Sealing the Deal (11 page)

Her teeth worried her lower lip. “I thought you wanted to watch a movie.” She offered up a hesitant smile. “If I had my choice, we’d be glued to HGTV.”

“Wouldn’t matter to me. All I wanted was to spend time alone with you.” Robert tugged her closer until she was pressed hard against his side.

“Oh…” If she bit her lip any harder, she’d draw blood.

He’d waited the whole damn night to have her in his arms. Dinner had barely had any taste, because the only thing he could think of was that they’d be all alone in their new home—the perfect time to take their budding relationship to a higher level.

Robert wanted to make love to her.
Tonight
.

His cock was hard as a rock, not a very comfortable situation. It wasn’t as though he could pop open his fly and let the poor thing out of the tight confines of his jeans. Wondering how Beth would react if he did made him chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Her eyes searched his.

He almost blurted out exactly what was amusing him but refrained before the words slipped out. He was trying to seduce her, not send her running away because she thought he was some pervert. “Nothin’.”

In all his years of dating, he’d never been this unsure with a woman. If she showed interest, he’d take her up on whatever she offered. With Beth, he worried about each touch, each kiss, afraid he’d take a misstep. He cared about what she thought, wanting to guard her obvious innocence and not come on too strong. The last time he’d weighed his every word and every action this way was when he’d been a teenager.

He was going to drive himself insane. It was time to stop overthinking and just let their attraction unfold.

“Oh. Okay,” she murmured.

When she glanced away, Robert nudged her face back to his. Then he pressed a kiss against her lips. Then another. God, he wanted her.

Gentle kisses weren’t enough. He tugged her closer and gave her the kind of kiss he’d been thinking of all evening, one of total possession. He ground his lips against hers and thrust his tongue into her mouth, demanding she respond, that she feel the same gnawing sexual need consuming him.

Beth looped her arms around his neck, wriggling around until she could press her breasts against his chest. He let out a rumbling growl and moved his hands to her hips so he could guide her to straddle his lap. She rubbed against his erection, drawing a groan from deep inside him.

Once she’d threaded her fingers through his hair, she held him right where he wanted to be as she rocked her hips, simulating the act he so desperately wanted. No woman had ever responded this honestly, revealing her desire so clearly. In his experience, most women needed more coaxing and cajoling. A few even made it seem as though they were doing him the greatest of favors by allowing him to be intimate with them.

Not his Bethany. Her tongue was every bit as wild as his. Despite her suffering from a lack of self-esteem, she was nothing but open and direct with her passion—and perhaps not so innocent after all. When he got her clothes off, Robert hoped she didn’t draw back into her shell. He couldn’t bear losing this kind of connection.

Easing back, she stared into his eyes, searching for something.

Desire? Commitment?

He’d give her both those things and more. “Say yes,” he whispered. “Say you want me as much as I want you.”

Her eyes widened and her fingers tightened in his hair.

“Say yes, B.” He pulled her down for another kiss, stroking his tongue over hers and loving the responding mewl from the back of her throat.

Robert slid one hand up her side, under her loose shirt until the lace of her bra tickled his fingertips. Boldly cupping her breast, he shifted his lips to her neck, nuzzling the soft skin as he breathed in her scent. “Please, B.” He tugged on her earlobe with his teeth and squeezed her breast. “Say yes.”

She tilted her head and breathed out a contented sigh. “Yes.”

He wasn’t about to give her time to change her mind. Wrapping his arms around her, he stood, intending to carry her straight to the bedroom, hoping once she was there she’d quit worrying about the missing mattress in what was to be her room. The master could belong to both of them from now on.

Beth untangled her legs and put her feet on the ground.

“I was going to carry you,” Robert insisted.

“I’m too heavy,” she scoffed.

Had he not worried at dampening her desire, he would have taken a moment to scold her for the denigrating remark. Instead, he took her hand and gently tugged her to follow him to the stairs.

On the first step, she planted her feet, almost jerking him off his.

“What?” he asked, angry at himself that he couldn’t hide the desperation in his voice. If she stopped this interlude, he’d be tied up in knots for days.

