Yours to Hold: Ribbon Ridge Book Two (14 page)

She rose up off the bed. “Yes. Yes.”

He pressed harder on her clit and added a second finger, opening her slick channel. Her legs came up and spread wider. He kissed her mouth hungrily, his tongue mimicking the stroke of his fingers. She moved her hips, fucking him, her body begging him for release. He worked his thumb faster and plunged hard and deep. She cried out as her muscles tensed around him.

Withdrawing his hand, he immediately grasped his cock and pushed inside of her while her orgasm still wracked her body. Her thighs clenched around him, and he lost any semblance of control.

Her fingers dug into the flesh of his ass, urging him deeper. He pumped into her, moving fast and frenzied. There was no gradual build, just hot pleasure sweeping over him as his balls tightened. He moved within her, clasping her hip and cradling the side of her head. Her eyes were closed, her mouth open as incoherent sounds left her lips.

Her thighs gripped his waist, and her inner muscles clenched his cock as another orgasm claimed her. It was all he needed to plummet right over the edge. He had no reason, no restraint, no mercy. He drove into her again and again.
Please, don’t be gentle.

He reached down and clasped the back of her knee, lifting her leg and opening her even wider. She made a sound like a growl and raked her nails across his lower back. His blood roared in his ears as he came. There was a sound, a low cry that he realized came from him, but he didn’t care.

Her hand covered his behind her knee, holding him there until their pace slowed. Until sense began to return. He let go, and she did too, both of them slumping with a wave of satisfied exhaustion. At least, he hoped she was satisfied.

If her intense reactions and eager participation were any indication, then yeah, she was satisfied. He smiled, adjusting his weight so he was only half-lying on her. He laid his hand over her breast, claiming but not arousing her.
Later
.

She pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Definitely later.”

Apparently he’d said that out loud. It seemed as though he had no control over himself in her presence. No, that wasn’t exactly true. He’d avoided going to the casino. She’d saved him from himself.

Chapter Nine

M
AGGIE POLISHED OFF
her second glass of champagne after finishing the delicious room service dinner they’d ordered. They sat at the small table—Kyle wearing his shorts and nothing else, and Maggie garbed in her underwear and Kyle’s shirt. Her hair was an unbelievable rat’s nest, but Kyle had insisted she leave it down. He said he liked the wild way it tumbled around her shoulders and that it reminded him of how thorough and pleasurable the sex had been.

She squirmed in her chair, just about ready for the “later” he’d promised. She’d almost forgotten what sex had felt like, and now that she remembered, she was desperate to do it again. With him.

“That was a great steak,” he said, finishing his dinner and leaning back in his chair. He noted her empty glass. “More champagne? There’s a little left.”

She held out her glass. “Sure, why not? We’re not going anywhere.”

He grinned. “No, we are not.” He poured out the rest of the bottle—half in her glass and half in his. He took a drink and then set the glass down, sitting back in his chair.

After sipping from her glass, she lifted her foot and set it in his lap. He arched a brow as she massaged his thigh with her toes. His warm palm covered the top of her foot. “You
are
a temptress, do you know that?”

She shrugged, but she knew the answer. No, she wasn’t. Or at least hadn’t been until now. Mark hadn’t liked her to take the initiative in the bedroom. He’d wanted a submissive—not like with a true domination type of relationship, but close enough that it had made her uneasy, and she’d grown more and more uncomfortable over time.

Thinking about that doused her ardor, and she pulled her foot away.

“Hey.” He reached for her, but she turned in her chair, moving her legs out of his range. “Maggie?”

She took another drink of champagne and got up. “Ready for the hot tub?”

“Sure.”

She heard the uncertainty in his voice but chose to ignore it. Pulling his shirt over her head, she tossed it at the foot of the bed and then stripped her underwear away.

They’d filled the tub while they’d eaten. She turned the water off and tested it. Delightfully hot.

She climbed in and settled herself on one of the narrow benches. It was a small tub—larger than a jetted tub in a bathroom but smaller than a hot tub you’d find on someone’s deck.

He got in on the other side, having divested himself of his shorts. She noted he was already half-stiff and suppressed a smile. The controls were on his side. He pressed a button, and the jets started, sending a whirlwind of bubbles around them.

She closed her eyes and sank deeper, resting her head on the side. The sound of the jets and the heat of the water lulled her, relaxing her after her mind had taken that unfortunate detour.

A pinch on her nipple drew a gasp from her throat, and her eyes shot open.

Kyle was directly in front of her, his fingers teasing her breast. “They were taunting me. Just bobbing here.” He caressed her flesh as he stared into her eyes.

The subtle pain he’d just inflicted reminded her of Mark. And that pissed her off. She wanted to enjoy this. God, had he ruined her forever?

