Holding Strong
Page 11

“Swear.” Yes, she felt a little dizzy and her headache lingered, but she knew exactly what she wanted.
Denver. This.
Now.
His hands never left her, but he settled back on his heels, a frown in place, and Cherry panicked.
“So help me, Denver, if you walk away now, I’ll...”
“What?” Tipping his head, he looked her over. “What would you do?”
Lifting her chin, Cherry said, “I’ll spread a rumor that you’re a lousy lay.”
His slow, crooked grin reassured her. “Can’t have that now, can I?” Giving his attention back to her body, he touched his mouth to her skin, nuzzling her belly, nibbling over to her hipbone while his hands coasted up and down the backs of her thighs. “You are so soft, and damn girl, you smell good.”
Again she wanted to melt, this time from sensation overload. His big hands continued to coast over her skin, lifting every so often to her tush to squeeze and cuddle. His lips were warm, his tongue teasing, and right through her skimpy panties he gave her a soft love bite.
Oh my God. Flattening her hands to the wall for support, Cherry stared down at him. She hadn’t lied about his light brown hair; it really was beyond sexy. But then everything about Denver was downright scrumptious. “I’d love it if you took off your shirt.”
He paused long enough to reach over his own shoulder, grab a fistful of material, and jerk the shirt up and over his head. He stood again, breathing a little more heavily, and murmured, “Your turn.”
So many times she’d seen his gorgeous body in no more than boxing shorts, but never before had she been given the opportunity to touch. She reached for him, but he caught her hands, kissed each palm, and lifted them high over her head.
“Keep them right there for me.” And with that, he lifted the hem of her shirt, drawing it slowly up and over her face until he caught the material between her elbows one-handed—pinning her there, all stretched out.
Hardly fair! “Denver—”
“I’ve thought about stripping you a million times,” he murmured. “Let me have my fun.”
He’d been thinking about stripping her? Oh. Well then... “Okay.”
“Good girl.”
She frowned, but with his palm playing over her from shoulder to hip as if savoring her, she couldn’t gather her thoughts enough to protest the ridiculous endearment.
Briefly, he came in for a hot eating kiss that left her shaking before levering back so he could open the front closure on her bra.
She heard the small catch of his breath as the cups parted, showing the inner swells of her breasts, but not quite revealing both nipples.
“So fucking stacked,” he whispered roughly, lowering his head to nuzzle aside the material with his mouth.
Going perfectly still, her pulse buzzing and her vision narrowing to the crown of his overlong hair, she waited—and felt his hot breath, then the touch of his hotter tongue...
And he sucked her in.
The vibrating moan came out loud and high as she stiffened, her muscles all going taut in a rush of pleasure.
“Relax.” He kissed his way to her other breast and drew that nipple into the damp heat of his mouth. At the same time she felt his fingertips lightly tracing over the crotch of her panties.
Frantic to touch him, Cherry struggled against the restraint of her shirt.
He released her, saying, “Take it easy,” while helping to free her hands. The second she could, she leaned into him, her hands everywhere, all over him, relishing the light furring of hair on his chest, those sleek hard shoulders, the bulge of his rock-hard biceps. She trailed a hand down his abdomen, following that silky happy trail until it disappeared into his low-hanging jeans. Almost desperate, she suggested, “The bed...”
He caught her wandering hand. “I said no.” With far too much ease, he turned her suddenly so that she faced the wall. Stepping in close to her back, he nestled his erection against her bottom. “Trust me, okay?”
She felt too warm, dazed with wanting. Nodding, she whispered, “Okay.” But she honestly didn’t know how much longer she could stand there. Her legs seemed almost incapable of holding her up and she had a rushing in her ears.
With a kiss to her temple, he slipped one foot between hers, nudging her legs wider apart. When she accommodated him, he murmured, “Good girl. Just like that.”
Breathless, she said, “You are so sexist.”
“Maybe. Sorry.” His arms came around her, one hand cupping a breast, the other wedging between her thighs. “I’m too turned on to worry about it.”