Chapter 5
Ella
Oh, my fucking God.
My knees weakened and my nipples hardened as his words sunk in. He was so close I could feel the heat from his body surrounding me, and I couldn’t help the goosebumps that broke out as King’s breath skated over the sensitive skin by my ear.
He leaned in a little closer, and I forgot how to breath as he skimmed his nose down the side of my face to lightly nuzzle the crook of my neck.
“Mmm, you smell delicious,” he said in a deep, growly voice that made me want to climb him like a tree. I jolted as his lips pressed a light kiss on my neck, on the pulse point in the hollow right above my collarbone, then shivered as I felt the flick of his tongue in that very same spot.
For a split second I wondered if I’d eaten one too many cookies and was in some sort of sugar-induced coma. Was it possible to have a wet dream while in a coma? I didn’t understand why this was happening, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to question it right now.
I was abruptly pulled out of my musings as King brought one of his big hands up to cup the other side of my neck. His thumb grazed back and forth over my jaw as he lifted his headup to look at me. I had trouble meeting the intensity of his dark gaze, and he shifted his hand slightly, so that he could raise my chin and force me to look him in the eye. I had a fleeting moment of panic, then thanked every god in the universe that I had taken a moment to check for chin hairs this morning while getting ready. I would have just died if he’d felt one of those coarse little shits poking through my skin.
I took a deep breath to try to calm my nerves, but it didn’t help. I was almost overwhelmed by the scent of the food I’d baked overlayed with the smell of leather from his cut, and the faint traces of his woody cologne – cedar and maybe a hint of sandalwood? Whatever it was, the combination was enough to make me drool.
The fact that his eyes were laser-focused on my mouth didn’t help, and I nervously flicked my tongue along my suddenly dry lips. He groaned huskily and dipped his head, and the sudden feel of his mouth settling over mine almost made my legs give out from under me.
I instinctively grabbed hold of him, clutching his broad shoulders so that I wouldn’t fall. I barely registered the slight scrape of his beard against my face as his lips captured mine in a kiss that was unlike any I’d ever had. This was not a tentative first kiss, testing the waters, hesitantly seeking unspoken permission to deepen the connection. No, this was an invasion of the senses that left me almost whimpering with need as his mouth devoured mine.
He groaned again, and his free arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me flush against his hard body. His tongue slid past my lips and explored my mouth, tangling with mine as he deepened the kiss.
I lost all ability to think as I slid one arm from his shoulders up to the back of his neck, my fingers tunneling through the short, dark strands of his hair as I kissed him back with every ounce of repressed desire I had. He grunted and his hand tightened reflexively on my waist, then slid along the curve of my hip to clutch my ass. I silently cursed the apron I was wearing which kept me from feeling the full effect of his body pressing against mine. He obviously felt the same way, because a moment later, I felt him tug on the bow holding the apron closed.
He lifted his head and I had just enough time to draw in a much-needed breath as he ripped the apron over my head and tossed it on the floor, then swooped down and claimed my mouth again.
The hand that had been holding my chin moved to circle the base of my throat. I moaned as it tightened ever-so-briefly before he loosened his hold slightly and rubbed his thumb back and forth over my collarbone. Holy shit, he was hitting all the right notes as he played my body, and I wondered if he could feel my pulse pounding as he grazed over the spot again.
His tongue tangled with mine once more, before retreating. I followed, my own tongue licking along his bottom lip before sliding inside and doing some exploring of my own.
It was like I’d flipped some switch inside him, and he instantly dropped the hand from my neck and grabbed my butt. It joined his other hand, and he lifted me up onto the thankfully empty spot on the counter behind me without breaking the kiss. He nudged my knees apart and stepped between them, both hands now holding onto my hips as a low, growly sound rumbled up from his chest.
He released my mouth only to trail his lips along my jaw. I gasped and angled my head to give him better access as he flicked his tongue over my earlobe, then nibbled his way down my neck.
“Fuck, I knew you were sweet, but you taste like sugar.” His husky voice in my ear made goosebumps break out over my skin again, and I shivered in his arms as he laughed softly.
“It’s the sugar cookies,” I whispered without thought, and he drew back to look at me questioningly. I flushed when I realized I’d said that out loud. “I ate some right before you got here,” I confessed, “that’s why you taste sugar.”
He flashed me a slow, sexy grin that I was sure would have my panties melting completely off my body if I wasn’t careful. “No, I think it’s just you, sugar”
He dipped his head again, claiming my mouth in a ravenous kiss. His hands left my hips, and I shivered as one large palm slid up my spine to grasp the back of my neck while the other slipped up under the edge of my shirt to cup my lace-covered breast.
My body arched into his as his thumb grazed over my hard nipple, the thin lace providing absolutely no barrier against the sensation of his skin on mine. He did it again, followed up by lightly grasping my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, and giving it a little tug. I bucked against him, and he chuckled as he tugged again, a little harder this time, making me moan into his mouth.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him even closer. My fingers delved into the short hair at the nape of his neck. Then it was his turn to moan in pleasure as I gently scraped my fingernails along his scalp, then tugged on the longer hair at his crown.
I was lost in his kisses, aware of only the incredible sensation his touch was wringing from my body. His tongue slid along mine, fucking my mouth and making my pussy clench in need. Jesus, Camille had been right. I needed to end my dry spell, and it looked like King might just be the man to do it.
“Fuck, you’ve got me hard enough to pound nails,” he muttered, skimming his lips down the side of my neck again and then further down, until he was nuzzling my cleavage.
I nearly cried out at the loss of his hand on my breast, until I felt him sliding his fingers along the stretchy waistband of my leggings. He moved the hand holding the back of my neck, grasping my hair in his fist and using it to guide me backward just enough to give him better access to my body. I had a fleeting thought that it I leaned back any farther, I would squash the tray of muffins behind me. That thought flew from my mind when those questing fingers slipped under my waistband and then slid between my legs.
I gasped as he stroked his fingers over the gusset of my panties – panties that I was sure were soaked with my arousal by now. I spread my legs wider, giving him the room he needed to maneuver as he edged my panties aside to reach the soft skin below. I held my breath as he slipped one finger between my lower lips, and he groaned as he felt my slick heat.
“Jesus, you’re so fuckin’ wet for me. You want this just as much as I do, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I moaned, my breath hitching in my throat as that exploring finger slid inside me, stroking in and out in a gentle glide that stoked the flames building inside me. He nosed the V-neck of my shirt out of the way, then nipped at the upper curve of my breast that he exposed. The momentary flash of pain shotstraight to my pussy, and I swore I got even wetter. Based on his groan and the way his finger sped up, I was right.
