Drive (19 page)

“Have you ever …?”

“No. You’re the only one who’s ever even touched me there.”

He nibbled the spot below my ear. God, I loved it when he did that.

“I’ll make it good for you,” he said, his tone low and sexy. “We’ll go slow so it feels good when we get there. I love playing with your ass.”

“Let’s go to bed,” I said, grabbing the side of the tub and standing up.

Niko grabbed my hips and eased me around so I was standing before him, his face at the apex of my thighs.

“Come closer to me,” he said. “And watch in the mirror.”

I scooted a step forward and he lifted my leg gently, supporting me as he put my foot on the edge of the bathtub. I was about to ask what I was supposed to watch, when a jolt of pleasure shot through my body. Niko’s face was buried between my thighs, his tongue teasing my clit as his fingers sank into my ass cheeks.

In my mirrored reflection, I saw my hands pulling on his hair and the tattoo on his massive bicep that was wrapped around my thigh. My expression was dreamy – I was lost to the overwhelming pleasure.

Not only did Niko’s dark scruff and muscular body look incredibly sexy, I did, too. My hair hung long and loose down my bare back. With my back arched, my breasts stood out, full and round. We were two lovers wound around each other into one. Through the steam beginning to cloud the mirror, it was hard to discern where one of us ended and the other began.

“Niko,” I cried, my legs shaking as I got closer to release. I was afraid I’d fall, but his arms wrapped around me tight and I shattered, tossing my head back as I came hard.

He pulled his face back and looked up at me with a sexy smile. I couldn’t think of any words, so I just cradled his cheeks in my hands and smiled back.

“And now you’ve ruined all other men for me, too,” I said.

“That was my plan.”

He stood, too, wrapping a towel around my back and offering me a steadying hand as I stepped out of the tub. I realized in that moment what set Niko apart from the rest. It wasn’t his dark, enviable looks, the money or even his magnetic personality. It was the way he put me first. Before himself even. His erection had practically put a hole in my back as he’d thought only of my body in the bathtub. And his small gestures – helping me out of the tub, holding doors open, putting my coat on for me – were constantly reminding me that he was looking out for me.

The realization unnerved me. I’d been alone in the world for a long time. Aunt Sal had done her best, but she was fiercely independent and had gotten back to her executive world as soon as I’d finished high school. Having someone put me first should have thrilled me, but instead it scared the shit out of me. While I’d been searching for Mr. Right for years, the truth was I’d kept all those men at arms’ length. That was impossible with Niko.

“You okay?” he asked, leaning down to kiss me. I tasted myself on his lips, and my insecurities floated away. Nothing would stop me from enjoying every second of this day.

Niko

Sadie climbed onto her bed and stretched lazily.

“This feels so good,” she said, grinning.

“It does,” I agreed, claiming the other side of the bed. Only I wasn’t talking about her pillow-top mattress like she probably was. This day was showing me how much Sadie meant to me. Making her happy — showing her there could be more to this day than just sadness – was bringing things into focus. I wanted this to be our first Christmas together. The first of many.

“I think I’m gonna sleep for a while,” I said, closing my eyes. Her gasp made me smile. “What?” I turned my head toward her.

“Nothing,” she said. “If you’re tired, you should rest. Maybe later we could …”

“What?” I feigned innocence, enjoying her look of discomfort.

“You know.”

“Tell me. Say it.” I rolled onto my side, pulling the covers down so I could trace the line of her arm.

“You know,” she said, looking away. “Don’t make me say it.”

“Not a fan of dirty talk?”

“I like it when you do it. I love it. But I’m not much on doing it myself.”

“Does it turn you on?” I asked softly.

“Yes.”

I tugged lightly on one of her nipples and she sighed happily. “Say it.”

“It turns me on when you talk dirty,” she murmured.

“Good girl.” I leaned in to kiss her, taking in the almond scent of the bath oil on her skin. She slipped her tongue into my mouth immediately. Damn. She was eager for more, and I was more than fucking ready.

“You want me to use a condom?” I moved her hair aside and kissed her neck and jaw line.

“Are you clean?”

“Yeah. I got tested for my physical when I came here and I haven’t been with anyone since.”

