Embers of Desire [Sequel to Lighting a Flame] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Serenity Snow

  In and out he shuttled. Deep and rough. The bite of pain a bliss of pleasure. Then, he found her clit, worked it as he drove into her hard and fast. She was coming again before she could think.

  “Tyler!” she sang his name a harsh litany as he thrust into her again and again.

  “Dani.” Her name was torn from his throat, a harsh shout, as he came.

  Chapter Twelve

  Dani lay on the king-size bed moments later staring up at the ceiling in the dark room. Tyler finished cleaning her juices from her and disappeared into the bathroom. Her body was still tingling from the current Tyler had teased it with.

  She’d never experienced so much pleasure in her life or such tenderness as he’d cleaned her up. He hadn’t had to be so sweet or attentive, but it was clear by the look in his eyes she mattered to him.

  “Okay?” Tyler slipped into bed next to her.

  Her first instinct was to curl into him, to seek out the heat of his body, and the tenderness of his touch, but she held back. “That was incredible. Next time I get to use that electro thing on you.”

  He chuckled. “No, you don’t, baby.” He gathered her to him and the sensation of hard muscle and hair roughened skin made her shiver. She wanted to stroke him, to communicate her satisfaction with touch, but she rested her hand on his flat stomach and marveled at the firmness beneath it.

  “I like this,” he said. “Laying here with you in my arms. It feels so good and right.”

  Her palms dampened and she pulled her hand from his stomach. “I bet you do this all the time.”

  “Only with women who mean something to me, Danica,” he said softly. “You mean something.”

  “A good sub,” she teased.

  “A good partner.” He caressed her back. “I need more than an obedient playmate. I need a friend, a lover, and a companion, sweetheart. What do you need?”

  His voice was a whisper in the dark that wrapped around them like an intimate blanket. It made her breath stall. Tyler sounded like he was looking for something with her she couldn’t give him.

  “I need food,” she said lightly and tried to get up.

  “Dani.” He held her fast. “Don’t put up walls. Talk to me. Show me a little more of you because I’m the guy who wants to be here for the long haul.”

  “Tyler, you don’t even know me, and it’s way too early to start thinking about the ‘long haul.’” She tried again to get up, and he pulled her onto him and tugged her arms behind her back. “Tyler.” She looked down at him, her face only inches from his.

  “When I release you, put your hands down on either side of me,” he ordered. “Don’t turn this into a confrontation of dominance.”

  She knew he was stronger than her, but it was the look in his eyes that told her, Tyler wasn’t just a man, he was a predator. She was his prey. He released her, and Danica put her hands down on either side of him. Her wrists rested against his sides.

  He glided his hands up her bare back and down to cup her ass. “You’re such a sexy woman,” he murmured.

  She moved, stroking her sex against his and felt him instantly harden. She rubbed against his again.

  “While you’re getting that ole dick all agitated, tell me what you need.”

  “Food and s—”

  “What kind of food does your heart need, girl?” he cut her off gently. “What will make you happy, keep you content?”

  She stared down at him, her body starting to burn for his. She moved lithely against him and sighed as his hard penis slid through the lips of her pussy. “Mmm.”

  “If you want it again answer my question,” he commanded. “Or all you get is a hand to the ass.”

  “You’re so stern, Ty,” she murmured teasingly and dipped her head to kiss his shoulder before looking at him and saying, “Loyalty, honesty, understanding, that’s what I need.”

  “Good qualities.” He shifted so he could swirl his tongue around a nipple. He scraped at the delicate flesh and she moaned. “What about love? Don’t you want to be loved?” He sucked her nipple and her back bowed.

  She whimpered.

  “Don’t you want a man who’ll love the hell out of you even when you go and fuck a woman behind his back?” He pinched her nipple and she gasped. “Don’t you want a man who’ll let you bring another woman into his life?”

  Her face twisted into a mask of pleasure as he sucked her nipple hard while pinching the other. “Oh God.”

