When Good Things Happen to Bad Boys Read online

  She eased back with a smile. “What was that?”

  Axel caught her waist—a damn narrow waist—and brought her back in close again. His breath was labored, his boner now full-fledged and throbbing. “Lust, darlin’. Pure, unadulterated lust.” His voice dropped to a husky growl, and he ordered, “Now kiss me again.”

  Two

  Instead of obeying, her fingers covered his mouth. “I don’t know,” she fretted. “This feels very dangerous.”

  “So live dangerously.” Axel nipped the tip of her finger, sucked it into the warmth of his mouth, and her lips parted on a whispered, “Oh.”

  Satisfaction roared through him. He licked the center of her palm and rumbled, “Better yet, I’ll kiss you.” He didn’t give her time to think about it or to deny him. He took her mouth with the verve of a sexually starved man, when in fact he never stayed celibate for more than a week. But somehow, this felt different. Hotter, more exciting.

  He had to have her. No other option would do.

  Her lips parted to the prod of his tongue and he sank in, tasting her deeply, slanting his head and bending her back so she’d feel his power, his greed. This time she groaned. The box of matches hit the ground with a quiet rustle and her nails sank into his shoulders, giving him a quick thrill that burned down to the core of his masculine being.

  Usually, he calculated his every move, timing himself for the best reaction, aware of the woman’s every response and countering it in a way to ensure success. This time, he acted solely on instinct and his own escalating need. Before he had time to consider it, his hand was over her breast, carefully because she felt so small and delicate, so completely female. She might have gasped, but with his tongue in her mouth, their breath soughing together, it was hard to tell.

  With his free arm around her back, he arched her into his body, holding her snug, pressing his dick into the soft seam of her thighs. Oh yeah, that felt good, too good.

  She pulled her mouth free, dropping her head back on a shuddering moan.

  Axel looked at her, the moonlight playing over her face, her lashes sending long feathery shadows over her cheeks. She looked young and aroused and ripe.

  He stared down at the sight of his dark hand covering her chest over the white shirt. Her heartbeat galloped and heat poured off, filling his nose with feminine spice.

  He bent his head to her throat, deliberately sucking her skin in against his teeth to mark her while plucking her buttons open, one by one, all the way to the waistband of her black slacks.

  Both her hands sank into his hair. “This is insane,” she all but wailed—but she didn’t shove him away.

  With her shirt gaping open, Axel slipped his hand inside, under her bra, and cupped silky bare flesh.

  Their gazes met and held.

  Her stiff little nipple prodded his palm.

  Keeping her eyes locked with his, Axel pushed the material aside, easing her shirt over her shoulder and down her arm, tugging the lacy bra low. He captured her nipple between fingers and thumb, and tugged.

  A near silent moan shuddered past her parted lips and her lashes fluttered.

  Neither of them said a word. The fountain gurgled, music floated on the air from the live band at the party, leaves rustled and crickets chirped. All Axel could hear was the rushing of blood in his ears and his own resounding heartbeat.

  His attention dipped to her breast. Beautiful. Small, but round and firm, and her nipple looked darkly flushed in the dim light. Her pale flesh made a striking contrast to her inky black hair. He pictured her white thighs open, the black curls between, and wanted her now, right here in the gardens.

  His arm around her waist pressed her upward an inch, and he bent to suck her nipple into his mouth.

  “Oh God.” She half laughed, half groaned, then whispered in amazement, “What am I doing?”

  “We’re having fun.” He insinuated his leg between hers, immobilizing her. “And we’ve only just started.”

  “But—”

  He sucked her nipple again, effectively cutting off her breath and ending whatever protestations she might have made. And while she was quiet…He smoothed his hand down her ribs, over the slight, delectable roundness of her belly, and pressed it between her legs.

  She jumped in surprise. “Oh wow.”

  Axel could feel the heat of her through her slacks. “Why couldn’t you be wearing a skirt?” he complained. He lifted his head and smiled at her while gently stroking, petting. His voice dark and low, he teased, “I’d much rather be touching you instead of stiff cotton.”

