Читать книгу Holding Strong - Lori Foster - Страница 8
ОглавлениеDENVER KEPT HIS mouth shut and his gaze vigilant. Cherry returned the man’s smile with a polite nod, then looked away.
“Calling it a night?” he asked her, with a glance at Denver.
Denver stared back.
“Yes,” she said around a yawn. “I’m exhausted.”
Too dumb or too buoyed by liquid courage, the guy eyed Denver again. “You’re a fighter, too?”
Too? Did that mean this bozo was trained? Perfect. Given how he’d panted after Cherry earlier, he’d love to meet him in a competition. “That’s right. You?”
“Just this lame local shit.”
He said nothing to that. Armie made one hell of a living off the “local shit.”
Sticking out his hand, the man said, “Leese Phelps. You’re a heavyweight with the SBC, right? Denver Lewis.”
Without bothering to explain that he’d only recently been recruited to the SBC, Denver gave a brief handshake. “We’ve met?”
“No, but I follow the fights. I’m light heavyweight. Been thinking about moving up, though.”
Probably to dodge Armie. “You fight in this venue?”
“Yeah. You gotta know someone to get in the SBC, right? So I’m stuck here. But I didn’t fight tonight.”
Put him and Armie in the cage together, and Denver knew Armie would annihilate him.
“The SBC lets you wear your hair that long?”
Denver cocked a brow. Yeah, his hair now hung to his shoulders. Long, but who cared? He didn’t. “Doesn’t bother anyone.”
“Huh.”
As the people behind Denver exited the elevator, he allowed himself to be pressed closer to Leese. He started to speak—and Cherry leaned into him.
“I like your hair,” she said. Then she went a step further and reached up to tunnel her fingers through it. In a playful tone, she said, “It’s sexy.”
Denver frowned at her. Sexy was never his intent. He just didn’t bother getting it cut. But sexy? There were still five people crammed in the elevator with them and he felt his ears getting hot.
Cherry looked at Leese. “When you’re as successful at fighting as Denver is, I doubt anyone worries about the length of your hair.”
Leese jutted his jaw enough to look obnoxious. “You’ve only had one fight with the SBC, right?”
Denver didn’t get a chance to reply.
“And he won,” Cherry said with emphasis. Just then, the elevator stopped at her floor and, clutching Denver’s hand, she departed with a brisk, “Have a good evening.”
The hallway was empty, so after the elevator doors closed, Denver drew her up short and backed her to a wall. “What was that about?”
“What?”
“I don’t need you to defend me to that guy or anyone else.”
“I just stated facts!”
“And that bit with my hair?”
“It is sexy.” Again she trailed her fingers through it—and shivered—before getting serious. “But I wasn’t really defending you.”
“No?”
“You were giving poor Leese your patented death stare, and I figured you were about to level him, so...I wanted to defuse things.”
He drew back in insult. “You think I’d start brawling in a crowded elevator?”
“No. But you wouldn’t have to. Your ability is light-years away from Leese’s level and he knows it. He was already intimidated and acting like an ass. I didn’t want you to say anything that would...”
“What?” Even more disgusted, Denver asked, “Hurt his feelings?”
Gaze softening, her attention went all over his body. “Seriously, Denver. Did you really want to argue right now?”
He searched her face. “No.” Hell no. Especially not with her looking at him like that. He moved in again, one hand on the wall by her shoulder. “Thing is, I’m not sure you want what I want.”
For the longest time, their gazes held while her breathing quickened and her cheeks warmed. Finally, in a whisper, she asked, “Do you want me?”
With one short nod, he pressed her to the wall, feeling her all along his length. “Have for a long time.”
“You hid it well.”
“Then I’m one hell of an actor.” He brushed his mouth over her forehead. “We have a lot of talking to do, but I’d as soon do it after.”
“After?”
“After I’ve had you. Maybe several times.”
She dipped her head down so that he stared at the crooked part in her fair hair. He brushed his nose against her, down to her temple, her ear.
Her hands clutched at him. “I got the feeling you didn’t like me.”
“I like you.” It was how her flirting made him feel that he didn’t like so much.
“We’re finally going to have sex?”
Having her spell it out like that, as if he’d just given her a gift, added fuel to the fire. He closed his eyes, drew a breath. “That’d sure be my preference.”
Pushing him back so she could see his face, she asked anxiously, “You won’t change your mind?”
