Hungry For Touch Read online

  A happily ever after? Yeah, one where none of his brothers-in-arms ever got killed. One where civilians were considered human beings, not collateral damage. “Doesn’t matter what it is. Having starry-eyed expectations just means you’ll be disappointed.”

  Her voice softened as she cocked her head, studying him for a long, drawn out moment. “You seem a little young to be so disenchanted.”

  He huffed, crossing his arms. “I’m thirty-six.”

  “You talk as though you’ve lived a lifetime.”

  War put years on a man’s face he could never disguise. But what did she know? He took a step forward. “I’ve been around a few things that aged me fast. I’ve seen enough to last two lifetimes.”

  His intimidating stance didn’t faze her at all. “You’re still in your prime as far as I can see.”

  “Oh yeah? And what do you see?”

  Her eyes raked him up and down. “You obviously stay in shape.”

  Feeling a little smug, he clenched his jaw to keep from smiling. “I have to. It’s part of my job.”

  “So your body stays young but your attitude gets burned out,” she murmured, wiggling her little finger at him. “I think it’s supposed to be the other way around.”

  “Who are you? The sunshine fairy?”

  Her eyes widened. “I’m cute enough to be a fairy?”

  She could not be shut down. This time he gave her the blatant once-over as he huffed, “You know you are.”

  She swallowed at his compliment then lifted her chin with a stubborn air, the effect most adorable considering how much smaller she was. “It’s a good thing you take vacations,” she said. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to be one of those curmudgeons who picks on teenagers and complains about bunnies in his garden.”

  He wanted to laugh out loud. “Careful with what? Keeping my head out of the clouds?”

  Her cheery disposition clouded for a moment and she looked away. “No, letting your jaded temperament get in the way of enjoying what life has to offer. You’re going to wake up one day and realize you missed out on a lot of fun things because everyone around you is having the time of their lives while you’re busy being realistic. Pushing people away because you’re not letting them in, because you can’t, or won’t—”

  He put his hands on her face and kissed her.

  ***

  Kimber’s words silenced in her head and in her throat.

  A whimper emerged at the hot pressure of his lips on hers, coaxing her mouth open with lazy movement. Her fingertips grazed his clean-shaven jaw and his response was instantaneous as his arms tightened around her, the possession causing her to lean back. She tried to hang on to her sanity as his tongue plunged inside, stroking over hers.

  She’d been pushing his buttons. She could see it in his eyes and the way his fantastically built body tensed with every opinionated word. He was a complete stranger, but something in him reminded her of herself.

  And it ticked her off.

  His cynicism paralleled hers and her optimistic retorts sounded foreign on her tongue. More like things her girlfriends would say. They were always gushing high expectations, and she always felt like she had to bring them back down to earth. Like this sexy stranger said, if a person didn’t keep her head out of the clouds, she’d be disappointed.

  His kiss did not disappoint at all.

  Strong, masculine hands slid down her back, fingers digging in her muscles, her skin still a little slick with suntan oil. She groaned as his tongue swirled in her mouth with slow, exploratory precision. Remnants of mint toothpaste and potent, male heat.

  Heaven help her, he knew how to kiss.

  She felt his fingers on the knot of her string top. Yes, untie me. Taste me.

  The sudden need to be closer overwhelmed her senses as she gripped handfuls of his shirt and rose on her tiptoes. His groan pleased the inner seductress in her, and she flattened her palms on his iron chest, sliding up to clutch his hard shoulders. Oh God, how she needed this.

  Suddenly, he broke away like he'd been cracked with a whip, turning his back to her.

  She stood breathless and dazed for a moment before she remembered they were in a stuck elevator.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice rough and hoarse. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  She touched her lips, scorched from his kiss. Her knees wobbled underneath her sarong as she curled her fingers around the brass bar behind her for support. Why would he apologize? Then she became aware she should be making her own excuses. Here she was, kissing a stranger when she was minutes away from meeting her one-night stand. “I’m sorry, too. That shouldn’t have happened.”

