The Bridal Candidate 1 (Heart Connections)

by Linda Verji

Her tenuous self-control was further tested when his touch moved lower. His hands slowly followed the sinuous curve of her spine down to her buttocks before gripping each of the globes. Soon he was caressing and kneading the firm tissue, taking his time.

  Aiko couldn't breathe.

  She couldn't move.

  She didn't want to move.

  She stifled a gasp as he spread her ass cheeks. And when he fit his cock, throbbing and pulsing between them, shock shot through her, mingling with the heat of desire centering in her pussy. The length and hardness of him set her blood pounding. It took everything in Aiko not to grind back into his tempting length. She wasn't going to give in to her traitorous body this time.

  But Damián, it seemed, was determined to shatter her resolve. His hands circled her torso and cupped her breasts. Her breath hitched in her throat at his touch, and her whole body froze in its tracks, waiting for his next move. He massaged soap into her skin, caressed and squeezed the swollen, needy flesh, before hoisting her breasts up toward the hot stream of water. When he captured the brown nipples and pinched them, she bit her lip as a streak of pain surged through her.

  No, this wasn't pain.

  It was heavier, throbbing, wilder than anything she'd ever felt before.

  Every touch of his hands made her shake. The way he flicked at her nipples then taunted them with little twisting pinches sent thrill trembling through her.

  She wanted to moan how much she loved what he was doing to her. She wanted to raise her hands, to set her palms over his hands and wordlessly beg him to squeeze harder. But her anger was still smoldering beneath her desire so she kept her silence. She let her arms hang loosely beside her body and pretended that she wasn't burning up inside her.

  "You like that?" he asked as he rolled her nipples between his fingers.

  Even though immediate electric tingles traveled straight to her pussy, she replied his query with silence, determined not to give him the satisfaction of her pleasure.

  "I know you do," Damián mumbled as his hands left her breasts to glide down her body. "Your body is telling me you do."

  She sucked a breath when he flicked his tongue over her earlobe. His hands were now on her ribcage, her navel, her lower tummy… Aiko stiffened when the tips of his fingers brushed her pussy and instinctively closed her legs tightly.

  "Open for me," he whispered darkly in her ear as he massaged the top of her mound, teasing her. "Please, Aiko."

  Maybe it was voice, maybe it was the persistent stroking of his fingers but her legs slid apart slightly. It was all he needed. His hand eased low and his fingertips split the tight, saturated folds apart to run down the full length of her creamy slit. She arched backward into his chest as indescribably delicious sensation that shot through her at that intimate touch.

  He stroked and danced around the edges of her entrance before zeroing in on the sensitive nubbin at the top of her pussy. It was already swollen and charged with need. One flick and Aiko shuddered through a mini-orgasm that had her pussy running juices over his fingers. Despite her resolve not to speak to him, his name tore from her throat. "Damián."

  "You like that, huh?" She heard the smile in his voice, felt it against her cheek and hated him for it. But she couldn't deny it. Yes, she liked it. Damn him!

  It was not fair. She did not want to feel this.

  Yet, she was completely incapable of stopping her senses from submitting to him. She dug her fingers into his arms and gritted her teeth in angry frustration and pleasure when he began to play her; pressing his thumb against her clit, rolling it, tugging, rubbing and stroking even as hot water washed away the soap on their skin and steam filled the shower. Biting her lip, she leaned heavily against him as he teased her plump nub; up and down, fast and feather soft… he suddenly buried his finger deep inside her.

  "Oh- my- aaah…" Her broken words trailed into an open mouthed scream as her sheathe clenched around him. Her knees buckled at the sudden pressure that centered at her pussy, but he was there to keep her standing. His free hand locked around her waist as he eased a second finger into her. Lustily, he thrust his fingers in deep, pumped in and out of her, coated his fingers with her juices and stretched her. Sensually, he explored her with his touch, teased her and drove her wild.

  "Sss." She was completely at his mercy; unable to think of anything but him, unaware of everything but his touch. She closed her eyes and relished it, even as her ass glided over the huge shaft nestled between its cheeks. Sharp tingles rocketed through her body until it felt like her whole being was a string stretched taut and ready to break.

