Kidnapping His Bride

by Karen Erickson

  She dropped her gaze, ashamed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Hey.” He slipped his fingers beneath her chin, lifting so her gaze met his. “I’m not angry. There’s no need to apologize.”

  He was kind. Gentle. Why had she believed the various media reports? Worse, why had she believed her angry, slightly crazed sister? “Let’s dance,” she suggested. “Will you dance with me, Rafe?”

  Slowly, he nodded, his thumb stroking across her chin. Tingles swept her skin, making her lightheaded. “Yes. As long as you don’t laugh and point while I make a spectacle of myself.”

  His words made her laugh and he grinned in return. “See? You’re already laughing.”

  “Stop.” She stepped closer to him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He was easier to reach, what with the incredibly high heels she wore. “Thank you,” she whispered against his bristly skin.

  Turning his head, he aligned their lips almost perfectly. “For what?”

  “For being so sweet.” She grew lightheaded, having him so close. His arm slipped around her waist, holding her to him, and she rested her hands against his chest, enjoying the intimacy of their position.

  “You make it easy.” He kissed her, a light brushing of lips she could almost believe didn’t happen at all. “Don’t let anyone else know, though.”

  She laughed again, squeaked when he kissed her once more. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and a slow song is next.”

  “That would be perfect.” He led her onto the dance floor, the song ending the moment they found a spot. As if on cue, a slow song started next, the lights dimming intimately. A third of the crowd vacated the floor, leaving them plenty of room to dance.

  “I think you arranged this,” he told her as he slipped his arms around her waist, his big hands resting at the small of her back, his fingers nearly brushing her backside.

  Cat almost wished they would. The thought of those strong, capable hands sliding over her butt made her shiver. “Oh yes, I have secret connections here, just like you.”

  “You really believed we’d have to stand in line, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” she admitted, slipping her arms around his neck, noting the smooth way he started swaying to the music. “You’re not a bad dancer.”

  “Anyone can dance like this, especially when they have a beautiful woman in their arms. A fast song starts again, and I’ll end up looking like an idiot trying to keep up. Trust me.”

  She warmed at his complimentary words, at the way he stared at her. Practically willing his hands to slip lower, she stepped in closer to him, wanting him close, as close as two people could possibly get. Letting her gaze drop, she studied the strong lines of his throat, idly wondering what his skin might taste like…

  They danced quietly, lost in each other’s arms, the sensuous, slow beat of the song. Cat pressed her forehead against his jaw, closed her eyes as she breathed in his scent, withheld the gasp that threatened when those hands did exactly what she wanted. Sliding along her backside, his touch lingered, and she wished they were somewhere else. Anywhere else but here.

  Preferably back at his apartment, in his room, in his bed.

  Melting against him, she swayed, nestling her fingers in his silky soft hair, stroking it. Her mind raced with thoughts of their future. Could they make this work? Did he really want her or was she merely a conquest he wanted to add to his never-ending list? Or worse, was he trying to prove a point? Showing her how good they could’ve been together before he left her in the dust, reminding her that she was the one who wanted to end it in the first place?

  Oh, she really hoped all of her thoughts were untrue.

  “You smell good,” he whispered.

  “Thank you.” She inhaled his intoxicatingly spicy scent. “So do you.”

  His arms tightened around her waist, bringing her flush against his body. “Cat, maybe we should…”

  The music ended, switching to an incredibly fast song, and people flooded the floor, crowding all around them as they stood still in each other’s arms. She looked into his eyes, saw all the heat and want in their depths and she withdrew from his embrace. Unreasonable fear gripped her, making her want to break the tension, and she flashed him a smile, hoping he understood her motives.

  “I’m dancing,” she declared, earning an eyebrow raise from Rafe. “Join me?”

  Slowly shaking his head, he said, “No. But I’ll watch you.”

  Chapter Eight

  The last hour she’d put on a performance for only him, though others had certainly benefited. The way she moved, her body shimmying to the endless stream of dance music, made his pulse pound, his blood hot, his entire body throb—for her.

