Yield To Me

by Richards, Tory

  “Dear God, Brent. It didn’t occur to me that you would ever take her out on your boat. Sophie’s been terrified of the water ever since she was a kid. She witnessed a shark attack on her brother…”

  Brent vaguely listened to the senator, his gaze falling to the folder resting on the edge of the small table. It contained a snapshot of her, which the senator had included, in a dossier he’d given him of her scheduled whereabouts for the current week. His lips twitched when he recalled how close she’d been to finding out the truth. He would have been hard pressed explaining how he came to have a personal picture of her and the senator in his possession.

  He shook his head and forced himself to focus on what the senator was saying.

  “I’ll call you again tomorrow. With a little luck, I’ll have something concrete so we can put an end to this. I want Sophie home again, where she belongs.”

  “Tomorrow, then.” With a quick flick of his wrist, the phone snapped closed and Brent laid it down on the counter next to him.

  He took a deep breath, thinking about the lady in question. He was going to hurt Sophie, before she hurt him. After Connie, he’d made a promise to himself not to let another woman get too close. No matter how well packaged she came, or how much he wanted her. Over the years, more than one had taught him to guard his heart and watch his wallet. Hell, maybe he just got involved with the wrong women, but being burned by one he actually had feelings for had hardened his heart and fortified his decision that other than a good romp in bed, he didn’t need them.

  Something about Sophie warned him he was already too involved with her. He must be if he was worrying about her feelings. He couldn’t get the thought of fucking her out of his head, couldn’t get her warm, sensual scent off him. He glanced down, and realized he was wearing the shirt he’d given her back at the apartment. She had mistakenly grabbed the wrong one before leaving the bedroom earlier.

  His mouth quirked with wry humor as he poured himself a cup of lukewarm coffee. He sipped at it, and pulled the curtain aside to glance out at the dock. It was quiet for a Saturday morning. The gray clouds gathering in the sky told him why. A storm was brewing. Brent could hear an occasional noise from the combination restaurant/bait shop located next to the pier, but it was the noise he didn’t hear coming from the bedroom that worried him the most.

  He wondered what Sophie was up to, deciding he’d better check on her. He found her curled up on the bed, hugging a pillow to her breast as though it were a cherished stuffed toy. His heart constricted at the vulnerability etched on her beautiful face. He examined her appearance, taking in the deep shadows beneath her eyes and the paleness of her skin. Her breathing was shallow, little puffs of air passing through her slightly parted lips, as she rested peacefully.

  Her shirt was creased badly and stained with coffee. Her hair looked like rats had been nesting in it. Then right before his eyes, she reached up and combed her fingers through it, twisting her body as though looking for a more comfortable position, exposing more of her long, shapely legs to his searching eyes. He couldn’t help recalling how silky and soft they’d felt beneath his caresses. Then her soft mewling sounds caused his gaze to shift to her mouth.

  It seemed like a lifetime ago since he’d kissed that defiant mouth, the impact throwing him for a loop he still hadn’t fully recovered from. The visible softness about her belied the fact she was full of spirit. There was nothing innocent about her. Even in sleep, she managed to entice and tease his senses until he wanted to lie down beside her and hold her.

  Who am I kidding? I want to fuck her again until we’re both so exhausted we can’t move.

  A flashback of their earlier encounter forced him to reach for the blanket and cover her, before he turned to leave the room without a backward glance. As he made his way back toward the galley, the boat rocked wildly, a sign the storm had finally broken through. All at once, the rain began pounding down on them like machine gun fire, and Brent realized it was hail. A particular loud boom of thunder was followed by a loud, frightened shriek from the bedroom.

  Brent pivoted sharply, and nearly collided with Sophie. “What’s wrong?” Seeing her pale expression and wild eyes, he glanced behind her, expecting to see demons chasing her.

  She halted briefly, as though undecided what to do before throwing herself at him. “I’m scared!” The boat slammed against the dock and she lost her balance and her tenuous grip on him. She bounced back and forth between the walls in the narrow passageway, before Brent drew her safely into his arms. “Are we safe here?”

