Engaging the Bachelor (Pulse) Read online

  She traced the length of him with her finger, and his breathing changed. “I want to see you, too,” she murmured.

  “You will.” One step brought him closer, and he placed his hands on her hips. Big fingers tugged at her panties. “But I need these off first, Gemma. I need to see every inch of you naked before we go any further.” She nodded and reached for her panties but he stopped her. “Let me.”

  He tugged them from her hips, his movements so excruciating slow, the sweet torture so painfully intense, she was seconds from climbing into his arms and begging him to just fuck her already. The tip of his thumb brushed her clit as he sank to his knees and dragged the scrap of lace down. Her sex rippled with want, and she pushed against him, but one big hand gripped her hip to hold her in place.

  “Stay still,” he commanded in a soft voice. “Just stand there. I need to look and touch, and I don’t want you to move while I do it.”

  She wasn’t sure what turned her on more, moving against his thumb or having him restrain her while he took her all in. Both came with their own pleasure. Flames surged inside her, her internal temperature rising as she took deep, gulping breaths. The lace tickled her inner thighs as he slowly, methodically, stripped her of her panties. Once he had her completely bared, he slid his hands up her thighs, coming perilously close to the spot that craved his touch. Her breath caught, and her composure wavered as he reintroduced himself to her, so painstakingly slow that if he didn’t touch her soon, she was going to go up in a burst of flames. He breathed her in, tasted her skin, then withdrew his tongue.

  “More,” she whispered.

  His body shifted, his eyes going to hers. “You need this, Gemma. Don’t you?”

  Silence stretched for a moment. Don’t admit to anything. She repeated the mantra, but when he started to inch back, panic invaded. “Yes,” she answered quickly. She cupped his head, urging him to continue.

  “Tell me you need it as much as I do.” His hoarse voice stroked her in spots so deep she could have climaxed simply from listening to him.

  “I need it, Carson. As much as you do,” she admitted. The bone deep want inside her wouldn’t allow her to lie.

  “Good.” With renewed purpose, he turned his attention to her body. Taking full possession, he stroked her with his warm tongue, leaving a wet path as he trailed it lower. His mouth found her heat, and with one little lick, he shattered her so completely she feared she might give away a piece of herself, something she wasn’t offering and he wasn’t asking for.

  “Carson,” she murmured, damn near frantic for him to do something, anything, before she melted at his feet.

  His tongue left her sex, and he glanced up at her. “Yeah, say it just like that.”

  “Carson,” she said again, all but yelling at him to get back to doing what he was so clearly good at. She’d call his name out like a broken record for the rest of the night if that was what it would take. His mouth found her sex again, and she let loose a loud moan of approval. “Yes, Carson, that’s so good.” He rewarded her with a slow, sensuous pass over her clit. As he tasted her with skilled precision, she knew without question that the boy had grown into a man, and had perfected his performance over the years.

  Breathless, she combed her fingers through his hair and held his mouth to her sex, her legs barely keeping her upright. A soft lick, followed by a hard stroke, deepened her desire. One finger slipped inside her, and she grew slicker.

  She fought the urge to squirm as he took possession of her body and greedily drew her clit into his mouth. Her lashes fell shut against the pleasure. So much pleasure.

  “Just like that,” she said, her voice a breathless whisper. Not that he needed instructions. He knew just how to touch her body and take her to the precipice in record time.

  One thick finger pressed deeply, sending her higher and higher, and with the second, he applied a bit more pressure to the hot bundle of nerves inside her. She exhaled the last bit of air in her lungs and tumbled into an orgasm.

  “Oh, yes…” she cried out, all composure gone. Her muscles clenched, and she concentrated on the points of pleasure, riding each delicious wave as it crashed over her with crushing pressure.

  He stayed between her trembling legs, stroking her gently, then tilted his head back and looked up at her, a sexy grin on his face. He slid up her body, and she breathed in his clean scent. His arms circled her waist, and she sagged against him, craving the sensation of his skin against hers. The rapid-fire beat of his strong heart against her cheek told her just how much he wanted her, just how close his patience was to an end.

