“You meant it? Past tense?” Her lips brushed his softly as she spoke. “Have you changed your mind?”
He gripped her head and pulled her tight, unable to hold back any longer. She must want him too if she was so concerned about what he thought. Her soft lips touched against his and they parted as her tongue darted across his mouth.
He wanted the kiss to last forever, but Madeline broke away after a few sweet seconds. As her round eyes met his, he realized she needed the words to answer her question, not just his actions.
“I mean it. Nothing will change my mind about you, Maddie.” He stroked his thumb down the back of her neck, delighting in the shudder that passed through her. “Now it’s your turn. Do you feel anything for me?”
She molded her body against his and ran her hands through his hair. “I care for you very much.”
He crushed his mouth against hers and clutched her to his chest. “I’m sorry for hurting you at the jail. It was always about the money.” He paused, his eyes flicking to her scarred face, wishing he had a time machine to go back and change the past. He would have accepted her help, and Suzie wouldn’t have had a chance at her. “I was wrong. Together, we can get through whatever life throws at us. I don’t want to be apart from you again.”
She nodded vigorously.
Donovan gently tugged her hair sideways until she complied by tilting her head. He went straight for the tender spot at the curve of her neck and shoulder, noting that to be a sensitive place the last time he kissed her.
Madeline tossed her head back and whispered, “Oh, yes. I do love that talented tongue of yours.”
He traced her collarbone with his tongue before lifting his head up to take her mouth once again. Softly, he palmed her breast. “Maddie, I don’t want to wait anymore. I’m done being a better man.”
“Thank God.” She laughed and ran her fingers under the bottom of his shirt. “I’ve wanted you so long. Let’s not waste any more time.”
“It’s been even longer for me,” he growled, pushing her until she lay down on the couch. “You slept through three weeks while I suffered, only able to look at you.”
She giggled. “Well, I’m awake now, and ready for more.”
He slowly ran his hands up her legs. The muscles tensed beneath his fingers as he tickled the smooth skin. Her skirt hiked up partially, and Donovan shifted his weight to put one of his knees between her legs, capturing her other leg between the couch and his thigh. He threw the small pillow onto the ground, no longer wanting anything between them.
“Now that I have you trapped, what should I do with you?” He moved his hands to the bottom of her tank top, inching it upward. “I think you deserve a little punishment for making me wait so long.”
She squirmed beneath him, a wide smile on her face. “Whatever you do,” she said, sitting up partially so he could draw the shirt over her head, “don’t touch my nipples. That’s the worse punishment ever. Have some mercy, Mr. Andrews.”
“Quiet,” he ordered, covering the white lace of her bra with each hand. He made circular motions with his thumb, teasing her nipples erect.
“Please, sir, be kind.” She practically panted as her breathing quickened. “Don’t put them in your mouth. That’s the worst sort of torture.”
He leaned forward, grazing his tongue across her belly, over the scar there, and up to her breasts. He found the hard points beneath the fabric, biting each lightly before running his fingers up her arm. She shivered beneath him and moaned softly. Donovan peeled her bra strap down, wishing he’d remembered to undo the clasp when he took her shirt off.
Madeline complied by slipping her arm through the strap, and Donovan tugged on it, smiling when half her bust popped out of the cup. He pinched and prodded the nipple, and Madeline’s eyes fluttered closed. He took it in his mouth, sucking and licking.
Madeline’s arms slipped between them and he felt her fumble with the button on his slacks. She carefully eased the zipper open. Donovan bit down a little harder than he intended when her hands slid over his briefs.
“Ouch,” she complained. “Not so hard, or I’ll make your torture worse than mine.” She gripped him in her hand, squeezing a little harder than comfortable.
“Truce,” he begged. “I got a little over excited.”
She relaxed her grip slightly, moving along his shaft to find the head of his penis through the underwear. She circled it lightly with a gentle fingertip. “I suppose I can understand that. Things are rather exciting.”
