by Lexi Blake
Such a drama queen. She lifted her head and found him staring down at her. Heart-stoppingly sexy. That’s what he was. With his sleepy eyes and that sexy beard of his, she couldn’t quite look away from him. And his lips. Oh, they were plump and sensual and she wondered what it would feel like to have those lips on her body, worshiping her skin, kissing and licking and sucking.
She had a choice. She could step back and go to her widow’s bed or she could make one small move and the night wouldn’t be spent alone. She would spend it in his arms and she would finally know what it felt like to be Derek Brighton’s woman—even if only for a little while.
With a shaky breath, she went on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
* * * *
Derek’s whole body reacted to her. His heart pounded, his skin tingled. Every available ounce of blood seemed to flow right to his dick. She was saying yes. She was offering herself, and he wasn’t about to turn her down.
The need to burn off the dream was riding him hard. When he’d finally woken up and found Karina’s body trapped under his, he’d damn near lost it. He could have hurt her, could have killed her. It was precisely why he didn’t sleep with women. He fucked and pleasured and found his comfort in their bodies, but he went to his own bed so he couldn’t hurt them.
Except Karina really did seem to have handled him.
He gave her a minute, allowed her to explore. Her mouth was oddly tentative for an experienced woman, but then Karina seemed to be a study in contradictions. She was on her toes, her hands moving from around his chest to his jawline where she brushed against his beard, her light touches making him shiver slightly.
He didn’t shiver. He didn’t get this weird tightness in his stomach. He fucked. He brought pleasure. He didn’t get worried or nervous.
But he was kind of both because he wanted her so fucking bad, he couldn’t see straight.
From the moment he’d woken up and found her underneath him, his cock had jumped and pleaded and twitched in his pants. His brain might know that she wasn’t his type but his cock had entirely different ideas about what was attractive.
She kissed him and he kept still, allowing her to explore, to be in charge for now because she wouldn’t be later. What was attractive? She was. God, he loved the fact that she’d been willing to take off his balls if she had to. He also kind of loved that she’d come up with a way to save his balls.
He could still remember Maia crying. She’d sobbed for hours after the incident. Not Karina. Karina had that crazy sexy smile on her face that let him know she hadn’t been bothered at all by his PTSD dreams. She’d handled it. She’d taken care of it and she hadn’t needed to nearly kill him to do it.
Karina wasn’t his forever sub, but damn he wanted her now.
She stopped, pulling slightly back. When she looked up at him, he nearly got to his knees.
She was fucking gorgeous. She bit her bottom lip, obviously nervous. “Do you want me to stop?”
He had zero plans to stop. He might never fucking stop. A dangerous thought played through his head. He didn’t have to stop. He could fuck Karina until he didn’t have an ounce of come in his body and then he’d just wait until he had more and he’d give that to her, too.
“Yes. I want you to stop.” Because it was far past time for him to take over.
Her face fell, the sweetest pink flushing through her. He loved her skin when she was embarrassed or emotional. She couldn’t hide from him. It all played out over that precious flesh of hers. “Okay.”
She started to take a step away, but he wouldn’t allow it. She might be able to handle him when he was asleep, but he was going to make it very plain that he was her Master when he was awake. He caught her, pulling her to his body, letting her feel every ounce of his will because it was all directed her way.
“I want you to stop because I’m the top, Karina.” He practically growled at her. He’d never wanted to dominate a woman as much as he wanted to dominate Karina. He wanted to bend her to his will, to watch her give in to him because she was the fucking alpha female and that meant she belonged to him. She wouldn’t submit to anyone else—man or woman. Only to him because he was strong. She was everything he needed her to be.
She gasped a little, the action bringing her breasts in close contact with his chest. Her nipples had peaked, her eyes softening. Even the hands on his body had become something different. Before, she’d held him, but the minute he asserted dominance they became cajoling, pleading for his affection, his praise.
