Page 18 of One Little Memory (Cherry Valley Novella)

“Phoenix, I want you inside me,” Jo said authoritatively.

There was no room for debate. She wanted to feel him.

To taste him. He started to kiss her, but she backed off.

“Take off your jeans first.” She helped him out of the rest of his clothing and then pushed him gently back so he was lying on the bed.

If she was going to jail, she was going to enjoy every second of this.

It could be years before she ever got to be held again.

Ever got to touch Phoenix again. Her breath caught. She couldn’t think of that now.

She straddled Phoenix then, determined to drive any scary thoughts from her mind.

She kissed him deeply. Then she traveled her lips down his neck until she reached his chest. With her teeth, she teased his nipples, and he groaned with pleasure.

He tried to grab her ass, but she squirmed away from him.

“Jo." His low voice rumbled from his chest and spread shivers across her body.

She touched the hard planes of his abdomen, running her fingers over his six-pack. He was so damn beautiful. She wanted to burn his image into her memory. It would be the only comfort she would have for many nights to come.

She toyed with his nipples, licking and pinching, and then trailed lower until she hovered her mouth over his cock.

She ran her tongue across the tip before making slow circles around the crown, first one way and then the other.

Gradually, she drew him deeper into her mouth as she sucked and twisted.

Phoenix growled her name; his deep voice sent shivers down her spine.

She wanted him inside of her, but first she yearned to hear him say her name again.

She didn’t care if it was her real name or not.

It was his name for her, and that was all that mattered.

His hips began to move, and she responded with her tongue.

“Jo, I’m not gonna last if you keep that up.”

She stopped and looked up, staring into his eyes before ordering, “Don’t come yet.

” Then she smiled wickedly before returning to her previous position.

The fact that he wanted her so badly made desire course through her body.

She was already soaking wet with anticipation.

She started to lower herself onto him, but he grabbed her hips and pulled her down hard.

She gasped. “You need to wait.”

“Fuck waiting.” He began moving his hips underneath her. She moaned and arched to take him in fully. She matched his rhythm and urged him to go faster. He felt so damn good inside her. “Faster,” she demanded again. He obliged, holding her hips as she rode him.

“Jo,” he said through gritted teeth. She knew he was on the verge of coming but so was she.

She increased speed once more and then arched, her hips bucking as she came.

A few strokes later, he careened over the edge and she flopped down onto his chest. Her body was trembling from the intensity of the orgasm.

It had been amazing. Truly earth-shattering.

Something she already wanted more of. If only…

Her breathing evened out as she lay on his chest. She didn’t dare lift her head to meet his gaze. She wasn’t ready for this moment to end. Her past was blank, and her future was dark. This was all she had, and she was determined to make it last as long as possible.

Phoenix must have felt the same way because his phone rang and he didn’t move. Her stomach rolled and she braced herself for the moment when he slid her to the side and reached for the phone, but it didn’t come. She knew he was awake, but he stayed still. The ringing stopped. Her body relaxed.

Not yet.

The phone rang again. This time, she knew he would answer it. He still didn’t move, but by the third ring, she had to move. She got up, grabbed the T-shirt she’d slept in off the end of the bed, and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

She braced her arms on the sink and stared into the mirror.

Who are you? She examined her reflection.

Why would you kill a man ? She had no answer.

Instead, she pulled on the T-shirt, used the facilities, and then splashed a bit of water on her face.

She came back out of the bathroom to find Phoenix sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing his jeans, staring at his phone screen.

“What?” she demanded “What is it?” She braced herself for his response.