Текст книги "Tell Me You Need Me"

Автор книги: Joya Ryan

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 10 страниц)

Chapter Two

“I’m not dating him.” Chloe tied a short apron around her waist and walked around the bar to get ready for the lunch rush. Living upstairs was a big plus for Chloe’s nonexistent commute to work. She ran the restaurant and bar, trying to keep her mother’s life’s work a lucrative success. Her best friend, Natalie, had a small room for her cupcake shop off to the left-hand side of the house.

“You guys have sex every time he comes into town?” Natalie slowly applied frosting to one of her locally famous cupcakes. There was flour dusted on her apron and sweater set. She shoved her thick glasses up her nose, spreading buttercream on her face, then went back to her task.

“Well, yeah.”

“Call it what you want.” Natalie licked a dab of frosting off one of her fingers. “Whatever it is, it sounds like the perfect arrangement to me.”

Chloe glanced at the balcony above where she’d been with Gage the night before. A tremble from the memory crept up her back. She shook it off. The upstairs was being remodeled in time for the twentieth anniversary of the restaurant, an event Chloe hoped would kick-start a busier year.

She should be focused on the remodel and anniversary. Instead, she’d spent all night wrapped in thoughts about Gage and what he wanted from her.

Natalie eyed her. “I hear he’s sticking around for a while this time.”

Chloe groaned—how was she going to last with him staying in town for longer than a weekend? “Depends on how unlucky I am.”

Natalie shook her head. “Why do you look like that’s bad news?” She placed a few chocolate shavings on the cupcake. “I can think of worse things than having him hang around.”

“I can’t be with him more than a night or two,” Chloe mumbled. “I like our arrangement. But he wants to…take me out. You know.” She glanced around, like she was worried someone would overhear them. “On a date.”

Natalie slapped the piping bag down on the counter. “That dick! What man would have the nerve to ask a beautiful woman out on a date?”

Chloe sighed. Okay, so Natalie was giving her shit, and yeah, Chloe probably sounded crazy. But this was bad. “You know I don’t do commitment, Nat.”

She raised a brow. “You’re committed to this place. Committed to the town and your mama’s memory. I’d say you do it fine.”

“I mean commitment with a man. I just…don’t.” The thought alone gave her hives, and even though Gage was banging in the sack—literally—three weeks was treading into dangerous waters. Because she didn’t need to like him beyond their arrangement. Didn’t need him, period.

At least, she didn’t want to need him. She was already sold on his brand of passion. No reason to complicate things more with feelings, long term, or dating.

“Besides, you said it, I’m committed to Beaufort. Gage comes and goes. Even if I wanted more, which I don’t”—unless it involved him naked—“he’s not the guy.”

In fact, he was the exact wrong guy. She’d seen what getting hung up waiting for her dad had done to her mother.

Working at the restaurant, honoring her mother’s business and dream, those were what she took seriously. The restaurant was her home. Her career. Her life. But it had taken a dip a few years ago when her mother had gotten cancer. The famous menu she’d handcrafted had been condensed to the things Chloe knew she could provide at the same high quality, but it wasn’t enough. Without her mother’s passion and charm, business was slipping.

Chloe’s mission was to turn Honey’s around and bring back the staple foods her mother had been famous for. She wasn’t going anywhere, and she also wasn’t signing up for three weeks of blurred lines with Gage. She wouldn’t run the risk of developing expectations when attraction was more than enough with him.

Natalie put a flour-caked hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “I feel for you. And I understand. Doesn’t mean I agree with your decision to stay away from the hottie. Did you see his butt?”

Chloe laughed. Yeah, she’d seen it. Gage McGraw was as fine and strong as they came.

“There’s too much going on to even think about more than sex.”

Natalie raised an eyebrow. “Too much going on?”

Chloe nodded. “The twentieth anniversary for the restaurant is in a couple of weeks, and I’m still adjusting to running this place.”

Even though her mother had passed two years ago, Chloe still struggled to take over everything left to her. Her life was full and busy—and she was failing. She’d never be Mary “Honey” Franklin. Her mother had been strong, kind and good at everything she tried. So sweet that everyone called her “Honey.” Which was how the restaurant got its name.

Natalie leaned in. “If you know what you want, and you’re set, then stick with it. Sometimes you have to cheat at his rules or play by your own.”

That got Chloe’s attention real quick. It made sense. She wanted Gage; Gage wanted her. Should be simple. But he was throwing this “get to know you” bit into the mix. If she wanted him, she’d have to play dirty and be prepared to run after him before he caught her and tied her to a table for dinner talk.

