Chasing Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers - Wicked Series Book 1) Page 7

  In the darkened hallway, I leaned against the wall, weighing out whether to wake Stone or let him camp out on the couch. If he stayed, hello sleepless night. I was already a hot mess from trying to keep my hormones off the rollercoaster of desire. He made me want things I shouldn’t—like him.

  For my own sanity, he had to go.

  Make noise. Clean up the dishes, turn on the lights.

  I watched his peaceful sleeping, his easy breathing, how the relaxed muscles in his face seemed so content and…sexy. Sleeping Stone was beautiful. Perfect. I pulled a soft quilted throw from the foyer closet and draped it gently over him. He let out a soft moan as if thanking me in his sleep, and that soft moan kept replaying in my mind, causing anything but nice thoughts.

  Oh, what he could do with those strong arms, rippled chest, and muscled back. He possessed the ability to pick me up with ease and effortlessly take me against the wall, and the fantasy made me hear my own fantasized screams of thrills and pleasures.

  He stirred, and I jumped. Dear God, it’s hot in here.

  “Tomorrow, we’re going to get some things straight,” I whispered.

  I bee-lined to the bathroom for my ritual post-workout soak, which was always heavenly. Adding drops of lavender body oil, I sank down in the hot water. While the devil himself lay sprawled out in the other room, I couldn’t stop thinking about his lips on mine. How good it felt to be in his arms. How much I wanted so much more.

  Every muscle tingled in response to the warmth of the water. He’d been there two days and I already wanted to jump his bones. It was going to get harder and harder to resist him, but I needed to be strong. I kept telling myself I didn’t need complication in my life.

  And Stone Mitchell was a complication.

  I dried off then slipped into a pair of pink crochet shorts and matching camisole. Weary, I crawled between the butter-soft cream sheets, listening to the quiet.

  Ave, if I want to kiss you, it won’t matter where we are. As long as I know you want it, I don’t give a fuck where we are, and when we fuck, I don’t want it to be quick. I want to make it last all night long. That was just a preview. Remember that.

  I tossed around, readjusting my pillow.

  You’re so fucking beautiful.

  I rolled from my left to my right side, staring out at the moonlit sky.

  Look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t want it. Look me in the eye, Ave. Say you don’t want this.

  I pushed over onto my back, let out a deep breath, and kicked the covers off, totally frustrated. Damn his kiss. Damn his kisses to hell. Regardless of how many times I’d reminded myself he was off limits, that nothing could happen, the throbbing between my legs demanded otherwise.

  Every cell inside me screamed for more, urged me on. My chest rose and fell fast as my core clenched in want. Unable to stand the wantonness, I opened the bedside drawer. In the dark, I slipped my hand over the jelly stick hidden inside a dark purple velvet sleeve. Seeking relief without turning on the vibration, I ran my hand down the length.

  With closed eyes, I slid off my pajama shorts and dropped them to the floor. My hands roamed under the hem of my top and down to the juncture of my thighs. Visualizing Stone’s hands worshiping the softness of my breasts, pulling my nipple taut while my center clenched, I tilted my hips upward. I released a soft moan, sweeping the device through my folds again. Lost in the invigorating energy and wicked images of him pleasuring me, I dragged it once more down my crevice, whimpering when it reached my most sensitive spot.

  Caressing.

  Exasperating.

  Breathtaking.

  Over and over, I slid it back and forth, alternating with small circles and giving my most sensitive area more attention. Wild with want, I drew my feet flat against the bed, letting my legs fall open for more. My left hand caressed my breast, rolling my nipple between my thumb and forefinger, gently pulling.

  As I breathed in, his wickedly sinful scent enveloped me, heightening my arousal even more. I’d always loved his aroma, how it turned me on. Raw need rippled through my entire being. Eyes closed, I whispered, “Yes, Stone.” I reached for the tangled sheets, gripping them in my hand on instinct, pulling me close to a burst of ecstasy. “Touch me.”

