Hedging His Bets Read online

  “You’re sure?” A flutter of hope crossed his features, and she bit back the modicum of pity that formed within her. There was only so much she was willing to concede. Outright forgiving him, no matter how remorseful he felt, wasn’t on the agenda.

  “Yes. But that doesn’t mean that I accept…” She tore her gaze from his, waved toward him and then looked around the curtained area, looking anywhere but at the half-nude, wounded man before her. “I don’t accept the rest of it.”

  Honey stole another glance, unable to keep her attention diverted for long. She took in his chiseled abdomen, his wide shoulders and tapered waist. Even covered in road rash, cuts and bruises, he made her heart pound.

  And other things.

  Memories of his touch slid through her with every breath. Her nipples hardened as she recalled his callused hands on her body. The joy that had enveloped her was beyond description and the love…

  How the hell was she going to live through having him in her house while he recovered? A hedgehog fit in her palm. Blake? Hell, she didn’t think that his dick would fit in her hand, let alone the rest of him.

  Shitty Mc-shit-a-lot.

  She squeezed her eyes shut, unwilling to ogle the man any longer. “Um, I’ll go see about getting you released.”

  “Honey.” His voice held so much longing that she froze, arm outstretched and hand fisting the curtain. “I truly am sorry.”

  Tears stung the back of her eyes. “I know.”

  “I didn’t mean…”

  She gulped. “I know.”

  He huffed. “Can you look at me?”

  “Maybe later.”

  Much later. When she didn’t want to run into his arms. Or when she no longer felt the need to kiss every injury on his body. Or when she’d pushed all her feelings away and no longer ached to say three little words.

  The rustle of cloth snared her attention, and she glanced over her shoulder to find a battered Blake slumped on the stretcher. One hand gripped the sheet covering his hips and the other laid across his eyes.

  She couldn’t forgive him for his perfidy, not yet, but maybe soon.

  Chapter Six

  Honey needed to remember that she couldn’t sexually assault an injured person. Really. Truly. It’d be wrong.

  It didn’t matter that Blake hobbled around her home shirtless more often than not. Or that his hair always had that sex-rumpled look. Then there were those seductive smirks he flashed when he caught her staring.

  And he cooked.

  God save her, he cooked like a dream.

  She’d managed to keep him in bed for a couple of days, but by the third she found him making breakfast for her. Plus he’d packed her lunch, and then she came home to the most amazing lasagna ever.

  If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was seducing her with food.

  It was working.

  Between food and his hotness, she was losing the battle. If he winked at her one more time, casts or not, she’d jump his bones. His scratches and road rash had healed so she could lick him all over, nibble those muscles, trace the lines on his hips…

  She squirmed in her seat, pressing her thighs together to ease the burgeoning ache between her legs. Her pussy seemed to be constantly wet and ready for Blake, more than prepared for him any second of the day. Hell, she had only to let the man’s name drift through her mind and her clit throbbed.

  Honey had turned into a werehedgehog whore.

  Pulling into her space, she tossed the car into park, and silenced the engine with a flick. She sat still in the dark interior, fighting to get her body under control. Her nipples were hard, begging for attention, begging to be tweaked, pinched and sucked. And her clit… It ached to be stroked and rubbed in tiny circles.

  Basically, she was an enormous ball of horny. For Blake.

  Growling, she climbed from her car and slammed the door. She’d simply go inside, bypass Blake and hide in the shower. The noise would cover her activities, and she could rub one out in peace.

  Yeah, that was a good plan.

  Jogging up the stairs, she shoved her key into the lock and let herself in. From her front door, she could see the living room, dining area and kitchen. There was no Blake in sight, no luscious scents of dinner cooking or bottle of wine “breathing” on the counter. Why the hell did wine need to “breathe?”

  Anyway, he wasn’t around. That meant he was probably in the guest room. Letting her purse plop onto the carpet, she bent down and tugged on the laces of her boots. She had them undone and off in moments.

