Page 40 of Reclaiming Chaos
Chapter 21
Carlee
They came together with a clash of need and desire as she moved him toward the bed without breaking the kiss. He sank onto the mattress as if feeling it against his legs.
She moved with him as if they were one. They were. He was the other half of her. This was one decision she’d never regret, no matter what happened when she turned herself over to Russell. He’d use Ridge’s safety to his advantage and get her to play nice. And she would.
Ridge’s hands rested at her waist as she partially laid on top of him. She broke the kiss to stare into his eyes. His body was hard beneath hers. The heated fire in his eyes burned bright.
“You hardly know me.” His words sounded as though it pained him to say.
“I’ve waited for you all my life,” she answered.
He rolled her beneath him and stared as if he could see directly down into her soul. She lifted the hem of his shirt and slipped it over his head, tossing it to the floor. She reached for his jeans, and he took her hands and clasped their fingers together, raising them above her head.
He took his time, kissing her and taking what he wanted, kissing a silky path along her neck. She arched into him, wanting more, needing more.
He held both hands with one of his and inched the fabric of her shirt up her stomach. His rough fingers felt like heaven against her skin as he moved them to rest beneath her bra.
He released his hold on her hands and moved to her stomach. He stared up at her through dark heavy lashes. “You sure about this?”
She lifted her shirt off and unhooked her bra. “Yes. I’ve never been more sure about anything.”
He pressed tender kisses up her stomach before he sucked her nipple into his mouth, taking the other in his palm. The heat of his mouth had her arching into his hold. The need to be closer, to feel him, stole all rational thought from her mind.
Within minutes, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She reached for his jeans, and he reached for hers until they’d both divested themselves of their clothes. He grabbed a condom from his wallet and rolled it on before resting between her thighs.
“I can’t promise anything other than what this is.” Ridge’s voice was husky with lust.
“Shut up and kiss me.” Those were the last coherent words that passed her lips as he slid inside, stealing her breath.
As she lay under his watchful gaze, he moved slowly at first as if wanting to savor every moment. It wasn’t until she met him stroke for stroke that the fire built to a flaming crescendo. Their bodies moved with unconscious need. He took her to the edge several times before they both tumbled over the ledge finding their release. Her with his name on his lips, and him stealing his name with a kiss.
They spent the rest of the night without any talk of her returning to Russell. Without any talk of working out a plan to get things to go their way. They laughed and talked about the intimate things like their lives, their dreams, their future, anything other than the issue at hand. She shared things with him she’d never shared with anyone, just as he did with her.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms.
It was the best night of her life.
And it was the worst.
When his snores filled the room, she slipped from the bed, grabbed her things, and left him a note on the dresser.
After the night they’d just shared, most people would be reluctant to get out of the bed, but she understood what happened next, and what it was going to take to keep him safe. She needed to leave and it needed to play out this exact way.
As she took one last look, a tear slipped down her cheek, and she quietly locked and shut the door behind her before disappearing into the night.
