SuddenHeat (6 page)

He licked softly over her clit and thrust his finger
repeatedly until her breath gasped from her throat. Rising higher and higher,
she flew into orgasm. Her body welcomed the rush of pleasure so stunning she
cried out sharply. He kissed his way up her body and when he reached her naked
breasts he tasted them again. He urged her against him but she made short work
of his jeans. He took her hand and drew it to his hard flesh and the silky
steel was hot and thick.

She stroked him for a short time before his breath hissed
inward. He was warm and hard and all male and she didn’t want to stop anything.
He stripped off the rest of his clothes in short order. He stood naked, aroused
and ruggedly handsome. She closed her eyes and smoothed her hands over his
beard, feeling his bristled jaw and pressing against every inch of hot, strong
muscle. They tumbled onto the bed as they stroked and explored.

He leaned over Melanie, propping on one elbow as he looked
down at her. With tender kisses he explored her, drew her deeply into a place
so feverish with desire she wondered if she’d ever surface. She palmed his hip,
wanting him now with a heated desperation. If she had to beg him to take her
she would. One kiss grew into two, then four. His kisses were endless and drew
her into a sweet surrender.

“Melanie, honey.” His voice was ragged, his chest rising and
falling. “I hope you have condoms. I’m not prepared for this.”

“In the bedside table.”

Within moments he’d sheathed himself with protection, and he
settled his hips between her thighs. She ached for him and lifted her hips. His
thickness slipped just inside her heat and she moaned softly in anticipation
and pleasure. He seemed to know how to tease her, bring her excitement to a
fever pitch. He slid along sensitive flesh and rotated his hips slowly. Tension
and torment rose higher.

He looked down on her, his eyes hot with need. Slow and
sweet he thrust, pushing a bit farther. “Melanie you’re so tight. You all
right?”

His concern only made her need more intense. She dared look
into his eyes and saw the caution there.

“I haven’t been with anyone in so long,” she said. “Don’t
stop.”

Movement after movement he went a little farther until his
entire length stroked deeply within her. His hips moved slowly, steady thrusts
that drove her to the edge. As he stretched her deep within, the pleasure
became more than she could stand. He was powerful and predatory and every
thrust promised and gave luxurious, delicious pleasure. She wanted to scream
out in ecstasy but it was out of reach, hovering almost there. She almost
pleaded and begged but couldn’t form the words.

“
Matt
.” She sounded tortured but didn’t care.

He groaned into her neck, his breath panting and hot against
flesh. The feral response only enhanced her arousal. She followed his flexing
muscles downward until she reached his tight backside. When she squeezed his
butt he hissed in a breath and groaned. Her breath caught in her throat as she
fell into a world where sensation became the only reality. Their bodies moved
together, struggling to find the ultimate pleasure. The hot, gliding sensation
of his cock within her set her on fire. The bed creaked slightly, the rhythm
driving them forward. Thoughts disappeared under his relentless strokes and as
the heat rose she felt her body react, little contractions that built bit by
bit until they stole her breath. Her body clenched around him, tightening as
the pleasure became too much to contain.

She whimpered as the orgasm hit. Her world came apart as she
shook in his arms, tightening on the thick flesh still thrusting deep inside
her. But if she thought he’d finish quickly, she was wrong. When she opened her
eyes he paused and the pleasure registered on his face rekindled her own
pleasure. Another orgasm threatened and that about blew her mind, because she’d
never had two orgasms so close together and couldn’t imagine coming again so
quickly.

A tender smile touched his mouth and then he said something
that assured her they weren’t done by a long shot. “Fuck. God you’re amazing.
You’re going to come again if it takes all night.”

Matt never talked much during sex but Melanie had changed
him in some fundamental way he couldn’t even define yet. He felt like talking
dirty all of a sudden, like seeing how far he could push her, how much she’d
take.