The laugh tried to escape, but he wanted her too much to take a chance on pissing her off. “Where’s your room?”
“Close.” On a sharply inhaled breath, she stepped him back a few paces and darted around him in a rush. “Come on.”
At first he just watched her, the sway of that stellar ass, how her breasts moved, her obvious urgency, the way her hair teased over her shoulders. She stopped halfway down the hall and fumbled in her purse before pulling out a key card. She opened the door, jammed the key card back into her purse, and glanced at him.
Ah, hell. Definitely close. In a few long strides Denver reached her.
Seconds later they were in her room.
A second after that he was kissing her.
* * *
OH GOD, HE tasted good, even better than she’d imagined—which seemed incredible because she’d done a lot of explicit imagining. Big and bold, he slanted his head and nudged her lips open so he could lick in with his hot tongue.
Whoa, the man seriously knew how to curl her toes.
And so much hunger! If she didn’t know better, she might think that he’d wanted her as much as she’d always wanted him. But that couldn’t be true because he was the one who’d started avoiding her. No way had she misunderstood that.
She just didn’t know why.
He was here with her now, though, and she wanted to do this right.
Gasping for air, Cherry said, “Wait.” He lifted his head but stayed close, his hard body pressed to hers, thrilling her. She’d wanted him for so long that the reality of this happening, finally, almost made her frenzied to seal the deal. She could feel his warm breath, the flexing muscles in his chest and arms, and the intimidating rise of his erection.
But if she thought about that right now, she’d totally lose it. Better to concentrate to keep things on track.
Holding on to his biceps—so sexy—she licked her lips, swallowed, and managed to say, “The door?” It still stood open because the second she’d stepped into the room he’d kissed her.
Slow, methodical, he slid one hand up her nape and into her hair, clenching just enough to hold her securely, keeping her right there against him.
That possessive embrace sent another thrill racing through her, turning her breath short and shallow, her heartbeat fast and furious.
With the other hand he shoved the door closed and turned the lock, then went one further and flipped the security latch. That all seemed so final that her knees trembled.
His hand in her hair tugged, tipping her head back and away to give his open mouth access to her throat, tasting her skin, sucking and licking down to her shoulder, then concentrating where her frantic pulse raced.
She couldn’t help but groan at the feel of his teeth, his hot tongue. “Denver...”
He kissed his way back up to her mouth.
So much heat suffused her, she felt light-headed. At the last second, she turned her head. “I need five minutes for a shower.”
That clever hand in her hair brought her face back around. “Later.” And then his mouth was on hers again, his tongue delving, consuming.
Making her forget herself.
She clutched at him, uncaring that she was a little worn from so much dancing, that she’d wanted this first time with him to be perfect.
His free hand went to her waist, kneading her before gliding up her ribs without quite touching her breast, back down past her hip to the curve of her backside. His big hand opened on her, cuddling, stroking her bottom, lifting her to her toes.
He was so big all over that she felt dwarfed next to him. He crowded her more, caging her against the wall as his hand teased back up her body.
When she made a soft sound of anticipation, he eased up, gently kissed the corner of her mouth, her jaw, then locked onto her gaze. Their breaths mingled as his fingers hooked in the V-neck of her shirt and stretchy lace bra, and tugged them both down until he’d freed one breast.
She felt the cooler air on her bared skin, her sensitive nipple. Low light filled the room from the bedside lamp she’d left on, but he didn’t look at her there.
Still with a hand in her hair, staring into her eyes with an intent expression, he cupped her.
Her lips parted; his gaze went heavy.
“Fuck, you feel good.”
Heart thundering, she closed her eyes as he drifted his thumb over her taut nipple.
“Look at me, Cherry.”
Oh, that husky voice. She got her eyes open, and it was so startling, seeing him like this, being the recipient of that golden-brown, predatory stare.
“I like it when you breathe hard,” he told her. “It does interesting things to you here.”
Here being the breast that he continued to fondle so carefully.
“All this soft flesh.” He finally looked down at her, made a rough sound and bent his head to draw her in.
Putting her head back against the wall, Cherry held her breath to smother a groan. From the moment she’d met him months ago, Denver had epitomized the elemental male.
As a heavyweight fighter, he was big and so incredibly strong, with amazing biceps, tight abs and thighs that made her breathless. All of the fighters at the rec center were big and brawny, but other than Gage, Denver was the biggest.
All of it honed strength.
