But he had to apologize for not being honest with her, for almost sending her away because he’d been unable to say what he felt.
Now he’d show her, even as his urgent need for her was driving him mad.
A soft whimper reached his ears, and he was almost undone, digging his fingers into her hips to keep her still, to control her thrashing.
They’d only been together for a short time, but he knew her tells, knew the signs she was getting close.
He slipped back to a single finger, teasing her with it even as he moved his mouth away, kissing and nipping the delicate skin on her thighs, short, brief kisses down to her knees and back, the battle to keep her under control slowly turning into surrender on his part as she grabbed at his shoulders, his arms.
Her fingers scratched along his scalp as she pulled him upright, yanking him free.
“Now.” The hoarse order had him scrambling to his feet. “Now.”
Dylan stood up and smiled, licking his lips. “Since when do you call the shots?”
Jessie pushed herself up the bed, her face flushed and breathless. She laughed and motioned him onward.
“Since you decided to let me.”
He stripped off his underwear and advanced on her, noting her sudden intake of air as she saw him all at once, naked.
But she smiled, got on her knees, and ran her tongue along her bottom lip. “Bring that to me.”
Dylan laughed and climbed on the bed alongside her. “Kind of pushy.”
Then her lips landed on him and he couldn’t think.
Jessie pulled him into her mouth, so deep that he trembled. One hand cupped his balls and rolled them gently as she sucked him deep into her throat, humming a popular tune.
“What the—” Dylan threw his head back, choking on his own words. “Oh, you little—”
He roared as she drew her tongue up to the tip and down again, as much as she could take in. Dragging her tongue over the head brought a new series of curses from Dylan, as his hands landed on her shoulders.
Finally, she pulled free with a pop, knowing she’d pushed him as far as she dared.
Dylan pulled her up and kissed her, wrapping his arms around her. He tasted himself on his lips and knew the reverse was true. He’d pushed her to the edge and beyond, the emotional bond sealing them together forever.
He drew back and looked at her full on, the tenderness in her eyes almost breaking his heart wide open.
She placed her hands on his chest, brushing over the slick skin as she pressed a hand again to his heart.
“All because of you,” he murmured.
Jessie smiled before reaching down to take hold of him. A long, leisurely stroke had him arching back with a snarl.
“All in spite of you,” she answered.
He growled and pushed her backward onto the bed. “Too much talking. Need more screaming.”
Jessie began to giggle then stopped, cut off by his furious kiss. One hand curled around the back of her neck to hold her in place as the other moved between them, probing and testing her.
She writhed against his touch, arching up as he slid one finger inside, then two.
“Oh, baby,” he broke free and murmured. “Oh, Jessie.”
His hand pulled away and he moved between her legs, prodding gently at her entrance.
“Yes.” Jessie curled her legs around his, pulling him in. “Yes.”
She let out a soft gasp as he settled against her, letting them both take a second to adjust, although every nerve ending was telling him to move. He gritted his teeth and kept still, thinking of icebergs and cold showers.
She shifted against him and he was lost.
Later on he could afford to be gentle and slow, play the romantic lead from one of her novels, and wine and dine her into bed with the seduction she deserved.
Right now he had barely enough control to slide a hand between their sweaty bodies and search for the spot, the tiny nub that would send her over the edge.
Jessie moaned as he increased the pace, matching him stroke for stroke without giving any mercy.
A low keening sound burst from her throat, and Dylan pressed down, feeling the slickness between them increase.
One more—
She shuddered against him, around him, enveloping him in a burst of moist heat that sent him over the edge without any chance of control.
He roared into her shoulder as he let loose, the last thrusts almost painful as he felt his arms and legs go heavy, his head spinning as he forced himself to keep breathing.
It took the last of his energy to move onto the mattress and pull her atop him, her body soft and pliable.
“Wow.” Jessie was the first to speak, lifting her head up so she could kiss him.
He used up the last of his energy to frown. “Wow?”
“I find myself bereft of a fuller vocabulary at this time.” She kissed him again. “In other words, you just screwed me senseless.”
“Good.” He reached out and stroked her hair, amazed at the emotions flashing through him. “Because we’ve got all day, and I’d like to push you to utter silence.”
