The Boy Next Door (3 page)

Melissa’s mouth went dry. Her pulse quickened. Her skin tingled as she imagined those strong arms around her; that hard, toned body against hers, those tight buttocks pumping between her legs…

Realizing her mouth was hanging open, Melissa shut it with a snap and forced her mind onto the task at hand. Had Rory noticed her reaction? He gave no indication of it. In fact, he seemed far more caught up with the damn hedge than he did with her! The nearness of him was making her giddy yet she seemed to be having no effect on him at all.

She lowered the loppers to the ground and stretched out her aching arms, being sure to push her breasts against the fabric of her shirt in a most alluring fashion. “Time for a break, I think. I’ll go fix us a drink.”

Before he could reply she hurried into the house. Once in the kitchen, she leaned against the counter and closed her eyes, pulling in deep, steadying breaths. What was wrong with her? Why was she reacting this way to Rory Thompson? So he had fucked her once. So it had been better than anything she’d ever experienced. So what? That didn’t mean she was in love with him did it? So why did she seem unable to think straight whenever he was around?

Melissa fixed two glasses of lemonade, threw some cookies onto a plate for a hasty breakfast and then carried them through into the sunroom, placing the snack on the coffee table and then slumping onto the sofa. From here she had a great view of Rory still working on the hedge. How had he gotten so athletic? So handsome and self-assured? Where was the nerdy boy who used to follow her around and do whatever she asked?

Melissa gulped, her nipples hardening as Rory bent over, giving her a great view of his tight little ass. She had to clear her throat several times before she managed to call, “There’s a drink here for you, Rory.”

With a shrug, he threw down his tools and made his way into the sunroom, slumping down in the chair opposite Melissa.

“Phew! Warm today isn’t it?”

“Mmm,” Melissa answered, not trusting herself to speak.

Rory gulped down his drink and sighed in satisfaction. “That hits the spot.”

Melissa cast around for something to say. “You must be used to this heat. I’m sure it’s much hotter in Thailand.”

“Yep. It could get pretty toasty,” he agreed. “But there was usually a sea breeze that took the edge off it.”

Melissa longed to ask him more about his travels and what had happened out there to turn him into the sexy man sat before her now. But she didn’t seem able to form the words. Instead, she stretched her legs out and winced as a jolt of pain stabbed her ankle. Irritably, she reached down and rubbed the spot. Who would have thought a few hours of chopping a hedge would make her feet ache so much?

“Are you okay?” Rory asked.

“I’m fine,” Melissa replied, determined not to show any weakness.

Rory frowned, his gorgeous eyes full of concern. “No you’re not. It’s no wonder your feet hurt, Melissa. Those shoes are hardly suitable for gardening.”

“What’s wrong with them?” she demanded.

Rory snorted. “Look at the heel! And I can see your toes sticking out the end. Hardly what you’d call work wear are they?”

Melissa glared at him. “When I want fashion tips from you, Rory Thompson, I’ll ask for them. And these aren’t heels, they’re wedges.”

But the truth was, her feet were really starting to hurt. Her strappy sandals with the two inch wedge heel were the closest thing Melissa owned to work shoes and definitely the only ones she would risk getting muddy in the yard. But it seemed even her shoes weren’t good enough for Rory Thompson. She rubbed her ankles irritably.

Rory sighed. “Here.”

He set his drink down and slid from his chair to kneel by Melissa’s feet. Gently he eased her sandals off and put them to one side. Melissa opened her mouth to demand what he thought he was doing but something stopped her. Instead of annoyance at his presumption, a thrill of anticipation ran through her.

Rory gently took hold of her left foot and began kneading the sole. His thumbs were firm as they pressed into her flesh, easing the tight muscles and tendons. Melissa gasped and leaned back in her seat as a delicious, relaxing sensation washed through her.

“Where did you learn to do this?” she murmured.

“A lady in Ko Samui showed me,” he replied. “You can make a decent living giving massages if you know what you’re doing.”

All of a sudden Melissa’s mind was filled with images of Rory doing this to other women. Rubbing their feet, their back, their shoulders, and heaven knows what else. And one thing might lead to another…Did he climb on top of those women and fuck them until they moaned his name?

