Unable to so much as nod her head because his grasp on her chin was so tight, she whispered, "Yes."
At her agreement, he began kissing her again, and within mere seconds, her arousal was at molten levels and she was aching to slide down between his legs once more. With that thought in mind, she broke the kiss and mumbled, "Please, now."
He moved his hands to her hips, and with one fluid motion, she was on her knees and between his thighs again, but this time, without his clothes to separate them. His erection was thick and large, right in front of her face, and she had the confusing feelings of both wanting to touch it and kiss it, and turn around and run from it at the same time.
But he reached down and put his hand on her breast, and began stroking her nipple and all thoughts of running from him fled her mind.
He took matters into his own hands and began instructing her, just as he had said he would. Taking one of her hands, he lifted it and wrapped it around the base of his shaft. "Your mouth's not going to be able to go deep enough, so you want to grip it like this." His voice was even but Jessica looked up and saw that sweat had broken out on his forehead and his eyes had dilated. "Hold it tight, baby. Yeah, like that." His lids dropped over his eyes and his head fell to the back of the couch, as he took deep, roughened breaths. Getting himself under control, he slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head.
She made a tentative move toward him, and his hands fell to her hair and he helped her move toward his straining penis. "Jessica, I'm probably not going to have any control, it's going to be fast, sweetheart. But I'm going to warn you when I'm about to come so you don't choke, okay?"
Her eyes flew wide at that threat.
At the look he must have seen in her eyes, he began to soothe her immediately. "It's okay, baby. I'm going to warn you." He continued the inexorable push toward his erection and then she was upon him. Her lips opened and her hand tightened. She took several small licks, and raised her head to look at him.
"Is that right?" she asked. His fingers pinched her nipple, and the erotic taste of him was already making her want to rock her pelvis.
"God, yes. Open your mouth and take it inside." His body jerked when she did as he asked. "Now move your hand, like this." He put his hand over hers and showed her the strokes, very like the strokes she'd used on him before. "Move your mouth with your hand." His breath hissed out as she attempted to follow his instructions.
He gently twisted her hair in his hands and wrapped his fingers around her skull, moving her with the force he needed. He only let her take six or seven even strokes and then he began tightening under her touch.
Pushing her head down with enough gentle force to keep it there, he hissed out, "I'm about to come." She adjusted the angle she'd been using only slightly, just enough that she wouldn't choke, as he'd told her. She felt his body clench, and he groaned with the force of his release. She tasted his hot, salty essence as he held her tightly to him, and she knew he was in a mindless state of orgasm.
After a few seconds, he allowed her to lift away from him, and she took her mouth from him, and looked around frantically. He handed her an empty Coke can from the side table with the lift of an arrogant eyebrow. She looked at it, looked at him and then just closed her eyes and swallowed. She knew he watched her do it, and she felt his muscles tense as he pulled her up to him, hugging her so tightly she could barely breathe. He kissed the side of her face, and ran his lips to her ear. "Thank you."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "Did I do it right?"
"Not bad."
Hurt, she lifted her head and looked him straight in the eye.
He continued carelessly, "I think after thirty or forty more tries, you might get it right."
It was then that she knew he was teasing her, and content, she smiled at him and dropped her head back down.
His voice was deliciously evil when he whispered in her ear, "And now I get to pay you back."
And he proceeded to do just that.
****
Connor left Jessica dozing on the sofa and slipped outside to the swimming pool. As he gazed at the water where the moonlight reflected, the memory of what she'd so recently done to him inundated his body and deluged his brain cells.
He was a drowning man, sinking under her spell more and more every day. He needed to get a grip. He'd never intended to get this close to her, and for damn sure never intended to care this deeply for her. The things he felt for her . . . he'd never felt anything like this before in his life. Ever.
And the guilt of that remained, but there were times he thought it might be worth it. Times like tonight. She'd given of herself so awesomely, so beautifully, so very fucking exquisitely. He felt as if he was on a precipice, and he didn't want to fall off. There was no doubt he was conflicted, angry at himself for letting this happen, angry for not having the right stuff to fight against it.
He should fight against it, he knew he should. But he couldn't. Not yet. She was too sweet, too soft, too soothing to think about letting her go, regardless of the guilt he felt. But there was no way, absolutely no way, he'd allow himself to become even closer to her. Even now, he needed to find a way to put distance between them.
Surely to God, he'd tire of her soon, if only somewhat. And that's when he'd make the move and let her go, because there was no way in hell he could do it now. No, he wasn't getting tired of her yet, not even a bit. Making the break would be easier later, when he wasn't feeling this crazy obsession about her. When these possessive, territorial feelings had slacked off some, surely to God it would be easier to let her go and get his life back on track.
His lonely, guilt-ridden life.
Chapter Ten
Sunday evening came too soon, and Jessica knew she couldn't put off what she had to tell him any longer. Steeling her nerves, she went to stand in the doorway of his study, where he was busy on the computer.
He was wearing reading glasses, and she'd never known he needed them. Instead of making him more approachable, they made him seem more austere, and her muscles tensed as he looked up when he heard her approach.
Leaning against the doorframe, she ran her eyes over the room, noting the bookshelves and the state of the art computer equipment. When the air got thick around them, she finally let out the breath in her lungs. "I need to go home."
"Home?"
"Back to the apartment," she qualified.
His eyes narrowed and his frown that seemed to be almost permanent, intensified. "Why?"
"I got a job. I start tomorrow."
His mouth flattened even more and his stare became piercing. "A job." The words were monotone.
"Yeah. Full-time for the rest of the summer, and then part-time when school starts."
Very carefully, with exact movements, he laid his pen down on the desk and asked succinctly, "Where?"
She named the large supermarket near the university.
"Why did you do that?"
"Why did I get a job?"
"Yes."
"Because I need the money." Her nerves were shot and she had to concentrate on her words to keep her voice even.
"I don't think you need the money, Jessica."
"Yes, I do."
"I don't give you enough?"
"I don't want you to give me any."
"You want out of our relationship?"
This was deteriorating rapidly. "I didn't say that."
"What are you saying?"
"Nothing. I just need to get back to Richardson so I can go to work tomorrow."
He began to strum his fingers on the desk in a repetitive motion. "It's never been part of our deal for you to have a job."
"I didn't realize it was part of our deal that I couldn't." Oh, but that wasn't quite right, was it? She knew he'd take exception to her working. That was one of the reasons she'd been dreading telling him.
"You expect me to be okay with this?"
"You work . . . I don't see why I can't."
"How are you planning on get
ting there and back without a vehicle? The apartment isn't within walking distance."