Filthy Rich (15 page)

“You can bet there is.” He swept her off her feet and carried her over the threshold and back into her house.

“You've got some nerve, Nartan!”

He tossed her onto the love seat she had in the small entry room and propped his hands on his hips. “So you've noticed before. I think you like it.”

Celeste bounded off the love seat and faced off with him. “Go back to your restaurant. You seemed to be having plenty of fun without me.”

She was jealous and it hurt too much without him making fun of her.

Nartan bared his teeth at her. “You misunderstood what you saw.”

“She was practically lying on top of you,” Celeste countered. “I'm sure whoever she is, her name is on your ‘list with benefits.' There is no misunderstanding the fact that she knows you really fucking well.”

He bit back a word in Apache, but lifted one hand and pointed a thick finger at her.

“Not that well. Laura is a family friend.”

“She wants more.”

“She hasn't gotten it,” Nartan said.

Celeste didn't care for the way his words sliced through her anger. With the flare of rage, she was left doubting her own motives for arguing with him. He was watching her and nodded slowly, reading her thoughts off her face.

“Maybe I've been enjoying bachelorhood, but it's no more of a sin than you refusing to take a chance on living.”

“I took a chance on you tonight,” she insisted. “And found you with your harem girl.” She whispered, feeling like they were so far apart that the distance was impassable. It tore something inside her, stunning her with the rush of hot pain that filled her.

How
long
had
it
been
since
she'd cared?

“I never promised any of them more than the moment.”

Celeste opened her hands wide. “You haven't promised me anything either.” She gasped when she realized the opening she'd just given him. “I'm not asking—”

He jumped forward and flattened his hand against her lips, pushing her back against the wall until his hard body was flush with hers. In the semi-darkness, his face was cast in silver and shadow, making him look like part of the night.

“I want you to ask me for everything.” His tone was husky and hard. “I wanted you to tell Laura I belong to you. It pissed me off when you didn't.”

He closed his eyes, slid his hand along her jaw, and buried his nose in her hair and inhaled.

“You could have told her, but you didn't.” All the hurt she'd ordered herself not to feel was bleeding out. “You invited me over. She should have never been that close to you.”

He opened his eyes, and even in the dark, she felt his gaze. “It's been a long time since I was in anything that might even be close to a committed relationship. I wasn't thinking when she slid up to me. I screwed up.” His lips curled back from his teeth with raw emotion. “When I saw you leaving, all I wanted was for you to turn around and claim me right there in public and fucking tell her I was yours.”

She was stunned and the last of her resolve crumbed. “How was I supposed to know that?” She shoved at his chest, growling when he didn't give even an inch.

“You felt something for me.” He growled softly, menacingly as he leaned down, curving over her. She shivered, the sheer size of his body causing a reaction inside her. She was softening, surrendering as passion began to take control. Her flesh was so needy, so weak.

“But you ran from it…again.” He stroked her cheek with his fingers, his expression tightening. She felt the change in him, a charge of determination that sent a prickle of sensation across her skin.

“And you chased me.”

The word again lay unspoken between them.

He made a low sound, a rumble of male satisfaction. It was a declaration of victory, one she rebelled against. She reached forward, flattening her hand against his groin. Behind the smooth Italian wool of his trousers, his cock was swollen and hard. Her lips went dry with anticipation and she rolled them in, drawing his attention.

“I'm not going to let you off that easily.”

Her breath caught. “Excuse me?”

He smiled slowly and her belly twisted with anticipation.

“I'm going to make sure you see me here in your safety zone.” He slid his hand into her hair and fisted a handful of it. “So that you run to me…”

He pressed his lips against hers, kissing her hard. She wiggled away but he followed her, claiming her mouth with a dominance that should have pissed her off. Instead she was caught in a crazy spiral of excitement that was wringing her like a wet dishcloth. It was impossible to pull in enough breath, and she panted when he left off kissing her and set fire to her neck with a series of hard kisses.

She arched, offering her tender skin to him, the savage hold in her hair turning her on in a brutal fashion. Her breasts were suddenly heavy and full, straining against the cups of her bra.

But he backed away, allowing the night air to sweep over her. She shivered, moaning softly at the loss.

“Not here,” he snarled.

He bent over, and before her passion-intoxicated mind processed what he was doing, she was hanging over his shoulder.

“Nartan…” She pressed her hands into his lower back, rising slightly as she tried to regain her dignity.

He reached right up and swatted her bottom. The breath rushed out of her lungs as she fell back down, mostly from surprise. The smack was loud in the silent house, and the soft pain snaked through her pelvis to twist with crazy intensity in her clit.

He bounded up the stairs, carrying her into her bedroom and tossing her onto her bed. She rolled over and found him watching her. The drapes allowed enough of her neighbors' lights through to illuminate him in a soft golden glow.

“Right here, Celeste…” He reached up, yanked his tie off, and shrugged out of his coat. “Where you won't be able to erase the memory.”

Determination flashed in his eyes. “You're being an arrogant prick. This is my house.”

He shrugged out of his shirt, distracting her with the perfection of his body. His face was gorgeous and harsh in the shadows, stunning her with just how much she enjoyed seeing him there at the foot of her bed. The dominant, demanding arrogance transformed into a compliment that made her feel like she was glowing inside.

“And you're my woman.” He opened his pants and stepped out of them. She licked her lips as she waited for him to remove that final barrier covering the part of him she craved.

“I didn't agree to that.”

“Good.” He slipped his last garment free, allowing his cock to spring into view. Something inside her tightened, sharpening with need so intense that she thought she might climax the moment he touched her.

“That offers me the challenge of proving my worth to you.”

She shivered, but flattened her hands on top of her comforter and crawled down to where her mattress ended. Her bed frame was simple, with no footboard, and tonight she was sure it was one of the best design decisions she'd ever made, because she was able move right up to his cock.

