Not for a Moment: One Moment, Book 3 Read online

  She kissed up his chest, nuzzling under his jaw line. He pressed her to him, wrapping his hands low around her back. Jess squealed when he picked her up and carried her to the nearest soft surface. The couch.

  Hello, old friend.

  Van laid her down on the cushions, his eyes eating at her. She was naked from her stomach down, except for a little scrap of froth at the vee of her thighs. Jess wriggled under his blatant, carnal smolder as his gaze skipped up and down her body.

  He let out a hungry sound. She caught at his hand and tugged him down beside her. He laughed, low and rough, as he tried to maneuver so there was room for both of them.

  “I don’t know what it is about you and this couch,” he growled.

  “Shh.”

  Jess solved the problem by stretching herself over him like a blanket. She slid up his body, feeling the hard press of his cock against her belly, the delicious tingle of her nipples pushing at his chest as she rocked into him. Her top rode up, revealing she wore no bra underneath.

  Breath hissed through Van’s teeth when his hands found the soft swell of her breasts. She dipped her head to kiss him and he ate at her lips, hands roving across her body as if he didn’t know which hidden treasure to touch first.

  Another groan rumbled from his chest and he broke away, wrenching his mouth from hers.

  “Jess, I really need to—”

  Jess covered his mouth with her hand. Why couldn’t he just stay quiet?

  “I said no talking.” She shot him a warning look. “If you keep interrupting, I’ll have to stop and think about what I’m doing. I don’t want to stop.”

  Van stiffened beneath her, his breath warm and heavy against her hand.

  “Do you want me to stop?” she murmured as she dropped to lick at his ear. He jerked upward, his cock a rigid brand pressing into her stomach. No, he was still on board.

  Jess peeled her fingers away, one by one.

  Van worked hard to swallow. He stared back at her, silent, eyes full of promise. Dark, unfulfilled promise. His heavy breath spelled out his every intention and a quiver of heat curled through Jess’s belly.

  She sank back into him, cupping his head as her lips parted against his mouth. His arm banded around her back, pulling her closer. As if he couldn’t get enough. As if he wanted to crawl inside her skin. His tongue licked into her mouth to tangle with hers, a soft thrust and retreat that made her wet in all the right places. She moved down, her legs parting until the hardness of his jeans-clad cock nudged her pussy.

  It wasn’t enough. Jess shifted sideways, reaching down to undo his jeans. Her leg wedged between his thigh and the back of the couch, spasming as she twisted around. Jess sucked in a breath, riding out the sudden flare of pain.

  Shit. “Not again—”

  Before she could retreat, Van slid out from beneath her. “Let’s try the bed,” he suggested.

  He carried her to the bedroom, his lips claiming hers when she tried to protest. Jess’s muffled argument turned to a moan of pleasure as his hand strayed precariously close to her ass. He laid her on the bed, towering over her, the bulge of his cock within touching distance.

  Jess licked her lips. “Take your clothes off,” she ordered.

  Van started with his shirt. He lifted it to reveal a well-toned chest with more than a hint of those muscles she’d felt pressed against her. Jess struggled up onto her elbows to get a better look. He played with the button of his pants and Jess bit her lip. Her mouth watered at the anticipation of seeing him. Stripped down. Naked.

  The zipper was tugged apart. It seemed to take an age before his jeans slipped past his hips, revealing strong, contoured thighs and siren-red boxers screaming a warning. They went next. Jess’s fingers curled into fists and she pressed one hand against her mouth. She wanted to see the whole of him in one delectable, panoramic view. Her gaze slid downward, following the soft ripple of abs, the arrow of dark hair leading straight to the proud jut of his cock…

  He was beautiful.

  Jess took in the total, perfect package. Each ridge of muscle looked as though it had been lovingly crafted, every hollow pressed in place by the thumbs of gods. Doubt flashed like a shadow and she closed her eyes. How could he stand to see the mangled ruins of her own body in comparison?

  The bed dipped and Jess’s eyes flicked open. Van knelt over her, hands on each side of her shoulders, caging her in. His expression was lost to pleasure, lips parted, eyes a dark smolder that burned wherever they landed. His focus was on her as if he were drinking in each soft gasp of breath, every flick of her lashes. He claimed her mouth, his hand running under her top to palm her breasts. She let out a gasp as he squeezed her nipple between finger and thumb.

