The Critic (13 page)

My mind went back to that day. I still couldn’t believe that had been him. What would have happened if I hadn’t rushed out of the store for dress rehearsal? Would we have met, maybe gone to dinner?

I shook my head to get back to the here and now. “Do you always carry movies and snacks with you? And for the record, I can’t believe you remember that store.”

“As a matter of fact, I do. I actually have some juice boxes and water bottles in here too if you get thirsty.”

“What are you, twelve?”

“Ha-ha. No. But when you spend the majority of your time in the dark and alone, you get thirsty.”

My eyebrows rose, and I tried to stifle a laugh. “What do you do alone in the dark that makes you thirsty?” My eyes automatically went to his crotch then to his face.

I grabbed the package of popcorn and walked into my kitchen. “Want a fresh beer?”

“But what about my juice box?”

I looked at him over my shoulder. “I prefer my wine box.”

I tossed the popcorn in the microwave, and when I turned around, Bentley was in front of me. His hands went to my hips, and my eyes trailed from his muscular chest to his eyes.

“Andrea, I don’t know what’s going on with us or if you’re feeling what I am, but I’m glad I’m here, and I wanted to tell you that. I’ve wanted this since I first saw you.”

My mouth opened. I attempted to move, but his grip became firmer, rooting me in place.

“Other than the disgust you felt when we first met, do you feel a connection between us?”

His smell became intoxicating, and I wanted to remember this moment. His eyes searched mine. My heart raced with my want to answer him, but I was afraid.

I needed to know, so I asked, “What are you feeling?”

“This.” He cupped my face and trailed kisses along my jawline.

My head dropped back, and a soft breath escaped me. I felt his tongue on my neck, and my thong became saturated with my arousal. His lips found mine, and the sensation between my legs consumed the rest of my body. Our tongues danced, and our bodies came together as my arms reached around his back. The way his muscles flexed with each breath made me weak in the knees. If I wasn’t near the counter, I would have crumbled. He broke the kiss, and I let out a frustrated groan. His hands were still cupping my face, and mine were on his wrists.

“Bentley . . .” Words had escaped me as my mind tried to rationalize what was going on.

His eyes searched mine. “So, do you?”

“I don’t know how to feel right now.” I bit my lip as his shoulders slackened in defeat, making me feel like shit.

His forehead pressed against mine. “Typical, Andrea.” He shook his head and put his hands in his front pockets.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I leaned back and looked into his eyes, trying to gauge what he meant by that comment. The microwave beeped, giving me a chance to turn away from him. I grabbed a bowl and poured the popcorn in it.

“It means that you’re always worried about how you’re supposed to feel rather than just feeling it.”

My nerves were beginning to spike, as was my blood pressure. I felt his warmth behind me, and it was unsettling.

“When you rehearse, you worry about how to speak and move. Just do it; don’t think about it. Can you ever fucking let go of what you think people want and just be you? Or is that why you like being an actress? So all of your words and motions are scripted? Life isn’t a script. You need to live it.”

His words cut right through my heart like blades. I spun around, almost knocking our buttery snack on the floor. “You don’t think I live? My life isn’t a script. Weren’t you listening?” I pushed him as hard as I could, forcing him to step back. He tightened his brows as my voice rose. “If I’d followed the path my parents wanted, I wouldn’t be here right now . . . standing in my kitchen and arguing with a man I can’t stop thinking about. So you want to talk about living? That’s what I’m trying to do. Then you come in here all high, mighty, and sexy, thinking you know it all. Well, you don’t.” My breathing was becoming erratic while my thoughts were bordering on erotic. “You want to know what I feel for you?”

Bentley looked at me blankly and nodded once.

“I want you. I’m so mad at myself for that, but you’ve invaded my heart and . . .”

His wide eyes stared at mine as he stepped forward. “Go on.”

I shook my head. My blood was pumping at NASCAR speed around my heart. “You aren’t what I expected. This”—my hand waved between us—“isn’t what I expected. Wanting you wasn’t what I anticipated.”

He grabbed my waist. “I want you too, so much that I can’t stop myself from doing this.”

He lifted me and set me on my Formica counter as he stood between my legs. His lips crashed on mine. They were forceful, soft, and everything I desired. His hands swept into my hair, grabbing it to pull me closer. Our teeth clashed as my legs wrapped around his waist. Another low groan emerged from his throat. We feasted on each other as if we were starving. Our chests were touching, and my nipples hardened and tingled with anticipation. My arms rested on his shoulders as my fingers threaded through his dark hair.

His breathing was ragged as his lips found the curve of my neck. “I need you.”

I nodded and cleared my mind of all reasons why we shouldn’t do this. He carried me down the short hallway, and I pointed at my bedroom door. As he laid me on the comforter, his hips pressed against mine. His eyes, darkened with desire, made me shiver. He lifted my shirt and palmed my breast. My hands ran down his back to the curve of his perfectly rounded ass. I felt his hardened excitement between my legs as we grinded together.

“Bentley . . . ahhh . . . should we . . . ? My God, you’re . . .” I couldn’t form a sentence that made any sense. I felt as if I’d never spoken a word in my life.

He moved his hand off me, and I immediately missed its warmth. He propped himself on his elbows and looked at me. “I don’t want to rush us. If you’re not ready, we can wait.”

