Mike's Way Back (Finding Perfect) (11 page)

He had no doubt…because he’d run
too. All the way back to his hometown, and it still hadn’t been enough.

Chapter 11

Even with the moon and the candles softly lighting the space around them, Taryn’s smile was the brightest thing surrounding him. The two large oak trees in his back yard were decades old, and their size afforded them a secluded evening. She had her legs crossed and was dangling one of her heels from her toes as they traded life stories.

With his neighbor’s privacy fence on the one side and Mike’s hedges, it was almost enough coverage to lay her out over the patio table and have her right then and there.

Her soft laughter mixed with the music on the stereo drifting through his open kitchen windows. Mike topped her wine and continued to tell her about his latest phone call with his brother Carter. “Oh, and his wife…if I call, I have to talk to her. If I hang up before she’s had a chance to check on me, she’ll call right back and read me the riot act, which is pretty funny because here I am at six-four, and Molly is like five foot. But, I’ll be damned, she bosses me around like a mother hen.”

“It’s wonderful you all are so close. You’re very lucky
, but it sounds like you know that.”

Even in the low light, he could see wistfulness in her eyes. It saddened him, but he knew from now on, he’d keep her close. There was just something about her.
In the span of just a few hours she’d gone from fun and playful to nervous to relaxed and easy-going. Taryn was someone he could easily sit with for hours, losing himself as he spilled all of his secrets to her. All of them.

The longer the evening went on the more Mike wanted her to stay. His pulse spiked at the fear of
what-if
, but he wasn’t ready to say goodnight. He knew if he had her undressed and in his bed, he wasn’t sure he’d ever to let her leave.

“You’ll have to excuse me, but do you mind if I use your restroom?”

“You don’t have to ask, sugar. Do you remember where it is?”

“I do.”

Two words.

Mike smiled to himself. “Go on in, I’ll be right there.”

“Thanks.”

He loved her carefree smiles
and the way she’d bashfully tuck one side of her hair behind her ear. Grinning to himself, he blew out the three candles on the table, picked up the near-empty bottle of wine and their glasses, and followed her into the house. He turned down the stereo to a soft background noise and leaned against the kitchen counter to wait for her. She turned the corner, and without saying a word walked straight to him. Her fingers laced through his belt-loops, and he breathed out a sigh. He brought his palms to her face angling her head and kissed her as if he’d been away from her for weeks. Pulling back, the tip of his tongue was the last of the connection to break. Bending so they were cheek-to-cheek, he whispered in her ear, “Taryn, do you want to come upstairs?” He heard her drag in a shaky breath and felt her nod.

Somehow, she’d known when she’d stepped away to the restroom that was it. Wondering if they would sit inside, maybe in the living room for a while longer became a moot point once she walked into the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter, his hands gripping the tiled-top. His legs were shoulder-width apart, and his eyes were focused on her. Not one word was spoken, but the pull toward him was so strong she had no choice but to go to him. And quickly.

Her lips were already parted as he pulled her to him her and, with the silent strength that turned her on so much, and then proceeded to devour her.

With Mike, there was no wondering if she was pretty enough, smart enough, or if her education or career choice was impressive enough. She didn’t need to worry about being
on
for clients or his friends. There was no act to sell. He’d seen beneath the clothes and the polish, and, he’d made her laugh. He’d also done what no one else ever had—he’d made her forget. Taryn could simply
be
around him. She didn’t have to remember to keep her perfected alter-ego, the ultimate cool professional, in place. She was lost in him, lost in his movements and his demand as he guided the kiss.

But, it was his breathy question that almost crumpled her within his hold.

When she nodded, his mouth moved to her neck, his tongue danced over her skin, and he made his way to the sensitive spot below her ear. After one quick nip at her earlobe, she found herself being carried through his kitchen and up his wooden staircase like she weighed nothing. Mike gently deposited her down, sitting on his king-sized bed. He reached toward the lamp and she raised her hand to the first button on her blouse.

“Don’t.” He winked, but her movement halted all the same. “Let me.”

Her heart was racing already, but seeing the predatory blue eyes watching her in the low light, made it jump to double-time. When she didn’t think her poor heart could take any more, he reached up and, with his arms crossed over his head, yanked off his own shirt.

Taryn swallowed hard before her mouth went dry. She could count to eight. At the moment, that was about it. There was definitely an eight-pack defined across his abs. Before she could engage her brain, her tongue was already halfway across her lower lip. The pecs, biceps, shoulders…they all matched the corded forearms she’d already been privy to. His hair was a light brown, but it was the trail of dark hair that disappeared under the waistband of his jeans directly in front of her she was focused on. The line of definition on either side formed a
V
and demanded she investigate. Her thighs clenched.

Reaching a tentative hand up toward the bulge that was eye-level with her, she ran a finger across the denim. Hard
didn’t even begin to describe what was still hidden from her view. Concrete would be the word she’d choose. Becoming a tad braver, she edged her hand close enough to feel the weight of him. He hissed.

“Sugar, let go. Otherwise…I might not last,” he spit
the words through gritted teeth.

If she was at all worried about him being interested in her, the proof was in her hand and visible in his tightened jaw. Dragging her gaze up his chest again, she made eye-contact. There was hunger, desire, and need burning within him. Blinking, she dropped her hand back to the navy comforter. At least he was as hot as she was. Hopefully, he wouldn’t drag things out by teasing and playing. Normally she’d be up for foreplay, teasing, and games— whatever. Not tonight. She was in pain. Pain he’d caused just by pinning those blue eyes on her.

His eyes said more to her, made her feel things and want things in a way Phillip never could.

