Dreams of Seduction (14 page)

N.J. Walters

“I understand.” And he did. He’d had his entire life to get used to it and it still surprised him some days.

“I did a lot of thinking about my life, about how closed it’s become, especially in the last year or so.

So much has gone wrong in my life. First it was the death of my mother and stepfather, then my grandmother, and then I found my fiancé cheating on me with my best friend. I just sort of closed in on myself and gave up.”

His heart ached for Maggie. She’d had so much pain in her life. So much loss.

“But being in Burnt Cove, being home, has helped. I’ve made some really good friends in Esther and Rhiannon.” Maggie released her grip on the chair and walked over to the sofa, standing beside him.

“I realized how closed off I’d become after you left. I couldn’t see what was right in front of my face.

This past week has been…” She swallowed hard. “This week has been difficult. I’ve faced a lot about myself and not all of it was pretty.”

He hated to see her so upset, but knew this was something she needed to talk about. Although it was hard, he kept silent and waited for her to continue.

“I lost myself somewhere along the way. I lost the girl I used to be and the woman I wanted to become. All those years ago, I wanted to be an artist, but it was easier just to go to work for an advertising firm, especially since I got an offer right out of school. More secure. More in line with what my parents wanted for me.

“I also wanted a man who loved me for who I was, but settled for a man who would marry me.” She shook her head. “It was supposed to be the perfect life. And on the outside, I suppose it was.” Maggie’s eyes grew darker as if she was lost in her memories. “But on the inside, I felt so lost and alone. I thought any relationship was better than none. I was wrong.”

Unable to keep from touching her, comforting her, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around her hand. It was cold and he longed to warm her. “It’s easy to do. I think most of us lose ourselves at some point in our life.”

“Even you?” she asked. He could hear the surprise in her voice.

“Oh, yeah.” He laced his fingers through hers, binding them together. “Being different isn’t always such a great thing, especially when I was younger. But with the help of my parents and time, I came to accept that all of us are different or special in some way. I am what I am. I can’t change that.” He waited to see how she would respond.

She gave him a sad smile. “I would never ask you to change.”

His heart skipped a beat before resuming its pounding rhythm. “But can you accept it?” That was the question that needed answering.

Time seemed to stop as he waited. She nodded. “I think so. I want to.” Maggie squeezed his hand.

“I’ve missed you.”

Jed tugged on her hand and pulled her down onto his lap. She gave a glad cry and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against his shoulder. Arms wrapped securely around her, he held her, savoring the weight of her against him. Her hip pressed against his erection. The soft curve of her breast pushed against his chest. Maggie was where she belonged. In his arms.

Maggie could barely breathe Jed was holding her so close. She didn’t care. Being with him felt right.

She had to accept he was different, had to trust that their relationship meant something to him, or she would lose him. And Maggie was through with being a coward and taking the easy path.

Life was hard sometimes, but there were rewards if you were willing to reach out, to fight for what you wanted. She and Jed had only been together one night, but it had changed her and how she viewed relationships. She and her ex had been together much longer, but she knew Jed, the heart of him, much better. There was a connection between her and Jed. And she no longer questioned how and why it existed.

It just was.

She’d been worried at first. After revoking the spell with Rhiannon, she’d been half-afraid that Jed wouldn’t want her any more. She wiggled to get closer to him and felt the hard thrust of his erection against her hip. Obviously that wasn’t something she needed to be concerned about.

“Maggie.” He breathed her name as he combed his fingers through her hair and held on tight. Tugging her head back, he swooped down and took her mouth. The kiss sent shivers down her spine. Heat burned through her body. She felt alive with sensation. Her core was already damp as need built deep inside. And not just a need for sex. But a need for this man, for Jed.

His tongue tangled with hers, twisting and twining. He tilted her head to one side and deepened the caress. She tasted the mint of his toothpaste, mixed with the heady taste of man—hot and inviting. Cupping his cheek with her hand, she felt the scratch of stubble against her palm.

When he’d first opened the door, she’d been struck by just how gorgeous he was, how elemental.

