Wounded Hearts

by Julia Sykes

  I slid one hand under the top of my dress to touch my breast. My fingers closed around my hardened nipple, pinching slightly. The familiar flare of pain and his masculine presence made lust light up my body. My inner muscles fluttered, greedy for his cock.

  I bit my lip to hold in a soft moan and rotated my hips against his, seeking stimulation against my needy clit. He began to harden, his erection pressing into my belly.

  I released my breast and gripped one of his wrists, slowly guiding his hand and sliding it beneath my dress. The contact of his calloused palm against my flesh released the moan I’d locked inside. My behavior was wanton, but I wasn’t ashamed of my sexual nature. I wasn’t ashamed to lay this part of my soul bare to him.

  “It’s okay,” I promised on a shaky breath. “I want you to pinch my nipples. It’ll feel amazing. Trust me.”

  “I do trust you,” he said with the weight of an oath.

  I firmed my hand over his, urging him to squeeze my breast. His touch sent desire rolling through my body.

  “Yes,” I panted. “Just like that. Please.”

  He kept one hand twined in my hair, holding me in place while he studied every nuance of my expression. My lashes fluttered when his fingers found my nipple and pinched.

  I’d taken—and enjoyed—far more erotic pain, but watching his eyes flare with fascination as he watched my lustful reaction was far more fulfilling than my most devious past encounters.

  He pinched harder and tugged, catching my soft cry on his tongue, as though he wanted to taste the flavor of my perverse desire. I rolled my hips against his hard thigh, and he wedged it between my legs so I could stimulate myself further.

  He trailed scorching hot kisses down my throat, his tongue tracing the line of my vulnerable artery. He paused for a moment at the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. I tilted my head to the side, inviting him, tempting him.

  “Do it,” I whispered. “I want you to.”

  A low growl left his chest as his teeth sank into my flesh. He bit hard enough to mark me, and I reveled in the rush of pleasure/pain. The possessive, primal act was even more arousing than the physical sensation it inflicted, and I ground against him with abandon. My fingers speared into his hair, pulling him closer and encouraging him to continue ravaging me.

  He finally released me from his bite, his hands finding my shoulders and sliding under the thin straps that held up my dress. He pulled them down my arms, and the silky material fell away to reveal my breasts. He cupped them fully, rolling my nipples beneath his thumbs.

  “You like this?” His voice was rough with desire, even as he sought confirmation that I wanted him to continue touching me with harsh confidence. He pinched down again, and my eyes rolled back.

  “Yes,” I hissed out. “More. Please.”

  His head dipped lower, and he caught one of my hard peaks between his teeth. I squealed at the shock of pain and his bold actions. I hadn’t expected this reaction to my begging. He might not be hurting me much, but the knowledge that he was putting his trust in me and pushing his own boundaries was heady.

  His bite eased, and he licked away the pain. Little jolts of electric lust pinged from my breast to dance down to my core.

  “I need you inside me,” I whimpered, eager for him.

  “Fuck, you’re so hot when you beg for pleasure,” he groaned. “I think I like it.”

  “Please.” I didn’t at all mind begging, and if it turned him on, I’d encourage that particular domineering trait. “Please, fuck me.”

  His tongue traced a searing circle around my nipple. “Not yet,” he murmured against my skin. “I need to taste you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for months.”

  With other men, I hadn’t enjoyed oral sex. But I knew from experience that Scott was different. He wasn’t the only one pushing his own boundaries tonight.

  He dropped to his knees and slid his hands up my thighs, pushing my dress up to my waist.

  “Keep playing with your tits.” He punctuated the order with a soft kiss against my aching clit. I bucked against him, and he steadied me, his fingers curving into my thighs and pressing my ass back against the wall. “Stay. I want your pussy right here.”

  I whined my frustration, but I obeyed. Scott had been confident the first time we’d been together, but when he started issuing commands, I melted. I could be a brat with new Doms, but his calm orders brought out my submissive side. I wanted to please him.