Submission. She offered him the sweetest submission of all. The submission of an alpha female to her chosen top. She would never get on her knees for another man. She wouldn’t allow a lesser the access to her body, the opening to her soul. Only him. In a haze of lust, he fucking believed all of it. He believed it was true. He no longer gave a damn about the dream. Reality was far better. Reality was Karina submitting to him, giving him everything he wanted.
He dragged her against his body, pressing his pelvis to her, letting her feel just how much he wanted her. He wanted to burn away that dream in the hot depths of her body. Karina could handle it. Karina could take his rough impulses. She might even fucking like them.
“Give over to me,” he whispered against her lips. “Give me everything you have. Let me in.”
Into more than just her pussy. In that moment, he wanted to drive into her soul, to make a place for himself there, a home that he never had to leave.
He hauled her up, lifting her like she weighed nothing. He pulled her against his chest, gripping her ass so she had nowhere to go. Her legs dangled for half a second before coming around his waist. It was one easy move to shift and shove her against the wall of her bedroom, grinding down on her clit. That was her sweet spot. She moaned and groaned when he pushed on that little jewel. What the hell would she do when he sucked on it?
He pressed her against the wall, his pelvis hard on hers. So fucking good. He wanted to drown in her.
Her legs wound around his waist. It would be easy, so easy, to push that little T-shirt she was wearing up. He could drag her panties down and let his cock free. He didn’t want easy. He wanted long and hard. He wanted it to last all fucking night.
He wanted to never think about anything but Karina again.
He pressed against her, lighting his whole body up. He kissed her, dominating her the way he’d always wanted to. His mouth pushed against hers, pressing in and taking control. She submitted, sweetly flowering open for his tongue. He took advantage, dancing against hers in a silky glide, so relieved when her tongue moved, joining him.
She was open and willing. She filled him with joy, with fucking happiness, because he’d never had a woman like her. Need rose hard and fast—the need to slip a collar around her throat so she couldn’t run when she realized he wasn’t worth it.
He kissed her hard and long. So warm. So sweet. So fucking gorgeous.
He needed to be inside her, needed to taste her on his tongue. Needed to know he’d given her crazy pleasure. He walked the two steps it took to get to her bed and tossed her gently down. She landed on her back, and he could see how her nipples poked against the fabric of her shirt.
“Spread your legs for me.” He needed her to want him. Needed her to spread herself for his pleasure.
She didn’t hesitate. He’d expected her to, had almost expected her to argue, but she simply moved her legs farther apart. She simply opened herself to him, giving him access to all her sweet spots.
Fuck. She wasn’t wearing panties. Her pussy was right there, spread wide for him to see and she was already wet. His cock was so damn hard, but he wasn’t going to give in yet. The fucker had waited this long, it could wait a little longer. He needed to prove something to her, to himself. He needed to prove to her that he had some semblance of control and he needed to prove to himself that she wasn’t going to taste as good as he thought she would. She couldn’t possibly.
He dropped to his knees, grasping her ankles and d
ragging her to the edge of the bed. Silky smooth skin caressed his fingertips and he could smell her. He breathed it in, reveling in the scent of her arousal. The petals of her sex were already coated, her labia a gorgeous coral shade.
“You want me.”
“I know I shouldn’t,” she whispered back.
He couldn’t think of all the reasons why this was a bad idea. Right now it seemed like the best fucking thing that had ever happened to him. With the exception of his career, he’d rambled through life ever since coming home from the war. He’d taken the pleasures he’d been offered, but he hadn’t wanted, really wanted anything until he’d seen Karina. It might not last, but he would take it. He would take this passion and enjoy it because he felt alive for the first time in forever.
And hungry. So fucking hungry for her.
“I’ll make you forget. All the reasons this is a bad idea—you won’t remember them when I’m done with you.” With shaky hands, he touched her, sliding his fingers through the soft skin of her sex. He ran the pad of his thumb over her clitoris and she jumped. Karina moaned and pressed up against him, trying to force him to rub her harder.
