by Cynthia Eden
“To be clear, though, you’re not going to send me away when the sun rises. If it’s the worst sex ever, then we just live with it.” Her slender shoulders straightened. “I’ll keep doing my job. The tension will be gone between us, and we’ll consider it a failed experiment.”
Despite the tension in his body, a laugh exploded from Bran. He couldn’t help it.
Julia frowned at him.
“Guarantee you…” His hand lifted, and his fingers trailed over the petal softness of her cheek. “It will not be the worst sex ever.”
Her head turned as she moved into his touch. “Promises, promises,” she murmured.
Yes, it was a promise. He wanted her so badly the whole world was falling away around him. His body had gone molten. He wanted to devour her. Worst sex ever?
Try best.
“I, uh, brought a condom up.” She lifted her right hand to reveal a small foil packet. “That was probably really, really forward, wasn’t it? But you should know that I always believe in being prepared, that’s who I—”
He kissed her. Bran couldn’t hold back any longer. She was so cute waving her condom around, and, God, she was like no one that he’d ever met before. His head bent and his mouth took hers. She gave a little moan, and he greedily swallowed the sound. He took the condom from her fingers, slid it into his pocket. Yeah, he’d be using that later. First…
First there were other things he had to do.
Worst sex ever?
He needed to get that idea out of her head. When she screamed for him as she came, Julia would know she never had to worry about worst with him. In fact, by the time he was done with her, he pretty much wanted to fucking ruin Julia for any other lover.
Selfish? Controlling? Something a domineering asshole would do?
Yep. Guilty.
He lifted her into his arms. Her legs wound around his hips even as her arms curled around his neck. The way he had her positioned, her sex was pressed hard to his cock. He was fully erect, aching behind the jeans, and there was no way she could miss his arousal. She rocked against him, riding him through the jeans, and Bran loved it. Loved the way she was kissing him back and going wild against him.
A stellar start.
But he’d be needing more.
He carried her back toward his recording room. He’d had the architect put the recording area in the studio because—well, why the hell not? Bran shoved open the door to the recording area. A large table waited inside and he eased her down on top of it. Her hands flew out as she moved to steady herself, and he took that opportunity to reach forward, to slide his fingers under the tank top that she wore. She quivered beneath him and watched him with those dark, liquid eyes of hers.
He smiled. “I need you naked.”
“I’d like you that way, too.”
His smile stretched. He stripped the tank top off her. The top, then the bra. He tossed them to the floor and took a moment to admire the best view of his life. Her breasts were full, round, with dusky, tight nipples. Bran had to lean forward and have a taste. His mouth closed over one pert nipple. Her hands rose and locked against his shoulders.
He licked. Sucked. Savored.
Julia called out his name. Need was in her voice. Demand.
He kissed his way to her other breast. Gave it the same tender attention as he kept a stranglehold on the lust that wanted to explode within him. Then, down, down he went, kissing his way as he worked along her stomach, down to the waistband of those little, bitty, screw-with-his-head jogging shorts that she wore.
Bran caught the shorts with rough fingers and jerked them down.
Then, hell, he had to take a damn moment.
She wasn’t wearing underwear.
He swallowed. Twice. She was shaved and sexy. Bare and waiting and… “Did you have on underwear earlier?” When Gideon had been there?
“No.”
His eyes closed. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Bran, are you waiting for something…in particular?”
His eyes opened.
She smiled at him. That lone dimple flashed for him. “Because if you’re shy, I am more than happy to go first.” Her dark gaze dipped down his body.
Lust burned hotter.
If she went first, if she put her hands or her mouth on his dick, he was a goner. There would be no showing her that this was the best sex ever. There would only be a complete and total loss of control as he shoved balls deep into her and slammed into heaven.
His fingers curled around her legs. He spread them apart. Stared a moment longer. “You’re beautiful.”
He put his mouth on her. Her gasp filled his ears as her hips arched up against him. He licked and stroked, sliding his fingers over her clit, rubbing her, then dipping into her core. She was so freaking tight. She would feel amazing around his cock.
