The Morning After Page 5

  She was surprisingly tight as her muscles clenched around him. He stroked her, spreading her liquid heat over her entrance and around her clit, before delving two fingers back into her passage. The elastic cut into his wrist.

  He gave one last pull on her breast, then slid down her body. “These have got to go.”

  The hammock rocked gently as he slipped off her panties. He devoured her with his gaze. Her face was flushed, her eyes dreamy and her lips full and inviting. Her lovely breasts rose with each breath, her nipples hard and wet from his loving. And there the center of her femininity lay before him, her nether lips swollen and her clit engorged. Her sweet entrance glistened with her desire.

  “You look like you want to gobble me up.” She leaned forward to place her hand over his crotch and squeezed gently, then slowly pulled down his zipper.

  “Well, that was the plan, but…” he said, his voice rough.

  He settled back, letting the hammock rock as she peeled aside his shorts. With deft movements she worked his erection free of his briefs, her fingers hot around him. His breath caught as she glided her hand up his length.

  “Maybe I’ll gobble you up instead.” A streak of sunlight danced across her dark hair, picking up red highlights. Her breath was warm against his abdomen, her hair brushing his thigh as she moved down his body.

  She circled one hand tightly around the base of his cock while the other slipped inside his briefs to cup him.

  Her sweet lips closed over him and he groaned, unable to look away from the sight of his erection disappearing into her mouth.

  Her tongue circled his tip, tracing the rim, then darting over the sensitive head. As if he were a rare delicacy, she savored him. Heat raced outward from his center.

  When he thought he could stand it no longer, she released him, her eyes gleaming with a naughty light. But instead of moving away, she nuzzled him playfully, then kissed him. Starting at the base, she worked her way up his length, her lips and tongue working havoc over his flesh. Only after covering every inch did she at last feast on the head, dipping her tongue to lick the salty drops from the tip.

  “You are a witch.” He reached out to her. “How’s a man supposed to take all that?”

  “With a smile.”

  “I only have so much control.”

  “Sorry. I was really enjoying myself.”

  “Don’t apologize. We can find other ways for you to enjoy yourself.”

  “I’m sure we can.” She kissed him and he stretched back, pulling her with him.

  Nikki settled herself on top of Dylan, straddling him and nestling her cleft against his hardness. Her body hummed with wanting. It was as if his desire fed hers, intensified it. And he desired her. His need radiated out to her, drawing her as no man ever had.

  His lips were soft, but demanding, his tongue relentless in its pursuit. Her breasts grazed his smooth chest and he took her nipple between his fingers, rolling it, tugging it. The sensation rippled down to her sex. Liquid heat seeped from her.

  She rubbed herself along his length, spreading her wetness over them both, while his mouth held hers in a heated ritual of mating tongues and teeth. He felt so good beneath her as she rubbed over him, her hips moving of their own volition. As the fire in her spread, she broke the kiss, pushing her torso upward while she pressed against him, her clit burning.

  “Nikki.”

  She threw her head back, stroking faster and faster over him, her breath catching in tiny puffs.

  “Damn, Nikki…”

  Pinpoints of light flashed all around her. Heat spread through her like wildfire. She ground against him, circling her hips and pressing her hands into his shoulders. She made one final thrust upward, her clit brushing his tip. He moaned, his body stiffening.

  She cried out, gripped in an orgasm, vaguely aware of him shuddering beneath her, his hands tightening on her arms. For a long, heartrending moment she hovered in a place of infinite bliss while waves of release flowed over her in a seemingly endless spasm of pleasure.

  At last she collapsed on top of him. He clenched his arms around her, fisting one hand in her hair. His breath fanned her cheek. After a time, his hold loosened and she shifted to look at him.

  He gazed at her from under sleepy lids. “You know how to torture a guy. I was so afraid I was going to slip inside you without any protection.” He threw his arm over his eyes. “I tried not to come.”

  Her eyes rounded. She stared at him, stunned. “I…forgot.”

