He hushed her with a finger and shook his head. “I don’t want to hear her name again. She’s gone and I am here with you, and that is just as it should be.”
After gazing into his eyes for a long time, Mary stroked his cheek. “I could say the same of you, Michael. That you are the most dangerous person I’ve ever known. You know more about me than anyone. Somehow that’s exciting and frightening all at once.”
He smiled. “I have no intention of hurting you with what I know. That’s not why I wanted to know.”
“Then why?”
“The more I know of you, the more I want to know. You fascinate me. I want you—” …to stay with me so I can keep you safe. He stopped himself short of confessing the truth in his heart.
“I want you.” Her fingers toyed with the buttons on his shirt, fluttering and cautious, as if she wasn’t sure about undoing them.
Michael wanted her to rip them away, and if she didn’t, he would, but then he remembered vowing to Duster that he wouldn’t hurt Mary. He now stood on the brink of potentially doing just that. “I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me. I trust you, Michael.”
Trying desperately to summon the will to leave, he found himself kissing her lips with light nips. She pulled him tight, deepening the contact.
As they explored each other, her scent changed from floral citrus to smoky. Love. Did he find that from her body or his? He could no longer tell and discovered it no longer mattered. If she trusted him, he would not fail her.
He pulled an alloy key from his pocket and removed her bracelet and his wrist com. He tossed them off the bed. “If you will trust your body to me, I will trust mine to you.”
She glanced at her bare wrist and then at his. “I have no desire to hurt you, Michael.”
When Mary said his name, it sounded like a magic spell to summon all she wanted. As he looked into her eyes, he saw only her desire for him, not Commander or Overlord, just a man named Michael.
Sliding his fingers over the slick silk of her shirt, he marveled in the heat his touch generated. A fire filled his whole body as he stroked each bit of her exposed flesh. With a murmured word, he slid her shirt and camisole up, then nuzzled the exposed curve of her breasts.
She moaned, relaxing into the bed, cupping his head, begging him closer. He smiled against her and continued to tease the sensitive skin that began the swell of her breasts. Still covered by black silk, her nipples contracted, and he lifted his head, took one in his mouth, then pulled back, blowing against the now wet silk. The cool breeze tightened her nipple, causing her to gasp and arch her back.
Nibbling, he pushed the camisole up and took the cool peak into his hot mouth. She uttered a stream of sexy profanity, and her body exuded a sharp, smoky essence of desire. His mouth and hands worked in tandem, bringing her panting breath and her lovely scent to a rushing pinnacle.
Suddenly, she pushed him away. Before he could wonder why, she yanked her shirt off along with her camisole and tossed them aside. She cupped his head, exerting faint pressure.
He took her nipple into his mouth again. On her sigh, he drew the peak more fully and nipped gently with his teeth. Her sigh turned to a growl as her fingers gripped more tightly to his head.
As he teased her breasts, he slid his hand down the firm curve of her belly, toying with the sensitive skin around her bellybutton. Working his way down, he ran his finger under the waistband of her skirt.
She tightened, not in fear but anticipation. As he kissed his way down her belly, he could smell the wet heat of her desire as verdant earth, shimmering spices and succulent citrus. Desire overwhelmed him, yet he wanted to please her, to show her without words how much he loved her.
Teasing around the edge of the skirt with fingers and lips, he enjoyed her growing frustration. When she tried to push her skirt down, he stopped her.
“Slow down, Mary.”
“I don’t want to go slow.”
Her insistence galvanized him. Together they pushed her skirt down. She wriggled it to her left leg and kicked it off the bed. Lifting her arms, she tried to draw him to her, but he angled up on his elbow so he could look at her beautiful bare body surrounded by salmon silk. In the soft light, her skin glowed peaches and cream, her lips fine claret, her cheeks flushed vermilion. She looked all at once vulnerable and strong.
Suddenly shy, she turned toward him, seeking solace in the shadow of his chest.
