Wrapped Up (Stone Cliff #4) Read online

  Fully aware of the increased sexual tension between them since the kiss, she wet her bottom lip, still tasting him on her mouth. There was no denying that the second her lips had touched his, it had done something to him—to her. He’d dropped his guard when he pulled her to him, and she caught the deeper emotion in his eyes as their tongues tangled. Truthfully, she didn’t know him very well, but she was certain of two things—he wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him, but there was something holding him back. Perhaps that something had everything to do with his white wolf, and why it was keeping him here with her.

  She pulled into her driveway and slammed the truck into Park. “I have to take the dogs out for a walk,” she said, trying for casual even though her blood was pounding hard through her body. “Then I’ll make us something to eat.”

  “I’ll help.”

  He walked to the house with her and stayed so close she could smell her soap on his skin. She unlocked her door and he reached around her to open it. His body pressed against hers, and she drew a breath to center herself. The dogs barked and took off around the back of the house. Josie turned to follow and didn’t miss the hunger in Carter’s eyes as he looked at her. Her hands brushed his as she walked alongside him. When they reached the backyard, Josie made a snowball and threw it. Bear chased after it, catching it in his mouth.

  “Hey Sasha,” Carter called out. Sasha turned his way and he tossed a snowball. She barked and ran after it, and the smile on Carter’s face just about melted Josie’s heart.

  “What?” he asked, when he caught her looking at him.

  “I think you like my dogs,” she teased.

  He leaned into her, his breath warm on her face. “Then you would be wrong.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, really,” he said.

  “I think you’re lying, and you know what we do to liars around these parts?” she asked.

  “What?”

  She cupped a fistful of snow and tossed it at him, catching him right between the eyes.

  He sputtered and wiped his face on his sleeve. When he looked back at her, there was a teasing gleam in his eyes. “Oh, it’s on now,” he said and ran after her.

  Josie squealed and took off but didn’t get very far before Carter scooped her up and spun her around. A second later, they were both flat out on the ground, Carter’s body pressing hers into the wet snow.

  He grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head. Heat moved into his eyes as he gazed at her mouth. She swiped her tongue over her bottom lip, waiting for him to kiss her again—needing him to kiss her again. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and a tortured, almost conflicted look crossed his handsome face.

  She waited a moment longer. The kisses didn’t come. “Carter?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Is there something you want?” He didn’t answer. Instead he looked at her with those haunted eyes of his. “Because, you know, if you want something, all you have to do is ask,” she said.

  They exchanged a long, heated look and he shifted on top of her. His erection pressed into her leg, and she moved beneath him, her body growing hot despite the wet snow seeping soaking clothes. A cool breeze whipped over them, and a tremor raced through her. But it had had more to do with Carter’s hard body than the arctic wind.

  Her dogs barked in the near distance, breaking the moment, and Carter’s body stiffened. “We…ah…we should probably get inside,” he said, his voice deeper than it was seconds ago.

  “Sure,” she said.

  With his guard back in place, he climbed off her and grabbed her hand to pull her up. Her body collided with his, and she heard a groan catch in his throat.

  “Everything okay?” she asked, knowing full well this thing between them, this pull, was getting harder and harder to ignore, and while she was ready to act on it, there was something holding Carter back.

  “Yeah.”

  She whistled for her dogs and they came running toward her. Entering through the porch, she shrugged out of her coat and left it on the floor as her dogs sauntered to their beds near the fire.

  She touched her damp pant legs. “I should probably get out of these wet clothes.”

  “Yeah, me too.” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “I’ll grab my bags from the truck.”

  Carter left through the porch door, and Josie darted to her room to get changed. Her body was still on hyper drive—so darn needy for Carter’s touch, his mouth—but she suspected if she wanted him in her bed, she’d have to make the first move. She had no idea what tomorrow held for them, and while she wasn’t a girl who took sex lightly, tonight she knew what she wanted and feared she’d regret letting him walk out of her life without doing something about it.

  Deciding to go for it, she pulled on a short nightgown, one that barely covered her backside, and grabbed her prettiest Christmas panties from her dresser.

  She heard Carter rustling around in the other room and opened her bedroom door to find him pulling on his dry clothes. The second she looked at him, her body began burning up and she knew she was making the right decision. She hadn’t known him for long, but being with him felt right—in her head and in her heart. Only question was, how could she go about getting him to drop his guard with her and let him know it was okay to ask for what he wanted?

  She thought about that for a moment then walked past him to the woodstove. “So, about this interrogation,” she began as she bent forward to toss another log into the hearth, fully aware that she was giving him an up close and personal view of candy canes on her lacy panties.

  “What…uh…what about it?” he asked.

  She wiggled slightly and grabbed the poker to stoke the fire. “Did you still want to get to the bottom of matters?”

  He cursed under his breath. “What are you doing, Josie?”

  Josie stood and turned to him. “I thought we might continue where we left off this afternoon. You did tell me tight-lipped was your specialty and that you liked a challenge. I’m simply interested in your techniques, you know, in all the ways you can make me talk.”

  Or moan.