“I don’t want to stay away from him, I just don’t want to hang out with him,” Chloe said.

“Well don’t hold back, sweetheart,” a gruff voice said behind her. Chloe turned and found Gage standing at the end of the bar. His dark eyes stared holes right through her, and she fought the urge to blush.

He was the only man who ever made her come close to feeling giddy. He had a pull on her emotions, and she needed to get them under control real quick. Because she did want him—as long as it was on her terms. Question was: how would she get it?

Normally she might have grabbed him and shown him how she really felt, but Easton Ambrose, the resident search and rescue EMT, had come with him. East was built like Gage, tall, strong, and good-looking. But East was the local town charmer with a playboy reputation.

Chloe knew a wingman when she saw one. Gage had come here to seduce her into romance. Well, fair was fair. If he wanted to play, she’d beat him at his own game.

“You should know by now I’m not shy about much.” Chloe handed menus to both men. “Hungry?”

“Yes,” Gage replied quickly. There was so much emotion in his voice. His words felt like his tongue against her skin. “I’m starving.”

“Uh…me too…but I’m going to go with a burger.” East leaned back in his seat like he was waiting to see the show. “And I’ll also take a cupcake,” he said to Natalie. When he reached for it, Natalie slapped his hand.

“Back off, Easton, this is a work of art. Not to be pawed on.”

He rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Nat?”

She looked over her cupcake, smiling and turning it to admire its perfection. “Yep.”

It was no secret Natalie and Easton kind of irritated each other. Had since they were all young.

East groaned. “Why the hell do you frost them out here then if they’re not for eating?”

“To drive you nuts.” She smiled.

“Tempting a man with something he wants but can’t have isn’t very nice, you know?”

Though East might be talking about a cupcake, Chloe knew the feeling. She glanced at Gage in all his super hotness and wanted to strangle him for sitting in front of her. With all this talk about cupcakes, she wanted to steal Natalie’s frosting bag and decorate her favorite dessert. Then she’d lick it off and—

She huffed out a breath and glared at the opposite wall. No point in fantasizing about what she couldn’t have.

“Well, I’m off to get this in the case with the rest of them,” Natalie said. “You want a cupcake, Easton? You’ll have to come to my shop and buy one like everyone else.” Then she pranced off with her miniature edible artwork.

“That woman needs to lighten up,” East grumbled.

Now it was Chloe’s turn to roll her eyes. Even though they went way back, there was no way her sweet but strictly organized rule-following BFF would lighten up anytime soon.

“Well, if you’re done whining…” Chloe glanced at Gage. “You going to order something?”

“I’d like to order you to go to dinner with me,” Gage said.

She straightened her shoulders and placed her hands on her hips. Former sergeant Gage McGraw issuing an order kicked her pulse up a notch. His dominance made her want to salute and say, “Yes sir.”

No! She needed to stay strong until she got what she wanted—Gage without the commitment.

“No dinner. But how about a nightcap?” she countered.

“I’m going to go put different music on the jukebox,” East said. “Purely to get away from this conversation.” He got up and walked across the bar to the machine.

Which gave Chloe and Gage a moment alone, and the stare down was on. Not that she cared if East heard. She wasn’t ashamed of what she wanted with Gage.

Gage leaned in and put his arms on the counter. “I want a date, Chloe. Romance. And you’re going to give it to me.”

“Romance?” She almost dry heaved around the word. “Why is this so important to you?”

He stilled for a moment. “Because I want your time. And I’m a romantic guy.”

She looked over him. He was a lot of things, mostly hard muscle and sex on a stick. But romantic? If he was serious, she was in trouble, because there wasn’t a romantic bone in her body.

“Why are you fighting this?” he asked.

“Because I want your body.” It was the first honest thing she could blurt out.

He raised a brow and sat back with a hint of a smile. “So you’re using me for all this?” He gestured over his impressive chest encased in a black T-shirt and…oh God…camo pants. She had a thing for his tactile gear. Just the sight of him donning his big boots, butch watch, and macho swagger was enough to make her wet.

“Don’t think too long, sweetheart. Would hate for the drool on the side of your mouth to get any worse.”

Her face flushed. “Shut up.”

“Now, I’m going to try to not take too much offence about your unwillingness to go out with me. I’ll chalk it up to you being difficult.”

“Well aren’t you sweet,” she said sarcastically.

