by Anne Rainey
Now, as they stood at the entrance to Christy’s Boutique, Deanna all but laughing at him, he knew he should’ve just gone with his first instinct—sex.
“You are the same man who defended his country from terrorists, right?”
“Yes, but—”
“And after the steamy sex we shared last night, I would’ve thought you’d be the last guy to blush at a few pairs of underwear.”
Christ, she was good at manipulation. Jonas hated shopping. Damn it. Come to think of it, what man enjoyed it? Still, he’d insisted that he wasn’t an oversexed playboy, hadn’t he? That he wanted to get to know her on this trip. And wasn’t this something a regular couple would do?
He was about to give in when Deanna shimmied up against him and rose on her toes. Jonas braced himself, wondering what she’d do next. “I thought you said you wanted to buy me some lingerie,” she whispered. “I was sort of hoping to have something that would always remind me of this trip.”
Right away, Jonas had an image in his head of Deanna in nothing but a lacy red thong. His dick hardened, and since the only thing he wore was a pair of flimsy black swim trunks, a hard-on was the last thing he wanted. “You’d better watch it, kitten,” he warned, “or you’re liable to find your pretty ass up against a wall.”
Deanna bit her lip and started to speak, but he slammed his mouth down onto hers, effectively cutting her off. When he lifted away, they were both breathing a little heavy and people were staring. Shit. Without saying a word, Jonas grabbed her hand and walked into the store. Deanna stayed silent, too, he noticed with no small amount of satisfaction.
As Jonas maneuvered around racks of silky teddies and satiny nightgowns, taking in the colorful array of fabrics, bits of silk, and scraps of nothing, he realized he did want to buy Deanna something. Something sexy. Something that would make her think of him every time she wore it against her soft skin. He only had to pick that perfect something. He remembered the red lace she’d worn the night before. She’d said her favorite color was red, but he knew she’d look beautiful in any color. Jonas glanced around, and his gaze caught on a walled-off section at the back of the store. Curious, he tugged her in that direction.
The back of the store was set up like a separate room that stored a collection of items with a more wicked slant and a naughtier scheme. Ah, yes, he found just what he was looking for on a hook jutting out from the back wall. It was a minuscule pair of black and red striped satin thong panties, with a matching bra. Jonas picked the set up and turned them around. He pictured Deanna wearing them and his hard-on grew to a painful length inside his trunks.
Jonas shoved them at her. “Here, try this on.”
“Uh, Jonas, they’re probably not even the right size.” She checked the tag. “Good Lord, that’s a lot of money for something so tiny.”
He looked at the bits of material and asked, “Are they the right size?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then try them on.”
“They’re expensive,” she said in a hushed voice.
“I’m buying them, remember?” When she started to protest, he stopped her with a finger to her lips. “You dragged me into this bloody store, and if you know what’s good for you, then you’ll get your cute ass into the fitting room.”
“You’re being bossy again,” she muttered as she continued to glare at him.
“I’m barely restraining myself from jumping your lovely bones.” He looked around, spotted a line of fitting rooms on the far wall, and pushed her toward them. “Go, kitten, and don’t even think of not letting me see them when you get them on.”
Deanna walked, but Jonas noticed her back was a little too rigid. She was pissed at his high-handedness, no doubt. What was it about the woman that tore away all the layers of his civility? She got to him. Turned him into a damn Neanderthal. It was friggin’ annoying.
As she moved, Jonas’s gaze unerringly went to her ass. She still wore her white one-piece bathing suit, but she’d pulled a black mesh cover-up over it. It hindered his view, but not by much. When her bottom jiggled a little, his heart kicked into overdrive. As she slipped through the curtain and disappeared, Jonas took a moment to calm down. Going at her like a deer during rut was not the way to the woman’s heart, he told himself. If he could just remember that later, once they were alone, maybe he’d be able to save a sliver of his dignity, but he wasn’t holding his breath.