  Wet and burning, my mind ran wild, deep into fantasy. When his hot mouth brushed the skin beneath my navel, I bucked upward. Wicked hot kisses trailed down my abdomen as I circled the vibrator around my slippery folds. Imagining the feel of his five o’clock shadow brushing across my skin only intensified my need for release.

  “I need more. Please, Stone, I need more,” I whispered.

  “Damn, baby.” A husky growl whispered against my skin.

  My eyes flew open, but still I arched my hips for more. He pressed a lingering wet lick across my skin, between my spot of pleasure and my navel. Tiny fragments of shock washed over me, knowing he was here, but waves of desire calmed the surprise. He stood up, hovering, and in the moonlit room, his eyes traveled up and down my body as if asking permission to take me over the edge.

  “Stone,” I called out, barely a whisper. “Please.”

  He climbed onto the mattress, landing between my spread thighs. “Keep working it.” He ran his hands along the sides of my thighs, dipping his mouth down, gently sweeping his tongue in a circular motion across my cleft. “Push it inside you.” His hand covered mine, guiding the adult toy to my entrance.

  “The door,” I said through pants.

  “Relax, baby. It’s locked.”

  Stone worked his masterful tongue, flicking and lapping along the crevice and over my swollen, sensitive nub, making me forget my own name. I bucked against his mouth while he covered my hand with his, pushing the gelled hardness in and out. I crossed the brink into an unrelenting orgasm and his mouth covered mine, silencing the screams of pleasure as my body shattered into a million glorious cinders.

  I squeezed my eyes closed in sated bliss. He’d given me the best non-self-induced big O since that night we’d spent in the meadow. “That was amazing.”

  He pressed his lips against my forehead. “That was just a little foreplay, Avery. I’m going to take you places you’ve never been.”

  A mixture of lust and love filled my heart. Thirsty for more of whatever the night held, I sat up, pulled my pink camisole over my head, and tossed it to the floor by the window. In the moonlight, he released a hungry growl.

  He never gave me a chance to ride him, and instead I found myself on my back with his eager mouth covering the peak of my breast. As he rolled his tongue over the taunt nub, I arched upward, running my hands underneath his shirt.

  “You have on too many clothes.” I grabbed the hem and in a blink, he tossed it away, followed by his jeans. Being skin to skin was…heaven. God, how I’d missed him. I ran my hands over his chiseled chest, down his corded arms.

  Somehow, while he shed his clothes, he’d managed to place a condom package between his teeth and tore it open. In a beat, he sheathed himself, and my heart stammered in my chest. I could watch him do that time and time again, it was so fucking sexy.

  He pushed at my soaked entrance as I greedily cupped his ass with both hands, urging him to give me his all. His mouth nuzzled at the sensitive spot near my ear.

  “Say my name, Avery. Tell me what you want.” His breath sinfully scorched my insides.

  “More. Please, Stone, I need more,” I pleaded.

  “Tell me what you want.”

  “I want you.” My voice was ragged and breathy as I urged him to give me what I wanted.

  The tip of his hardness pressed at my slippery entrance. “Not good enough. Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”

  “I want you inside me. Fuck me. Now!” I panted, about to explode if he didn’t.

  With a hard thrust, he seated himself deep inside me, drawing a guttural moan from my lips. Slowly he slid out and plunged back, powerful and fast. I arched, meeting his tempo, meeting him thrust for thrust. His mouth nuzzled at my throat, igniting the
sensitive skin.

  “Damn, you’re so fucking tight.”

  I dug my nails into his back and my entire world came apart as I convulsed around him. He crashed his mouth over mine again, muffling the ecstasy ripping from my body. His shoulders shuddered, trembled, and jerked as he filled my body with his own release.Like he never wanted to break the bond between us, he rested his forehead against mine. We stayed intertwined, letting out breaths slow together. I loved the feel of his tender touch as he cupped the sides of my face, caressing my skin with his thumbs.

  “Now that was amazing.”

  I stared at the ceiling. “Yes, it was.”

  “What are you thinking?” He slowly rolled to his side, staying against me.

