Only Her (A K2 Team Novel)(71)

Cody cradled her face with his hands, leaned down, and brushed his lips over hers. Her eyes slid closed, and he smiled against her mouth. Although they’d kissed before, tonight felt like a new beginning, a chance to touch something magical. He moved behind her and flattened his palms on her shoulders, then with the barest of touches, slid his hands down her arms, lacing their fingers together when he’d reached her hands. As he did that, he nibbled on her earlobe. Goosebumps rose on her skin, and he felt a shudder travel through her.

Letting go of her hands, he gathered her long hair and moved it over her shoulder to trail down the front of her. Her neck exposed, he swept his tongue over her skin, eliciting more shudders from her. She was responsive to his every touch, and he wanted to bury himself in her heat right then, but tonight was for her. To show her that she was special, because he didn’t think she knew that.

He reached for the hem of her top, and pulled it up. She lifted her arms, and he tossed the shirt onto a chair. There were still no words spoken between them, and he didn’t want any. The skin under his palms as he slid them down her back—tracing the curve of her spine—was silky smooth. Waves of shivers rippled through her when he danced his fingers up her ribs. She leaned against him, and he rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes.

Using his sense of touch, of smell as he inhaled the essence that was Riley, and of sound—listening to her little gasps of breaths—he knew nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing but her. When his thumbs scraped under the soft flesh of her breasts, she made a little humming sound that had him throbbing with desire. He pressed his erection against her bottom, letting her know how much he wanted her.

But not yet. There was more to learn about her. He shed his shirt, needing to feel her, skin to skin. With her back against his chest again, he cupped her breasts, and flicked his thumbs over her nipples.

“Oooh,” she murmured.

He would allow her that one word tonight. While he played with her breasts, he pressed his mouth to her neck and sucked, marking her as his. She lowered her hands, digging her fingers into his thighs when he gave her nipples a light pinch. Cody licked the red, irritated skin on her neck, soothing it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt the need to mark a woman, if he even ever had.

Still standing behind her, he slid one hand under the waistband of her silk pajama bottoms. He cupped her mound, and just held his hand there, feeling her heat. She tilted her head, looking up at him with eyes darkened by desire, and he covered her mouth with his. Keeping his hand cupped over her, he pressed his tongue to the seam of her lips, urging her to open for him. When she let him in, their tongues sought out each other, tangling in a demanding dance.

He could no longer keep his hand still, and he slipped a finger into her slick heat. She was so damn wet for him. There was something hot about both of them bare from the waist up, but clothed from the waist down. Half their bodies touched skin to skin, while the friction of the material separating their lower halves created a kind of pleasurable pain.

Finding her sweet spot, he toyed with her until her breaths were coming fast. When she came, it was as if her legs gave out, and he held her close until he was sure she would remain upright. He moved to stand in front of her, and when she opened her mouth, he put a finger over her lips, shaking his head. All that existed in her bedroom this night was the two of them. They didn’t need words.

Understanding entered her eyes, and she lifted on her toes and kissed him. He didn’t know why he wanted it this way, had never cared before how much a woman talked, but the quiet between Riley and him seemed . . . spiritual. Yes, that was the right word. She brought her hands up, cradling his face as she kissed him, and he covered her hands with his. The kiss started as gentle, but quickly became intense. He wanted to devour her, wanted her to climb into his skin and live there.

Was that love? He didn’t know. All he did know was that she calmed him, that he desired her like no other, and that he couldn’t imagine ever tiring of her. With her, he felt complete. Because of her, he was determined to conquer his demons. She didn’t know it yet, but he was hers for as long as she would have him.

She lowered her hands to the button on his jeans, and he inched away, giving her room for her task. He’d gone commando after his shower, and decided he’d best take over the job of unzipping the jeans, considering he was already about to pop out of them. The thought of getting caught in the zipper made him want to squeeze his legs closed. He took out the condoms he’d put in his pocket, then pushed his pants over his hips, chuckling when Riley’s eyes widened at the sight of him.