“I don't need protecting right now. I just need you.”
Merc groaned and dropped his forehead to hers. “I don't deserve someone like you.”
He had no idea how much like her he was.
Dangerous thoughts whispered across her mind: You're not Nightshade. You’re Caroline Cotter, a United States Senator’s daughter. Merc had no idea who she really was. Her heart clenched. Could she be with him like this, give him herself knowing he thought she was someone else?
He placed a kiss on her lips, tender and gentle, trailing down her neck to nibble at her collar bone leaving hot goose bumps in his wake.
Nightshade tossed her reservations to the back of her mind. Pretending to be her sister wasn’t hurting anyone right now.
“Yes, you do. We deserve this.” Although she knew she might regret it tomorrow, she wanted Merc to be the one to take her virginity. She wanted to remember this moment forever. She wanted him.
* * *
Merc trembled on top of Caroline, her intense and honest response robbing him of logic. He didn't know what it was about her, but he knew she belonged to him and him alone. That yawning emptiness he felt since he'd woken scared and alone on that sterile gurney, his memory gone, disappeared when he was close to her. It was like she was the puzzle piece he’d been missing his whole life.
Before Caroline, Merc had been seeking to fill the void with vengeance and death. But this tiny slip of a woman flooded that void with her simple touch.
“Are you sure about this?” He'd never been an honorable man. Honor didn't exactly coexist in his line of work, but she made him want to be better. And even if he had to slice off his own damn dick to keep himself under control around her, if she told him no, he would.
“I'm sure,” Caroline whispered and then licked her lips, drawing him instantly to that lush soft pink mouth. As if tugged by a magnet, he lowered his head to hers, claiming her with a gentle kiss.
“I want to see all of you.” Merc pushed back onto his knees, reaching for the large black button trousers. She helped him tug the material down her hips. He tossed them to the floor right along with her shirt and bra. Underneath was a delightful surprise. No flimsy thong, but boy shorts that did nothing but emphasize the swelling curve of her hips. His eyes immediately went to an old scar puckered along her inner thigh. “What's this?”
She dragged his hand away and placed it on her breast. “Car accident. Long time ago. Don't want to talk about scars.”
She didn't have to say another word. His mind was already focused on the soft flesh giving beneath his palm as he lifted and tested the weight. Even though her frame was small, her breast fit his palm perfectly. Her already tight nipple beaded even harder under his caress.
He lowered his head to her body, reverently savoring the way her skin stretched across her sternum as he slowly trailed butterfly kisses down to her navel. He circled the hollow with his tongue and continued southward.
Since their kiss last night, he’d had brief flashes of a memory of him taking a dark-haired girl against the wall in an alley, harsh and unemotional, both of them satisfying a basic need. He recognized the girl in his dreams but couldn't put a name to her face. All he knew was he wasn’t a virgin. And although he detested the memory, he was glad to know he had some idea of what to do with Caroline.
She lifted her right leg first and then her left as he pulled her boy shorts free, tossing them to the floor. He sat back on his heels, staring in awe at her slender, toned legs, the slight swell of her muscular abdomen, and the way her blond hair fanned out on the mattress. He knew he'd never seen anyone so beautiful and never would again.
Intending to savor every single inch of her body, he started at her feet, his hands enveloping them as he lifted her right leg and kissed the arch of her foot, reveling in her gasp and giggle. “Ticklish, are you?”
“Horribly,” she answered.
He tucked that memory away, intending to tease and torture her later when they had more time to savor each other. Right now he had another goal in mind, this one not involving tickling or feet.
Merc stood, pushing his pants off his hips and toeing them from his body. He took the moment to fully appreciate Caroline laid out like a Greek goddess on the bed, waiting on him to devour her. His chest tightened and he slowly rubbed his fist over his sternum, unfamiliar with the deep ache and unsure of what it meant, only knowing Caroline was the one who had put it there.
“You're beautiful. So incredibly beautiful.” Merc dropped to his knees between her spread legs, running his hands up and down her thighs, the friction of her satiny skin against his rough callused palms building a fire inside him.
He focused on the beautiful sensitive spot framed at the juncture of her thighs. She was bare and glistening wet. His mouth watered and he went to his chest, slowly sliding his hands underneath her and cupping her ass to lift her before him as a feast.
He heard her breath hitch and then her hands tangled in his hair. “Wha – what are you doing?”
“Tasting you.” He could see the uncertainty in her gaze. She seemed to waver between afraid and curious, and he saw the moment curiosity won out.
He slowly dipped his head to her and placed a gentle kiss right at her core, inhaling her perfect musky scent. His senses, already heightened and attuned to her every move, went into overdrive. It was as if this was the moment he’d been waiting for his entire life.
With reverence, he licked her slit, the bottom all the way to the top, his already hard cock going granite as she squealed. He used his thumbs to part her and licked again, this time scraping his teeth over her clit.
Caroline arched in his hands. “Merc!”
“Do you like it?”
Her fingers tugged at his hair, yanking him to her. “Do that again.”
His woman was demanding and he fucking loved it.