  She hung in his grasp, panting, flushed and ready, and then she whispered, “They unzip.”

  His knees nearly gave out. If ever permission had been granted, that was it. Scooping her up, Axel took three steps to a marble bench, stopping in front of it and standing her back on her feet. When she swayed, he caught her, steadying her then seating himself in front of her.

  “Let’s take care of the rest of these buttons first.” In rapid order he pulled her shirt free of her pants, opened the last button, and dropped the shirt to the ground. One side of her bra was down, showing her breast. He expertly opened the front clasp and the cups parted.

  A small sound escaped her, and again she swayed.

  “Beautiful.” He could have looked at her for hours, but now wasn’t the time, not with a party going on behind them and his dick so hard he hurt with needing her.

  When she started to cover herself, Axel caught her hands and put them on his shoulders. “Hold on to me.”

  Again, her short nails bit into his flesh, proving that she felt some of the same urgency that gripped him. To ease her into things, Axel forced himself to be content with her breasts for a time, sucking, licking, going from one nipple to the other.

  When she trembled all over, he opened the top button of her slacks.

  She kept squirming, making all those soft female sounds guaranteed to drive a man into a frenzy. He dragged the zipper down, and finally her slacks opened over a pale belly. Without hesitation, Axel tugged the pants down her hips, all the way to her knees.

  She gasped, stumbling back out of reach.

  Axel stared up at her. “Come back here.”

  Hands folded around her middle, she made an enticing, adorable picture. Her knees peeked at him above the lowered waistband of her slacks. Her open bra framed her modest breasts and tightly puckered nipples. Moonlight glowed on her startled face, showing her uncertainty and the arousal she couldn’t hide.

  “You don’t have to be afraid,” Axel soothed. “I know this is fast. Mach speed fast. And believe me, I’m not in the habit of fucking in the garden.”

  Her mouth firmed at his crude language.

  “Still, you can call a halt at any time.”

  She watched him, keeping a scant distance that wouldn’t do her any good at all if he were the type to force a woman, which he wasn’t.

  “You’d stop right now?”

  It’d kill him, but…“If you said stop, of course I would.” He waited, but she kept quiet, relieving him and firing him at the same time. “You should know, from the moment I saw you, I wanted you. Deny it if you have to, but I think you felt the same.”

  Again he waited, giving her time to adjust, and little by little her shoulders relaxed.

  She bit her lip, then said, “This is so strange.”

  “But exciting?”

  “Yes.”

  Axel couldn’t keep his gaze on her face, not with her body almost bare. He alternated between perusing her breasts, her belly, her thighs, and those incredible blue eyes filled with turmoil. “If you come over here,” he promised, “I’ll kiss you again. Everywhere.”

  She briefly closed her eyes, fighting some internal battle, before searching his face in the darkness. “Everywhere?”

  His chest labored. “Yeah.” Saying it made him feel it, the texture of her flesh on his tongue, the richer scent of her in private places. His nostrils flared, his muscles clenched. “Your m
outh,” he told her. “Your nipples. Your belly.” He reached out one long arm and hooked his fingers in the top of her slacks between her knees. “If you let me get your panties down, I’ll kiss you there, too, until you can’t stand it anymore.”

  Breathing hard, she allowed herself to be tugged forward.

  “You’d like that,” Axel told her in a coaxing whisper. He wrapped his arms around her ass and nuzzled her soft belly, inching his lips lower, to the front of her lace undies. “Right here.” His tongue pressed, and he could barely taste her through the lace.

  Her knees threatened to give out, which was answer enough for Axel. Almost.

  She seemed so timid that his oft nonexistent conscience prickled. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her again, long and deep until she went limp, then began clutching at him. Finally, when her reserves had been stripped away, he said, “Sorry to press you, but I need to know you’re okay with this. I need to know you won’t have regrets.”

  Her soft sigh thrilled him, as did the quiet, “No regrets,” that she murmured against his mouth.