  Honey padded through the house quietly, unwilling to clue Blake in to her presence. She was home early, Katie having banished her after she’d dropped her fifth bottle of beer in an hour. Yeah, apparently being obsessed and perpetually horny made a gal clumsy.

  Her feet made no noise as she passed Blake’s closed door, steps muffled by the plush carpeting. She crossed the threshold into her bedroom and tugged on her top, tossing it to the floor, her bra immediately following. Damn, it felt good to let the girls swing free. Next, she shimmied her skirt past her hips and let it pool on the ground, panties thrown carelessly on top.

  Gloriously nude, she shivered in the cool room. Well, parts of her shivered. She was still aroused as all get-out. Especially considering the object of her lust was just down the hall. Possibly naked and hard and…

  Argh.

  Honey stomped toward her bathroom, anxious for a hot shower and hotter orgasm. From the day Blake had moved into her home, she’d used the shower to hide her “playtime.” There was no way the hedgie could hear her moans over the thudding patter of water striking tile.

  Throwing open the door, she froze on the threshold, not believing her eyes.

  There was Blake.

  A very naked Blake.

  A very not-wearing-casts-and-looking-perfectly-well Blake.

  She saw red. Well, not truly red, but anger overtook her, making her blood boil, and she snarled at the tempting man. “Really? Are you ever going to not lie to me? How long have you been healed?”

  The man went pale, but he didn’t bother to cover his drool-worthy body. Even furious with him, she had to appreciate the carved lines of his stomach and those lovely dips that pointed right to his… Oh, baby, his cock looked good enough to eat. It hung flaccid between his thighs, long and thick while at rest. How big would he be when hard?

  No. Bad thoughts. Bad. She was extremely angry with him.

  She yanked her gaze from his groin and focused on his face, narrowing her eyes when she saw that the pale hue had been replaced by a burning desire. His gaze seemed to stroke her as his attention travelled over her body, starting with her face and then sliding south, lingering on her breasts and then again on her pussy.

  That was about the time she realized she was naked. She reached into the small linen closet, yanked out a fluffy white towel, unfolded it and covered her body, blocking her curves from his view.

  Regardless of his feelings for her and her feelings for him, lying was so not cool. “How. Long?”

  The need disappeared in a flash, and she watched him grab a nearby towel and wrap it around his hips, blocking a now hard, yummily big cock from view.

  More’s the pity.

  Wait. She needed to remain strong.

  “How long, Blake?” She slumped against the door jamb, wondering why things couldn’t just be easy with the stupid man. “Are you ever going to stop lying?”

  Regret filled his features, and he took a step toward her, then another. She didn’t back away. She should have, but didn’t. She was just so tired. She’d begun trusting and believing in him again, relished their time together, and she had fallen more and more in love with him every minute they were in each other’s presence.

  When a foot separated them, he stopped, stared down at her with a look that said more than words. “I’m not going to apologize.”

  Figures.

  “No?”

  He stroked her cheek with a single finger.
“No. When you said I could stay with you, I should have said something, but I wanted to be near you.” He traced her lips. “I wanted to woo you, Honey. Being here meant that you couldn’t hide from me, and I simply wanted to woo my mate.”

  She ignored the “mate” comment.

  “How long?” She’d been drooling over her convalescing hedgehog. She wondered when he’d been fully healed, and she’d moved from being a sicko for lusting after a wounded man to simply being a desperately horny woman.

  “The day after you brought me home.”

  Shock had her opening her eyes wide. “That fast? But you stayed in bed for a few days!”

  Blake leaned down, and she knew what was about to happen, knew that… He brushed his mouth across hers, giving her a chaste kiss that she hoped would lead to more.

  “I tried to tell you in the hospital, but then you offered to let me stay. I couldn’t resist being near you.” He gave her another, cutting off whatever words came rushing to the forefront. This time, his tongue traced the seam of her lips, seeming to seek permission. She opened to him, granting it freely.