  “Don’t you want a man who’ll be there even when you close up on him?” He turned his attention to her other nipple. His tongue flicked over it while his hand plumped and plucked at the twin.

  “Tyler, you’re fucking with my head,” she admitted. It wasn’t just what he was doing to her body. It was the way he was making her remember the dreams for a man who’d be a partner and a friend. She wanted a man whose love would be steady and true even when they brought the occasional third into their bed.

  Heat washed over her as his mouth closed around the tight bud. Her hips jerked and his cock slid through her juices. “Tyler,” she said harshly. “I want you inside me.”

  “Grab a condom from the nightstand.”

  She leaned over and grabbed one. Tearing it open quickly, Danica removed the yellow disc and reached down to grasp his cock. She stroked it. Feeling the supple flesh in her hand, she shifted on top of him so she could kiss his stomach. His muscles quivered. She licked down to his belly button and he moved above her. Suddenly, the room was flooded with light, and she looked up at him.

  Tyler was looking down at her with dark whiskey eyes full of hunger and something she didn’t want to see. Danica lowered her gaze. It was just sex no matter what he tried to turn it into.

  “Don’t do that.” Tyler growled. “Look at me. Show me how much you want me.”

  Damn. She wanted him so what? That was all it was.

  She met his gaze as she licked over the head of his cock. Her heart beating fast, she tasted the drop of creamy essence beading on the tip. “Mmm.”

  “Go ahead and suck it,” Tyler ordered as he reached down to stroke her face.

  Danica closed her lips around him, sucking, allowing her tongue to play along the steely flesh. She lifted her head and lowered it losing herself in the taste and feel of him. Oral was one of her favorite things, but only on a woman. However, she was enjoying the look on Tyler’s face as she took him.

  Her hand worked his flesh, savoring the heat and softness of his skin.

  “Dani, sweetheart.” He hissed. “Suck it like that.”

  She scraped her teeth along his flesh, and he groaned. She pulled him from her mouth and gave the head a light thump. He smiled.

  “Harder,” he urged. She thumped him a little harder and he grimaced. “Fuck. Do it again.”

  Instead, she slapped the head and he chuckled. “You’re insane,” she said and laughed to before licking over the tip and giving it another slap.

  “I’ll let you try anything,” he told her. “Right now, I want your sweet pussy surrounding my dick. So, put that rubber on me and get up here.”

  She glared at him. She wasn’t done. She wanted to suck him until he came.

  “Baby, you’re such a little brat.” He reached down and hauled her up over him and rolled them over so she was on the bottom. He pushed into her slow and easy and Danica reached up and hooked her hand behind his head.

  “Tyler, the condom,” she whispered.

  “Who gives a fuck?” he muttered. “We’re both clean. The worst thing that can happen is you get pregnant.” He pushed in deeper and drew back. “I’m not ready, but we can always decide what to do later.”

  “That’s even more insane than cock and ball torture.” She gasped as he glided back into her. “Tyler, don’t,” she protested breathlessly. “Just fuck me.”

  “Touch me, Dani,” he ordered. “I know you want me just like this.”

  He took his time sinking into her, making her feel every inch of him. The pleasure was intense, but it w
as nothing compared to the slow delicious strokes he took in and out of her. Her rational mind rebelled at the tender possession, her heart reveled in it, encouraged it.

  “Oh.” The sigh that escaped her was a jagged sound so full of rapture. Her hands moved over his back, nails raking, marking him up as she arched against him. “Faster.” The snail’s pace was too much. Her emotions were fraying at the ends as he stared into her eyes holding her in his thrall with his need for her pouring over her.

  Tyler rolled onto his back taking her with him and sat up. “Ride me, sweet baby,” he urged but he didn’t let her speed up. Her clit brushed the hard ridge of his cock on each downward stroke until the pressure had her body tightening, jerking as she came with a hard gasp.

  Tyler kissed her throat. He sucked hard throwing her into a second orgasm as he had his first.

