Moon Bound

by Stephanie Julian

  But not near as twitchy as being left alone with Marco and Diego.

  The brothers stared at each other…stared each other down, if she had to guess. And her tension level ratcheted up to full throttle.

  She didn’t want to spend the night alone.

  She wanted Diego. She wanted to take him by the hand just like Bella had done with Steven and lead him to her room. Actually, she guessed she’d have to go to Diego’s room because she hadn’t actually been given a room. Bella had taken her right to hers and Cole was in there now.

  So, the whole taking-Diego-by-the-hand thing wasn’t going to work. But still…

  She sighed and both men looked at her. She caught Marco’s gaze first and the heat in his eyes seared her before he blinked and it was gone.

  Oh, God.

  It took an effort to tear her gaze from his and when she did, she got caught in the desire in Diego’s expression.

  Hyperventilation became a distinct possibility.

  And that wasn’t nearly the worst part.

  The worst part was she wanted them both. And that was a Shakespearean tragedy just waiting to explode.

  She drew in a deep breath in an attempt to calm her racing heart and heard Marco say “Good night.” Something in his softly spoken words broke through the haze of heat Diego threw off and shifted her attention back to him. He smiled, just a twist of his lips, then turned and walked away.

  “Amy Jo.”

  The sound of Diego’s voice ran through her like an electric current.

  Get a grip, girl, or you’re going to lose it again.

  And she didn’t want that. No, she wanted the man standing ten feet away from her.

  Diego stared at her, no emotion on his handsome face, but she was beginning to realize just how much he hid behind that blank expression.

  So she said the first thing that popped into her head. “You make a beautiful cat.”

  At first, he didn’t do anything. Then slowly, a grin kicked up the corners of his mouth and he bowed.

  Her mouth dropped open as he performed the salute without an ounce of hesitation or awkwardness. As if it was a natural function for him.

  Well, hell. The guy was a freakin’ king. Of people who could turn into big exotic kitty cats, but still. The closest she’d ever gotten to royalty before now was dating a guy who worked at Burger King.

  He began to close the distance between them but she shook her head and he stopped in his tracks, still a few feet away, his expression showing the first hint of confusion. And hurt?

  “Would you like me to show you to your room?” he asked.

  He thought she was rejecting him? Man, he really didn’t know how to read women, did he?

  “I’ve never had a man bow to me before.”

  His head tipped back as if she’d insulted him and she held up her hand to stop the response she saw forming in his eyes.

  “I’ve also never met a man who turned into a huge cat before. It takes a little getting used to.”

  He took another few steps forward then paused, now only inches away. His masculine scent, something she’d never really paid attention to before she’d been attacked, drenched her senses and made her heart stutter.

  “And are you?” he asked.

  Her stomach fluttered. “Am I what?”

  “Getting used to?”

  She knew what he was asking, even if he didn’t come out and say it. Staring into his eyes, she nodded. And smiled. She hadn’t had much to smile about recently. And with tomorrow’s hypnotism or whatever session with the witch-woman looming on the horizon, Diego could be classified as the best thing that had happened to her in at least the past year. Maybe ever.

  His eyes narrowed, as if he were trying to figure out exactly what that smile meant.

  Good. Let him guess. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t help him along.

  When she held out her hand, he took it without hesitation.

  “So, no one told me where I should sleep tonight.”

  His fingers intertwined with hers. “Do you want to sleep alone?” His expression never wavered. “If you do, take the room next to mine and keep the connecting door unlocked. I don’t want anything to happen—”

  “And if I don’t want to sleep alone?”

  He drew in a deep breath. “Then I want you in my bed.”

  The sheer carnality of emotion in his words made her cheeks flush and her entire body burn. And she knew this time wouldn’t be like the first.

  She could explain away their first night together as stress relief. Tonight… Tonight, she wanted what she wanted the way she wanted it.

  Diego seemed to understand that. What she didn’t know was how he felt about it.

  He stared at her, his hand holding firm on hers. Earlier tonight, he’d nearly taken her head off when she’d said she was going with Bella. His anger had been palpable. And she was only beginning to realize that most of it had been directed at himself.

  Voices from the stairwell made her glance over her shoulder, and the next thing she knew Diego had opened the door to his room and pulled her through.

  He didn’t bother with the light switch, as the shades were up and a pale silver hue bathed the room.

  Now, instead of staring at each other in the hall, they stared at each other in the confines of his room.

  And suddenly it was awkward.

  Until he reached for her shirt.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  She glanced down and found herself entranced by the sight of his long fingers making short work of the buttons.

  “It looks like you’re taking off my shirt.”

  “Then you’d be right. We seem to get along better when we’re naked in bed. I thought it might help if you were naked again.”

  “Only if you are.”

  “Then give me a hand.”

  Diego wore a black cotton t-shirt that molded to his chest like it was wet and a pair of grey pants that looked custom made.

  Slipping her hands under the t-shirt, she drew it over his head and slipped the button on his pants at the same time he pushed her denim capris down her legs.

