Crossing Hathaway (15 page)

When he reached for a napkin, I grabbed for his gooey finger and lifted it to my lips. I caught his gaze and held it as my tongue folded around its sweet payload, my lips locking it in place.

His breath caught and his eyes fluttered closed.

Not nearly finished with him, I scooped a little more of the cream and smeared it across his lips. He jumped, eyes flying open as I leaned in and licked, dipping my tongue into his mouth to share the rich cream with him.

His voice fell low, full of sexy promises. “Oh, you are in so much trouble.”

Lips parted, Ben scooped more cream and slathered it across my collarbone, his gaze following the path of his fingers. His arms encircled my waist and tilted me backward. I arched away from him as his mouth moved in against my neck to clean me off, his breath hot against my tingling skin. Moaning, he licked and nipped his way up to my ear. I squirmed and giggled as he lapped at my breast.

“Mmm, it’s never tasted better.” His hand slid up my back and tipped my head forward. He crushed his lips against mine.

Released from his hunger, I plunged my fingers into the cake, brought them to my lips, and gave one long lick before sucking them clean. I uttered a sultry purr. Who knew acting like a wanton slut could be so damned exciting?

Ben swallowed, grabbed on to the back of the sofa with one hand and rubbed the back of his neck with the other.

“Now who’s in trouble?” I delved into the pudding again, reloaded my fingers and pressed my other palm against his chest. With a push, I backed him up and pinned his body against the sofa. His heart throbbed beneath my hand, and his breath came out in jagged spurts as I decorated his chest, circling his hardened nipples. I spread the remainder across the bumps and grooves of his delicious abs. “Watch me, Ben.”

His eyes darkened as I gripped his belt and knelt before him, my gaze locked on to his face. I traced wet trails along his stomach with my tongue, lapping up the cream. His muscles contracted beneath my touch and his legs trembled. When I finished with his six-pack, I stood and plunged my tongue into his mouth. I kissed my way down to his nipple, drawing it into my mouth. My tongue lashed the hardened bead, and I suckled until a deep moan escaped him.

Ben lifted my chin with his finger until our gazes met. The shine of his stare betrayed his primal hunger. He panted through parted lips. “Holy fuck. You keep doing that and I’m going to lose it.”

I pressed my hand against the mammoth bulge in the front of his pants. “And that’s bad, how?”

He uttered a husky chuckle between gasps. His mouth opened a few times, but no words came out.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I unbuckled his belt, unzipped him and tugged his pants down. My finger slipped inside his clingy shorts, traced the sexy
V
of muscle along his abdomen. Ben’s stomach quivered, and his fingers dug farther into the suede. With a gentle touch, I eased his shorts over his swollen cock, and with one quick jerk, sent them to the floor. He gasped, his black lashes falling over his eyes.

I took another dollop of whipped cream and turned him into a banana split, stroking from bottom to top and circling the soft rim.

“Oh, Jesus.” Ben stared down at me, breathless, a shadow in his eyes that bordered fear.

I kissed my way down his body and knelt before him, the constant pulse between my legs growing more insistent with the feast before me. With my knee, I urged his legs open. His chest rose and fell in a rush as I licked the loose flesh that dangled between his thighs. His musky scent encouraged me to inhale until saliva pooled in my mouth.

Staring up at him, I slid my lips up his length. I gripped the base of his cock in my hand, pulled it away from his stomach enough to sheath him between my lips. Ben cried out as I worked my hand in circular motions up and down his shaft while I took him farther into my mouth, cradling my tongue around him, sucking the sweetness from him.

“Stop.” He bent forward, breath heaving. “I’ll go off like a cannon before we get to the main event.”

I put on a fake pout as he pulled me up. “But I was having so much fun.”

“So was I, but I want more.”

Our hearts raced against one another as he held me for a moment. He picked up the mangled cake in one hand, took mine with the other, and led me to the fireplace.

“What are you doing, Mr. Hathaway?” I put an extra emphasis on his name.

“I’m about to have my way with you, Ms. Ross.” He glanced at me, winked. “Do you have a problem with that?”

I shivered under the devious glint in his eyes.

