A Librarian's Desire (2 page)

Chapter Three

Erica yawned and stretched in bed, then put a hand to her forehead. Her eyes felt like they’d been glued shut. The person responsible had apparently gotten into her head and was now pounding for an exit with a sledgehammer.

What did I do last night?

She sat up, afraid to open her eyes, for fear they’d topple out and roll across the carpet.

“Finally awake?” A male voice made her eyes fly open and her mouth do the same.

She sat on a single bed, in a single room, with a single man.

“Oh my God.” She rolled from the bed, getting to her feet, then held her head when the world spun and her stomach threatened to eject what little it held. She tumbled back to the softness of the bedspread. Sitting on the edge, she held her head between her palms and leaned forward, hoping the vicious man in her head would find his way out before her head exploded completely.

“Drink this.” He held a cup to her lips. “Herbal remedy and old family secret. Cures a hangover really fast.”

She tried to push it away, but when she opened her lips to refuse, the liquid filled her mouth. Hot herbal flavors and something fiery flowed over her tongue, and though her stomach heaved again, it didn’t expel its contents.

“What are you trying to do to me?” She sputtered as she tried to breathe around the burning in her throat.

She peeked at him with one eye closed. Tight jeans, leather jacket, square jaw… He was handsome—devastatingly so—despite the sudden frown. However, it didn’t change the fact that he’d taken advantage of her drunken state. She’d gotten drunk and he’d taken her to his room and…

He shoved the cup at her again, but she pushed it away.

What a cocky—

“Just drink.”

Had he been so insistent the night before?

“You’re a real piece of work.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I was drunk, you ignoramus. You should have been more gentlemanly.”

“Should I have?” His eyebrow rose.

“Yes!” she spat.

“And how exactly would I have done that? By letting Benny take you off into some corner and grope you when you were too drunk to defend yourself? How about if I’d left you passed out in the middle of the party where any guy who came along could’ve grabbed at you while you lie there unconscious? Would that have done it?”

She gathered her shoes from the floor and thanked the hangover gods that her head didn’t spin quite so much this time.

“Oh, so you saved me by bringing me here, did you?” She stomped to the door and flung it open.

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I did.” He followed her out of the room.

She closed her eyes against the bright light.

“Woohoo!”

Her eyes popped open and a dark-haired man with a tattoo of a horned demon on his bare chest smirked at her.

“Nice one, Daniel. She’s hot, in a school teacher kind of way.”

“Shut it, Todd.” The commanding voice behind her only made her quicken her steps.

Todd met her gaze and shrugged. “Sorry.”

She sidestepped him and headed for the stairs, which led out of the fraternity house.

Men in varying stages of undress meandered around the cavernous foyer. A digital clock hung on the wall above the door. Six in the morning? Why were these men up so early after a party? Why couldn’t they have slept in until noon?

She put her head down, hoping no one would recognize her. If any of them told the scholarship committee, they might just revoke her scholarship. Logically, she knew that couldn’t happen, but she couldn’t ignore the irrational feeling.

She hurried out the door and turned into the deserted walkway between the frat house and the neighboring building that led toward her dorm. Light brown brick rushed by, though not fast enough to escape the mistake of the night before. If only she could go back in time and celebrate in a more sensible way. A tub of ice cream instead of countless bottles of beer would be a good start. Avoiding sexy and infuriating frat boys would be another.

Before she got to the midway point along the walkway, a hand closed on her shoulder.

“Is that the thanks I get for keeping you safe?”

He spun her to face him.

“You kept me safe all right. Safe so you could have sex with me while I was drunk.”

“You know, for a lady who looks smart, you sure are dumb.”

Her jaw dropped open, and she let out a squeak of protest.

“I know how far above those lunkheads you are. The instant you stepped into the party, I could see it.”

Her mouth snapped shut. Her brow furrowed. “You what—?”

