By the Book

Chapter Nine

Jonah took a deep breath to try to slow the pounding of his heart. He had to get control of himself. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt Amanda.

His blood had gone cold when he’d heard her talking to Jim. His sister’s ex was a bastard through and through. The type of guy with a public persona of being Mr. Nice, but in private was anything but. His sister would bear the mental, if not the physical, scars of her marriage forever, and he didn’t want Jim anywhere near his sister or his woman.

His woman? Where the hell had that come from? He gave himself a mental shake.

Amanda and he were having an affair. Nothing more. It was only common decency that made him warn her about getting chummy with Jim.

That didn’t explain the unreasonable anger and possessiveness that had filled him when he’d heard the two of them talking. He’d planned to wait a day or two until Amanda was totally over the trauma of her attack before he pushed the physical side of their relationship, but Jim’s unexpected visit had changed everything. Jonah felt the need to claim Amanda, mark her as his, so she and everyone around them knew that she belonged to him.

It was primitive, but he didn’t care. He was well aware of how thin the veneer of civilization actually was. He’d seen it stripped away from men and women around the world, until all that remained was the human animal with basic needs. And right now, he needed Amanda.

She was staring up at him, her green eyes becoming deep pools of need. Yeah, she wanted him all right. He could feel the heat from her mound through all the layers of clothing they both wore. “I’ll be gentle.” He needed her to know that he would never hurt her, that she could trust him. That was important to him.

“I know.” Her smile was filled with such trust that it made his chest hurt.

He pushed away from her and nodded. There was no going back. For either of them.

Sliding one arm around her shoulders and another around her thighs, he lifted her. He liked the weight of her in his arms, the feel of her pressed against his body. She slid her arms around his neck, holding tight as he climbed the stairs to her bedroom. Her head rested on his shoulder and her breath tickled his neck.

Jonah stopped by the side of the bed and looked around the room. “You were busy.”

The boxes and suitcases were gone, and a rug had been placed by the side of the bed.

Several pictures were propped against the wall, waiting to be hung, but the room looked more like a bedroom now instead of a haphazard pile of boxes and bags.

“It’s not anywhere near finished. I still have lots to do.” Her fingers played with the ends of his hair, teasing the back of his neck.

He released the arm holding her thighs and let her legs drop until she was standing by the bed. The evening light was muted, but it was more than enough for him to see her without turning on the lights. He didn’t want to do anything that might jolt her out of her present mood.

Stepping back, he reached for her top, bunching the fabric in his hands. He slowly skimmed it upward, giving her time to object. She raised her hands over her head as he pulled the garment up and off. He made a low sound in the back of his throat.

The bra she was wearing was a simple off-white with a touch of lace. The cups molded to her breasts, pushing them slightly upward. He traced his finger over the edge of one cup and paused in the center before sloping up the other side. Her skin was softer than the satiny bra, more delicate.

He felt her shiver beneath his touch.

Cupping her breasts in his hands, he leaned down, seized one of her swollen nipples through the satin and suckled. She gasped, her hands captured his head and pulled him closer. Her fingers tugged on his hair and her nails dug into his scalp, telling him just how much his actions were affecting her, arousing her.

He pulled back and admired his handwork. The cup of her bra was damp and showcased her taut nipple to perfection. He bent down and did the same thing on the other side.

Amanda’s fingers curled around his shoulders and she tugged on his shirt, a stark reminder that they were both still wearing way too much clothing. He pulled away and stared down at her. Her eyes were closed, her head tilted back as she panted.

Jonah reached for the button on her jeans. When it was undone, he tugged the zipper down. A pair of panties came into view. They matched her bra right down to the touch of lace. Sliding his hands inside her jeans, he shoved downward until the fabric bunched around her knees. “Sit on the side of the bed.”

When she was seated, he knelt in front of her and tugged off her sneakers and socks.

Her jeans followed. When she was wearing nothing but her underwear, he sat back and looked at her. “Take down your hair.” He wanted to see her wild curls tumbling around her shoulders.

She cocked an eyebrow at him and gave him a sassy grin. “I will if you’ll take off some of that clothing you’re wearing.”

His shirt was off before she’d barely finished speaking. She laughed as he began to unlace his work boots. By the time he had his boots and socks off, she’d removed the tie from her hair. She shook her head and her red curls flew in all directions. She looked like some kind of woodland sprite straight out of a fairy tale.

Unable to help himself, he fisted his hands in the springy stuff, leaned down and kissed her. This time, he didn’t hold back. He plunged his tongue inside, tasting her sweetness and warmth. He also tasted lemon and honey and almost smiled. It was a combination of flavors he would forever associate with Amanda.

Her tongue tangled with his, her hand coming up to cup the back of his neck. He didn’t want to stop kissing her, but the angle was awkward. Breaking away, he lifted her and lightly tossed her into the center of the mattress, coming down beside her.