  For seeming like such an uptight little thing, Cat had no problem losing herself in the music. She moved so effortlessly, the sequins on her dress catching the light with every thrust of her hips, every shake of her ass. Drawing everyone’s eye to her and only her as she danced on the outer edges of the floor.

  He knew they watched her. How could they not? Her beaming smile surely captivated them. With her arms above her head, she swung her hips, tossed her hair, her skin shiny with a damp sheen of sweat. She danced with men, with women, never moving from her spot but never letting anyone touch her.

  And all the while, Rafe watched, captivated with the way she moved, the seductive smile she constantly flashed in his direction. He appreciated the little show she made just for him, but he was slowly growing weary.

  More than anything, he was growing aroused.

  Having her in his arms earlier when they’d danced, her slender arms wrapped around his neck, fingers in his hair. Her shifting so innocently against him, made him harder than a rock. His body was completely attuned to hers—she was a craving his body needed to satisfy.

  He hoped to find his satisfaction later tonight, when they returned home—as long as Cat was willing.

  She seemed perfectly happy to continue her little dance of seduction. He planned on cutting it short soon, ready to whisk her away, back to his apartment, where he could strip her of the sequined dress, press his mouth to every inch of her glowing, bare skin, yet all the while she’d still be wearing those shoes.

  Damn. Rafe frowned. He had no idea he harbored such a shoe fetish, but it was certainly making an appearance tonight.

  He drained his second beer, not necessarily drunk but definitely feeling no pain. He set the empty bottle on the table beside him, the table he’d been leaning against for the last sixty minutes. When the waitress started toward him, ready to refill his order, he shook his head no. He was done drinking tonight. With a quick smile, she turned, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as she appeared, and he returned his focus to Cat.

  And found her with her back to him, the skirt of her dress indecently high, showing a fine length of thigh as she wiggled her ass and drove him fucking insane.

  His skin grew hot and tight, and he pushed away from the table, going to her. He shoved his way through the crowd, earning more than a few irritated stares and grumblings for his rudeness, but he didn’t give a shit. He had a single-minded focus that had everything to do with the woman who had no idea she was driving him out of his mind with lust.

  Stopping just behind her, he inhaled sharply, her scent filling his head, making it spin. He rested his hands on her hips, felt her jerk from his touch, but then she melted against him, her back leaning against his front, her ass shifting against his groin.

  Making his cock harden even more.

  “You rub against all unknown men who touch you on the dance floor?” His mouth was close to her ear and cheek, and he could feel her skin stretch as she smiled.

  “I knew it was you,” she said simply.

  He let his hands wander to her front, his fingers stroking her flat stomach, grazing over the sequins. “How? You didn’t see my approach.”

  “I could smell you.”

  Ah, just as he could smell her. Their pheromones, or whatever you called them, were a good match. He caught
scent of her and all he wanted to do was pounce and claim. Perhaps she had the same reaction to him.

  “Have you had fun?” He nuzzled his cheek against hers, heard her sharp intake of breath, felt the subtle stiffening of her body. She reacted to him so easily. When they would finally come together, it was going to be so good between them.

  “I’ve had a wonderful time.” She sounded breathless, her dancing at a minimum now that he had his hands on her. “Thank you for bringing me here. And for letting me dance.”

  “It’s been my pleasure, watching you,” he whispered in her ear, kissing it, nibbling on the lobe.

  She shivered. “What are you doing?”

  He ignored her question. “Are you ready to go?” No doubt she was nervous, and he didn’t want to scare her but it was proving hard to resist her.

  Cat rested her hands on top of his forearms, her fingers lightly stroking his bare skin. This time he was the one who shivered. “I think so.”

  “Then let’s leave.” He squeezed her tight, closing his eyes against the wave of foreign emotion surging through him. Having her nestled so close in his arms brought out all of those primal urges he’d always believed he didn’t have.

  The need to mark, to possess, let the entire world know that this woman belonged to him and no one else.

  Hard to believe this sweet, seemingly innocent woman made him feel like this. Their fathers had been right.

