Before driving away Pierce leaned across the console, slid his hand around the back of her neck and drew her in for a slow, full-mouthed, hot tongue kiss. “My place or yours?”
“Mine.” Her breathy answer pleased him to no end.
Damn, the man sure knew how to kiss. If eating and drinking weren’t life necessities, she could gladly survive on a steady diet of Pierce’s firm commanding lips. Ten minutes on the road and her heart was still billowing blood through her veins. Then there was the matter of his earlier comment. Fear of her being exposed to him didn’t even figure into the equation of what she was feeling. One evening in his company and she was forced to admit her brothers had been right about her relationship with her ex-fiancé. It had been a no-go on so many levels. Nearly six hundred miles away from the one man she’d always yearned for, she had been settling. Thank God she’d come to her senses before she’d screwed up, not only her life, but another caring human being’s as well. Joel deserved better.
She’d been attracted to the young handsome doctor because he was kind, undemanding and, building a medical practice, he understood that sometimes career trumped personal commitments. She admired his dedication, or so she thought until his career became more and more important and their personal life kept getting put on the back burner. She’d lost count of the candlelight dinners she’d ended up spending alone. But after a while even the excellent wine she’d chosen for the meal was a poor substitute at keeping her warm those nights. Truthfully, in the end, she came to realize Joel loved his career more than he loved her.
“What has you so deep in thought, sweetheart? Have I lost your attention so soon?”
Instead of lifting her head off the comfortable headrest, she rolled it to the left. “Hardly. I was thinking what a good decision it was to come home. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed all of you.” His ready grin lit her up from head to toe. She could easily bask beneath its warmth for the rest of her life.
He gave her body a slow, thorough once-over. “I can honestly say I missed all of you too.”
A breath stuttered in her chest. But she balked at revealing too much. After all, her heart was on the line. “You know darn well what I meant.”
“Did I? I’m thirty-two years old. It took me a while to realize my feelings, but I’m not afraid to man up and say I want you. Missed you more than I was willing to admit. I’m not questioning that. I’m questioning whether or not you’re capable of entering the kind of submissive lifestyle you say you want. The kind I need from a woman. One who knows my views on long-term commitment.”
She took a deep breath and ignored the last of his comment. “You’re right. I have been tiptoeing around my feelings. I want and missed you too. I’ve wanted you for what seems forever. Wanting to be one of the women in that video with you.”
“What the hell.” His eyes widened as his gaze left the road for a few seconds, necessitating he tap the brake or end up in the trunk of the Chevy sedan ahead of them. “You watched one of the videos we taped?”
Good, she’d shocked him. Well, if he wanted honesty, she’d give him both barrels. Wait a minute. “Did you say videos? As in plural? Damn, I should’ve poked around harder.”
“Why you little voyeur. Wait until I tell Quinn and Justin.”
She jerked straight up and turned to face him. “Absolutely not. You can’t tell them. If you do, I swear I’ll never speak to you again.”
His laugh echoed through the plush interior of the car as his attention shifted back to the road to change lanes in the light traffic. “You’ll need to come up with a better threat, sweetheart. A silent submissive could have advantages. I was thinking earlier what a shame it would be if I had to gag that sexy mouth of yours when I’d much prefer it readily accessible.”
Her thoughts momentarily derailed. She’d never been gagged. Not that Pierce and her brothers hadn’t threatened to do just that when she’d hit her mouthy teenaged years. Would he really gag her? Something they’d definitely have to discuss. Later. “Seriously, Pierce. Please, don’t say anything to them.”
“Hmmm.” He scraped his neatly trimmed nails over the groomed stubble on his chin.
God, she loved that look. So totally bad boy. Sexy and sinister all rolled into one. She’d gotten a tiny sample of how the slightly prickly hairs would feel on her thighs back in her kitchen before they’d left. Throughout dinner, the image popped into her mind. His dark head between her widespread thighs. The light scrape of his permanent five o’clock shadow.