  * * * *

  Danica stepped into the store late the next morning. Leigh was already behind the counter and looked up. The younger woman gave her a smile.

  “Morning, Danica,” she said. “Uh, something came for you. I just put it in your office. Vinessa said she wasn’t going to be in until this afternoon. Kaela called, too.”

  Kaela?

  “Thanks, Leigh,” she said. “I’ll be in my office.”

  “Oh, the manufacturer called about Vinessa’s Fleshlights. I left her a message, but she hasn’t called me back.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” She hurried to her office. Her body was a little sore from a night of way too much sex. Tyler had the libido of a teenager.

  She stepped into her office and spied two boxes on her desk. She stopped staring at them as if they were vipers. Her breathing hitched and she took a step back. Sweat began to dew her skin. She closed her eyes as her heart pounded so hard in chest it filled her ears.

  “It’s nothing,” she said. “It’s not his heart or a wedding ring.” She forced her feet to move despite the ragged breaths. Hands shaking she dropped her purse into her chair and set her black art box on the floor. It was filled with her tools for drawing. She reached out and drew her hand back.

  “Danica, stop it,” she snapped. She rubbed her hands together. Six weeks after she found out the only man she’d fallen in love with was married, she started getting hang-ups, and then dead flowers with maggots once a week. When that didn’t have the desired impact, she’d started getting dead rats. She’d even gotten a cat’s heart and later his head.

  Then, there had been the blood on her car, and the threatening messages painted in that blood. Broken car windows, slashed tires and the break-in at the apartment she’d shared with Vinessa at the time.

  The phone on her desk rang and she jumped and gasped. She swallowed tightly and reached for the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Hey, sweet baby mine.” Tyler’s voice filled her ear and showers of warmth rose over her taking away the chill that was cooling her from the inside out.

  She squeezed her eyes closed and all the unsavory memories swamped her. It had taken her years to stop cringing every time she saw a box or heard a phone ring.

  “Danica?”

  “Hi.”

  “Are you okay? Your voice sounds strained,” Tyler said, his tone rife with concern.

  “I’m fine,” she said quickly. “Umm, I was just thinking.”

  “Don’t do that,” he commanded softly. “When you think, you run. Tell me about the flowers.”

  Running was a natural instinct where men and serious relationships were concerned. “Okay.” She opened the box letting her mind work on automatic pilot. Nestled against red paper, pretty blooms of yellow stared up at her. A single red bud languished in the fray.

  She picked it up and brought it to her nose. The delicate fragrance soothed her a little more.

  “Open the other box,” he said.

  She did so even though she was a little hesitant. She found a vase and a pair of scissors. Danica laughed. “You’re so funny, Tyler.” And he was so sweet just like her father. The kind of man she’d wanted in her life when she was young and naïve.

  “I want to see you tonight,” he said. “I’ll pick you up for dinner around eight. Wear a dress and crotchless panties. I’ll be so hard all night.”

  She grinned even as excitement flooded her. That would make him deliciously ready after dinner. And he was so good in bed her clit pulsed with memory.

  “The flowers are beautiful,” she said softly. She spied the card that had come them and pulled it free of the side of the tissue paper.

  I was just thinking about you and wanted to brighten your day a little.

  Warmth skittered through her touching her soul. This wouldn’t last. She’d give in to him and he’d find some way to hurt soon after.

  “Dani?”

  “I have to go,” she said quickly. Her chest clenched in a heart aching pain that brought tears to her eyes. “I have a ton of calls to return.”

  “Eight. Text me your address.”

  “I will.” Not. She disconnected and pushed out a rough breath. Damn Jon and his wife for the scars they’d left her with.

  And damn her for being so stupid once upon a time.

  Danica put the flowers in water and then made all the calls she needed to before calling Kaela.

  “Hi, Danica,” Kaela said warmly.

  “Hi, Kae. What’s up?”

  “Wanna have lunch with me?” she asked. “I’m dying to get out of the house for a while.”

