by Jane Cousins
Drum waved him off. “Just be nice to the girl.”
“If only she’ll let me. Beep me if anything life or death comes up.”
Chapter Twenty
Hadleigh couldn’t sleep; too many thoughts and emotions tormented her. Even with the pillow firmly over her face she couldn’t seem to block out the world. She kicked futilely at the sheets, tossing and turning, willing herself to relax. She was contemplating giving up, thinking instead she could find someone or something she could take her anger out on when she heard the sound of boots making their way across the floorboards to the bed. It had to be Declan.
“Go away.” She mumbled, not bothering to lift the pillow. She wasn’t in the mood to talk, if anything she was in the mood to kill and Declan was better off far, far away. She felt the bottom of the bed dip and then the sheet slowly began to be pulled down. “Hey!” She clutched at the sheet with one hand, lifting the pillow with the other to glare down the bed at ...Vaughn. “What are you doing here?”
“You left.”
Vaughn was kneeling at the bottom of her bed, his arms braced on the mattress, his gorgeous face only a few inches from her sheet covered feet, his eyes a soft gold in the filtered sunlit room. All traces of the volcanic heated anger seeping off of him since their conversation at the fountain was gone.
“I came home for the night.” She kicked out with her foot. “Go away.”
Vaughn lightning fast whipped his head out of range, bringing one solid arm down to lock her sheet covered feet in place.
“Were you coming back?”
Hadleigh rolled her eyes. “Sleeping.” She insisted, placing the pillow back over her face determined to ignore him. Which proved impossible as the sheet was abruptly yanked down, it took both of her hands to grab it before it was whisked away entirely exposing the fact she was completely naked. In her struggle the pillow over her face dislodged, landing on the floorboards with a soft muffled thump. Staring down the bed at Vaughn, the sheet clutched to her chin she glared at him. “What do you want?”
“To talk.” He still had a tight grip on the sheet.
“Look … Goddess.” She hissed as he gave another strong tug on the sheet. “Okay talk.”
As soon as she said the words he ceased pulling on the sheet. Of all the things her capitulation would result in she hadn’t dreamt that Vaughn would suddenly look uneasy, high colour in his cheeks, hesitation in his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” An apology?
“Well for the whole male of the species for a start. More specifically I was so caught up in my anger towards all those dumb fucks who’ve hurt you over the years I could barely form a coherent sentence. You must have thought I was nuts.”
“Oh.” She breathed out softly. “Okay.” It was the first easy breath she’d taken in two hours.
“Okay?” Vaughn looked puzzled.
She nodded fast. Actually it was kind of sweet of Vaughn to be so angry on her behalf. She managed a tentative smile. “So I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
Vaughn frowned. “Where would I be going?”
Now Hadleigh frowned, why was he still pulling on the sheet? “Back to your apartment, where you belong. We can just forget the last week ever happened … the stuff between you and me.” Why were his eyes beginning to bank with heat? Determinedly she kept stumbling on. “I’ll report to work tomorrow and we’ll just go on like nothing has happened.”
“So we’ll just forget the kiss in the canteen, date number one and two?”
“Well yes, as you said there’s no point in having a third.”
“That’s because I changed my mind.” Vaughn took his hand away from her feet, reaching down he yanked off one boot, holding it up for her to see before dropping it to the floor.
Hadleigh was eyeing his actions with both fascination and confusion. “About having a third date?” She asked.
With deliberation Vaughn held up his other boot to show her before dropping it as well. “No about the sex.”
“What?” Was that her high pitched voice?
“Remember it was your idea that we should skip the dating and go right to the sex. I agree.” In less time than it took to blink he’d yanked off his sweater.
“No you disagreed. You didn’t like the idea at all when I proposed it.”
Vaughn grinned, and it was like someone had flung back the curtains and let the sun blast in. “Let’s get one thing straight, I loved the idea, I just didn’t think it was a very good idea at the time.”
“You said you wanted to date.”
“I did but I wasn’t operating at the time with all the facts.”
