16. Soundtrack Heavy Breathing

CHAPTER 16

SOUNDTRACK: HEAVY brEATHING

Damien inhales sharply as she drops her sleek body obediently onto all fours.

He really does have at least as many fantasies as there are years since he met her. But none of them are half as amazing as the sight of her posing submissively in front of him—her body poised on the bed, waiting. He’s never seen anything so sexy.

He runs his hands over her flank, ending with a dirty squeeze of her ass in those outrageous panties. She gasps, her forehead touching the bed.

Oh yeah. He’ll never be able to think about lace without getting hard after this. Meanwhile, his hands run wild, skimming over her breasts, teasing her panty line.

He kisses a path down her backbone and onto her lacy ass. He spreads her knees a couple of inches and ducks down between her legs.

She gasps again, her body clenching with delight. When he can’t wait any longer, he drags the panties down over her hips. Then he can lean in and lick her properly. With nothing in the way now, the honeyed taste of her slips across his tongue.

She makes a broken noise and buries her face in the comforter.

He spends the next few minutes driving her wild, until she starts to beg. “Please. God. Didn’t you give a speech about not wasting time? ”

As a matter of fact, he did. With a laugh, he sits back and grabs for the condoms, shaking one free and tearing open the packet. His hands are actually shaking as he suits up for her.

Then it’s all too easy to line himself up. But then he catches their reflection in the plate-glass window. “Look, Nicolette,” he rasps. “Look how pretty you are.”

On the far end of the room, her reflection glances up, catching his reflection in the glass panel.

“Do you see?” he whispers.

She parts her lips and nods.

Still watching her, he kisses the back of her head. And then he finally moves his hips, slowly pushing inside on a groan.

In the reflection, her mouth drops open in a silent moan.

For one more long beat, he holds still, just staring with wonder at the hottest sight he’s ever seen. Nothing could have prepared him for this.

But it feels too good to hold out for long. He has to grasp her hips. And he has to move his own.

Braced on her hands, Nicolette makes a low sound of appreciation. “ Yes .”

He bites his lip and finds a rhythm. Like the beat of his heart.

“Damien,” she whispers, pushing back against him. “ God. ”

He loses himself in the sounds she’s making. The moans and curses. He wishes this could last forever. But if he doesn’t change things up, it’s all going to come to its inevitable conclusion.

“Nic,” he whispers, pulling out. “Roll over and kiss me.”

She moans and shivers, pulling him down the moment she rolls.

He joins their bodies again as she runs smooth hands over his shoulders. He sinks into her kiss. Curls his hands in her hair.

“You…” She sighs. “Wow. I need to…” She lets out a keening gasp, and shudders around him.

He moans, because he can’t help himself. And then he closes his eyes and lets go, his body chasing after hers.

And catching it for once.

They lay curled up together for a long time. His thoughts swirl like mist.

“What are you smiling about?” she asks.

“Um…” He laughs. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I was thinking about an army buddy. Jarvis.”

She snorts. “Um…okay?”

“He’s the one who told me I should ask you out when I got home. But then…”

“Yeah.” She clears her throat. “It wouldn’t have worked. Not then.”

“Not then,” he repeats. “But why do you think I gave you back that lucky marble? I needed some of its magic to rub off on you.”

“Took long enough,” she says.

“Don’t blame me, blame the marble.” He sits. “Excuse me a second so I can deal with this condom.”

“If you must,” she grumbles.

He gets up and heads for the bathroom, which is as big as his bedroom at home. Half the space is taken up by a huge Jacuzzi tub. “Hey, Overland? Whenever I see a hot tub, I take it as a challenge more than a suggestion.”

She lifts her face and gazes at him with the blue eyes he's had memorized since she was a teenager. “Turn on the water, then. I’m game.”

So he does. And they finish their night lounging in hot water and bubbles, planning their inevitable Christmas shopping trip.

“What are you going to buy the twins?” he asks.

“Hell if I know.” She tips her head back against the lip of the tub and smiles at him. “But this year I think I’m going to like Christmas a lot more than usual. It’s just a hunch.”

He pulls her toward him in the tub. “You know? I think I will, too.”

Thank you for reading Crossroads ! You may also enjoy the True North series, beginning with Bittersweet .

Happy holidays!