“Then no. I’ve been on the pill for a few years.”

My balls tightened, heavy with anticipation. I’d never had sex without a condom, but it felt right this time. Everything about this moment was right.

I moved to the foot of the bed and kissed my way from her calves up to her shoulders, enjoying the way she was staring at my body. Hers was the opposite of mine; she was soft and sweet. Her fingertips brushed into my hair as she wrapped her hand around my neck and pulled my face down to hers.

I kissed her softly, resolving to go slow and enjoy every second of this. But when I kissed her deeper and she moaned into my mouth, my body took over and I pushed my cock into her. The tight, wet warmth of her was so fucking good.

“Oh, shit,” I said, closing my eyes. “Fuck. I can’t … I won’t be able to …”

“It’s alright,” she said softly. “I love this. You feel amazing inside me.”

“Sadie.” I stilled my movement and brushed my face against her neck. “Careful what you say. You’re gonna make me—”

“Come? That’s what I want. I want you to come inside me, Niko.”

She ground her hips upward into mine and wrapped her thighs around me. That was it. I couldn’t stay still any longer.

Every thrust was fucking ecstasy. Her body was so tight and perfect and entwined with mine that I couldn’t hold on. I hiked her leg up and gave it to her hard, her moans urging me on.

I’d never seen anything as beautiful as the sight of her beneath me, gripped by the wave of an oncoming orgasm. I closed my eyes for a couple seconds, forcing myself to hold on. When I opened them and focused on her, she thrust her hips up against mine, crying out my name and digging her nails into my shoulders. I pumped my cock into her a final time, an intense orgasm seizing my whole body.

Words tumbled out of my mouth as I came. “
Ya lyublyu tebya, moye solntse
.”

I hadn’t spoken or thought in Russian for so long that the moment took me by surprise.

“That was so hot,” she whispered in my ear, tightening her legs around my waist.

“Sadie,” I said, dropping my head to her chest. “I don’t even know the words. That was the best minute of my life.”

She laughed and wrapped her arms around me. “You lasted more than a minute. And you found some words. What was that you said in Russian?”

“Did I say something in Russian?” I laughed and scrubbed a hand down my face. “Huh.” I moved to lay beside her, nibbling on her ear before I whispered in it. “Lay on your stomach. And relax.”

She flipped over eagerly. I sat beside her, letting my fingertips wander over her smooth, perfect back. Gradually, I increased the pressure, working up to a massage that made her moan softly with pleasure. My cock started hardening again from the sound and feel of her.

“Mmm, Niko,” she murmured. “That feels amazing.”

“Just relax and sleep for a while if you want. Recover so I can have some fun playing with this later.” I slapped her ass and a muffled shriek sounded in her pillow.

“Later?” She turned her head to look at me. “Why not now? Fuck me like this so you can play all you want.”

I arched my brows, my cock at full attention now. Sadie shot me a coy smile and got to her knees, putting her round, gorgeous ass on full display for me. I slapped it again, eliciting a moan from her.

When I entered her and wrapped my hands around her narrow hips, she pushed her ass back until I was deep inside her. Our bodies fit together perfectly, and again, being inside her without a condom was fucking unreal.

I bent slightly and spit on her tight, open hole that was begging to be teased. When I rubbed my fingertip around the slickness, Sadie buried her face in a pillow, muffling her loud moans of pleasure. I eased a finger all the way in, still fucking her, and she screamed into the pillow and pushed her ass back toward my hips. Damn, this woman was sexy.

When I fell into a rhythm, I couldn’t help groaning as my skin slapped against hers. Today I was having the bet sex of my life, because it was more than physical. I slowed, just playing with her for a while. When I started pounding her again, she screamed into the pillow, clutching the sides of it with her fists. Sex with her was addictive. Pleasuring her was the most erotic high I’d ever experienced.

I pulled her hair back with my free hand, and she pushed up on her hands to press her back to my chest. As soon as my thumb pressed against her clit, she came apart again, moaning and reaching back to fist my hair. She was panting when I covered her mouth with mine. I couldn’t kiss her because my mouth was open in a final, guttural grunt as I came inside her.

