DebtofHonor

by N. J. Walter

  He poured two drinks, picked them up and carried them across the room. She was hovering just inside the doorway. “Here, have just a sip or two. You’re strung tighter than a bowstring.”

  She took the glass and shrugged. “What did you expect?”

  What had he expected? Something stupid, like her falling into his arms. He was an idiot. He walked to the large leather sofa and sat, motioning for her to sit next to him. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to bite.”

  As he suspected, his taunt about her being afraid moved her across the room and onto the sofa next to him. He took a deep swallow of the expensive liquor, letting it slide down his throat. It burned and then warmed his stomach. “This isn’t going to work.”

  Kaitlyn frowned and set her untouched drink down on the coffee table. “What do you mean? I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “But you don’t want to be.” That was apparent now and he found he didn’t want an unwilling Kaitlyn.

  She jumped up and began to pace. “I’m nervous, okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  He placed his glass next to hers and then rose. He wasn’t certain what to do and that had to be a first for him. He always knew what to do, always knew his own mind. His feelings for Kaitlyn had always confused him.

  He caught her by the shoulders and brought her pacing to a halt. “What do you want, Kaitlyn? Tell me and whatever it is, I’ll make it happen.”

  She stared at him with her stormy blue eyes. “You. I want you.”

  Kaitlyn couldn’t believe she’d blurted that out loud. And she couldn’t even blame it on the alcohol because she hadn’t even had any. Derek was watching her as if she were a ticking time bomb, not that she could blame him. She’d agreed to sleep with him. Her coming here at the appointed time was her unspoken agreement that she was willing to do so to clear her family debt with him. Yet, she’d had one foot out the door since she walked through it and now he was giving her an out.

  And she didn’t want to take it.

  She should be running for the front door and escaping to the safety of her home. They could both pretend tonight hadn’t happened. But she knew if she did that she’d always have regrets. She’d put all her own wants and needs aside for ten long years. Now the one thing she wanted was in front of her and she was going to reach out and take it.

  Derek’s hands were heavy on her shoulders and his blue eyes were filled with concern. That wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to see desire shining from his eyes, for her.

  As always, he looked good enough to eat. His blond hair was short in the back but a bit longer in the front. A lock fell onto his forehead and she longed to touch it to see if it was as soft as it looked. It was the only softness on the man. His body was big and hard, honed from years of backbreaking work.

  He was wearing his usual attire of well-worn blue jeans, scuffed leather boots and a plain shirt, although the shirt was fancier than the ones he usually wore. It was white, but had pearl buttons and some fancy stitching around the collar and pocket. The white of his shirt against the deep tan of his skin made her heart skip a beat. His shoulders strained the seams of the garment.

  “Kaitlyn?” She could see the question in his eyes and knew he would abide by whatever she decided. It was all up to her.

  She went up onto her toes, grabbed his shoulders for support and kissed him. At first his lips were cool and unresponsive. Just as she was about to admit she’d made a huge mistake and pull away, his hands stroked down her back and yanked her closer. His mouth opened and his lips brushed against hers.

  She moaned and he slid his tongue between her lips and into her mouth. Had she thought his lips cool? They were actually hot. He was hot.

  He angled his head and deepened the kiss. Kaitlyn forgot every other man she’d ever kissed. Not that there’d been many, but none of them compared to Derek. He kissed her as if there was nothing more important in the entire world, as if she was the only woman he wanted to kiss.

  It was a heady sensation.

  She clung to his shoulders, loving the flex and play of his muscles as he moved his hands up and down her back, alternately soothing and exciting her. Her nipples ached beneath her clothing so she rubbed them against his broad chest. He groaned and his tongue ravaged her mouth. He took all the air from her lungs and then gave it back to her. By the time he pulled away they were both breathless.

  “Will you come to bed with me, Kaitlyn?”

  This was it. After this there would be no turning back.

