Dark Desire
Page 20
Hope’s moans grew steadily when his mouth closed over a nipple. She ran her hands over his shoulders, smoothing over the hard muscle and doing her best to pull him closer, gasping when his fingers moved lower to slide through her slit.
“You’re always wet and ready for me, aren’t you, baby?”
Moaning, she tilted her hips. “Always. You’re wearing too many clothes. I want you naked against me.” Frustrated that she couldn’t reach his cock, she twisted restlessly.
“Easy, sweetheart. I told you I wanted to devour you.” He quickly rid her of her panties and slid lower, his lips leaving a trail of heat down the center of her body as he made room for his wide shoulders between her thighs.
Hope bunched her hands in the pillow, gasping when he lifted her thighs over his shoulders and cried out at the first touch of his mouth on her slit. She moaned, thrashing from side to side as he used his mouth on her, gently but steadily driving her closer and closer to the edge. He didn’t tease her the way he normally did, not at all. She couldn’t even catch her breath as he took her higher and flung her over so easily it amazed her.
She heard the rip of foil as he lapped at her gently, and before she could completely come down, he settled over her.
Bracing his weight on his elbows, he bent to kiss her, his lips still tasting of her. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her as he slowly entered her. Once he filled her completely, he held himself deep, lifting his head to look into her eyes.
“You feel so good, baby. Are you all right?”
Running her hands over him, Hope dug her heels into his tight buns, silently urging him to move. “Of course I’m all right. God, it feels so good having you inside me. I love when you surround me like this. It feels incredible, like there’s nothing else.” Stilling when his hand tightened on her bottom, she waited breathlessly for his finger to touch her bottom hole.
Instead, he pulled her closer and began thrusting, slow, deliberate strokes designed to give her the most pleasure. The friction of his cock moving inside her, filling her over and over, had her far too quickly approaching another orgasm, his steady, sure movements not giving her a chance to keep up.
His firm hold kept her against him, his lips moving over her hair and forehead as he made love to her, his movements smooth and controlled as always, but his silence unsettled her.
“Ace, I can’t keep up. I want to please you, too.”
He murmured softly, the speed of his thrust increasing. “You do, baby. Just let me give you what you need.”
All rational thought fled as Ace’s powerful body surged into hers again and again. Her orgasm hit her hard, washing over her in a giant wave that left her breathless and clinging helplessly to him.
He gathered her against him as he thrust deep once last time, his low groan rumbling in her ear as he found his own release.
She ran her fingers through his hair, holding him close while shudders still racked her body. Even though he kept most of his weight off of her, it felt good to have him cover her this way, his body pressing hers into the mattress.
He withdrew and moved to lie beside her, pulling her slightly over him with the arm still hooked around her. “When do you want to get married?”
Snuggling closer, she propped her chin on his chest and smiled, still a little dazed. “I’m ready to take you on anytime you want, Sheriff, but my mother wants to organize a party. Is that okay with you?”
Ace’s hand moved lazily up and down her back. “Your mother works hard enough. We’ll have a party at the hotel. Tell her to tell Ethan and Brandon what she wants and I’ll pay for it.” He shook his head when she started to object. “Hope, you know damned well I can afford it, and there’s no need for your mother and fathers to worry about the cost or the work. Tell them I’ll feel better if they order what they want and enjoy the party. It’s the least I can do for taking their little girl.”
“But Ace—”
“I’ll talk to them. Just buy yourself a pretty dress.” Sitting up, he rubbed her stomach and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “We’re not going to be able to go away, though, for a honeymoon, at least not yet. I can’t leave town as long as this idiot’s running around. You’ve already been hurt, and I don’t want him to have a chance to hurt anyone else. I’m going to get this bastard no matter how long it takes. We keep running into dead ends and it looks like our hands are tied until he strikes again. When he does, I’ll be waiting.”
Hope came to her knees behind him and pressed herself against his back, running her lips back and forth over his shoulders. “We can have a honeymoon right here in Desire. I can’t wait to try out the bigger butt plug you promised me.” Lightly biting his earlobe, she smiled when he shuddered. “Beau has a lot of nice toys in his store.”
Ace turned his head to kiss her lightly. “You have an objection to the way I made love to you tonight?” Looking away, he stood.
Hope scrambled to the foot of the bed as he headed toward the bathroom. “Of course not! I love everything you do to me.”
Ace smiled. “Good. I’m going to be a married man. Gotta keep my woman happy.” He went into the bathroom, closing the door between them.
Frowning at the closed door, Hope pulled the quilt around her shoulders and sat cross-legged to wait for him. Something was wrong, and it knotted her stomach. Not one to beat around the bush, she confronted Ace as soon as he came out of the bathroom.
“Ace, is something wrong?”
He smiled reassuringly and lifted her against him. “Of course not, honey. What could be wrong? Can you be ready in two weeks?”
“Absolutely.” Lost in his kiss, Hope pushed her worries aside. Soon she would be marrying the man she loved more than anything. He’d finally made love to her again. What could possibly be wrong?
