Chapter 43

Elena reached over for a pad of paper and the pen that always sat by the phone. "Wouldn't hurt if you'd let me know where you could be found either," she said, scribbling down her information.

"I'll call with the info from the hotel. I don't even know where the fuck-" he cleared his throat. "Heck we're staying."

Elena leaned forward, dropping her arms around his shoulders, pressing her cheek to his. "You don’t have to temper your speech. I'll be looking forward to your call, too.” She laughed, sitting up straight. “Just don’t forget the time differences, ok?"

He snaked his hand around her waist, his chest easing at the obvious enjoyment in her laugh, tumbling her into his lap. "Not so fast there, sweetheart."

With a squeak, she landed on his hard thighs. "Yes, Richie?" The jarring heat of his body caused her voice to grow husky.

He traced the full, petal soft lower lip with the calloused tip of his finger. "I'm going to need a little something to tide me over for the long days,” his finger pressed deeper until he felt the even ridge of her teeth, groaning at the quick flick of her tongue, “and even longer nights without you." He cupped her jaw, letting his fingers stroke up her cheek into the thick, silk of her hair. "Just a taste," he said on a half whisper, half groan.

Her tongue flicked out to wet her suddenly dry lips as her heart raced. "I’d be mad if you didn't, Richie." Pulling him closer she wound her arms around his neck.

Everything in him wanted to yank her in and attack, but he slowed his breathing, forcing himself to relax into the kiss. The tip of his tongue traced the little indent at the top arch of her lip, slowly following the pretty bow of her mouth to the sensitive corner.

The first tremble gave him the nerve to push her even further, coasting up her cheek with feather soft kisses as he followed the crest to the baby fine hairs at her temple. He moved lower, her long lashes teasing his lips as he kissed each eyelid, letting their noses bump until he felt her breath on his lips. Each soft gasp tightened the skin around his swollen cock, but he was determined to tease her until she begged for a kiss.

She arched closer to him, her hands sliding over his shoulders, then arms before gliding back up to tangle in his hair. "God, what you do to me.” She tried to swallow but her mouth was dust dry. “Please, Richie..." Part of her wanted to beg for more…beg for the kiss. Settling for touch, she curled into him, praying her soft whimpers would be enough.

His fingers gripped at her hips to stop the insistent little wiggle as he scraped his teeth over her chin and feasted on her neck until her head tipped back. "The things I'll do to you when I get home will break a dozen laws in half the bible states," he said and flicked his tongue over the divot in her clavicle.

The laugh surprised her, especially as crazy as she felt. "Just a dozen?" Her fingers slid over his shirt before slipping in to graze his chest. She flexed her hips against his hands, needing the closeness. Her intent to wait nearly damned by the fires he was setting off inside her soul.

He pressed his aching shaft along the seam of her cutoffs. The heat of her, whether real or imagined, didn't matter. He was so ready drive into her he had to force himself to remember there were other people in the room. He sealed her lips with his instead, hoping the infusion of her taste would be enough to hold him.



~~



Kate stumbled back into her doorway as she tried to not look at the two of them. The serious clutch of legs, arms and husky words was unsettling. She stared up at Jon, instantly wary of the look in his eyes. He wasn't even looking at them—just her…always her.

Unnerved and half wild with a mixture of horniness and near voyeurism she was ready to scream. "Stop looking at me like that," she whispered furiously.

Jon's brow arched. "Like what, Katy?"

"Like I'm lunch," she said her back against the closed door.

Grinning, he pulled her into a one armed hug, pushing open her bedroom door. "I'll do my best, but you don’t make it easy you know." He walked her backwards shutting the door behind him. "Sorry to intrude on your personal space, but that isn’t something a guy shouldn’t have to witness when he’s not the one on the receiving end." He watched her silently, hoping against hope she'd be ok with this. "Maybe I could tuck you in." Watching her chin lift he held up his hands. “No funny business.”

It had been a long time since a man had been in her life, let alone her room. The one foray into sex that she'd stumbled into, since med school had swallowed her social life, had been a fellow resident with more promise than execution.

Flashes of that night—the couch and the crisp feel of his furred chest beneath her cheek—drove her around the full sized mattress until she had the whole of it between them. "Haven't had anyone tuck me in since I was about eight years old, Sugar," she said.

Ahh…he was getting to her. The heavy with Georgia cream only came out when she was unsure of herself. "Well, you didn’t get nearly enough sleep on that couch. I just thought…" he shrugged, trailing off. Treading carefully, he smiled. "I just thought it would be nice to pamper you a bit, Katy."

Feeling stupid and less than a bug she crawled onto her bed. Waiting for an ulterior motive was righteous and small of her. "Mercy," she said and dropped onto her side, "I sound like a petulant child when you say stuff like that."

He smiled. God, it felt like forever since he’d had anything to smile about, but even cranky she made him want to get closer…To go out of his way to make her happy, even when she was fighting him. "No, you sound like a very tired woman who doesn’t take the time for pampering."

Feeling even more stupid, she waved him closer. "Well c'mon, have a seat. I doubt those two will come up for air in the next few minutes." She snagged a pillow and made room against the headboard.

He crowded into her, leaning back against the headboard. Before she could escape, he pulled her into a platonic hug. He wanted more…Ached for more, really. Not willing to dissect that right now, he settled back. "No complaints here, Kate. Let them have their goodbyes, I’m all about a little doctor pampering."

She rolled her eyes and let herself relax against his belly. Stretching out along his legs, she tucked a pillow between them. Unsure where to put her hands, she clutched the pillow. "I don't know how to be pampered.”

He closed his eyes. It had been ages since he’d actually slept with a woman. Normally he either passed out next to one or ushered them out of his room after he was through. It felt good to hold her...too good. "Looks like I came just in time then." Following instinct, he gently pushed her hair back over her shoulders.

Had to be the hair, didn't it? She sighed as his fingers slowly threaded through her hair, missing tangles, smoothing over the lines of her skull with practiced ease. She didn't want to, but couldn’t quite catch the groan before it escaped. "Oh God," she whispered.

He continued the gentle scalp massage as he felt her body relax against him. From somewhere deep inside an old lullaby his mom had sung to him sprang to mind. He hummed it softly. All the while he just touched her, the silk of her hair easing him just as much as it did her.

The horrors of the previous night melted away, the worry for her friend filtered into a manageable buzz in the back of her mind. A man who'd started out as less than desirable had wormed himself into her bed. What a weird little life she led sometimes. But as his voice dropped into a husky lullaby she felt the world level out…even if it was just for a little while.