by Dawn Ryder
He captured her hand and kissed her palm. It was a soft press of his lips, but what hit her hardest was the way his hand shook. “No, I don’t. But I’m going to start trying to be worthy of it.”
She smiled, couldn’t help it. Joy filled her, and a sense of tenderness she was positive she’d never felt before.
“Oh…man…” he groaned. “I really am a dick.”
“Huh?” she asked, confused.
“I should have given you reasons to smile like that before now,” he said huskily.
The sound of his voice dropping hinted at growing passion. She recognized it and reacted, her nipples tingling as they drew tight. His gaze lowered to her chest, his eyes narrowing as his lips thinned.
God, she loved seeing that look on his face. It was a shot of pure confidence, making her bold.
“So…how does that”—she gestured with her thumb at the swing—“work?”
He made a low sound in the back of his throat. “You strip first.”
“Hmm…” Jewel hummed as she lifted her bag off. She moved a little way back, enjoying the way Ramsey watched her. If that was vain, fine. Guilty as charged.
But it was also a total buzz.
His eyes glittered with anticipation as she smoothed her hands down her body and over her hips in search of the hem of her tunic top.
“Down to your skin,” he clarified.
She found the hem of her tunic and pulled it up, not because she was submitting to him. Oh, no. Nothing was further from the truth. She was being brazen. The desire to wave the red flag in front of the bull raged through her. The night air hit her bare skin.
“It’s so fucking sexy to know you don’t have a bra on.” He moved toward her, dropping his leather vest behind him so his chest was just as bare.
“I love knowing there is nothing but a layer of fabric between me and these.” He slid a hand around her waist and leaned over to capture one of her nipples between his lips. She ended up arching back and over his arm as he tongued her nipple and sucked on it.
He surprised her by releasing her. “The rest.”
There was the ring of authority in his tone. A touch arrogant, but it teased something inside her that made a curl of heat lick her insides. The intensity in his eyes had her pushing her leggings down.
She waited for him to strip, her gaze lowering to where his leather pants were tied. He chuckled, catching the laces with his fingers. Her mouth went dry, anticipation building inside her as he tugged the laces free and the leather opened. His cock was already swollen, the length pushing out the moment the leather no longer contained it.
“Nice.” She reached for it, for what she craved. The skin was smooth and hot, but beneath that satin covering, the organ was as hard as stone. That curl of heat set fire to something, making her feel like she was dancing in the middle of a firestorm. Being naked didn’t make her feel exposed any longer. It felt perfect, just perfect.
“Glad you like it,” he whispered against her ear. “Because it’s all you’re ever getting.”
He threaded his fingers through her hair, binding her with the strands and tipping her head back so their gazes locked. She felt the connection as much as saw it. His black eyes glittered with hard purpose.
“You’re mine.” It was a declaration and also a request. His features were drawn tight as he waited for her response.
Jewel stroked his cock, reaching down to the base and pulling her hand up to the head. “Then I guess you’d better let me do the additions to your ink, so I know you trust me.”
He closed his eyes but opened them a moment later. His lips curved slightly. “Later,” he rasped out. “Right now, I want to put you in that swing.”
His words had barely crossed his lips when he pressed a kiss against her mouth. A firm kiss that spiked the level of arousal boiling her blood, and anticipation was a living, breathing thing inside her. He scooped her up and carried her across the suite, his cock hard against her bare bottom.
The swing moved as he angled her into it. The straps were more comfortable than she’d thought they’d be, while the position in which they supported her body was far more intimidating than she’d expected. She was mostly on her back, reclining against the black straps, while the bars above her supported her weight.
“Hmm… I like the view.” Ramsey cupped her knees and slid his hands to the tops of her thighs.
Jewel gasped, arching into the touch, her clit throbbing. Ramsey chuckled, the sound more a promise than anything else. He drew his hands back up her thighs, but with his fingertips set against her flesh like talons. His fingernails were clipped short, keeping her from getting scratched, which left her with nothing but the pure exhilaration of his touch.
