“Let’s go to bed,” he whispered in her ear.

Goose bumps slid down her spine as he placed a kiss on her neck. Erin slipped out of his lap and began gathering up the few remaining dirty dishes. Abel checked to make sure the barbecue ashes were all out and then held the door open for her as she carried the dishes inside.

“Just dump them in the sink. We’re both beat, and I can do them tomorrow.” Abel closed and locked the back door, and then waited patiently as she piled the dishes in the sink. She was sure he could hear the sound of her heart pounding over the clinking sound of the plates and glass as she stacked them.

Her stomach was filled with butterflies and her legs felt like jelly as she walked up the stairs to bed. Abel followed close behind her, his hand resting on the base of her spine. It was such a small thing, but it was very intimate, like the sort of thing a man did for his wife on the way to bed.

Erin experienced a sharp pang in her heart, yearning for that kind of committed relationship with him. If she let herself, she could easily imagine herself living here, and suddenly an image of a dark-haired baby popped in her head.

Enough, she warned herself. He’d already given her more than she’d thought any man ever would. Straightening her spine, she kept climbing straight up the stairs. She wasn’t going to ruin this moment with regrets.

Erin was quick in the bathroom, and Abel went in when she was finished. She was brushing out her hair when he joined her in the bedroom. Swiping the brush across her hair a few more times, she tossed the brush onto the dresser, and headed for bed.

Abel stopped her before she climbed into bed and undid several of the buttons before sliding the shirt down her arms and letting it drop to the floor. “You’ll sleep better without it,” he promised her.

Erin climbed gingerly into bed, watching Abel while he shucked his jeans. Her mouth watered as he casually eased his arms over his head and stretched. It was impossible for him to extend his arms fully given his height, so his elbows were bent. He was the perfect picture of masculinity. As she watched, his cock stirred and began to grow. Her breasts swelled slightly in response and she accidentally brushed them against the sheet. Caught off guard, she winced slightly. Her chest seemed to be a little sorer than she thought it was.

Abel, of course, noticed immediately. “I knew it was worse than you let on.” He climbed into bed and carefully settled her into the warm crook of his arm.

Erin let her hand drift to his groin and grazed his growing erection. Her fingers had barely touched him before he gripped her hand and pulled it away. She looked at him, surprised by his action. “Why?” she questioned, lifting her head so she could see him. After all, he’d asked her to stay the night.

Cradling her face in his hands, he kissed her. Long and slow, it was a kiss that seethed with underlying passions. His tongue discovered every crevice of her mouth before he withdrew. He caught her lower lip between his teeth and nibbled on it for a moment before soothing it with his tongue. Placing one final kiss on her lips, he drew her body back down into his arms.

“I want you. Don’t for one second think that I don’t.” His hand smoothed a lock of hair away from her face. “But not when you’re not feeling well. If it can’t be good for you, then it won’t be good for me. Understand?”

His chest hair tickled her nose as she nodded, and she was glad for the excuse to rub her face. His declaration had touched her beyond belief. This action, more than anything else, reassured her that she’d made the right choice in loving this man. It showed her that he did indeed have feelings for her, and he cared about her well-being. That, plus great sex wasn’t such a bad deal. Sighing contentedly, she snuggled closer to his chest.

She really tried to go to sleep, but her body was still humming with desire and she could feel his erection nudging her hand as it lay on his stomach. Casually, she extended one finger and brushed the tip of his penis.

He groaned and shuddered. “Baby, you’re killing me here.”

Erin grinned. She liked the idea that she could make him want her so much. It made her feel very womanly and powerful. Then she had a brilliant idea. “You know,” she began, still stroking the bulbous tip with her finger. “There was a position in that magazine that we could do with no problem.”

“Is that so?” he rumbled. “Tell me.”

She licked her lips that were suddenly very dry. “We both lie on our sides, but my head is facing your feet.” Trailing off, she glanced at his face, “It’s called sixty-nine.”

“It’s a classic, but instead of our sides, do you think you could lie on top of me without hurting yourself?” His low sexy voice rolled over her, making her blood sizzle.

“I’m sure I could.” At this point she didn’t care if it did hurt. This was an opportunity not to be missed. Before he could change his mind, she twisted around in the bed until she was facing his feet, straddling him, and then she carefully lowered herself on top of him.

His large hands gripped her thighs guiding her backwards until she felt his breath on her already slick feminine folds. Taking his time, he adjusted her until he was satisfied with her position, and then his tongue snaked out and licked her entire length. Erin cried out, but his hands had clamped around her thighs, holding her in place so she couldn’t move.

“I’m going to eat your pussy until you come.” His words started a fire deep within her.

“Yes,” she moaned and then lost her breath as his clever tongue curled around her clit, making her squirm.

Deciding that this worked both ways, she lowered her head to his cock, and with no warning, took him deep in her mouth. Now it was his turn to groan as she moved her mouth up and down his length, using her tongue to stimulate the sensitive flesh.

In retaliation, he stabbed his tongue inside her, thrusting it in and out as he used his fingers to stimulate her clit. It was almost too much for her to handle, but he wasn’t finished. Replacing his tongue with his fingers, he thrust two of them deep inside her and began to move them slowly in and out. With his other hand, he traced the cleft of her behind, before using his teeth to nip at her ass cheeks.