Melissa’s stomach turned over. A hot stab of jealousy quickened her breathing. Was she, Melissa, just another in a long line of women Rory had done this to?

She opened her mouth to tell him to stop but her annoyance suddenly melted away as he found the aching muscles and gently probed them until the pain drained away.

“To do this properly we need some essential oils,” Rory commented. “Then I can really show you what a foot massage should feel like.”

“Mom has some in the bathroom,” Melissa found herself saying. “She went through a phase of being into aromatherapy. It didn’t last of course, like all of mom’s fads. Do you want me to fetch them?”

“No it’s okay,” he replied, standing. “You just sit here and relax, I’ll go find them.”

Melissa watched him stride away and her heart gave a strange little lurch. The room seemed suddenly colder without him in it.

Rory returned with two small glass bottles cupped in the palm of his hand. In the other he held a glass bowl. Melissa watched in silence as he crouched in front of her.

“Lavender and base oil,” he said, holding up the bottles. “Perfect.”

With the precision of somebody who had done this countless times before, Rory unscrewed one of the bottles and tipped some oil into the bowl. Next he opened the smaller bottle and carefully measured out several drops of a clear liquid. The unmistakable scent of lavender stole through the room, caressing Melissa’s nostrils with its soothing fragrance.

Rory slid his hands into the bowl and coated his fingers in the fragrant oil.

“Lie back,” he commanded.

Rory began with her toes. The pads of his thumbs pushed into the base of each digit, pressing the tense areas. His palms glided smoothly over her skin, the oil feeling deliciously warm and sensual between them. After a minute, Rory’s sure fingers moved up the soles of her foot, kneading the pressure points there.

Melissa moaned as the pain and tension drained away to be replaced by a growing heat in her groin. The way he touched her was so firm, so sure and so sensual that Melissa found herself surrendering completely.

Perhaps Rory noticed the effect he was having on her because he said in a gruff voice, “Slip your top from your shoulders.”

Melissa leaned forward and shrugged her top down her arms, exposing her neck and shoulders to his scrutiny. Rory moved to stand behind her, so close she could smell his intoxicating male scent. Gently he placed his hands on her shoulders, sending goosebumps riding up her skin.

She sighed as Rory began massaging her shoulders, the skin of his fingers gliding smoothly over hers, his masculine scent mixing with the lavender from the oil to create a heady, almost overpowering combination.

Melissa’s eyes gently closed as she felt her body surrendering. Her resistance melted away. Rory was in control here.

But abruptly Rory withdrew his hands and stepped back. Puzzled, Melissa opened her eyes and looked at him.

He shook his head, making his wavy hair bounce on his shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry? Melissa wondered. Sorry for what?

She noticed for the first time how tense he looked. His whole body seemed to be quivering, his eyes dark with something. Desire? Her eyes traveled down his rippling torso and alighted on the enormous bulge of his erection pushing against the fabric.

Melissa gulped. Rory wanted her. Really wanted her.

Her pulse quickened, sending blood racing around her body. A deep, hot ache lit her groin, making her tingle with desire. Feeling suddenly brazen, Melissa yanked the yellow fabric of her shirt over her head and let it drop to the floor, following it with her bra.

The breeze felt cool on her exposed breasts, dimpling the soft white flesh and turning her rosebud nipples hard and erect. She was rewarded by the widening of Rory’s eyes and the quickening of his breathing.

She took hold of his hand and pulled him down onto the sofa beside her. Rising up onto her knees, she inched closer, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. For a moment, he went rigid with surprise. But only for a moment. A second later, his strong arms circled her, pulling her close, pressing her breasts against the hard, smooth muscles of his pectorals. His soft, warm lips parted and his tongue snaked into her mouth, caressing her tongue with a deep and urgent hunger.

Arousal lit Melissa’s body like fire. The wet ache deepened in her pussy until it bordered on pain. Where her nipples pressed against the hard muscle of his chest, delicious rivulets of sensation ran along her breasts and down her stomach.

Rory’s smell was all around her: the slight musk of his sweat, the clean smell of his hair, the spicy scent of his cologne. She tightened her arms around him, pulling him hard against her. His tongue probed deeper and she responded in kind, working her lips hard and insistently against his, inviting his tongue into her mouth to cavort with her own.