  “Safe enough. Come on; let’s get you off your feet. You obviously didn’t bring your sea legs with you,” he teased, guiding her toward the kitchen.

  Brent didn’t have any trouble with his sea legs. He balanced himself easily against the swaying boat. Only once was he caught unaware, but only because he was trying to keep them both from flying around.

  “Would we be safer in bed?”

  The boat tipped slightly and Brent slammed back against the wall. Since his arms were around Sophie, she slammed into him. Suddenly they were flush against each other and looking into each other’s eyes. “Is that an invitation?” he asked; his mouth slanting into a grin. God, she makes me hungry.

  In the gloom, he could see the mixture of fright and mild amusement swimming in her eyes. It was obvious she was trying not to give in and smile in return. But the longer they stared at each other, the more it didn’t seem funny anymore. The swaying boat only served to make them roll against each other, heightening their growing awareness of one another. The recently banked fires sprang to life.

  Building the desire.

  Lust surged through Brent’s blood, heading straight to his loins. The breath hissed from his lungs. He was very much aware of Sophie’s breasts against his chest, swelling as he was against the lower half of her body. The boat sank to one side on a rolling wave and he spread his legs to steady himself against the wall. The action caused Sophie to roll further into the intimate cradle of his hips, against the hardness pushing against his zipper. She had to know how badly he wanted her at that moment.

  The boat continued to dance wildly, beating mercilessly against the dock. “Brent, I’m scared!” she whispered, as the storm grew fiercer.

  The frightened appeal in her eyes was very real and unnerved Brent. She was beyond scared. Wide-eyed with fright, she was shaking like a wet kitten. Maybe the safest place was in bed. He swore harshly when a violent wave sent him flying to the other side of the hall. His hands braced against the wall just in time to keep from crushing her. Her cry of alarm tore at his heart. When there was a brief lull, he grabbed her and turned her toward the bedroom.

  He didn’t need to tell her to get into bed. She practically fell upon it, rolling to the side to make room for him. Brent hadn’t planned on joining her, grinning. He’d been on a boat in a storm before, and knew how to handle himself. Yet the frightened look on Sophie’s pale face persuaded him to do her silent pleading.

  What harm was there in offering her a little bit of comfort? He fell in next to her, and the next thing Brent knew she was curled up against him, holding on for dear life. It was then he recalled what the senator had said about her fear of the water. His arms automatically encircled her slender, trembling form, holding her tightly while wishing he could make her fears go away.

  “You’re safe,” he murmured into her ear, tenderly brushing the hair back from her face. His belly did a somersault when she glanced up at him, her eyes brimming softly with gratitude, in a face the color of white chalk. “You’re not going to be sick, are you?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

  “You’re just worried about your shirt.”

  His brows rose with surprise at her humor. He wished he could focus on that, and forget about her as a woman. Having Sophie plastered against him wasn’t doing much for his hard-on or his self-control. The steady rocking of the boat only added to the situation, keeping them moving constantly into each other no matter how ha
rd he tried to instill distance.

  A particularly loud rumble of thunder drew a muffled cry from her. She buried her face against him, tightening her hands in his loose shirt. He wished he had the power to make the storm go away. Another crash followed a crack of angry lightning. “Brent!” she cried, moving against him as though willing his body to absorb hers. “Do something!”

  Do something? He actually thought about it for a moment before realizing it was stupid. He tightened his arms around her before doing the only thing he could think of that might take her mind off the raging elements outside. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he pulled her head back, and slammed his mouth down on hers.

  At first, she stiffened, until Brent’s kiss coaxed her into relaxing. As she opened her mouth beneath his, he purposely softened his kiss into a sensual attack, slipping his tongue inside to mate with hers. Over the thunder, he heard her low moan of hunger. She brought her arms up to encircle his neck, straining closer to his body. His hand slowly unclenched from her hair, and glided down her throat to her breast, a growl escaping him when Sophie arched into his caress.