  “It’s okay. I’m flattered you got so carried away.”

  He should be. She’d never been so irresponsible—so reckless. She exhaled, horrified with herself. The man was a dangerous distraction.

  “We need to go inside and clean up, but I can’t seem to move at the moment.” He smiled lazily at her, his eyes warm and caring. Her heart melted. What she wouldn’t do to have him always look at her that way.

  But of course there was no always.

  After today he would have no more interest in her. Her throat tightened. She rested her head against his chest.

  If this was her gift—to always lose the man she wanted—then she wasn’t sure she wanted any part of it. She pushed aside the bleak picture of her future and focused on the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. He was big and strong and incredibly sexy, but he wasn’t hers. She had to remember that.

  A hot breeze wafted over them. Dylan shifted and the hammock rocked. He ran his hand down her arm. “You’re incredible. I haven’t even been inside you yet, but somehow I feel so…fulfilled already.”

  Of course he did. Wasn’t that the problem? And once she took him into her body, he’d be so fulfilled, he’d never want her again. Sadness billowed up inside her. This was no gift. It was a curse.

  “Hey.” He lifted her chin. “You’re looking a little wrung out. I think I’ve let you wilt out here.”

  She forced a smile. “I’m okay.”

  Before she realized what he was doing, he swept her up and untangled them from the hammock. “You’ll feel lots better after we clean you up. I’ve got a tub for two.”

  “There’s a surprise. You like things big, don’t you?”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “You should see my bed.”

  “Well…maybe after our bath…”

  His smile split his face. What a difference from the other day. Where was the somber man who’d frowned so fiercely at her when Sebastian had climbed onto her shoulders?

  “I like it when you smile,” she said, tracing her finger along his lip.

  “I haven’t done much of that lately. Maybe it’s time.” He hefted her more securely and headed toward a set of French doors that opened into the bedroom he apparently used for himself.

  They moved past a king-size bed raised high on a platform, into the adjoining bathroom. It was roomy enough for the large garden tub that commanded its center, though not as big as the one off the master bedroom upstairs. Had he shared that room with the blonde in the picture, then moved downstairs to prevent being reminded of her?

  Nikki shuddered. If that were the case, then it was a good thing they’d be making love here. The last thing she wanted was to compete with a lost love. Not that she was competing for anything. All she wanted was to help him over that loss.

  He set her down on a soft gray rug. “Hey, you’re supposed to be thinking only about me and my great body and what it can do for you.” His eyes twinkled.

  “So how do you know I wasn’t?”

  “You didn’t have that sex-glazed look in your eye.”

  “My mind must have wandered. You’ll have to remind me where we were.”

  He started the water running in the tub. With his gaze holding hers, he stripped off his shoes, loose shorts and briefs. He was magnificent. His broad shoulders and firm chest tapered into a narrow waist and hips. His muscles were well developed but not overly so.

  His sex stirred as he closed the short distance between them. “That’s better. Now you’re looking hungry
again.”

  She dipped her head. Her dress hung loosely around her hips, disheveled and wrinkled. Warmth blossomed in her cheeks. “I’m a sight.”

  “That you are.” He cupped her breast, thumbing her nipple. “This is the best you’ve looked so far. Not that you’ve ever looked bad. I just like you looking like you’ve had a good tumble.”

  “I don’t think that counted as a tumble, technically speaking.”

  His eyebrows arched. “It was damn close.”

  She shrugged.

  “You want to be tumbled?”

  “It occurs to me that if you’re going to tumble me, we should do that first. Otherwise we’ll just need to clean up again.”

  “You do have a point. But how about a quick splash for now?”

  “Okay.”

  “First you have to take this off.” His fingers found the zipper at the back of her dress. The garment puddled around her ankles. She’d already lost her sandals somewhere in the shuffle.

  He whistled softly. “Mmm-mmm, you look good enough to eat.”

