Page 98 of Firecracker

He dropped her panties, grabbed her hands again and lifted them over his shoulders. “Hang on, baby.”

“Condom,” she gasped, a faint voice of reason tricking into her consciousness.

“Shit.” He groaned. “Got it.” He pulled his wallet out of his sagging pants and found the small package.

She cried out when he pushed inside. Delicious tension throbbed in her body at the intrusion, clamping around him.

“Fuck yeah.”

“Oh God, Tyler, that feels so good.”

She gasped and he kissed her, sucking her tongue as he filled her. Sensation burned and twisted inside her. It was dirty and wicked and so hot she thought she might burst into flames. And then she did burst into flames—a bright, burning conflagration.

Moments later, both of them breathing hard and slumped against the wall, she attempted to speak. “Wow. I’ve never been banged up against the wall before.”

He groaned. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” She met his eyes. “I loved it. Although you did promise me foreplay.”

He choked on a laugh. “What? The drive home wasn’t enough foreplay?”

“The whole dinner was foreplay.” She smiled ruefully and pushed his hair off his forehead.

And it hadn’t been just the sexy talk. Layers of feelings for him kept building the more time she spent with him. Hearing him talk about his mom and how he felt he was letting her down had made something inside her soften and warm. Yes, she was attracted to him. Yes, she liked him. But getting a glimpse of his vulnerabilities caused a feeling of warm tenderness, a desire to soothe him and reassure him that he was a strong, amazing man who had no reason to feel lacking. Even if his mom wasn’t proud of him—and Arden seriously doubted that—shewas proud of him. And it made wanting him so much more intense. Almost scary intense.

“True that. Christ, I can’t believe we didn’t even make it to the bedroom.”

She smiled and rubbed her lips over his. “Take me there now.”

“Not sure if I can walk yet.” But he stepped back, readjusting his hold on her ass, Arden lifting her legs to cling to him.

“Gonna trip on my pants,” he muttered as he staggered down the dark hall to his bedroom.

“Don’t drop me.”

“Never.” The rough, vehement tone of his voice made her feel…secure. As if she could count on this man to be there for her always. For anything.

But she knew from experience that wasn’t the case. She couldn’t rely on a man to protect her or make her feel safe and secure. She had to do that for herself.

She pushed away those qualms. Because Tyler had just given her another one of those amazing orgasms he seemed so good at, and, call her greedy, but she wanted more.

* * *

She got more.

“Does it still count as foreplay if we’ve already boned?” Tyler stretched out beside her on the bed on his side, one hand between her legs, the other under her neck.

“It does if we’re going to bone again.”

“That’s the plan, baby.” His fingers slid through her slick heat. Her chin lifted, eyes falling closed, parting her thighs wider to give him access.

Buzzing pleasure started, a moan climbed in her throat, and she reached for him, clasping his strong hip bone. The sweetness of his fingers and mouth on her was so deliciously erotic, turning her body liquid. She lost herself in it.

“Wanted to taste this sweetness again,” he murmured. “You’re addicting, Arden. I can never get enough of this.”

His words made her belly flip with lust. She started to quiver, her insides tightening, sensation twisting up hard and tight, higher and higher. She cried out, her hips lifting to his mouth as it rocked through her.

“Beautiful,” he said, licking her tenderly.

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