“I might be persuaded to keep your secret.” In the dim light of the control panel, his eyes danced with devilment. “For a price.”
“Anything.” Whatever the price, it would be worth it. Her brothers could be a major pain in the ass with their teasing.
“Be careful what you agree to, brat. What if I want to keep you naked for the next week? To have total access to your hot body wherever and whenever the mood strikes me?” His teasing tone took on a more serious edge.
Well, all righty then. She’d told him earlier she didn’t want to take things slow. What kind of hypocrite would she be if she backpedaled now? She knew she could be the sort of woman he wanted. Time to put up or shut up.
She waited until they turned off the exit to downtown. “Deal.”
Coming up on a red light, he hit the brake a little harder than needed and the stop was less than smooth. She reveled in her power to give his control a jolt, even on this simple level.
He surprised her by pulling off to the side and parking the car. Whatever he was going to say must be important as they were only a few blocks from her condo.
Resting his arm on the steering wheel, he turned his body to stare deeply into her eyes. Framed by his open black dinner jacket, the straining slice of pristine white dress shirt took on a green cast from the dashboard illumination.
“I’m not going to insult you by asking if you know what you’ve agreed to. Ivy League college jokes aside, I’ve always respected your intelligence.”
“Thank y—” He pressed a finger over her lips.
“When I picked you up tonight, you said you didn’t want to take it slow, so I hope you brought your scuba gear. Because we’re going in fast and deep and you’ll be damn lucky if I let you up for air. I’m going to possess you in every conceivable way a man can. And make you scream for more. From this moment on, your body belongs to me.”
Heather was speechless. A good thing, since all she could manage was a whimper when his lips slammed down on hers in a totally consuming kiss that left her too numb to think of anything but the masterful possession of her mouth. And his fist tangled in her hair, giving her little choice but to move the way he choreographed.
So this was what it felt like to be conquered. Her entire body thrummed under his onslaught.
Fast. Deep.
Oh, yeah. She was sooo there.
Chapter Five
When they reached her condo, Heather thought they’d make a mad dash up the hall steps, stripping off clothes as they went, and in his greed to have her, he’d take her against the upper door, too consumed by lust to open it.
Fat chance.
Damn it. She hadn’t even made it through one night with him and already she was beginning to dislike his unflappable control.
Instead, after parking the car, he’d strolled around to her side, opened the door, helped her out and then ducked in to snatch up the bag containing the wine and food. He let her precede him up to her place, and once inside, he calmly walked to the kitchen and put everything in the refrigerator.
Except for one bottle of wine and a single dessert.
Not knowing what he expected from her, she placed her shawl and purse on the kitchen counter and waited for him to tell her.
He turned, leaning against the cabinets, his hands braced on the edge of the countertop. “While I pour some wine and plate up the tiramisu, why don’t you freshen up a bit? I’ll meet you up in your bedroom.” His voice was calm, his attitude casual.
Frustrated by his blasé manner, Heather struggled for patience and forced her voice to remain neutral. “Do you want me naked?”
She hid a smile of satisfaction when his hands momentarily clenched the counter before he pushed off, walked over to her and spanned her waist. The warmth of his large hands seeped through the thin fabric of her dress. He was tall and solid, and even though he was only five inches taller than her five foot eight, she always felt petite in his presence.
“Eventually.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “But I want the privilege of undressing you the first time.” He yanked her in tight.
She expelled a soft squeak. If she had any lingering doubt that he too was feeling the sexual charge in the air, the long, thick ridge of his cock straining the zipper of his dress pants dispelled it.
God, if he didn’t bury that steely hunk of flesh deep inside her pussy soon, she was going to knock his fine ass to the floor and jump his bones. She moaned and rotated her hips.
He gently pushed her away.
Damn it.
“Go on.” He angled his head toward the spiral staircase.