It was his turn to gasp as tingles of pleasure jolted through him while she stroked him. He vied for position with Madeline, trying to get his hands up her skirt at the same time as she slipped her hand beneath the elastic band separating his skin from her questing fingers.
He groaned in frustration as her arm blocked his way. He stood and scooped Madeline into his arms. “We need more room and less clothes.”
“I can walk. You don’t need to carry me,” she protested.
“Quiet, wench. Don’t tell the torturer what he can and can’t do,” he said gruffly.
She laughed. “I forgot who the boss is here. Forgive me, sir.”
“Damn right. Don’t let it happen again.”
Donovan crossed the room and kicked open the partially closed door to the bedroom. His unfastened pants slipped down around his ankles, and he kicked them off as he tossed Madeline down, jumping on the bed next to her. “I finally get to bounce with you on this bed. I told you this was a better idea than going to a movie.”
She shook her head, her eyes sparkling with joy. “No bouncing yet, buddy. I want you to do a strip tease for me first.” She reached behind her back and her bra slipped free, releasing the other half of her remarkable bosom. “I’m wearing much less clothing than you, Mr. Andrews. Fair’s fair.”
He grinned and rolled off the edge of the bed. “You have a point.” He slowly drew his shirt over his head, puffing his chest out to make his pecs more impressive. He had a moment to worry whether or not his physique impressed her. He wasn’t the most muscular of men, though he was in good shape.
“Very nice,” she murmured, easing his concerns.
He made a movement to slip off his briefs, but Madeline shook her head sharply. “Wait. I have to inspect the merchandise before I decide to bed it.”
She stood up, stepping into him and rubbing her soft chest against his. Donovan didn’t think he could grow any harder than he was, but his member dug into her thigh before she pulled away.
A smile played about her lips, so Donovan knew his excitement hadn’t gone unnoticed. She caressed her hands across his abs, slowly stroking from his waistline to his collarbone as though inspecting a prize stallion.
“You said you’re a runner, I believe?” she asked, reversing the motion of her hands.
“Yes,” he gasped, his heart thudding in the cage of his chest.
“Nice.” She grasped the band of his drawers and pulled them down, kneeling in front of him as she dropped them to the floor. “Very nice.”
She leaned over to grab Donovan’s pants. She searched the pockets and pulled out his wallet, flipping it open.
“What are you doing?” he asked, amused. "Robbing me?"
She glanced up at him through half-lidded eyes. Oh, how he wished she’d stay down there and put her mouth to good use.
“A man as worldly as you must have remembered to bring a condom,” she answered.
Good thinking. “Right hand side.”
Madeline found it and removed the condom from its wrapper. She tickled the inside of his leg and gripped the length of his erection, stroking him before putting the condom in place.
She then stood, rubbing the front of her body across the full length of his. “Running does a body good, Mr. Andrews. I profess myself satisfied.”
He took her in his arms, tracing his fingers lightly across her bare skin. “Get rid of the skirt,” he said.
“Ah, ah, ah.” She wagged her finger at him and pointed to
his feet. “You’re not done yet.”
He looked down and laughed. Black dress socks covered halfway up the calves of his otherwise bare body. “You got a foot fetish or something?”
She shrugged and reached her arms behind her back. “Maybe.” The sound of her zipper sliding down encouraged Donovan to rip his socks off without further complaint. As soon as he flung them across the room, Madeline’s skirt fell into a heap at her feet and she slipped out of her panties.
“Oh my God, Maddie.” He ran his hands along her sides, passing them over her curvy hips. “You’re perfect. Truly gorgeous.”
The playfulness left her face for a moment and she bit her lip. “Really?”
“Better than my wildest fantasy.”
He reached behind her head and removed her ponytail, losing himself in the scent of apples released as her hair swirled around them. He inhaled deeply and ran his tongue along her upper lip, slipping it into her mouth as he took a step forward.
