Blue Ribbon Summer (The Baltimore Banners Book 3) (11 page)

Ian looked over at Kayli, illuminated in the dim light of the garage as the door closed behind them. She looked around, her eyes widened in surprise, then over at him.

"You have a McMansion. And an Escalade."

"A mac what?"

She shook her head, a faint tinge blushing her cheeks as she looked away. He leaned across the tiny interior of the Shelby, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek and turn her face toward his. He lowered his mouth to hers in a soft kiss, refusing to let it get deeper for fear that he'd go after her right here in the front seat of the small sports car.

He had been waiting for this all night--hell, for the last few days, no, make that weeks--and he'd be damned if he screwed it up now. He wanted to make love to her, to take his time and romance and woo her.

But it was so hard to wait when she clung to him that way, her mouth surrendering to his, a soft sigh escaping her. Ian pulled away with a groan and pushed open the driver's door, then ran around and opened her door before she could do more than blink in surprise. He grabbed her hand and helped her out, then led her through the garage to the door of the house.

He restrained himself from hurrying. Barely. All he had to do to forget himself was look at her, so he tried not to.

Which didn't work, either. Not when she looked the way she did. He thought it was funny how self-conscious she had seemed all night. She really had no idea how many heads had turned her way, how many threatening looks he had tossed at different men throughout the night.

That included two of his teammates. Hell, even Alec hadn't been completely immune, which had earned both of them a humorous look from AJ.

Kayli was beautiful. Wholesome and genuine and real and...beautiful. She had a natural glow that came from within, an inner light that drew Ian to her, made him want to claim and protect and shelter her.

Not that she needed protection. She was independent and strong and straightforward and stubborn, not afraid to speak her mind or do what needed to be done. But that only made him want to protect her more. To claim her, to make her his own.

He couldn't stop the smile on his face at the thought, knowing that Kayli would become so indignant if she knew what he was thinking. Yes, her feathers would be just as ruffled as those of some of the hens she kept at her place if she knew what he was thinking. 

"What's so funny?" Kayli asked as he finally unlocked the connecting door and pushed it open. Then he wasn't smiling anymore because he pulled her in after him, kicking the door closed as he wrapped his arms around her and crushed her to him, his mouth descending on hers with the hunger he had been holding back all night.

Kayli clung to him, molding her pliant body against his as he deepened the kiss even more, as he swept his tongue inside her sweet mouth, searching, learning, conquering. Her soft curves pressed against him, sweet torture to the hard-on he had been unsuccessfully fighting the entire night. His hands drifted down her bare arms and around to her back, his fingers tangling in the soft strands of her honey-colored hair. He tilted her head back and ran his mouth down the curve of her neck to the tender spot just above her shoulder. She immediately rewarded him with a soft moan that almost undid the last of his restraint, and he had to push himself away from her, had to before he was completely helpless to go further into the house.

"God Kayli, I want you so much. Right now."

Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the heated daze of beautiful hazel eyes focused solely on him. The breath left him in a rush and he crushed his mouth to hers again for another deep kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and he broke the kiss long enough to lean down and scoop her up in his arms.

She breathed a small squeal of surprise as her arms tightened around him, then she cradled her head against his chest as he carried her through the house and up the stairs to his room. One of her shoes fell off halfway up, and he reached over and pulled the other one off, tossing it on the floor just outside his room.

Then he pushed the door open, his eyes steady on hers as he lowered her to the floor, her body slowly inching its way down his in sweet torture until she was standing. He leaned down to give her a soft kiss then stood back, watching as the dazed expression in her eyes wore off enough for her to notice her surroundings.

She slowly turned to the side, enough for her to look around while he watched her face. Her eyes widened then briefly filled with moisture that she quickly blinked away. Her mouth opened in a small O that she covered with one hand as she took everything in. Her reaction was worth every bit of planning and every penny to see.

The room was filled with roses, bouquet after bouquet on every surface that wasn't covered with burning candles, even on the floor. Rose petals covered the comforter of his king size bed, laid out in the shape of a heart. A stand with an ice bucket and a chilled bottle of wine glowed in the candlelight next to the bed, and two crystal glasses stood on the nightstand, waiting.

Ian closed the door behind him with a soft click then grabbed the remote from the side table and hit a button. Soft music filled the room, the volume perfect for the romantic setting. He put the remote back and took a step toward her, still watching, waiting for her to say something.

He cleared his throat, suddenly nervous, thinking that maybe he had overdone it because she still didn't say anything. He went to take another step toward her then stopped, suddenly unsure of himself. "Do you like it?"

"Do I--?" Kayli turned toward him, her eyes still wide in surprise. "Ian, it's...oh my God, I've never seen...never even imagined...do I like it? Oh my God, how can you even ask..."

He let out the breath he had been holding on a small laugh, certain now that she did like it, that he really had surprised her. He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms, clasping her hand in his and resting it against his chest as he led her in a slow dance. She gazed up at him, her eyes filled with emotion.

"I didn't think guys ever did things like this."

He laughed again and shook his head. "They don't. I don't think. Unless they're crazy and trying to impress someone." He was trying to sound casual, to keep it light between them. Kayli gave him an odd look then a bright smile.

"Then you must definitely be crazy."

And suddenly Ian didn't want to keep it light. He didn't want her to think...whatever she was thinking. He didn't want her to think this was just a casual whim or a fancy seduction. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers for a brief kiss, then pulled away just enough for her to see his unguarded eyes.              

"I am definitely crazy. I'm crazy for you, Kayli. I've never done anything like this before, for anyone. I never wanted to. But for you...anything." It was as close as he could get to putting into words whatever this thing was that he was feeling, which was something he hadn't yet been able to think too much about. Kayli's clear eyes locked onto his, and he wondered what she saw, just as he wondered what it was in her eyes that he was seeing.

