Way to Her Heart

chapter 7

His hands slid down to cup her butt, and he lifted her easily as her legs went around his waist. Their mouths opened as one and their tongues started the sensual thrust and stroke that began the dance. The heat rose as Lucas walked with her into the living room. He went to the sofa and lowered their bodies so that he was lying on a pile of throw pillows with her slim body on top of his. Their mouths were still connected as his hands became acquainted with her body. He was touching her everywhere as the kiss gradually ended. Sherri’s hands were equally busy until she lifted her head and looked at him quizzically.

“How did we end up here?”

“I didn’t know how to get to your bedroom,” he admitted.

“I can show you,” she murmured. “Let’s go.”

Moments later they had gone up the stairs and entered her pretty bedroom with the taupe walls and champagne-colored duvet and curtains. The only light in the room was the moonlight filtering in through the sheers. It was more than enough for him to see their surroundings. There were peach and coral pillows on the king-size bed and window seat that matched a small velvet armchair and matching ottoman in the corner. The room was feminine and sexy, but it could have been a hunting cabin with a cot and Lucas wouldn’t have cared. He was where he’d wanted to be for a long time and his total focus was on Sherri. Interior decoration was nowhere on his radar at the moment. All he cared about was the sexy woman who was taking off her sandals while he watched.

Her belt came next. He was fascinated by the slow precise way she undid the buckle before gracefully removing it. He pulled his own shirt free of his jeans and unbuttoned it while she did the same to hers.

She stopped before removing her linen shirt and gave him a self-deprecating grin. “I have to warn you about something,” she said softly.

He met her eyes.

“I don’t own any fancy underwear,” she confessed. “It’s all basic white cotton.” She opened her blouse to reveal a plain white bra. A few seconds later, the matching bikini panties came into view as she divested herself of her shorts. It looked as cute as hell to Lucas; he’d had a lot of experience with the Victoria’s Secret crowd and none of them had looked as sexy as she did right now.

His shirt fell to the floor and his jeans and boxers joined it as he held out his hand to Sherri. “You look perfect to me. Come here and let me show you just how gorgeous you are.”

She put her long, slim hand into his and sighed as he pulled her into his arms. They held each other tightly until she gasped with surprise when she realized that he’d unhooked her bra and it was dangling from his fingertips.

“Wow. You’re good.”

“You have no idea,” he growled, lifting her up once again. He managed to pull back the duvet and placed her on the huge firm bed. Before he joined her he reached in the pocket of his jeans and pulled out the condoms he’d taken to carrying at all times.

They reached for each other at the same time, each one touching the other the way they’d wanted, exploring the feel of each other’s bodies. He bent his head to her breasts, taking one in his mouth, tasting her hardened nipple for the first time. Her fingers slid into his thick, wavy hair and she held him in place, sighing with pleasure while Lucas demonstrated his dexterity again by removing her panties in one smooth motion. His fingers eagerly explored her femininity, finding her wet. She moaned softly, and he turned his attention to her other breast, lavishing the tender tip with his tongue, then applying a firm suction that made her sounds of pleasure louder.

When he felt the moisture between her legs start to flow, the movements of his fingers became more deliberate. He stroked her over and over until her hips began to move and he felt her inner walls tighten. His mouth started traveling down her body, licking and tasting every inch of her. When he knew she was starting to climax, his mouth replaced his fingers and he held her hips while he treated her to the most intimate kiss possible, using his tongue and his lips to coax her to a series of orgasms that made her cry out in release. He couldn’t stop tasting her, drinking her, devouring everything that made her a woman. She tasted like strawberries. All he knew at that moment was that he wanted to do this to her as often as possible. Giving her pleasure was the only thing he wanted.

He finally relented and began to kiss his way back up to her mouth while she trembled all over from the sweet torture. He rolled over onto his back and brought her on top of him, holding her close. As the rapid beating of her heart gradually slowed, she rubbed her face against his chest while her hand moved up and down against his hot skin. It was her turn to learn his body, to learn what brought him pleasure. She brought her hand down to his manhood, exploring his huge erection. Her hand slid up and down, cupping him gently yet firmly. He reached for a condom and she took it from him, rolling it on. Now it was time for them to become one.

Lucas held her hips and guided her on top. She gripped his shoulders as he entered her body, gasping aloud as he gradually filled her to the brim. It took them a moment to find the right rhythm and after that their passion took over and the real mating began. One push turned into another and another, and they rocked back and forth in a heated frenzy. Lucas was taken over by Sherri in a way he’d never experienced with another woman. She was hot and sweet. He felt the explosion coming before he was ready to finish. He held her smooth hips as she moved against him, and he groaned her name aloud. When she tightened on his manhood, their voices mingled in a shattering climax that sent waves of satisfaction over both of them. This time they collapsed, wet with fulfillment and totally happy. It was a long time before either one of them could speak.