Pure pleasure coursed through him because she was going to make this so much sweeter for him. He flipped her over and immediately laid a quick two smacks to that gorgeous ass.
She whimpered, an entirely sexy sound. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t…It’s been a long time, Sir.”
Did she think being polite would make him go easy on her? Sweet little brat. “Who’s in charge, Karina?”
“You are, Sir.” Her answer came out in a breathy huff that made his cock jump.
He would prefer Master, but he hadn’t come close to earning that yet. “I am. I’m in charge of this. I’m in charge of your pleasure. I’ll give it to you, but you have to trust me.” He leaned over and kissed the places he’d just smacked. “I’m going to turn you back over and you’re going to be still for me. Do I need to tie you down?”
“No. I’ll stay still. I’ll be good.”
“I will tie you down, Karina. Eventually I’m going to truss you up like the pretty bird you are and I’ll have you any way I want you. But I want you to obey me on your own tonight.” What he didn’t say was why. He didn’t want to tie her down tonight because he wanted her arms around him, her legs squeezing him tight when he entered her. He flipped her back over, confident she would obey. “Be good or the next time it’s going to be twenty and I’ll make you count it out. Neither one of us wants that.”
He saw something he did want though. The girl liked to be spanked. Their kinks dovetailed nicely since he’d never enjoyed spanking an ass as much as he did Karina’s. Her pussy was glistening in the low light. He couldn’t tease her another moment more. He leaned over and ran his tongue over her labia.
She tasted far better than he’d imagined. Sweet and spicy, she coated his tongue and he couldn’t get enough of her. She tensed beneath him as he held her legs open. Her soft gasps and long sighs played along with the desperate tension in her thighs. She was being so good when it was obvious to him that she wanted to move, wanted to force him to go deeper.
“Do you need something, gorgeous?”
“Derek, please. Please, I’m so close. It’s been so long since I felt like this.”
He wanted to be the best she’d ever had. He wanted her to remember him long after they were no longer together. It was perverse, but he wanted to be the man she thought about the rest of her life. “You want to come? Ask me politely.”
He rubbed her clit just enough to make her squirm but not enough to send her over the edge.
“Please, Sir. I need it so much. Please let me come.” The words were so stinking sweet coming out of her mouth. She usually cursed his very name, but having Karina Mills begging him did amazing things for his ego. He could turn his spitting cat into a sweet little kitten and all he had to do was put his hands and mouth on her. It was that simple. She responded to him like no woman ever had before. So quick. So pure. So fucking honest.
And she’d been polite so she should be rewarded.
He let himself off the leash. He fucked her with his tongue, diving deep inside and glorying in the way she shook around him. Through his haze of lust he could hear her crying out even while she obeyed him and remained as still as she could. His thumb found her clit and he pressed down as he speared her with his tongue.
She came with a little moan and his tongue was coated with her.
He couldn’t wait another fucking second. He had to have her. He’d done his job. He’d made her come and now she was his for the night. He stood up and dropped his PJ pants to the floor after palming the condom he’d put in his pocket. “Give me the T-shirt.”
He wanted her naked, nothing between them except that crappy but necessary piece of latex. He was a bastard, but he was prepared. He’d slipped one into his PJ bottoms earlier when she’d sat next to him on the couch. Nothing had come from that, but he was damn happy to have it now.
He stroked himself, once and again while watching her. He would love to have her roll the condom on with her mouth, but he was far too impatient. In one practiced move, he slid the condom on.
Karina seemed to be coming out of her submissive state. She bit her bottom lip as she stared up at him.
No. That was so not going to happen. He wasn’t about to let her get away. He leaned over and kissed her again. “You taste so good, gorgeous.” He licked along her bottom lip. “Taste yourself. You’re all over my tongue. Stay with me.”