She gave a squeak of surprise, which quickly turned to a moan when he kissed her again. Her arms went around him, her hands clutching at the hard muscles that ran up and down his back.

Tongues dueled and breath mingled as he slanted his mouth over hers again and again. God, he loved the taste of her. Her flesh would be just as sweet.

He left a trail of wet, openmouthed kisses on her cheek and down her neck, careful not to press hard on her bruises. The closure for the bra was in the front and he flicked it open with one hand, giving a deep hum of pleasure when the fabric pulled back to reveal the soft mounds of her breasts. She’d described herself to him when they’d had phone sex, but that was nothing compared to the reality of seeing her in the flesh.

Her breasts were firm and filled his palms perfectly. Her nipples were puckered into tight nubs that were dark pink, almost red. Like ripe berries, they tempted him to taste. So he did.

He laved his tongue across one nipple and then did the same with the other.

“Perfect,” he whispered, then blew on the damp bud.

Amanda cried out, her hips arching upward. He threw his thigh over hers, trapping them, holding her still while he sucked and lapped at her breasts.

He stroked his hand over her stomach, feeling the muscles contract beneath his palm.

Her hands weren’t still either. They touched his shoulders, his chest, his head—wherever she could reach him. His cock ached, throbbing harder with each passing second. His jeans were too confining for him to stand it any longer.

Rolling off her, he stood. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the two condoms he’d stashed there when he went home to change this morning. He hadn’t planned on making love to her so quickly, but he’d figured it was better to be safe than sorry. And man, was he glad he’d listened to his instincts. Once again, they hadn’t led him astray.

Aware of her watching his every move, Jonah shucked his jeans, taking his underwear with them. Naked, he stood and let her look her fill. She swallowed hard and her eyes widened as they traced a path from his head to his thighs and back again. She bit her bottom lip as her eyes strayed to his groin again. His erection grew even bigger under her perusal.

She was everything he’d imagined and more. Her curly hair flowed over the pillow and spilled down her shoulders. One curl rested just above her breast, the tip teasing her swollen nipple. Her skin was creamy and soft to the touch. Her breasts were full and her waist curved inward before flowing outward again to her ample hips. He loved her shape.

She was all woman.

Her panties still covered her mound, but he could see the dark reddish thatch of hair beneath. Planting one knee on the bed, he hooked his fingers beneath the waistband.

Never taking his gaze from her, he pulled the silky garment off her one slow inch at a time.

Amanda could barely catch her breath as Jonah eased her panties from her. He sucked in a breath as her pubic hair came into view and then gave a low growl of pleasure as the rest of her was exposed.

“Damn, you’re beautiful.” He tugged her panties over her feet and tossed them aside.

He stroked his fingers over the inside of her legs from her knees all the way to her upper thighs. “Open for me.”

His voice was so deep, so beguiling, she didn’t even think of denying him. She parted her legs, feeling vulnerable, yet aroused and sensual.

“Oh yeah,” he breathed. He hovered over her, his wide shoulders blocking out everything else in the room. She stared up at him, enthralled by the look of hunger in his eyes.

He was the beautiful one, not her. She’d never seen a man who looked as elemental, or who seemed to be as comfortable with his body and sexuality as Jonah. Muscles rippled as he propped himself up on his arms and gazed down at her. His chest was wide, his waist narrow. There didn’t seem to be one spare ounce of flesh on the man. He was sculpted muscle from head to toe.

Then there was his obvious erection. His shaft was long and thick and hard. The bulbous head was darker than the rest of him, the crown damp with fluid. As she watched, a pearly bead of liquid seeped from the tip. The lightly furred sac between his legs hung low and heavy.

Cream seeped from her core and trickled down her leg. “I want to taste you. Touch you.” She reached out her hand, but he grabbed it in his.

“Not this time, sugar.” Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed it before releasing it.

“Your throat is still sore and I’m on a hair-trigger here.”

“Next time.” She could let it go for now, knowing she’d get her turn another time.

“Absolutely.” Jonah settled between her legs, his shoulders pushing her thighs even wider. “I knew your hair down here would be red.”

Amanda felt her cheeks getting warm with embarrassment as he spread her wide with his thumbs and studied her. No man had ever taken the time to look at her like this.

Yes, she’d had sex before, but in the dark with the covers pulled up. And she’d never had oral sex before. Not that she hadn’t wanted to, but neither of the men she’d had sexual relationships with had been interested. Jonah, on the other hand, was a sensualist. It seemed as though he wanted to see and touch and taste every inch of her.

Heat rushed through her veins, and this time it wasn’t due to embarrassment. No, Jonah brought out another side of her, a side she hadn’t thought existed. He made her feel sexual and sensual and she wanted to revel in it, not miss a single moment of the entire experience.

