A Little Light Magic Read online

  He turned fully toward her then, one arm draped over the steering wheel, his dark gaze searching. Heated.

  “I don’t believe it because I can’t imagine any guy being just friends with a woman like you. You and I could never be ‘just friends,’ Tori. Shit. When we’re together, all I can think of is how long it will be before I can get inside you again.”

  Her body responded violently to the crude declaration. Her nipples tingled; her womb clenched. Her thighs grew moist. She braced her arm on the dashboard, trying desperately to drag in enough oxygen to inflate her lungs.

  He reached with his right hand to stroke her cheek. Then he slid his fingers around her neck and into her hair. His touch was like a velvet flame. She wanted to get lost in it and burn up.

  “Ah, Tori. You make me lose my mind.”

  “Is that so bad?” she whispered.

  “Oh, yeah.” His grip tightened in her hair, anchoring her head in his grasp. “It’s bad. If you had the sense God gave a rock, you’d see it.”

  He tugged her close, until his lips hovered a bare half inch from hers. She smelled wine on his breath, mingling with the spice of his aftershave. “I’m not ready for this,” he said. “For you. For us. I wanted to go slow. But you? You insist on a fast track to disaster.”

  “Nick, I—”

  “You want to mix everything up. A baby first. Then marriage. Then love. You want everything ass-backward.” He drew back, releasing her, a new, disturbing energy crackling around him. A spurt of panic rushed through her.

  He got out of the truck and slammed the door. Rounded the hood. Wrenching the passenger door open, he closed his fingers around Tori’s wrist. “Come on.”

  He yanked her down from the cab before she had a chance to reply. He slammed the door shut behind her and started walking.

  “Nick, wait.” His grip on her wrist was unrelenting. She stumbled, trying to keep up with him. Up the seawall steps, then down, to the beach. Then out across the soft sand.

  She lost one sandal. Desperately, she kicked off its mate. He didn’t seem to notice.

  “Damn it, Nick, stop! What do you think you’re doing?”

  He stopped abruptly and turned. He didn’t release her wrist. She gasped, catching her breath.

  Then she looked up at him.

  And immediately wished she hadn’t. She was only just beginning to realize how very angry he was.

  “What am I doing?” He repeated her words slowly, his voice growing more intense with each syllable. “Why, I’m getting ready to have sex with you. Right here on the beach. That’s what you wanted so badly before, isn’t it?”

  His grip burned hot on her wrist. “Well, yes, but—”

  “You wanted a guy who doesn’t care about the rules, right? One who doesn’t give a shit about what’s practical, what’s safe. What’s right.”

  Bending suddenly, he slid an arm behind her knees and picked her up. She cried out and flung her arms around his neck. He strode toward the ocean, his arms tightening with each step. His breath came harsh and hot on her cheek. He stopped just short of the water’s edge. Her feet touched the sand.

  With a groan, he anchored her head in his hands. “Tori…”

  She had one brief second in which to read his intent before his mouth covered hers. His lips were demanding, almost brutal. He kissed her, robbing her of breath, of will, of any notion of resistance.

  Her arms snaked around his neck and held on.

  Just as she surrendered, he tore himself away. “Is this what you want, Tori? Is this who you want me to be?”

  He was hard. She could feel him through his trousers and her sundress, hot and demanding against her belly. There was a desperation in his voice she’d never heard before. A vulnerable note that struck a chord deep inside her. Because she knew how painful it was when you weren’t the person—the daughter, the lover—that someone else wanted. And she couldn’t believe she’d done that to him.

  “Nick…Nick, I—”

  “No. Don’t talk.” He kissed her again, more gently this time, some of his control returning.

  “You don’t have to—”

  “Shh.” The hot wash of his breath bathed her temple. He smoothed his hands up her back. “Let me make love to you, Tori.”

  “Yes.” She melted into him, her lower body rubbing against his arousal. His fingers were already unlacing her halter.

  “Move your hips like that again,” he breathed. “I like it.”

