His free hand caught her wrists in his, pinning them to the bed. He held her with his hands, his weight, his passion. “Be sure, Pet. Because after this—” he growled, pushing her thighs as wide as the material would allow “—there’ll be no more secrets, no more resistance. You’ll be where I want you, as I want you. Whenever I want you.”
“Yes.”
He blinked. Had he expected resistance? She was to him as he was to her. The other half of his whole.
“Just yes?”
She nodded.
“There will be days I’ll want you waiting on your knees.”
She couldn’t hide her shiver any more than he could hide his.
“Others when I’ll want you bent over and waiting. I’ll take you hard, soft or quick with or without preamble.”
“But you’ll take me?”
His hand slid up her calf and then down her thigh until he found the swollen heat of her pussy. His touch streaked through her like lightning. “There won’t be anyplace I won’t know you.” Wet with her juices, his fingers slid lower, brushing the tight bud of her ass. Lightning streaked again. “Anyplace you won’t know me.”
“I’m not afraid.” Nervous yes, but not afraid.
“You should be.”
“I trust you.”
Again, his breath hissed in, and his body jerked. His finger pressed intimately. She couldn’t decide whether to lift up or press down. He took the decision from her, pulling her hips up. Three tugs and her gown was over her waist. Before she could lift her torso, his hands were on the front. In a single wrench, her nightgown tore. Pushing the robe and the material aside, he cupped her breasts in his hands. His palms rough as they slid over her nipples. She braced herself for aggression even as she savored the sensation.
“No.” He shook his head. “Relax. I won’t hurt you.”
Damn, he hoped he wouldn’t hurt her. Ace gritted his teeth, reaching for the control he’d always had, feeling how tenuous it was with this woman who meant so much.
I love you.
He couldn’t believe she’d said that to him. She deserved someone better. Someone cultured and soft. Couldn’t believe she was lying before him with those delicate white breasts exposed. The tips pouted for attention, her white flesh pinking beneath his grip. Fuck, he wanted to own her.
As if hearing his thoughts, she whispered, “Please.”
He pinched her nipple gently, watching her eyes, looking for that line where pleasure became pain. Something flickered in her gaze. “Be sure, Pet.”
“I love you.” There it was again. That surrender manifested in words. The acceptance in the arc of her back, thrusting herself into his touch, following where he led, taking what he gave her, the pleasure and that first hint of pain. Her level of trust humbled him. Her acceptance seared through his defenses. He squeezed a bit harder, pushing her. She took more than he’d expected. He held the pressure, watching uncertainty and passion blend in confusion. His cock throbbed as she took the slightest bit more. Surrendering to him, giving with that wholehearted way she did everything. Body and soul. So beautiful. So perfect. He expected her to flinch away, protest. And if she had, he might, just might have been able to get up and walk away, leaving her to the life of which she’d dreamed, but she didn’t. And he didn’t. And when she smiled at him, he knew he never would.
Petunia had burrowed under his skin. She was part of him now. She’d given him her virginity, her trust and her love. He’d give her security, comfort and challenge. Leaning down, he replaced his hand with his mouth, running his tongue over the hard nipple, soothing it, prodding it, stimulating it, making it harder. His cock twitched as her gasp whispered over his head.
And love.
She arched up, offering him more. Fuck, he’d love her, protect her, challenge her, take that “serious” she kept falling into and fill it with laughter. She wasn’t safe with him, but he wasn’t safe with her, either. They were a gamble. Pure and simple. Anticipation blended with passion. He whispered her name against her breast, stroking her with his tongue and his desire, loving her with his mouth, his body, with everything in him. She was his and after today, they’d both know it.
“That’s it, my Pet. Give me everything.”
He nipped her breast and she moaned. “Ace...”
“Right here.”
Her fingers slid through his hair, tugging him closer. He should have reprimanded her for the disobedience, but the wonder of her touch slid through him with the same bliss of her whisper. He’d been touched with anger, with passion, with greed. He couldn’t remember a time since his parents died being touched with love.
