TORCHED (The Wild Flames #2) Page 7

  “That’s right,” she moaned, running her fingers through his hair. He knew all her hot spots now, and would stop at every one, which made her so ready for him she could jump him in a heartbeat. Every movement of his tongue against her skin could unravel her at a moment’s notice.

  “Mmm...” she sighed, closing her eyes and letting their bodies synchronize.

  He nibbled her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine.

  “Oh God...” she whimpered. “Come inside me, Kevin. I want you so bad.”

  Her body ached for him. There was no resisting the urgency to have him inside her. He wrapped his hand around her face and lifted her at the hip to position himself. She groaned with satisfaction as they connected, and accepted his hungry kisses.

  “God, you’re so damn sexy,” he moaned between their kiss, spreading pure bliss all throughout her.

  “Yes!” she cried, biting softly on his lips and graciously accepting every thrust as if it healed her from the inside out. As his pace quickened, she felt her climax rising high. “Ahh...” she screamed, grabbing tightly around his waist as he crashed against her.

  She kept reaching for his lips with her own, but found herself arching her back and leaning her head into the pillow when a second wave of pleasure overtook her.

  “Fuck...” she moaned, bouncing on the bed. He cupped her ass, lifting her up to his thrusts, so fierce that her climax exploded and ripped her mind from her body.

  Her cries took hold of Kevin, and as she collapsed on the bed, he came with a brutal force and fell on top of her. As she recovered, every part of her body tingled. He held her in his loving embrace.

  “Gets better every time,” he whispered.

  She cuddled up to him, content and satiated while he held her close.

  “Kev?” she called, closing her eyes to enjoy the glow.

  “Yes?”

  “You are amazing.” She snuggled closer to him.

  “Thank you, but you’re the amazing one. To put up with what my brother has done, and still be here by my side...it takes a special person.”

  She never saw it that way. She wanted to be there for him. Pulling herself up, she looked in his eyes.

  “Over the years, we’ve been through a lot together. You’ll always be my best friend, Kevin. That’s what makes what we have now so much stronger.”

  He smiled. “I agree.”

  She kissed him, and his manhood reacted to it.

  “What do you say I make us some supper?”

  He groaned, reaching for her hand and placing it over his shaft.

  “Really? You want to eat at a time like this?”

  She giggled. “We could skip eating, but I want to keep your energy up.” She winked at him, jumping up to grab a robe and leaving the room. She picked up the clothes they had dropped along the way and took down them with her to the laundry beside the kitchen. Looking in the fridge, she wonder what to make for dinner. She had not done much grocery shopping yet, so they would have to make do.

  ***

  Kevin heard her singing in the kitchen and smiled. She surprised him more every day, now that they were more than friends. He got out of bed and slipped his jeans on to head downstairs. Tara may have thought he was teasing when he mentioned needing to study, but it was actually true. He did have a test coming up. It was the last before winter break and the most difficult Zoology exam so far.

  He left her bedroom and went to the small office down the hall. Using her laptop, he logged on to the school’s website. The professor made a point of adding all their study materials on the course website, so all Kevin needed to do to prepare was review and make his usual index card notes. As he looked over sections he had been working on the night before, he tried to let everything sink in. He heard Tara coming upstairs when he got to the section that explained the proper knots used on wildlife reserves to secure animals.

  “Kevin?” she called.

  “I’m in here,” he replied, turning away from the computer.

  She tilted her head as she entered the room. “What are you doing in here?”

  Kevin admired Tara’s delicious body. Her robe was opened just enough for him to get a view of her cleavage and gorgeous, flat stomach. He nearly forgot what he had been doing. He shook his head to focus on her question.

  “I’ve got that Zoology midterm exam tomorrow. I guess I was sneaking a look at some study material.” He scrunched up his nose. “Mad at me?”

