Intentional Risk (R.I.S.C. Book 4)

by Anna Blakely

  “Derek!”

  Charlie cried out his name as she came. An explosion of pleasure rocked her, sending bright colors flashing behind her closed lids.

  Her hips pressed upward with each pulse of electricity as her entire body shook from the most intense, most amazing release she’d ever felt.

  She was still trying to catch her breath when she felt him leave the bed. Opening her satiated eyes, Charlie watched through a heavenly haze as he walked over to his bag and pulled out a brand new box of condoms.

  She smiled. “You always were prepared for anything.”

  He grinned. “This was more like a hopeful preparation.”

  Opening the box, he quickly tore off the top package and put the rest on the nightstand to his left. Then, with his eyes locked on hers, he brought his hands to the elastic waistband of his boxers and pushed them down his legs.

  Charlie lost the ability to think, let alone breathe. Derek was the finest male specimen she’d ever seen. Not that she’d seen a lot, but she’d seen pictures, and of course, there was Caleb.

  And holy God. He had nothing on this man.

  The V she’d admired so much led down to the biggest, most perfect-looking erection. God definitely knew what He was doing when He created Derek West.

  Sticking out from his body like a warrior’s sword, Derek’s cock was swollen and almost angry-looking. The moonlight caught the purple tip, and Charlie noticed a drop of moisture there. She couldn’t help but smile.

  Knowing that massive instrument of pleasure was going to be inside her soon had her still-quivering muscles cheering with excitement.

  Climbing back onto the bed, Derek laid down beside her, rather than on top as she would have expected. He leaned toward her, his lips touching hers. She could taste herself on him, but oddly, it wasn’t a turn-off. It was actually quite...erotic.

  “Thank you,” he whispered against her lips.

  Charlie couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why are you thanking me? I haven’t even done anything yet.”

  “Yes, you have,” He traced her bare arm with the tips of his fingers. “You’ve given yourself over to me. Watching you come undone like that...knowing I was the one who brought you so much pleasure...” He licked his lips. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

  “Oh.’ she blushed, realizing he was being serious.

  His eyes zeroed in on hers. “You ready, darlin’?”

  Praying he could see the love she felt for him, Charlie locked her gaze with his and nodded.

  “Yes.”

  With trembling hands—God, it was adorable that he was as nervous as she was—Derek ripped the package open and quickly covered himself.

  Charlie’s mouth watered, wishing she had been the one to do it. Next time.

  Which reminded her...

  “I’m on birth control,” she blurted.

  He looked at her questioningly. “Okay.”

  “Caleb didn’t know. I-I had a friend, one of the few women I trusted from his firm. She suspected what was going on with us and came to me at one of the dinner parties. She said if there was ever anything she could do to help, to let her know. It was risky, but I asked if she could take me to the doctor.”

  “He wouldn’t take you?”

  “He wanted children. Specifically, a son to carry on his ‘good name’. I want kids, but not like that. I refused to bring a child into that mess. Caleb didn’t know, though. He would have...” She shook her head. “Anyway, she took me out for what he thought was a lunch date once. She actually drove me to her doctor. I was tested for anything he may have caught from all of his trysts, and then I got the shot. That same woman and I had a lunch date about every six months after that so I could continue being tested and get the shot when it was time. I probably should’ve said something before now, but I just wanted you to know I’m protected and clean, too.”

  Bringing his body over hers, Derek propped himself up on his elbows then used a knee to spread her legs even wider. Her heart rate spiked when she felt the heat from his blunt tip pressing against her core.

  “Thank you for telling me. And, when the time is right, we can talk more about kids. I want ’em, too, but not until you’re ready. For now, I will always do whatever I can to protect you.”

  And just like that, Charlie gave Derek what was left of her heart.

  “There’s no turnin’ back after this.”

  He raised a brow, clearly needing to hear a response.

