by Anne Rainey
Chapter Five
“Because I want to, damn it, that’s why.”
Chloe rolled her eyes at Merrick’s reason for wanting to shower with her. “It would be faster if you’d just let me finish.”
“I’m not leaving, so deal with it.”
“We’re never going to get to dinner if you don’t leave, Merrick.”
“Fuck dinner. I want to wash you, so scoot over. Besides, let’s not forget the deal. I’m in charge.”
“Yes, you’re in charge…of our fun. This is a shower.”
“And a shower can be mighty fun.”
Chloe wasn’t sure why she continued to resist. As husband and wife they’d showered together hundreds of times. This time it seemed so different, as if it were the first time. A virgin on prom night would be less jumpy, for crying out loud!
“Fine, but if we don’t make our reservations, don’t blame me.”
His grin was one of pure male arrogance. “Duly noted.”
Chloe tried not to drool when Merrick yanked his shirt off and tossed it to the bathroom floor. As he undid the fly of his jeans and slid them and his black boxers down his powerful thighs, she gave up on maintaining control all together. God, he was gorgeous. His muscled behind faced her, and if she leaned toward him a few inches, she could take a bite out of his delicious flesh. He straightened and turned toward her. His cock was huge. As she watched, it seemed to get even bigger. As her gaze snared his, he grinned. She lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Those pretty eyes are devouring me right now, babe.”
She pushed her wet hair behind her shoulder and tried not to let his sweet, hard body get to her…too much. “I can’t help if I like what I see.”
“I like what I see, too. A lot,” he growled.
He stepped into the tub with her. Chloe moved to the side to give him room. He was twice her size and he took up most of the tub. Not that she was complaining. She couldn’t remember the last time her husband had taken the time to shower with her. Too long. Much too long.
“You’re so beautiful, Chloe. Inside and out.”
His words and the sincerity behind them filled her heart with warmth. “You haven’t told me that for a very long time. It’s nice to hear compliments from you.”
He slid the backs of his fingers down her wet arm, leaving little goose bumps in his wake. “You make me want to slay dragons and shower you with diamonds,” he murmured. “I’m sorry I’ve been so wrapped up in work. I need to explain about that, but first I want to show you how much I’ve missed you. May I?”
He’d melted her completely. She’d become a useless puddle of pudding at his feet.
“Yes,” she capitulated, “I think I’d like that very much.”
He placed two fingers against her lips. “Shh, it’s okay, baby. We’re going to take our time, go real slow. I have a need to experience my wife to the fullest tonight.”
She removed his fingers and asked, “What about dinner?” She didn’t really care about food, but she should at least ask, for his sake.
“Screw dinner,” he muttered.
As his mouth came crashing down on hers, Chloe fell against him, relishing the sensation of her nipples against the solid wall of his chest. At once he was everywhere, his arms sturdy and protective around her. He cupped her ass in his palms, lifted and pulled her tighter against his lethal strength. His hands squeezed, and she laughed. “Merrick, that tickles!”
“I know. Thought I’d forgotten, huh?”
Chloe feared he’d forgotten a lot of things about her, but she didn’t want to reveal so much of her inner turmoil. “Well, you must admit it’s not your typical ticklish spot.”
“There’s not a damn thing typical about your ass, Chloe. It’s sexy as hell.” He squeezed her flesh again, and she let loose a string of giggles. “When you giggle like that it turns me on like you wouldn’t believe.”
She liked the thought of Merrick turned on because of her. “What else turns you on?” she prompted.
“The cleft in your chin,” he easily answered. His tongue came out and touched the little indentation. Her body flooded with liquid heat.
“Is that all?” she managed between pants.
“The length of your neck. You have a regal bearing, and your neck just begs to be kissed and nibbled.”
