“I’m all yours.” Still holding her gaze, he stretched out flat on his back. “You’re in control.”
Her eyes smoldered, and a wicked grin curved her lips as she scooted back in response.
His mind barely had time to register the incredible sensation of her sweet ass brushing over his arousal when her fingers closed around his shaft and positioned his tip near her opening.
Before he could warn her to go slow so he didn’t hurt her, she shifted her legs and sank down on him. Their twin gasps of pleasure echoed through the room. He always knew their coupling would be incredible, but damn…the feel of her warm heat wrapping around him, sucking him in…had his eyes rolling back in his head. And he wasn’t even all the way in.
She drew in ragged breath. “God, Dex…”
He opened his eyes and grabbed her hips to still her descent. “Are you okay? Am I hurting you?”
Her smoldering gaze met his in the mirror. “You aren’t hurting me…but if you don’t let me take you all the way in, I might have to hurt you.”
Grinning, he pulled his hands away then choked on a laugh, nearly swallowing his tongue as she sank all the way down on him. Never had he felt anything so amazing.
Until she began to move.
Ah…hell…yeah…
Need hit swift and fierce, and heat spread out, consuming every cell in his body. She rode him in spine-melting rhythm, meeting his thrusts, somehow knowing his pace. She slayed him. He’d never experienced anything like it. So in tune. So perfect. So right.
“Damn, Rylee, you feel good,” he whispered, gripping her hips as he plunged inside her. “So damn good.”
He could stay in her warm, wet heat forever.
A sexy, needy sound resonated in her chest. She released his hips to grasp onto his legs just above his knees, gifting him with a mouthwatering view of their connection he would never forget.
The change in the angle had her moaning and increasing her pace.
How the hell he was holding it together, Dex didn’t know. She was so damn hot…and close to climax, again. He could feel it in the way her body trembled and her fingers clutched tight.
Determined to take her out of her world—make it better than any bastard who’d only had sex with her on her back—Dex drew on the last bit of restraint he had to stop thrusting and sit up.
“Rylee, look at me.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and their gazes met in the mirror. The sexy woman’s pupils were so big her gaze appeared black. “Mmm…I can feel all of you like this,” she murmured, sensual smile tugging her lips as she moved excruciatingly slowly.
He was buried so deep inside her he could feel her draw breath. “Good.” He kissed her scarred shoulder. “I want you to feel and see what you do to me.” Still holding her gaze, he reached around with both hands to cup her tantalizing breasts that bounced with her exquisite movements. God, she was breathtaking. Face flushed. Lower lip pulled between her teeth. He was the luckiest man alive “Look at you, Rylee. You’re so damn beautiful. Don’t ever think otherwise.”
She nodded.
“Say it,” he urged, with a tug on her tight peaks.
Her gaze was glossing over again. “You make me feel beautiful.”
Not exactly what he was looking for, but it was a start. Right now, though, they were too far gone to finish that train of thought. His balls were drawn up tight and tingled with the need for release.
It was time they found it.
Letting go of one of her breasts, he skimmed a hand over her belly and lingered just above where their bodies connected. He watched as his erection disappeared inside her warm, wet heat, then reappeared only to be swallowed up again.
So damn hot.
“Dex…” Her voice was a breathless plea he felt straight through his throbbing groin. “Please…I need…you…”
His heart rocked hard in his chest. “You have me. I’m yours.” He’d always been hers. Someday, maybe she’d realize it. Sliding his hand lower, he brushed his thumb back and forth over her center while he plunged into her.
She cried out and bucked wildly, his name bursting from her lips in a long, sultry moan while she flew apart around him.
Fuck, yeah…
That was it. He was done. He couldn’t hold on any longer. Planting his other hand flat on the mattress for leverage, he pumped his hips harder and faster, meeting her frantic movements to plunge deeper inside. Release barreled through him, exploding with an intensity that stole his breath and momentarily robbed him of his vision.
Holy shit…he’d never come so damn hard in his life.
