by D. C. Stone
Mackenzie set the helmet down on his bike and walked a few short steps away. Her arms wrapped around herself in a vulnerable gesture. Memories of this place, of that night hit him hard. She stayed like that for endless moments before turning and uncurling her arms. They dropped to the front of her jacket, unzipping it slowly as she held his gaze.
“I remember this place, Bari.”
His eyes flickered down to her hands before lifting back to her eyes. “What are you doing, Mac?”
“Undressing.”
He swallowed hard. “Why?”
“Seems like a nice night for a swim.”
Bari watched her, feeling the heat of her gaze roll across him as if it were a physical caress. Her jacket fell to the ground with a plop before her hands lifted to her shirt and began to unbutton it.
“Mackenzie…”
“Bari…”
All the air left his lungs as her shirt joined her jacket on the ground.
“What are you doing to me, Mac?” His voice was strangled, and it seemed as though he choked for breath. Mackenzie reached behind her back, the action jutting her breasts forward, as she unhooked her bra, pulling the straps down her shoulders. She turned and walked toward the temptation of the silver lake.
“Trying to seduce you, Bari. If you had to ask that question, then maybe I’m not doing this right.”
No, Angel, you have perfected the art of seduction.
If she surprised him anymore, he’d eat his boots. Glued to the spot, Bari watched Mackenzie walk, making her way toward the water and stripping as she went. Sexy as hell, beautiful without even trying to be, she was his every fantasy come true. He’d known it then, and he knew it now.
She dove into the water, and irrational jealousy hit. He didn’t like that the water got to caress curves he wanted to touch. Bari fought his body’s reaction screaming to join her. He knew if they crossed that line once again, it would only end badly for them both. His plan hadn’t been to bring her down here for this. He wanted to explain why he hadn’t reached out in nine years. She had the right to know. Byron had a right to be informed.
Instead of talking, instead of joining her, he walked across the grass, down toward the lake, and the erection he sported strained against his jeans. Bari fought off the need to adjust and instead focused on the pain his zipper created. He needed to keep his original promise to himself. As he met the water’s edge, he sat on a fallen log and watched as Mackenzie swam, making smooth ripples in the water as she moved. She made the view even better than he had ever seen.
“I’ve never known you to be so scared of one little female, Bari.”
“Who says I’m scared, Mac?”
Mackenzie simply lifted one delicate brow.
Bari sighed. “I’m trying to do the right thing, Mac.”
“I think that’s bullshit, Bari. I think you’re scared, more scared than you want to admit. I know you want me. I can see it in your eyes, see it in your body’s reaction, remember it from the cabin.”
Mackenzie’s eyes ran over the length of Bari as he stood. She swallowed audibly, as her eyes came to rest at his groin.
“Damn it, Angel, stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” She sounded breathless.
“Like you want to eat me alive! You’re fucking killing me here.” His hands itched to touch her, his body warming under the cool night’s air, straining and calling out to the one female he had ever wanted, the one who could bring him pleasure and peace all at once.
“Come to me, Bari. Please…”
Her statement caused his erection to pulse, a not so subtle reminder of just where it was and where it wanted to be. Her gaze rolled over his body, felt as if it were her hands. Each muscle, each limb jumped as it was touched.
“Angel, you are going to want to stop looking at me like that…” Dear gods, he felt the pull, felt the draw of her and was helpless to stop it. The beast inside of him urged him on, was like a little devil sitting on his shoulder.
Mackenzie tempted fire with gasoline, and he intended to show her what kind of inferno she ignited.
Fuck it.
His hands went down to the bottom of his shirt and yanked up, pulling the material over his head as he toed off his boots at the same time. Stepping out of them, his hands went to his jeans, and he unbuttoned them, his gaze still locked on Mackenzie before he pushed the material from his hips and stepped out. He had never been a fan of boxers so he saw her freeze, take her fill of him, as he stood there, the moonlight reflecting off his naked body for a few moments before he stalked toward her. His stride ate up the last remaining feet to the water before he dove in.
