Alone with You Read online

  He studied her for a moment, then put out his hand. “Key.”

  By the time she passed it to him, he’d scooped up the bag and planted a quick kiss on her mouth. He inserted the key then muttered a curse when it didn’t work.

  “The next room is mine,” she said, still laughing, then pushed him when he couldn’t understand her garbled words.

  His muscled arms were hard as stone and she had to use all her strength to get him to move. He finally realized his mistake and only shook his head. Apparently, he didn’t find the situation as funny as she did.

  “Hurry up before my neighbors call security.”

  “That would be Craig. No problem.” He turned the key in the lock.

  She pushed open the door and rushed inside. “Yeah, fine, he won’t arrest you.”

  Tanner followed and kicked the door closed behind him. “You’d look cute in jailhouse stripes,” he said, running his gaze down the front of her blouse. “Although if I had my druthers—”

  “Wait. Stop. Only kissing, remember?”

  “And you’re reminding me now because...?”

  “You were about to say naked. That you’d rather see me naked. Weren’t you?”

  He set the bag on top of the microwave and gave her a slow, sexy smile that made her clench everything from her teeth to her toes. “So let’s review the rules—only kissing. Any touching has to be done through clothes. And now no talking.”

  Lexy laughed. “It sounds crazy when you put it like that.” She switched on the lamp, then tugged the curtains together so that they overlapped. “I wish we had another chair.”

  Tanner caught her hand. He drew her closer, watching her nervously moisten her lips. “We have a bed.”

  “You know the rules.”

  “Yes, I do.” He circled his arms around her, making her feel small and helpless and shockingly excited.

  She tipped her head back to look into his eyes. They were so dark, so damn hungry, it sent a jolt down her spine. His breath, though, was warm and steady, too steady, while she could scarcely breathe. His mouth was damp and even more tempting now that she knew what it could do. She lowered her lashes. If she kept looking at him, she’d eventually toss the rules out the window.

  He nudged her chin farther up until she was gazing at him again. He said nothing, only touched her face with the back of his hand, lightly grazing her cheek with his knuckles. She stayed perfectly still, one hand at her side, the other clutching a fistful of his shirt while he brushed his thumb across her mouth.

  “So soft,” he murmured, his voice barely audible, his breath coming quicker. He lowered his head and his lips took over for his thumb.

  Impatient, she released his shirt and wound her arms around his neck. Her breasts pushed against his chest. She felt his hands move down her back, cup her butt and pull her closer. His arousal pressed hard, urgent and hot, the heat penetrating the denim of their jeans.

  The clothes were supposed to stop them from doing anything foolish. It wasn’t working. Not when his tongue swirled and mated with hers, tasting and teasing. And his hands... God, even the way he gently squeezed her ass made her want to rip his shirt off.

  Tightening her hold around his neck, she slipped a hand between their bodies and touched his bulging fly. Tanner pulled her arms away and stopped kissing her. Lexy stumbled back a step. She looked at his face, frustrated that she couldn’t read him.

  “Okay, new rules,” she said, then gasped when he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

  He set her down on the mattress and started unbuttoning his shirt. “Yeah,” he said, jerking the hem from his jeans. “I’ve never been much for toeing the line.”

  “You agreed,” she protested, her voice lacking conviction. Because...well...she was watching him shrug out of his shirt and staring at his bare chest and no one could expect her to think straight. No one.

  Except her father.

  The thought knocked the wind out of her.

  “Wait.” She bolted upright. “Just wait.”

  “You’re right. I agreed.” He tossed his shirt at the chair, then sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off a boot. “I just didn’t know how far you were willing to bend those silly rules of yours.” He removed the second boot and looked her in the eye. “I promise I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. But I’m warning you, Lexy, I’m not a damn saint.”

  She rarely blushed but she did now. The way she’d rubbed him...okay, that was on her.

  “You wanna discuss new rules?” he said, and she noticed he’d left on his socks. “Let’s go.”

  The sensual fog had mostly lifted. Her head was clear enough for her to admit this was a horrible idea. She should tell him she’d made a mistake, beg for his forgiveness and discretion. Her gaze went to his chest, the swell of his pectoral muscles, the pair of flat, brown nipples.

  “All right, topless is okay.” She yanked her blouse from her waistband and pulled it off.

  Staring at her red bra, he took her blouse, threw it, missing the chair by a mile. “Please tell me the bra comes off, too.”

  Lexy sighed. She’d only worn the shirt to dinner and it was her last clean one. But when she looked at Tanner’s heated expression, she didn’t give a damn.

  “Too slow.” He stretched across the bed and reached behind her. “The bra goes,” he said, and with a single flick of the clasp, the cups loosened but stayed in place.

  “I see you’ve done this before,” she said, laughing, impressed with his dexterity and speed.

  “Not going there.” He clearly wasn’t happy with the comment, but then he leaned back, staring at her breasts with laser focus, as if he could will the bra to fall off.

  She hadn’t meant anything, but maybe he was touchy about the whole buckle-bunny phenomenon. Afraid he’d grow impatient and rip the delicate silk, Lexy slipped the straps off her shoulders and set the bra aside.

