Saving Me

by Bella Juarez

  “I want you to forgive me and trust me again; otherwise, I can’t be the man you need.”

  Silent tears spilling down her cheeks, she cupped his face and nodded.

  “Say it, Angel. I want to hear it.”

  “I forgive you.”

  Chapter Five

  Mike pulled her into his arms and stroked her long hair as she cried. Angel had forgiven him the minute he apologized because it had been something she’d waited to hear for so long. She never cried like this, and as her pent up tension eased, she wondered when it had become so easy to curl up and let go. Being the one who had to be strong for her family, friends, and, now, her business never gave her the downtime she needed. Why was she falling apart—and with him, of all people? Inhaling a long, slow breath, she lifted her head and stared at him. The words explaining what she wanted were on the tip of her tongue, but it frightened her to be so vulnerable.

  Her body went liquid as she stared into his deep-blue eyes that seemed to change with his moods. The heat in his glance had been the same when he dared her to take a bite of forbidden fruit disguised as the strawberry. She watched the blue darken to deep cobalt, and felt as if he’d pounce and devour her. Of all the beautiful, sexy clothes and lingerie she’d worn, nothing made her feel more stunning than the lustful gaze of longing he gave her. To be so desired by someone who’d seemed so unattainable made her blush all over. A low hum vibrated through her body as she pushed him backward and moved to straddle his hips. Her forwardness was met with an expression of surprise and then one of pure, unbridled lust as he slid his hands down and grabbed her ass.

  “Do you want me?” she whispered against his lips.

  “More than breathing, baby.”

  “Say it. Tell me how bad you want me.”

  “After I have tasted every inch of you, I will fuck you until you pass out.”

  “Show me.”

  Gathering a handful of her hair, he tugged her head back and laid a hot kiss over the pounding pulse in her neck. He stole her breath as he licked the length of her throat and ended by nipping her chin. Hungry for more, she pressed her lips against his and sucked in his bottom lip. His shaky breathing let her know he attempted to muster every ounce of control he had. Tugging her hair, he held it secure as she reached to kiss him again. Mike wouldn’t be easy to outmaneuver, but it sure as hell made her pussy hot and wet trying. Letting go of her hair, he slid his big hands down and caressed her ass. How easily he shifted her off his lap had been impressive. She wasn’t a small girl, and Mike lifting her with so little effort was the hottest thing a man had done to her in a long time. He stood, and his expression changed to something she’d never seen in any man before.

  “Up. Now.”

  His protectiveness changed to a firm bearing conveying that none of her coy insubordination would be tolerated—when he issued a command, he expected quick obedience. With a hard gaze, he left no doubt the games had ended. His commanding tone made her breath catch. Her swelling pussy ached in response to his dominant behavior. Any other guy talking to her this way would have pissed her off, and she’d have thrown him out of her house. But the strength Michael exuded excited her and made her body tingle in anticipation. The way he used his dominance seemed so natural to him and left no question in her mind who had taken command. Without thinking, she got to her feet in the blink of an eye. Standing with her, he gripped her chin.

  “How far is this going, Angel? I’m in no mood to be teased and left hanging.”

  The intensity of his glare made her feel small and defenseless. To vocalize the things she wanted him to do to her body made her uncomfortable and awkward. She tried to move away, but his grip tightened.

  “No bullshit, this is no one-night stand for me. I’ve waited a long time for you, so don’t fuck with my feelings. What do you want? Say it.”

  The predatory glint in his eyes disarmed her, and he left no doubt he meant every word he’d said. She’d been able to dazzle and charm the other men she’d dated since leaving high school and could have her way with a smile and a coy glance. Michael saw through the window dressing and drilled down to her core, understanding her like no one else. In him, she’d found something none of those empty, shallow men could give her. Blinking, she said the first thing that popped into her head.

  “Save me.”

  God! How he wanted to be her hero.