Hadleigh inched up the bed, slowly, although she could only go so far as Vaughn still had a firm grip on the top sheet.
“Well now you have all the … facts, you must know it’s a bad idea, a really, really bad idea. I don’t know what I was thinking?”
“That you liked me?”
Hadleigh didn’t answer she was too busy trying to shuffle her way up the bed, her concentration redirected when Vaughn gave a sharp tug on the sheet almost making her lose her grip and reveal everything.
“What?”
“I said you like me.”
It was hard to tell whether he was stating a fact or asking a question. Flustered she nodded. “Yes, of course.” She scowled at him. “I don’t sleep with men I don’t like.”
“I think you do … And that’s why you’ve had sucky sex in the past.”
“Excuse me?”
“Okay perhaps sucky wasn’t the most appropriate adjective to use, let’s just go with plain bad then shall we? You found convenient men, they were okay but you didn’t have any particularly deep feelings for them and because of that there was no trust, no trust … no way you’d let your guard down, you’re a warrior, so plain bad sex.”
“Now you’re channelling Freud? Even after I listed all my faults, knowing what to expect … you want to have sex with me?”
“Aren’t you listening … yes and yes.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“But all those bad encounters?”
“Were not your fault.”
“Not according to the men.”
“We men are surprisingly sensitive creatures, we don’t like to fail at things and when we do we invariably like to shift the blame so our pride won’t take a hit. Trust me.” He gave the sheet a hard tug. “This is.” Another tug. “Going to be.” Tug. “Fun.”
Hadleigh scrambled to keep the sheet up around her neck, any moment expecting to hear it tear in two considering the pressure their tug of war was applying. Then without warning Vaughn released his hold, she was flung backwards, the sheet now over her face and there was a distinct breeze wafting around her suddenly naked feet.
“What?”
She pulled the sheet off her face, staring down in horror at her exposed feet, Vaughn’s face, a wolfish smile on his features only inches away from her bare tootsies.
“More than one way to skin a cat.”
The devil had yanked the sheet out from the bottom of the bed. Scrabbling she tried to back away but he was already reaching out to grab her ankles pulling her back down the bed. She shrieked. She never shrieked. Struggling, she managed to sit up slightly, her weight on her elbows, staring down at Vaughn, his warm hands encircling her bare ankles.
“Vaughn, I think this is a mistake. You heard what I said at the fountain … the list … I don’t want … this can’t end well.”
“Ah yes the list. Perhaps we should address everything on the list.” He leaned forward placing a soft hot kiss on the top of her right foot. Hadleigh felt a shiver of awareness spike down her spine, igniting a small persistent throb between her legs. “One.” He placed a kiss on the top of her other foot. The throb grew. “By one.” Another kiss this time just above her ankle. The throb was louder than her heartbeat now. He pulled gently and she slid down the bed a few more inches.
Vaughn placed a series of quick hot kisses up he
r left leg before reaching her knee. Then despite her token resistance he managed to lift that leg and place it on his shoulder. Honestly, Hadleigh squirmed, what in the name of the Goddess was the man thinking? The kissing was nice, absolutely, it made her pulse race but it hardly ... oh my Goddess, her eyes practically crossed as he nuzzled the back of her knee.
“So where were we?” Vaughn bit down gently on soft skin behind her knee. Hadleigh bit back a moan. “Ah first on the list I believe…” Kiss, bite, nuzzle, Goddess suck. “Freak!” More kisses, as he slid the sheet ever so slowly, excruciatingly slowly up her thighs, running those hot hands over her flesh like he owned it, like he worshipped it. “Darling I’ve seen statues of warrior princesses, met Goddesses and celebrated beauties of every era.” He dropped her left leg picking up her right. Goddess, Hadleigh tensed, not the knee, not the … oh. “You take the best aspect of each one and encapsulate it with your strength, power, beauty and fierceness.”
Hadleigh tried to protest, what he was saying it wasn’t right, it was too much but then he lavished attention with his mouth along the tender skin from the back of her knee to her inner thigh and it was all she could do to breathe.
