Page 43 of Rough Ride

He stepped toward her. He knew it was stupid, it was a huge mistake, but there was a bit of challenge in her voice he couldn’t resist.

“I wouldn’t say I handled you just like a man, yet.”

She settled her hands on her hips. “Eli, I can’t deal with this. Either you let the innuendos go, or just…”

She broke off as he stepped forward. He grabbed her by the hand and tugged her forward. She came easily, willingly.

Crysta opened her mouth, probably to argue with him, but he was sick of that. He did the one thing he could do.

He damned them both and slammed his mouth down on hers.

thirteen

Crysta’s brain shut down. Literally just stopped working. Every thought dissolved as Eli slanted his mouth over hers and deepened the kiss. She responded, moaning against his tongue as it slipped inside of her mouth. Good God.

A moment later, she remembered they said they wouldn’t do this. It was bad. Very bad. All kinds of complications and heartbreak. Her brain screamed for her to stop this insanity.

She ignored that crazy bitch.

Instead, she twined her hands around his neck and moved closer. His body was so hard, so hot. And damn, the man could kiss. It was like he was some kind of expert on how to make her melt with just the use of his mouth. At this moment, she would do anything to keep kissing him. He didn’t need a weapon to threaten her. All he needed was his mouth—it was lethal.

He skimmed his hands down to her ass and urged her even closer. When she pressed against him, she shivered. There was no doubt he was aroused. Heat pulsed through her blood. She couldn’t get close enough to him. Moaning, she bent her head back to give him better access to her throat. He nipped at her skin, his teeth grazing over her jawline. His fingers slipped through her hair and pulled at the combs that held it up. She shuddered as they stumbled back over to the bed. Crysta fell and bounced up, but Eli gave her no time to think, he covered her body, devouring her mouth again.

Again, she was drowning. Crysta had never had a man who was so overwhelming with just a kiss. Okay, the body didn’t hurt, nor the feel of his hard cock against her sex. He flexed his hips and she moaned against his tongue again. Soon, though, she wanted more. She wanted to feel his flesh next to hers. Eli must have had the same thought.

Without a word, he rose to his feet beside the bed, and undid her wraparound dress. For a long moment, he said nothing. His gaze slid down her body, then back up again. Hunger flared in his eyes, his cheeks flushed.

“Bloody hell, woman. If I had known you were wearing that under the dress, I probably wouldn’t have been able to concentrate. Hell, we would have never made it to Ross’ house.”

She’d worn the red lace push up bra and matching panties. She had always liked sexy lingerie and, most of the time, wore it to please only herself. He traced the lacey edge of her bra, teasing the flesh that rose above it. Leaning down, he pressed his mouth against her breast, grazing his teeth over the nipple through the material. The next instant, she felt his fingers slipping over her panties, pressing into her sex, again through the material. Already damp, the action had her groaning, pressing up against his finger. She didn’t even care that he had almost complete control over her. She would do anything to come.

He moved over to her other nipple to give it the same treatment, as he eased his hand inside of her panties. His movements weren’t practiced or controlled. Rough, fast, he thrust his fingers inside of her and she almost came. He pumped in and out of her a few times, then he drew his hand away.

Eli helped her out of her dress and covered her body once more. Without closing his eyes, he sucked on her bottom lip. Then, without warning, he rolled them over the bed so that she was sitting on top of him.

“I had to see that in full view, love.” He slipped his hands up her torso to cup her breasts. He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples again. The material was still wet from his mouth. “Please tell me you haven’t been wearing things like this beneath your clothes at the ranch.”

She smiled down at him. There was something about Eli that made her feel so…well…girly. “Sometimes.”

He closed his eyes and swallowed. Hard.

“Lord.” He opened his eyes. They’d darkened even more. “Are you trying to torture me?”

She thought for a second, cocking her head to the side and smiling. “Maybe.”

He sat up and pulled her down so that he could kiss her again. She was hot, getting hotter by the moment. Arousal surged, sending a shudder through her body. It was getting harder and harder to control herself, to draw out the moment. It wasn’t as if she was going to hold off anything, but she had a feeling this might be the only night she was afforded a taste of Eli. She wanted to savor it…him. She cupped his face and deepened the kiss.

He groaned as he sucked on her tongue. Her hunger grew, her senses rejoiced. Soon, it wasn’t enough for either of them. He rose off the bed, and tossed her back on it. She laughed as she bounced. He was tearing at his clothes, throwing them behind him. This was a new feeling. Eli St. John was acting desperate. This was a man who thought everything through, but when it came to her, he lost his control.

When he shucked off his jeans, she was happy to find him completely nude. Of course, Eli St. John went commando. She laughed.

“I like the sound of that.”

“What?” she asked.

“Your laugh,” he said with the most serious look she had ever seen on his face. “There are times I hear it dance over the air when I’m working, and it’s like you’re calling my name.”

Her heart turned over and she was in danger of telling him right then that she was falling for him. How could she not fall for a man who said things like that to her? Especially when he was already naked and she was ready and willing.

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