“Claw me,” she whispered. “Be the jungle cat I thought you were the first time I set eyes on you.”
She was still exposed, still hanging in midair like bait, but she was also bold. Demand pulsed through her, and there wasn’t going to be any tempering it with rational thought. When Ramsey made it to her knees again, she lifted her eyelids enough to see him.
His expression stole her breath.
It was a combination of need and conquest that defied her entire comprehension of sex. He wasn’t just contemplating appeasing his lust, he was set on claiming her on a much deeper level. He slipped his hands beneath her knees and lifted her legs into the air, all the way up so that her nose was hitting her thighs for a moment. With a slow motion, he spread them and let them down on the opposite sides of the straps that secured the swing to the bar above her head.
She gasped.
His lips lifted into a pleased grin. A damned cocky one too. She was spread open for him, the evening air touching the already wet folds of her sex. There was a second set of straps by her shoulders that she suddenly realized came equipped with bondage cuffs.
That made her shiver.
“Don’t worry, baby…” he cooed softly as he teased the curls on the top of her sex. Each little hair was suddenly ultrasensitive.“I want to control you with my own hands.”
It was a promise he didn’t waste any time getting started on. “Great thing about swings is…the adjustability factor.” He moved away from her, toward the wall. Ramsey pulled something off the small table that had all the sex aids on it. When he returned to her, he pointed a small remote at the ceiling, and the swing was suddenly lifting her. He stopped it when his head was directly between her spread thighs. She tried to close her legs out of instinct.
“Not a chance, Jewel.” He teased her curls again before using his fingers to spread her folds away from her clit. “You know how much I like to eat you out.”
His breath hit her clit, making her shudder, before he leaned in and lapped her.
She cried out, her voice hitting the ceiling where the spotless mirrors waited to reflect everything right back at her. She ended up watching in fascination as Ramsey licked her slit, from the opening of her pussy to her throbbing clit. She felt it and saw it, the combination beyond anything she’d ever felt.
“Mmm…” he murmured against her clit, the vibrations adding to the stimulation. Her nipples had puckered, the mirror above her showing off their hardened peaks. He teased the opening to her body, rimming it with his tongue before licking his way to her clit and capturing the little nub between his lips.
She was straining toward him, lifting her hips as the need to climax nearly drove her insane.
“Not a chance,” he warned her, looking up her body as he rubbed her belly with one open hand. “It’s not going to be that simple tonight.”
She shivered at the harsh edge to his words. She’d gripped the straps of the swing on either side of her shoulders, and suddenly realized she was holding on to the bondage cuffs. Ramsey noticed too. But he returned to the table, contemplating it for a long moment before he came back.
“Um…what’s that?” She knew it was a dildo, but couldn’t seem to keep the question from popping out.
“I’m almost jealous of i
t.” He held up the glass dildo so she could see it. “But not enough to keep me from enjoying every last second of having you on the edge”—he looked up and locked gazes with her—“while I’m still clearheaded enough to not blow my load because my cock is lodged inside you.”
She blushed. It was rather ridiculous, considering they were having sex, but his blunt talk made her feel about as naive as a teenager.
He flashed his teeth at her before there was a hum, and the swing lowered. A moment later, she lost track of everything. At least as far as her thoughts went. There simply wasn’t room in her brain for anything except what she was feeling. Ramsey teased her, stroking her belly and threading his fingers through her pubic hair. The first touch of glass against her folds was shocking. She jerked, and he soothed her back with a soft motion of his hand against her belly.
“It’s sexy…” He sounded far away, and yet almost inside her head. She settled back into the hold of the swing as he slid the tip of the dildo across the edges of her labia. Sensation shot up into her belly, her clit feeling like it was about to pop.