“Did I hurt you?” He stroked her hair as she slowly rubbed her face against his chest.

“Absolutely not.” Sherri sighed. “That was amazing, Lucas.”

“You’re amazing, sweetheart.”

She gave a soft, sleepy laugh. “I love the way you say that word. When you call me that I think I really am your sweetheart.”

“You are,” he answered, but she didn’t hear him; she had drifted into sleep.

* * *

After the loving was a classic opportunity for embarrassment, regrets and the time-dishonored walk of shame, but none of those things happened. After sleeping in each other’s arms, Sherri was awakened by Lucas with a repeat performance that left her more than satisfied. They showered together, shared grilled cheese sandwiches and finished the rest of their wine. They saw no reason to not go back to bed. This time was more romantic—Sherri had lit some candles and Lucas put on some sexy jazz. They talked and made love until sleep claimed them again.

He had to leave early the following day because he was working the early shift at Seven-Seventeen. Before he left, he fixed breakfast for Sherri and brought it to her in bed. He kissed her goodbye and told her he would call her later. She felt well-rested and relaxed. The profound sense of well-being made her smile.

It had been a long time since she’d been with a man. Trevor’s obnoxious behavior after finding out that she was pregnant had soured her on men, even though she’d denied the idea when her friends brought it up. She’d always told them that she was waiting for Sydney to get older before she tried the dating scene again, but it was a half-truth. She had truly loved Trevor, or at least that was what she’d thought at the time. Finding herself pregnant and alone as she began her internship had been devastating and difficult.

There had been times when she didn’t think she was going to be able to accomplish her goals and still have a healthy, happy baby, but she had. The fact that her parents had turned their backs on her when she refused to abort her child or give it up for adoption could have crushed her spirit permanently, but with the loving support and assistance of her friends and their mothers, she’d made it through the toughest part of her life so far. Doing without male companionship wasn’t a sacrifice at all. She felt fulfilled with Sydney. Her life was balanced between caring for her child and her medical practice, and she was satisfied. No matter what Alexis and Emily said about the need for her to have a social life and a sex life, Sherri was happy with the way things were. At least she had been until Lucas had entered her life.

Just the thought of him made her glow inside and out. He was good to look at; that was undeniable. The way his green eyes lit up when he smiled always made a little thrill race down her spine. He was also sexy as hell. She’d known that from the first time he held her hand, and last night had only served to underscore everything she’d sensed about his prowess. Trevor had been her first and only lover, and compared to Lucas he’d been like a teenager fumbling around in the backseat of his father’s car. There was absolutely no way to compare the experience she’d shared with Lucas to what she’d had with the man who’d fathered her child—no way in this world.

Lucas was kind and thoughtful and he treated her daughter like a little princess. He was the type of man who’d make a wonderful family man if he ever decided to settle down. There wasn’t anything about him that she didn’t like, from his easy conversation to the genuine warmth of his personality. They might have just moved into the friends-with-benefits stage, but his presence in her life was a wonderful, albeit surprising change in her life and she was going to enjoy it for as long as it lasted.

After her breakfast she decided to take a long bubble bath before going to get Sydney from Alexis’s house. Once the bedroom had been returned to its normal pristine condition, she got dressed and took a good look in the mirror at the finished result. Even to her own critical eye, she looked good. There was something to be said for sharing a night of lovemaking with a handsome man. Emily and Alexis had been right about one thing for sure—she’d been denying herself for too long and that was a mistake she wasn’t going to make again.

She opened the front door, and to her surprise there stood Alexis, her finger poised to push the doorbell. Sydney was standing next to her, holding Sookie’s and Honeybee’s leashes. All three of them were giving her big happy smiles and they looked totally adorable, like a greeting card.

“Hello, ladies. I was just coming to get Sydney. Did you have fun yesterday? Were you a good girl?”

“Yes, I was, Mommy. We had a lot of fun. We’re going outside,” she added as she and the dogs came in the front door and took off for the dining room to get out on the deck.

Alexis also entered the condo, but she paused to give Sherri a pretty gift bag and a smug smile. “I think it’s time for a little girl talk, don’t you?”

Sherri had to laugh as she bowed to the inevitable. “Come on in the kitchen and I’ll make you some coffee. I was wondering when you’d ferret your way all up in my business.”

“And you know this,” Alexis said. “It’s a BFF prerogative.”