  “Of course not. Remember when I agreed to come back to Washington with you? I said I’d be there to support you. If you have a test, then we should be studying. Let’s eat first. If we’re going to pull an all-nighter, we’re definitely going to need our energy.”

  He stood up and moved toward her. “See why I said you’re amazing? You’re beautiful, smart, extremely sexy, passionate, loving...need I go on?”

  “Please,” she replied with a smile.

  He leaned down and kissed her neck. “Breathtaking...caring...did I mention sexy?” he replied between gentle kisses.

  “Hmm...mmm...” She moaned, running her thumb over the nape of his neck. “I could stay here all night, but supper will get cold and we’ve got a test to study for. You’ll thank me later when we get to Montana.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” He followed her out of the room and down the stairs, even though he would rather have continued showering her with compliments. He sniffed as the scent of supper wafted through the air. “Is that what I think it is?”

  She laughed. “Yup. Mac and cheese. I didn’t get time to do a full grocery run, so it’s the only thing I could find.”

  He shrugged. “I haven’t had mac and cheese since we moved back home! It’s seriously my favorite study food.” He sat at the kitchen table and took a bite. “Perfect.”

  She rolled her eyes, and he laughed. “I’m glad you enjoy my cooking.”

  “Yes, I do. By the way, have you talked to your mother since you left?”

  She shook her head, but never looked up. “No, but it’s fine.”

  “Do you know what she’s doing for Thanksgiving?” he asked, trying not to interfere.

  “I haven’t really thought about it. I think she might be dating someone.”

  “What?” Kevin asked. “Wow. I didn’t see that one coming.”

  “Maybe I’m wrong. It’s just a hunch.”

  She seemed aloof, but Kevin knew she cared. For a short time, they ate without saying a word. Then he asked, “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”

  “Probably staying home and eating a TV dinner.” She smirked, taking a bite of her macaroni and cheese.

  He scowled. There was no way he would let Tara stay home on the holiday and eat a microwaved dinner.

  “I talked to my parents, and they would like you and your mom to join us.” He hadn’t exactly discussed it with them prior to telling her that, but he didn’t see any reason why they would mind.

  “Really?” she asked with a smile. “I’d love that. My mom may like the company, too.”

  “Great,” he said, standing up when they were finished. “Let me help you clear these dishes away.”

  “Just put them in the dishwasher and I’ll get rid of these leftovers.”

  “Deal. We’d better get upstairs soon. If we get done studying, maybe we can test out the bed again.”

  She chuckled. “I like the way you think. And those are my bed sheets on there. It was the first thing I did when we got here.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” he teased.

  “You know me well enough, that’s why.”

  Before they left the kitchen, he grabbed her arm to stop her. “I forgot. Do you think he has any rope around here?”

  She stared at him, and erupted into laughter.

  “Are you going kinky on me?”

  He snickered, realizing how it sounded. “Sheesh, that came out all wrong.”

  “Then what’s it for?”

  “Remember last year’s midterm with those knots we had
to be able to identify or describe? Well, I’ve got to be ready for it again. Come on, you can help me practice.”

  She raised an eyebrow once again, and he shook his head.

  “I see your wheels turning, but that’s not what I have in mind.” He hesitated as the vision entered his thoughts. “I just thought we could tie each knot a few times, so I can get a feel of it. I have to describe how to do each one.”

  She slapped his shoulder and laughed again. “I’m just messing with you. There may be some in the garage. Want to go check?”

  He shrugged. “It’s worth a shot.”

  He used the side door in the kitchen to get into the attached garage. It was well-kept and organized. He stood there for a moment, and imagined having a place like this one day. Several lengths of rope were hanging on hooks along the far wall, so he took one and headed back. Tara had finished cleaning up when he returned, rope in hand.

  “See? This’ll do.”

  “Great,” she said, and led the way out of the kitchen and back up the stairs.

  He could barely wait to finish his classes so they could get past this hurdle, and move on to the life in Montana they had been planning for so long.