He rocked inside her once more, his hips gyrating. He gotten
off on the expression of ecstasy crossing her face as she’d come apart under
him a moment ago and he wanted to recreate it. He could have exploded inside
her right then but he wanted more pleasure for her, and he slowed his
thrusting. She was silky smooth and tight, her sheath hugging him in a hot
embrace.
Fucking God.
It flashed through his head this was the best sex
he’d ever had and they hadn’t done anything kinky, hadn’t taken hours to fall
into bed. Yet he couldn’t remember ever feeling like this while having sex. As
if she’d captured a part of him he couldn’t get back and didn’t wish to.

He’d never felt this out of control in his life and he
struggled with it, afraid he’d shoot off like a teenage boy inside his first
female. God, he loved watching her. Just the sounds she made drove him to the
edge. She panted softly, little moans still leaving her throat—a flush across
her cheekbones. She was so pretty, so damn, achingly feminine. She was soft and
yet strong, a woman he admired to the core.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, listened to the sounds
and sensations of them making love. The groans he couldn’t suppress, the tiny
whimpers coming from her, the bed creaking, the heat of their bodies.
Desperation fueled him, because the pleasure was rising higher by the second.
He pulled out of her and she gasped.

“Oh but you haven’t—” she started to say.

“It’s okay. We’re not done.” His voice sounded raw in his
own ears. “Turn over, honey. I want you from behind.”

With a shy smile she did as he asked, getting on her hands
and knees. He swallowed hard at the sight of her rounded ass cheeks, and when
she parted her thighs the sweet scent of sex about drove him insane. He touched
those pink wet folds and Melanie gasped again.
Jesus, God. She’s a sex
goddess.
He must be the luckiest fucking man on the planet. With a solid
plunge he speared straight inside her and she cried out. He kept the strokes
inside her slow and deep.

“Matt, please!” She panted, and he saw her clench the pillow
in her fists. She went down on her forearms, tilting her ass up and pushing
back into his thrusts. “Faster. Please faster.”

With a growl of satisfaction he fucked harder and faster. He
would have driven off a cliff right now if she’d asked him. He maintained a
steady pace, determined she’d climax. Her whimpers grew higher, her panting
faster. She was moaning louder and the sound of her pleasure made him thrust
like a madman. Her body quivered, her cries escalated and then it hit her. She
came with a whole body convulsion and her channel clamped and released around
him in a shuddering wave. She wailed as the orgasm broke her apart, and he
couldn’t take it anymore. He let go, allowing scalding pleasure to escape him
as his orgasm tore him into little bits. He roared, shaking as he finally came
down to earth.

* * * * *

Melanie woke to the scent of freshly brewed coffee. She
groaned in sleepy ecstasy. That smelled so damn good, and yet she felt as if
she hadn’t slept. Her mind was murky, a jumble of half-formed ideas and
memories.

The mall. The gun-toting man.

She sat up with a startled sound, her heart pounding like
crazy as fear gripped her.

The bedroom door snapped open and Matt stood at the
threshold, a frown narrowing his eyes. “Hey. I heard you cry out. You okay?”

Embarrassment heated her cheeks. She rubbed her cooler palms
over her face. “I just remembered what happened yesterday.”

He walked in and sat on the edge of the bed, fully dressed.
His hair was damp and the steamed-up shower explained why. Then she remembered
that she was stark naked, and she couldn’t mistake the eyeful he was getting of
her breasts. She snatched the sheet up over her chest and he laughed.

“I’ve seen it before,” he said.

“Yeah, well…I’m not used to it yet.” She regretted saying
that immediately. After all, didn’t that mean she’d have some time to get used
to it? That they’d be in this position again? Not likely. She glanced over at
the bedside clock and moaned. “Oh no. Ten o’clock. I can’t believe I slept that
long.”

“We were up late and you needed the rest.” His voice sounded
assuring and deep.

“I feel so foggy.”

“You went through a significant trauma yesterday and you
might feel out of it for a few days.”

“I didn’t even hear you get out of bed or showering or
anything. How long have you been up?”

“A couple of hours. I just started coffee. Hope you don’t
mind.”

“Of course not. I’m…” She was what? Surprised as hell that
he was still here? She was. After all, this thing they’d done last night, the
hot as hell sex…that wasn’t something she experienced on a regular basis.

