Need You Tonight, page 18
The throb low in her belly tightened as his mouth moved over her chin to her other ear. His hands felt so good on her skin. His knuckles brushed over her breasts. Lights sparked behind her eyes, pulsating in time to the pull of that line of desire that flared to life.
Reaching up between them, she lifted his shirt over his head throwing it to the side. Hair ruffled, he smiled at her as if she were the sun. The smile made her bold and she bent and kissed his chest, finding a nipple and running her tongue around it.
‘Lex!’ he breathed.
She ran her hands over his chest; hot skin, hard yet smooth like silk. Dark hairs curled lightly in the centre and ran in a vee disappearing into his jeans. Her eyes followed the trail, as did her hand. He sucked in a breath, his muscles quivering under her touch.
She reached her destination. Power and lust pulled at her and she bit her lip with the sweetness of the sensation. She undid the button, her gaze meeting his. ‘Off. I want to see you. All of you.’
His eyes glittered as he did what she asked and then he was standing in front of her gloriously naked, his skin glowing a soft tan in the light from the bedside lamp. ‘Your turn.’
She slowly removed her pyjama pants, finally completely naked, bared before him.
He bent and kissed her again, this time hotter and wetter and deeper, pulling her closer.
She was drowning.
She liked it.
He began to use his hands. Lightly callused and slightly rough against the smoothness of her skin, they ran over her in wonderful, erotic glides, as if he were playing his favourite tune. He touched every inch of skin, whispering hot words of want and need until she thought she would scream from the build-up of tension inside. She echoed his movements, enjoying the sensation of his muscles trembling under her touch.
Finally, he lowered her onto the bed and she thought she would die from the pleasure of his weight pressing down on her.
Then he took her higher. Where his clever hands went, his expert mouth followed.
‘Oh, god!’ She arched off the bed.
Smiling up at her, he kissed his way across to her other breast and whispered, ‘You can call me that if you like, but I prefer Daemon.’
She laughed, amazed that this moment, this intimately sensual and intense moment, could be filled with laughter.
‘Beautiful,’ he whispered against her skin.
She moaned; her voice hoarse with desire.
Hot licks of pleasure filled every cell, every fibre as he put his hands and mouth to good use. Lights shot behind her eyes and for a long, luscious moment she could think of nothing except the hot pulsing ecstasy shivering through her.
‘Daemon.’ His name shuddered out of her as she came down, her body quivering in the aftermath. She opened eyes heavy with pleasure and looked at the man kissing his way up her body. ‘What did you do to me?’
He grinned. ‘I made your body sing. Did you like it?’
‘Like is not the word I would use, it was—’ She gasped as Daemon’s lips and hands ran over her skin again. The pleasure began to build once more.
Was this how sex was for everyone? Surely not! This had to be something special. He was something special. What he was doing to her was more than special, it was unbelievable. She wanted to give some of that back to him.
She grasped his head as he tried to kiss across her chin. His breath was ragged and there was a look in his eyes that caused her heart to melt. She traced the line of his scar, his brow, his lips and nose. Every inch was precious to her. She hadn’t even realised how precious until now. Everything about it was a treasure and at the centre were his sparkling blue eyes. She could become lost in those eyes.
Her mouth worked, but no sound came out. She couldn’t say the words. There was too much inside; a muddle of feelings and sensations she didn’t understand. It frightened her. But she didn’t pull away. She wanted what he was doing to her. Needed it.
‘What is it?’ Daemon asked, worry creasing his brow.
She brushed at that crease with her fingers. ‘Nothing.’ She pulled his head down and kissed him with all the passion in her soul, hoping it was enough. Enough for her. Enough for him.
Giving herself up to his kiss, she lost herself, drowning in the most exquisite sensations. ‘I want you, Daemon. I want you inside me. I want to feel all of you, be one with you.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.’
She almost whimpered as he left her while he took care of protection, but then he was back, settling over her, kissing her, then carefully and oh so slowly, he entered her. She didn’t want slow. The need in her was too big, too bright and only he could sate it.
