A sharp pang of longing hit her between the breasts. After his own heart. Wouldn’t that be something? To have someone like this man to create a life with? “Fodder for foolishness.”
“What’s that?” He tossed a beer her way.
She snatched it from the air and twisted the top off. “My own mental walkabout.”
He moved close to her, propped a hip on the island and took a deep, slow pull from his beer before speaking. “No regrets, Rhyan. I meant it. We’ll take it moment by moment.”
The lump in her throat shocked her. Emotional complications didn’t happen to her, especially when it involved negotiated trysts. Her only requirement had always been that dalliances remain straightforward, yet her she was creating her own internal complications.
A long draw on her beer nearly choked her. Eyes watering, she nodded and tilted the bottle toward the source of her emotional confusion. “Agreed. Moment by moment.” One more lie.
The clink of his bottle on the granite countertop rattled her so badly she nearly dropped her bottle. He reached out and took it from her, setting it beside his without looking. The brush of their fingers made her close her eyes as shivers cartwheeled down her spine. Need wound through her core, a driving pulse of desire that left her breathless. Just from a touch. An unreasonably strong reaction for such little effort on his part. She shifted her weight back and forth, foot to foot, and clutched the counter.
Rich and masculine, his cologne wafted around her as he closed in on her. His hands closed over her hips at the same time his lips settled on her throat. Soft kisses traced down her neck. A sharp nip of her collarbone made her gasp.
“Easy, baby. Eyes closed.” Hot breath raced over kiss-dampened skin. “Go with it.”
He turned her to face the island and moved in behind her, nudging her feet wide. Large hands traced the contours of her body. Thumbs ran down either side of her spine, pausing to knead the base.
She pushed back into those hands.
Hands returned to her hips, pulling her against his groin. Gentle thrusts simulated sex. The ridge of his erection settled between her ass cheeks. Bending his knees, Dom got under her enough that every caress of his hips slid her dress higher until her backside was bare.
He whistled low. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a lovely ass, baby.”
It wasn’t a conscious choice to raise her hips to him, to bare herself like this. The movement felt natural, the timing perfect, so she went with it.
A rough hand slid across that soft skin. He massaged it even as he continued to rock forward and back. Denim rubbed skin, the erotic sound so subtle she had to strain for it. She gasped when he pulled her G-string tight, the lace slipping across her engorged clit.
“I think this needs to go.”
“Yes,” she breathed, reaching back with one hand to grab the tiny undergarment.
“Uh-uh. Let me do it.” He slid the scrap of material, hands and lips following in its wake. “Step out.”
Every movement was rough, unpolished. She’d never been treated to such organic foreplay. Sexual tension wove a web of hunger between them, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she was actually prey to his predator. For once in her life, the thought appealed. That she’d ever thought she would be the one to act as the seducer spoke to her ignorance. He was too feral. Too much of what she needed.
Soft kisses pressed into the line where her upper thigh met her ass.
She shivered.
Wrapping his hands around her thighs, he pulled her legs apart. He leaned in and traced the seam of her sex, once, twice, deeper the third time. Every time he exhaled, heat caressed her bare lips. She arched her back. Broad shoulders worked between her legs, pushing them wider and forcing her to her tiptoes to afford him better access.
“Dominic.” It was half plea, half pleasured cry. She clutched the edge of the counter.
“Lay across the island.” When she hesitated, he landed a sharp slap on her bare ass. “Do it, Rhyan.”
She tentatively stretched out over the countertop. Cold seeped through her dress, chilling her upper body and drawing her already pearled nipples tighter.
“Arms straight out from your sides, palms down.”
This time she didn’t hesitate.
His hands pushed harder, lifting her up for easier access. He supported her weight with ease. Thoughts vanished in the face of pleasure’s assault when he flicked her clit with his tongue.