Kyle’s eyes narrowed slightly before he dipped his head and drew her nipple into his mouth. His lips and tongue moved over her so softly, so reverently, all of her tension melted away. She clasped his head, running her fingers through his hair, which was growing damp from the steam.

His hand moved between her thighs, his fingers finding her center. He’d touched her so expertly earlier, and her body responded, hoping for an encore. She opened her legs wider and pushed into his hand. He drew her breast more deeply into his mouth, suckling her flesh while his finger stroked into her heat.

She laid her head back on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes, giving herself up to the sensations. His head came up, and he palmed the back of her neck, bringing her up to meet his mouth for a blistering kiss. He rose higher, driving his tongue into her mouth as his fingers copied the intrusion between her legs. He picked up speed, and she met his thrusts, desperate for the orgasm she sensed within reach.

But then he withdrew his fingers and pulled his head back. She looked up into his eyes, which had turned dark and fierce.

“Please,” she breathed. “Don’t stop.”

“I have to. Move up.” He clasped her hips and lifted her off the seat.

She followed his lead, rising until her thighs emerged from the water.

He guided her back to sit on the edge and parted her legs. “Much better.”

He picked up where he left off, stroking her clit and brushing her folds, but he didn’t enter her again. She squirmed on the tile, wanting—no, needing—more.

He splayed his palms on her inner thighs and licked along her slit. His thumbs opened her wide, and he plunged his tongue in deep.

Her head fell back as ecstasy rushed over her. She was so close she could taste it, but she wanted to prolong this joy, this exquisite sensation. Mark hadn’t liked doing this to her and had convinced her she wasn’t missing much. Now she knew how wrong she’d been, and she wanted to string Mark up by his testicles.

Kyle suckled her clit, and she came up off the tile with a sharp gasp. His finger pumped into her, fucking her while he pulled on her flesh with his lips and teeth. Her thighs quivered as her muscles clenched, heralding her orgasm.

He pushed her over the edge into shocking bliss, his mouth and fingers doing things she never imagined. She came hard and fast, the world crashing around her, leaving her in warm, euphoric darkness. But he didn’t stop, and the sensations were too much. She was going to die.

She tried to pull back, just for a second, but he held her fast. His mouth gentled, but he continued his assault. Rapture streamed over her, wringing every bit of pleasure from her body, leaving her weak and sated. And full of wonder.

Kyle pulled her from the edge of the tub, sliding her back into the water. She opened her eyes and blushed at the knowing, almost arrogant look he gave her.

“You tried to get away from me,” he said, his tone almost scolding. “Next time I’ll tie you to the bed so you can’t move.”

She couldn’t stop her reaction and knew the color must have drained from her face.

His expression darkened, and now he was the ones with lines on his forehead. He touched her shoulder. “Maggie, what’s wrong?”

She considered evading the question, but they shared an openness she hadn’t experienced with anyone in a long time, maybe ever. “My ex liked to do that.”

“What, tie you up?”

“Yes.”

“And you didn’t like it?”

“I didn’t mind it at first. But he used it as a means to control our relationship.” Her pulse sped, and cold sweat broke out on her neck despite the heat of the water. “He liked me to feel helpless and weak so that he could ‘save’ me.”

Kyle’s eyes darkened. “Did he hurt you?” His voice was deceptively soft, but she heard the edge in his tone.

“Not physically, though I was afraid it might come to that. It’s one of the reasons I broke things off.”

“If I ever meet this guy . . .”

Flattered by his defense of her, she pushed over to him and grazed her breasts against his chest. “You won’t. He’s gone for good. Like I told you, I haven’t heard from him in over a year.”

“He might be gone from your life, but he’s still here.” He pointed to her head. “Is there any chance he’s here too?” He lightly touched her chest, just over her heart.

She laid her hand over his, pressing it flat against her breast. “No chance at all.” She exhaled, wishing her champagne buzz were a little stronger. “I haven’t been with anyone since him, so doing this, being here with you . . . it’s hard not to think of before.”

He brushed her damp hair back from her face and kissed her lightly. “I will do whatever it takes to help you forget. Even if it’s nothing at all.”

Was he saying that he’d end their spontaneous romantic getaway? She didn’t want that. She wanted to banish Mark forever. And she wanted Kyle to be the one she remembered. When they went their separate ways, she wanted to think of this night and smile.

She slipped her hands around his neck, loving the feel of his corded muscles. “You’ve done a pretty good job of putting me in the here and now. What you just did—my ex almost never did that. So congratulations on creating a singular memory that is one hundred percent Kyle Archer.”

His lips spread into a lazy grin. “I’d say my work here is done, but I think I’m only just getting started, from the sounds of it.”

“Undoubtedly.” She reached down and grasped his cock. It was hard and hot and, of course, wet from the water. She slowly stroked him from base to tip.

