Wilde at Heart (Wilde Security, #3)(29)

“What did you expect?” She had to fight to keep from grinning as she dug the scoop into the carton. He was making this too easy. “You said sex is off the table. And although I’d rather have sex on the table—literally—and I think your self-imposed celibacy is kinda martyr-ish—and not in a good way—I’ll still respect your decision. I’m all about alternative lifestyles. Live and let live.”

He looked completely baffled. “That’s…mature of you.”

“It is, isn’t it?” She grabbed the canister of Reddi-wip, shook it, and aimed at him. “But this isn’t.” She pressed her finger on the tip.

“Shelby!” He sputtered in disbelief as the cream splattered his face. “What the hell?”

“Hey, you said no sex, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun.” She hit him with another spray from the can. “You need to learn about fun and spontaneity.”

“Give me that.” He tried to swipe it and got another face full of whipped cream for his trouble. He growled and lunged. She dodged. They circled the island, her grinning, him scowling, until he feigned right and caught her around the waist when she darted to the left. He swept her up off her feet, but lost his footing on the now slippery tile, and they tumbled to the floor in a knot of limbs.

Reece took the brunt of the fall, but it didn’t slow him down. He snatched the can from her and constructed a neat pile of cream on top of her head. “You are trouble.”

“Yeah, I am.” She scooped up some of the cream and smeared it over his face and chin, down his neck and chest.

And like that, the mood changed, just as she hoped it would. His heart pounded under her palm, and his breathing quickened, became choppier. She moved her hand up his chest, around the back of his neck, and tangled her fingers in the hair at his nape.

He tensed. “I know when I’m being manipulated.”

“And you like it.” Obviously, judging by the action going on below his belt. She continued skimming her hand down his back, over his ass, then circled around to cup the growing bulge of his cock. “Still so sure you want sex off the table?”

He shuddered. “If we do this, it doesn’t change anything.”

“Of course it doesn’t. It’s just sex.” As soon as the words left her lips, she knew she was wrong. For a man who had put aside his physical needs for years, it wouldn’t be just sex.

Still she wanted it. Wanted him. Wanted to be his first.

His fingers trembled as he traced the line of her jaw, the caress light and soft. He leaned down, and she thought for sure he was about to kiss her, but he stopped at the last second before their lips touched. “Shelby…there’s something else.”

“What?” she breathed. For the love of all things sexy, what else could there be?

“I didn’t deny myself for only the reasons I told you.” His breath fanned her cheek as he nuzzled her just under the ear before giving the lobe a quick little nip. “I’ve…there’s a darkness in me, and it’s always frightened me. Like I’m not normal.”

Her pulse fluttered. “What kind of darkness?”

“The first time we met, I wanted to put my handprint…” He skimmed a palm up her leg and squeezed her ass. “Right there.”

She shivered and wetness pooled between her thighs. “I want it there, too.”

“And I thought I’d want to tie you up, blindfold you, and maybe I still will, but the way you had me splayed out on that bed in Vegas was so f*cking hot, I want you to do it to me again.”

She speared her fingers into his hair and tugged until he met her gaze. “If you think you’re turning me off right now, you have another think coming.” She was so hot she was about to internally combust. “Touch me, Reece. See for yourself.” She guided his hand between her legs.

He growled and traced the seam of her jeans. “Let’s take this to the bedroom and get these off you.”

“No.” She pulled him back when he tried to get up. “Here. Right here.”

She expected a protest. Instead, he scooped her up, stood, and laid her on the island. His hands shook as he fumbled the button on her jeans, slid them and her panties down her legs. Whether from nerves or desire, she didn’t know. Maybe a bit of both.

Her hands weren’t all that steady either when she reached to unfasten his belt. He stepped back and pulled off his shirt, his muscles bunching with the movement. His belt hissed as he whipped it off. He trailed the end of the leather strap over her stomach. “Next time, I plan to tie you up with this.”

She caught her breath. “There’ll be a next time?”

“I’m not going to kid myself. I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you after this.” A smile quirked his lips. “I can barely do it now.”

“I don’t mind.” She captured his hands, guided them to her aching breasts. He massaged her through her shirt, then tugged the fabric off over her head. She wasn’t wearing a bra and basked in the appreciative sound he made before he dipped his head and sucked one nipple into his mouth.

For a virgin, he had the mouth of a sex god. Especially when he worked his way down her stomach and licked her slit in one long motion.

She moaned and worked her hips against his mouth. She was close. So close. All she needed was…