Ravenous (3 page)

“I’ve missed you,” the words spilled from him before he could stop them. She gripped his hair tighter in reply, moving her mouth back over his, to suck on his tongue, to bite at his lips. A growl rumbled in his chest and he inched closer, giving his cock the friction it demanded against the heat of her body.

After years of doubt, he was back where he wanted to be: with Erin in his arms, her body hot with need for him, her desire fuelling his own to the point of pain.

His fingers moved to the buckle of her belt, worked the clasp and yanked it free. While he undid the button and lowered the zipper of her black pants, her hands moved under his shirt, her sharp nails softly scraping the skin of his back. Then he was home, his fingers gliding under the band of her silk panties to swipe the entrance of her slick pussy.

“Wait,” she panted, placing a hand on his chest.

He ignored her, moving his lips to her neck, to graze the delicate skin under her ear with his teeth. His fingers brushed her clit and she jolted, gasped and tightened her thighs around his waist.

“Condom.”

The word penetrated his lust, fucking smashed it with the force of a freight train. “Shit,” he muttered and she cried out in frustration.

“It’s okay.” He rubbed his fingers over her clit and she clenched her thighs, this time with less enthusiasm. “I can still get you off.”

“No.” She shook her head and pushed at his chest until they were eye to eye. “Stop.”

He couldn’t stop, not now. He wanted her too much, needed her like a drug. “Please, Erin. I don’t care about me, just let me touch you.”

Her warm hands left the skin of his chest and he went cold in the summer night air. His fingers were still poised at her entrance, waiting for permission and they wouldn’t move without it.

“Why?” she whispered, her eyes drowning in emotion.

“Why?” he chuckled. “Because you make me burn,” he leaned in for a quick, rough kiss, “because even if my cock can’t have this–” he flicked his fingers between the lips of her pussy and she gasped, “I still want my fingers deep inside it.”

“But–”

He cut off her protest with another kiss, striking his tongue over hers with quick, teasing strokes. His hand remained in her panties, getting soaked by her juices. He wouldn’t
push her and was pleased when she didn’t make him wait long. She was soon rubbing against his fingers, the heat of her core demanding friction.

“Please,” she begged.

He laughed and leaned closer, moving wisps of hair behind her ear with his free hand. “Now you’re begging?”

“Mmm,” she ground her pussy against him and gripped the back of his neck, “woman’s prerogative.”

His teeth sunk into her earlobe and he delighted in her cry as he slipped two fingers into her core. “God, I want you.”

Her hips rocked against his thrust and she pulled at his shirt. “Take it off.” She tugged the material up his chest. “I want it off.”

Removing his fingers from her pussy, he yanked the shirt over his head. As he threw it to the ground she gripped the waist of his pants and pulled him closer. She sucked on his nipple and he felt the buzz all the way to the base of his cock.

“Feisty little devil, aren’t you?” She’d always been eager and the additional confidence cranked his chain like nobody’s business.

Moving back to his position between her thighs, he dug under her waistband, sliding his fingers home in one hard plunge. He waited for her mewl of pleasure, a soft affirmation of her delight, but everything faded into the background when she rubbed his erection through the thick material of his pants.

“Holy…shit.” He was going to blow. With one quick stroke. He tilted his hips out of reach and focused on working her clit with his thumb. She was close, her head thrown back in ecstasy while one hand squeezed her breast.

He listened to her breathing and explored her heat, searching for the one sweet spot he used to know so well. Working his fingers in circles, he moved in and out, relearning every inch of her core. Her breath hitched, her once languid muscles stiffening around him and he knew he’d found what he was looking for.

“You ready, gorgeous?”

“Yes,” she panted with a nod and nuzzled into his neck. He rubbed his fingers over her G-spot in slow strokes. She whimpered and her hand stilled on her breast as her pussy sucked him deeper. His balls tightened at her pleasure, the head of his cock demanding release.

“Ride me,” he whispered into her ear, picturing her ethereal beauty in his mind. He wished he could see her face, the way her eyes squeezed shut in bliss. He scissored his fingers while she bucked, letting her muscles grip him to the point of pain. Her mewls grew louder, her pleading cries driving him crazy before she gasped and sunk her teeth into his neck. He moaned at the bite and squeezed his eyes shut, wishing his cock was feeling the tight pressure of her walls. She clenched around him in short, sharp spasms, the orgasm leaving her pliant in his arms. He worked her hard, never stopping his motions until the desire left her body and she collapsed against his chest.