  ***

  Jake surveyed the house. The lights were all turned off, except for the one light upstairs. He was sure it was her bedroom. It had become a full-time job watching where Kevin and Tara went. He needed to keep tabs on her and protect her, if needed. They came into view when he found a spot with a direct line of sight into the room. She was hiding her pain. He could see it.

  He watched as they kissed for a second, but they stopped and left the room. There was no other vantage point to check through other windows, so he left and walked toward his car. He’d found the perfect spot. The vehicle was concealed by the tall pines lining one side of the house. Now that he knew where she was staying, he could return another day.

  It was time to get his girl back.

  Chapter 11

  Tara glanced at the clock. They’d been in bed with the laptop, studying for four hours, and he seemed to be answering every question she threw at him. He would ace the test. She just knew it. “That covers it. You know the answers. You’ll fly through that exam. Do you feel good about it?”

  He frowned, nodding. He didn’t appear as confident as she thought he should be.

  “What’s going on? Do you have anything you want to go over again?”

  “Just one thing,” he said, reaching for the rope. “I want to make sure I can describe this bowline knot if it comes up. Will you show me again?”

  She took the rope. “Of course. Put out your hands,” she ordered.

  He tilted his head. “Is it about to get kinky in here?”

  She laughed, rolling her eyes. “You wish.”

  He put his hands out and she wrapped the rope around them. “Remember the notes? The bowline knot is what they use to tie a rope around an animal’s body. Remember why?”

  “Because it won’t slip and hurt them?”

  “Yes. It doesn’t tighten after it’s tied, and it’s pretty easy to undo. Here. First, I’ll put a loop in the rope, right where I want to tie the knot. Like this. You point the loop toward the free end.”

  “Right,” he agreed, his eyes lighting up as it came back to him. “And the working end can point backward.”

  “Exactly. Next, you put the free end through the loop from the part pointing back. You go around that working part and bring it back through the loop to tighten it. Wait. Can’t you remember Professor Neuberg joking about the way people memorize this?”

  “Um... no?” he answered.

  “The rabbit jumps out of the hole, runs around to the front, and pops down behind the tree before jumping back in the hole.”

  “When did he teach that?” he asked, almost unable to keep a straight face. “I think I would have remembered that lecture.”

  “Maybe you skipped class, party boy.”

  “Yeah, I guess I did have a little more than my fair share of keg nights, didn’t I?”

  “Well, that was the past,” she answered. “So, you got it?”

  He looked down at his hands and nodded. “Yep, I think I can do it.”

  “Great.” She untied the rope and released him. “I’m really tired from the move and all the unpacking earlier. Let’s get some sleep.”

  She stood up to take off her robe, and placed it in the armchair on her side of the bed. Kevin watched her every move, unable to look away from her stunning body. Sleep was the last thing on either of their minds.

  She sat down on the bed and stretched out.

  “Are you going to join me?”

  He moved closer, pulling off his jeans to climb on top of her.

  “I might,” he answered, “but first I want to practice that knot. On you.”

  Her breathing hitched as he took her hands in his.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked, kissing her wrists.

  She could only nod her response as she felt her inner core heating up. He pulled away, leaving her suspended in desire. The rope slipped around her wrist and he tied it with precision. It wasn’t tight at all, just enough to make it impossible to pull away. He sat back and stared at her.

  “Great job, Kevin. You can untie the rope, now.”

  He shook his head and lifted her arms above her head.

  “You trust me, right?”

  “Sure I do. But wh-what are you going to do?” She shuddered with a mix of heated excitement and nervous anticipation.

  He tied the loose end of the rope to a spot on the headboard and lowered himself on top of her. She moaned when his lips went to hers and he kissed her gently.

  “Just relax,” he whispered, trailing kisses down to her stomach and back up, finally latching onto her breast.

  “Oh God.” Her voice trembled at the touch of his lips brushing over her arms and back to her stomach.