  He caught the elastic band of my red lace panties between his teeth and tugged downward. His mouth grazed my sex as he slowly exposed me. I shivered, but I resolutely remained in place.

  When my pussy was bared, he glanced up at me, his pale blue eyes glinting in the moonlight that filtered through the gauzy curtains.

  “Pinch your nipples. Show me how you like it.”

  I didn’t have to be told twice. Emboldened by the fact that he was embracing a more domineering nature, I cupped my breasts in my hands and pulled at my nipples, squeezing and rolling them between my fingers. My back arched, but I didn’t move my hips toward him, even though I craved contact with his soft lips.

  “Good girl,” he breathed against my swollen folds. “That’s what you like, isn’t it? To be my good girl?”

  He really had learned so much about me from reading my books. It should have been disconcerting, but I was too thrilled and sexually stimulated to care.

  “Yes,” I moaned. “Yes, I want that.”

  He nuzzled my inner thigh, and I quivered with the effort of holding myself still. “I like this part,” he rumbled against my skin, his hot breath teasing over my clit. “I like you trembling in need and wet for me. You didn’t want me to kiss your pussy before, but look how badly you want it tonight. Your panties are soaked. I bet you’re even wetter now.”

  To test his theory, his tongue traced the line of my slit. Desire swelled, and I would have thrust my sex against his mouth if his hands hadn’t firmed on my thighs in silent rebuke.

  He hummed his satisfaction against my pussy lips, and the vibrations against my achingly sensitive flesh made my inner walls contract in desperation to be filled and fucked.

  He stared up at me, capturing me in his steady gaze as he circled my clit with his tongue. He didn’t have to command me to continue toying with my breasts. His aquamarine gaze and clever mouth made me eager to follow his orders. He might be on his knees, but he was thoroughly in control.

  My legs began to shake as he continued to lick me. His grip shifted from my thighs to my hips, helping support my weight. Despite the way my body sagged, I felt light enough to float away. Only his firm touch kept me grounded. My fingers tingled; my breasts ached; my brain buzzed. Lust sizzled through my veins, heating my entire being.

  “I’m going to come,” I panted, unable to hold back my impending orgasm.

  He sucked my clit, forcing me over the edge. I fell with abandon, my world lighting up with bliss as I cried out my pleasure. His hold on my hips eased, and I ground mindlessly against his mouth. He groaned, driving his tongue deep to taste my orgasm.

  He didn’t release me until I was shuddering and whimpering from oversensitivity.

  He stood to his full height, reminding me just how small I could feel in his shadow. His hands slipped around me, finding the zipper at my back. As he slowly pulled it down, my fingers flew to the buttons on his shirt, rapidly undoing them so I could touch his bare skin. His abs rippled beneath my hands.

  My mouth watered, and I leaned into him to press hungry kisses against his shoulder as I eased the shirt down his arms. I nipped at his neck, communicating my own primal need for him. He grunted, and he abandoned my dress to unbuckle his belt.

  I didn’t waste any time tugging my dress over my head and slipping out of my panties and flats. By the time I was fully naked, he’d finished stripping, too.

  Before I could fully admire him, he scooped me up in his arms and tossed me over his shoulder, as though I weighed nothing at all. A deli
ghted giggle bubbled from my chest as he carried me the short distance to the bedroom. He bent slightly, releasing me so I fell back on the mattress with a soft gasp.

  “I want to see you,” he rumbled, flipping on the light.

  He towered over me, staring down at my body. The intensity of his scrutiny should have made me want to squirm and cover myself, but I didn’t feel a hint of embarrassment or shyness. Boldly, I arched my back and cupped my breasts, showing him exactly how I liked to be touched. My thighs dropped open, offering my pussy to him.

  The soft golden glow of the overhead light cast shadows beneath his defined muscles, making him appear more imposing than ever. I released my breast to reach out a beseeching hand.

  “I want you,” I said, my voice husky.

  His jaw tightened, the lines of his angular face sharpening with hunger. “I’ll get a condom.”

