“You’re so damn beautiful, Cara.”
Lowering his head, he sucked one taut nipple into his mouth, worshipping it before drawing his tongue across the sensitive peak. At her sharp intake of breath, his warm, throaty chuckle washed over her.
“Do you like that, sweetheart?”
She tried twice before answering with a shaky, “Yes.”
Placing a kiss on the swell of each breast, he lifted his head to stare into her eyes. A brief moment later, his lips drifted over her cheek, along her jaw, making her tremble as he continued down her neck. Lowering his head, he again took a puckered nipple into his mouth, sucking until she began to squirm.
Her hands moved between them, pulling his shirt from his jeans, breaking contact long enough to drag it over his head. Letting it drop from her grasp, she moaned when he returned his attention to her breasts. Lavishing attention on one, then moving to the other, his hand slipped into the waistband of her jeans to the softness below.
He caressed and sucked, driving them both to a fevered pitch. Stroking a peaked nipple, a grin of immense satisfaction gripped him when she shuddered and cried his name, her body going rigid against his.
Not giving her time to think, he scooped her into his arms, taking long, determined strides to his bedroom. Setting her feet on the floor, his hungry gaze stared at her half-naked body, trying to calm his desire to tear the rest of her clothes off and sink deep inside her.
Cara couldn’t look away from his broad shoulders, the sprinkling of dark hair across his chest, or lean torso tapering into his jeans. Her mouth went dry, breath catching when he quickly removed his boots, socks, and unfastened his jeans, pushing them and his boxers to the floor. She couldn’t stop herself from staring, awed at the sight of his magnificent body.
Trembling, she tore her gaze away. Bending, she removed her boots and socks, her hands trembling when they moved to her waistband.
“Let me.” Wrath brushed her shaky fingers from the button of her jeans, setting it free before drawing down the zipper. Looking into her eyes, he took hold of the waistband, slipping the pants and tiny silk panties down her long, slender legs. Groaning, he gritted his teeth, helping her step out of them before tossing the jeans aside.
Lifting her into his arms, he settled her in the middle of the bed before stretching out beside her. Lowering his mouth to hers, he took control, tasting her with his tongue while a hand cupped her breast, massaging it until she squirmed against him.
Sliding his hand down her body, he caressed her thighs before moving to the juncture between her legs. A soft whimper escaped Cara’s lips when he sank a finger into her depths. The intensity of his touch increased, igniting a rush of need unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
Leveraging himself on one arm, he hovered above her, fusing his mouth to hers again. He wanted to take his time, draw this out, make it last, knowing he’d already lost the battle. Unable to wait any longer, he reached to the nightstand, pulling a condom from the drawer.
Coming up on his knees, he rolled the condom over his length, staring down at her. “Are you certain this is what you want, Cara? It’s all right if you aren’t ready.”
Reaching up, she caressed a finger down his face. “I want this, Wrath.”
Relief washed over him. Placing a kiss on her lips, he settled between her legs, pressing soft kisses over the swell of her breasts, lingering a moment to tease the peaked nipples before sucking one into his mouth.
She allowed her thighs to fall open, encouraging him to continue. Feeling his hand slip between their heated bodies, she gasped when his fingers delved between her legs. Bucking against his hand, she arched with intense pleasure when he circled her most sensitive spot.
The ache between her legs grew to an unbearable degree. “Please, Wrath.”
Shifting, he positioned himself against her and pushed inside, hearing her surprised cry.
“I’m sorry. You’re just so tight.” He held himself still, allowing her to accommodate to his size. “Are you all right, sweetheart?” He kissed her, ignoring the urge to thrust again.
“I’m fine. Please don’t stop.”
His rough chuckle preceded a swift thrust as he surged inside as far as her tight body would allow. Waiting a moment, he began to rock, moving in and out, his urgency building with hers. Slipping a hand down between their bodies, he strummed her already sensitive clit. With one last thrust, he pushed them over the edge.
Waves of pleasure crashed through them, his thrusts slowing as the deepest satisfaction he’d ever felt claimed him.
Sucking in several deep breaths, he rolled onto his back, pulling her into his arms and tucking her against his side.
Resting in his strong arms, Cara tried to recall a time in the past when she’d felt so completely depleted. She couldn’t.
The magnitude of the pleasure Wrath offered stunned her. Never had she been drawn to such heights of passion, and not once, but twice. Her body still thrummed at the intensity of his lovemaking.
She stilled at the thought. Love.
“Are you all right, darlin’?” The concern in his voice caused Cara to lift her head from his chest to stare into his narrowed gaze.
Shoving aside the errant thought of this being more than a wonderful experience, she nodded. “I’m more than all right.” A grin slid up the corners of her mouth. “Why?”
“You seemed to tense up.” He glanced down to where the fingers of her right hand gripped the hairs of his chest.
Shock flashed across her face before releasing her intense hold, running her hand over the spot. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…” Her words faded when he lifted her chin to brush a kiss across her lips.
“No worries.” He kissed her again before closing his eyes.
Biting her lower lip, she considered asking the question which had been nagging at her since the day they’d met. “Wrath?”
“Hmmm?”
“What’s your real name?”
