by Gina Watson
As he kept up his survey of her torso, he expertly unfastened her blue jeans. Kneeling, he lifted her shirt over her head and held her in his arms as he delicately kissed the small swells of her breasts. He unclasped her bra as his stubble rubbed the skin there, making it pink. Her breasts were small, but her nipples were a barometer for her arousal as they darkened and elongated beneath his touch.
She responded like a goddess. She was soft and sweet, warm and moist. Her sounds were relaxed and deep, hypnotic guttural moans that he delighted in. He was lost in her. God save him, he couldn’t even remember the mission. All he could do was touch, taste, hear, feel the woman falling to pieces in his arms. He nuzzled her ear to whisper, “I want to taste your sweetness.” His hand slithered down past the rim of her jeans and into her panties where he felt her delicate wet flesh. “Will you let me?” Her breath was uneven as her chest rose and fell erratically. “Do you like it when I touch you?”
“Yessss.” Her voice was low and breathy.
“Do you want my mouth on you here?” He rubbed her core and sucked her earlobe between his lips.
She gasped, then moaned.
“I didn’t hear your answer.” His lips moved to her neck. “I said, do you want my lips on you here?” He used his finger to run along her seam.
Her neck and back arched. “God, yes, I want you to kiss me there.”
So sweet. She was exquisitely responsive to his touch and words, and he loved it. He slipped to his knees, straddling her as he shimmied her jeans down her leg. Then he slid her silk panties down.
“You’re a beautiful woman,” he said.
She rolled her eyes and snorted.
“Are you calling me a liar?” He leaned down to kiss her lips sweetly.
“No.” Her chest rose and fell and her breaths were heavy between words. “I just know how I look—all limbs and no womanly curves. I have the body of the boy my father longed for. I could probably pass for a Michael.” She smiled at him.
“I like your limbs. And you have just enough curves.”
His hand traced the small outer swell of her breasts, her collarbone, and her hip bones, then he slid his hand down her lower back and filled both hands with her ass, kneading firmly. “You have curves where it matters. You’re efficiently built, no excess. In a way it’s even better; there’s no waste.”
The women he usually bedded had ample curves but looking at Mia, Augie couldn’t recall what he’d thought was sexy about them. He’d never been with anyone like her, but he liked her natural freshness. It had him hard as titanium. He moved down her body and pushed her legs back to expose her pussy to him.
“Did you watch this on your dad’s porn?”
She tried to close her legs, but he wouldn’t let her.
He rested between her legs and used his shoulders to keep her spread.
“Did you?”
“No, but I read about it.” She took a deep breath. “In a magazine.”
He delicately massaged her until he felt her clit grow taut. Then he spread her wider and used his tongue to explore her essence. She was sweeter than he’d imagined, softer than velvet, and completely at his mercy. Her legs trembled, her body bowed tight, but again she couldn’t seem to let go. He wanted to be inside her, bring her that sweet release from the inside out, but he honestly didn’t have a clue about virgins. Would he hurt her?
He let his fingers replace his tongue as he shifted so his weight rested on his shoulder.
“Please, Augie.”
“Mia, remember you have to let go. Free fall.”
Her body writhed and her eyes closed tight. He lay alongside her and kept massaging.
“Mia, open your eyes. Look at me.”
Her eyes were deep amethyst with pewter-gray rims. Their color was incredible.
“Please,” she pleaded.
He rimmed her opening with his finger. He slowly pushed past her barrier. She gasped but never broke eye contact with him. He massaged her clit, and she fell apart next to him, squeezing her legs around his hand so hard it actually brought him pain. She shattered, and he pulled her into his arms, whispering in her ear.
“You’re the most beautiful and honest woman I’ve ever had the honor of pleasuring.”
Her face was flushed and her eyes were returning to that lighter shade of purple gray. She smiled and reached for his erection, but he grabbed her hand and placed kisses on her knuckles.
“I want to taste you now,” she said.
He shook his head, and her eyes narrowed.
“It’s all about you this time.”
“But I want more. I want you. And I know you want me too.” She pointed to his crotch.
Yeah, he wanted her, but preserving her virginity, at least from him, was more important.
“Are you saying you’re not satisfied? Because from here it sure seems like you should be.”
“Oh!” Her eyes went wide, and she jumped to her feet, dressing in record time. Then she took off in the wrong direction.
He couldn’t help but laugh. Slowly he stood, gathered her jacket, and turned to go after her.
*
The imbecile! Yes, the things he did to her were nice; yes, she was satisfied; and yes, she’d definitely enjoyed herself. But she felt as if a part of her was destined to go unfulfilled. When she’d held his heat in her hand, she’d wondered what it would be like to be that close to someone you were actually connected intimately with.
A steely band enclosed her upper arm and she yelped, startled.
“We’re going this way.”
“What?”
“In your haste, you took off in the wrong direction.”
She stopped and considered his words.
He laced his arm through hers. “Come on.”
She reluctantly let herself be pulled around.
They walked through the brush, leaves crunching underfoot. When the sun went behind the clouds, it turned cold and Augie placed the jacket on her shoulders.