“It’s so damned sexy watching you…”
“Yeah…sure…” Her lips had gone dry. She swallowed and tried again, but he trailed the dildo across her folds again; this time, the smooth glass slipped easily between them, because of how wet she was.
“I am sure.” Each word was hard and blunt. She lifted her eyelids to find Ramsey shooting her a hard look. “Surer than anything, I need to please you, Jewel. Need to ensure you never want another man. I don’t just want you to be mine, I want you to believe you belong with me.”
“I want it too.” She tried to curl up, seeking a tighter connection with him, needing him deep inside her. The swing made it too hard. Ramsey pushed her back too easily. “I want you!” she demanded.
His features tightened. “But you could want me more…”
His gaze lowered to her spread sex. The determination glittering in his eyes made her belly knot. He was going to drive her past the edge of reason. It was both exhilarating and unnerving. But she lost all grip on thought as he teased her body, using the toy expertly, gliding it across her clit, through her slit, until she was sure she was going to climax just from a single touch. Only then did he insert it into her. The very walls of her pussy felt like they were trying to grip it. When he penetrated her to her core, she cried out, the sound deep and primitive, because he’d touched some spot inside her that seemed to have been made as a secret collection of nerve endings that were just waiting for him to discover.
“That’s the spot.” He withdrew the dildo and thrust it back until she jerked when he connected with the same spot. “Your G-spot. You like it.…right…there…”
The term for the fabled sex promised land got through to her. Jewel opened her eyes, feeling like her eyelids were almost too heavy for the lifting, and caught the look of triumph on Ramsey’s face. He pressed the dildo back into her, teasing her clit with his thumb as he rotated the toy against her G-spot.
She jerked, crying out as it felt like she was going to snap in two. She’d never needed to fuck so badly, never craved having the motion of a cock inside her so much. It was overwhelming, and she flung herself into it willingly.
“Fuck me.” Her voice was loud, bouncing around the suite, and she didn’t give a rat’s ass. “Fuck me… Now!”
Ramsey looked up her body, triumph shimmering in his dark eyes. “Yes…ma’am.”
The toy dropped to the floor with a clatter. There was a slight hum as he lowered the swing again, right to the perfect height for him to impale her.
“Get me out of this thing,” Jewel insisted, craving his weight on her.
“No way.” He ripped open a condom and sheathed himself before he grasped her hips and seated himself to the hilt with one hard thrust. “You’re mine right now. All mine.”
He grasped the straps of the swing and pulled her toward him as he fucked. She loved every second of it. Their bodies met with a wet slap, and the room was filled with the sounds of their groans. There wasn’t thought; there was only needy purpose. It seemed to root in the very walls of her cells. A part of her nature she’d never realized was there, just waiting for the right man to touch.
Ramsey let it loose. Set it free. Set her free. She strained toward him, fought against being controlled so completely, and finally cried out in rapture as he delivered on his promise. Was she conquered? Possibly. All Jewel knew was that she was twisting in the grip of something that could only be called rapture. It surpassed pleasure or climax. It was zenith. It wrung her and stole her breath and dropped her into the hold of the swing as Ramsey collapsed on top of her, his head falling to rest on her chest.
* * *
Ramsey cupped handfuls of the bubbling water in the spa and smoothed it over her shoulders. The moment was perfect, and yet her mind insisted on returning to the business of thinking, a major killjoy for sure.
“You need to let me do the additions,” she said at last, realizing she was being a coward by holding off the conversation.
He tensed behind her, cupping her shoulders. She turned around, straddling him, and the bubbling water teased her nipples. “I need to know if you’ll ask me to stay.”
“Christ,” he cursed as he buried his head against her neck. “I’m a fucking coward.”
He lifted his head back and looked into her eyes. “Stay with me. Please, Jewel.”
His tone was needy, just as needy as she felt. She cupped his chin. “I will.”
Something felt like it was lodged in her chest, and she realized it was a bubble of happiness. Oh, it didn’t make any sense, there wasn’t a bit of logic to be found anywhere, but it was there.
