“Don’t you dare get mouthy on me.”
He shrugged, and stared into her eyes, waiting patiently for her to tell him what he could do. Vibrating sexual eagerness at her.
And now she wanted it, too. The bastard had gotten her whipped up into a state. Restless and anxious and hungry for him.
Well, and why not? She lifted her chin, and pointed to the bulge at his crotch. “Stop talking, Nick. And whip that thing out. Right now.”
He hesitated, looking alarmed. “What do you intend to do to it?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to worry about,” she said.
He unbuckled his belt. “You’re making me nervous, babe,” he complained.
“Oh, yeah? Well, guess what, buddy? You’ve made me nervous from the moment I met you. It’s about time you knew how it felt!”
Nick shrugged, fatalistically, and jerked the jeans down. His cock sprang up to attention.
She petted it, testing its hardness, the ropy thickness. This was improvised madness. She had no idea what she was doing. Only that it was a really bad idea. And that she couldn’t stop herself to save her life.
The words leaped out, rash and crazy. “Make love to me.”
His eyes flashed. “Hell yes, babe. I live to serve. Just let me go down on you first, so you can—”
“No.” She shook her head frantically. “I want you inside me. Now.”
His brows knitted. “You’re not ready. I’ll hurt you.”
“I don’t care,” she said wildly. “Just do it.”
He shoved papers off the desk to make space, sending stuff tumbling and fluttering to the floor, and set her bottom on the desk, lifting her skirt. “I care,” he said, his tone steely. “I know you’re in a crazy mood, but you’ll wait till you’re ready, and that is fucking final.”
“Damn it, Nick—” She shut up with a gasp as he slid his hand between her thighs and thrust his finger inside her.
She was already slick and hot, writhing around his hand, but he persisted, caressing her and spreading her slick hot juice where it was needed most. “I don’t have a condom,” he told her.
“Oh, what a shame.” Her voice shook. “Then I guess you just can’t come. Too bad for you. But that’s your problem, not mine.”
His grin flashed as he pressed her legs wide. “Cruel Becca.”
She clutched his shoulders, panting. They pressed their damp foreheads together for that magic moment of connection, when he eased his thick, blunt bulb inside her and slowly, slowly started to push.
Every tiny delicious stroke, every rocking movement made her want to writhe and moan, but for some reason she fought it, biting her lip. Still afraid to give in to pleasure, to him. Walls within walls.
He stopped. “What’s this all about, Becca? What does it mean?”
“Nothing,” she said, defiantly. “It means nothing. Just that I want this, and you’re handy, so I’m taking it. No promises. No strings.”
He narrowed his eyes and slowly withdrew, leaving only the tip of himself inside her, caressing her. “So this is part of my punishment?”
She reached down to grip his butt, pulling on him. “Just get to it, damn it!”
Her ferocity made her grin. “I’m just your boy toy thug, then? Your tattooed lowlife? Use me for sex, and then kick me to the curb?”
“You talk too much,” she snapped, breathless. “Just…fuck me.”
“You’re so tough,” he whispered. He thrust deep, staring into her eyes. “But you will melt for me,” he said, his voice caressing, as if he were putting a spell on her. “And you will come for me, too. You love me.”
“Arrogant bastard,” she gasped, staring at the sight of his thick shaft disappearing inside her, pulling out again, shiny with her juice.
“If I’m going to be your boy toy, I ought to live with you full time,” he said. “So that I’m available to service you night and day.”
She couldn’t think of a comeback to that, not while he was rotating his thumb around her clit as he pumped and thrust.
“And if I’m fucking you night and day, you might as well just marry me,” he pointed out. “So the children we have will be legitimate.”
She choked back the urge to laugh. “Watch out, buddy. You’re getting all masterful again.”
His grin was wicked. “That’s how you like me,” he said. “I know what you like. I’m going to give it to you hard. So brace yourself.”
He settled into a sensual rhythm that made her whimper and gasp. She wrapped her arms around his neck and yielded to it, her body softening, blooming brighter and hotter as their bodies merged.
She felt his orgasm gathering, felt him clench, and start to pull away from her—
No. She gripped his butt, sank her nails in, trapping him inside her. Letting his scalding heat pump through her, fill her, like healing balm. Melting that stiff, frozen place inside her, melting her anger and doubt. Opening her up to hope again.
To everything. Life, the future, her dreams and longings. Love.
After, her head rested against his damp chest. She lifted it, and kissed his scar, as she’d been longing to do. Tender, smooching kisses.
They swayed together, damp and clinging, for a timeless interval.
Nick tilted her chin up. “So this is the deal, babe,” he said. “You could punish me by keeping me in suspense if you want, but it’s a big waste of time. I love you. And I’m never going to let you go.”
She sought words, but the emotions pressed too hard against her throat to permit her to speak. She gazed into his earnest, worried eyes.
“I’m not perfect,” he said roughly. “I know I fucked up. But I will never let you down again. I swear it. I will treat you like a goddess.”
Her eyes overflowed. She mopped the tears, sniffling. He waited.
“I want those strings, Becca,” he prompted. “I want the promises. Done deal. Signed and sealed. Till death do us part.”
She laughed, limply. “One hot lay, and you think it’s all better?”
He grinned. “You want more? I’ll give you more. Watch me.”
She grabbed him. “Just hold me,” she said, exhausted. “For now.”
“As long as you want,” he said promptly.
She kissed his scar again. “Forever?”
He made a rough sound and hid his face against her hair. “To the end of time, sweetheart,” he muttered. “And beyond.”
BRAVA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
Copyright © 2008 by Shannon McKenna
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Brava and the B logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 0-7582-3008-7