He released her to move his hand to her hip and prolonged their pleasure with a few slower thrusts. Unable to remain that way for too long because the woman just destroyed his strength, Dex fell backward onto the mattress and took her with him. Rylee turned in his arms and slumped onto him, her face pressed to his shoulder, as they both worked to catch their breath.
That was amazing. She was amazing, and he would’ve told her, but his brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders yet. He remained there, eyes closed, dragging in air, cradling her close, still waiting for the world to right itself. She just knocked it off its fucking axis. Dex had wanted to shatter her world, show her a higher plane of pleasure, but he’d been just as blown away.
Rylee Bryson was intoxicating. Now that he’d had her and experienced the fallout of their chemistry, there was no way he’d ever get enough. Warm breath hit his skin in spurts, as she lay spent, an occasional tremor still wracking her lush body.
“You okay?” he asked when the ability to speak returned. He even managed enough strength to lightly trace circles on her back with his fingers.
A half snort, half groaning sound vibrated into him from her chest. “Jury’s still out. My legs are kind of numb. Either that, or my bones disappeared from my body. And I don’t think it was because of the reverse cowgirl position, although I’m sure I’ll be feeling it in my thighs later.” She lifted her head to stare at him with bewilderment rounding her gaze. “So, what just happened?”
“You happened,” he admitted, reaching up with his finger to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. “My mind kind of shut down the instant you engulfed me.”
God, he’d never felt anything so amazing in his life.
She smiled, a wicked, pulse-interrupting smile. “I liked that part, too. A lot.” Her gaze grew serious. “The overwhelming need and fierce hunger thing…is that normal? Because, if it is, I’ve been missing out.”
“That was our chemistry,” he replied. “Which we have in spades.”
She nodded. “True. And I hope you know you just ruined it for me with other men.”
Satisfaction funneled into his chest so swift, he couldn’t stop the grin that tugged at his lips. “The right person makes a huge difference.” She certainly was for him, and with any luck, she’d realize he was the right person for her, too.
“So…you’re saying this wasn’t normal for you, either?”
“No.” Hell, no. None of his other lovers had ever spurred a release so intense he nearly passed out. “Like I said, we have chemistry.”
She cleared her throat and cocked her head. “How’s your stamina? Because…” She trailed a finger down his torso and stroked his abs while a wicked gleam entered her eyes. “I’d very much like to test your theory some more.”
Awareness skittered down his spine, and his erection sprang to life against her leg.
“Oh.” She smiled. “Guess that answers my question.”
He glided his hand down her back to cup her sweet ass, loving the feel of her stiffening nipples and how they poked his chest. “Anything else you want to know?”
“Do you think the shower here is big enough for two?”
Heat spread through his limbs, resurrecting the rest of the fire and hunger that burned only for her. “Let’s find out.” Two seconds later, Dex was on his feet, his arms full of soft, warm curves as he carried Rylee into the
bathroom for a round of intense, erotic recon.
***
One night. All it had taken was one night in bed with Rylee to bring Dex to his knees.
No surprise there. He always knew she had that ability. It was the reason he’d kept a tight rein on his attraction to her all these years. Forced proximity shot that to hell. The beautiful, brave, resilient woman stripped away decades of ingrained self-preservation that had started in his youth and had grown into thick layers over time.
The death of his father, then mother, then uncle, had started a succession of being ripped from home after home after home. At thirteen, his view changed. There was no such thing as a home for him. Only shelters. A place to lay his head. Foster houses, not homes. By the time he’d turned eighteen, he’d lived in six different houses, but the final one was actually not bad. It’d been a group home run by an old Army sergeant and his wife. They took in four youths at a time and kept them until they were of legal age. The regimented, disciplined, fair lifestyle spoke to Dex. Gave him direction. So when he was old enough to leave the system, he enlisted in another one. The Army.
The losses in his childhood and throughout his military career were part of those thick layers, too. Nothing could penetrate his inner armor, except for his military brothers…and Rylee. She’d always had the ability to incite movement in his chest, change the pace and strength of the beat. Her kindness and spunk and the way she fought through adversity reached straight through the layers as if they weren’t even there, giving her a clear shot straight into his heart.
