Chapter 9

A prude? Here he was, trying to be honorable, trying to be a good friend, and the damn woman accused him of being a prude. Would a prude have come in her mouth the way he’d just done?

Cash was still kicking himself for that. But once she’d put her hands on him, he’d caved like a house of cards. He couldn’t remember ever coming that hard. His balls still tingled from the bone-melting climax, and now, with Jen straddling his lap, his dick hardened again, eager for another go.

You’ve already dug your grave, man.

Truth. Carson wouldn’t make a distinction between sex and a blowjob. Both would be equally unforgivable in the dude’s eyes.

So why was he still hesitating? He had a sexy woman in his lap, for fuck’s sake. A sexy woman who happened to be in her underwear. A sexy woman whose lips were swollen and moist from sucking him off. And her brother would kill Cash regardless, so why bother putting up a fight? Might as well take what he’d been dying to get his hands on for nearly a week now.

Meeting her challenge, he sat up straighter and leaned back on the arm of the couch. “Lose the bra,” he ordered.

After the way she’d gone to town on his dick, he half expected an enthusiastic striptease, but what he got was a whole lot of hesitation. Jen’s straight white teeth sank into her bottom lip, her obvious distress digging a groove in her forehead.

He furrowed his brows. “What’s wrong?”

She opened her mouth and a shaky breath flew out. “I lied to you, Cash,” she said, looking miserable. “I talk a big game, but the truth is, I don’t have much experience with sex. That stuff about my favorite position being missionary? It’s the only position I’ve ever tried. I haven’t even…” Embarrassment stained her cheeks pink. “I’ve never had an orgasm during sex. I can get myself off, but the guys I’ve slept with never made me come.”

“Never?” he echoed in surprise.

“Never.” Her cheeks turned redder. “At first I tried telling them what I needed, how to touch me the way I like, but I think they felt insulted. Eventually I started faking it so I wouldn’t hurt their feelings.”

She looked so upset that Cash experienced a burst of unexpected tenderness. He drew her into his arms and kissed the top of her head, breathing in her sweet scent. Fuck, he should’ve seen through all her bold flirting and seduction attempts, but she’d gotten him so twisted up in knots of lust that he hadn’t paid attention.

Whatever reluctance he’d been feeling about this encounter dissipated like a cloud of smoke. No way would he leave this girl wanting. Her inexperience had definitely shone through during that blowjob, but she’d sent him careening over the edge with her exploratory licks and uncertain pumps. She deserved to experience the same kind of mind-blowing pleasure.

“Cash? Do you want to stop?”

“No,” he said gruffly. “I don’t want to stop.”

“It doesn’t bother you that I’m not…you know, an accomplished sexpert? You don’t wish I’m a porn star or something?”

He chuckled. “I don’t want to fuck a porn star, Jen. I want to fuck you.” When her eyes widened, he suppressed a curse and wished he’d kept his mouth shut. His blunt nature had gotten him into trouble with women in the past. “Ah, sorry. I should probably watch my language.”

“No, don’t.”

He arched a brow.

“I like it. It’s a huge turn-on.” Her lips quirked in a smile. “I don’t know why you think you can’t talk to women. You do a pretty good job of it.”

He traced the curve of her jaw with a lazy finger. “Dirty talk doesn’t count as real talking.”

“Sure it does.”

“Whatever you say.” His fingers moved to her collarbone, drawing circles over her silky skin. “Now why don’t we stop talking so I can get started on the making you feel good part. So…lose the bra.”

Her breath hitched. Then, without a word, she flicked the front clasp of her bra. The lacy cups popped open, revealing a pair of perky breasts tipped by pale pink nipples.

Oh yeah. Cash licked his suddenly dry lips, then cupped those spectacular tits with his palms and swept his thumbs over her nipples, watching them harden beneath his touch.

He studied Jen to gauge her response. Her face was awash with pleasure, her pulse hammering in her throat.

Happy with what he saw, he leaned forward and kissed the swell of each breast, then closed his lips over one nipple. He sucked gently, flicking his tongue over the velvety soft bud.

Jen’s moan rippled through her body and vibrated against his mouth. He peered up, a satisfied noise rumbling out of his chest when he glimpsed the sheer rapture on her face.

“You like this?” he murmured before turning his attention to her other nipple.