She expelled a resigned breath. “Okay. There’s a wooden tray in the bottom cabinet next to the stove. Glasses in the one above the sink. Corkscrew in that drawer.” She pointed. “Forks in—”
“No need for a fork.”
“No fork?”
He shook his head, gave her a wolfish grin.
“It could get messy.”
Dimples formed in his cheeks. “I expect it will. Might want to grab a towel or two.” Taking firm hold of her shoulders, he turned her toward the staircase. “Up.” A sharp smack on her ass set her in motion with a crisp yelp.
Heather didn’t bother to look back. Snatching off her heels, she hurried upstairs and headed straight for the bathroom.
When she came out, Pierce was sitting on the bottom edge of her bed, legs slightly spread, elbows resting on his muscular thighs. The comforter had been stripped off the bed and negligently tossed onto her favorite reading chair in the corner. The candles she kept scattered around her bedroom were all lit, infusing the air with a hint of fresh lemon. The dimmer switch for the ceiling track lights was set on low. Enough light to make out all but the tiniest details. He’d discarded his jacket and his starched white shirt was open halfway down his hairless, sculpted chest. A chest she’d yearned to get her hands on for years.
“Come here, brat.”
Her heart warmed at the husky affection in his voice and blatant appreciation in his fiery gaze. She stepped forward. Right into the V of his rock-hard thighs.
Without taking his gaze off her, he took the two towels dangling from her hand and placed them off to the side. He bracketed her waist. The size and heat of his hands engulfing her in a warm, possessive embrace.
The moment she’d waited nearly an entire lifetime for was finally here. The two of them. Alone. In a room with a bed. Minutes away from making love.
“You have a remarkably small waist. I’ve always wanted to tell you that.” He stroked his thumbs over the area. “I love that I can nearly wrap my hands all the way around it. Another man might think you fragile. But we both know better.” He placed a light kiss on her quivering stomach before looking up, a soft smile on his lips. “Actually, your entire body is amazing. Strong, curvy, sexy as hell.”
His honesty, his molten gaze, heated her to the marrow of her bones. He’d never made any personal reference to how she was built. For the most part, his comments were always strictly platonic.
She indulged the need to run her fingers through the dense black waves on his head. She toyed with them a few seconds before moving down to the thick contour of his neck, to slip beneath his shirt to further map the width of his massive shoulders before settling at the edges. Her palms tingled from the glorious heat emanating from his beautiful bronzed flesh. “Your body is pretty amazing too.”
His hands moved lower, capturing her hips. “As much as I love how you look in this dress, I’ve been dying to get you out of it all evening. But before we start, there’s something I want to talk about.”
Although the last thing she wanted to do at the moment was have a conversation, she nodded. “Anything.” His sensually sinister grin made her pussy throb.
“Be very careful what you agree to.”
She shook her head, lightly. “I don’t want to be careful. Not with you. Not tonight.”
“Especially tonight. Tonight, we’ll test the waters. No total control. No Dom. No sub. Just Pierce and Heather. A man and a woman getting to know each other,” he lightly squeezed her hips, “Basic likes and dislikes. A little vanilla before we start adding additional flavors and getting around to that fast and deep part I mentioned in the car earlier. All right?”
Heather took a deep breath and glanced at the small table next to her reading chair where the tray with the tiramisu and wine sat. She doubted his definition of vanilla sex was the same as the normal populace’s. Hiding a smile, she nodded. She’d agree to anything he wanted as long as it would give her access to his awesome, ripped body. “More than all right.”
“Good. In the morning, we’ll discuss what course our relationship will take.” With slight pressure, he moved her back an arm’s length and stood.
Her hands fell from his shoulders. She curled her fingers against the loss. She’d get her turn later.
“Now let’s get this hard-on-inducing little black scrap off you.”
“The quicker, the better.”
He shook his head. “Not quick. Slow and easy. We have all night and I intend to make every minute count. Starting now.” He placed a light, lingering kiss on the tender flesh between her neck and shoulder.
