He closed his eyes as he moved his hand harder. Faster.
Hazel eyes dancing with laughter. Looking up at him in concern. Soft hands touching him.
His balls tightened as his orgasm grew closer. He imagined those red lips wrapped around his shaft. Those breasts, loose and free, bouncing up and down as she rode him. Taking her from behind, slapping his hand down on her ass as he took her hard and fast.
Fuck. That was ridiculously fast. He groaned as he came, his heart racing, body taut.
Yeah, bringing her home with him was most likely going to turn out to be the dumbest thing he’d ever done.
13
All right.
No need to panic.
She’d faced down a man holding her at gunpoint. A room filled with rough, scary-looking bikers. A gang member intent on dragging his ex-girlfriend away with him.
She’d done all that without letting on how damn well terrified she was.
So she should be able to handle sleeping in Spike’s house without freaking out. Right? Right. It was no different than staying in the motel. Well, except for the fact that this was . . .
Spike’s house.
And he was just down the hallway. There was no lock on her door. She barely knew the man. And what she did know . . . well, he was bossy and abrupt and stubborn.
And protective. And caring, in his own weird way.
“You can do this. It’s not like he’s going to hurt you.”
Maybe it would be a good idea to let someone know where she was, though.
She shook her head. Who would she tell? It wasn’t like anyone was close enough to help her. She wouldn’t have come here with him if she’d even had an inkling that he might harm her.
Nope, that wasn’t the issue.
The issue was that she was attracted to him. And it was freaking her out.
Not to mention that everything that had happened tonight was piling up on her. Threatening to crack that box inside her, where it was all locked up tight. She tried to push all her fear into the box. But it felt like it was rocking, about to explode.
Calm. Down.
Reacting to what happened wouldn’t help her. It wouldn’t rewind the last few hours, hell the last few days.
The last few years.
She squeezed her eyes shut as a few tears dripped down her face. None of this would break her. She was strong. She could take on as much as she needed to.
Managing to calm herself down, she unzipped her suitcase. No one back home was going to understand why she’d agreed to come here. She didn’t get it herself. There was no way that Devil’s Sinners guy could find her at the motel.
This was a total overreaction on Spike’s part. Although it seemed like Damon and Grady had goaded him into it. She paused as she pulled out her dinosaur night light, plugging it in. She needed to remember to put it and Chompers away in the morning in case Spike came in here and saw them.
Had they done it on purpose? To get Spike to take her home with him?
Nah. That was stupid. Why would they do that? And Damon had more reason to want her with him since she was the only one who could point out the traitor. Well, her and that asshole, Luther. But she didn’t think he’d be spilling his guts anytime soon.
Anger flooded her as she remembered the way he’d talked about selling women for sex. He preyed on the young and vulnerable. Treating them like they were a commodity. She sat on the side of the bed and took a few deep breaths to stop herself from crying again.
Crying never helped a situation, Millie.
Grabbing out her onesie next, along with her toiletries, she cautiously opened her door. She looked up and down the hallway.
Yes, she knew she was acting like an idiot, but she just wasn’t sure she could take any more of Spike tonight. Not without breaking down and begging him to hug her.
Or fuck her.
Millie wasn’t ashamed of her sex drive, exactly. But she had been raised by her grandparents. They’d never really talked about sex or boys. Everything she’d learned had first come from school then books. Then her few relationships.
She slipped into the bathroom and turned the lock. The bathroom was surprisingly nice. White subway tiles on the walls and grey tiles on the floor. A big sunken bath that made her sigh longingly.
Could she?
Biting her lip, she put the plug in and turned the water on. Then she searched through the cupboards and found a fresh towel. She opened up her toiletries bag and drew out her bottle of shower gel that came in a dinosaur container.
Yes, there was a theme going on here.
She poured a generous amount into the bath and nearly squealed in delight as bubbles appeared. She loved a good bubble bath. It was soothing. Relaxing. She stripped off her clothes then reached back into her toiletries bag.
Sticking her tongue out in thought, she glanced over at the lock on the door.
He’d never know. He was all the way down the hall. This door had a lock, unlike her bedroom door. So if she was going to do it, surely this was the safest place? The water would likely muffle any noise, not that it made much. She’d bought this one because it was extra quiet.
Oh, and also because it was shaped like a dinosaur.
Purple and long, the top of the vibrator formed the dinosaur’s head and could be used to stimulate the clit. Down the back of the vibrator were small scales and at the base was the power button.
If she didn’t do something about the buzzing in her body, she was certain she’d struggle to sleep. Mind made up, she turned the water off and climbed in, setting the dino vibe on the lip of the bath next to her. She washed herself first then she reached for her breast, plucking the nipple.
Felt so good.
She bit her lip to hold in a moan of pleasure. Even though she didn’t think he’d hear her, she didn’t want to do anything to embarrass herself.
Reaching for the vibe, she set it on low to begin with and rubbed the head of it over each of her nipples. Throwing back her head, she slid it lower, between her spread legs. She imagined Spike’s face between her legs, pleasuring her. His tongue against her clit. Then thrusting in deep.
