And by the end of their meal, as they cleaned up, the scent of the food he’d cooked would cling to her skin. Marking her. Making him crave a taste of Ana, to kiss and lick her. Consume her. “I’m not going to forget that, or you. I had fantasies about you. I could smell my food on your skin, and it made me hungry for you.”
Ana’s eyes widened, the blazing sun brightening the brown to gold. “What kind of fantasies?”
He debated for a second. His fantasies were a tad rough. But that night when she’d kissed him and he’d taken control—okay lost control—she had responded. “I wanted to push you over the counter and hold you down. Ask you if you got off on teasing me.”
Ana blinked, her mouth parting slightly with a huff.
Ethan waited, giving her a chance to see if she liked the idea. Her sexual experience had been fairly limited from what he could tell, maybe two intimate boyfriends before she and Ethan had become friends. She might not be comfortable with rougher sex. Except she’d said she wanted to let go and quit worrying. He could give that to her.
A challenge glittered in her eyes. “I was a good girl, remember?”
“What I remember is how goddamned sexy you were without even trying. And today? Look at you.” He tracked his attention down her, taking in the tiny swimsuit over golden skin all the way to her toes with the blue polish. He lowered his head a fraction to lock stares with her. “You’re not being good now, are you, Ana? You’re purposely taunting me, getting me hard.”
Her smug smile answered him.
He loved that she didn’t hide it. Why should she? “Is that your fantasy? Driving me out of my mind?”
“Is it working?”
Ana deserved to have a fling as much as anyone else. And as long as it was with him, he’d make damn sure she was safe and satisfied. “You keep this up in the room when we’re alone, and I’ll show you what happens to bad girls who tease me.”
“What?” Her fingers tightened on her paddle. “Tell me.”
“Think hard, sunshine, because if I get you in that room and you taunt me, I’m pushing you up against a wall and those bottoms are coming down to your knees. If I touch your pussy and you’re wet, I’m not waiting for permission. I’m going to bury my cock inside you. Hard, Ana. And you’ll take it, all of it, and I’ll make you come, over and over. Or maybe I won’t…until you apologize for making me so goddamned hard for you day after day and burn for you every damned night.” He heard the rough frustration in his voice, the truth of it. Even after he’d left, traveled the world and had plenty of women, it was Ana he wanted. Craved.
She shuddered.
Ethan searched her eyes, looking for fear. Nope, he didn’t see it.
“What if I won’t apologize? Maybe I’m not sorry.”
He froze, going so still he could hear his own heart thumping in his ears. “Provoking me, sunshine? You don’t want an orgasm?”
Her chin went up. “I know how to make myself come.”
Christ. The very thought of her touching herself, showing him she didn’t need him, inflamed his lust. But the defiance in her eyes intrigued him more. There was some need he couldn’t define. Not yet.
“Hard to do if I have your hands pinned behind your back, fucking you slowly, keeping you right on the edge. Whispering in your ear to give in, just surrender and I’ll let you come.” He wanted that, forcing her to give him everything. The one girl he couldn’t have, and he’d damn well have her.
Temporarily. That harsh reminder did nothing to dampen his lust, it just added a layer of desperation to it.
“You still want to taunt me?” Jesus, what was he doing here? The more he let loose on the reins of his control with her, the more his desires for Ana surfaced.
Her eyes glowed with a blatant dare. “Two things.”
“What?”
“I’m on birth control, but I want to use condoms. I’m not risking an accidental pregnancy.”
He’d never take her bare. Ever. Ethan knew what he was—an ex-whore who didn’t deserve to touch her. But since he was going down this path, he’d sure as hell protect her. “All of us in the band and security have routine blood tests. I’m clean. And I always use condoms, no exceptions.”
“Oh, I—” The first sign of doubt clouded her expression. “I haven’t had sex in a couple years.”
