In Close (Bulletproof #3)(48)
Author: Brenda Novak

“I was just trying to make you pull over!”

“Why? What do you want from me?”

He stared at her for several seconds, then the hard edge of his anger crumbled and he looked lost, as if he had no more idea than she did. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I just… I can’t help what you do to me.”

“I hate you,” she whispered, but there was no fire behind those words, and a mutinous tear ran down her cheek as she said them—because she couldn’t help what he did to her, either.

“Then I guess this won’t make things any worse.” He moved closer, challenging her to push him away. She got the impression he halfway wanted her to do just that. But she couldn’t. She was back to craving his arms around her, the desire suddenly so strong it felt like emotional whiplash. So when he lowered his head and gently pressed his lips against hers, she simply closed her eyes and let herself enjoy his touch.

“You want this, right?” He tilted her head so she had to look up at him.

She considered lying, but was afraid he might take her at her word and leave her standing in the road. Instead, she allowed the explosive energy of their clashing wills to carry her to a new level of desire and clenched her hands in his hair as she kissed him much harder. “What do you think?”

“God, you make me feel so helpless.” The tone of his voice had changed. He sounded more weary than angry; that was a small victory. But he didn’t act weary. His arms tightened around her as if that kiss had snapped all restraint.

She arched her neck as his mouth moved over her, licking, sucking, devouring. He’d left a love bite on her neck three nights ago. Dimly, she realized he might do it again. He was suddenly wild, out of control—they both were. But she had no intention of holding back. This was what she wanted, what she’d wanted for a long, long time—Isaac unleashed.

He raised her skirt. The cool night air swirled across the bare skin he’d exposed before he pushed her up against the warm metal of the car. Pinning her in place with his hips, he slid his fingers beneath her panties.

She jumped as he touched her.

“How much do you hate me?” he murmured.

“A lot,” she said.

He suckled her breast as another finger joined the first and slid inside her. “And how much do you want me?”

“A lot,” she said again as she undid his belt and shoved down his jeans. Both answers were true; she hated him because she couldn’t stop loving him.

“I feel the same,” he said, and lifted her onto his erection.

Isaac’s muscles quivered at the building pleasure. They’d established a frantic yet perfect rhythm, one that made him want to throw his head back and howl like the wolves. With his heart pounding as fast as it was, he almost felt as if he might have a heart attack before they were through, but he couldn’t think of a better way to go.

“Hey.” He was so short of breath he could barely speak.

Her eyes opened and locked with his. She looked high on his touch, completely in the moment, and that turned him on even more.

“For what it’s worth, I’ve never wanted another woman like I want you.”

This seemed to make her more aware of the practicalities. “Why aren’t you…getting out…a condom?”

He wasn’t getting one out because he didn’t have one. “I don’t…carry them on me. I…haven’t had occasion to use one…in months.” The cheap flings that had kept him occupied for several years after they’d broken up felt so empty these days that he no longer bothered. He dated once in a while, had women over but rarely slept with anyone. He suspected most people in Pineview would be surprised to learn that. They seemed to think he was as wild now as he ever was. But he hadn’t been able to replace Claire. So he’d slowly lost interest, even quit buying condoms.

He certainly hadn’t expected to have this opportunity. Not fifteen minutes earlier, he’d been telling himself he couldn’t see her again.

She seemed to be struggling to think amid the delicious friction, but those hands, guiding him with the pressure they exerted on his back, urged him not to stop. “You’ve always been…prepared in the past—”

“I’ll pull out,” he promised. Although that was no guarantee, it was the only method available to them. But that meant he needed to withdraw now, at the most critical moment for her, and she tightened her legs to hold him in place for just a second too long. She probably had no idea he was so close to going over the edge. He should’ve warned her, but when she reached climax so did he. It happened so fast he didn’t even realize he was in trouble until that initial surge of ecstasy ripped through him.

By then it was too late.

Isaac couldn’t remember the last time he’d done anything so irresponsible. He’d been reckless as a kid, but never reckless with sex. Not after being an unwanted child himself.

Somehow he was never in control with Claire. He did everything wrong when it came to her.

“You didn’t pull out!” Her eyes widened.

That was obvious. “I was too late.”

“What if…what if I get pregnant?” she gasped.

He eased some of her weight onto the car. “You know I’ll help.” At least he was older and financially capable of caring for a child if they had one, but he doubted she’d find that any consolation. “Not that you…should worry. It’s only…one time,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “Chances are you won’t get pregnant. If we’re lucky…”

One time was all it took. But what else could he say? While the idea of having a baby didn’t sound half-bad to him, she was still in love with David. And she didn’t admire him a whole lot. He guessed she’d feel just the opposite.

“You okay?” he murmured when she didn’t respond. He was braced for the worst, for more tears. But she didn’t cry. She didn’t answer, either. She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him again, hard.

She was more demanding than he remembered her being, but he liked it. It made him want to make love to her again. They’d held back the tide of their desire for so long there wasn’t any way to shore it up now that the barriers had come down…?.

“Let’s go back to your place,” she breathed against his lips.

He didn’t argue. As far as he was concerned, they were just getting started. But first he was going to buy some condoms.