The Seduction of Arabella Quinn

by Caryn Carter

  Involuntary shudders gripped him, held him still. When the tremors subsided he tried to thrust deeper into her mouth, but each time he went forward she pulled back, only to slide forward over him again a second later. Each thrust and parry brought him farther into her warm mouth and closer to the brink of climax. He could feel it now, barreling its way through him, and while he readied himself for release he cursed his captivity. He struggled once more to free his hands, but again he was forced to admit a surrender he had not anticipated.

  But dammit, he didn't care. All he wanted was to spill himself into her mouth until he was dry as a desert. Yet even now, on the brink of pouring out his need, an even stronger desire chewed at his loins like a greedy dog. He wanted to mount her, cram himself inside her and drive her to an orgasm that would make her remember him forever.

  With that one frightening admission he knew he had surrendered more than his body to Arabella Quinn. He was doomed.

  Fighting to harness his senses, he squeezed his eyes shut, took a few deep breaths as his cock became even more inflamed by her heated mouth. His fists clenched and unclenched behind his back. "Are you going to make me come like this?" He couldn't really complain if she did, it felt so fucking good, but what he really wanted was to be inside her, pumping her until she screamed for mercy.

  Her answer was a slow release from her mouth that lasted so long he was panting for breath when she finally freed him. Then she levered her hands on his thighs, pulled herself up and turned him so that his back was to the bed. She flattened her palms against his chest and hesitated for only a second, gauging his reaction.

  He didn't have to ask what she had in mind. He already knew. After she had him positioned on the bed, hands behind his back, legs spread wide, he adjusted his hands under his spine as best he could and waited, barely breathing, for her next exquisite torture.

  "Are you comfortable?" she asked, a glint in her eyes that told him whether he was comfortable or not, he had no choice in the matter. Her dominion over him shot his thermostat up to the danger point--how much hotter could she get him without his body bursting into flame?

  With a sensuous smile, she straightened up and shimmied out of her nightgown and panties, climbed up on the bed and took the dark red crown of his penis in her mouth. She circled it slowly with her tongue, teasing him, tasting him. He was both salty and sweet and still sticky with the ejaculate that had escaped when she had first put her tongue to him.

  She licked him greedily for a time then lifted her head and let her gaze travel over the hard planes of his body, giving in to the thrill of lust that shot through her, sending proof of her own readiness to flood her vulva. It was going to be a supreme act of discipline to keep from cramming him inside her before she made him beg for her the way he'd made her beg for him.

  When the cool air of the room replaced her warm, moist mouth, Nick sucked in his breath, rolled his head to the side. "Untie me, Bella. Let me look at you, touch you, taste you," he begged, trying to lift his head high enough so he could see her better.

  Aware for the first time since their lovemaking had begun that she was completely naked, Bella felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over her. Now, of all times, she wanted to be beautiful for him. Even though she fully expected him to disappear from her life as quickly as he'd appeared, she wanted this interlude with him to be perfect, something she could remember whenever she needed to be reminded about what great passion was really like.

  "Why do you want me to untie you?" she teased, giving in to the power over him that was still hers and flicking her tongue over him again.

  "Because I want to run my hands over those beautiful breasts, slide them over that sexy belly and...", he turned his head in the direction of where his clothes were on the floor, "...and this time I want to use a condom, damn it."

  She smiled at his impatience and ran a thumbnail down the middle of his chest to the dark thatch of curls above his erection, which seemed to have grown inches since she'd had him in her mouth. She leaned over the side of the bed and swooped up his pants, dug in the pockets until she found a couple of foil packets and withdrew them. Grinning, she held one up by her thumb and forefinger. "Is this what you want, Nicky baby?"

  He nodded, which was all he could do because his jaws were clenched against the incessant pulsing of his cock. Oh Jesus. Was she planning on putting the damn thing on him? If she touched him, he would explode. He would explode like a firecracker.