She arched, thrusting her breasts up. Her mouth brushed his neck, his ear. When he shivered, she lingered. “Make love to me, Ace.”
She was fire in his arms, burning him with her innocent caresses. Teasing him. He wanted more.
Catching her chin in his hand, he turned her eyes to his. The flare of excitement at the possession caught the edge of his lust, honing it to a fine edge. Fuck, he wanted her. Beneath him in bed, kneeling at his feet, standing at his side. Building, fighting, loving for how many years he could wrangle from a future he’d never considered particularly likely. Quite frankly, he’d grown bored with life. Petunia had given him his purpose back.
Kissing her deeply, he pulled his mouth the slightest bit from hers, giving her his breath. Taking hers. “Stay just like this.”
Her hand dropped from his chest as he stood.
“What are you doing?”
“Don’t question.”
She frowned. “It was just a question.”
He traced the pleat between her brows with his forefinger and smiled. Such a combination of submission and will. She would take a lifetime to tame. He smiled wider. Or more.
“Wait.”
He stood. She stayed. Not as he wanted, she’d propped herself up on her elbows, but she was still on the bed. Crossing to the wardrobe he pulled a scarf from the drawer. Her eyes widened as he drew it through his fingers.
“Second thoughts?” he asked, retracing his steps.
She licked her lips. He could see the nervousness in her expression. Watched her form the lie she thought would make him happy.
“No.”
She had a lot to learn. “Rule number one...”
“I don’t tell you no?” she hazarded.
“That, too.” The mattress sagged as he knelt beside her. “But first and foremost, you don’t lie to me.” Her eyes widened. “Especially about the way you’re feeling.” He dragged the scarf across her wrists as he leaned in and nipped her lower lip before soothing it with his tongue. “I’ll push you, Pet, make you nervous a time or two, but it’s never my intention to hurt you on the way to the edge.”
She licked her lips but didn’t flinch away. Damn, she was something. The softness of her “What about when you get there?” revealed her fears and her insecurities. Both of which he would do his best to soothe into nothingness. He wanted to add to her life, be her rock, not destroy the foundation she’d built for herself. He wanted her bold and confident.
“I will never allow myself a loss of control at any point where that loss could endanger you.”
Her gaze searched his. “You promise?”
“I promise.”
“A Hell’s Eight promise?”
“Hell’s Eight, Parker, you can take either to the bank.”
Her smile was only a little shaky as she visibly relaxed. “Then do your worst.”
He couldn’t help a chuckle. Another new thing. Laughter amidst the intensity of passion. Looping the scarf around her right wrist, he shook his head. Who would have thought it would be as hot as the soft glide of skin on skin? “Not worried I’ll take advantage?”
She held up her other wrist. “I trust yo
u, and we’ve got to start somewhere.”
He tied off the bond. Only a blind man could miss her shiver of arousal. And her attempt at controlling him. “And in bed is as good a place as any?”
The shyness left her smile. She gave the knot a tug. “I’m thinking it might be the most fun.”
“Oh, it definitely is. And yes,” he said as she almost slipped her hand out of the right loop, “you can get free if you want to.”
She frowned. “Doesn’t that defeat the...purpose?”
He pressed a slow, hot kiss into the center of her palm, touching the sensitive flesh with his tongue before closing her fingers around it. “I’m not interested in just fucking you, my Pet.” He’d had too many of those go-nowhere encounters that left him empty and frustrated in the aftermath. “I want to build a life with you, for however long we have, in and out of bed, and the first step is trust.”
“I said—”
He cut her off with a shake of his head.
“I heard you. And now you’ll trust that I know what I’m doing.” Too often women expected their fantasies to be reality, but being helpless was a scary thing. Take a woman to complete helplessness too fast, and she could panic. A bound, panicked woman was always a tricky business.
“I’m not fragile.”
