Fly Like You've Never Been Grounded (Summer Lake, #4) (4 page)

Now he was losing it. He had to come, and he had to take her with him. He firmed his grip on her ass and filled her determinedly as he got closer and closer to the edge. She tightened around him.

“Oh, God, Smoke!”

He could feel her orgasm take her. It took him too as their bodies melted into one. A blinding rush of pleasure swept through him and he crushed her to his chest as it exploded deep inside her. Her body strained with his, flying high together. Her hands had dropped from the chair to his shoulders, clinging desperately to him as she rode him hard, clenching around him.

When they finally slumped together, he held her slender body to him as he recovered. “Jesus!” he breathed against her shoulder. She quivered in his arms, clinging to him as she returned to earth.
Jesus!
She was good!

She lifted her head and smiled down at him.

“How's that for a start?” he asked.

“At making me relax, or getting to know each other?”

He chuckled. “Both.”

Her smile was gorgeous, blue eyes full of fun. “It'll do for starters,” she said and slid off him.

***

L
aura sat on the deck, sipping her champagne. It was a beautiful evening, if a little chilly. She snuggled under the blanket Smoke had brought out for them. He was quite something! She'd told herself she wasn't going to sleep with him tonight. This was the first time they'd been out together. But when it came down to it, she hadn't been able to resist him. He was so incredibly sexy! And anyway, it wasn't like they'd just met. She'd known him for months, and the chemistry between them had been obvious from the get-go. She didn't regret having sex with him this quickly. In fact, it had been so good her only regret was that they hadn't found a way to do it sooner! She smiled. She had a feeling they might be making up for lost time this week. Ben was a superstar for putting her in this cabin, with Smoke on her doorstep and no one else around. For a whole week!

Smoke stepped back out onto the deck. She took a deep breath as she ran her gaze over him. That was some man. She may have never been into muscly guys, but Smoke was making her rethink that one. He was a wall of muscle. He was quite a bit taller than her, which must put him well over six feet. Broad shoulders, broad chest, huge arms, narrow waist, muscled thighs...wow! She slowly lifted her gaze when she realized she'd been staring. That was one confident, cocky smile. He knew just how gorgeous he was. Whether it was in his pilot's uniform for work, a cowboy outfit for the party, or best of all, completely naked like right now, he was panty-dropping gorgeous—and he damned well knew it.

He smirked at her. “I was going to ask if you wanted some more.” He waved the champagne bottle in the air, “Of this. But maybe,” he turned around and wiggled his ass, “you'd sooner have some more of this?”

She laughed. “And here I thought you were the shy, serious type.”

He came and joined her under the blanket, snuggling up on the big wicker sofa. “Maybe you're right. Maybe I am shy and serious and you bring out the best in me. Or maybe....” He wrapped his arms tighter around her and nibbled her neck. “Maybe, it's just because you've never seen me out of the uniform before.” He ran his hand down to her waist and drew her closer. “I'm never going to be shy, but we can get down to serious if you're ready.” He walked his fingers down over her stomach ’til his hand was between her legs, stroking, drawing a little sigh from her.

She pulled herself, and her legs together. “We've already figured out we're seriously good at
that
. How about you tell me about yourself. I'd like to know more about the guy who just screwed my brains out.”

He chuckled. Such a sexy sound. “I think, technically,
you
just screwed
my
brains out, lady. Tied me to the chair and then climbed all over my stuff!”

She laughed. “I did
not
tie you to the chair!”

He winked. “No, but maybe next time?” He rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb. “If I'm a
really
bad boy?”

“Smoke! Be serious.”

His hands were wandering all over her now. “I'm trying to.” His gray eyes bored into her as his fingers found their way back between her legs and began to work her.

Oh, God!
His lips came down on hers. Her arms came up around his neck. She'd hoped to feel his capable hands on her, now they were she was completely at his mercy. Somehow he'd maneuvered her underneath him. He was still stroking her. Still kissing her. Using his knees to spread her legs. How the hell had he done it? She'd wanted him to talk. She put her hands against his chest.