  Slowly, very slowly, Bella tore one end of the foil packet.

  Passing her tongue over her lips, she tossed the empty packet to the floor and placed the condom on the tip of his penis, unrolled the latex sheath over him as if she had all the time in the world. She was as eager as he to have him ready to enter her, but the power she still held gave her discipline. When he was completely covered, she dragged her body over his, took one of his dark, pebbled nipples in her mouth and drew it gently between her teeth.

  Nick's body jerked in a spasm. "This has gone on long enough, Bella. Untie me." He could feel the veins in his neck bulge as he thrashed and twisted trying to position the head of his cock under the center of the dark, curly thatch that hovered over him like a furry cat ready to swallow him whole.

  "Has it?" she goaded. "Has it gone far enough, Nicky baby?" Thinking how much more enjoyable this male bondage thing was in reality than it had ever been in her fantasies, she lowered her drenched folds over his thick, rigid penis.

  When Bella lowered herself over him, Nick dug his fingers into the sheet under him. "Are you..." he was forced to swallow before he could go on, "...are you just going to stay there forever?" His hips thrust upward and his head lifted off the bed. Jesus, he was about to go out of his mind. She had already brought him to the brink of an orgasm with her mouth then cut it short and now she was holding herself over him making him beg. Was she just out to torture him?

  As if she'd read his mind, Bella lowered herself farther down on Nick and brushed her mound over the head of his perfectly upright penis. His hips reared up in jerky thrusts and the upper half of his body lifted off the bed. His shoulders heaved forward as he fought against his bonds, the chords in his neck straining as a torrent of erotic oaths flew from his mouth.

  Her orgasm ready to burst forth, Bella slid her hands under Nick's back and laced her fingers with his. Leaning forward, she lowered herself fully on him.

  A wild cry exploded from Nick as his climax rushed forward, his flanks quivering, his blood swirling through his veins.

  Bella's orgasm crashed into his as she pumped him relentlessly, draining him until his body flattened on the bed and her body slumped over his. Exhausted, she gripped his shoulders and buried her head in the curve of his neck as the end of his climax spurted inside her in small, fading bursts.

  She had no idea how much time had passed when she was finally able to think clearly again, but her first thought depressed her. It was over. Tonight, after her safety was assured, Nick would leave. He would leave and then forget her.

  There wasn't a shred of doubt in her mind that once the people who were shadowing her found out they were on a fruitless quest, and Nick knew beyond doubt that Kevin Pitre meant nothing at all to her, she would still disappear from his memory like so much smoke.

  Aside from that, the most important question of all still remained unanswered. Would she ever be able to return to her mundane existence now that Nick Fuller had invaded her world?

  Nick's breath at her ear broke into her questioning thoughts. "Can you free me now?"

  Yes. She could free him now. But would she ever be able to free herself?

  Chapter Twelve

  Nick woke to a blur of green, the caress of satin against his cheek, and Bella's scent filling his nostrils. Smiling to himself, he slipped the satin ribbon from beneath his cheek, a tangible reminder of their unrestrained lovemaking after she'd untied him.

  She was a superbly creative partner, amusing him, tantalizing him, surprising him with clever ways to brin
g him right to the edge of climax and hold him suspended until she was ready to proceed to another imaginative, sexual delight.

  Nick lifted his arm and angled it so he could see his watch, the only thing Bella had left him with after stripping him of his clothes. Even the thin gold necklace, a birthday present from Debbie, had been removed.

  He turned his head toward the bedside table. The necklace was still there and it suddenly struck him how out of place it seemed. Why had he worn it? Did he think it would protect him like some kind of good luck charm?

  Turning back to the watch, he squinted at the dial until the hands were in focus. Six forty-five. He'd been asleep for less than three hours, Bella a little longer, since she'd fallen asleep before him, her head nestled under his arm, pretty much in the same position it was now.

