by Mia Dymond
“Yes,” her other friend agreed as she twisted a red curl around two fingers. “I’m just bothered by the fact that he hasn’t been more aggressive.”
Marnie wondered the same thing, she just happened to be ecstatic about that turn of events.
“His reasoning probably has a lot to do with Ryker. I’m under the impression he might be pretty well-known on the island. I’m willing to guess he’s waiting to see if Ryker lets down his guard.”
“Impossible.” Marnie snorted. “The man is so focused I can barely breathe.”
Another giggle from Dara. “But you don’t –”
“Okay, fine!” Marnie sat forward and threw her hands in the air. “I don’t mind! I happen to be wild about the man and quite frankly, it grates on my every nerve. On one hand, I’m glad he cares enough about me to protect me but on the other … he drives me totally insane.”
She leaned back in her chair and released a hard breath in the several seconds of silence that followed.
Finally, Liberty cleared her throat. “Yes girls, she’s in love.”
***
Ryker propped one hip against the back of the sofa and watched Marnie as she stood at the railing on the balcony outside the living room, seemingly content in the night breeze. How well he knew the pull of the ocean at night. In the next few minutes, she’d head for the beach – and he’d be right beside her.
She turned and stepped back into the house, gasping as soon as she saw him.
“You’ve really got to learn to make some noise. How long have you been there?”
He shrugged. “Awhile.”
“What were you doing?”
“Watching you.”
“Why?”
“No reason.” He pushed himself off the sofa and extended a hand. “Something tells me you’d like to take a walk.”
“Something?”
He nodded.
“What something?”
“Intuition.” He smirked. “Caribbean magic.”
She slipped her hand into his. “Do you think I should change out of my swimsuit?”
“Nah.” He hoped his reasoning would make her believe that wasn’t necessary. “The night is warm. Besides, you may want to take a dip in the pool after our walk.”
“You think I need a chaperone?”
“Yes.”
“You said I’m safe here.”
“You are,” he reiterated as he led her out the back door, past the pool, and outside the gate surrounding the perimeter. “Scaling the cliffs around this place is suicide. Only way in from this direction is by boat.”
“Then I should be fine alone,” she argued as they began to descend the stairs that lead to the beach.
“Damn, Marnie. Why do you argue with everything I say?”
“Not everything.”
“Yes.” He lifted her sit on the brick retaining wall beside the steps. “Every. Single. Thing.”
“Because I can.”
“There’s a lot of sass in that mouth of yours, Miss Carpenter.”
“Yes, there is,” she agreed as she tilted her head to one side. “What exactly do you plan to do about it?”
“I’m sure you have a suggestion.”
She leaned into his space, stretched to lace both her tiny hands behind his neck, and then tickled the shell of his ear with a soft whisper. “Kiss my sass, Ryker.”
Without a second thought, he squeezed her against him and took her lips with his own. His tongue penetrated the moist entry into her mouth, tangling with hers until he wasn’t sure either of them could untie the knot. A breathy whimper left her throat and his cock went rogue, hardening against the vee of her legs, demanding entry beneath the barrier of her low-cut, hip hugging boy-short bikini bottoms. Lust made him grasp her hips and force the beast further into the heated space. He began a gentle, horizontal glide of his hips while his thumbs caressed the soft skin beneath his touch until waves of arousal tightened his fingers against her skin. Her hips brushed his in a matched rhythm and she lifted her lips with a soft moan. His cock screamed.
Her eyes opened and he found himself held captive by the soft blue gaze. The look of a willing woman ready to be loved.
“I’m on fire, Ryker.”
“That makes two of us, baby.”
He lifted one hand from her hip and reached behind her. The nuisance of a bikini top fell open in the snap of two fingers.
Ryker stood speechless for the next few seconds, his gaze trained on her perfect, full breasts as if he had his sniper’s rifle focused on the enemy. He released a long, easy smile. He wasn’t entirely sure that even the urgency of combat could divert his attention from the luscious Miss Carpenter. Her low, soft chuckle pulled his attention back into her eyes. Damn, he had it bad.
“I’m naked.”
“No you’re not.”
“Half.”
“I can fix that.”
She lifted a finger and drew her fingernail from his sternum to the waistband of his trunks and then slipped it beneath. His stomach muscles tightened as her knuckles slid across the surface of his groin.
“Thing is, soldier, I’m half naked in public.”
He captured her finger in his grasp, preventing her from going any further. He knew damn well that if she managed to touch him, he’d go off like a rocket.
He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed several kisses to her knuckles. “Nothing public about this beach, sweetheart. I own it.” He moved his tongue to trace the valleys between each finger. “And, you’re safe here.”
“Well, then.” Her tongue darted from between her lips and then slid across the plump flesh of the bottom lip. “What are you waiting for?”
He gave the house a cursory glance to make sure only the security lights illuminated the darkness. Convinced his teammates had their women corralled and the place locked down, he turned and gave her nothing more than an honest confession.
“Permission.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Since when do you need permission to do anything?”
He gave her what he knew to be a cocky grin and blurted the one sentence he swore he’d never speak. “Since I fell in love with you.”
