Page 42 of Up in Smoke
She glanced behind her to find Connor staring at her ass as she walked, so she put a little swing in her hips and savored his groan. Damn. She’d definitely never had this much fun at a courthouse.
A moment later, she and Connor stepped into an empty elevator. She hit the button for the top floor even though the clerk was on the first, and leaned back against the wall, looking up at him through her eyelashes. “How was your morning, baby? Was it worth leaving me in bed, all hot and bothered for you?”
“Fuck no, it wasn’t.” He crooked a big finger at her. “Climb on up here.”
Erin didn’t hesitate. With a tight grip on his broad shoulders, she hooked one thigh around his waist and used it as leverage to wrap the other one around, too. Her skirt rode up with the action, allowing the thick ridge behind his fly to nudge her panties. They sucked in equally shaky breaths.
Connor crossed his wrists at the small of his back, as if to restrain himself from touching her. “You didn’t like someone else touching me. Say it.”
She pressed her forehead against his, pushed hard. “I hated it.”
“Put your hand between your legs.” When she hesitated for the barest moment, he nudged her forehead back and spoke through his teeth. “Do it now.”
Erin removed one hand from his shoulders, dragging her fingers over the inside of her thigh before cupping her core. Breath raced in and out past her lips, excitement a living thing in her veins. Against her palm, she could already feel the cotton material dampening.
“Give it a slap for me. An easy one, sweetheart. We’ll save the harder ones for my hand.” He licked the seam of her lips. “Say my name when you do it.”
The elevatorpinged, signaling that they’d reached the top floor. Without taking his eyes off her, Connor reached over and pulled the emergency stop switch. Erin laughed, but it turned into a moan when he rolled his hips, pressing her hand more firmly between her legs. He nipped at her bottom lip, a reminder to do as she was told. Feeling overwhelmed in the best way, she slapped herself, right over the sensitive spot crying out for attention. Unexpected sensation racked her, tearing a moan from her lips.
“Connor.”
“I told you last night, Erin.That’swhere I come.” He grazed her jaw with his teeth. “Every time you get jealous, remind yourself just like that. Slap it for me and say my name. Understand?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
“I want to ask you a question.” He started to say more, then stopped, taking her mouth in a hot, openmouthed kiss. She couldn’t stop her fingers from slipping into her panties and rubbing circles over her clit, mimicking the stroking movements of his tongue. It wouldn’t take any time at all to find the edge and let herself fall. Just his voice, his body, his words were driving her to the brink of climax.
Addicted. I’m addictedand I love it.
“W-what do you want to a-ask me?”
He ran his tongue up the side of her neck. “Ah, Erin. When can I get my mouth on your gorgeous pussy? I want it so bad. Want your heels buried in my back…your fingers yanking at my hair. You have no idea what a scream sounds like until I’ve been between your thighs with my tongue feasting on your clit.”
The orgasm blindsided her, made her shake head to toe as she writhed against her hand. “Oh my God, oh my God.”
“Good girl. That’s what you needed, wasn’t it?” His quick inhales rasping in her ear, he reached over and slammed his fist against the first-floor button. “If we had time, I’d take out my cock and fuck you against the goddamn wall right now. Expect to get it hard later, sweetheart.”
Her legs stopped clenching as the tremors passed and she slid down his body, landing on her feet to sway back against the wall. She watched Connor adjust himself in his jeans and almost groaned at the renewed surge of arousal from seeing him touch himself. “How’s my hair?”
His mouth edged up at the corners. “Pretty fucked up.”
She tugged her skirt back into place. “Cool.”
The elevator door rolled open and she stepped out. Before she could make it one step, Connor’s mouth found her neck and she came to a halt.Feels so good. “Hey.” The pride in his voice had her turning around to search his face. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “You just rode an elevator.”
Shock trickled in slowly, mingling with amazement. How had she done something usually so terrifying without even realizing it? “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.” His smile faded into a serious expression. “Great job, sweetheart.”
“Thanks. Or…or whatever.” She’d done it because he’d been with her, distracting her. Making her feel safe. If she thought too much about it, she was going to cry, so she leaned forward and dropped a kiss over his heart. She turned and continued walking toward the clerk’s office, but not before she saw Connor press a hand over the spot she’d kissed. And fuck if that didn’t make her want to cry even more.
Connor had never been to a wedding before, but he suspected they were usually a little more romantic than this one. Fluorescent lighting and some bored government worker’s voice droning the words you were supposed to recite didn’t feel momentous. That is, until Bowen and Sera repeated the words back to each other. Even the clerk perked up a little at the sincerity in their speech. They might as well have been the only two people on the planet for all the attention they paid everyone else. Bowen, focused on Sera as usual, looked like he wanted the words spoken and done with so he could haul her out of there over his shoulder. Sera looked like she wanted to reach out and soothe him.
Damn. This wedding shit really shouldn’t have gotten to him, but he found himself remembering how the three of them had met. How they’d all been marked for death at one point, but come out alive and better than before when any possible outcome had seemed bleak. How they’d formed an unlikely friendship even though they’d been on opposing sides, pitted against one another. For the first time in his life, he’d watched good triumph over evil. They’d come a long way in such a short space of time, and it hit home now, as they made even more promises to each other.
Not surprisingly, he found himself looking at Erin. He’d always given Bowen a hard time for his obsession with Sera and her safety. His constant vigilance and fear of something happening to her. He could understand it now. Jesus, could he ever. As if he’d spoken out loud, Erin looked over at him from her position behind Sera and stuck out her tongue. A smile transformed her face and she ducked her head, as if embarrassed she’d let the show of happiness slip. If it was up to him, he’d be seeing a lot more of that beautiful smile. He wanted to see it constantly, and he wanted it directed at him.
Before the clerk had even gotten finished pronouncing Bowen and Sera husband and wife, Bowen launched himself across the space separating him from his new wife and wrapped her in his arms. Erin gave Connor a meaningful look and backed away quietly, obviously wanting to give the couple their space. The clerk scratched his head, appearing to be at a loss for what to do with the embracing couple, but Erin didn’t seem inclined to stick around and offer her assistance. Connor followed her from the room, checking the urge to rest his hand at the small of her back.All in good time.