“Lie back and look up.” He glanced to the mirror over the bed. “I want you to see how beautiful you are.” He grasped her cast-bound leg and angled her injury over his hips. Tracing lightly, he teased her until she groaned, low and deep, and lifted her hips in an attempt to center his fingers. Her desire for penetration rolled off her in waves of luscious, edible scent. “Not yet,” he soothed, building intensity in her with the swipe of his thumb.
“Michael, please. I feel like I’m on fire.”
He flashed her a mischievous grin. “Not yet, you’re not. You’re only smoldering at this point.”
Hard and slow, he stroked his thumb across her clit. She lifted her hips to meet his touch, and he slipped his finger inside her.
She gasped, letting out a long “oh” of pleasure as she moved against his hand.
It maddened him, watching her face, her eyelids fluttering, as he felt her body contract and rock against his hand. Tight, so tight. He carefully slid another finger inside her, answering her need with a slow plunging of his hand.
Her eyes went wide, and she moaned, moving her hips in a wide circle that helped the thrust of his fingers. He noticed she kept her eyes open, looking up into the mirror over the bed. It surprised him. Most women closed their eyes, but not Mary.
“Are you watching my hand, lovely lady?” He wondered if she found the visual as arousing as he did.
“Yes.” Her eyes focused on the mirror above. Her slender and much paler body angled over his, her cast-bound leg slung over his hips as she wantonly welcomed him to fully pleasure her.
He snuggled his hand to her sweet, slick core. Pressing against her hip, his cotton slacks didn’t offer the same protection as his leather pants; he felt her body heat instantly against his erection. As he rocked his hips against her, he rocked his hand in the same rhythm. He filled her with strong fingers as his wicked need rode against her slender hip.
As if hypnotized, Mary watched their reflection in the mirror above the bed. He increased the tempo, and she stretched her arms over her head as she writhed, legs wantonly spread.
“But you—”
“Beautiful, my lady, you are so impossibly beautiful. Are you watching my hand?”
“Yes, but you’re still dressed.” Eyeing the mirror, using it to focus her gaze to his, she breathlessly begged and ordered, “I want to see you naked.” She reached for his pants, but he blocked her.
“We have all night. There’s no reason to hurry.” Lifting the angle of his hand, thrusting his fingers deep, circling her clit with his thumb, he lowered his mouth to her breast and tugged her coffee-colored nipple. Scraping that tight bit of flesh with his teeth, he worked his hand faster.
A shocked expletive escaped her and her hips met him thrust for thrust. “Please,” she begged in a breathless whisper.
He answered by slipping his fingers deep and hard, impaling her on the full of his hand and thrust of his arm. She uttered profanities as she grasped his forearm and pulled him to her body. He found her swearing arousing as hell, almost as compelling as the rich scent she exuded. Mary surrendered so fully, so soundly, he almost confessed his identity.
“It will feel even better,” he promised, slowing his hand as he nipped her neck, “when I fill you.” He brought his mouth to hers, growling the words to her swollen lips. “When I am inside you, you’ll wrap your legs around my hips to pull me into you.”
He slid his tongue between her lips, deepening the kiss. “When I penetrate you, Mary, you can wrap your arms around my shoulders, your legs around my
hips, and make me ride you.”
Flicking his tongue deep into her mouth, he took a full taste of her compelling blood-orange scent. “You’ll be able to use your whole body to force me deeper. That’s if you want me. Do you want me, Mary?”
“Yes.” She teased her tongue across his lips and lowered her hand to cover his. “Deeper.” She pressed hard, rocking her hips firmly up.
Groaning, he thrust his hand fast and deep, unable to resist her further. Mary bucked, lifting her body in a rigid arc. She tightened around his fingers, and the powerful perfume of her orgasm nearly pushed him over the edge. He wanted to taste her pleasure so badly he almost bellowed, but he would wait until she recovered.
“Wow.” Shaking her head, she blinked, her eyes looking a bit dazed as she gazed into the mirror.
He smiled. “Indeed.”
