A low, untamed growl ripped from his chest, and that stubborn, unyielding control of his finally,
His response was absolutely, positively heavenly.
She'd managed to unleash his lust, and now all that alpha male aggression was spilling over into the hottest, most erotic kiss she'd ever had the pleasure of receiving. Returning the kiss with equal abandon, she wrapped her arms around his waist beneath his T-shirt and jacket, trying to get as close to him as she could.
Judging by the restless shift of his body against hers, he seemed to want the same thing. She felt the impatient tug of the scarf from around her neck as he unraveled the strip of knitted material and let it drop to the ground, revealing her neck to the chilly evening air. She shivered, then moaned in pure delight when he buried his face against her throat and warmed her skin with his breath and the hot, damp press of his lips nuzzling just beneath her jaw.
Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back to give his mouth better access, while one of his hands skimmed down her back to the base of her spine and the other gave a gentle tug to the snaps securing the front of her top. One, two, three, four… they popped open, exposing her bra and the full upper swells of flesh nearly overflowing the lace-edged cups. He lifted his head, watching as he pushed the stretchy fabric down and released one of her breasts, then the other, to his dark, avid gaze. Her nipples hardened instantly, and he saw that, too.
An involuntary sound escaped her lips, a whimper of need that Joel recognized and understood. He covered both of her bare breasts with his hands, the slight roughness of his palms abrading the sensitive tips as he gently kneaded the soft mounds of flesh. Then the lazy friction of his thumbs joined in on the action, stroking and swirling around her areolas, rasping across her nipples-gentle at first, then harder, firmer, creating a firestorm of sensation that spiraled straight down to the pit of her stomach, and lower.
She groaned, in surrender, in anticipation of feeling his mouth on her. The wanting made her weak. The waiting made her impatient. Sliding her hands into his hair, she pulled his head down and arched her back, silently begging him to take her into his mouth-and ready to strangle him if he refused.
Obviously done denying her, or himself, he licked at her stiff nipples, a wet, velvet swipe of his tongue over each tender peak. A slow, lazy lap designed to torment and tease. A soft, heated stroke that made her tremble and moan. The gentle scrape of his teeth was both sweet bliss and exquisite pain. When he finally sucked her deep into his mouth, the pleasure was so immense, her entire body shuddered and she cried out.
Her wanton response tore a groan out of him, too, and his mouth came back to hers in a desperate, needy kiss that made her mind spin. The deep, assertive stroke of his tongue echoed the decadent, erotic rhythm of hot sex. He circled his strong arms around her and pulled her close, but when that didn't seem like enough-for either of them-he skimmed his flattened palms all the way down her back to her hips. She was still straddling his thighs, but that didn't stop him from tucking his hands beneath her bottom and hauling her up onto his lap, then gently tipping her backward, until she was laying on the metal gas tank with her legs all but wrapped around his waist.
Her top gaped open, and pale moonlight painted her naked flesh and lush curves with an opalescent hue. She'd never felt more beautiful, or more desirable, than she did at that moment with Joel staring down at her, worshipping her with his reverent gaze. Soon, though, the chill of the evening washed over her, causing her to shiver.
Keeping the bike stable with his feet braced on the ground, Joel bent over her, pressing his muscled body intimately, insistently into hers with his thick erection fitting naturally in the crux of her thighs. Threading her fingers through his silky hair once again, she welcomed another deep, drugging kiss, and sighed against his lips as his hands caressed her breasts and warmed them in his palms. His mouth eventually followed, trailing a searing path from her neck to her tight, puckered nipples. With the wet heat of his tongue, he lavished each one with a generous amount of attention before kissing and nuzzling his way down to her soft belly. When he reached the low waistband of her jeans, instead of unsnapping her pants and continuing the journey, which she would have more than welcomed, he instead stopped and laid his head on her stomach.
She was panting, and he was breathing just as hard. Hot, damp puffs of air caressed her belly, and the stubble on his jaw chafed her skin. She waited, knowing exactly what he was going to say, even before he said it.
'We have to stop.' His voice was rough and strained, and it was enough to tell Lora that it was taking Joel tremendous effort to bring things to a halt.
Aroused beyond belief, she squeezed her eyes closed, trying to ignore the way her body was clamoring for release. She could have told him that they didn't have to stop, that she was on the Pill and protected, if that was his concern. But for as much as she wanted Joel-and for as badly as she ached to know how he'd feel inside of her-she didn't want their first time together to be like this, out in the middle of nowhere on his bike. She wanted a warm, soft bed and lots of time to enjoy everything about making love with Joel Wilde.
'Okay,' she said softly.
He lifted his head, clearly surprised that she hadn't argued. 'I really am going to take you home now.' He straightened and helped her to sit up, too.
She immediately missed his warmth, the heat and strength of his body pressing into hers. Humored by his insistent, back-in-charge tone, she readjusted her bra while he watched. 'Okay.'
Pulling the sides of her top together, he snapped them closed in a very efficient manner, as if he wanted her covered as quickly as possible. 'And we are
She almost laughed at his ridiculous order, but managed to hold it back. 'Okay.'
He frowned at her easy acceptance after she'd spent most of the night trying to seduce him. 'When did you become so agreeable?'
'Since I got what I wanted.'
He raised a dark brow, and much to her relief she caught a glimpse of amusement softening the depths of his bluer-than-blue eyes. 'Oh, yeah? And what was that?'
This time, she didn't bother stopping the grin from appearing on her lips. 'A hot kiss, and knowing there's a whole lot more where that came from.'
And for tonight, that kiss, and Joel's uninhibited reaction, was enough for her.
Chapter Eight
'HAVE you gotten lucky with you-know-who yet?'
Lora grinned at Sydney from across the bar as her friend started in on the drink order Lora had just given her. Since Lora had worked a full eight-hour shift at the spa earlier that Sunday, and had arrived at The Electric Blue only half an hour earlier, she hadn't had a chance to talk to Sydney about her date with Joel the night before. At the moment, the bar was only mildly busy, but it was still early and the real crowd usually didn't pour in until after eight, so Lora indulged her friend with a few juicy tidbits.
'Not yet,' Lora replied as she placed a stack of fresh cocktail napkins on her tray. 'But it was damn close.' She might not have gone all the way with Joel, but their hot make-out session had been enough to keep her satisfied for now. She figured it was just a matter of time before they made that natural progression to mutual pleasurable sex.
Thinking of Joel, she cast a glance over her shoulder to where he'd settled himself at a small table located in a darkened corner of the bar. He'd shown up without any of his buddies, and she wasn't sure what to make of him spending his evenings at The Electric Blue just to watch her work when he no doubt had better things to do with his time. But she secretly found his nightly appearance romantic and charming, not that she'd ever tell Joel that.
From across the room, their gazes met, and a corner of his mouth kicked up in a slow, sexy smile that warmed her from the inside out. She replied with a flirtatious grin of her own, then returned her attention back to her drink order. Since their encounter the previous night, he seemed less uptight and more relaxed, and she hoped he remained that way.
Sydney set an Armaretto sour on the bar, a sly smile on her lips. 'Judging by that flush on your face, your