  With a quick flick of her tongue, she dampened her lips and pressed them to his body, feeling a desperate need to see him come undone. The saltiness of his skin aroused her all over again. She tasted him, savored his flavor on her tongue as she reveled in his warmth. His cock throbbed against her stomach, and she wiggled, teasing and tormenting him. A groan rose from the depths of his throat, and she slowed her seduction even more. Two could play his game. His muscles bunched and relaxed again as she pressed her lips to his body and indulged for an extra moment.

  “Fuck,” he cursed, his hands tangling in her hair. Oh yeah, she was definitely whittling away his control. Ever so slowly, she slid her fingers down his chest, riding the hills and valleys along his solid six-pack, until she came to his oblique muscles, her second favorite part of a man, the first, of course, being the hands. Heat radiated from his body, his pleasure resonating through her as she caressed lightly, letting the muscles guide her hands to his rock hard cock. She cupped him through his shorts, a little squeeze that sent a quiver of anticipation racing through her. He thrust into her palm, once, twice, then she gripped the band on his boxers and tugged them to his thighs, setting his beautiful cock free. It sprang forward, clamoring for her attention, and she settled herself on her knees.

  A flick of her tongue over his crown sent his hips into motion. He jerked forward, and she angled her head. His cock slid along her tongue as she gripped the base, and his breath came in a low rush. God, he tasted so good. Adjusting her hands, she cupped his balls, and they retreated in toward his body. She gave a needy, not quite satisfied sigh, and poised his crown at her mouth.

  “Gemma,” he protested, a silent plea to either stop what she was doing or finish what she’d started. She couldn’t be sure. One thing she did know, she wasn’t ready to be done with him, and that scared her a little. Okay, a lot. She closed her mouth around him and took him to the back of her throat. He swelled against her tongue, and she moved her head back and forth, repeating the motion until the heat they were creating enveloped her and shot her internal temperature up a million degrees.

  He gripped her shoulders. “Gemma,” he said again, his raspy voice sending a barrage of erotic sensations through her. She angled her chin upward and eyes full of lust met hers. The muscles along his jaw rippled, and he growled, “I need to be inside you.”

  The hungry way he looked at her nearly stopped her heart. His cock slid from her mouth, and, since words were beyond her, she nodded. He pulled her to her feet in a quick, none too gentle tug. Damn, he could be pretty demanding when he wanted to be. Not that she was complaining. She was used to being in control, but this take-charge side of him seriously weakened her knees. Normally she wouldn’t like that, but with Carson, she liked everything.

  One strong hand slid around her waist and pulled her against him as he backed her up. She forced her legs to move until she found herself in front of the sofa. He nudged her with his hips, but she locked her knees and shook her head, wanting to do it on the floor, like the first time.

  “Don’t move,” he said, as understanding lit his eyes.

  He stepped away, and she instantly missed his heat. Her flesh chilled, and she wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes never leaving his hard body. She stared in frank appreciation of his streamlined muscles as he grabbed an armful of towels and laid them out on the floor. Her heart wobbled a bit, touched by his thoughtfulne
ss, and a smile played on her lips. He grabbed a condom from his pants and turned back to her.

  “What?” he asked, his eyes dropping to her upturned lips.

  “Ten years ago, you made a bed with our clothes,” she said. Why did he have to be so sweet and thoughtful? Damn girl, this is a dangerous game you’re playing.

  His lopsided grin made him look boyish, adorable, and suddenly she was once again staring at the hot teen from their youth. He cocked a brow. “I’m beginning to believe you remember more than you’re letting on.”

  “Maybe some things are coming back to me.”

  He crooked his finger. “Come here.”

  Two steps on shaky legs took her to him, and he went down on his knees, dragging her with him. He fell over her, his hard body gloriously heavy on hers as he pinned her, caging her beneath his chest as if he feared she might flee him again. And she would, eventually.