  Jess couldn’t hold back any longer. She ran her nails down his sides, relishing each twitch of skin, the sensual arch of his back as she neared his hips. She retraced her path, circling his nipples with the tips of her fingers, running her hand down over his stomach until she reached the tops of his thighs. His legs drew apart and Jess ran her fingers from the crack of his ass, exploring his balls as they swung free between his legs. She cupped them in her palm, loving the weight of them, the feel of the silky, delicate skin in her hands.

  Van shifted and her concentration broke. A short, sharp tug at her waist and her panties were gone. He straddled her thighs, a wicked grin flashing as he sat back on his heels to survey her. He dropped a wink, then grabbed a pillow and folded it in half to prop under her left knee. Then one for her right, so she was splayed wide. His gaze slid down her torso, his grin fading the lower his gaze dropped. Jess got wet just watching him.

  He traced his hands up and down her sides and she let out a gasp as Van dipped down between her legs and laid an open-mouthed kiss on her pussy. His tongue rasped against her clit and Jess arched back. A long, luscious lick and Jess writhed a little more, soft moans spilling from her lips. He rolled his tongue around her clit and worked one finger inside her. Her slick heat created delicious friction. Another finger followed and he twisted them together as he dug deep, his mouth suctioning onto her clit. Pressure built low and fast, her muscles squeezing tight, centered on the exquisite lash of Van’s tongue swirling, licking, tasting.

  Her nipples were achingly hard. Almost painful. Jess rubbed at her breasts, pinching the nubs between her fingers. Ahh. That felt good. She did it again, harder this time, squeezing and rolling her nipples in tempo to the darting probe of Van’s tongue. He scissored his fingers inside her, flicking against the perfect spot until a storm of heat gathered in her sex. Jess’s hands grasped at the air, seeking purchase as pleasure spilled over her. His tongue kept working her as she came, pressing against her clit, riding her through the orgasm until she collapsed exhausted into the softness of the bed.

  Van sat back. He parted his lips, breath coming in puffs. His gaze licked a trail of heat from her sex to her breasts. Erotic need swept over her at the sight of him devouring her with his eyes. She needed him inside her.

  “I want you. Now.” She breathed out her demands.

  His tongue darted out to touch his lips. Pink. Glistening. Another rush of hunger dampened her crotch, knowing where that mouth had just been…whose taste was on his tongue.

  Van grabbed a condom from the bedside drawer and ripped the wrapper with his teeth. Fuck. Even that was panty creaming. His cock was thick and hard and looked tasty. Jess shifted on the bed. She was ready. Wanting.

  “You okay?” Van dragged her attention back to his face.

  “Don’t talk.” She shook her head, a quick impatient jerk. “Just fuck.”

  She tugged him forward and Van crawled over top of her until he was positioned between her thighs. The head of his cock slid into the slick warmth at her entrance and her breath caught. She squeezed her lids shut.

  “Open your eyes,” he growled.

  Van was staring at her, his face hard. D
etermined. Her cry of pleasure when he pushed into her was swallowed by his mouth as he thrust deep. His cock stopped halfway in and he groaned, his hips moving in little rocking motions as he allowed her to get used to his size. He burrowed deeper until his cock was fully inside. He filled her. A tight, perfect fit. He broke his kiss, letting out a low moan of pleasure. One more glance at Jess to make sure she was all right, then he did what she’d asked. Just fucked.

  He pulled her leg around his waist and gripped her hips. Jess had a moment to recognize he’d chosen her good leg, then the breath left her lungs as he surged in and out. Pressure built up fast in her belly. A sheen of sweat glowed on his forehead, the intensity of his gaze a burn against her skin, heightened by the slap of his thighs hitting her ass. Van held her in place, pulling her into him so she didn’t shunt up the bed each time he drove deep.

  His jaw was clenched tight, pleasure bleeding into his eyes, the air hot and heavy and sticky. Jess didn’t know whether she wanted to scream or moan, pleasure building in her chest, her stomach, her sex. She scraped her nails down his chest, rasping across the hard pebble of his nipple, causing Van to jerk inside her until the root of his cock was buried deep.