“But I’m not about to let this slip. Because I think you kind of like me.” He tossed her a wink, and damn him, she did kind of like him. That wasn’t a secret—between the hours of sex in the past, they’d lain in bed and talked and laughed. But those were brief moments in the bedroom, and they only lasted a weekend. She could play it cool for a few hours, but a few weeks was different. All the baggage, emotions, and stuff she didn’t like to think about had more time to fester and come out.

Deep down, she knew what she was capable of. She could get sucked in to all this…intimacy crap. And she didn’t want to even toe the line with a guy like Gage. She’d get caught up in his smile, his body, and she’d end up wanting him in a way she couldn’t. A way she shouldn’t.

Nope. No way she’d ever show that side of herself to anyone. The only time she gave up her prized indifference was when Gage took it in the bedroom, because he knew exactly what she needed. He tapped into every desire and fantasy she had. She could be bound, at his mercy, completely taken over and totally powerful all at the same time.

She wanted—no—needed him to take over her body. Except he was holding his seduction hostage.

“I’m free tonight,” she said. “My place. Eleven?”

He raised a brow. “Why Chloe, are you asking me over for a booty call?”

“Yes, sir, I am.”

“Romantic dinner first. Seven o’ clock.”

She inhaled deeply. This was going to be more difficult than she thought. “Sorry, no dating. And definitely no romance.”

He shrugged. “Then no sex.”

“What?” she snapped, louder than she meant. Chloe cringed as people glanced in their direction. She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m completely serious, sweetheart. You give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you want.”

She gritted her teeth. “That’s blackmail.”

“It’s only blackmail if you really need something and I’m withholding it for my own gain… So yeah, I guess you’re right.” He smiled. “It is blackmail.”

He was being cute now because he knew how badly she needed his body. It’d been four months, and last night’s welcome back had only awakened her need. And now he was right in front of her—her own personal gourmet cupcake—teasing her with terms she wouldn’t fulfill.

Cheat at his rules or make your own…

She eyed him and raised her chin. “You wanna play, city boy? Looks like we’ll see who will outlast whom.” She ran her eyes over his impressive body—he was looking her up and down right back. “Seems I’m not the only one with a drooling problem.”

His eyes darted to hers. Finally, she had some kind of upper hand. Yes, he wanted romance, but he also wanted her. And she knew enough of his ticks to tempt the roughened man into seeing things her way.

She leaned over the bar, her cleavage all but spilling out over the top of her tank—Gage’s gaze dropped right where she wanted it—and she grinned.

“Like it or not, we both know last night wasn’t enough,” she said. “You want more, like I do. You want to blackmail me? Fine. But don’t think I won’t retaliate.”

He leaned in until his mouth was hovering over hers. “I expect nothing less.”

That stubborn, sexy woman was driving him insane. It was only his third day back in town, and he was already busting at the seams of both his patience and his damn pants.

“Here is an example of stomped-on underbrush,” Gage said to the team of search and rescue volunteers. East—his closest friend, besides Chloe—was at his side, helping him educate the new volunteers for basic training. The fun stuff would come later in the week, when they’d take the main team to the next level of Sartec training. He had to get his shit together quick or he wouldn’t be able to do his job.

Yesterday at the bar, Chloe had made it clear she was going to fight him on this romance idea. She knew what she was doing to him, and part of him liked the challenge. He wanted to know her more, and not just because she was different, sassy, and equipped with enough attitude to whip him so hard he could taste it. But when the rope had loosened and his grip had slipped—when he’d started falling—he’d thought of her.

Her eyes. Her face. How she looked so damn beautiful in the early morning light before sunrise. He’d spent hours watching shadows play over her face as she slept, and he always hated watching the clock count down to the end of their amazing weekends.

Did she miss him? Were the few details they knew about each other enough for her? It wasn’t enough for him—not even close. He wanted more of her, in every way—and he wanted her to know him back. Because she was the closest thing to an honest-to-God connection he had.

He needed to know if a relationship was even possible. Sure, it’d be long distance, but he’d come back here whenever he could if he had Chloe to come home to.

He didn’t want to think about what he’d do if this gambit failed. When it came to an S&R, he was prepared for the worst. When it came to being rejected by the one woman he’d ever wanted? He didn’t know what he’d do. Fortunately, he had a group of trainees to take his mind off Chloe.

He pointed to the shrubs and the ground. “The prints and the broken bushes show someone came through here.”