Mike undid the button of his jeans, and her eyes went wide. With only the button open his boxers were visible, but that was where he stopped. She unintentionally whimpered.

He chuckled and she caught what she’d done. “Soon, I promise. But one of us has way too many clothes on…and I’m going to take care of that.”

Taking his time he undid each of the buttons on her blouse. Only when he had completed the task did he gently push the silk off her shoulders. Taryn fisted the comforter below her as he ran a finger along the laced edge of her bra. Mike bent down on one knee and removed each of her shoes as if they were made of glass, then progressed, giving her the same fragile treatment as he laid her back on the bed.

His jaw worked overtime as he unbuttoned her jeans and dragged the zipper down. His nostrils flared, and she knew he’d gotten a glimpse of the matching floral lace. She didn’t even have to lift her butt, he had her jeans off her before she could blink. Taryn stared at him, watching as his eyes roamed over every inch of her body. Instead of it making her want to dive under the covers, his intensity only fanned the flame inside her.

“Mike.” She resorted to begging…and she didn’t give a shit. She was in serious pain…pain only he could take care of.

“Don’t worry.”

“Hurry though. Please?”

“Trust me.”

“I’m past trust. I-I’m—horny! Am I going to have to just do this myself?”

“Go ahead, sugar.”

“Go ahead what?”

“Go ahead. I’ll watch.”

“Damn it, Michael.”

Her breathing was ragged, and her mental state verged on borderline insanity. It was all his fault though. Without so much as a touch, he’d driven her to burning need, only to leave her dangling there as he stood staring at her for what felt like hours. She needed to be touched, held, kissed—she needed to be fucked. Like now.

Taryn was becoming irrational and maybe a little crazy. Sex-crazed. She got it now.

Those stupid articles in magazines, she’d always rolled her eyes at the stories of women and their
orgasms
. But she totally understood what they meant by wanting a guy so bad she hurt. Taryn wanted to hurry him along badly, to threaten him with leaving to spur him on. For what? So she could rush to her rented room and finish what he’d started, knowing there was nothing waiting for her there. No man had ever driven her to this point before, and she was willing to bet what little relief she might find by herself wouldn’t sustain her for long.

~~~

She was cute when she was feisty. He tried to keep his laughter to himself though. When she’d described her ex, Mike had wondered. Watching her squirm and twist on his bed, he knew for sure. Oh, the things he could do to her, for her. The ways he could send her over the edge were limitless because she’d never had a real man take her there before. He was finding it harder and harder to control his own wants and needs, especially when he could see how close she was already.

Her fists were full of scrunched fabric and her knuckles were turning white as her chest heaved with ragged breaths. To her credit, she kept her eyes open. Not fully, but she’d maintained focus on him, which was how he wanted it. Bending over her, his lips grazed hers. “I’ll be right back.”

She pushed her head further into the pillow and pushed out a frustrated breath. “Oh my God.”

Only when he was almost to the bathroom did he snicker. As he entered the bedroom again, he caught her. “Uh…ah…ah. I don’t think so, sugar.” She sighed almost desperately, but quit rubbing her thighs together. “That’s my girl.” He dropped three condoms on the nightstand and shucked his jeans and boxers off in one swoop. “Now, I am sure you’ve heard the saying, good things come—”

“Yes…exactly. Make me come!”

“My pleasure.”

She was too far gone to push her patience any further this time. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to enjoy teasing the hell out of her though. She responded to him unlike any other, and although she was trying to do as he said, she had a fire to her. He knew without a doubt, Taryn would call him out when she thought she was in the right, but she would also be the same girl who smiled at him so sweetly, as if he was the only one she could ever love.

Rising up, he gently removed the lace that kept nothing hidden from his view. He smiled against her skin as each part of her was unwrapped. “You’re so beautiful.”

“Thank,” she paused for a long moment, “you.”

“It was mean of me to tease you and hold you on the edge, wasn’t it?”

She nodded.

He donned the first condom and her breathing ratcheted up another notch. “But, do you know why I did it?” Her brow furrowed, and he could almost see the gears spinning she was thinking so hard. “Because, it will make it better for you, sugar. Are you ready?”

“I was ready…hours…ago, Michael.”

Mike smiled to himself again. He couldn’t help it, something about the way she called him by his full name was special, and he loved it. Loved it when she said it sweetly, and when it was laced with fire like right now.

“Okay, baby.” He positioned himself between her legs. She was more than ready for him, but still tight. Taking his time to keep from hurting her with one last gentle push, he fully seated himself within her. Fire spread, and it was all he could do to catch his breath. Pausing for a moment, he opened his eyes to find her watching him. Lowering his head, he kissed her. When he felt the tip of her tongue against his lip, seeking of his, the last thread of his control snapped.

From the first day he’d laid eyes on her, Mike had wanted her. Once he got to know her that want turned to need. Over the weeks and distance, their conversations had morphed quickly from strangers, to acquaintances, and then into a deep friendship. The woman under him, meeting him in the middle, wanting everything he could give her, was the one he’d been sure didn’t exist in this world. No one was perfect—but Taryn Watts was as close as perfect got for him.

Her fingertips pressed into his neck, over his shoulders, and along his back as she writhed under him. Her noises, whimpers and soft begging, had him almost pummeling her. It’d been months for both of them. It was almost too much, and it threatened to be over way too fast.

A light dusting of sweat broke out over both of them. Mike braced himself with one arm and cupped one of her breasts with the other. He squeezed it hard in his palm while he pinched her nipple between his thumb and finger. At
that exact moment, she arched underneath him and was gone. Her eyes were screwed up tightly, and her mouth parted as she held her breath.

That was the moment he’d been holding back for. Her body continued to grip him, and then two final thrusts later he stilled with a grunt.