Wilde at Heart (12 page)

Reece just stared at her. “What?”

“Ice cream. It sounds good.” She walked over to the freezer and found the carton of vanilla she’d bought during her grocery run earlier in the day. She held it up, wiggled it side to side. “Want some?”

He blinked several times. “Uh…that’s it?”

“Well, no. Duh. We need hot fudge, peanuts, sprinkles…” She opened a cupboard and gathered the ingredients. “Oh, and Reddi-wip.”

His jaw dropped. “I just told you something nobody else knows and your only response is…ice cream?”

“What did you expect?” She had to fight to keep from grinning as she dug the scoop into the carton. He was making this too easy. “You said sex is off the table. And although I’d rather have sex on the table—literally—and I think your self-imposed celibacy is kinda martyr-ish—and not in a good way—I’ll still respect your decision. I’m all about alternative lifestyles. Live and let live.”

He looked completely baffled. “That’s…mature of you.”

“It is, isn’t it?” She grabbed the canister of Reddi-wip, shook it, and aimed at him. “But this isn’t.” She pressed her finger on the tip.

“Shelby!” He sputtered in disbelief as the cream splattered his face. “What the hell?”

“Hey, you said no sex, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun.” She hit him with another spray from the can. “You need to learn about fun and spontaneity.”

“Give me that.” He tried to swipe it and got another face full of whipped cream for his trouble. He growled and lunged. She dodged. They circled the island, her grinning, him scowling, until he feigned right and caught her around the waist when she darted to the left. He swept her up off her feet, but lost his footing on the now slippery tile, and they tumbled to the floor in a knot of limbs.

Reece took the brunt of the fall, but it didn’t slow him down. He snatched the can from her and constructed a neat pile of cream on top of her head. “You are trouble.”

“Yeah, I am.” She scooped up some of the cream and smeared it over his face and chin, down his neck and chest.

And like that, the mood changed, just as she hoped it would. His heart pounded under her palm, and his breathing quickened, became choppier. She moved her hand up his chest, around the back of his neck, and tangled her fingers in the hair at his nape.

He tensed. “I know when I’m being manipulated.”

“And you like it.” Obviously, judging by the action going on below his belt. She continued skimming her hand down his back, over his ass, then circled around to cup the growing bulge of his cock. “Still so sure you want sex off the table?”

He shuddered. “If we do this, it doesn’t change anything.”

“Of course it doesn’t. It’s just sex.” As soon as the words left her lips, she knew she was wrong. For a man who had put aside his physical needs for years, it wouldn’t be just sex.

Still she wanted it. Wanted him. Wanted to be his first.

His fingers trembled as he traced the line of her jaw, the caress light and soft. He leaned down, and she thought for sure he was about to kiss her, but he stopped at the last second before their lips touched. “Shelby…there’s something else.”

“What?” she breathed. For the love of all things sexy, what else could there be?

“I didn’t deny myself for only the reasons I told you.” His breath fanned her cheek as he nuzzled her just under the ear before giving the lobe a quick little nip. “I’ve…there’s a darkness in me, and it’s always frightened me. Like I’m not normal.”

Her pulse fluttered. “What kind of darkness?”

“The first time we met, I wanted to put my handprint…” He skimmed a palm up her leg and squeezed her ass. “Right there.”

She shivered and wetness pooled between her thighs. “I want it there, too.”

“And I thought I’d want to tie you up, blindfold you, and maybe I still will, but the way you had me splayed out on that bed in Vegas was so fucking hot, I want you to do it to me again.”

She speared her fingers into his hair and tugged until he met her gaze. “If you think you’re turning me off right now, you have another think coming.” She was so hot she was about to internally combust. “Touch me, Reece. See for yourself.” She guided his hand between her legs.

He growled and traced the seam of her jeans. “Let’s take this to the bedroom and get these off you.”

“No.” She pulled him back when he tried to get up. “Here. Right here.”

She expected a protest. Instead, he scooped her up, stood, and laid her on the island. His hands shook as he fumbled the button on her jeans, slid them and her panties down her legs. Whether from nerves or desire, she didn’t know. Maybe a bit of both.

