When Love Calls, page 9
She continued working her hands in silence, hoping she was making him feel better. If the way his head fell back and his eyes closed on a moan was any indication, she was doing a good job.
Moments later, Dexter reached over his shoulder and grasped her right hand. He tugged gently and pulled her around the chair and to the front of him, placing her between his thighs. He was a big guy. Even sitting, he could almost look her in the eye.
“Thank you,” he said when their gazes connected.
Dexter released her and his hands went to her hips, bringing her closer. His face was eye-level with her breasts. Mona wasn’t sure what was coming next, but she ran her hands over his shoulder, up his neck, and cupped his face between her hands. The scruff on his cheeks prickled her palms.
Dexter opened his mouth to speak, but closed it and shook his head. Whatever was on his mind was really bothering him. Part of her wanted to know what was wrong, but then that other part of her...
He dropped his forehead to the valley of her breasts and released a frustrated sigh. Mona moved her hands over the top of his head. Placing a kiss against his temple, she hoped to give him some type of peace for whatever troubled him.
He lifted his head slowly, unspoken pain glowed in his eyes. “Mona…you mean so much to me.” His words were filled with so much conviction, she felt them to her soul. “But there’s something I need to…I need to tell you.”
Mona brushed the pad of her thumb over his cheek as she searched his face. This kind, captivating, gentle man had brought more joy into her life in the past few weeks than she had experienced in years. She hated seeing him so unsettled and it was probably because of her. There was no telling what Russell had said or done on his way out the door. His words alone could cut a man deep, but Dexter could hold his own with her ex.
“How about if we save talking for later…or better yet, for the morning?” She stepped back forcing him to loosen his hold on her hips. Her hands shook a little when she reached for the knotted belt holding her wrap dress closed. Undoing the tie, she let the soft garment fall open, and then glanced at Dexter.
His gaze started at her breasts, covered in red lace and worked its way down her body until he stopped at the matching bikini panties. Her body wasn’t as tight as it once was, but the spark in his eyes made her feel as if she had the curves of a twenty-year-old.
A low whistle filled the quietness of the room, and a small smile tugged up the corner of his lips. “It’s a good thing I have a strong heart. Otherwise, seeing you looking this sexy would’ve given me a heart attack. You’re stunning.”
Mona laughed, suddenly feeling a little bolder with her impromptu seduction scene. She let the dress slide down her arms and puddle on the hard wood floor. Feeling empowered with the way he continued checking her out, she took a step forward, bringing her body within reach.
After a slight hesitation, he eased her closer and their lips met. So tender. So enticing. A whimper slipped through Mona as a quiver raked over her flesh. When her arms went around his neck, deepening the kiss, Dexter ravished her mouth. He kissed her with a hunger that matched her own and their moans grew louder.
As he loved on her mouth, his large hands journeyed up the side of her body. Exploring. Squeezing. Kneading her heated flesh. Her sex clenched with need at the thrilling sensation of his lips against her cheek, then her chin, and on down to her neck.
Every nerve within her was on high alert and she couldn’t ever remember being this turned on.
Without a word, Dexter stood. Holding her hand, he guided her to his bedroom. Mona had been in there once. One night when he had cooked for her, she’d worn a fancy blouse and he encouraged her to change into one of his flannel shirts so she could be more comfortable. That’s when she’d had a chance to admire his huge four-poster bed that took up much of the room. She had secretly wondered if she’d ever get a chance to lay in it.
Tonight, she knew the answer.
Chapter Eleven
Once they were near the bed, Dexter’s hungry gaze took her in. He felt like the biggest asshole for not telling her about the accident, but he couldn’t think straight with her standing before him in the skimpy lingerie. All he wanted to do was unwrap this beautiful gift that he’d been given.
He couldn’t believe she had come to him, prepared to give herself to him completely. This by far was her boldest move to date.
She was so damn pretty. Her hair hung in loose curls around her shoulders, only adding to her sexiness. The adventurous glint in her eyes matched perfectly with the lace bra and panties, and her luscious curves called to him. She definitely didn’t have the body of a fifty-plus-year-old woman.
He zoned in on her full breasts and nipples pushing against the thin material, and his body tightened. Blood rushed from his brain, and shot to the lower part of his body. There was no way he’d be able to hide his growing erection wearing sweatpants, and at the moment, he wasn’t trying to. He wanted her to see how much he desired her.
“You are truly a vision,” he finally said, his attention still on her breasts. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he noticed what she had tucked inside her bra.
He moved closer and boldly reached behind her back, unhooking her bra with the ease of an experienced lover. The smile on his face grew as he caught the lacy apparel before it hit the floor, and the condom that she’d stuck into her C cup.
Dexter let the garment drop from his hand, but he held the foil packet up. “Looks like you came prepared.”
Her gorgeous lips twitched in an effort to keep from smiling, and she shrugged. “I figured just in case.”
“Well, we shouldn’t let this go to waste.” He set the condom on the side table, aware of her gaze following his every move. Watching her watch him was a serious turn-on.
He reached for the tail of his T-shirt, and effortlessly lifted it over his head, adding it to the slow-growing pile of clothes. He didn’t waste any time shedding his sweats and socks.