  “I don’t want to go back, Derek,” Charlie told him honestly. “I only want to move forward. With you.” She wrapped her fingers around his toned shoulders and lifted her hips. “Please. Make love to me.”

  Without another word, Derek locked his eyes on hers and pressed himself against her. It had been a long time since she’d last had sex, and he was much larger than the only other man she’d ever been with.

  Her previous release helped prepare her for the exquisite intrusion, and after only a few tries, Derek was fully seated. She was so full, she felt stretched to the point of an almost pleasurable pain. And she loved it.

  “God, Charlie.” Derek froze above her. “Darlin’, I’m not gonna last long.”

  “It’s okay.” She nibbled his chin as she thrust upward, nudging him on. “There’ll be plenty of time for more later.”

  “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

  “Trust me. There’s nothing to make up for.”

  Needing to make sure he understood he was giving her everything she’d ever dreamed of, Charlie reached down and grabbed hold of his firm, bare ass. Digging her nails into his skin, she pushed his lower body even closer.

  “We can go slower next time,” she told him. “This time, I just want you. All of you. Now.”

  With a slow grin, Derek pretended to tip his hat. Giving her that sexy, southern drawl of his, he said, “Yes, ma’am.”

  He thrust his hips forward and back. Groaning as he moved.

  “Damn, Charlie.” His eyes rolled in the back of his head. “You feel so fuckin’ good.”

  She smiled up at him. “So do you. Now, get to movin’ that sweet ass of yours, would ya?”

  He looked down at her again, his eyes full of lust and mischief. “You want it harder?”

  Charlie nodded. “Give me everything you’ve got, cowboy.”

  Derek’s mouth turned up in a sexy smirk, and he winked. “Giddy up.”

  She started to laugh but gasped when he thrust his hips forward with more force than before. Charlie cried out, the feeling of him slamming his cock into her pussy more satisfying than she could’ve ever imagined.

  Again and again, Derek pumped himself in and out of her body. The sound of flesh slapping together filled the tiny room, but Charlie barely noticed it.

  She was consumed mind, body, and soul by the most intense, human connection she’d ever had.

  She was shocked when she felt another climax beginning to build. With every thrust, Derek’s swollen cock touched a place inside her she never knew existed, and soon, Charlie’s entire body was trembling beneath his.

  “I’m going to come again,” she announced. “Oh, God, Derek. Don’t stop.”

  He became impossibly larger, his thrusts becoming more erratic. She could tell by his heavy breathing he was close to the edge, too.

  “Come on, baby,” he encouraged her. “I want to feel you come on my cock.”

  A tiny mewling sound escaped from the back of her throat.

  “That’s it, baby. Let...go. Let it...all...go.”

  “Derek!”

  “Ah, Christ. Oh, God. Charlie!”

  She felt his muscles stiffen above her, continuing to pump himself in and out of her, allowing them both to draw out as much pleasure as possible.

  A second later, just as she’d always imagined they would, Charlie and Derek fell over that glorious edge together.

  ****

  Chapter 14

  Lying on his side in the darkness, Derek found himself wo
ndering how, in only a few days’ time, the woman beside him had managed to change his life so completely.

  He tilted her chin toward him and brought his lips to hers. The emotions he’d wanted to say earlier poured out of him in a way that required no words.

  A tear escaped the corner of her eye, sending Derek into a near panic.

  “Hey,” he whispered, the skin on his forehead bunching. “Why the tears?”

  “They’re good tears.” She turned to him. “I promise.”

  Relief left his shoulders sagging. “So, you enjoyed yourself? You don’t...you don’t regret what just happened?”

  Charlie looked back up at him with awe. “I had no idea it could be like that. Thank you.”

  He smiled but shook his head. “I’m the one who should be thanking you. That was...I...uh...”

  Damn. He couldn’t even think of a word to describe what they’d just shared.

  Charlie snickered. “Could it be? Has the great Derek West been rendered speechless?”

