Chapter 18
Lesley stood inside the city hall, peering out the glass door. The rain continued to pour in sheets, the streets flooding from the massive amount of precipitation that fell in such a short time during the town meeting. The wind ripped through the trees like a boomerang, back and forth, never letting up.
So, maybe her bicycle hadn’t been such a good idea. She’d need that ride after all. But asking John… They’d already crossed the line by holding hands during the meeting. Her fake it until she made it strategy hadn’t worked. She needed his support, and that was more than she bargained for. Despite how wonderful his hand felt in hers, he was her contractor, and only her contractor.
Business.
Strictly business.
A giant gust of wind blew down the street again. Her phone dinged with an updated weather alert, warning that Bakersville would soon suffer some side effects from the approaching hurricane, now headed for shore.
Great.
Still, she would make a go of it.
She strapped her purse tight to her shoulder and pushed the door, ready to run to her bicycle. A large, warm hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her back inside.
John.
Just your contractor.
He moved her against the wall and stepped aside to let other people out the door, pinning her in the corner where she stood.
“What are you doing?” The warming effects of his cotton and sawdust smell washed over her, making her very aware of how close they were. Her body hummed with tingles.
Just your contractor.
“You are not going out in that.”
“I have to get home somehow.”
“I’ll drive you.” His eyes took on a steely gaze, one of determination and authority.
A shiver zipped up her spine.
Just your contractor.
Contractors didn’t give steely gazes.
Focus.
“That wasn’t part of the agreement we made today.”
“Screw the agreement, Lesley. It’s a damn hurricane out there.” His eyes never changed. “I’m taking you home.”
“What about the kids? I’m sure they’re scared.”
“Let me make some arrangements with Emma. She’ll watch them for me, then we’ll leave, okay?”
She stared into his unwavering gaze…and lost this battle. “Okay. Fine.”
“Don’t go anywhere.” He pointed a finger at her.
She bit back her lip and sucked in a breath, nodding her head.
John charged across the room, glancing back as if to make sure she stayed put. She’d been right. His gaze was determined and downright dangerous. Going out in the storm turned out to be less concerning than riding home with him.
When it was time to leave, he ran ahead to open her door for her before he tossed her bicycle in the back of his truck. She slid in, her legs wet and cold against the leather seat, her toes squishing in her heels.
Except for the loud thrashing of the wind and the rain against John’s truck, the ride to the manor remained silent, alarmingly silent, causing the two-mile ride to stretch on for an eternity.
She had to say something. “Are storms always this bad here?”
“Not always, but hurricanes can be pretty dangerous.”
Dangerous. Everything about this situation seemed dangerous. Her heartbeat raced faster, and her mind ran a close second as lightning flashed overhead. The wind threatened to careen his truck off the road.
When she saw the house, her heart slowed its speed, and she released her death grip on the door handle. She’d never been so happy to see the old heap of a home in her life. The emotional ride from hell could finally come to a stop. She needed space from him before she did something she might regret, or something he might regret. Lots and lots of space.
He parked the truck as close to the steps as he could without driving into the porch. When the lightning cleared the sky, she ran for cover. John followed behind, splashing mud on her calves.
Under the safety of the porch awning, she stopped by the door, dripping from head to toe. Her dress clung to her legs, and her hair plastered to her face. Only a warm shower could help her now.
She unlocked the door, and then turned to thank him for the ride. Her face nearly bumped straight into his chest.
This wasn’t the space she needed.
“You did it.” He glanced down, his voice barely audible above the storm as he stepped even closer, filling the tiny little bit of space between them.
“No, you’re the one that convinced the town to help.” Slowly, she lifted her face and met his gaze. The steely glare still there, mixed with a hint of something else. Desire.
That same desire bubbled in her belly, fat and swollen like the storm clouds over her head, ready to explode.
Lightning continued to tear through the evening sky and thunder boomed around them as roof boards from the overhead porch leaked, causing raindrops to sprinkle on her shoulders. It was as if everything around them, all their barriers, were about to break from the strain of holding back…and she was ready. Ready to ride the wave…with him.
“You helped convince them, too.”
Though his was voice soft, it broke through the sound of her rip-roaring blood pounding through her veins.
“We make a great team. Ya know?”