Immediately, the water caressed along his body like a silken tie, the liquid running the length of him. He came up directly in front of her and pulled her sweet … gorgeous as sin body into his arms. Lord help him, but he couldn’t turn away from her, not even if he tried.
Groaning, her smooth skin brushed against him, the whisper bringing promises. It was such a sweet pleasure that he closed his eyes briefly and let the skin on skin contact sink in. He wanted to savor her, wanted to take his damn time getting to know her body again, to touch and taste every inch.
Bari set his hands on her hips and kneaded the skin he found before moving down to cup her round, perfect ass, then pulled her close to his body. His cock was right there, the length pulsing wild between them. His eyes rolled back in his head as his length rolled between the lips of her sex.
“Christ … Angel.”
Bari ground his teeth and turned with her in his arms, quickly striding back to the shore. Once they reached it, he didn’t get far as when he started to step out of the water, her limbs tightened around him and the jolt of pleasure that followed had him falling to his knees before he landed on top of her. Their bodies were half in the water, half out. All reasonable thoughts left his mind as she started to rub her body against his. He caught his weight with his hands, moved them up to tangle in her hair as his mouth came down in a bruising kiss against her lips.
The muscles on his back rippled as he fought for control, the minx below him moving in the way only a seductress would. Her hands roamed everywhere, stroking each piece of his skin, and damn if he didn’t want to be surrounded by her. He broke his mouth from hers with a curse and nipped sharply at her jaw, his lips soothing away the bite with a rasp of his tongue.
“Christ, Angel … you’re testing my control…”
“Stop holding back, Bari.” Her voice sounded as frustrated as his body felt.
He growled and trailed his hand down the length of her, dropping his lips to her collarbone. He took open mouth kisses, sampling every bit of skin he could. Mackenzie tasted better than he dreamt of, even better than years ago; a sweet taste of apples and vanilla, home wrapped up into one tempting, tiny, curvy package.
His hand pushed at the small of her back, arching her body up. He lifted his head and looked down at his display, drinking in the sight. Her perfect breasts pushed out, the light from the moon shining down on them, the tight buds of her nipples matching the color of her lips. She rolled her body beneath him, and he groaned, gritting his jaw together in order to keep from thrusting into her. He enjoyed his view, wanted to take his time. Twin peaks, perfectly formed, with the deepest shade of rose called out to him, and he couldn’t wait a minute more. Bari dipped his head and drew one nipple into his mouth. His cheeks hollowed as he sucked, the tug drawing the hardened peak deep.
He rolled his hips against her, felt her strain to pull him inside and almost smiled against the skin of her breast. There would be time for that soon, and he didn’t want to rush this. He wanted to savor Mackenzie. Her heat surrounded his length, and his entire body racked with a shudder so intense the ground shook. Or was that him?
Good gods, what she did with her hands, the feel of her silkened sex coated with the evidence of her arousal had his control snapping like a twig under a horse’s hoof. He hadn’t planned on this, hadn’t set on sedu
cing her, and had only wanted to get Mac out and enjoy some peace with her. She was making him forget his good intentions and focus on who she was, what she did to him, and what they brought each other. He shifted, and his hand moved down her body and palmed her sex. Heat poured from her in waves as her body arched into his touch.
“Damn it, Angel…” His voice sounded so damn rough as his mouth covered hers again, refusing to get enough. His hand moved as his thumb found her sweet bundle of nerves, rolling it against his touch. He buried his fingers deep inside, felt her walls clench around them. His mouth plundered hers, ravished with a kiss that mimicked what he was going to do to her body.
He didn’t want to hurt her, wanted to make sure she was ready. Mewing sounds rose from her mouth, and her juices flowed over his hand as her frenzy built. He removed his hand from inside of her and set his palm over hers, drawing her hand down with his between their bodies. Without needing any coaxing she wrapped her hand around his erection, and his jaw snapped together.
