by Maya Banks
Mesmerized by the low pitch of his voice and warmed to her toes by the stark truth in his eyes, she reached down to unbutton her shorts. His gaze followed her every movement as she unfastened and then slid the material down over her hips.
She gripped the hem of her T-shirt and pulled up and over her head, leaving her in just her bra and panties. She stood for a moment, gauging his reaction, but all she saw was pure, unadulterated male appreciation.
She wasn’t sure which should go next, bra or panties, so she mentally flipped a coin and the bra won. She reached behind her to grapple with the clasp, because was there anything less sexy than taking the straps down and then twisting it around to undo from the front?
The band popped free and the cups loosened, but she held them over her breasts for the barest of moments before allowing the straps to tumble down over her shoulders. Then she let it fall to the floor as she lowered her arms.
She couldn’t meet his stare now and instead looked down as she hooked her thumbs in the lacy band of her panties. With a little wiggle, she worked the underwear down her legs and let it fall.
“Come here,” he said in a sexy, husky voice.
When she looked up there was a predatory gleam in Garrett’s eyes. A look that told her she was his and he planned to lay claim. Oh but she loved that look. No one had ever looked at her with such intensity. Like he dared anyone to take what was his away. Like he wanted to devour her in a single bite and savor the taste.
He held up his hand to help her over the edge of the tub. She slid her fingers through his and stepped into the steaming water. As soon as it sluiced over her ankles, she moaned with the sheer pleasure of it.
He tugged her forward, closer to him and then downward until she knelt, facing him, in the water between his thighs. He reached around to cup her neck and then pulled her down into his kiss. His other found the swell of her breast, cupped one and ran his thumb over her nipple. It hardened instantly, becoming a rigid, sensitive point.
When he pulled away, they were both breathing hard. Arousal glazed his eyes, and the pupils were flared, making his eyes more black than blue.
“Turn around,” he directed.
She complied and he pulled her into the V of his legs until her back was melded to his chest and she was surrounded by him, enveloped by his touch and smell.
“Relax,” he murmured. “We can use this for a while.”
She leaned farther into his embrace until they were both reclined, water lapping to their necks. His hands wandered lazily up and down her body, down her waist and then back up again, where he’d cup her breasts and bring her nipples to erect nubs.
Lulled by his light caresses, she closed her eyes and gave herself over to his touch and to the soothing hot water.
His touch grew bolder, lowering to the juncture of her thighs, teasing the curls at the apex. Her breath drew in painfully and she held it in anticipation as her body quivered—wanting and needing him to touch her more intimately.
He was patient, drawing lazy circles, dipping down to run his fingers over the closed seam between her legs. She sighed and parted her thighs, wanting him to have easier access. Slowly he worked one finger between her folds and rubbed lightly over her clit.
She gasped and tensed as pleasure shot through her body, tingling and burning its way through her veins and to all her pleasure points. Her breasts tightened and ached, wanting equal attention.
“Lay your head back on my shoulder,” he whispered. “I want to see your face when I make you come.”
Her head drooped back and she turned her face away as he nuzzled her neck. His fingers were magic, taking her up so close to her peak and then slowing and bringing her down until she was boneless in his arms.
His middle finger slipped lower, circling her entrance before entering the barest of inches, teasing and stroking. When her breaths were coming fast and shallow, he went back to her clit, exerting just the right amount of pressure as he found her sweet spot.
He licked her pulse point at her neck and then nipped lightly, his teeth grazing as goose bumps erupted over her flesh. “Come for me, Sarah. Right here. Right now in my arms. Let go for me, baby.”
She twisted against him, arching into his hand as his fingers grew more insistent. He knew just how to touch her, just how hard to exert pressure and when to let off. As his mouth melted against her neck again, her orgasm flashed, quick and hard, exploding through her body. Wave after wave of intense, mind-bending pleasure curled through her pelvis and spread through her limbs until she was mindless and limp.
Slowly she came back to awareness as he rained a trail of kisses over the curve of her shoulder.
“That was amazing,” she murmured. She yawned broadly and floated in the sweet aftermath as he stroked her body with gentle hands.
His erection was rigid against her back. Hot like a branding iron. Thick and large.
“You’re amazing,” he said sincerely. “What you did back there, Sarah. I’m humbled. I’m furious with you for putting yourself between me and danger like that, and if you ever do it again, I’ll spank your ass. But I’m so goddamn amazed at the courage it took for you to face him down like that.”
“I was scared,” she admitted. “But I figured whatever they did, it couldn’t be as bad as what you’d suffered. I’d survive. I did it once. I can do it again.”
He gathered her close and held on to her as he kissed the side of her face. “Thank you. I’m furious. I’m amazed. But thank you.”
They soaked awhile longer, Sarah limp against his chest, content in the aftermath of his lovemaking. Finally, with the water cooling around them, she stirred and pushed herself upward. She turned to help Garrett, but he gripped the sides of the tub with bloodless fingers and strained to rise from the tub.
His face went pale and his lips formed a paper-thin line. His breaths spurted out raggedly as he stood a moment catching his breath. She hurried out of the tub and jerked a towel from the rack. She was there to help him as he stepped from the tub, not that she did him any good. But she was determined to take as good care of him as he had of her.