Two years? And he thought he was going to take her hard? Hell no. He’d still give her the experience, but he was damned glad she’d told him that. It didn’t change how much he wanted her; if anything it made him want her more. It just meant he was going to enjoy getting her ready. Driving her to the brink with his fingers…
Enough. He had to get them in the room before he was too hard to walk. “You said two things. We discussed birth control. What’s the other thing?”
“Yes.” She put her paddle into the water and pushed off, heading for the shore.
Confused, he called out, “Yes what?”
She glanced back over her shoulder, a sexy smirk riding her mouth. “I still want to taunt you.”
Oh her ass was his now. Temporarily. He couldn’t forget that. A few days, and he was gone and out of her life. He’d never risk his past rising up to hurt and humiliate her. Nor would he be able to bear that look of disgust toward him in Ana’s eyes.
Chapter 4
Ana slipped into the room just ahead of Ethan and rushed past the two queen beds, through the dressing and bathroom area into the living space.
She grabbed a plastic container from the fridge, snatched up a fork, and hopped up on the counter by the small sink.
Her heart thumped, and chills broke out on her skin as Ethan strode into the room. He didn’t look at her, but walked straight to the huge slider and pulled it open. He stayed there, hands hanging loose at his sides as he focused on something outside.
What was he thinking? If he dared to change his mind now, she might just push him off that railing outside the sliding door. Ana wasn’t up for another rejection. But she had an idea of how to regain his attention. After popping open the plastic lid, she dug her fork into the rich pie that just happened to be Ethan’s favorite.
He spun around. “What are you doing?”
“Eating.” She shrugged, trying to appear casual. “I got hungry.”
He stalked toward her. “Is that key lime pie?”
Ha, she had him now. “What, this?” She stuck the fork in, gathering a creamy piece along with a bit of whipped cream and crust, and held it up between them. “Why yes, it is. I always heard Florida has the best, so I thought I’d try it.”
“Right now? While I was standing there at the window, trying to keep from ripping off your suit and fucking you blind, telling myself to slow down because you haven’t had sex in a couple years and might need a little tenderness…you got hungry?”
Did he just growl that last part? The realization that she hadn’t lost his attention, but rather he’d been struggling for some control, sent a wave of triumph through her. And affection that he’d thought he had to slow things because of her dry spell.
“Yep.” She slid the small chunk into her mouth. It really was excellent pie.
His eyes heated to pure blue, like the center of a gas flame. He slapped his hands on the counter, bracketing her hips. “Are you going to share?”
“Nope.” She scooped up another bite and got it halfway up, when he caught her wrist and tugged it to his mouth.
Damn he moved fast. Before she could recover, his lips closed over the forkful. A low sound of pleasure vibrated in his throat.
Ana couldn’t tear her gaze from him as he slowly savored the morsel. Heat radiated from the pit of her belly. “That was mine.”
He dipped his finger into the whipped topping and spread cool, sweet cream over her mouth. “And this is mine.” He swiped his tongue over her lips, lapping the treat.
The warm, wet licks sucked the air from her lungs.
Ethan tangled his fingers in her hair, holding her still as he cleaned off the whipped to
pping with an intensity that shivered through her. Not enough, it wasn’t nearly enough. After dropping the pie on the counter, she sank her fingers into his thick hair and darted her tongue out to meet his.
Ethan groaned and deepened the kiss. Sliding his hand to her jaw, he tilted her head back and demanded she give him full access to her mouth. Wild need surged, and she couldn’t get enough of his taste or the feel of his skin still hot from the sun.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, almost climbing up him.
His chest heaving, Ethan gripped her sides, pushing her back onto the counter. Breaking the kiss, he glared down at her. “No you don’t. You’re done teasing. I’m barely holding on to any restraint. We’re doing this slow.”
“I don’t want slow.” She wanted to just lose control and wipe out her ability to think or worry.
“Tough.” He settled his hands on her bare thighs and skimmed his palms up. “I’ll give you what you want if you tell me you’re sorry for teasing and promise to be good.”