  Cat was his perfect match.

  The ride back to his apartment started out quiet, with Cat staring out the window, watching the city lights pass by, her right arm resting in the center of the bench seat. Rafe kept his gaze fixed there, studying her small hand, her long, slender fingers, the short, painted, bright pink nails.

  Without thought, he touched her, drew his finger lightly across the top of her hand. Then brought his index finger back up the original path it took, gently crossing her knuckles, blazing a path up each finger. Driving himself mad with the need to touch her further.

  More, his thoughts, his body demanded. Take more.

  He hooked his index finger around hers and slowly brought their connected hands up to his mouth, dropping a soft kiss to her closest finger. It curled tight around his as he continued to rain kisses on every one of her fingers. Her knuckles. The back of her hand, where his tongue darted out for a quick taste.

  Glancing up, he caught her staring at him, her eyes wide, damp lips parted. She swallowed—he saw the delicate movement of her throat, his gaze drawn to the rapid pounding of her pulse at the base of her neck. He drew her pinky finger into his mouth and sucked, savoring her taste.

  A soft, feminine noise escaped her, and he released her finger from his mouth, licking the tip. A shuddery breath left her and she leaned forward, as if she wanted more of him.

  He felt exactly the same. He wanted more. His body demanded more.

  Hitting the button the control panel in the armrest, he watched the privacy screen slide up so the driver couldn’t observe what was about to happen. “Undo your seatbelt,” he commanded, gently pulling on her hand, trying to bring her closer.

  “But…” Her voice trailed off, and he tightened his grip on her.

  “Do it, Cat. I’m tired of denying myself. Of denying you.” He was being a jackass, asking her to take off her belt. It was unsafe, but they were close to his building, and at this very moment, he could give a shit about seatbelts and safety and whatever else.

  Unbuckling his own belt, he moved toward the middle of the seat the same time she did, his hands going to her waist, her hands reaching for his shoulders.

  And then he was pulling her on top of him, her body curving around his. She straddled him, her knees on either side of his hips, the skirt of her already short dress hiked far up her thighs. He cupped the back of her head and brought her down to him, their mouths fusing, tongues lashing in a frantic, take-no-prisoners kiss.

  It wasn’t tentative or gentle. Their kiss was a claiming, hard and fast and full of unrestrained passion. He gripped her hips, pulling her to him, thrusting up so she could feel his erection, letting her know how much he needed her. Wanted her. She gasped against his lips, moaned when he broke apart from her to lick his way up her salty-with-sweat neck, nibbling on her skin like he was some sort of feral beast.

  Having her surround him brought out the beast in him. He felt completely out of control.

  “I want you,” he whispered harshly against her throat, his hands moving around to grip her ass, his fingers kneading into her pliant flesh. Damn, she felt good. “So fucking bad, Cat. Tell me you feel this. Tell me you want me too.”

  “I want you. I do.” She rose a little higher on her knees, falling into him, her hands gripping the top of the seat on either side of his head. Her breasts were at perfect eye level. He pressed his face into her cleavage, felt the sting of the hundreds of sequins cutting into his skin. He tugged at the fabric, watched with utter fascination as the shoulder straps fell down her arms, the neckline loosening from the action.

  Revealing that she wore no bra, and all that bare creamy flesh was his for the taking.

  Leaning in with a growl of pleasure, he tongued the tops of her breasts, his hands moving up her sides to grip her closer, holding her still. She trembled beneath his touch as he worked his way lower. Lower…until he was circling one rosy-pink nipple with his tongue, then the other, drawing it into his mouth and sucking deeply. The hard, hot little bit of flesh tasted amazing on his tongue.

  “Oh my God.” She gripped the back of his hand, her fingers surprisingly strong as they pulled his hair. “Rafe…”

  She sounded as lost as he felt and he let his hands fall to the tops of her thighs, gliding his fingers beneath her skirt so he could touch her intimately. He felt the tiny scrap of lace of her panties and slipped beneath the front, finding warm, wet flesh that he slid his fingers into, making her buck against him and cry out his name again.