Chapter Sixteen
A few nights later, Hope reclined naked on the rug in front of Ace’s fireplace, watching the light from the fire play over his features. She arched, inviting his touch, and reached up for him, smoothing her hands over his gorgeous chest.
“You know, Sheriff, I still haven’t seen that new butt plug.”
Ace ran a hand down her body, smiling faintly when she trembled. “I thought you were supposed to be learning patience.” His fingers played over her stomach briefly before moving up to her breasts and used his talented fingers to send ribbons of pleasure racing to her slit.
Raising herself, she touched her lips to his chest and reached for his cock, parting her thighs in invitation. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not really good with patience.”
Leaning back, Ace smiled, his eyes darkening as they raked over her body. “I’ve noticed.” Resting his arms on the sofa behind him, he waited expectantly. When she paused uncertainly, he raised a brow and smiled.
Disconcerted that he appeared to want her to take the lead, she readily accepted, considering it a perfect opportunity to do some exploring of her own. Coming to her knees, she kissed and licked her way across his chest, smiling against his warm flesh as his cock jumped in her hand. The only light in the room came from the fireplace, the light from the flickering flames dancing over his skin and making it gleam like copper. She wanted to taste every inch of it.
Arching into the hands that slid down her back, she let her hair brush his thighs as she slowly moved down his body. Stroking his cock steadily, she kept her touch light and teasing, wondering how long he would let her get away with it until he either pulled her hand away or demanded more.
With the heat of the fire at her back and Ace’s heat in front of her, she was wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and wished she could stay like this forever.
She licked at Ace’s hard stomach, thrilling that his tight muscles quivered beneath her tongue. He remained silent, however, not voicing his usual demands. His hands continued to move over her, gentle and sure but with none of the fierceness he showed before. Even then she’d known he held back, but now he held back even more. Determined to get a reaction from him and
shake that iron control, she moved lower, stretching out on the quilt in front of him, presenting herself to him. Squirming, she purposely gave him a good view of her ass, hoping to get a reaction. She slid her hand lower, cupping his sack and massaging gently as she touched the tip of her tongue to the head of his cock, licking away the drop of moisture that appeared there. In this, she could please him and, to please her, pretend he demanded this from her.
His hands slid to her hair, his fingers threading through it, tightening slightly when she took his cock into her mouth, only to loosen his hold again. His deep groan reverberated through her, and she tightened her hands on his thighs as she took him deeper.
The hair on his thighs teased her nipples as she moved against him, sending little shocks of pleasure through her. She rubbed her own thighs together as need continued to build, the low ache that settled there growing with each passing second. Waiting for the reprimand to keep her thighs open, she hid her disappointment when none came.
Unable to stay still, she squirmed and began to suck Ace deeper into her mouth, her lips stretched wide to accommodate his thickness. Reveling in his taste and in the way his thighs trembled, she sucked him a little harder, stroking a fingernail gently over his sack.
Ace said nothing, running his hands over her hair and shoulders, keeping his touch gentle. He moved her hair aside to watch what she did to him but made no move to stop her or instruct her in any way.
To know that this big, strong man was all hers never failed to excite her. Being able to explore him this way, to touch him however and wherever she wanted excited her even more.
It also made her a little uncertain, perhaps even a little insecure, that he didn’t seem as intense as usual and she had no idea what he was thinking.
Remembering something she’d learned at the club, she decided to play a little and see if she could get a reaction from him. Expecting him to take charge any second, she held on to his thigh with one hand and slid the hand that cupped him lower. Wondering how far he’d let her go, and wanting to give him the kind of pleasure he gave her, she gradually worked her finger toward his anus.
Ace let go of her hair to grip her wrist and pull it gently away. Sliding both hands under her arms, he lifted her, pulling her from his cock to sit on top of his thighs. “Why don’t you come up here, baby?”
Hope wrapped both hands around his cock, running them slowly up and down his length. “I was playing.”
Ace smiled faintly. “I noticed, but wouldn’t you rather have my cock in your pussy instead of your mouth?”
Hope fantasized about being forced to suck him like he’d ordered before, to have him hold her there and order her to in that dark voice he hadn’t used with her for a while now. “I like sucking you. Don’t you like it?”
“Of course, but I’d rather be making love to you.” He reached over to where several condoms lay waiting on the coffee table. “I want to be inside that tight, hot pussy and feel you come apart all around me.”
Hope reached for the condom, but he’d already started rolling it on. “I wanted to show you something I learned at the club. Why did you stop me?”
“Because that’s something I do to you, not the other way around.”
A little put out but relieved to hear the steel in his tone again, Hope pouted. “You don’t touch me there anymore.”
Ace finished donning the condom and lifted her, lowering her inch by inch onto his cock. “Do you need some attention there, baby? Come here, sweetheart, let me take care of you.”
Moaning as his thick length slowly filled her, Hope grabbed his shoulders to steady herself, her pussy clenching on him greedily. She breathed his name as he filled her, closing her eyes in bliss as his heat engulfed her inside and out.
Seated to the hilt, Ace wrapped an arm around her, running his fingers through her slick juices to gather them. “I’m glad you like having your ass played with. I have a lot of plans…Just relax your bottom, honey, and I’ll take care of you.”
