Page 40 of Searching for Love

ChapterFourteen

Lucas didn’t know what he had done in his life to deserve Avery. The moment he knew that she wanted him as much as he wanted her, he felt as if he was the luckiest man on the planet. Feeling her body melt against his, he was powerless to deny the attraction he had felt for her since the first moment he’d seen her in the silly elf outfit last Christmas.

The green tights she’d been wearing then were almost as sexy as the skin-tight black ones she had on now. He had been thankful he’d had a busy day to keep his mind from focusing on her curves.

When Avery whispered, “Take me upstairs,” there was no way he could deny her. Thoughts of sweeping her up in his arms and carrying her up the stairs to his bed played in his head.

Then reality sunk in.

“My mattress is still on the ground,” he groaned.

She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.” She brushed her lips against his again. “Being with you is all that matters.” Her eyes locked with his. “But if it bothers you, we could always go to my place.” She smiled and added, “Next time.”

He groaned with pleasure at the possibility of being able to have a second shot at this, even though there hadn’t been a first-round yet.

Even if he couldn’t give her candlelight and a real bed, he could show her just how he felt about her.

He lifted her and walked slowly towards the door that led upstairs. It took a lot of his concentration not to trip or, worse, drop her as he opened the door, climbed the stairs, and stopped just inside his bedroom.

“I like your place.” She chuckled against his lips.

“Later, I’ll give you a tour.” He kicked his shoes off and took the kiss deeper than before.

The weeks of dancing around touching her had gotten to him. When her body slid down his and her feet touched the ground, his hands were finally free to roam over her.

Still kissing him, she pulled his shirt up and over his head. Then, when he was free of that barrier, she ran her hands over his tanned, toned chest and arms, down his body, and started pulling on his jeans.

“Easy,” he sighed and took her hands in his. “We’ve got time. At least I hope so.” He chuckled.

“I don’t need time, Lucas.” Her eyes met his. “I need you. Now.” She pulled on his jeans as her smile grew. “We both knew this would happen sooner or later.” He watched her suck her bottom lip between her teeth.

“I’m just thankful I wasn’t the first one to cave,” he said with a grin.

Her eyes narrowed. “You are very strong-willed.”

His eyes slowly ran over her body. With the tips of his fingers, he traced the straps to the tank top she was wearing, nudging each strand off her creamy shoulders. “Not really. I’ve been busy. If I hadn’t, this would have happened a lot sooner,” he assured her.

Her smile warmed him and when he stepped closer and covered her mouth with his again, he knew that even if he had a hundred years to show her how much he wanted her, it would go far too fast. He hoped to take a lifetime exploring her.

As their kiss deepened, Lucas felt a rush of desire coursing through his entire body. She had set off a fire that had been smoldering between them since that first flirtatious encounter. With each touch, each caress, he felt himself falling deeper under her spell, lost in the intoxicating allure of her presence, her smell, her taste.

With practiced ease, his hands moved with purpose, eager to shed the layers between them and revel in the raw passion that simmered just beneath the surface. Until they were both skin against skin. Heat against heat.

As he felt her fingers trace the contours of his skin, a shiver of anticipation ran down his spine, sending sparks of electricity along his nerves. His mind had shut off while his needs controlled him. Now, however, when they knelt on his bed, his brain called out to him to at least take care of one important task.

Reaching over, he grabbed one of the condoms he’d put on his makeshift nightstand the other day.

Avery smiled as he returned to her. “See, you at least have some of the bases covered.”

He chuckled. “Tomorrow, I’m heading to Edgeview and hauling the rest of my furniture over here.”

She nodded and then pulled him back down to her and kissed him until he was once more lost in the passion.

Their movements were frenzied yet tender, fueled by a hunger. As their bodies pressed together, the world around him faded into oblivion, leaving only the two of them entwined in a dance of desire and longing.

When she wrapped her hand around his length, he grasped her gently and they moved together until he was on the cusp of losing control.

Nudging her down until she lay on the bed, he shifted to settle his shoulders between her thighs. The first taste of her had both of them crying out with delight.