  That it could be so easy for me to fall in love with you all over again, and that I’m scared shitless because I never truly got over you.

  “That there are too many reasons to count for why tonight wasn’t a good idea.”

  “Name a few of the biggest reasons.” He propped himself up on his elbow, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

  “Savannah.”

  “That’s an easy fix. We’ll be careful. She’ll never know. What else?”

  “My house is small. A thin wall separates our bedrooms. I don’t want her to see you staying in our house or slipping out of my room.”

  “We’ll be creative. Again, problem solved. What’s next?”

  “So, we’ll be fuck buddies while you travel back and forth between here and Houston, and we’ll sneak around like kids so we won’t get caught.” I rolled my eyes, but it wasn’t like he could see my frustration in the dark.

  “It really wouldn’t be like that.”

  “Then how would it be, Stone? Because that’s the picture I’m seeing,” I whispered, forcing my voice not to crack. “I don’t sleep around.”

  “I never imagined you as being easy, but there must have been others. You’ve dated. I’m assuming Lindsey let Savannah spend the night for ‘special occasions’?”

  “There hasn’t been anyone since you.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Avery.” He sounded so far away, like he’d barely said the words.

  I let out a small laugh. “Okay, I’ve screwed all the men this town has to offer and I’ve run out of options.”

  “How is that possible? You’re so damn beautiful.”

  “I dated, but none of them have ever made my toes curl.”

  He pulled me on top of his body, pushing fallen strands of hair back and holding them in place with the palms of his hands. “Is that why you were calling my name, pleasuring yourself? Because I make your toes curl?”

  “That’s the second time you’ve stalked me in my bedroom. Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to spy?” I lay my head against his beating heart.

  “I thought the girls must have fallen asleep in Savannah’s room. I never heard you come home…and then I heard you moan. At first I thought you were having a dream, but then I got closer. I tried turning away, but you called my name. When you said my fucking name, there was no turning back, and for the record, I can’t think of a single reason we shouldn’t keep fucking.”

  Chapter 10

  I woke with slivers of sun streaming through the window. Leisurely stretching my arms above my head, I yawned as the details of the previous night unfolded in my mind. Swiftly, I rolled to my opposite side, finding only the indented pillow with my shorts and skimpy lace underwear neatly folded on top.

  Holy hell.

  Images of falling asleep tangled together as the sound of his rhythmic heart beat against my ear felt so right…but were all too wrong. A smile touched my lips remembering his sexy mouth whispering goodnight as his fingers skimmed back and forth on my upper arm, warm and gentle, the way I remembered he used to be.

  My emotions were all over the map. Having sex with Stone Mitchell had catastrophe written all over it. He had the power to bleed my heart dry, and with assured certainty, I would let him do it all over again because I didn’t possess the strength to fight away the need I’d kept buried all the way down deep into my soul.

  I scooted over, placing my face into the impression of where his head had lain on the pillow next to mine. Breathing in the lingering intoxicating scent unhinged me, forcing the last of my self-control into non-existence. I breathed slow and deep, pulling in another whiff then letting out a sigh. God, how I’d missed him.

  Muffled voices filtered down the hall, along with a delicious aroma of breakfast. Large red numbers on the digital alarm clock sitting on the bedside table read eleven minutes after eight as I pushed the covers away.

  It didn’t take too long to shower then throw on a pair of black yoga pants and a melon-colored tank. Twisting my hair up in a messy bun, I made my way toward the dining room. Savannah and Stone sat at the table eating scrambled eggs, bacon, and buttered biscuits.

  “Look Mama! Me and Stone made breakfast!” She beamed, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

  “It smells delicious. Funny though, I don’t remember having bacon or biscuits in the fridge.”

  “We went to the store! And he got some of that syrup I love!” My lips curled upward because white corn syrup had always been Stone’s favorite. I wondered if he remembered the time we ate breakfast for dinner. He’d swept his syrup-covered finger across my lips before kissing me, and then he had told me my lips were sweeter than the pure liquid sugar.

  “Have a seat. I’ll fix you a plate.” He gestured to the chair across from him.