He wiped a few wet strands of hair off her cheek. She leaned in to his touch and stared into his eyes—hungry, greedy, like he could devour her…and she wanted it. Badly. She was tired of fighting. So what if her divorce was recent? Time to force aside the unknown and focus on the here and now.
“Yeah, we do.” She couldn’t lie to herself anymore. He was not just her contractor. The faster she stopped denying it the better.
Screw the agreement.
She reached up and held his hand steady on her cheek. “John?”
“Yes?” He leaned closer, staring at her lips.
“You have to kiss me now, or leave. I can’t handle this anymore.” Her body buzzed, ready to soar. Her head was all floaty, and her nerves tingled to the point her skin hurt.
“I can’t either.”
The humid air between them disappeared as he crashed into her, his mouth, his lips, his tongue, greedy, thirsty, and hot. He ran his hands down her back and onto the wet fabric covering her bottom. Her trepidation blew away like the winds from the hurricane as he hoisted her in his arms.
Needing to be closer in every way, she wrapped her legs around him just like at the stump. Clinging to him, her body lit up as if it were on fire. He stumbled forward and pressed her back into the door as he fumbled with the doorknob. She ran her wet hands through his equally wet hair as he crossed the threshold and lifted her dress.
Gripping her bare butt cheeks with his long, strong fingers, he moved his hands from the top of her behind to the bottom. His eyes grew wider the more he felt around. “That’s what was under there?” His breath came heavy. “A thong?”
“Yes. Why?”
Squeezing her tighter with his calloused grip, he practically growled, “You’re never riding that damn bike in a dress again. Got it?”
Confused by his comment, she couldn’t ask why before he pressed his mouth back to hers. The closeness of their bodies, the tightness of his hold on her skin, all of it was nothing less than sheer possession. He controlled her in that moment, and her body grew hotter, her insides moist with desire.
The lights in the hall flickered as the electricity danced. He kneaded his fingers into her skin, claiming her as his own before he pulled back from their kiss.
“Lesley, if you want to stop, tell me now. Otherwise, I plan to make love to you, and that’s not something I take lightly.”
His confession shot more pleasure tingles all the way to her skull. He wanted her, and she could feel his desire through the pound of his heart so close to hers, the panting of his breath, even the tone of his voice. She hadn’t felt so wanted in years, and she hadn’t wanted someone so much like she wanted him right now, in this moment.
“That makes two of us.”
He smiled before his face fell, and a look of sheer agony marred his features. “Oh, no.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “Damn it.”
“No?” Her heart jolted. Not no. He can’t say no now. Was it something she said? Something she did? “What’s…what’s wrong?”
“I don’t have anything with me.” He winced. The pained expression stayed in place, and his hold on her slackened, his body slumping.
The tension in her stomach eased as she realized the issue. “No need.” She cocked a half-smile and whispered in his ear, “Birth control. It helps fight acne, too, you know?”
His grip on her tightened again as his posture straightened. “Thank God for zits! Where to?” His voice turned husky and serious again, the tone of a man ready to get to work.
“The bedroom.” She pulled his mouth back to hers.
He stumbled through the house, knocking over what few lamps and knickknacks were left along the way. Once in her room, he placed her on the bed, leaning his body over hers, the skirt of her dress hiked up to her hip bone, and her bottom suddenly cold from where his hands had owned her. His hair dripped water down the side of his face, and his white shirt clung to him, faintly exposing the hard chest muscles underneath.
“You’re sure?”
The certainty of the moment slipped. She propped up on her elbows and pulled the skirt of her dress down, suddenly feeling naked, vulnerable. “Do you not want to?” She stared at his chest, not wanting to meet his gaze. If he changed his mind this far in, how would she overcome the embarrassment? The pain?
He placed a hand on her cheek again. “Hey, look at me.”
She met his gaze; his eyes were still full of emotion, so deep, so raw, the notion of searching further excited her and frightened her more than the idea of their lovemaking.
“There is nowhere else I would rather be right now than here with you. I. Want. You.”
Lesley eased back down on the bed, her head and body light, tingly as she let his words pour over her. “Then I’m yours.”
In the dim light of the room, she made out his silhouette as he lowered, plunging his mouth to her neck, kissing a hot trail down her vein. Her heart pulsed in her ears—surely, he could feel her excitement on his lips.