When I slid out and collapsed on my back, I realized I was lost to this woman. I wanted her to be mine like nothing else, but there was no doubt about the fact that I was already hers.

Sadie

I pushed the seasoned potatoes around my plate with my fork. I was too stuffed to eat another bite.

“You like it?” Mary, the owner of the small Irish tavern I was eating at, arched her brows with anticipation.

“I loved it. It was wonderful. But I can’t have the dessert you offered. I’m so full.”

She narrowed her eyes, studying me. Did she think I was lying? I’d already eaten enough for two people.

“You know, I could take it with me,” I said. She broke out in a grin and took off for the kitchen.

I’d be going back to my hotel as soon as she returned and I paid my check. I was wiped out from a full day of sightseeing and eating. Halfway through my trip, my story was coming together even better than I expected. The towns I’d visited were home to eateries with friendly locals who all had interesting life stories.

Occasionally, I had trouble understanding someone with a thick accent. But they were nice about it, and usually someone could interpret for us.

This was the trip of a lifetime, but I kept regretting that I was here alone. Even though I was working, it would’ve been nice to have someone to share all these amazing meals with. Someone tall, dark and sexy.

I glanced at my phone, trying to remember the time difference. But I decided it didn’t matter. If Niko was asleep, he’d respond when he woke up.

Me: Miss u

I sent it and then shook my head with disgust. Who was I? I’d gone from being a super independent woman to sitting in a dark pub daydreaming about a man half a world away.

I grabbed the dessert box Mary passed me and set some bills on the bar, thanking her. My phone buzzed with an incoming text. When I grabbed it, already smiling, my heart dropped when I saw it was just Miranda asking me to call her. I pushed the button to call her as I walked through the heavy wood door of the pub.

“Hey, boss,” I said when she answered.

“Hey, how’s Ireland?”

“It’s great. The only thing better than writing for a living is eating and then writing about it.”

“I’m calling about something that can’t wait til you get back. I got a call from my college roommate, Katherine LaSalle. She’s—”

“I know who she is,” I cut in. “She’s the managing editor of one of the largest newspapers in New York.”

“Right. And she’s looking for a new staff columnist. She had one retire unexpectedly. I really hate to lose you, Sadie, but I gave her my highest recommendation of you. After she read some of your work, she called back and said she wants to talk to you as soon as possible.”

I paused in the middle of the mud puddle I’d just accidentally walked into. “Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re very talented. She wanted someone who’s young but has an experienced voice. That’s a rare find, but you’re exactly what she wants. You’d be on staff there – with benefits I know you don’t have right now.”

“Miranda.” My feet started to feel the cold water seeping through my socks, and I stepped out of the puddle. “I don’t know what to say. I’m just floored that you think so highly of me. Thank you.”

“You deserve it. I told Kat you’re on an assignment, and she wants to know if you can be in New York January fifth for an interview.”

“No. I leave here on the sixth.”

“Can you fly into New York instead of home? Meet her on the sixth or seventh?”

I considered. This was an opportunity I’d never even dreamed of. I should’ve been jumping all over it. But something was stopping me. Or was it someone? More than one someone, actually. Niko, Dell and Kyler were all in Chicago.

“Sadie?” Miranda’s sharp tone brought me back to reality. “Can you do that?”

“Sure. Yes. I’ll email you my itinerary when I change it. Thanks, Miranda.”

“Absolutely. And you have my permission to jump in the sack with any kilted highlanders you meet over there. Screw 60 Days Single.”

I laughed weakly. Little did she know I’d already ditched out on the columns I begged her to let me do.

“Listen, Kat’s very no-nonsense. Just be yourself and dress very conservatively. She hates women with cleavage in the workplace.”

“Got it.”

We said goodbye and I turned toward the street my hotel was on. Maybe this was the reality-check I needed. Like it or not, I was alone in this world. And I’d done pretty damn well for myself. I’d worked hard for an opportunity like the New York job. As much as I wished Dell and Kyler were my family, they weren’t. They had Luke now, and Dell no longer needed me to be her backup with Kyler. And Niko … I loved what was starting between us, but was it enough to keep me from considering this job?

No. It was me against the world, and I had to take a shot. He of all people would understand. His career was the most important thing in his life.