Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(37)

 

She used her tongue and hands to excite him further, listening for and feeling what he liked and didn’t by his body’s response. Then he pulled away, laid her back and kissed her.

 

His entire body covered hers, the friction of the skin-to-skin contact heating her, making her purr.

 

“Should I go get the body paint?” she asked between kisses.

 

He brushed back some of her hair and looked at her. “Not tonight. No games. Just you. I just need you.” Then he kissed her again, his finger traced her jaw before his hand went to her breast, followed by his mouth.

 

I just need you, he’d said. She arched her back and let him take whatever he needed, because she needed him just as much.

 

 

 

Everything about this woman turned him on. The feel of her soft skin under his calloused hands, the scent of the sweet perfume she’d spritzed on her body, the way she stretched and arched beneath his touch like a cat being petted, the ample proportions of all her curves.

 

He could stare at her and kiss her for hours. In fact, that was his plan. He’d lose himself in the exploration of her body, leaving no spot unattended.

 

As his mouth moved from her breasts to her abdomen and below, her little squeals and panting stoked the inferno blazing in his core. Each scratch of her nails or bite from her teeth spurred him to be more attentive, more impassioned.

 

He pulled away long enough to wrest the condom from his wallet and then buried himself deep inside her, kissing her, pinning her arms to the floor while pumping his hips.

 

She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper inside. When he released her arms to cradle her head, she threaded her hands through his hair and then ran them along his back until she groped his ass.

 

They rode a wave of hunger until their sweaty bodies lay spent before the fire.

 

Kelsey Callihan was more erotic than any pinup girl of his boyhood fantasies, because in addition to her obvious sensuality, she oozed warmth. He’d done nothing to earn it, and yet she’d given it without reservation, thawing the chill of his sparring match with Mason.

 

She was way more than he’d bargained for, and he wasn’t sure whether he should be glad or terrified.

 

Trip raised himself onto his elbows and brushed hair from her face, then kissed her before rolling onto his back and dragging her against his side. His fingers trailed back and forth along her waist while he stared at the ceiling.

 

When he’d stormed out of Backtrax, he hadn’t intended to end up at Kelsey’s. Yet here he was, sated and happy. She must be, too, because she wasn’t crying anymore. Then the recollection of her tears nettled.

 

“Kels?” His fingers toyed with her hair, but he kept his eyes on the ceiling.

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Tell me why you were upset earlier.” He turned his head to look at her, but as soon as he spoke, she stiffened and looked away.

 

“It’s personal.”

 

“More personal than what we just did?” When he pinched her ass in jest, she swatted his hand.

 

“Yes, actually.” She met his gaze. “What we just did had nothing to do with feelings. What upset me earlier is all about feelings, ones you’ll make fun of, too. I’m not up to a verbal brawl.”

 

Trip frowned, irrationally angered by her narrow view of him, despite knowing that was all he’d ever let her see. He rolled to his side and tugged one of her hands to his lips for a kiss. “I won’t make fun of you, I promise. I’m a good friend, just ask Grey.”

 

“Are we friends, then?” Her skeptical expression burned like a slap to the cheek.

 

“Of course we’re friends, princess. Now, if you don’t tell me why you were driving around town in tears, I’m going to have to go investigating on my own, starting with one Wade Kessler.” Trip ignored the spark of displeasure that thought ignited.

 

Kelsey giggled, her smile lightening his heart. “He’d be mighty confused then, because it has nothing to do with him.”

 

“Then what, or who, is the problem?”

 

“My sister.” Kelsey blankly stared into space and bit her lip.

 

“Maura?” Trip curled his arm around Kelsey’s waist. “But you two seem so close.”

 

Kelsey nodded. “We are. I’m just being petty and stupid.”

 

“How so?”

 

“She’s pregnant, which is wonderful news, I know.” Kelsey closed her eyes. “It’s just that, instead of us being mothers together, her family keeps growing while here I am . . .”

 

She swallowed the rest of her sentence and flashed a rueful grin, but he could see the ache behind her eyes.