Hips rocking against his mouth, she moaned. The sound was lost in the open room, but she knew he heard it when his fingers tightened on her. His mouth worked her harder, tasting and teasing. He aggressively explored the tender folds, coaxing them out with every stroke and suckle. Lips closed over that tiny bundle of nerves without reservation. He pulled, lashing her with his tongue, fingers digging into her thighs to hold her still.
The orgasm he’d nurtured rushed in, slamming into her with undisguised glee. She cried out, clawing the smooth counter as her hips went wild. He held her, his mouth unrelenting as he drove her toward the pinnacle. With a harsh cry, she lost herself to the release, gave herself over to him and let him carry her away.
He let her go abruptly, and she sagged forward. The rip of his zipper was all the warning she had before the head of his cock pressed against her impossibly slick entrance.
“Lift up, baby.” His hands slid under her hips and pulled her higher. “Like this. Chest to the counter, arms out again.” When she hesitated, he slapped her ass even harder than the first time. “Now.”
Her sex absolutely wept. In all her experiences, she’d never been spanked so casually, without a thought. She loved it. “Again,” she demanded, arching against him.
The crack of his palm against that tender skin dragged a moan from deep in her chest.
Dominic worked her ass then shocked the hell out of her by pulling back and smacking her sex.
“Oh!” She nearly came at the contact.
He swiftly moved back in. The head of his cock breached her outer folds. She scrabbled against the counter, wanting something to hold on to, something to anchor her. Breathing in hard, openmouthed pants decorated by short mewls, she found nothing to cling to but him. She blindly reached back.
He grabbed her hand.
Their fingers twined together, and he gave a short squeeze before letting go. “I’m going to need both hands back here, darling. This is the last time I’ll tell you. Arms out.”
This time she obeyed.
His strokes were languid as he gave her time to adjust to his length and girth. One hand traced her spine from nape to ass. The other held her waist. He worked the roaming hand under one breast and growled at the interruption of fabric between hand and flesh.
“I’ll buy you a new one.” That was all the warning he gave before tearing her dress off.
A heavy ache settled between her legs. “Take me, Dominic.”
“All in due time, lover.”
“Now.”
“Whether you’re under me, in front of me or swinging from the rafters, I set the rules. I control the pace. Your job? Hang on.” He punctuated the statement by further slowing. “Understand?”
“Yes.” The weight in her pelvis grew.
His momentum gradually increased. Every thrust shoved her across the counter. Each time, every time, his grip would tighten before her hips hit the edge. Time lost all relevance. Her focus narrowed until only physical stimuli registered. Nothing else mattered.
Dominic leaned forward, his breath hot and hard against her ear. One hand slipped from her waist to grab her knee and lift. He settled back, changing his angle of entry and driving into her with enough force to lift her to her toes. The hand that still held her hip shifted, inched toward her clitoris.
“Dominic.” She couldn’t stop the half sobbed shout.
“Almost.” He reached the apex of her thighs and didn’t hesitate, deft fingers stroking firm and relentless.
Her release hit hard and fast. It screamed through h
er core, radiated through her limbs and fractured her consciousness. She shook. Her mouth fell open in a wordless cry.
Behind her, Dominic roared. His arm tightened around her waist and his shaft pulsed as he followed her into pleasure’s abyss.
Rhyan sagged in his embrace. Several minutes passed before she realized she’d trusted him to catch her. He had.
And he didn’t let go.
Chapter Six
With his pants around his ankles, it was nothing but dumb luck that kept Dominic on his feet when Rhyan’s knees gave way. He locked his legs and tightened the hold he had on her. Their sweat-slicked skin made hanging on a challenge. It had nothing to do with the fact she’d just rocked his world. Nope. No way.
She slowly pushed off the island, wobbling a bit as he settled her feet to the floor. A clumsy kick of each foot sent her heels in opposite directions. “I’ll pick them up in a minute.”
“Good.”
She didn’t look at him but started for the nearest shoe.