  “Yes,” Jess hissed, her eyes nearly rolling back in her head. “Fuck me. H-harder.”

  She wanted it rough. For him to lose control. To know Van was thinking only of her and really let go.

  He did as she asked, pistoning his hips, slamming into Jess. Faster. Harder. Van let out a strangled groan, his tempo bucking out of time with the rhythm as he fought to keep control. Jess locked her legs tight around him.

  “Oh. God. Yes. I’m gonna…come!”

  Pleasure swamped Jess in a wave as the tight knot in her belly spilled outward, filling her with sweet ecstasy. Van pinched his eyes shut, hips shoving forward one last time as he came with a shout. Sweat gleamed on his chest and Jess ran her finger through it, enjoying the shock wave as she drew a path over one nipple.

  Van collapsed on top of her. Spent. Trying to catch his breath. After a moment he rolled to the side. Jess tried to move but her legs were the consistency of jelly.

  Best workout ever.

  She turned her head as Van twined his fingers in hers. His smile of satisfaction was enough to poke the embers of interest. She just needed a moment to recover. She glanced around the room noticing straight away that it was another bare offering.

  She frowned as she took a second, longer look. No more than a bed, a set of drawers, and a bedside table. The drawer stood open, testimony to his haste in grabbing a condom.

  “So you don’t have furniture, but you have condoms in the drawer?” Jess grinned a smug little smile of her own.

  His lips gave the barest twitch. “I only take necessities when I travel.”

  Jess tipped her head to look at him. “You don’t live here?”

  “Just visiting. But I’m here six weeks. At least.”

  Six weeks. It shouldn’t have made a difference. Jess had come here for the express reason of proving to herself she could do what she wanted. And she’d wanted Van.

  Mission accomplished.

  Damn it. She was the one who had wanted to walk away but now it seemed like he’d beaten her to the punch. He’d always been the one who was leaving. Who was in control.

  If she was going to be the one to leave, she had to do it now. It would be too easy for Van to talk her into staying. And staying would be dangerous. Staying would put the power back in his hands.

  Jess struggled up, swinging her legs around to sit on the side of the bed.

  “Where are you going?” Van sat up too, his fingers tightening on hers.

  “Bathroom.” Jess wriggled free of his hold. She dropped a wink. “I’ll be back in a minute for round two.” It would be more fun to leave him hanging. At least he wouldn’t forget her for a while. That thought made Jess feel a whole lot happier.

  Van grinned appreciatively. “Sounds like a plan.” His gaze traveled down her nakedness. Then something flickered in his eyes as he came to her knee and his smile faded. “When you come back…uh…there’s something we need to talk about.”

  “Sure thing.” Jess clutched her T-shirt to her chest. She was right to leave now.

  She didn’t bother stopping at the bathroom but went straight for the living area, retrieving her skirt from the floor on her way to the door. She was pulling it over her hips when she heard Van moving in the bedroom.

  “Jess?”

  Jess muffled a curse, pausing to scoop up her sandals, her heart thudding in her throat. She needed to go before Van spelled out the twenty reasons why this had been a bad idea. That was always what “we need to talk about something” meant. Hell, Jess had a hundred reasons of her own why this was a bad idea. She didn’t need to hear his.

  “Jess!” Frustration gave Van’s voice a hard edge as he called out again.

  No hesitation. Jess opened the door and escaped into the night as fast as her knee would carry her.

  By the time she climbed back up to her balcony, she was giggling to herself, high on adrenaline. Had she really just burst into Van’s apartment, fucked him, and left? She stifled another snort of laughter. And she had classes tomorrow. What the hell was she going to do if she saw him on campus? What would he say to her? Do to her?

  A tingle of warmth fluttered through her belly, followed by a twist of regret that stopped her amusement in its tracks. No. Better to finish it now while Jess was on top. She was renowned for throwing herself into things—rash, impetuous things. That was how she was. All or nothing.

  And where Van was concerned, nothing was the only solution. Jess liked him. He was funny and caring and hot as hell. He did things to her, evoked feelings she thought had been damaged beyond repair in the accident.