When his cell phone started to vibrate, Jonas pulled it out of the pocket on his white T-shirt and checked the caller ID. Wade. Christ, he was probably checking to see if he’d turned Deanna into a mindless sex slave yet. When it vibrated again, Jonas knew he’d have to answer it or the entire cavalry would converge on them. He took a deep, fortifying breath, then flipped it open.
Deanna couldn’t figure out why she was letting Jonas have the upper hand. Okay, that wasn’t entirely true. Part of her knew exactly why she was giving in to him. It was Jonas’s lack of control around her that had caused Deanna to hold her tongue. Jonas was always so charming. Joking and flirting. Not so much today, though, and she had a feeling it was because he wanted her so badly. It helped to know she wasn’t the only one aching.
Deanna slipped her cover-up over her head, then tugged at the straps of her bathing suit. Soon she was naked. As she stared at her body in the mirror, she was shocked to see the little love bites on her breasts and belly. She turned around and saw a few on her bottom as well. The slight purplish bruises around her hips where Jonas had grasped on to her were all signs of his loss of control. And even as gentle and easy as he had been, his desire had still left its marks. Her body flushed when she realized just how thoroughly he’d made love to her. It was that thought alone that had her putting on the sexy thong and bra with total confidence.
Deanna wiggled and adjusted until she had the two pieces in place. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she wondered what Jonas would think. The shiny stripes looked good against her ivory skin tone, she thought, but would Jonas like it? Only one way to find out.
Deanna pulled the curtain aside a few inches and peeked out. Jonas quickly appeared, taking hold of the curtain and moving it out of the way. She noticed the way he used his body to block the entrance, effectively keeping the other customers from seeing her in the skimpy outfit. His gaze took a slow route over her body. Down, then up. Then he repeated the process two more times.
“Damn.” He closed his eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath before opening them again. “Turn around.”
He hadn’t said please, but Deanna obeyed all the same. As she gave Jonas her back, Deanna watched him in the mirror. His gaze appeared glued to her butt. It never wavered, and for a long time she feared he didn’t like the striped set. She was about to tell him they could skip the whole idea, but then he looked up. Their gazes met in the mirror, and Deanna felt singed by the wild, out-of-control blaze in Jonas’s eyes.
“You’re stunning,” he said finally.
Deanna felt her cheeks heat at his unabashed praise. She was about to thank him when he lowered his head and kissed her neck. She bent her head to one side to give him better access, and whimpered when he bit her. He settled his lower body against hers, and Deanna could feel the evidence of his arousal pushing into the cleft of her buttocks. He rotated his hips, rubbing himself against her while he licked at the place he’d bitten.
“Jonas,” she moaned.
He kept his hands in balled fists at his sides as he raised his head. “You need to get dressed.” Deanna nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. “If I stay here another second, I’ll be inside of you, kitten.” Without waiting for a reply, Jonas stepped back and closed the curtain, leaving Deanna utterly breathless.
After Jonas paid for the racy bra and panty set, they left the store. The walk back to the house ended up being an extremely quiet trip. Neither of them spoke. Words weren’t necessary, though. They wanted each other; it was that simple.
13
Jonas had kep
t his damned hands to himself in the store, but kissing her had been a matter of necessity. He’d been so hungry for her that he’d had to have a little something to tide him over. Still, he knew that if he had put his hands against that luscious ass of hers, he would have to be inside of her. No way would he have had the self-control to keep from sliding his cock deep.
Christ, when had he become so greedy? Hell, he never allowed his cock to rule the show. Of course, that was before he’d sampled Deanna. Before he’d seen her eyes go dark with passion. Before he’d watched her shout out her pleasure. All other women paled compared to her. He’d always known that if he ever got her into his bed, he’d never be the same again.
In his gut, Jonas had known for years that Deanna was the only woman for him. When he’d teased her, she’d all but ignored him. When he’d tried to charm his way into her good graces, she’d practically given him the finger. She’d been a challenge from the beginning, but now it was more. Far more. She’d somehow wiggled her way into his heart, and damn if he didn’t like her there.
