Nicole Edwards - Temptation

Luke stared incredulously at Sam, listening to her rant.

“It’s your life, and I won’t interfere, but I will tell you that whatever happened that night between you and Cole should have been an eye opener for you. Now that something seems to have happened between you and Sierra, you’re an idiot if you continue to push these people out of your life. You can’t control it all, Luke. It’s just that…” Sam stopped talking, clearly frustrated with the entire situation, but Luke didn’t know what to say.

Those were the same things he’d thought for quite some time now, but it didn’t make the situation any easier. And right now, he didn’t have the patience to talk about it with her or anyone else. Instead of responding, he nodded his understanding and walked off. It was time that he went home. Time for him to get away from this debacle and move on.

A minute later he was pulling out of his brother’s driveway, and a minute after that, he was pulling in behind a familiar car parked on the side of the street. Barely able to get the truck in Park, Luke bolted out, heading for the driver’s side door, fear and worry beating away at his insides.

Had something happened? Was she ok? When he tried the handle, the door didn’t open, so he tapped lightly on the window. When he saw the tears on Sierra’s face, his heart stopped beating. Grabbing his cell phone from his pocket, he dialed Logan’s number.

“Bring someone down the street to get Sierra’s car. She’s going home with me.” He didn’t wait for an answer before hanging up and sliding the phone back in his pocket.

With deft movements, he reached into the car, lifted her and carried her to his truck. She was so upset, Luke figured she didn’t know what was going on, but for now, he just needed to get her back to his house. They’d talk about it there.

Sierra wasn’t able to argue with Luke when he pulled her from her car, carrying her easily to the passenger side of his truck. She didn’t bother as he drove either. Not because she didn’t want to, but because she was too emotionally drained.

After leaving Logan’s, she planned to go straight home to bed; hoping sleep would allow her to escape the emotional overload to her system known as Luke McCoy. Instead, she found she was too distracted to drive and a moment after she pulled alongside the curb, the tears began to fall.

Sierra knew she was a strong woman. She was independent and self-sufficient, but she couldn’t deny that she had feelings too. Seeing Luke again brought every one of those feelings to the surface, making her want something she knew she couldn’t have. Apparently that thought had been too overwhelming, and the emotional breakdown she had successfully dodged for weeks descended upon her.

Thankfully, she managed to fight back the tears once she was in Luke’s arms, or maybe he was the reason they stopped altogether. He wasn’t saying anything, thank goodness, and she wasn’t going to try and explain either. Not that she could if she wanted to.

That damn hope bloomed in her chest once again, and she was afraid to say anything for fear she would wake up, and it would all be a dream. Walking away from him was the hardest thing she had ever done, but it had been the right thing to do.

Ten minutes later, Luke pulled into a house that rivaled Logan’s vast estate easily. The lawn was lit up with strategically placed accent lights, but those all disappeared when he pulled into the four car garage, closing the door behind them and shutting off the truck.

“Don’t move.” He said as he opened his door, causing her to jump at his tone.

She watched him warily as he made his way around the front of the truck, his gaze intent and his posture ramrod straight. Sierra fought the urge to move back when he opened the door, leaned over and unbuckled her seatbelt before lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the door that would lead to the house.

“I can walk you know.” She could pretend his caveman behavior was beginning to wear on her nerves, but secretly, deep down, Sierra enjoyed the feel of his arms around her.

“Hmmphh.”

Luke moved with purpose, going quickly through the house, barely giving Sierra time to take in her surroundings. What she did see was immaculately decorated with absolutely no clutter anywhere. The decor was wholly masculine with stone accents and heavy wood beams, along with large pieces of furniture scattered about.

Before she could say another word, Luke was pushing open a door, and before them was a monster of a bed, four large wooden posts and a heavy wooden headboard and footboard encasing the mattress which was covered with a brown suede comforter and several decorative pillows.

She dared a glance up at him as he made his way to the bed, sitting her on the edge and then standing before her. The look in his eye was so hot, so fierce, Sierra expected to feel her skin singe from the heat. And before her eyes, Luke’s features softened, the hard lines around his mouthed eased, and his massive shoulders seemed to loosen.

“What do we do now?” He asked, clearly bewildered.

“I don’t know.” Honestly she didn’t. What she wanted from this man was so powerful, so all consuming, she didn’t know how to tell him everything she wanted from him.

His body.

His heart.

His soul.

Though the last two weren’t up for grabs, Sierra wanted them all.

Luke bent at the waist, placing one large hand on her thigh as he eased the zipper down on one boot, sliding the suede boot off and to the floor, followed by the other.

“Luke.” His name came out as a whisper in the silent room and his gaze traveled up her body until those mesmerizing eyes locked with hers.

This was the first time they had been alone together, and Sierra found she wanted him selfishly to herself. When it came to Luke, Sierra knew the man owned her, heart and soul, and though she was still so utterly confused when it came to her feelings, especially for the two men who had so easily invaded her life recently, she wanted to have Luke all to herself. At least for a little while.

“I need to touch you, Sierra.” Luke’s words were low, a rough baritone that stroked every one of her sensitive nerve endings.

