Craving Justice (Sons of Sydney Book 1)

by Fiona Archer

  Harper narrowed her gaze. She moved forward in her chair and rested her forearms on the table. “You like to keep a girl on her toes, don’t you?”

  “I’d like you many ways, Harper.” He held her gaze as he brushed the back of a finger from her shoulder down to her elbow, leaving a trail of tingles in its wake. “On your toes.” Next, he skimmed her forearm. Her pulse quickened, but still, she couldn’t look away from his stare. “On your belly.” Higher now, the rough pad of his finger traced the skin under her ear. She swallowed. “On your back.” Gently, he pressed the pad of his thumb against her lower lip. “And on your knees.”

  Oh, hellfire. She opened her mouth, unresisting, wanting. He slid his thumb over the edge of her teeth. Just the tip. Her lips closed around him, wanting to taste him, to take him inside her. She licked the edge of his thumb with her tongue, loving the way his gaze heated at her touch.

  His jaw muscle ticked. The big alpha was just as susceptible to her touch as she to his. Harper grazed her teeth over the pad of his thumb, drawing to the very tip and nipping the skin, just enough to leave a tiny sting.

  Oh, yeah. Two could play that teasing game.

  His fingers firmed under her chin. A silent warning? The thrill of poking the beast and counting on the filthy, hot reprisal goaded her into reckless territory. She met his stare head on.

  Go for it, handsome.

  ****

  Seth felt himself harden. He wanted to fuck her right there on the table. Correction, first he wanted to spank her arse and see how gorgeous her bottom was in a nice shade of pink, and then he wanted to take her. The image was hot as fuck, but not how he wanted to start things tonight. For that, he had an entirely different scenario in mind.

  And the little coffee girl wasn’t going to dictate how the night progressed.

  They, no, he needed a distraction.

  He slid his thumb from her mouth, catching the shine of triumph in her gaze.

  “I have an idea.” His hunger, not helped from an afternoon of watching her bent over with her sweet arse in those jeans, roughened his voice. “Do you have cookies and milk?”

  Harper’s mouth hung open. It took a few seconds for her reply. “Yes.” She shook her head. “I mean, I have milk, and there’s cookie dough in the fridge. It won’t take more than a few minutes to bake some fresh.

  “Excellent. You do that, and I’ll clean up from dinner. Afterward, we can move to the living room.”

  He gathered the used dishes and her wineglass. Harper followed, and cast him a glance before she opened the fridge. Seth rinsed and stacked the dishes and utensils in the dishwasher and placed the leftover pasta in a bowl. When he asked for the cling wrap, Adam’s words played over in his head. “Stick to her tighter than cling wrap on Thanksgiving leftovers.”

  He planned to. In a far more carnal way than his brother intended.

  Fifteen minutes later, with the kitchen tidy and a plate of warm cookies in Harper’s hand, Seth followed her out to the living area, carrying two tall glasses of chilled milk.

  Harper set the plate on a low chest-like coffee table that featured drawers on two sides. “I’ve got Netflix. Anything in particular you want to watch?” She grabbed two coasters from the pile on the table and set them next to the plate for Seth.

  Seth placed the glasses on the coasters. The lady took care of her belongings. He respected that. “You choose.”

  He surveyed their seating options. A three-seater, brown leather sofa, two matching armchairs and a huge, green corduroy beanbag filled the cozy room. Easy choice.

  Kicking the beanbag to in front of the sofa, he lowered himself onto the giant green puffball. With a grin, he reached up and pulled Harper down between his legs.

  “Hey.” She twisted her torso to look over her shoulder. Surprise and maybe a hint of expectation lit up her gaze. “You can have the beanbag. I’ll stretch out on the sofa.”

  Seth wrapped an arm around her waist. “No, I like you here.” With the roundness of her arse pressed snug against him.

  Her mouth dropped open and then snapped shut. “Well,” she huffed.

  She looked like an angry kitten denied her piece of string.

  Again with the cuteness.

  Seth pressed against her back as he leaned over to grab a cookie. “So is there a special way I’m supposed to do this dunking and drinking thing?”