Gently she worked the towel over his body, wiping the wetness away. He was hugely aroused, and his cock strained upward toward his belly. Despite serious effort not to look, her gaze wandered to it more than once as she continued to towel him off.
Finally he seemed to be able to take no more. With a stifled groan, he gripped her wrist. “Finish drying yourself off. I’ll be in the bedroom.”
He walked stiffly from the bathroom, leaving her standing naked and still dripping. She wrapped the towel around her and hugged the material close.
She wasn’t afraid. She knew what was going to happen. More than that, she knew what she wanted to do. She didn’t want to wait for Garrett to act. She didn’t want to be a passive participant.
Hurriedly, she dried her hair and combed through it until the tangles were gone. There was a robe hanging from a hook on the back of the door, and as large as it was, it had to belong to Rio.
She pulled it on and tied the belt before walking out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Garrett was lying on the bed, a towel still wrapped around his hips. His eyes were closed and she frowned at the vivid bruising over his midsection.
Even battered and bruised, he was a beautiful man. Drawn to the vulnerable picture he posed, she crawled onto the bed beside him. His eyes opened and he focused on her as she knelt beside him.
He started to speak, but she lowered her mouth to his to hush him.
Just as she had while they were locked in the cell, she worked to soothe his hurts. Only this time there was no fear of discovery. No uncertainty of their fate. No reason for her to hold anything back.
Garrett watched the series of emotions that flickered across her face as she drew away. Her hand slipped up and down his chest, pausing low on his belly. Her fingers trembled against him, part nervousness and part excitement, if he had to guess.
A little shyly, she pulled at the t
owel until the ends fell away, baring him completely to her gaze. His cock shot upward as a surge of lust blew through his system. Every muscle in his body screamed its protest but at the moment he didn’t give a damn.
There was a purposeful look in her eyes that had him hopeful and breathless all at the same time. Then she cocked her head and bit at her bottom lip as if she were unsure of what to do next. It was almost like she was looking to him for guidance. Or permission. Was she afraid of hurting him?
“Make love to me, Sarah,” he whispered. “Touch me. You feel so damn good. Do what you want. You won’t hurt me.”
He could be lying or maybe he was hoping like hell he spoke the truth. All he knew was that he wanted her mouth on him like he wanted his next breath.
She kissed him again, this time in the center of his chest. As she kissed a delicate path down his midsection, her hand slid lower and her fingers circled his erection.
Ah shit.
He groaned and stirred restlessly, ignoring the pain he felt every time he so much as twitched.
Then she released him and slid her hand back up again as she kissed each area of his bruised ribs. Little butterfly kisses, each one bringing such pleasure that he was dizzy with it.
She loved every part of his ache, coaxed and caressed until the pain slid quietly away, replaced by warm euphoria. Her mouth crept lower until her tongue circled a wet path around his navel and to the sensitive skin underneath.
She hesitated when she licked down to his groin, and his breath caught in his chest and held until finally she grasped his erection. He exhaled in jerky puffs as her fingers circled him once again and she gently moved her hand up and down.
Again she lowered her mouth and brushed her lips just above the base of his cock. He was crazy with anticipation. Each breath was shallower than the last and every nerve ending in his body was screaming. He moved restlessly, ignoring the protest of his body. His skin was itchy and alive like he was about to turn inside out.
And finally she slipped her mouth over the crown of his erection and did a warm, wet slide down to her knuckles. He was already hard but the moment her tongue brushed over his length, he hardened to stone, his dick so rigid that it was as much pain as pleasure, and God, he wanted more.
She glided upward again, tasting every inch. Her mouth was the sweetest pleasure he’d ever known in his life. She took away the pain and replaced it with warmth he felt all the way to his soul.
He had to touch her. His hands curled and itched like crazy. He raised one to rest on her head and then delved into her hair, rubbing and moving down to her nape as he urged her on. He was careful not to push even though his mind and body were screaming to surge more fully into her.
She’d shared every part of herself. He knew how difficult it must have been for her to initiate this. He savored it, tasted it. His hand gentled, squeezing softly at her nape before sliding through her hair once more to the back of her head. He loved the feel of her hair around his fingers. He wanted her skin more.
As she sucked him deeper, he closed his eyes again and skimmed down to the side of her neck. She shivered when he caressed the skin just below her ear. He lingered there a moment and when she dipped again to take him deep, he traced a line around the hollow of her throat and then to her collarbone.
Her breasts swayed just underneath his reach. Her robe had come open and he could see the tempting swells. He wanted to cup the soft flesh and run his thumb over her nipple, feel it pucker and harden against the pad. But he didn’t want to take more from her than she was willing to give, and so he contented himself with stroking the flesh of her neck and watching her throat work up and down as she swallowed against his erection.
His release was building and as much as he wanted satisfaction, he wanted to live in the moment. He didn’t want it to end so soon.
He touched her jaw and she instantly went still. She turned, releasing him from her mouth and faced him, her eyes glowing softly.
“Should I stop?”