  His nostrils flared and the muscles along his jaw rippled as he clenched down. She closed the short distance between them and touched his face, running her hands over his sexy stubble. A strange stillness settled over him when she pressed her body against his.

  “Jesus Christ, Josie,” he said, his voice so strained it was difficult to understand him.

  “What is it, Carter? Is there something you want?”

  He gripped her hair and pushed it from her face, a low sound in his throat as he pressed his forehead to hers. “I…I…”

  “If there is something you want, all you have to do is ask,” she whispered.

  “Josie…” he growled, a note of desperation in that one word as his hands fisted her hair.

  Even though he couldn’t seem to say the words, she could read the want in his eyes, feel it in his body. Deciding that was good enough for now, she stepped back, gripped the hem of her nightshirt, and peeled it over her head. He swept his gaze down the length of her and groaned low in his throat.

  “Oh, fuck.” As something inside him seemed to give, he wrapped his hand around her head to drag her mouth to his, and her body trembled almost controllably. “Just once, Josie. Just tonight. That’s all I can do.”

  “Just once,” she murmured, her brain barely registering his words as his hands left her face to slide down toward her waist. He gripped her hips and pulled her against him until her small breasts were crushed against the soft fabric of his dress shirt. Desire twisted inside her.

  “You are so gorgeous,” he said, his mouth leaving hers to go to the soft hollow of her throat. He flicked his tongue out and traced the long length of her neck, the soft blade teasing the sensitive spot that always made her quiver.

  She raked her fingers through his hair as he pressed his nose to her skin. He drew a sharp breath. “And you smell so fucking good,” he murmured. He sank to his
knees, and a barrage of sensations rocketed through her when his mouth found her nipple.

  “Oh, yes,” she murmured and arched into him. He licked lightly and splayed his big hands over the small of her back, the warmth of his skin burning through her body. His mouth went lower, and he licked her sex through her candy cane panties.

  “Sweet as candy,” he murmured. “But they’re in the way of what I really want to taste.”

  She rocked against his mouth and he gripped the lace and lowered it to her ankles. She lifted her feet for him, and he tossed the scrap of material away. Behind them, Bear flipped onto his back and let loose a loud yawn. Carter froze and looked up at her, and for a minute, she thought he was going to retreat.

  “Bedroom,” he said.

  She nodded and he climbed to his feet. She was about to grab his hand and take him to her room, but he scooped her up, used his foot to push her bedroom door open, and dropped her onto the bed.

  “Oh,” she said as he stood there staring at her, looking so hot and sexy she began tingling from head to toe.

  His hands went to his buttons, and she was sure his fingers were shaking as he pulled them open. He shrugged out of the shirt, and she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off his body. Lean. Hard. Cut.

  Mine for the night.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, his hands going to his belt.

  Her gaze shifted back to his face and she tried not to sound as breathless as she felt when she said, “Everything is better than okay.”

  He grinned. “So you like what you see?”

  She crooked her finger. “Actually, I see better with my hands.”

  “All righty then,” he murmured, and he made quick work of his pants. “Maybe I was wrong about you all along. Maybe you’re not on Santa’s nice list.”

  “Oh, I am. Come here and I’ll show you how nice I can be.”

  Carter slid over her, his weight pushing her into the mattress as he settled his hard body on top of hers. She put her arms around him and feathered her fingers over his muscles as his mouth found hers. A moan caught in her throat as they traded soft kisses, his hands gripping fistfuls of her hair. Her body warmed against his, and her toes curled as his erection pressed into her leg.

  His mouth left hers and slid over her throat until he reached her breasts. His lips closed around one hard nipple. She arched into him and ran her hands through his hair. He shifted to his side and caressed her skin, soft, barely touching, as he gently introduced himself to her body. His knuckle nudged her clit as his hand went to her thighs to widen them. He slipped a hand between her knees and pushed them open. She swallowed as he stroked her inner thighs, his fingers leisurely climbing higher and higher. His movements were slow, deliberate, the most intimate thing she’d ever experienced. He drew her nipple deeper into her mouth, and pleasure rippled through her as his fingers found her clit. He brushed so lightly, so delicately. Her hips came off the bed, seeking more.

  “Oh, God,” she cried out and grabbed his shoulders, loving the way his muscles rippled beneath her hands. His mouth left her breasts and he slid downward, positioning himself between her legs. He lifted his chin to meet her eyes, and she caught the intense look on his face as he widened her thighs even more. The heat in his eyes licked over her body in ways that made her aware of how much he wanted her—how much she wanted him. She knew this was all happening fast for her, but the truth was, this was Carter. Deep down, she knew he was a good guy, and she’d never needed to be touched by anyone quite like the way she needed to be touched by him.

  He lowered his head, and her breath grew shallow at that first sweet touch of his tongue. The heat from his mouth boiled her blood as the wet tip skated across the seam of her lips. He trailed his tongue all the way from the bottom to the top, then widened her with the soft blade. Sparks shot through her body at the sweet invasion.

  She drew a shaky breath and gripped his shoulder. “Carter,” she murmured, her nails digging into his skin.