  Bella murmured something unintelligible in her sleep and snuggled closer to him, causing his body to tighten and coil, an early morning erection already on its way. He squeezed his eyes shut, tamped down his arousal and thought about his next move.

  She was planning to return home today and he didn't want to let her go. He could kid himself into thinking he wanted her to stay close to him for her own safety, but that logic was riddled with holes now that the security system was in place.

  He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly so as not to disturb her. He could always tell her the truth, which, even if it were clouded with other concerns, was still the truth. He could tell her he liked the idea of her being tucked away on the Cindy Marie as if it were an island known only to the two of them. He didn't have to add that he wanted her here where he had the freedom to come to her whenever he pleased.

  She nudged closer and drew her leg a little higher up his thigh. He inched away from her as gently as he could. But it wasn't gentle enough.

  "Are you up?" she asked, her breath tickling his ribs. Was he up? Depended on which part of his body she was referring to. His brain was barely functioning, but his morning hard-on was already rising to greet the new day. But no matter how much he wanted to get inside her again, he couldn't. He'd make it up to her that night. Hell, he'd meet her for a quickie at lunchtime if she wanted, but right now he had to get out as fast as he could. He planted a kiss on the top of her head and slipped out of bed, her sigh of disappointment following him to the bathroom.

  At the door, he turned back to her. "I hate to run, but business beckons. There are things I didn't take care of yesterday that need my attention first thing this morning."

  First on his list was getting to Bella's house and turning off the electricity. If she stopped there on her way to the office and discovered she had power, he'd never be able to explain keeping her here.

  He closed the bathroom door while he answered nature's call. He needed a shower, but wasn't about to risk one right now. The shower stall wasn't very large but it was big enough to get Bella up against the wall. And he knew damn well that's what would happen if she took it in her head to draw him into another sexual game.

  When he stepped back into the stateroom, Bella was sitting propped against the back of the bed, the sheet pulled up over her breasts--but barely. God, what a sensuous sight. His cock was already miles ahead of his brain as he made a dive for the bed and snuggled his head between her legs. Her musky scent aroused him like a potent aphrodisiac and he went crazy with wanting her again.

  Out of the blue, she asked him, "Do you really think I have a beautiful body, Nick?" Did he think she had a beautiful body? Jesus, if she had to ask that now, he must not have been as convincing last night as he'd thought. He guessed he'd just have to show her one more time before he left how god damned beautiful every part of her was, and how much he wanted her.

  He grew rock-hard in an instant as she squealed and squirmed against his tongue when he flicked it across her sensitive nub. She was still writhing in ecstasy, calling his name at the top of her lungs, when she came against his lips.

  * * * *

  Two hours later, Nick stood outside Bella's front door for the second time that day. He let himself inside and went immediately to the utility room where the electrical box was located. After he pulled the circuit breaker shutting off the electricity, he gave the rest of the house a cursory inspection since he'd left so hastily the night before.

  Satisfied that everything was as it should be, he headed for his office with mixed emotions. He felt a measure of guilt at having to lie to Bella about the loss of power at her house, but his heart did a high wire leap when he thought about what it meant. He'd have her all to himself for another night.

  A sudden flash of fear struck him, causing his stomach to clench and his heart to contract. So far, he'd managed to keep the eroticism of his relationship with Bella in the forefront, preventing a detour of his mission. But he wasn't so sure of that now. He seemed to always be finding reasons to get closer to her in ways that had nothing to do with a purely sexual relationship.

  He was suddenly filled with disgust. He couldn't allow himself to forget they'd been thrown together because of a tragedy in which she was involved. A tragedy, he reminded himself none too gently, which had changed his life forever.

  Nick caught his lower lip between his teeth and winced at the sharp pain. How many times did he have to keep reminding himself of what he had to do? Of what would happen when his goal had been reached? That this relationship with Bella would last only until he'd collected the evidence he needed to turn her in to the authorities. Once that was accomplished, he'd walk away without even a nod. He bit down on his lip again, this time drawing blood. He cursed aloud. Until this moment, he'd fooled himself into thinking he'd followed the plan.

