by Lilly Holden
Charlotte sat back in her chair, her gaze watchful. “Do you play poker professionally? Is that how you support yourself?”
She wanted to know more about me? I’d take this as a good sign.
“No, I just enjoy the game.” Winning at cards was the one skill my deadbeat dad had taught me, making me the natural choice to hook Wyatt. Getting up from the table, I took my empty plate and her discarded sandwich to the sink and cleaned up. “I have a property portfolio that pays the bills.”
Also in part the truth. Living on base and not having any dependents had meant more disposable income for many on the team. Ryder’s dad was a financial guru, and he’d helped us invest our money with spectacular results.
I leaned back against the kitchen counter and studied Charlotte. The emotional and stressful end to her day showed in the slump of her shoulders and the lack of spark in her gaze. “How about a shower and some sleep?”
“I…” She blinked. “You’re going to let me sleep?” Once the words were out, she closed her eyes and cursed. “I mean, I didn’t expect—”
“You thought I’d attack you as soon as you walked into a bedroom?”
Her assumption was fair enough considering I purposely hadn’t spelled out what would happen on our first night, or any of the next seven for that matter.
“I’m not going to force you, Charlotte. But I’m no fucking Boy Scout either.”
Which left her up in the air and that suited me fine. I wrapped my hand around her arm, pulled her up from her chair and led her down the wide hallway to the master bedroom.
“You’ll sleep in here.” I nodded toward the California king sized bed. The house came furnished in a mix of country style designs. This room was outfitted with pine nightstands and a matching large dresser. A large built-in wardrobe was empty. All my clothes took up one drawer of the dresser. Besides the Sig Sauer strapped to my ankle, there were various other weapons hidden around the house.
Items that killed the enemy were my idea of essential packing.
“I’m guessing you’d like a shower. Your duffel’s in there.” I waved at the door of the master bathroom on our left. “Locks are on the windows, and like I said earlier, the place is wired, so any attempt to sneak out would end in tears.”
“But I’m your guest, remember?” Her saccharine sweet smile wouldn’t fool a blind man. Not with that sarcastic tone.
My hand itched to warm her backside, but no doubt she’d earn a punishment soon enough. “You can leave anytime you want, Charlotte.”
“Then why the warning?”
“You’re miles from any passing traffic. Attempting to get that far would be dangerous. There’s wild boar roaming this land. I don’t want you taking stupid risks with your safety.” I glanced toward the bathroom. “Go have your shower.”
With no valid argument against being gouged by a wild boar, she hustled into the bathroom.
As the door closed, I was certain of one thing. Charlotte would be thinking all kinds of ways she could fix everything for her cousin and still get her cute little ass out of this house.
And I am just as determined to keep her here.
CHAPTER FIVE
Charlotte
I stood in front of the vanity mirror and stared back at my reflection. My ponytail was sagging and my uniform creased. An overall picture of tiredness. Yet my pulse was racing. And I’d be lying out of my pants if I said it was from fear. It was more like…when you’re waiting for a phone call, one you’ve looked forward to all day. Anticipation. That was it. But I was excited for what?
Jake’s firm touch? Those long stares that made my toes curl? Or—God, I couldn’t believe I was thinking this—the idea of sleeping with my blackmailer?
Jesus, what was wrong with me?
I shook my head and gave the shower knob a savage twist, before adjusting the water temperature. Grabbing the toiletries from my bag, I stripped and got under the shower.
Standing under the water went a small way to calm my nerves, but after I dried off and dressed in the cotton nightie I’d shoved in the duffel, my thoughts centered on ways to keep Jake at a distance.
Taking a few seconds to check myself in the mirror, I brushed out my hair and applied my moisturizer, doing all the little things that helped me relax at night.
Opening the door of the bathroom, I stepped into the bedroom and froze.
There was Jake, sitting on the edge of the bed closest to the doorway.
So much for keeping him at a distance.
“What are you doing here?”
