Chapter Four

“I don’t want it.” Stacy shoved at Eric’s chest, and he released his hold on her hand. Watched helplessly as she turned on her heel and strode away from him, toward the gold Altima just up the street.

He followed after her. No way was he going to let her leave, not tonight. “Why not?” he called after her.

“Because it’s full of expectations and bullshit that I don’t want to deal with,” she answered from over her shoulder.

She wouldn’t even turn to face him. Not that the view from behind was bad. She wore black pants that stretched across her ass and the sight of her ass made his mouth water. Her shirt was made of a skimpy sparkly fabric. He could see the tank top she wore beneath it, and he itched to touch her again. Slip his hand underneath those shirts and feel her skin warm beneath his fingertips.

He wanted her with an intensity that scared the shit out of him. And tonight, sober and without any sort of defenses up, he wanted to experience it. Experience her.

Just once. Just to say he had.

Eric frowned. That wasn’t true. He’d let her have him for as long as she wanted him. Which right now, didn’t look to be for very long at all.

She hit the keyless remote she pulled out of her purse and a beep sounded, the car lights flashed. She rounded the front of the car, her hand reaching for the handle and he was on her. Pressed her against the side of the car, her back nestled to his front. She struggled against him.

“Let go of me,” she yelled.

“Hell, no.” He pushed her harder against the car, his groin nudging against her ass. She felt amazing. Smelled even better and he breathed deep, buried his face in her hair. “I need you to listen to me, Stace.”

“Stop calling me that.” She struggled some more but he swore she weakened just the slightest bit.

“Calling you what? Stace? You don’t like my nickname for you?” He nuzzled the side of her head, his lips brushing against the soft skin of her forehead and his cock hardened.

“I hate it.” She went limp in his arms, her head falling forward to press against the top of the car. “I hate you.” Her voice was weak, she felt suddenly fragile in his arms and guilt assuaged him.

But he couldn’t stop. Couldn’t let her go until he pleaded his final case.

“You don’t hate me.” He spun her around by the waist so she faced him and she glared up at him. Her expression was one of mass confusion. “You can’t hate me no matter how much you try.”

“You are so arrogant.”

“I’m telling the truth and you know it.” He cupped her face, his thumb skittering across her cheek, along her lips. “Can’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?” She knew exactly what he was talking about, he knew it.

“The connection.” With the subtlest of movements he thrust his hips against her. Let her feel exactly what she did to him. “Between us.” He was only repeating the words she said last night.

“Eric.” She rested her curled fists on his chest and hit him once. Then again, lighter this time. “I want you to leave.”

“No you don’t.” He traced the outline of her lips, then drew his finger along the seam. Her lips parted, and he dipped his finger just inside. Felt the warm dampness of her mouth and his cock surged against the fly of his jeans. “Let’s go back to your place and hang out, Stace. What do you say?”

Before she could answer, his hand fell away from her mouth and he kissed her. Gently, sweetly, most likely the sweetest kiss he’d ever given another person ever. He wasn’t forceful, he wasn’t passionate and crazed and full of lust like he wanted to be.

This was going to be a slow and steady seduction. It would have to be, what with how jumpy she was.

“I should say no,” she whispered when he broke the kiss.

He smiled, knew he had her. “Then I’ll keep kissing you out here in this very public place until you finally say yes.”

She squealed and glanced around, beating on his chest once again with her clenched fists. “Oh my God, let me go.”

“Not until you say yes.”

“Fine, yes. Get in the car.” She sounded irritated and he wanted to shout in triumph. Instead he lifted himself away from her and went around the back of the car, opened the passenger side door and slipped inside.

Stacy already sat behind the steering wheel, her hand resting on the key, ready to the turn the ignition. She turned to look at him, her expression serious, lips firmed.

He still found her incredibly sexy even though she looked royally pissed.

“Nothing is going to happen.”

“If that’s what you want.” He pulled on his seatbelt. Needed to do something to distract him from what he really wanted to do.

Like grab her face and kiss her senseless.

“That’s definitely what I want.” She turned the key and the car started. “I don’t trust you.”

“You probably shouldn’t,” he agreed.

“What you did to me last night was rude.”

“Very.”

An irritated little growl escaped her and she glanced over her shoulder, then at her side mirror before she pulled out onto the street. “If you expect me to feed you, you’re wrong.”

“I’ll pay for the pizza,” he said cheerily.

“Who said we were having pizza?”

“I did.” Unable to help himself he reached out, settled his hand on her thigh. Her skin was warm beneath the fabric and he wished she had a skirt on so he could touch her bare flesh. “We’ll eat pizza, watch TV and hang out.”