  His deep laughter vibrated throughout the room. “Well, they do say there’s a first time for everything.”

  Because he finally had the right to, Derek leaned down and kissed her again. Taking his time, he savored every drop of love he felt for this woman.

  For the next several minutes, the two lay still in the blissful silence. Eventually, Derek spoke up again.

  “I know this is all still new, but have you given any thought to what you want to do now that you’re single again?”

  Charlie turned toward him more fully. With a teasing glimpse, she reached down and grabbed his ass.

  “You mean besides this?”

  He brushed his fingers down her side before pressing them against her ribs, making her giggle. “No, smart ass,” he spoke a little louder so she could hear him over her own laughter. “I mean—”

  “I know what you meant,” she chuckled breathlessly, sighing in relief when he stopped tickling her. “And as a matter of fact, I was thinking about that while I was in the shower earlier.”

  “Oh.” He purposefully sounded disappointed.

  “What?”

  “Nothin’” He shrugged. “I just figured, the way you came in here tryin’ to seduce me, that you were thinkin’ of me while you were in the shower.”

  Charlie laughed, just as he’d hoped. She needed as much laughter in her life as he could give her.

  “First of all...” She raised a brow. “There really wasn’t much trying to it. Second, I thought about a lot of things while I was in there.” She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss. “And yes, you were included in those thoughts.”

  “Good to know.” He smiled back lazily.

  Charlie settled her head back onto the dip between his outstretched arm and his chest. They fit perfectly together, in every way imaginable.

  Being with Charlie felt more right than anything in his life. He was comfortable with her, as though it had been just the two of them all along.

  It should have been.

  As past regrets fought to invade his contentment, Derek noticed the light in Charlie’s eyes had begun to dim, as well.

  “Hey, now.” He cupped her cheek. “None of that.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Whatever you were thinkin’ just now. Those thoughts have no place here. Not anymore. You need to be looking forward, thinking of what kind of future you want to have. Not wasting time on a past you can’t change.”

  It would do him good to take his own advice.

  “You’re right. Sorry.” She sighed. “Okay, so back to what I was saying. I was thinking earlier that I’d like to open up my own business.”

  “Yeah?” Derek grinned.

  Charlie nodded. “I’d like to become a professional event organizer.”

  His brows scrunched together. “That’s a thing?”

  “Yes, Derek.” She laughed. “That’s a thing.” She propped herself up on one elbow. “I could plan weddings, anniversary parties, fundraisers. That sort of thing.”

  He couldn’t help but love the excitement in her voice.“You have experience in that?”

  “God, yes.” She rolled her beautiful eyes. “Well, not weddings and not professionally. But I’ve organized tons of dinner parties and charity events. Basically, people would come to me, tell me what event they’re hosting and what they envision for it, and they’d pay me to set it all up. I’d find the florist, the venues, the caterers.”

  Pride swelled inside his chest. “I think that sounds amazing.”

  “You do?”

  “For you? Sure. Personally, I’d rather someone take me out back and beat the hell out of me than make me plan a fuckin’ dinner party. But if you enjoy it, I’ll support you one hundred percent.”

  She grinned from ear to ear. “Thank you. I figured I can use some of the money I got from Caleb as start-up funds.”

  “You know, you’ll need references to get started. I may have someone in mind who could help.”

  “Really?” She perked up.

  Derek nodded. “Alexis Matthews. She’s Trevor’s wife. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned him, but Trevor is a former Delta Force operator like Jake. He’s Alpha Team’s medic and Jake’s SIC.”

  “SIC?”

  “Second in command.”

  “Oh. Okay. So, how could his wife help?”

  “Remember the restaurant where we bumped into each other?”

  Charlie nodded. “The Gardens.”

  Derek nodded again. “Lexi’s the owner. I bet she’d be willing to at least sit down and talk to you about possibly being your go-to caterer. It would drum up business for you both, and I guarantee you’ll draw business with her name attached as your caterer. She’s the best in town.”

