Stealing His Heart

by Diane Alberts

  She moaned, his command coiling around her tight as a fist. Her stomach hollowed out, and she knew without a doubt she’d submit to him. She’d obey him. But only for him. No one else. “Y-Yes. I’ve got it.”

  One second she was on his lap, and the next he tossed her over his shoulder. Her face ended up in the close proximity of his ass, and her arms hung loosely over her head. When she tried to lift herself up, to get off of him, he slapped her on the ass.

  It stung a little, but it was pretty amazing, too.

  “You’re not allowed to move right now,” he said. “Lie back down.”

  She fell back to her position, swallowing past the protest that automatically came to mind. She hadn’t known exactly what she’d been agreeing to when she accepted his terms, but she’d done so. And she would follow through, because she wanted that incapacitating pleasure he had promised her. “Fine.”

  He kicked a door open. It appeared to be his bedroom. It was painted light blue, and a huge king-size bed sat against the middle of the wall. There were a few personal items scattered here and there, but that was it as far as decorations went. She forced her attention back to Jake. Or, more specifically, Jake’s butt, since that was all she could see.

  He headed right for the bed, and then she was flat on her back, his body covering hers. Pulse racing, she grabbed the back of his neck. This was a huge step for her—a leap into the unknown. She’d never felt more alive, despite the nerves such a leap of faith inspired.

  When he grabbed hold of her wrists and hiked them high above her head, just as he’d done at the carnival, she let out a sharp breath. Her entire body tightened in anticipation of what he would do to her. What he would make her feel.

  For the first time ever, she didn’t fight to be free.

  She wanted him to take control.

  He transferred both of her wrists to one hand and reached into the nightstand beside the bed. When he pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs, she stiffened. “Uh…what are you doing?”

  He slid the cuff over her wrist and tugged it to the headboard. She forced herself to hold still as he closed the cuffs over her, effectively securing her. Her heart leaped into her throat, choking her, but at the same time her stomach tightened with desire. “This is strictly for kinky purposes, right? Not to kill me, Dexter-style?”

  “I have no interest in killing you in any style.” He hauled his shirt over his head, his muscles flexing and taunting her. “Just in making you come.”

  Her fingers twitched with the need to touch him, but the cuffs held her firmly in place. “Holy shit, you have tattoos.”

  His hands froze on his belt. “I do.”

  They swirled all over his chest and shoulders, but didn’t go any lower. No wonder why she hadn’t seen them when he’d been in a shirt. The colors all popped beautifully, intermixed with dark black outlines and tribal tattoos. She’d always had a thing for guys with ink, and Jake was no exception. If anything…

  He was the perfect example.

  On top of all that inked hotness, his tan, lean abs were carved to perfection, and the light sprinkling of hair on his chest begged to be stroked. Too bad she couldn’t touch. When he undid the button of his pants, her heart stopped and yet impossibly sped at the same time.

  She licked her lips. “I thought you lived on the right side of the tracks now. Why lock a good girl up to have sex with her?”

  He took his leather belt off and tossed it back and forth. “You make a living by lying and stealing. Tell me, Tara. How does that make you a good girl?”

  Chapter Seven

  Jake gritted his teeth and watched Tara on his bed, waiting for him to give her pleasure. Fuck, she was hot. She wasn’t really trying, yet somehow she’d found a way to rope him in. Made him want to have her. No, need to have her. Ever since she’d come apart in his arms earlier, he’d been a tightly wound ball of desire. Thank fucking God she’d decided she wanted to play on his terms.

  If she hadn’t agreed, he might have exploded.

  He shouldn’t be touching her. Shouldn’t be doing this. But he couldn’t seem to stop. Not anymore. Not ever again. She’d be his.

  Handcuffing her to the bed had been a test. Instead of testing her, though, all he could think about was ripping her clothes off and burying his cock deep inside of her. He’d bet his salary she was a screamer, and he planned on making her scream a lot.

  After she begged for it, of course. That was a must.