  In just a few seconds, they had each other naked and Amy Jo felt something inside her settle.

  Diego kissed her, placed one hand on her rear and pulled her against his mighty fine erection.

  She made him like that and she loved the effect she had on him, loved the way that, when she was with him, she felt in control.

  Moaning into his mouth, she tilted her hips into that hard ridge.

  He must have misinterpreted her response because he released her immediately.

  “Are you okay?”

  In answer, she wrapped her hands around his thick cock and squeezed, loving his swiftly indrawn breath. “I’m fine. More than fine now.”

  She ringed the base with the thumb and forefinger of one hand and, with the other, pumped him from root to tip.

  He jerked in her grasp, groaning as his hands moved to her shoulders. She felt the tension in him as he fought not to exert any kind of pressure on her. But she knew what he wanted. And she wanted the same. On her terms.

  Turning her head into his neck, she rubbed her nose against his skin and breathed in. God, he smelled good. What would happen if she slid down his body and took him in her mouth? Would she faint from sensory overload or would she be thrown back into that horrific night?

  She tensed and Diego froze.

  “Amy Jo. Are you okay?”

  When she heard him speak, her name, she knew, without a doubt, that he would never hurt her like those other men had.

  “I’m fine.” She resumed the slow, caress of her hand over his rock-hard erection. “So very fine.”

  “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. You know that, right?”

  She licked his neck and he shuddered against her. “Yes. And I’ll return the favor.”

  “Then tell me what you want.”


  She wanted it rough. Before her attack, she’d liked it a little rough—hair-pulling, nail-scratching, bouncing-off-the-walls rough. She wanted to tie him to the bed and tease him until he exploded and then work him up again. She used to get off on that. Hell, she’d enjoyed it. And those bastards had taken that away from her.

  Now, she wondered just how trusting Diego really was.

  She lifted her head and stared into his dark eyes. She didn’t say anything, just stared, until finally he said, “What’s wrong?”

  “We really don’t know each other that well, do we?”

  Diego’s breath caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to answer that question. Especially since she still held a very vulnerable part of him in her hands.

  What he did know was that he wanted to keep her. No, they hadn’t known each other long. That didn’t matter. He knew all he needed to know about her to know they were meant to be together.

  But was she ready to hear it?

  Running his hands from her shoulders to her elbows and back again, he kept the pressure sure and steady, just as she did on his cock. “I know enough to know I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

  Her expression softened. Apparently, that had been the correct answer.

  “I want to tie you to the bed over there,” she said, “and make you scream.”

  His mouth dropped open a second before he could stop it as lust surged through his body. “You what?”

  Her top teeth lodged in her bottom lip and her hand stopped pumping him. “I’m sorry, just forget—”

  “Oh, hell no. I will not forget what you just said. I nearly came at the image in my head.”

  She blinked twice, fast. And the corners of her mouth kicked up slightly. “Really? I mean, I’m not really that kinky, no whips and chains and stuff, but a little bondage, blindfolds, some spanking… I liked that stuff before… I just don’t want to freak out if—”

  Jesus, how much more perfect could this woman be for him? And how perfectly awful if those sons of bitches who’d assaulted her took away something she’d enjoyed.

  Moving his hands to her waist, he lifted her until her feet were off the ground and her eyes were level with his. She had to release her hold on his cock but he hoped it wouldn’t be for long. “Leather restraints. Bottom of my suitcase. Never leave home without them.”

  As her eyes widened and her pupils dilated, he decided not to tell her he’d only ever used the restraints on bad guys in the course of his grigori duties. He’d never used them during sex.

  He’d buy a new set, just for her. If she wanted. If she stayed with him.

  She swallowed and drew in a deep breath. “Where’s your suitcase?”

  Those three words lit a firestorm of desire in his blood, pulsing through him like an electrical charge. But it was the look on her beautiful face that nearly sent him to his knees.

  Desire, excitement, lust. Not one hint of fear.

  He set her on her feet, but not before sliding her body against his, until the tip of his cock brushed the hair on her mound.

  Then he had to set her away or risk disgracing himself.

  “By the bed.”

  She turned and looked then looked back at him and smiled. “Convenient. Get on the bed.”

  Diego had never thought of himself as a submissive person. Quite the opposite, in fact. But when the tiny—he didn’t realize how tiny until just now—naked blonde walked over to his suitcase and started rummaging through it, he pretty much figured he’d submit to anything she wanted.

  He watched her pick her way to the bottom, knowing she had to have questions about some of the things she found in there. He didn’t own a traditional gun, but there were knives and other, specialized grigorio equipment in there.

  Sure enough, when she turned, now on the other side of the bed, she said, “We’re gonna have a talk about the contents of that case a little later, but right now…” She dangled the leather straps from her fingers. “You’re not on the bed.”

  He waited a second before he knelt on the mattress and held out his arms. Watching her lips part to draw in a breath before she reached for him made his cock throb. Her gaze dropped then moved back up his body before landing on his outstretched wrists.