A small moan escaped.
Careful. Careful.
She slid the vibe into her pussy then turned up the vibrations, using her middle finger of her other hand to toy with her clit.
So good. So good.
Her orgasm grew closer and closer.
Her imagination turned to Spike pressing her legs apart, to his firm, thick cock thrusting deep inside her.
A scream escaped her as she came.
Oh. Oh.
She panted, trying frantically to turn off the damn vibrator even as her hands shook.
Her pussy still clenched, her clit tingling as aftereffects ran through her. Shoot.
“Millie! Millie! Are you all right?”
She winced as Spike banged on the door. Damn. This was so embarrassing.
“Millie! Answer me now.” The door handle rattled as he tested it. Crap! The lock was one of those ones that you pressed in on the door handle. All he’d need to do was get a pin or needle to press in the hole on the other side and he’d be in here.
He’d see her. Naked. Flushed. With a purple dino vibe in her hand.
Not good. Not good.
“I’m fine!” she managed to croak out.
There was silence on the other side of the door. Her heart pounded as she waited for him to reply.
“Fine?”
She could hear the skepticism in his voice and she closed her eyes in chagrin. What had she been thinking? She’d never been able to keep quiet when she came. Doug had been horribly embarrassed by it. He’d even asked her to wear a gag so he didn’t risk his parents hearing her.
Yes, he’d still lived at home.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“I heard you scream.”
Shoot. Crap. Drat.
Damn it!
“Sorry, I, uh, thought I saw a mouse.” She rolled her eyes at he
rself. Like she’d scream if she saw a mouse. But he didn’t know that.
“A mouse?”
“Yep. A mouse. But, it, uh, must have been my imagination playing tricks on me.”
“Sure you’re okay?”
“Me, I’m fine. Just taking a nice relaxing bath in this mouse-free bathroom. Nothing else going on, nope.”
Stop rambling, Millie!
She wanted to sink under the water with embarrassment. Thank God he couldn’t see her.
Wait! He wouldn’t have cameras in the house, would he? No, that would be just wrong.
Why. Why her? Why did she have to scream?
“Millie? Millie? Damn it, answer me!”
“Oh, sorry, what?”
“Open the door.”
“No!”
There was grumbling from the other side of the door. She bet he was regretting bringing her back here now. She should get out. Her relaxing bath had kind of turned into something else. Not that she was going to let him in. No way. What if he could tell what she’d been doing just from looking at her? She wasn’t sure if that was possible. But some of the heroes in the romances she loved to read claimed to be able to.
So she wasn’t taking any chances.
“Millie!”
She let out a screech of fright as his voice penetrated her musings, accidentally dropping the vibrator. It slipped under the bubbles.
Shoot! Where was that slippery sucker? She searched through the water, trying to find it, sending water sloshing over the sides. She moaned at the mess she was making.
Such a klutz. Why couldn’t she be graceful? Svelte. Delicate.
“Why did you cry out? Did you see the mouse again?” he snapped.
“Oh no, I just slipped.”
“You slipped? Trying to get out of the bath? That’s it. I’m coming in.”
“Nooo, I’m naked.”
“Seen naked women before.”
What kind of answer was that? He’d never seen her naked before. And she wasn’t ready for him to see her naked now.
One day, maybe. . .
No, Millie. Focus. He’s like this gorgeous, muscular specimen of a man who is way out of your league. Women probably threw themselves at him.
“Don’t come in here,” she cried out desperately.
“You got nothing I ain’t seen before.”
“That’s just . . . that’s just rude!” she sputtered out. What? It would be nice to feel special.
There was a thump on the other side of the door. Was he planning on breaking it down?
Or was he banging his head against it in frustration?
Both were possible, to be honest.
“I’m coming, all right? I’ll get out and put my pajamas on then you’ll see I’m fine.”
“No, wait!” he barked.
She froze, halfway out of the bath already.
“You’ll slip and hurt yourself.”
“I won’t slip and hurt myself,” she scoffed. “I’ve been taking baths on my own since I was five.”
“Fine. Go slow. Watch where you put your feet.”
This was ridiculous. Why would she slip? Sure, she could be somewhat clumsy. But it was just getting out of the bath.
He was being over the top ridiculous.
And you’re objecting because . . .
Also, you already told him you slipped. Idiot.
She climbed out but her foot stepped directly onto a pool of water, sending her sliding and she landed on the tiled floor with a thump and a cry.
Ow. Ouchy. That really hurt.
“What happened? Millie!”
She sat there for a moment, feeling thoroughly humiliated. Then she screeched as the door slammed open and Spike loomed in the doorway. Dressed in just a pair of black pajama pants that hung low on his hips, it took her a moment to drag her tongue back into her mouth with all that skin and muscles on display.
How was it possible for a man to be that ripped?
He had to be older than her, at least she thought he was, and he was in such good shape he could be one of those fitness models.
“Millie! What happened?” He strode forward, reaching over to snag the towel she’d left on the bathroom counter.