He wanted to kiss the pout from her lips. Instead, he secured her left wrist and tied the end of the scarf to the left side spindle headboard. She was more fragile than she knew. “Good to know.”
She tugged on the bonds. He stood and finished unbuttoning his shirt.
“You can test those bonds all you want, but it would be a mistake to test my temper by questioning my judgment.”
Her mouth opened on an immediate retort. Another shake of his head had her closing it just as fast. He shrugged his shirt off. Her gaze dropped to his torso. “Good girl.”
It snapped right back up, a question in the depths. “You showed restraint. I approve. You showed lust.” He holstered his grin and kicked off his right boot. “Of that, I approve more.”
“I did not!”
He paused midtug on the left. “You don’t get wet looking at me?”
Pink crept up her cheeks. “Sometimes.”
The boot plunked on the floor.
Stepping between her thighs, he shoved down his denims. “Now, that’s a darn shame, because just thinking about you makes me hard and looking at you—” he stepped out of his pants, and cupped his aching cock in his hand “—makes me hungry. Every time.”
Her eyes followed the slow stroke of his hand along his shaft. Up and down, his fingers circling the head with each pass. Rubbing his thumb in the moisture gathering on the tip, he asked, “Do you see how hungry you make me?”
She nodded. He smacked the side of her thigh more to startle than to sting. If he’d wanted it to sting, he would have aimed for the inside or just below the buttock.
She jumped and jerked on the bonds. They held, and her eyes widened. It was dawning on her just how much power she was surrendering.
“Exciting, isn’t it?” he asked. “Giving up control. Trusting me to push you to the edge, wanting me to, but worried that I will?”
From where he stood he had a clear view of her pussy. Deeply pink, temptingly moist, with the lips just beginning to unfurl. She was submissive, and she wanted him. And this, all of this, excited her. Sliding his finger between her folds, he wanted to moan himself as her juices coated his fingers and her hips arched up. Teasing him. Tempting him. She was going to burn him alive.
She nodded in response to his question. His response was immediate. This smack landed lightly on her labia, this time giving her a bit of sting. Again, she jumped and jerked at the bonds.
Her cry was one part resentment and seven parts eager curiosity. The woman did enjoy a bit of persuasion. And it was as much hell on his self-control as the deepening flush of her skin.
“Words, Pet. I want the words.”
He wanted more than that. He wanted her, physically, emotionally and mentally naked before him. Ready to follow him wherever he led. He wanted her sweet, open and giving, on all levels, trusting him to care for her. To give her pleasure. Damn, he wanted to give her so much pleasure.
This time when he slipped his fingers between the now-wet petals, he found her clit and stroked it lightly. “It excites you to be bound, doesn’t it?”
The blush deepened, but she gave him what he asked for. Honesty in a “yes” but then “I won’t want it all the time, though.”
Did she really think she could surrender and still maintain control?
Gathering her juices, he rubbed the silky moisture onto her swelling clit. He wondered if she’d come when he spanked her there. How much she’d need, how hard she could take it, how long she could tease them both before she came. His cock jerked. Pre-come beaded the smooth tip. Circling a little faster, he ignored her and asked, “Yes, what?”
“Yes,” she groaned. “It excites me to be bound.”
“By anyone?”
She shook her head before biting her lip. She was getting wetter. He was getting harder. He slapped her again. A little harder. Before she could catch her breath he did it again high up so the sensation vibrated through her clit. She jerked and shuddered.
“Ohhhhhh!”
“Words, please.”
She fell back on the mattress, her thighs spread wide, the remains of her torn gown spread about her body. Eyes bright above the flush on her cheeks. When she licked her lips, leaving them wet and glistening, his breath hissed out.
“I’ve only wanted this with you.”
Holding her gaze, he brought his fingers to his lips and licked them clean. “Good girl.”
He didn’t want her to doubt how good she tasted to him. Ever. It was a short trip from the foot of the bed to the side. As naturally as breathing, she turned her head toward him not even pulling back when those full, pouting lips were just inches from his aching cock. This time the “good girl” wasn’t calculated.