Jonas slid the key into the lock on the front door and turned the knob, letting her in ahead of him. Once they were both inside, he closed and locked them in before placing his wallet, keys, and cell phone on the entryway table. Deanna turned around, and Jonas watched as she put her purse next to his things, then dropped her packages onto the floor. She didn’t bend to pick them up, only stood there quietly watching him. So eager, yet willing to let him lead. The knowledge turned him on something fierce. Christ, to hell with the bed. To hell with the couch, even. He moved, pinning her against the door.
She lifted her head and their lips found each other. Deanna opened her mouth, and Jonas took advantage and delved inside. His tongue tangled with hers. She tasted sweet, but he wanted more. He wanted all of her. He gripped the hem of her cover-up and hiked it up. Soon, their clothes were littering the floor and he was pushing his cock inside her tight heat. God, she felt good. Tight and hot, and so fucking slick with her juices. Then he remembered. No condom. He pulled out instantly.
“Christ, I can’t believe I forgot.”
“What?”
“A condom.”
“I’m on the pill, Jonas,” she said, her voice husky with her passion. “And I’m clean.”
“I got a clean bill of health last month, and I haven’t been with anyone in longer than that, but are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Please, I need you.”
“I’m here, kitten.” He wrapped his arms around her and cupped her ass. “Guide me in,” he urged. When she took his cock in her small fist, it was all he could do to keep from coming. Deanna brought him to her entrance and he thrust forward. His cock pushed between her pussy lips, but it wasn’t enough. He needed the fast, hard loving she’d talked about the night before.
Jonas lifted her off the floor and sucked in a breath as Deanna wrapped her long, lean legs around his waist. Her arms came around his neck next, and Jonas heard her moan his name. He held her tight as he impaled her with his hard cock.
“Ride me.”
When Deanna’s lower body began a slow, torturous rhythm, Jonas felt his balls drawing up tight. “Fast,” he coaxed, “like you wanted. Fuck me good, Deanna.”
“Thought you’d never ask,” Deanna murmured as she slammed her pussy onto his dick.
“Ah, God,” he gritted out. His fingers dug into her ass cheeks. Jonas let loose a string of curses as her inner muscles clutched and held him tight. Then she lifted up once more, until he was barely seated inside her an inch. As the bulbous head kissed her pussy lips, Deanna thrust onto him again. Their mouths met, and Jonas gently bit her lower, plumper lip. He suckled, then dipped his tongue inside, teasing a moan from her.
Deanna pulled almost painfully at fistfuls of his hair, then rode his cock hard, forcing him clear to the hilt. Jonas almost lost his balance, but he swiftly pumped back at her, and the pace was on. They took from each other, demanding—hell, almost punishing. He sucked at her tongue; then he felt her mash her breasts against his chest, and he pulled his mouth off her so he could watch her pretty tits bouncing with each rapid movement.
“Jesus, you’re a sight,” he crooned.
She was out of control, thrusting up and down. Suddenly, she screamed and flung her head back against the door as her orgasm bathed his cock. Jonas erupted, filling her with jets of hot cum.
Deanna slumped against him, boneless, completely done in. Both of them breathed heavy, their chests rising and falling in fast, shallow pants. She’d thoroughly worked him over.
“Well, that should hold me over for at least an hour.”
She lifted her head and eyed him as if he had a swarm of spiders crawling all over him. “Are you kidding? I’m dead. You killed me.”
As he released her thighs, she slowly slid to the floor. Jonas waited until he was sure she wasn’t going to fall before he stepped away. “You’re the one doing all the pounding, kitten. All I did was stand here.”
She laughed and started toward the stairs. “Shower, or are you hungry?”
“Shower, but only if I get to be your loofah,” he teased.
When her feet hit the first step, Jonas’s gaze drifted down her body. That’s when he saw marks on her buttocks. Bruises? He drew closer. Christ, he’d hurt her. He’d been too rough.
“Deanna,” he called out.