“Uh-huh.”

He alternated between fleeting licks and deep pulls. Kissing and sucking until Jen started making sexy whimpering sounds and grinding her lower body against his in an agitated rhythm. The heat of her pussy scorched his thighs, sent a bolt of lust to his thickening cock.

“I need to touch you,” he said, rubbing his cheek on the underside of her breast.

She choked out a laugh. “You are touching me.”

“It’s not enough. I need to touch every fucking inch of you.”

With a growl, he flipped her on her back and latched his mouth to hers, kissing her roughly.

His hands took on a life of their own, exploring the soft body sprawled beneath him. He skimmed his fingertips over her stomach. Stroked the baby-fine skin of her inner thighs. Squeezed her luscious ass. And while his hands played and roamed, he used his mouth to tend to the places his fingers were too impatient to reach, like the graceful arch of her neck, which he nuzzled and kissed. The spot right beneath her ear, which he nipped at with his teeth. The sweet crease between her breasts, which he lapped his tongue over.

Jen shifted restlessly beneath him, her arms coming around his shoulders, her short fingernails gouging into his skin. “I want to come,” she said desperately. “Make me come.”

His pulse roared in his ears, his cock so stiff he was actually in pain. Breathing hard, he moved off the couch and got on his knees, digging his fingers into her thighs. “Spread for me, baby.”

She spread, and he almost came from the sight of her. Her pussy was as perfect as the rest of her, pink and smooth and glistening with excitement. His mouth went parched. His heart thumped a wild beat in his chest.

He needed to taste her. Now.

With a groan, he parted her legs farther apart and buried his head in her tempting paradise, licking his way down to her wet opening. The sweet, tangy taste of her coated his tongue and he lapped her up like a cat, every muscle in his body coiled tight. He nibbled on her slick folds, tickling her slit with the tip of his tongue, kissing and sampling but making a pointed effort to avoid the swollen bud begging for his attention.

“Stop teasing,” she begged.

“No,” he muttered.

His tongue danced down to her core again, jabbing inside with sharp strokes. Jen’s hips bucked, a wild cry leaving her mouth.

Fighting a smile, he continued to fuck her with his tongue. His fingers circled both her ankles so he could lift her legs up to his shoulders and bring her pussy closer to his face. Her anxious moans egged him on, heightened his own arousal and summoned a growl of satisfaction.

“Oh, God. Cash. Please. Please.”

The begging nearly did him in, but he willed away the impending release and distracted himself by plunging his tongue into her again. When her pleas turned into nonsensical muttering and tortured whimpers, he finally gave her what she wanted.

The second his mouth suctioned around her clit, she orgasmed in a loud, hot rush, thrashing on the sofa and grabbing his head to keep his mouth glued to her.

Cash rode out the release with her, licking and sucking until her body went as limp as a rag doll.

Chuckling, he lifted his head and studied Jen’s face, pleased with what he saw. Flushed cheeks, glazed eyes—a woman who’d just been thoroughly satisfied.

His erection demanded that same satisfaction. Staggering to his feet, Cash peeled his T-shirt off and tossed it on the hardwood floor.

When Jen started to sit up, he fixed her with a stern look and said, “Don’t move.”

He darted into the hall to grab a condom from a drawer in the bathroom and hightailed it back to the living room like a man possessed. Jen was still sprawled on the couch, her eyes dazed, her tits red and splotchy from his mouth. His fingers had even left red marks on her thighs, which would’ve made him feel guilty if not for the way she spread those thighs the second he approached.

She eyed him with unabashed passion. “Get in me. Now.”

“Aren’t you bossy.” He taunted her by gripping his condom-covered dick and giving it a lazy stroke, ignoring the deep ache of anticipation in his balls. “Maybe I don’t want to do that yet. Maybe I want to stand here and look at you for a while.”

Her eyes widened as he stroked himself, but she must have seen the need burning on his face, heard his labored breathing, because she gave a soft laugh and taunted him right back. “Liar. You’re dying to be inside me.”

No point in denying it. “Busted,” he agreed. And then he launched himself at her and slid his cock into her with one smooth glide.

She gasped.

He cursed.

Jesus, she was tight, her inner muscles clamping around his dick as if to trap him there. And he didn’t mind one damn bit.