  Mike released his grip, cupped her face gently, and mentally braced himself. Guessing with a fair amount of certainty she’d been used to getting whatever she wanted with the snap of her manicured fingers. What she’d asked of him went deeper than she believed. She’d asked him to be her rock, a lifeline through the ups and downs of her fame. In doing so, she had to give up the control she clung to.

  “If I’m saving you, there will be no one else for you, Angel. There’s no going back, understood?”

  At the confusion in her eyes at his question, he waited for her answer. This would be her first step in trusting him. Before the night was over, he’d show her the beauty of release and how it could rock her world.

  “Answer me,” he murmured.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Show me to your room.”

  She glanced behind her, hesitant. This had to be her choice, and, in this moment, she had to lead him. He waited patiently, and she started to release his hands. He gripped tighter, stopping her. Reading the fear in her eyes, he knew reassuring words would be useless right now. With her notoriety, she’d heard every pickup line and smooth half-truth in the world, and they’d all been a huge letdown. He had to convey through touch he’d never let her fall.

  He lifted her hand and grazed her knuckles with a soft kiss. “Don’t let me go. Take my hand and show me.”

  He wasn’t sure whether her hands shook from nervousness or anticipation, so he gently ran his thumbs over her knuckles to soothe her. Taking a deep breath, she grasped his hand and led him to her room. She flipped a switch, bathing the room in soft light. Shifting uneasily, she glanced at him.

  “Come on, baby. Let’s sit down,” he said, patting the edge of her bed.

  They sat for a moment while he thought about his next move. He couldn’t rush anything with her because hurrying to the next big thing had become her life. Damn sure most men would bend over backward to please this beauty, but he could also bet with a fair amount of certainty, once the night ended, she’d been left hollow and lonely. He was determined to give her something none of those metrosexuals ever thought to do—comfort and understanding, not a fast-and-furious fuck. Kicking off his shoes, he moved to the center of her large bed. Propped against the headboard, he held his arms out to her. “Come here. Let’s relax.”

  The tension drained from her face, and she crawled up and rested her head against his chest. Her body melted into his as he wrapped his arms around her. Slowly moving his hands over her back and arms, he heard her breath catch and knew what to do. The jagged breathing helped him understand what she needed. Lifting her chin, he focused her sight on him.

  “You need to relax. I’ll help you, but you have to do what I say. Okay?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Breathing, baby. We’re just breathing.”

  While on his last tour in Afghanistan, he’d started to experience the effects of his body being under constant stress. He had difficulty controlling his blood pressure. One of the medics had taught him how breathing exercises could help him get his stress level under control and also lower his blood pressure. While he lay in his bunk, he’d insert his earbuds to use soothing sounds and music to block out the continuous noise of war then begin the techniques he’d been taught. By the time he’d arrived back stateside, he could induce a trancelike state long enough to get some relief. In effect, he’d managed to create his own pause button in a situation almost driving him insane.

  Confusion clouded her expression. She shifted her gaze away, and he increased the pressure of his finger under her chin.

  “Close your
eyes, Angel, and do what I say when I say to do it.” She nodded, and he smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry. I’ll do this with you. Ready?”

  Mike found his mental center and focused on it for a moment.

  “Take a deep breath and hold it,” he said.

  She inhaled then peeked at him when he didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Her body being so close to him made him lose concentration for a moment, and he remembered he’d told her to close her eyes. What he wanted to attempt with her would bring them closer than any sex act they could ever share, but she needed to listen and trust him. “Close your eyes.”

  “Can I breathe now?”

  “Yes, let’s try again. Close your eyes and do exactly what I say.”

  After a few tries, he realized both of them were losing focus because she resisted his instructions and tried to drive him. Whenever he paused, she’d sneak a peek to try and anticipate his moves then do them her way. He needed to take control from her, so she could concentrate on following his commands. He glanced around and, seeing a scarf on her dresser, he released her and retrieved it.