  Heart pounding, Axel looked at her body curled on his lap. Her breasts were entirely bare. Her belly trembled with each shallow, fast breath. And when he slipped his hand into her panties, her thighs opened without his instruction.

  Soft, springy curls tangled around his fingers. He simply cupped her, not moving, giving her time to get used to that. She turned her face into his chest and tenderness rolled over him, taking him by surprise.

  It suddenly dawned on him that she could be risking her job with the catering company, that she could end up humiliated if they got caught.

  He glanced up at the house, and presumed they weren’t missed. No one hovered on the deck, searching through the darkness for them. Through the glass doors and windows, he watched people milling around and he could hear the drone of conversation mingled with music. She’d only lit a few torches before he’d distracted her, leaving the grounds dark enough to conceal them.

  He kissed the top of her head, down to her ear. “Give me your mouth.”

  She lifted her face and he covered her lips in a long, soft, deep, eating kiss. She clung to him, kissing him back, taking his tongue and sucking on it. And when her hips lifted, silently urging him on, he parted her gently and pressed one finger in, encountering wet heat that sent his heart into a race.

  Growling, he deepened the kiss even more. Insane, wanting a woman so much when he didn’t even know her name. But now wasn’t the time to ask. No way in hell would he interrupt the moment.

  She was so damn small and tight, squeezing his finger while little purring sounds escaped her and she squirmed on his lap.

  Axel pulled out, then inserted another finger, amazed that he was actually stretching her and that she groaned in excitement even as she stilled in discomfort.

  “Easy,” he whispered, a little awed, a little overwhelmed. “Am I hurting you?”

  “Don’t talk,” she said. “Please.”

  He should have been offended, but at the moment he just didn’t give a damn. He kissed her ear, dipping his tongue inside, then licking her throat, and finally down to her breasts, suckling while gently fingering her, thrusting, teasing, taking her higher and higher.

  He gauged her reaction, registering each shudder, each heated sound, the way she tautened, more and more and more…

  Raising his face to watch her, he put his thumb to her clitoris. Her eyes squeezed shut and her teeth locked. He circled, rubbed, again and again.

  “Oh God.” Her thighs stiffened, her back arched, her face contorted, unself-conscious and real, and then she cried out, one hand knotted in the front of his shirt, the other fisted against his back.

  Quickly, Axel covered her mouth with his own to muffle the sound of her unrestrained pleasure. Hips moving against his hand, body drowning in heat, she rode out the climax until finally she went utterly lax against him. If he hadn’t kept a tight hold on her, she’d have poured right off his lap to the leaf-covered ground.

  Axel cradled her close, hugging her, kissing her throat. He always enjoyed a woman’s pleasure, but somehow this seemed different. She was so honest in her climax, so open, that he felt…moved.

  “Very nice,” he said, shaking off the odd sensation, anxious to get inside her.

  “Yeah. Nice.” Then she giggled.

  Smiling, Axel lifted his head. “It’s funny?”

  “Astounding.” She drew a deep breath and let it out, dropping her head back with a groan. “Man, I had no idea. You make it seem so easy.”

  Somewhat lost, Axel said, “It?”

  She sat up a little and smiled, touched his face. “The whole sex thing. Especially the satisfaction part.”

  More confused by the second, he tilted his head. “I’m not following you.”

  She grinned, gave him a smooching kiss, and said, “That was my first. Orgasm, I mean.”

  Oh. Well…Pride swelled his chest. “You must have been out with some bozos, then.”

  Shaking her head, she said, “No, actually, I meant…well, I shouldn’t admit this. It’s sort of embarrassing.”

  No way in hell would he let her get away with not telling him now. “It’s dark. It’s just us.” He smoothed back her hair, cradled her cheek. “No secrets.”

  She hesitated, then finally said, “I’ve never been with a guy.”

  Oh shit.

  His stomach bottomed out and his heartbeat went into double time. Like every guy everywhere, some really awesome woman-on-woman sex scenes crowded his already turned-on brain. “You mean you’re a…?”

  “No!” She laughed, swatted at him. “I’m not gay. I meant that I’m a virgin.”