She cast him a sly grin. “Aren’t you impressed with yourself?”
“Granted.” He winked. “But judging by your reaction, I think I have every right to be.”
“I could be faking,” she said archly, stroking his neck.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep sniff of the lush, rich, edible pleasure between her beautiful legs. “I can smell the truth.”
“Yeah-huh.” She blushed. “I forgot about that.”
He curled against her and they lay silent for a time.
She dropped her gaze to his chest, then lower. “Be my captive again. Take off your shirt for me.”
Challenged, he stood. If she wanted a show, he’d gladly give her one. He popped each button with a deliberate pinch of his fingers and thumb. The same fingers and thumb that still glistened with her climax.
She settled herself on her back in the disheveled bed, watching him with gleaming eyes. “Slowly, Michael.”
Her request tickled along his already excited nerves. He flushed with pleasure as he complied. “I see you’ve given this some thought.”
“I have.” She offered him a wicked, wanton smile and an arched brow as she rolled to the edge of the bed for a better view. On her side, she propped her head up on her bent elbow.
He slipped the shirt from his shoulders and let the silk slink over his skin to the floor. “Now what?”
She considered him for a long moment. “Pop the button on your trousers.”
He did as she commanded. He’d never met a woman who enjoyed watching as much as she did. He found her gaze terribly arousing since he enjoyed being on display.
She looked him up and down for a long time. “Turn around.”
Confused, he turned away, presenting his back to her.
“Unzip them,” she demanded with a husky whisper.
He lowered the zipper with some difficulty past his throbbing penis. When he groaned, he heard her chuckle and ask with a teasing voice, “Was that a groan of relief?”
Unable to speak, he nodded. It felt damn good to be free from the confines of his dress slacks.
“You can let them fall,” she offered generously.
He dropped them to the floor, the smooth cotton rubbing against the hair of his body all the way down. The slick stroke made him think of her hands on him and he was fully aware of the painful scent of arousal emanating from his own skin.
“I saw you in the shower.”
“What?” Startled, he turned toward her.
“Don’t turn around,” Mary commanded with a singsong voice. “Kick your pants away.”
He did. Hard and nude, he faced her closed bedroom door.
“I saw you in the shower.” Her voice rolled over him like a thousand quick kisses. “I saw you one morning after breakfast. You left the com on in the solarium. House didn’t seem to mind when I started flipping channels. Nothing of interest until I found you in the locker room.”
“You watched me shower?” If possible, he hardened even more at the thought of her voyeuristically watching him.
“Well, I could see your back, like I can now. I couldn’t tell what you were doing until I saw your pumping right arm.” She spoke with a low, seductive edge. “I tried to turn the monitor off and walk away, but I heard you say my name.” She paused. “Well, actually, you groaned my name. Your arm stopped moving after that.”
He smiled, tilting his head back. “Had I known you were watching, I would have made it last longer.” Hell, he would have turned and faced the camera.
“If I asked you to do that for me, would you?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Would it excite you to do that for me?”
“Gods, yes.” He felt his body on display, satisfying himself as she watched. Without a single touch, his body jerked, and he looked down to see a glistening drop at the tip of his erection. “Just listening to your voice is making me crazy, Mary. If you keep this up, I won’t be.”
“Won’t be what?”
“Up.” He was so close to the edge it wouldn’t take much more to push him over. If he wasn’t careful, he would climax without ever having touched her.
“Turn around.” Her voice thickened with the words.
When he did, she looked right into his eyes. Inch by inch, her gaze traveled down his body. She gave a startled gasp when she saw how big he was, and her eyes widened.
On a deep breath, he tasted a hint of fear. “I would never hurt you, Mary, not with any part of my body.”
Reassured by his words, she flushed ever so slightly. “Come here.”
As he walked toward her, his penis bounced with his step, and it excited him even more when she darted surreptitious glances down, then back to his eyes. Her scent and gaze was no longer filled with fear but curiosity and longing.