He proceeded to prove his point by angling his head and teasing the side of her neck with his lips. He slid her wet hair out of the way and skimmed his tongue up and down her flesh, directly over her vein. He bit down and her pussy pulsed and swelled with need. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, fingernails biting into flesh and muscle. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to the moment. His mouth drifted lower, sliding over the tops of her breasts. When he kissed each nipple with tender affection, her legs shook with anticipation.
“The bellhop eyed your sweet tits like a mocha latte. Pissed me off,” he gritted out. “But I have to admit, the kid has a good eye. You do look delicious, baby.”
He cupped her left breast, brought it to his lips and sucked as much flesh as he could into his warm mouth. His tongue teased, his teeth grazed. She arched against him, mashing her other sensitive peak against his stubbled cheek. He cupped her right breast, flicked his thumb over the hard bud. Arrows of pleasure shot clear to her core. She hungered to make love to him. To feel him sinking deep inside her heat where she needed him so badly. The ache built and built until she whimpered and begged, shameless in her desire.
Merrick released her breast and pulled back. He stared up at her with such intensity her body vibrated as if stroked.
“Soon, baby, real soon, I promise. First, I need a taste. I’ve lived too long without your honey sliding over my tongue. I need to suck that tempting little pussy of mine.”
She was beyond denying either of them. “Oh, God, yes.”
Merrick’s hungry grin had her nerve endings rioting out of control. He slid slowly to his knees, his gaze holding her immobile. The hot spray from the shower pelted them both. Merrick’s body glistened, his muscles even more pronounced than before, his dark hair slicked back away from the harsh planes of his face.
Her husband. Her lover. Her everything.
Chloe became aware of the glaring truth in that moment. No matter what happened, her body would always be his to command, her heart his to hold.
He nudged her legs wider and clutched onto her thighs. Chloe sucked in a breath, knowing the pleasure only he could coax forth.
As his gaze snagged hers and held, she rested her palms on his shoulders and waited for that first delicious touch. He prolonged the moment and time seemed to stand still. Even in such a submissive position, Merrick still held power like none other. As he leaned forward and kissed her clit, they both groaned.
“No one will ever take you from me.”
She wanted to protest, to let him know she had a mind of her own and would do what she had to do to keep her sanity, but his lips rubbing back and forth over her labia stopped her assertions. She couldn’t think, couldn’t grab onto a single skittering thought. She stopped trying to think and concentrated on feeling.
Merrick used his mouth with an expert’s skill. His tongue dipped inside her heat, swirled around and came back out again.
“Fucking delicious,” he murmured.
He sat back and removed his hands from her thighs, then used his thumbs to open her. His eyes on her there always made her hyper-aware of her femininity. Merrick always seemed to take such pleasure in looking at her intimate flesh before he took a taste, as if enthralled by the shape and texture of her body.
“Why do you do that?”
He licked his lips and smiled. “Do what?”
Chloe’s cheeks filled with heat. She hadn’t meant to ask. “You always look at me there,” she explained. “It makes me nervous.”
“Because you’re beautiful,” he admitted, his tone rough with arousal. “Every inch is beauty to me. God is surely an artist because you, my pretty wife, are a work of art
.”
Chloe’s heart swelled. His words made perfect sense because she felt the same about him.
As his head descended on her, she clutched more tightly onto his wide shoulders. She knew what to expect and she craved it. His hot breath touched her first. She moaned aloud, and he blew a draft of air over her clitoris. She widened her stance, which gave him better access. She thought she might’ve pleaded a little, but she couldn’t be certain. His tongue touched, ignited a fire inside that had burned white-hot for months.
He flicked over her swollen nether lips several times then sucked her clit into his mouth. She went wild, bucking against his face, aching so badly for his touch, his burning touch. He doubled his assault on her body and slid his middle finger deep inside her tight sheath. Her inner muscles squeezed him tight, as if loath to let him go. He growled. The deep timbre of his voice traveled over her clit and went straight to her womb. He lifted away, slid a second finger inside her pussy and pushed her to the very limit of control.