  “Yes.” Rebellion still glowed in her eyes, but as he took a bite of the cookie, that spurred her into action. “No, don’t eat it all yet.”

  “Okay,” he mumbled through a mouthful of the white chocolate and macadamia nut treat.

  Harper adjusted so she sat sideways between his legs and lifted both glasses, handing him one. She grabbed a cookie of her own and held it and the milk in front of her like she was a hostess on a quiz show displaying a prize. “There’s two choices. Dry cookie or dunk in the milk. And just so you know, making the wrong decision is the kind of thing that can kill relationships. Maybe even split families.”

  His lips twitched at the seriousness of her tone. “Right. And you’re on the side of...”

  Her expression grave, she answered, “Dunk. Absolutely, you’ve got to dunk.”

  Seth swallowed his laughter. “Gotcha.” He leaned back, lifted his cookie and wet it in the milk. Under her scrutiny he shoved the warm treat in his mouth.

  Tasted awesome. Whether or not the dunking made any difference he had no bloody clue, but he kept that to himself.

  Harper nodded in satisfaction and then followed her own advice with the dunking and eating. As she started chewing, her moan of pleasure teased his cock like a feather light kiss. “Eating the cookie when it’s still warm and slightly soft is the key to cookie eating greatness.”

  “I think I’ve found a weakness of yours.” He reached for another cookie, dunked it in her milk and held it up to her mouth.

  Slowly, she opened her mouth and took a bite. A large crumb broke off from the uneaten portion and dropped onto her T-shirt, right on top of her nipple. She stopped eating, her whole body now frozen in place.

  Seth dropped his gaze to the crumb then back to Harper’s face, now with a faint blush staining her cheeks and eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.

  So pretty.

  “We can’t let that go to waste.” He licked the tip of his finger, pressed it on the crumb and lifted it to his mouth. Dropping his gaze back to her chest, he noted with satisfaction the pebbled bud pushing hard against the soft peach fabric of her T-shirt. Oh, and the fact her grip on her glass of milk was hard enough to turn the skin around her nails white.

  Seth placed his glass on the coaster and gently settled her back against his chest. “Choose your movie, sweetness.”

  Harper got busy clicking through the blinding array of choices available, finally settling on the last installment of the Bourne Identity series. “Is this okay for you?”

  “You like action and thrillers?”

  She gestured with the remote toward the wall separating the kitchen to this living area that was covered in shelves filled with books. “I’ve got hundreds of murder mysteries and thrillers. My favorite genre.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Do you enjoy reading?”

  “I do.” Books had been his one avenue of escape from the harsh reality of living with a prostitute drug addict mother. After her death, he and his little brother, Lincoln, had been begrudgingly taken in by his grandparents. The old crone’s voice filled his head. ‘Always reading. What help are books to the likes of you? Read your Bible. That’s the only thing that can save a soul created from sin.’

  But he had ignored the sour bitch. Wondrous tales written by the likes of Terry Pratchett opened a fantasy world for Seth. He had devoured them. Had read them to Lincoln. His kid brother’s eyes would turn huge at the vivid descriptions in each adventurous tale. ‘Come on, Seth. Just one more chapter. Please?’

  Lincoln. A heaviness invaded his chest, crushing deep until he had no breath left.

&nbs
p; He and Lincoln had been the best of mates. Seth, the oldest by two years, was his brother’s protector. They’d stuck together, had each other’s back.

  Until that day that had changed everything.

  “Seth?” Harper asked softly.

  “What?” At her questioning stare, Seth shook his head. “Sorry, I was” Reminiscing over a time best forgotten? “admiring your library. That’s a heap of books you’ve got there.”

  She opened her mouth to say something but the movie started. Facing the TV, she settled in, resting her head on his shoulder.

  The movie played, but Seth only half-watched, distracted by the floral scent of her shampoo, and her body pressing close. Ten minutes into the movie, he’d sunk his hands through the soft strands of hair behind her ear and then traced the baby soft skin of her neck. He smiled at the way she craned her neck, giving him greater access to explore. Whether his little coffee girl knew it or not, she’d given Seth her trust. And he intended to make the most of the gesture.