  She nodded. “Yes.” She knew if she didn’t she’d regret it ’til her dying day. She wouldn’t think about tomorrow or the consequences of her actions. Tonight she was living for the moment, hoping to suck every single drop of pleasure out of it. Tomorrow would take care of itself.

  Derek’s blue eyes darkened and he scooped her off her feet, holding her easily. He left the room and walked slowly up the stairs. She felt no sense of urgency from him, only a deep sense of pleasure.

  She looked around, curious about his home. She didn’t get to see much before he carried her into a bedroom at the end of the hallway. The bedside lamp was on, casting a warm glow over the space.

  It was very masculine and all Derek. The floors were hardwood, but the large wooden expanse was broken up by a rug in various shades of browns and greens. A dark-green comforter covered the king-sized bed, which was flanked by bedside tables. Two pine chests of drawers filled one wall. An overstuffed brown chair sat in one corner. There was another door leading off the room, which she assumed led to his private bathroom.

  Scattered around the room were reminders of the man who occupied it. A pair of cowboy boots sat next to one of the chests of drawers. A lasso was coiled next to the chair. Change scattered across the top of one of the dressers.

  He set her on her feet next to the bed. She fidgeted slightly, her gaze flitting everywhere but him. She was extremely nervous even though she wanted what was going to happen next.

  “Kaitlyn, look at me.” She found she couldn’t resist the command in his voice. She swallowed hard and met his gaze. “You can stop me at any time. Do you understand?”

  She nodded. She had to get a grip on herself. She was acting like a nervous virgin.

  Derek stepped back and began to open his shirt. One button at a time, he slowly revealed the wide, tanned plane of his chest. She’d seen plenty of half-naked men in her life and a couple of naked ones too, but none fired her senses or made her pussy clench like Derek did.

  He yanked the tails out of his jeans and shrugged out of the shirt, tossing it onto the chair in the corner. His forearms were thick and dusted with a light coating of hair. His biceps were huge. Her gaze wandered over his chest from his firm pecs and down the thick slabs of muscles that made up his abs, all the way down to his narrow waist.

  The man was built like a god.

  “Now you.” He reached for her sweater and had it down her arms and off before she could think to object. She wished she’d dressed up a bit more, worn something a little fancier. But it was too late for that now.

  She lifted the hem of her T-shirt and yanked it over her head. Trying to duplicate his nonchalance, she tossed it on top of his shirt. His nostrils flared and his lips hardened. He reached for her, cupping her bra-clad breasts.

  “You certainly keep these well hidden.”

  Kaitlyn felt her cheeks getting warm and damned herself for blushing. She’d always been self-conscious about her chest and had tried to downplay it her entire life.

  His thumbs circled her nipples until they were hard nubs pushing against their cotton covering. “So beautifully responsive.”

  He reached around her back for the clasp and had it opened in a split second. She wasn’t sure if she should be impressed or appalled by his apparent skill at undressing a woman.

  He eased the straps down her arms and let the bra fall to the floor. While he studied her breasts, she watched him. And what she saw relaxed her. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. She glanced lower
and saw the hard ridge of his arousal pressing against the zipper of his jeans. She smiled slowly.

  They were actually going to do this.

  Derek cupped Kaitlyn’s naked breasts. They filled his hands and he had very large hands. He’d always known she had a great figure. It was impossible to miss those spectacular long legs of hers. But he’d never realized just how stacked she was. She kept these darlings strapped down tight.

  He rubbed his fingers over her large nipples, his dick jerking when she moaned. She was so responsive to his every touch. He pinched her nipples lightly and was rewarded when she moaned again. Damn, tonight was going to be fun. But first he had to get her naked.

  He picked her up and set her on the end of the bed. He lifted one of her feet and tugged on her boot. She fell back and let out a laugh before she propped herself up on her arms and watched him as he pulled off her boot and dropped it onto the floor. Her other boot followed.

  Then he went for the fastener on her jeans. She didn’t object. It was killing him to take this slowly. He wanted to yank off her clothes, turn her over and fuck her from behind, driving into her, claiming her as his own.