“Come for me. Let me feel you go up in flames, Chloe.”
She couldn’t speak, could barely keep her heart from leaping out of her chest. Merrick leaned in and licked once, twice, then pumped her fast and hard with his fingers. The last thread of her control snapped, and she flew over that invisible precipice that only Merrick could find.
He licked her flesh once more and cupped her mound in a gentle hold. “I’ve missed this pussy, baby. I’ve missed watching you go wild for my eyes alone.”
“I never went anywhere. You were the one who left me.”
He clenched his jaw and stood. His eyes held a wealth of questions. When he only left the tub and held out a hand for her, surprise shot through her. Merrick never let a subject drop so easily.
“Come,” he demanded, “the water’s getting cold and what I have planned should be done in a bed anyway.”
Chloe took his hand and let him help her out of the tub. She stood still while he dried her off, luxuriating in the attention. After he quickly towel-dried his own body, he bent at the knees and lifted her into his arms, startling a yelp out of her.
“It’s not that big a suite, Merrick. I can walk just fine.”
He stared down at her, his eyes glittering with arousal and just a hint of anger. “I want to hold my wife in my arms. Is that such a crime?”
Contrite, Chloe clasped her arms around his neck and held on. She’d been fighting him at every turn from the moment they’d landed. She’d agreed to this vacation. It wasn’t fair to act as if she were here against her will.
She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to his chest, enjoying the strength of his pecs. “Of course not,” she murmured. As Chloe relaxed against him, she could’ve sworn Merrick shuddered.
They were both wound much too tight. It’d be a miracle if they didn’t burn down the hotel with the heat of their passion!
Chapter Six
“I want to know something, Chloe,” Merrick said, as he held his wife in his arms and walked into the bedroom.
“Yes?”
“And I want you to tell me the truth. Will you do that?”
“Of course.”
He glanced down at her, noting the way she clutched her hands around his neck. She was still so shy with him, even after two years of marriage and everything they’d just done. A lifetime together and he’d probably never figure her out.
Merrick set her on her feet and watched her cross her arms over her chest. If she thought she was hiding anything, she was way off the mark.
He entwined his fingers with hers, enjoying the feel of her delicate flesh. She trembled, and Merrick wondered if it was from fear or excitement? He thought—hoped—it was the latter.
“It’s been a long time for you, hasn’t it, babe?”
Her cheeks grew pink. “Yes, but you already know that.”
“And what did you do with yourself on those nights when you felt too warm, too excited to sleep, baby? Those nights when I was too busy working to tend to my aching wife.”
“You mean did I…pleasure myself?” He nodded. “Yes. I am human, Merrick. I have needs the same as any other woman.”
He cocked his head to the side. “I should have been there. Taking care of you.”
“As I would have taken care of you.”
The image of Chloe on her knees tonguing and sucking his cock filled his mind. He groaned.
He reached out and stroked her left nipple, then pinched it between his finger and thumb. She sucked in a breath and moaned at the small contact.
“Did you sink your pretty fingers inside that hot pussy? Did you use the vibrator I bought you?”
Chloe looked down, around, anywhere but directly at him.
“Tell me,” he coaxed.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.”
He narrowed his eyes and spoke in a soft command. “I want to know how you pleasured yourself. In fact, I want you to show me.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “You mean you want me to masturbate for you?”
His lips curved upward at her stunned expression. “Yeah. I want you to get up on the bed and show me.” He released her hand and cupped her pussy, his other fingers still plying her nipple. “Let me see you tease this delectable body into a frenzy. This is your chance to show me just exactly what I’ve been missing.”
Chloe opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Time to show her one of the items he’d brought along for their pleasure.
Merrick released his hold on her body. She licked her lips and clenched her fists at her sides as he stepped away. He went to his suitcase and unzipped the outside compartment, then brought out a small bullet vibrator. He turned around and showed it to her.
“You brought it with you?”