  "Come for me," he urged as he moved his fingers in a steady pace in and out of her, probing at her slippery wetness. "Come for me."

  It was too much.

  She gave a low cry as her wits fragmented under his assault and her senses hit a point sharper and more defined than the tip of a needle. She was stiff, then shaking, then falling, then floating. Her lungs emptied of all air as the incredible spasms tore through her.

  "That's it," Damián encouraged as his fingers continued to thrust in an out of her, drawing out every bit of pleasure until she was sure there was nothing more. Panting and still shuddering, she closed her eyes and sagged against him as the last waves of her release quivered through her.

  "Come here." His big hands were turning her to face him, cupping her buttocks, lifting her. "Wrap your legs around me."

  "Dam-"

  He plunged deep!

  She screamed and clutched at him with her thighs and hands. His mouth crashed over hers, cutting her scream short even as he pushed upwards into her swollen dripping pussy. Even though she was well prepared for him, she reflexively clenched her muscles against his intrusion. But he pushed forward ruthlessly, his cock stabbing at her determinedly, splitting her open and sliding in inch by inch.

  Finally they were completely sealed together.

  Tearing, his lips from hers, he paused in his movements even while still buried deep inside her. He was still for so long that she was forced to open her hooded eyes. She found him watching her, his expression a hard mask of desire and barely restrained lust. He asked hoarsely, "Are you okay?"

  Was she okay? She felt stretched, filled, possessed by him. And it felt damn good. But she wasn't okay. She hated that this felt so good. Why didn't her anger equate to not wanting him? How could she be so irritated at him yet unable to breathe if he didn't start moving? She had to be crazy.

  Frustration welling inside her, she glued her mouth to his, intent on making him just as crazy as he'd made her. Damián responded to the kiss with wild abandon. He took it over, pushed his tongue deep in her mouth with a wild urgency she'd never seen in him. It was as if he was starved and couldn't get enough of her. His unchecked passion was gratifying. And it made her feel almost felt better about her fall.

  Then he started to move.

  Slowly but firmly, he backed out of her until only the wide crown remained inside, then with a long, powerful stroke he lodged himself back inside her.

  "Fuck!" His growl mingled with her whimper, as he pulled out again then tucked himself in deep.

  "Oooh," she cried, clinging to him, bearing down to meet his upward stroke. She wanted to be closer to him; needed to be closer.

  And he was holding her tight, striding forward, pinning her to the tiled wall and filling her again with painstaking slowness. She barely felt the hardness or coldness of the wall against her back as mercilessly hammered into her, fucked her. She was shaking with wild pleasure, arching into his long hard, perfect movements.

  Their breathing heavy, deep and labored mingled with the sounds of their bodies meeting and the rush of running water as he surged in and out of her. Again. Again. Again. The fragrance of their sensual journey filled the steamy confines of the shower stall inciting her already agitated senses to breaking point.

  Sweat broke out all over her body as she sunk into the ecstasy he wielded so easily. She didn't think it was possible but his cock swe
lled even more, rubbed against the sensitive nerves inside her until the pressure within her started to rise again.

  One thrust.

  The pressure rose higher.

  Another thrust.

  The pleasure turned unbearable.

  In. Out. In. Out- her world ignited in flames that leapt so high they consumed her very being. She released a small scream as another climax raced through her.

  But Damián wasn't done.

  No! He crashed his chest against hers plastering her hard against the wall, and pressed his forehead into the hollow where her shoulder met her neck. Gripping her buttocks, he backed in and out of her with frantic force as his hands kept moving her to a joint rhythm. She could only gasp and hold onto him as if he were her anchor as he took his pleasure.

  He plowed and plunged into her over and over again, his strokes getting sharper and shorter until suddenly a great shudder rippled through him.

  "Aiko," he growled her name as his cock started to spasm and shoot his seed deep inside her. He held her through it, gripping her so hard she was sure she'd have bruises tomorrow. But she didn't care. Clinging to him just as hard, she clenched and unclenched her muscles over his shaft, milking him of his release until he had no more to give.

