by Sandra Owens
When she wiggled against him, he put his hands on her hips, holding her still. As turned on as he was already, he’d lose it before he had his clothes off if she kept doing that. What he wanted tonight—wanted for them—was something so special that they’d still be talking about it years from now.
He wrapped one arm around her chest, holding her tight against him. “I’m going to make you come,” he whispered into her ear. She moaned as he danced his fingers down her stomach, occasionally pausing, waiting for her to push her belly against his hand, wanting him to keep on going.
There was something sexy about the thin barrier of his shirt and pants between them. He was dying to be inside her, but not yet. He trailed his tongue from her neck to across her shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the mirror over her dresser.
“Walk,” he said, pushing her with his body to that mirror where he could see her face when he made her come. Standing in front of it, her eyes found his in the reflection. Taylor, when not in the thrones of passion, had blue eyes that made him think of the sky on a cloudless day, but Taylor turned on? Hot damn. Those eyes were as dark blue as storm clouds just before they turned black.
Right then, there was nothing he wanted more than to chase that storm, even if it destroyed him. He watched her in the mirror as his fingers found her sex. She watched him back. She let out a low moan when he dipped his hand under the band of her panties and slipped a finger inside her. And wasn’t that the hottest thing he’d ever heard?
He toyed with her, played her with his fingers. At the moment he recognized she was going to come, he stilled.
“Tell me you love me.”
“I might tell you that later,” she said as she put her hands over his, trying to force him to continue pleasuring her.
She could out-technique him on the mat, but she wasn’t strong enough to make his fingers move when he didn’t want them to. “That doesn’t work for me, tiger. Tell me now.” And there, that was what he loved about her, that challenge in her eyes. His equal. She wasn’t going to say a word until she was good and ready. Well, he’d see about that.
“If you want to come, say it.” He played with her some more, stopping again when he saw that she was on the edge. “Say it, Taylor.”
Now he was the one pleading. And interestingly enough, he didn’t care. She could fight him all she wanted if she’d just say the words he wanted to hear. The ones he needed to hear.
She smirked. “I don’t feel like saying them yet.”
“Little brat.” He hoped this was like it would always be between them. Neither giving an inch.
“You have too many clothes on,” she said, trying to turn around.
“They’ll come off when you say what I want to hear.” He tightened his arm around her breasts, holding her in place. As he let his fingers move again, he pressed against her, letting her feel how much he wanted her. “Say it.” In the mirror, he watched her bite down on her bottom lip, challenge lighting a fire in her eyes.
“Make me.”
“Now you’ve gone and done it.” He fought a grin and failed. Yeah, the woman was going to always keep him on his toes. He spun her around, then pulled her panties down as he dropped to his knees. She was going to say the damn words.
He peppered kisses on her inner thighs, smiling against her leg when she bucked. He hadn’t even reached the best part of her yet. With each kiss on her skin, he inched closer to his prize. She buried her fingers in his hair, then tried to guide him to her core. He wasn’t having it. This was going to happen on his terms.
“Nate, please.”
“You know what you have to do.” He teased all around her sensitive flesh with his lips and tongue.
“You’re a bastard.” She pulled the band out of his hair, letting it drop to the floor.
He chuckled. “But I’m your bastard.” He flicked his tongue over her sex, and she fisted her hand around his hair, pulling hard.
“Please,” she begged.
“Say it.” He stroked his tongue over her. “Say it, Taylor.”
“Dammit, Nate, I love you.”
As much as he’d wanted to hear the words from her mouth, he hadn’t been prepared for the pure rush of pleasure that surged though him. It was a good thing he was already on his knees, because he would have ended up on them.
Maybe any other man would have taken offense at how she’d said them, but it had been perfect for them. She was for sure going to make his life interesting, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Giving her what she wanted, it only took seconds before she cried out. He loved hearing his name on her lips.
When she put her hands on his shoulders for support, he stood, scooped her up, and carried her to the bed. She watched him undress, her gaze lowering with each piece of clothing he removed. By the time he stood in front of her in nothing but his briefs, he feared he was going to embarrass himself.
“Turn around,” she said, echoing his earlier command to him.
He obeyed, then glanced over his shoulder. “Do I pass inspection?”
She quirked a grin. “Can’t answer that yet. You’re well on the way, but I have to touch the merchandise first.”
It occurred to him that sex had been on autopilot before her. Get in, get what he needed, and then get out as fast as possible. He made sure the women got their pleasure, too, but even that had been on automatic. Step A, step B, step C in a learned routine of what women liked.
But with Taylor, everything was different. There was fun—something he’d never experienced where sex was concerned—and there was . . . He wasn’t even sure he could explain it if he tried. There was just more. Of everything.
“Touch away,” he said, coming to the bed after discarding his briefs. He climbed over her, bracing himself on his hands and knees. “Make sure the merchandise meets your approval.”
“Mmm.” She put her hands on his hips, then trailed them over his ass. “So far so good.”