“Are you still mad at me?” he asked.
“No. It’s surprisingly difficult to stay mad at you.”
In silence they walked for roughly twenty minutes until he stopped and turned her to face him. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just tired.” She felt weird, numb. Her leg throbbed, and she was worried about her mother.
His hand went to her forehead. “You’re warm despite the drop in temperature.” His gaze pierced her.
“We’ll get to your mom. One way or another, we’ll get to her, but right now we have a mission to accomplish. I estimate two days. We can make plans to see your mom after that.”
He was beginning to know her quite well and his promises comforted her. She cupped his jaw. “Thank you.” When that didn’t seem like enough thanks, she kissed his chin.
They walked a while longer. After an hour, her leg started to feel tight and the stiff spot in her shin felt hot, but then it went almost numb. Thankful, she thought the one thing Augie didn’t need right now was to be burdened by a girl with an injured leg.
He walked ahead of her, clearing and holding branches out of the path when needed. She knew that looking out for her slowed him down, but he seemed content. As he held a rather low-hanging branch aside, she asked, “Is Augie your nickname?”
“Yeah, my full name is Augustine.”
She stopped walking. “You’re named after a saint.”
“Exactly.”
“Wow, that’s some high expectations your parents had. I mean, if anybody was going to be named after a saint, I think you’re a great choice.”
He smiled.
“So tell me about this Saint Augustine.”
“He was a philosopher who wrote some mumbo jumbo about the theory of self. He actually did a lot to establish the doctrines of the Catholic Church.”
“So you know a lot about the Catholic Church?”
“Baptism, confirmation, holy communion, Catholic school, altar boy—trust me, you’ll find no one m
ore Catholic than me.”
“So you attend mass every week?”
“No, I uh haven’t stepped foot inside a church in years.”
His lips tightened, and his jaw twitched.
*
They made it to a small fishing village where vacation rentals were tucked into the woods. The rental office was closed, but that didn’t stop Augie. Mia followed him up to the back door of a house that had a long fishing dock. He twisted the knob.
“It’s locked.”
He squatted and dug through a potted plant. A few seconds later he produced a key that he used to unlock the door.
“Have you been here before?” she asked.
“No.”
The door creaked when he opened it. Mia followed him in and through the house. Back in the living room he said, “Sit on the couch. Don’t touch anything. I’ve got to secure a few things.”
Sighing, she plopped down on the couch. She needed a nap, but felt guilty since he was doing all that work to ensure their safety. She tried to keep her eyes open, but lost the battle.
Images of Evie braiding her hair flashed behind her eyelids. Evie’s fingers raked through her hair, soothing her. Rolling fields spread far and wide and they ran, hand in hand, all the way to the mountains. Only, the mountains were farther than they appeared and they weren’t reachable on foot.
Fingers were now rubbing Mia’s stomach in a touch that was more intimate than a sibling’s. A masculine sigh funneled into her ears and woke her from the dream. Her eyes opened slowly to find Augie staring down at her.
Her head was on his lap.
“Hey there, sleepyhead.”
Embarrassed that he’d been watching her dream, she turned her head into his lap and smiled lazily. His hand snaked through her hair and massaged the base of her scalp.
Mia groaned her appreciation.
“I’ve secured the place; you need to be aware of a few booby traps. At the top of the stairs I’ve strung fishing wire and attached a set of chimes, so be careful not to trip it.”
“Where’d you get chimes?”
“Back porch.”
“You destroyed their stuff?”
“You’ll need to step over the wire.” He ignored her concern. “Additionally I’ve reinforced each point of entry.” He regarded her with a raised brow. “I used scraps I found in the garage; nothing was destroyed.”
She smiled, burrowing against him.
“Each door and window has been secured. If I’m not available and there’s an emergency requiring you to leave, simply pry the added wood apart and away using this crowbar.” He lifted the tool. “It will be at the foot of the stairs. Then run like hell across the field to the neighboring cabin.”
Lifting his butt from the couch, he slid one hand into a pocket. “Here’s the key—keep it on you at all times. There’s no electricity but there is a flashlight at the front door mat. Lock yourself in the cabin and wait there until morning and then you can walk down to Larry’s Live Bait and use the phone.” He pinched her lightly. “Questions?”
She scratched her head and sat up. “And why am I fleeing without you?”
“It’s plan B. I don’t think it will come to that, but if I am incapacitated, that’s the protocol.”
“Where’d you get the key?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just keep it on you at all times.” His fingers raked her back, but the way he spoke so coldly about the plans gave her a shiver. Like hell that was plan B. She wouldn’t leave him behind to be hurt.
“You seem so serious.”
“I am fucking serious. None of this is a joke. Those men that came after you work for an organized crime ring. Nicolas is deeply involved. Deeper than I ever thought possible.” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I didn’t want to involve you in any of this, but I think it’s important you know just what you’re up against.”
She laced her fingers in his. “We’re up against.”
The silence grew, and her thoughts wondered. Did he plan to kill Nicolas? She worried for Augie’s safety. And his mental state. He already had nightmares. Bad ones.
What would happen to him if he killed Evie’s husband?
