Tempting Boundaries

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Gunner pressed into her side, and she shook her head.

  “You still here?” he asked, and she nodded.

  “Sorry, got lost a minute there. I’m better now.”

  He smiled then took her hand. “If you get tired, just let me know. I have a pack with the essentials, and we’re not taking the hard trail. No rock climbing or scary treks.”

  She nodded then took a deep breath. Hiking wasn’t number one on her list of things to do, but it was a Sunday, and she’d caught up on her grading the day before. This way she could hang out with Decker and get to know him.

  He took her hand and started up the trail with Gunner leading them, scenting everything he possibly could. Thirty minutes in, she knew he’d taken the easy trail for her. She didn’t complain. She’d rather not sprain her ankle trying to prove herself.

  “Do you come out here a lot?” she asked.

  Decker squeezed her hand and nodded. “Yeah, enough I guess. I used to come out here with Griffin.” He winced. “Fuck.”

  She winced with him. “He’ll understand.”

  Decker raised a brow at her. “Sure, Mir. Sure he will.”

  With that, they kept to safer topics. Like work—without actually mentioning the fact that he worked with her family, and she worked with the asshole who’d hit her. They talked about her apartment and how she liked it for now. She wanted to move eventually, but it was good enough for where she was in life.

  They hiked for another two hours, with a break for a granola bar and water, and then made their way back to his truck. Before they got in, she looked back at the mountain range and smiled.

  “God, I love living here,” she said. Her muscles ached, and her jeans were dirty, but she felt like she’d gotten a second wind.

  Decker came from behind and wrapped his arms around her. “Yeah?”

  She sighed and leaned into him. “Yeah. Where else can you just go on a hike and see deer, a river, birds, and other things?”

  “Plus that bear.”

  She screamed and jumped into his arms. Decker fell back against his truck, laughing his ass off.

  “I can’t believe you fell for that,” he said through his laughs. Gunner barked and trotted around them, playing.

  She set her feet down and glared, her mouth twitching. “So not funny.”

  “Yeah? Then why are you laughing?”

  She rolled her eyes then scratched Gunner behind the ears. “Let’s get back to your place for lunch. I’m starved, and now I’m scared to look too closely at that big shadow.”

  He snorted, kissed her, and slapped her ass. She swallowed hard. Was it wrong she liked that? Nope? Okay then.

  “Get in the truck. That shadow is just a shadow. Of a tree.”

  When they got to his place, they piled out and chugged water in his kitchen. Miranda looked down at herself and winced. “I think I brought a good chunk of the forest with me.”

  Decker grinned. “Well, you’re the one who ran into that tree.”

  “You distracted me!” She blushed. She hadn’t realized he’d seen that.

  “You were checking out my ass.”

  Well, that was true, but he didn’t have to point it out like that. “Whatever. Can I use your shower?” Her gaze traveled over his body, and she swallowed hard. “You could use a shower too.”

  His mouth twitched. “I have two showers, Mir. We can each take one. We’re going slow. Remember?”

  She sighed. “Sure. Though, so far, the only thing we’re doing different than normal is kissing.”

  He lifted her chin. “Yeah. And while I like the kissing, because, woman, you’re fucking phenomenal at it, I’m not going to push you. We change the dynamics too fast, we ruin it all. Got it?”

  She pulled away, lest she jump him. “Fine. I’ll go shower. You have anything for me to wear?”

  His eyes darkened, and she hoped he was imagining her naked. She’d imagined him naked enough times.

  “What’s that blush about?”

  She coughed. “Oh, nothing. So, clothes?” No way was she going to admit her dirty, dirty fantasies. At least not then.

  He cleared his throat. “I have something for you.”

  She showered quickly then toweled off, looking at the old shirt and sweats he’d given her. The sweats would be too big and would probably fall off. It would be best to leave them off altogether. After all, the shirt reached to the middle of her thighs anyway. She just needed to wear that and her panties and she’d be fine.

  Decker wouldn’t know what hit him.