He was edgy, Sierra could see the restrained power in his flexed biceps and the strain in his neck muscles, but there was tenderness in his tone. Her emotional breakdown had left her weak, or maybe Luke was the one who was making her weak, but either way, Sierra wanted him to take away the pain if only for the night. Even if dawn broke, and Luke was out of her life for good this time, Sierra wanted nothing more than to spend the night in his arms, getting to know every part of him by touch and taste.

Sliding her feet to the floor she stood before him, feeling more vulnerable than she ever had, but needing him. Wanting him. She reached for the buttons on his shirt, and he inhaled sharply, his eyes locked with hers. Slowly she released each small circle from its mooring while they maintained eye contact, neither of them saying a word. Once she could access the glorious naturally tan skin of his chest, Sierra ran her fingers through the soft black hair, making a point to lightly scrape her nails over his nipples.

When she reached his neck, she cupped his face until he leaned closer, his palms cupping her head in turn as he pulled her closer, their lips meeting in a gentle, seductive mating of mouths. His tongue slid over her bottom lip, and Sierra opened for him, letting her tongue duel with his until she reached a fever pitch.

* * *

Luke managed to hold back the hunger, wanting to savor the taste of Sierra for as long as she would allow him. Unsure how he’d been given this second chance, though he never would believe he deserved it, he found himself kissing her, her hands cool on his face as they held on to one another while the rest of the world fell away. Never in his life had he felt this overwhelming tenderness, a need to mate with a woman so completely. He wanted to worship her body until she was ruined for any other man until she knew with every breath she took just how much he wanted her.

When he had come upon her car, finding her in tears in the front seat, Luke had known then exactly what he’d been fighting since he bailed on her in Vegas. This one small woman had weaved her way around his heart so quickly he was left nearly breathless by the sheer intensity of it. And here she was, back in his arms, the soft, subtle scent and the sweet taste of her overwhelming his senses to the point he wasn’t sure he’d make it through the next few minutes.

 Breaking the kiss, needing to take a moment just to look at her, Luke slid his hands down over her shoulders, then her arms until he reached the hem of her sweater. Gripping it gently, he lifted, forcing her to raise her arms, allowing him to sweep the material up and over her head. Standing before him like some exotic goddess clad in only a short jean skirt and a turquoise blue demi bra, her small, puckered nipples peeking through the lace, beckoning him to taste her. Oh how he wanted to taste her.

Backing her against the mattress, forcing her to sit, Luke hovered over her, forcing back the urge to climb on top of her just to feel her writhe beneath him. Apparently she was reading his mind because before a single word was spoken, Sierra maneuvered into position on the bed, lying flat. With hardly any grace whatsoever, Luke rid himself of his shirt, seconds before he climbed over her, pressing a knee between her soft thighs, feeling the warmth of her sex through his jeans.

Lord have mercy, the woman sparked a fire in his blood, and he had to focus on his original intentions. When a soft moan escaped her lips, his dick jumped and his skin tingled, the memory of what it felt like to be inside of her so fresh, so vivid, he wasn’t sure how he’d survived the last few weeks without her. But tonight was all about taking his time, making this moment last and building her need until she was blind with it.

Her nimble fingers quickly got rid of the bra, leaving her breasts on full display while his eyes roamed the gentle curves, lingering on those dusky rose colored nipples that beckoned him to taste her. He started with her lips, lightly kissing, teasing, before descending down her jaw. Taking his time, licking the sexy column of her neck, feeling her heartbeat rapidly against his tongue, and noticing how her body shuddered when he sucked her fragrant skin inside his mouth. Trailing further down, he planted open mouthed kisses on every inch of skin he could reach until he reached the upper swell of her breast.

“Luke.” Sierra breathed his name, and he pressed against her, holding his weight up with his arms as she wrapped around him, her arms circling his neck, her knees bracing his hips.

Bending his head, he took one puckered nipple into his mouth, her sweet taste hitting him like a drug, making his body harden, his blood heat. She was such a sensual woman, her entire body receptive to his touch.

Her long hair fanned out around her as she gripped the back of his head, pulling him closer as he suckled one nipple, then the other. He cupped one soft, firm mound, squeezing lightly while laving her nipple with his tongue, using his teeth to scrape gently before flicking the hardened nub.

He would never get enough of her, the way she moaned her pleasure, the way her thighs squeezed him as he covered her body. And as much as he wanted to prolong this sensual torture forever, Luke needed to feel her wet heat. With quick movements, he pushed off of her, pulling her ankles until she was at the edge of the bed, quickly removing her skirt and the little scrap of turquoise lace that covered the heart of her before shedding his own clothes.

“I need to feel you, baby.”

“Yes.” Sierra agreed, trying to pull him closer as he held her ankles against his shoulders, guiding himself into her easily, this time not bothering with the condom because after having already felt heaven inside of her body there was no other way he wanted to go.

She was so wet and so damn tight Luke had to grit his teeth as he eased inside of her, letting her body accommodate his size. In her position she wasn’t able to move easily, but that didn’t stop her from trying. A smile tipped his lips as he lifted her ankles, raising her hips from the bed slightly, offering him a better angle as he held her thighs against his stomach and pushed into her slowly, then retreated. Over and over, he repeated the gentle glide, going deeper, pulling out.