She rolled over until she was on top and took control.
Pain sparked through her as he filled her. She stilled, breathing sharply.
‘You okay?’ His fingers gripped her hips, holding her steady.
She nodded, closing her eyes. The pain, it was nothing compared to what she had experienced in her life, and somehow, it was necessary. A breaking with the past. She embraced it. Breathed through it. Let it go. Opening her eyes, she met his gaze and smiled. ‘More.’
‘Lex,’ he breathed, rising to kiss her then dropping back, ceding control.
She began to move.
Strange. Intense. Breathtaking. It was all that and more. Music of a different sort.
That music played in her body and in her head, building and building until she could hear no more, feel only the thrumming and pulsing, the crescendo of wave after wave, the purest sound, until there was a white flash of pleasure and vibration and perfection as she came.
He followed her, rising up to meet her, holding tight until the shuddering had subsided. Then with his arms wrapped around her, he rolled, pulling her into his side, kissing her brow, stroking her back.
Curling into his arms, warm and sated, she smiled and, for the first time in years, fell into a deep and simple sleep.
Chapter 21
Lexi woke to the sound of birds chirping in the apple trees in the nearby orchard. Daemon’s arm, warm and heavy and somehow right, held her to him, his breath a soft puff against her hair. She stayed where she was, head on his chest, fingers touching the warmth of his skin under the sprinkle of dark hair.
They’d taken a massive step forward last night. She’d taken a massive step forward. It hadn’t been planned. Hadn’t been what she thought she wanted.
She wasn’t sorry for it. He might leave—he would leave. In a month. Two. Maybe she’d never get more of him than last night but at least she would have this. Would have this version of herself to hold onto in the hard times that were bound to come. What had happened between them last night was wonderful. More. She hugged it to herself, enjoying the perfect rightness of waking in his arms.
A door opened and closed in the hallway, followed by the sound of the pipes groaning as a shower was turned on. Billy must be up and he would be down soon with Cat in tow.
Beneath her hand, Daemon stirred.
She lifted her head and smiled down at him. ‘Good morning.’
He stretched and rubbed his eyes. ‘Mm. What time is it?’
She looked over at the clock on her bedside table. ‘Seven. It’s Sunday so we’ve got more than an hour before Bev will be up to make breakfast. What do you want to do?’
‘Mm. I don’t know.’ His voice was husky with sleep as he rolled over to look down at her. His eyes scorching. ‘What would you like to do?’
Suddenly she was more incredibly awake than she’d ever been. The world tilted. Without thinking, she kissed him. Breath hissed out of him. Emboldened, she brushed her tongue along the crease between his lips. He shuddered.
‘You’re playing with fire, Lexi.’
‘I hope so.’
‘You’re not sore?’
‘Only in a good way.’ She licked his lips again. He crushed her to him in response, his mouth hot and hard on hers, and she was lost. He pulled her down, flipping over, his body pressing her into the soft mattress. Her head swam, her body electrified as his whole length lined up along hers. She clutched at his back pulling him closer, but couldn’t get close enough, no matter how hard she pressed against him.
‘Easy.’ He pulled back a little. ‘Slow is good too.’ He preceded to show her just how good.
Cat was sitting at the kitchen table, Billy at the stove making breakfast when they finally made it downstairs after another interlude in the shower.
Billy’s gaze ran over her and then Daemon, landing on their clasped hands. She froze, waiting for him to say something about how being with the rocker was a bad idea. But his face broke into a knowing smile and he winked at her. ‘Sleep well?’
‘Oh, shut up.’ The smile on her lips belied the terseness of her words. She crossed the kitchen, kissed Cat on the top of her head, before taking a seat. Daemon sat next to her.
She thought it would seem wrong to be so happy after the events of yesterday, but she couldn’t help the smile that curled her mouth every time she thought about what she’d been doing with Daemon in the shower only fifteen minutes earlier.
Billy’s mouth curled in a smirk as he asked, ‘How come you’re so chipper this morning?’
