Spin the Bottle (9 page)

It was all the invitation he needed.

Mac scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He placed her on the mattress, nudged her over to the middle and crawled on beside her. On his knees, he leaned over and skimmed his fingertips up and down her arms before trailing them over her shoulders to her collarbones. He traced the high edges, dipped into the hollows and finally started down her chest. When he reached the front clasp of her bra, he raised his gaze to hers and arched an eyebrow in silent question.

Lilli nodded and, as he flicked the clip open, she arched her back, making the sheer-lace cups spring apart and fall to the bed next to her. Her generous mounds were on full display. He’d seen them before. Obscured slightly in photos for a modelling campaign and those horribly blurred shots of her sunbaking topless, but he’d never been privy to firsthand sight. Never within touching distance. She was lush and full, the dark tips puckered tight, whether from her nakedness or his attention he didn’t care. All he knew was he had to taste them, feel them pressed against his tongue.

Bending down, he cupped her breast in his hand as he lowered his mouth to the peak. Mac sucked the nipple to the roof of his mouth, held it there with his tongue and increased his suction. Lilli arched into him, thrusting her flesh against his face and he sucked harder. She writhed beneath him and he had to place his hand on her shoulder to keep her on the bed.

“Please,” she gasped.

Not letting go of his prize, he glanced up to see her head thrown back, her sleek neck extended. Distracted by the enticing curve, he let her nipple slip free with a wet pop. He stretched out beside her and went to work on sampling her throat. With nips and licks, Mac tormented them both for long minutes before the need to be inside her took over. Pulling back, he used his fingers on her chin to turn her face towards his.

“Lilli. Open your eyes.” He waited until she complied. “I need you. I need more.”

Fear sliced into his gut and he held his breath while he waited for her answer and thought of the possibility she’d say no. He wanted so much more from her. Far more than he was asking for right now. Far more than either of them was ready to deal with. But for now, he’d take her body—if she let him—and he’d cherish every part of her until she came undone in his arms, and when she lay sated, he’d ask for it all.

Lil’s senses whirled. Whether from Mac’s touch or the fact he was
finally
touching her she couldn’t say and didn’t get a chance. The second she nodded Mac groaned and went back to tormenting her with mind-numbing caresses. He nibbled on her neck, sucked and licked her skin as his lips and tongue blazed a trail along her throat to the hollow at the base. All the while, he brushed his hands and fingers across her arms and torso in the most sensual touches she’d ever experienced.

Mac dipped his head lower and pressed his lips to the upper curve of her breast. He followed the rise until his mouth found her nipple. The puckered flesh drew tighter, pulsed with an ache that sent bursts of throbbing demand between her legs. With one pull, Mac sucked the hard bud between his teeth and clamped the tip in place while lashing the inflamed nub with his tongue. Lil’s breath hitched, her thighs clenched and she squirmed beneath his devouring mouth as he drove her to the edge of release in seconds.

Her back arched, her breasts thrusting higher as she sought more of his tantalising touch. He groaned against her skin. The sound rumbled over her nerve endings and sent sharp arrows of need into her core. A moan slipped from her throat, raw and needy, the cry one of surrender and want. Lil’s fingers curled into the bedding in a desperate effort to hold on, the speed at which her orgasm hurtled towards her unexpected and frightening. It was too much. A cry tore from her throat and she pressed her spine into the mattress, hunched her shoulders in a bid to pull away from the intense sensations Mac’s suckling mouth delivered to her over-stimulated nipple.

Lil whimpered and Mac pulled back, letting her flesh slip from his lips with a soft slurp. His gaze met hers and he cupped her jaw in his palm, his fingertips stroking her cheek in gentle sweeps. Rising, he brought his head up until his forehead rested on hers. She squeezed her eyes shut, her chest heaving as she fought to rein in her raging lust. She’d never felt such profound pleasure. Never experienced the savage need thrumming through her veins, clawing at her insides. With every laboured breath, she gained a little sanity, a little control. Their noses bumped and he pressed his mouth to hers in a light kiss.

