“Babe, I want to celebrate. Let’s plan a big-ass party for the reopening.”
“Like a mini version of your grand opening?”
“Exactly. I wonder if we can pull it off in only a few days?”
She tilted her head to look at him. “Between you, me, and Dixie? Absolutely. I bet Amy would help too.”
“Speaking of openings, any news about the changeover to Mountain Coffee and Books?”
“Still in a holding pattern. Charlie’s working on the shelving, and I’m still trying to figure out my first order. I knew there were lots of books tochoose from, but I didn’t realize how many! I have to be extra careful because I’m limited by space.”
He sifted her hair through his open fingers. “Are you nervous?”
“Terrified! But so excited. And honestly, starting at this small scale is pretty low risk, but still, it’s so new and different.”
“You’re going to kill it,” he chuckled. “I’ll probably lose my best waitress to that business in no time.”
“No, you won’t. I’ll be splitting shifts between the two places. Mornings are for Amy, but my nights are for you, barkeep.” She batted her eyelashes at him.
“Damn straight.” He gave her tresses a tug. “Are you still okay living here?”
“Yes. It’s been surprisingly easy.” And blissful. “Areyouokay with me living here?”
“I am, except for one thing.” He removed the bowl of popcorn and set it on the coffee table.
She shot him a quizzical look. “What’s that?”
He unbuttoned the top button of her shirt—well, it was technicallyhisshirt, though she’d appropriated it and a few others for herself. “You keep stealing my clothes.” His fingers deftly moved to the next button and the next, undoing them as he went.
She smirked. “And I suppose you want me to hand them over?”
“Definitely want you to hand this one over right now.” He had worked all the buttons free and pulled the shirt apart, leaving her bare except for her tiny panties. The chilly air puckered her nipples, and he smoothed his rough palms over her breasts, hardening her peaks into tighter pearls. Closing her eyes, she arched her back, chasing his touch.
“Oh yeah,” he growled.
“Thought you wanted to watch hockey.” Her voice was thin and breathy.
“Fuck hockey.” He fondled and played, pulling contented whimpers from her that soon became pants. Gliding his hands down her body, he slipped them beneath her lacy waistband, tugging it down as far as he could reach.
“Take these off,” he demanded in a voice low and harsh.
She sat up and wriggled out of them, and before she could settle back against him, he pulled the shirt from her arms and tossed it somewhereover his shoulder. Strong hands spread her legs apart. A heel rested along the back of the couch, and the other foot landed on the floor. While one hand returned to toy with her breasts, the other cupped her mound. He dipped long, thick fingers inside her, moving them in and out until she bucked and cried out. Cupping her again, he kissed the top of her head until she came back down, murmuring how gorgeous she was and how he loved watching her pleasure build and break. As soon as she caught her breath, he started all over again. The pattern repeated twice more until she was a twitching mass of putty under his hands.
He sat her up, swung his legs over the couch’s edge, and unzipped his jeans, yanking them off along with his underwear. As he arranged her on his lap, green eyes darkened with desire held hers. “Ride me, surfer girl. Ride me like I’m a wave you want to conquer.” Exhausted and boneless, she slid down his engorged shaft until he was seated to the hilt.
He sucked in a breath. “Fuck, I’m gonna need a minute. I’m not used to this yet.” They had abandoned condoms days before, and the sensation was overwhelming. Cradling her head in his big hands, he pulled her mouth to his. “Never knew anything could feel this good. You feel fucking incredible,” he murmured right before he kissed her long, wet, and deep.
He broke the kiss and captured a nipple, circling it with tongue, sucking it in hard, releasing it to gently tease with a flick and a lick while his eyes stayed fastened on hers. He kissed his way to the other side and lavished it with the same devotion, and soon her body started sliding against his on its own.
Gripping her hips, he dropped his head back. “I love being inside you,” he exclaimed in one breathless rush.
The way he took charge during their lovemaking made her hot, but now it was her turn, and she began a sensual dance. Her body moved up and down, up and down, slowly at first, picking up the tempo.
With her hands clamped on to the couch on either side of his head, she lifted herself up, slammed back down, over and over and over. She watched the fascinating play of emotions sweep across his chiseled features, shifting between agony and ecstasy. After submitting herself to his skillful torment earlier, she flared inside with satisfaction that he was clearly straining to hold it together—for her. When he was on the verge,she let herself fly over the edge, and he followed, yelling her name in a string of incoherence.
Chance whimpered, and her eyes popped open to find Noah’s fiery green ones riveted on her. “You scared him again,” she partly panted, partly laughed.
His hand moved erratically to pet the dog’s head. “He’ll get used to it,” he gasped between labored breaths. “He has to ’cause I’m not stopping.”
