All I Ever Need Is You (The Sullivans #14)(30)

“Maybe,” she said as she licked her lips, “you should just show me instead.”

“It would be my pleasure.” He grinned as he pulled the satin sash from her robe. “And yours, too, I hope. Have you ever been tied up before?”

“What?” She sat up with a start. “No.” She shook her head. “God, no.”

She looked so adorable when she was shocked that he had to kiss her. “Good.”

“Good?” She looked confused and maybe even a little irritated, too. “Why is that good?”

“Because,” he said as he gave her another kiss, “I like knowing I’m going to be your first.”

“You’re not going to be my first. I can’t let you tie me up.”

“Why not?”

She made a little growly sound at the same question he’d asked her when she’d first told him she couldn’t date him, and he was hard-pressed not to grin like a fool. There really was something to this oil-and-water stuff, it seemed.

She was just so much fun, both to wind up, and then to watch come unfurled in his arms.

“Because.”

He couldn’t hold in his laughter anymore. Fortunately, by now her lips were twitching at the corners, too. “One good reason, Kerry. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t use this strip of satin to tie your wrists to the headboard.”

“Here’s one great reason: I’m not like the other women you’ve been with.”

“I’ve never for one single second thought that you were.” He dropped the sash so that he could put his hands on either side of her face. “And if I ever do anything to you that makes you feel like you are—if I ever do anything that you don’t like—promise you’ll tell me so that I can do everything in my power to make it up to you.”

* * *

All her adult life, Kerry had stuck to her list of what was and wasn’t acceptable. Obviously, letting a man tie her up in bed was on the not acceptable list. Then again, since she was already having a sexy night in a hotel with a totally inappropriate man...

“I’ve liked everything you’ve done to me.” But that wasn’t good enough, wasn’t anywhere near close to the full truth, so she made herself tell him, “I’ve loved it.”

The way he kissed her told her how much he liked hearing it. And then she surprised them both by shrugging off the robe, lying back against the pillows, and lifting her arms over her head.

“Tie me up.” Heat flared in his eyes, but when he didn’t move to do it right away, she knew he was concerned that she might not really mean it. So she added, “Show me how much I’m going to love this, too.”

Finally, he smiled, and reached for her wrists with the sash. “You’ll never look at a headboard the same way again, that’s for sure.”

Despite her sudden nerves at trying another new thing with Adam, she had to smile back. His grins were infectious.

Heck, everything about him drew her in. His smart mouth. His wicked smiles. His passionate kisses. His brilliant hands, always knowing just how—and where—to touch her.

When he’d finished tying her up, he shifted back to look at her, his heated gaze slowly roving head to toe and then back up again. “You’ve got to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever set eyes on.”

She could feel her skin flush, both at the way he was taking in her nakedness and at his compliment. “Thank you.”

“Jesus, hearing you say that prim little thank you while I’ve got you tied to the bed... You just might be the end of me, Kerry.” His eyes looked a little wild and a muscle in his jaw was jumping as he directed her. “Tug on the sash.”

She tried to move her arms, but though she wasn’t in any pain, they didn’t have much give. She was well and truly at his mercy now. But though she supposed she should have been nervous about giving herself over to him this way, the only thing pumping through her veins right then was a desperate anticipation.

“Looks like you’re all mine to play with now, aren’t you?”

Did he know how his question—just on the edge of wicked—made her heart feel as though it were going to pump out of her chest? Or how badly she wanted him to kiss her?

And then, just like magic, his mouth was on hers. Warm and heady, reassuring and wild, all at the same time. She got so lost in his kiss that she almost forgot her hands were tied up until she tried to reach for him. That was when he finally drew away from her mouth.

“Every inch of you,” he promised. “I’m not going to miss a spot.”

And, oh my, did he ever make good on his promise as he took advantage of having her at his mercy. He ran his fingers and lips and tongue over her curves, her hollows, lingering at the most sensitive spots. Higher and higher he took her with every caress, with every sensual stroke of his fingers over her until she was simultaneously shattering and begging for more of him.

Thankfully, he didn’t keep teasing. Maybe because he could see that she was at the breaking point. Or maybe because that was right where he was himself. Barely able to survive staying apart, when all either of them wanted anymore—all either of them needed anymore—was to be connected in the most elemental way possible.

Her name was on his lips, and his was on hers, as he cupped her face in his hands. The moment hung between them like a gift you couldn’t wait to open, but wanted to savor for just one more moment before you tore off the wrapping paper. And then, a heartbeat after he’d sheathed himself, his mouth was on hers again as he thrust into her.