He forced her to the edge of the bed and she fell back, clutching her arms around his waist to take him with her.
***
Donovan’s heavy weight fell across her, caging Madeline to the bed and igniting her passion higher. She delighted in his obvious desire for her. Neither her face nor her body seemed to slow him down. He wanted her. The warmth of that knowledge made her even hotter for him. She’d never felt this way with another man.
He rolled to the side of her, still not releasing her mouth. Madeline loved the slight taste of mint on his breath and the feel of his hot tongue as she sucked it.
His hand caressed her inner thigh, and Madeline spread her legs for him as pleasure jolted through her. The tip of his finger traced her leg, straying upward to barely flick her swollen clit.
“Please, Donovan. No more torture,” she begged, twisting her hips to encourage full contact with his fingers.
He laughed against her mouth and shifted to slide his body between her spread legs. His erection pressed against her moist heat as he leaned into her, kissing her mouth softly and moving his way down her chest. He spent some attention on each nipple, sucking them in turn as his hands stayed planted on either side of her head.
She swiveled her pelvis, desperately aching to have him inside her. The motion rubbed her clit back and forth along the length of his hard shaft, but he didn’t enter her.
He moved his head down further, scattering kisses across her belly as he lowered himself on the bed. The pressure of him against her sex relaxed as he moved further away.
“Wait,” she protested, clutching his hair in her hand. “Where are you going? Get back here.”
He looked up at her, rubbing his chin through her small tuft of pubic hair. “Relax, Maddie. The torture’s not over yet. I’m just getting started.”
Donovan moved lower on the bed, grabbing her legs and swinging them over his shoulders.
“No,” Madeline whispered, a little horrified. “You can’t do that, Donovan.”
“My torture. My choice.” He kissed the inside of her thigh, sending a jolt of desire arcing through her body. “I promise, you will like this.”
Madeline tried to squeeze her legs shut and refuse him access to the pulsating core of her body—the betraying core of passion that cried out for her to relax and let him have his way with her. In all her life, she’d never had someone kiss her so intimately. It didn’t seem right somehow.
“Don’t be a prude, Maddie,” came his muffled voice. “You earned this punishment.”
She gasped as his hot tongue lapped a lazy circle around her sensitive center. “Donovan, you can’t.” She knew she should protest harder, but her body warred with her mind.
Pure, unadulterated pleasure shot through her, seeming to join in her spine. She clenched down in one tight spasm as his tongue flicked upward. Whatever Donovan was doing down there, she felt his lips and teeth graze her, and she couldn’t quite remember why she’d argued with him to begin with.
“Oh, please, don’t stop!” she cried as Donovan dipped a finger inside her and his tongue flicked rapidly against the epicenter of her pleasure. “Yes, yes!”
She writhed beneath him, trying to guide his tongue to just the right spot as she ran her fingers through his hair. She gasped as his wet hand slipped back further between her legs to caress her ass.
“Please, Donovan, please,” she urged. “I’m ready. Oh, God, I’m ready!”
He slid effortlessly along her body. His mouth took hers as he guided himself into her tight passage. The slight sting of him completely filling her mingled with her over-stimulation. She clenched down with excitement, barely able to catch her breath as Donovan surged into her.
Tasting herself on his lips, knowing he was the only man to ever do that for her, increased her pleasure. She raised her hips to meet his as he drove her into the mattress time and again.
“Yes, yes! Oh Donovan!” A huge tremor descended on her and she screamed out her abandonment to the moment.
Donovan groaned and surged into her one more time. The spasms of his body mingled with hers, completing their lovemaking in perfect harmony.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Madeline lay quietly under the covers next to Donovan. She had been correct with her first impression. Donovan was certainly skilled in the area of lovemaking.
She sighed and slipped her leg across his, snuggling into his chest. She didn’t want to move ever again, just stay here with him forever.
“Something wrong?” he asked, smoothing her hair down her back. “Why the big sigh?”
