, catching and holding her gaze. “Oh, hell, Cassie,” he said, teasing her name out low and slow as he pushed inside.

She grabbed the headboard above her head, bracing herself for his entry. He never once looked away from her eyes as he gritted his teeth and drove into her with a powerful thrust that tore a cry from her throat.

Her right hand went to his forearm. With the other she clutched a pillow and wound her legs around his hips. He started to plunge deep, only to pull almost all the way out before doing it again. The pleasure sent waves through her, starting at her center then spreading with the rhythm of oceans, the strength of tides.

Part of her wanted to look down, to roll her head on the pillow, to stop staring, but she was captivated. It didn’t stop her from moaning, though, or biting her bottom lip, or calling out when the rogue waves hit.

It was unlike anything that had happened to her before. She never realized that sex had a certain sameness, that she’d come to think of it as a piece, separate from the man she was with, but this...this had everything to do with John.

They were connected. Physically, but way more than that. “Oh,” she said, as if that small word could explain it. When she tried for more, it made her blink, so she stopped.

She grew hot in increments. Again, from where he thrust into her, then outward. As if he’d set her blood on fire with a slow match. A prickling sort of heat sparked her nerve endings. God, she didn’t know what was happening. It wasn’t pressure as much as sheer pleasure that kept building. She wasn’t even sure if it was his hand making her feel...

The orgasm overtook her. Her eyes closed.

This was different. Sound muffled, the sheets rubbed against her skin, his weight kept her from floating away, and the tremors, lord, they weren’t waves but pounding surf.

Somewhere in the outer world, he stopped and a sound from deep in his throat broke through. It took a long while to come back from wherever she’d gone. Until the world focused again, and she could breathe without gasping.

John held her in his arms. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her gently, savoring rather than taking. Making Cassie feel safe. Safer than she’d felt in a long time.

* * *

HIS ARM WAS still around her when Cassie opened her eyes, and her cheek was pressed against his lightly haired chest. Something else new for her. She liked having her space, especially in summer when it was warm even with the air on. She also didn’t like bringing men home. When it came to John, it seemed she was willing to break all kinds of rules.

They’d both dozed off sometime around 2:00 a.m., which was good. At least for Cassie. She needed the sleep. Her last exam was tomorrow and tonight she had to work. As much as she hated to, she moved her head to see the digital alarm clock. Only five-twenty. She didn’t have to kick John out for a few more hours. It wouldn’t be easy, but she had little choice if she wanted to get in some serious studying.

He tightened his hold. “How long have you been awake?”

“Just now. I woke you when I looked at the clock, didn’t I?”

“Nope.” He rubbed her arm, his fingers grazing her bare breast. “I’ve been lying here for ten minutes trying to decide how cruel it would be to wake you.”

“For?”

John laughed and kissed her hair.

“Need I remind you we already used the second condom?” She threw a leg over his, not surprised to find he was getting hard.

“I’m a pretty creative guy.” He rolled onto his side so they were face-to-face and put his other arm around her, too. “Did I tell you how great you were last night?”

Startled, she looked up at him and laughed.

“At the party.”

“Oh.”

“Because after we got home, you were spectacular.”

He kissed the tip of her nose, then briefly kissed her lips before resting his chin on top of her head. She liked that her cheek ended up against his chest again. Loved that she felt the vibration of his deep, contented sigh.

“So, I was wondering. How come you’re so tan?”

“All the topics in the world and you come up with why am I so tan?”

“I couldn’t help it. That adorably pale butt was mesmerizing.”

She raised her head to stare at him. “Because you think it’s adorable, and only because of that, I’ll tell you. I’m tan from my weekly spa day. I try to fit in a spray tan between my mani-pedi and facial.”

The way he looked at her was priceless. “Now who’s adorable? Yard work, goofus. I mow the grass and weed in my swimsuit.”

“Lucky neighbors.”

“Most of them are over seventy. They wouldn’t care if I were naked.”

“Here I thought you were smart,” he said, his face lit with amusement. “You don’t have a clue about men.”

“The hell you say. I’m around enough of them.”

“When it comes to a naked woman, as long as a man is breathing—”

“Stop.” She groaned, squeezing her eyes shut. “Thanks for that— Just what I need, to picture Ed Gibbons from next door leering at me through the blinds...eww.”

He captured her hand and only then did she realize she’d been inching toward his cock. “When is yard-work day?”

“Why?” She peeked at him through half-closed eyes. “Do you want to help?”

“Depends. You ever wear a thong bikini?”

Laughing, Cassie tried to twist out of his hold.

He used the distraction to slide down and kiss her breast. He teased her nipple with his teeth and tongue, and she dug her fingers into his shoulder. The rough feel of his stubble against her skin sent pleasure shimmering through her. Already she was damp, and damn it, why didn’t she have a box of condoms stashed?

After giving her other breast equal attention, he kissed his way back up to her face. “Any chance you’ll be off tonight?”

“None.” She finger-combed his hair off his forehead. And smiled when it tumbled back down. “Even if I didn’t go in, it wouldn’t be so I could play.”

“You have to crack the books.”

“Yep, but tomorrow is my last exam, which is awesome. The bad news is that my professor wrote the textbook we used this semester, so I’d better know the material inside and out.”

“Can you get off early to study?”

“I’m hoping to, but only if Tommy steps up. I’m not counting on it.” She wanted to kick herself for adding the last part. Her brother had his good qualities. She didn’t want John thinking he was a total jerk. “I probably haven’t made it clear that it’s important I have the time off. But I will, and he’ll pitch in.”

John didn’t believe her. She saw the mix of pity and irritation in his eyes. But he left the matter alone. “Is there anything I can do to help? Quiz you? Stimulating massage?”

“Oh, right, that’ll work.”

“What?” His mouth curved in a guilty smile.

“Don’t ‘what’ me.” She ducked her head to rub her cheek against him, mostly to hide her pleased blush. He seemed to really want to see her again. It could’ve easily gone the other way so she’d tried to not get her hopes up. “Last night...” she said. “You were pretty great yourself.”

He hesitated. “At the party?”

“Actually, yes,” she said. “Not that you weren’t great back here, but I meant at the party...when I told your friends that I’m a bartender.”

“What’s that?” He nudged her into looking up. “I don’t recall saying anything.”

She petted his chest. “Didn’t you want to explain bartending is temporary, and I’m a grad student?”

“No.” He looked puzzled. “Why would I?”

“So they know I don’t plan to work behind a bar the rest of my life.”

“Why would you care what they think?”

“Not me. You.”

John frowned at her, then rolled back to glance at the clock. “I work with those guys. That’s it. I don’t owe them anything.” He faced her again with a smile. “Now, making the best use of our time? That concerns me.” He brushed the hair off her cheek. “I figure you’ll be throwing me out soon.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Then we better get busy.”

Of all things, Gwen’s words popped into Cassie’s head. Her insistence that Cassie wasn’t wife material. Why would he care what anyone thought when he was only looking for a good time during his leave?

John slid down to kiss her breasts, then just below her rib cage. By the time he got to the top of her thighs, she’d lost her train of thought.