Up in Smoke (Crossing the Line, #2)(34)

It all came pouring out, his words tumbling over themselves in an effort to reach her and be accepted. “It felt good sometimes. Maybe all the time.”

“What felt good?”

“Beating on scumbags back in Brooklyn. Sometimes I…wanted to do it.” He swallowed the knot in his throat. “I started to like it too much. It was like a reprieve from thinking.”

“Like my fire.” She nodded against him. “I understand.”

“Tell me you know I’d never hurt you,” he begged her quietly. “Especially out of anger. Tell me.”

“I know that,” she whispered.

The frustration in his chest had eased, but as he leaned back and looked her over from head to toe, it took a different shape. A possessive one that, unlike the anger she’d soothed away, wouldn’t allow a similar fate. He let his gaze wander down her exposed stomach to end between her thighs. “Tempt a room full of men with what’s mine? You show me what you were tempting him with. I need to be the only one who sees.”



Adrenaline sparkled, adding to Erin’s arousal. “Here? Outside?”

“No.” Connor closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “If anyone else looks at you today but me, Erin, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

Her heart rate tripled. Look. He just wanted to look, not touch. It was so freeing, knowing he was aware of her limits. That he’d embraced them. She wanted to reward him for that. Wanted to ease the jagged edges she sensed she’d created inside him. So when Connor strode to the driver’s side and climbed inside, Erin followed with zero hesitation.

Already she could see the outline of his erection in his jeans. He followed her gaze to where it pressed against his fly and squeezed it while she watched. Her breath escaped on a moan.

“Climb up here on my lap and face the front.” He moved the seat back, giving them more room, before tucking his hands safely behind his head. Erin curled her fingers around the steering wheel and hefted herself up. She draped one leg over his farthest thigh and sank down into his lap. Connor growled into her hair. “Lose the jeans, sweetheart. Show me what those men were thinking about. Tight thighs that lead to a little pink *.” He bounced her on his lap once, twice. “They’ll all go home tonight and think about you bent over and pouting while they f*ck their wives.”

Erin felt like she’d been pulled under by a tidal wave. Wind rushed in through the open door, whipping throughout the car in a symphony of white noise. She shouldn’t be turned on by his words, but there was a naughtiness to them that stirred her up like nothing in her memory. Connor’s thickness pressed between her legs and she needed it closer. She unsnapped her jeans and leaned back onto his shoulder, pushing them down her hips.

“That’s it. Good girl.” They both groaned when she sat back down on his lap, this time wearing only panties. “Now give me a dance. Tease me like you teased the men.”

“No, I didn’t, I…” She braced her hands on the steering wheel and worked her hips in tight circles, contradicting her words. A whimper fell past her lips as lust winged her below her belly button. Her gaze strayed to the rearview and she saw that Connor had his bottom lip between his teeth. His hands were still tucked behind his head, making his arm muscles strain. Breathtaking man.

“Enough. You’re the only one who gets to come today. If you keep that up, I’ll break that promise.” He jerked his hips beneath her. “Turn around.”

Erin turned in his lap to straddle his hips, her breath catching at the sight of him. So intense. So commanding. Darkly sexual. “Why won’t you come?”

“Punishment, Erin. It’s going to drive you crazy knowing how hard I am for the rest of the day, but I won’t let you do a damn thing about it.” A muscle ticked in his cheek. “This is for yesterday when you touched yourself in my goddamn bed. And it’s for today when you put yourself at risk.”

Denial made her head spin. He was right. It would kill her. “Connor—”

“Your shirt comes off next.” His gaze tracked down her throat and lingered on her tightened nipples. “I know they were looking at your tits. God knows I can’t take my f*cking eyes off them.”

An idea formed in the midst of the storm taking place within her. Right now, as close as they were, Connor had thrown up a barrier and she hated it. He might not allow her to give him pleasure, but what about the opposite? It might not work, it might end in disaster, but she had to try. With shaky fingers, she grasped the hem of her shirt and drew it over her head, tossing the garment onto the passenger seat.

Connor’s attention was immediately captivated by her braless breasts, breath racing in and out past his lips. “Jesus, Erin. Could you get any more f*cking beautiful?”

The expression on his face was a mixture of awe and need, so potent it reached out and grabbed her by the throat. “Touch them with your mouth,” she whispered, ignoring the stabs of fear in her belly.

His erection swelled against the inside of her thigh, making her gasp. “Sweetheart, no. That’s not what this is about.”

“Don’t tell me no. I can feel how bad you want to.” She took her breasts in her hands and lifted them like an offering. “I want you to.”

“God.” A masculine groan filled the car. “I spend every minute of the day wanting to touch you, Erin. If you get hurt or scared, I’m not going to handle it well when I can’t hold you. It’s going to f*ck me up real bad. Please be sure.”