“Wait here.” I pressed a finger to her lips, then walked back to the table, put my hand in the spotlight, and pulled out the tablecloth with one fluid motion.
Everything stayed in place.
And I had something to cover her up with.
“Wow, and a magician.” She hugged her arms to her chest.
“Party tricks. We all have them. You should see me open a champagne bottle.”
She just laughed.
It was a nervous laugh.
Maybe I’d waited too long.
Or maybe she was just worried that I was going to turn into a giant prick once I got what I wanted—but that’s why it was necessary. I wanted her to see that it could be different.
That the ending was going to be completely and totally different from last time.
“Here.” I draped the tablecloth around her shoulders and then grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the stairs leading up to the seats.
I sat on the first step and held open my arms. “Sit on me.”
With a small nod, she slowly hung one leg around me and then the other. She didn’t lower right away, just locked eyes with me. Straddled me.
She was in suspension over me.
Her back to the rest of the world.
The tablecloth covering everything.
“Why the hesitation?” I teased as my cock strained toward her in an almost painful way. The cold of the metal stairs stung my skin.
“I just like making you wait—think of it as a training exercise in not always getting everything you want when you want it.” She winked.
“Fine.” I put my hands behind my head and shrugged. “Wait all you want, but we both know you’re suffering too. You can be patient and I’ll be here, I’ll wait.” I lowered my voice. “But your body doesn’t lie.” My eyes drank in her erect nipples and the rise and fall of her chest as I looked my fill of her narrow hips and strong legs. “I know your legs and thighs are starting to tremble, I know you’re thinking about what it would be like to be filled so completely that you see heaven. I know that your core’s getting hotter and hotter, ready to weep for me.” I reached between her legs, spreading her apart with my fingers. “So . . .” Her body swayed. “The question is, how long do you think you can take it? Because I’m a patient man when it comes to everything in my life—except you. Not because I can’t be—but because why the hell would I want to wait to devour every inch of you and make you mine?”
She leaned down, her lips brushed against mine as she gripped me in her hand and led me where she wanted me. Those few brief seconds, being touched by her, being guided—the most erotic in my entire life.
Because it was Mack.
And Mack—was all I wanted.
All I needed.
My tip brushed against her heat.
I gritted my teeth to keep from slamming into her.
I focused on our kiss instead.
On the way my mouth moved in sync with hers—I inhaled her scent, dug my fingers into her skin.
And when she sank all the way onto me with a gasp . . . and wrapped her arms around my neck, fisting her hands into my hair, gripping it so hard that I felt a sharp sting from her nails—I waited.
I memorized that moment.
That feeling.
I etched it on my heart.
“Why do you feel so good?” she whispered as she started to move. I gripped her hips and guided her pace. “Why? And if you say it’s because you’re Slade Rodriguez—” She clenched her teeth.
I moved my hands to cup her face as she increased her tempo, allowing me deeper inside her.
“Mack, I was going to say . . .” I clamped my jaw and rode out a wave of pleasure that stole my breath. “I feel good because I’m yours.”
Our mouths collided in a crescendo of tongues and teeth. I braced my arms around her, pulling her closer, pumping my hips with each kiss. She met each thrust.
“Right there . . . right . . .” She shook her head like I was making her dizzy. “Deeper!”
Was tame little Mack yelling at me?
I chuckled and pulled almost completely out only to thrust back in deep, so deep I was seeing stars. “Only with you.”
“With me?”
“Only with you has it ever felt like I can’t get enough.” I parted her lips with my tongue and deepened the kiss as her walls clenched around me, pulling me deeper, making me never want to leave her body.
Her nails dug into my shoulder as she held on, her body twisting in mine. I felt her release, felt every ounce of her drain, saw the look on her face when her eyes closed like her expression—her truth was too much for me to see. Her grip released on my shoulder just as another tremor ran through her.
I rested my head between her breasts and held on tight, running my hands down her back, feeling her muscles, her skin, memorizing the way everything seemed to buzz beneath my fingertips.
“I’m just going to stay like this forever,” I whispered.
“I was just going to invite you to,” she purred.
I smiled against her skin, trapped in the protection of her body, and closed my eyes. “Come home with me.”
She didn’t say anything.
I held her tighter. Afraid to let go. “Stay. Please. Stay.”
When I opened my eyes and pulled away from her, she had tears in her eyes. No words were said as she nodded her head slowly and then wrapped her arms around me and whispered, “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“To stay at my house?” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
“To be asked to stay,” she said on her next breath, like she was afraid to speak it too loud.
Chapter Forty-Two
MACKENZIE
Don’t be the weird girl who cries after sex.
That was the only thing I could think of as we drove in silence back to his house.
I had one more week before my dad expected me back at the main winery. One more week where I could both work and play with Slade.
I swore to myself to take advantage of that.
But first steps first, don’t cry because he said everything that I’ve been wanting another human to say to me for the last few years.
Alton included.
It was too heavy of a thing to tell him, and though I wanted to trust him—needed to—I was still scared.
Petrified, actually.
