“What’s wrong?” The concern in her eyes gave the impression she cared. Her palm flattened against my chest, right over my heart. “Your heart’s beating so fast.”
Fuck it. I slid my hands up, cradling the back of her head between my palms. Searching her eyes, I looked for signs of resistance. All I needed was a slight indication that she didn’t want me to kiss her.
But her lips parted.
She inched closer.
Her free hand slipped behind my back, urging me toward her.
I leaned forward, closed my eyes, and brushed the corner of her mouth with my lips. Her fingers dug into my back, and she shifted even closer. The sudden urge to claim her—to mark her as mine—swept over me. I tilted her head back and slanted my mouth over hers. She yielded to me, her lips as hungry for mine as I was for hers.
The kiss went on for a lifetime. My hands slid into her hair, eager to feel the soft, silky strands slip between my fingers. Eden settled herself in my lap, sucking in a breath of surprise when she realized what I’d been trying to hide.
CHAPTER 8
EDEN
His muscles rippled under my palm. Shaw’s body was an absolute work of art. The kiss had caught me by surprise, but I wanted it. We had the kind of chemistry I was eager to explore. The kind of chemistry I’d never experienced with anyone before.
He leaned back on the couch, pulling me with him until the entire length of my body pressed against his. Our mouths stayed connected, his tongue prodding past my lips, sliding against mine. The taste of whiskey lingered.
I wanted to feel him skin-to-skin, so I slid the hem of my shirt up, exposing a sliver of my belly. He took it a step further, his palm skimming up my side. Goosebumps exploded across my back, skittering over my skin from my head to my toes.
Hooking up with my grumpy neighbor was a bad idea. Even knowing that, I couldn’t stop. I craved his touch, desperate to relieve the hollow ache that pulsed between my legs. Based on the thick ridge along the front of his sweats, he appeared more than willing to help.
Even on his back, Shaw was in control of everything—the depth of our kiss, the angle of his hips. Though I was eager to take what I wanted, being handled by him was a huge turn on. My head swirled, trying to make sense of the sensations rocking through my body.
He pulled back, depriving me of his lips. His eyes sought mine—a quick check-in to make sure we were both still on the same wavelength.
“Is this okay?” Rough and low, his tone added fuel to the fire that burned inside me.
“Yes.” I emphasized my point with an enthusiastic nod. “Is it okay with you?”
His lips curled into a grin. “Do I seem like I’m okay with this?”
He was cute when he wasn’t scowling at me. My hand slid down his chest. I could have counted each ridge as my fingers trailed over his abs, but I was too focused on getting to his waistband.
“Let me check.” I moved my hand over his cock. It tented the front of his sweats. Even through the fabric, I could feel his swollen head. “Yeah, seems like you’re okay with this.”
He hissed in a breath. “You’re killing me, Eden. The other night, seeing you in the creek, do you have any idea what I wanted to do to you that night?”
A thrill raced through me. Thinking about Shaw thinking about me, made me even hotter for him. “What did you want to do? Tell me.”
“I wanted to climb into the water and wrap your legs around my waist.” His smile faded. Heat replaced the humor in his eyes.
I shifted to kneel on top of him, straddling his hips with my legs. “Like this?”
His hands went to my waist, and he adjusted the angle of my hips so my pussy rested right on top of the bulge in his pants. “More like this.”
Ohhh. My eyes rolled back in my head as he held me over his cock, slowly brushing back and forth underneath me. It took a few passes for my breath to settle. He felt amazing, but I needed more.
“But I was naked in the creek.”
His hips stilled. He shifted his hands from my waist to slide my shirt up my stomach. His gaze held mine, searching for consent. I jerked my shirt up and over my head, then reached behind my back to unclasp my bra.
“Not yet.” His hands caught mine. “I want to look at you first. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The softness in his voice surprised me. I could have blown off the comment with a one liner, but I wanted to believe him. I wanted to be the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Wanted it more than anything.
Shaw set his fingertip at the base of my throat. Then he slowly trailed it down my breastbone. He sat up, shifting me onto his lap as he cupped my breasts. His beard tickled as he moved between them, kissing his way across the fabric, scraping his teeth over my hardened nipples until they were two tight, aching buds.
I slid my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, eager for something to hold on to, to keep me grounded while he continued to explore with his tongue. When I didn’t think I could take any more, he got up from the couch and carried me into the bedroom.
He set me on the bed, and I shifted to the center. His fingers slipped under his waistband, and he tugged his sweats down his thighs, freeing his cock. Thick and hard, it bobbed up and down as he climbed onto the bed and bent over me. I worked my leggings past my hips. Shaw took over, his lips following the path of my pants all the way down my legs.
Naked, he hovered over me. “Take off your panties, Eden.”
My fingers couldn’t move fast enough.
“And your bra.”
I pulled my arms free from the straps and flung my bra onto the floor.
Shaw lowered himself down to mumble into my ear. “I haven’t been with anyone in a long time. I don’t have a condom with me, baby, but I’m going to take care of you.”
“I trust you.” Twisting my head to the side, I caught his gaze. “I haven’t been with anyone in a long time either, and I’m on the pill.”
“Are you sure about this?” His cock rested on my thigh.
“Yes.” I moved underneath him, eager to feel him inside me, aching to be filled.
“Not so fast. I want to take my time with you, Eden.” He kissed down my neck and stopped to suck a nipple into his hot, wet mouth.
Groaning with pleasure, I forced myself to lie still. Anticipation would make my eventual release so much better. So, I fisted my hands in my comforter while he explored my body, taking his time to taste every part of me.
I almost lost it when he nudged my thighs apart with his shoulders. He might not have been with anyone in a long time, but he knew exactly how to handle me. And when he circled my clit with his tongue, I did lose it. My orgasm swept over me, leaving me shaky and trembling in its wake.
That’s when Shaw climbed up my body, trailing kisses over my belly and between my breasts until he stared into my eyes. I spread my legs underneath him. The tip of his cock nudged against my entrance. Angling my hips, I tilted them up, holding his gaze as he entered me.
I didn’t think I’d be able to come again, but I was wrong. As Shaw rocked into me, mumbling sweet, low words into my ear about how amazing I made him feel, heat unfurled through my system.
And when he slipped his hand between us, adding pressure to my swollen clit, I shattered around him. In that moment, I gave myself to him—body, mind, and soul.