“Bloody hell, Mac.” He wrapped his hand around hers and let them both guide the head of him to her entrance. He angled his cock and drove the kiss deeper, pressing his hips forward until he seated himself inside of her hot, tight walls with one thrust. Immediately, he was encompassed in heaven and hell, as warmth, pleasure, and agony gripped his entire body.
Bari’s head fell back as she threatened to undo him with her body; damn, the feel of her walls wrapping tightly around his cock like a hot, wet cavern, squeezed and pulled him deeper inside. She moved beneath him, undulating with sexual prowess. Bari dropped his head to Mackenzie’s neck, and his lips skimmed along the sweet and tender flesh before his mouth set next to her ear. His voice, when he spoke, sounded like broken glass and crushed rocks—harsh, filled with both hunger and an urgency he never knew before.
“Christ, Angel … you feel so good.” He reached down and cupped the round globes of her ass and lifted her hips, sliding deeper. He made sure and long strokes in and out of her. Her walls gripped him as he pulled out, as if she were trying to pull him back in. He groaned, and the sound mixed with hers. The night around them washed out of his head until all he knew was this female beneath him, the innocent minx who gave him another precious night to remember. Her touch seared him to his soul. Intense pleasure sang through his body. He lifted up, drawing her with him, sat back on his haunches and demanded she take every long thrust. He took her in, watching pleasured expressions cross over her face. His gaze lowered down to where their bodies connected, watching as every bit of his length disappeared inside of her.
His balls drew up as his impending release threatened. He wouldn’t go before her, he couldn’t. He focused on drawing her over the ledge first, mashed his teeth together to stave off his release. He dropped one hand down, set his fingers over her bundle of nerves and stroked it relentlessly.
You’re pathetic, dude; you need to wait it out. Come on, one plus one equals two. Two plus two equals four…
She flexed around him, her walls gripping him tighter. Her expression spoke of the most pleasurable pain. She held it for seconds before her body erupted, her mouth opening, a cry piercing the air. Her voice, her sweet release had him surrendering.
You are so fucked, dude.
He followed Mackenzie a heartbeat later. Her tight walls milked him, pulled at him so damn tight that his eyes rolled back. His orgasm slammed into him with such a force that he swore he’d never bounce back. He glanced up and watched Mackenzie’s face, watched the story unfold across it, the wonder, the pleasure, and he enjoyed every moment of knowing he put it there. Something from deep inside raised its head and roared with a primal need, wanting to take her over and over, marking her as his.
Her breasts stood as offerings, and he leaned forward to lap gently at one rosebud. His mouth skimmed the peak before turning and giving the same attention to the other. He moved, letting his cheeks and lips run along her skin. He wanted more.
So fucked…
Bari lavished Mackenzie’s body with attention. He had never felt this kind of contentment in a female’s arms; no other but Mackenzie.
You are majorly fucked, Bari. What are you going to do now?
He didn’t know, didn’t want to think about it, and wanted to get lost in the moment. It felt as if the entire world dropped away, as if it were only the two of them. In the back of his mind he comprehended reality would come crashing back down sooner rather than later and there would be some major consequences for him losing control with her. She was a temptation, a drug, and a sweet treat he couldn’t turn away from, one he had to indulge.
Bari groaned and cursed beneath his breath as his cock twitched inside of her. Yeah, he wanted her again, damn near felt as though he wanted to get lost in her for hours. But taking her here again, taking her when he understood he couldn’t give her any promises for a future? He didn’t even know his own future. He had tried to keep himself from getting mixed up with her, tried to keep from giving in to the temptation. This was exactly what he hadn’t wanted to do. He was leading her on just by being here with her. Goddamnit.
He went to push himself off of her, knew he should pull away, but Mackenzie had other ideas. Her hips rotated, and he lost all thoughts as pleasure washed over him.
“Mackenzie,” he groaned, almost pleaded.
“Again, Bari.” She trailed her lips along his neck.