And then it didn't matter, because she was leaning into him, lifting herself up until her lips brushed softly against his, once, twice, before her mouth closed over his. Ian stopped moving to the music and just held her as the kiss grew and deepened, as her hands came between them and brushed his jacket to the sides. He shrugged it off and let it drop to the floor as her fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one. She tugged on the material, finally untucking the shirt and undoing the last button.

Ian clenched his jaw tight and tilted his head back when she trailed her mouth along his jaw and down his neck. Her fingers brushed against his chest as she spread the sides of his shirt apart then reached up and dragged the material down both of his arms, her lips still grazing his skin, trailing fire, burning him wherever they touched.

Her hands roamed lower, moving slowly to undo his belt then the button of his pants. Her palm grazed down the hard length of his erection then slowly back up before she grabbed the zipper and eased it down. Ian's breath left in a rush and he clenched his jaw even tighter as she eased her hands inside the waistband of his shorts and slowly inched them down past his hips. His erection sprung free and she immediately captured it in her hand, smoothing her palm up and down his hard length, slowly at first, then wrapping her whole hand around him and pumping him with long steady strokes that made him groan.

Her lips trailed kisses further down his chest, to his stomach, to his hip bone where she gently nibbled. Then, shit, she was on her knees in front of him, her mouth closing over him, her sweet hot mouth, taking all of him in, her tongue probing and stroking.

Ian groaned and reached around, fisting his hands in her hair as she sucked him, as her hands stroked and squeezed and explored. Tiny moans escaped her and his hips pumped, urging her on. And shit, it wasn't supposed to be like this, it wasn't supposed to be about him tonight but damn, her mouth was hot and insistent, closing over him again and again, demanding, coaxing, teasing and it felt so damn good...

Ian forced himself to step away from her, gritting his teeth against the loss of her mouth even as he reached for her and pulled her to her feet. His mouth closed over hers, his tongue probing and exploring as he gently backed her toward the bed. He freed his wrists from the shirt cuffs and tossed the thing to the side then reached behind Kayli and found the zipper to her dress. He undid it, not bothering to hide either his haste or his hunger for her as he pushed the dress off her.

Only when the black material pooled around her ankles did he pull away from her. His gaze wandered over her, from the fullness of her breasts held in place by the black lace bra, down to her trim waist and the curve of her hips, to the matching lace thong that covered what he wanted the most. He raised his eyes back to hers and almost gave in to temptation when he saw the heat burning in her gaze. But he reached down deep inside himself, searching for patience, reminding himself that tonight was for her.

He reached out and trailed a finger slowly up each of her arms, from her wrists to her shoulders. He eased the straps of her bra down her arms, then sucked in his breath when she reached behind her and undid the clasp. The material fell away with a whisper. Ian stepped closer, his mouth claiming hers as his hands roamed over her, caressing, touching. He cupped her breasts in his hands, feeling their heavy weight in his palms as he brushed his thumbs across her nipples, feeling the hardened peaks tighten even more at his touch.

Ian broke the kiss to drag his mouth down her neck, along her collar bone then down even further until he pulled one hardened nipple into his mouth, teasing the peak with his tongue. Kayli's hands closed over his shoulders and, with a soft sigh, her head fell back, offering him even more of herself.

Ian wrapped one arm firmly behind her back, supporting her, as his other hand drifted down, skimming her side and stomach, down further to the lacy scrap that covered her. He eased his hand lower, between her hot flesh and the soft lace, pushing the material down over her hips to her thighs. He dragged one finger up, brushing against her, teasing her. Kayli's hips thrust forward and her hands tightened on his shoulders, a small moan escaping her.

Ian dragged his mouth away from her breast, skimming the soft underside before kissing his way down her stomach. He straightened, only to ease Kayli back on the bed, just enough so that her legs were still over the side.

Her eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused in heated passion. Ian leaned over and kissed her, then stood up. He quickly kicked off his loafers and pushed his pants and shorts down until he could kick them away as well. He reached over to the night stand, yanking open the drawer and pulling out a condom, not wanting to waste time later.

Then he returned to Kayli, his hands caressing her sides, his mouth teasing her breasts and stomach. He drew one finger down her breastbone, down across her navel, down lower to her wet heat. Her back arched at his touch and her hips thrust upward to meet him. He slid his finger inside, heard her moan as her slickness covered him.

Ian dropped to his knees beside the bed and grabbed her hips, dragging her to edge. Her legs opened wider as his mouth closed over her, his tongue flicking against her clit, tasting her salty wetness as his finger slid in and out of her.

She moaned his name, a soft sigh of sound as his tongue licked and swirled and teased her. Her hips thrust against his mouth as one of her hands tangled in the comforter and the other reached for him, searching. He grabbed it and twined his fingers with hers, the smell of crushed roses filling the air around them. His tongue continued exploring, his fingers deep inside her now, teasing. Her muscles tightened around him, holding him still as her back arched. Silence filled the room, holding everything in suspension for a long second as she tightened even more. The silence shattered as her muscles quivered, convulsing around his fingers as she called his name on a cry. Ian showed her no mercy as he continued to kiss her and stroke her, as she shattered against his touch.

Time finally slowed, along with Kayli's harsh breaths. Ian pulled away from her and stood, sheathed himself with the condom then eased Kayli further back onto the bed. He laid down beside her and gathered her into his arms, his mouth possessing hers in a kiss that stole his own breath away. He skimmed his hand along Kayli's side, from her breast down past her thigh, her flushed skin soft and warm against his palm. Her fingers closed over his hand, not stopping him, just holding.