He kissed her then, starting with one corner of her mouth, teasing her with soft nips until she wrapped her arms around his neck, opened her mouth and thrust her tongue against his. As was the way with them, their kisses became a duel, a battle for supremacy. He pressed his body against hers, his shaft finding its way to the v of her sex, seeking entrance. Gasping, he pulled away and grabbed the condom he’d put on the nightstand when he’d removed his pants.
“Hurry,” she said, as if the few seconds it took to roll it on was too long.
When he covered her body with his, she put her hands on his waist, sliding along his ribs, and then down his back, exploring every inch of him. He guided himself inside her, groaning as he slid home. Leaning over her, he braced himself on his elbows and stared down at her. Her lips were moist and swollen from their kisses, her eyes were that deep blue that made them shimmer like pools of water.
He withdrew, then slid back in, slow strokes as he watched her face, loving the way she looked back at him, as if there was nothing in her world but him.
“I love you,” he said, and her soft smile filled his empty heart and soul.
Taylor would never get tired of hearing him say that. “I love you, too.” He laughed, except it wasn’t really a laugh. More like a rusty sound of happiness. “That’s five,” she whispered.
“Five what?” He thrust deep into her.
“Oh, that felt good.” She lifted her hips, meeting his rhythm. “Five times I’ve made you laugh.”
Another thrust. “I laugh.”
“No, you don’t, or at least you didn’t used to.” She gave her hands free rein to explore, loving the feel of his body, of the hard planes and muscles and the firm roundness of his butt.
He buried himself to the hilt, and she moaned a raspy “yes.” She wrapped her legs around his thighs, urging him to go faster, harder.
“Talk dirty to me, Nate.”
“Sweet Jesus,” he growled. He lifted onto his elbows and stared down at her with glittery eyes. “I’m going to whisper dirty things in
your ear, do more dirty things to you with my mouth, and when I’m done with you, you’re going to be ruined for any other man but me.”
She already was. He smiled then, a very wicked smile that had her toes curling. Oh, God, she knew that look. She’d freed the beast, and the beast was hungry. He put his devious mouth to work on her breasts as he moved inside her slow and deep.
“Oh, God,” she cried when he whispered into her ear what he was going to do to her. He was relentless, bringing her to the edge, then pausing, refusing to give her more until she begged.
“Please, Nate. I need . . .”
“What do you need?” He licked a nipple, then kissed her hard. “Tell me,” he said, lifting his mouth from hers.
“I need you to let me come.” She lifted her hips to meet this thrust. “Please,” she added, loving the way his eyes smiled at her plea.
“Only because you said please.”
The cords in his neck strained, and as he picked up his pace, she let go, exploding in waves of ecstasy. Her eyes tried to close, but she willed them to stay open, to watch him as he gave in to the pleasure rolling through him. His eyes never left hers, a muscle in his jaw ticked, his lips were pressed firmly together, and his beautiful hair formed a curtain around the sides of his face. She reached up and combed her fingers through the silky strands.
“Taylor,” he said as his body visibly shuddered. He lowered his body, burying his face against her neck. “Taylor,” he said again.
She’d heard him say her name a thousand times, but it was different tonight. There was love in the sound of it. Overwhelmed with happiness, she squeezed her eyes shut before the tears leaked out.
When his heavy breaths eased, he rolled away. “Be right back.”
Even knowing he’d return in a minute, the bed felt empty without him. She pressed her nose into the pillow she now considered his, breathing in his scent lingering on the case. If he was going to spend nights in her bed, she needed to buy something bigger than the double mattress she had now.
Where would they go from here? she wondered.
“Come here,” he said when he slid back into the bed. He pulled her against him, her back to his chest. “I’m not done with you tonight, tiger, but let’s talk a little.”
His warm breath blew against her ear, sending shivers through her. “Okay. What’s on your mind?”
“A lot. First, how are the girls?”
Warmth filled her heart that he’d asked about them. She laced her fingers with the hand he had resting on her stomach. “Great. All tanned and happy. They can’t stop talking about the beach, sandcastles, and the K2 guys.”
“Annie better not be replacing me as her boyfriend. I’ll go with you in the morning to see them, make sure I haven’t been forgotten.”
Taylor smiled. “I think she still considers you her boyfriend, along with Ryan and Jamie. She asked for you about a dozen times today.” She peeked over her shoulder to see his reaction to that.
His eyes narrowed. “Unacceptable. I’m her one and only.” He nipped at her earlobe. “Just like I’m your one and only.” He chuckled. “I never thought I’d say that to a woman.”
She turned to face him. “Does that scare you?”
“It should.” He put his hand on her hip, pressing his fingers into her skin. “But strangely, not at all. Truthfully, it excites me.”
“Me, too.” She only hoped tonight was real and she wasn’t dreaming. If she woke up to an empty bed, it would break her heart. “I love you, Nate Gentry.”
“Move in with me.”
She blinked. Well, she hadn’t been expecting that.
“At least think about it,” he said when she didn’t respond. “I’m not talking marriage. It’s too soon for that, although I’m hoping we get there someday. But living together makes a lot of sense. We’ve gone and fallen in love. I plan to spend every night with you, either here or at my condo. My place is bigger, and—no offense—nicer. And also, no offense, but my bed is better. When I’m at Aces and Eights, you’ll be close to Madison and Lauren, and they already hang out. They’d love to include you. If you don’t want that, you can sit on the balcony, listen to the ocean, and read your romance books.”