When she felt the taut muscles of his chest tense underneath her hand, she began to regret asking.
“It’s all right if you don’t want to tell me.”
Brushing his fingers up and down her arm, he remained silent. No one outside of his men and family knew his real name.
When he didn’t answer, unease flittered through Cara, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. Glancing out the window, she knew the day was coming to an end, along with their time together. She needed to leave before the comfort of being in his arms became too real, more than one beautiful afternoon.
Pressing her lips to his chest, she forced herself not to be disappointed at his inability to share something as simple as his real name. She’d had enough lies and half-truths to last her entire life.
Lifting to an elbow, she met his gaze before placing a soft kiss on his lips. Rolling away, shoving hair from her face, Cara stood.
“What are you doing?”
Walking to his side of the bed, she picked up her clothes, doing her best to keep her voice steady and features neutral. “It’s time I headed home. Is it all right if I use your bathroom?”
Shifting his feet to the floor, Wrath stood, stepping toward her, coming to a stop when she moved away. “What’s going on, Cara?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. It’s been a nice couple days, but it’s time to go home. You know, back to my real life.” Her chest tightened at the flash of confusion on his face. Without looking at him again, she stepped into the bathroom, closing the door on a solid click.
Chapter Nine
Wrath dressed, anger bubbling through him at Cara’s odd actions. They had what he considered an outstanding weekend, the best in longer than he could remember, and he definitely wasn’t ready to let her go. He’d planned to fix her dinner, maybe coax her back into his bed, keeping her there until she needed to leave for work the next morning.
Stalking into the kitchen, he made coffee, his movements without conscious thought. Opening the refrigerator, he shoved it
closed, not looking inside. It wouldn’t matter if she decided not to stay.
Wrath believed he knew the instant everything had changed. He just hadn’t understood ignoring her question about his name would bother her so much. Since founding the Brethren, no one had ever asked him about it. The admiral had hammered into Wrath the importance of keeping their true identities a secret. It was one of the reasons Grayson preferred men without attachments, no wives, girlfriends, or partners. Wrath had taken the warning seriously, impressing the same on his men.
Resting his hands on the counter, he leaned forward, bending his head.
“I’m, um…ready to go.” She stood several feet away, a mixture of sorrow and resignation on her face.
Walking to her, he held out his hands, dropping them when she shook her head. “You’re not leaving until we sort out what happened in there.” He shot a look toward the bedroom.
Grabbing her leather jacket, she bit her lower lip. “Nothing happened, Wrath. We had a good time. Now it’s time for me to go home.”
Crossing his arms, he leaned a hip against the counter, lifting a brow. “Good?”
She felt the blush creep up her face. “All right. It was a great time. Spectacular even.”
Stepping to her, he grabbed Cara’s shoulders before she could slip away. He noticed her wince, but not in pain. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her into a hug.
“Talk to me, Cara. Tell me what I did and what I need to do to make this right.” He buried his face in her hair, needing to know if his suspicions were accurate. “I can’t fix this if I’m not sure what happened.”
He felt her ragged breathing, relieved when she dropped the jacket to wind her arms around his waist. “It’s just…” Her voice trailed off on a shaky sigh.
“What, babe?” When she remained silent, Wrath slid a hand in hers. “Come on.” He walked around the kitchen’s island to the refrigerator, opening the door. “Beer, wine, or a real drink?”
Her brows drew together. “A drink?”
“Yep. We’ll take them outside, watch the sunset, and work this out. I’m not letting you go until we get ourselves straight.”
Licking her lips, she looked around. “Do you have whiskey?”
A chuckle bubbled up. “I do. But just one, sweetheart. You passed out on me last time.”
He poured her a whiskey, grabbing a beer for himself, then took her hand again. “Do you want chips or something?”
She glanced at the glass in her hand. “No, this is fine.”
Walking through the living room, he led her outside to a two-seat swing. Sitting down, each took a sip of their drink, Cara’s hand shaking enough for him to notice. Wrath waited, determined not to rush her. After several minutes, she sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly.
“I already told you about Greg being a serial cheater.”
He nodded, wondering where this might lead.
She took another drink, pursing her lips. “Looking back, part of it was my fault.”
“What the hell, Cara. His cheating was in no way your fault.”
She held up a hand. “I know. Still, I might have learned about it sooner if I wasn’t so trusting. I believed what he said when he lied about his reasons for not coming home many nights. Due to his work, there was much he couldn’t tell me. Beyond that, he had other secrets.” She snorted. “A lot of other secrets.” Lifting a shoulder, she stared into her glass. “Until today, I never thought how his actions might affect any relationship that might come after.” Understanding what she’d said, Cara lifted her head. “Not that we have a relationship or anything, but—” She stopped when he pressed a finger to her lips.
“I don’t know what this is between us, but it’s not a one-night deal, Cara. From where I’m sitting, and given some time, a relationship might work.” Leaning forward, he kissed her. “I’m guessing you’re thinking my real name is a secret.”
“Isn’t it?”
Taking a long swallow of beer, he stared at her. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“Because you can’t tell me, or…?”