He shrugged. “You left it behind when you moved out. I thought it might come in handy.”
She blinked as if trying to assimilate all that was happening, then took the vibrator out of his hand and stared at it. Merrick moved behind her and nudged her forward. When she didn’t budge an inch, he chuckled.
He leaned down and whispered, “Drive me crazy, baby. Make me pay for all those nights when I spent time at the office instead of on top of you, fucking you, making you come all over my dick.”
He wrapped an arm around her, placed his palm on her left breast, directly over her heart. It beat erratically. Merrick could feel her breaths coming too fast. He’d gotten to her. He nudged her forward again, and this time she complied.
As Chloe stepped forward and crawled onto the bed, Merrick’s adrenaline shot up. He pictured her spread out, hand between her thighs, playing with her own soft, creamy flesh. It drove him a little crazy. Suddenly, he wanted to skip the show and get right to the main event. It’d be hard, fast. He’d bury his cock so deep inside her she wouldn’t be able to walk away. Ever.
But he didn’t. It was imperative he take it slow with Chloe. To experience every single ounce of pleasure. Maybe then she wouldn’t leave him.
As she positioned herself in the center of the bed and spread her legs a few inches, Merrick realized she had her eyes closed. He didn’t want her distancing herself. He needed her to know exactly whom she was with and where they were.
“Chloe, look at me.”
Her eyelids fluttered open and she turned her head toward him. Her sensual gaze trapped him. She was so aroused she nearly left him scorched. If he had any doubts about what they were going to do, the hot look Chloe gave him squelched them.
“You’re excited aren’t you, baby?” Merrick stepped forward, his cock at eye level.
She glanced down his body and licked her lips. “Yes,” she breathed out.
Her husky one word reply let him know it wouldn’t take her long before she came for him again. “Why?” Merrick asked, as he slid a single finger over her arm.
“Because I’ve imagined this very scenario.”
Now that hadn’t been what he’d expected to hear. “You have?”
“Yes. There have been so many nig
hts I imagined you walking in on me. I fantasized about you making love to me afterwards. Cherishing me. Staying with me.”
Jesus. He’d been so blind. “I do cherish you, Chloe.”
She nodded. “I know you love me. I never questioned that.”
What she didn’t say was that she’d gotten tired of waiting for him to treat her like a wife instead of a piece of furniture. His thoughts stuttered to a halt as she grasped his wrist and brought his hand to her right breast.
“Touch me while you watch, Merrick.”
Her nipple hardened beneath his palm. “You’re so fucking sexy, sweetheart. I can’t get enough.”
He massaged his hand in slow circles over her creamy tit, squeezed the tip between his index finger and thumb, relishing the way she arched toward him. Her fingertips came up to touch his chest, but Merrick grabbed onto her wrist and held her away from him. “Show me,” he demanded.
She smiled up at him as she slowly, calculatedly, spread her legs wider. He could see the cream of her sex, the swollen labia and tempting little clit peeking out. Open and glistening. Chloe’s luscious pussy had his cock so full and ready it hurt to stand there and not jump onto the bed. He longed to forget everything he’d just said, beg for a taste of her juices. Just one lick. One suck. Hell, he’d give his left nut to drown in her sweet scent, feel her wet heat in his mouth. Watch her come as he sucked her dry.
She slid the toy between her legs, careful to keep her gaze on him. He fisted his hands at his sides in an effort for control. He heard a low buzzing sound as she clicked on the tiny massager. A smile curved her lips. Christ, what had he started?
Merrick’s muscles flexed with the urge to take her, rough, the need to make love to his wife nearly too strong to ignore. His dick was as hard as a fucking tire iron and he needed to slide it between Chloe’s succulent pussy lips. He vowed not to take her like a rutting buck. Correction: his brain didn’t want that sort of coarse lovemaking; his cock, on the other hand, wanted to be inside Chloe’s tight cunt. It didn’t much matter how that came about.