  She quickly undid the bun on the top of her head so her hair fell around her shoulders in waves. She stepped out of the bathroom, only to run smack into a very hard, very naked, very sexy male chest.

  Decker cursed then looked down, his eyes wide. “Fuck, Mir. Didn’t I give you sweats?”

  Her eyes wouldn’t leave his chest and the water droplets making little trails down his small patch of hair, all the way down to his belly button and the happy trail that led to very, very good things.

  He tugged on her hair, forcing her head back and her gaze to his. “Mir. Baby. Look at me. This isn’t a good idea.”

  “Stop trying to make my choices for me,” she said softly. He frowned, and she continued. “I get it. You want to protect me, but telling me what I’m thinking and what I want, that won’t cut it for me. You know me well enough—even though you claim not to—to know that I won’t stand for someone doing that to me. If you don’t want to make love to me, fine.” Well, not fine, but that was another topic for another time. “But if that’s the case, then you need to just lay that out. You can’t put it on me when I’m the one saying I want you. I was the one who took the first step in your kitchen, and now I’m doing it again. If you want me, then take me. Take me as I am. Putting barriers down that don’t exist in the first place doesn’t help anyone.”

  He ran his hand over her hair a few times and sighed. “I don’t know what to do with you, Miranda Montgomery.”

  She put her hand on his chest then brushed his skin, lower and lower until she gripped his denim-covered cock. “I know what I want to do with you,” she purred.

  She wasn’t the little girl he thought she was, and from the look in his eyes, he was just now seeing that.

  Good.

  “We do this, there’s no going back.” His voice had gone low, dangerous.

  “There never was any going back, Decker. You know that.”

  He licked his lips then gripped her hips, his hands scrunching up the shirt, pulling it up slightly. “You know about my past, know about my life, but you don’t know how I fuck, baby girl.”

  “Yeah? Then show me.”

  “I’m not easy,” he said as he leaned down, trailing his mouth over her neck. He didn’t kiss her but breathed warmth on her skin, sending goose bumps all over her body. “You know what I used to be part of.”

  She nodded. “You used to be part of the scene. Like Austin.” Her knees shook, but she didn’t fall, not with Decker holding her up.

  “Yeah, like Austin. And not like him.” He pulled away, and she frowned. “I’m not a true Dominant in the sense that you might think, Miranda. I’m just me. It took me a long time to figure that out. I like being in control, in and out of the bedroom, but I’m not into most of the things that come with kink.”

  She nodded. “Everyone’s entitled to what they want, Decker. I…” Well, if he was going to be honest... “I like it when you tell me what to do,” she whispered. “I like it when you pull at my hair and kiss me. I feel…empowered because you want to do that to me in the first place. Does that make sense?”

  He grinned, and she relaxed. “I get it. And I think we can accommodate both of us. It’s just you and me, Mir. No family, no ties, no exes, no rules other than we please each other. You get that?”

  “I do. Now kiss me.”

  He snorted. “You telling me what to do?”

  She winced. “Uh, no?”

  He smacked her ass. Hard. Sh
e yelped then sighed when he rubbed the sting. “I’m going to like finding out what you like, Mir. Going to like it a lot. Why don’t you walk back to the bedroom? Do it slow so I can see how my shirt rides up when you walk.”

  She swallowed hard then did as he ordered, very conscious that his gaze was right on her butt. Each time she moved, she felt his shirt ride up. She could picture the peek of upper thigh, and if she hadn’t been ready to just strip right there, she might have teased him more.

  When she got to the bedroom, she wasn’t sure what to do next. Did she lie on the bed? Did she keep her clothes on? He really should have given her more direction. As it was, she inhaled his scent in the room. He had large, masculine furniture and had done the room in dark colors. The fact that the room was so Decker calmed her and revved her at the same time.

  “I like the look of you in my shirt.”

  She turned on her heel to see him standing in the doorway. He looked dark, sexy, and so hers. At least for the night.