It wasn’t helping that Jagger’s words haunted me, as if I didn’t know the real Slade.
It gave me a headache thinking about it.
Was this the real Slade?
This sexy combination of the Slade from vacation and the confident albeit cocky celeb?
By the time we pulled up to the house and got out of the car, my nerves were a wreck, I was overthinking everything.
And it wasn’t fair to him.
But he didn’t push me.
He didn’t even ask me what I was thinking about.
And when Alfie barreled toward the front door, I intercepted him so he wouldn’t run into the driveway. “Buddy, you miss us?”
“Of course he does.” Slade lowered himself to the ground. “You miss Mom and Dad, buddy?”
I froze.
Slade froze.
Alfie froze—tongue hanging out.
Slade cleared his throat. “You know what . . . I meant . . . in . . . joking. It was . . . a joke.”
“It was funny?” I offered, scrunching up my nose.
He actually looked like he was blushing as he stared down at Alfie, as though the dog was the reason for his slipup, and then back over at me. “So, I’ll just get the guest bedroom ready for you?”
I frowned. “Wait, what?”
He grinned. “See, that was funny, that reaction right there. You have this very Botox-free line that appears when you get pissed, divides your face right in half, sexy as hell.”
I narrowed my eyes.
He whistled. “And paired with that I’m going to spank you later look—it’s every guy’s dream.”
&nb
sp; “You’re a . . .” I gritted my teeth. “Huh, maybe I will take the guest room, Alfie would probably love to share a bed.”
“That backfired in ways I didn’t predict,” he grumbled, getting to his feet and holding out his hand. “Also, if you sleep anywhere but my bed, you’re going to have company and not just that of the farting variety.” He jerked his head to Alfie. “I mean you, buddy.”
Alfie whined and turned in a little circle. I laughed while Slade locked the doors and then wrapped his arms around me from behind, drawing lazy kisses with his tongue down my neck.
I shivered.
“See, that’s the response I love . . .” He tugged my ear with his teeth. “You’re so damn responsive for me—how the hell am I supposed to keep my hands off you?”
“You’re not.” I turned in his arms.
He devoured my next words, walking us backward toward the stairway. “I want more of you . . . I want all of you.”
“You have all of me.”
“I want it all the time. I want all of you every second. I want to hear you scream my name so loud your voice goes fucking hoarse. I want every step you take to be a reminder that I’ve been inside you, that I’m between your thighs.” He oozed sexuality, his powerful body bracing me against the stairs, his golden eyes wild as he flattened his palm against my ass and jerked me forward. A tremor of want rippled down my spine as he lowered his head and coaxed my mouth open with his velvet tongue. “I’m not done yet. We’re not done.”
I exhaled against his lips. “Good.”
Growling, he pulled me into his arms, our mouths knocked together in frenzied heated kisses that had me rubbing myself shamelessly against him. I grabbed two fistfuls of his hair, deepening the kiss as he braced himself against the wall.
“Keep doing that and Alfie’s going to see you naked.” He swallowed another scorching kiss as we stumbled into the bedroom.
Slowly, he set me on my feet.
I’d never seen a man’s eyes so eager, so full of temptation and power. He was a perfect box named Sin—and I was about to fall.
Again.
My blood buzzed in my ears as he dipped his head. His mouth didn’t touch mine, but the inches between our lips were so electric that I swayed toward him.
And then I was hit with cold air as he lifted my dress over my head and tossed it to the floor.
Before I could utter a word, he gripped my thong in a fist and ripped it from my body. “You won’t be needing this tonight.”
“What about tomorrow?” I licked my suddenly dry lips.
He just grinned. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, wildcat, I’d hate for you to bite off more than you can chew.”
My heart fluttered in my chest.
I pressed a hand against my skin to feel its beats—the beats were for him, in anticipation of his touch. Ready for anything he would give me.
His tugged his shirt over his head. My eyes greedily roamed his golden-tanned body and the bulging lean muscles that rippled beneath the surface of the most perfect skin I’d ever seen. He was more. More dangerous, more beautiful. I couldn’t look away.
Abs like his shouldn’t exist on real humans.
I kept thinking it was a trick of the light.
And then I touched them.
My knees knocked as I swayed and muttered, “Unbelievable.”
“You’re shaking.” He grabbed my hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing each fingertip until he reached my pinkie, and then he linked it with his and tugged me toward the bedpost. “One foot on the bed, one on the floor, try to hold on tight.”
I did. Because I wasn’t thinking straight, and had he told me to lie facedown in the bathtub and oink, I probably would have done it without question.
I was facing away from him as the air crackled with electric heat between us. I could hear the faint murmur of the TV downstairs, Alfie scratching at the door. The patter of rain lightly falling on the roof. The smell of his aftershave as he moved the air behind me stirred my senses, and I waited for whatever was coming next.
And when I felt his rock-hard body behind me.
When I felt his length press against my skin, the heat burning every inch it touched, I squeezed the bedpost harder. Used it to keep me from collapsing to the floor.
