Page 18

18

ANDI

Ford’s on a road trip for three days.

I did this once before and survived, but this time Elodie comes over to help.

She came over this afternoon to babysit while I went out to a client meeting that had to be done at their office.

And she stayed for the evening so I could catch up on work.

I love her.

Ford really has to do something to find a nanny.

Willa told him she needs at least another month, but she’s not sure.

It’s been over two months and we’re both exhausted.

I may have lost a client and he’s not happy with how he’s playing.

I’m also really horny.

It’s an unfortunate reality.

Spicy romance books and my vibrator are not solving this problem.

Part of it might be because I keep thinking of Ford.

We’ve spent a lot of time together lately and he’s an attractive man and also, I find his care for his daughter very endearing and while I’ve always liked him…

now I like him.

The team flies home late Thursday night.

Rather than disturb Tilly in the middle of the night (although she disturbs us all the time) she and I stayed at Ford’s place, and I put her down in her little cot in the bedroom.

I watch TV for a while, yawning, trying to stay awake, and after Tilly wakes up around one-thirty and I feed her, I put her back down.

I want to go to sleep, too.

I eye Ford’s big bed.

I could lie down there.

Would that be weird?

I sit on the edge and look around.

Without a baby to distract me, I take in the details—a framed picture of his parents on the dresser, a pair of running shoes near the closet, a book on the nightstand.

I reach for the soft throw blanket on the end of the bed and pull it up and over me as I lie down.

I burrow my face into the pillow.

It smells like Ford, that warm leather and spice scent.

Oh God.

It’s turning me on.

I squeeze my thighs together, close my eyes, and try not to think about his big hands and hard-packed abs.

I’m awakened by a low, husky voice saying my name.

“Andi.”

“Mmmm.” I cuddle into the bed deeper.

I don’t want to wake up.

“Hey.” My shoulder gets a gentle nudge.

Then the bed moves as a heavy weight settles on it.

I blink my eyes open and my head jerks up.

Ford is next to me.

On his bed.

I stare at him in the shadows.

“Oh. Hi.”

“Hi,” he whispers.

“You fell asleep.”

“I did.” Still disoriented, I ask, “Where am I?”

“In my bed.” His low voice and those words make me quiver.

Then he adds in an even deeper tone, “You’re sleeping in my bed.”

Those words…

that tone of voice…

are erotic as hell.

We gaze at each other.

He has his head propped up on one elbow, his big body close enough for me to reach out and touch.

The light coming through the door highlights his cheekbones and mouth.

He watches me and it feels like he’s burning me up with his eyes.

I inhale his scent again, deeper now he’s here with me.

Every nerve ending on my skin is electrified and a yearning ache blooms between my legs.

My nipples tighten into hard nubs.

I want him so much.

I’ve wanted him so much.

It feels essential…

unavoidable.

I pull air into my lungs slowly.

His lips part as he gazes at me.

My eyes linger there and my mouth opens slightly, too, with intense desire to taste him, to feel his lips, his beard stubble, his breath.

“Andi,” he breathes.

“Yes.” I blink slowly.

He lifts a hand and his fingertips touch my face.

Am I still asleep?

Am I dreaming?

“Ford…”

“Yeah.” The corners of his mouth lift, his gaze moving from my mouth to my eyes.

I look into those depths and see that he wants me too.

I lift my hand, curve my fingers around his hand at my cheek, and draw it slowly down.

He pulls in a sharp inhale and then I press his hand to my breast.

“Jesus,” he whispers, his eyelids going heavy.

My heart thuds against my ribs.

My breast swells and pushes into his palm, and he cups it, gentle but firm.

A small noise escapes my mouth.

“I want this,” I murmur.

“Fuck.” His mouth is soft and vulnerable, his eyes dark, and he molds my breast again.

I move my hands to his chest and lay them there, feeling his heartbeat as violent as mine.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

His mouth moves closer to mine and I barely move my head so that our mouths meet.

My fingers curl into his dress shirt beneath the open suit jacket.

Our kiss deepens as he opens his mouth over mine and his tongue licks inside.

His taste is heady, and I’m already sleep-addled.

The room shifts around us and he moves, easing me onto my back, moving over me, one hand sliding into my hair, the other cupping my breast and squeezing, rubbing my nipple with his thumb through my T-shirt and bra.

I ache to feel his weight on me.

“Wait.”

He freezes.

I glance over at Tilly in her little bed and bite my lip.

He follows my gaze.

“She’s asleep.”

“Yes. But…” I meet his eyes questioningly.

“Will we scar her for life if we have sex in the same room as her?”

I almost want to laugh.

Or maybe cry.

“I’m sure parents do it all the time.”

“Yeah.” He glances her way again.

“If she wakes up, we can stop.”

“Right.” I wrap my arms around his neck while he kisses me again.

And again.

I’m on fire, heat burning from pussy into my belly, spreading over my entire body, and my pelvis lifts helplessly against him.