With every piece of clothing he removed, he could sense her increased arousal, turning him on even more. Heat rose to her cheeks and she swallowed hard as her gaze took in his naked body, making him glad that he never slacked on his rigorous workouts.
“I knew you had a nice body, but this…”
The reserved woman was suddenly replaced by one bold enough to kick off her heels and step to him. Mona inched her small hands up his torso, and the tips of her luscious breasts grazed the thin hairs on his chest. A tremble ran through Dexter and the electric current surging from her body to his had him ready to leap out of his skin.
He fought to control the intense need to take her quickly against the wall. He wanted her more than he had desired anything in a long time, but he also wanted this night to be special. For the both of them.
No, he wouldn’t rush through this. He’d take his time and love her the way she deserved to be loved.
Needing to feel all of her against him, he snaked his arms around her and palmed her butt, bringing her flush against his body. An overwhelming feeling of possession gripped him and he knew right then that he would do whatever it took to hang onto her. No way would he let her ex or his past sins keep him from spending the rest of his life with this woman.
He claimed her lips, devouring them as he kneaded her bottom, grinding against her with a hunger he felt to his core. All thoughts of confessing his sins flew from his mind when she moaned into his mouth. He had to have her.
Now.
Mona gasped. “Dexter!” Flustered, she grabbed onto his upper arms when he suddenly lifted her, his fingers gripping the back of her thighs as he set her on the bed.
Adrenaline was pumping so hard through his body, he felt like he was about to explode.
“I need you,” he mumbled against her scented neck. Nipping. Licking. And loving the little sounds she was making.
“I need you, too,” she said breathily. “But…”
She wiggled out of his hold and started to slide her panties off, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Let me.”
A slow, shy grin covered her mouth and she sat back on her elbows, giving him a complete view of all that awaited him once he slid the red strap of material down her shapely legs.
God, this woman. His shaft pulsed with need.
Don’t rush this, he reminded himself.
Dexter stared down at her semi-naked form, taking in her more-than-a-handful breasts and nipples that were begging to be sucked. His gaze moved lower, to the strap of material covering the apex between her thighs, and his erection grew harder.
He looked up to find Mona’s worried gaze on him.
“Damn, woman. Your body is a work of art,” he said, meaning every word, and she visibly relaxed.
He dragged his hand down the center of her body, appreciating the softness of her skin and taking in every dimple, every muscle, and each one of her curves. His inspection, and his hand, didn’t stop until he reached the top of her panties.
She lifted slightly and he slowly slid down the red lace and let it fall to the floor.
Dexter steadied himself, mentally preparing to enjoy every inch of her tempting body.
Mona sucked in a breath and a shiver skirted up her spine when Dexter lifted her leg.
“Dex,” she said on a shaky breath when his mouth touched the inside of her ankle. Tingles of pleasure shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
Her head fell against a pillow and she fisted the sheets, biting down on her bottom lip to keep from whimpering. Dexter planted feathery kisses on the inside of her calf, and worked his way up her thigh.
Mona’s eyes drifted closed while she enjoyed his journey.
Each touch of his mouth on her heated skin felt so good, but as his soft kisses moved further up her other leg and then to the top of her inner thigh, her body tensed.
As if sensing her discomfort, Dexter lifted his head, his gaze meeting hers. “What’s wrong?”
She closed her eyes tightly, knowing she was about to ruin the most intimate moment she’d ever had with a man. She wanted him more than anything. Why…
“Hey.” He climbed onto the bed next to her. “We don’t have to do this if you’re not ready.”
“I’m ready,” she blurted, forcing herself to look at him. “I want this. I want you more than anything. But…”
“But what?” His large hand rested on her stomach. The way he caressed her with such love and the tenderness gleaming in his eyes, stirred something within her. What was it about this man that could ignite her feminine juices with a look, or a simple touch?
“Sweetheart. If—”
“I want us to be together, but I don’t want to do what I think you were about to do.”
After a slight hesitation, realization shown on his face and he nodded. His intense gaze studied her as if reading her mind.
She didn’t want to tell him that she had never had oral sex, but by the sympathy in his eyes, it was pretty safe to say he had figured it out.
“My job is to please you, Mona,” he said, the deep rumble of his voice washing over her like a gentle caress. “If ever I do anything that makes you uncomfortable, tell me.”
His words almost brought tears to her eyes. In her world, sex had always been about pleasing Russell, not the other way around. But again…he wasn’t Russell.
“Do you want us to stop?”
“Absolutely not,” she said quickly.
A slow smile spread across his mouth and then he laughed. “Good, because I want you too bad to stop. Come here.”
He pulled her on top of him as if she were as light as a feather.
“Just so that we’re clear. I’m not going to ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, but I plan to make love to every inch of your body. Maybe not all in one night, but before long, you’re going to want to feel my mouth all over you. You’re going to experience what it’s like for a man to worship your sweet a—”
Mona smothered his last words with a heated kiss, wanting to show him just how much she wanted him. She might not be ready for oral sex, but she was definitely ready to have him buried deep inside of her.