He grabbed her arm and spun her. A quick lift had her parked on the wide rim of the farmhouse sink. “The only reason I want you to pick them up is because I want to see you in them and nothing else as you walk toward me, maybe go to your knees in front of me.” He knew his eyes glazed over. “I can’t get the image out of my mind.”
One corner of her mouth lifted. “You were buried to the hilt and thinking about my shoes?” She tsked. “There’s something wrong with you, Dominic.”
He chuckled and curled a finger under her chin. Bright green eyes met his blue ones. His lungs froze. The jackhammering of his heart skipped and stuttered. He could only stare.
Her forehead wrinkled as her brows drew together. “You okay?”
A short wheeze escaped when he opened his mouth. Covering with a sharp cough, he nodded. “I’m good.”
“Just good?”
It was easier not to look at her when he nodded again.
“Then I’ll have to try harder.”
“Do what?”
“I’m pretty sure I can do better than ‘good.’” Her lips twitched then stilled. Long legs wrapped around his waist. “I’d like to take you up on your offer to stay.”
The request—offer?—nearly stopped his heart altogether. “Stay?” Shit. He was wheezing again.
She lifted one elegant shoulder in a graceful shrug. “Unless you’d prefer I go.”
“I don’t...” He shook his head, trying to figure out when his brain had been replaced by pudding.
Her legs fell away. “It’s fine. I’ll need to borrow a shirt to cover what the dress won’t.” She tried to scoot around him.
He wrapped his hands around her knees. “Stay.”
“I don’t think it’s the best idea.” She opened her mouth to say something else but quickly closed it. Hands flat to his shoulders, she gently pushed him away.
Desperation made him clutch her knees. “What?”
She shook her head, leaning forward and looking around the floor for her shoes. “It’s not important. Let me grab my shoes and call a cab while you get me a shirt.”
“No.” Stubbornness rang through his denial.
Eyes narrowed so much her lashes nearly fused. She looked up at him. “No?”
“Yes. Wait. I mean no. No,” he said firmly.
“I’d be amused if you weren’t pissing me off. Now move.”
“No.”
“So you keep saying.” She pushed harder.
Dominic only curled his fingers into the soft skin behind her knees. The way her lips thinned and eyes flared made things low in his belly tighten.
“Let me go before I lose my temper.”
“I’ll say it again because you clearly like to hear it. No.”
“You’re baiting me?”
“No.” Absolutely.
“Cut it out, Dom.”
“No.” Not happening.
She wiggled, trying to free herself. “Let. Go.”
“No.” Definitely not.
Her lips twitched. “Stop screwing around.”
“No.” I’m only getting started.
The war lost, she smiled. “At least get me a shirt.”
“No.” Nice try, baby.
A growl issued from her throat. “You’re making me crazy.”
He leaned forward with slow deliberation. “Then make me stop talking.”
Her brows shot up. “Excuse me?”
His mouth closed over hers, tongue delving between parted lips. They fit together so perfectly. Her hungry response to the kiss made him groan. A hard shiver skipped up his spine when her legs hooked around his waist, her fingers threading through his hair. He sucked in a hard breath when she tightened her hands and yanked. Any trepidation she might have felt disintegrated with his response because she shifted forward and grew more aggressive.
Dominic gripped her just below the ass and lifted, swallowing her surprised gasp. Her sex parted over the ridge of his erection. He rode her up and down his shaft, slicking it with her arousal as need coursed through him. Demanded more. Shouted at him to consummate the action. All the while, their mouths were locked in a parody of the sex act. By the Divine, the woman could kiss.
He took a step back and nearly tripped. Crap. His pants were still tangled around his ankles. “Have to get my pants off,” he said into her mouth.
She trailed her lips across his cheek to his ear and nipped. “Hurry.”
His shaft kicked. “Get your shoes,” he growled, setting her down.
It thrilled him first that she complied and, second, that she was shaky as hell on her feet.
Dom toed his heavy black boots off. Socks and pants quickly followed, creating a pile of undeniable evidence for his housekeeper should she get here before he picked his shit up. Whatever. He paid the woman well enough she should roll with the few surprises he threw her.
