Ricochet

by Sandra Sookoo

  He pushed off the wall as his heart beat a rapid rhythm. “Willa, I…” Screw it! Now wasn’t the time for his usual empty lies and escape talk. “Glad you came to your senses.” As she sputtered in outrage, he grabbed her hand and tugged her into the room, making sure to close and lock the door behind them.

  “I didn’t ‘come to my senses’, you slug. I’m here—”

  “Stop.” He held up a hand, palm toward her. “Neither of us has time for excuses so let’s get to the point.” If there was ever a time to offer up his heart for victimizing, this would be it. What she’d said made sense. He did leave before an attachment could form. That needed to change, and it took this woman coming into his life to make him realize it.

  “Do you have something to say, or should I make myself comfortable?” The sarcasm in her voice wavered under thick emotion.

  He’d let her belittle him to the ends of the galaxy if only to listen to her speak. Stratton grinned. Desire sank its teeth into him as he made his decision. “You irritate me like no other woman I’ve ever met, but hell if I don’t want to see what’ll happen between us.”

  “Oh, that’s real romantic.” She rolled her eyes. “Wait, I think I might feel an old-fashioned swoon coming on.” Placing the back of one wrist against her forehead, she closed her eyes in an imitation faint.

  “If you’re looking for poetry and flowers, you’re in the wrong room. I’m not that kind of guy.” While she wasn’t paying attention, he closed the distance between them and caught her wrist in his hand. Her eyes flew open, surprise and anticipation darkening the irises. “But, I can offer you excitement, danger and devotion for as long as it lasts.” He placed a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist. “Hell, you can even have love if you rub my belly after meals and massage my feet after a long day.”

  If he’d said it to any other woman, he’d be killed on the spot for the inflammatory statement. With Willa, he knew he was on equal footing and she’d give it back to him, word for word. The knowledge warmed his insides and made him feel happy for the first time in years.

  A shiver shook her arm, still in his grasp. “Oh, I’ll do that stuff, then toss you out on your ass, you cheating, lying…” Her words died away. He walked them the few steps until her back connected with the door. “Bastard.”

  “Face it.” His cock jutted against the plush fibers of the towel. Right now, he wanted her, only this time it wouldn’t be about getting his rocks off or teaching her a lesson. No, this time it would be about her. He’d show her he could worship her body, but he’d also not back down from her wise-ass comments. He’d push her to succeed, even as he’d accepted her help to meet his goals. “You’ve got a thing for real men who know what they want.”

  This partnership would be a give and take of mutual respect, passion and competition.

  “Don’t flatter yourself.” She wet her lips, leaving them slick and awaiting his attention.

  “I won’t. You’ll do it for me.” He embraced her, his hands pressing her soft frame against his length. Resting his forehead on hers, he held her gaze. “Thank you for coming back. I hope you don’t regret it.” His stomach knotted with worry that she eventually would.

  “No problem, Ace. You’ll probably be sorry first. I’m kinda hard to live with.” She leaned forward as he captured her mouth in a kiss.

  Raw need became his new reality. Her soft lips felt like every victory he’d ever experienced, her sigh of surrender like the sweetest song ever heard. He groaned when she pushed for control by gripping his shoulders and holding him closer. Not willing to give it to her, he slid his hands into her hair, cupping her scalp and slanting his mouth more firmly over hers.

  With gentle movements, he skated his tongue along the curve of her lush bottom lip, this time asking permission to go further as he traced the seam of her mouth. She gave in almost immediately, welcoming him with the heated satin of her tongue, meeting him stroke for stroke until they both panted with desire.

  Stratton wrenched away in order to breathe. She was as hot as a supernova and just as beautiful. When he peered into her face, his heart lurched to see the fleeting vulnerability there. He caught her chin in one hand, tipping her head up so she met his gaze. “You have much more than my respect, Willa. Never forget it.”

  She nodded, and her fingers went to the towel at his waist. “Good to know.” With a tiny movement, the cloth fell to the floor. When she slid a hand around his cock, kneading and stroking, he sucked in a surprised breath. His balls tightened. If she kept up her torment, this little venture would be over soon. Time to distract her.