“Smoke!”

“Yes?”

She tried to bring her legs together. She liked to be in charge in bed; she decided when.

He grinned at her, keeping her legs spread with his knees. His cock was hot and hard, and despite her protests, she wanted him inside her.

“What, Laura?” The glint in his eyes told her he knew damned well what.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm doing what you want me to do. I'm showing you what it's like when a man takes charge.” He rocked his hips against her, throbbing at her opening.

“What makes you think I want that?” she breathed.

“The look in your eyes. The way say you want to just talk, but you're hot and wet for me. The way you took charge in the kitchen. You're used to pushing men around in bed, aren't you, lady?”

She swallowed and nodded.

“You wouldn't normally sleep with a guy like me, would you?”

She shook her head now. How the hell did he know that? She hadn't even been fully aware of it herself until this moment!

He rolled off her and sat up, drawing her into his arms. “I wouldn't normally sleep with a woman like you, either.”

She turned to look up at him, but his face was giving nothing away. He reached for the champagne and poured two fresh glasses. “So,” he said with a smile, “what do you want to know about me?”

It was as if the moment had never happened. But it had, and it had wormed its way into Laura's mind.
Why
didn't she like a man who took charge in bed? Why had she panicked when Smoke had been about to? And why was she so disappointed that he had respected her and stopped? He
had
stopped though.

He was still smiling at her. “Go on, ask away.”

She asked the question that was burning in her mind. “Why wouldn't you normally sleep with a woman like me? And what does that even mean?”

His chuckle was a low, deep rumble. “You are trouble, lady. That's what it means. You're damned hot—and you know it. You don't need a man. And when you take one it's on your terms only.”

She stared at him. He certainly had her figured out. “But that doesn't answer my question, why wouldn't you normally sleep with a woman like me?”

“It does answer the question. Like I said, you are trouble. Trouble with a capital T.” He was caressing her thigh, making it hard to concentrate on his words.

“And you don't like trouble?”

His lips curved up in a sexy smile as his hand worked its way up her inner thigh. “I want to be
in
trouble.”

His hands really were so very capable. She pushed him back against the cushions. “Have you got a condom ready?” He was so damned cocky, she wasn't at all surprised when he fished one out from under the cushions and handed it to her. She shook her head. “When did you stash that?” she asked as she rolled it onto him.

He just smiled as he lay back. She closed her fingers around him and watched him close his eyes. He thought he could tease her? Now he was at
her
mercy. She knelt above him, enjoying the pleasure on his face as she stroked him. He was growing harder in her hands, she needed to feel him. She lowered herself on to him, slowly. God he was so hard. She rocked her hips, gasping as he slid deeper. He opened his eyes and grasped her hips as he thrust up.

“Is this where you want me?”

She bit her lip and nodded as she rode him.

His smile was sinful. “You're the boss.”

Damn,
he was right. She'd taken charge again. Oh, so what? He was enjoying it. She lowered her breasts to his face and moaned as he mouthed her nipple and thrust deeper. She knew how to take them both over the edge. And she did. She felt him tense and grow bigger; she clenched around him, holding him deep as she felt the heat build and explode, tearing through her in an orgasm that had her gasping. His release carried her away as they strained together. God he was so good. She slumped down onto his chest and lay there, spent.

Eventually his hands came up to stroke her hair. “That's two to zero now.”

She lifted her head to look at him. “Huh?”

“Twice you've taken me and we've done it your way. Zero times you've let me take you.”

She shrugged. “You can't tell me you didn't enjoy it.”

“No, but I
can
tell you you'll enjoy it even more when I take you.” He closed his arms around her. “And I
will
take you.”

She shuddered in anticipation. He was so sure of himself. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

There was that gleam in his eye again. “Both.”

“Really? And when do you plan on doing that?”

“Whenever I want to.” His lazy smile gave her the impression that they were already doing everything his way.