With his hair loose around his shoulders and his golden-brown eyes, he was hot enough to make a woman’s insides melt.

She let her hand slip down his neck to his shoulder. He was so warm. So vitally alive. Maggie rubbed her body against him, loving the way the hard planes of his chest felt against her breast.

Jed shifted without warning. Maggie suddenly found herself flat on her back with him poised above her. Parting her legs, she made room for him in the cradle of her thighs. He stared down at her for one long second before swooping down again. His lips were firm and warm against hers, but he didn’t linger.

His hands burrowed beneath her top, shoving it up. Raising her arms, she helped him peel it off. Her bra quickly followed. Jed groaned and buried his face between her breasts. Cupping both mounds in his hands, he kissed every inch of them, thumbing her nipples before taking them into his mouth and suckling, first one, then the other.

Maggie grabbed his shirt and pulled. She
needed
to feel his skin beneath her hands. The material gave way and a loud rip followed. Jed jerked his head up and yanked the shirt over his head.

Perfection
, she thought. Absolute perfection. His shoulders were solid, his chest broad bands of muscle. Maggie stroked his bronzed skin, savoring Jed’s innate strength. He sucked in a breath when her fingers teased his flat nipples, but he didn’t stop her.

His eyes seemed to glow as her hand slipped lower. A silky tuft of hair circled his navel before disappearing beneath the waistband of his jeans. Jed supported himself on his forearms, holding himself slightly above her. The in and out motion of his chest was the only movement he made, but his gaze never left her face.

She cupped him through his jeans, feeling the hard length against her palm. Jed hissed out a long breath, closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He looked like a man in pain. Or one on the verge of coming.

Maggie flicked open the button on his jeans. Jed’s hand caught hers. “Be sure, Maggie. There’s no going back.”

Fear fluttered in her mind, an echo that was quickly squelched by the sheer rightness of being with Jed. “I don’t want to.”

He reared back and grabbed her foot, shoving off one canvas sneaker and sock. Then he did the same with the other. He had her jeans and panties off before she could blink. The man was incredibly quick when he wanted to be. He stripped himself in three seconds flat, taking jeans, underwear and socks off in one smooth motion. Reaching down, he grabbed his jeans and fished out his wallet. Digging inside, he pulled out a condom.

Maggie couldn’t take her eyes off him. Jed seemed even bigger than before. Every muscle stood out in stark relief on his body. His arms were thick and corded, his chest wide, his thighs rock solid. But it was what was jutting up from his groin that had all her attention.

His erection was thick and hard. The bulbous head wept with need. He rolled the latex over the tip and quickly down the shaft. Maggie’s hips surged upward, wanting him buried in her moist heat, taking her hard and fast.

She opened her arms, but he shook his head. “Up you go.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her up and off the sofa. His motions were strong and sure as he positioned her. “Lean down and hold on.” She could feel him behind her—big and hot and solid.

Bending forward, she planted her palms on the back of the sofa. Her hair fell around her face like a curtain, blocking everything from her view. Touch was her primary sense. She could feel the heat of him behind her and his thick erection as it brushed against the curve of her behind.

“Spread your legs wide. I want you open to me, accepting me as I fuck you from behind.”

His words sent a fresh burst of cream sliding from her core. She’d never had another man talk to her this way, so frank and sexual. She liked it. It made her even hotter. Her breasts ached to be touched.

“Do it,” he urged. His hands covered her behind, massaging the twin mounds. “Spread your legs and show me your pussy. Give yourself to me.”

Trust me
. She heard the underlying plea. Maggie pushed her legs apart and planted her feet. Leaning down farther, she raised her ass toward him, knowing he needed her acceptance.

“Perfect.” Jed let his hands slide down the backs of her thighs before coming up on the inside. Her thighs quivered and her breathing quickened. His fingers stroked her swollen labia. Maggie felt lightheaded, a mass of heat and need.

“Jed.” She cried out his name as two thick fingers sank into her sheath. She pushed back, wanting more.

“Damn, you’re hot. So hot and wet. And it’s all mine.” He pulled his fingers all the way out before plunging them back inside.

“Yes,” she gasped, going up on her toes.