Rory’s strong hands caressed her back, his hands gliding smoothly across her skin and raising the hairs on her arms. She shivered with pleasure as his lips traveled down her neck, brushing tiny, sensual kisses along her breastbone. With a low gasp, she tilted her head back, exposing her throat to his touch.

Then Rory’s hand found her breast, pinching the nipple hard enough to make her gasp. His mouth descended on her other breast, sucking the nipple between his lips and caressing the bud with his tongue.

With a shuddering moan, Melissa arched her back, her thoughts becoming foggy and remote. Was this what she’d wanted all along? She could no longer tell. All she knew was that being with Rory felt so right. His touch, his smell, his nearness made her feel more alive than she’d ever felt before. It was like opening her eyes for the first time.

Her body juddered as he sucked and teased her breasts and her pussy ached with need. She wanted him. Needed him. Needed his huge, solid shaft inside her, pounding deep. And her body was ready, the wetness between her legs was testament to that.

“Oh, Rory,” she moaned. “This is good.”

Rory straightened and met her gaze, his deep brown eyes suddenly serious. What was that she saw in them? Lust, certainly. But was there something else as well? Something deeper?

“That’s what I want,” he whispered in a hoarse voice. “I want you to feel good when you’re with me, Melissa. Do you trust me?”

Butterflies danced in her stomach at his words. “Yes,” she murmured. “I trust you.”

As if she had given him permission he lunged forward, put one hand behind her head and kissed her hungrily. His other hand glided down her belly and under the waistband of her pants. Melissa’s eyes slid closed as Rory’s strong fingers slipped into the wetness of her soft folds. A jolt of sizzling sensation rocked through Melissa as he found her clit and gently began to rub the sensitive organ with the pad of one thumb. She whimpered, breaking off their kiss to throw her head back, unable to concentrate on anything except the searing flames gathering inside.

Rory’s kisses moved lower, along her jawline and then her neck, his tongue snaking out to caress her skin in lazy circles, even as his thumb massaged Melissa’s clit faster and faster.

Her hips bucked, throwing herself against his hand as wetness flooded between her legs, lances of sweet, sweet sensation shooting up through her groin and into her belly.

“Oh, god. That’s it,” she gasped.

Rory’s hand roved further, his determined fingers pushing aside her moist petals until they reached the dark, wet heat of her opening. He lingered for a moment, brushing her entrance with the lightest of touches. Then, he slowly slid two fingers into the warmth of her aching tunnel.

Melissa cried out. Her breath turned ragged. Her head lolled, eyes screwed tight shut. Rory’s tongue glided over her neck, his teeth gently nibbling on the skin even as his fingers began to move inside her. In sure, steady movements, he worked her, each thrust of his fingers eliciting a wave of pleasure.

Melissa moaned, each breath becoming a hoarse pant in time to his actions. She ground her hips, bringing them to meet the thrusts of his fingers as they explored her depths.

“Yes,” she gasped. “Don’t stop! Please don’t stop!”

Rory’s tempo increased, his fingers probing harder, faster, even as his thumb found her clit again and began to rub.

It was too much for Melissa. Her thoughts scattered. Her body became a vessel of blinding bliss. Her moaning grew louder, quicker, more desperate as the flames fanned to an inferno, engulfing her body in a burning conflagration of ecstasy. She bucked against his fingers and screamed as her orgasm swept her away.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Rory gently laid her down on the sofa and removed his hand. She lay there panting as the sensations slowly ebbed. Rory placed a kiss on her forehead and Melissa opened her eyes to find him smiling at her.

God, he was so sexy. How could she ever have thought him geeky?

She pulled him down and kissed him, loving the sensation of his weight on top of her, the feel of the smooth muscles of his back under her hands. She squeezed his buttocks and breathed in deeply, savoring the smell of him. He shifted as he kissed her and Melissa felt the hard bulge of his massive erection press against her belly.

With a jolt, she realized he’d forgone his own pleasure for her sake. He was still aroused, still aching for release. And Melissa was suddenly determined to give him just that.

Laying her hands on his chest, she gently pushed him away. “My turn. On your back.”