6. Dani

6

Dani

I am so damn nervous I can barely eat. Not only is my mouth not working right, my stomach is so tight, it's making it hard to keep anything down. But something tells me I'm going to need all my energy. Conner did, after all, tell me he was going to rock my world. Not that I would know what that's like. I've only had one lover and that was my husband, and I don't want to say anything negative about him, but my world…was never rocked.

I stab my fork into a cucumber, and as I bring it to my mouth, my gaze strays to the other side of the table. My God, just look at Conner. Chowing down on his steak with hunger and vigor, like we're not about to go upstairs and have sex for the very first time. He's calm, collected, totally in control of himself, like he knows exactly how to take care of me, and I think I might like that. Oh God, I do. I do like that.

I take a breath, and as I let it out, it releases a bit of the tension inside me. He puts his last bite of steak into his mouth and moans. The sound reverberates through my body, and I set my fork down. His eyes lift, meeting mine, and as they do, my sex quivers in heated anticipation.

"That was delicious, Dani." He licks his lips, and as his gaze drops to the vee in my dress, I'm suddenly not sure exactly what it is he's savoring. Is he going to eat me with that same kind of vigor? Oh God, I hope so. I really do.

"Merci."

He chuckles. "Do you know any other French?"

"Oui, bien s?r. Which means, of course I do. I just don't have anyone to practice it on and it would be nice to have someone to converse with."

"That accent is kind of sexy, you know, and you can practice on me. I can listen, I just can't respond."

I arch a playful brow and point my finger. "I could say anything I want and you'd never know."

"Nope, I wouldn't. Maybe I should take classes too."

"Actually, I've been thinking about taking courses again." I quit just about everything after Alec died. It's only recently I started the book club with Josie and her friends. They're all so smart and educated, I sometimes feel inferior, though.

"Why French?" he asks.

"I lived in Montreal and found the language interesting," I explain, not telling him the real reason. "Or maybe it's because it's a sexy language."

He sets his fork on his plate, his eyes dark and lustful. "Be careful waving that accent around. It's very seductive."

On that note, I jump up and walk across the room on shaky legs. I set my plate in the sink, which is full of bubbly water. "Coffee?" I ask, and the next thing I know, his body is pressed against mine.

Heat warms my neck as his mouth hovers near my ear. "No."

That one word races through my body and settles between my legs. He touches my hair, moves it away from my neck and with the lightest of touches, presses his lips to my flesh. Oh God, this is happening. It's really happening.

"Tea?"

"No." This time that one word comes out like a growl.

"Me?" I squeak out. Catching me by surprise, he turns my body, and pins me between his hips and the counter.

He touches my chin, his gaze roaming my face as he answers with, "Yes."

His lips find mine, and I nearly melt to the floor as he kisses me with heat and hunger. I have never been kissed like this in my life. I might not be his type, but he's giving it his all, totally committing and everything about that makes me feel like I'm special, and for that I'm grateful. A weird sound catches in my throat.

"Nervous?" he asks, and inches back. He studies me as I give a tight nod. He lightly brushes his thumb over my cheek, a great deal of tenderness about him, but there's something else there, something brewing just below the surface. "What are you thinking about?"

It's an innocent question, but I get the sense it's a loaded one. I put myself in his shoes and consider what we're doing, what I'm asking of him, and what might actually be going through his mind. I was married to his brother, which complicates this a lot. Does he think I chose him as a stand-in for Alec because I'm trying to recreate what we had? He'd be wrong, and honestly when I talked about DNA, it's this man's DNA I wanted and he needs to know that he's the man I want in my bed tonight. How do I do that?

Never in my life have I talked dirty—sure, I've read some hot books through book club, but right now, this could be our first and last night together, and dammit, I'm going to let him know exactly what and who I'm thinking about. I move my body against his, and his big cock presses against me, giving me the courage to call on the brazen heroine in the last book I read.

"I'm thinking about you, and how your cock is going to feel inside me." He goes still. Like completely still. Is he even breathing? Oh God, did I ruin this? Did my attempt at dirty talk turn him off? Did I mess up our friendship? Is he going to run for the hills? I open my mouth to tell him I was kidding, but his lips come down on mine. Hard. Possessive. A man with a fierce hunger I'm pretty sure I don't have what it takes to sate. But dammit, I'm going to try.