  His head hung for a minute, hands on trim waist. Then he whirled around. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re gorgeous and I…I….” He sliced a hand through the air. “Regardless, I wasn’t thinking. I shouldn’t be kissing you when….”

  “When what?”

  He hesitated. “I’m here with someone.”

  Ohhh. Disappointment reared its ugly head. Well, at least he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. She would have lost all respect for him if he was married. Whoever belonged to him was a lucky girl. The guilt coiled in her stomach. Her date was probably upstairs wondering where the hell she was, and likely not imagining her making out with a random guy in the elevator. “I’m not here on my own either.”

  He frowned. “You’re not?”

  “A blind date.” Sort of. Close enough.

  He shifted his gaze down and away.

  They stood there for the better half of an eternity even though it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, the uneasy tension thick in the small space as time ticked by.

  Just when she was about make light of their little interlude with an off-handed remark, the lights blinked twice. Electricity hummed and sang to life and after a soft jolt, the elevator resumed its ascent. Seconds later, the doors opened on the eleventh floor.

  A sympathetic, yet smiling hotel manager waited on the other side. “Hello there! I apologize profusely for this. I can’t imagine how nerve-wracking that must have been. Are you two together?”

  “No,” he said while she shook her head.

  His brows lifted in surprise. “Oh. All right. Miss, would you remain here for a moment? My assistant manager needs a minute of your time. Sir, I’ll talk with you.” He led the stranger a short distance away, speaking in a low tone.

  A woman wearing an attractive skirt suit, her brown hair coiled at her neck, smiled, a notepad in her hand. “Are you okay?”

  Other than the fact her head and body were still reeling from a single kiss, yes, she was intact. “Thank you, I’m fine.”

  The woman’s face held relief. “Are you a guest at the Castillo, miss?”

  “Yes, Kimber Dawson.”

  “Wonderful, Miss Dawson, and what room are you staying in?”

  “Room 1105.”

  “Perfect.” She took note of the details. “We can’t tell you how awful we feel about the situation. We’d love to arrange room service or perhaps something from the lounge. All you need to do is order from the menu at your convenience. The staff will take care of it immediately. Courtesy of the management.”

  “Oh, that’s very nice of you. Thank you.”

  “If you think of anything more we can do, please don’t hesitate to call.” The woman made a few more notes then moved away to wait for the manager by the now functioning elevator.

  When the hotel staff had departed, Kimber’s gaze locked on her former elevator companion. Once again, her body ached with longing. Blue eyes, short, spiky dark hair, the strong chin with the slight dent…that tall, sculpted body. Geez, there ought to be a law against being so hot!

  His face turned to her, almost expressionless except for the flash of heat in his gaze, as she approached him. She wondered what to say now…hey, that was fun, thanks for the memories, have a great night? A nice life?

  “Well, at least they’re trying to make up for the small
inconvenience,” she said finally. “Um, do you know what time it is?”

  He checked his watch. “Ten minutes to six.”

  She’d lost half an hour already. Damn. She couldn’t dawdle with the hottie any longer. “Well, it’s been an adventure.”

  He nodded. “I’ll escort you to your room.”

  She hesitated, “That’s okay. It’s not that far.”

  “I insist. After you.”

  She gave a half-hearted smile then proceeded with slow, indecisive steps. She should cancel her date. It didn’t feel right. How would she give her energy and focus to one man while thinking about another? She wouldn’t be able to. And didn’t want to!

  “This is me,” she said, pausing at her door.

  “Wait….” He frowned as he caught up with her, dropped his bag then fished around in his pocket. “You’re in 1105?”

  She pulled her key from the inside of her bikini top, feeling a blush creep to her cheeks. “Yes. Why?”

  Nate took out an envelope and unfolded it. “Can’t be. That’s my room.”

  Her heart stopped. “What?” she exclaimed, reading the proof in his hand. Sure enough, printed on the manila was Room 1105.

  “Omigod.” She whipped up her gaze to his. “Are you Nate?”

  He gave a slight jerk back. “You’re Kimber?”

  She stood speechless. Truly and utterly speechless. She had been with her one-night stand the whole time. Wow. What were the chances?