She owned it.
He hadn’t even realized it connected to his soul, until she breathed life into both. He’d gladly give them up to keep her from harm.
Dex glanced down at the soft, warm, naked woman sleeping pressed against him, one hand resting on his torso while she draped a leg across his as if she was afraid he’d leave.
Not a chance.
They’d had another round of incredible sex after they’d returned from dinner and a few slow, spine-melting dances under the stars last night.
Even a call from Carter telling him the video feed had been a dead end hadn’t broken the mood. It had reminded him they were working, though, and that his agenda was slightly different than Rylee’s. Dex hated keeping it a secret from her, but he kept reminding himself he’d been given an order, one made in her best interest. Besides, so far, the only job he was doing was helping her investigate. He hadn’t undermined her or searched a lead without her knowledge. Dex was making every effort to avoid deceiving her. It was going well.
He just hoped it stayed that way.
Warm lips brushed over his chest while a soft fingertip trailed over the eagle tattoo on his left biceps. The amazing woman had no idea what she did to him. Her touch grounded him, brought him to life, made him…feel.
“Mmm…” Her warm mouth continued to brush his skin. “Good morning, sunshine.”
A smile tugged his lips.
“You say that way better than Lex. I think I like waking up to you more.” He ran a hand up her back to stroke her shoulder with his thumb, while the other hand ran south to cup her sweet ass. He wished he could keep her here like this forever.
She lifted her head off his chest to smile in his face. “Good to know I can beat out a talking bird for your affection.” Her gaze turned serious. “Remind me why we waited so long to do this?”
He tightened his hold. “Because I’m an idiot, and you’re Gabe’s sister. I couldn’t cross that line.”
“The brotherhood thing.”
“Yeah.” He nodded.
But, as the hours passed by that weekend, Dex realized that invisible line should never have included him. Gabe had set it to keep guys from trying to engage in one-nighters with his sister. This connection between Rylee and him was a hell of a lot stronger than a hookup.
It was deep and real. The most real he’d ever been with a woman, or wanted to be. Hell, Rylee was the only woman he ever wanted to be real with.
“Gabe is just going to have to deal.” She dipped down to press a kiss to his jaw. “I’m happy when I’m with you. I don’t think my brother will have a problem with that.”
Warmth funneled into his chest and spread out in all directions. Hearing he made her happy was an unexpected rush. Dex lifted his hand to brush a strand of soft, silky hair back from her temple when she lifted up again. “Me, either.”
And truthfully, Dex didn’t care. Not anymore. Not since he’d had his first taste of her at the rec center. And definitely not since yesterday afternoon. That concern had disappeared the same time as their clothes. Once he’d given in to their attraction, his views had changed, along with his priorities.
“I know Gabe would want me to be happy.” Her smile faded into a frown. “But if he has a problem with us, that’s exactly what it is—his problem. I like being with you. I like who I am with you. I like that you don’t try to hold me back. Or try to shield me.” Her gaze softened, and he felt it with his heart. “I’m glad you put that in the past.”
Guilt ripped at his gut with long, sharp claws. Dammit. He wished he could tell her about the bodyguard thing, even though he hadn’t done any secret guarding this weekend. That type of situation hadn’t happened, and truthfully, Dex wasn’t sure he’d follow through with his orders. He didn’t want her to get physically hurt, but he also didn’t want to hurt her emotionally.
Christ. He was so fucking tired of secret agendas. He thought leaving the military meant they stayed behind, too.
With a little effort, he pushed his guilt aside and concentrated on staying as truthful as possible. “I know you can take care of yourself.”
She smiled, and the affection in her gorgeous green eyes stole his breath. “Yeah, I just wish my family would get a clue.” Her gaze grew serious again. “Have you ever had a serious relationship? All the years I’ve known you…I can’t recall you being in one.”