  “Let me lead.” He batted away her hand, then slid his over her hips. He smoothed his fingers along each rib, palmed her breasts, weighed each one with a connoisseur’s air. “Do you know how many times you’ve tortured me with these?” Rubbing his thumbs over her hardened nipples, he grinned as a soft moan escaped her lips. “Looks like I found a weakness.”

  “Don’t be coy. You know what I want.” She held his gaze while drawing down the zipper to her suit. “I need your mouth on me.”

  He loved that she didn’t waste words. “Right away.” Pushing the material over her shoulders and down her arms, he left it tangled at her hands in a makeshift bind. Seconds later he’d worked the clasp on her bra, and her boobs popped free of the lace. Damn, she had a gorgeous rack. He bent and planted his face in her cleavage. So soft. She moaned as he licked one of the puckered buds. “Screw it. I’m taking you to bed.”

  “About time.” She wriggled free from the slick gear’s sleeves. “While I’m creaming my panties, you’re goofing around.”

  “I’m trying to take it slow and make it nice.” He stooped slightly and picked her up in his arms. A quick trip across the floor, then he dropped her on the bed. Her breasts jiggled from the sudden contact.

  “It would be nicer if you’d fuck me already.” Her teasing grin made his blood boil, but when her gaze lingered on his dick, he nearly shot his wad prematurely.

  Oh, she’d pay for that. “Trying to control the situation?”

  “If there’s a chance, I’ll take it.”

  After yanking off her boots, he tugged the slick suit the rest of the way down and did the same to her panties. “Here’s the problem with that.” He joined her on the bed, lying to one side of her. “I won’t let you. I command your body’s reactions, and I’ll say when you can give in.”

  “You’ve said that before. I wasn’t impressed.” She squirmed in an effort to get him to touch her, the movement belying her words. “Stop being a jackass for once and make love to me.”

  He forced down the lump of emotion clogging his throat. Making love was different from having sex to relieve tension or boredom. Making love meant something much more with one’s partner. Am I ready for that next step? Stratton glanced at Willa, skimmed a hand over her curves and let it rest at the thatch of curls between her thighs. She stared back with questions in her eyes. He had his answer. Absolutely. For her, he’d do this and much more in order to keep her in his life.

  He brushed a kiss on her lips. As she slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, warmth filled his stomach. For now, this was where he wanted to be. Nuzzling the smooth skin of her neck, he licked a path along its strong column, tasting salty sweat and the earthiness that defined her.

  His fingers at her curls drifted lower, through the damp hairs to part her feminine lips and find the heat at her core. She uttered a sound halfway between a moan and a sigh. Stratton smiled against one breast before taking the pebbled bud into his mouth. He ran the tip of his tongue over the rough surface while drawing his finger back and forth along her wet cunt.

  Willa arched into his hand, her fingers plucking at the quilt. Her eyes closed as a blissful smile played about her kiss-swollen lips. “More.”

  He sucked hard on the nipple, alternating that with lightly grazing the flesh with his teeth. She moaned her pleasure, wriggling her hips. Stratton abandoned her breast in favor of settling betw
een her bent legs. His cock rested, hard and heavy, against her thigh, throbbing with need. There’d be time to relieve his own urges, but right now he intended to send Willa into oblivion. “Tell me what you want.” Strain thickened his voice.

  She bumped her hips upward. Shock waves shot into his dick. “Come on, Stratton. Either touch me or get down to business. You want it as much as I do.”

  “Yeah, but I want you screaming my name so loud your buddy Chaf will hear and kick himself for not hooking up with you.” That bastard needs to know she belongs to me. He slipped a hand between them, once more finding Willa’s folds. Parting the soft flesh, he strummed his fingers over her clit.

  Willa squirmed, attempted to push his hand away. “I don’t want him.”

  “Good to know.” Stratton grinned, enjoying the feeling of power he held over her. Catching her wrists in his free hand, he continued his play between her legs. Occasionally, he’d lick moist paths over her breasts. They strained upward, the rosy crests jutting to the sky because of the position of her raised arms.