Sweat beaded on his skin as he began to move. Slow, languid, trying to prolong the sensations. The sofa dipped under their weight. The air in the living room grew hot, a thick sexual fog that made it difficult to breathe.

Cash placed a palm flat on either side of her, his biceps flexing and straining as he tried to control the pace. A sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead. Christ. He wanted to go faster. He wanted to fuck the living daylights out of her, to hear the sound of flesh slapping flesh, to feel the couch cushions bounce as he drove them both over the edge.

“Stop,” Jen ordered.

He froze. Started to pull out, but she dug her fingers into his ass to keep him in place.

“Stop reining it in,” she clarified with a frazzled look. “I won’t break, cowboy. So stop with the slow and gentle routine and do what I know you want to do to me.”

He hissed out a breath. “What I want to do is fuck you like a goddamn animal.”

“Good. Now do it.”

The last thread of restraint snapped inside him like a rubber band.

No finesse, no controlled movements. All he heard was their ragged breathing, the rhythmic squeaking of the couch springs, the deafening roar of his pulse. He fucked her hard. Deep, steady strokes that soon became shallow and erratic. It didn’t take long before Jen’s body arched beneath his, before she was moaning again, begging for more. Cash angled his hips in order to stimulate her clit with each stroke, and when her pussy spasmed around him and she started to come, he let himself go. A zing of pleasure set fire to his balls and unleashed an orgasm that shot up his shaft, sizzled his spine, and made him forget his name.

His mind fragmented. Heart stopped. Surroundings faded. The only thing that registered was the agonizing pleasure seizing his body.

When he finally regained his senses, he became aware of something ringing.

“Phone,” he mumbled.

His reaction time was slower than usual, but he managed to stagger off the couch in search of his cell, glancing at Jen over his shoulder. “Sorry, but it could be the—”

“Base,” she finished. “Don’t worry, I know the drill.”

It took him a moment to remember that both her father and brother were military.

Her brother. Oh shit.

Cash quickly pushed all thoughts of Carson from his mind as he headed for the kitchen counter and grabbed his phone. He’d deal with the threat of drowning later.

Fortunately, the call wasn’t from his CO. He almost didn’t pick up when he saw Dylan’s number on the screen, but changed his mind at the last second, answering before the call kicked over to voice mail.

“What’s up?” he asked in lieu of greeting.

“Just doing my sponsor-ly duty and checking in to see how you’re holding up,” Dylan said. “Or should I say, how you’re holding out.”

Cash’s gaze moved to the couch, where Jen was pulling her panties up her legs. Her bare breasts swayed as she bent down to search for her bra.

“Let’s just say you’re the worst sponsor ever,” he muttered.

A hoot sounded in his ear. “You caved? Already? We saw each other two hours ago.”

It’d only been two hours since he’d left the guys? Shit. Apparently he had even less self-control than he’d thought.

His friend’s laughter continued to fill the line.

“Is there anything else you wanted?” Cash asked through clenched teeth.

“Yeah, to remind you we’re having beers on Monday. You know, when my guys beat the shit out of your guys.”

“You mean when my guys clean up the field with yours?”

“You wish, bro. So we’re still on for the Monday-nighter?”

“Definitely.”

“Cool. See you then.”

Cash hung up and saw Jen’s quizzical expression. She’d put her tank top and shorts back on, and was in the process of tying her hair into a ponytail. “What was that about?” she asked.

“Football rivalry,” he explained. “Arizona’s playing San Fran on Monday, so Dylan’s coming over to watch my team kick his team’s ass.”

“Dylan? As in your go-to ménage buddy?”

He scowled at her. “Don’t get any ideas.”

“Me? You’re the one who’s naked.”

Shit. She was right. Ignoring her mocking look, he crossed the room and gathered up his clothes. As he bent over to pick up his shorts from the floor, he heard Jen gasp.

“Holy hell,” she breathed. “That’s hot.”

Cash had to grin. “Didn’t realize my bare ass was gasp-worthy.”

“It’s not. Well, it is. But I was looking at your tattoo.”

He tugged his shorts up to his hips, jumping when he felt Jen’s warm hand on him. There was nothing sexual about the touch—she was tracing the tattoo on his upper back, which spanned from shoulder to shoulder—yet his dick jerked at the contact.