  “I’m not a bad person, Jake. I need you to believe that.” She swallowed. “I steal things, yes, but for good people. I give people their long-lost items back. Can’t you see that? Don’t you believe me?”

  He caressed her cheek, skimmed over her chin, and then across her collarbone. “I don’t think you’re a bad person at all. You’re one of the best people I know.”

  Which was why she was too good for him.

  She shivered. “You do?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  Inching closer, he traced the neckline of her tank top. If he concentrated, he would bet he’d see the top of her nipple. If she truly belonged to him, she wouldn’t be dressed so skimpily. Wouldn’t hang it out there for every other man in the world to see.

  “But—”

  “Shhh.” He closed his palm over her breast, squeezing gently and weighing her in his hand. She fit him perfectly. Good. “No more deep conversations about good and bad. I’m going to fuck you, and the next thing I hear out of those lips better be you begging me for more and calling me sir.”

  He followed the curve of her breast, his fingers slightly dipping underneath her shirt. She lowered her lids, watching him though her lashes, but wisely kept quiet.

  When she arched her back invitingly, he lowered himself over her. “You have no idea how many times I have pictured having you here, at my mercy, like this. If there’s anything I regret in my whole fucked-up life, it was walking away that night without burying myself in your pussy. I shouldn’t have regretted doing the right thing by you, but…I did. And now you’re here, waiting for me to make you scream. Waiting for me.”

  She arched her back restlessly. “Jake.”

  “You have to ask me to touch you. Beg me.” He fisted her hair. “You’re going to beg me so fucking much, starting now.”

  “P-Please.” She wrenched on her wrists, rattling the metal against the wood. “Undo me so I can touch you?”

  He chuckled at her request. “That wasn’t the type of plea I’m looking for.”

  “Please.” Her breath came out fast. “Jake.”

  “Please what?”

  She squirmed beneath him. “Release me…sir.”

  “No.” He flicked his tongue over the little sensitive spot behind her ear before biting down. When she groaned and tilted her neck, granting him better access, he captured her chin and forced her to stare at him. Really see him. “I’m in charge, and I want you tied up. But I’ll give you one more chance to change your mind about this—about me. So, what’s it going to be? Yes or no?”

  She let out a whimper and rubbed against him as best as she could. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes.”

  “You’re sure?”

  He studied her for a second, giving her one last chance to turn away. To refuse him. She should. She really fucking should.

  Her lids drifted shut and she lifted her chin. “Positive. I’m yours.”

  Game. Fucking. On.

  Lowering his head, he closed his mouth over hers with a guttural growl. The second their lips touched, his body came to life. As if he’d been inexplicably waiting for this moment, since the first time he’d touched her. Waiting for a chance to taste her.

  To make her his.

  He cupped the back of her head, holding her still, and he intensified the kiss, sucking her tongue in deep. It was like coming inside to an air-conditioned house on a scorching hot summer day. He was home.

  She whimpered into his mouth, parting her lips wider. He took quick advantage of this, slipping his tongue inside to sample he
r hidden delights. A fist of desire punched him in the gut, and he tightened his hold on her more. With her underneath him, he felt as if he had everything he could possibly ask for, right at his fingertips.

  This. Was. It.

  He let his hands drift down her body, closing over her breasts. Moving restlessly beneath him, she moaned into his mouth. Her hard nipples begged for his touch. His lips. Hell, everything. He rolled the tight buds between his fingers through the fabric, but it wasn’t enough. He needed her naked.

  Now.

  He would love nothing more than to move slowly with her, to spend all night making her scream, but he could tell he wouldn’t last that long. Not this first time, anyway. And judging from the way she was rubbing against him, neither would she.

  Her breathing came fast and shallow, and she moved with a desperation he could easily match if he let himself. But he wouldn’t.

  He needed to remain in control.

  As he kissed her, he undid her shorts and slid them off her legs. She broke free of the kiss. “Are you seriously going to leave me chained up for this whole thing?”