  What he was feeling now though, wasn't satisfaction that he'd carried through on that plan, but a heaviness in his heart because he was about to lose her. What a phony he was. He'd duped Vince. More importantly he'd made a mockery of Debbie's memory. He'd let lust crack his resolve and soften him to tender feelings for the woman who had been instrumental in Debbie's death. He pulled up to the offices of Fuller and Martelli Security with a new resolve to gather the evidence he needed and get back to a normal life. He laughed. Whatever that meant.

  Inez was filing her nails when he stepped inside the office. She set the file aside and handed him a sheaf of messages that he glanced at quickly before stuffing them in his shirt pocket. He nodded toward the office next to his own. "How's his mood today?"

  "Nasty to damn nasty."

  "Gloria's worse?"

  Inez nodded. "I think so. He wasn't too bad until he got a call from the doctor an hour ago."

  "Hold all calls," Nick told her over his shoulder as he headed to Vince's office.

  After one sharp rap on the door, he entered the room. Vince was standing behind his desk looking out the window, hands clasped behind his back. He turned to face Nick.

  Nick stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You want to talk?"

  "I'm going to have to move Gloria to a higher-level care facility." Vince said, and turned back to the window. "The Alzheimer's much worse. So is the cancer."

  Christ. How much bad luck could one person be expected to bear? He felt so sorry for Vince, his chest hurt.

  "How long...?"

  Vince's shoulders slumped forward. "No one can say for sure, but the best guess is a couple of months, give or take a few weeks. No longer than three months is the consensus."

  "Damn. What rotten luck." He swallowed once, hard. "Is she ... is she in very much pain?"

  Vince nodded. "They want to start her on morphine soon, that's why they want her in a different facility."

  He hated to ask the next question. "Can you afford it? I mean I know you'll hock your soul if you have to, but..."

  Vince spun back around to face the window. "I can manage."

  "If I can help in any way..."

  "I said I'll manage." Vince's voice was sharp, filled with rage and bitterness Nick could fully understand. He knew what it was like to feel powerless against injustice. Right now, it seemed the gre
atest injustice that someone like Vince, who had always worked for the good of society, was now being forced to dig deeper in his pockets than he could afford. That neither Medicare nor the insurance he carried would pay the extra expense of a high-level care institution for his wife of forty years. He knew Vince had been dreading this day from the first diagnosis of his wife's cancer.

  "Listen, pal, why don't you take some time off while you get this straightened out. I can handle things here with the rest of the personnel."

  Vince turned back to look at Nick, pain and frustration etched across his face. "I appreciate it, but I'd rather stay involved. It'll keep my mind off..." His voice trailed away. He stepped up to the desk and picked up a folder. "Anything new on the Pitre case? How's it coming with the girlfriend?"

  It was Nick's turn to find a place outside the window on which to focus while he answered the expected, but nevertheless, unwanted question.

  "I think maybe we made a mistake with Arabella Quinn."

  "Mistake?" Vince bellowed. "We made no goddamn mistake. She's as rotten as he is. She's got that money stashed away just waiting for Pitre to show up."

  "I'm just not so sure..."

  Vince flattened his palms on the top of the desk, stiffened his arms and glared at Nick. "What the hell's going on with you, Nick? You going soft in the head? You of all people? Or maybe you've taken a shine to that ... that..."

  Nick's fists clenched against the anger that tightened his chest at Vince's scathing indictment of Bella. "I haven't found a shred of evidence in her home. It's as clean as an operating room. No expensive jewels, collector's items or antiques. No bundle of cash stuffed in a shoe box. Even her checkbook and savings accounts are in line with her income these past seven years." Everything he told Vince was true, but he still expected Vince to bring up the purchase of her home and the travel agency, and when he didn't, he too kept silent. It ate at him, though, the fact that those things didn't add up right.