Before and after leaving the military—until about five weeks ago—he’d sought solace in a woman’s arms as a means of physical release to dispel the adrenaline rush after a mission. Never with the same woman twice. He wasn’t exactly sure how much of that she’d want to hear, so he kept it short but truthful. “It was important not to form attachments.”
She nodded. “Is that why you never made a move on me?”
He lifted both brows. “Did you want me to?”
“Yes…no.” She blinked. “I don’t know. Maybe, although that business with Evan…”
He clenched his jaw and blew out a breath, hating to see hurt darken her gaze, knowing he was the cause. “I’m sorry if I hurt you. That was never my intention. But when I caught him cheating on you, I was furious. He had the most wonderful woman in the world…why the hell had he looked elsewhere?”
His words appeared to shock her. Her gaze grew round and unblinking. “You thought I was wonderful?”
How could she think he meant that in the past tense?
He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “I still do, Rylee. You’re a gift. No one deserves you, especially that asshole.”
“I never knew you felt that way.” She turned her face into the hand he used to cup her face and kissed his palm. “Why did you never tell me?”
Shaking his head, he expelled a breath. “I didn’t want you to know. No one knew. I would never have acted on those feelings. My very survival depended on it. You always got under my skin, Rylee. Always,” he repeated, tracing a line from her temple down to her jaw. “I couldn’t afford to have thoughts of you running through my head while I was sweeping a building for insurgents, rescuing hostages, engaged in firefights. I needed no distractions.”
His mind traveled back to that time in his life. No. He’d had no intention of forming an attachment, no matter how amazing he’d found her. She’d been the only woman who’d interested him, and she’d been off limits. But now, things had changed. Now, that smart, sweet, wonderful woman was in his arms, and he was willing to walk blindfolded through an u
ncleared mine field—otherwise known as a relationship—to keep her there.
“You’ve been out of the…military for a while now.” She cocked her head. “Why didn’t you find me sooner, try to get through my stubborn head?”
His lip twitched. “Because I was an idiot.”
She gave a brilliant smile that lit her eyes and warmed his entire body. “What do you mean…was?”
“Wench!” He slapped her soft ass, and the decadent sound echoed through the room and twitched through his groin. So he did it again. “Are you implying I am still an idiot?”
“Well…” She slipped off him and laughed. “If the boot fits…”
“Okay.” He reached over to the box of condoms he’d bought at a nearby store yesterday. “You’re asking for it.”
“You’re right. I am. I really am. So you better make that two,” she called after him.
Heat burst through his body and fisted his groin. The woman was going to be the death of him.
But what a way to go.
***
Later that afternoon, Rylee wondered what she might have missed. The retreat was coming to an end and they had no suspect. Carter’s computer checks and feed surveillance yielded nothing. Mac and Cooper spent the weekend investigating the rec center employees, volunteers, contracts…even the maintenance crew to no avail. And she and Dex covered J & R Fitness and their retreat.
It just didn’t make sense.
It was definitely not how Rylee had pictured this weekend happening. She’d had a hunch. Why hadn’t it panned out? What was she not seeing? Something small? Unassuming?
She stood with her arm around Dex, while Julian praised everyone for their efforts and for making the retreat a resounding success. Each client, her included, reported improved mobility in their trouble areas. He went on to promise to keep in touch, but she only half heard. She was acutely aware of the solid, sexy, distracting man with his arm around her, and his talented thumb lazily brushing circles on her hip. Her mind begged him to go to a naughty place, and her languid body reinforced that plea with a rush of heat flooding her belly.
Honestly, she wasn’t even sure she’d have to the strength to go there. The two of them had been at it almost non-stop since he’d walked out of the bathroom looking hot as hell in that towel yesterday. After dropping that towel, blinders, misconceptions, and emotional restraints, the two of them had enjoyed getting to know each other in slow, deep, intimate detail. They spent an indefinite amount of time investigating likes, dislikes, wants, needs, must haves, Oh…hell…yeahs, Please, may I have anothers, and her very favorite…If you stop, I’m going to have to kill yous.
Dex (HC Heroes Book 3) Page 11