As she bent her knees, the tip of his erection found her entrance. Burning hot and hard, it teased her, parting her slick folds. He paused, holding her still. She was ready to collapse, her leg muscles quivering, but he held her up, his biceps bulging from the strain. He eased an inch into her, his heat and strength arousing her further. Bending her head back, she let out a growl of pure animal need and tried to push herself down on him. But Joe prevented her, still controlling her descent. As he let her down one solid inch at a time, his thickness stretched her, filled her, melted her. After several breathless seconds, he settled her on his lap, sheathed in her flesh to the hilt, breathing hard as he smiled at her.
"You feel so good." He took her mouth in one bruising kiss after another until her head was swimming. She moved against him, hands on his shoulders, arching her back as she sought the sweet friction between them. As she'd come to expect, he took over, using his impressive strength to shift her up and down while he thrust himself slowly and evenly into her.
Tension built in her to fever pitch. She tossed her head, wild for release, seeking the button to unleash the pressure. When Joe took her nipple between his lips, she almost bucked right off him, but his hands held her firm. His teeth riffled against her nipple, his thrust pushed her higher, and suddenly she was an explosion of wet, molten flesh, and stars were falling around her, and someone was moaning out, "Oh, God. Oh, Joe," over and over again.
Joe's grunts filtered through the hot mist. She was vaguely aware of his hands digging into her hips and his mouth nipping her shoulder as he drove hard into her. It could have hurt, but it didn't, her wetness assisting his fierce pounding. He gripped her tight, his body tensed as he growled and spasmed deep inside her for several fiery moments, before his body gradually grew slack.
Sighing deeply, he wiped his forearm across his sweaty brow. "Sweet pea, that was the most incredible ride."
She gulped, shaky and throbbing. "You can say that again," she whispered.
He was still buried deep inside her, and she didn't want to let him go. For a while he scattered kisses over her face and neck again, this time his mouth soft, gentle, reassuring. When he finally lifted her off his lap, the night air nipped at her, raising goose bumps on her bottom. Joe got rid of the condom, pulled off her boots, and held up the quilt covering the bed. "Come here, sweet pea."
She slipped gratefully under the covers, Joe quickly joining her. The sheets were cool, but Joe pulled her into his arms, his warmth surrounding her. She turned to him, surprised and a little dismayed at how eagerly she sought him out. Was it simply because Joe had given her the best sex of her life? Or was there something more to it?
Joe didn't seem to be troubled by such worries. He kissed her hair and wrapped his arms around her. "Just a heads-up. I'm going to let you rest for a little while, but in about ten minutes I have another activity planned for us."
Anticipation stirred in her loins. She shifted her legs against his. "What kind of activity?"
"It's a surprise."
"Can't you give me a clue?"
His lips curled into a lazy, teasing smile. "All I'll tell you is that I'm going to make you say ‘Oh, God' and ‘Oh, Joe' again. Several times. Maybe if I make the right moves, I'll even get you to scream it out. Sound good to you?"
Nina nodded, her hunger already returning. Whatever Joe did to her would be good, as long as she remembered that this was just sex. Great, awesome sex, yes, but that was all it was. It didn't-couldn't-change anything between them.
…
Joe peered down at Nina's prone form. She looked deeply asleep, which was no wonder, considering the epic sex they'd enjoyed through the night. But dawn was touching the bedroom curtains, and he had to rouse her.
Gently he shook her awake. "Hey, sleepyhead. It's time to get up."
"Wha … ?" She yawned, blonde hair sexily tousled, lips still swollen from all that kissing.
His cock stirred. If only he could strip again and join her in the bed for an early morning quickie … But that was asking for even more trouble.
Nina blinked several times before her blue eyes cleared and focused on him already dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. "Where're you going?"
"I'm taking you back to the inn before anyone else gets there." He paused before sinking on the bed next to her. "Nina, last night was incredible, but … "
Her mouth turned down. "But you don't want a repeat?"