She felt amazing beneath his fingers. His mouth. His tongue.
He licked and licked, a frenzy building inside of him because her taste was so good. Her nails raked him, her hips jerked, her breath heaved out, and he knew her climax was close. He wanted to taste her pleasure, so he didn’t let up. He kept working her, again and again. He wanted to taste and take until she knew only him. Until there was nothing else for her but pleasure and—
“Bran!”
Primitive satisfaction filled him as her first orgasm hit. Hell, yes. He backed away, but only long enough to rip open the foil packet she’d so thoughtfully brought. He had the condom on two seconds later, and his dick pressed to the entrance of her body. She stared up at him, her cheeks flushed, her dark eyes glittering, her lips red and parted. He bent over her. Bran kissed her deep and hard even as he surged into her.
Balls. Deep.
She moaned. He groaned and stilled. He didn’t want to move. He wanted to freeze time because she felt that good. Tight. Hot. Squeezing him so well that Bran was sure he would go out of his mind.
“Bran…” A demand in her voice as she tore her mouth from his. “You are killing me.”
No, not even close. He withdrew.
Thrust deep.
Her head tipped back. His mouth moved to her throat. He felt her pulse racing beneath his lips. He licked and sucked.
Her heels dug into his ass as she arched against him. Her hips pounded in a rhythm to match his increasingly frantic thrusts. Need was all he knew as his tenderness faded away. Savagery took control. A need to possess. To hold tight.
To own.
He wanted to feel her come around him. Wanted to feel the fierce clench of her climax. His hand slid between them. His thumb rubbed over her clit, faster and faster as he thrust. He licked her neck. Sucked. Wanted to mark her. Wanted to stamp himself on her because she was on him. Everywhere, sinking into his very skin—
“OhmyGod, Bran!”
Her climax sent him barreling into his own. He drove deep and stiffened as he seemed to empty into her. His heartbeat thundered, pounded and pounded, and his breath caught in his lungs as the most powerful climax of his life swept over him. It wasn’t some quick quake. Some fast release.
It was a glimpse of fucking paradise.
When the pleasure finally faded, he realized he was holding her too tightly. Her delicate body shuddered beneath his.
He didn’t want to pull out of her. He wanted to stay exactly where he was. Balls deep in Julia seemed like a grand plan to him, but…
Her legs slid limply away from him. Her hands fell to the side.
His gaze swept her face as alarm flared in him. “Julia?”
“I think I’m done.” Her eyes were closed.
His hand stroked her cheek. Had he hurt her? Worry grew as—
She smiled but didn’t open her eyes. “Done until I get a second wind, anyway.”
Bran found himself smiling down at her. He realized that he felt warm and happy, more than just after-sex-satisfaction. He eased away from her. Ditched the condom and came back to her as quickly as he could.
She was still sprawled on the table, her beautiful
body bare, and that faint smile on her lips. He leaned forward and kissed her.
“Not the worst ever, huh?” Bran rumbled. Just to be clear.
“Not even close.”
His gaze narrowed. Bran lifted her into his arms. “I think we can do better than that.”
Now her eyes opened. Her arm twined around his neck as she stared up at him. “Is sex always like that for you?”
His hold was gentle on her as he carried her out of the room and back to the staircase.
“Bran?”
“Like what?” He didn’t want to talk about sex with anyone else. For him, there wasn’t anyone else right then. She’d pretty much wiped every other woman from his mind. Shit. He’d been the one who’d wanted to make her ruined for sex with anyone else. He’d wanted to knock out any other comparisons. Then he’d sank into her…
And I think I’m screwed.
She gave a gentle exhale and said, “So good that nothing else matters?”
He stilled. It was either freeze or risk them both tumbling head first down the stairs. “That what it was like for you?” He turned his head to look down at her.
She met his stare without blinking. “Yes.”