He held her open for his enjoyment, continuing those long, slow strokes, ensuring that she would feel every single inch of his tongue. Her taste drove him wild, but her little whimpers and gasps of pleasure had him nearly losing his mind. He could stay there for the rest of his life giving her pleasure like this, soaking up her cries and then giving her more.
Sweat broke out on his brow, lust and desire eating him alive, the need to claim her, a living beast inside him. But he knew she was untried and innocent and that he needed to prepare her so he wouldn't hurt her.
Merc closed his lips over her clit and suckled as he pulled his hand from beneath her and rested a finger at her entrance. He dipped inside, using short, shallow thrusts as he slowly pushed against the walls of her resistance until he felt the proof of her virginity. His nearly lost it then, knowing he would be the first man to claim her filled him with a protective pleasure that had him dripping with pre-cum.
She would be his and his alone. Senator’s daughter or not, he’d never be able to go back to being without her after this moment.
Gently, he inserted a second finger, savoring her sweet cries as he stretched her incredibly tight muscles. He took her with his fingers, getting her used to the friction.
She began to pump her hips, meeting his fingers thrust for thrust. “Oh my God, Merc. I don’t know what you are doing, just don't stop!”
She writhed uncontrollably beneath him, her tight walls clenching around his fingers, and he knew she was close. Just like he knew that no matter how hard he wanted to drive his dick inside her right now, he wanted to taste her orgasm even more.
Increasing with renewed effort, he licked her clit while he worked his fingers inside of her, speeding up the pace until she screamed, the sound pure sweet music, and her juices saturated his hand and tongue.
Her entire body trembled as he slowly withdrew and rose over her, kissing her forehead, her cheeks, her curvy little nose. He couldn't get enough of her, just like he couldn't help but line up his cock at her entrance.
“Baby, are you okay?”
“I've never been more okay in my life.”
&nbs
p; Her eyelids lowered, her perfect mouth flushed and swollen. Had he thought her beautiful before? She was an enchantress, a dream. His dream. His chest swelled so tight he thought it might burst and the need to take her nearly overwhelmed him. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, wrapping her hands around his bulging biceps. Gritting his teeth, sweat dripping down the sides of his face from the effort to restrain himself, Merc eased inside of her. He felt her tight entrance give, eased by her slick moisture, and pushed inside, stopping when just the head had breached her entrance.
Pulling on every single reserve of control, some he hadn’t even known he possessed, Merc inched inside her tight sheath until he felt the resistance.
He dropped to his elbows, panting, every muscle in his body tense as he strained to hold still. “Are you okay?”
She wiggled her hips, her body shifting and moving beneath him. “Yes.”
He gently took her lips in a long passionate kiss. When he knew he couldn’t wait one second longer, he pulled out, and with one long hard thrust, Merc buried himself to the hilt. Caroline screamed, her nails digging into his shoulders as her body jerked against him.
“Baby, I'm so sorry. Just hold still and your body will adjust.”
She nodded, and he dropped his cheek against hers, laying his full body on top of her but holding himself up enough so he didn't crush her. Merc focused, counting down the seconds. She was so damn tight, her vagina squeezing him like a glove. And then Caroline shifted, moving just an inch, and his eyes rolled back in his head at the pleasure.
Unable to hold still any longer, he withdrew from her and eased back inside, intending to watch her for any sign of pain. But no matter how hard he concentrated, no matter how hard he tried, Merc couldn't stop. Lust completely overtook him, her sheath fastening around him, zapping what little control he had left, until he was taking her with hard deep thrusts, savoring every single moan and inch of delicious friction.
He felt his balls drawing up, and the base of his spine tingled. Caroline's nails dug deep into his hips, her heels urging him on. “I can’t hold out much longer.”
“I'm close, so close!” Caroline gasped.
Merc gritted his teeth and drove onward, pounding inside. At her first hint of release, a high soft moan, and she clamped down on him with her orgasm.
Merc exploded inside of her, shouting his release, all of his strength gone. He dropped and rolled to the side, taking her with him so he wouldn’t crush her, remaining still hard inside her.
Unable to do anything more, he clutched her to him, needing to draw her closer, needing to connect them as one, knowing deep inside, Caroline was that missing part in his life.
* * *
Merc’s breath fanned against her ear as he pulled her closer. “I swear to you right here and now, I'll protect you and your family with my life. You have my word.”
Nightshade bit her lip, his words torturing her, because her gut reaction was to immediately blurt out her feelings for him. She knew deep in her soul she'd never connect with anyone like him again. If she stayed with Merc, she'd choose him over anyone else, maybe even her teammates and her sister.
A desperate sinking feeling destroyed her high, and even though she hated it, she withdrew from him. Not externally, but on the inside, closing up that soul deep connection they’d just shared, dying on the inside.
No matter how much she cared for him, and no matter how much she wanted him, she couldn't have him — not if she wanted to save her team. When he found out her true identity, and she had no doubt he would, he'd hate her with the same vengeance he hated her father.
Nightshade pulled him close and snuggled deeper into his shoulder, trying to imprint the way he felt to her mind. She'd save it for those nights when she lay in bed alone, realizing she'd never have a relationship or be intimate with another man again. How could she after what she'd shared with Merc?