“Easy, Lilli.” He spoke against her lips. “Just breathe, baby.”

He caressed her face with one hand while rubbing the back of her neck with the other. As the tension eased, Lil’s anxiety was quickly replaced by embarrassment. She was behaving like some teenage virgin, and while technically she
was
a virgin this wasn’t the first time she’d made out with a guy. But this was Mackenzie, and nothing about him had ever been simple. Her feelings for Mac had been in a jumbled knot of confusion long before they tangled with his or either of them got naked.

Lil opened her eyes to find Mac watching her. She could see the struggle for control in his gaze, feel it in the tremble of his body against hers, and just like that, her own fight for sanity became easier. Knowing she wasn’t the only one caught up in the maelstrom of emotions made her minor freak-out that much more bearable.

Mac rolled them to the side but kept her body flush with his. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Lillian couldn’t imagine what he’d have to apologise for. She was the one who’d panicked.

“I’m rushing.” He took a deep breath, his shirt rubbing over her sensitive nipples and Lil sucked in a harsh breath of her own. “It’s just…I’ve wanted you for so long. Too long.”

Sheer pleasure raced through her at Mac’s words. To hear him finally admit that he wanted her was better than the thrill she’d gotten the day she opened Lilli Pond. Lil stiffened. Did he truly hold that much power over her happiness? Before these last few minutes she would have said no, but now… Now she wondered if she’d be able to walk away from Mac after making love with him. And there was no doubt in her mind they would take that last step. Neither of them could walk away from what they’d started all those months ago with one kiss.

“Give me a minute.” Mac tightened his hold, tucked her into his chest as he drew in another deep breath and shuddered. “I want this to last.”

Last?
Was he talking about sex or them? Lil’s mind swirled with doubt. Could this be just sex? She knew it was far more than that for her, but what about Mac? Did he see this as the start or the finish line? What if this was all he offered? Would it be enough?

Mac placed two fingers under her chin and tipped her head back until their gazes locked. He brushed strands of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “I seem to remember offering to kiss you better.”

He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. The caress was light, just a quick peck before he pulled away. “Don’t move. Stay exactly as you are.”

Unsure of his intentions, Lillian remain in place. Rising up on his elbow, he gently stroked his fingers across the bruising dotted down her side. From hip to shoulder, each mark received equal care. When he reached the top, he started back down, but this time he followed his fingertips with his lips, skimming them softly on the sections of discoloured skin. The red mark that spanned the back of her arm and shoulder was barely visible, but Mac treated the spot to his own brand of doctoring. Curling his fingers through hers, he lifted her arm so he could give his attention to the patches running the length from elbow to wrist.

A shiver stole through her and goose bumps sprang up in its wake as Mac placed a kiss on the inside of her elbow before moving to the final blemish on the edge of her wrist. He shifted lower on the bed and lowered her arm to the mattress in front of her. The position allowed him to reach her ribs. Lost in his ministrations, Lil forgot she lay naked except for her underwear, not that they concealed much. Sheer to the point of being see-through, the silk and lace hid nothing from Mac’s gaze. Slowly, he made his way down her side until he reached the worst of her bruises.

Her hip throbbed to the beat of her heart, but the pain wasn’t enough to detract from Mac’s obvious concern. Lil had never been on the receiving end of his softer side. She’d seen glimpses when he dealt with his mother, but other than those rare occasions he kept himself in check around her. Always at arm’s length. Until seven months ago. Until now. The gentle touch of his lips against her pounding hipbone drew her gaze. He started at the outer edge and worked his way around and to the middle with every circuit his lips took.

Mac gripped her thigh and eased her to her back. He ran his fingers along the edge of her undies while he continued to nuzzle the curve of her hip. Warm air flowed over her lower belly as his mouth followed the path of his hand. His tongue snaked out and dipped beneath her waistband. A trail of fire streaked down, heating her folds and slicking them with moisture. Lil’s stomach muscles quivered as he continued to her other hip, and she couldn’t stop the moan that gurgled in her throat as he explored every inch of skin between her hipbones.