Other women would bullshit him. They’d give him lies to feed his ego. She stared at him with her dark, deep gaze, and her face was so serious.
“I haven’t felt that way before,” Julia continued carefully. “And I think it scares me.”
Me, too, baby. Me, too. Carefully now, he got them down the stairs. And into his bedroom.
He carried her to the bed. Put her on top of the covers. She was naked and gorgeous, and she made no move to cover herself, but she did rise to crouch in the middle of the bed. “You haven’t answered me yet. Was it like that for you?”
“Baby, trust me, it didn’t even compare to anything else.”
Her smile came and went, as her hand smoothed over the covers. “I can’t stay with you. I’d like to curl up with you in this bed, but I can’t.”
A fist squeezed his heart. “Why the hell not?”
One shoulder rolled in a shrug. “I have bad dreams. Sleep like crap most nights.”
Join the club. There was a reason he played his guitar into the wee hours of the night. Hell, until sunrise.
“I don’t want to wake you up, so it’s probably best if I go back to my room.” She slid from the bed.
He didn’t back up. Bran stood right there so that her body brushed against his. “I don’t care if you wake me up. I’m not much of a sleeper.” He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Want to tell me about your bad dreams?”
She shook her head.
“If you ever change your mind, I’m here.” Now he brushed around her. He wasn’t going to push her. He had the feeling that if he pushed too hard, he’d screw up and lose her. That wasn’t an option. Bran thought that Julia might turn out to be very, very important to him.
Maybe she already is.
He eased into the bed. Slid under the silk sheets. Made sure that there was room for her next to him. “I’d love for you to join me. We can go for another round…” Hell, yes. “Or we can just sleep.”
She bit her lower lip. “I didn’t exactly take you for the cuddling-after-sex type.”
Because he wasn’t. Usually. “Maybe you’ll be able to fall asleep in my arms.” He tried a teasing smile with her. “Maybe I’m the cure for your bad dreams.”
She stared straight at him.
Or maybe you’re the cure for mine, Julia.
Her gaze darted to the door. “When the sun rises, does all of this…” Her hand gestured vaguely between them. “Does it all end? Do I go back to just being your assistant during the day?”
Tread with caution. “Is that what you want?”
“I…think it might be what we both need.”
Not the answer he’d hoped to hear. “And what happens when the sun goes down again?”
Her hand fell. “Anything we want.”
With her, he’d want everything. Bran nodded.
Once more, her gaze slid to the door. He thought she’d leave him. He braced for it but, instead of walking away, she came toward him. She slid under the covers with him. Her body pressed to his. Fit to his.
His fingers curled around her wrist. He lifted her hand up and kissed the scar along her inner wrist. He wondered if her bad dreams were related to the burn. Wondered if she’d ever trust him enough to tell him the truth. He’d like to know her secrets. And he’d like to finally have someone that he could trust enough with his own dark past.
She cuddled close and gazed up at him. The light from his bedside lamp spilled onto her. “I’m still not sleepy.”
Neither was he.
She moved quickly, rising up, straddling him, and pushing the sheets and covers back. “So I think I’d like to go for round two.” Her knees pressed into the mattress on either side of his body. Her sex rocked against his eager cock. “If you’re up for that…”
Oh, he was definitely already up for that.
***
She hadn’t taken the hint. The woman had been warned. She should have left while she had the chance. Only instead of leaving, she seemed to be clinging even more to Bran Copper.
Didn’t she see him for what he was? Didn’t she know what an absolute monster the man could be? Or was she blinded, like so many others? Blinded by the fame. By the money. By the power.
Bran wasn’t the perfect man. He was trash. He deserved to be punished. He deserved to have everything that he cared about be ripped away. And it would be ripped away. He would lose everything that he valued. Everything that mattered to him would be destroyed.
The cabin waited, a light within still glowing…a light that he knew was in Bran’s bedroom. The cabin had been a sanctuary for Bran. A safe place. Bran didn’t deserve any safe places. He didn’t deserve even a single moment of happiness, not after all he’d done.