“Hang out.” She snorted. “You’re going to try and jump me, aren’t you?”

“Hell, no.” He shook his head. “I just want to be your friend. That’s all you want, right?”

“Right.”

“We’ll take it slow.”

“Yes. I want to take it slow. That’s exactly what I want.” She made a right at the next intersection. “I just broke up with my fiancé, remember? I don’t want to just dive right into another relationship, thing, whatever.”

“I don’t blame you. Your fiancé is a major asshole for what he did to you.”

“Almost as much an asshole as you, hmm?” She shot him an amused smile, a wicked gleam in her pretty eyes and he felt a little dazzled by the sight of her.

“Absolutely, though I’m going to work my hardest at redeeming myself.” And that was the damn truth.

“I must warn you. You’re going to be working on it for a long time.”

Eric rubbed his hands together. “I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Stacy really didn’t care anymore about Eric redeeming himself. Having him so close, sitting right next to her on the couch while they watched some horrible comedy on one of the movie channels she had, she was ready to toss everything she said to him earlier right out the window.

God, she was weak. Who knew she was so damn weak? All because of a guy—a guy who was so horrendously wrong for her it wasn’t even funny.

But he was gorgeous. And sweet. He’d been sweet since the moment he slipped inside her car. Oh yes, and sexy. Incredibly sexy and she wanted him with an intensity that was growing harder and harder to ignore.

Especially when he just stretched himself out on her couch and settled his head in her lap like he belonged there.

“I’m tired,” he murmured, closing his eyes.

She glared down at him. The temptation to touch him was strong but she didn’t. Yet. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He cracked his eyes open for a quick moment. “Making myself comfortable?”

“I’ll say,” she muttered and he chuckled.

“Isn’t this what friends do? Hang out together?”

“In each other’s laps?” The incredulity in her voice rang through.

“Yeah, probably not, but I must admit I’m not good at this friendship thing.” His lids lifted again, revealing glittering golden brown eyes. “The friendship thing when I want it to be more than a friendship thing, I should say.”

Sighing, she reached out and drew a straight line across his forehead. “You’re driving me crazy.”

He settled himself more deeply into her lap, almost snuggling against her thighs. Arousal coursed through her, as strong and swift as a river current. “You’re driving me crazy.”

“I told you I’m not ready for this.” She sounded a little desperate, a lot freaked out but she didn’t care anymore. This was too much to deal with. He was too much to deal with.

“Haven’t you ever done something just to do it, Stace? And not worry about the repercussions?”

“No,” she whispered. She never, ever had.

He reached up, trailed his fingers across her jaw. “You’ve never done something just because you know it’ll feel good?”

“Not really.” She swallowed hard. His fingers on her face felt good. Just hearing him say the words “feel good” made her want him. Made her want to tug her clothes off, tear his clothes off and roll around naked on the floor with him.

When was the last time she had sex? Unfortunately with the trouble between her and Keith’s also came a complete lack of sex. They’d rarely done it the last few months they’d been together.

She was primed. Okay, she could admit it, she was desperately horny and eager for a man’s touch. This man’s touch.

Consequences be damned.

“You should try it sometime.” He closed his eyes. “You might find out you like it.”

Stacy studied him, the sound of the crappy movie growing distant until all she could focus on was his even breathing, the rise and fall of his broad chest. He wore a plain navy blue T-shirt that stretched tight across his firm muscles. Noticed the hem rose away from his jeans, revealing a sliver of skin. Perfectly flat, perfectly delicious skin with a smattering of golden hair right at the center, which most likely ran from below his navel down.

Her mouth went dry at thinking of where that hair ended. What would he do if she slipped her hand beneath his slightly loose waistband and touched him? Probably encourage her to go further, be bolder.

He didn’t hold anything back. And she admired him for that.

Giving in to one of her many urges, she touched him. Let her fingers drift across his hair, testing the silky smooth strands. He sighed, his eyelids fluttering open and he smiled up at her.

“That feels good.”

Yes, yes it did. She did it again, let her fingers thread through his hair, her fingertips press against his scalp and he moaned.

Oh God, she didn’t think she could take this much longer.

Fingers trembling, she let them drift. Down across his forehead, the side of his face. Across his cheek, his nose. He smiled, the slightest curve of lips and she touched them. Just the corner of his mouth first, then she traced his upper lip. His lower lip. They parted and she let the tip of her finger sink in. Felt the gentle swipe of his tongue against it.

A strangled little noise escaped her and his hand came up. Fingers clamped around her wrist and his eyes snapped open. Quick as lightning he moved, scrambled out of her lap so he was on all fours next to her. His face in hers, she felt the warm drift of his breath, noticed the way his lids lowered, his gaze focused directly on her mouth.