“So soft.” He stroked his fingers over her slick folds, up one side and down the other.

“So wet.” The pad of his thumb brushed her clit and she almost came off the bed. Sweet sensations rocked through her, making her moan.

Jonah peered up at her and smiled. “So damn responsive.”

Amanda didn’t know what to say. She’d never responded so quickly and easily before. This man certainly knew how to flip her switch. Her entire body was humming with desire. She arched her hips upward, wanting him to touch her again.

Jonah didn’t disappoint. Burying his face between her thighs, he tasted her most sensitive flesh. He licked and suckled and teased. His tongue flicked her clit and then circled it, a sensual torture of sorts, which he always stopped just before she found fulfillment.

She hooked her legs over his shoulders and squeezed him tight. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him she needed more, but when she opened her mouth all that came out was a low cry of pleasure.

He pushed one finger deep into her core. Her inner muscles clenched and relaxed rhythmically as he inserted a second finger, stretching her wide.

“You’re tight.” She could see the beads of sweat on his forehead and knew he was close to the breaking point. He pulled his fingers almost all the way out and thrust them back in again.

“It’s been a while,” she managed to gasp out.

This time when he pulled his fingers toward her entrance, he widened them, stretching her even more. “I can’t wait, sugar. Not this time.”

Wait? She didn’t want him to wait. “Now!” She undulated her hips, and groaned. His fingers twisted inside her as he slowly removed them. Sitting back on his heels, he grabbed one of the condoms from the bedside table, ripped the packet open and rolled the latex barrier over his thick length.

Supporting his weight on his arms, he levered himself over her. He lifted her hips and positioned the head of his cock at her slit. He pushed and slid just inside her opening.

Amanda gasped at the invasion. Her inner muscles stretched and pulsed, finally relaxing around the crown of his shaft.

Jonah leaned down until their lips were almost touching. His hair fluttered down around his face and brushed her cheeks. “Hold on.”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he gave one quick thrust, burying himself to the hilt. She cried out as he stretched her to the limits. But beyond the overwhelming shock of being filled so completely by him was pleasure. Hot molten pleasure. Her core pulsed hard around his shaft. He was part of her now. So deep inside her she didn’t know where she ended and he began.

Amanda closed her eyes, allowing herself just to feel the sensations buffeting her.

Jonah held himself still as her body adjusted to the overwhelming physical and emotional overload. She could feel his cock pulsing inside her, and the steady beat pushed her closer to the edge. His breathing was getting faster and shallower, just as hers was. Both of their bodies were slick with perspiration and need.

She opened her eyes and was once again staggered by the intensity of his gaze.

Sliding his hands beneath her hips, he began to rock against her. His erection slipped in and out of her body, stretching her anew each time he plunged deep inside.

Planting her feet on the mattress, she captured the rhythm, meeting him thrust for thrust. Her fingers slid on his slick shoulders, but she held on, digging her fingernails into his skin.

Jonah’s hips pistoned faster and faster. Amanda could feel every cell in her body tighten and knew she was close. “Harder!” she cried. She wanted to come, but she never wanted this to end.

Shoving his arms beneath her, he sat back and pulled her up so that she was sitting on his lap. The motion drove him deeper. Her inner muscles began to spasm around him.

“Jonah!” She cried his name as he leaned down and sucked a turgid nipple into his mouth. She cried out again as she came in a rush of liquid heat.

His arms banded around her and he thrust twice more before tipping back his head and letting out a yell of release. She felt his shaft pulsing within her, felt his heat and knew he was coming. The rippling of his shaft triggered another round of spasms deep within her core and she lost herself in the heat and the pleasure.

Every bone in her body had turned to mush. Her head was resting on Jonah’s shoulder. She had no memory of even putting it there. Both of them were breathing heavily, their arms wrapped around each other.

Jonah was the first to move. He lowered her back down to the bed and carefully withdrew. She gasped as her inner muscles spasmed around him, trying to keep him inside her. Jonah groaned and pulled away. “I’ll be right back.” He kissed the tip of her nose before he rolled off the bed and padded to the bathroom.

She knew she should pull the sheet over herself, and she would, just as soon as she found the energy. She heard the sound of water running in the distance and then Jonah returned with a damp cloth in hand.

Sitting beside her, he ran the cloth over her face and down her neck, being careful of her injuries. From there, he let the cloth caress her torso as he worked his way down to between her legs. She should be embarrassed, but that seemed silly after what they’d just done. The cool cloth felt good against her swollen flesh.

When he was satisfied, he tossed the cloth on the bedside table and crawled back into bed with her. He tugged the covers over them and pulled her into his arms.

“What about supper?” She was hungry, but exhausted.

“In a bit.” He tucked the sheet over her shoulders. “Rest for a while. We’ll eat later.”