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Chapter Nine

What the hell just happened?

Emery didn't push to his feet. There wasn't time for that. Tori was trying to get away, and he couldn't allow that. He rolled himself almost into her path. He grabbed her ankle and rose to his knees in a messy, single-leg takedown that might not have worked were Tori ready for him. Instead, her arms windmilled, her eyes went large, and she tumbled backward onto the mat. He pounced on her, pinning her on her back with his body, acting more on instinct than anything else.

She'd kissed like a woman with passion, not one fighting dirty. He might not be well versed in women, but he knew the taste of a lover's kiss, had imagined what Tori's might taste like—and now he knew.

He didn't think. If he did he wouldn't react and she'd run from him.

Her hands on his biceps weren't pushing or grappling with him. This wasn't a dirty fight anymore, at least not of the variety they'd engaged in until now. This was something else entirely.

There was a split second when he held back. This moment would change everything. And he didn't care.

Emery dipped his head and kissed her. He just did it. He didn't think about it. Didn't worry about the consequences or if he should. He just did it.

He'd been too shocked to do more than let the experience wash over him for the split second Tori had kissed him. Now, he wanted to feel her mouth, taste her. It was a longing that couldn't be shoved down or pushed aside.

Tori's body bucked under his, but it wasn't a fighter's move. Her muscles had gone soft and she groaned. Her lips moved slightly against his.

She kissed him back.

He touched her face, his fingers tangling in the strands of her hair. She hooked one leg around his, as if she needed to keep him there. He swiped the seam of her lips with his tongue, not daring to hope for more. When she opened her mouth all the blood in his body rushed to his dick.

Her hands curled around his shoulders, pulling him closer until he thought he might crush her with his weight. God, she was amazing, and he didn't deserve her. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled until she was sprawled on top of him.

Their lips only parted for a moment before Tori was kissing him again. He hadn't imagined it. It wasn't something he'd made up. This was real. In this second, she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

She used his shoulders to pull herself, sliding her body against his. He held the back of her head and thrust his tongue into her mouth, mimicking what he wanted to do to the rest of her. His hands nearly shook with the intensity of it. Months of pent-up desire couldn't be burned up in a kiss.

Tori moved against him, maybe intentionally or by accident. Her thigh rubbed his groin. Each stroke of her body against his was blissful torture. He cupped her ass, urging her on.

He sucked her lower lip, loving the little ways she gasped, making the most helpless noises while it was her driving him crazy. He could taste the hint of cherry lip balm, smell her fruity shower gel. She was softer than he'd anticipated. Sure, she had working hands, but the rest of her was supple, womanly. But was she soft everywhere?

Her hair fell over one shoulder, brushing him. That hair had spawned more than a few fantasies. He reached up and wrapped the thick tail of red hair around his hand, thrusting his fingers through it until he had a firm hold on her.

The rational part of him cited every reason this needed to stop. There were plenty. He'd even gone so far as to categorize the strikes against this sort of thing. But he was beyond listening to that voice. Right now, the way Tori kissed him spoke the loudest. And she wanted him.

Emery pulled on her hair, not too hard. Her body went limp, allowing him to bend her head back, exposing her neck. He kissed her jaw, along the tendon that led to her shoulder and nibbled at the last bit of exposed skin at the edge of her new T-shirt.

Tori made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat. She sat up, pulling out of his hold, and grabbed the hem of her shirt. She yanked it up and off. There was no mistaking her purpose or where this was going. They'd built up too much momentum to go back now.

He lay there, committing every detail to memory.

When he thought about what Tori wore under her clothes, it was always satin and lace. Soft, feminine garments that sparked lustful thoughts. They hadn't exactly gone to the fanciest of stores to outfit themselves, yet her plain gray sports bra was the best thing he'd ever seen. Especially because her nipples stuck out in hard relief. She grabbed his left hand and placed it over her breast. His big palm covered her and the hard points prodded him.

Her gaze was sharp, focused. Her intent was clear. And he was a willing participant.

She pitched forward, catching herself on her hands at either side of his shoulders. He lifted his head and met her mouth as it crashed down on his. She moved her hips, grinding against him. He could all too easily imagine doing this naked, with nothing between them. He squeezed her breast and groaned. She hit just the right spot, making his vision go hazy and light blossom behind his eyelids.

Christ, if this went much further he'd come in his pants like a boy.

He slid his free hand around her waist and lifted his pelvis, rubbing against her as she undulated. She moaned into the kiss, arching her back. Tori was the hottest thing he'd ever seen. He rubbed his palm over her hardened nipple and didn't miss the way her breath caught and her body shuddered.

Was she as turned on as he was? Was she close to climax?

She grabbed the front of his shirt, hauling it up in handfuls. The plastic mat rustled under them, reminding him of where they were.

Did he really want to do this out here? In a garage?

“Tori—”

She wrestled his shirt up under his arms.

“Hey, wait a second.”

She deserved more than a dirty floor.

Tori sat up, scowling with her jaw thrust forward. He didn't want her angry, and the last thing he wanted to face off with was a pissed-off Chazov. Emery grabbed her shoulders and rolled with her, putting her back to the mat. He kissed her mouth, hating how the corners curled down.

“Slow down,” he said between breaths.

“Why?” There was so much frustration in that one word. Frustration he understood.

“Do you even know what you're doing?” Did it matter to her that it was him and not someone else?

“I know exactly what I'm doing. Or was. Get off me.” She shoved at his shoulders.

“I don't think you do.” He should concede to her demand, but he didn't. He wasn't ready to lose her nearness.

“You want me. I want this. Do you really think we can go back?”

He stared down at her, shock slapping him in the face. How long had she known? Or was she going off the last few minutes? He sure as hell wanted her, but in a much more permanent sense than what she was alluding to. He wanted all of her. And not just right now.