Feeling his length growing beneath her, she yanked her mouth from his and grabbed the condom, handing it to him.
“Not yet,” he said tossing it to the pillow beside them. Without warning, he flipped her onto her back. “There’s something I’ve wanted to do since the moment you stripped out of your dress.”
His large hands cupped her breasts, gently squeezing them before pulling one of the pebbled nipples into his mouth. Pleasure pulsed through Mona’s veins. Her eyes drifted shut and her body hummed, loving the way his tongue licked and twirled around her hardened peaks.
“Mmm,” Dexter murmured and moved lower, his lips searing a tantalizing path down her ribs to her stomach. “You smell so damn good, everywhere I kiss you.”
As his hands explored, touched, and squeezed, his mouth followed over her heated flesh with those same feathery kisses from earlier.
For weeks Mona had wondered if their relationship would progress to this level. Now, she didn’t know how much more of the delicious torture from his exploring hands or experienced lips she could take.
Aroused beyond belief, she ached against him. “Now, Dex.” That was all she had to say for him to slowly lift his head and flash that devilish grin.
“Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
He reached over to the other side of the bed and grabbed the foil packet, and quickly sheathed himself. Nudging her thighs apart, he hovered above her before claiming her lips and kissing her tenderly.
Mona drew in a breath as his thick shaft teased her opening. A sizzling sensation soared through her, like hot lava flowing down the sides of a volcano. Her hips moved on their own accord, bucking against him, needing him inside her.
“De—Dexter,” she said on an unsteady breath, her nails digging into his large biceps. He eased into her tightness inch by inch, burying himself to the hilt as she adjusted around his length.
“Ah, baby,” he groaned close to her ear as he settled in and started rotating his hips. “You feel so good.”
Their bodies moved in perfect sync as he slid in and out of her, picking up pace with each thrust. He lifted her hips from the bed, as he plunged deeper.
Mona’s body temperature rose to a fiery level, making her squirm beneath him. Waves of ecstasy lapped at every cell in her body, pushing her that much closer to the edge of her control.
A surge of heat swept through Dexter like a roaring flame and his grip on her hips tightened when she clenched around his shaft. He cursed under his breath and gritted his teeth, as his body moved on its own accord and his impending release grew near. He didn’t know how much longer he could hold on, but…
“D—Dex,” Mona panted over and over with each thrust, spurring him to go deeper and harder, his body growing taut each time he plunged into her.
“Oh my G…” she screamed suddenly, jerking violently against him. Dexter held on tight as her nails dug into his arm and seconds later, his ferocious release followed right behind hers. Then they collapsed against the pillows, panting.
His heart raced fast enough to beat right out of his chest while he tried catching his breath. But he wanted more. Much more.
They lay there for a moment. Their ragged breathing was the only sounds in the quietness of the bedroom.
“I knew we’d be amazing together, but damn. After that, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough of you.”
Mona glanced up at him with a satisfied smile. “I feel the same about you. We should do that again…but I want to be on top.”
Dexter threw his head back and laughed. “Anything you want. Just give me a few minutes to recuperate.”
Hours later, Dexter held a sleeping Mona in his arms as he stared up at the ceiling. Her ex was an even bigger asshole than he had originally thought. How could he have an incredible woman like her and not cherish her? And not love on her the way she deserved to be loved?
Then again, he was just as much of an asshole. He still hadn’t told her about the accident, and now that he’d slept with her, he had no idea how to start the conversation. But he wanted her to know everything. No secrets.
Tomorrow. I’ll tell her tomorrow.
Chapter Twelve
Mona jogged over the rough terrain to catch up with Dexter. They had hiked three miles already and her feet hurt, her back ached a little, but she couldn’t think of another time that she’d had this much fun. Being one with nature was exhilarating. Or maybe getting some good loving the night before and that morning had a way of making a woman feel like she could conquer the world.
“We have at least a mile to go. Are you sure you can make it back? I can carry you if you like,” Dexter said seriously, and Mona burst out laughing.
“There is no way I’m letting you carry me anywhere.” Sometimes she wondered if he forgot how old he was. Of course, she didn’t voice that sentiment, for fear of him trying to prove he could carry her the distance.
At first, he frowned, but then he shook his head and shrugged. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t offer.” He kept moving down the hill and she slipped her hand into his.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m fine.”
They continued walking, both caught up in their own thoughts. Peace settled around her as birds chirped nearby, and a gentle breeze caressed her cheeks. Not being an outdoors type person, Mona hadn’t known what to expect, but spending time in the open air was freeing, as well as relaxing.
If some of her former friends in New York saw her now, they probably wouldn’t recognize her wearing an insulated jacket, worn jeans, and hiking boots.
Dexter squeezed her gloved hand. “Let’s stop for a minute.” He guided her off the main path and to an oak tree. The wind had picked up and she zipped her coat up higher.
Dexter set the backpack on the ground and pulled her close.
“Your nose and cheeks are rosy.” He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose and she nestled closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her face might be a little cold, but being near him had her on fire from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, even more so when he lowered his head and captured her lips in a heated kiss. Cupping her face between his large hands, he deepened their connection.