She remembered then that she was stark naked. With a cry, she brought her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
Then she promptly burst into tears.
Spike froze as Millie started to cry.
She’d had a lot thrown at her tonight and she hadn’t once cried. He’d thought she might have broken down into tears after what happened with that Devil’s Sinner fucker.
But she hadn’t.
Then he’d figured she might after her break down at Pinkies when she’d vomited in the bathroom.
But she hadn’t.
Then he’d thought she might have cried when they’d banged heads at the motel.
But again, she’d proven him wrong.
She was crying now, though. Tears dripping down her face. Ragged sobs filled the room. The whole nine yards.
Fuck.
What should he do? Was it something he’d done? Or had she truly hurt herself?
Well, you should do something other than stand here, holding a towel while she sobs her heart out, sitting naked, wet and cold on the floor, dipshit.
“Oh, baby girl. It’s okay. Here.” He crouched down and wrapped the towel around her. But she didn’t release the tight hold she had on her legs and the towel wasn’t big enough to wrap around her. He grabbed another one, pressing it to her front.
“It’s okay. You’re okay,” he told her over and over as she continued to cry.
“It’s not. It’s not. It’s all a mess. It’s all a big m-mess.”
Fuck it.
Bending down, he wrapped one arm around her back and the other under her legs and picked her up. He waited for an objection. But to his shock, she just buried her face into his chest and continued to cry.
He hated it. Wanted to do whatever he had to in order to stop those heart-shattering tears. He’d raze cities, destroy lives.
Just for her to stop crying like her heart was breaking. These weren’t simple tears. They didn’t stem from surface-level pain. He might not be a man who understood emotions well. But he knew pain. And hers was coming from deep inside her. Something bad had happened to this girl.
And it was tearing him in two.
Because he now realized the happy, easygoing, naïve persona was just that. A put-on, a front. No way could she skim through life, not letting things get to her and have this deep well of pain if it wasn’t all pretend.
“Come on, baby doll, stop crying.”
He settled on her bed with her on his lap. Even the dog looked up from his bed to give a small yip of sympathy.
Fuck. She felt too nice pressed to his body. The scent of bubblegum clung to her skin from whatever she’d put in the bath. Had to be something she’d brought with her since he sure as shit didn’t have anything in the house that smelled that good.
Her face was turned to his chest as he rocked her back and forth.
“Hush, little baby, don’t say a word.”
He didn’t know where the words came from. She’d likely think him ridiculous for singing a child’s lullaby to her.
And fuck knew, his voice was shit. Gravelly and broken. Definitely not suited to singing.
“Daddy’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.”
She didn’t move. Didn’t say a thing, but her sobs seemed to ease.
Well, shit.
“And if that mockingbird don’t sing.”
Sniffle. Sniffle. But she eased into him, turning her face from his chest.
“Daddy’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.”
Her small hand wrapped lightly around his bicep as she struggled to get her breathing under control.
“And if that diamond ring turns brass.”
He gave in to temptation. Fuck. Where was his iron control now? He kissed the top of her head. She’d piled h
er hair up and secured it with a big clip. He reached up and undid it, letting those strands of silken hair fall around her shoulders.
“Daddy’s going to buy you a looking glass.”
She tilted her head back, looking up at him through swollen eyes. Her cheeks were wet, her face blotchy, her nose red.
She wasn’t a pretty crier.
And he’d never wanted to kiss someone more.
He closed his eyes on a wince. That was wrong. So wrong.
He had to pull back from her. This wasn’t what he wanted. He couldn’t do this again. He couldn’t allow himself to feel anything for her.
Fuck. He had to find some way of putting some distance between them.
“Spike?” she whispered. “Are you okay?”
He opened his eyes, gazing down at her in shock. “Am I okay?” Pretty sure it should be him asking that.
“You looked to be in pain. Oh.” She glanced down as though just realizing that she was sitting on his lap. “I’m so sorry. I got you all wet.”
I’d like to get you all wet.
Ahh. Shit. Did he really just think that? Was he that much of an ass? He wasn’t eighteen anymore. He was pushing forty. He had more restraint than this.
And he really shouldn’t be able to get it up again so quickly after he’d rubbed one off in the shower, right?
Fuck. She was killing him here.
She scrambled to get off his lap and he held her tight. He doubted she had any idea what she was doing to him with all the jiggling, especially as her towel was resting rather precariously on her breasts. It wouldn’t take much for it to fall off.
“Sit still,” he growled.
She froze and he cursed himself for being an asshole.
“About to lose your towel,” he used as an excuse. Even though he wouldn’t object at all if that towel were to slip.
That glimpse he’d gotten of her body before she’d realized she was naked and had curled into herself . . . well, there was a reason he was hard again.
Fuck. Him.
“Oh shoot. I’m so sorry. I just . . . oh goodness.” She grabbed the towel, frantically wrapping it around herself before she slid off his lap onto the bed. This time he let her, hoping she didn’t catch the raging hard-on he was sporting.
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