As if he was about to kiss her.

“Let me, Stace.” He slid closer, his lips so close to hers she felt them move when he spoke. “Let me in.”

Her eyes fluttered shut and she tilted her chin up. Enough so that their mouths met, brushed against each other. They kissed, only their mouths touching, nothing else. Again and again their mouths connected. Gently, sweetly, much like the kiss he gave her in the car. Nothing like the aggressive, passionate kiss they shared in the alley.

She wanted that passionate kiss. She wanted this particular kiss as well. Every time he touched her, kissed her, looked at her, she wanted it. She wanted him.

It was crazy. Ridiculous. But she couldn’t deny it.

Without thought she reached for him. Rested her hand against his cheek, let it wander so it settled at the back of his neck. Her lips parted beneath his, waiting for him to take the initiative and he wouldn’t. He kept the kiss relatively chaste, no tongue involved. Just delicious, damp, open-mouthed kisses that were making her lose her mind.

“Eric,” she whispered against his mouth when she broke away from him.

“Yes?” He nuzzled the side of her face and she shivered.

“Why won’t you kiss me?”

“I am kissing you.” He chuckled.

“I mean I want…” She stopped talking when he kissed her once more. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted his hands on her. She wanted his tongue. She wanted to feel him rub against her, press that hot, hard body over hers.

She wanted to feel him inside her.

“What do you want, Stace?” He whispered the words against her cheek, and she wondered if he knew she was thinking of all the things she wanted. His mouth burned a path down the side of her neck, down further along the exposed patch of her collarbone. She shuddered, her nipples puckered beneath the satin fabric of her bra and she wished he would go further.

“I want you,” she said, her voice trembling.

“As a friend?”

“As a friend and…” Her breath hitched in her throat, and she clutched one hand into a fist to keep from touching him with it.

She needed him to touch her first. Even though she’d already touched him, damn it.

“And?” He crowded her and she leaned back, so her head rested on the overstuffed arm of the couch and he was over her, still on all fours. His hands planted on either side of her head, knees on either side of her hips.

Thank God for wide couches.

“Touch me, Eric.” She arched up the slightest bit. “Please.”

He attacked her. There was no other word for it. One moment he held himself above her as if afraid he might crush her and the next he was sprawled completely over her, his weight dipping her into the cushions of the couch. His mouth fused to hers, his hips rubbing insistently against her. Stealing her breath, evaporating her thoughts. Their tongues tangled and danced and his hands were everywhere, making her shiver as they cupped her breasts, thumbs brushing against her nipples. His erect cock strained against the front of his jeans, she felt him as he nudged her belly and she reached between them. Fingers fumbled with the button at his waistband until she decided screw it and her hand dove beneath the slight gape in the front of his jeans.

And she encountered nothing but crisp, tickling hairs and smooth, hard flesh.

“You’re not wearing underwear,” she gasped against his mouth and he smiled.

“I came prepared?” His brows lifted and the smile turned into a smirk.

Oh, he was a devil. A wicked, sexy devil who wanted what he wanted and nothing else much mattered. She quickly undid the button of his jeans, slid down the zipper. His hot, heavy cock fell into her hand and she squeezed him at the base with her fingers. Heard his strangled groan and she looked up at him, met his gaze. Saw all the heat and want sparkle in their light-brown depths.

He thrust against her hand and she loosened her grip, let him slide between her fingers, back and forth like they were teenagers in the back seat of his mom’s car. His eyes fluttered shut briefly, his jaw tensed and he shook his head once. “If we keep that up I’m going to come all over your fingers.”

Her entire body tingled at the image his words provoked. Could imagine herself stroking him into orgasm with a firm tight grip, watching breathlessly as he shot long white streams of semen all over her clutched hand.

Eric cupped her cheek, drawing her attention. “I’d much rather come inside you.”

Okay, that image was even better. Leaning up, she licked his neck, the taste of his salty masculine skin dissolving on her tongue. He shuddered, she felt it move through him and he reached for her shirt. Tugged on the hem, pulled it up over her breasts and she helped tear it off. Their hands were everywhere at once, removing clothing, bumping into each other and she laughed. He chuckled, the sound dying when he reached for the front clasp of her bra and flicked it undone. The cups fell away from her breasts, revealing her completely to him and his eyes widened as they met hers.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, and she wanted to smile. He made her feel beautiful. The way he looked at her reverently, as if he was enthralled. Carefully, with trembling fingers he helped her take off her black pants until she lay beneath him in her simple yellow cotton panties, her bra hanging off her arms.