“Just knowing you’re in the world … it ... makes … me … happy.”
Still he continued to push the sheet up inch by slow inch, moving his full weight onto the end of the mattress so he could bite and tease his way upwards along her inner thigh with his mouth. Hadleigh writhed and reached for him, unsure if she wanted to push him away or hurry along his progress. Her hands came to rest in his hair, that overlong mop was silken under her touch, like the finest sand running through her fingers.
“Too tall?” He nuzzled ever so slowly higher. “Not for me.” Still higher, Hadleigh’s breathing was coming in swift fast pants. “Too forceful?” Hadleigh mouthed his name, she was rocketing towards … oh Goddess, yes. Then he did the strangest thing, he stopped, just like that, he stopped and looked up at her, smiling. “I can’t wait to spar with you.”
He was moving back down the bed. Where was he going? Oh Goddess he was changing legs, starting once more at the tender skin inside her inner thigh just above the knee, Goddess darn the man … oh Goddess praise the man.
“The reason we haven’t sparred … yet … was because I knew once I had you underneath me on the mats … there’d be no way … I’d be letting you up.”
“Who…” Hadleigh panted. “Says you’d be the one on top?”
Vaughn chuckled, his hot breath against her skin sending heated tremors through her body. “Promise?”
He refocused on his task, the slow incremental progress up her inner thigh, exploring every inch of smooth creamy flesh. He’d been dreaming about these legs since the moment he’d first seen her, imaging those thighs gripping him, threatening to crack his spine. “I look forward to the bruises.” He raised his head, staring up between her legs. His hands buried in the crumpled sheet, gripping, searing the flesh of her upper thighs through the fabric. “You could never break me Darling, though I wish by the scales of justice you’d try.”
“Vaughn.” She felt so vulnerable, so exposed as he slid his hands further up her body, pushing the sheet away, exposing her very apex.
Vaughn took in the sight of those red curls between her legs and felt his cock jerk in response. Thankfully he still had his jeans on, the temptation so great to just claim her, but no this was about Hadleigh, proving to her that she was not just a warrior but a woman as well. “Darling you’re all fire, I can practically see the heat shimmer.” He dipped his head and took a brief taste of honey. Hadleigh jerked but his hands on her hips kept her steady. “You taste like ambrosia and cotton candy.”
His mouth was back on her, his tongue dipping and swirling, exploring her soft pink flesh. Hadleigh moaned parting her legs wider allowing him greater access. Once more she could feel the build of approaching release. It burned and barrelled over her nerve endings. It was like a forest fire eating through her flesh and she wanted, needed it to devour her.
She wanted Vaughn to touch her, take her but she couldn’t find the words, only move her hands to grip his bare shoulders and hold on as he changed positions slightly to lave attention on her clit with his tongue. She arched her back, she’d never felt like this before, been so close yet even now a small niggly voice in the back of her mind wondered if she’d be capable of flying over the edge. Maybe she was taking an excessively long time. What if Vaughn gave up, grew tired … was disappointed? Then that small doubting voice was blasted out of her head as he took her clit between his lips and suckled hard, once … twice and then oh Goddess yes! She bucked, moaned and thrashed beneath his touch and still he didn’t let go and it was … roller coaster ride heavenly.
Vaughn heaved himself up, collapsing on the mattress next to Hadleigh, both of them panting.
“You look so satisfied with yourself.” Hadleigh couldn’t help but comment as she eyed his smug smile.
“And I could say the same for you.” He returned eyeing her like a lion surveys its first meal for the day. “You know it’s only going to get better right?”
“Better?” It was hard to comprehend his statement, it was already the best she’d ever had and technically they hadn’t had sex yet.
“Absolutely, the more I know about you…” With one finger he tried to lift the crumpled sheet that was still tangled around her upper body. “What turns you on.” The fabric was wound too tight for a peek at the treasures hidden beneath the sheet so he tried to pull it down. “What turns you nuclear. Before you know it you’ll be putty under my touch.”