Tension filled him as he slipped onto the bed beside her. He throbbed with physical desire but also a profound emotional need, one that no longer frightened him. All those lingering traces of fear disappeared from her eyes and from her scent. Rushing and tumbling, all he could smell and taste was the rich scent of her passion.
“I want—” She bit her lip, ducked her head, a soft flush washing across her cheeks.
Tilting her face up, he dropped his lips a breath from hers. “Do you want me inside you?”
“Yes.” Her gaze met his. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
Her bold honesty electrified him. “I feel the same way.”
He lowered his head, bridging the distance between them. Pressing his lips to hers, he pulled her into his arms. She clutched tight to his shoulders. Sliding his tongue into her mouth, reveling in the taste of her, he drew her close and slid her up the silk-clad bed.
“Where are you taking me?”
He arranged her body so as she lay back, with a good view of the mirror, her legs dangled over the side of the bed.
“Okay?”
She nodded.
Pushing her legs apart, mindful of her cast, he placed himself on his knees between and kissed her inner thigh. “I guess I lied.”
“What?” She peered down at him, one eyebrow raised.
As she’d teased him while he undressed, he teased her now. “You won’t be able to wrap your legs around me with that cast.”
To his shocked delight, she grinned. “At the moment, I don’t want my legs around you.” She reclined, spread her legs wider and looked up to the mirror. “I know what you want to do, and I can’t wait to watch and feel you do it.”
Pleasure surged as he worked his way up her thigh, kissing and biting. Nudging her open with a stroke of his finger, he ran his fingertip against her clit.
She groaned, arching her back. Her gaze darted between the mirror and him.
He gripped her inner thighs with his massive hands, opened her and plunged his face to her core, penetrating her with his tongue. Citrus, verdant earth, spices and flowers. Mary tasted so good he never wanted to stop. Devouring her, he used his teeth, his tongue and his swirling fingers to bring her to the edge of climax. Reveling in the full of her scent, her taste, the promise of her body, he forced her higher and higher.
“Please,” Mary whispered urgently.
He held her down by placing his hands on her hips and brought her to climax with one wicked flick of his tongue. She growled a stream of profanity, then lay back.
He rested his head against her thigh, but she recovered quickly and sat up.
“I want—”
“I know what you want.” Her need for penetration rolled off her in an insistent wave of luscious scent he longed to answer. “You want the same thing I do.”
He pulled her hips to the edge of the bed as he moved forward. Pressing the prow of his engorged cock to her welcoming core, he fought every driving instinct in his body and brain. He wanted to fill her in one hard thrust. Claim her. Possess her. Desire to be inside her shook him so soundly his body hurt when he only pressed the tip of himself against her.
“Look at me, Mary.”
Over-bright eyes, glazed with passion, blinked dreamily up at him. “Don’t you dare stop.”
He smiled gently. “I won’t.” He moved forward. When her eyes went wide and her brows lowered, along with a wisp of edible fear, he backed off.
Frantic, she reached for him.
“I’m not stopping. Relax. Welcome me. Let me inside you.”
Large hands soothed her as he paused, allowing her to grow accustomed to his invading girth. Delicious tightness clenched around the head of his penis. Relying on every shred of his willpower to hold steady, he stroked his hands up and down the silken skin of her legs.
She stretched her hands over her head, and gave an experimental roll of her hips.
Hissing a sharp expletive, he gripped her waist. “Don’t do that.”
“Why?” She rolled her hips and twisted the tight start of her core around the tip of his cock.
Swearing, hissing, he gritted his teeth to hold himself back. “Mary, don’t.” He focused his gaze on hers. “If you do, I won’t be able to start before I’m finished.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head as he ran a million random bits of trivia through his mind to distract himself. His brief and bitter showers paid off; he discovered he could maintain some equanimity by forced control.
Mary rolled her hips again, grasping the head of his straining penis. As she rotated, she slithered down the silk of the bed until her legs spread wide, and she could draw him deeper.
Overlord: The Fringe, Book 2 Page 22