by Taylor Lee
He held her gaze, not surprised at the anger he felt. He didn’t know what the hell she was doing—and being fair, it didn’t look like she did either. What he did know was that he wasn’t going to play games. Remembering the helpless anguish he felt watching her flounce out of the great room, a fresh wave of anger flooded him.
He made a production of closing the door, then twisted the lock. Turning toward her, he leaned against the door, his arms again folded across his chest.
“In my experience, Miss Powers, when a woman comes to a man’s room late at night, she isn’t coming to have a drink.”
A flush of pink stained her cheeks.
She bit down hard on her lip, making it even puffier, more inviting than usual.
“But Mr. Boudin…isn’t it polite at least to offer a guest a drink?”
His dick swelled, eager to play a part in the conversation.
“Perhaps,” he conceded with a dismissive nod, all the time wishing he’d chosen looser trousers rather than a tight pair of blue jeans. “But given that this particular guest wasn’t invited, and that my room is likely only one of her stops along the way tonight, a drink doesn’t seem obligatory.”
Nicki’s cheeks blushed brighter. A flare of anger darkened her eyes. When she moved toward the door as if to leave, he held up his hand.
“Uh uh. No you don’t. No games. Why are you here, sweetheart?’
She raised her chin and glared at him. Only her fists clenched at her sides gave away her nervousness.
Tipping her head up yet another notch she took a deep breath then shrugged.
“I …I came to seduce you.”
Looking away to hide his shock he walked over to the liquor cabinet and took out a bottle of whiskey—and one glass.
He poured himself a full portion of the amber liquid, then turned to face her.
“I see. In that case perhaps I should have something to drink.”
Nicki shuddered and closed her eyes. When she opened them he was staring at her, the seeds of a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. A tight black t-shirt clung to his heavily muscled chest. His jeans hugged his strong thighs. He’d crossed his legs at his ankles, which only served to make the telltale bulge in his pants more apparent. Caught in his sea green stare, she felt like a field mouse trapped by a ravenous eagle poised to swoop down on her. She was helpless to look away. Staring at his damp tousled hair, the raffish curls hanging carelessly across his forehead, she wondered desperately how she could have let Katya talk her into this.
Rafe raised his glass to her, a flippant salute, then took a deep swallow of the potent alcohol. Raising both hands in mock surrender he said with a smirk, “Have at it, Princess.”
Something in his amused arrogance jerked her out of her cowering shell. Glaring at him, she decided that since she’d already made a fool of herself coming here, why stop now?
Pressing her lips together she narrowed her eyes then snapped, “Fine.”
She nodded at his chest.
“Take off your shirt.”
Rafe blinked in surprise, then his grin widened.
“Not the most subtle opening line I’ve heard, but, what the hell, if it’s skin the lady wants.…”
Nicki flushed and chewed her lip at his amused chuckle. With a glare, she motioned to his shirt.
Taking another long drink of his whiskey, Rafe set the glass on the table behind him. Tugging his t-shirt out of his pants he grabbed the hem, pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor.
Smiling at her gasp, he flexed his arm muscles causing his biceps to bulge, and his abs to tighten further.
The lines beside his eyes crinkled, “Anything else, sweetheart?”
Nicki swallowed, her moment of courage fleeing in the face of this extraordinary man.
Rafe eyes narrowed at her hesitation. He picked up his glass and took another deep swallow.
“Tell you what, Princess. How about we make this a ‘mutual’ seduction?”
Jerking his glass at her chest, he said, “Take off your blouse.”
When she startled and frowned, he nodded again at her chest.
“And, baby, undo those buttons slowly, one at a time.”
Nicki felt a rush of heat flood her groin at his challenging tone. Refusing to be scared off, she met his gaze and willed her fingers to stop shaking. One by one she unbuttoned her blouse, then mimicking his careless gesture, she tossed it to the floor. Grateful that the white lacy bra Katya had chosen seemed to have the desired effect, she took advantage of his admiring stare and said with a brazen nod.
“Now, your pants.”
Rafe smiled and shook his head.