  Taking her hand, he tugged her toward the tub. She stepped into the warm water after him. Following his lead, she sank to her knees, facing him. He turned off the water, then wet a fluffy washcloth.

  “Promise you’ll take a real bath with me later and I’ll let you off easy this time.”

  “If you still want me to later, I will.”

  “Of course I’ll want you to. Why wouldn’t I want a beautiful naked woman in my tub?”

  “Well, I’m here now.” She grabbed a second washcloth and dunked it into the water, wringing it out slowly as he dabbed his cloth over her face, then down along her neck.

  He wiped a path over her shoulders, then circled each breast, her nipples beading against the textured surface. Copying him, she swirled her cloth over his chest. He caught her mouth with his while he trailed down her abdomen, then lower, between her legs.

  Matching each stroke of her tongue to a stroke of her hand, she wiped down his flat stomach, then ran the cloth over his erection, moaning softly as he circled her clitoris. His washcloth splashed into the water a second before he yanked hers from her hand.

  Hastily he drew her to her feet, then pulled her toward his bedroom, grabbing two large towels along the way. “Time for your tumble.”

  She laughed as she wrapped the towel around her and climbed the steps to his massive bed. “You do like things big.”

  Grinning, he lifted her, then tossed her onto the mattress. “That’s right. Don’t you?”

  Her gaze dropped to his burgeoning erection as he crawled up beside her. “Most definitely.”

  He kissed her again, taking his time, touching her tongue with long, slow strokes of his own. She savored the feel of his mouth on hers, his body hard and warm pressed against her, his fingers caressing her, sending that familiar heat spiraling through her. Slipping his hand between her legs, he broke the kiss.

  “I like that you get so wet for me,” he murmured as he caressed the swollen folds of her cleft.

  She spread her knees wide and closed her eyes as he moved down her body, his fingers thrusting deep inside her, stretching her, readying her for their lovemaking. His lips brushed over each breast. He stopped to suckle her for a brief time, the pull of his mouth sending more heat flaring to her sex.

  He kissed his way to her stomach, then down through her thatch of curls to her clit. Continuing the same lazy strokes, he circled his tongue over her for long moments while she moved against him, trying desperately to get him to increase his pace.

  Then his tongue replaced his fingers inside her, thrusting into her with a delicious abandon. Fire licked through her, bringing her to a dizzying state of arousal. Softly she moaned his name.

  He centered again on her clit, sucking her and laving her into a frenzied heat. She undulated against him, her breath hot and heavy. Light flashed behind her eyes and fire seared through her. He reached up and rolled her nipple between his fingers while his tongue circled her engorged flesh.

  She cried out beneath him, this orgasm even more intense than the first. He slid up to hold her close. He stroked her back until her heart calmed enough for her to shift in his embrace. His erection pressed into her belly, yet he made no move to take her.

  “You wonderful man,” she whispered, then kissed him.

  When she pulled back, her heart quickened at the heated look in his eyes. He was again the predator. And he had a fierce hunger to feed. She circled his erection with her fingers, then slowly drew her hand along his length.

  “Make love to me, Dylan.”

  He closed his eyes and swallowed. “In the nightstand beside you.”

  Hurrying, she opened the drawer. She had to dig a bit but unearthed an assortment of condoms.

  He rolled on one with a deft motion, then pinned her on her back, bringing his body over her. His erection pressed against her entrance. “Ah, Nikki, I don’t deserve you.”

  “Yes, you do. We both deserve this.” With a tilt of her hips she took him inside her.

  Dylan groaned. She felt good. He dipped his head and kissed her as he moved, withdrawing, then easing back into her welcoming warmth. Heat ripped through him and he broke the kiss, raising up on his arms and tilting his pelvis to drive deeper into her.

  Sounds of pleasure tore from her throat as she locked her legs around him and moved with him, urging him to a faster tempo. He held steady for an infinite time, lingering in that place on the brink of climax, then she cried out. Her muscles tightened around him, and his own release burst forward in a wild surge of fire and light.