It’s time for you to lose, Bran.
The woman could either leave…or she could fucking burn with him. The choice was hers.
Chapter Eight
He filled her completely.
Julia’s spread fingers pressed to Bran’s powerful chest. Her breath choked in and out as she gazed down at him. His hands were wrapped tightly around her hips. She’d just taken him inside, slowly sinking on his long, thick cock, and now she held her body perfectly still. Her inner muscles gripped him tightly. Jeez, he seemed even bigger this time.
“You…okay?” Bran gritted out.
Okay? Okay? Not even close. Her knees pressed into the mattress as she lifted her body up, and his cock slid out of her—almost out, as she paused, with only the broad tip inside of her.
His hands pulled her back down as he sank deep.
“Baby?”
“Let’s go faster.” She licked dry lips. “Harder.”
The smile that stretched his lips and made his eyes gleam was probably the same smile that the devil would wear. He seemed to explode beneath her, thrusting his hips up, bucking, driving into her, and she clamped eagerly onto him as Julia rode him. Control was gone. It was just about need and pleasure. A white-hot lust that seared past the skin and straight to her core.
He tumbled her back onto the bed. Caught her legs and lifted them over his shoulders so that she was open even more to him. There was no way she could hold him back in this position, not when she was open so completely to him, and Julia didn’t want to hold him back. She wanted every single thing that he had to give. Everything and more.
Primitive instinct took over as they surged toward release. The bed squeaked and creaked, sweat slickened their bodies, and when the climax came, it crashed over first her, then him. A consuming avalanche of pleasure that made the whole world fade away as the wild heave of her breathing echoed in her own ears.
He slowly lowered her legs. Repositioned her on the bed so that her head was actually on a pillow. Bran disappeared long enough to ditch the condom he’d pulled on right before he sank into
her, and when he came back to the bed, he pressed a warm cloth between her legs.
She murmured a thanks but couldn’t quite manage to pry open her eyes. Didn’t matter. He was back soon enough a second time, sliding into the bed with her. Pulling her against him. And it felt nice. Safe. Comfortable.
She wouldn’t stay in his bed, of course. She’d wait for him to fall asleep. When he dozed off, she’d slip away. She’d only stay with him for a minute…
***
Julia’s eyes flew open. Sunlight fell through the window and hit the bed. She sucked in a quick breath as she realized that she was still in Bran’s bed. His arm was curled around her waist. Her leg was thrown over his.
Oh, jeez. A frantic glance at the clock showed her that it was seven in the morning—or, rather, a few minutes past seven. The previous night, she’d promised Cole that she would sneak out to meet him, and she was late for the morning meeting. Late because she’d gotten way too comfortable and cozy with Bran.
Carefully, she slid away from him. Julia was pretty much holding her breath as she maneuvered from beneath Bran’s arm and to the edge of the bed. When her feet hit the hardwood, she tip-toed her way out of the room. She didn’t even shut the door because she knew it would squeak. She flew down the stairs, scurrying with quick steps as she rushed into her bedroom and threw on fresh clothes. Julia took a minute to brush her teeth, but didn’t have time for the hop in the shower she was dying to get. She grabbed her phone and fired out a fast text.
On the way. Wait for me.
Pausing only long enough to grab a weapon—a girl should never leave home without one—and to jerk on her sneakers, Julia hurriedly made her way out of the cabin.
Silence greeted her as she stepped outside. She had a small bag slung over her shoulder. A draw-string backpack. The weight of the bag barely registered as she hurried toward the barn. There was no sign of Cole’s vehicle, but she knew her partner would be there.
She rounded the side of the barn—
“Why are you late?” Cole drawled. “Very unlike you.”
Forcing a shrug, Julia said, “I overslept. It happens.”
Cole’s gaze swept her, starting at her sneakers and slowly making his way up until he reached her hair. Crap. Just what did her hair look like? With an extreme effort, Julia resisted the urge to lift a hand and try to smooth down her hair.