  The top of her sundress fell away. He thumbed her bare nipples, bending to kiss her mouth at the same time. She groaned, rocking her hips against his erection.

  “That’s it.” He hardened impossibly. His arms tightened around her. She felt herself falling, the ground moving upward to meet her, and then she felt her shoulder blades press into the cool, damp sand.

  Nick loomed over her, his eyes intense, one hand easing her skirt up over her thighs.

  “You’ll ruin your good clothes.” She gasped as he found the sweet spot between her thighs.

  “Screw the clothes.”

  He leaned over her; the tip of his tongue found her ear. A tidal wave of weakness washed through her and she shuddered, reaching for him. He levered himself up on his elbows, watching as she undid the slippery buttons on his dress shirt with trembling fingers. The smooth fabric parted. She spread her fingers on his bare chest. His heart pounded under her palms.

  The last breath of an ocean breaker slid close, but didn’t touch them. Nick shoved her halter top to her waist and bent his head to one breast. He caught her nipple with his teeth, biting gently. His hand slid up the outside of her thigh, lifting her skirt to her waist.

  “You always wear these flimsy dresses. Is it because you want to drive me crazy? You’ve done it, you know. I’m officially insane.”

  He stroked her through her panties. Then he groaned. “God. You’re so wet for me.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  He worked her panties free, losing them in the sand. A breeze whispered across her moist skin, making her shiver. He nudged her legs apart, lifting her knees.

  His breath hitched. The ocean roared in her ears.

  “You’re so beautiful like this.” His voice was ragged and full of wonder. “So wild. So open.”

  She gazed up him. His face, so handsome, so harsh, was framed by silver night clouds. The sand was cold on her back, but male heat bathed her stomach and thighs. Nick looked at her, his expression almost reverent. As though she were the moon, the stars, and the heavens, all rolled into one.

  She clung to the moment. It was everything she’d wanted, everything she’d imagined. Her fingers fumbled at his belt buckle, tugged at his zipper. She slipped her hand into his boxers and stroked him. He was heavy and hot, hard and soft, all at once.

  He guided her hand away. His hot mouth opened on her breast; his hands swept over her bare skin. He teased her until her breath came in gasps, stroking his fingers between her legs, his tongue licking into her mouth.

  She raised her hips in invitation. He ran his palms over her bottom, tilting her hips. He entered on one strong stroke. She felt him deep inside, deeper than she’d ever felt him before. Her body clenched around him, possessing him. Claiming him as hers.

  He flexed his hips, making her groan. “This really turns you on, doesn’t it?”

  “What?”

  “Doing it in the open. Where anyone could see us. Hell, someone could be watching right now. Do you like thinking about that? About someone watching?” He cradled her head in his palms and took her mouth as he drove himself inside her.

  God help her, she did like it. She tried to tell him, but all she could manage was a gasp as he plunged deep.

  “I don’t,” he said.

  “Wh-what?”

  He rocked back and forward, stealing her breath again.

  “I don’t like it. I hate it. I hate cheapening what we have by rutting in the sand like horny teenagers. I hate how I lose my mind when I’
m with you. Hate that you make me want to do things like this.” He pulled out almost completely, then caught her hips in a painful grip and slammed back in. It felt so good she wanted to sob.

  But his words…his words didn’t feel good at all.

  “I don’t want to be this way with you, Tori. So…raw and desperate. It just hurts too goddamn much.”

  A wave caught them, drenching Tori’s skirt. Nick’s body pressed her down into the wet sand. He moved inside her again. The pleasure rose.

  “Nick…Oh, God…”

  “Yes,” he hissed, his voice low and intense, his body moving more quickly, more deeply inside her. “Say my name, Tori. Scream for me.”

  Another wave skittered across the sand, splashing their joined torsos. Nick cradled her in his arms, shielding her from the worst of the water, never once losing his rhythm. Her hips lifted off the ground with each thrust. Sand scraped her back.