Heather fought off the light tickle, concentrating instead on the warmth and tenderness of the contact. He had the most wonderful lips. Firm enough to command, soft enough to seduce.
“Undressing you is equal to opening a long-anticipated gift.” His words more hum than murmur.
The warm draft of his breath in contrast to the cool air on her back as he slid the zipper down resulted in an all-over quiver. What was it about this particular man that made her experience everything in a heightened sense? No other man had ever made her feel this way.
Her dress hit the floor, leaving her completely exposed. Vulnerable.
She rejoiced at the heightened lust in Pierce’s appreciative sweeping gaze.
She felt electrified. Sexy as hell standing there with not a stitch on, Pierce still dressed in a half-unbuttoned stark-white shirt and jet-black pants.
He sat back down onto the bed and bent to grasp her dress.
She didn’t wait to be instructed to step out of it.
Once she was free of the garment, he tossed the dress aside.
The slow, slightly rough glide of his hands from ankle to thigh, over the generous curve of her hip, had her catching her lower lip between her teeth. Wealthy upbringing aside, she knew Pierce loved working with his hands. And even though the need for doing the work himself was long past, on occasion he’d strap on a tool belt and sweat the day away on a building site.
God, there was something about a physical man that got her juices flowing.
Grasping her hand, he tugged her down, settling her across his thighs. He skimmed the backs of his fingers down the sensitive inside of her arm, one corner of his mouth tipping up when the muscles twitched beneath the light contact. “Your skin is so soft. Before the night is through, I intend to touch, lick and kiss every inch.”
An involuntary shiver erupted at the image. She cupped his cheek. “Only if I get to do the same to you.”
He smiled. “You won’t hear me complaining. You can do anything you want to me after I’ve had my fill of you. If you have any strength left.” He dipped his head, capturing her thumb with his mouth. Sucked. “Right now, though, I want another taste of those luscious lips.”
No argument there. She wanted to taste his just as much. Before she could turn more fully into
him, he grasped the back of her neck and jerked her lips to his, causing an instant combustion that had her stomach muscles bunching.
Unlike the leisurely taste-testing kiss downstairs, this one was all gluttonous feast.
Heather gripped the sleeves of his shirt and held on for the ride of her life.
Pierce hadn’t exactly lied earlier, but he was dominant by nature and there was no way this evening was going to proceed on equal footing. Mainly because the ravenous sexual beast within was roaring to toss Heather onto the bed, strap her down and fuck her until dawn…or until she was unable to walk. Whichever came first. If he was lucky, the two occurrences would happen simultaneously.
He fused their lips, grinding down until there was a touch of pain, but not enough to come away with any damage from their teeth. At just the perfect moment, he fisted her hair and jerked her head back.
She gasped.
Never one to waste an opportunity, he drove his tongue deep into her open mouth.
Fuck, she tasted amazing. Sweet. He loved that she wasn’t reserved where kissing was concerned. Took all he dished out. Gave back with the same fervor.
A firm tug on her hair brought her chin up, arching her neck.
He ignored her soft feminine grunt of disappointment at having their kiss interrupted, bent his head and sucked the side of her vulnerable, sublimely tender neck.
He wouldn’t mark her. Not tonight. He’d save that for another time. Another location on her made-to-be-fucked body, where no one but him could see the lovingly applied work of art. On her breast or perhaps her inner thigh.
He ended the suction, licked the spot, trailing his tongue up the tender flesh to nip her delicate earlobe, careful not to catch the diamond stud in her pierced ear.
He brutally pushed aside the unwanted intrusion of wondering who’d given the earrings to her. He’d never been possessive of any woman and wasn’t about to start now. There were much more enjoyable thoughts on his mind. Like pleasuring the hot, beautiful woman in his arms.
Another firm tug of her hair curved her back at just the right angle, allowing him unimpeded access to her chest.
Restrained and Willing Page 5