  His cock pressed against her stomach, and she writhed. He sucked in a hard breath and cursed. “You might want to stop that.”

  “This?” She moved against him, wanting to make him as crazed as he made her.

  “Keep it up, and I’ll flip you over and take you hard and fast.” She wiggled again, liking the idea of that. “Fuck, Gemma.”

  She arched into him, and with a little more urgency he took full possession of her breasts, greedily drawing one peak and then the other into his mouth. His teeth scraped skin, and she moaned at the intoxicating mix of pleasure and pain. She dragged her nails over his back, and his teeth clamped down a little harder. The pleasure raced down her body and settled between her legs.

  “Yes,” she cried out.

  “Gemma.” He pushed his cock against her and tore into the condom with a savagery she’d never seen before. His glance met hers, the dark desire a clear indication that he was losing the battle to go slow. “I need to fuck you so bad.”

  He slid the condom on and flattened himself along the length of her. Lost in him, mindless to anything except what they were about to do, she widened her legs in invitation. As she offered herself up to him, he settled between her thighs.

  He brushed his shaft over her sex, rubbing it from top to bottom and stimulating her clit before sliding in an inch. Her eyes practically rolled back in her head, her entire body trembling with need. Sexual heat flooded her, and she took a breath and held it, waiting for more, waiting for him to make her feel so gloriously full. He stilled inside her, grabbed both of her hands in one of his and held them over her head. She moved, writhed, anything to push him in deeper, but he angled his body and used his other hand to press down on her hip, totally immobilizing her.

  What the hell?

  She needed to move, to rock against him, to have another orgasm, for God’s sake. “Carson,” she murmured. What was this, some kind of cruel revenge for running out on him? “More…”

  Directing the speed and depth, he gave her one more beautiful inch, and she wanted to claw at him, force the rest of him inside.

  He splayed his fingers over her stomach. “Is this what you want?”

  “Yes,” she cried out.

  “Does that feel good?”

  Tension grew, and if he didn’t have her hands pinned above her head, she’d rub her clit, bring herself there. That’d show him.

  “Are you going to run again?”

  He rocked forward, only to pull back, a taste of what he could give her. And, oh, how she needed him to give it to her. Repeatedly.

  Flustered and delirious with need she said, “Please.”

  “Answer the question, Gemma, and I’ll give you what you want.”

  “Carson,” she growled. “I need more.”

  He offered another inch, and a noise rose from her, half cry, half moan. God, it felt so good, too good. What was it that made her body respond to him in a way it had never responded to another?

  “Well, are you?” he pressed. “Are you going to run out on me again?

  “No,” she lied.

  A laugh rumbled in his throat. “You’d say anything right now, wouldn’t you? Just to feel my cock in you?”

  “Yes…no…” She took a deep gulping breath. “I don’t know.” When they were done, she was going to damn well kill him. Better yet, she’d sick Gracie on him and let her finish the job. “Carson, please. I need you to fuck me.”

  “Are you going to run?”

  “No.”

  “Who am I?”

  “Carson.”

  “Say it again, Gemma. Say my name, and I’ll fuck you.”

  “Carson,” she whispered, her body so weak with need it was a wonder she could talk.

  In one quick thrust he drove into her, and her breath left her lungs in a whoosh. He plunged deeply and pulled out, only to slide back in again. Yes! She gave a silent prayer of thanks. Warmth streaked through her, her body growing slicker with each skilled stroke. “Just like that, Carson. Yes, just like that.” He pressed his lips hungrily into her neck, his breath hot as he moved with purpose. Pleasure sharpened between her legs, and she lifted, meeting and welcoming his body as he sank into her.

  His fingers smoothed her damp hair from her forehead, and her heart hammered as he pumped harder. His pace changed, became urgent, and she suddenly felt like she was freefalling without a net. She reveled in the erotic pulses between her legs as he powered into her. Need sang through her blood, her desire spinning out of control.

  “Carson,” she whimpered, never wanting him to stop. Pressure formed, built, and pulled, until nothing existed but this moment and this man.