Get yourself together, he ordered the big guy.

Her finger danced over the bumps of his spine. “What’s the date underneath the eagle?” she asked curiously.

“The day I got my SEAL trident.”

“Nice.” Her fingertips continued to travel over his skin. “Is it weird that this tattoo really, really turns me on?”

Smothering a groan, he ducked out of her grasp. He quickly pulled his T-shirt over his head before turning around to face her. “Jen,” he began.

Her expression grew cloudy. Perching her hands on her hips, she searched his face, then frowned as if she didn’t like what she saw. “Don’t you dare tell me what happened just now was a mistake. You know you enjoyed it as much as I did.”

He couldn’t deny it even if he tried, but that didn’t change the fact that he’d totally screwed up. He’d promised Carson he wouldn’t touch Jen, and horn dog that he was, he’d caved the second she’d placed her dainty hand on his dick.

“It can’t happen again,” he said in a firm voice.

“Like hell it can’t.”

Frustration jammed in his throat. “I’m not good at relationships. And I’m not looking for one right now.”

“I don’t want a relationship either. I already told you, I don’t date military guys. So relax, okay? All I want from you is more of what we did on the couch right now. Sex, cowboy. Just sex.”

“Sex,” he echoed warily.

“Look, I’ve had three lovers and the sex sucked with all of them.” Aggravation creased her forehead. “I don’t want someone who’ll hold my hand and shower me with sweet words or kisses. I want someone who’ll fuck my brains out.”

Cash blinked in surprise.

“I just dated a psycho. Do you honestly think I’m in the mood to open myself up to another guy right now? This won’t be a relationship. I’m not handing you my heart and pleading with you not to break it. I’m asking you to rock my world for the next few weeks.”

He choked out a laugh. “Is that all?”

“No.” She arched one brow. “I also want you to teach me how to rock your world. I want us to do all the things I’ve always wanted to try, and pretty much see how many times we can make each other come in three weeks.”

Cash swallowed. Hard.

“Three weeks,” she said flippantly. “It’ll just be a little fling, Cash. We’ll have sex, hang out, and then I’ll move out and we say goodbye.”

He hesitated. If his lower body was in charge of making the decision, it would be a no-brainer. Fling. Sex. Make each other come. That’s all his dick needed to hear.

But his brain told him this was a bad idea. Not to mention ridiculously unrealistic. A fling with an end date? Every fling he’d ever experienced, the chick ended up pushing for a relationship no matter what the initial agreement had been.

And even if Jen didn’t end up wanting more, he didn’t feel right about using her this way. Well, they’d be using each other, he amended, but still…it didn’t sit right with him.

Truth was, he liked her. He liked her a lot. He’d never had a girl worry about him before, the way Jen had when he’d come home suffering from a pounding headache. She’d given him a temple massage, for chrissake. A woman like Jen deserved to be worshipped, not fucked for three weeks and then discarded.

“I can see that sexy brain of yours working,” she said in irritation. “Don’t overthink this, Cash. Three weeks of sex, nothing more, nothing less. If it makes you feel better, we’ll even agree to remain friends afterwards.”

He cracked a smile.

“Come on,” she coaxed. “You know you want to say yes.”

And then, evil seductress that she was, she stepped closer and pressed her index finger to his chest, drawing little figure-eights between his pecs.

Cash groaned. “Carson’s going to kill me.”

“He’ll never have to know.”

“Fuck.”

She smirked. “Is that a yes?”

“No.” He cleared his throat, but it still felt like someone had jammed a handful of gravel in there. “I mean, maybe.”

“Maybe?” Humor tinged her voice.

“Yes,” he said with a sigh.

“Yes?”

Smothering a curse, he yanked her into his arms. He kissed her, then pried his mouth away and repeated himself. “Yes.”

“So ’fess up, why are you really single?” Jen asked later that evening.

She and Cash were lying on the couch again, naked beneath a fleece blanket that he’d haphazardly wrapped around them. She still couldn’t believe he’d agreed to have a fling with her. She’d figured it would take a lot more convincing, but it appeared that all you needed to do was give a man a BJ and he caved.

