Chasing Carly (Holiday Cove 3)

“Well, thank you again, for inviting her along. I know it meant a lot to her. And to me too.”

Nick chuckled. “Even though you ended up with a puppy?”

“I believe you’re the one who’s gonna end up with a puppy.”

His laugh rolled into the night that had fallen quickly once we left the carnival. “Possibly.”

Nick gathered me to him and I took a small step to close the distance between us. My head came to rest against his firm chest and my hand snaked under the front of his jacket to find warmth. My fingers slid against the soft fabric of his shirt and the hard body that radiated heat beneath it. Despite the height difference, we fit together quite perfectly, and I loved the way he swallowed me up and made me feel small and protected. I’d always had curves and it was nice to be with someone who balanced it out and erased my lingering insecurities.

“This is nice,” I murmured. “It’s been a long time since I could just…be…like this.”

“I know what you mean,” he replied softly, stroking my hair.

“Maybe we could go for a drive?” I suggested, looking up at him. My hand wandered over the expanse of his chest, casually rubbing over a firm nipple, before I pulled it from his jacket. Nick shuddered at my touch and a grin lit up his face even as his eyes went darker than ink.

“Anything you want.”

“Mmm. Careful what you promise…” I winked at him as I pushed into the house to tell Alesha I’d be back later. She was too busy playing with Lady to offer much more than a mumble of agreement.

“Okay,” I said, stepping back onto the porch, this time bundled into a warm sweater. “I’m all yours.”

Nick’s grin widened. “Now you should be careful what you promise…”

We loaded into his truck but didn’t make it too far up the coast before we were forced to pull over. I couldn’t keep my hands to myself and Nick couldn’t keep it between the lines with my fingertips moving lower and lower down his body.

“Damn, baby, let me…” the rest of his plea evaporated as I nipped at his ear, my breath hot on his skin. With a skid, he jerked the truck to the side of the road and pulled off onto the shoulder. It was late and once he killed the headlights, we were alone on the dark highway. He snapped out of his seat belt and I clicked out of mine.

“This is crazy.” I giggled. “I feel like a horny teenager.”

“Well, we could—”

He pulled me over to him and I arranged myself on top of him, my thighs straddling his hips, lodging me between the steering wheel and his firm chest. He weaved a hand through my hair, his thick fingers grabbed a handful before tugging my mouth to his. Damn. His kiss was hot and searing, fueled with blazing desire that set my body on fire. Every cell pulsed with need and I wriggled against him, aching for a flash of relief.

Nick tore his lips away from mine and the sound of our labored breathing filled the cab.

He tugged my head back and left a scorching hot trail of kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and over my chest. He pushed my sweater from my shoulders and I helped wrangle free of it before throwing it to the passenger seat. I moaned as his lips explored my newly exposed skin along the neckline of my V-neck t-shirt. When his tongue found the dip between my breasts I cursed under my breath.

“Take it off,” he groaned, reaching for the bottom of my shirt. “I need to see you, Carly. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to see you. To taste you. To explore every inch of your beautiful body.”

I swept it off in a fluid movement, leaving myself exposed through the thin lace of my bra. Nick’s fingers were on the clasp before I could even suck in a full breath and with a quick snap, the bra released and the cups fell forward. I grabbed them before they slid all the way off and the cold air hitting the skin that was already exposed and held the garment to my chest, hesitating before letting Nick see everything.

Nick’s lips were already back on my skin, kissing my bare shoulder and moving back toward my neck while his fingers tried to slip under the bra clutched in my hands.

My nipples went hard as he grazed the side of my full breasts and I shivered. His fingers were so deliciously close…

Nick’s eyes went to mine and he smiled up at me. Even without words, I knew what he was thinking. There was a depth and warmth to his excitement that reassured me of his feelings for me. Everything was happening so fast, but I didn’t want it to stop.