Words of love were poised at the tip of his tongue and this time he held back. He wanted to tell her he loved her and that he’d never stopped. Instead he clenched his jaw and cuddled her body to his.

Her ragged breathing settled and the night came back into focus.

“I need to go.” She moved back to gain enough distance to do up the buttons of her blouse. He could feel her pulling away from him, physically and emotionally.

Stepping back, he gave her space while he hunted for his shirt.

“Damn it.”

He straightened and watched her scoot off the railing, patting her hair.

“I bet I look a treat.”

She did. The full moon left her haloed in light. Her ponytail was askew, with loose hair sticking at odd angles. He didn’t know how it got that way. Maybe he pulled it or ran his hands through the lengths without knowing. He’d always loved her hair.

“You look beautiful,” he said, picking his shirt up off the ground.

Erin diverted her gaze and bent to pick up the bowl. “I’ll meet you back at the house,” she blurted out, reaching for the bottle of water.

Before his shirt was over his head she began to stride away, leaving him half dressed, horny as hell and unsure of where this left them.

Erin kept her gaze lowered for the remainder of the night. She prepared food with hands that still felt the hardness of Jesse’s chest and her legs were numb with the after- effects of orgasm.

“I’m so stupid,” she muttered to herself, cleaning the last of the plates in the sink.

The past hours had been torture. At least at the start of the night she’d been able to concentrate because he’d been nowhere in sight. Too bad it didn’t stay that way. Once she came back inside, he followed, taking a seat at the large dining table.

He observed her every move, the caress of his gaze never leaving her skin. If only she’d pushed him away outside. If only she had the strength to resist him. Then she wouldn’t be feeling overwhelmed and her panties wouldn’t be uncomfortably soaked.

“You need a hand?”

Erin didn’t look up. She couldn’t glance at his intense brown irises or those full lips without showing her emotions. He would see her adoration, the wash of love in her eyes, the lust in the flush of her cheeks. She needed him, and the ache he left her with so long ago had settled back beneath her breastbone.

“No I’m fine, thanks.” She continued to scrub the baking trays, concentrating on the stubborn food instead of Jesse manoeuvring around the kitchen island to come toward her.

Please don’t get any closer. Don’t make me try and resist you. Not after what you’ve put me through.
She wanted to say the words aloud, to make him step back and leave her alone. Only, as much as she needed him to leave, she also wanted him to stay. She yearned to have his talented hands all over her body, stroking her with feather light touches.

He nestled in behind her, settling the warmth of his chest against her back and leaned in close. “Let me help.”

Before she could protest he grabbed the cleaning cloth from her hand. The brush of skin sent an electric current along her arms, down her spine. She sank into his shoulder, more languid and weak than she cared to consider, and gloried in his smell. Dark spices, all masculine, entirely hypnotic. Why was he so perfect?

“Stay the night.” His breath grazed her neck, skittering along her sensitive nerves.

She gave a half-hearted chuckle and tried to ignore the way his hands teased hers while they cleaned the tray. “In your old room with the single bed? Somehow I don’t think we’d fit.”

He slid his wet fingers over her wrists, up to her elbows, and then left her body completely to rest his hands on her hips. “We can go to your place, or get a room in town.”

She sucked in a breath at the vivid image of both of them in a foreign room, arms and legs entangled, tongues and fingers entwined. “No.” She needed to deny her over enthusiastic libido as much as she needed to deny him.

His wet hands travelled under her blouse, teasing her waist and her belly. Memories flooded her, of nights spent in his arms, of days lost gazing into his loving eyes. Suddenly she was a teenager again, in love with Jesse Hackett and unable to resist the pleasure of his touch.

“Erin dear, do you need…”

Jesse cursed against her ear and stepped back at the sound of his mother’s voice.

“I’m sorry,” she added. “Didn’t mean to interrupt your…cleaning.”