The volunteers nodded, and East looked them over while Gage gave his lecture. The local team was a damn fine one, but with the new recruits coming in, they needed to get up to speed quickly. There were a lot of acres in the area to cover, and Beaufort’s S&R team handled the greater Carolina area. As soon as an S&R call came in, he’d be out there saving people, but in the meantime, he’d be damned if he didn’t make sure these new recruits were beyond ready for duty.

“Let’s call it a day,” East said.

Gage didn’t argue. It was broaching sundown, and he was ready for dinner…which he’d be having alone, apparently. He hadn’t stopped thinking of Chloe for a damn second. She was right, he wanted her. Bad.

“You all right?” East asked. “You look like someone pissed in your Wheaties.”

Gage scoffed. “Nope, just a certain woman pissing me off is all.”

East nodded.

“Yeah, I’ve known Chloe for a long time,” East said. “You sure you know what you’re doing? She can be vicious when she wants something.”

Chloe, East, and Natalie had been childhood friends forever. Nothing romantic, but East probably knew Chloe better than he did. Something Gage was a bit jealous of.

“I’m aware of how vicious she can be. But she’s fighting mostly to irritate me.”

“Or she really doesn’t want to date you.”

Gage nailed him with a glare. “Bullshit.”

“All I’m saying, man, is you really want her for more than your arrangement, it’s going to be tough. You two have been doing this for what? A year?”

“Two,” Gage said. Which was why he believed they were capable of more. Who stayed fuck buddies for two years? Most moved on to the next person so they could keep it casual. “Christ, all I’m asking for is a meal and conversation before we take our clothes off, but she’s acting like I’m proposing marriage.”

“Aw, cute. You want to cuddle and talk about your feelings and she only wants to fuck. Must be rough being you.”

“Shut up,” Gage said. He was aware of how this looked, and frankly he didn’t give a damn. Yes, he wanted Chloe so fucking much he could taste it. But he also wanted to hear her laugh like she had the last time they’d stayed up all night, getting lost in each other’s body, then talking, then doing it all over again.

But he was too far in now. He had to stick to his guns. No matter how hard—literally—it was.

He pulled out his phone and shot her a quick text.

Dinnertime is coming up…have you seen reason yet? I’m hungry, sweetheart, and we both know you are, too.

In a few seconds, his phone pinged back with a text from Chloe.

I’ll see your dinner and offer up “a quick meal” instead.

He grinned. She was already caving. But he’d hold strong. Romance for sex. But a quick meal for some messing around could take the edge off…

Deal.

His phone pinged again.

Great. Why don’t you come get me in an hour?

His fingers worked fast to reply: I’ll be there.

With that, his evening was looking up and a sexy woman was in his future.

Chapter Three

Chloe tried not to cackle with pride as she went about setting up her “quick meal” to share with Gage. But she really wanted to pat herself on the back for being so clever. She never said anything about leaving her house to get their dinner.

The restaurant was in full swing downstairs, and her crew of wonderful employees was overseeing it while she attended to very important business. Her living space was on the third floor and had a private entrance around back, which Gage had used several times.

She glanced at the clock. He would be there soon, and the process for this meal was a carefully structured one. Hopefully when Gage walked in and saw what she’d prepared, he’d forget the silly date idea and give her what she wanted.

She carefully placed some well-crafted finger foods down and smiled.

Yeah…this was going to be good.

Gage climbed the private stairwell up to Chloe’s apartment above the large Victorian house. The closer he got, the more he could smell the familiar scent of her home. Warm apples mixed with fresh ocean air and a subtle spring flower that was all her. He didn’t know exactly what home smelled like, but he was pretty sure that was it.

He knocked on her door. He’d showered and shaved, and if he were honest, he was excited she had finally accepted his offer. Good thing, too. As it was, he was already hurting for a sample of her. Every muscle in his body begged to be unleashed. He needed to wrap her up. Pin her down. Make her beg.

He knocked again.

“It’s unlocked!” Chloe’s muffled yell came from inside.

Gage opened the door. He walked in, shut the door behind him, and locked it. He’d need to have a talk with her about safety. A single woman leaving her door unlocked at night wasn’t wise.

“Chloe?” he called out. The living room was dark, but around the corner came a soft glowing light from the dining room.

“In here,” she called. Gage hadn’t been in her home in four months, but everything looked the same. Clean, colorful, and well lived in. He made his way to the dining room—

And froze. Every damn cell in his body shot to high alert at the sight of what lay before him.