  I wanted him to take me raw, with nothing separating us, but I knew that would be foolish, even if I was on birth control. I swallowed my protest, contenting myself with watching his perfect ass as he walked back into the hallway to retrieve the condom from his jeans pocket.

  When he returned, he’d already torn open the foil and was sheathing himself. He was even bigger than I remembered. The sight of his thick length made my belly quiver with equal parts desire and trepidation. I remembered how perfectly he’d filled me before, but I could hardly wrap my mind around the fact that my tight sex had accepted him.

  He noticed me staring and shot me a wicked smile. “Don’t worry. It’ll fit, remember?”

  I nodded. “I remember.” The words were much heavier than his levity. I wanted him to know that I remembered every moment of the beautiful night we’d shared.

  His expression hardened to something more intense as he read the intent in my declaration. He joined me on the bed, his body covering mine. I loved his weight on top of me, pressing me down. I felt safe when he caged me in. He was so strong, but he treated me with tender care as he stroked my hair back from my cheek. Just like on that night in Nashville, I felt protected, cherished. My heart ached with the bliss of it.

  He lined his cock up with my slick opening and pressed inside. He penetrated me slowly, stretching me with a delicious burn. It was almost too much for me to bear, but not because he caused me pain. I rarely made eye contact with my sexual partners, but with Scott, I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t break our connection. He stared straight into my soul, stripping me down to my most raw, true self as he joined his body with mine.

  We both groaned when he was fully seated inside me. He paused, his cock pulsing. His jaw ticked as he gritted his teeth against the pleasure. My inner walls contracted, welcoming more. I wrapped my legs around him, angling my hips up and pressing my heels into his muscular ass to draw him deeper.

  He bit out a curse and pulled back, withdrawing at a maddeningly slow pace.

  “More,” I begged. “Harder.”

  He slammed back into me on a growl, and I cried out at the sudden rough treatment. My core fluttered around him, craving more harsh thrusts.

  He grasped my left thigh and guided it toward my chest, pulling my leg up until my calf rested on his shoulder. The position opened me wide, allowing him to drive impossibly deeper. His cockhead rubbed across my g-spot, and my fingernails bit into his shoulders as I clung to sanity.

  Although he was thoroughly in control, he accommodated my demand. He took me in hard thrusts that rocked my entire body. All I could do was hold onto him as each harsh invasion of his cock drove me closer to oblivion.

  Just as bliss claimed me, his lips crashed down on mine. He swallowed my ecstatic scream, and his grunt of pleasure rumbled against my tongue. His cock jerked inside me as my pussy squeezed him. I could feel the tension in his lips as his body shuddered with his orgasm. I writhed beneath him, my entire being claimed by delicious sensation.

  He pulled out, and he allowed our kiss to soften, his mouth lingering on mine for long minutes. I was bound to him, my body melded to his.

  I whined my disappointment when he finally pulled away. His lips brushed my cheek, soothing me.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  He disappeared into the bathroom. I heard water running, but he quickly returned to me.

  Just as he’d done in Nashville, he tucked me beneath the sheets. I caught his wrist.

  “Don’t go,” I begged.

  His lips pressed to a thin line, indecision warring in his tight features. Finally, he blew out a sigh and climbed into bed.

  I snuggled into him, and this time, he didn’t make me pull back so he could look at me. He let me tuck my face against his chest and breathe him in. He turned off the light and wrapped me in a tight embrace. I fell asleep pressed up against him, clinging to him so he couldn’t leave me.

  Chapter 5

  “What time is it?” I grumbled, tugging the covers over my head to block out the light. Usually, I slept well into the day, but Scott’s movements roused me.

  Scott.

  I jolted upright, reaching for him. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

  Sleep still fogged my mind, slowing my thoughts. But the panic that knifed through me at the prospect of his sudden departure was sharp enough to make me gasp.

  He smiled down at me and pressed his hand to my shoulder, guiding me back onto the pillow. “I’m going to my hotel to change.”

  “You got a hotel room?”