Jaw clenching, his lips drew into a thin line. Rolling the bottle between his fingers, he knew his time with Cara could end if he didn’t say what she needed to hear.
“It’s complicated. There’s a good reason I can’t tell you my real name. It has to do with protecting you from people who might try to come after me through you. I realize this may not make sense to you, but the possible threats are real, Cara.”
She shifted her gaze away to stare out at the distant hills. “I see.” And she did. All too well.
“I don’t believe you do.”
A cold feeling washed over her, the same as the night she’d learned of Greg’s cheating. “Believe me, I do understand. It wasn’t long ago someone else gave me the same speech. He was protecting me, keeping me out of danger. The less I knew, the better. Honestly, I’m sick of men who believe they can lie and keep secrets.” Setting down her glass, she stood, glaring at him, ignoring the way her body trembled in indignation.
“Let me tell you, Wrath, or whatever your real name is, I don’t need the kind of protection you’re offering. After all I went through with Greg, I certainly don’t intend to spend my time with another man who sees me as naïve, weak, and senseless. No matter how good the sex.”
“Cara—”
“Don’t say any more.” She ran a hand through her messy hair. Pulling a band from her pocket, she finger combed her hair into a ponytail, brushing aside the loose strands. “Look, I had a great time, Wrath. I also respect your desire to keep your life private.” Taking a couple steps to stand before him, she bent down, kissing his cheek, hesitating a moment before straightening. “You’re a great guy. I won’t make you uncomfortable by pushing any further. When the right woman does come along, I know you’ll share your secrets. At least those you can.”
Cara’s mouth slid into a remorseful grin. Without another word, she turned her back to him. He followed, but didn’t try to stop her when she hurried into the house and slipped into her jacket. Shoving aside the feeling she was making a mistake, she lifted her chin, opening the front door.
“Caiden.”
Her hand stilled on the knob, stomach clenching when she turned toward him. “What?”
He leaned a shoulder against the kitchen door, hands shoved into his pockets. “Caiden. It’s my first name. It’s all I can give you, Cara. I hope it’s enough.”
Sucking needed air into her lungs, she took halting steps until mere inches separated them. “Caiden,” she whispered.
He shrugged. “My mother saw it in the newspaper, and Dad wasn’t about to argue with her about it.”
“It’s a strong name, fitting a strong man.”
Reaching out, he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck, pulling her into his embrace. Stroking her back, he rested his chin on the top of her head.
“Stay for dinner, Cara. I don’t expect anything more. If you want to head home when we’re done eating, I’ll ride along.”
Resting her head against his shoulder, she closed her eyes. She didn’t know what to do. They’d known each other a couple weeks, gone out a few times, and spent one incredible afternoon in his bed. Even so, Cara had never felt such a strong pull to a man, not even Greg. She’d never know if anything could come of such a tenuous friendship if she walked away now.
Shoving her hands against his chest enough to lock her gaze on his, she kissed him, feeling a wicked flash of desire. “Dinner. I’ll make no other promises.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Cara refused to sit still while he prepared their meal. Wrath grilled the steaks while she made a salad and warmed thick slices of artisan bread. Standing in front of the barbecue, he sipped a beer, wondering what the hell he’d done.
He’d broken his own rule, inviting a woman into his home and his bed. It had been the most incredible sex of his life. She’d kept up with him, taking and giving, her response to his touch beyond anything he
had a right to expect. He’d never had a woman rocket him to such a high degree of passion with a few heated strokes. Taking a long swallow of beer, his body hardened at the memory.
Wrath just didn’t know if he should encourage her to stay the night. Sharing dinner would give them time to get to know each other a little more. Afterward, maybe he should offer to follow her home, make certain she arrived safely, then return to his own bed, alone.
“Who am I kidding?” Wrath whispered to himself. Turning the steaks, he took another sip of beer. If she wanted to stay, he’d be a fool to encourage her to leave. Even if it burned out in a short time, he wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. When it was over, well, they’d go their separate ways, hopefully remaining friends.
Cara knew she should join him outside, but something held her back. She kept second-guessing herself, wondering if returning to her place hadn’t been the best idea.
Her brothers and parents would come down hard on her, probably fly down from Montana if they knew of Wrath’s existence. Although Greg never knew it, her family had never cared for him. After learning of his cheating, they’d stayed silent for a while, respecting he’d given his life for his country. Their silence didn’t last long.
Cara knew they loved her, but as the youngest child, and a girl, their affection sometimes smothered her. It was one reason she hadn’t returned to Montana when Greg died. She had no desire to go back to having her life monitored, not even by people who had nothing but good intentions.
“Steaks are ready.” Wrath placed the platter on the counter, giving an approving nod at the salad. He watched as she pulled plates from the cabinet. “Inside or out?”
Deciding on outside with a view of the sparkling lights of downtown Liberty Lake, the food disappeared between bites of steak, salad, and bread. They kept the conversation neutral, talking about additional places to ride, foods they liked and didn’t, and childhood memories that didn’t give the other too much information.
Wrath learned her older brothers owned a security firm in Missoula, and he surprised her by revealing he’d grown up on a horse ranch. When she asked if he was a good rider, his response was a slow smile and wink.
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