Us. Could we be an
us?
“Don’t stop. Please. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way.”

His deep eyes bored into mine as I lifted my arms above my head as a signal to take off my shirt, which he did with ease. He stared at my breasts, enhanced by my black lace push-up bra. “You’re beautiful. I knew you would be, but shit, I never thought I’d be here with you like this.”

My fingers found the hem of his shirt, and I relished the feel of his taut muscles. He was pure perfection. With one arm, he ripped his shirt off over his head. He lowered the straps on my bra, and I sat up enough for him to unfasten it. Then he tossed it on the floor. His tongue circled my nipple as his teeth gently grazed it. His lips continued down my stomach to the top of my jeans. He unbuttoned them and knelt between my legs, staring at me. He waggled his brows and pulled my jeans down before tossing them on the floor.

I think he actually growled as he brought his nose to my black lace thong. His fingers grazed my most delicate area as he stripped off the last piece of clothing I had on. He slid his finger into me while working my clit with his tongue. The scruff on his chiseled jaw brushed against my oversensitive skin, unleashing a groan from inside me.

When I opened my eyes, his were closed. He continued making me feel things and awakening parts of me that had been dormant for so long, including my heart. He moved up my body, kissing his way to my neck. I unbuttoned his pants and slid them over his perfect ass. He grabbed a condom out of his pocket before I pitched the jeans aside. His black boxers were next. With deft fingers, he sheathed himself and positioned his tip at my entrance. All I could do was smile, and that was the green light. He slowly entered me, making my knees fall aside. Our chests rubbed together as we moved in unison.

“Andrea, you feel better than I could have imagined. You’re incredible.”

My back arched as I nodded. He held my hands above my head, interweaving his fingers with mine. That wasn’t what I had expected at all. This didn’t feel like sex. I mean, it was sex, but it was gentle lovemaking, and my heart swelled at the thought of this being the start of something fantastic.

His pace increased, as did the tension in his hands. Our fingers molded around each other’s, and I was sure I was going to melt into my sheets. I leaned up as far as I could to reach his neck with my tongue. His skin was salty with sweat, and my desire for him was heady.

“Babe, I can’t hold back.”

The depth of his voice made my insides clench as I moved my hips faster to meet his movements. “Then don’t. Give me what you got. I want all of you, Bentley. Let me feel all of you.”

He rolled his hips to hit a spot that sent me into a dizzying orgasm.

“Oh my God!” I cried.

He grunted, and I looked up just in time to see his face contort as he came.

Once he was satisfied, he let go of my hands and brought his to the sides of my face. “Open your eyes.”

Unaware I had closed them, I lifted my lids. He lowered his head to mine and kissed me.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

His tender demeanor made me realize this was right. We were right.

“Mmm hmmm. I’m better than okay.”

Bentley smiled as he slowly rolled off me to dispose of his condom in the bathroom attached to my bedroom. My view had never been better. To think I’d once thought that Bentley Chambers was an old man with a comb-over made me giggle. He walked toward me, and I appreciated the view. The man was built everywhere. I slid under the covers and propped my head on my pillow.

“What’s so funny?” He lifted the cotton duvet and slid in next to me.

“Nothing. I was just thinking about when I didn’t know what you looked like. I had you pegged for an old man who was balding.” I had a fleeting thought of Melissa, the hostess with the mostess, but decided she wasn’t worth wasting thoughts on.

His arm went under my shoulders as my head rested on his chest. “I don’t want this to be just one night, but I leave soon.”

My fingers traced the definition of his ab muscles. “Yeah, I know you do—back to the big bad city.” My heart felt heavy. I nestled into the soft spot under his shoulder and closed my eyes.

“It’s not far, and I want to get to know you and for you to know me. I’m not a bad man.” I lowered the sheet she had pulled over her amazing breasts and positioned us so we were facing one another.

My fingertips made calculated movements over her nipples, and they reacted, turning into tantalizing buds I craved to have in my mouth. I lowered my head, and she arched her back, giving me ample access to lick them. My tongue grazed one then the other.

“You’re beautiful.” I kissed the tip of her nose while pulling her into my embrace. The scent of her hair caressed me as if gentle hands were massaging every cell in my body. I finally had the one I’d always wanted in my arms.

She giggled, which totally threw me.

“Did I miss something?”

She rolled away from me, making her ass rub me. My cock woke up and pressed against her flawless backside.

“It’s just funny, isn’t it? I mean, a few days ago, I figured you were a senior citizen that’d need a prescription to . . . ya know.” She giggled again. “Who would’ve known that you’re this hot, sexy man that I could . . .” She wiggled her hips on my full-fledged erection. “That could make me feel the way you did . . . the way you do.”

“And which way is that? How do I make you feel, Andrea?”

She sighed. “Adored. And please, call me Andi.”

I rolled her toward me so I could see her face. “Andi, huh?”

“Yeah, I really don’t like Andrea, and it’s been driving me crazy.” She snickered.

“Hmmm . . . okay. Andi it is.”

“Stay with me tonight?” She smiled as she ran her finger along the scruff on my cheek.

I moved my lips to the edge of her ear and let out a soft breath, making her skin prickle and breasts press against my chest. I whispered, “Yeah.”