His lips travelled over the smooth expanse of her stomach as he made his way up her body. He licked and nibbled, sucked and lapped at every dip, every curve. By the time he’d made his way to her breasts, Lillian was breathless. Mac slid his leg between hers as he leaned into her and brought her naked flesh in touch with the clothed length of his. A frustrated cry spilled from her parted lips. She wanted his skin on hers. Wanted to feel his hardness pressed against her from head to toe.

“Clothes off.” Her hands pulled at his shirt. “I want to feel you.”

He stilled her hands. “No.”

Lil froze, her gaze darting to meet his. “No?”

“If I get naked, Lilli, the game is over. I won’t be able to resist sinking my cock inside you.”

“But I want that,” she breathed.

Mac’s mouth brushed hers. “Me too, but I want to make it good for you first.”

“It is good. Better than anything I ever imagined.”

“I want to touch and taste every millimetre of you before I lose myself in you.”

“Please, Mac.” Lil scrambled for words to convince him. “We’ll leave our underwear on but I want to feel you against me. Want to touch you with my hands.”

He groaned and dropped his head to her shoulder. Lil took the opportunity to run her hands under his shirt, pushing the fabric up his back and digging her fingers into the hard muscles along his spine.

“Please, Mackenzie.” She slid her hands lower, dipped them into the waistband of his jeans. “Get naked with me.”

His hips rocked and his erection pressed into her sex, making her gasp as pleasure ricocheted around her lower belly. Arching up, Lil dug her fingers deeper into the steely muscles of his arse. With a growl, Mac straightened his arms and lifted away, forcing her to let go. Frightened he was going to leave, she reached for him, her hand brushing over the bulge beneath his zipper. Moaning, she palmed the hard length, her fingers curling around his girth. Mac shuddered and thrust his cock into her hand. She stroked him through his pants, mapped the head before sliding down to cup his balls.

“Enough,” he growled.

She stilled her fingers and raised her gaze to his. “Why—”

Mac rolled away and pushed to his feet. He stood beside the bed, fists clenched, knuckles white, and stared down at her. Nostrils flaring wide, he sucked in a deep breath, and she could see the internal war he waged flare in his eyes. For a moment, Lil felt uneasy. Lying before him with only her see-through underwear covering her she felt exposed—naked in a way even the thickest layer of clothing wouldn’t change. But then he moved.

He whipped his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. Lil barely had time to admire his sculpted chest and abs before her gaze was drawn to the action below his belt. In seconds, his fingers had the button popped and zipper down. Bending, Mac yanked off his shoes and tossed them aside before standing and shoving his jeans down. She sucked in a breath. The boxer briefs he wore moulded his flesh like a second skin, and the damp patch surrounding the tip of his cock showed her how aroused he was. Add the obvious—and impressive erection—and Lil had no doubt Mac wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Lil got to her knees and crawled towards him. Her nerves were on edge. Anxiety raced under her skin with longing close behind. It was the wanting that gave her the courage to move. To go after the only man who’d ever made her yearn with such desperation. She laid her hand on his chest, splayed her fingers wide and soaked up his warmth. The golden hair dusting his pecs tickled her palm and she savoured the jolt of lust that surged to all her pleasure points. Each breath she took pulled Mac’s scent inside her, branding her soul with ease. She’d give him anything he asked, but she knew he wouldn’t ask. If she was going to get what she wanted, she’d have to push him until he couldn’t say no.

With startling clarity, Lil realised that’s exactly what she’d been doing. She’d poked and prodded the sleeping bear until he’d come after her. He’d chased her for months. She knew that. Knew that even with all she’d done to taunt him he still had a grip on his control. It was time to break that last hold. Sliding her hand down Mac’s stomach, Lil pushed beneath his briefs and wrapped her fingers around his cock.

Chapter Six