“So how could you expect me to leave you to pass out on the couch?” He gritted his teeth. “They wouldn’t respect you. Certainly wouldn’t understand how different and special you are. They’d treat you just like any other conquest. Another nameless piece.” His words were a bark, yet no one had ever given her a sweeter compliment.

Does he really feel that way?

Her cheeks warmed. She pressed the back of her hand to one to cool it.

“Oh, and in case you really need it spelled out for you: I. Slept. On. The. Floor.” He tilted his head side-to-side and frowned. “I think I’ve got a permanent crick in my neck because of it.”

Had he really been a gentleman? She couldn’t tell if she’d recently had sex. She didn’t feel any different, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t done it.

His eyebrows lifted. “Not that you didn’t throw yourself at me.”

“I did not!”

“You did.”

He stepped toward her, his dark green eyes flashing, and she backed against the hard brick facade. He pressed his hands to the wall on either side of her head. Her heart fluttered. His chest was a barricade of masculine strength, his arms and hands a powerful cage; but instead of frightening her, it made her warmer still. Much of her earlier discomfort was gone, and if it weren’t for the slight lingering headache and the shock of waking in his room, the moment would have been incredible.

She could feel her cheeks flaming. Maybe she had thrown herself at him last night. Something about him drew her. Even now, her body warmed in response to his assertive male attitude and towering size. Escape might be prudent.

Chapter Four

He leaned down, his head now inches from hers.

“Oh, but you did.”

His eyes blazed, his deep voice oozed sexiness. He seemed to lure her with his every move, his every word… Her lungs couldn’t seem to get enough air. She ran a finger over her throat and tried to calm her breathing.

“And that’s not all.” His mouth hovered just over hers as he spoke the last word. “You told me all your dark secrets.”

His lips met hers, rubbing. A whimper escaped her throat.

“Voyeurism, public sex, costumes.”

Her breath hitched. He was so close that her brain didn’t seem to function properly anymore. He ravaged her mouth. She mewled and put her hands on his chest, intent on pushing him away. Instead, she found herself exploring his tensed muscles.

Protest long forgotten, she leaned in, parting her lips to receive him. She melted under the heat of his kiss. When she’d gotten to the point of forgetting her own name, he pulled away.

“Now try to deny it.” His voice commanded. His body commanded. She couldn’t help but obey. “Kiss me.”

His nostrils flared and his eyes flamed. He kissed her mouth, throat, and shoulders as she bit and licked at his. She wrapped her leg around his thigh and his palms discovered the curves of her body. Her skin tingled beneath his casual study of her form, and her fingers found their way into his hair.

He caressed her breast over the silken material of her blouse, making her arch her back to seek more contact. She pushed her breast into his palm. The desperate need to have his hands, his fingers, on her bare skin was close to unbearable. She wanted him to touch her, to enter her, to make her body shake beneath his.

The scent of him, a woodsy soap mixed with something sweet, made her want to bury her nose into his skin and breathe deep. He even smelled better than the old books she loved so much. Giving in to desire, she kissed his throat, sucking at the stubble. He groaned, then dragged his chin down her neck. The scratchy stubble tickled, yet also made her body shudder with desire.

Dropping her head back against the brick wall of the fraternity house, she offered herself for his exploration. He nipped at the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. Her eyes rolled up, and she bit back a whimper as his fingers moved over her wet panties.

His thick middle finger slipped past the thin material, and inside her slick opening. She pumped her hips into his hand. His mouth left her neck, and she nearly protested. He got to his knees, jerked her panties out of the way, and lifted her leg so it rested on his shoulder.

She pressed a hand to her mouth, biting her finger as his lips covered her clit, and ran her other hand through his wild, sandy-blond hair.

“Oh my…” Her finger muffled her words.

Raw gratification shot through her like a lightning bolt. His finger resumed its exploration and the combination of the two had her hips thrusting and her breath coming in gasps. She shivered. Her muscles tightened, then suddenly everything released.

She curled into him, moaning with the most powerful orgasm she’d ever experienced.