  “What are you doing now?” she asked.

  “I’m blindfolding you. I need you to listen.”

  “I’ll be good. I won’t open my eyes anymore.”

  “Yes you will, and this will help you to learn a little trust. Turn around, Angel.”

  Kneeling behind her, he eased his hands over her shoulders and ran his fingers through her hair. He leaned in, pulled her against him, and rubbed her tense shoulders. Letting his touch and body heat ease her, he leaned down and nipped her earlobe.

  “It’ll be okay. You can take it off if this gets too intense.” Mike waited a moment for a protest, but, when she didn’t say anything, he carefully placed the scarf over her eyes.

  Her body tensed again as he tied it in place. With her sight gone, she’d need closer contact with him to relax. Before snuggling next to her, he removed his shirt—skin-to-skin contact would bring them closer yet.

  “You’re all right, baby,” he said as he guided her head back to the pillow then he moved into his position, facing her. “Let’s try again.”

  This time, she had no choice but to listen and cooperate. It took a few tries before she calmed and focused. As their breathing synchronized, he concentrated, moving on to the next step. While still breathing together, he clasped her hand and moved it over his chest.

  As Angel caressed Mike’s body, the ache building in her core became impossible to ignore. She’d been plunged into total darkness, and, within seconds, her senses seemed sharper. His slow, even breaths had to be the most sensual sound she’d ever heard. Touching his bare skin, without her sense of sight, her fingers became sensitive to every hair, bump, and scar she brushed. No man had ever been able to get her into such an aroused state of mind with breathing and embracing. The blindfold intensified the experience, and, as she inhaled with him, she caught his light scent for the first time. Clean, masculine, and so very sexy. Citrus, juniper, and cedar.

  “Angel, what happened? You’re not listening.” He trapped her roaming hand under his.

  His voice seemed closer, and she felt every vibration in it as it hit the air around her. He was near; they were lying facing each other. In fact, she could feel his breath against her lips.

  “You smell so good. What are you wearing?”

  Chuckling, he shifted. Disappointment flooded her because his voice got farther away. He traced over her cheek.

  “God, you’re so beautiful like this. There’s so much I’d like to do with you. I want to explore every inch of you.”

  The deep voice seemed to growl in his chest before the syllables hit the wind. The melodic animalistic undertones in his voice were soothing and stimulating all at the same time and made her ultra-sensitive skin tingle. She almost wished he hadn’t blindfolded her. She wanted to seduce him, entice him with her eyes the way she did the camera. But blindfolding her had stripped her of all her tricks. She couldn’t see him to anticipate a sexy pose for him. Obeying and reacting were her options. The heat radiating from his body and the outright seductive tone of his voice made for an incredible aphrodisiac.

  “Come on, baby, focus. Let’s start over. Take a deep breath and hold it.”

  Paying close attention this time, she caught on to his rhythm faster. As she synced her breathing with his, she trembled when her pussy clenched. She’d never imagined the simple act of breathing could be so arousing. As they inhaled and exhaled together, his breath whispered against her lips, and she shivered in delight. Placing her palm on his bare chest, the hair tickled her fingers, and she swallowed hard. His steady heartbeat beneath his warm skin she likened to a strong, rhythmic lullaby. She felt a small tremor under her hand when she stroked over his beating heart. He trembled when she grazed his nipple with her fingers.

  With her sight cut off, she could feel the slightest movement in the air. Scents became stronger—her perfume, his scent, even the laundry soap he used all identified themselves with intense clarity. She could hear sounds she’d never registered before. The steady drumbeat of his heart, the scraping of fabric when he moved his hands over her back, even the whisper of the ceiling fan were amplified. His breath teased the nerve endings on her lips, and she leaned forward, wanting his lips against hers one more time. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t quite touch him. He had to be close because she felt his body heat and could smell the feral masculine scents of juniper and citrus. When would he kiss her again?