Bari bit out a curse and leaned back, his legs sliding from under his body, and sat Mackenzie on top of him. He brought his hands down to her hips and paused as she rose like a goddess in the silver moon’s light. Her hair looked wild, her lips swollen, eyes full of desire, and her skin sparkling with each movement. Her breasts bounced, swayed with sensuality and yeah, he planned on showing her just how long he wanted to stay right where he was. Damned be the consequences.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bari’s mood swirled dark and stormy. He leaned over the sink, the muscles and veins on his arms bunching and moving under the weight as he sought for control. He breathed air in deep, focused his concentration on his lungs filling, and then pushed it out slowly, feigning control. It didn’t help. Bari felt him, the one who resided in his body. For a while he actually thought he dreamt him up. With Mackenzie around, calm had invaded, but now, his head spun, the world tilted off axis around him, and he knew better.
He was back—and with how much his body trembled, Bari could identify he was pissed. The darkness racked its claws inside his body, the feeling much like as knife slowly cutting through a steak, demanding attention. If Bari recognized what he wanted, he would have gladly let him out. Sweat poured from his face, slid down, a sheen coated across his skin from trying to control him. The strain at keeping it together cramped through his muscles. His team told him he was changing but this, this felt different, like a burden, bringing despair. Fear and regret, an unknown future licked at him.
He glanced up at the mirror, and unfamiliar dark eyes stared back. A brisk, loud rasp at the door cut through the fuzziness. Bari turned and padded across the room, not wanting company, but he also knew Alex had been trying to track him down. Opening the door, he almost shut it again as Mackenzie pushed her way inside, her mouth moving faster than he could keep up. He saw the moment she noticed something was wrong. She hurried to his side, touched his feverish skin with her cool hands.
“What’s wrong, Bari? You’re burning up.”
Bari shook his head, his body instantly hardening at the sight of her. The low-cut top and those damn form-fitting jeans drove him insane with lust.
“Angel, now is not a good time.” He caught her roaming hands by clamping his own around her wrists.
“Like it ever is, Bari.” His skin was hot, clammy, as if he were burning up, about to explode.
“What’s wrong, Bari? Is this part of the change?” Her voice rubbed over his skin and drove his lust for her like gasoline to a fire. He cursed and went rigid, stared up at her with wide eyes. His mind went back to what he shared, what she un
leashed in him, and what he took from her. She shocked him, shattered his control. He looked down at her and urged the raging storm inside of him to pass. Her body slid next to his, her breasts brushing against his chest, her eyes growing heavy-lidded with desire.
What the hell? Did she feel it too?
He was definitely disturbed, deeply and profoundly disturbed. She smelled like warm vanilla, sunshine and apples, a light he yearned for. How in the hell was he supposed to get himself under control when she was tempting the beast?
“You need me, Bari. I feel it as well.” Her shirt whipped off in one smooth motion he almost missed.
“Angel … Christ…” He reached down and grabbed her wrists, stilling her, and saw a flash of annoyance cross her face. “Stop…” The need reflected wound his balls tighter. He bent over to grab her shirt, then set the material in her hands and moved to the door.
Come on, Angel … get the hint…
He didn’t want her to see this part of him, couldn’t be what she needed him to be right now.
Fear and resentment flashed in her beautiful green eyes before hurt reflected. Goddamn, he put it there and he hated it.
“Stop it, Bari. Don’t tell me you don’t feel this too.”
He looked up, prayed like hell for someone to answer his prayers, to help him out. Memories flushed through his mind, vivid, destructive memories threatening to undo him. He couldn’t allow that to happen to Mackenzie.
“Is that all it was, Bari? Just a quick fuck like before?” He snapped his head down. Fire burned in her eyes, anger spitting at him. She crossed to him, her hips rolling in a gentle sway of seduction. Bari held in the groan threatening to escape and prayed again to whoever was listening.
Christ … she was like a carnal temptress. The way she moved; so sexy, so slow, so sure of her sensuality. His cock twitched. His heart pounded, and his knees almost buckled. By gods, he craved what she wanted to offer—that much was true—but she needed more than he could give.