Page 74 of Animal's Reformation
Olivia’s fingers grasped the keys at the bottom of her bag, and she quickly inserted the right one into the lock. She had to get inside fast to stop the thoughts of Animal that were whirling in her head. She’d had a nice time … okay agreattime.One of the best times I’ve ever had with a guy. He makes me feel so alive, so sexy, so special. Stop. Right now. This is foolish. This can’t go anywhere, but so what? Don’t I deserve a night of great sex? I’ve had more than my share of bad ones. After one night we’ll both be sated, and we can move on without hormones zigzagging constantly through our bodies. No. Don’t—you like him too much. You fall too hard too quick. Remember your pattern. You can’t afford—
Before she could turn the lock, Animal came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. He moved her hair to the side and his fingers lightly swept across her skin. He kissed around her ear and briefly licked her lobe with the tip of his tongue, then continued feathery pecks and nips down her neck. Each caress of his lips left a trail of goosebumps in its wake. She trembled with desire and her taut nipples pushed against the lace fabric of her bra and her thighs quivered.
“I don’t know what it is, but you do something to me,” he said against her skin.
“Animal,” she gasped.
He reached over her and turned the key in the lock, then pushed open the door and walked her inside; the front door closed itself.
Olivia pivoted in his arms until she faced him, and he crushed his mouth to hers. She lost herself in his kiss, blocking out all worry or recriminations, only allowing herself tofeel.
“I’ve been wanting you for a long time, baby,” he whispered as his hands slid down her back and landed on her behind.
Damn, it felt so good being in a man’s arms again, especially a man who was taking the time to please her. No fast, sloppy kisses followed by a cock buried in her; just slow brushes of lips that made her toes curl.
“What about Lucy?” she murmured.
“She’s at Chas’s house having a sleepover with Hope,” he replied, his mouth still on her lips, her neck, her throat.
Oh man, does he turn me on.
“Who’s Chas?”Really … that’s the best you could come up with?
“A brother. He and his old lady have a daughter Lucy’s age.” His tongue swept across her collarbone then dipped into her cleavage.
Olivia groaned and curled her fingers in his hair, urging him closer, then gasped when he nipped her playfully with his teeth.Oh fuck!
Then his phone rang.
“Fuck,” he muttered as he pulled away, shoving his hand inside the front pocket of his pants. He glanced at the screen. “Double fuck.” He caught her gaze. “Sorry, babe, but I gotta take this—you know the score.” He crossed the hallway into the kitchen, and she heard the low murmur of his voice.
Yeah … Olivia knew the score; it had been played out a million times during her growing years, and now she’d let herself get pulled right back intothatworld. Shaking her head, she let out a ragged breath and raked her fingers through her messy hair.
She heard his footsteps before she saw Animal walk back into the foyer. A frown pinched the space between his brows as he approached her.
“Club business,” he said as if that made everything crystal clear and all right. He moved over to her and snaked his arm around her waist. “Now, where were we?”
Olivia stiffened under his touch and he drew back, a quizzical look etched in his face.
“What the fuck?” he said.
A few heartbeats passed before she spoke. “It’s late and this isn’t really a good idea. The phone call brought me to my senses.” She rubbed her hands down her skirt.
“Are you fucking serious? You’re upset because I got a call from my club?Youof all people?”
“It’s not that … it’s just that I’m Lucy’s teacher and—”
“Don’t start that bullshit up with me. You’re not her teacher, and if tutoring her after school is the problem, I’ll pay you privately for the lessons. Don’t stop something that you know we both want. Stop being afraid of your feelings.”
“I’m not afraid of my feelings.” Well, maybe a little, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Yeah, you are. You’re the psych major and you can’t even figure yourself out. You’ve been living on shallow feelings for so long that you’ve buried all the true emotions inside you.”
“No, I haven’t.”
Animal held up his hands. “Be in denial—you’re the one who’s going to be sorry. Run to some pansy-ass who doesn’t know how to treat a real woman. Whatever, babe … What. The. Fuck. Ever.”
He whirled around and flung open the front door then stepped out onto the porch. She watched as he stalked down the walkway, each footstep like a stab to her gut. Animal was right—she was so afraid of admitting that she liked him, of recognizing the starved, feral side of her because she’d been hiding it for so long. For the first time in her fucked-up dating life, she had arealman, who, no doubt, could please her like no one ever had, and she was letting him walk away from her.
“Animal!” she cried out as she stood in the doorjamb.
He stopped and looked over his shoulder.
“Come back.”
Animal turned around and stared at her. “You sure about this, because I don’t go in for regrets and shit like that.”
A smile danced across her lips.Damn, I like him.“I’m sure.”But don’t get carried away. This is a night of great sex, not a love affair or happily ever after. Don’t let that happen.
A magnetic grin spread over his face as he swaggered back up the sidewalk, and she stood to the side, waiting for him to enter.