Her arms were around him again. She opened her mouth and let him in. Over and over he stroked her with his tongue, the intimacy unfamiliar but sweet. He rarely kissed anymore. Sex had become an exchange of need. How long had it been since he’d had to have it? Since he couldn’t take another breath without thinking about being inside a woman. Karina. Only Karina.
“Let me in, gorgeous. Let me inside. I fucking need you tonight.” He wasn’t sure he could walk away. He might do something horrible. He might actually beg.
She pulled the shirt off, exposing her lovely breasts.
It was all the invitation he needed. He fell on her like a starving man. Soft. She was so soft. He gave her his weight because while she was soft, she was strong, too. Karina could handle him. He could fuck her as hard as he wanted and she would take it.
He started to spread her legs, to shove himself in, and then he saw her.
She might have just had an orgasm, but she wasn’t ready for him yet. She was holding on to him, but there was fear in her eyes. God, he didn’t want to see that.
But he wasn’t willing to let her go. Kissing. She liked to be kissed. He covered her mouth with his, gently this time. “Stay with me, gorgeous.”
“It’s been a while. I…I’m nervous.”
“I’ll take care of you.” He was going to make sure she came again, make sure she had every bit of pleasure he could give her.
He leaned over to kiss her and prayed he could make her want him again.
Chapter Six
It was the sight of the condom that did it. Karina took a deep breath and realized this was really happening. She was about to open herself and let Derek Brighton in. She hadn’t had sex in years, hadn’t even wanted to share that with someone else.
He’d promised to take care of her, but she was sure he meant that in a sexual way. He couldn’t possibly mean anything else and she couldn’t expect more.
But suddenly she wanted to. She wanted this to be real. If only for a night.
“I can take care of myself, Brighton.” She wasn’t going to dive into maudlin thoughts. Five years had gone by and if she never moved on, she would regret it. She’d loved Kevin, but he was gone. And Liam was right. He would have wanted her to be happy. Could she ever be happy with Brighton? Would she hate herself if she didn’t try?
He’d said she wasn’t his type and she’d given him those words right back, but the minute he touched her, she’d gone up in flames. She’d never wanted a man the w
ay she wanted him.
He gave her the craziest, sexiest grin. “I’m sure you can, gorgeous, but you don’t have to take care of yourself tonight. Let me take care of you.”
He lowered himself down again and Karina couldn’t help but welcome him. She didn’t even want to think about all the ways this could go wrong. She just wanted him.
It was time to stop thinking and let herself feel for once. Yes, she would likely get her heart ripped in two, but at least she would feel something beyond the numbness of the last several years.
“I want to make you feel good, gorgeous. Let me make you feel so good.” He whispered the words against her skin. She felt the rumble of his voice all along her flesh.
Heat poured through her body, the thrum of arousal a rhythm she couldn’t deny. She could still feel his tongue on her tenderest flesh. He hadn’t played around. He’d eaten her like she was the sweetest peach. What would he say if she told him the truth? What would he say if she told him she’d never been kissed there? That he was the first man to lick her and suck her and make her want to scream because she couldn’t take another second of his sweet torture.
Making love with Kevin had been wonderful, but Derek made her feel things she’d never imagined. Even his weight did something for her. He was so much bigger than her husband had been. He pressed her into the mattress, his legs spreading hers and making a place for himself. His chest came down on hers, the light hair there rasping against her nipples.
“God, you’re so fucking beautiful, Karina.” His lips hovered above hers. “I want you so badly. Tell me I can have you.”
He was right there, his hips pumping against her. His cock was pressed to her clit and the heat was building all over again. Sweet want coursed through her. She let her hands find his hair. How was it so soft?
“Please, Sir.” She loved using that word on him. He was so dominant, so strong and yet he’d done something Kevin never had. Kevin never slipped out of his Dom role when they made love. He never gave up a second of control. He’d told her he needed it and she’d believed him, but there was something about Derek’s softness that made her melt. Kevin would never have asked her. He would have assumed if she didn’t use her safe word that everything was fine.