She’d never told him what she liked to read, but it only proved that he was an observant man.
“And think of the money you’ll save that you can use on your girls.” He glanced away, then his eyes returned to her, and she saw longing in them. “Can they be our girls?”
Could a heart really burst from happiness? Because she thought hers was about to do just that. “I think they already are our girls.” The smile on his face was beautiful to see. “Is there anything else you want to talk about? Because I want you again.”
“So you’re going to ignore my question?”
“Oh, that. Is Henry Too invited?”
“He’s the only reason I’m asking. I’m only including you because I doubt you’ll give him to me.”
She punched him in the stomach, her fist connecting with stone-hard muscles. “Very true. Henry Too and I are a team. Yes, I’ll move in with you.” This playful side of him was new, and she loved it.
“When?”
She laughed. “Impatient, are you? How does tomorrow sound?”
“Fucking great.”
Deciding she wanted to be the boss of their next bout, she tackled him.
Much later, as she floated in a state of almost asleep, he whispered in her ear, “I do too laugh.”
And she’d make sure he kept on laughing. She fell asleep with a smile on her face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“It’s time for you boys to turn over Aces and Eights. With all that’s gone down with each of you, your faces are becoming too well known. You’ll still own the bar on paper, but no one will know that.”
When Rothmire had mentioned a few weeks ago that he wanted to talk to them about something, Nate had assumed a new case was on the burner. He glanced at his brothers, seeing the same shock on their faces that he was sure was on his.
Yet, as he let the idea sink in, he found that he had no desire to protest. A month ago, he would have fought tooth and nail against letting go of Aces & Eights. But that was before Taylor. And as his eyes shifted between his brothers’, he knew they were thinking the same thing. It would mean nights at home with their wives, or in his case, his girlfriend.
Taylor had been living with him for two weeks now, and he’d never been happier. There wasn’t an inch of his condo that hadn’t been christened by the two of them. And now they were starting over tonight on their balcony after he got home from the bar—usually around three in the effing morning. That was her favorite place to make love, thus it was his. If she wanted to make love on the moon, he’d find a way to make that happen.
Yeah, he was ready to have a normal life, and he was pretty sure his brothers felt the same. But what did Rothmire have in mind for them? And who would take over Aces & Eights? The bar was a bitch queen, demanding and volatile. She would require special hands to keep her happy. He and his brothers had always thought of the bar as the queen of diamonds, but turned out they were wrong. There was a queen of diamonds in the Gentry family. Their sister. All they had to do was find her and their mother.
“I think Rand and Josh could step in and do a good job,” Rothmire said. “Maybe not at the level you boys reached, but the only other choice is for you to sell out or shut the bar down, and I’d rather not do that. It’s proven too useful for carrying out covert operations.”
So that was why the boss had been keeping Rand out of sight lately. And Josh was so new that very few outside of their field office knew he existed. They would both be able to slip into undercover roles without difficulty.
As for Aces & Eights, Nate didn’t want to see it shut down either. He and his brothers had put too much blood, sweat, and tears into the place to see it become nothing more than an FBI legend before it was forgotten about completely.
He raised a brow at his brot
hers, getting nods from both. “How are we going to make that happen?” he asked their boss.
Rothmire smiled—a canny one, in Nate’s opinion—and said, “You boys are going to have a public falling out, and then just as publicly say the bar is up for sale because you can no longer work together. Your supposed buyers will be Rand and Josh.”
“How fun,” Alex said.
Nate rolled his eyes. Of course Alex would find that fun. He was probably already planning how to put him and Court on their asses—in public—and crow about it.
“You so much as touch me, baby brother, and I’ll delete you from existence,” said Nate’s computer-nerd middle brother. Court apparently guessed as Nate did that they’d better keep their eyes on Alex during the little charade Rothmire had in mind.
Nate gave them both an evil grin. “Either of you come at me, and I’ll tell your wives about that time you two streaked through the Florida State campus, wearing nothing but matching pink bras and pink thongs.” They’d done it on a dare, and his only regret was that he didn’t have a picture.
Rothmire snorted, then coughed, then choked. “Need water,” he gasped as he left the room.
“You play dirty, bro,” Alex said.
Nate smirked. “Always have, but you know that, bro.” He settled back in his chair. Yeah, the boss probably did need a drink of water, but he’d also left them alone to talk. “So, you two good with turning over the bar?”
“I am,” Court said. “Being gone every night but Sundays is putting a strain on my marriage.”
That got Nate’s attention. “Problems?”
“Nah, not like that. It’s really me more than Lauren. I hate leaving her alone every night. I know she doesn’t like it, but she never complains. She accepts that it’s my job. It’s just that lately, I’ve been thinking that I’d like to have a somewhat-normal life. As much as the FBI will allow it.”
“Madison’s amazing,” Alex said. “She never makes me feel guilty for my late hours. But I’m echoing Court. A somewhat-normal life without the crazy hours we put in sounds agreeable to me.”