“I don’t know. I mean…”

Robert had been one step above her, so he went back to where she was and turned her to face him. Then he kissed her again. A long, slow, sensuous kiss. He was panting for air when he finally ended it, as was she. If she could turn him away now, she had a hell of a lot more self-control than he’d ever be able to muster. “I want you.”

“I want you, too, Robert. I just…” She was back to nibbling on that bottom lip. “Do you have, um, protection?”

“Condoms?”

She gave him a brusque nod.

He returned the gesture, hoping she wouldn’t think he was a cocky bastard for having bought them this afternoon.

Without dropping his hand, she hurried past him, climbing the stairs. “Well, then, what are we waiting for?”

Would she ever stop surprising him?

Robert shut the door behind them out of habit. There was no one to shut out tonight. They had all the privacy they needed. Instead of snatching off his clothes, he leaned back against the door and watched her. Contentment settled over him simply seeing her in his bedroom. This was where she belonged. With him.

She’d jerked her shirt over her head before stopping to stare at him. Clutching the shirt to her chest, she watched him warily. “D-did you change your mind?”

“Are you kidding me?” After pushing away from the door, he strode purposefully across the room, grabbed her around the waist, and tackled her to the bed. “I’ve waited
forever
for this.”

And he damn well wasn’t going to let her change her mind without showing her just how much he desired her. With his kiss. With his body. With his heart. So he kissed her, his tongue tracing the line of her teeth, stroking the roof of her mouth.

Beth tugged at his shirt, pulling it out of his waistband and getting in his way as he tried to touch her body. He leaned back, yanked the shirt over his head, and let out a sigh when he blanketed her body again, putting a knee between her thighs to open them wider. His cock was nestled against her, and he sighed again. “I’ve waited for this forever.”

“You already said that.” Her fingers skittered across his back, sweet and light as air before her palms covered his ass. She raised her knees and held him to her core. “Besides, it’s not as long as I’ve waited. I’ve wanted you for
years
.”

“Seriously?”

“Oh, heck yeah. Your butt?” She squeezed his cheeks. “It’s been driving me crazy since the first day we met.” Beth rocked her hips up. “Make love to me.”

As though she’d have to ask twice.

Pushing back, Robert took her hand and pulled her to her feet. His gaze locked with hers as he reached for her waistband, lovingly popping the button and dragging down the zipper. He pushed them past her hips by letting his hands slide down her sides. She kicked the khakis aside after they’d puddled around her ankles.

She stood there in a white lace bra and pale pink panties, and he hoped to hell he wasn’t drooling all over himself.

He leaned in to kiss the small tattoo of a pink ribbon on her left breast, right over her heart. The name “Mallory” was etched inside the border of the ribbon. “Do all the Ladies have one of those?” He traced the shape with his fingertip.

“Me, Dani, and Jules. It was to celebrate Mallory being well again.”

“Bet theirs aren’t as beautiful as yours.”

“They’re exactly alike.”

“But this one’s on
your
breast. That’s what makes it so special.”

With speed rather than finesse, he took off his jeans and boxers, not even thinking to take his time and almost tripping in the process. He wasn’t patient enough to try to entice her by stripping slowly. Besides, she didn’t act like she needed to be coaxed.

His cock had bobbed forward, like it was trying to stare at her. She stared back, her mouth forming an O.

Damn if he didn’t glance down at himself. He was kind of big, but certainly not big enough to scare a lady away. “B?”

With a seductive smile, she moved her hand behind her back and popped the hook on her bra before shrugging out of it. Then she discarded her panties. Standing before him, she gave him a sheepish glance, her lips pulled into a tight line. Moonlight shone through the skylight over the bed, giving him the ability to see all of her quite well.

“Gorgeous.” It was the only word he was able to utter. She was perfect. Soft and round with pale skin. Her breasts were fuller than he’d imagined, and just looking at the V of dark curls between her thighs made his erection twitch.

* * *

Beth clenched her hands into fists, trying with every ounce of her being not to act like some shy virgin and hide herself from Robert. Sure, her body might not be slim and sleek, but judging from the swollen cock pointing in her direction, the man liked what he saw. So why hide?

