Page 39 of Speeding Hearts

“Stella,” Dean said. There was a note of warning in his voice.

I heard it. And I ignored it. I gripped the bottom of my—his—shirt, remembering myself.

I didn’t cry. I didn’t waste time worrying. I graduated from trade college at the top of my class, despite the doubters. I ran my own garage. I raced cars. I did all the things a woman wasn’t supposed to do.

Fuck that noise.

I pulled the shirt over my head, revealing all of myself.

Dean groaned, backing up even farther, looking up at the ceiling.

For the briefest moment, a wave of doubt threatened to come back. If he turned away from me now, I’d be humiliated.

But a glance southward showed that not all of him was so opposed to my naked body.

“You can go now, if you want,” I said. “Or you can look at me.”

Dean groaned again, closing his eyes and mumbled something under his breath. It was almost like he was saying a little prayer.

“Dean,” I whispered. “Do you w—” I was going to ask if he wanted me. But in that moment, he opened his eyes, and what I saw there made a hot liquid pour through my core.

Then Dean Hughes pounced. He slipped his arms behind my head and back, pushing me onto the bed. He made a sound like a lion growling. He’d lowered me onto my back and his forearms lay on either side of my head, his face tipped down to mine. Even in this breathless state, I couldn’t help notice the bulge of his arms, the tensing in his shoulders.

“Do I want you? Is that what you were going to ask?” Dean said, his face inches from mine. He pressed his body against mine, and when he did, his cock was like a rock against me. “Does that answer your question?”

I groaned, nodding, suddenly the supplicant. “Yes,” I breathed.

“I’ve always wanted you, Stella,” he said. “From the moment I laid eyes on you. Before I knew you. Stella, I—” he choked on the words.

I held my breath, waiting for him to continue, but instead, he dipped down and kissed me.

Dean’s lips were hard and soft all at once, his tongue urgent as it sought mine.

It was better than all my fantasies.

Heat and need swirled in waves through my core, everything else melting away as Dean Hughes, my best friend, ground his rock-hard body into mine.

Once more, I felt the press of his stiffness between my legs, and this time, the moan that came from me was deeper, less restrained. If he kept rocking there, I’d come in a matter of seconds.

I pushed him away, looking into his eyes. “You’re hot as shit, you know that?” I said.

Dean laughed. “Well, you’ve been hiding the body of a goddamned goddess under your jumpsuit. It’s just like…” he looked up, as if caught. “Just like I imagined.” Then, he lowered his mouth, taking one of my nipples with his tongue. I sucked in air as he flicked at it, writhing my hips under him. “No. It’s better than I’d imagined.” He gently sank his teeth onto me, tugging at my nipple as his hand slid down under me, cupping my ass with his palm.

“Dean,” I said as he moved to my other breast.

I closed my eyes, unable to stop the moan that escaped my lips. His tongue roved all over my breasts, teeth nipping as he worked his way further down. Then, without warning, he dropped right down, hooked my leg over his shoulder, and slid his tongue along the very core of me. Heat rocketed through me and my breath caught in my chest at the shock of both the physical sensation, and the truth of it.Dean, the man I’d wanted and denied myself for so long, had his face buried between my legs. But I couldn't hang onto any more thoughts. I lost myself to the sheer liquid pleasure of Dean’s tongue sliding over me, insistently prodding at my clit. Waves built so fast and hard that before I knew what was happening, they were crashing over me. I writhed under him, pleasure reaching every cell in my body.

I cried the only word my mouth knew how to form.“Dean!”

When the waves finally died down, I caught my breath once more at the feel of his stubble scraping against my thigh, the soft press of his teeth against my skin.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said against me, his blue eyes twinkling.

You are,I wanted to say.You’re perfect.

But his tongue was on me again. I seized with heat and more rippling waves of pleasure. They were so intense I had to pull a pillow over my face to keep from screaming.

Finally, I pulled it off, gripping Dean’s head, pulling him up and over me.

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