  He’d lied. Again. But she’d deal with that. Later. Like, after she saw where they were headed. She was finally kissing him. Fully conscious to boot.

  He delved into her mouth, lapping and tracing her tongue, exploring her lips only to retreat and then advance again. She responded in kind, savoring his heat, the flavors of mint and spice that seemed to be Blake’s natural essence.

  Strong arms wrapped around her waist, and he pulled her forward until only towels separated them. His hardness, evidence of his desire, pressed into her belly. The thick length of him seemed to be reaching for her from beneath the layers of fabric.

  She wiggled and pushed closer, anger and frustration over his actions tossed aside amidst his seductive assault.

  He stroked and pet her back, his thick, callused fingers gentle as he traced her spine, exploring her exposed body and drifting south. His palms ghosted over her ass, rough skin leaving goose bumps in their wake and sending a shard of arousal up her spine.

  On the next pass his hands lingered, cupping the globes of her butt, squeezing and kneading her flesh. With every compression, pat and stroke, her flesh jiggled, and the sensations passed to her pussy. Her cunt tightened and clenched in response to the stimulation. She couldn’t wait to be filled by him, stuffed full with his long, thick cock.

  Honey whimpered against his lips, suckling his tongue and then delving into his mouth for more of his flavors. She rocked her hips, anxious for more of his touch and wordlessly cursing the towels that separated them. She ached to whip them aside and embrace the feel of skin against skin.

  Except…

  Blake’s fingers crept between her ass cheeks, easing toward her forbidden entrance, and teased the nerves. He began at the top of her crack and slid south, rubbing and taunting, going further and further. He glanced her hole, yanking a gasp from deep within, and she pulled her lips from his, reluctantly retreating.

  “Blake…” She was embarrassed yet aroused, his touch urging her arousal to new heights. She widened her legs ever so slightly, granting him greater access. But trepidation still held her in its grip.

  Blake retreated from her ass for the barest of moments, gripping her thigh and urging her to wrap it around his, leaving her exposed.

  “That’s it, Honey. Just let me touch you.” His hand returned to its torment. “I know you’re mad, but just let me…”

  Those fingers went back to their travels, sliding along her crease until they were poised at the opening of her pussy. He circled her soaked hole, round and round, tips of his digits dipping in and then retreating in a tormenting caress.

  “Harder. Deeper.” She couldn’t believe that the breathless, panting words were coming from her.

  Honey rocked and shifted against his torturous movements. Her nipples were hard as rocks and rubbed against the soft, fluffy towel, not giving her even a hint of the kind of touch she needed. She cursed the velvety fabric caught between their bodies.

  Her heart pounded, seeming to alternate between stilling and then sending blood rushing through her veins. His strokes alternated between delicate, barely there caresses and gentle penetration. Neither of which would make her come.

  Then…then his travels returned to her ass, his juice soaked fingers trailing over her aroused flesh until they were at her hole. She couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t think past his touch. She gasped and moaned against his lips, begging without words. For what, she didn’t know. Stop? Wait? Take me?

  The illicit touch ratcheted her arousal higher, the feel of his wet digits probing her back entrance launching her desire further. She’d never been touched there, never had a lover wander near her asshole, but she wanted it. Needed it.

  Again he circled and brushed her hole, tormenting the surrounding nerves before returning to stroke the center once again.

  “Please?”

  The tip of his finger breached her, easing in ever so slowly, and she sobbed with the penetration. As if her asshole were connected to the very center of her pleasure, her clit pulsed, and the aching heat surrounding her pussy grew.

  “Easy.” Blake retreated and returned to his tormenting. Then, he did it again, sliding into her, a shallow thrust that had her nearly crumpling. That sent a bone-jarring spasm through her from head to toe, and her knees went weak.

  “This would be better in bed, Honey.” His finger retreated and then he nudged at her thigh, encouraging her to lower her leg. She gripped his biceps, whimpering and begging him to remain. “Let me show you what you mean to me.”