He grinned, looking hot, playful and golden god perfect and for the first time in forever Hadleigh felt empowered. Batting his hand away she sat up clutching the sheet to her chest, swinging her leg fast over Vaughn, settling herself neatly on top of him. Her thighs gripping his hips hard, the feel of his denim clad hard cock settling against the wet heat of her core.
“You know that works both ways right?”
“I can only hope. Okay warrior woman you have me at your mercy. Just what do you intend to do with me?”
Hadleigh contemplated all that gorgeous shimmering golden skin before her, biting her bottom lip unconsciously trying to decide where to start. Vaughn moaned and his cock beneath her jerked. Hadleigh laughed, ah the perfect torment as she trailed one finger from the base of his throat down to the top button of his jeans. “You know the one thing I have become very good at over the years?”
Vaughn shook his head.
“Self-discovery.” She flung the sheet she was clutching away, making sure her shoulders were straight, breasts pointed in his direction. She slapped away his hands as they came up, instead palming her own naked breasts. Squeezing gently and plucking at her nipples.
“Ah you’re killing me here Hadleigh.”
“Am I?” She tried to look innocent but considering her position and state of attire it came off as more devilish.
“I’m stronger than you.” Vaughn commented, his gaze locked on those gorgeous full breasts.
“Maybe.” Hadleigh squeezed her thighs even tighter to remind him of her own strength.
Vaughn moaned, grinning. “I’m bigger than you.”
Hadleigh rubbed herself back and forth on his cock, her voice a little breathy. “We can only hope so.”
“Okay, that’s it.” Vaughn could only be teased so far. He sat up, grabbed Hadleigh under the buttocks and slid them both down to the end of the mattress. Sitting on his lap now, facing him, her knees on either side of his hips resting on the mattress, her hands gripping his shoulders to keep herself steady she couldn’t help but laugh. “You won’t let me be on top?”
“Oh you’ll be on top.” Then he leaned forward and kissed her. She moaned into his mouth as that heated glimmering gold flesh of his mashed up against her own. Then she was gasping as he stood up … the man stood up with her in his arms still, he really was strong. “My jeans.”
“What?” She managed between kisse
s.
“Get my jeans.”
“Oh.”
She reached between them unbuttoning his jeans, he heaved her up slightly higher on his frame and then he was sitting back down, his bare flesh beneath her now as well as in front of her. His cock long and hard, resting against her stomach and the tip of her clit, deliciously tormenting her. His mouth never leaving hers. She couldn’t keep still, edging her hips back and forth quickly, loving the feel of him rubbing between her legs. She could have kept it up all day, maybe forever but Vaughn he needed, had to be inside her. With no visible strain he lifted her, positioning his cock at her entrance then he dropped her ever so slowly. It took forever for his entire length to enter her and in a word it felt stupendous.
“So tight.” He panted. Maat she felt like heaven wrapped around his cock, all heat, fire and strength.
Hadleigh’s eyes practically rolled into the back of her head with pleasure. Goddess that had felt so good she wanted to feel it again. Kneeling up again she slid back down causing them both to moan. No she amended mentally, this was the thing she wanted to do all day, she’d never felt so full, had never felt so good.
His mouth plundering hers, his hands gripping and squeezing her gorgeous butt cheeks Vaughn let her start off the pace, just revelling in the feel of her core muscles squeezing and tightening around his cock. The only problem was if she kept up this slow tortuous pace he was going to come way too soon and there was so much more of her yet to explore. Reaching down he tugged on her legs until they were stretched out straight, seating her even more fully on his cock. Hadleigh moaned again, oh that felt good but now she had no leverage. Just what was Vaughn up to?
He pushed her shoulders back until she was practically lying down on top of him. Mmmm deeper still, then he leaned over capturing one full breast in his mouth, sucking first then biting down gently. She squirmed and boy did that feel good. Oh Goddess she’d never come before with a man inside her but sweet heaven under Vaughn’s masterful care she could feel the imminent release build up as he shifted to her other breast. She squirmed again, it felt wonderful but the angle was wrong. She gave a fretful moan and he laughed.
