Country Roads(45)

Paul let go of one of her legs to haul a condom out of his pocket and hand it to her. She tore the foil with her teeth and leaned back to roll it on him in record time. Lifting her, he eased her down onto his cock and slid his hands around to cup her buttocks. She could feel his fingertips brushing against the private, inner skin he was exposing, and she laced her hands together tightly behind his neck to keep from writhing out of his arms.

Gravity pushed him deep inside her, and his grip opened her to the exquisite friction of his body as he began to thrust. She started to pulse her hips in the same rhythm when he grunted, saying, “We need some resistance.” Striding to the wall between the closet and bathroom doors, he spun around to put her back against the striped wallpaper and began moving again. She was pinned firmly between his hard chest and the wall as he thrust harder and withdrew more fully. Her breasts were crushed against him, his fingers dug into her buttocks, and his cock drove into her again and again until the building heat inside her exploded into a supernova of screaming sensation.

She felt him arching and pulsing at the same time. As his climax ebbed, he sagged against her, his dead weight the only thing keeping them from sliding down to the floor in a sated heap. His breath was whistling past her ear in gasps while her heart pounded so hard, she swore she could feel her veins expanding.

He held her there for a long moment before she felt him softening and slipping out of her.

After she unlocked her legs from his waist, he carefully lowered her until her bare feet hit the carpeting. He ran his hands up the sides of her body to cup her face while he leaned in and kissed her with a tenderness that contrasted with the hot, fast sex they’d just had.

“Two minutes, fifty seconds,” he said when he ended the kiss.

His smile was crooked, and she reached up to touch one twisted corner of his mouth. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Not one single thing,” he said, enveloping her in his arms so her face was snuggled against his chest and she could no longer see his expression. “You are absolutely perfect.”

He was trying to distract her with flattery, but she let the compliment soak in anyway. God knew, she’d been feeling like a failure for long enough. It was good to be appreciated for a change, even if it wasn’t for her artistic ability.

“Don’t you have an appointment?” she asked when he showed no sign of letting her go.

“They can wait on the porch.” But he released her and headed for the bathroom while she retrieved her sheet.

Running water sounded as she nestled into the chaise longue by the window, waiting for him to emerge.

“I’ll be done by two so I’ll meet you wherever you’ll be,” he said before a rueful smile crossed his face. “I guess I do get high and mighty at times. I’ll meet you, if you want me to.”

“I want you to, but I don’t know where I’ll be. Call me on my cell.”

He shrugged on his shirt, buttoning it with the same speed he played foosball. He sat on the end of her chaise and pulled on shoes and socks before he leaned in for a kiss.

“Are you sneaking down the back stairs?” she asked.

“Yes. We’ll give the good citizens of Sanctuary some time to get used to seeing us together.” He stood and shot his cuffs, even though he wore no jacket. “It’s going to be tough keeping my mind on contracts when I know you’re sitting here, wrapped in nothing but a sheet.”

“Wait till you see what I’m wrapped in tonight.” She hoped she could find something good in the local shops.

“Don’t torture me. It’s hard enough to leave already.”

“The sooner you leave, the sooner I can go shopping.”

He reached for her mop of hair and gave a strand one of the affectionate tugs she’d come to treasure. “You’re a one-woman boost for the local economy, sprite.”

Turning on his heel, he strode through the bedroom door. She heard the outer door open and close, and then she stretched luxuriously on the chaise, draping her arms over the padded back and curling her toes into the soft blue velour.

Her body hummed with sensations ranging from a tiny throb where he’d grazed her breast with his teeth last night to the deepest languor of satisfied need. She lay there with her eyes closed, letting memories of their night together spin through her mind.

She had been right to think he would be on a whole different level from her other two partners. Paul knew his way around a woman’s body. He was creative and funny and intense and perceptive. He took what he wanted, but he made sure she got so much more.

“Ummmmm,” she sighed, stretching again.