“I’m going to fuck you now. I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll scream with pleasure. You’ll come so hard you won’t know where you end and I begin.”

Her inner muscles gripped his fingers as they surged inward. “Yes,” she hissed, unable to say anything else. She wanted him hard and fast and deep. They’d made love before, but this went even beyond that. Maggie felt wild and out of control. “Do it.”

Jed swore and gripped her hips in his hands. Holding her steady, he positioned the head of his cock at her opening. The thick tip pushed past the tight muscles. He stilled for one long second before plunging deep in one long stroke.

“Jed!” Her body struggled to accommodate him. At this angle, he felt bigger and went deeper. It felt almost painful, but it also felt incredibly good.

“Take me. Take all of me.” Rearing back, he drove home again and again.

Maggie adjusted to his rhythm, gripping the top of the sofa for support as his thrusts got harder and faster. His balls smacked against her sensitive folds, brushing her clit with each stroke. He released her hips and cupped her breasts. His fingers teased her nipples, rolling them lightly before tugging gently.

Their mating was hard and fast and furious.

She didn’t want it to end, but didn’t know how much more she could take. Her lungs ached as she sucked in a deep breath. He fondled one of her breasts and thrust his free hand between her thighs and fingered her clit.

Maggie screamed. Her body clenched and exploded at the same time. She shook, her limbs out of her control. Her vision dimmed and she struggled to breathe. Heat shot from her core, bathing her entire body in warmth.

She would have collapsed if Jed hadn’t been holding her upright. He thrust several more times, short and fast. He yelled and his hips jerked against her. One of his hands came to rest alongside hers, clutching the leather cushion for support. She could feel his heart pounding against her back and hear his rough breathing in her ear.

They both groaned when he pulled out of her. Maggie slumped against the back of the sofa.

“Come here.” Jed wrapped his arm around her waist and dragged them both to the front of the sofa.

Collapsing onto it, he rolled her so that she was surrounded. The cool leather was at her back and Jed covered her front. Snuggling closer, she shivered. Jed reached out and snagged a quilt from the back of the sofa. He covered them, pulling her even closer.

His deep sigh ruffled her hair. She rubbed her nose across his chest. She felt totally relaxed and at ease. She felt as if she’d finally come home.

Epilogue

Maggie stirred a short while later when Jed shoved aside the quilt and padded out of the room. She heard the familiar flush a short while later and knew he’d gone to dispose of the condom. Shoving her fingers through her hair, she pushed it away from her face. She sat and thought about getting dressed. Her clothing was scattered all around the room.

Even though there was no sound, she knew the second Jed returned. She swiveled around and smiled at him. “Hi.”

Totally unconcerned by his nudity, he crossed the room and sat beside her. “Hi back.” He picked up a long lock of her hair and let it sift through his fingers.

Maggie shivered and her nipples puckered. She knew if she sat here much longer, they’d be making love again. “I brought you something.”

“Did you?”

His hand stroked her neck, dipping lower.

She stood, pulling the quilt more securely around her and tucking in the ends at her breasts so it stayed up on its own. If she didn’t stop him now, they’d end up in bed, or on the sofa or the floor. She knew she wouldn’t care where they were as long as he was inside her.

Not that that was such a bad thing, but she wanted to finish talking first. She’d planned to do that before anything happened, but it hadn’t quite worked out that way.

Walking to the canvas she’d carefully wrapped earlier, she lifted it from the side of the chair where it rested and carried it back to the sofa. Maggie stopped in front of Jed and began to carefully unwrap the painting she’d finished. Now that she was actually going to give it to him, her stomach was in knots.

She steeled herself and kept going. This was the right thing to do. Forcing herself to continue, she peeled away the wrapping. “This is what I’ve been doing all week. I’ve started painting again.”

“I didn’t know you painted.” Jed sat forward but didn’t move to help. It was as if he understood that she needed to do it on her own.

“Yeah. I haven’t done much drawing or painting in years. My work was more commercial and computer generated.” Her fingers shook as she pulled away the last of the covering. “I decided I wanted to get back to my first love. Art.”