The way he’d growled out his compliment had sent shivers racing over her skin. She was past playing coy. Stepping closer, she wrapped her fingers around his erection, loving the incredible heat that greeted her touch. He was so full and thick, and she wanted to play with him a little before they covered up all that masculine beauty with a condom.

He growled as she stroked him. With a smile, she moved up and down, stopping at the cap to rub it with her thumb and then squeezing his sac each time she reached the base. But he didn’t kiss her, just kept his gaze fixed on hers.

Too soon, he brushed her hand away and snaked his arms around her waist. Picking her up, he took her to the bed, letting her fall back against the mattress as he dropped to his knees and spread her thighs. Before she could utter a single word, his mouth was on her, his fingers separating her folds while his tongue probed and licked her until she was squirming. She threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged, probably a bit too hard. But the man was making her body scream for release, and she wanted him to share the experience. Since she couldn’t utter a coherent word, she kept pulling on his hair, trying to get him to understand. She wanted him inside her. Now.

This was all so new. The times she’d been with other men, she’d had to perform as though she were striving for an Academy Award. Her fault, because she’d never let her guard down, never faced another man with the same bravado she’d shown Robert. And she’d always faked the orgasm at the end.

With this new bravado came true confidence. She’d stood bravely before him, naked and uncaring if she had a big butt or far too much padding on her hips or a bit of a belly. Seeing that huge cock, arrogant and ready for her and her alone was a potent aphrodisiac.

“Robert, please.” She tugged on his hair again.

With a groan, he got to his feet. “Scoot back, B.” He jerked the nightstand drawer open and fished out a string of condoms. He ripped one loose and opened the packet with his teeth while she moved to the middle of the enormous mattress.

Watching him roll on the condom sent a jolt to her center, and she knew that for the first time, she was going to come during sex and not alone in the shower later that evening. She was so turned on, so ready, that simply watching him crawl onto the bed, stalking her like a jungle cat had her breath catching and heat shooting through her.

Robert licked her nipple and then settled himself between her spread thighs. After teasing the tight bud with his tongue, he drew the nipple into his mouth and suckled. His fingertips smoothed down her stomach and over her mound before he thrust a finger deep inside her, making her hips rise to meet him.

Beth cupped the back of his head, encouraging him to continue all the exquisite torture. A shock wave went from her breast to her center, making her gulp in a breath. “Now,” she said, wanting him joined with her when she climaxed.

Robert rose over her, rubbing his erection between her folds. “You’re ready?”

“
Past
ready.”

He dipped his head to rest his forehead against hers as he thrust inside her.

Letting out a gasp, she tried to ease the tightness in her muscles to allow the invasion. She hadn’t meant to tense up, but when he pushed back on his elbows to give her a concerned frown, she shook her head and pulled him down for a tongue-dueling kiss. Her body relaxed, letting him slide inside, the friction making her close her eyes and hum in happiness.

Robert pulled back, slowly, tantalizingly before thrusting inside her again.

The teasing was making her frantic. She showed him with her hips and her kiss that she needed him rougher, faster.

And he obliged. Together they found a rhythm that pulled her higher and higher until the tight knot deep inside her snapped and she cried out his name. Delightful spasms spread from her center through her being, filling her with a joy she’d never known.

This was what she’d always searched for. This was what she’d sought for her whole darn life. This was the way making love should be.

Robert’s movements became frantic, and Beth squeezed her thighs tightly against his hips, putting her palms against his backside again, encouraging him, wanting him to enjoy the same kind of bliss he’d given her.

His body tensed before he buried his face against her neck, groaned, and shuddered, her name spilling from his lips.

It was the sweetest song she’d ever heard.

Chapter Ten

“Good morning.”

A deep, rumbling voice snapped Beth from the last light tethers of sleep. She slowly opened her eyes as she lay on her left side. Dark, laughing eyes greeted her. Robert also lay on his side facing her, a grin on his beard-stubbled face. She ran her fingertips down the sandpaper surface of his cheek to his chin, smiling as she remembered the night. Such sweet memories to hold close to her heart.