‘Sorry I’m a little late,’ Bev said, hurrying in the door with Karl following behind and taking the spatula out of Billy’s hand. ‘I’ll do this. You’re burning the toast.’
As Billy dived sideways to rescue the toast, Lexi stood and went over to give Bev a hug. ‘How are you feeling today?’
‘I’m fine, love.’ She nodded at Daemon. ‘I bet you’re hungry this morning.’
‘I am,’ she said, blushing. Did everyone know? Did she care?
Not really.
She looked over at Daemon and they shared a smile. ‘What can I do to help?’
Ten minutes later, they all sat and helped themselves from the plates of bacon, scrambled eggs and toast that graced the middle of the table. Lexi—truly hungry for the first time in ages—tucked in, while Daemon chatted with Billy and Karl, who had come in just as breakfast was being served.
When she was halfway through her breakfast, she asked Bev, ‘Do you have any plans for today?’
‘I thought I’d head over to help Stan finalise plans for the funeral.’
‘Do you need anyone to come with you?’
Bev patted Lexi’s shoulder. ‘Thanks for the offer, love, but I’ll be fine. The shock’s worn off and there’s nothing better than to keep busy helping others. I’ll be happy when this is all behind us and the police have found the murdering bastard.’ Her mouth trembled and she sucked in a shuddering breath.
Lexi leaned over and gave her a hug. Bev clung to her for a moment before pulling back and with a grateful smile, touched Lexi’s face before returning to her breakfast.
They ate in silence, the thought of Jenny’s death once again a heavy weight in the room. Even so, there was a spark of warmth still inside her, flaring brighter every time Daemon’s leg touched hers, or his arm brushed against hers. She’d thought that having sex would help rid her of these strange sensations, but she was more acutely aware of him than she’d ever been. Maybe it would take more than one night to feel normal again.
Would he want more than one night? She’d said she didn’t want to talk about it. Still didn’t because there were explanations she wasn’t willing to give.
Even so, it would be nice to know.
Or maybe it wouldn’t.
Agh! Sick of her circling thoughts, Lexi decided Bev was right: best to keep busy. ‘Do you want any help with Cat this morning?’ she asked Billy. ‘We could take her for that ride?’
Billy shook his head. ‘Maybe later in the day. Gavin’s coming up and I want to show him a new routine I’ve been working on.’ Bummer. ‘Don’t you have the morning off? I thought you’d be keen to get into the studio and work on some of your own stuff. Or something else.’ His gaze went to Daemon.
‘Why don’t you and Dae come down and help me ride the fences?’ Karl suggested, saving her from answering that loaded statement. ‘I haven’t finished checking them after the big storm the other day.’
‘I’ll be in for that,’ Daemon said, rubbing his hands together. ‘And if you need help with repairing fences, I can help with that too.’
‘Are you sure?’ Lexi asked. ‘It’s dirty, backbreaking work.’
‘I know. I used to do it all the time as a lad.’ He laughed at her look of incredulity. ‘Da’s customers were all farmers. I spent many of my holidays earning extra money doing all sorts of odd jobs. Not all these calluses are from guitar playing.’
Karl smiled. ‘It sounds like you’re an old hand. I’ll be glad of the help.’
‘I’ll be happy to work off some excess energy.’ He looked at Lexi meaningfully, making her blush.
Karl finished his breakfast and stood. ‘I’ll see you in about half-a then?’ Daemon nodded, his mouth full, and Karl wished the others good morning, kissed Bev on the cheek, and headed out of the kitchen.
‘Are you going to be available then to go for a ride with Cat and me later?’
‘Absolutely. I’m not missing horse therapy this time. I’ll make sure I’m back by twelve. We’ll have lunch together and then go out. Okay?’
‘Sounds good.’
‘You should try music therapy with her too,’ Daemon said. ‘Bring her down to sit in on the band playing. She seemed to be really into the music at the dance.’
‘You noticed that? I thought so too.’
Billy clapped his hands together. ‘This is great. So much to try. Something’s bound to break through. Come on, Cat. Let’s go get you ready.’