  She reached for him then stopped. “Do you need a safe word or is ‘no’ enough? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  His laugh was short and full of burning lust. “Honey, you can’t hurt me. So no, I don’t need a safe word.”

  Caressing the underside of his bicep with the leather straps, she cocked her head to the side and stared at him. “What do you mean?”

  “It means, you can tie me as tightly as you can and it won’t hurt because my body can take a hell of a lot of wear and tear.”

  Expertly tying slip knots in the leather, she slid one loop over his right wrist and pulled it taut. The motion brought him an inch closer.

  “On your back, Diego.”

  Dear Goddess, he loved hearing her say his name in that sexy tone. And when she punctuated her command with a tug on the strap, his breath stopped in his chest.

  He did what she asked, so turned on he could barely breath. Hyperventilation became a very real threat when she tied his wrist to the thick post on the right side of the headboard. Then she climbed onto the bed and straddled his chest, and the warm, moist heat of her sex brushed against his skin.

  He must have made an involuntary motion with his free hand because she immediately had another loop around it then leaned forward to fasten it to the headboard.

  When she had him bound, she sat back to look at her handiwork and now she did sit flush against him, showing him just how wet she was.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He nodded, swallowing hard when she smiled, her expression filled with pleasure. Deliberately lifting her hand, she traced her index finger in a straight line from his lips to his chest, where she twirled it through his chest hair.

  “Good, because I’m done playing nice.”

  Dragging her wet lower lips down his body, she conveniently shifted just enough to miss his aching cock. He thrust up—and found her mouth there waiting to take him in.

  Warm, moist suction sealed over his flesh, causing his body to arch in pleasure. Because she was sitting on his thighs, the only motion he made caused him to force himself deeper into her mouth. She took him without complaint but released him after only a few seconds. His groan rang through the room.

  He raised his head and found her smiling at him. “I don’t want you to come yet, Diego. I’m not nearly finished.”

  That’s exactly what he was hoping.

  “And now it’s my turn.”

  With deliberate motions, she crawled back up his body, stopping to rub her breasts against his chest, tight nipples scraping across his aching ones. She sighed, her hot breath caressing his sensitized skin. Grabbing hold of the headboard, she continued to slide up his body until the lips of her sex were directly over his mouth.

  He didn’t know if she gave him permission or if she simply lowered herself to him, but he finally had her exactly where he wanted her.

  Caught in the leather thongs, he couldn’t pull her tight against him so he licked at her with broad strokes, taking care to swipe her clit when he could. But her body had a rhythm of its own, and it took him a few seconds to align himself. And when he did, he caught her delicate flesh between his teeth and nibbled.

  She moaned and let him have his way until she cried out his name as her body convulsed.

  When she slid down and collapsed against his chest, he tried to put his arms around her and nearly broke the headboard.

  Shit, he’d have to watch that. He was strong enough to break the restraints with little effort but he didn’t want to frighten her.

  Cock throbbing, close to release, he forced his body to relax. He turned and kissed the top of her head, inhaling her scent along with the smell of sex in the air.

  It was enough to make him serio
usly consider popping the restraints anyway and rolling her under him. Instead, he felt her rouse until she propped herself on an elbow to look down at him.

  He didn’t see an ounce of embarrassment or regret. Just a sweet, sexy heat.

  “You okay?” She lifted a lazy hand and trailed one finger in the line of hair from his groin to his belly button. “You look a little tense.”

  What could he say to that? Hell, yes, he was tense. She’d teased him to the brink of release twice. His jaw ached, he had it clenched so tight.

  “I’ve got a hard-on you could hammer nails with. I’m so fucking turned on from being tied to the bed that if you look at me the right way, I’ll come. And if you don’t fuck me soon, I may have a heart attack.”

  Her eyes went so widen he thought he might’ve finally pushed her over that fine edge away from him. When she didn’t move after a few seconds, he knew he had and he mentally prepared himself for her to get up and walk away.

  Then she straddled his hips and pulled his cock straight into the air. Slowly, her gaze rose from his groin to his eyes.

  The throbbing in his cock intensified until he swore it beat in time with the pulsing vein in her throat.

  Lifting her hips, she positioned herself directly over his tip then hung there, her heat close enough to feel but not close enough to touch. Then with one smooth movement, a testament to how wet she was, she took him into her body. Slid down until he felt her clit press against his groin.

  Her moan and the way her eyes fluttered closed assured him she was okay. But she didn’t move.

  He tried to wait for her. Hell, he even counted to twenty. Then he thrust because he couldn’t help himself.

  Her eyes snapped open and her hands landed on his chest, nails digging into his skin like a cat kneading a blanket.

  “I didn’t tell you to move.” The tightening of her inner muscles around him belied the rebuke in her words.

  “Then do it, babe. Take me. Come on, I’m dying for you to ride me.”

  Her mouth parted on a moan and her sheath contracted around him as she slid up and down, so fast she got him off in seconds as she came again.

  When she collapsed against him, still holding him in her body, she untied his wrists then made it clear she wanted him to wrap his arms around her by snuggling against him.