  For a long moment, they held each other as they descended from pleasure. His breathing was as labored as hers, and his heart was beating as rapidly as hers. It almost felt like they were one. Feeling an unexpected rush of tenderness, she pushed his hair behind his ear then bent down to press a kiss to his cheek.

  He turned his face from her neck to meet her eyes. She expected to see satisfaction in his eyes… instead his gaze seemed troubled. Immediately she sensed something was wrong. But before she could ask, he was kissing her. She sunk into the kiss easily.

  She could kiss Damián every minute of every day and never get tired. He was like a drug that she couldn't do without. His kisses were distracting enough that she barely noticed him untangling himself from her hold or shuffling them closer to the rush of water.

  He only broke the kiss so he could rinse them both off. With quick, efficient movements designed to clean not inspire lust, he wiped away every trace of their lovemaking. Once that was done, he pressed one last, hard kiss to her mouth before murmuring, "Thanks."

  And with that he stepped away from her and turned. There was a sudden whoosh sound then sudden cold air as he opened the shower door. He never even looked back as he shut the door behind him. If he had he would've seen Aiko's shattered expression.

  Thanks. That's all she got?

  She'd never felt more like a whore.

  CHAPTER 15

  Damián woke up the next morning swirling in a cocktail of emotions - none of them satisfaction. Instead of feeling pleasantly sated because of finally breaking his two week sexual drought, he felt confused, ashamed, remorseful and like a grade A dick. To make matters worse, it was a slow morning at the office - which left him with plenty of time to mull over his sins.

  Even as he stared at the screen of his computer, his mind was far off - on Aiko and what had happened last night. The moment he'd stepped in the shower, he'd noted Aiko's glare. Her silence was as telling as the fire her eyes were spitting at him. She didn't want him in there with her. Even as she responded passionately to his kisses and his touches, deep inside he knew that didn't want to want him.

  Yet, it hadn't mattered to him.

  All he could think about was how much he missed her and how he couldn't bear to spend another night without her. He'd never lost control like that; never been the kind of man to value his own needs above his woman's - and he was feeling guilty as hell.

  His feelings of guilt didn't make any sense. They had a contract, didn't they? It stated that he was entitled to sex whenever he pleased, didn't it? And she'd signed, hadn't she? Yet all those justifications were not enough to ease his conscience. Suddenly, having a contract wasn't enough. He wanted more out of their relationship; more… something.

  He wanted her as a willing partner, not a contractual partner; as ravenous for him as he was for her. He wanted her to choose to sleep with him - not to be obliged to sleep with him. He shouldn't have pushed her, and he certainly shouldn't have walked out on her in the shower like that.

  Thanks? He felt ashamed of the dismissive goodbye he'd given her. It wasn't right. The least he could've done was hold her for a few more minutes, let her know how much she'd pleased him. He heaved a sigh and brushed his palm over his face. He couldn't seem to do anything right when it came to Aiko.

  Ring. Ring. Ring. The sound of the phone ringing yanked him out of his morose thoughts. The moment he picked it up, his receptionist's voice echoed over the line. "Mr. Colter, Josiah Neal is here to see you."

  Ah! Someone to distract him from Aiko. "Send him in."

  Minutes later, Josiah knocked on Damián's door. Damián greeted him with a weak smile. "What are you doing in our part of the city?"

  "I'm meeting with the Mayor in-" Josiah glanced at his watch as he sprawled into the seat opposite Damián. "- about forty minutes."

  "Wait. Is this the ten a.m. meeting you told me about?" Damián asked. When the other man nodded, he shot him an incredulous look. "Dude, it's ten thirty."

  "I know. I have a watch." Josiah chuckled as he waved his wrist at Damián. "See."

  "You're keeping your father-in-law waiting?" Damián shook his head. "The balls on you."

  "Some waiting will do him good." Josiah shrugged. "Gregory's been extra-insufferable lately. Ever since people started coming at him for trying to force our homeless out of the city with that stupid anti-vagrancy law, he's been at me to fix it."

  Damián tapped his chin and watched his friend knowingly. "Hmm. I wonder who leaked the news about those stupid anti-vagrancy laws to the press."