He set the plate on the floor beside the fireplace, pulled me down on the fluffy white rug and laid me on my back. “I think we can do without these.” Kneeling between my thighs, his thumbs hooked my thong and slid it down my legs. Brent had instructed me to wear them over the guarders, though I hadn’t understood why at the time. I did now. If Ben had wanted to leave the stockings on—if he was into that sort of thing—he could have had access. The firelight painted Ben’s body, deepening the definition of his abs and playing along his hair. He looked almost wild. If he didn’t give me what I needed soon, I’d go insane.

Trembling, I reached down to unhook the garters from the stockings, but he batted my hands away. “Ah, ah, ah. Please don’t rob me of my simple pleasures.” With a grin, he leaned down, brushed his lips across my nipple. A jolt of pleasure surged through me. “I sense your impatience, but I intend to take my time with you.”

“Fuck.” I sounded breathless, my voice thick with need. “You’re going to make me beg, aren’t you?”

A grin curved his full lips as he lifted my leg and slipped off my shoe before he set my foot on his shoulder. In slow, deliberate movements, he rolled the stocking down and slipped it off my foot. The more skin he exposed, the more he lit me on fire. He did the same for my other leg, leaving me naked and quivering before him.

I held my breath when he lowered himself on me, spreading my legs wide with his body. I licked my lips, squirming, raising my hips to meet him. He reached for the cake, scooped up a finger full of cream and went back to his knees. I huffed out a breath, but my disappointment disappeared under his touch. His gaze followed the path his fingers took along my stomach and down over my soft mounds.

“Oh shit.” I dug my fingers into the fur carpet as he licked the tiramisu from my stomach, circling my belly button. Little eddies of exquisite warmth spiraled through me under his velvet tongue.

He moved south, his lips playing on the border of the great divide. He kissed me down there as if he had my mouth, a brush of lips, his tongue darting out to tease my sweet spot before he pulled back. I panted and tried to rise to meet him, but he pressed his hand against my thigh and held me down.

“So impatient.” The smile in his eyes made me want to scream.

My IQ dropped to that of a horny Neanderthal, and I could think of only one word. “Please, please, please.”

His growly chuckle vibrated along my bones. “Since you asked so nicely.” With his thumbs, he spread me open and pressed his hot mouth against me. I cried out, writhing while his tongue assaulted my engorged center.

My world turned red and gold. I uttered a sound like a purr and played my fingers through Ben’s curls as he fed on me. When he slipped a finger inside, everything below my belly button tightened to the point of pain and pushed me over the edge. I screamed as he drew me into his mouth and suckled, drawing the orgasm out even longer, such sweet agony I disappeared in it for a while.

Tiny tremors rocked me. He kissed my thigh. “You are so fucking tight.” With a sigh, he put his hands down on either side of me, his face hovering over mine. “Tell me what you want, Evangeline.”

My voice shook and I had to try twice to get the words out. “You know what I want.”

“Mmm, I do.” He placed a gentle kiss on my lips, staring into my soul. “But I want to hear you say it.”

Frustrated beyond words, I gripped his shoulders. “Fuck me, Ben.”

Faster than I could comprehend, he jumped on me and pressed my hands onto the floor above my head. Our gazes locked as he stroked himself between my legs, igniting every cell in my body.

An errant thought slammed into me. “Wait. What about—” I paused to take a breath “—you know, protection.”

“Damn.” He leaned back, withdrew a box from beside the fireplace, and took out a shiny package. After ripping it open with his teeth, he sheathed himself and resumed his position. “Where were we?”

He slipped inside me, just a little.

I gasped. “Oh yeah. Right about there.”

With one mind-blowing thrust, he plunged deep. A sharp pain burst a cry from me, but the pleasure of his cock spreading me open overruled the hurt.

Ben held still, his muscles straining. “Have I hurt you?”

My nails dug into his hands. “You really need to stop talking or I’m going to explode.”

A naughty grin quirked his lips. His hips rose and fell above me, his chest pressing me into the floor. The feeling that I couldn’t get away, even if I wanted to, heightened my excitement. Made me feel safe. Wanted. Protected from the world and its ills. He bit along my jaw, released my hands and pulled me up. He knelt with me straddling him. His strong arms held me in place and he kissed me, shoving into me with long, deep strokes. Small grunts expelled from deep within his chest while I clung to his neck.

Sighing, I spread my fingers into the satin threads of his hair and sank into his gaze. A sense of peace and home fell over me, chased away the world and left only the two of us with our pleasure.