He stood up and pulled the navy bedspread down, revealing the cream-colored sheets underneath. “It’s my room, sweetness.”
“You promised I wouldn’t have to sleep with you tonight.”
“No. I said I wouldn’t have sex with you if you didn’t want me to. That’s not the same as sharing a bed.”
But he’d still be there, right beside me. Nearly naked.
I stepped back, even before I was aware what I had done.
Jake’s gaze narrowed. “Don’t make me come get you.”
And he would, too. Of that I had no doubt. Hurrying over to the opposite side of the bed, I dropped my duffel near the dresser on the way. Wasting no time, I slipped into bed, drawing the sheet up to my chin, and settled on my side near the edge of the bed, facing away from Jake.
The more I tried to relax and ignore the sounds of him undressing, the more my pulse raced. The clink of his metal buckle, the slide of his jeans’ zipper and the heavy thud of his boots hitting the floor—each action another step further into him being so near. Only when the bed dipped under his weight did I realize I’d been holding my breath.
Closing my eyes, I willed myself to relax. Maybe I could block out the fact he was there if—
A strong arm circled my waist and pulled me back against a hard male body. All thoughts of relaxing—hell, of remaining calm in any way—were instantly banished.
“Hey!” I squirmed against Jake’s hold but my efforts were useless.
“Quiet down, Charlotte, and get some sleep.” He sighed and adjusted me closer enough I could feel his warm breath on my hair and neck.
“That’s it? Be quiet?” The nerve of the guy.
“You want to get busy doing something else in bed?” The amusement in Jake’s tone was underlined with a thread of danger.
“Nope,” I rushed out. “Sleep is good.” Not daring to move a muscle, I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the warmth of Jake’s body behind me. The weight of his arm was a reminder not only of his closeness to me, but his masculinity—the sheer size of him and his undeniable strength.
As the seconds ticked by into minutes, I failed to block out thoughts of the man who held me so easily. Sleep was impossible. All I could think about was Jake, the commanding way he’d taken control of me earlier, subdued me into his cuffs, and the sensations flooding me now as he held me. Warmth slowly kindled between my legs. I touched a hand to my breast, feeling my nipple, now hard.
All that power in one man. Yes, he was dangerous. But right now, when he could, he wasn’t hurting me. His hold was more…heck, don’t know…more staking a claim?
And I was turned on by his actions.
God, none of this made sense.
I’d never lain in bed with a guy—a man—like Jake before.
But even as I tried to tell myself to shut up and get some sleep, I wanted to snuggle deeper against Jake, to feel his big powerful body closer to mine. I wriggled in his hold, trying to get comfy and ignore the tingle of need building in my pussy. My clit was aching for some attention, but how could I touch myself with Jake so near? Squeezing my thighs together did nothing to lessen my arousal; hell, it only made things worse. I squeezed harder, moving my hips as much as I dared.
The arm around my waist lifted followed by a sharp smack to my bottom. “Quit moving your ass and get to sleep,” Jakes voice rumbled close to my ear as he rested his hand on my thigh.
I lay still as the he
at from his smack shot straight to my clit. The shock of him spanking me replaced by the revelation what he did turned me on further. Now without his arm at my waist, I could touch myself.
Should I dare to?
Dammit, why not? This whole week was about me being thrown to the wolves. Being brave was now my new mantra.
Slowly, I lowered my hand to my pussy and slid two fingers under my cotton panties, the ones with the little pink bow at the front.
My fingers slid over my bare skin. God, I was so wet. I couldn’t remember a time when simply being with a guy had left me so hungry for more. Running the tip of my finger near the hood of my clit, I pictured Jake over me, my legs bent at the knees, his hands pushing my legs further apart.
My clit pulsed and I had to bite down on my lip to keep quiet. There was no way I’d stay silent until I come. Maybe just a few more strokes. Just enough to ease—
A hand firmly gripped my wrist, drawing my hand out of my panties as the lamp on Jake’s nightstand clicked on.
He rose above me, turning me onto my back. “You’ve just made the perfect mistake to kill all my good intentions, sweetness.”