“Ready for your quick meal, city boy?” she asked.

Jee-sus Christ.

He blew out a breath and looked her over. She was completely naked, lying on her long dining room table, with perfectly placed bits of fruit and pastries covering her most delicious parts.

He stared. This was fucking incredible, and his cock agreed. He didn’t want a quick meal. He wanted to devour her.

Gage stepped toward her, zeroing in on the sweets and strawberries covering her nipples. He’d never wanted to lick anything as bad as he did right then. She’d even somehow dipped the tips of her perfect breasts in sugar.

“Hope you’re still hungry,” she purred.

Oh hell yeah he was hungry. She was perfect. Alabaster skin with the soft light making her glow like fresh cream. Her green eyes were fixed on him, and her breaths increased with every step he took toward her.

Wait. This… This was what she wanted. This was exactly what she wanted.

“Well played, sweetheart,” he growled. She’d lured him in and played him. To her credit, it was fucking brilliant—she was taking Candy Land to the next level. But still. A game was a game, and she had messed with the rules.

“Whatever do you mean?” she asked innocently. “It’s a quick meal. Technically, this counts.”

He shook his head. Fine. If this was her hand, he’d throw down his cards and play, too.

“Sorry, sugar tits.” He leaned over and snagged one slice of strawberry from her breast with his teeth, purposefully biting her nipple a little in the process. She gasped, and he ran his fingers down her stomach to the peach slices covering her mound. “I wanted a dinner date for sex. This is—”

“Technically a dinner date,” she growled.

“No.” He bent over again to snag a peach slice. He sucked it into his mouth and lingered between her folds to get the hint of her taste. Damn, he missed this. Missed her. “This is a quick meal. You said so yourself.”

He grabbed another slice of peach and circled it around her clit, then dipped it between her folds like an apple into caramel. She moaned and arched her back slightly.

“I really do love finger foods.” He popped the slice into his mouth—her sweetness on the fruit was his new favorite dessert.

“I’m glad,” she whispered. “Have as much as you want.”

Oh, he would. He’d just have to find a way to refrain from taking every last inch of her to the brink and back.

“Appetizers aren’t a full meal though.” He slid his finger inside her to hammer home his point. “Our deal was sex for a romantic dinner date.” He slowly withdrew. “So this would be finger foods for…” He thrust back inside, and she moaned.

With two slices of peach gone and her pretty core exposed for him, he wanted to lean in and taste her again, but this was an even exchange. Finger foods for finger play. So he withdrew, then pumped back inside her again. He hooked his fingers, hitting the spot inside that drove her wild, and her back arched farther.

“Since it’s a quick meal, you should meet me halfway,” she pleaded.

He raised a brow. “You think so?”

She nodded spastically. Poor woman was trembling. And he was fighting the need to give her exactly what she wanted. Maybe he could compromise.

He dipped his head again, snagged another peach, then chewed it until juice ran along his mouth. He spread her legs even wider and sucked hard on her clit—her sweetness, mixed with the bite of fruit, brought a whole new meaning to peaches and cream.

She grabbed the edges of the table. “Oh yes!”

Fuck! He forced himself to back away. Fingers only.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Playing fair.” He slowly worked his fingers in and out. “You’re the one who started this with finger foods.”

He thrust deep again, and she groaned. He might not be able to take her with his cock, or his mouth, but he’d take her with his hand.

She arched, and some strawberries fell away from her breasts, leaving sugar-coated ruby tipped nipples straining for the ceiling. She was his personal dessert, and he wanted to eat every inch. But he couldn’t. Not without breaking his own rules.

“Please take me, Gage,” she pleaded softly.

Truth was, he had a hard time denying her—he wanted nothing more than to give her exactly what she wanted. But he had to keep his focus. He was playing the long game.

“I’ll give you what you need.” He pressed his thumb against her sensitive bundle of nerves. “If you give me what I want.”

Her head lolled back and forth on the table. She was either shaking her head or delirious with pleasure. He hoped the latter.

“Come on, sweetheart. We both know you want to…” He plucked another peach slice with his mouth, careful not to lick her this time. The effort damn near killed him.

“Mouth,” she begged.

He rubbed his thumb against her sweet spot faster. “Can’t,” he rasped. “The exchange is fingers for fingers, not oral for oral.”

“Okay!” she moaned. “Deal. Oral for oral.”

He slowed his pace enough to keep her on the brink of coming while he negotiated his terms.

“Oral romance for oral sex? Tell me how you plan to accomplish that, sweetheart.”