Chapter 8
She stared at his lips and just that fast, Augie wanted her mouth. Reading his mind, she took his bottom lip between her teeth and explored. He let her lead. Her little pants and moans made him ache as she squirmed atop his cock. Tentative nips and tastes turned into a hypnotic rhythm as her ripe lips softly took his mouth, her tongue slipping in and exploring.
In an effort to slow them down, his hands roamed up her ribs. His touch focusing on each separate valley and peak. Like his own breathing, hers was erratic and shallow. The fingers in his hair tugged hard while strangled sighs flared from her throat. If they didn’t stop now, they’d go too far.
“Augie.”
Whispered feminine pleas hit his ears.
“Please, I need you.”
Heat ground into his crotch from where she twitched above him.
“I want to taste you.” When her hand landed on his lap, expletives spewed from his mouth.
He couldn’t undo his fly fast enough, so she took over. Soft fingers slid into his shorts and wrapped around his dick.
“I want you to take off your jeans.”
“So bossy, Miss Brown.” In a flash he was standing, leaving her on the couch, searching for him.
When her gaze locked onto his she said, “Shorts too.”
Stopping his striptease, he contemplated her last prompt.
“What?” she said. “I’ve already seen it—in all of its glory.”
He smirked. “My issue is that you’re fully clothed.”
Smiling, she pulled her T-shirt over her head and unclasped her bra. She held the cups to her breasts. “It’s kind of cold in here.”
“I’m counting on it.”
He winked at her, and then a small silky polka dot bra landed on his head. She unfastened her jeans, lifted her ass from the couch, and shimmied out of them.
Both in their underwear, they were at a standoff as they sized one another up.
“Count of three: one, two, three.”
Completely naked, he stood and she sat. Given her angle, looking up at his erection, he would have appeared huge. Her gasp confirmed his thought. He pumped his cock a few times. “You still wanna take this in your mouth?”
Her tongue darted out, and she licked her full pink lips. “Absolutely.”
He sat and placed a pillow between his feet, then motioned her into position. She knelt, and his hands gathered her hair at her nape. Timid, she took his weight into her hands.
“Each time it’s heavier than I expect it to be.”
He smiled and collected her stray curls. She pumped his length, and a low growl escaped from her throat. Moist velvet euphoria blanketed him as she molded her lips around his glans. Her moans vibrated along his length, and he ached, harder than he’d ever been in his life. Sweet sighs combined with her gentle exploration had him reeling as he watched her gradually swallow his cock, cradling him with the underside of her tongue. Her small hands massaged the length not taken by her mouth. Twisting and squeezing, she worked him until he gasped for breath.
“Hey, if you don’t stop that, I’m going to come in your mouth.”
Intense eyes met his as she doubled her efforts, her gaze never leaving his, hands and mouth steadily working his cock. Come erupted from deep within, low in his belly, and curled outward toward his penis. Like a savage he shot long and deep down her throat. It took a while for him to empty. On a gasp he said, “Michaela.” She licked her lips and slowly, so very slowly, licked him clean.
When she was done, she crawled up to his lap and straddled him. The skin at her back was cold, so he pulled the Afghan from the back of the couch, enveloping the two of them. His forehead touching hers, he kissed her nose.
“You’re so beautiful.” His hand rested on her cheek. “And that was incredible.”
> She smiled. “Really?”
“Yeah, baby. Fucking blow my mind incredible.”
She giggled, and her hands went into his hair. “I want more.”
“God, so do I. So much more.”
“What do you want?”
Bringing their foreheads together again, he pulled her hair into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. “Michaela, my composure around you is waning. I want to be inside you, to be connected and feel your warmth, no ending, no beginning, just one. To feel you gripping and clenching me tight, feel the contractions as you drain my cock while you fall apart around me. I want all of it.”
“Augie.” Her voice was a whisper. He held his hand out to stop her from saying more.
“I’m not nice to women. I mean, in the past I haven’t treated them very well. You would regret it eventually.”
She shrugged. “Maybe you’ve been with the wrong women.”
He looked away. Was that it? He’d been with the wrong kind of women? The closest thing he’d come to having an actual monogamous relationship was with Gloria. With her he’d proved he could be monogamous, at least for a little while. But then they’d both grown equally antsy and indifferent, just bored, and they’d done a mutual parting of the ways. No harsh words, no tear-filled goodbyes, no desire. Therein lay the problem. After sex, he’d just grow completely bored and ready to move on to the next one in line. The sex club he’d joined in Baton Rouge had helped with that, and nobody expected a commitment. But still sometimes women from the club showed up around town at the bars and clubs he frequented, hoping to hook up with him outside the anonymity offered by the Hoodoo Pot. Clay said his trouble was that he engaged in too much flirtatious conversation with the women beforehand, but how could one have sex with a stranger? Didn’t work for Augie, he needed at least a foundation.
Mia leaned in and nipped his lip. “Hey, you’re overthinking this again.”
“I am not,” he said, sounding surlier than he intended. He used the hand raking her back to pull her in close to his chest. She inhaled deeply and sighed, sagging against him, her chin under his.