Jessie laughed. “Bring it on.”
…
He looked at the shadows creeping across the floor, doing the mental math. The club would be open now, the afternoon visitors already ordering drinks and an early dinner.
Jessie rolled onto her stomach with a sigh, the fresh bandage still on her shoulder. She draped her good arm over the edge of the mattress, her fingers brushing the floor.
He drew his hand down her spine, enjoying seeing her muscles twitch and tremble.
She turned her head to face him. “It’s getting late. Let’s get cleaned up, get something to eat, and go to work.”
He laughed and leaned in to kiss her. “A woman after my own heart.”
“I also need to make a phone call. Maybe Anderson might consider passing some local cases to me.”
“They’d be fools if they didn’t,” Dylan murmured. “Now all we have to do is figure out what to do with Lisa and Ace.”
“Let them be,” she ordered. “They’ll find their path. Like we did ours.” She laughed. “Hopefully with a little less shooting involved.”
…
Jessie looked out over the dance floor, her pulse matching the pounding music from the live band. It’d only been a month since she’d moved in with Dylan, and yet it felt like she’d been at the Devil’s Playground for most of her life, sliding into the routine with ease.
She closed her office in the early afternoon when she could, returning to the apartment and grabbing a fast nap with Dylan so she could stay up most of the night when the club was active. Her clients were returning, slowly but surely, now that the news cycle had moved on to something else. It wasn’t much, but it helped pay the rent and kept her solvent—and the Brotherhood had another front for their operations.
She studied the chaotic scene in front of her. It was easy now to pick out the staff, see Faith manning the bar and the waitresses working hard to keep the glasses filled, to spot Finn and Trey wandering the floor, keeping the peace, while Ace stood in the shadows, keeping an eye on everyone. There were others, of course, but those were the ones who drew her attention because she knew who they were.
And they knew who she was.
More than an ex-cop, more than a private investigator.
She was one of them. One of the Brotherhood. And she’d help them any way she could.
Dylan stepped up beside her. He’d put on a white dress shirt and jeans, but no shoes, padding across the thick carpet in bare feet.
“How’s it look tonight?” He kissed the back of her neck, smelling of fresh soap.
“Quiet.” She leaned back into his embrace as his hands went around her waist. “You smell good.”
He nuzzled her skin before drawing his tongue over it. “You taste better. Too bad we’ve got to work tonight, or I’d drag you back to bed right now.”
Jessie laughed. “You say
that every night.”
“And I mean it every night.” He looked over her shoulder into the crowd.
She felt the shift in his stance.
“What is it?”
He rested his chin on her shoulder. “Over by Faith. Looks like a deer caught in the headlights.”
She spotted the older man and cursed herself for not seeing him before. The gray around his temples stood out as he sipped his drink, constantly sweeping the dance floor.
“How do you know he’s not looking for a young sweet thing?” Jessie asked.
“Maybe he is. But maybe he’s not.” Dylan reached up and tapped his earpiece. “Ace, man at the bar. Chat him up, see if he’s looking for us. If he is, bring him to the office.”
Jessie smiled and took his hand. “The Brotherhood never sleeps.”
“Not if we can help it,” Dylan murmured. “Not as long as someone needs our help.”
“Yes. And we’ll give it. Together.” She squeezed his hand and looked out on the floor. “We’re ready.”
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Acknowledgments
I have to thank my wonderful agents, Rachel Brooks and Louise Fury, for sticking with me all this time. As well, my thanks to Candace Havens for all of her help and encouragement in taking a good story and making it even better!
About the Author
Sheryl Nantus was born in Montreal, Canada, and grew up in Toronto, Canada. She met Martin Nantus through the online fanfiction community in 1993 and moved to the United States in 2000 in order to marry. A firm believer in the healing properties of peppermint and chai tea, she continues to write short stories and novels while searching for the perfect cuppa.
She loves to play board games and write haiku, although not usually at the same time.
She has published multiple books with Entangled Publishing, St. Martin’s Press/Swerve, Samhain Publishing, and Carina Press.
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Hard Play (Delta Force Brotherhood) Page 24