  “Her food was to die for,” Charlie agreed.

  “I’ll introduce you. I’m sure the two of you will hit it off. And, if you need more capital to help get your business up and runnin’, I’ve got more than enough saved up.”

  “I appreciate that Derek, but I can’t rely on you for everything.

  “It’s not everything, Charlie. It’s just money.”

  “For you, yes. For me, it’s more than that.”

  Derek sighed. “I get what you’re sayin’. I really do. But you need to remember what I said about leanin’ on the people who care about you.”

  Charlie thought for a moment. “You do realize if you loaned me money for this, then that would make us business partners.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “You could end up being stuck with me for a very long time.”

  He grinned. “I wouldn’t exactly call it being stuck. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m okay havin’ you around.”

  “I like having you around, too.” She snuggled against him as he lay back down. “And, I guess it isn’t something I have to decide on right away, although, the sooner the better. I need to find a place to rent where clients could come to me. Nothing big, just a small office space. Oh, and I was also thinking I could find a tuxedo rental store to work with me and a bridal gown boutique I could recommend.”

  “You really like the thought of doing this, don’t you?”

  Her hair brushed back and forth against his chest as she nodded. “I do. Maybe this is the one good thing I can bring from my marriage to Caleb. All that time spent planning those boring dinner parties and fancy charity balls was like on-the-job training.”

  “Well, darlin’,” Derek drawled. “I can personally give you a glowing recommendation on how well you handle balls.”

  Laughing, Charlie slapped him playfully on the chest. “I swear, you haven’t changed a bit.”

  Becoming serious, Derek slid to his side again, his eyes honing down on hers. “See, now, that’s where you’re wrong.” He brushed some strands from her cheek. “Charlie, when I’m with you, I feel like I’m a completely different person.”

  Moonlight from the window shone in her eyes. “Is that a good thing?” she asked him quietly.

/>   Derek rolled them both over so he was lying on top of her. He was already hard again, his erection pressing against her opening.

  God, how he wished he could drive into her. Just like this, with no barrier between them. Once he got himself tested one more time, he’d broach the subject with her.

  Reaching over, he grabbed for the box of condoms again. With a sly grin, he pulled one out and laid it on the mattress next to them. Then, he took her mouth in his before whispering, “Oh, yeah, baby. It’s a very good thing.”

  Two weeks later, Derek found himself walking into R.I.S.C.’s conference room with a wide smile and an extra zip in his boots.

  “Never fear, the D is here.”

  Derek gave his teammates a toothy grin as he took his seat at the long conference table. Sitting across from him, Mac smiled back.

  “Wow. Someone’s extra happy this morning.”

  “What can I say, Mac?” He leaned back in his chair. “Life is good.”

  She chuckled. “I don’t suppose that has anything to do with a certain brunette, does it?”

  Derek pictured the way Charlie had looked when he left this morning. Naked and asleep with her hair spread across his pillow in that gorgeous, haphazard way.

  She’d looked stunning as dawn’s golden rays illuminated her through his bedroom window.

  “She has everything to do with it,” he answered truthfully.

  Since coming back from his parents’ beach house a couple of weeks ago, he and Charlie had spent as much time together as they could.

  At first, she’d stayed with him out of necessity. Derek would have been perfectly content with her living with him on a permanent basis, but she had insisted on finding her own place.

  Because he understood her need for independence after being at the mercy of that jackass for so long, he hadn’t fought it. Instead, he’d actively participated in the search for her apartment.

  That didn’t mean Derek wasn’t still planning ahead. Unbeknownst to her, he’d already been looking at rings, and when the time was right, he was going to share with her what he’d been thinking in regards to their future together.

  It wasn’t easy, but he was trying not to rush things. After all, the ink on her divorce papers was barely dry. So, before he acted on his desires, Derek wanted to be certain they were on the same page, first.