  The heightened sensations sent Tara to another world. Her body quivered with yearning as he slid his fingers down between her breasts, all the way to her throbbing clit.

  “God, Kevin. Fuck me hard,” she begged. She desperately wanted to touch him, longed to feel him and run her fingers through his hair. She jerked her wrists, checking to see whether she could free herself, but he had tied it correctly.

  “Kevin...” she whimpered, writhing beneath him as he lowered his mouth and blew a wisp of air on her sweet spot.

  “How much do you want me?” he whispered, sending a warm dose of ecstasy to her clit.

  “I want you so bad, Kevin,” she said, a little louder this time.

  He licked on her clit and gently clenched her hard nub with his teeth. She moaned, arching her back and hanging on to the need he unleashed. Her legs stretched over his shoulder, clamping his head as he slid his tongue down her inflamed, needy slit. It was her complete undoing. She let out a scream of pure pleasure, and he darted his tongue inside. Every thrust of his tongue sent another jolt of passion through her body, from the strands of her hair all the way down to her toenails.

  Her body seized beneath him, trembling with want as she came hard. Still, he didn’t stop ravishing her. She crashed down to the bed, tingling all over from her climax and his unrelenting tongue. Her breathing came in spurts, and as she begged again, he leisurely lifted off and spread her legs wide. Her arms ached from being immobilized, but every other part of her body buzzed in the scorching hot moment.

  Kevin had clearly been enjoying his task. His raging erection pressed hard against her thigh.

  “You’re so hot and sweet when you come, baby. God, if I don’t get inside you now I think I’m gonna explode.”

  He clutched her inner thighs and spread her legs even farther out as he readied himself to get his cock where it belonged. She moaned her desperate ache for him, but he insistently held back, cupping her ass in his palms and holding her in place.

  “Please...” she whispered.

  “Please, what?” he asked.

  She bit back a groan,
writhing beneath him, begging for his mercy.

  “Please...fuck me...” she whimpered. She had never begged for him like that, but she couldn’t take waiting much longer. His wide grin spoke volumes as he maneuvered to enter her. With one eager jolt, he slammed his hardness into her, all the way to her core.

  “Oh God!” she cried, feeling her channel tighten around his shaft.

  He groaned, bucking his hips heavily against her until they hit their orgasmic crescendos at the same time. His explosion was so strong and warm inside her and soon, he collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily against her skin.

  “That was so good, Kevin,” she said in a breathless whisper.

  She had never felt so vulnerable and yet so in touch with her femininity. Unable to move, so enthralled and worn out from their love-making, she closed her eyes. She barely noticed when Kevin slid up her body and removed her wrists from the binding. Her arms collapsed to the bed.

  “How did it feel?” he asked softly.

  “I can’t explain it. I feel amazing and I’ve never felt so...so alive.”

  “I love you so much.”

  She would never tire of hearing those words. He lowered himself beside her and pulled her into his arms, and they slept.

  ***

  Kevin anxiously awaited the test scores for his Midterm. Despite being told they would have the results within two weeks, he could barely wait. As the days passed, his confidence about whether he passed would wane. He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling his grade would suffer, somehow.

  On Thanksgiving morning, he reluctantly sat at his bedroom computer desk and logged on to the school website. He held little hope the result would be there, but after looking at the grades, he sighed with relief. A near perfect score was beside his student number, staring him in the face. He stood up from the computer, whooping with delight. It was progress. He was halfway through the course and on the right track to make their dreams a reality. He couldn’t wait to tell Tara their efforts had made all the difference.

  The doorbell rang as he turned the computer off. Tara was right on time. He ran down the stairs, eager to share the news with her. He opened the door and pulled her into an embrace, pressing his lips against hers. Stunned, she threw her arms around him. A gentle moan escaped her mouth, and she breathlessly pulled away from him. “Wow. That was a nice welcome.”