“Hell no.” He couldn’t contain the explosive denial and he worked to amend his statement. “Only for a moment. It’s too soon. It’s too good to end so quickly.”
Her lips curved upward into a sensual smile of a female who knew she was pleasing her man. She stroked him with her hand, working up and down in slow, rhythmic motions as she continued to watch him.
“Lower,” he said in a husky voice. “Touch me lower. Wrap your fingers around me, honey. I want you everywhere.”
He moaned when she slid her hand all the way down to the base and then let go to cup his balls. She measured the weight in her hand squeezing gently and running her fingers over the sac.
“With your mouth,” he whispered. “Do it while you use your mouth.”
Her hair fell like a curtain as she lowered her head again. He pushed it aside, wanting to see her mouth as she closed it around his cock. As she massaged and rolled his balls in her hand, she sucked wetly down his length, exerting firm pressure with her mouth.
His breath escaped in a long hiss and every muscle in his body tightened. The pressure was painful as his bruised and aching muscles protested, but he urged her on, the pleasure of her mouth too much to deny.
“I’m close,” he warned. “You can use your hand if you don’t want me to come in your mouth.”
She made a low purring sound in the back of her throat and then took him whole. He bumped against the back of her mouth and felt her swallow—an invitation—against the head. Oh God, he wasn’t going to last.
Like silk, she glided sensuously over his cock, her tongue rubbing erotically along the underside. She increased the pace and tightened the pressure until he was nearly insane with the mounting frenzy.
“Sarah.”
Her name tore from his lips just as his release boiled up and over. Fire shot through his groin and raced through his veins like quicksilver. He spurted against the back of her throat and then his release coated warm liquid in her mouth and over his cock. She swallowed and continued her downward motion, taking him and holding him like she savored every inch.
Nothing had ever been so good. He floated, free of pain, free of everything but her.
Gently, she coaxed the last of his release from him with soft sucking motions. Then she carefully pulled him from her mouth and then facing him, she laid her cheek on his thighs and slid her hand up his hip and to his belly.
She smiled up at him, her eyes soft and contented. He trailed fingers through her hair, stroking over and over.
“That was amazing,” he murmured.
“I didn’t hurt you?”
There was worry in her voice and even as she asked, she slid her hand over the bruises as if she could wipe them away with her touch.
“I promise you I felt nothing but pleasure after I got inside your mouth.”
She smiled again. “I’m glad. I wanted to take away the pain for a little while.”
“You did more than that,” he said softly. “You gave me something very special. Don’t think I’ll forget.”
Her cheeks colored prettily and he brushed his fingers over her temple.
“Let’s go eat,” he suggested. “I imagine you’re starving, and I promised you caramel num nums.”
She laced her fingers with his and squeezed. “You’ve kept all your promises, Garrett.”
CHAPTER 32
DINNER was fun. Sarah wasn’t sure if it was due to her relief at being alive and safe or if she just enjoyed Garrett’s company that much. He put her in charge of the three-meat dinner course while he worked on caramel num nums.
“I think you got the better work detail,” she said as she sniffed at the caramel he was stirring.
“This is delicate work,” he defended.
She snorted and cracked open the oven to peer at the chicken breasts and pork chops. “Almost done here. What about you?”
In response, he picked up the pot from the burner and carried it over to the pie dish, where he’d formed the graham crack
er crust. He carefully spooned the mixture into the shell and then dropped the pot into the sink.
“It needs to cool before I pour on the chocolate, so we can eat first,” he said.
They set the table and Garrett helped dish up the pieces of meat. By the time they sat down, Sarah’s stomach was growling. She was starving!
As she ate, she was unable to keep her gaze from straying to Garrett. When they were in captivity together, she’d admitted to herself that she loved him. She’d wondered briefly if it was simply an emotional reaction to the possibility that they’d die in that shit hole. But now as she stared at him, she realized that her feelings for him couldn’t be explained away that easily.
The words danced on her tongue, eager to be set free, but she was deeply conscious of the fact that to him she was a job. He worked for her brother. A brother who was extremely protective of her.
Yes, she’d tell him. Maybe not right this minute. She’d always chuckled at the idea of waiting until just the right time to tell someone you loved them. Wasn’t any time good for such a thing? She realized now it wasn’t as easy as that. There was marked difficulty in making yourself that vulnerable to someone else. Bearing your soul gave the other person power over you.
“What are you thinking?” Garrett asked.
She shook herself from her thoughts and then smiled. “I was thinking I’m ready for a caramel num num.”
“I’ll melt the chocolate right quick and then I’ll pour it on. Thirty minutes in the fridge ought to set it right and then we can dive in.”
She watched as he ambled back into the kitchen. Already his gait was smoother, though she could still sense tenderness in the way he walked. Garrett wasn’t the type to dwell on pain, though. To him it was merely an inconvenience.
He looked up, caught her staring and his lips turned up into a smile. It took her breath away. Her pulse sped up and thumped against her skin until she was aware of every beat. His gaze smoldered with sensual promise.
She bit at her bottom lip and shivered. There was a lot she still had to tell him. Preferably before they became immersed in a sexual relationship.