The bastard was goading her. Paying her back. Given his massive hard-on, she knew she could push him over the edge of control. Reaching behind her back, she released her strap and yanked her top off.
Her freed breasts tingled from the cool air and Ethan’s heated stare.
“Or, I could do this.” She sank a finger into more of the whipped cream. She’d never done this kind of thing. But now? She had nothing to lose and could be as bad as she wanted. There were no emotional consequences. It didn’t matter if he secretly thought she was asking for it. Hell she was begging for it.
And it was amazingly freeing.
Ana painted the dollop of cream over her nipple, making it pebble and her belly tighten.
Ethan grabbed her hand and closed his mouth over her finger to lick it clean. A second later he had both wrists pinned behind her hips, forcing her into an arch. “You’re so going to be pay for that. I’m going to make you beg me to fuck you.”
The helpless feel of his fingers locked around her wrists caused an excited rush straight to her core. She squirmed as her entire body pulsed with anticipation. She’d never been this needy before. But Ana loved it.
Ethan latched on to her nipple and sucked, his tongue lashing the sensitive tip.
Ana bowed at the sensation, struggling to free her hands. But it was useless, he was too strong. That thought made her clit swell and ache. She squeezed her thighs around him, desperate for relief.
After releasing her nipple, Ethan took her mouth, tangling their tongues in a frantic dance. His free hand clamped on her hip, dragging her to his hard cock and rocking against her.
“Let go.” She wiggled, attempting to free her hands so she could touch him. Maybe push those boardshorts down and—
His dark chuckle sent shivers along her spine. “Nope. Not unless you really want me to release you, and we both know you don’t.” A smile curved his mouth, and his tone gentled. “You’re beautiful, Ana. You always were, but like this? Hair wild, your skin glowing from the sun and desire. Nipples wet and puckered from my mouth…”
The tenderness in his voice breeched her defenses, causing something thick and scary to grip her throat. His gaze on her was too much. Too intimate. She tried to twist out of his hold. “Ethan.”
Catching her chin, he kissed her then said, “Are you going to be good? Let me take you slowly? Lay you down, pull off those bottoms and make you come? As many times as it takes, to get you ready for my cock?”
A voice in her head tried to tell her to say yes. Stop this wildness. But she didn’t want to back down. She wanted to drive them both higher. “Not a chance. If you can’t handle it, then you know where the door is.”
His fingers tightened around her wrists. “Bad Ana.” Kissing a path along her jaw, he said, “Ask me to fuck you.” He slicked his tongue along the shell of her ear. “Nicely.”
Who knew Ethan could be so evil? She liked it. But she wasn’t surrendering that easily. Instead she sank her teeth into his shoulder.
When he jerked, she laughed. “I don’t surrend—” Before she could finish, his mouth was on hers, fierce, demanding.
She dropped her head back as he licked down the curve of her neck.
A noise echoed in the room. With her heart slamming in her chest, her body humming and needy, Ana struggled to focus. “What’s that?”
“My phone. I have to check it. I’m technically on duty.” Letting go of her hands, he strode to the table, snatched up the device and read something. “I need to go back.”
The cold air chilled her overheated skin. Ana slid off the counter, found her top and retied it. Disappointment weighed her down. “Okay.” What else could she say? Work came first. Looking around the room, she realized she hadn’t planned this very well anyway. Franci and Chelle could return at any time.
“Ana.”
He stood right in front of her. She’d been so fixated on the thoughts, she hadn’t heard him move. Steeling her spine, she got over her frustration and smiled. “Operation Kiss 2.0 is thwarted again. Some things just aren’t meant to be.”
“It doesn’t have to be over.” He leaned closer. “I’m not ready to call it quits. Come with me.”
“With you? Where? To the venue?”
“Back to where I’m staying at Bayside Manor. Come to the show with me tonight. I’ll get you VIP tickets again, and then after the show, we’ll go back to the manor. Spend the night with me.” He laid his hand on her cheek. “We’ll have more privacy in my room there. And more time to explore this need of yours to be my bad Ana.”