  The slight flare of his nostrils as he reached for her sent her pulse soaring. He palmed one breast, then the other. He circled her nipple with his thumb, and she bit her lip to keep from moaning.

  “Anything else you want to take off?” he asked, his voice low and raspy. Without waiting for an answer, he kissed her breast while he toyed with her other nipple, his fingers flicking the pearled tip.

  When he finally drew her into his mouth, she shuddered, and arched against his tongue. In an instant, he’d shoved the pillows against the headboard, flipped onto his back and took her with him. His arms came around her so that her breasts were crushed against his bare chest.

  He trailed his lips up the side of her neck, lightly bit her earlobe, then found her mouth. The kiss started out slow, very sensual, soft nibbles, a swipe of the tongue, their mouths exploring and resettling. It had been a very long time since Lexy had been kissed this way, as if the kissing itself was the prize and not leading to something else. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth so gently it made her ache. His hand skimmed the curve of her hip, then retraced the path to cup her breast.

  Not for a second did he stop kissing her. Sometimes closed-mouthed, more often open, but always determined. Almost as if he couldn’t get enough of her. He moved his hands a lot, though, touching everything that was exposed, lingering in certain sensitive places as if he knew that particular spot would drive her crazy. He slid a fingertip under her waistband, and she sucked in a breath.

  He stopped kissing her and rolled over again until she was on her back. His eyes were nearly black when he looked down at her. “Stay right here,” he said and rose from the bed.

  Tanner unbuckled his belt.

  She squeezed her thighs together. “What are you doing?”

  “Just getting rid of the buckle,” he said, pulling the belt free of his jeans. “That’s all. I don’t want it to hurt you.”

 
Lexy nodded, wondering if he noticed her disappointment. Or how she was staring at the impressive bulge behind his fly. She lifted her gaze to his face. He was too busy checking her out.

  He dropped the belt on the floor, then slid his body up hers until their mouths met. The friction of his chest rubbing her nipples pushed her too close to the edge. Her pitiful whimper had him lifting his head.

  Looking into her eyes, he brushed a strand of hair from her face and smiled. “You okay?”

  His borderline arrogance should’ve annoyed her. He damn well knew she was all right, and he was torturing her. Trying to get her to rescind the rules. She just wished she had a witty retort at the ready.

  Concern furrowing his brows, he eased back. “Am I too heavy? I thought I was supporting most of my weight.”

  “No.” So she’d misread him. “No. I—” Oh, God, she was such a hypocrite. “I was hoping you wouldn’t stop with your belt.”

  “You’re not being fair.” He leaned back. “I told you we can keep this low key, but don’t ask me to lie here naked with you and not expect me to want to be inside you.”

  “Oh.” She swallowed, felt around for the covers to pull up, then remembered they were lying on top of the quilt. “I’m being totally unprofessional. I apologize. I got carried away.”

  He stilled her frantic hands, closing his much larger one over both of them. “Is that why you’re holding back? You think it’s unprofessional?”

  “Of course it is.”

  “My contract expires in a matter of days. This whole thing is a farce. The only reason I’m going to Houston is so I won’t be sued. I guarantee you I will never agree to being in the calendar no matter how much money your company throws at me.”

  “I know,” she admitted, feeling guilty that she’d threatened him with the phony lawsuit. Setting him straight now, though, could make him angry. “I do.”

  “Realistically, we don’t have a professional relationship.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles. “Which leaves two consenting adults who both seem pretty damn attracted to each other.”

  “My company wouldn’t see it that way.”

  “Who would know? You plan on telling someone?”

  “Oh, God, no,” she said, and a wry smile curved his mouth.

  She understood what he was saying...what he didn’t get was how she absolutely could not displease her father. It didn’t matter. The decision was hers to make. She didn’t know Tanner well enough to trust he wouldn’t use this thing between them to hurt her, but she trusted her instinct. He was one of the good guys. She hadn’t had too many of them in her life. Did she really want to ignore the possibility that tonight could be something wonderful?

  “If you want me to leave, no problem.” He dropped a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’d like to stay, but if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll go, and tomorrow we’ll pick up where we left off at dinner.” He smiled. “I’ll even buy you breakfast.”

  His low, soothing voice and willingness to be gracious was enough to convince her she needed tonight with this man. He kept his gaze above her shoulders, his hand over hers. No matter what she said he wouldn’t pressure her. He’d be a complete gentleman.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I want you to stay.”

  “Thank God,” he said, his chest heaving slightly.

  A happy flush warmed her. Had he been holding his breath waiting for her response? Had she done that to him? Tanner always seemed so calm.

  “I do have a small problem,” he said grimly, and she didn’t like the sound of that. “I don’t have a condom. Not on me. I have a box in the trailer.”

  “I think I might have one.” She scooted off the bed. “It’s been a while but it should be okay.” She stopped searching her purse and looked at him. “You realized you didn’t have a condom when we got to the door, didn’t you? That’s why you hesitated.”

  A smile tugged at his mouth. “Yeah, but then I remembered the only-kissing rule, so it didn’t matter.”