He runs his hands down my bare arms, leaving goosebumps as his fingers go lower and move to my hips. He bunches up my dress, tugging it a bit higher until the hem is hovering just below my sex.

"If you ask me, I'd say it's going to feel pretty damn awesome," he murmurs.

"You think?" God, I sound so breathless.

"Yeah, but thinking is overrated."

"Conner," I murmur as he moves his body, shifting until his cock is against my side, his hands close to the needy spot that is craving his touch—has been craving it for a long time now, if I'm being honest.

"Why don't we go to your room, so I can put my cock inside you and you can see for yourself just how good this is going to be?"

"One thing," I say quickly.

"What?"

"This is just between us."

"Yeah, I'm not much into threesomes, Dani."

I laugh. "What I'm saying is I don't really want the guys or anyone else to know. Not yet, anyway. Obviously if I get pregnant, we'll have to tell them. But if I don't get pregnant…"

"It's no one's business but our own."

"Conner," I say again for lack of anything else as he lets go of my dress, and lifts me clear off my feet. I wrap my legs around his body, and link my hands behind his head. I can barely breathe as he backs up, turns around and heads for the stairs. The man has been in my house numerous times, and I think the only time he's been in my bedroom was the day he helped us move. When he stays over, he sleeps in the spare bedroom, which has always been known as Conner's room. With determined steps, he carries me up the stairs, walks by my room and takes me into his.

"I want you in my bed," he growls into my ear. "I want you naked, and your legs spread for me, so I can fill you with my hard cock."

Oh. My. God.

Does he talk like this to all women he's about to fuck? Wait, that's not something I want to know.

"Tell me you want that too," he growls.

"I want that," I breathe out. "I really, really want that." Way to sound eager, Dani. Then again, who cares. Conner knows it's been a long time since I've been touched.

"But first, I'm going to need to look at you for a while." He sets me down next to the bed, and a measure of unease creeps through me.

I point with a shaky finger. "I…the lights." He cocks his head, his eyes full of heat and questions. "I don't normally…and you know, this is just to make a baby." I actually need the lights out, because if he sees what's really in my eyes, he might conclude that this is more to me, and I don't want him to get the wrong idea…or the right idea. Ugh.

"You want me to just do the technical stuff, Dani?"

I gulp. How do I answer that? "I…I…"

When I can't find my words, he reaches out, and lightly touches my hair. "Yes, this is about making a baby, but tonight, you're under my care, and we're going to do things a bit differently if that's okay with you." I give a tight nod, and his eyes drop. A loud growl full of pleasure cuts through the silence. "I have been dying to see you naked…" He runs one hand over my hips, shaping my curves. Another growl rumbles in his throat. "You are so fucking sexy."

Sexy.

God, I don't think any man has ever called me that before, and I never felt it…until now.

"I need to see you when I put my mouth and hands on you." I gulp air. He slides a hand between my legs, and I'm so wet it's almost embarrassing. "I need to see this sweet pussy before I devour it."

There's going to be pussy devouring?

"Oh, yes." I clamp my mouth shut after those two desperate words slip from my lips. But something in his grin tells me he likes that this isn't going to be all technical.

"You like that, huh? You like the idea of me devouring your pussy?"

"Yes."

"You don't mind if I look my fill first?"

I gulp, and even though sex with the lights on is out of my comfort zone, I find myself saying, "No, as long as I can look my fill too." That brings a smile to his face as he backs up, reaches over his shoulder, and tugs his shirt off.

Oh my…

"That's a good start," I tell him, and his grin widens.

I've seen him walk around shirtless before, but the hot image before me never gets old, and when I did see him half-dressed, I was always careful not to stare. I didn't want to give him or anyone else the wrong idea. Which was probably the right idea. Am I even making sense? God, how could I be when I'm staring at utter perfection?

His chest rises and falls as I tentatively reach out. "Dani," he murmurs, his muscles clenching. I lift my gaze to his and the intensity about him is as frightening as it is exciting.

"Yeah."

"Touch me," he breathes out, and I place my hand on his chest, splaying my finger. "Fuck, yeah."

Okay, I know I'm not this man's type, but holy, I don't think this kind of arousal can be faked. A burst of excitement races through me, and his big hand closes over mine, moving it over his body, and taking it lower and lower until my palm is pressed against his hard cock and he's cursing under his breath.

