Page 22 of Spar
“What was I supposed to do? Ask you to stay? I was mortified, lying there knowing you were counting the seconds until you could leave. And understanding no matter how much I wished otherwise, there would be no escaping you in this damn small town.”
Chris closed the distance between them and wiped a tear from her cheek. Her eyes… Damn, those brown eyes saw into his soul.
“That night was one of the most amazing nights of my entire existence. Christ, you’re my best friend’s sister. I’ve known you my whole life. I wanted you, but I didn’t think it through. I didn’t realize how much it would mean. I left because I didn’t know how to get past all of that. And you acting like you wanted me to leave didn’t help. I made the mistake of letting you push me away. I’m not making that mistake again.”
Tori gasped as he crushed his mouth to hers. She pushed against his chest even as her lips melted against his.
“You have some nerve,” she said as she pulled her mouth back from his.
She didn’t move away, but stared hard at Chris, challenging him with a look.
“I can’t change how things happened in the past. I’ve wanted you since you were a gangly, smart-ass teenager. I wanted you that night, and I want you now. And I know you feel the same way, even if you’re too stubborn to admit it.”
This time she made the first move, bringing her mouth up to his. Chris wrapped his arms around her then lifted and carried her to the stairwell. She moaned against his lips, a sweet and sexy cry that grabbed him by the balls.
“Can’t go any further without getting you out of these clothes,” Chris muttered against her mouth, refusing to break contact even for a moment.
He laid her down gently on the stairway, using his arm as a pillow behind her. Then, running a hand through her soft, blond hair and down her body, he pulled at her shirt.
They separated, hands moving quickly, lifting and pulling at the clothes that divided them. She stared at him with such intensity he was sure she felt it too. The gravity of this moment. There would be no going back. If the first time had worked to drive a wedge between them, they were now removing it and moving forward together. He wouldn’t lose her again.
Tori stared atup into Chris’ hooded eyes. He looked intense, almost worried, before he moved his mouth and nibbled on her earlobe. He made his way down to her collarbone, leaving her skin ablaze everywhere he touched. He seemed to worship every inch of her, and she soaked in every touch, every kiss, every sound. She was done debating if it was right or wrong. There would be time to examine her decision later.
Her head lay back against Chris’ beefy bicep, her legs sprawled down the stairs. The position gave her a fabulous view of his chest and abs, each muscle hard and defined. He was in the best shape she’d ever seen him. He seemed to get bigger and better with age.
Chris removed his arm from behind her and shifted her so she was facing the stairs on her knees.
“We may need to move this party upstairs so I can grab a condom,” Chris said as he kissed and licked her lower back then moved down to her hip, giving it a playful bite.
“I’m on the pill,” Tori said, praying they wouldn’t have to break for even a moment.
Chris nodded as he slipped a finger down to her slick spot.
Tori closed her eyes and arched back into his touch. He slid in and out, adding a second finger. With his mouth, he found her neck and kissed her sweetly as he sped up the pace of his fingers. She was so close that she was beyond any other thought except how amazing he made her feel.
She collapsed into the stairs, sinking against the hard, wooden steps, as she came with his name on her lips.
He turned her to face him and kissed her, their tongues fighting and challenging one another, as their words couldn’t. It was always a battle with them, but this was a match she was happy to participate in. She licked and sucked at his bottom lip, receiving a small groan as a reward for her efforts.
He smiled down at her as he shifted his upper body to lift her leg over his shoulder and enter her slowly, stretching her in the best possible way. Tori felt the enormous weight of what they were doing as he continued to glide in and out at a fierce pace. This wasn’t like last time where they’d been apprehensive in their actions. They moved with a certainty that they were acknowledging this would change things forever.
She studied his face as he chased his own release, bringing her back to the edge as he did. Tori cried out as they exploded together, and Chris collapsed on top of her. His heavy, sweaty body trapped her underneath him, not that she minded.
Tori was only vaguely aware that she was being carried up the stairs, her head heavy and fuzzy from the emotional and physical toll of the night. She nuzzled into Chris’ warm chest; the intoxicating smell of sex and sweat clung to him.
He laid her down on the cool satin sheets and slid in behind. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her back against him. Their relationship had taken a turn this evening, and she had so many questions she wanted to ask. What did this mean? How would things change between them? What would they tell Ryan and the others?
She had almost worked up the courage to speak when she heard his breathing become even and slow. Her questions would have to wait for the morning.
The familiar ringtoneof his cell phone playing in the distance woke him as he lay next to Tori in the master bedroom. It was the first time he’d ever slept in the room, and it seemed fitting that it had been with her.
The sun hadn’t peeked out over the lake yet, but Chris could see it wouldn’t be long as the dark of night faded. He cursed as his phone continued to ring. Whoever was calling wasn’t giving up.
Tori’s long legs were draped over his, and she was snuggled into his chest. She looked younger and happier without the usual scowl she liked to flash in his direction.
Chris eased out of the bed reluctantly in search of his cell. The sound was coming from the heap of clothes at the bottom of the stairwell. He smiled at the scene and dug his phone out of his jeans’ pocket.
Ten missed calls from Charlie. Chris felt a pit form in his stomach. It wasn’t like Charlie to call this early. The phone rang again in his hands before he could dial.