I want to part my thighs and welcome him between them and I’m moving ineffectually, wishfully.

Maybe he knows what I want…

he moves over me, knees on either side of my hips, his mouth moving over my cheek, my jaw, my mouth again.

His tongue slides deeper into my mouth and our mouths are feverish, frantic.

He fondles my breast and I reach for his butt, cupping my hands around his tight ass and pulling him close.

“Mmmm.” I’m making needy sounds of excitement and want.

“Oh God, I need to be quiet.”

“Yeah,” he whispers, then licks my bottom lip.

“You taste good. And you feel so good.” And he moves his legs so he’s between my thighs now and presses his thick erection right to my center.

I give a soft cry at the sensation of having him right where I want him.

I lift my knees and my hips roll against him, finding the pressure I crave on my clit.

He meets my movements, and we’re kissing and grinding together and panting.

He presses his face into the side of my neck, his breath warm and tickling, his mouth sucking gently, his tongue gliding over the spot.

Heat surrounds me and tension coils inside me, tightening almost painfully and then shattering, consuming heat bursts low in my pelvis and spreads to my curling toes and fingertips.

I whimper and make muffled, nonsensical noises as I shudder through my climax.

“Wow.” He rubs his mouth over mine, inhales my short breaths.

“Andi… you…”

I’m trembling, hands gripping his suit jacket.

Jesus.

We’re still fully dressed and I just had an orgasm.

“Please,” Ford murmurs against my lips, then brushes them over my cheek.

“Please what?”

“Please… can I rip your fucking clothes off?”

My belly flips, and a moan leaks from my lips.

“Yes.” I find his mouth and kiss him again.

“I want yours off, too.”

“Fuck, yeah.” He rises onto his knees and, with his eyes fastened on mine, he removes his suit jacket and tosses it aside.

His fingers move to the buttons of his shirt and I watch in fascination as he opens them one by one, excruciatingly slowly.

I’m throbbing from my orgasm and from reawakening need.

With the shirt gone, the pale light outlines his lean, athletic shape, the curves of muscles and angles of bone.

My T-shirt has ridden up and he grazes his fingers over the skin of my stomach.

I shiver.

His hands move higher, under the shirt, up to my breasts, and he cups them both through my lace bra.

All the while, he’s watching me closely, judging my reaction, which is to suck in a sharp breath.

My nipples are painfully tight and my abs contract.

“Is this okay?” he whispers as he pushes my T-shirt higher, up over my breasts.

I swallow.

“Yes.”

He traces the scalloped edge of the bra cup, his gaze following his finger, down between my breasts, back up the other side.

“This is so pretty. And look at your tits. Jesus.” A low groan rises in his throat.

I can only stare up into his face, my entire body burning, my belly flipping at his attention.

His admiration.

He slides a hand under my back and I shift to the side to give him access.

His fingers snap open my bra with ease.

“You’re good at that,” I tease breathily.

“Good hands.” He smiles.

“Hockey player, remember?”

“Ah.” A smile pulls at my lips.

“Right.” Our eyes meet with shared amusement that is hot and intimate.

“Still okay?”

“Oh, God, yes.”

“Let’s get you out of this.” He grasps my sweater and I lift up so he can pull it off my arms and over my head.

It joins his clothing somewhere on the floor.

“And this. Although this black lace is sexy as hell.” He draws the thin lace cups of my bra down, the straps falling off my arms, and his gaze is burning hot as he stares at my bare breasts.

“Perfect. Jesus.” He leans in and presses a kiss between them, his mouth hot on my skin.

“I’ve wanted this… wanted to see you… touch you…”

I sigh with pleasure and surrender.

He turns his head and kisses the inner curve of one breast, then the other, slow open-mouthed kisses that have me sizzling and melting.

His hands cup my flesh and he lifts his gaze to mine again.

“I want to taste those sweet nipples.”

I bob my head, no longer capable of speech, but I want him to know I’m totally with him on this.

When his lips close over one tip, my body jolts and my back arches, offering myself to him.

He makes a rough noise and sucks gently, and the pull of his mouth sends a streamer of lovely sensation right between my legs.

I can’t stop the gasping, gulping sounds that spill from my lips.

“Oh God, that’s so good. I love having my nipples sucked.”

“Good.” He licks one peak.

“I love sucking them.” And he moves to the other to sip that one, then suck harder.

“I wanna know everything you like.”

Pure desire sizzles over my skin, converging between my legs where I’m aching and wet.

Then he stretches out over me, skin to skin from chest to waist, crushing my breasts against his hard chest, and it feels so damn good my head is spinning.

Electricity sparks every nerve ending in my body.

He kisses me again, hands in my hair, and I clutch his shoulders and squeeze his hips with my thighs.

I’m falling into sensation, his mouth owning mine in deep, thorough kisses.

His body burns against mine.

“I’m losing patience,” he mutters against my ear.

“Need you naked.”