“Uh uh, Darlin’. You’ve got way too many clothes on compared to me. Before I take off anything else, I want to see the whole package.”
He took another sip of his drink, then waved his hand at her skirt.
“Take it off, baby. Take off your skirt and take it off slow. I wanna see what you chose to go with that beautiful bra.”
Stunned at the way her body was reacting to his cocky commands, Nicki tried to keep her hands from shaking—but it was no use. She managed to unhook the clasp at the waistband, then fumbled with the zipper on the back of her skirt. Seeing his grin widen at her clumsiness, she glared at him even as she slowly eased the skirt to the floor, letting it pool at her feet. She stared at him briefly, then looking away she daintily stepped out of it. Gathering her courage, she perched her hands on her hips, letting then them rest on the white satin garter belt holding up her lace topped stockings.
The look on his face unnerved her. Unable to decipher the flashing gleam in his eyes, she shrugged and tried to sound carefree. “Ta da. The whole package.”
Rafe whistled a low husky sound. “Fuck, Nicki.”
Staring at the erotic sight in front of him Rafe struggled to breathe. She was the picture of innocence, a vision in white lace. But without a doubt, the sexiest damn woman he’d ever seen. Under the white satin garter belt a lacy triangle covered what he now knew was the coiled snake, the instigation of the perpetual hard-on he’d had since he’d seen her naked body three nights before. He could only imagine what she looked like from behind, with the narrow string of her thong highlighting the crack between the cheeks of her perfect ass. Not taking his eyes off her, or trying to hide his eagerness, he bent down and yanked the knife out of his boot and tossed it on the table. He unstrapped his ankle holster and put both the gun and its holster beside the knife. He toed off one boot then reached down to remove the other. Taking a deep raspy breath, he stood up and flexed his bare feet. He smiled when she pressed her hand against her mouth; She watched as though mesmerized as Rafe undid first one then another of the buttons on his jeans, then shoved them lower on his hips. He left the last two buttons closed. Given his erection, there was no danger that his pants would slide off.
He leaned back against the edge of the cabinet and took a sip of the potent whiskey hoping to ease the encroaching tightness in his throat.
“Take off your bra, Princess. Again, honey: Do it slow.”
Two bright pink spots stained her cheeks. She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them and gave him a tentative smile. When he nodded to her, she bit down on her bottom lip and reached behind herself to undo the clasp of the lacy structure.
When she hesitated, holding the fabric against her breasts, he gave her a reassuring smile, one of the few genuine smiles he’d ever shared with her.
“That’s right, Nicki. Take your time. This is a sight I want to remember for the rest of my life.”
She flushed, then lowered the straps of her bra and let it fall to the floor. Rafe did his best not to frighten her but he couldn’t hold back a low groan. Damn, her breasts were beautiful. Full and firm with soft pink nipples hardening to tight peaks at his lecherous stare. He longed to put his mouth on them… lick them… suck them… and bite them. As if she could read his mind, her nipples tightened, further hardening like bright pink berries.
Before he strode across the room to take her in his arms, he had one more task to check off his list for fantasies come to life.
“Nicki, I need you to take off those sexy shoes. But Princess, when you do, I want you to turn around and bend over.”
His voice dropped to a husky growl. “And Nicki? Take them off real slow.”
Chapter 29
Nicki raked in a deep shuddering breath of air. Her knees threatened to buckle. Her breasts were heavy, achy with need. Her nipples tingled. She longed to feel his hands, his mouth on her. She imagined the rasp of his beard stubble on her tender skin… the heat of his breath.
Rafe held her in his powerful gaze, as tightly as if his arms were wrapped around her. His eyes were a dark green forest of erotic desires. An aura of power surrounded him. He owned the space around them. His urgency, his insistence on seeing all of her, all the intimate places that she’d never revealed to anyone, should have frightened her, but his crooning voice thrilled her. It was low, commanding. It made her want to obey his provocative orders. And she didn’t want him to stop.
“You heard me, Darlin’. Turn around. Bend over and take off those outrageous shoes. But before you do, baby, let down your hair.”