“Emery,” she snapped.

He licked his lips, his gaze drifting down to her mouth.

“No,” he said.

“No, what?” She pushed at his shoulder, but it was lighter, as if she were prodding him for attention. Or a better answer.

“We can't act like this didn't happen.” He couldn't. He was good at a lot of things, but these moments would stick in his brain forever.

Tori's body softened and she slid her hands over his shoulders.

“What are you going to do about it?” Her voice was husky, not quite like what she sounded like when she was sleepy. She was aroused.

Tori was aroused because of him.

The single fact brought all thought to a screeching halt.

She wanted him. Or this. Right now there wasn't a lot of distinction in his head.

Tori's fingers trailed down his chest and she grabbed the bunched up mess of his shirt once more. This time she worked it up over his shoulders. He let her pull it off him because really, it was just getting in the way. She pushed up and kissed him. He let his shirt drop to the floor. She curled her arms around his neck, pulling him down into the cradle of her body.

He wanted her, but they shouldn't do this. At least not out here.

Tori shifted under him. It took him a moment to grasp what exactly it was she was doing. She wiggled and with a little grunt, pulled the sports bra up and off.

He stared, vaguely aware he should do something, touch her maybe, but there was too much to take in.

The sports bra had left angry lines around her ribs and over her shoulders. Her necklace pooled at the base of her throat, leaving her chest bare of distraction. Tori's breasts were enough to fill his palms, but not too big. Just the right size. Her nipples were a dusky brown and drawn into tight peaks. He'd felt them through the fabric, but now, he needed a more intimate inspection.

“Emery.” She groaned his name.

The notes of her voice hit on a pitch that telegraphed her frustration. He wanted her hot and bothered, not frustrated.

“What?” he asked when she didn't say anything else.

“Touch me, damn it.”

“I will. I'm looking.”

“I can't feel you looking.”

“Then I must not be doing it right.” Later. He'd do it right later. Right now, he really had to touch her.

Emery covered her left breast with his hand, rubbing it up and down. He bent his head and kissed her right breast. Tori wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and arching her back. He licked and sucked his way around the stiff peak.

“Emery, not nice!” Her nails raked over his shoulders.

He smiled. Driving Tori to frustration might be his new favorite hobby. He wrapped his lips around her nipple, rubbing his tongue over the hard nub.

“Oh!”

He gently massaged her other breast, capturing the hard point between his fingers.

She wrapped her legs around his thighs and bucked.

He wanted hours to spend on her body, but not here.

“Tori, hold on a second.” He pushed up, breaking her hold on him.

“What? What is it?” She practically growled at him.

“Let's go inside.”

She laughed and splayed a hand over his chest.

“Babe, I'm way more comfortable in a garage. Besides, you, me, in a garage? That's hot.”

Tori anywhere was hot.

This—her and him—it was happening.

Emery got to his feet, grabbing her hand and hauling her upright with him. Tori swayed a bit, but he had her. He twisted the tab of her jeans open with one hand and went to a knee, yanking the denim down her legs. While her sister wore shorts most of the time, he'd glimpsed Tori's legs on only a few occasions. Like the rest of her, they were long and lean. He pressed a reverent kiss to her hip bone, fingers coasting over the edge of the plain cotton panties.

His hands shook with the effort to go slow and treat her gently. She was tough, but he could still hurt her. He grabbed the waistband with his fingers and pulled. The fabric ripped down one side.

“Guess that's what you get when you buy cheap.” Tori sputtered and laughed.

Emery ripped the rest of the seam, taking out the rough edge of his desire on the unfeeling material. He cupped her ass and sat back on his heels to take her all in.

Tori stood there in nothing but a pair of socks. Her hands were on his shoulders and she swayed slightly. She was beautiful in a raw, primal way. Tori would always be a tough, hard woman, but her strength only made her more desirable. Her chest rose and fell with her accelerated breathing while a light sheen of perspiration made her glisten.

He was not about to do her on the floor of a garage, no matter what she said.

Emery stood, hoisting Tori up and over his shoulder. She yelped and laughed. He crossed the distance to the workbench in three strides. It was the only remotely clean surface besides the Tesla. He could bend her over the car, but then he wouldn't be able to see her face, and he wanted her to know who it was that was inside of her.

He set her down and gripped the edges of the red metal fixture. Part of him was still in denial. She couldn't possibly want him.

Tori reached for him, pulling him closer, kissing his mouth. He cupped her ass, grinding against her, and thrust his tongue in her mouth. He'd always figured her for a feisty lover, and he wasn't wrong. God, she was better than a dream or anything he'd ever thought of.

She clawed at the front of his jeans, getting the button through the slit and his zipper down. The last vestiges of coherent thought ceased as her hand wrapped around his cock and pumped him with a little added squeeze at the end.

“Oh fuck,” he muttered against her mouth.

“You are going to feel so good.” She kissed his jaw while she worked her hand up and down between their bodies.

Christ, he could come like this.

Emery cupped her mound, passing his fingers through her folds. She was wet. He could hardly believe it, no matter that she'd told him she wanted him. She could lie with her words, but her body couldn't. The evidence of her arousal nearly broke the strenuous hold on his control.

She groaned and her hands stilled.

Was she ready, though?

He eased a finger into her and her muscles tightened around him.

“Emery.” She said his name like a plea, pulling him toward her by his cock.

“Condom,” he choked out. Shit. There was one in his wallet, but how long had it been there? Was it even good?

“Hell yes,” Tori replied, unaware of the sudden very important detail.

He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and flipped it open. The foil packet was folded in half around a couple of business cards. Tori grabbed it before he could find the expiration date. She ripped it open and the words of warning stuck in his throat while she rolled the latex down his cock. It didn't break.