  He licked slowly, softly, and wanting, no needing more, she lifted her hips to hurry him along. But he pressed his hand to her stomach, pushing her into the mattress to still her. As his mouth did delicious things, he inserted one finger, and she could feel her muscles rippling around him.

  “Christ,” he murmured and eased his finger in and out of her in long, sensuous strokes that had her panting and begging for me. He wiggled his buried finger, and she could feel the tension rising in him as she grew slicker. She gripped the bed sheets and closed her eyes against the pleasure…so much pleasure.

  “Yes,” she whispered with effort.

  His tongue found her clit as he inserted another finger, taking her higher and higher, but he didn’t seem like he was in any hurry to push her over the edge. Instead, he burrowed his fingers, taking his sweet time with her. Honest to God, he was so different from the few college boys she’d been with. They were always in a hurry to get themselves off, paying little regard to her needs.

  “You taste so good,” he murmured from between her legs, and she went up on her elbows to see him.

  He brushed the hot bundle of nerves inside her, and her body quaked as he slowly built her orgasm. Cripes, the man sure knew how to touch her. He made another slow pass with his tongue, and she became feverish with need. She writhed beneath him, her body shaking as he worked her into a state of aroused euphoria.

  “Carter, please…”

  He thumbed her clit, using slow, torturous circles that damn near drove her mad. Desire stirred deep between her legs, and soft quakes began at her core. His fingers plunged deeper, harder, and her hands went to her nipples to relieve the ache. He spent a long time between her legs, and she tossed her head from side to side, reveling in the erotic sensations. As if knowing she couldn’t take any more, his mouth closed over her clit, his teeth scraping over the engorged nub. She gave a broken gasp, her body reacting to the increased pressure.

  Her hips came off the bed, and her throat tightened as her body let go. Her sex muscles clenched around his fingers, and Carter’s breath came in a labored rush.

  “So good…” she murmured, a shudder ripping through her as an orgasm hit hard.

  He stayed between her legs until she stopped quaking, then he climbed back up her body. His lips found hers.

  “Josie,” he whispered into her mouth, his kiss so full of tenderness it made her breath catch. “Tell me you have a condom.”

  “I do,” she whispered. “My nightstand.”

  Carter slid off her, and she touched his strong back as he sat on the edge of her bed and rustled around inside her nightstand. A second later, she heard the foil rip, and after rolling the condom on, he climbed back over her.

  She widened her legs for him and his tip pressed against her opening. A tortured look crossed his face and he briefly closed his eyes. Once again, she thought he was about to change his mind, but when she lifted her hips and he slid in an inch, he let loose a growl and plunged inside.

  She sucked in a sharp breath as he filled her. “Oh, God, Carter,” she cried out. He stilled inside her and one hand went to her cheek.

  “Josie,” he murmured. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” He shook his head. “I just…I needed to be inside you so fucking bad…I couldn’t slow—”

  “Carter.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Zip it.”

  “Okay,” he said and began moving, rocking into her. She lifted her hips and met each thrust. Moisture broke out on his forehead, and she brushed his hair from his face.

  He shifted his body and his fingers burned her flesh as they raced over her, touching every inch of her like he couldn’t get enough. His palm closed over one breast and he buried his mouth in her neck.

  Her body tightened as he pumped deeper. In no time at all, the rippling waves of another orgasm took hold. Her whimper filled the room and Carter stilled inside her.

  “I can’t hold…” His breath came in a ragged burst. “I’m there,” he murmured, and she held him tigh
ter as he let go high inside her.

  He collapsed on top of her, and she hugged him with her thighs, holding him inside. His breath was hot on her neck as he sucked in air.

  “Jesus,” he murmured. “I never came so fast before.”

  She hugged him tighter, loving the way he lost it with her. They stayed like that for a long time, until he grew flaccid. He slid out, discarded the condom, and fell back into bed beside her. Josie rolled into him and ran her fingers over his stomach, liking the way his muscles trembled beneath her touch.

  Feeling content, she stretched and said, “Just for the record, Carter. I don’t have many sleepovers.”

  “I know.”

  She went up onto her elbow to see him. “Oh, and how do you know that?”

  His brow pulled together, and that same tortured look she was becoming familiar with returned. “Because you’re so fucking sweet, Josie.” He waved a finger back and forth between them. “Never once did you strike me as the kind of girl who took this kind of thing lightly.”

  “You’re right. I don’t.”

  He frowned, and emotions crept into his voice when he said, “You’re the kind of girl who wants a family, kids, a future. I knew that the second I met you, which is why, before we started any of this, I told you I couldn’t do more.”

  “I know. I get it. It was a onetime thing,” she said, and while she thought she could be okay with that—not worrying about what tomorrow brought after a night with Carter—she wasn’t so certain anymore. The sex had been so very sweet and tender, his every touch gentle and caring, that it tugged at her heart and drew her in that much deeper.

  “We should probably get some sleep.” He grabbed the blankets and pulled them over them. “I’ve got a long flight tomorrow.”

  As he crossed his arms behind his head and stared at her ceiling, there was something so lost and vulnerable about him it had her wanting to know more, everything about him.

  “So you said you don’t have any family waiting for you back home.”