The enormity of the invitation left her spinning. He was giving her more than she’d even hoped for. They’d actually spend real time together.
But was this smart? What if she couldn’t really handle having sex and sleeping with him?
Really? Ethan’s giving you what you wanted, and now you’re getting cold feet? What did she think would be better? Have sex, then him walk out? That wasn’t what she wanted either. Yeah, she accepted that they weren’t going to have a future romantically. But if she truly wanted to be bad with Ethan and make some memories for both of them, why not take this opportunity and enjoy it to the fullest?
She could do this, and more importantly, she wanted to. Ethan was making a sincere effort for her.
“I’d like that.” The logistics of the plan took shape in her mind. “I need to tell Franci and Chelle where I am. Are you sure it’s okay if I stay? Is it a hotel?”
“Private manor we rented. Let me check with Hank, but I’m pretty sure Franci and Chelle can stay at the manor too. That way you won’t be alone at the concert, and you’ll have more fun with them around.”
A million thoughts skidded through her head, but one stood out. “I’m not sure we can afford the cost. The tickets, the rooms at the manor…maybe we should just—”
“There’s no cost. I can get you the tickets free, and the manor’s already rented.” He leaned down, brushing his mouth over hers. Raising his head, he said, “Say yes. The place is huge, right on the bay with a boat and watercrafts. There’s a big home theater, a game room, walking trails, you guys will love it. You don’t have to rush back here. We can have some fun.”
The fact that he actually desired to spend time with her stirred something that had gone cold and sad the day she’d sat alone in her doctor’s office, waiting to hear whether or not she was sick. For the first time in a while, Ana felt wanted.
But it was only temporary. She couldn’t forget that as she had no intention of getting her heart broken.
Again.
* * *
She hadn’t been sure what to bring, but finally she and Ethan were out the door and heading down in the elevator. Franci and Chelle had returned right after she texted them, and they’d all been running around the room, changing and packing. The two girls would drive the rental car to the manor once they were all set to go.
Ethan’s voice cut in to her thoughts. “Is it always like that?”
She glanced over at him. “What?”
“That…chaos?”
Chuckling, she said, “Three women trying to pack and get ready in one contained space? Yep, that’s usually how it goes. I’m guessing you don’t have any sisters?”
“Nope.”
Ana peered at him as the elevator stopped and opened to a courtyard. “Do you have any siblings?” All he’d ever told her was that before Sloane found him, he’d run away from home, lived on the streets and sometimes did underground fighting to survive. But he’d shut her down if she asked anything else.
“No.” He laid his hand on her back as they walked, hauling her suitcase behind him.
There he was, quiet Ethan. She could feel the second he pulled away from her. When he withdrew like that, it burned. Worse, she could sense the pain that he held onto with an iron fist. It tugged at her need to fix things.
Despite his hard jaw and straight-ahead stare, she asked softly, “What happened to—?”
“Ana!” a male voice called out.
Surprised and confused, she spotted a dark-haired man dressed in tan slacks and a polo shirt striding up to them. He shot a quick look at Ethan then settled his brown eyes on her.
It was so unexpected, it took Ana a second to place who he was. It clicked finally, and despite the slightly humid air, goose bumps rose on her arms. “Gregory? What are you doing here?” She barely knew him, and she really wanted to keep it that way.
A grin tilted his mouth. “I’m as surprised as you are. In fact I wasn’t even sure it was you when I called out your name. I’m here on a business trip and staying at the Guy Harvey Outpost. What are you doing here?”
Business trip? And why was he practically bouncing on his toes like a two-year-old waiting for a cupcake?
Because he was waiting for you.
Ana rubbed her arms, suddenly cold despite the blazing sun. What were the chances that the man she’d been trying to avoid for the last two weeks had shown up in another state the exact same time she did?
Savaged Surrender: A Novella Page 5
