“Why?”
Sierra waited, gripping his hand, as the sun finally disappeared.
“Because it means I survived another day.” His face tightened with memory. “It was a big fuck-you to my father and anyone else who doubted I’d make it.”
Chills gripped her body. She reached over, touching his rough cheek, and he jumped slightly before pressing her hand against his.
“It was very bad?” she whispered. He nodded. “Then I’m grateful you not only survived but thrived. And you’re here with me right now.”
Startled by her words, he muttered her name, then pressed his forehead to hers. They sat there in the new darkness, sharing the vulnerable moment as the waves crashed in the background. They didn’t move for a very long time. When he finally got to his feet, he took her hand and they walked back to the car.
He drove her home. The car pulsed with awareness and what they both wanted. Sierra didn’t know if she was ready. Once Kane was invited into her bed, there would be no more barriers between them. And she was only beginning to build trust, to know the man he’d become in these past four years.
Still, she didn’t stop him from escorting her to the porch. The light flickered and the bugs flew around as he faced her. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”
It should’ve sounded awkward, but instead she was charmed by his politeness. “I had a great time. Thank you for dinner.”
She paused, a bit jittery, and he gave her a smile. “I’m not coming in, Sierra. I want to. Badly. But you’re not ready yet.”
For just a second, she wanted to rebel and reach for him, forcing him to bend to her rules, not his. Instead, she nodded. “Probably a good idea.”
“Good night.”
He leaned down to brush his lips across her cheek.
At the same time, she moved, so his mouth slid over hers, the contact electrifying.
Sierra gasped. Stared into glittering emerald eyes. Every inch of her body poised for flight or fight, waiting.
At once, like that first night, their mouths crashed together in a wild primal need for more. She stepped into his embrace and his arms wrapped tight around her, a low moan exploding as his teeth nipped, gaining entrance, then plunged his tongue deep.
His taste and scent swamped her senses, and she gripped at his shoulders, meeting each thrust with her own demands. Her hips arched, and her body wept for more, the ache so deep inside she’d go mad to slake it.
Fisting his hand in her hair, he held her still as he ravaged her mouth, bending her back so she was helpless under the sensual assault. Sierra hooked her leg around him, opening her thighs with invitation for more. Nails biting into hard muscles, she savored every stroke of his tongue and the slight pain in her scalp as her blood heated and the last of her rational thoughts slid away.
“More,” she demanded, sinking her nails into the cotton of his shirt. “Don’t leave me like this.”
“Fuck, sweetheart, you feel so good. I’m going to give you what you need so bad,” he said in between long, drugging kisses.
Thank God, she hadn’t locked the door. With a quick turn of the knob, they stumbled in a tangle of limbs into the house, kicking it closed behind. She tore at the buttons of his shirt while he backed her up toward the couch, fingers frantic to find naked skin, mouths clinging to one another. His chest finally bared, Sierra ran her hands over his rippling muscles, down his abs, cupping his erection through his pants, tracing the hard ridged lines of his cock.
Kane pressed his mouth to the curve of her neck, biting down as she broke into shivers, wet between her thighs. “Perfect. God, you’re burning up for me.” He pushed her skirt up as his mouth found one breast. He teased her nipple through the lace of her bra, scraping his teeth over the sensitive nub, playing the edge of light and dark, of pain and pleasure, in all the ways she’d fantasized.
He gripped the edge of her white lace panties and pulled them down, leaving her throbbing and needy. Twisting up, she grabbed at his hair in greedy demand. “Please.”
“Are you wet for me?” he growled, sucking hard on her nipple.
“Yes. I need—” she broke off, almost sobbing. Her body was aching and on fire for a release she wanted more than she’d ever wanted anything. His wicked chuckle told her he loved every moment.
“Let’s see if you’re ready for me, beautiful.”
His fingers traced the flesh of her inner thighs, then moved up in one swift motion, parting her lips and sinking in deep. He sucked in a breath as she gripped him tight, pleasure rippling through her limbs as he stroked.
“Oh, fuck, you’re dripping for me. Do you know how long I dreamed of having you like this? This sweet pussy on fire for what I can give you?”
The dirty words were making her crazy and desperate. “Damn you, Kane, stop teasing!”
Another low laugh. His thumb rotated over her clit, each teasing brush wringing out another shudder. So. Close. Just. Right. There.