“You love me?”
He simply nodded, careful not to overdo it. If she knew just exactly what he had planned for the two of them, she’d jump in the warm Caribbean water and swim for her life.
“Good thing.” She wrapped her hands around his waist and tucked herself into the warm space between them, her bare breasts pressed against his obliques, nipples hardened and extended. God, he loved her breasts. “Because I was just about to replace my top.”
“Not.” He rested his chin atop her head and released another wide grin. “We both know you’re a wild child.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
She stepped back, gave him a sultry smile, and slipped her fingers in the front of her bikini bottoms. He watched in awe as the clothing slid down her short but incredibly sexy legs until she stood before him, naked as the day she was born. Moonlight cast a shadow over her just enough to remind him how badly she tempted him – as if he needed a reminder – and then highlighted a patch of skin just below the front of her left hip. Even in the dark he couldn’t mistake the scripted letters. RSI. Three initials that held a special place in his heart and obviously hers too.
Holy Mary, Mother of God.
“Ryker,” she said softly.
He managed a grunt in response, something he hoped to hell she could interpret as huh?
“Love me.”
He stood a finger’s space away while his heart pounded and his hands ached with the need to touch her. His cock jumped and cursed.
“First things first.”
“What now?” she groaned.
He reached to grasp her hip with his left hand and traced the freshly-inked skin with his right index finger. “Nice tat.” He raised his gaze and met hers with a grin. “Any particular reason you chose this design?”
; “Yes.”
“Care to share?”
He didn’t need sunlight to show him the pretty pink blush that crept into her cheeks.
“Maybe.”
His thumb caressed the flowing edges of the design, waiting her out, giving her ample time to explain. A slight warm wind blew her hair across her forehead and he raised a hand to gently sweep it back into place. How well he knew the silent inner battle between her heart and her brain; he’d fought just as hard.
“I wanted to keep a piece of you near me, Ryker,” she said softly.
His heart pounded while he continued to caress her skin. “Say it, Marnie.”
“I love you.”
He couldn’t stop the grin that separated his lips. “You don’t expect me to ink your name on my skin, do you?”
“No.” She locked her legs around his waist and squeezed. “I’m sure you’ll claim me somehow.”
“Damn straight.”
He stepped closer and lifted her into his arms, her legs still buckled around him, the vee of her legs now pressed to his greedy dick. Incredible need pushed him to cover the short distance to the sandy beach in record time.
“Make no mistake,” he growled as he lowered her to her back against the coarse but soft grains and came over her bent at the elbows, both hands braced beside her ears, “I will brand you as my own.”
His stomach muscles clenched as her hands lifted the edge of his t-shirt, the soft cotton almost painful as it slid against his icy-hot skin until it caught at his chest.
“Off,” she murmured.
Without argument he reached behind his head with one hand, yanked the barrier over his head, and then tossed it beside them.
A very aroused female groan tightened his cock as she raised her hips and ground against him. He lowered his gaze and his heart jumped. Moonlight once again cast a spotlight over her body, bare and primed for his touch as she rubbed their skin together. The woman was on fire and determined to burn both of them to ashes.
Out of desperation, he bent his head and placed a kiss to the middle of her forehead. “Sshh.” He moved his lips to the right and then down the smooth surface of her face until he ended at her collarbone. “Let me make it better.”
The soft scent of sea air and pure aroused female assaulted his senses as he brushed his lips over the bone several times before giving it a quick nip and then sucking the skin between his hungry lips – a brand, more or less.
Intent on making her even crazier, his plan went straight to hell when she gave a tortured whimper and buried both hands in his hair and pulled. His cock stood at full attention, doing its damnedest to poke a hole through his shorts. His blood boiled while she held him in a death grip, staking her own claim.
Desperate to taste more of her, he basked in the pleasure/pain as he moved his lips further down until they circled one pebbled nipple.
“So sweet.” He blew a warm breath over the nub and his scalp tingled as her fingers tightened. “Mine.”
He moved a hand to cup her full breast and then squeezed his lips closed.
“Yesss,” she hissed.
Fueled by her reaction, he pulled back his mouth, replacing his lips with teeth and gently teased her nipple. Her quick intake of breath made him drunk with desire and he thrust his cock against her bare heat. He had to claim her. Make her undisputedly his.
Drowned in utter ecstasy, he lost all sense of control as he continued to feast on her breasts, teasing the second nipple with the same rigor as the first. And then a warm, determined squeeze reminded him that he never really had control at all.
“Damn.” He released his hold and moved his gaze between his legs where his cock now lay in her grasp. Her very tight, five-fingered grasp.
“Don’t do it,” he growled.
She released a lazy grin as her hand slid down his length and then back up in a slow, easy stroke. “Don’t do what?”
“That.” All coherent thought left his mind as she blatantly ignored his demand and repeated the motion.
“This?”
He gave a quick nod while he thrust further into her fist.
“Umm…. No,” she said matter-of-factly.