She smelled his skin as she got closer, purring with satisfaction as she opened up her mouth and leaned forward to lick through the slit on top of his cock. He slid his hand into her hair, but pulled her up so that she was on her knees and facing him.

“Tonight, you'll scream first.”

He reached down and grabbed the sides of her dress. It was made of a soft jersey that allowed him to tug it up and over her head with ease.

“Perfection,” he growled as he soaked up the sight of her garter belt and matching bra. “Almost…”

He leaned over and caught the thin strap of her G-string. With a twist, he snapped it, startling her with how much strength was in him. He chuckled darkly and snapped the other side before pulling the little triangle of silk away from her mons.

“Now it's perfect.”

“I agree,” she offered as she reached for his cock once more. She closed her fingers around it, enjoying the satin-smooth texture. His eyes closed to slits but he kept their gazes locked as she fisted him, pumping her hand from the crown to the base with a firm, slow motion.

“Do you like doing that, Celeste?”

She pulled her hand up and teased the slit, wiping away the first drop of his cum before pumping her hand down to the base again. “Yes.” She felt the power shift between them.

“Why?” he asked softly.

He was asking for a confession that she wasn't sure she'd even made to herself. She pumped her hand up and down his cock. “What does it matter?”

She tried to lower her head and suck him, but he kept her in place.

“Did Caspian order you to suck him off?”

She stilled, tightening her grip without realizing it. His cheek twitched and she opened her fingers. But the truth was already out, even unspoken. Reactions always were the truest.

“All the time,” she whispered.

“Did he ever repay the favor?”

She slowly shook her head and reached for his cock again. It suddenly made more sense to her and she twisted her head to loosen his grip on her hair. He released her and she smiled with victory.

“I like sucking you off because it's the only time you aren't pressing in on me.”

Instead, she was pushing him to extremes. The idea shimmered with promise, and she opened her mouth and closed her lips around him. He jerked, thrusting forward out of instinct. She felt an anxiety tonight, a pulsing need to wring him out like the sight of him holding another woman had done to her.

“Keep your eyes open, Nartan.”

She was cradling his balls, toying with the soft sack as she looked back up at him. “Make sure you see who is here with you…”

His jaw tightened.

She rolled over onto her back and his eyes widened with surprise. Her breasts moved out of the little lace-edged cups, allowing her nipples to slip into view.

“I see the merits of you following directions…”

He stepped forward and she leaned her head back so that she could lick his balls. She began to work moisture up his stiff penis until it was slick and easy to pump. She closed both of her hands around the stiff length. His breathing was heavy, his body tense as he began to fuck her hands.

“Open your legs…”

His tone was raspy but hard with demand.

“Show me your slit…”

She shuddered with the erotic thrill his command sent through her. She was crazy with need, her clit pulsing. It was a relief to open her thighs and allow it space. But her motions faltered as she watched him look at her spread sex.

“Don't you think I enjoy looking at you as much as you like looking at me?”

He leaned over, instantly flipping the power between them as he trapped her arms against her chest and kept her thighs spread with his shoulders.

“I've become obsessed by being in contact with this pretty…pink…pussy…”

She squirmed, his breath hitting her wet sex and unleashing a powerful twist of sensation. It was so sharp that she whimpered.

“There are so many things I want to do with it, but you make me feel like a teenager again, unable to control my lust long enough to taste your cream.”

“Nartan—”

He touched her and she arched, fighting to buck his weight off her. Whatever she'd been about to voice, it died in a sizzle as he rimmed the opening of her body with his fingertip.

“Hmmm?”

His cock was pressed between her breasts, mocking her with how hard and thick it was. She craved it. She moved her fingers on it, just a small amount because of how tight the space was.

“I always keep my promises, Celeste. Which is why I'm careful about making them.”

He placed his knee on the bed and rolled over, coming up between her spread thighs. There was a glimmer in his eyes.

“You're going to scream first.”

His expression was unyielding. He settled over her, his shoulders once more bracing her thighs apart. She watched in stunned fascination as he leaned down and drew his tongue along the edge of her slit.

That was the last thing she saw. Her eyes closed and she arched up in a crazy need to press herself against his mouth. There was no reason, no thought process, only the need to satisfy her craving. Desperation controlled her.

He didn't disappoint her. Nartan leaned forward and sealed his lips around her clit. Her hands fisted in the comforter. His tongue was velvet soft, stroking, licking her slit and swirling around the pulsing nub of her clit. She was withering, working her hips up against his mouth. He pulled her folds away from the center so that he could tease her clit with his tongue.

He had no mercy, licking and sucking on her until she was ready to scream with frustration. He groaned against her, the vibration sending her over the edge into a climax that threatened to tear her apart. Her body contorted, caught in the grip of it, the wave cresting higher and crashing down to flood her with a pulsing satisfaction.

She felt like she'd been flung onto the bed, her body feeling too heavy to move for moments that felt like hours. Nartan lapped across her swollen clit a final time before sitting back. When she opened her eyes, he was sitting back against the pillows in the center of her bed. He had his arms resting on top of those pillows as he looked down at her.

He was making his mark.

Carving his persona into her bedroom.

It was deeply personal and she rolled over, feeling threatened. The moment she moved, he stretched his legs out straight, taking up more of the center of her bed. Her eyes narrowed.

“Are you staking your claim?” she asked.

“Yes,” he bit back.

“You're so arrogant.”

He curled his lips back and grinned at her. “So take me in hand.”

“Like you wanted me to at Angelino's?” She sat back on her haunches and watched his gaze travel to her breasts. She teased the swells of her cleavage with her fingertips before finding the little clasp that held the garment closed.