“Nothing wrong,” she replied. “Content.”
He laughed and kissed her forehead. “What one might call satisfied?”
“Mmmm hmmm. Definitely satisfied.”
Donovan let out a sigh of his own, but his sounded decidedly wistful. “No regrets?”
Madeline propped her head up on her elbow and looked at him. “Do you have regrets?”
He gripped her neck and pulled her toward him, kissing her softly. “I’m just so afraid that tomorrow you might wake up, decide sex is all there is to me, and call things off.”
Madeline smiled. “The sex would be reason enough to stay.”
She meant it as a joke, but Donovan’s eyes clouded over. He blinked and looked away from her. “So, that’s all it was then, just meaningless sex?”
“Oh, Donovan.” She slid her hand against his cheek, forcing him to look at her. “I know my prior actions don’t make it seem this way, but I really don’t sleep around. Throwing myself at you right after we met was a first-time experiment for me.”
“And a disaster.” He shook his head. “I should have handled that better.”
“Well, I sort of thought a woman throwing herself at you wouldn’t be a new experience.”
“Not new.” He grinned. “But coming from you, it surprised me.”
“Actually, it surprised me too.” She bit her lip and looked at him. “As far as today goes...I wouldn’t have slept with you if it was just about fantastic sex. I want to be with you.”
“That’s good to hear.” He captured her hand in his, kissing the sensitive skin on the inner side of her wrist. “I haven’t felt this way before, Maddie. I never thought I’d find a woman who’d make me want to settle down.”
She lay across his chest. Even though he continued to call her Maddie, somehow it no longer mattered. She now understood he didn’t mean it the way people had in her past. She no longer heard the implied ‘McFatty’ when he used the nickname.
“There’s something different in the way I feel about you, too, compared to other relationships,” she said, stroking the dark trail of hair on his stomach. “I never hoped for more than tolerance from Cameron when I planned to marry him.”
“I still don’t understand what you were thinking. Why marry a jerk like him?”
She laughed. “It seems silly now. But I thought he was my only shot at a big, white wedding, children, the whole nine yards.”
“So, you do wan
t children?”
Hmmm...might have been smarter to discuss life goals before the wild, passionate, mind-blowing sex.
“Don’t you?” She hated the way her voice shook, but this could be a deal breaker.
“Of course I do. The sooner the better.” He rubbed her arm lightly. “I’m not getting any younger. Do you think I’m already too old to start a family?”
She laughed, relief flooding through her with the knowledge he wanted kids. “What are you, forty?”
“Forty-two,” he replied. “And you’re only thirty-three… Am I too old for you?”
She shook her head. “There’s something extremely sexy about that streak of silver at your temples.”
“So I shouldn’t go buy that hair dye for men and get rid of it?” He smiled. “I did think about it, you know, while you were in the hospital. I imagined you’d wake up, see me looking all sexy, and forget all about being angry with me.”
“Don’t ever do that—you’ll lose half your sex appeal,” she teased. “So, now that’s out of our way. Enough age discussion. They say you’re only as old as you feel. Do you feel up to having kids?”
“I’m always up for making them.”
She punched his stomach lightly. “Be serious.”
“I am. I am.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re not up right now, but I bet I can get you that way.”
“I know you can, foxy lady.”
Madeline thought about the best way to go about that lofty goal, but was interrupted by pounding on the front door before she could put her plan into action. She looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. It was past 7:00. Who would bother them tonight?
She groaned and climbed across Donovan, making sure to rub all the right places on her way past. “I wish the world would leave us alone for a few days.”
Donovan climbed out of the bed behind her and grabbed his pants, slipping them on. “I’ll come with you. Just in case.”
She walked to the dresser, opening the top drawer to get her second-favorite robe. It still pissed her off that Suzie ruined her best one. Madeline pulled on the short, purple robe, wrapping it around her and tying the sash.
Crime & Passion Page 23