  He managed to shift to his side before collapsing. Nikki lay limp in his arms, the rapid rise and fall of her breasts mesmerizing him as his pulse thundered in his ears. He closed his eyes and drifted, willing his heartbeat to slow, a sense of incredible well-being filling him.

  Nothing else existed beyond this room. For now, he lived in a fantasy world where this gorgeous creature looked at him with eyes that made him feel as if he was every woman’s dream come true. She must be a dream. As a blissful lethargy pulled him into sleep, a vision swam through his mind.

  A high wind buffeted angry waves all around him. Nikki, a seductive mermaid, held out her hand to him, beckoning him into the dark depths of the ocean.

  5

  “SAMSON IS SLEEPING AND Mrs. O’Brien has already picked up Pugsley. We still have the Andersons’ poodle boarding and that cute little terrier. They’re all fed and down for the night.” Sarah plopped into the chair in front of Nikki’s desk.

  As young as Sarah was, fresh out of high school, she was a responsible and dedicated employee. Not only did she do all the grooming, she helped answer the phone and schedule appointments and she handled the clients with finesse and understanding. She also observed everything Nikki did with the same voracious curiosity Nikki had had at her age.

  “Thanks, Sarah. Your mom on the way?”

  The girl nodded. “I’ve almost got enough saved up for a car of my own, though. Can’t wait to have my own wheels. I’ll be heading off to room with some friends, who are looking for a third roommate. I just hate relying on my mom.”

  Nikki nodded. “I know the feeling. I got my driver’s license the minute I turned sixteen, then moved out at eighteen.”

  Her chair squeaked as she leaned toward Sarah. “As much as we want our independence, we’ll always have our families, though. We simply have to find a way to appreciate them.”

  “I appreciate my mom. I can just handle her better in small doses.” A horn honked outside and Sarah rose reluctantly. “That’s her. See you tomorrow.”

  Nikki bade her good-night, then turned to her list of calls. She’d like nothing better than to head home, but she was late checking on the pets she’d seen in surgery that day. For the next half hour she soothed owners’ concerns and reinforced home care instructions.

  “The coughing is normal. Her throat is a little sore from the anesthesia. It’ll clear up in a couple of days
. Just watch the incision to make sure there isn’t any swelling, like we talked about. And please call if you have any more questions.”

  After a few more words of encouragement, Nikki hung up from her last call and glanced at the cat-shaped clock hanging on her office wall, the tail ticking away the minutes. The sun slanted low through the window. It had been a long day. Somehow she’d managed to concentrate on her work and not think about last night.

  Last night. All her resolve to not think of Dylan melted as she laid her head on her arms and let memories of the previous evening flow over her. His mouth hot on hers, his tongue hungry and demanding. His hard body pressed on top of her, inside her. His look of amazement as they lay breathless afterward. He’d felt it, too—that incredible beauty and wonder over a joining that was meant to be.

  She’d been intimate with her share of men, but it was as if all those times in the past had never happened. Her experience with Dylan eclipsed the rest. After he’d drifted to sleep, she’d stared at him a long moment, memorizing each curve of his restful face. Silently she’d kissed his cheek. Then she’d left, her heart heavy with the certainty that apart from the inspection and the closing, where they’d both be politely civil, she’d never see him again.

  Her chest swelled with longing and her throat ached. Just the thought of him had her burning for his touch again. How was she supposed to move on? She didn’t feel like embracing the world. She wanted to embrace Dylan, even if he never made love to her again. If only she could feel the strength of his arms around her one last time, making her feel safe and protected…and cherished as only he had made her feel.

  She lifted her head and brushed moisture from her cheeks. “Buck up, McClellan. You knew the stakes going into this.”

  Still, the now too familiar melancholy gripped her as she hung her lab coat on the rack, grabbed her purse, then unlocked the front door to let herself out. The summer heat enveloped her immediately as she stepped off the front walkway onto the blacktop.