  Nor was he a horny teenager who couldn’t control a hard-on, but over an hour of having the sweet curves of her hips brushing his inner thighs was a test for any man.

  He slid his hand under her T-shirt to skim over her ribs, loving the way she held her breath and after a second, relaxing against him, Seth traced over the cup of her bra. Satin and lace. Nice. Slowly, firmly, he glided his thumb over the material, feeling her nipple harden under his touch.

  So responsive. He loved that about her.

  Watching her face, Seth caught her biting her lip as she shifted against him. He lowered his other hand to the soft area just above her pussy and pressed firmly. Another intake of breath.

  A loud crash sounded in the film. Seth turned his gaze to the screen. “Seems our hero’s in some trouble.”

  “I don’t give a damn.” Harper pressed her thighs together.

  “Don’t you like the film?”

  “I’m suddenly distracted.”

  “Suddenly?” Liar, she’d been aware of his touch from the beginning, but had tried to play it cool by keeping her gaze fixed on the television.

  “Whatever.” Harper attempted to turn, but he pressed his forearm over her ribs, locking her in place.

  “I like you just as you are.”

  She twisted her head to catch his gaze. Her mouth formed an adorable pout. “But I want to kiss you.”

  “What you want and what I’ll allow are two different things, Harper.”

  With no warning, he reached under the elasticized waist of her black pants and traced over the lacy material between his fingers and the sensitive folds near her clit.

  Again, another shuddering breath. She couldn’t hide a damn thing. Thank God.

  “You like that, Harper? Can you feel my finger getting closer to your clit?” She squirmed, harder this time. He’d need to control her soon. “I can feel the wetness through that lace.”

  “Harder, Seth.”

  “Not yet. Let me see those undies.” He grabbed the waist of her black pants and underwear and shoved them down, smiling as she lifted her hips, making it easier for him to bare her for his gaze. In seconds, her clothing was down to her ankles. She didn’t waste time kicking them off so the garments lay off to the side.

  “Peach satin and lace. Let’s see if your bra matches.” He pulled the T-shirt over her head. “Ah, it does. Nice touch, sweetness.”

  Harper smiled as she undid the front clasp of her bra. Her small hand reached for his, pushing it down toward her pussy. Now that he couldn’t allow.

  Grasping her wrists, he held them in one hand under her breasts and used his forearm to keep her back pressed against his front. Her growl of displeasure made him chuckle. “Don’t worry, pet, you’ll like my plans.”

  Seth widened his legs. Ever helpful, Harper spread hers, too. She gasped as he lifted his feet to lock her legs in place behind his.

  He lowered his voice to a steely command. “Caught and helpless. Now I can explore at leisure.”

  Against his own hardness, Seth felt her clench her butt cheeks. Another sign she liked his dominance. He firmed his grip on her wrists, reminding her of her captivity and was rewarded with another fruitless squirm as she tested his hold. There were no pleas for release, no fear in her gaze. Christ she was a natural submissive.

  “Your breasts were made for a man’s exploration, Harper. Round. Soft. They fill my hand just right.” He squeezed her left breast, pumping the blood as her nipple pebbled.

  She licked her lips. “Please, Seth, go lower.”

  “You mean here?” He smoothed his hand over her ribs, and then her lower belly, rubbing her skin at her hip and squeezing. She had plenty of curves. Seth had slept with women of all sizes and shapes, and had enjoyed every one of them. But her lushness enticed him on a primitive level. Her body was made for sex and loving. He could ride her hard, but her softness would only enhance the experience.

  She made an impatient sound in the back of her throat. “No, lower.”

  Not good enough. “Say it, Harper. I want the words.”

  “Touch my pussy, Seth. Please.”

  “That’s right, baby.” Seth ran the tips of his fingers over the flesh above her clit. They glided along her slick wetness. He widened his fingers, tracing the outer lips of her pussy, drawing the flesh apart. “So wet. But I’m not touching where you want, am I? And there’s nothing you can do about it.” She tugged against his grip, and he chuckled close to her ear. “Are you scared, little one? Or excited at not being able to move? Does it make you want to try something harder? What if I tied you with my belt? Imagine the leather wrapped around your wrists, pulled tight. You could tug all you like and not get free.”