  “Work with me, not against me,” he murmured.

  The breathy whisper right against her lips made her own breath catch unexpectedly as her pussy clenched. The heat from his caresses made her twitch when he moved his hand up her back to the nape of her neck. Her patience paid off when he attached his mouth to hers and kissed her. The intense kiss deepened with every millisecond. Pulling her closer with his hand at the nape of her neck, he sucked in as he wrapped her hair around his hand. Then an unexpected push into her lungs forced her to swallow and blow back into him. Without thinking, she fought the sudden invasion into her lungs. Balling his fists, he pulled her hair to secure her and, with a firm grip, held her head against him when she tried to move away. She had no choice but to catch the rhythm; she stopped fighting once they started breathing as one. As close as they were, his erection rubbed against her leg when he slid his knee between her legs. He groaned as she returned the breath. She trembled, helpless, as her body gave way and her pussy clenched emptiness with her sudden climax. Her nipples beaded to stiff points, and the padding of her bra seemed rough as it rubbed against them.

  What had he done to her?

  Stars exploded behind the blindfold and coherent thoughts left her. Giving in to her body and breath, every nerve ending came alive and overloaded her brain as her clit hardened again. Wiggling into his leg, the first wave hit her. He held her firm as she came. Her senses were so heightened, she could rub her pussy against him and get the relief she so desperately needed while sucking in precious life-giving air. He swallowed her cries with every breath he snatched from her.

  No man had ever ignited her until she’d come while he fucked her, but Michael could make her orgasm with a breath. Arching her back, she dug her nails into his shoulders to steady herself.

  When she dragged her eyes open, she found the blindfold gone and her body flush against him. She moaned, resting against his chest. Running her fingers through the fur there, she glanced at him, and he shot her a knowing smile. Oh God, did I come without being touched there? The thought made her skin heat and blush as she shivered.

  “What’s wrong, Angel?”

  “I must be some kind of freak,” she whispered, burying her head against him.

  “Why?”

  “How did you do that?” she asked breathlessly.

  Lifting her chin, he chuckled then he kissed her. “It was all you.” The light blue of his eyes swirled to a dark violet. “But if you want me to do something
more, I will.”

  Chapter Six

  The sexy way Angel bit her lip as she stared at him made his cock hard enough to drill concrete. To watch such a passionate woman lose her control as she gave in to her body almost made him lose his hard-earned self-discipline. He’d learned how to master himself in order to control his reactions to his surroundings, but his Angel sorely tested his mettle. He shivered as she ran her hand over his pecs and grazed his nipples. His stare held hers as she moved her hand lower and toyed with the button on his jeans. He stopped her.

  “I meant what I said. This isn’t a one-night thing for me. If you’re not sure what you want from me, then I’ll go.”

  “No, please don’t.”

  He inhaled sharply when she unfastened the button. She paused for a beat, and he saw how in sync they’d become. His fantasy woman waited for him as he nodded, allowing her to continue.

  “It’s all right, Angel.”

  Leaning his head back, he groaned in relief when she unzipped his jeans. Almost sure his hard-ons throughout the night had caused permanent indentations from his zipper, he squeezed his eyes shut as she kissed his neck and lightly bit his throat. Grabbing a handful of her chocolate tresses, he stopped her. The mischief sparking in her eyes led him to believe she intended to toy with him. Pulling her closer, he kissed her and inhaled deep, stealing her breath again.

  Pushing her back onto the bed, he broke long enough to adjust himself on top of her. He swept her blouse off and tossed it to the floor. Sliding his lips over hers and slipping his tongue into her mouth, he explored the inside of her mouth, savoring her. Moaning, she pressed her body against his. He kept his eyes open while her expression glazed over, felt her tremble when he nipped her bottom lip. She didn’t need to say a word. Her urgent, ragged breathing and her body language told him everything he needed to know. The woman he’d held out for had been worth every second he’d spent craving her.