  Nope, not going to think about that. Not going to think about a future, what everything meant, or anything that could hurt. She’d live in the moment and enjoy every bit of it. This was finally happening, and she would take it as it was. If they parted tomorrow and that was it, then she’d at least have tonight.

  She wouldn’t let what happened between them now hurt what they already had. She’d thought she’d done that before, and now she’d protect her heart—and his.

  Decker offered no promises, and she would offer truth.

  He prowled toward her, and she leaned her head back so he could take her mouth. Damn, the man could kiss. He licked and sucked on her tongue, her lips. She let her head fall back as he trailed his mouth down her neck. He bit down gently on the juncture between her neck and shoulder, and she shivered.

  “Decker,” she whispered, panting.

  This was really happening. She was going to sleep with Decker. She’d fantasized about it sure, but she’d never thought it would really happen. Now that it was, she didn’t want it to end.

  Decker tugged on her hair and forced her gaze to his. “Mind on me, Mir. You want this? I get all of you. You understand?”

  He didn’t mean that though. He didn’t mean all of her, nor did it mean he would give all of himself to her.

  She nodded anyway, breathless.

  “Say it.”

  “Yes. I understand.”

  “Say my name. Say my name while I strip you down, eat your cunt, then fuck you hard. Say it.”

  She pressed her legs together at his words, her clit throbbing. Dear God, the man could talk dirty. She wasn’t a fan of it usually, but with him? Hell yeah. He didn’t make it sound like he was a boy learning to speak to a woman because he could say the words. No, he was a man who said the words because he wanted to. Because he knew exactly what the words did to her. What they did to both of them.

  “Decker. I get it. Please. Do all of that. Can we do it now?” She smiled as she said it, and his lips twitched.

  He trailed his fingers down her side, over her shirt, until he met skin. She sucked in a breath as he slowly lifted the hem over her hip. When he tugged higher, she lifted her arms so he could pull the shirt over her head.

  She stood in front of him in only her panties and had never felt sexier. His eyes darkened, and he let out a little groan.

  He licked his lips and brushed her nipple with his thumb.

  “God, please. Touch me.”

  “You’ll take what I give you, when I give it.”

  Yes, please.

  She swallowed hard and let him study her. Had anyone else looked over her body in such a fashion, it would have made her feel uncomfortable, but Decker made her feel like a queen. He looked at her like he wanted to taste every inch and enjoy it.

  “I’ve seen you in that fucking bikini out at the pool before, and I always had to leave early or jump in the fucking cold water because I’d tent up my shorts. Getting a hard-on with your brothers around? Not a good idea. I didn’t want you to know. I’m still in awe that you know. Back then you were all curves and sex appeal, and yet right now? Right now I feel like I was missing out on so fucking much because I’ve never seen a woman like you. You’re gorgeous, baby. So fucking gorgeous. I want to lick up each inch of you until your taste lingers on my tongue forever.”

  She blushed, remembering those days at the pool when she’d watched him out of the corner of her eye. She’d done her best not to look at him too hard when she was sunning herself or playing water polo. When their bodies had touched in the water, sliding against one another when they’d been on opposite teams, she’d had to swim away fast or she’d have done something stupid, like pull him under with her and kiss his brains out.

  He frowned at her then traced her stomach. “This is new. I didn’t know you had a belly ring, babe. I like it.” His fingers played with the bar, and she held back a giggle. She was ticklish, but laughing probably wouldn’t be the sexiest thing to do right now.

  “It’s sort of new,” she said, and then she sucked in a breath. God, his touch did wicked, wicked things to her. “Maya did it after she got her piercing certification.”

  Decker grinned. “It’s fucking hot. And I’m glad you didn’t have it when you were wearing those tiny pieces of fabric back then. I wouldn’t have made it.”

  She licked her lips, aching. “Should I mention that I bought the little black one for you?” she asked casually.

  His gaze shot up to hers, and he smiled slowly. “Oh? Well, you tortured me, Mir.”

  Powerful. That’s what he made her feel.