He had confidence down to a fine art, but he never bullied. In fact, she’d witnessed his very big heart overflowing with kindness and generosity. She loved watching the men work with the at-risk neighborhood kids, but because of his size it always seemed more amazing to see Denver tussle with a child, coach a youth or instruct a high school kid.
He could break the average guy in two, but he tempered all that strength with gentle control. Such a turn-on.
With his sense of humor, he made her laugh as often as he made her sigh with lust. But when it came to those things that mattered to him, he had laser-beam focus.
Working with kids.
Supporting his friends.
Training for the sport he loved.
She so desperately wanted him to focus on her, too. But after what had felt like a great connection, their interest mutual, each of them flirting with the other, he’d suddenly cut her cold and she had no idea why.
If they weren’t to have a relationship, she at least had to have this—the intimate knowledge of him, a memory to hold, a fantasy for the dark, lonely nights.
“Stay with me, honey.” He took her mouth again, keeping her from giving a reply.
Stay with him? She was here, in the moment, 100 percent.
As he deepened the kiss more, he smoothed his hand down her back...and into her jeans and panties.
She went to her tiptoes in surprise.
He rumbled in appreciation at feeling her body go flush to his.
Finally freeing her hair, he lifted his mouth and melted her with his heated gaze. “You have the finest ass I have ever seen.” As he spoke, he worked his fingers lower, cupping one whole cheek.
“Um...” Still up on her toes, she glanced toward the bed.
“Soon,” he told her. “Once we’re there, I’m done for, and I want this first time to last.”
It could last forever if he’d let it. But of course she didn’t say that. Just getting him to this point had taken a lot of work.
Lightning seared the dark night, illuminating the room for two seconds, followed by a crash of thunder that rattled the window. She felt all that turbulence deep inside, making her head swim and her knees shake.
Keeping her trapped in his sights, Denver brought his free hand around and opened the snap on her jeans.
Cherry held her breath as the material loosened. He eased down the zipper with excruciating slowness, then slipped both hands into her jeans to work them down her thighs.
Being mostly bare from the waist down was startling enough, but when he went to one knee, her heart almost popped out of her chest. She staggered slightly before his hands gripped her hips.
Looking up at her, he said with concern, “You okay?”
Denver Lewis was on his knees in front of her and her jeans were down.
Not wanting him to stop, she bobbed her head. “Yes. Fine.” In a frenzy of need. Taut with expectation. Incapable of more than one-word replies—but otherwise fine and dandy.
Unconvinced, he continued to scrutinize her. “You’re sure you’re not drunk?”
“Swear.” Yes, she felt a little dizzy and her headache lingered, but she knew exactly what she wanted.
Denver. This.
Now.
His hands never left her, but he settled back on his heels, a frown in place, and Cherry panicked.
“So help me, Denver, if you walk away now, I’ll...”
“What?” Tipping his head, he looked her over. “What would you do?”
Lifting her chin, Cherry said, “I’ll spread a rumor that you’re a lousy lay.”
His slow, crooked grin reassured her. “Can’t have that now, can I?” Giving his attention back to her body, he touched his mouth to her skin, nuzzling her belly, nibbling over to her hipbone while his hands coasted up and down the backs of her thighs. “You are so soft, and damn girl, you smell good.”
Again she wanted to melt, this time from sensation overload. His big hands continued to coast over her skin, lifting every so often to her tush to squeeze and cuddle. His lips were warm, his tongue teasing, and right through her skimpy panties he gave her a soft love bite.
Oh my God. Flattening her hands to the wall for support, Cherry stared down at him. She hadn’t lied about his light brown hair; it really was beyond sexy. But then everything about Denver was downright scrumptious. “I’d love it if you took off your shirt.”
He paused long enough to reach over his own shoulder, grab a fistful of material, and jerk the shirt up and over his head. He stood again, breathing a little more heavily, and murmured, “Your turn.”
So many times she’d seen his gorgeous body in no more than boxing shorts, but never before had she been given the opportunity to touch. She reached for him, but he caught her hands, kissed each palm, and lifted them high over her head.
“Keep them right there for me.” And with that, he lifted the hem of her shirt, drawing it slowly up and over her face until he caught the material between her elbows one-handed—pinning her there, all stretched out.
Hardly fair! “Denver—”
“I’ve thought about stripping you a million times,” he murmured. “Let me have my fun.”
He’d been thinking about stripping her? Oh. Well then... “Okay.”
“Good girl.”