Her hands weren’t all that steady either when she reached to unfasten his belt. He stepped back and pulled off his shirt, his muscles bunching with the movement. His belt hissed as he whipped it off. He trailed the end of the leather strap over her stomach. “Next time, I plan to tie you up with this.”

She caught her breath. “There’ll be a next time?”

“I’m not going to kid myself. I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you after this.” A smile quirked his lips. “I can barely do it now.”

“I don’t mind.” She captured his hands, guided them to her aching breasts. He massaged her through her shirt, then
tugged the fabric off over her head. She wasn’t wearing a bra and basked in the appreciative sound he made before he dipped his head and sucked one nipple into his mouth.

For a virgin, he had the mouth of a sex god. Especially when he worked his way down her stomach and licked her slit in one long motion.

She moaned and worked her hips against his mouth. She was close. So close. All she needed was…

His tongue left her and he walked away.

Shelby lay there on the island counter, confused and panting, right up to the edge and vibrating with the need for release. Where had he…?

But then he was back, tearing open a small package.

Condom.

He’d gone to get a condom.

Thank God.

She propped herself on her elbows and watched him roll it on. Their eyes met and his flared hot before he took himself in hand and stepped into the V of her parted legs. She watched as his cock nudged into her opening, inch by inch. It was erotic, feeling the slow friction of his intrusion, seeing him disappear inside of her, and knowing he’d never done this with anyone before.

He froze, trembling. “You’re tight.”

“You’re big,” she gasped and couldn’t force herself to hold still for a second longer. She lifted her hips. “God, Reece. Move.”

It took him a moment to find his rhythm, then another to keep her counter-thrusts from throwing him off. But once he got it…dear God. He fucked her mercilessly, driving her toward orgasm with an exuberant, single-minded focus.

“Fuck,” he gasped. “I need to go deeper. Lift your legs.”

She did as commanded, and he shackled her ankles with his hands, holding her still as he drove harder into her. Her sex opened wider to him, and he watched with hooded eyes as their bodies slammed together.

“Look at you taking all of me.” He punctuated each word with a merciless thrust. “You like it, don’t you? Nod.”

She nodded and managed a gasped “Yes!” which faded into a moan when he hit a spot deep inside her that made her convulse. He was so wonderfully rough, demanding, and yes, now she could see that bit of darkness, the edge in him he’d been so afraid of.

And, holy God, she couldn’t wait to explore that further.

An orgasm exploded through her, taking her by surprise, and her body locked down on his. Reece shouted and jerked through his own climax, then released his grip on her ankles. He’d left red handprints there, but she didn’t mind one bit.

Gasping, he collapsed forward, his damp forehead pressed to her belly. “You tightened up like a fist. I wasn’t ready for it. Jesus.”

She laughed and combed her fingers into his hair. “Want to try again? Practice makes perfect.”

“Hell yes. Except this time…” He straightened and climbed up on the counter beside her. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her easily, setting her down over his hips. “You’re going to ride me, and you’re not going to come until I tell you to.”

Chapter Twelve

S
helby floated through the morning, all nerves about her upcoming shopping trip with Libby buried by memories of excellent sex. Reece had proved to be a fast learner. A fast,
enthusiastic
learner. And, holy hell, he liked to be in control. He about killed her by not letting her orgasm until he was good and ready for her to. And when he finally let her…

Boom.

She’d detonated. She still wasn’t entirely sure she had all of her pieces put back together again.

After spending several hours the night before fucking on every flat surface they could find, they had worked themselves into exhaustion and parted ways, each going to sleep in their own beds. It was a really good arrangement. One she had to be careful not to get used to, she reminded herself as she dressed comfortably for a daylong shopping marathon. This situation was only temporary.

Still, nothing would be able to ruin her mood today.

Or…so she thought. Then she spotted Jason Mallory loitering by the mall entrance where she was supposed to meet Libby.

She stalked over to him. “What are you doing here? You need to leave! Now.”

When she turned away, he grabbed her arm. “You fucking
married
him?”

She tried to jerk free, but Jason was too big, too strong. “You wanted me to get closer to him, so I did. I’ve done everything you’ve asked. What more do you want?” She again tried to free her arm with one hard tug.