She stopped her ascent and looked over her shoulder at him. Jonas closed the gap, then knelt down behind her and kissed the bruises forming on the soft skin of each cheek. One by one, he touched his lips to each mark he’d left on her perfect skin. “I should be tied up and beaten.”
“Jonas, maybe you weren’t paying attention just now, but I was the one going all cavewoman.” Deanna cupped his cheek, caressing his jaw. “I like the stubbles on you, by the way. You should let it grow out a little.”
He looked up at her from his position, her tender expression and sweet smile tugging at his heart. She was so delicate. From her big, caring heart to her soft, creamy skin. “I could do a little bit of a beard. For you.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Really?”
“Mmm, really.” As he stood back up and took her into his arms, cradling her against his chest, he said, “I’m sorry, kitten. I should have been easier with you.”
“Jonas, please don’t be sorry for needing me as much as I do you. I never want you to be anything other than what you are. You are a passionate lover, but you’re also an incredibly gentle man.”
“If that’s true, then why do you have marks on your ass?”
“Love marks,” she said softly, “and I sort of like seeing them there.”
“You like them, huh?”
“Mmm.”
Her whispered answer drifted over Jonas’s skin. To have his mark on her was a sign of possession in Jonas’s eyes. Knowing she liked it gave him a small measure of hope. He wanted her emotionally involved with him. With all his might, Jonas clung to the small kernel Deanna unwittingly offered. Damn, how he ached to hear Deanna say that she wanted him to make love to her, and not just sate her lust. If he had anything to say about it, she’d give him something before their weekend was over. Some sign that he meant more to her than merely a fun weekend.
As he took her up the stairs to the bathroom, he flicked on the light, then put her on her feet. He went about the task of getting the water in the tub the right temperature before he asked, “How about a bubble bath instead?”
She nodded and crossed her arms over her breasts. “I love bubble baths.”
He pointed to a shelf next to the mirror. “Hand me the bottle on the top shelf.”
She moved to grab it but had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the top. The move put her ass in direct line with his mouth. He grinned and leaned forward, then dropped a kiss directly above her ass cheeks. She yelped and swiveled around, nearly dropping the bottle on his head. He quickly grabbed it and cupped her hip to steady her. She batted his hand away, and Jonas had to turn around to hide
his grin. As he dumped a good portion of the creamy liquid into the warm water, he heard Deanna mumble something from behind. He turned his head and quirked a brow.
“I said, you’re entirely too fascinated with my butt.”
He shrugged, totally unrepentant. “It’s a very nice butt.”
“Just nice?”
He chuckled at her disgruntled tone. “It’s the best butt I’ve ever kissed.”
She stood straighter and shot her nose into the air. “That’s better.”
He gestured to the tub. “Your bath awaits, my lady.”
She smiled and got into the foamy water. Jonas waited for her to relax before stepping in behind her and sitting down. Pulling her against his chest, he ground out, “Ah, yeah, that’s good.”
“I agree one hundred percent.”
They sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the hot water and fragrant bubbles. It was Deanna who broke the silence. “Tell me about your parents.”
Jonas scowled. “Why?”
She tilted her head back to look him in the eye. “Because I want to know more about you.”
“There isn’t much to tell.” He stroked her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. “My mother gave birth to me and so they raised me. That’s about it.”
She slapped his thigh beneath the water. “That’s a fairly cold, short story, Jonas.”
He picked up a sponge and squirted some bath gel onto it. “My parents are fairly cold people.” He started on her shoulders, rubbing the sponge up and down her arms. “They derive pleasure from money. The more they have, the happier they are and the more they want.”
Deanna relaxed against him, her hands drifting up and down his thighs on either side of her body. He wasn’t certain she even knew she was doing it. “They don’t sound like very nice people,” she said in a faraway voice.
“They weren’t cruel.” He worked his way over her chest, paying special attention to each of her breasts. “Just not parent material. My mom told me once that she’d miscalculated and missed taking one of her birth-control pills. That’s how I was conceived. In her mind, she made a mistake and rectified it by raising me instead of aborting me.”