  His ocean blue eyes were telling her he couldn’t fathom the evidence either, mouth agape at the revelation. “It’s you,” he breathed. “I can’t believe it’s you.”

  She gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “You’re early.”

  A thick moment of stunned silence later, he snatched the key from her hand and swiped it fast. The green light lit, beeped, and he turned the brass handle, throwing his bag inside. Still a little shocked, she gasped as he snatched her hand, bringing her in with him without a moment’s pause.

  As if he wanted her now and didn’t want to waste any time talking.

  Her thoughts exactly.

  Chapter Three

  They met in a crushing, hungry kiss. He clasped her body tightly to his, bringing her solid against his hard frame, his hands deep in her damp hair. His tongue swirled over hers, electrifying her blood with live currents. She clung to him as he lifted her, continuing to kiss her with cruel yet sweet ravishment. His chiseled muscles felt like marble, strong, capable. He set her on feet and she broke away, eager to see him, touch him. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and he raised his arms as she pulled it off. She could only admire for a second the expansive mass of his chest, his shoulder etched with an elaborate tattoo of an eagle that started somewhere on his bicep and came around to his pec, before he snatched her into his embrace again. The warmth and virile scent of his masculinity assaulted her senses and she closed her eyes, surrendering to the forceful command of his seduction.

  He grasped the tail of string at her neck and unraveled the bow, then pinched the cord around her back and pulled, whipping her bikini top away.

  She cried out as he dipped his head to her breast and took a hardened nipple in his mouth, sucking and licking, the sensation of his heat and teeth on her sensitive flesh an exquisite combination. He shifted his attention to the valley of her breasts, kissing down her stomach, making quick work of the sarong’s knot before it cascaded to the floor.

  His hands ran down the length of her back, the curve of her ass, his fingers grazing just the inside of the material of her bikini bottom. She gasped at the tantalizing promise of his touch to the most tender part of her, aching to the marrow of her bones for him to slide his hand inside.

  He released the knots at her hips and the scrap of fabric dropped to her feet. Wrapping his arms around her midriff, he guided her down to the floor and she lay panting, her chest heaving. Never more hungry for a man to make love to her, awestruck by the magnitude of her ardent desire. She spread her legs and he crawled between them, swooping in for another kiss, her mouth filled with his insistent tongue.

  Kimber snaked her hand down between the folds of her sex, slick and tender, then began circling her clit, praying she would come. Her arousal heightened with such force, with such intensity, she didn’t want to delay her climax, lest she lose the opportunity to reach it. Leaving her mouth aflame, his lips seared a path down her jaw, before he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

  “What do you need?” he asked. His fingers traced down her arm and wrapped her wrist, moving her hand away. “Let me.” The slow precision with which his hand feathered over her inner thigh caused her skin to prickle as she let him take over. Instinctively, she arched her body toward him, needing to feel his hard flesh pressed to her breasts, as he got closer and closer to the core of her femininity.

  He strummed her clit with sure yet delicate fingers, stimulating it to ache for release. She moaned in deeper ecstasy, the degree to which she responded to his ministrations stunning her. Uncontrollable vibrations hummed through her limbs, the volume of her cries increasing, her sanity overtaken by the hysteria of sexual delight. His uneven breathing raised goose bumps on her neck as he continued to stroke her pussy with maddening expertise.

  Just as she was about to explode, her heart pounding, he ceased giving her pussy such skillful attention and held her wrists down with gentle dominance, taking her cries in his mouth in a long, breath-stealing kiss. Her toes curled, her heels digging into the carpet. He broke away, his darkened blue eyes boring into hers. “Don’t move.” He pushed up to stand and unzipped his jeans. Her eyes widened at the large bulge in his black underwear. He pulled them down as well and kicked his clothes and shoes away, his thick cock erect.

  “You’re incredible,” he said, his deep voice rasping with desire.

  He dropped to his knees, grabbing for his bag. A moment later, he tore a condom out and rolled it on. Placing his hands on either side of her shoulders, he eased between her parted legs. She grasped his face and rose to meet his mouth, drinking in the divine sweetness of it.