  She closed her eyes, and let her head fall back, snared in the fantasy.

  Fucking beautiful.

  Gliding his fingers in her wetness, he circled a fingertip around her clit, pulling back the hood and letting the air caress the bundle of nerves. Expectation was a massive aphrodisiac. “How quickly will you come, coffee girl?” He thrust two fingers deep inside, twisting them as he rubbed the sides of her warmth. She jolted in his arms. Lovely.

  He kissed her just above her ear. “Will I rub your clit?” Her chest rose and fell faster. “Press down?” She clamped her lips together. “Maybe I’ll pinch it instead?”

  “Oh, God.” She whimpered, and tried to kick her legs, but was pinned by Seth’s. “Dammit.”

  “See, little one? Totally fucking helpless.” Seth twisted his fingers, caressing her g-spot. Her full body shudder filled him with a surge of pure male satisfaction. Everything about her—from her raw physical responses to the eagerness with which she embraced his dark game—tempted him to the point he was battling with himself not to thrust inside her here and now.

  The irony that she held that power over him when he was stating the opposite aloud was not lost on him. He wanted her on her bed, spread wide and tied helpless as he sank deep into her warmth.

  Seth dragged his thumb along the slickness of her pussy. With the tip of a finger he traced tiny circles on her clit. “I want to hear you cry out.”

  She bowed her back as her body stiffened. With her chin pointing to the ceiling, she sobbed, “Oh,God.Oh,God.Oh,God.” Seth watched the muscles in her thighs tremble with her release. The skin across her chest pinked from her exertion as she took in a few steadying breaths. Yet he was far from done. Her eyes opened as he kept touching, teasing, tormenting. “Jesus, Seth, I can’t.” She broke off as her hips ground against him in a panicked need to break free. Her gaze, wide and desperate, implored him to show mercy.

  But he had none. “Yes, you can, sweetness.” He pushed his fingers inside, this time using three and pumped them in and out in quick, hard strokes. “You think I’d stop at one?”

  Her frantic cry went ignored as he continued to drive her harder. He used the strength of his thighs to push against her legs, forcing her lower body down deeper into the beanbag, and keeping her in place.

  �
�There’s no escape, gorgeous. I want everything you can give. No holding back.” He slowed his strokes, and rubbed the tips of his fingers right over her g-spot. Her body stiffened a moment before shuddering against him as her wail of pleasure filled his ears. “That’s right. Give me everything. Again. Show me how gorgeous you are when you come.”

  Her lips parted. Hard shudders shook her body as her hands fisted. All the while she stared up at him. The muscles in her pussy clamped around his fingers as her pleasure played out on her face. He didn’t look away. Not for a moment. Each flicker of her eyes, each deep swallow and shuddering breath told the story.

  “That’s it. Ride it out to the very last moment.”

  And she did until her body collapsed, giving him her full weight as she drew in soft breaths. He withdrew his hand and trailed a wet path of her arousal up her body. Loosening his grip on her wrists, but still keeping her in the mindset of being caught, he used his free hand to slide his fingers through her hair, gently freeing the strands to fan them out against the fabric of the beanbag.

  She turned her face toward him, giving him a lovely view of her flushed cheek as her warm breath caressed his neck. He laid a kiss on her heated skin. “Look at me, Harper.”

  Slowly, she faced him, her gaze bright like the embers of a fire that had burned brilliant and now glowed with the heat that remained. Sated. Satisfied.

  And her night had only just begun.

  “You have so much more to give. Tonight, we’re going to explore those limits.” Her eyes widened a fraction before he captured her mouth. His tongue pressed past her lips and explored, tasting her, wishing her to feel the intimacy of the moment whilst still locked in his arms.

  But Seth wanted to bury himself deep in her heat with her on her bed. He ended their kiss, and released her wrists. “Up, sweetness.” Gently pushing her forward, he rose then helped her stand on unsteady legs. Without another word, he lifted the sweet bundle of woman to his chest and walked to her bedroom.

  The light from her window was enough to see in the room. Seth set her on her feet next to the bed and pulled the covers down. “On you get.”