Tempt Me (Semper Fi Marines)(11)

Apparently, it wasn't enough for him. He growled, pulling back to tug at  the bottom of her blouse. He tossed it on the floor behind him and she  knew she should complain. But, at that moment, all she wanted was his  hands on her bare flesh. She undid her bra and threw it in the same  direction.

"Damn." It was the only word he uttered before he leaned down and took  one of her nipples in his mouth. Heat flushed through her veins and she  could do nothing but tip her head back and enjoy. He rubbed her other  nipple with his thumb, brushing over it then pinching it. The mix of  pleasure and pain tore another moan from her.

He grazed his teeth over the tip of her nipple, then dragged his tongue  over it. He pulled back before she was ready for him to quit.

"I think we need to move this into the bedroom."

"How very...conventional of you," she said, teasing him.                       
       
           



       

His mouth curved just a bit, but the heat in his eyes had the breath  tangling in her throat. "The things I want to do to you will take time  and lots of space. I would rather do it on my king sized bed."

He lifted her up off the counter and all she could do was grab on tight and see where this took her.

* * * *

Jesse's heart was beating so damned hard; he couldn't believe that Zoe  didn't hear it. Hell, he was pretty sure most of Arlington heard it. By  the time he tossed her on the bed, his hands were shaking. It had been  years since he had wanted a woman this badly. He didn't want her to know  how badly, or that every now and then, he thought about what it would  be like to wake up every morning with her.

He shook that thought away. Thinking of the future was the one thing she  had told him she didn't want to do. She wanted to live in the now with  no strings attached.

She wiggled on the bed and a flash of metal against her cocoa-colored  skin caught is eye. Lord save him, she had a belly ring. He had never  been a man into tattoos or piercings, but damned if that didn't intrigue  him even more.

"What's going through that mind of yours, Jesse?"

He skimmed his fingers down her stomach to the small ring. "Kind of sexy there, Zoe."

Even to his own ears, his voice sounded funny. Deeper, filled with need.  It wasn't like he had never had a woman before, but there was something  more with this woman. In the short time he had known her, she had  gotten under his skin, and worse, he liked that. He enjoyed feeling kind  of out of control of his emotions. That should scare him, but it just  made him feel alive.

"Oh, good, I didn't know if it would be a turn off for you. Or the little tat I have on my back."

He looked up at her. Her dark brown braids lay tangled across his pillows. "Is that so?"

She blinked. Okay, he was scaring her apparently. But, he knew something  about her, and he knew that she loved a challenge. Without another  word, he took her by the waist and flipped her over. Her laughter ended  on a moan as he trailed his index finger down her spine to the rose  tattoo on the small of her back. He traced the vines that came out from  each side of the flower.

"Tsk, tsk, and when did you get this?"

"The week I had my first show."

He brushed aside her braids completely and leaned down to give into the  one thing he had wanted more than anything else. He touched his mouth to  her sweet flesh. He licked and nibbled his way down her spine, enjoying  the way she squirmed against the mattress. Her moans grew with each  inch he covered. He flipped her over again, and yanked at her jeans. He  needed to taste more, to feel her soft flesh against his mouth, feel her  thighs as he gave in to the temptation that had been calling to him  since he had first seen her months earlier at the wedding.

He paid little to no attention to the panties, other than to note they  were sunny yellow like the blouse she had been wearing. When he finally  had her naked, he sighed in appreciation.

She was a work of art, like the ones she created. It had nothing to do  with her size, or even the fact that she had amazing bone structure. It  had more to do with the way she lived in that skin. He knew a part of  him wanted to be like that. To live day-to-day and just-be. He wasn't  made for that, but being with her made him want to be like that-at least  when he was with her. Even after the problems she had, she had a zest  for life.

"Jesse," she said, when he hadn't moved.

"You're stunning."

She blinked again.

"You are. I was pretty sure of it, but damn, woman."

They were the only words he could come up with. She was lucky he could  form those words. He licked one nipple then the other, then kissed a  path down her stomach. She was soft curves and delicious flesh. When he  reached the apex of her thighs, he used his hands to spread them further  apart. He settled between her legs and indulged. The first taste of her  danced over his taste buds, and sent heat racing through his blood. The  next taste took his breath away. Soon, she was moaning his name over  and over. With little to no warning, she exploded, screaming his name as  she came. He lifted his head and watched in amazement. She bowed up off  the bed then collapsed.

"Damn."

He wanted to give her that again, but this time, he wanted to be deep inside her when she came.

As fast as he could, he tugged at his clothes, then opened the side  table drawer. He pulled out a condom, tore at the package and rolled it  on in record time. He climbed back onto the bed and kneeled between her  legs. He grabbed her by the hips.

"Zoe."

Her lashes fluttered, then her eyes shut again.

"Zoe."

She finally opened them and with one hard thrust, he entered her. As he  thrust in and out of her, he never took his gaze from her. Soon, he knew  he was close, too close to hold out very long. But he wanted her with  him. He slipped his hand between them and teased her clit. Once, twice  and she came again. He watched as pleasure coursed over her body. Her  eyes closed as she gave a long, loud moan. It was just what he needed.  He thrust one more time, then followed her into bliss.                       
       
           



       





Chapter Nine



Zoe shivered as delight still filtered through her senses. Lord, the man  was amazing. Of course, she should have known from the start he would  be, but he really did blow her mind. Of course, he hadn't moved since  he'd collapsed on top of her a few minutes earlier. She didn't really  care. She liked the way his big strong body was pressing her into the  mattress. But then again, she was worried he might not be breathing.

"Jesse?" she asked.

"Hmph." It was the only thing he said.

"So I guess you're alive still?"

He moved his head so that he was facing the side of her face. "Yeah, barely."

She smiled as she skimmed her fingers down his back. He was all muscle  and smooth golden flesh. She was just irritated that she hadn't had the  chance to do more than touch a little bit. She planned on rectifying  that as soon as she could move more. He was right. They were barely  alive so she thought maybe a little rest before she attacked him.

She felt his mouth moving over her neck and she tilted her head to give  him better access. She expected great sex. It was a normal function and  there was no doubt, Jesse Johnson was in good enough shape to show a  girl a good time. But there were times like this, when he undid her with  small gestures. He was hot and sweet and every time she peeled back  another layer, she fell a little bit more for him.

He pulled back, then lifted his hand to her chin, urging her to look at  him. His eyes were barely open, but he had one of those smug,  self-satisfied smiles.

"Hey, there, beautiful."

Her heart tripped. God, he was making it hard to keep this light. It  wasn't that he made big speeches or grand gestures. It was things like  this that had her fighting the urge to give in to him. To beg him to  ignore that silly notion she had of not getting serious.

Nope. No way. She couldn't do it. He was sweet and honorable, and someday he would leave and break her heart.

"Hey, there yourself."

He sighed and his eyes closed.

"Oh, no you don't, Marine. Get up."

"I already did. Now I'm down."

For a second, she didn't get the joke, then she chuckled. "You're too heavy, Jesse."

With a groan, he lifted himself off her, but leaned down and gave her a  quick, hard kiss before climbing off the bed. He went into the bathroom.  She heard water running then he came out. Just as she had predicted, he  was very comfortable in his nudity, but then, so was she.

She rolled to her side and propped her head up on her hand. "You do know how to show a lady a good time."

Again, he gave her that slow, easy smile, which curled her toes. The man was dynamite with a dash of gasoline on top.