“But—”
“I promise,” he reiterated.
Shayla took a deep breath and grabbed hold of the hem of her sweater. As she dragged it up her body, Vance stepped back and watched her every move. It turned her on, made her feel bolder. Her stomach clenched, and her nipples hardened to stiff peaks as Shayla became acutely aware of Vance’s gaze on her. When she removed the soft cashmere and placed it over the back of a nearby chair, she heard Vance let loose a low growl.
“Fuck, you’re pretty as a picture.”
A sense of pride took hold at Vance’s roughly spoken words. She removed her white, satin bra next. Her pussy throbbed as she noticed the way Vance kept his hands balled into fists at his side, as if he had to work extra hard to keep from reaching for her. Shayla slid her hands up and cupped her breasts in her palms, then squeezed. God, she wanted Vance’s hands on her, his mouth suckling her. She looked down the length of his body and noticed the bulge in his jeans had grown bigger. Her mouth watered for a taste of him. She ached to run her tongue up and down his shaft. Her mouth all but craved the taste of his precome.
When she plucked the hard tips with her fingertips, Vance groaned. “You’re killing me here. Strip, honey, show me the rest before I die.”
Shayla had no intention of denying him. Within seconds, she stood before her soon-to-be lover totally nude. She trembled when Vance descended on her.
Chapter Eight
“All I want is you,” Vance murmured as he pressed his mouth to hers. He pried her lips open with his tongue, too eager to wait a minute longer to taste her sweet flavor. He needed her, ached for her like no other. She opened willingly, her body pliant under his seeking hands. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, and his strong hands clutched on to her waist. He lifted her easily, cradling her against his chest while his tongue dueled with hers, sucking and savoring her sweetness. He pulled back long enough to ask, “Where’s your bedroom?”
“Stairs,” she breathlessly replied. “First door on the left.”
Vance strode out of the room, carrying her in his arms. When he reached the stairs, she wiggled. “Be still, honey,” he gently ordered.
“I can walk,” she said as she pushed against his chest.
Vance wasn’t about to let her go. “I’m aware.”
Damn it, he wished they were in his house. He wanted her in his bed. Later for that. For now, he just needed Shayla. Vance took the steps two at a time. When he reached the upstairs landing, he took her to the room she’d indicated.
“You know,” she said, “if I were at all coherent, I’d be awed at how strong you are.”
The mischief in her voice had him looking down. The prettiest woman in all of Blackwater stared up at him. Her smooth curves tucked up against his body had his cock feeling strangled in his jeans.
“You’ll have plenty of time later to think,” he whispered as he spied a large bed covered in a red satin comforter. “For now, the only thing I want you to do is feel.”
Vance had driven himself crazy all day picturing them together in just this way. From the moment she’d shown up on his doorstep, he’d wanted her with a desperation that scared him. His sweet Shayla.
When he set her back on her feet, she stared at him with a mixture of passion and nervous tension. “Relax, honey,” he softly urged.
“It’s been so long, Vance.”
He quirked a brow at that small confession. “Since you’ve been with a man, you mean?”
She shrugged. “Well, yes, but that’s not what has me worried.”
“Then what is it?” he asked as he attempted to keep himself from throwing her onto the bed and shoving his cock deep. The thought of other men touching any part of Shayla’s body made him angry enough to bit back an ugly curse. No way in hell. Her tantalizing body was for him alone. Jesus, Vance had never felt such a powerful need to stake a claim as he did with her.
Shayla crossed her arms over her chest as if to cover the bountiful swells. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been with you.”
Good answer, he thought, as a ridiculous amount of possessiveness sped through his bloodstream. While their gazes locked, Vance drifted his finger over the smooth column of her neck, tracing the few freckles that ran in a tempting line down to her collarbone, and lower to the smooth V between her breasts. “I’ve missed your freckles, Shay.”
She shuddered. “It feels so good when you touch me.”
“Are you turned on, honey?”
She covered her eyes with one hand. “Yes. Oh, God, yes.”
“Look at me,” he gently ordered. When her gaze once again connected with his, he whispered, “I’m eager as hell to feel your hot, little pussy wrapped snug around my cock right now, but first things first.” His gaze never left hers when his finger skated along her skin. When he flicked a nipple with his index finger, she jolted. “I bet you taste like sweet cream, huh?” He didn’t wait for a response as his head descended, taking one turgid bit of flesh into his mouth and sucking.
Shayla grabbed on to his head and moaned his name. Never in Vance’s life had anything tasted so good or felt so right. She pleaded, and his cock hardened further. When her fingers delved into his hair, clutching on to him as if he’d disappear into a puff of smoke, Vance knew she was as far gone as he was.