  His sex roughened voice was enough to pull her from the hazy fog of arousal his attentions had created. She opened her eyes and met his desire-filled stare, recognized her feelings reflected in his gaze.

  “I haven’t forgiven you yet.”

  “I know.” He nibbled her lower lip.

  Honey’s body was on fire for him, aching and screaming for satisfaction. Her hand wasn’t going to cut it this time. Nope, her fluffy body wanted Blake and Blake alone. Stupid body.

  “You can’t keep doing this to me,” she panted, and he nuzzled her neck.

  “I won’t. Ever again, baby. Let me make you mine. Let me love you.”

  She whimpered, passion clouding her judgment, but she didn’t protest when he urged her backward. Or when the back of her knees collided with her bed. Or even when he nudged her until she lay prone on the lush mattress and he stripped her towel away.

  Honey didn’t have the opportunity to feel self-conscious. Not when his next words blew any worry from her mind.

  “God damn, you’re beautiful.” His gaze seemed to encompass her, traveling from her eyes, pausing on her breasts and then his attention was entirely focused on her pussy. His stare fixed, he dropped to his knees between her thighs and nudged her legs farther apart.

  “Blake?”

  He gave her his attention. “I have never seen anything more beautiful. You’re all wet, pink and plump for me, Honey.” He stroked her sex lips, a soft, barely-there brush of her heated skin. “I want to lick you clean and then get you dirty again, baby. That okay with you?”

  His words stole her breath, and she barely managed a nod before his touch forced her heart to still.

  Blake stroked her slit once again, fingers gathering some of her juices and then he brought them to his mouth, sucking the digits deep. “Delicious. You taste like peaches and cream. All sweet when you slide over my tongue.”

  “Blake,” she gasped.

  “Right here.” He repeated the motion, bringing his glistening finger to his lips, and she watched as he lapped his skin. “This is good, but I think I want it from the source. That sound good to you?”

  Honey could only moan. That moan turned into a gasp, when, beneath her gaze, he leaned down and his warm, wet tongue glided over her sensitive flesh. A ripple of arousal wove through her, plucking her nerves, and she couldn’t withhold the moan that built insid
e her.

  Blake used his fingers to separate her lower lips, and the room’s chilly air wafted over her wet skin. He followed the move with his tongue, lapping at her sex in slow, gentle sweeps. He circled the source of her juices and then rose to her clit, flicking the bundle of nerves in a rapid beat.

  He repeated the movements: circle, lick, flick-flick-flick.

  Honey let herself get lost in the sensations, revel in the pure pleasure that his attentions drew from her. She cupped her breasts, kneaded the mounds and pinched her nipples between thumb and forefinger. She plucked, squeezed and pulled in time with his ministrations, then added in the rocking of her hips.

  God, then it got better.

  Blake shifted his hold and pressed against her clit with his thumb, rubbing and circling the nub with increasing pressure while his tongue… Oh, shit! He began fucking her pussy with the muscle, pressing and then retreating, only to push in once again.

  Ecstasy blossomed within her, blooming and then moving to wrap around her pussy. It cuddled close to the source of her pleasure and gather up every morsel that Blake drew from her body.

  She truly did move with him then, pushing and arching against his shallow penetration, searching for more.

  “Yes… There… More…” She wasn’t above begging.

  But… But he stopped.

  Oh, no, wait. Blake removed his tongue, but two of his thick fingers probed and then pushed into her sopping pussy while his talented thumb continued to rub her clit.

  “Oh,” she purred, moving and fucking herself on his hand.

  “Like that, baby?” She focused on him, nudging back the haze of pleasure that made the world happily blurry. “Like my fingers in this pussy?” He did something with said fingers: curled them and rubbed. The muscles of her body contracted, forcing her back to arch from the bed. “I think you do.” Her cream coated his mouth and chin, evidence of her desire, and she watched him lick his lips. “You’re so damn sweet.”

  Blake repeated that lovely massage, sending another overwhelming wave of bliss through her body. If he continued his torment, she’d come in moments. “Oh, God.”