  Watching in utter fascination, he kept his gaze glued to her face as he slowly drove her out of her mind with his fingers. His thumb circled her clit as he stroked her, slow and easy at first, pushing deeper inside her with every thrust. Her hips lifted in time to his movements as he fucked her with his fingers, his thumb pressing, flicking, sending her straight toward her orgasm. Her entire body became consumed with shivers and he had a feeling she was close to climaxing.

  “Please,” she begged, holding on to him tight as her hips moved restlessly, grinding against his hand. “Oh God, yes, please.”

  And then she burst apart, her orgasm sweeping over her as she tossed her head back, her mouth forming in a little O as she came undone in his arms.

  Awestruck, he continued to watch her, enraptured with her as he gentled his strokes, pressing his mouth to her chest in sweet kisses. Cat consumed by her orgasm was the most beautiful thing he’d ever witnessed.

  He was eager to see that happen again. Soon.

  Cat wasn’t sure how she made it up to Rafe’s apartment. After the way he’d touched her in the backseat of the car, his mouth everywhere, his hand between her legs, his skilled fingers touching her like no other man had touched her before, she’d fallen to pieces in an embarrassingly quick amount of time.

  A gloriously delicious, quick amount of time…

  He’d helped her out of the car like a gentleman, taking her hand as she stepped onto the sidewalk. His arm swooped around her waist as she stumbled in her shoes, embarrassed yet thankful he caught her. Her legs still quivered from the intensity of her orgasm, her skin fairly vibrating. The satisfied smile he gave her just before he leaned in for a brief kiss had left her even dizzier than before.

  “You’re glowing,” he murmured only for her to hear, his arm tightening around her waist as he led her into the building, tipping his head at the doorman as they headed straight toward the elevator.

  The moment the doors slid closed, he had her pinned against the wall, his mouth on hers, his hands cupping her face as the elevator made its quick ascent. “I love tha
t I’ve made you look like this,” he whispered against her lips before devouring her again.

  “H-how do I look?” she asked after he finally broke away from her lips, his mouth dotting fevered little kisses along her jaw, down the side of her neck.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered reverently, his gaze meeting hers. “Radiant. Satisfied.”

  Her cheeks warmed and she ducked her head, thankful when the elevator finally stopped and the doors opened. Rafe took her hand and walked her down the short hall that led to his apartment. He seemed agitated, downright anxious as he unlocked the door and then he was pulling her inside, slamming the door behind them, pushing her against the wall as if he were unable to keep his hands off of her.

  She loved it. Wished fervently that she’d known Rafe had this side to him long ago. It was rather…arousing.

  “I’ll stop if you want me to,” he said, his expression sincere, his eyes serious as they roved over her face. “Just say the word and you can go to your room tonight alone and everything will be fine tomorrow. I won’t hold your refusal of me against you. You’re in complete control of this situation, Cat. I hope you realize this.”

  “Or?” she prompted, because she knew there was more. There had to be. The mysterious depths behind his words intrigued her. She didn’t want to stop this.

  She wanted more. More, more, more.

  “Or…” His voice trailed off, his gaze sweeping over her body, lingering on her chest, then moving upward to her mouth. “You can come with me. And spend the night in my bed.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip, her body aching from the dark promise in his voice. There wasn’t a doubt that she wanted to be with him tonight, in his bed. But a small part of her was scared. Unsure. What if it hurt? She’d heard that, of course, knew that sex was painful the first time. Worse, what if he was disappointed when he discovered she was a virgin? There was no way she could pretend she wasn’t. He’d figure it out.

  Cat would bet a lot of money there weren’t a lot of twenty-three-year-old virgins out there. Yet here she stood, having saved herself for this very man. The sexiest man she’d ever seen or been with, pressed up against her, ready to do things she’d only ever heard of. Imagined doing many times—with him. She could feel his erection, thick and insistent against her belly, the heat in his gaze sending darts of pleasure running throughout her body.