  He could spend days getting to know those two perfect peaks.

  Harder, he teased the small bundle of nerves. A cry broke from Willa’s lips. “Not loud enough, kita.” She tugged against his grip, but he didn’t release her. His fingers busy, he stroked faster, in time to her bucking hips. Her thighs quivered. Her breathing became shallow and quick. One more stroke. One more circle. She tensed for a second; then her mouth opened, and she screamed his name. The shout ended with a whimper as she shook from the force of her orgasm.

  “That’s my girl.” Stratton’s balls drew up close while his cock pulsed with urgent need. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. Sweat dampened loose tendrils of hair where it lay against her face. “Now we can get to the main event.”

  “Stop drawing it out. Enough is enough.” She repositioned herself beneath him. One hand went between them, found his cock and set the tip at her pussy. “Fuck me.” She raised her head and kissed his mouth. Her eyes were big and softly focused. “Please.”

  “I love it when you beg.” He thrust into her, not stopping until he was fully seated.

  And for the first time since he was thrown onto that transport as a child, he felt as if he’d finally found home.

  Willa exhaled on a long moan. Her core trembled, stretching to accommodate Stratton’s size, and just when she felt filled and comfortable, he withdrew. She shook her head, ready to protest his leaving, but he pushed back inside her passage. Pleasure sparked over her skin. No longer did the effects of being out in the snow linger.

  He released her wrists, allowing her the freedom to grip his broad shoulders. His creamy, cocoa skin gleamed with a thin sheen of sweat as he slowly withdrew from her channel, waiting. When she opened her mouth to protest, he kissed all other thoughts from her head. His mouth bossed hers, claiming ownership before softening to allow her to give an answer.

  Intoxicated by his clean taste and reeling in a haze of passion, she tilted her hips and wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles. Being so close to him brought a deep connection, one she craved and needed, the link she’d missed during their last time together. In his arms, she knew everything would be okay no matter what they came up against.

  When she wriggled in encouragement, he took the hint and slammed into her pussy once more. Waves of heat crashed into her, building and growing, straining toward the breaking point. “I guess the gossip about you is right.” She met his next thrust with equal force and a gasp of enjoyment.

  “I hadn’t pegged you as a woman who listened to rumors.” He retreated on a grunt, pausing at her opening as if daring her to protest.

  “Let’s just say I was curious to see if the stories and legends about you were true.” When he pinned her with a knowing glance, she grinned away the embarrassment. Why would she lie? Any woman worth her salt would be curious about his alleged prowess. She panted as the pressure grew. It didn’t appear the stories were wrong. “Hey, I’m not dead. If someone says there’s a guy who’s a good lover out there, of course I want proof, you know, since men usually brag about that area.”

  “Here’s your proof.” Stratton gripped her hips so tightly she was sure there’d be marks afterward. A barrage of short, hard thrusts followed, designed to scintillate but not fully provide relief from the erotic waves building inside her.

  “Show-off.” She smacked his shoulder. “Still not convinced.” The spiraling need coiling in her center spoke otherwise. No way would she tell him sex with him was rumor worthy. He’d never let her live it down, and he’d gained too many brownie points already.

  “This will have to satisfy you until next time.” Each consecutive thrust went deeper and longer.

  Willa’s body slid up the bed from the powerful strokes. She held on to his shoulders, clutching him closer as her inner muscles gripped his cock in an effort to keep them joined. The urge to watch him took hold. She forced her eyes open. His were half-closed in concentration or determination, the lines of his sexy face taut with enjoyment. The feel of his hands on her, his cock in her, made her feel cherished. Her heart lurched at the knowledge. Abruptly, his eyes blinked open and he held her gaze. Her breath stalled from the emotions blazing in his expression. She thought she’d break apart from the sensations claiming her or lose her sanity from the intensity of their connection, and still Stratton pushed her. Wow, there’s a good chance this guy’s the real deal. That revelation would have to wait. Right now, it would take very little to send her flying.