“Lie back.” My sultry tone vibrated on my lips. I tweaked his nipple. “I want to ride you.”

Gripping my hips, he launched backward, almost knocking me off him. His booming laugh joined with my giggle until I bore down on him again, silencing us both.

I arched my back, thrust my hips forward harder while Ben explored my breasts, sliding his hand up to my neck. A volcano grew inside me, hot and heavy. Only a few moments passed before the explosion rocked me forward, spilling lava through my veins.

Ben flipped us again, putting him on top. He pumped faster and left me breathless. My orgasm rolled on until I floated on a golden cloud, tremors dancing out from my core.

With one final thrust, he collapsed on me and cried out his release against my throat. His movements slowed to a stop. He shuddered each time I enjoyed a little aftershock. I wrapped my legs around him, holding him in place, and brushed my fingers along his back.

“Holy fuck.” I took a deep breath to calm my body.

Ben raised his face, flashing a lazy smile. His chest continued to heave. “My sentiments exactly.”

We rolled over on the fur rug. After he unsheathed himself, I lay in the crook of his arm, one leg thrown over his thigh.

Ben tickled his fingers down my arm. “Have you any idea what you do to me, Evangeline Ross?”

I played with the little hairs on his belly with a smile. “No, but if what I do to you is even half as good as what you do to me, then I must send you over the moon.”

He kissed my forehead. “Stay with me tonight.”

Propping myself up on my elbow, I squinted at him. “Really? You aren’t anxious for me to leave?”

“No.” He cocked his head, furrowed his brow. “Why would you think that?”

I pressed my forehead against his cheek. “I wasn’t sure if…”

“I’m not like Richard.” Ben’s emphasis on his brother’s name made it sound like a curse.

“I didn’t mean—I know. You’re nothing like him.” I sat up and looked down at him. “What does he want from you?”

Shifting as if fighting an urge to flee, Ben stared at me for a moment before speaking. “My father cut Richard out of the will before he died. Two women accused him of assault and extortion. My mother’s contacts range as far as my father’s did, and somehow she kept the whole thing quiet from the press, but my father found out.” Ben cut out a scoffing sound. “Richard has always been her favorite little golden boy, can’t do anything wrong. He manipulates her and she keeps feeding him money.”

Acid filled my stomach. “Well, that blows. I sort of assumed he was all talk. You mean he’d hurt me if he doesn’t get his way.”

Ben’s teeth clicked together. “I won’t let him touch you.”

We were both silent for a while. I stroked his face until his heart slowed.

“So, Richard wants what your father originally willed him?”

“Yeah. He wants his thirty percent stake in the company, as well as the Roger’s building and the Benedict Theater downtown.” Ben pounded his fist on the floor. “The buildings I don’t care about, but I won’t let him ruin father’s company.”

“And you can’t go to the police?”

“Mother would intervene.” His upper lip curled. “Richard can do no wrong. She’ll never believe him capable of the atrocities he commits.”

“Then what’s his weakness? He must have one.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re not suggesting … we go after him?”

“Why not?” I brought his fingers to my lips and kissed his knuckles. “Why wait around for him to hurt you again? I’m not saying do anything illegal or immoral, not like he does, but something within the law.”

His gaze lost in his own thoughts, he shook his head. “I-I don’t know. He’s unpredictable. If it doesn’t work…”

I stroked his cheek with the backs of my fingers as a shudder raced through him. “Just think about it for now, okay? We have a week to figure something out.”

“Come here.” He pulled me on top of him. His arms encircled me, stroked my hair down my back. The warmth of the fire encompassed me. “How are you so much braver than me?”

Smiling, I relaxed against him. “I just recognize what’s worth fighting for.” I wiggled my hands beneath his back and snuggled closer. “Where did you come from, Ben? I keep thinking this is too good to be true and I’m about to wake up and be very disappointed.”

“I could pinch you if you like.” I heard the amusement in his voice.

I laughed. “I’m not much into pain, thanks. Well, unless we were doing, you know, what we were just doing. During that, I think someone could stab me and I wouldn’t notice.” I sighed and drew circles on his shoulder. “It’s so strange. I feel so awkward and unsure when you’re across the room, but the instant you touch me—something clicks into place and I turn into a fucking porn star. Everything feels right somehow, and I wonder what I was so nervous about.”