L
aura woke to the sun streaming through the window. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and was surprised to see it was after nine. Maybe the clock was wrong. She hadn't slept this late in years. She got up and padded through to the kitchen where she'd left her purse. She pulled out her phone to check. No, it really was a quarter after nine. She smiled. Well, it had been quite a night. After the kitchen, and the deck, she and Smoke had finished off the champagne and then headed for the bedroom. She'd taken charge in there too. And he really was good. There was no sign of him now, though. He'd left at some point before she woke. She was kind of relieved. She wanted to take a shower, get some coffee and relax out on the deck. She jumped as her phone buzzed in her hand. A text from Jack.

You coming for breakfast?

She chuckled to herself and replied.

Maybe

Perhaps she would take a wander up there if she was ready in time. She checked the cupboards. There was coffee, but nothing worth eating and she was hungry. It seemed last night's workout with Smoke had given her an appetite. She started the coffee pot and headed for the shower.

Sitting out on the deck with her coffee, she stared at the lake. This week would be just what she needed. She could kick back and relax. Start thinking about this new line and just have some time to herself. Life in San Francisco had been crazy for far too long. Her jewelry store was doing wonderfully, and now she'd finally gotten everything set up so that she wasn't needed for the day-to-day running of things, the design side had really taken off. She'd made a couple of exquisite pieces for one client and her reputation had spread like wildfire. Now she had a high-end clientele who were prepared to wait—and pay—for her to design the exclusive pieces they wanted. She'd done so many engagement rings recently that she was starting to get sick of them. She took a sip of her coffee, then blew out a big sigh. It was almost a year now since she'd given her own engagement ring back to Dale. Her phone buzzed again, interrupting her thoughts. Jack again.

Want us to come get you?

She shook her head with a rueful smile.

NO, Mr. Persistent! I'll walk up.

She may as well go join them. If she didn't they'd only come down to see her after they were done with breakfast.

She climbed the steps to the deck of the restaurant and waved when Jack called to her. The place was crowded and she had to weave her way between the tables.

Emma stood to hug her. “Sorry. I tried to make him leave you in peace.”

Holly and Pete greeted her. Ben waved from the end of the table. One of the guys from last night was there too. He smiled and nodded as she took a seat opposite him. She was surprised how disappointed she felt not to see Smoke. She'd assumed he'd be here.

“I'm glad you came.” said Holly. “I need you to help me talk some sense into these guys.”

“Talk sense into guys?” asked Laura with a laugh. “Never going to happen, Holly. You may as well face it.”

Holly laughed. “We have to try, sweetie. You need to see what they want to do with the Plaza at Four Mile.”

Laura had tentatively agreed to take one of the spaces in the retail side of Jack and Pete's new development over on the Eastern shore of Summer Lake. “Why, what are they up to?” She frowned at Jack, knowing he was probably ignoring the practical for the sake of some architectural design detail.

He grinned at her and held his hands up. “Don't blame me!”

“Yes, do blame him!” said Holly. “He's going all Mediterranean features on us. Which, I admit, would make for beautiful buildings to
look
at, but will not do anything to draw customers into stores, because he's not giving us big enough display windows and storefronts.”

Laura looked at Jack. “Are you being a brat about design details?” she asked sternly.

He looked up at her, putting on big, sad puppy-dog eyes. “But it'll be the perfect little village!” he pouted.

“Is this Plaza about you building your perfect little village or about you building a viable shopping center?”

Jack scowled, but said nothing.

Laura looked back at Holly who shook her head in amazement. “I've been arguing with him for weeks!”

“Yes, and you've no doubt been using reasonable arguments and trying to appeal to his business brain, right?”

Holly nodded.

“Forget it, girlfriend. All you need to do is call him out on being a brat!”

Pete laughed loudly. “Looks like she's got you figured, partner.”

Jack nodded and smiled. “Yeah, she does. I just like my details.”

Emma pecked his lips. “Don't worry. I appreciate your attention to detail.”

Jack pulled her into his lap and wrapped himself around her. For the first time, seeing Emma and Jack like that irritated Laura. They were always a little over the top with their lovey-dovey stuff, but today it just seemed like too much.