He ran a hand around my ass, rubbing in circles before his brazen lips started nibbling from my shoulder to my neck. He slid his right hand from my hip to my belly button, and pressed down while his fingertips came into contact with my core. I rocked against him.
“Don’t close your legs,” he whispered, his breath hot in my ear.
“But it’s hard not to.”
“Trust me, this will feel good.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about not feeling good, you always feel good.” I closed my eyes tight as he toyed with me. I gripped the bedpost, my nails probably digging into it in an effort not to collapse against him or pull my legs together.
“Are you ready for more?” I felt myself on his fingertips as he dragged them back across my stomach and thigh, bracing my hips with both hands. And then before I could utter another word, he slid into me.
Filled me completely.
“This is . . .” I let out a moan when he started to move. He turned my chin back toward him and swallowed my next sentence as we moved in sync. I surrendered in a wave of pleasure. With the rain pounding overhead.
With the one man who’d hurt me more than anyone ever could.
I surrendered.
And I knew he could feel the minute I did.
The minute the very last piece of the puzzle righted itself.
The minute I told myself I was his and he was mine.
With our bodies joined and waves of pleasure rocking between us like a torrential storm. He urged me on with each thrust, with each wild touch, sending me into fits of arousal until it was overwhelming.
“Let go, Mack,” he said between kisses. “It’s time to jump.”
With tears in my eyes I kissed him back and surrendered my body, my heart.
Everything I had. “Yours.”
A smile graced his lips as he kissed me and then kissed me harder, and then with each punishing thrust he whispered my name like it was the only word he knew.
“Mack.” He clenched his teeth. “My Mack.”
And for the first time in my life—it felt like I wasn’t going to jump and have to catch myself.
I had someone by my side. Just as eager to take the leap.
Just as willing.
To catch me after the fall.
Chapter Forty-Three
SLADE
I was afraid to fall asleep.
It was the stupidest thought that I could have in my head. But just because something was stupid didn’t mean the thought magically went away or that you didn’t obsess over it until you’ve convinced yourself all hell is breaking loose, and suddenly that one errant thought turns into complete insanity.
That was why I slept like shit.
Why every time I closed my eyes, I’d jerk awake.
Just to make sure she wasn’t gone.
To make sure it wasn’t a joke.
A way to get back at me.
When I finally did fall asleep, it was fitful.
And when I woke up.
It was in an empty bed.
My chest tightened as I put on a pair of sweats and searched the bathroom . . . no trace of her.
Maybe she went home to change?
I checked my phone.
Nothing.
My door was open. She’d probably fed Alfie before she abandoned me. I clenched my teeth as I slowly made my way down the stairs.
To the smell of bacon.
I sprinted into the kitchen.
And came upon the most beautiful scene—one that would be seared into my brain for life.
Gorgeous woman.
Cooking bacon.
Long, golden-brown hair hung halfway down her back, kissing my black shirt from the other night; it barely cover
ed her naked ass. Ripping that thong was one of the best choices I’d ever made.
I smiled and leaned against the wall, crossing my arms as she did a little dance in front of the stove and twirled.
Alfie stared up at her with complete adoration and obsession, then stared me down like I was actual competition.
When I took a step toward them.
He let out a growl and rubbed his fur against her bare legs like he was trying to remind her how soft he was.
“Don’t be territorial, Alfie, she still loves you,” I said in a sleep-filled voice as I wrapped my arms around her from behind. “You look sexy in my shirt.”
“I’ll be even sexier once it smells like bacon.”
“My exact thoughts.” I chuckled against her neck. Her skin smelled like a mixture of my Opium cologne and soap. I grinned as I placed another kiss below her ear, then reached toward the skillet.
She smacked my hand with the spatula. “Not yet.”
“Ouch!” I jerked away. “But it’s done.”
“It barely has any crispy!” she argued, eyes wide.
I held up my hands. “Did you just say it barely has any crispy? What the hell is crispy?”
“You know.” She turned to the other skillet with eggs and stirred. “The crispy parts, the crunchy ones that snap in half and almost taste burnt.”
“Woman, if you burn this bacon—”
“Call me woman and I’m burning more than the bacon.” She allowed her gaze to drift below my waist, and I suppressed a cringe.
“Mack . . .” I braced her with both hands. “Please don’t burn the bacon—or my penis.”
She tilted her head. “What made you think it was your penis?”
“You looked down, you pointed, you smelled like rage and testosterone.”
She burst out laughing. I decided that was how I wanted to wake up from here on out, with the sound of her laugh and the smell of bacon. “Yeah, okay, go sit down.”
“Mack, you don’t have to serve me, let me—”
“I like taking care of you,” she said softly, and then her cheeks flushed as she looked away.
I sighed. God, I’d been such a dick. “I like it when you take care of me too . . . because I’m well aware I don’t deserve it, not one bit.”
Mack cupped my cheeks between her palms and pressed a hot, open-mouth kiss against my lips. “Bacon will solve everything, including the fact that you have that look in your eyes.”
Risky Play Page 18