  He shuddered with arousal as her breasts swelled within the palms of his hands. In less than a heartbeat, he grew weak, willingly accepting the ruthless passion spiraling through him. Knowing it was wrong but feeling it was so right. Sophie made him want too much, too fast. She made him forget about everything but her. In a mindless moment, Brent pushed her shirt out of the way and put his mouth on her breast, rolling her turgid nipple around the tip of his tongue.

  Sophie arched wildly and cried out, offering him whatever he wanted. Her hands roamed over him at will, moving beneath his shirt with reckless abandon. They lost control, giving in to a need too strong to resist. This time Brent was going to do it up right. He wanted them both naked and straining against each other.

  He rolled from the bed and quickly removed his shirt and jeans, never taking his gaze off of Sophie’s flushed loveliness. Desire looked good on her. When he rejoined her, he didn’t waste any time removing her shirt. Then it was flesh on flesh and they were kissing and twisting against each other lustfully. Their hands were all over one another, exploring and pleasuring each other until they were breathless.

  Mouths kissing, and nipping, tongues soothing. Sophie was holding nothing back and gave as good as Brent gave. Her hunger fueled his and he knew he had to fuck her soon. His hand traveled down her silky smooth body to her pussy. She was wet and dripping and her clit was the size of a large pea. When he flicked his finger over the nub, she cried out and dug her nails into his back.

  “Brent!” She covered his hand with hers and held him against her. Her other hand circled his cock. Then unexpectedly Sophie moved until she was on top and he was on his back.

  Her passion surprised him. And for a moment all he could do was lay there while she ran her open mouth over his chest and abdomen to his cock. Brent wondered what she would do when she reached it and wasn’t disappointed when her warm mouth closed over his blood-engorged flesh. Ecstasy gripped his senses and his hips left the bed. As his head hit the pillow, his gaze automatically went to the ceiling.

  “Oh fuck!” The combination of seeing Sophie’s sweet mouth swallowing his cock and her hand caressing his balls made him lose control. Groaning low, he climaxed hard, filling her mouth with a stream of milky semen.

  Long before Brent’s body stopped convulsing Sophie moved up his torso and planted her mouth on his. He hadn’t caught his breath yet but he welcomed her lips against his. His arms went around her and he crushed her against his chest, enjoying the feel of her warm, luscious breasts. Her soft moans complimented his when their tongues meshed in a sensuous dance. As the kiss continued, his hands began to roam down her backside, over the enticing curve of her rump and down the backs of her thighs.

  He marveled at how silky soft her flesh was beneath his palms, and how pliable her sweet ass was as he caressed and shaped it. Exploring the crack between the fleshy mounds, the change in Sophie was tangible and abrupt. Her kiss turned wild, her tongue battled against his and there was no restraint when she bit down on his bottom lip. The minuscule flash of pain brought pleasure that urged Brent’s cock into hardening.

  Sophie began to squirm against him and it was clear her desire was renewed. They were both panting out of control when the fiery kiss ended. But when she started to kiss and suck her way from his neck to his chest Brent took control and rolled, pulling her beneath him. Their gazes met and clung, and at that moment something unspoken moved between them. An emotion that went beyond the physical.

  “Brent…I”

  Was that tears swimming in her eyes? He shushed her, reining kisses over her forehead, eyes and cheeks. He gave her parted lips a brief kiss and met her eyes again. The vulnerability in her eyes caused his heart to swell and he knew he was in trouble.

  “Just feel,” he finally said in a low tone.

  “I am feeling,” she admitted softly. “Way too much. I haven’t felt this much alive in months.”

  Her admission didn’t surprise Brent. Whatever her relationship was with Lord it wasn’t intimate, and it sure as hell wasn’t emotional. Not in the way they were sharing. Damn! It was too late to pull away from Sophie, and inject a measure of indifference. They were already more involved than two people could get.