  “You tortured me too, you know. All tan and built. I had to go take care of matters myself a couple times after I saw you in your suit.”

  She closed her mouth tight, her eyes wide. She did not just say that out loud.

  He smiled then, his eyes dancing. “Oh, you shouldn’t have said that, baby. Now I’m going to want to watch you put your little hand down those panties of yours and watch you make yourself come.”

  She shivered. Could she do that? Touch herself while Decker watched?

  She met his gaze.

  Yes. Yes she could.

  He brushed his thumb over her other nipple, and she bit her lip. “Next time, Mir. Next time we’ll do that. Maybe I’ll even jack myself off while watching you.” She sucked in a breath. He nodded and smiled at her reaction. “Oh yeah, you’ll like that. I’ve come thinking about you countless times, honey. You’re not alone.”

  “Thank God,” she teased.

  Decker brought her closer and crushed his mouth to hers. She sank into the kiss, into him. His hands went down her back and over her ass.

  “You have such a luscious ass. God, I want to fuck it one day, Mir. What do you say to that? You want my dick in this sexy ass of yours?”

  “Uh…”

  He chuckled roughly. “Too fast?”

  She shook her head. “Not fast enough. Please, I need you in me.” She narrowed her eyes. “In my pussy for now, if that’s okay.”

  “I like the sound of that word coming from your prim and proper mouth. If you want me to fill you, I can do that. Turn around for me.”

  She scrunched her brows but did as he wanted. He sucked in a breath, and she swallowed.

  “I forgot you have your Montgomery tattoo on the small of your back.”

  She laughed at that. “Yes, I have the tramp stamp one. I couldn’t figure out another place to put it that would be hidden under my clothes and still feel like me. You know?”

  She looked over her shoulder and saw the need in his eyes. Not just the need for her, but the need for the ink she wore. Each person in her family had the tattoo, and yet, as far as she knew, Decker did not. He should though, and she’d make sure to tell him.

  Later.

  Right now, though, she wanted to get this party going a little faster.

  She wiggled her ass then faced the bed. With her head still turned over her shoulder so she could see him, she bent over, pressing her
chest to the bed and tucked her hands in the sides of her panties.

  Decker’s gaze darkened, and he gave her a nod.

  She slowly pulled her panties over her ass and then down to right at the top of her thighs. It was the farthest she could reach at this angle, and it left her open for his gaze and completely at his mercy.

  She freaking loved it.

  The way the fabric bunched under her ass, it felt as if it lifted her up a bit, like it was on a shelf and framed for him.

  His large hand cupped her ass and squeezed. “You leave me breathless, Mir.”

  She sighed, loving the feel of his hands on her. “Ditto.”

  He chuckled again then moved down so he was crouched right behind her, his face really close to her pussy. She tried not to squirm and feel so exposed, but she couldn’t help it. She was exposed. Plus, she liked him being there.

  A lot.

  “I knew you’d be this pink, this blush.” His finger gently traced her outer lips, and she sucked in a breath. “So pretty,” he murmured then leaned down.

  “Decker!”

  He clamped his mouth on her pussy, nibbling, and sucking. God, his mouth. His fucking mouth. She wiggled, trying to get closer. His tongue kept missing her clit, and knowing Decker, he was doing it on purpose, teasing her until she couldn’t breathe.

  He smacked her ass then caressed, and she shuddered a breath. “Don’t move, Mir, or I’ll spank you harder.”

  Without thinking, she wiggled again.

  “Damn, Mir. You want my hand on you? You want to have me redden that sweet little ass of yours?”

  She sucked in a breath, and he smacked her other cheek.

  “Use your words.” His voice was a drug all on its own, so deep, so rough, so Decker.

  Fine. If he wanted the truth, wanted it all, he’d get it. “Yes. Yes, I want you to spank me. I want you to eat me, make me come, spank me, fuck me, tie me up. I want all of it. Okay?”

  She looked over her shoulder again to find a pleased-as-sin Decker grinning at her. Was it wrong she thought the beard made him look sexier?