The shift of the sheets reverberated through the room as the contact of his jeans rubbed the soft cotton. Straddling her, he grabbed her wrists, placing them above her head and held them in place with one hand. As he dipped his mouth to her chest, all of the blood left her heart and shot straight to her most sensitive areas.
She wiggled underneath him. “Oh, this is too much.”
He raised, his lips near her ear. “Do you want me to stop?”
“Not on your life.”
“Good.” He pulled the fabric of her dress down, exposing her breast and smiled like a man holding his most prized possession. “Because I don’t think I could if I wanted to.”
A warm, gentle blow from his lips caused her nipple to pucker, the sensation dizzying before he took her breast in his mouth and sucked.
“Oh.” She writhed again beneath him as the motion from his mouth caused an equally exciting reaction to burn down her core.
Releasing his firm yet gentle grip on her wrists, he pulled the other side of her dress down, the humid, moist air greeting her now bare breasts. Using his damp, soft lips, he covered her other nipple as he sucked until both nubs matched, hard and sore, causing her whole body to ache and long for more.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered against her skin.
Beams of delight exploded inside her at his confession. He sat her up and pulled her dress over her head, exposing nearly all of her. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the wet fabric to the floor. Their gazes locked. No going back.
Lesley reclined on the bed, and like a lion stalking his prey, John inched closer, towering over her as she lay there in nothing but her thong and heels. The vulnerability she felt moments before vanished as he stared at her like she was his lunch. Yet, unlike a helpless victim, she lay ready to be devoured by him. Completely.
The bulge of his arousal pressed against her leg, the sensation ripping an eruption of desire through her veins. Wanting to satisfy his need, she reached for his zipper, ready to liberate him.
“No.” His voice held forceful and deep as he set her hands back over her head. “You first.”
Placing a hand on her left breast, he caressed while sliding his other hand lower. The thin strip of fabric separating him from her moved easily to the side as he plunged his finger in between her folds.
She rocked her hips, her breathing ragged as his calloused touch asserted deep inside her. Her inhalations swelled to deep pants as the pad of his thumb caressed the spot that ached most.
“John, please. I need you,” she pleaded. She’d begged this man in the past week more than any man in her entire life.
Lesley pushed the concerning notion aside as her body buzzed, ready to detonate like the thunder around her. If she was going to croak, she’d picked a fantastic way to go. Death by heart-stopping orgasm.
Yes, please.
The faint sound of angels sang in the distance, ready to call her home.
On the brink of ecstasy, he stopped his ministrations and so did the celestial singing. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want you to get too excited. Yet.” His lips parted in a cocky grin as he completely freed her of her underwear.
Yet? Damn him.
Two could play this game.
She sat up. “My turn then.”
“Not so fast.” John lightly pressed her shoulder, motioning her to rest back again as he spread her legs wider.
“No fair,” she half-heartedly argued with a roll of her eyes, but did nothing to stop his advances. Five seconds ago, she’d been ready to fly. Desperation crept through her like an addiction, urging her to chase the high again.
Wet heat encircled her navel as he used his tongue to trail a slow, sensual path over her stomach before placing soft kisses down her center. His roughened hands on her hips added to the battle of mixed sensations rippling throughout her body as his supple lips delicately stroked her until his tongue found her wet spot.
With an involuntary shudder, she ran her hands through his hair as he tasted, teased, and caressed her most sensitive area. Digging her heels into the sheets of the bed, she squirmed again as his five o’clock shadow tickled her, sending the surge of excitement straight to her heart. This man—never had she known a man quite like John. He was hard as stone one minute, the fierceness fading into a fine-tuned lover the next.
Her heart swelled with joy, trust, and fear, the emotions so connected she couldn’t tell one from the other as the pleasure comingled, forcing her just to the brink again, ready to fly.
The buildup, the tension, and her grip in his hair tightened just like her core.
He pulled back, and she sucked in a deep breath. What the…? “Will you stop doing that?”
“Not so fast, princess.” He rose.
“That was very cruel.”
“I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Yanking his shirt over his head, he flipped the garment to the floor as the lightning from outside flashed into her window, outlining his sculpted physique.
Scooting forward, she placed her palms flat on his stomach. Lesley followed his happy trail, prancing her fingers to the button on his pants. She had to free him, needed his happiness inside of her. Now.
Right now.