And thank God he had, because sex with Cash was everything she’d known it would be. A little rough, a tad demanding, a lot awesome. And nobody could accuse the man of being a selfish lover. He didn’t come until he made sure she got off, and he seemed to really, really enjoy getting her off. Earlier, he’d had his head buried between her legs for a good forty minutes, bringing her to the brink only to retreat and start the slow, teasing torment all over again. The resulting orgasm had been more powerful than any she’d ever experienced.

Which raised the question she’d just voiced—why on earth was this guy still single?

“Cash?” she prompted when he didn’t respond.

His hand absently toyed with a strand of her hair. “I’m not looking for a relationship.”

“Why not?”

She felt his pecs ripple beneath her cheek as he shrugged. “I don’t think I make a very good boyfriend.”

“Right, because you can’t talk to women. Which is total bullshit, by the way. You talk to me just fine.”

His voice sounded troubled as he said, “Yeah, I guess I do. But that’s not how it normally goes down. Usually, I screw up by saying the wrong thing, or not saying anything at all. I got tired of hearing chicks complain about how I don’t talk to them.” He paused in thought. “Being single is probably a good thing. For now, anyway. There’s still a lot of stuff I want to do with my life, stuff I couldn’t do if I settled down.”

“Is this about your parents? Because they had you so young, you don’t want to make the same mistake?”

“Yeah, maybe. My folks didn’t get to do all the things they wanted to do in life.”

She lifted her head from his bare chest and shot him a mocking look. “With ten million dollars in the bank, they couldn’t do what they wanted?”

Cash smiled faintly. “Big spenders they ain’t. They’re very practical. They used the lotto money for the basics—putting food on the table, a roof over our heads, and clothing on our backs. Dad always wanted to be a mechanic, so he bought a garage and started his own business. After that, they set aside some money for my college fund and invested the rest. They both grew up poor, so spending money on pointless luxuries isn’t in their DNA. Neither is hiring a nanny for their kid. They were hands-on parents, so, thanks to me, neither of them got to enjoy their teens or twenties. The moment I left for college, they started making up for lost time. They’ve been traveling a lot. Dad joined a football league. Mom got her GED and enrolled in college.”

The pride in his voice brought a rush of warmth to Jen’s heart. She was a total sucker for men who adored their parents.

She propped herself on her elbow. “So what are all the things you want to do?”

“Well, when I was a kid I wanted to either play professional football or enlist in the navy.”

“And you chose the navy.”

“Actually, no. I chose football. I went to Notre Dame on a full athletic scholarship.”

“You did?”

He nodded. “I was the starting quarterback for the Fighting Irish during junior year, and then senior year came along and I injured my shoulder, right before the draft.”

“Oh. That’s terrible.”

“Yeah, it was. I was out for eleven months, and then I threw myself back into training. My shoulder healed perfectly, but it was clear I wouldn’t be able to play at the same level anymore. Pro football is damn competitive, and by the time I got back in shape, a whole new crop of talented players was graduating and my chances of being drafted weren’t that great anymore. So I enlisted.”

“Okay, then you’re still living one of the dreams. What else would a relationship hold you back from?”

His features creased. “I don’t know what other things I want to do yet, but I’d like to have the freedom to do them. Traveling, for one. I doubt a serious girlfriend would appreciate me dropping everything and leaving town if I suddenly decided to do it.” He paused. “I don’t want to be tied down yet.”

“Relationships don’t have to tie you down,” Jen pointed out.

Before she could blink, Cash flipped her on her back, his strong body hovering over her. “This conversation is getting too serious. Let’s do something to lighten it up.”

“Interesting. Like what?”

He swept his tongue over his bottom lip and pushed the blanket away to expose her naked body. “Well, I’m hungry.”

“We just had all that leftover pizza.”

“Not that kind of hungry.” A predatory gleam entered his eyes. “I think I’ll nibble on you for a bit.”

Lord. Clearly the S in SEAL stood for stamina. Not that she was complaining. In fact, she wasn’t complaining at all as Cash buried his face in her neck and kissed her feverish skin. A moan slipped out when he sucked hard enough to leave a hickey, and little pinpricks of pleasure danced along her flesh.

His rough hands teased her breasts as he dragged his hot mouth along the curve of her neck. His intoxicating scent surrounded her, spice and aftershave and pure man. The heavy weight of his cock on her belly made her shiver and arch her hips.