His traitor of a cock mocked him. Yeah, no. With no other choice, he fell into her rhythm, clenched his teeth, and hoped to hell he wouldn’t snap the short, fine thread of control he had left.
“Gee-zus, Marnie,” he groaned, “let me take care of you first.”
Her movement stilled, yet he remained locked in her hold.
“That’s important to you, isn’t it?”
He attempted a grin, still not sure he had discipline enough not to change his mind. “Hell, yes.”
Her fingers tightened. “Okay then soldier, as you were.”
Marnie paused for several seconds with his incredibly-hard shaft in her grip, wondering if she’d just baited a hungry lion with raw steak. Although she understood his need to please her, letting go proved difficult; the more she touched him, the more she wanted.
“Let go, baby.”
She strained to hear his whispered command as he slid his hand up the inside of her left thigh and a shiver traveled the length of her body. Man, this might have been a bad idea.
Ferocious need sliced through her like a knife as he lowered his head and licked her kiss-swollen lips. Her eyes fell closed at the ecstasy of his touch. Very slowly, she opened her fist.
“That’s a good girl,” he murmured as he tucked himself back into his trunks and rolled beside her, “just feel.”
Every nerve ending in her body quivered at his request, her skin already dampened with sweat from the fever he caused. Suddenly being in control was the furthest thing from her mind.
His lips met hers again in a soft, warm massage, sealing their mouths in a tight suction. And when his tongue slipped between to play, she moved her hands to his shoulders, squeezing the corded muscles, hanging on for dear life.
She didn’t recognize the mewling little moan that left her lips as his hand moved from the inside of her thigh over her bare mound until his fingers found her warm, wet center. Her hips thrust upward of their own accord when he inserted one finger and began to stroke the swollen flesh.
He lifted his lips and moved them to the hollow of her neck while he used his thumb to rub her clit. Her legs fell open as she ground against him.
“That’s it, sweetheart.” His low, graveled, sexy tone only made things more urgent. “Ride it as long as you can.”
“More,” she hissed.
A second finger joined the first and her hips continued to thrust. His fingers began a gentle assault on her swollen inner flesh, rubbing and stroking, driving her absolutely insane with pleasure. “Ryker,” she moaned.
“I’m here, pretty baby.”
She fought to focus but urgent need pressed her to let go and end the madness. Her nerves twisted and turned into a vortex of sensation overload. And then his lips circled her nipple. His tongue swept the peak with a slight lick. His teeth went in for the kill.
One small nip. A suck. Another nip. Continued fevered movement between her legs. Pushed to the edge, she had almost convinced herself to dive over when he lifted his head and all movement ceased.
“Hold that thought,” he said with a smirk.
She released a hard breath. “That’s just mean.”
“You won’t think so in a minute, I promise.” She almost whimpered aloud when he separated their bodies to ease his trunks down his legs and shove them from his body.
She moved her gaze from his face down to his hardened shaft. As long as he intended to use that impressive weapon to put her out of misery, she’d forgive him.
Her breath caught as he reached between them and took himself in hand, stroking from top to bottom and back again. “Do I need something to protect you?”
She continued to watch his motion, fascinated that something so hard and strong could be so pleasurable. Anticipating the thick muscle crammed inside her, stretching the space until it found
just enough room to stroke her into oblivion. She licked her lips in an effort to keep from drooling.
“Marnie.”
She forced her gaze back into his eyes. “Sorry, what?”
“Do I need a condom?”
“Do you have one?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, but no. I’ve got that covered.”
He released a hard breath. “Good, because I don’t think I could climb the stairs.” He gave her a smirk as he braced himself on his elbows and very slowly lowered his hips to penetrate her with his smooth, hard rod. “Now, where were we?”
“Heaven,” she murmured as her body closed around him in a tight suction.
“Oh no, angel,” he whispered as he began to caress her achy flesh, “we’re not quite there yet.”
He pushed back the hair from her forehead as he continued slow easy strokes, massaging her needy muscles until they all but wept.
“You’re nice and tight, baby,” he said as his pace quickened. “Time for you to fly.”
“With me,” she whimpered.
“No doubt.”
Poised right back on the same sexual edge she’d visited not moments earlier, she didn’t hesitate to jump this time. Pure lust curled her toes and lifted her hips to grind against him until sweet satisfaction coated her entire body, launched her into a sexual abyss, and exploded fireworks behind her eyelids.
“Oh yeah.” Ryker’s own satisfaction echoed in her ears as he jerked and then released inside her.
Warm lips covered hers as his hips continued to thrust, coaxing her back down from the sky, silently promising her he wouldn’t leave until she had been fully sated. Her heart continued to pound as he gently lifted his lips, whispered sweet nothings in her ear, and then moved his lips to the hollow of her neck.
“There’s something to be said about difficult women,” he said into her skin.
“Yeah, yeah.” She moved her hands to the sweat-dampened hair at the nape of his neck. “I don’t think that was difficult.”
“No, baby, not at all.”
She cursed the separation of their bodies when he rolled to the side and lay beside her. “When did you know you loved me?”
His chuckle floated on the waves that crashed against the shore. “The minute you kicked my ass at pool.”