  “Sure.” Yeah. Kaela was safe. There was no danger of getting close to her anymore.

  “Great. Let’s meet at the bistro we used to go to,” Kaela said. “We both love the food there.”

  “Great. Twelve?”

  “See you then.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tyler stepped into Fantasy Brokers around 12:30. The store was quietly buzzing with conversation as patrons checked out items and asked questions of the associates. He waited until Leigh was free and strolled over to her. He’d met her a few times through her fiancé, Connor.

  “Hi, Leigh.”

  “Hey, Tyler.” She gave him a smile. “What can I help you with?”

  “I’m looking for a Whartenburg wheel,” he said. “Do you have any in stock?”

  “Yeah, we don’t carry a lot of them though,” she said. “They’re right over here.”

  Danica should like that little toy as much as she’d enjoyed the electrowand he’d used on her last night.

  “Is Danica in?”

  “No, she’s out to lunch. She said she wouldn’t be back for a few hours.”

  “Did she go out with Kaela?” he asked, a cold chill running down his spine.

  She nodded. “I think so,” she agreed. “Kaela met her here.”

  “I see,” he said anger seeping into him but he maintained a smile. “Kaela is one of Merchant Jeans favorite models.”

  “Danica’s used her, too,” she said. “She’s gorgeous. Here you go.” She picked up a box. “Vinessa’s designed a similar toy called the Sharp Touch. It has a nice case. It’s on for a discount price this week along with edible lubes and condoms.” She smiled. “Need any?”

  He chuckled through anger still nibbling at him. “Is Vinessa’s toy safe?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded. “She doesn’t market anything that’s harmful or fails to stimulate.”

  He grinned. “She’s a woman after my own heart.”

  Leigh laughed. “She knows her stuff.”

  “Is the case sold separately?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Anything else?”

  “Condoms.” He might not need them or his new toy if Danica was fucking Kaela.

  “Okay then.” She showed him where the condoms were and left him to help another customer. Tyler pulled out his phone and punched in Danica’s number. If she answered, he’d be reasonably sure she wasn’t in a hotel room with Kaela. But she didn’t answer. There was only one way to handle this. He’d invite Kaela to do a session with them.

  That should take th
e edge off Danica’s fears and show her that he meant what he said. He was willing to allow her to exercise her need to dominate other women.

  * * * *

  Danica got back to the office at three and, laughing, she unlocked her trunk so Kaela could get her bags. A shopping spree and an hour at the spa getting a facial and a massage had been exactly what she’d needed.

  “Thanks, Kaela,” she said after closing the trunk.

  “For what?” Kaela leaned against the car with bags in hand. “Dragging you away from work?”

  “I needed the spa break,” she said. “You were right.”

  Kaela grinned. “My pleasure. I want us to be friends, Dani. It would be so nice to be able to call you when I’m at my wit’s end, and I’d love to take you to the premiere with me.”

  “What premiere?”

  “I’m shooting a movie soon. It’s a scary flick where I get possessed. I love the script, and it’ll give me a chance to dip my feet into real acting.”

  Danica nodded. “Is that something you want to do?”

  “I want to find out.” She smiled. “Come with me to the premiere?”

  “By then, you’ll be going with your co-star,” Danica said with a smile.

  “No way.” She made a face of distaste. “You want to have dinner tonight?”

  “Yeah, you remember where I live?”

  “Course,” she said with a smile. “I’ll see you at seven.”

  * * * *

  Tyler pulled his care to a stop at the curb of Danica’s home. He wasn’t surprised to see a car in the driveway. He tightened his lips and reminded himself of the decision he’d made. If Kaela was here, he’d check things, out see if there was a reason to walk away.

  He was falling hard for Danica, but he wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t going to stick around if Danica really wasn’t interested in him.

  If she couldn’t commit to him, if being with a woman was truly what she needed to be content and whole, then he’d let her go.

  If he was right and she was just afraid, he’d run her to ground. Eventually, he’d learn what was holding her back.