He let her go. “How about thinking with your head instead of your hormones? After all these years, haven’t you learned? Sex only gets you into trouble. Remember Steven Moore?”

She flinched. Direct blow. Her sister had even said something similar to her in Vegas, and Eva was right. They both were right. She always let her hormones cloud rational thought. She was no better than her mother that way, and her ex-boyfriend Steven had died because she got too involved.

“It’s not like that this time.”

“Are you willing to wager your future on that? Because that’s exactly what you’re doing, Shelby. Giving up your freedom for an easy lay.”

“No.” Heat gathered behind her eyes, and her vision started to blur. “I promise, I’m only doing what you asked. Please, believe me. But it’s not going to work if you keep approaching me like this.”

Jason said nothing for a long moment. “You have a week. Next time we talk, you’d better have something good for me.”

She slumped against the wall as he walked away and willed herself not to cry. Oh, God, she didn’t want this duplicitous life anymore. She hated Jason with every fiber of her being. Hated the things she’d been forced to do for him. The things he was still forcing her to do. She’d thought The Bean Gallery would be her ticket out from under his thumb, but now that was gone, and she was right back to where she started.

Maybe she should come clean about everything to Reece. Except if Jason found out, she’d never escape him. The thought turned her stomach.

“Shelby, are you okay?”

She started and looked up into Libby Wilde’s concerned face. She’d been so busy wa
llowing, she hadn’t heard her approach. “Yeah. Sorry.” She swiped a hand under her nose and forced a smile. “Allergies.”

Libby glanced in the direction Jason had disappeared. Yeah, she didn’t buy that excuse for a moment.

Shelby kept the smile firmly in place and pulled open the store’s outer door. “So, dresses?” She walked straight toward the dress department, putting a bit too much bounce in her step. “You’re here to help me look like a passable Mrs. Reece Wilde, so work your magic.”

Libby followed, a frown drawing her perfectly sculpted brows together. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

Shelby gazed over the rack of clothes at the woman who was technically her sister-in-law. How strange to have another sister, even if only for a little while—well, she did have several other blood related sisters, but she didn’t know any of them except Eva. And this was different somehow. Libby couldn’t be more her opposite—a lawyer with a level head and calm disposition—and yet, in the short time they’d spent together, Shelby already felt a strong bond with her. “What do you mean?”

Libby chewed her muted pink lipstick off her lower lip as she browsed through the dresses, then shook her head. “It’s none of my business. Forget it.”

“No, tell me. I want to know.”

She said nothing for several seconds, obviously waging an internal debate. Then she stopped fiddling with the dresses and met Shelby’s gaze. “Changing who you are to please someone else never works. Just ask my husband. He’ll tell you. Jude did it for years, and he hurt us in the process. We missed out on eight years together because he wasn’t true to himself.”

“Really? Jude always seems so…comfortable with himself.”

“Well, he is now. But you have no idea how much misery we went through to get to that point.” Libby gave a little laugh and returned to browsing through the rack. “And the thing is, Reece is a great guy, but he has a tendency to steamroll over the people around him when they don’t conform to his standards and…I guess I’m saying I don’t want to see you lose yourself.”

Libby was worried about her? A sweet ache bloomed in her chest. So close on the heels of Jason’s surprise visit, the emotion nearly overwhelmed her. She found herself blinking back tears for the second time in less than ten minutes. It would be so easy to open her mouth and tell Libby everything, such a relief to have someone to confide in…

But, no, she couldn’t. Libby would feel obligated to tell her husband, and Jude would tell his brothers. Cam would tell Eva. Reece would find out…

And it’d all blow up in her face.

“I’m not changing for Reece.” She turned away from Libby’s searching gaze and picked up a black dress with long lace sleeves. “Will this one work?”

Libby regarded her with knowing eyes but, thank God, let the matter drop. She adjusted her stylish glasses on her nose, then turned her attention to the dress. “Modest, but with just the right amount of edge. It suits you. I approve. But what about this one?” She held up a long, sleek black number with a plunging V in the back held together by delicate chains. It was gorgeous, something Shelby would totally wear, but…