  He eased back and drew a ragged breath, and she sensed he was trying to slow down, to make this good for her. She’d have none of that—this was the best sex she’d ever had. She wrapped her legs around his body and drew him back in. He growled as he filled her.

  “You’re making it hard for me to go slow,” he said.

  “I don’t think either of us want slow.” She moved, pressing against him, seeking what her body craved.

  “No?”

  Her hair tangled as she shook her head and bucked against him. “Faster, harder,” she said.

  His jaw clenched, and he held her still as he stole back control. “Then I’ll fuck you until you’re unable to walk out of here.” A little whimper squeaked in her throat, and he grinned. “That’s what I should have done last time.”

  He slammed into her and buried his face in the hollow of her throat. He plunged deeply, taking what he needed, and she ran her hands over his hard body. Together they created a rhythm, each pushing and pulling, taking and giving. There was a warm familiarity between them, each instinctively knowing the other one’s body. It was shocking how quickly they fell into synch, like they’d been having sex for years and had long ago perfected it. He inched back and cupped the sides of her face. Heat flashed through her, and she closed her eyes against the flood of pleasure.

  “Open your eyes,” he growled. “Look at me.” Her lids fluttered open, and she met a gaze so intense that breathing became difficult. “I want to see you when you come, and I want you to see me. No fucking way are you forgetting a second of this.”

  Not a chance.

  She held his gaze. God, those eyes—so dark, so serious, the focus behind them touching her in places she’d long ago closed off. She pushed down the apprehension and concentrated only on the pleasure

  “Got that?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, but it turned into a moan when he thrust into her. Her toes curled, and her body trembled in surrender. He angled, shifting slightly for deeper pumps, and his pelvis brushed her clit. “Ohh,” she cried out, giving herself over to the sensations pulling at her. White-hot desire claimed her, and she arched into him, clawing, scratching…needing.

  “Carson…I’m…”

  “I know. Me, too.”

  An explosion tore through her, and she stopped breathing, thinking. Her sex clenched around him, and he cursed under his breath. He drove deep inside, locking them together, and threw his head back as h
e let go. With her body on fire inside and out, she gripped his shoulders. Her fingers bit into his skin as he thickened and pulsed high inside her.

  As she floated in some realm where only pleasure existed, Carson fell over her, his body warm as he crushed her against the floor. She filled her lungs with his scent, a deep sense of satisfaction rolling through her. They lay there for a long time, both panting, slowly coming down from their high.

  “Next time,” he said, breaking the quiet, “I’ll go slow.”

  Next time? There wasn’t going to be a next time. But that was a topic of conversation for another day.

  He rolled off her and discarded the condom. There was a grin on his face when he turned back to her, and pulled her to him with possessive hands. “Now, that’s how it’s done,” he teased.

  “If you say so,” she teased in return.

  “Hey.”

  Laughing, she rolled into him and rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the strong pounding of his heart. But he was right, of course. That was how it was done. She’d had two amazing orgasms that left her strung out and wrung out. One would think she’d be sated, good to go for another ten years, but that didn’t seem to be the case at all. Her mutinous body was screaming for more, even though her brain shrieked that it was a bad idea.

  Warm fingers lightly stroked her arm, all the way from her shoulder to her wrist. God, those hands. They revived life at the hospital, yet damn near killed her with a touch. Her body responded with a shiver.

  He must have misread her reaction. He grabbed some of the towels as covers and pulled her in closer. “Let’s rest for a minute.” He gave her a wink. “Then we’ll grab a slice of pizza and work on that going slow thing like I promised.”

  As she lay there, snuggled up against him and absorbing his heat, exhaustion pulled at her. It had been a hell of a long, hard day, and an even longer, harder night. Maybe she’d close her eyes for a minute, then, once he was asleep, she’d sneak out, and the next time she saw him, she’d step into the facade she hid behind so well. It was easier that way. No risk. No heartbreak. Don’t let anyone in. Don’t get hurt.