  “Nate,” she breathed as he showered kisses on her chin and along her jaw line. “I want you. Now.”

  His lips grazing her collarbone, he trailed down to her breast. The texture of his tongue on the puckered flesh of her nipple sent frissons of heightening arousal to her pussy, and she arched with a weak sound. A deep groan came from his throat, telling her he enjoyed her response. He took a small nip, coming back to meet her eyes as he positioned his cock at the silken, hot entrance. He eased deeper and she gasped when he thrust his hard, engorged cock with one swift move, shocking her with its size and the power of his savage drive.

  “Are you all right?” he whispered.

  More than all right. All she could do was nod.

  He kissed her temple, smoothing the strands from her eyes, beginning to move in a slow rhythm. She wrapped her trembling limbs around him, her heart slamming against her ribcage, their consummation bringing a flush of heat to her skin. Her body felt like half flame, half ice as he thrust, the muscles of his outer thighs clenching and relaxing between her legs. He panted while she sought to match his motion, raising her hips with every push.

  I want to come. Please make me come.

  Nate rolled on his back and brought her with him in a fluid motion, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of her hips, guiding the pace, then released her when she fell into rhythm, sensual and slow. She twined her fingers with his. The cords in his neck bulged as he gritted his teeth, his gaze fiery, his grip on her hands squeezing hers in affection before he moved them to caress her breasts. She flattened her palms on his abdomen, in awe of his granite muscle, as she moved her knees up, her feet flat to the carpet. Giving him an erotic half-smile, she leaned back, placing one hand to the floor behind her, then the other, pumping her hips.

  “Oh my God.” Nate bent his head back, hands sliding down to her waist as she glided up and down on his dick.

  “You like that?�
�� she asked.

  “Kimber. Fuck, this is too good.”

  He sat up and cupped her ass, and she hooked her ankles around him. “Come on, baby,” he commanded in a low tone. “I want to see you come.”

  So did she. She linked her arms around his neck, her lungs burning, muscles aching, mind screaming for that wonderful, incomparable finish. He sat up and forced her to her back, his fierce gaze darkening as he drove inside her with a low moan. He clenched his jaw, a strain etched in every muscle of his face, as if holding back. She knew that look. He wanted to come. Her orgasm lingered just out of reach, dismaying her, unable to find and take it all the way to oblivion. She buried her face in his neck in anguish. Something was wrong with her! Here she was, having sex with a beautiful specimen of a man, and she couldn’t orgasm.

  “Kimber.”

  She forced herself to meet his eyes, hoping her rising despair wouldn’t show, lest he think it had anything to do with him. Slowing his pace, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips, whispering, “Stay with me. Relax. Close your eyes.”

  Taking a deep breath, she obeyed. He hooked his arm under the knee of her left leg. Moderating his thrusts, he gathered her close, rotating his hips in small circles. She held on, spreading her hands on his chest, and moving them up to his neck, keeping her eyes closed as she went flat to the floor. His mouth closed on her nipple while he hooked her right leg on his other arm. A position she’d never done before, but liked within an instant.

  A pressure…a tingle. Every nerve in her body vibrated as he pumped and circled, repeating the motion with incredible patience. Kimber’s eyes opened wide, the throb crept closer, banked just beyond as her body and soul strained for the orgasm, her fingernails clawing on his muscled arms. “Nate, I think…oh, God, I’m going to….”

  His chuckle was short and low. “Mm-hm.”

  She opened her mouth on a choked cry, whipping her head right then left. “Don’t stop. Oh, don’t stop!”

  The rush rose as her heartbeat raced, the liquid fire running through her veins making her legs shake. She threw her head back as the compounding waves of ecstasy sucked her in, held her tight, then threw her out with careless abandon as she surrendered to the mind-blowing abyss. Her eyes watered and a cry of intense gratification burst from her throat. As she drifted back to reality, Nate’s muscles coiled with tension, his back stiffening as he groaned and thrust deep, erupting from within. Pulling his head down to her chest, she held him there for long moments as their breathing quieted.