  “Fuck me, Brent.”

  Her comment brought him back to the present. Sophie using the word fuck caused him to smile. Looking at her now, she hardly resembled the Senator’s daughter he’d met at the museum. Her luxurious hair was a wild mass around her. Flushed heat warmed her cheeks and her eyes were sparkling with strong emotion.

  “Make me forget, Brent. Please.” She backed up her plea by raising her hips against his hard cock.

  Forget? His cock was reminding him he had a beautiful, responsive woman beneath him. But he also had a job to do, and he couldn’t let Sophie’s comment go without asking her about it. Her answer might be exactly what the senator was looking for.

  Brent knew he needed to find the strength to pull away. His fingers curled around the delicate bones of her wrists and he pinned her to the bed, pulling back to look down at her. Eyes clinging, their harsh breathing echoed through the small cabin, heard well above the noise of the rain. She was thrusting against him, her need mirroring his own.

  “Tell me again that you love Jonathan Lord,” he demanded softly. “A woman supposedly in love with another man doesn’t give herself so easily to someone else.”

  Her expression showed surprise. “Is that why you made love to me? So I’d let down my guard?” Her soft, slightly disappointed words reminded Brent of how he’d felt earlier, when he thought she’d used her body to do the same thing. “You don’t think a woman can love one man and still want to make love to another?”

  Oh, it was more than possible. But he didn’t want to believe it. He narrowed his eyes on her lovely, flushed face, trying to read the truth. “Are you that kind of woman, Sophie?” She glanced away, only he wasn’t about to let her get away with that. Gripping her chin, Brent forced her to look at him. “Are you?” His tone was harsh.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re lying. Just a second ago you asked me to help you forget.” Brent’s instincts told him what she wouldn’t admit to. Acid churned in his gut that a man like Lord had such a strong hold on her that she was willing to sell herself. However, it was the thought that Sophie might be telling him the truth that made a knot twist in his gut. “What has he got on you?” he demanded angrily. Maybe she would tell him what her father couldn’t get out of her.

  Her eyes widened with alarm, his words obviously hitting close to home. “What d-do you me-mean?” she asked in a broken whisper. “I lo—”

  “There are plenty of signs that indicate to me that you don’t love Lord. A woman in love doesn’t remove the man’s ring and leave it behind. A woman in love wouldn’t think of betraying him by letting another man fuck her.” He had little to base that observation on except for his
mother and sister. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you cringe the other night at the museum when Lord kissed your shoulder.”

  “I don’t know what you mean!” Her voice was shaking, and she tried to push him away from her. “You were imagining things!”

  “Don’t insult me by the innocent act. Why don’t you try telling the truth for a change?” Before he lost control and shook some sense into her, he released her and rolled off the bed.

  Once he was on his feet, he swung around. He narrowed his gaze on her pale face with the thought that if he pushed her into spilling the truth, he would be able to contact Senator Adams and put an end to the whole damn mess. It was risky, but Brent decided to take it. Besides, what do I have to lose?

  “Just who are you protecting, princess, yourself or your father?”

  She caught her breath, her eyes widening into round saucers. All she could do was lay there and roll helplessly with the movements of the boat. “You’re crazy!” she finally replied.

  “Am I?” There was no disguising the fear in her eyes, or the desperation in her tone. Brent instinctively knew he was getting close and that she knew it and was terrified of it. What the hell was she hiding? “Why are you so afraid, then?”

  “Wouldn’t you be? I’ve been kid—”

  “Don’t try and change the subject,” he cut in ruthlessly, even while realizing he had to be careful. If Sophie figured out he wasn’t what he appeared to be she’d have the upper hand, and he wasn’t about to let that happen.

  “What kind of kidnapper are you?” she asked, her tone changing to suspicion.

  Brent had to think fast. “The kind who wants to make sure he’s asking the right man for the ransom money. I don’t want to waste my time with Lord if he doesn’t love you as much as you claim to love him.”