  Another wave hit. An answering swell surged inside her, lifting her, pushing her high, then higher still. She wrapped her legs around Nick’s waist, her inner muscles rippling. But the big payoff wouldn’t come. The edge just hung there, out of reach.

  She moaned, reaching for the fall with all that she was. It was no use. Nick was deep inside her, and it felt incredible. But it wasn’t enough.

  He wasn’t close enough.

  “I love you,” she cried on a gasp. “Do you hear me? I love you.”

  “Tori…” He groaned, gripping her bottom and slamming into her body so savagely that for a moment she couldn’t breathe. He bit her neck, sending a spark of pain into the surging pleasure.

  “Come for me, Tori. Come with me.”

  His plea sent her over. She crashed and broke in a free fall, clinging to him. He went rigid, groaning his own release. She felt the hot pulse of his seed shooting deep inside her.

  And that was when she realized they hadn’t used a condom.

  The wave of pleasure crashed, rolled, receded. Nick lowered himself to the sand beside her, his lips pressing the hollow of her neck, his breath coming in gasps. She lay still, her hand cradling his head, her heart nearly pounding out of her body. Her senses were spinning, as if she’d stepped off a whirling boardwalk ride. She was happy, shaken, and trying to catch her breath.

  All too soon he levered himself off her. He stood and offered her a hand up. His dress shirt was plastered to his torso, and his trousers were covered with sticky wet sand.

  A cool breeze stirred the air, and she shivered.

  “Shit,” Nick said. “We’re freaking soaked.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  A little family planning is always a good idea.

  Leigh checked the condoms in her jacket pocket before leaving the house. She’d taken one, then at the last minute went back to add a second.

  Who knew? Better to be prepared than sorry.

  Jason, looking very hot in gray sweatpants and a Beach Patrol T-shirt, was waiting by the dunes.

  “I didn’t even have to sneak out,” she told him. “No one’s home. We were all at the Boardwalk, but we couldn’t find Johnny and Tori before the fireworks started; then Johnny called and said they’d already left. I think they were headed to Johnny’s club to hear Mimi sing. So Alex brought me home. He took Sophie to his place for the night.”

  “What about your dad?”

  “I have no idea where he is.”

  “So it’s all good.” Jason slung his arm over her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

  They cut across the beach toward his street. But he didn’t kiss her again until they were in his kitchen, behind the closed door. His lips touched hers once, twice, then a third time.

  “I can’t believe you’re finally here.”

  A shiver of excitement raced through her. At least, Leigh hoped it was excitement. What else could it be? She loved Jason. And he loved her.

  “I can hardly believe it myself.”

  “Yeah. I thought…”

  “What?”

  “Never mind. You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

  He pulled her close. The crazy fire swept over her, the one only he could light, the one that made her forget all her doubts. His lips touched her cheeks, her nose, her eyelids. His hands framed her face, his fingers sifting through her hair. His mouth slanted over hers, his tongue sliding along the sensitive inner lining of her lower lip. She sighed and let him in.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against him the way she knew he liked. She was rewarded with a sexy sound from the back of his throat, something between a moan and a growl. His arms tightened around her as he slid his tongue in and out of her mouth in an imitation of what they’d soon be doing with their bodies.

  She stiffened slightly, thinking about it.

  He pulled back, breathing heavily, his forehead pressed against hers. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? Because if you’re not, tell me now. I won’t be able to take much more. I want you so bad.”

  “I want you, too,” she said quickly.

  “God, I’m glad.” He hugged her close, and she felt his smile against her temple. “I love you, Leigh. Let me show you how much.”

  He caught her hand and moved it to his stomach, then lower, slipping it beneath the elastic waistband of his sweats. He closed her fingers on his erection, holding her there.

  Oh, God. It was hot in her palm, and very hard. In fact, it was harder than she’d imagined, and…it was pulsing. The sensation unnerved her.

  He slid her hand along his shaft. She tried to imagine opening up her body and letting it in. Would it hurt? Stacey said it had, the first time.

  She tried to take her hand away, but she didn’t pull very hard and he didn’t seem to notice.