  He tugged the pants off her ankles and tossed them over his shoulder, tilting her leg up so he could see her better. She wore a black satin thong, which barely covered the soft pink lips of her pussy. Seeing her lying there, in nothing more than a curve-hugging black tank top and matching panties, killed him.

  He needed to have her. Own her.

  “Yep.” He gripped her ass. “And that wasn’t a plea.”

  She licked her lips. “I’m s-sorry, sir.”

  “Apology accepted.” He skimmed his fingers inside her thighs, barely brushing her warmth. “Open your legs more for me.”

  She gasped, but obeyed immediately. Improvement.

  He rubbed his thumb over the soft satin covering her flesh, hard and fast. She cried out, arching her back, cheeks flushing. Fucking gorgeous. “Don’t come. Don’t think about it.”

  Her mouth dropped. “B-But—”

  He stopped. “Is there a problem?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Don’t stop.”

  He cocked a brow.

  “Please,” she added, immediately knowing what he wanted. She’d always been a smart girl like that.

  He moved his thumb. “You’re so fucking wet for me.”

  “Yes, only for you.” She whimpered. “Oh my God, please.”

  When he quickened his strokes, her back arched again and her wrists jerked on the cuffs. Staring down at her, he studied the way her long brown hair covered his pillow, and how her perky breasts bounced as she writhed on the bed, her breaths coming out in spurts. She was the prettiest, sexiest, most perfect woman he’d ever brought to his bed.

  If she wasn’t careful, he’d never let her go.

  Her body tensed, and he watched her as she squirmed. “I…I’m going to come,” she cried.

  “No.” He moved faster, nibbling on her shoulder at the same time. “You’re not allowed.”

  She cried out, tossing her head to the side. He couldn’t tell if she was trying to escape him, or give him better access to her neck. “Jake, please.”

  His cock ached to be inside her. “Enough,” he gritted out. He stopped touching her and grabbed the hem of her shirt. “Time to see the rest of you.”

  “B-But you can’t get my shirt off.” She tugged on the cuffs. “I’m stuck.”

  “The hell I can’t.” He ripped her shirt in half. She gasped, her eyes simmering with lust. He quickly removed her bra, too. He stared down at her, memorizing the sight of her lying there almost naked in his bed. Nothing had prepared him for this.

  For the reality of her.

  “You’re…I’m…fuck.” He broke off and stood up, knowing he was perilously close to losing control. He removed his own clothes, staring at her as he did so. He needed to be unclothed before he’d allow himself to go near her again. Because once he touched her, he didn’t want to have to stop.

  He wouldn’t stop, come hell or high water.

  Completely naked, he straightened and met her eyes. She examined him, her gaze dipping low and falling on his injured leg. When she froze, he shifted his weight on his good leg, his head high despite the nerves bundling in his gut. She was seeing him now—really seeing him.

  All of him.

  The jagged red marks crisscrossed over his thigh, and the skin over his knee was puckered and ugly. Always would be. Would she turn away in disgust? Would this be a deal-breaker? His ex had hated his wounds. She hadn’t been able to love him. She’d left him, and he hadn’t blamed her.

  That didn’t mean he was the type to sit there bemoaning the loss of his once-perfect leg. If people didn’t like the huge red scars, well, then fuck them. It wasn’t his problem if they couldn’t handle the sight of the damage done to him in the name of his country. But for the first time…he cared.

  Cared what she thought. He didn’t like this weakness she brought out in him.

  Her gaze returned to his face, the sympathy she felt for him way too clear. “What happened?”

  “IED. I didn’t move fast enough, and it took me down,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Is this going to be a problem for you?”

  She shook her head. “N-No. Of course not.”

  He gave a nod, as if he hadn’t been worried about her decision at all. As if his heart hadn’t leaped when she hadn’t winced in disgust or sent him away. Time to regain control. “Good. Now beg me.”

  She trembled. “Beg you to do what?”