"How the fuck am I going to last?" he mumbles, and I'm not sure if he realizes he said that out loud. He backs up and our hands fall apart. Mine drops to my side, and his gaze goes up and down the length of me again, drinking me in. The hunger in him gives me a new kind of courage, and I grip the hem of my dress.

His gaze flashes back to mine, his breath coming fast as I lift my dress and pull it over my head. "You are so fucking beautiful," he murmurs, as he takes in my matching bra and panties, something else I bought today, because yeah, maybe I didn't want this to be technical either. His throat gurgles as he swallows. "I can't believe I get to touch you."

I reach behind my back and unhook my bra and the moan of appreciation boosts my confidence.

"Oh la la," he says and I laugh, the tensions easing inside me. He grins. "That's all the French I know." He cocks his head. "Was it sexy?"

"Très sexy."

"I'll take that as a yes." He licks his lips, his eyes watching my every move.

Honestly, I can hardly believe I'm undressing myself in front of this man, and feeling confident in my curvy body. My God, he looks like a predator about to attack his prey.

With that thought in mind, I slide my fingers into my panties, and his nostrils flare like a wild animal ready to pounce. "You can rip them from my body, if you want."

"Oh, I fucking want," he answers without an ounce of hesitation. Two steps has him standing before me, his hands bunching the thin lace. A quick tug later, he has the lace in his palms, balling it up and breathing in my scent. My sex muscles clench at the display of heat, hunger and primitiveness radiating from him.

Conner unleashed.

I like it a lot, and make a mental note to try out more of the brazen things that happen in my romance books. Because yeah, I want more of this savagery. His fingers touch my inner thighs, and all coherent thought packs a bag and heads south. He's right, thinking is overrated. With the lightest of touches, he runs his fingers over my quivering flesh, his fingers going higher and higher, until he's a hair's breadth away from my sex.

"Conner…"

"Yeah."

"Touch me," I moan. He grins, and runs his finger over my slit, opening my folds to dip into my warm heat. I grip his shoulders. "God, yes." With the last of my inhibitions ebbing away, I move my hips forward, trying to force his finger inside and he growls. "Please," I beg.

He drags his finger down the length of my sex, and then slowly, torturously inches back upward toward my throbbing clit. "The hormones are doing a number on you huh?"

"No," I admit. "You are."

He goes still again, deadly still, his finger hovering over my clit. "You want me, Dani."

"Yes, Conner."

With that he slides a thick finger inside me and my muscles clench around it. "Fuck, you are so hot and wet." Under his breath, in an almost mystified voice, he murmurs, "For me."

Why the hell does that surprise him so much? Has he not looked at himself lately? It's not just his face and body that's attractive to women. He's a great guy. I can't believe he's still single.

I press my lips to his bare chest and breathe in his scent as he moves his finger in and out of my pussy. I haven't been touched in so long, my orgasm is going to hit fast and that's going to be damn embarrassing. I touch his chest, explore his muscles, and run my lips over his nipple as he flattens his palm and presses it against my clit.

"Conner," I gasp, lifting my face to his. "I…I…" I don't remember it ever feeling this good, and that's probably because it was always a little hurried with Alec.

"I know. Let's take the edge off, babe, and then I can spend the rest of the night taking my sweet time with you."

He wants to spend the rest of the night taking his sweet time with me? I must be dreaming. Yeah, I have to be because why would he want to make this so great for me, when our end goal is his orgasm? But mine is important to him too.

I whimper my response and he slowly eases another finger in, filling me up more than I've felt in a very long time. As he presses his lips to mine, he moans into my mouth and my sex muscles begin to clench around him. I grip his shoulders as my orgasm takes shape and when I let go, the amount of liquid heat that drips over his hands and down my thighs fills my face with heat and embarrassment.

"Nice," he murmurs into my mouth. "Next one is going to be with my mouth on you, because I can't fucking wait to taste you on my tongue."

Oh God, my muscles clench harder at that, and he eases off my clit, keeping his fingers inside me as I ride out the powerful waves of pleasure. When my body stops spasming, I back up, and his fingers slide from my body. I put my hand on his chest and give a little push.

"That's going to have to wait."

His eyes narrow, like he's worried he did something wrong, like I'm putting an end to things. "Dani…what…what's going on…" He runs a shaky hand through his hair and before he can say anything else, I drop to my knees and pop the button on his pants.

I tug his zipper down. "What's going on is that I need to taste you first."

"Oh, fuck…"