  “God, that feels good,” he said.

  “Jason…”

  He gave her a lopsided smile. “Nervous?”

  “I guess.”

  His arms went around her. “Don’t be.”

  “But…it might hurt,” she said in a small voice.

  “Nah,” he said. “It won’t. I won’t let it. Come on.”

  He laced his fingers in hers and tugged her toward the stairs.

  “We didn’t use a condom.”

  Tori threw out the comment as casually as she could, while she retied her halter straps behind her neck.

  Nick gasped in a breath.

  It was as if he’d been sucker punched. He actually staggered a step backward. At the same exact instant, Tori’s stomach cramped.

  “Fuck.” He dragged a hand down his face. “Fuck.”

  And that about summed it up, Tori thought savagely. Suddenly, what they’d done on the beach seemed cheap. Just like Nick had said.

  She licked her lips, which had gone dry. “I guess that means forgetting the condom was an accident?”

  “Hell, yes, it was an accident! Jesus. Do you think I’d—” He cut himself off, his eyes widening. “You did, didn’t you? You thought I didn’t use a condom on purpose. You thought I’d decided to give in and get you pregnant.”

  She started walking up the beach. He followed. In the distance, an explosion of fireworks burst over the brightly lit Atlantic City skyline.

  “No,” Tori said, painfully aware of Nick’s grim expression. “I didn’t think you wanted to get me pregnant. That would be the absolute last thing I would think.”

  He grabbed her arm. “You should’ve said something. When you realized we weren’t protected.”

  She shook him off. “I was caught up in the moment.” She laughed, but the sound was ugly. “Just like you.”

  She picked up her pace.

  “Tori. Come back here.”

  She ignored him and ran for the street. At least, she thought she was running that way. It was hard to see. Her vision had suddenly blurred.

  “Tori, stop. We have to talk about this.”

  “Talk?” She whirled around to face him. “Now you want to talk?”

  His jaw locked. “Yeah. I do.” He s
tared at her for a long moment. “I want you to know that if you’re pr—” He just about choked on the word. “If you’re pregnant, I’ll stick by you. I won’t abandon my child.”

  The glare of the street lamp washed out his complexion. He looked exhausted, Tori thought. Exhausted and depressed.

  “But you don’t want another child. Ever. You told me that.”

  Seconds ticked by. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I did say that. At least, I don’t think I want one. And certainly not like this, not when…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Look. What I’m trying to say is, call me old-fashioned, but I believe a baby’s parents should be married before it’s conceived. Otherwise, it’s a big mistake to bring a child into the world.”

  “And you wouldn’t be caught dead marrying me. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

  “No, damn it, it’s not. Stop putting words into my mouth.”

  But he’d hesitated a moment too long before saying it.

  Tori’s heart dropped like a stone in the ocean.

  “I know you don’t want to marry me.” She hugged herself, trying to stop her shivering. She could still smell him on her skin, could almost still feel him inside her.

  “And you know what?” she continued. “I’m glad. We’d be miserable together. In fact, I wouldn’t marry you if you begged me.”

  He just stood there, eyes hard and angry, arms crossed. Looking at her, but saying nothing.

  She gathered the scraps of her pride and started walking home.

  He didn’t follow.

  Leigh was just about naked.

  Her shirt and bra had disappeared almost as soon as they’d entered Jason’s bedroom. Her shorts had been a more recent addition to the clutter on his floor. But he wasn’t rushing her. Oh, no.

  They’d started out on the beanbag chair in the corner. That had been fine. After all, they’d made out there before, plenty of times, though never with the house empty. Jason had gone so slow, been so sweet and gentle, that it’d been Leigh who’d finally reached behind her back and unhooked her bra.

  Things went quicker after that.

  Now she lay on Jason’s double bed wearing nothing but a lacy thong. Her breath quickened as he stripped off his T-shirt, the movement causing his pecs to ripple. Leigh had seen his bare chest loads of times, of course, but somehow, here in his bedroom, in his bed, the sight of him hit her harder.