He kissed her again, almost desperately and she felt as desperate as his kiss. Moving down her body, his lips traveled over her exposed skin. Her neck, her shoulders, her chest, wet, open-mouthed kisses all over her breasts before his lips closed over one nipple and sucked it into the warm wetness of his mouth. She held him close, opened her eyes and watched as his head bent over her. Smiled when he shot her a particularly wicked grin before his lips engulfed her other nipple.

The tug of his mouth tugged something deep within her. She closed her eyes and clutched his head to her, absorbed in the sensation of his lips, his tongue lashing at her turgid flesh. His mouth wandered south, trailing wet kisses all over her stomach, his tongue dipping into her navel. She twitched, a little squeal emitting from her and he laughed.

“Ticklish?” he asked.

“Oh yes,” she murmured, another little jolt moving through her when his big hands rested on the inside of her thighs and spread her wide. “What are you doing?”

“What do you think?” He kissed her, his lips pressed dead center atop her damp panties and she released a shuddering breath. His index finger played with the elastic leg of her underwear, slipping beneath to touch her aching flesh. Her breath lodged in her throat as he teased her. His fingers tangled in the scant pubic hair that grew there before tracing the seam of her lower lips, dipping just between them to test her wetness and she knew she was soaked. Maybe she should be embarrassed, but she didn’t care.

She just wanted more.

He pushed the crotch of her panties aside and dipped his head, licking her. Ran his flat tongue from the bottom of her pussy all the way to the top and she cried out at the sensation. She had one other boyfriend who’d always been enthusiastic about going down on her but Keith? Not even close. He’d done it not even a handful of times. Always avoided it like the plague though he never turned down a blow job.

This, though. Considering he hadn’t much experience with women, Eric certainly had a talented tongue. A tongue that made her lift her hips up in hopes of more.

And he gave her plenty more.

She panted. She squirmed. She whimpered as he continued his gentle assault. Licking and sucking her swollen clit, sliding two fingers deep inside her, they pumped a slow rhythm and she moved with them. All of it was too much, not enough and damn it she was going to come and she wasn’t even ready for it yet.

Oh, and it was going to be good. Man-made and delicious, far, far better than what she could give herself with her fingers or a vibrator. His long fingers and tongue, his lips, the palm of his hand branding the inside of her thigh as he held her wide, it all drove her crazy. Her panties were completely stretched out, she felt them rest against the crease where her thigh met her torso and God, yes here it came. Or rather, she was going to come.

Crying out his name, she arched against his mouth, the shudders washing over her in one rampant gush of sensation. Her entire body shook with the force of her orgasm and his lips gentled on her, his fingers slipped from her pussy until she finally collapsed onto the couch in a weak heap of exhaustion.

“Baby, that was amazing.” Eric kissed his way up her body until their mouths met and she could taste herself. Didn’t even hesitate when he thrust his tongue inside her mouth and searched it thoroughly, hell it turned her on. Made her squirm against him when she felt the thrust of his cock against her belly.

Somehow, like magic, he finagled a condom and slipped it on. Poising just at the entrance of her pussy for the briefest moment, he stared at her, his gaze intent. He propped all his weight on his arms, his biceps bulging, and she smoothed her hands along his shoulders, down his arms. Marveled at his strength, at his beautiful body.

He was going to be inside her. The moment had finally come, and she couldn’t believe it. Would she be able to recover once she had him? Or would she always feel this way? Needy and wanton and so damn eager?

It almost scared her to even think about it.

“Watch,” he whispered and slowly, so slow it took her breath away, he entered her. And she watched, just as he commanded, stared down the length of her body and saw his glistening cock withdraw from her almost all the way before he surged back in.

It was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. They were connected, their bodies melded together and heaven help her, but it meant something. No matter how much she told herself this was nothing, a fling, meaningless, she was wrong. It wasn’t meaningless. She hardly knew him and yet she felt more in tune with him than any other man she’d ever been with before in her life.

He took his time, was leisurely with his movements and it drove her crazy. She wanted more. She wanted fast and hard and deep. She wanted out of control and moans and groans and demands for more. She wanted what she’d never experienced before.

She wanted true, out of control passion. Frenzied lust.

“Harder,” she murmured and he looked at her, seemingly surprised at her request. She pressed her hands against his firm buttocks, sending him further inside her body and his lids fluttered shut as he gave her what she wanted.

And as he rammed himself deep inside her body, she clung to him for dear life. Her legs wrapped around his hips, her arms circled about his neck. Pressed her mouth against the smooth, hard skin of his shoulder and shuddered.

She was in big, big trouble.