He clutched the back of her neck and kissed her, spearing his tongue into her mouth. She increased her pressure on his cock and picked up speed. He massaged her back and moved lower to her ass, palming one cheek and bringing her closer so that she could barely continue her handjob.

“I can’t wait, and I can’t use a condom in here.” He stood up quickly, sloshing water out of the tub with his movement. He climbed out onto the narrow tile floor surrounding the tub and helped her do the same.

He snagged her against him, their bodies hot and slick. He slid his hand along her neck and drew her mouth to his, ravishing her with a wild hunger that was answered in her core and spread through her, bringing her to the edge of orgasm.

She snatched a towel from the hook on the wall and moved away from him to spread it on the couch. He followed, his gaze dark and intense. She pointed for him to sit. He arched a brow but complied. When he was seated, his cock jutted up, eager and impressive.

“Condom?” She remembered him saying he had a couple more in his wallet and that he’d taken them out, but she didn’t know where he’d put them.

“On the nightstand.”

She found one and opened the wrapper as she returned to him. Bending over him, she stroked him like she’d done in the hot tub. He answered by fondling both of her breasts as they swayed against his chest. He tweaked her nipples, sending streaks of desire through her body.

With increasingly clumsy fingers, she rolled the condom over him, taking far longer than she wanted to. When he was finally cloaked, she straddled his hips and put the head of him at her slit. She tried to go slow, but once she felt him inside of her, she couldn’t help herself and pushed down until he was seated to the hilt.

His clasped her hips, his fingers digging into her ass. “Maggie.” He came up, initiating movement, but she wanted to control this. He said he’d wanted to give her new memories, and this was one she’d never had: her in the driver’s seat.

“Don’t move,” she commanded, pushing against his shoulders. She lifted herself until he was barely inside of her, then she sank down again. He groaned, his legs twitched, his mouth latched onto her neck.

Emboldened, she did it again. And again. Each thrust of his cock was liberating and empowering. As she rose up, he captured her breast in his mouth and sucked on her hard. The orgasm that had been threatening since the hot tub cascaded over her, robbing her breath and her sanity. The control she’d exerted with her movements completely vanished as she gave herself over to ecstasy. He took over, slamming up into her with vicious, marvelous strokes. His cries matched hers, and she could only imagine what the neighboring rooms must think, but she didn’t care. This moment was for her.

He pulled her down on him one last time and shouted her name as he came, his body shuddering in release. She combed her fingers through his hair and snagged his earlobe with her teeth. Their movements slowed, and she slumped against him, completely spent.

“You were incredible,” he breathed. He brushed her hair back and kissed her collarbone.

She smiled as a little bit of the darkness that had taken up residence in her head broke apart and fell away. “Thank you.” She climbed off him and fell onto the couch.

He stood and went toward the bathroom. “At this rate, I might have to hit the market over at the gas station and get more condoms.”

She got up and dried herself, then met him in the bed a few minutes later. “We should sleep.” She yawned, as if to punctuate the sentence, and closed her eyes. She’d never felt so blissfully tired in her entire life.

He rolled to his side, facing her, and kissed her temple. “Good night, Magnolia.”

Her eyes flew open and stared into his. “Don’t call me that.” She gave him a playful swat.

He laughed. “I’ve been dying to ask you about that. Why on earth is your name Magnolia?”

She looked at him like he’d gone daft. “You saw my mother, right?”

“I did. She’s very . . . eclectic.”

She rolled her eyes. “Nice word choice. Like I told you before, she’s a total hippie. My brother’s name is Rowan.”

He traced his finger along her arm and shoulder. “She likes trees, I gather. Is that where you got your green thumb?”

“No, that was my grandmother. Mom likes green things, but she doesn’t know the first thing about growing them.”

“She’s lucky she has you then,” he said, stroking her neck.

“I guess.”

“What does that mean? You aren’t close?”

Maggie set her hand on his chest. “We have next to nothing in common. You should know better than anyone that you can’t choose your family.”

He pulled her close and rolled to his back so that she snuggled against his side. “Isn’t that the truth? I’m sorry you don’t have a better relationship. I missed my mom when I was in Florida. I finally come home, and she leaves.”

Maggie traced her finger over his chest, making invisible ovals. “I’m sorry about that. She’ll be back soon, right? Didn’t you tell me she was coming home for Derek’s wedding?”

“Yeah, she’ll be here next Friday.”

She sensed he was thinking about things he shouldn’t—Derek and whatnot. To distract him, she said the first thing that popped into her head: “My parents have an open marriage. They took up separate residences when I was in middle school, and I spent every summer of my life at crazy free-love communes until I was fifteen and refused to go anymore. It was the weirdest upbringing you can imagine. And yeah, I still have serious issues with it.”