“Do you want me, Pet?” He had to ask. Had to hear it.
“Yes.” The answer blew across the sensitive head, sending lust and something more shivering up his spine.
“Then open your mouth and show me.”
She hesitated but her eyes didn’t leave his cock, and her tongue swept over her lips the exact way he wanted it to caress his cock. She was unsure, but eager. She just needed help getting past the fear of failing. His Pet had a canyon-size dislike of failing at anything.
Still holding the base of his thick cock with one hand, he fisted his other in her hair. The shudder that went through her as he pulled her to him bound them more securely than the scarf.
Trading cupping his cock for cupping her pussy he watched as his darker finger slid between the delicate folds, disappearing into the heat and dampness beyond. So sweet. He eased his fingers deeper, finding the well of her vagina, hearing the catch in her breath. She was so hot and sweet. So fucking feminine. So wet.
“Open your mouth,” he coaxed. “Show me with your body what I see in your eyes. Give it to me.”
The slide of her lips over the head of his cock tore a moan from his soul. His Pet was so generous with her passion. Her time. Her love. Without will or thought, his grip turned caressing. “Yes. Like that. Just like that.”
The glide of her hot little tongue burned through his control, bringing it to a searing need.
He tried to hold back. She struggled to take more. Her tongue whipped around the large head while her lips and throat worked with an enthusiasm he couldn’t withstand long. She cried out as he tugged on her hair, sucking harder rather than lighter. Goddamn, she was so naturally passionate, so completely, so perfectly—he stroked his fingers down the nape of her neck—his. Her teeth grazed the rim. His knees damn near buckled. Where had she learne
d that? As fast as the thought came, it left. What did it matter as long as she was doing it to him. Drawing the backs of his fingers delicately down her cheek, he pulled her gaze to his.
“You’re perfect, do you know that?”
She shook her head and then stopped to answer.
His “no” was too quick, too rough. It was a struggle to soften his tone when everything inside him was reeling. “No. Right now we don’t need words.”
Her chuckle was another unique sensation, rippling along his nerve endings, catching on the pleasure in his core, his soul, bringing light to all the darkest places, piercing his senses, lightening his spirit even as she brought forth his most base desires. He blinked. Had he been hiding so well he’d actually forgotten how truly good good felt?
With the next pass of her tongue, he knew it was true. He had. And his light was right here, looking up at him with doe-soft eyes and a smiling heart.
He couldn’t help it. Didn’t care if she saw it. Not anymore. It was what it was. “Goddamn, I love you, my Pet.”
Her eyes widened. He knew exactly how she felt. She couldn’t be any more surprised than he was by the realization that that effervescent, possessive, happy, damn-the-world, all-encompassing emotion that plagued him was love. With everything vital inside him, he loved this woman. Cradling her head in his palm, he held her to him, limiting her movement. She tugged at her bonds and twisted. Her hair splayed around her flushed face, her mouth stretched around his cock. Her eyes crinkled at the corners with the same smile he felt inside. Tilting his hips forward, he deepened the connection between them, giving her as much as she could take, or he could take, because she had him so close to coming, and he didn’t want to. Not like this. Not without her. Never without her.
“Easy now,” he murmured. “Just be easy and let me show you how you make me feel every day. Inside.”
She blinked up at him. In answer to the question in her eyes he stroked her clit, lightly, steadily, easing her focus to where he wanted it. On her pleasure. When her breath took an uneven cadence, he pressed harder, circled faster, monitoring her passion through her eyes, her breathing, gritting his teeth in an effort not to come, wanting it for her first, wanting her to feel that smile that didn’t end. Just wanting. As he always had. Even as he knew every run of luck had an end. But his wasn’t ending now. This was their beginning. For however long. He wanted to be her strength. Her reason to smile. Her life.
Ace's Wild (Hqn) Page 31