She forced a smile determined to look confident, worldly, but couldn’t help biting her trembling lip, as she took the clip from her hair. She shook her long curly hair, letting it fall over her shoulders and down her back. She threw him a saucy smile.
His eyes narrowed at her brazen response. “Oh yeah, that’s my sassy girl. Now. Last time, Princess. Those shoes. Off. Now.”
Nicki swallowed, wondering where all her spit had gone. She turned in a graceful circle, then bent over, feeling the stretch of the garters against the tender flesh of her thighs. She knew that nothing stood between the sight of her curvy ass and his probing eyes except the satin string of her thong. At his soft male groan, her courage flared. Rather than being frightened or embarrassed by the revealing pose, she was emboldened. Her legs were strong, flexible from hours of training. Her fingertips easily touched the floor. When she bent over her breasts swayed gently. She tossed her head and her hair fell in a shiny curtain of fiery fragrant gold. It shadowed her face and brushed against her nipples causing them to tighten in response. His harsh intake of air behind her thrilled her, encouraged her. She slowly undid the buckles on her shoes and slipped them off.
Turning to face him, she reveled in his heated gaze. Without being told, she unsnapped each of the garters holding her stockings, unrolled one sheer stocking, then the other, and slipped them off. She didn’t know where she got her courage, but delighted in his low guttural chuckle when she tossed the stockings to him. He caught them in one hand then held them up to his nose, breathing deeply, nodding in appreciation at the fragrance. He tucked them in his pocket then motioned to her garter belt. Twisting around, she found the tiny hooks and slowly unfastened the frothy garment, letting it drop to the floor.
With only the scrap of satin covering her mound, she suddenly felt naked, vulnerable. She closed her eyes at the lust in his expression, and put both hands over her mound, trying to shield herself from the intensity of his gaze.
“Uh uh, no, no, Princess. Don’t hide from me. Ever. I want to look at you, to see all of you. Put your hands at your sides, Nicki, or better yet, lift your beautiful breasts and present them to me.”
Nicki was stunned, as much by her response as his command. Swallowing hard at the clamoring sensations bombarding her, she lifted her breasts and held them out to him, loving the weight of them in her small hands.
His eyes widened in appreciation, his voice was low, husky.
“Mm hmm. Yes, like that. God, baby, look at you. Your breasts overflow your hands; it will take my much larger hands to capture those luscious globes. Pinch your nipples, Nicki.”
She gasped.
“What? I….”
“Ah, yes, baby, you liked it when I did that to you, didn’t you? When I pinched them and sucked on them, made them hard. Tell me. Tell me if you liked what I did to you?”
She whimpered, not able to suppress a low shivery moan.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Touch them, Nicki. Feel those soft pink tips harden, tighten. Do you like that, baby? Like the way that feels?”
“Yes, God, yes! Rafe. But please, Rafe, I need you. I need you to touch me, to hold me.”
“And Darlin’, I need you. So goddamned much. And I will hold you. But, first. One more thing. Are you wet, Nicki?”
She started, then closed her eyes and moaned.
“Yes, I…I think I am. No, I’m sure I am.”
“Touch yourself, baby.”
When she gasped, he nodded, motioning to the throbbing apex between her legs. She tentatively slipped her fingers under the satin triangle. She hesitated for a moment, then murmured, “Yes, Rafe. I’m wet.”
He gave her a knowing nod, then inched toward her, lean and hungry as a panther.
“How do you taste?”
She jerked back in surprise. He couldn’t mean…. “Dear God, Rafe!”
His voice was soft, firm, implacable.
“Lick your fingers, Nicki. Tell me, do you like the way you taste?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. His gaze was overpowering but rather than being horrified at his intimate command, her body trilled in response. She would never have thought that such a thing would excite her. But his searing intensity, his bold coiled strength, sent shivers of desire whipping through her. She licked her fingers, surprised at the earthy taste. It was sweet, salty, exciting.
She opened her eyes and met his heated gaze. She whispered, “I…I like it.”
His eyes flashed, darkened. In two quick steps, he closed the distance between them. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her fingers up to his mouth and sucked on them. He groaned.