  Where she’d already lost too much…

  Van’s apartment was a reflection of his clutter-free life. He was transient. No baggage. He only took care of the important things. Like condoms.

  Jess was clutter. She came with a whole lot of extra baggage. In the end she would only burden him, exactly as she did Cole.

  Chapter Five

  Ergh.

  Jess had to pretend she didn’t notice Madison emerging from Cole’s bedroom the next morning. She buried her face in her muesli, chowing down so fast milk spattered all over the counter.

  She mopped it up, hoping to avoid…

  “You need a ride to class?”

  Too late, Cole came to the door, rubbing at his chest. His naked chest.

  “Ah. No thanks.” Jess grabbed up her bag and hightailed it out the door, vowing to get the hell out of dodge a little earlier tomorrow morning. Nobody deserved to have their day start with the knowledge her brother had gotten laid.

  Especially when her own night had been achingly satisfying on one level, and hollow and uneasy on another. She didn’t regret going to see Van. But there was the manner of her leaving. And, she didn’t even know his last name.

  Jayne would know, except she wasn’t in any of Jess’s classes on a Monday, so she didn’t have an opportunity to find out more information about the mysterious Van. So mysterious, she’d ripped his clothes off and rubbed her body all over him.

  Jess cringed at her own moxie. She’d never thought she was one of those fast and free kind of girls.

  She caught up with Tash in between lectures and they stopped in the cafeteria to grab coffee. The conversation was a little awkward to start with, Tash no doubt feeling bad about spilling the beans to Cole. Jess couldn’t have cared less. Her new living arrangement was already a lot more interesting than living with Mike and Brad. Ick, Brad—someone she hadn’t given a second thought to since leaving Mike’s house yesterday.

  “It’s not your fault. It’s Cole. You know what he’s like. He hates to see me have any fun.” Jess leaned back in her chair. “God, you would have thought I was l
iving under a bridge, his face when he saw the house.” Jess did a grotesque imitation of Cole’s expression.

  “Yeah, he can be a bit over the top.” Tash started to come around. “But…” She paused and glanced at Jess. “I do kinda think he made the right call about Mike’s house.”

  “There was nothing wrong with it.” Jess shot her a look.

  “It was a bit of a dump,” Tash maintained.

  Jess’s indignation rose, then she gave in as truth prevailed. “Yeah. It was.”

  “More than a bit.” Tash snorted.

  They looked at each other and that kicked Jess off. She laughed, a nervous release of energy. It felt good to let go—all of the pent-up frustration at her brother’s high-handed treatment, the exhilaration after seeing Van last night, spilled out in a bout of laughter that just wouldn’t quit. Jess clutched at her sides, her eyes streaming. She couldn’t care less that everyone in the cafeteria was staring at her as if she was crazy. She probably was.

  “So, we’re okay.” Tash whipped at her eyes when the hysteria quieted down to a few stilted chuckles.

  “Absolutely.” Jess shook out her hands, feeling so much better now. “In fact, you know what? We should get out this weekend. Go crazy.” Her excitement rose as Jess got that feeling—that hard, repressed feeling—like her insides were going to burst if she didn’t do something. She needed a release. “We could try out those kayaks we saw for hire last week, or go camping in the mountains?” Jess loved being spontaneous. Coming up with an idea and getting up and doing it. No holding back. Her foot jiggled against the floor, her brain scrambling for ideas. “I’ve always wanted to do a tandem sky—”

  “No,” Tash cut in, her abrupt refusal surprising Jess into silence.

  “Why not?” Frustration bubbled up into her chest as the need to do something nipped at Jess’s heels.

  Tash gave her a look. “You always do this. Every time Cole stops you from doing things you shouldn’t, you get all antsy and want to drag me and Jayne off to do crazy shit.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” Jess huffed out a breath, trying to keep hold of her temper. “What’s wrong with being a little wicked now and then?” Even as she said the words, her hit and run on Van flashed into her mind. She shook her head. It wasn’t the same. The trip to Idaho had only failed because they’d run out of petrol. And the aborted casino visit would have gone better if Tash hadn’t trusted her with all the money…