“Your body is perfect,” he murmured as his hands and mouth continued to explore. He cupped her breasts. “So full.” His fingers skimmed down to her waist. “And then this round, tight ass.” He reached underneath her to squeeze. “These sexy legs.” His callused palms traveled down her thighs, her knees, her calves, before returning north and parting her legs.

Jen gasped when he pushed one long finger inside her.

“And then this sweet, wet paradise,” he rasped.

His finger slid out and he gently stroked her clit in light circular motions that made her squirm. How did he know exactly how to touch her? She’d never had a man so attuned to her body and its responses, and she couldn’t control her shock when his skilled ministrations brought the first ripples of orgasm to the surface. Three past lovers and not a single one had brought her to climax with his touch. One day with Cash McCoy, and she’d come so many times she’d lost count.

The man just might be her new hero.

“You’re close, aren’t you?”

She met his eyes, floored by the naked passion glittering there. From the moment she’d met him in that coatroom, she’d known he’d be like this, capable of making her go up in flames with one heated look, one sinful touch.

“Well, we can’t have that,” Cash said after she nodded in response.

A disappointed groan lodged in her chest when he moved his hand away.

His husky laugh made her shiver. “You’ve gotta learn some patience, sweetheart.” He flung out his arm and grabbed the condom sitting on the coffee table. “Besides, I want you to come while you’re riding me.”

A thrill shot through her. The thought of straddling his big, powerful body and having this big, powerful man at her mercy was hot as hell.

Heart pounding, she sat up and waited for Cash to sheathe himself. When he got on his back and beckoned her, she climbed up with no hesitation, encircled his thick shaft with one hand and brought it to her core.

Their eyes stayed locked together as she lowered herself on his cock. When she was fully seated, they let out simultaneous moans.

Shockwaves of pleasure seized her, but she stayed motionless, keeping him trapped inside her as she bent down to kiss him. His mouth was pure heaven, his lips firm, his tongue demanding. They shared long, drugging kisses, each one hotter than the last. And still she didn’t move. She felt Cash’s heartbeat thudding against her breasts. His breathing grew ragged, coming out in sharp bursts that she swallowed with her lips as she continued to kiss him.

“You okay?” she teased when he cursed against her mouth.

“No.” Sweat bloomed on his forehead. “I need you to start moving.”

Jen squeezed her inner muscles.

He swore again, loud and tortured.

“Like that?” she asked sweetly.

“Among other things.”

She squeezed again.

He groaned.

“You know, this is really fun,” she remarked. “You’ve got this vein in your forehead that looks like it’s about to burst.”

“That’s not the only thing about to burst,” he grumbled.

“I thought we were practicing the art of patience.”

“I thought you were going to fuck my brains out,” he countered, eyes blazing with pure agony.

She laughed. “Nobody said anything of the sort, cowboy. I was only instructed to ride you.”

Cash dug his fingers into her hips, bringing a sting of pain. He tried thrusting upward, but she locked his thighs between hers and made a tsking sound.

“Quit being a pain in the ass, McCoy. If you don’t let me do my thing, I’ll climb right off you and make myself come in private.”

He immediately stilled.

Jen grinned. “That’s what I thought.”

And then she started to move. In earnest. Lifting off his dick and then slamming down on it. Over and over, fast and hard, until the couch protested the ferocity of her movements. Cash reached up to play with her breasts, pinching her nipples, rolling them between his fingers. His hips came up to meet her. Their breathing became labored, choppy, as she rode him.

The throbbing between her legs took a critical turn. “Touch my clit,” she said, surprising herself with the bold order.

His lips formed a sensual smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

He placed his palm on her navel, fingers circling her belly button before traveling south.

Jen exploded the second he touched her. A wave of sensation slammed into her. Her mind splintered into a million pieces, and white dots assaulted her vision. Crying out, she grinded into him, vaguely aware of his hoarse shout as he came.

It took her a while to recover this time. Sagging onto his chest, she just lay there and waited for her heartbeat to regulate and her breathing to steady.

Why hadn’t anyone ever told her that sex could be this good?

And why did she get the feeling that three weeks in Cash’s bed wouldn’t be nearly enough?

She lifted her head and peeked up at him. “Again,” she said with a groan. “We need to do that again.”

His guttural laughter tickled her forehead. “I think I’ve created a monster.”