Jesse strode to the other end of the kitchen and Erin glanced up to see Mrs Hackett’s beaming smile. Erin cringed at the longing in the older woman’s eyes and breathed deep to calm the anxiety bubbling to take over. They’d been as close as family once, but when Jesse moved to Sydney he’d taken Erin’s relationship with his mother with him. Her own heartache had been bad enough and now the woman she had held such a deep connection with was staring at her in hope–a hope that would never be fulfilled.

“You’re not interrupting,” Erin smiled and brushed the bubbles from her hands, “I was just cleaning a few things before I head home.”

She peered over her shoulder and found Jesse staring at her. His jaw clenched and she knew he received her message of departure loud and clear.

“I’ll do those.” Mrs Hackett nudged her way to the sink and Erin had to slide out of the way.

“But that’s what I’m here for.” She frowned.

Mrs Hackett shooed Erin with hands covered in bubbles. “Scoot. You need to get your rest so you can be back here tomorrow. I have my entire family coming and you’ll need all the energy you can get.”

She stared at Mrs Hackett’s back, buying a few extra seconds to compose herself before she would have to deal with Jesse. “Alright,” she shuffled around the counter and grabbed her handbag, “Karen and I will be back in the afternoon.” Her sister would need to help her tomorrow. The number of guests was far too many for Erin to handle by herself.

“I can’t wait.” Mrs Hackett kept her focus on the pan in the sink. “Can you walk Erin out please, Jess?”

He rolled his eyes and a smile tilted his lips. “Yeah, sure. Not a problem.”

Swallowing hard, Erin gave a final wave of farewell to Mrs Hackett and headed for the front door. She wanted to get a head start on Jesse so there was enough distance to cool the spark between them. It didn’t last long. By the time she opened the door, he hovered beside her, settling his hand on the low of her back.

“I’m a big girl. I can find my own way.” She tried to outpace him down the gravel driveway so the tempting feel of his palm didn’t seduce her again.

He didn’t answer. He kept his hand against the silk of her blouse, the heat from his palm infiltrating her entire body. When they reached her car she turned to get the goodbye over and done with.

“Thanks for the escort. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She began to turn back to her car, but he stepped into her, causing her to move back. He caged her against the cool metal, his dark gaze promising things she didn’t want to see.

“You owe me,” he purred.

“O-owe you?” Her voice was breathless and she bit her lip, hating how her nipples hardened with interest.

“Yeah.” He leaned in so they were nose-to-nose. “You owe me an orgasm.”

Her bark of laughter was sudden and unstoppable. “Ohh, poor baby.” She leaned back and patted his cheek with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll live.”

He rested the hardness of his erection against her pelvis. The thick length made her shudder and every inch of her skin broke out in a shiver.

“Stay with me. Just for tonight.” His voice was low, dangerous, and made her ache between her thighs. If she stayed the night she could kiss goodbye all the years she fought to forget him. She would be back at square one, depressed and yearning for a man she could never keep.

She shook her head and opened her mouth to reiterate. Her answer died under the soft press of his lips against hers. A cry escaped–one of submission and lust, and she clung to his shoulder with her free hand, hoping to find the strength to pull away.

“Stay with me,” he spoke into her mouth, letting his tongue coax hers with velvet light touches.

“No.” Reaching into her handbag, she searched for her keys.

His tongue melted her resolve, stroking her nerves into a hypersensitive craze she didn’t want to deny. Then her fingers brushed against cool, hard metal and her keys jangled in protest. She gripped them like a lifeline and placed her free hand on his hard chest to break the kiss. His lips glistened in the moonlight and his arm moved around her waist to hold her tight.

“Jesse,” she pleaded, “I can’t do this. Not again.”

He peered down at her and she forced herself to remain strong. Raising her chin, she stared into those deep brown eyes. She
couldn’t
do this again. She just couldn’t. He let out a deep breath and focused his gaze over her shoulder. Without a word he placed a kiss on her forehead, dropped his grip on her body and slinked away.

Each step he took toward the house hit her chest like a physical blow. He had always found it easy to walk away from her, to leave her staring longingly at his back, hoping he would change his mind and turn around. She frowned and breathed deep through the pain, determined not to let her stinging eyes shed a single tear. With the keys clenched tight in her fist, she hit the button to release the lock and climbed into her car. Leaving was her only option. She needed to stay away from Jesse Hackett. No matter how much her body yearned for the complete opposite.