  His blood ran cold. No, hell no. He pulled back, appalled. “Tell me you’re making that up.”

  “Of course I’m not.” Then, with a chilling frown and a stiffened spine: “Is that a problem?”

  “Uh…” Hell yes, it was a problem. He avoided virgins almost as much as he avoided associates. Rather than answer, he asked another question. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-one.”

  Dear God, he was robbing the cradle. He had sweatshirts older than her. Hell, he might even have underwear older than her.

  As if she’d turned red-hot, he jerked his hands back and held them up. “I didn’t realize. That is, you look older.”

  “What difference does it make?” She sat straight, perched on his lap, her breasts still bare, her pants still around her knees.

  Oh God, oh God. “Could you, maybe…” Talk about awkward. “Get up?” He groaned. “And get dressed.”

  Clearly affronted, her chin tucked in. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I wish.” He couldn’t believe that he, Axel Dean, sexual addict, known hedonist, had given such an order. Especially with his boner still prodding her sweet behind. His brother would laugh his ass off. Cary, his best friend, would faint from shock. But he absolutely could not do this.

  The little darling on his lap didn’t budge. “If this is because I’m a virgin—”

  “And a baby.”

  “I am not a baby.”

  Proof positive right there. “You’re defensive as only the young can be.” He bodily lifted her from his lap and hastened to stand. His legs shook. Damn, he was horny. She’d given him a fantasy, then ripped it away with a cold dash of reality.

  Women could be so cruel.

  “Look,” he said, starting to worry. “Let’s forget this, okay? No need to tell anyone—”

  “And you called me a baby?” She yanked her pants up so hard, she almost lifted herself off her feet. “You can relax, you…you…tease.”

  “Tease!”

  She zipped and buttoned with undivided fury. “I have no intention of telling anyone that I was stupid enough, gullible enough, ridiculous enough to let you touch me.”

  Now he started to feel offended. “Gullible?”

  “Exactly. I thought you had other intentions. You misled me.”

&nbs
p; Axel leaned close. “You ungrateful brat. I made you come.”

  “Ha! You pulled up short, that’s what you did.”

  Oh, now she insulted his ability. Eyes narrowed, Axel accused, “You liked it.”

  Nose to nose with him, she said, “Prove it.” Then she sneered, “Oh wait, you’re afraid to. Virgins terrify you.”

  Heat and embarrassment reddened his face. Voice wooden, he snarled, “They don’t terrify me. They just complicate things.”

  “If I hadn’t told you, you wouldn’t even have known.”

  “Bullshit. I knew.” Sorta. He had noticed how tight she was, and that awe in her face when the orgasm took her spoke volumes, but…

  “You had no idea until I stupidly spilled my guts. And here I’d figured you for an experienced man. I thought I could have a little fun, learn a few things, then never have to see you again.”

  Of all the outlandish plans. “You were going to use me?”

  “Mutual use.” She sniffed as she stabbed her shirt back into the waistband of her pants. “But you had to go and ruin everything.”

  “Not everything,” Axel told her in a haze of anger. “You still don’t ever have to see me again.”

  “Thank God for small favors.” She turned her back and bent over.

  Staring at that sexy, upturned rump, Axel sucked in his breath, caught between taking her after all, and giving her a swift swat for her rudeness.

  She felt around on the ground until she located the matches, then straightened. “With any luck,” she yelled, starting along the path again, “you’ll be long gone before I return from lighting the torches.”

  “You can bet I will be,” Axel hollered right back. Then he realized he had yelled and drew himself up. Shit, he shouldn’t be making so much noise. He glanced up at the house, but luckily he didn’t see faces pressed to the glass, trying to determine the cause of the commotion.

  He turned, stomping back toward the house, praying his erection would be gone before he reached it. But it was so dark out. And that stubborn little female was so small…

  Guided by a conscience he hadn’t known existed, he hung back, lingering in the shadows, watching her. He told himself he’d make sure she got back to the house safe. Yeah, it was gentlemanly concern that kept him watching her. That’s all.