"Of course I want a repeat," he answered quickly, even as the logical part of his brain told him that was a dumb idea. Even dumber than last night. But his body was completely enthralled with her. "I want you in my bed as often as possible, but it has to stay between us. I can't have the rest of the staff finding out. Not because I'm ashamed to be with you, but-"
"I understand." She squeezed his hand briefly. "This is just a bit of fun between you and me, right? Nothing serious. We don't need the whole town sticking their noses into our private business."
He breathed out a sigh of relief. Nina understood his dilemma, and she wasn't fussed about keeping this a secret. It wasn't how he usually conducted his brief affairs, but then again he'd never had an affair with an employee. Again, his logical brain sent out a warning, but he ignored it. Nina was in his bloodstream, and for however long this crazy fever lasted, he was her captive.
…
Nina yawned as she scraped and rinsed plates. The bustle in the kitchen was dying down after the dinner rush, but she still had plenty of clearing up to do. It didn't help that she'd barely caught a few hours' sleep last night. She closed her eyes, and for a moment she was transported back to the heady sweetness of being with Joe. All day the memories of him had teased her. Tonight he'd gone to his usual soccer practice, which was just as well. She didn't need him distracting her again in front of staff and customers.
"Glad you've got time to daydream." Sarah's bark sounded just inches from her ear.
Nina jerked, and the plate she'd been holding slipped and crashed to the floor. "Oh, crap!"
Sarah's lips thinned as others paused to see the cause of the commotion. "Well, that's one way of doing the dishes. I'll tell Joe to dock your pay again. What's that, like your fourth since you started?"
"Only my third." Nina grabbed a brush and pan and began cleaning up the broken plate. "And I don't mind Joe docking my pay."
"I thought you were desperate for a job." Sarah continued to stand over her, and when Nina straightened, the head chef's face was filled with suspicion. "I already know you lied about working in a coffee shop. And now you're acting like you don't even care about the money you're losing. So why are you really here in Hartley?"
Nina tossed the ceramic shards into the garbage bin, making as much clatter as she could. She'd been too quick to shrug off her docked pay. She should've acted more concerned.
"I'm here to make a fresh start," she said as calmly as possible.
"Yeah?" Sarah didn't seem convinced.
Nina was saved from having to say more by Mrs. Stewart appearing in the kitchen. She and her friend had dined at the restaurant earlier, and when Nina served them, Mrs. Stewart had made some coy remarks about Joe. Now, as the smiling woman advanced on them, Nina prayed she wouldn't say anything embarrassing in front of Sarah.
"That chicken was delicious!" Mrs. Stewart beamed at Sarah. "You must keep that on the menu permanently."
"Thanks, Mrs. Stewart." The head chef grinned. If there was one thing that softened her up, it was compliments on her cooking. "Is there anything else I can get you?"
"No, thank you. I really came back here to talk to Nina."
Sarah's frown returned. "Sure," she replied, but instead of leaving, she stood right there, looking suspicious.
"How can I help you?" Nina asked Mrs. Stewart, hoping she wouldn't mention Joe again.
"It's about the Food and Wine Festival. You know about it, right?"
Nina nodded. She'd seen all the posters around town and knew Joe was on the organizing committee.
"The thrift store will have a stall at the festival," Mrs. Stewart continued. "We're accepting all kinds of donations to sell. My niece usually helps me, but she's broken her leg, poor thing, so I was hoping you'd volunteer."
The festival was in two weeks, and by the end of that weekend, Nina's three-week vacation from Beaumont, Inc. would be over and she'd have to return to San Francisco. The dreaded reminder, coupled with Mrs. Stewart's request, threw Nina into confusion. "Oh, um, yeah, well-"
"Of course she'd love to help you," Sarah broke in with a smirk at Nina. "She wants to make a fresh start in Hartley, and what better way is there than getting involved in our local charity?"