Oh, shit.
“I—”
“Hush.” He raised my arms above my head, holding my wrists in one hand as he balanced himself on his side. With his other hand he traced a path along my jaw, then down my neck, and further down to the tops of my breasts at the neckline of my nightie. “I’ve been lying here gritting my teeth as you moved your ass against me. But you found the one sure way to destroy any reason why I should hold back any longer.”
Jake lowered his head, his lips taking mine in a hard, wet kiss. For two seconds, I deliberated fighting him, but then the tide of sensations from his touch took over. The firmness of his grip on my wrists, the roughness of his stubble on my face as he kissed me, the pressure of his lips—all combined to decimate my resistance. I gave in to the thrill of his taking me. Without thought, I spread my legs, wanting him over me.
Jake didn’t hesitate, moving over me and pressing me deep into the mattress as he put most of his weight on the arm holding my wrists. Ending our kiss, he brushed back a lock of my hair with his other hand. “I won’t hurt you, Charlotte.”
“I know.” And I did. Jake could have done unspeakable things to me for hours now, but he’d been more protective of me than anything else. Right at this moment, I felt safe with him, desired by him.
Jake’s faint smile was my reward as he stroked a finger over my cheek. “I’m going to enjoy every moment of taking you. His gaze swept over my face, lingering as he stared back me. “This is only the start.”
I closed my eyes as he kissed me, a long, deep kiss that seemed to go on forever, drawing me into him. He released my lips to trail kisses along my jawline, down my neck, then to my breasts, each caress sending shivers of delight along my body. Calloused fingertips gently traced over my shoulders and the hollow of my throat. I loved the rawness of his work-roughened hands. They were a testimony that this man was no white-collar gym-fit guy. He was all real and dangerous.
Sighing, I sunk deeper into the pleasure of his kisses on my body. He licked the skin just about my nipple. I held my breath, waiting for him to—
Jake grasped the neckline of my nightie and in one ruthless motion, ripped the garment from my body.
I gasped, the violence so at odds with the gentleness of his kisses and his hold on my wrists.
But he didn’t give me time to wonder further as he closed his mouth over my nipple, sucking and rolling the bud in his mouth.
My moan filled the room. An arrow of pleasure shot straight to my throbbing clit. Lifting my hips, I wanted to feel him down lower, right on my pussy. But I wanted something else, too.
“Please, let me touch you,” I begged, gently twisting my wrists in his grasp.
Jake lifted his head a moment and regarded me. I didn’t hold back the look of need in my face, letting him see the desperation I was feeling inside.
Without words, he released his hold before lowering his head to keep tormenting my nipples with his expert skill.
I wasted no time, skimming my hands over the broadness of his shoulders, reveling in the strength of his muscles under my touch. This man had control of me, this deadly, masculine man. But I had no fear, only excitement at what would happen next.
Jake moved lower over my body, settling between my legs and kissing a path to the top of my mound. Rising up on one elbow, he dragged my panties down my legs. He ran his hand over the top of my slick, bare pussy. “You wax?”
“I like taking care of myself.” No way could I afford a wax treatment at a fancy spa, but I did my best.
His fingers moved, drawing a circle just an inch from my clit. “I’ve been thinking about going down on you all afternoon, tasting you, making you squirm until I’m ready to let you come.”
Oh, God.
My clit throbbed from his words. “T-t-that…” I caught my breath as he tapped a finger on the hood of my clit. “That sounds wonderful.”
“You like having a man go down on you?” Jake regarded me with a lazy stare that only enhanced the excitement of the moment.
“Um, I haven’t had much experience.” Damn Jake for turning on the lamp. There’s no way he could miss the blush now heating my cheeks.
Jake ran the back of a knuckle over the wet skin of my inner thigh. “How much experience do you have?”
“Well,” I blew out a breath. “Not that much.”
The way he held himself so still sent a shiver through my body. “Charlotte, are you a virgin?”