Erin moaned and the sound vibrated along the length of his cock. Wrapping her hand around the base, she stroked him as she continued to lick and suck at the tip. She used her other hand to stroke and cuddle his testicles before moving to the sensitive skin just under them. His hips flexed as he tried to drive his cock deeper into her mouth. Taking him as deep as she could, she lost herself in the pleasure of the moment.

The smell of sex permeated the air, as he continued to stroke her clit and lick her flesh. She flicked her tongue over the tip of his cock, licking at the milky liquid seeping from the tip before she worked her way lower and sucked at his balls. Rubbing her nose against the hair of his groin, she inhaled his addictive scent.

His hips jerked, rubbing his cock against her cheek. Turning her face towards it, she rubbed her cheek across his hard length. His fingers dug into her ass cheeks and she could feel his heated breath on her pussy as he gasped for breath.

His arousal was driving hers even higher and she knew that she wouldn’t last much longer. But this time, she wanted him to come first. She inched back until she could take his cock deep in her mouth once again. Letting it slid back as far as she could, she sucked hard, and when his testicles drew up close to his body, she knew he was close.

Redoubling her efforts, she used both her hands and her mouth, stroking, licking, and sucking. She was rewarded a moment later when he stiffened and shot his load into her mouth. Erin didn’t stop, but continued to pump his dick with her hand and suck on the tip until he made her stop. Rolling off him, she came up on her knees next to him, and looked him straight in the eyes as she swallowed and licked her lips.

“I’m not done with you yet.” Abel was urging her closer as he spoke. “Sit on my face.”

Erin didn’t hesitate, but eagerly straddled his face. She ached with the need to come. She was so close. Raising her hands, she cupped her breasts carefully, as they were very sensitive. Using her fingertips, she teased her aching nipples. She licked her lips, and the taste of him made her inner muscles clench with need.

Abel didn’t wait for her to settle, but pulled her pussy down to his face. His long fingers forged deep inside her as his tongue lapped at her wet lips and sucked her clit. Stroking hard and deep, her inner muscles clamped tight around them.

Abel rubbed his other hand over her pussy, coating it with her juices before using it to explore the dark cleft of her ass. She shrieked when she felt one of his wet fingers slowly, but steadily push its way inside her behind. It was a tight fit, and his finger stretched her. At first she wasn’t sure she liked the sensation, but then he plunged two of his fingers deep into her vagina even as he pushed his other finger further up her ass. She felt so full, she just wanted to explode.

“It’s all right, baby,” he reassured her. “Just relax and enjoy.” He withdrew his finger slightly before pushing it further inside her behind. “Your ass is so hot and tight, but you like this. Don’t you, honey.”

He moved his finger as he spoke and Erin moaned and gripped the headboard tight, giving herself up to the amazing new sensations coursing through her. When her inner muscles clenched around his fingers, she was almost afraid to move. “Yes,” she hissed. She’d never imagined a man putting his fingers up her ass, but with Abel she found it exciting. She didn’t think she could take much more. Her blood sizzled and her body was on fire.

When he inserted a third finger inside her pussy, she came on the upstroke. Exploding around his fingers, she came in a sudden gush.

Abel kept his fingers pumping and his tongue licking until she begged him to stop. Even then, he kept it up for a minute longer and Erin was shocked when her inner muscles contracted once again. This time the feelings were so intense that she screamed and arched back, letting her orgasm consume her.

She didn’t remember moving, but when she came back to her senses a few moments later, she was sprawled across Abel’s chest. Yawning, she snuggled against it, rubbing her cheek against the thatch of soft hair there.

“Sleep.” She heard his voice as if from a distance, but couldn’t summon the strength to answer him. The effects of her explosive orgasm, the long day, the sunburn, and the big meal all caught up to her, and she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Ten

At the same time on the outskirts of town, Nathan Connors sat in his parked truck and stared at Carly’s Ames little bungalow. A soft light still glowed in the living room window, but he couldn’t see any movement inside. He didn’t know why, but for some reason Nathan felt uneasy about Erin. His sister had seemed jittery this morning and slightly distracted tonight before she had gone out. Almost secretive. And that just wasn’t like her.

He’d done his best to put it out of his mind, but it had done him no good. She’d been on his mind all evening long, and he knew deep in his gut that there was more to this evening then just a “girls only” evening. So here he was, just after eleven at night sitting outside of Carly’s house trying to get up the nerve to go up and knock on the front door.

It was probably nothing but his imagination, but he knew he wouldn’t sleep tonight if he didn’t check on Erin in person. She’d probably get mad at him and accuse him of being as bad as Jackson, but it couldn’t be helped.

Then there was Carly. Just the thought of her name made him sweat. With her short brown hair, pale blue eyes, and gamine face, she looked like a combination somewhere between an angel and a pixie. She was short, but she was rounded in all the right areas, especially her breasts and her ass. Nathan ate at the diner almost every day just so he could watch her ass as she walked away from him. He’d lusted after her for years, but had kept her at arm’s length, because Carly was what was known as a good girl, and Nathan’s taste in sex would probably shock her to death. Plus, she was his sister’s best friend. There were unwritten rules about dating your sister’s best friend, and a smart man avoided all contact if he knew what was good for him.

Nathan swore at himself and heaved himself out of his truck. For a man who had faced down drunks and armed men during his career as a deputy sheriff in this town, it was ridiculous for him to be nervous about facing two women. His boots echoed on the cobblestone walk as he strode purposefully up the driveway, climbed the three steps to the porch, and pounded on the front door.