The kitchen was bathed in moonlight. I turned on the overhead and picked up the envelope of cash from the table. I turned, a smile stretching over my lips that was wiped clean off by the look on Emma’s face. She was standing in the doorway, her green eyes wide. That hungry look was back in them, the one I’d seen earlier on the porch. And, her body was tense. I wanted to take her into my arms, but that wasn’t my place. She looked lost. The self-possessed, confident woman who worked the farm every day was gone. This was a glimpse of the girl inside the safe.
“Here you go,” I managed to force out in a wavering voice. I cleared my throat and held out the envelope. She reached to take it, her fingers brushing over mine. That heat moved through me, and I held my breath. She hesitated, her fingers still touching my skin as her eyes widened, that hunger passing from her to me in a straight line.
I didn’t think. I just reached for her, my hand wrapping gently around the back of her neck and bringing her closer. Her lips parted as she lifted her head to keep meeting my eyes. That was what undid me.
I leaned to finally taste that perfect mouth, softly at first, but I couldn’t hold back. Her hands lifted to rest on my sides, and I curled my hand into that soft brown hair at the back of her neck. We kissed harder, her sweet mouth opening so I could press my tongue inside. She kissed back, her body straining into mine.
I couldn’t help how excited she made me. Within a few seconds of tasting her, my cock was rock hard. I pressed it against her, still kissing as hard as she’d let me, our tongues exploring the deep, sweet warmth of each other’s mouths. It was all I’d wanted for weeks, from the time she walked up to greet me on the porch that first day.
She pulled back, breathless, her green eyes as wide as before, the look in them a little disoriented. But she didn’t step out of my embrace. I wanted to kiss her again. I wanted to peel off every piece of clothing that was between us right now. The envelope with her pay inside of it had fallen on the ground at our feet.
“Do you have a bathroom?” she stammered, cutting her eyes away.
“Down the hall,” I whispered. I didn’t want to let her go. The minute I did, there was a chance I wouldn’t get her back.
She stepped out of my
arms and backed into the hall, her dark eyes meeting mine for a few seconds before she turned to hurry down to the bathroom. As soon as the door closed, I collapsed onto one of the dining room chairs, the strength leaving me in a warm rush. I touched my tingling lips, amazed at what they’d just done.
Whatever I had to do, I couldn’t let Emma leave without kissing her again. Now that I knew how sweet she tasted — like honey straight from the comb — I was going to crave her soft, supple lips whenever I looked at her. Tonight might be my only opportunity. Who knew what Monday would bring.
I sprang from my feet, the need at my core and throbbing between my legs directing me down the hallway after her.
Chapter Fourteen
Emma
Friday
I splashed some cool water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror. I had to calm down. I was trembling from head to foot. That kiss. Goddamn. I wanted to do it again, but I knew I needed to just get the hell out of here as soon as I could. Going to dinner had been a mistake. I knew better. I liked Pete, I really did, but he was my boss. This had to stop right now, before it permanently changed things between us.
I dried my face as I steeled myself. I’d just walk out to my car and leave for the weekend. We could go back to the way things were supposed to be on Monday morning. No more dates, no more alone time. As long as I got out of here right now, it wouldn’t be too late.
I turned away from the sink, determined, and opened the door.
Pete was standing in the hallway, his blue eyes wide and chest heaving with the strength of the desire I saw written all over his face.
I drew in a sharp breath, my plans leaving me in a rush of exhaled air, and went to him.
He took me in his arms and pressed his lips to mine. I opened my mouth to him, tilting my head as his tongue ventured deep into my mouth, toying with my own. I kissed him back, unable to deny the heat that moved through me and how badly I wanted him. My plan to escape this house and run out to my car disappeared in the intensity of that heat.
My entire body tingled as his soft, eager mouth dropped to kiss my neck, sucking lightly as I moaned with the need that was bubbling up from deep inside me. I hadn’t even let myself acknowledge how much I wanted him until this moment. But, now that I had, my entire body had unclenched, going soft in that heat. I wrapped my legs around him as he lifted me with two hands on my ass and carried me down the hallway. He kicked open the door to his bedroom, still kissing my neck, his hot breath igniting every inch of my skin.
He set me down next to the messy, unmade bed and tugged my shirt over my head. Thank God I’d thought to put on one of my better bras this morning. One with actual lace on it — not that he was paying it much attention.
He tore his own shirt off, nearly ripping it in the process. I bit my lip at the sight of his smooth, muscular chest, tanned from so much time in the sun. It was my first time seeing it so close up. He smelled like sunshine and hard work. I loved that musky odor. I pulled him down to me by the back of his neck, kissing hard, my tongue fishing into his mouth as his fingers unfastened my bra.
He brought his hands to my breasts, running his fingers over my nipples, and I moaned into his mouth. His fingers dropped to the waistband of my jeans, pulling them open as we continued to kiss almost desperately, that heat rising, stoked by my furious heartbeat and the pulsing between my legs, a furious itch I wanted him to scratch.
He pulled his lips away so he could focus on pushing my jeans down the curvy length of my legs. I sat down on the bed and lifted my feet so he could tug off my boots, socks, and then my jeans. Now I was just in my dangling bra and panties, breathing heavily, so hot for him I could barely sit still. I unbuckled his belt and tugged his jeans open. It took two hands to work the zipper, but, finally, I was able to pull his jeans down, revealing boxers, the hard shape of his cock at my eye level. I licked my lips, moaning again, and pulled hard onto his hips, lying back on the bed as he tumbled on top of me.
He fit neatly between my legs, his cock rubbing into that wet heat between my legs, only a few layers of cloth separating us. His mouth found one of my nipples, and he sucked hard while I writhed beneath him, moaning and lifting my hips to rub my pulsing hot sex against his cock. He moved to my other nipple, his lips tracing a wet trail on my skin. This time, I could feel his teeth. I whimpered and took hold of him by two handfuls of his soft dark hair. His masculine scent filled my nostrils, so dirty and sweaty from the day’s work. I loved it.
His lips found my neck again, sucking harder than before. My hands traveled down the length of his back until I reached his ass. I squeezed his cheeks hard, relishing the firmness. He was one long, lean, rock-hard slab of muscle. I turned my head and bit his shoulder, just wanting to taste the tanned sweetness of him.
“I’ve wanted you since the day I saw you,” Pete growled, his hot breath tickling my skin. He came after my mouth again, forcing his tongue past my lips as I moaned deep in my throat. His hand slid between my legs, his finger running over the crotch of my cotton panties. My hips lifted on their own. His fingers moved my panties to the side as I silently begged him not to stop. That itch was unbearable. I’d never felt heat like this before. I’d gone more than a year without having sex, but I needed him inside me right now more than I needed air.
His fingers rubbed lightly over my moist lips, and I made a breathless, desperate sound, my teeth closing on his bottom lip and nibbling lightly. The tip of one finger toyed with my clit, sending bolts of pleasure rocketing into the rest of my body. His lips found my neck again, kissing hard, as his thick finger slid inside me.