  “I’ve got it, thanks.” I’d only mustered enough courage to look at him through my peripheral vision, too afraid of seeing regret in his gaze.

  “Sit, Avery.” His soft tone lured my eyes to his.

  Warmth. In a moment of truth, he flashed a warm smile toward me, and I melted as I sank down next to Savannah.

  “And we got the stuff to make brownies.” Her little eyes danced as she picked up her glass of juice. “Stone likes brownies too.”

  “Is that, right? I think he must have a sweet tooth just like you.”

  “I like everything sweet.” He cast a flirty wink, still wearing that incredible smile before heading into the kitchen. “My Gammy makes brownies every time I visit her. Maybe soon, you and your mom will come with me,” he called over his shoulder. “You want coffee or juice?”

  “Juice.” My voice almost faltered at the thought of Gammy.

  Dovie. My stomach clutched. I didn’t even want to think about telling her, but I would have to soon because Savannah and Stone were progressing well. She had started clinging to him and a bond was forming. I only hoped my sweet Dovie would have it in her heart to forgive me for keeping my precious child from her.

  The sound of Stone spooning scrambled eggs onto the stoneware plate drew my attention to him. The tight-fitting navy polo molded against every rippled muscle in his back, and those corded arms covered my skin with goose bumps. I let my eyes roam to his hands, the same ones that had explored every intimate inch of me. Unable to stop staring, I gulped at his perfect legs, so taut and tan, likely from hours on the beach. My body temperature rose remembering the way they felt against me as he thrust deep into my core.

  “You look like you slept well. That dance class must have been a hard workout last night, huh?” His voice was low and husky.

  My face burned knowing what he really meant. He’d worked me out hard last night. I glanced at Savannah, who was biting into her warmed biscuit. Stone’s fingers brushed against mine, passing the small glass of orange juice. I flinched with the brief sizzling contact, and I knew by the charged look on his face, he’d felt the same electrical jolt I had.

  “I slept very well, thank you.”

  His cell phone chimed, interrupting the moment.

  “Excuse me,” he clipped after looking at the screen. There was a darkness in his stride as he crossed the room, closing the patio door harder than normal. Through the glass, I watched him sliding the cup across the table, coffee spilling over the rim. He shook his he
ad and looked at his watch, obviously displeased with whoever was on the other end.

  “Sweetie, did you have fun with Stone and Kaylee last night?” I drew my attention to Savannah while stealing glimpses through the window.

  “He’s funny. Do you know how a horse bites an apple?” Her silly innocence made me smile.

  “Did the horse bite your knee?” I shook my head. The summer before high school, he’d driven me crazy squeezing my knee.

  She squealed. “It tickled!”

  We laughed together before she excused herself from the table. He’d opened Pandora’s box the night before, and I needed to get him out of my system so I could close the lid. To do this, I knew I had to set dreaded boundaries. After Savannah adjusted to having a father, everything would change. It could come down to visitation, and there wouldn’t be a reason for him to spend as much time with me, having all night rendezvous in my bed.

  Stone shoved the phone into his back pocket and pinched the bridge of his nose. He stretched his long legs out in front of him, crossing his ankles and staring across my small backyard. I was unable to resist going outside to join him, and juice sloshed over the rim of my glass as I bumped the table rising from my chair.

  “Everything okay?”

  He didn’t look up as I closed the door behind me and sat across from him.

  “Fine.” His voice was flat and he continued staring straight ahead.

  “Want to talk about it?” I asked quietly.

  He slowly pivoted toward me, and lines creased at the outer edges of his piercing eyes. They seemed to be filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow, and I wanted to know what had stolen the warmth from his ocean blue gaze.

  “No.”

  There was one thing in my life that always made me feel blessed beyond measure, one thing that made all my days brighter and made me forget my troubles, and she was the one thing we shared—Savannah.

  “Somebody told me you still make the horse bite the apple.”

  A quiet exhale escaped his lips, as if just the thought of her chased away all the negatives. “She’s ticklish, like her mother.”