“Come on. It’ll help prepare me for when I finally start my own clinic.” She smiled. “I’m happy to help you, Grey.”
“Last I checked, you weren’t a certified climber or ski guide.” He stroked her back, unable to restrain the urge to keep touching her.
“No, but I’m a decent writer, so I could help with your website redesign or marketing brochures or blogging. And you should give Kelsey and Emma a bunch of brochures. Kelsey’s always meeting rich people like Wade, so she can help promote your business. Emma’s inn is also an easy place to reach potential clients. And I know everyone in this town, so I can introduce you to whomever you haven’t yet met.”
Her eyes shimmered with energy and intelligence and enthusiasm.
“I like it when you get all fired up.” Grey wrapped his hand behind her neck and pulled her in for another kiss.
She bit his lower lip and pressed away from his chest. “So you’ll let me help?”
“I’ll think about it. Like I said, I can handle my own affairs.” He threaded his fingers through a hank of her hair, unwilling to accept being seen as a dyslexic illiterate. Like a man who couldn’t take care of himself. “You’ve got enough on your plate now with your own job and your family.”
She whacked his hand, her brows pinched together so tight it drew a deep line in her forehead. “Don’t just treat me like some pet, Grey. If sex is all you want, then go hang out with Trip and I’m sure you’ll find plenty of willing partners.” She tried to wiggle off his lap, but he clamped his forearm around her waist.
“Settle down, Bambi. You know what I feel isn’t just sexual,” he said, then grinned and nipped at her shoulder, “although that’s a nice side effect.”
“Then prove it. Don’t hide a weakness from me, or play macho. I was a great student. I’m a strong reader and writer. You’ve got dyslexia. Let me help you in that area, just like I’ll let you help me with my weaknesses.”
“You’ve got a weakness?” Grey tickled her. “Where? I don’t see any.”
“Quit it. I’m serious.” But he caught her grinning before she scowled again. “Are we on the same page, or not?”
He held up his hands in surrender for the second time that afternoon. “Okay. Yes, I hear you. Help away!”
She slid a sideways glance at him. Grey’s fingers toyed with the buttons of her Alpine-PT pullover. “Seeing you in this getup makes me all kinds of nostalgic. Donner doesn’t look half this good at therapy.”
“I have a hard time believing you find this outfit sexy.” She placed her hand on his chest.
“Honest to God, you have no idea how hard it was to hide my woodies at your clinic.” His hand stroked her arm and rested under her hip. “Frankly, I don’t miss that part of working with you.”
She reached between his legs. “I guess I can’t argue with this evidence. Who knew the track-suit look was so hot?”
“I want you so bad right now.” Grey reached up and drew her in for another kiss. “I’m guessing you wouldn’t be comfortable going upstairs, with Trip in the next room.”
“Not particularly, no.” Avery shivered when his tongue stroked her neck.
“Your house is out?” He nipped at her earlobe, his own stomach now clenching with desire.
“Yes.” Avery looked across the room. “Does that door lock?”
Grey’s mouth nibbled on her neck as he pressed her tighter to his chest. “Uh-huh.”
“Hang on.” She jumped up, locked the door, then returned and sank to her knees. Her quick maneuver dumbfounded him for a second. Long enough for her to free his erection. “Avery!” He couldn’t complete his thought as her pretty pink lips locked around him. “Oh, baby, that feels so good.”
His eyes closed briefly, but he forced them open so he could watch her take him in and out of that sassy, pouty mouth of hers. His legs twitched and tightened, so he straightened them and sank a little lower in the chair. “Yeah, like that.”
In a distant recess of his mind, he thought to stop her—to give pleasure rather than take it—but it wouldn’t happen just yet. Thinking he could give up this bliss so soon was about as fruitless as trying to kick his sugar addiction.
She tongued him and used her hands along his shaft and elsewhere, making everything from his chest to his toes tighten in an agonizing form of ecstasy. He dug his hands into her hair, unable to resist applying a little pressure to her head as he watched her with lustful fascination.
Avery felt herself being lifted off the floor at the same time a growl ripped from Grey’s throat. He sat her on the edge of the desk and ran his hands through her hair, down her back, and under her hips, yanking her up against his chest.
“Woman, what you do to me.” He planted heated, wet kisses behind the ear and down to her collarbone. His touch and groans made her entire body tingle. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and shoved it up over her head. “Off.”
He tucked her bra to the sides and under her breasts, which pushed them together and upward. His roughness heightened her anticipation—her desire. He kissed her, thumbing her nipples until she whimpered and arched into him. His mouth sucked on her breast, while his hands caressed her waist and kneaded her hips. Grey grunted and shivered, which sent delicious tremors fanning throughout her body.
“You like that,” Grey muttered in her ear just before yanking her sweatpants down and pushing her onto her elbows as he dipped his head down between her legs. Oh yes, I like that. His hot tongue explored and probed her, as did his fingers. Her hips bucked off the desk, but she didn’t want to come without him. She sat up, trying to pull his hips to hers.
“My knee,” he winced.
She hopped off the desk, pushing him into the chair.
“Condom,” he uttered.
“On the pill now and clean. You?”
“As a whistle.” His eyes flickered, like light hitting liquid silver, as he reached for her breasts.
She straddled him, needy and ready. “God, you feel good,” she moaned as she sank down the full length of his throbbing, hot erection. He filled her completely.
His hands didn’t seem to know where they wanted to be, stroking her arms, running through her hair, caressing her breasts, kneading her ass. Everywhere he touched her skin left a trail of goose bumps. Wherever he kissed her, the stubble on his jaw burned her skin in the best way. Every nerve in her body vibrated.
His ragged breath heated her neck, urging her to rock faster and harder against him. “Avery, wait!”
He pumped his hips up against her bottom, making her insides clench and tighten, seeking release. “Don’t stop,” she ordered, as she swiveled her hips against him. “Deeper.”
“Come on, baby!” Grey cried out as his control slipped. His frantic grinding tipped her over the edge, causing her body to convulse and collapse against his chest. He clung to her, kissing her temple, his hand stroking her hair, his uneven breath gushing from his lungs. “Look at you, having sex on my desk in the middle of the afternoon. You’re naughty.” His fingers stroked under her chin and tipped her head up for a kiss. “I love it.”
Avery grinned, refusing to think too much about the fact she’d never been nearly so unrepressed in the past. Grey brought out some kick-ass sexy side of her she never knew existed. As she lifted off his lap, he used the bottom of his shirt to wipe them both clean.
Suddenly she felt shy, standing there practically naked in the middle of his office. Grabbing her clothes, she quickly dressed while he merely had to scoot his pants up.
“Don’t do that.” Grey came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“I can’t stand here naked.”
“Debatable.” He squeezed her and then his voice dropped a decibel or two. “But I’m talking about how you start running away every time we’re together.”