‘I’ll give you a hand with Cat, shall I?’ Bev offered.
Together they herded Cat out of the kitchen, leaving Lexi and Daemon alone.
Daemon pushed to his feet. ‘I might just go and change into work clothes.’
‘Me too.’ She stood. When he reached for her, she reached for him. Their lips met, followed by their bodies, her leg slipping between his, hands splayed on his back, feeling warmth and tensile strength under cloth, longing to feel so much more.
Breathless, he pulled away. ‘Keep this up, we’ll never get to our ride.’
Shaking, she grinned. ‘I’ll see you down at the stables.’ Her smile widened. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do.’
‘I bet you are.’ His grin was cocky and made her laugh.
With some difficulty, she pulled out of his arms and hurried upstairs to put on an older pair of jeans and warm flannelette shirt over her long-sleeved t-shirt. She couldn’t remember when she’d last felt this good. She was happy. Cat had shown good progress; the recordings the band had done so far were coming along and, for the first time ever, she had a lover—someone who didn’t want more of her than she felt capable of giving.
It could be perfect.
Singing lightly under her breath she brushed her teeth and hair, threw some clothes on and practically skipped down the stairs and outside to the stables.
Melissa hailed her as she was halfway to the barn, Phil and Craig tagging behind the vivacious Texan.
‘Hey, Lexi. Can you please tell this worry wort I’m fine to go into town by myself? He seems to think that I won’t be able to manage the drive in my condition.’
‘I didn’t say that,’ Phil objected. ‘I said I didn’t think you should drive my car in these conditions.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Craig asked, a grin on his face. ‘The sun’s out, there’s no wind or rain. Perfect day for a short drive.’
‘Melissa isn’t used to these roads,’ Phil said, glaring at Craig. ‘Not to mention the storms have made the road so potholed I’m worried my car will go into one and never come out.’
‘Oh, honey, it’s so sweet you’re more worried about your car than your wife. I’m touched.’ Melissa had her hands on her hips, laughter in her eyes as she teased her husband.
‘I’m not more worried about my car. I don’t give a flying fu—’
He was cut off as she burst into laughter and kissed him full on the lips. ‘I love you. I know you worry about me. That’s why I came to ask if I could borrow Lexi’s car. It won’t get lost in potholes.’ She turned to Lexi. ‘Is that all right?’
‘Of course it is. I told you when you arrived that you could borrow one of the cars at any time, especially given Phil is right—his car is likely to end up in a pothole caused by the storms.’
‘Are you sure you won’t need it?’
‘Absolutely. I’m going riding with Karl and Daemon and then I’m spending time with Cat and Billy. Take as long as you like.’
Melissa rubbed her hands together. ‘Excellent. Where can I get the keys and I’ll be off?’
‘In the key box hanging just inside the garage door. The code’s CXY1658.’
‘Great. I’ll be back later this afternoon.’
She ran up the path towards the house, leaving Phil looking forlornly after her.
‘She’ll be fine,’ Craig said, nudging him in the shoulder. ‘She drove four-wheel drives all around her parents’ farm in Texas. She’s an old hand.’
‘Why didn’t you go with her if you’re worried?’ Outside rehearsals, Phil could be found by Melissa’s side looking more at peace than at any other time. In fact, she was pretty certain the only time she’d ever seen the tall, wiry drummer still was when he was with his wife.
He shrugged at her question. ‘She booked a massage and facial at a place just outside Mansfield that Bev recommended and said it was a girl thing, no men allowed, even the love of her life.’ He smiled. ‘Besides, she knows that Craig and I wanted to jam some ideas and this meant I could do that without feeling guilty about leaving her to her own devices on our day off.’
‘She’ll be fine. I’ve made the drive thousands of times and never had any problems.’
‘I know. My wife is a tough cookie—or so she keeps telling me.’
‘She is a tough cookie, Phil. You just don’t see it because she goes to mush for you,’ Craig said. ‘To everyone else, she’s an Amazon.’