The click of heels made him turn. His eyes bugged out. He reached for Rhyan, his hindbrain silently amused that it was he who now shook. “C’mere.”
Stepping into his embrace, she peered up at him through a fringe of dark lashes. “You still thinking about the shoes? Because I’m pretty sure I can find a similar pair in your size.”
“Wait. You put your shoes back on?” Glancing down, he grinned. “Huh. I didn’t make it any farther than your amazing breasts.”
“What is it with men and tits? Because it’s totally a man thing. You rarely hear a woman wishing she had a man’s body part, particularly when it’s one referred to as ‘the Bald Avenger,’ ‘the nut cannon’ or even ‘Danger the One-Eyed Ranger.’”
He choked out a laugh. “You are so my kind of woman.”
“If I’d known mercurial conversation did it for you, I’d have smarted off outside the club.” She smiled. “Would’ve saved me time spent seducing you.” The dry delivery was on the money, but the humor never reached her eyes.
His brows crashed together. Rhyan’s barked laughter surprised him, and he shook his head. “What?”
“You let yourself fall victim to such stern consternation and you’re going to need Botox to smooth that pretty forehead out.” She chucked him under the chin when his gaze drifted down her nude form with lazy insolence. “You just slipped back into breast territory, didn’t you, my pretty Neanderthal?”
“Maybe. But it’s only because you haven’t walked away from me yet. When you do, I promise to stare at your ass instead.” He waggled his brows. “Ow. I think I just broke my face.”
Brushing his hair back with gentle fingers, she cooed at him, murmuring tenderly.
Dom’s eyes drifted closed as he let himself simply be. Pulling his face down to hers, soft lips delivered even softer kisses over his cheeks, chin, nose, brow, eyelids and the very edges of his mouth. Everywhere but his lips—lips that had parted to accommodate shallow breaths.
“Poor darling.”
“Darling, huh?” The tenor of his voice was slow and cathartic. Had she not lulled him into such a strange state of contentmen
t, he would have been amused with himself.
“I’m open to calling you any number of pet names if you’d prefer something different. Maybe Sargent Sexy for your little boot camp commander act earlier? Or Dabio. You know, because you’re like Fabio with the blond hair and muscles but your name starts with D. Oh! How about Rebel Yeller? Because you’ve let out a couple of really impressive shouts during...during...I can’t breathe.” Hands slipped from his face as she backed away, laughing and wiping away tears.
Dominic knew his mouth was hanging open, but damn. She was perfect. Standing in his kitchen, wearing nothing but red high heels and making fun of him. Few people had the guts to give him shit because of his size. Rubbing his upper lip, he considered her. Eyes bright with mirth, cheeks rosy from both passion and humor, lips swollen in a well-kissed way. Dusky nipples pearled as the air conditioner kicked on. Dark hair swung almost to her waist. The question escaped before he thought to control it. “Who are you, Rhyan?”
Her vibrant, vital color didn’t fade. It disappeared with no more warning than a thief afforded his mark. In this case, he was that thief. Rather, his question was. But why? What had he said that might set her on edge?
“Little early to get into philosophical conversations, don’t you think?” She delivered the question in a soft, almost angry way that made his hackles rise.
“Depends.” He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest.
“On?”
“Your answer, actually.” This time when his brows drew together, she didn’t tease him.
“Is that some kind of warning? The shot across my proverbial bow?”
“Don’t know.” Dom struggled to focus. She was radiant in her defensive fury, but something about the rapid-fire topic switch left him cataloguing weapons within reach. Whatever drove him to defend himself was intangible. Didn’t matter. He hadn’t survived all these years by failing to heed his instincts. “Why are you worried about answering me?”
“Why do you think I’m scared to answer you?”
“I didn’t say ‘scared.’ I said ‘worried.’ Big difference.”
Her gaze shifted to something deeper in the house. “Semantics.”
Pure Desire Page 4