Opposites Ignite by Sadira Stone (crime books to read .txt) 📗

Blinking and breathless, she rose onto her elbow and found him kneeling between her spread thighs, heavy lidded and flushed, fisting his erection. How could he be hard again so soon? What was left of her brain muttered something about gift horses.

“You make me wild, you know that?” He nudged her thighs wider and settled into the cradle of her hips, notching himself at her entrance. Inch by delicious inch, he thrust home.

“Faster.” Greedy for more delicious fullness, she smacked his tight little ass.

Chuckling like a horny demon, he churned in and out with frustrating slowness. “Didn’t somebody say something about patience?” He kissed her, his tongue sweeping inside to dance with hers.

A few more sweet, torturous thrusts, and her breath caught. Fast or slow, hard or tender, she was seconds away from erupting like a volcano. She clasped her legs around his hips and hung on.

Sensing her readiness, Eddie sped his thrusts, rattling her bones as he slammed into her again and again. The last thing she saw before tipping over the edge was his fiery gaze. And then she shattered into a million sparks, floating free on waves of magical pleasure. A million miles away and right there under her skin, Eddie followed, flooding her with the heat of his release.

Slowly the room rematerialized around their joined bodies. Sweat-slick and panting, they clung together. She slid her fingertips in spirals over Eddie’s damp back. He nuzzled the crook of her neck and sighed. “That was one for the record books.”

She laughed into his soft hair. “We won the gold medal for sure.”

He pushed himself up on shaking arms. “So much for your tattoos.” The designs on his chest and belly had dissolved into streaks of color and bled onto her skin. “Too bad—that was a very fine bear.”

She patted the smudge on his chest. “Once I get a position, I’d love to ink that on you. Or even better, the two-headed eagle from your belt buckle. It’s your perfect symbol—fierce and stern, looking forward to the future and back to your heritage.”

His smile faded. “Not so fierce, actually.” His bit his lip. “Arrgh—this is so embarrassing.”

She cupped his jaw and waited until he met her gaze. “Don’t be embarrassed. Just tell me.”

His chest rose on a deep inhale, then dropped. “I’m terrified of needles.”

Blinking rapid-fire, she struggled to suppress a grin. She lost the battle.

“Gah,” He flopped onto the couch and covered his eyes with his forearm.

“No, listen.” She threaded her fingers through his. “Lots of people hate needles. I promise you, I’m not one of those kinky types who gets off on pain. But really, it’s not that bad, and after the first few minutes, you get used the feeling and you kind of relax.”

Eddie grimaced. “You’d have to drug me up real good.”

“Well, it’s a moot point anyway. The rate I’m going, I’ll be a bar server forever.” She snuggled against his side and pulled the fuzzy throw blanket over them both.

The slide of his fingers through her hair was hypnotic. “You’ll be a tattoo artist long before I open my own bar.”

“Nah. You’re a champ Eddie.” She yawned into a throw pillow. “You’ll find a partner with big bucks—like Gus invested in Dawn’s place.”

“Partner?” He huffed. “No way. I’m not gonna break my parents’ hearts just to compromise on my vision.”

The intensity in his voice pierced her sleepy fog. “You really think your parents won’t understand?”

“Lately, Dad’s been harping on every picky detail at work. I’ve got a bad feeling.” He yawned in her ear. “Stay with me tonight?”

“Of course.” How could she refuse, with him looking like an adorable, sleepy-soft puppy?

Wrapped in their shared blanket cape, they shuffled to his bed. Eddie wound his arm around her middle and threw his leg over hers. In less than a minute, he drifted off to dreamland, long lashes fanned against his cheek, razor-sharp jaw relaxed, plush lips parted.

But she lay awake, staring at the frost blossoms on the attic window above their heads, unable to sleep while the wheels in her head whirled. She wiggled her butt, seeking a more comfortable position. Eddie muttered in his sleep and tightened his grip.

“Clingy,” she grumbled through a grin.

“Mmmrf.” He head-butted her breast like an affectionate cat.

Threading her fingers through his hair, she stroked the silky strands. She’d nearly pushed him away because she thought they’d never fit together. Giddy emotion fluttered her belly and sheened her eyes with happy tears. “Aw, Eddie,” she whispered. “Look at us. Has there ever been a more mismatched couple?”

His only answer—a soft snore.

If not for Bangers, they’d never have met. Their paths weren’t parallel—hell, they weren’t even in the same county. Tangled in someone else’s family drama is the last place she wanted to be—and Eddie was headed for a major blowout when he finally told his parents of his plans. If his faith in her was well-founded, she’d soon be juggling two jobs—Bangers and a tattoo apprenticeship—leaving her even less time to spend with him. But in this cozy little apartment, none of that mattered. If only…

With a contented sigh, she stroked his arm and let her imagination wander. She could set up her laptop and drawing supplies over there, in the empty corner by the door. Eddie would scribble in his notebook while she sketched. She’d try out new design ideas on his virgin skin, smoothing ink over muscle and bone. Endless repeats of tonight, laughter and supernova sex and easy, honest talk.

A glowing warmth suffused her chest. The words bubbled up, fizzy as champagne froth and just as impossible to contain. “Oh Eddie, I’m so in love with you.”

His eyes fluttered open. A dreamy smile danced on his lips. “You are?”

She tensed in his arms, her heart karate-kicking her ribs.

His sleep-scratchy voice held so much vulnerability. She couldn’t lie to him now, couldn’t deny the truest thing she knew.

She pressed her forehead to his. “Yeah, I am.”

Eyes wide, he clasped her arms, his jaw working silently.

Nausea gripped her