She'd promised Mankel she would do whatever it took to save her teammates and her twin, and she'd meant it – right down to sacrificing her life for them. But she never expected she’d have to go on living, knowing she destroyed her singular chance at true love.
Merc’s fingers threaded through her hair, gently spreading them over her naked shoulder. “Why are you so quiet? Did I hurt you?”
The vulnerability in his midnight gaze cut through the loose stitches she’d hastily sewn up over her heart. Unable to keep from touching him, she shifted the pads of her fingers over his arm, tracing the granite hard lines of his huge biceps. “No, you didn't hurt me. I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
She answered with utter honesty, “That I would lay down my life for you, too.”
With the dim glow of sunlight filtered by heavily laced curtains, Merc flipped onto his back. He tugged Nightshade with him so that she sprawled across his chest, her legs spreading automatically, surprised when his hard cock nudged at her entrance.
“I wouldn't let you.” He planted his hands on her hips and slowly pushed her down on his immense length, her tender flesh resisting the intrusion at first, then giving way as he slid her all the way down.
“Okay?” he asked.
His cock was just as big as the rest of him, filling her so completely she struggled to draw in a breath, but the tight fit was nothing but incredible pleasure. “Perfect.”
Holding on to her hips, he pulled out slightly before impaling her again and wringing a loud gasp from her lips. The tenderness inside only added to the intensity, and liquid heat filled her instantly.
He pinned her to the spot, repeating the movement, carefully, she knew, because he was worried about hurting her. Her small frame had always intimidated men, made them tend to almost baby her because they were afraid they’d break her. But she was tough, and she needed more than the gentle lovemaking he'd given her before. If this was to be her only time with Merc, she wanted it seared into the very crevices of her mind, body, and soul.
She sat up, using her knees to lever herself up and off of him until his tip hovered at her entrance, then dropped down hard and fast, reveling in the way he threw back his head and clenched his jaw. She had power over this massive warrior, just as much as he had over her.
She repeated the movement, jerky at first, then smooth as she found her rhythm, balancing her palms on his chest as she rode him hard, increasing speed as the pleasure coiled tight in her belly. He rested his hands loosely on her hips, allowing her to take charge. Too soon she came, wringing all the air from her lungs, and she collapsed on his chest.
He lay still beneath her, allowing her to recover. “Fuck you’re gorgeous.”
Her lips tugged up in a smile. “And you're the most handsome man I've ever seen.” His deep rumbling laughter vibrated her cheekbone and Nightshade savored the sensation.
“Can you handle it if I finish?”
With a start, she realized he hadn't joined her in her orgasm. “Of course.”
She was shocked when he pulled from her, leaving her empty. “Roll over on your belly and get on your hands and knees.” He helped her, lifting her hips and then pushing her down until her chest rested on the bed. He growled, a deep rumble of a sound that was all sex. “I'm going to dream about you like this for the rest of my life.”
His hand soothed over the curve of her butt, up her hip, and around to fondle her breasts. Nightshade moaned as his other hand found the sensitive nub between her legs and quickly flicked it until she was bucking against his fingers.
This time, he didn't give her any warning, didn't even pause except to take his hand from her breast and grip her hips. Then he was inside her, slamming in deep, driving her ability to think, to breathe, to rationalize completely away. “Merc!”
He soothed a hand down her back, stroking her from the nape of her neck to the base of her spine. “Trust me.”
And she did. She forced herself to relax into the mattress, laying her cheek to the side and fisting her hands into the tangled sheets beneath her. He pulled o
ut slowly, making her feel every single inch of his cock leaving her body, and then he slammed home, driving a scream from her lips.
“That's it, baby. That's what I want from you. Don't hold back.”
He repeated the motion, drawing back and slamming home, over and over. She ripped the fitted sheet from the mattress, the force of his thrust driving her entire body forward even as he yanked her back in the next breath.
Her orgasm built and built, levered off the leftovers from her previous one. She heard him grunting behind her and relished his movements as he increased the tempo, slamming forward as he yanked her back with a nearly bone-jarring power that was about to send her right over the edge again, this one even higher than before. “Merc, Merc, I'm going to come.”
“Just hold on another second. I want to come with you.” He slammed in again and she swore he touched her womb.
Sweat dripped down her arms, a fine sheen of moisture from the strain it took to hold back her screams zapping her willpower. “Hurry.”
“Need to savor it,” he ground out and slammed into her again.
“Can't. Hold. On.” She dug her face into the mattress and clenched her teeth. And then he thrust hard and deep, pushing her right over that raw edge of control, leaving her screaming his name as she came hard. “Merc!”
He stiffened inside of her, his cock seeming to swell even more as she felt the hot burst of semen filling her insides. “Caroline!”
A moment later he dropped to his elbows, his massive chest caging her against the bed. Instead of feeling trapped, she felt protected. She felt cherished.
She felt loved.
She knew in that moment what it meant to truly sacrifice. She couldn’t have this man who’d given her so much. This warrior who’d promised to protect her. He’d never look at her or hold her with such gentle care again.
Because she’d have to betray him to save her team.
Men of Mercy: The Complete Story Page 138