  His hands stilled on her zipper. That’s what he’d always wanted, wasn’t it? He’d always wanted to claim Kaitlyn as his own. That was why no other woman could ever fill the aching void within him. He’d been waiting for her all these years.

  “Derek?” He could hear the question in her voice but shook his head. He didn’t want to talk, not now. Not when he had her half naked in front of him.

  He unzipped her pants and peeled them down her thighs and off, taking her underwear and socks with them. Naked, she stared up at him.

  God almighty, she was spectacular. Derek went to his knees, ignoring the throbbing of his cock and the tightness of his balls. He had to taste her.

  He pulled her to the end of the bed so her butt was resting on the edge of the mattress. Then he draped her legs over his shoulders, opening her thighs and exposing her totally. Her pussy was pink and wet. Juicy. He leaned in and kissed the smooth skin of her inner thigh.

  “Relax and enjoy.” He kept his voice low and soothing, the same as he did with a fractious mare. He used his thumbs to part her slick folds. Damn, she was pretty. He leaned inward and licked. She shivered at his touch but didn’t stop him.

  Her clit was swollen and peeking out of its protective hood. He flicked at the bud with his tongue. She shuddered and then moaned. Her fingers tangled in his hair and pulled him closer. He almost let out a shout of victory. He had her now. She wanted him.

  He planned to eat her until she came. He wanted to taste her pleasure before he fucked her. It was going to be a long night. One of many if he had anything to do with it. But first he had to show her how good things could be between them.

  Derek sucked her clit into his mouth and teased it with the tip of his tongue. She moaned and arched her hips toward him. She tasted sweet and hot and musky. All woman. Uniquely Kaitlyn. He knew he’d never get enough of her.

  He stroked her pussy with his fingers before slipping two into her moist slit. Her inner muscles closed around them and gripped them tight. He could only imagine how it would feel when her pussy clenched his dick.

  As if in reply, his cock jerked. His jeans were so snug they were almost painful. He reached down and undid his belt and the fastenings of his jeans. When they were open, he shoved his underwear down and his cock thrust out, ready and willing to go to work.

  That was enough relief for him to finish what he started with Kaitlyn. He wasn’t a small man so he wanted her more than ready to take his cock. And that meant ensuring she was nice and wet.

  She was making all kinds of frantic noises that fired his libido. Not that it needed stoking. He was already on the edge.

  Her heels dug into his back as she arched into his touch. He thrust two fingers back into her, fucking her with them. He continued to use his tongue and lips to suck and tease her clit.

  He knew she was close, could tell by the way her inner muscles were rhythmically tightening around his fingers, by the way she pumped her hips up and down, totally lost in her own enjoyment of the moment.

  He glanced up at her flushed face, her parted, moist lips. Her breasts bobbed every time she moved, the nipples tight little buds from his earlier attention.

  “Derek.” The high, thready sound of her voice told him she was on the edge. He shoved a third finger into her pussy and she cried out, coming hard. Her entire body jerked and he felt the rush of her cream over his fingers. He pumped them in and out of her hot core, helping her get every last ounce of pleasure.

  When he pulled his damp fingers from her core, he brought them to his mouth and sucked them one by one. She tasted so damn sweet.

  She was watching him with wide blue eyes. She licked her lips and he surged to his feet and kissed her. He loved the taste of her, the way she opened and gave him everything, holding nothing back.

  “That was…” She licked her lips again and tried again. “That was amazing.”

  “Oh, darlin’, we’re just getting started.”

  Chapter Three

  Kaitlyn knew she should move, should do something, but she was totally boneless after such an intense climax. She’d come with former lovers but it was totally different, like the difference between a light summer breeze and a tornado. Derek had blown her away, leaving her breathless and spent.