And she was not going to question it. Instead, she lifted up and sheathed his cock, taking refuge in the physical pleasure their flesh created. It was time to live in the moment.
And savor every second of it.
Because tomorrow wasn’t promised.
* * *
“Epic.”
Jewel had been chewing her lip as Ramsey inspected his ink. The additions had been challenging, but she realized she wanted to excel, because it was Ramsey. He turned in front of the mirror a few more times before looking at her. For a moment, she felt a connection between them that was unexpected.
Uncertainty.
She smiled back and realized it was an awkward smile, which made her choke. Ramsey gave her a harassed look. Jewel lifted her hands into the air. “I’ve finally found something you’ve never done before. Something you’re a virgin at.”
He snorted and turned to face her. “Something tells me you’re not referring to the ink.”
“Our relationship.” It felt like she’d pounded a gavel. The silence in the room was heavy. “I hope you aren’t going to turn into a nice guy or anything.”
He grunted but came across the room to settle in front of her. He sank down on his knees and hugged her to him, his head against her chest.
“I should,” he said at last, his voice muffled.
“Should…what?”
He loosened his grip on her and looked up from where he’d settled on his haunches in front of the chair she was sitting in. “Become a great guy…”
He was thinking. She could see his thoughts buzzing as he contemplated her.
“Come on.” He was in action before he’d finished talking. Ramsey jumped to his feet and yanked a T-shirt off a hanger. The staff took their jobs seriously, even hanging up T-shirts.
Ramsey shrugged into it, never giving even a stiff breath over his new tat.
“You’re an animal,” Jewel said. “That has to at least sting.”
He had the shirt in place and was grinning at her with an expression that she was pretty sure said “seriously?” “Okay. Okay…” She lifted her hands in mock surrender. “Sorry I questioned your badassness.”
“You should be.” He pulled her bag off the chair it was sitting on. “I feel the need to prove myself.”
She s
norted out a giggle. “Can’t wait.”
He had the outer door to the suite open for her. Once they were in the hallway, he captured her hand and pulled her toward the elevators. Steven opened his door as they passed, but Ramsey waved him off. “I’ll take this watch.” The bodyguard grinned as he reached up and loosened his tie.
“You need to tell him he can ditch the suit,” Ramsey said when they hit the elevator.
“I did,” she countered. “I think he’s trying to keep up with Yoon.”
Ramsey grinned. “Yeah. Yoon will die in that suit. His grandmother bought it for him when Taz got him the job.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to mess with Yoon’s grandmother. So I can’t really blame Steven for not wanting to either.”
A Harley was waiting outside the door, but Jewel hung back, tightening her grip on Ramsey’s hand. “Your ink is fresh.”
Ramsey tugged her toward the bike. “Told you before, sweetheart, I like to play rough.” He swung his leg over the bike and jerked his head at her in invitation. “Scratch me a little, kitty cat. I promise only to bite when you’re in the mood for it.”
Her insides curled, anticipation prickling along her skin. She moved forward and joined him. The moment she wrapped her arms and legs around him, he took off into the Milwaukee evening, handling the bike expertly as the scent of his skin filled her senses.
Wherever she’d thought he was taking her, a public high school parking lot wasn’t it. The dated building of the gym was painted with the school’s mascot. It was a falcon of some sort, or maybe a hawk, the cartoon nature of it making it hard to interpret. Ramsey angled the bike and drove right through the closed gate and up to the entrance of the football stadium. The lights were on, the members of the football team down on the field in their sweats as the sound of the coach’s whistle floated up to them.
“Come on. I want to introduce you to my past.” Ramsey was off the bike and offered her a hand.
“You went here?” she asked, feeling slightly giddy, like she was being invited inside his secret sanctum for a peek at his personal secrets.
He nodded. “Spent plenty of sunsets on that field.”