She frowned, but with his palm playing over her from shoulder to hip as if savoring her, she couldn’t gather her thoughts enough to protest the ridiculous endearment.
Briefly, he came in for a hot eating kiss that left her shaking before levering back so he could open the front closure on her bra.
She heard the small catch of his breath as the cups parted, showing the inner swells of her breasts, but not quite revealing both nipples.
“So fucking stacked,” he whispered roughly, lowering his head to nuzzle aside the material with his mouth.
Going perfectly still, her pulse buzzing and her vision narrowing to the crown of his overlong hair, she waited—and felt his hot breath, then the touch of his hotter tongue...
And he sucked her in.
The vibrating moan came out loud and high as she stiffened, her muscles all going taut in a rush of pleasure.
“Relax.” He kissed his way to her other breast and drew that nipple into the damp heat of his mouth. At the same time she felt his fingertips lightly tracing over the crotch of her panties.
Frantic to touch him, Cherry struggled against the restraint of her shirt.
He released her, saying, “Take it easy,” while helping to free her hands. The second she could, she leaned into him, her hands everywhere, all over him, relishing the light furring of hair on his chest, those sleek hard shoulders, the bulge of his rock-hard biceps. She trailed a hand down his abdomen, following that silky happy trail until it disappeared into his low-hanging jeans. Almost desperate, she suggested, “The bed...”
He caught her wandering hand. “I said no.” With far too much ease, he turned her suddenly so that she faced the wall. Stepping in close to her back, he nestled his erection against her bottom. “Trust me, okay?”
She felt too warm, dazed with wanting. Nodding, she whispered, “Okay.” But she honestly didn’t know how much longer she could stand there. Her legs seemed almost incapable of holding her up and she had a rushing in her ears.
With a kiss to her temple, he slipped one foot between hers, nudging her legs wider apart. When she accommodated him, he murmured, “Good girl. Just like that.”
Breathless, she said, “You are so sexist.”
“Maybe. Sorry.” His arms came around her, one hand cupping a breast, the other wedging between her thighs. “I’m too turned on to worry about it.”
He stroked and... Yeah. She didn’t want him to worry about it, either.
Unless... “Wait.”
His hands curled, holding her more firmly. And given where they were, wow. She just might faint.
“What now?” he breathed near her ear.
“You have protection?”
“A rubber.” He nibbled on her earlobe, touched his tongue inside her ear. “More in my room if we get that far.”
More if we... This time, her “Okay” ended on a squeak as he readjusted to put his hand inside her panties.
“Mmmm,” he growled, his fingers already exploring lightly, opening her, playing with her. “You need me to take care of you first, don’t you, girl?”
Be strong, Cherry told herself. Tell him you’re a woman, not a girl. Tell him...
His finger worked into her.
“Yes,” she moaned, arching back against him.
“That’s good.” He stroked into her, deliberately teasing. “You’re nice and wet, but small, too. And since I’m not so small, I need to—”
“Armie told me,” she admitted, her thoughts mostly centered on how it felt to be held to his hard frame, his strong arms around her, his fingers doing those amazingly erotic things to her.
Denver stilled. Quietly, his tone off, he said, “Armie told you what?”
“That you’re big.” She wiggled her bottom against him, both to acknowledge his size and to hopefully get him back to stroking her. She was equally excited and a little nervous.
From head to toes he went as cold and hard as granite, then in one quick move turned her to face him again.
Her shoulders touched the wall and Denver leaned into her. “Why the fuck were you discussing my dick with Armie?”
The whispered question sounded more lethal than a shout. Accompanied with that look in his eyes, she couldn’t think.
“Umm...”
He waited with throbbing impatience, not budging, not asking again.
Man, she had a big mouth. “See...Yvette and I were talking.” Mostly it was her, pretty much mooning over Denver. But he didn’t look receptive to hearing that right now, so she did her best to summarize judiciously. “You know, about how nicely ripped fighters are? And Armie overheard us.”
Denver’s glittering gaze narrowed. But she wasn’t afraid of him. Never that.
She just really wanted to get past this so they could get back to what they’d been doing before she so badly misspoke.
Clearing her throat, she offered, “You know how Armie is.”
“I do,” he agreed in an unsettling whisper. “How well do you know him?”
“Well enough that I was only a little embarrassed that he busted us. He accused us—”
“You and Yvette?”
She nodded, but admitted sheepishly, “Mostly me.”