  “I hope your silence means you’re in awe of my greatness.”

  “Just hurry.” Her legs shook, and she lost her grip on his waist. “I can’t hang on…”

  He held her thighs. “Prepare for launch, kita.” He shot her the grin that turned her insides to mush.

  Willa met his gaze, captivated by the intense emotions she found there; then her world tilted sideways. She fell over the edge of bliss with a last thrust and a touch to her clit. Her pussy clenched around him as if begging him to join her in oblivion. Seconds later, his hoarse cry sounded in her ear, and Stratton collapsed on top of her, still intimately joined.

  She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, holding him as close as she could while the euphoria ebbed into gentle, shuddering pulses. This was what she’d wanted, the ability to snuggle against a man and feel safe, as if she could depend on him to fix all the wrongs she faced.

  Of course, she would never allow him to fight her battles when she was perfectly capable, but it was nice to know she could ask—yet… She pushed at his chest. The man would smother her if he didn’t move.

  “Stratton, get off or at least shift positions.” She pinched his hip. “Now.”

  “You had no objections to me being on you a couple of minutes ago.” He nibbled a path along her throat, the fresh-cut beard bristles grazing her skin.

  Shivers danced over her skin. Renewed desire tingled between her legs. “That was different.”

  He teased her collarbone with his tongue. “You don’t sound convinced. Good thing, because I’ll have to show you another aspect of my catalog.” Moving off to the side, he took her with him and tucked her against his side.

  “Are you bragging?” Willa settled her check on his chest. He smelled good, like soap, sweat and man. She drifted her fingers along his abdomen, grinning when his muscles tightened.

  “Yeah, I am. Aren’t you glad you’re sharing my bed? I could have taken the barmaid up on her offer.”

  Actually, she was, but he didn’t need to know that. “I know you’ll have trouble keeping your arrogance to a minimum, Ace. There is no way I’d allow that bitch anywhere near you.” She skimmed her hand higher in order to trace the muscled planes of a pectoral. The light sprinkling of hair tickled her skin. Beautiful, full of himself, and for the moment, he belonged to her. Her heart skipped a beat when she thought of it.

  “Aw, I love it when you get jealous.” He dropped a kiss into her hair. “I think my hearing might be messed
up. Can you say it again?”

  “No.” Uncomfortable and not understanding how to deal with his teasing now that they’d deepened the relationship, Willa tried to squirm from the bed, but Stratton wouldn’t release her. “This is weird.” Might as well say what was on her mind. “Is this whole thing going to last, or did you get me into bed just to have a free ride off the planet?” Her throat closed as she stared at his arm resting over her breasts. She didn’t want to be that woman—the one who went all soft and emotional from simply sleeping with a guy.

  Stratton’s sigh warmed her temple. “You’re overthinking it, Willa.” Shifting his body until he half covered hers, he slid his hands into her hair, holding her head steady so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.

  Genuine affection twinkled in his brown depths. For the second time that night, she had the feeling there was more to Stratton than he allowed people to see. A softer side, the hint of a soul, a sliver of personality that would make him into the kind of guy a woman wanted to take home and introduce to her family. The base of her spine tingled at the thought of being with him for more than a few days. Did she want to keep him around? She swept her gaze over his face and noted the exhausted triumph lining it. Yeah, I kinda do. Taming Sin. I like the way that sounds.

  “Stratton?”

  “Enjoy the now, okay? That’s all you can control. It’s all you can plan for. The rest is for another time.”

  “Is that how you live your life, how you were able to move on after losing your family and everything you cared about?” He fascinated her on a whole different level from any other man.

  “I learned at an early age not to think about the future. Every time I did, things wouldn’t pan out the way I’d hoped. Disappointment set in a lot.” The twinkle died in his eyes. “Let’s just say there was a pretty large learning curve.”

  She lifted a hand and cupped the side of his face. “You turned out fine, except for your smart-ass mouth.” Feeling the rough stubble sent her into another plane of want.

  “Ah, but imagine what this mouth can do.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Care to find out?” He began to slide down her body, drawing his tongue over her skin as he went.