Not waiting for her shudders to subside, he stood, pressing her into the wall again. His finger continued to move inside her, refusing her body a rest from the pleasure, and leaving no time to recover before she started to heat again.

He fumbled for her shirt buttons with a free hand, then growled and shoved his hand into her hair.

“Open your shirt, I want to touch you,” he said against her throat.

His order, combined with the fact that at any moment someone could come along and see them, had moisture flooding her panties again. She grasped a button with trembling fingers, but couldn’t seem to get it open. His mouth and hands were driving her crazy. She needed more contact. Now.

Clutching the material, she ripped the blouse wide open. Buttons clattered against the walls and rolled along the floor. He chuckled, kissed her collarbone, and followed it from her shoulder to the base of her throat.

“I think we’ve found something else you like.” He trailed a tongue down her skin and circled one breast. “Touch me, Rici.” His breath fanned her nipple and it hardened.

Rici…she liked the nickname. It was sexy. She ran a hand over his chest, down his muscular stomach, and further.

She worked the button of his jeans open and slid her hand inside. He was thick, long, and hard as granite. Lifting his mouth from her nipple, he groaned and slid his finger from within her.

“On your knees.”

Her chest constricted, and she got down on her knees before him.

“Reach in my pocket. Take out the condom.”

She dipped two fingers into his pocket, and grasped the condom from inside.

“Kiss me there.”

She stared into his eyes, licking her lips. His hands braced the wall for support as she leaned in and kissed the tip of his cock. His sharp intake of breath made goose bumps rise on her skin. She licked the smooth skin, and kissed the head again.

“The condom,” he ordered.

Her skin tingled at the need in his voice. The underlying moan made her feel powerful, even though she knelt. She ripped the packet open, and rolled the condom down to the base of his shaft.

“Stand up.” He held out a hand for her to take. “I want you now.”

She took the offered hand and stood. He pushed her panties down her legs, using his foot to shove them to the floor.

“Tell me you want me too.” He pressed a hand to the back of her neck beneath her hair. “Beg me to fuck you.”

“Yes.” She squirmed, pressing her legs together to stop the throbbing of her clit. “Please, I need you.”

He shook his head and pulled her face toward his. “Say it.”

“Please fuck me.”

His mouth took hers. She lifted her leg and he slid his hand down her back, over her butt, and grabbed her thigh. His free hand grasped the other, hiking her up until he pressed her between him and the wall. She kissed and bit his neck as he pushed into her inch-by-agonizing inch. Her muscles closed around him, trying to draw him in farther, faster.

She wiggled and jerked, anxious to speed his process.

“Hold still.”

She gripped his back, digging her fingernails into his shoulders. Every muscle shook with the effort to restrain herself. She closed her eyes, enjoying the exquisite bliss and torture of his slow entry.

“Oh yeah,” he said through clenched teeth, finally reaching the end of her. Then, he started to withdraw just as slowly.

Trembling now, she pressed her mouth below his ear.

“Please fuck me.” She whimpered. “I need you inside me, fast and hard.”

He growled and plunged into her, thrusting in and out, rubbing against her G-spot with each drive. She clung to him, rocking her hips in time with his movement. Her glasses flew from her nose, and what remained of the bun came loose. Hair spilled over her shoulders. Her body shook with pleasure, and she threw back her head, once again lost in the shuddering throes of orgasm. His moan muffled against her shoulder and he went still, his cock pulsing deep inside her.

He kissed her softly then lowered her to her feet. Her legs wobbled, and for an instant, she thought she might fall. He buttoned his pants, then picked up her glasses and handed them to her. She settled them over her ears and onto her nose.

“You certainly are interesting… Not to mention very sexy, my little librarian.”

Erica’s mouth dropped open. “How did you know I was taking Library Science?”

He looked her up and down and smiled. “Lucky guess.”

She glanced down at her ripped blouse and wrinkled skirt, then pulled the tattered bits of her shirt together, her cheeks warming. He jerked his jacket from his shoulders and placed it around hers.