Who are you kidding, Melanie? You’ve never had sex like
that before
.

She rubbed one hand through her tangled hair and groaned.
“I’m so sorry. You probably have a ton of things to do today and I need to get
in touch with the ladies about the engraved present.”

“You don’t even know if the mall is open today. If the cops
are still doing their investigation you may not be able to get in.”

“Right. I didn’t think of that. And tomorrow is
Thanksgiving. That only leaves Friday to finish up at the engraver’s and the
wedding Saturday.”

He slipped his hand into her hair and brushed it away from
her forehead. “We’ll work it out. I’ll talk to my brothers and if you can speak
with the ladies maybe we can get there later today if the mall is open. Or
maybe this present needs to go on hold until after the wedding.”

She sighed. “You’re right. It isn’t like this was planned
way in advance anyway.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t know some asswipe was
going to start shooting up the mall. I’m sure Danelle and Patrick are just
happy we’re all safe.”

She shivered, and he brought her against his chest and
hugged her. She absorbed his touch, melting into him as his strength and heat
sizzled through her. His touch sent a thousand sparklers of sensation dancing
over her body and warmth pooled in her belly. God, even after that
soul-stealing sex last night just a single touch from him turned her on.

“Don’t stress. Give yourself a break,” he said. “Everybody
will understand if this gift doesn’t get put together until later.”

She wanted to kick herself seven ways until Sunday. “There’s
still so much to do.”

“What about Lena and Kathleen? Aren’t they helping Danelle?”

“Yes but…” She shrugged. “I’m her maid of honor.”

“She’ll understand if things are a bit wiggy.”

“Sorry, I’m just freaking out and there’s no reason to.”

“I’ve seen marines do this. Get wound up when they’re trying
to avoid thinking about battle experiences and trauma. They keep busy. But that
doesn’t make the bad stuff go away, Melanie.”

“What does make it go away?”

“Well, short of counseling, there’s also kissing and making
love.” He smiled and before she could say anything he dove in for a kiss.

Her mind blanked and she dropped the sheet she’d
instinctively pulled up to cover her breasts. Their tongues mated and a shiver
of pure desire hit her straight at the core. Her nipples hardened and she went
moist between the legs. His arms went around her and he gathered her close. He
held her gently, as if she was fragile and precious.

When he released her, she sighed. “God. You should bottle
that and sell it.”

He laughed again. “Come on. Get up. You want some coffee and
you know it.”

“I dunno. Staying in bed is looking mighty tempting right
now.” She brushed her fingers over his bristly chin. “You, sir, look perfectly
disreputable.”

One of his eyebrows twitched upward. “That’s because I am.
And if you don’t get out of that bed and drink some of my coffee, I’ll have to
climb right back in bed with you.”

Oh, oh yes.
That
was tempting. “Sorry, but I
only have one box of condoms.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Damn. Sure that’s enough?”

Her mouth flopped open. Part of her had been absolutely and
one hundred percent certain last night would be the
only
time they’d
make love. A mind-blowing lovemaking session but nonetheless one time brought
on by a need to affirm life.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing I was just thinking…” Oh holy hell. How did she say
this? “You’re going to be busy with your brothers and helping out with the
wedding too. Maybe right here and now is all we have. Then you’re leaving on
Sunday.”

He nodded, and when his arms slipped from around her she saw
a shadow come down over his rugged features.

“You’re right. Why don’t I get out of your hair right now so
you can start your day. I’ll call you later after find out what my brothers are
doing and you’ll know by that time what’s happening with Danelle. Maybe we can
meet up tonight.”

She winced. “We’re doing an inventory thing at the library
tonight and who knows how late that’ll go. I’d have to be at work right now if
I didn’t have to be there tonight.”

He stood and started for the door. “I may be a marine but
I’m nothing if not flexible. By the way, your cell phone has been making some
interesting noises this morning. My guess is that you’re getting some text
messages.”

“Probably.”

His smile was gentle but she saw something that almost
looked a hardness in his eyes. “I’ll take off for now and talk to you later.”