  Tonight was supposed to be about settling a debt, about paying what her family owed him. And she was lying to herself. Tonight had always been about her finally finding out what it would be like to spend a night in Derek’s bed. She’d had a thing for him since she was old enough to notice boys, not that he’d ever really fallen into that category. Even when they were younger, he’d always been a man, harder and tougher than the rest.

  And he’d fascinated her even as he frightened her. He had such an intense, commanding presence. She knew it would take a strong woman to not only catch his attention but hold it. And she’d always had too much on her plate just surviving to risk her heart on such a gamble.

  But tonight all bets were off and she was throwing caution to the wind. Time enough tomorrow to worry about her wounded heart. Because her heart was involved—otherwise she wouldn’t be here. She could have found a way to make him take the money she’d offered.

  By making tonight about repaying a debt, she’d given herself permission to indulge in the fantasy that had haunted her dreams for years—Derek.

  And right now her fantasy was yanking off his boots and peeling his jeans and underwear off, reminding her that he was very much a flesh-and-blood man. Fully clothed he was intimidating. Naked he was even more imposing—primal and totally masculine. There was nothing soft about Derek, neither his calloused hands, his taut abs, nor his solid thighs. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. He was all hard muscle, thick bones and sinew. Even though she wasn’t a small woman and had always considered herself sturdy, she felt almost dainty next to him.

  It wasn’t just his size. It was his commanding presence, the aura he projected to the world. Derek was larger than life and then some.

  His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared as he lifted her as though she weighed nothing and placed her in the center of the bed. She had to fight the urge to cover herself when he perused her from head to toe and back again. He’d already seen all there was to see of her, but she wasn’t used to being totally unclothed around a man.

  “I like you like this, Kaitlyn. Naked and ready for me.”

  His words sent a rush of pleasure through her and her legs moved restlessly against the comforter as a twinge of desire stirred deep inside. One corner of his mouth kicked up into a smile. The devil knew she was affected by his words and he was enjoying himself.

  He placed his hands on his cock and stroked the hard length. “You promised to do whatever I wanted, didn’t you, Kaitlyn?”

  She had and that was as big a turn-on as having him buck-naked in front of her. She nodded. “Yes.�
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  “Then spread your legs and touch yourself. I want to watch you finger your pussy.” He continued to slowly pump his fist up and down his thick shaft. “Make yourself come for me, darlin’.”

  Kaitlyn couldn’t believe her ears. He wanted her to touch herself. That was the last thing she’d expected this evening. She figured he’d be like most men, in and out with little foreplay. She should have known Derek would be different. He wanted more from her than a quick fuck. If she wasn’t careful he’d steal her heart and soul.

  “Come on, Kaitlyn. Don’t be shy. And a promise is a promise.” His word goaded her into action and she spread her legs, bringing her knees up slightly. There wasn’t an inch of her that wasn’t exposed to his view.

  “That’s it.” His rough voice sent the most delicious shivers racing through her. “That’s what I want,” he encouraged.

  She reached between her thighs and lightly touched her fingers to the slick folds of her pussy. She was wet from her orgasm and where he’d licked and sucked her until she’d come. She shivered, her skin still sensitive from her previous orgasm.

  He released his cock and braced his hands on the end of the bed. “Oh yeah. Don’t stop, sugar.”

  She plucked at her swollen clit and sucked in a breath as her entire body clenched. She was close to coming again. This was crazy. She was lucky to come once when she was with a man. Twice was unheard of. And she was sure he wasn’t going to stop there.

  Her entire body spasmed in anticipation.

  Derek’s eyes seemed to scorch her skin wherever they touched her. She licked her lips and he groaned, his erection jerking toward her. He wanted her, but for whatever reason, wasn’t ready to take her yet. It became her mission to shake his composure. She wanted him as out of his mind with desire as she was.

  “Fuck yourself with your fingers.” His voice had dropped even lower, his tone as harsh as his command.

  She didn’t hesitate. Kaitlyn thrust two fingers into her channel. When that wasn’t enough, she added a third. She put her feet down flat on the comforter and undulated her hips, enticing him, teasing him.