With one swift yank, she tugged the zipper of his pants down and jerked the denim and underwear off his hips. The thing she most desired bobbed a hello. Taking him in her palm, she caressed his tip with her tongue, and watched as his eyes rolled followed by his head, forcing his hips forward and her to take more of him.
He let out a soft moan as she tasted him, both their needs building before he pulled himself back.
“Not like that,” he whispered and lowered his mouth back to hers.
Never breaking their connection, he shucked his pants to the ground with his feet as they leaned back together. Holding himself up with his knees, he trailed his hand back to her sweet spot and rubbed.
Moaning against his lips, she whispered, “That feels so good.”
“Good.”
Staring into her gaze, a half-grin spread over his face. Her insides scorched even more from his attention, focused solely on her. Moving his body, he sprinkled gentle kisses on the inside of her thigh and calf all the way down to her ankle. The warmth of his body, the lightness with which he touched her caused her to shimmy under him, her mind and heart ready to explode.
“You ready?” He gave her a cocky, teasing grin before he placed her foot on his shoulder.
As if he didn’t know the answer. “Are you?”
With her leg up, he leaned closer, her knee grazing her own breast as he entered her, slowly pushing deeper. A gasp escaped them both as he filled her, pulsing harder and faster. He rose slightly and released her trapped limb. She wrapped both legs around his waist again and squeezed, forcing him deeper, filling her.
The storm inside her body raged just as violent as the one outside. The more he gave, the more she took. Her body quaked and shook as a fury of electricity gushed and tingled all the way to her toes. She closed her eyes and squirmed in delight while he drove his mouth to hers, and his body tightened in his own release.
There, on the old bed sheets, in her new home, they became one. Completely.
He was her home.
John held her tight as their breathing and hearts slowed. His soft kiss caressed her temple, and he slid his fingers down the side of her cheek.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
Her heart swelled with emotions, and words she was too scared to say. She pulled him closer, snuggling him instead, enjoying the warmth of his embrace.
The few lights that were on in the house flickered like a strobe light once more before they went out. Instinctively, she grabbed a hold of him tighter.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“I don’t know where my phone is for a flashlight, and I don’t think I have any candles.”
“You don’t need any.”
He trailed more kisses down her neck, her skin on overdrive from his sweet embraces.
“How will you see to get out of here? Your kids, John.” She tilted her head back and gave him better access to her neck, her nipples tightening again from his lips on her skin. She wanted to keep him all to herself, enjoy his touch through the night, but he had responsibilities, a family. Something she would have to adjust to. Could she?
“Emma is watching them for the night. I’m yours.”
“Seriously?” She felt for his cheeks. “You want to stay with me?”
“If you’ll let me.”
Her heart squeezed, and her insides warmed at the delightful thought of waking up in his arms. A wave of joy flooded her in the same manner as their lovemaking had. She tightened her hold on him again as she leaned in to kiss him.
Despite the darkness, their lips found each other. He was hers. All hers.
At least for tonight.
****
John checked his phone. Two a.m. The storm died down as Lesley slept next to him, her head on his arm and her breathing easing in and out slow and steady. Three times they had satisfied each other until they’d finally wore themselves out.
She rolled, and the heel of her shoe pierced him in the shin.
“Ow,” he muttered and scooted his legs away from hers. She’d kept them on for him, happy to oblige when he begged her not to take them off. While they were making love, the idea had been wonderful. Now…not so much.
But as he rubbed his leg in the stillness of the early morning, he fought the storm inside of him. Lesley had been the first woman he’d been with since his wife. In fact, she was the only other woman he had ever slept with besides Sandra.
Guilt burned in his chest like a branding iron. He wanted nothing more than to curl the woman beside him closer to his body, and push her away at the same time.
No other woman had ever come close to bringing him as much joy as his wife had. Until now.
Lesley’s scent, her voice, her body, even the way she annoyed the hell out of him at times was like a drug. A substance he would gladly abuse no matter how good or bad for him. His addiction to her ran deep; he desired this woman more than any other thing in his life besides his children.
Falling hard and fast had never been in his plans, and the idea scared the hell out of him. Everything he had to give wasn’t enough for her. She deserved more.
He pulled her closer and nuzzled the soft, silky skin of her neck. She turned into him, grazing his cheek with a kiss before falling back into a deep sleep.
He would be enough for her, all she would ever need. He’d make damn sure of it.