Falling for Sarah (22 page)

Stepping forward, closing the distance, she brushed his lips. “Don’t say no.” She moved in again, gaze never leaving his as her mouth touched his.

Ethan’s hand held her in a vise grip before he surrendered. He yanked her against him, his tongue diving deep.

Jitters of anticipation flittered in her stomach as a hungry groan escaped his throat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, ready for what he would bring.

He moved his hands along the waist of her dress, down to her hips, back up as he captured her mouth again with a nip of teeth. He freed the barrette from her hair and tugged until her head fell back.

Lips and tongue assaulted her neck as a rise of heat flashed through her system. She wanted the flames, wanted to burn. As he moved to her collarbone, Sarah unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it free of his slacks. Her fingers traced his muscled skin, making him quiver.

He yanked the white button-down from his arms, tossing it to the floor.

His gaze stayed on hers, eyes intense, promising more, while he flicked the spaghetti straps from her shoulders and her dress pooled at her feet. His mouth followed the path the soft fabric took, torturously slow as he left a trail of warm, open-mouthed kisses against the swells of her breasts, sending shivers along her skin.

He pulled her backless bra free and she lost her breath, reeling, as he nibbled and licked her pebbled nipples in equal measure. Helpless whimpers escaped as she clutched at his shoulders, drowning in the moment of pleasure.

Ethan took her mouth again, walking her backwards.

Her thighs met mattress, and he laid her back, joining her on the bed, pressing her to the navy blue comforter with his weight. As tongues tangled and teeth grazed, her sensitized skin rubbed against the heat of his chest. She wanted more, craving everything.

On a snappy whip of power, Sarah ran her hands over his muscled biceps, over his back, eager to feel him, eager to touch as he touched her. She reached for his belt, ready.

Ethan grabbed her hand as breath heaved from his lungs. “Not yet.” He skimmed his mouth along the valley of her breasts, against her ribcage, nibbling at her hips, setting her aflame. Her breath shuddered in and out as he stared into her eyes, as he sent her a wolfish grin and pulled her white panties down her legs.

“Ethan.” God, she needed him, couldn’t stand to wait a second longer. But he rained kisses over her calves, her thighs. “Ethan,” she whimpered as he whispered his palms along her skin, brushing two fingers over her, tracing as she rocked against his hand, body reaching for release, straining.

Ethan pressed, rubbing in gentle circles, sending waves of sensation through her core until she felt the clutch and cried out, erupting.

He sunk his fingers deep, and she shuddered, trying to catch her breath before his rhythmic motion sent her flying again.

Crawling forward, he straddled her hips. As he pulled his shoes off, throwing them to the floor, Sarah traced him through his slacks, playing her palm against him.

He closed his eyes on a hiss of breath and fisted his hands at his sides. “God, Sarah.”

She fiddled with his belt buckle, unbuttoned, unzipped, freeing him from his boxers. Cool fingers caressed hot, hard skin. She gripped him, moving, caressing, until his stomach muscles shuddered.

Ethan moved fast, his mouth taking hers as he pulled his pants off, his boxers, his socks, and nestled himself between her legs. He hovered over her, gaze locked.

She brushed a hand through his short hair and smiled.

He smiled back, slowly, before he captured her lips tenderly and captured her heart.

He skimmed her cheek, caressing her skin with his knuckles. “I’ve been waiting, Sarah, waiting for this. I’ve wanted you for so long.”

Undone by his sweetness, Sarah pulled his mouth to hers as he entered her slowly. She shuddered as pleasure careened through her center. She stroked her fingers along his back as her hips moved with him, rocking to the lazy pace he set. With every gentle thrust, she sighed until she moaned, clutching around him, going over.

He nuzzled her neck, grazed her jaw before he captured her gaze, holding, as he shuddered, groaned, and followed her.

Ethan stared down at Sarah as she trembled and gasped for air. He’d never seen anything as beautiful as Sarah lost in passion. Cheeks flushed, blue eyes glowing, she continued to trace her fingers along his spine. He’d wanted her here, just like this, for so long.

She smiled. “I’m glad you didn’t say no.”

He smiled back, kissed the tip of her nose. “I couldn’t have.” He rolled from her body to his back.

She yanked the covers up, pulling them to her chin.

Surprised, Ethan looked at her. “Cold or shy?”

“Cold.”

He got under the blankets and tugged her against him.

Sarah nestled into his side and closed her eyes on a yawn. “No offense, but I’m about to be the one who orgasms, rolls over and falls asleep. That’s supposed to be your job.”

He chuckled and rubbed the smooth skin of her arm. “Go ahead and get some rest.”

“Don’t leave me, okay? The last time I slept well you were with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Ethan glanced down when Sarah didn’t respond. She was already out. His hand continued to move over her arm as her wildflower scent surrounded him.

Ethan studied her stunning face, finally relaxed in sleep as he thought of what they’d brought each other. He’d been foolish to think they could go backwards, that he could keep things the same by ignoring the last few weeks. From the moment his lips met hers in the moonlight, he’d known this is where they would end up. He’d changed things and there was nowhere to go but forward, there was nowhere he wanted to go but forward. She was everything he convinced himself he could never have. So now that he had her, why was he worried? Why did he want to push her away?

Ethan thought back to the party, to his mother walking to the garden shed with her latest lover, to Wren’s casual shrug at their parents’ constant indiscretions, and wondered if he was capable of anything more than what he’d watched all his life.