  “Touch you.” He snatched a condom out of the drawer in his nightstand. He rolled it over his bulging cock, his fist gripping the thick shaft as he did so. “Beg me. Tell me where you want me first.”

  She licked her lips. “I…I can’t talk like that.”

  “Yeah, you can.” He parted her legs, opening her up to him. Seeing her like this almost had him forgetting all about the rules. He didn’t move. “Don’t move. Beg me.”

  She dug her foot into the mattress. “Please. Kiss me. Touch me.”

  “Where?”

  “Everywhere.”

  “Don’t you dare move,” he commanded.

  She stopped herself in the knick of time, biting down on her lip.

  He nodded. “Now. Where do you want me? Say it.”

  “In between my legs. Please.”

  Tilting his head, he smiled at her obedience. He crawled between her open legs, nibbling a path as he moved higher. First, her ankle. Then the soft spot behind her knee. By the time he nipped her inner thigh, she whimpered and squirmed. And he was no less affected.

  Gripping her ass, he lowered his head and inhaled deeply. “Fuck, you smell good.” He flicked his tongue over her clit. “Bet you’ll taste better.”

  She moaned. “God. Do it. Now.” She paused. “Please.”

  He trailed his pointer finger over her hip bones, moving up her body again. Away from the place she’d so kindly asked him to kiss. “Hmm. Not yet.”

  She squirmed. “You said—”

  He slapped the side of her ass gently, and she broke off with a soft cry. “Last time I checked, you were the one handcuffed to my bed. You submitted to me. Promised to obey me. You agreed. Right?”

  Her nipples tightened. “Yes, sir.”

  She tilted her face to his, and he kissed her. Her teeth dug into his bottom lip as she strained to get nearer, but he pressed closer. Harder. More. So much more. While pinching her nipples between his thumb and forefinger, he delved into her mouth with his tongue.

  Ah, yes. That was more fucking like it. He rolled his tongue over hers, deepening the kiss as he toyed with her. She whimpered and arched into his hands. The sound of cuffs rattling the headboard filled the room, mingling with her quick breathing.

  When he positioned himself inside the juncture of her thighs, rubbing the head of his cock against her warmth, the sheer need that hit him was almost enough to make him forget all about tasting her. Forget all about having her come as he licked each drop of her juices fro
m her sweet pussy. But he didn’t.

  Because he couldn’t afford to forget his rules.

  They were all he had left.

  When he pulled back, ending the kiss, he nipped her lip. She moaned and closed her legs around his hips. “Fuck me now. Please.”

  “Not yet. But thank you for asking so politely.” He disentangled himself from her legs and covered her body with his own, reveling in the sensation of her soft skin gliding against his. A guy could get used to this. Way too fucking used to it. “First, I’m finally going to taste you. Everywhere, like you asked.”

  He sucked her nipple deep into his mouth, not bothering to start out gentle or slow. Now wasn’t the time for that. He took her in deep, scraping his teeth against the hard bud. Crying out, she arched her back. His cock begged to be inside her.

  Begged for release.

  He released her nipple and went after the other one, his fingers dipping between her legs as he did so. She was so fucking wet and ready for him. As he worked her breast, he rubbed two fingers against her clit in a wide, sweeping circle. A wave of possessiveness came over him when she cried out and moved against him, trying so hard to come.

  Trying to find the pleasure he’d promised her.

  As he shoved her panties aside and ran a finger down her slit, he released her nipple and watched her squirm. Her cheeks were pink and rosy. Arching her back wordlessly, she let out a tortured sound. He teased her with his finger, applying enough pressure to get her closer to the edge.

  A strand of hair covered her eyes. He brushed it away tenderly. “What do you need, sweetheart?”

  “I’m…” She drew in a shaky breath and pressed her heels down into the mattress. “I need you now.”

  A brow inched higher, and he flicked his tongue over her sensitive flesh. “Please.”

  “Please,” she begged.

  He closed his mouth around her clit, digging his fingers into her soft ass cheeks. She cried out and moved against him restlessly, his name breaking out of her lips. “Jake.”