Hope moved on his cock, gripping him desperately as she rode him, distracted by the fingers that played at her slit. “Ace, tell me. You have a lot of plans? Plans for my ass? I want you to show me each and every one of them. I like when you touch me there, Ace. I like everything you do to me.” Each time he pressed at her there, she shuddered expectantly, holding her breath for the moment when he would penetrate her. She couldn’t wait for him to fuck her there again. He’d done it so slowly the first time, gentle with her because she’d never done it before. But she wanted him hot and wild and hungry for her.
Ace had apparently decided to tease her a little, making her wait as he encouraged her to keep moving. “That’s it, baby. Do whatever feels good.” He poised his finger at her forbidden opening and started to press firmly. “Take me inside you, baby.” He slowly worked his finger into her, his other hand stroking her back when she shivered. “That’s it. Nice and slow.”
Hope dug her nails into him as she moved up and down, fucking herself on both his cock and his finger. She loved the challenge and freedom of being on top, but losing herself in the feel of Ace all around her, she couldn’t keep her rhythm. Just when she got the angle she wanted, she lost it. Her bottom and pussy kept clenching on him as though trying to suck him in, and she whimpered in frustration, moving faster. It felt so good to have him inside her this way, to have his cock moving over her tender flesh, but something was missing.
“Ace, help me. I don’t know what to do for you. I can’t get it right.”
Ace crooned softly to her, his words muffled against her neck as he tilted her backward, supporting her with a hand under her hair. “Straighten your legs, honey. Wrap them around me.” When she complied, he used the hand on her bottom to move her against him, sliding his finger deep into her anus and holding it there.
Holding onto his shoulders, Hope rocked her hips, aiding his movements. When she opened her eyes, it was to find him watching her, his eyes filled with pleasure and love but lacking the intensity she’d become so accustomed to seeing.
“Ace, does this feel good for you? Please, tell me what you want me to do.” She tightened on the finger in her anus, once again marveling at the exquisite invasion.
Ace’s strokes increased in speed, his cock providing a delicious friction against that sensitive spot inside her. Brushing his lips over hers, he nibbled gently at her bottom lip.
“You feel incredible, honey. You always do. Just do what feels good.”
Hope had no chance to say anything else as he took her lips with hers, opening readily for his kiss. She kissed him hungrily, pouring all of her love and passion into it in an effort to feel closer to him. With her body on fire and her senses reeling, she tightened her hold on him in desperation. Her moans grew in intensity as he took her to the brink, his short, quick thrusts and the finger moving in her bottom sending her flying.
He’d already learned her body so well that he could catapult her into orgasm quickly, his touch exactly what her body needed to go over.
She moaned as she came, tightening all around him.
A few quick thrusts later, he joined her, his low moan vibrating against her chest as he gathered her against him.
Neither spoke for several minutes, and it irked her that Ace didn’t even seem to be out of breath.
He held her closely, running a hand up and down her back. “You okay, honey?”
Holding on to him, she turned her head to kiss his shoulder, a moan breaking free when he slid his finger out of her bottom. “Of course. Why are you treating me like I’m made of glass?”
Ace kissed her hair. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Hope pushed against his chest, leaning back to look up at him. “I’m ridiculous now, am I? I’m tired of you telling me I’m being ridiculous.”
Ace gathered her back against him and held her, his hand caressing her back again as though to soothe her. “You’re not made of glass. You’re the woman’s who’s going to be my wife very soon, and I want to baby y
ou a little. Would you deny me that?”
When he said it like that, she did indeed feel ridiculous. “Oh, Ace. I love you so much. I can’t wait until we’re married. I’ve waited forever for you.”
Ace chuckled. “You’re too young to have waited forever. Are you warm enough?”
Hope cuddled against him. “Very warm. I love you, Sheriff.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
* * * *
Over the next several days, the feeling that something bothered Ace continued to grow, making Hope restless and irritable. She hated this feeling of being…disconnected with him somehow. Although he’d been as loving and tender as a woman could want, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things had changed between them, and she didn’t know how to fix it.
She knew he’d been preoccupied with the person who seemed to like causing trouble in Desire. It infuriated him. Rafe and Linc weren’t any happier, and the tension in the entire town could be cut with a knife.
The men had spent the entire week having meetings and getting together on the street to speak in low tones to each other while watching the women who went about their day-to-day business.
Moving around the kitchen, Hope couldn’t keep her thoughts from returning to Ace. She couldn’t help but compare the way he’d made love to her before the accident, before he’d asked her to marry him, to the distant way he’d been with her this past week.
The deep connection they’d shared was gone, and she desperately wanted it back.
She closed her eyes remembering the look in his when he’d taken her before. The way he’d practically devoured her—Jesus, she’d never experienced anything like it before.
And already it was gone.
The sound of the apartment door opening jerked her back to the present.
“They must have shifts scheduled or something. Is that Daddy Finn’s vegetable soup?”
Hope looked up from the pot of soup she’d been absently stirring when Charity walked into the apartment. “Yeah. Who has shifts scheduled?”