“Go on.”
“He said we were being shallower than men just because we appreciate how sexy you guys are.”
His jaw locked.
Very slowly, Cherry reached out until her hand cupped him through his jeans. Lips parting at the reality of his length and thickness, she wavered, for the first time wondering if maybe he was too big.
“You’ll take me,” he assured her, his voice low and rough. His eyelids went heavier, his mouth tighter, but he didn’t move away.
When she stayed silent, overwhelmed, he encouraged her, saying, “Go on.”
So she stroked him.
“No.” His throat worked as he swallowed. “Get to the part where you and Armie discussed my junk.”
“Oh.” She would much rather explore him. “Armie overheard me talking about you and—”
He stopped her long enough to open his jeans, ease down the zipper, then carry her hand inside. Hot and sleek and big enough that her fingers didn’t quite circle him.
Like a flash fire, heat rolled through her.
Denver gave a soft growl, covered her hand with his own, and guided her in a slow stroke. After three deep breaths, he asked, “What were you saying exactly?”
How could he chat right now? She certainly couldn’t. “I don’t remember.”
“Cherry.”
Wanting the discussion over with, she shook her head. “Something about liking your shoulders and your thighs.”
He flattened his free hand on the wall next to her temple and just stared at her while enjoying her touch. “Still listening.”
“Right. So he, ah, suggested...” To get it over with before she fainted, Cherry blurted, “That you would happily give me a viewing, and that you were bigger than most.”
“Those aren’t the words he used.”
“I can’t think!”
He brushed his mouth against her temple. “Try.”
How had she missed this bossy streak of Denver’s? “He...he said you’d gladly give me a show and you were the best hung one in the bunch.” The second the words were out, she felt his smile.
“Yeah. That sounds more like Armie.”
“He was right.” She lifted her other hand, now holding him in both. “Honest to God, Denver, I never imagined—”
His choked laugh was accompanied by a hug. “It’s not all that.”
“I...I need to sit down.” She seriously did.
“Soon.” With two fingers under her chin he lifted her face. “No more talking about my cock with other men.”
For a second there, his wording dazed her, then she nodded. “Okay, sure.” She hadn’t meant to have that discussion with Armie anyway. “No problem.”
Smile going crooked, he added, “You can brag to the other ladies all you want.”
Jealousy spiked through her; he wanted the attention of the other women? “You—”
“Now, if we’re done with interruptions...?” He pulled her hands away and went back to one knee, dragging her panties down at the same time. “Step out.”
Sidetracked, she took in his position at her feet, his gaze level on her body, and nothing else existed. Another bright flash of lightning emphasized the stark intensity in his eyes as he took in her nudity.
No one had ever looked at her quite that thoroughly.
She no sooner had that thought than bad memories tried to intrude, memories of being scrutinized critically, against her will—
No. Ruthlessly, she quashed those thoughts.
She was with Denver—nothing bad in that. He was unlike any man she’d ever known, definitely better than most. When it came to ugly experiences, there was no comparison.
Keeping his focus on her body, he held her hand to steady her as she stepped free of the underwear. Brushing them aside with the rest of their discarded clothes, Denver said, “Jesus, Cherry, you have a smokin’ body.” He touched his fingertips down her belly to her sex. “I’m dying to taste you.”
With no more warning than that, he cupped her backside, pulled her forward, and pressed his face to her.
Gasping, Cherry sank her fingers into his hair and held on.
Apparently done waiting, his hands—easily twice the size of her own—roamed over her body while he treated her to soft, devouring kisses that forced her to lock her knees and use the wall for support.
Putting his palms to the inside of each thigh, he urged her to widen her stance. Once he had her arranged to his liking, he stroked two fingers of one hand into her, and used two fingers of his other hand to part her.
Another throaty growl of appreciation, and he closed his mouth over her throbbing clitoris, suckling softly while rasping with his tongue.
Oh God, oh God, oh God... His hair felt cool brushing her thighs, his fingers working inside her, pressing, and he kept making those low sounds of hunger...and appreciation.
Thunder shook the floor beneath them. Wind lashed the rain against the window. The strobe effect of the lightning increased to an almost constant flash.
Locking her hands in his hair, she cried out as he drove her higher, as pleasure drew her tighter. Like a powder keg with a short fuse, she surprised herself by exploding so quickly. Denver supported her easily, and good thing because she went boneless, her tripping heart leaving her breathless and far too weak.