Sarah said he was nothing like them, but could he be sure? Looking back on his track record with relationships, he’d hardly done better. He had never cheated on a lover, but he’d never stuck with one long enough to see where it would go. He wasn’t made that way. ‘Fast and fun and no one gets hurt’ had always been his motto, but that wouldn’t be enough for Sarah. He didn’t want that for Sarah, didn’t want that for himself, but when it came down to it, was he able to give her anything more? Could he spend night after night with the same woman, building a life with her? If it was Sarah, he wanted to believe so, but what if he couldn’t?

Staring up at the ceiling, Ethan thought back to the tiki bar, remembering the hurt that moved into her blue eyes. He’d done that. Each time they tried to be something more than friends, he hurt her. Would that be all he could give her? He was very afraid it was.

The warm sun on her skin blazed bright through the open windows. Well rested for the first time in too long, Sarah stretched and smiled, feeling the soft cotton sheets against her naked body. Her smile turned to a satisfied smirk as well used muscles protested. Finally opening her eyes, she glanced to her side and frowned. He was gone. “Ethan?”

Sitting up, Sarah swung her legs over the bed and almost stepped on the dogs. “Morning, guys. Where’s your dad?”

Tails thumped when she bent to give them each a rub. She focused on the bedside clock, and her eyes widened at the time. “Eleven-twenty? No wonder.” Less concerned now, she moved into the bathroom and reached for her robe.

Walking down the stairs, she knotted the blue tie in place, winding her way toward Ethan’s office. She stood in the doorway as he talked on the phone, bare-chested in workout shorts. Her heart beat faster and her stomach curled tight as she studied his spectacular face, watching his lips and tongue curve around words while he spoke fluent Italian. Dark stubble covered his jaw, lending a sharp look to his already rawboned cheeks. He ran a hand through his black hair and glanced up. Eyes intense, he held up a finger.

“Io vi richiamera. Grazie.” He hung up.

She stepped into the room. “I love listening to you speak in one of your many languages. It sounds so exotic. It’s very sexy.”

Sarah expected a smile, but he only stared at her.

Suddenly self-conscious, she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Am I interrupting?”

“No, I’m just checking in with the foreign branches.”

“Oh.” Why was this so awkward after what they’d shared last night? Unable to read his eyes, she walked toward him.

He closed a file on the desk and stood. “Did you get yourself something to eat? You must be hungry.”

Sarah stopped in front of him and smiled, running her finger over the stubble on his jaw. “I’m hungry, but not for food.”

Ethan took her finger from his face, placed her hand in his before he blew out a breath. “Now’s not a good time. I have a lot of work to do.”

Sarah pulled her hand from his, recognizing his irritated tone. “Sorry. I’ll let you get back to it then.”

He sat down without saying anything further.

When she got to the door, she turned, and he closed his file again. “Are we back here already, Ethan?”

After glancing at his watch, he looked at her. “Where’s that?”

“That’s what I want to know.”

“Look, I’m expecting a call from Milan in ten minutes. Let’s talk later.”

Perilously close to tears, she nodded and walked off. Halfway down the hall, she stopped, needing to know one thing, although she feared she already did. She made her way back to his office. Ethan sat with his elbows on his desk, his forehead in his hands.

“Do you regret last night?”

His gaze snapped up to hers, and the apology was there for her to see.

Sarah turned, hurrying up the stairs to her room and straight for the bathroom. She twisted the knob for the shower and untied her robe as tears fell down her cheeks. What had happened? How could last night have been a mistake when it meant everything to her?

As she took a step toward the spray, she gasped as Ethan whirled her around.

“Why?” she demanded as anger replaced hurt. “Why did you do this? Why did you start all of this if you don’t even want me?”

“Don’t
want
you? You’re all I want, all I’ve
ever
wanted.” He backed her against the granite countertop, crushed his mouth to hers.

Confused, undone, but wanting, she pulled him to her.

He moved back, taking her face in his hands, brushing tears away with his thumbs. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Sarah. I’ve tried everything, but I can’t get you out of my mind.” He grabbed her at the waist, sitting her on the edge of the counter, nestling himself between her legs. In a flash of a second, his shorts were on the floor and he pushed himself into her.

Sensations careened through her body, and she cried out at flashpoint. Her gaze met his before he took her mouth again. Her gasps intertwined with his ragged breaths as she grabbed his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist. He pounded into her, never taking his eyes from hers. When she built and crested on a long moan, he gripped her hips and groaned.

In the echoes of their heavy breathing, they stared at each other.

“Damn it.” He pulled away and yanked up his shorts. “Don’t you see? This doesn’t work.”

She shook her head. “What?”

“I can’t think straight around you. Every time I look at you, I want you.”

She hopped down from the counter on wobbly legs. “The feeling’s mutual.”

“No, okay? No.” He emphasized with his hand as he paced. “I had time to think after you fell asleep. I can’t do this to you, Sarah. I’m not made for what you need.”

She shook her head, frustration growing. “I can’t keep up with you. ‘Let’s be more, Sarah.’ ‘No, let’s be friends.’ ‘I want you, Sarah.’ ‘Never mind, Sarah.’ Which one
is
it?”

He stopped pacing. “The first—no, the third. Fuck! All of them.” He walked back and forth again. “What if I can’t be faithful to you? What if I can’t give you the long haul?”

She grabbed his arm and he stopped. “I thought we were taking things a day at a time? Where has all of this come from?” She remembered his mother and her newest lover. “Is this about last night, about your parents?”