“I can say sweet things to you if you stop talking and use your mouth to do dirty things to me.”

He chuckled. She was fiery and begging and damn it, he wanted to agree. It’d stay within the rules…

“I’m waiting for my romance then. I’m ready to hear you whisper sweet nothings to me.” He surged two fingers in deep, and she gasped. “And you better mean them.”

“Oh yes, please Gage.”

“Mmm, I love it when you see it my way.” He pulled up a chair and sat at the end of the table. He tugged her toward him until her ass hung off the edge, tossed her legs over his shoulders, brought her as close as possible, and blew against her hotness. She moaned, and her thighs tensed by his ears.

“Comp-compromise,” she stuttered out. “I’ll give you your sweet nothings, but I have one demand.”

He laughed and blew again against her heated flesh. “Of course you do. Especially since you’re the one at my mercy. By all means, make your demands.”

She lifted herself up on her hands, and the bits of fruit left on her slid down her sides and slapped against the table. “I want to make you come. It’s been so long. Please.”

That was the nail in his coffin. This sexy mastermind of a woman wanted to make him come? That was her demand? He’d be lying if he wasn’t hell of fucking interested.

“Quickie for a quickie?” he asked.

She grinned and nodded. “Doesn’t break either of our standpoints, and we both get a little something to tide us over. What do you say, city boy?”

He was ready to say fuck it, climb up on the table, and remind her who worked her body to the point of sweaty bliss. Instead, he’d stick to his rules and the one card he had to play: her body. He still had sex in his arsenal, and he wouldn’t trade it until all his demands were met.

“Let me think for a second.” He bit the inside of her thigh. “I’m still waiting for my sweet nothings.”

“You bastard.” She groaned.

“Hmmm…” He ran his nose up her thigh. “I think you’re confused on what sweet words entail.”

She blew out a breath. “Roses are red, violets are blue—”

He nipped her mound and she yipped.

“I told you to mean it,” he said.

“I was going to say you’re super hot and I want your cock, too. But you ruined my poetry.”

“Try again.” He hovered over her pulsing clit, hoping he could outlast her. As it was, he was ready to dive in and drink her down until he couldn’t see straight.

“I like the way you look at me,” she whispered.

He glanced up her body and met her eyes, silently coaxing her to continue.

“I like the feel of your arms against my skin when you hug me. When you wrap them around me. I feel…small.”

He kept his gaze on hers and slowly trailed his tongue along her clit. She smiled and arched into him.

“You’re the only man I’ve gone back to more than once,” she admitted around a breathless moan of bliss.

Her words were more addicting than the sugar on her skin. He wanted to tell her how amazing she was, but that’s not what she wanted. So he delved his tongue deep and gave her what she did want.

She moaned and her arms shook.

He smiled and pulled back. “Lie down, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’ll even make it quick.”

She lowered herself flat against the table. The sound of her skin sticking to the surface as her back met the wood flared a dose of need in him, hot and quick. Every breath, gasp, and move she made was like a siren calling. Those same damn breaths would linger in his ears long after she was gone and echo in his dreams.

“You drive me crazy,” she said. “I’ve never known another man like you.”

He licked faster, flicking wildly until her back was arching.

“Oh God…” she moaned. “Never known another man who can make me feel the way you do.”

He was deep in paradise, surrounded by her smooth skin and silky core, and he didn’t want to be anywhere else. Her heels dug into his back, and she worked her hips up and down, fucking his tongue every time he thrust it deep.

She was so close. So responsive. His to maneuver how he wanted. She challenged his strength, but bringing her to heel was hot, and he was a bastard for loving it the way he did. And her words—he wanted to beg her to repeat them. Because his hope of convincing her to try a long-distance relationship lay in those words. Maybe his exchange of romance for sex could pay off in the end and he’d get what he wanted.

Her.

For now, he’d stick to the rules. Play the game. An even exchange.

He ate her like he’d never get the chance again. She was drenching his tongue. Raining down on him. Her sheath tensed and the table creaked as she squirmed against his mouth. She was there.

“Ready to come for me?”

“Yes!” She threw her hips out, and he knew what she wanted. She wanted to be filled. She liked it hard and rough and deep. He ran his hand down his jeans where his cock was straining against the fabric—God, it’d feel incredible to have it buried deep in her…

But all he could do was yank her closer and drive his tongue deep once, twice, three times. And then, when she was panting, he pulled back and surged a finger inside.