  His smile tugged up at one corner. “I wasn’t sure where I’d be sleeping last night.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “I’m going for a run, and then I’ll come back. I’m sure you’d like to sleep in.”

  “I’d rather spend time with you.” I didn’t want to lose sight of Scott. “How long will you be in York?”

  His expression fell slightly. “I have to get the four o’clock train down south.”

  Down south. Of course he wasn’t going to share his destination with me.

  My heart sank. We only had a few hours left before he’d have to leave. Then, he’d disappear from my life. I might never see him again.

  His presence in York was a miracle, one I’d never expected to be granted. I’d thought of him for months, and now, I’d shared another beautiful night with him. Although I knew he’d be gone again soon, I couldn’t stop myself from begging him to spend more time with me.

  When I was with him, I wasn’t alone in the world. I couldn’t let him go. Not until I absolutely had to.

  I’d face the emotional fallout later.

  “Don’t go for a run,” I beseeched. “Just come back here.”

  He stroked my hair back from my forehead. “Okay. I’ll be here in an hour.”

  I nodded my agreement. That would give me time to shower and get ready for the day.

  “I know a place where we can get a great fry up. Coffee Culture makes the best English breakfast in York.” I couldn’t wait to share more of my city with Scott. We might not have many hours left together, but I’d make the most of them.

  “Great.” He beamed at me. “I’ll see you soon.”

  I sighed softly as I watched him walk into the hallway to gather his clothes where we’d abandoned them last night. The few seconds it took him to cross the room didn’t give me nearly enough time to admire his ass.

  When I heard the apartment door shut behind him, I finally emerged from bed and made my way to the bathroom so I could get ready. Giddy anticipation made my heart beat faster, as though I’d sprinted to get across town rather than simply walking through the flat. Scott had been gone for all of one minute, and already, I couldn’t wait to see him again.

  “So, why England?” Scott asked as he cut into his Cumberland sausage. “You lived here for several years. What drew you here?”

  My heart tugged with longing, but I chose to focus on my fond memories rather than falling into despair.

  “Well, I traveled here when I was seventeen. It was my first archaeological dig. I spent three summers at the same field school, studying an Iron Age hill
fort. That was actually in Wales, not England, but it was run by the University of York. I fell in love, so I decided to study abroad in York for a semester during undergrad.”

  His brows drew together. “You fell in love with the U.K.?”

  “No, I mean I actually fell in love. With an archaeologist who lived in York. We dated long-distance, but studying at the university gave me the opportunity to spend several months with him. And yes, that’s when I fell in love with the city. It’s why I came back for my postgrad studies.”

  “This man you fell in love with. That was your husband?”

  I tried not to flinch at the mention of Thomas. “No.” I swallowed the sour tang on my tongue. “I met Thomas during my Masters year. Arran and I had broken up for a long time before that. He’s actually one of my best friends now.”

  Scott’s face became impassive. “You stayed friends with your ex. Are you still friends with your ex-husband?”

  “No,” I said, schooling my own face to a blank mask. I never wanted to talk to Thomas again. I didn’t have anything nice to say, so I’d prefer to say nothing at all. Really, I hoped I’d never see him again. I could only pray I wouldn’t bump into him around York, as vain as that hope may be.

  “Anyway,” I moved on with a dismissive wave, “I met most of my York friends through archaeology. I’ve known them for nearly thirteen years now. Which is crazy to think about. I can’t believe I’m thirty.”

  I can’t believe I’m starting my life over at thirty.

  I forced a polite smile. “How old are you?” I truly was curious. I couldn’t quite pinpoint Scott’s age. When he smiled, he didn’t look much older than me. But when his eyes took on that haunted light, he aged a decade.

  “Thirty-seven.”

  “You’re thirty-seven, you’re from Colorado, your name is Scott.” I ticked off the facts on my fingers with a teasing smile. “You still know a lot more about me than I know about you.”

  He grasped my hand and laced his fingers through mine. “I like learning more about you. I’d like to spend more time together after breakfast, if you’re free.”