I closed my eyes. “Yes,” came out as a whisper.
I felt him tap my clit, sending a jolt of pleasure to my core. “No man’s touched this?”
“No,” I managed to get out.
His finger skimmed over the outer lip of my pussy to my vagina, gently sliding in just a fraction. “Or this?”
My fingers dug into his upper arm, as I felt him in places no man had been before. “No.”
Quietness greeted my answer. I waited until I couldn’t stand it any longer and opened my eyes.
And lost my breath.
Jake’s gaze blazed with an intensity that stole all movement from by body. His rugged features hardened, but not with anger, but with resolve.
I could only stare back.
“You’re mine, sweetness.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.
No matter, Jake wasn’t done yet. “Everything for you changes from this moment.”
I shook my head against the pillow. “I don’t understand.”
His hand gripped my thigh firmly, as if making a statement by his touch. “I know, but you will soon enough.”
Jake dipped his head and then he was there. His tongue flicked over my clit, once, twice, then again. Swirling around the knot of tender nerves, licking and flicking, each stroke a devastating blow of pleasure.
My hands clenched in the sheets, twisting the cotton as he sucked my clit into his mouth and flicked it with the tip of his tongue.
“Oh, Jesus.” I dragged in a breath. “Jake, I—”
But I broke off, not able to form words as the pleasure grew so, so high. I’d never, ever imagined anything could feel so intense. I flew higher, as everything drew tight deep inside my core, taking me to a place I’d never been before.
Jake gently gripped my clit between his teeth and sucked hard.
My world exploded in a kaleidoscope of brilliant color as my body was shattered with waves of blinding rapture. My cry ripped from my chest as I lifted my hips to get away, the pleasure too strong, too…shocking.
But Jake pushed me down, using his forearm to keep me in place as he devoured me, showing no mercy with each flick of his tongue.
“Ohmygodohmygod.” I writhed under his onslaught, twisting on the sheets and fisting the material in my hands. “Please. Please. Please. I can’t take any more.”
Slowly, in his own time, Jake lessened his touch,
gently kissing my pussy before moving up to loom over me, filling my gaze.
My clit still pulsing with the ferocity of my orgasm, I looked up at him, hoping my vulnerability wasn’t as obvious as it felt to me.
“Jake.” I stroked his face, my fingers feeling the scratch of the day’s growth of stubble over his hard jaw. “I’d never imagined anything could feel so good.”
“We’ve only just started, sweetness.” His gaze gleamed with satisfaction before he kissed me, letting me taste myself on him. It didn’t taste weird, just different, and the honesty of the moment was so right with this uncompromising man.
Ending our kiss, he reached for his wallet and withdrew a condom. Once he covered himself, he again braced himself on one arm and stroked a wave of hair from my face. “I promise you, Charlotte, everything is going to be all right. I’ll always protect you.”
My answer was to widen my legs, giving him all my trust at that moment.
“Fuck, sweetness.” He kissed me hard, his mouth grinding into mine as I felt his cock push at the opening of my vagina. “Consider yourself claimed.” Easing himself inside of me, he pushed against the barrier of my innocence, stretching me until the sharp pain gave way to a fullness that fired flurries of pleasure along my core.
“Good girl.” His fingers swept over my clit, distracting me from the initial burn, giving me pleasure that blended with the wonderfully new sensations inside of me.
I wanted more. So much more.
I lifted my hips, forcing him deeper, increasing the sensation as he guided me with each thrust.
“That’s it, Charlotte. Move with me.” Jake drove me harder, quickening his pace, driving my need ever higher. Taking a fistful of my hair, he pulled my head back, watching my face with each driving thrust. “You’re so fucking beautiful. The face of yours hides nothing. Shock and pleasure in equal measure.”
I wrapped my legs around him, taking as much of him as possible. The sensitive nerve endings along my core sparked with the friction, igniting with delight at his possession of me.
Make no mistake. That’s what this moment was. A taking. A claiming.
And the knowledge was utterly thrilling.