  "Beats me." Josiah tried to give him an innocent look, but failed. Both men burst into laughter.

  Damián chuckled. "You have got to be the worst son-in-law ever."

  "I try. I try." Josiah's brown eyes danced with amusement.

  In all fairness, the anti-vagrancy laws had been vile, if not an outright human-rights abuse. But still… Damián didn't know how his friend could eat at the same table every Sunday evening with his father-in-law then undermine him on Monday morning. Wasn't it hard to keep all his faces straight?

  "Enough about me." Josiah's gaze focused on Damián in penetrating scrutiny. "So, Colter, I hear you have a new nanny."

  Oops! Damián grimaced. "How did you find out?"

  Josiah's eyebrows shot up. "You mean the fact that you make excuses about being busy whenever I ask to come to your house wasn't enough of a clue? Plus our daughters go to the same school. I hear Zoe's been broadcasting how much she hates Aiko to anyone who'll listen. Aiko? Really?"

  Damián winced. "I was going to tell you about her."

  "No, you weren't. You were hoping I wouldn't find out because," Josiah added perceptively, "you knew that I'd ask you what the hell was going on." He paused for a long moment then asked, "What the hell is going on?"

  "Nothing's going on." Damián shrugged. "Aiko needed the extra money, and I needed a nanny."

  "Really? A nanny?" Josiah's eyes narrowed. "I send you to a matchmaker to get a wife. Suddenly, the matchmaker has moved into your house and is being paid ten thousand dollars each month-"

  Damián sat up in startled shock. "She told you?"

  "Of course she didn't tell me." Josiah didn't elaborate further, and Damián wasn't sure he wanted to know how he'd found out about the money. The man was so connected, it would be no surprise to find out that he had Aiko's bank records somewhere in the deep, dark vault where he kept everyone's secrets. Sitting back in his seat, Josiah continued, "So she's the one you've decided to marry, huh?"

  "Yes, she is-" Damián stopped, then corrected himself. "She might be."

  "You haven't decided yet?"

  "It's complicated…" Damián briefed his friend on the state of his and Aiko's relationship. She'd
offered herself, he'd taken her up on the offer and she was on probation. "… but it's not working out as well as I expected. She and Zoe don't get along."

  "And that's a surprise?" Josiah's lips tilted in a half-smile. "Your daughter isn't exactly the easiest kid to deal with. How many nannies has she gone through this year?"

  Damián shrugged. "I think Zoe's real problem is the rules that Aiko tried to institute."

  "Are the rules harsh or something?"

  Damián wanted to say yes, but he'd only be lying. "No, not really. It's just - you know Zoe. Some things just don't work with her. She's frustrated. Aiko's frustrated. Constant bickering. It is just not working out."

  Josiah observed his friend for a long moment then chuckled. "That little girl runs your house like it's her personal kingdom and you're all her slaves."

  "No, she doesn't," Damián protested.

  "Look at you now." Josiah shook his head. "Zoe refuses to obey the rules you've set, and your reaction is to replace Aiko with someone who won't give Zoe rules. That thug has you by the family jewels."

  Damián snorted. "Says the man whose daughter has him wrapped around her pinky finger. I've seen how smooth Keira is when she wants something."

  "Yeah, my baby's smooth." Josiah shrugged. "She takes it from me and I agree that sometimes I give in too easily. But that's because she knows how to ask me for stuff. None of that tantrum throwing bullshit. She also knows my limits. Have you ever heard her smart mouth me?"

  Damián searched his mind for an occasion but found none.

  "Cause she knows I will beat the black out of her," Josiah continued. "Also, she doesn't get everything she wants. I, unlike some people in this room, know how to say the word No."

  "She's only eight," Damián said, his voice tight with barely restrained irritation. "Wait until she's twelve then you can come back to me with your 'Father of the Year' speech."

  "Look, man. I'm not saying I'm the best father out there." Josiah's tone was more conciliatory. "But you need to man the fuck up and stop parenting your daughter from guilt."

  Damián frowned. "I'm not parenting from guilt."