“Oh, yeah, Nicki. I like it too.”
“Rafe?”
“Yes, Nicki.”
“Please, don’t stop.”
Remembering the times he had pushed her away, her plea touched him, shamed him. Hell, how could he have thought he could resist her? Fight his carnal urges? But he knew it was more than that. What he felt for her was not a fleeting desire, a mere physical response to a beautiful woman.
No, what he felt for Nicki was a deep compelling hunger, a need he’d never felt before. All of his hesitation, his fear of what would happen if he gave in to his raging desire evaporated. Looking into her trusting eyes begging him not to shut her out, he knew that he could not, would not turn away.
Closing the distance between them, he scooped her up in his arms. She felt soft, fragile. He had an overarching desire to hold her, protect her, never let anyone hurt her. But, for the moment, more than anything, he wanted to be inside of her. To bury his fears, his hesitation in the sweetness of her body.
He laid her down on the bed and crawled up beside her. He was shaking with need but determined to be gentle, not give in to his dark dominant side. No, he promised himself. He wouldn’t do that, not with Nicki. She was innocent, untouched. He could hold back. He was certain he could…reasonably certain. Then he smelled her. Her fragrance overwhelmed him. It was sweet, spicy, the musky scent of an aroused woman. But it was more than that. It was her scent. The one he’d been seeking, seemingly all of his life. He breathed in deep and with a groan gave into his raw need.
He zeroed in on the susceptible curve between her neck and shoulder. He licked the sensitive skin, then bit down, delighting in her soft whimpering cry. He understood. At a primal level he knew what all animals knew. This was her most vulnerable place. He pressed forward, unable to hold back. Tightening his fist in her hair, he pulled her head back and kissed her, possessing her mouth fully. He tried to be gentle, reassuring, but his need was too great, too demanding. He pressed her lips apart, and thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. Her response was as fierce. A shuddering moan escaped her lips. She wove her fingers in his hair, tugging at his scalp, pulling him closer. Their to
ngues tangled, their teeth clashed.
He groaned, a deep male sound.
“Jesus, Nicki. God, baby. I want you. I need you.”
Her breath was shallow, tight. Rafe heard her heart thudding against her chest. He licked the sweaty valley between her breasts, consuming her scent, her taste. He grasped one soft nipple between his fingers and thumb, and pinched it the way he’d told her to do. She cried out and pressed her other breast against his mouth.
“Damn, Nicki. I…want to be gentle, easy, but…baby, I want you, need you too much.”
He suckled her, licked her, then bit down hard against the throbbing nub.
She cried out, clutching his shoulders, holding him tight against her. Her voice was harsh with desire.
“No, no. Rafe. Please don’t stop. Something is happening to me… Oh God. I.…”
He felt her rising need, her deep hard shudder. He marveled at her responsiveness knowing that her orgasm was about to crash over her.
“Christ, Nicki. You’re coming just from my mouth on your breasts. No. No, baby, don’t stop.”
He pulled her closer, reveling in her soft wail as she thrashed wildly in his arms.
“God, woman, you are amazing.”
He held her tightly as wave after wave churned over her, delighting in Nicki’s wild response. It inflamed him. He knew he couldn’t stop. He had to have her.
Gently, softly, trying not to frighten her, he moved down the length of her body, nipping at her tender skin. He marveled at the firm, taut muscles beneath her soft womanly curves. He licked the ridge around her belly button then tugged on the jeweled ring decorating the soft indentation. He reveled in her whimper and dug his tongue deeper into the sensitive groove.
His breath hitched at the heady fragrance rising from between her thighs. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had been dreaming of this moment from the first time he saw her. Knowing what lay beneath her one remaining scrap of clothing only ratcheted his desire to impossible heights. He slipped off the bed and knelt before her. Dragging her hips to the edge, he wedged her legs apart with his broad shoulders.
Hearing her gasp and feeling her instinctive resistance, he murmured, “Uh uh, Nicki. It’s okay, Princess. I need you to open to me, sweet woman.”