Page 34 of Ace of Spades
CHAPTER TWELVE
“I see the wheels spinning,” Nate said. “Stop thinking.” He backed Taylor up to the wall, cradled her cheeks with his hands, and lowered his mouth to hers, nibbling his way across her lips. They were delicious lips, full, soft, and sweet tasting. He might never get his fill of her.
On the ride back, he’d come to his senses, but now he’d lost them again. This was not a good idea. A relationship wasn’t in the cards. The rage burning deep inside of him was his alone to bear. Although he’d learned to control it, it was always there, threatening to erupt under the right—or, more accurately, wrong—circumstances. If he doubted that could happen, he only had to remind himself that he’d once almost killed his father. He would have if Court hadn’t pulled him off the bastard.
But he wanted her, apparently too much, since it didn’t appear he was going to do the right thing and walk away. She’d said she wouldn’t let whatever happened between them ruin their friendship, and he was going to trust her on that.
“Nate,” she murmured, putting her hands on his waist and trying to pull him closer.
That needy rasp in her voice did him in. He scooped her up, carrying her to the bedroom. When he reached her bed, he dropped her legs, letting her slide down his body. He wasn’t sure which one of them he was trying to torture with that move. Letting go of her, he sat on the bed, removed his boots and socks and then his shirt, carelessly tossing everything on the floor.
She stood in front of him, her gaze on his chest, her eyes turning a captivating smoky blue. “Have you changed your mind?” He needed to be sure this was what she wanted. “Say it,” he said when she shook her head.
“I haven’t changed my mind. I want you.” The ghost of a smile appeared on her face. “Very much so.”
“Then come here.”
“Take your hair down first.”
He pulled the band from his ponytail.
“Now fluff it out.”
“What’s this fixation you have with my hair?” he asked as he obeyed.
“God, that’s as sexy as I imagined it would be.”
“You’ve been fantasizing about my hair?”
She nodded, licking her lips. “I have.”
That hunger in her eyes was sure as hell turning him on. “Come here, Taylor.” He spread his legs. When she stepped between them, he pressed his knees against hers. She reached for the hem of her sweater, but he swatted her hands away. “No, I’ll undress you.”
“Bossy man.”
“Mouthy woman.” At hearing her giggle—something so not Taylor—he swallowed a smile. She was nervous, which was something new and interesting. His usual hookups didn’t have a nervous bone in their body. They knew the score, and were only looking for the same thing as he was. A few hours of pleasure, nothing more. He had a feeling just a few hours with Taylor wouldn’t come close to satisfying him.
“This off first.” He pulled the hem of her sweater up, pausing at the sight of her belly ring. “Well, look what I found.” It was another thing he’d fantasized about since seeing glimpses of it on their ride to Pier 66. It was sexy as hell. Unable to resist, he leaned forward and sucked it into his mouth, giving a little tug.
“Ahhh,” she murmured.
He was pretty sure that little tug had sent a charge down to her core. To test his theory, he did it again, getting a soft moan this time. Yep, she liked that. He filed that information away for later.
“Off.” When she pulled the sweater over her head, he huffed a drawn-out breath. “Leave the bra on,” he said, his voice sounding raspy even to his own ears. “Damn, tiger, you’re just full of surprises.” Did her panties match the transparent, lacy red bra? Only one way to find out. He unbuttoned her jeans, then pulled the zipper down. Red lace peeked back at him. “You’re killing me, woman.”
“I aim to please.”
He laughed. “You’re nailing it.”
“Four.”
Puzzled, he glanced up at her. “Four what?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking out loud.” She put her foot on his lap. “Boots next? They have to come off before the jeans can.”
Forgetting about strange numbers, he went back to undressing her. When she was standing in nothing but her sexy bra and panties, he twirled his finger. “Turn around.” Thongs were the greatest invention ever. He’d always known she had a nice body, even when she wore her work uniform of loose pants and buttoned-up blouses, but his imagination on how she would look naked had failed him. Forget nice. She had a killer body.
Why, he wasn’t sure, but the sexual tension that had sparked between them earlier, before the demise of Henry, had eased somewhat. When they’d first arrived back at her place, he hadn’t been sure they’d get all their clothes off, much less make it to her bedroom. Now,it seemed the edge was off and neither wanted to rush things. That was good, because he planned to savor every minute with her.