  Lexy sighed. Tanner was the real deal. A true gentleman, the kind of guy with whom she’d better be very careful. She threw the packet to him, then unzipped her jeans.

  11

  BEFORE LEXY FINISHED wiggling out of her jeans, Tanner had stripped his off along with his boxers. He was pulling the quilt down to the foot of the bed by the time she stood only in her red thong. The heated way he tracked her with his eyes made her feel like the sexiest woman on earth.

  “Dammit, I should’ve gone to get the box while I was still dressed.”

  She laughed. “You really think we’ll need more than one condom?”

  “You don’t?” He seemed genuinely shocked, and put a fist to his heart. “You wound me.”

  “Then I guess I have a lot of ego-stroking to do,” she said, glancing at his erection.

  He broke out in a boyish grin. “Oh, yeah.”

  He came around the bed and laid her down on the mattress. The sheets were terrible, made of a cheap, rough cotton, but that ceased to matter when he pulled off her panties. He had no problem taking his time, looking his fill. Then he kissed her below her belly button. The unexpected move made her squeeze her legs together.

  Bringing his head up, he searched her face. “Anything you don’t like, you tell me.”

  “I will.” She wasn’t shy about that sort of thing. “You surprised me, that’s all,” she said, parting her thighs a little. “Don’t hold back. I trust you.”

  His slow smile was different than any other he’d given her. He kissed the same spot near her belly button, then pressed a second kiss between her ribs, and left a damp trail up to her breasts. She combed her fingers through his hair, giving it a good yank when he sucked a nipple into his mouth.

  With amusement in his eyes, he glanced up. “Does that mean stop or do it some more?”

  She laughed. “Get up here where I can reach you.”

  He did what she asked while slipping a hand between her thighs. Of course she was damp. No, not just damp, but wet and slick, and his body shuddered against hers as he explored her with his fingers.

  “God, Alexis,” he murmured, rubbing his lips across her breasts and stroking her until she had to squeeze her thighs together again.

  Her name had never been said like that before. She could hardly breathe from wanting him. And since she’d managed to trap his hand where she was most sensitive, she found no respite from his skillful touch.

  His chin came up and he covered her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue between her lips, his kiss so savage that her heart pounded and the blood raced through her veins. She clutched more of his hair, and was shocked to realize her other hand was clawing at his shoulder.

  She tried to relax, tried to breathe in deeply. But he inserted one long finger inside her and she almost came off the mattress. She turned away from his kiss. Without missing a beat he moved his mouth to her neck, but she had her own agenda. The trouble was, he’d already figured out she was super sensitive where her shoulder and neck met, and he wouldn’t ease up.

  Slipping her hand down his chest, she bypassed his belly and gripped his cock. Hard and hot, it pulsed against her palm. “I can feel your heartbeat.”

  “Hmm,” Tanner said, his head rolling back as she ran her hand down his shaft and slowly back up again.

  “It’s beating awfully fast.”

  He righted himself until his heavy-lidded gaze met hers. “I’m a professional athlete, sweetheart. I’m just getting started.”

  Her pulse quickened at the notion and the feel of him in her grip. Or maybe it was his insistent thumb. She tried to hold back a moan but gave in after he circled the sensitive nub with just enough pressure to drive her mad.

  “A little tight,” he murmured, his voice sounding funny.

  She let go o
f him completely. “Did I hurt you?”

  He shook his head and smiled. “I knew I shouldn’t tangle with a woman like you.”

  “I am a force to be reckoned with.” She couldn’t help but jerk as his thumb resumed his teasing.

  He laughed as he bent to kiss her again. “I think I can handle things from my end.” He moved until he loomed over her, his thigh sneaking between her legs, urging them to spread farther.

  She obeyed willingly. The only sparring she was interested in was verbal, but if he kept kissing her like that, she’d have no breath left.

  “I know how you can make it up to me,” he said, his mouth so close to hers they almost brushed.

  “Whatever I can do.”

  “That condom is about an inch from your left knee. If you’d be so kind as to hand it to me.”

  “So soon?”

  “Not quite,” he said, sliding down her body with amazing dexterity, considering he still had one finger inside her. He sucked her right nipple as he moved, then nibbled on her hip bone and licked the crease where her thigh began.

  Lexy found the condom, and since he had no free hands, she put it on her belly, within easy reach. Then she didn’t think about it again because she felt his hot breath sneak inside her as he spread her lower lips.

  She’d thought his thumb was talented. His mouth made her yank the bottom sheet from beneath the mattress. She knew she was being loud and that the walls had to be paper thin, but she couldn’t make herself care. He played her like a maestro, taking her to the edge, then easing back until she was ready to beg.

  Maybe he heard the desperation in her voice, or perhaps it was the way she was trembling so hard she thought she might fly apart. Whatever it was, he stayed focused. God, did he focus.

  She came with a spasm that made the bed bang against the wall.

  Before she could see or breathe again, she heard the tear of the condom package and his deep, rumbling moan as he lifted her leg until it rested on his shoulder. Then he was inside her. Thick and hot and filling her as she quaked and moaned, tumbling toward another orgasm.