Blade

by Harbin, Mandy

  Priceless.

  And incredibly fragile.

  His mouth grazed hers, and the soft sound she made almost destroyed his will to go slow. A will she apparently intended to break as she pushed her tongue into his mouth and grabbed his head, demanding him with her actions just what she really wanted. Jesus, he was trying to take his time, but any desire to worship her slowly exploded into the mindless frenzy he’d been trying to keep at bay.

  Blade lifted her and turned, crushing her into the door as he took her mouth the way she needed. The way his body wanted.

  Anna wrapped her legs around his waist, perfectly aligning his aching cock with her core, her tongue diving into his mouth, dueling with his, and he didn’t even give a fuck if she won that battle.

  Because, fuck, the way she tasted, he wanted nothing but to devour her.

  When she gripped his hair, Blade ripped his mouth away to pepper kisses along her neck.

  “God, you feel so good,” she breathed.

  He only grunted in response because to say anything else would require his mouth leaving her body, and no way in hell was that happening. He continued his path downward to her chest, yanking her shirt out of the way as he reached her breast. She gasped when his mouth landed on her nipple, and he wasn’t sure if it was the sounds coming out of her or the sudden taste of her flesh—or both—but in that moment, fire raced up his spine, igniting him, fueling him to take her, have her. Nothing would stop him from making her his over and over. He didn’t give a damn if that alligator got into this room and he’d have the chance to avenge her almost attack, he still wouldn’t stop. Absolutely nothing would stop him.

  “Getting blood on you,” she panted.

  Fuuuck. Okay, maybe that. Not that he cared about the blood on his clothes. He’d throw them away for all he cared. But he needed to make sure she was fine, and the cut wasn’t too deep.

  Groaning, he pulled back and grabbed her wrist to inspect it.

  “Doesn’t look too bad.” He deserved a metal for getting out a complete sentence.

  She tugged her hand away and stepped over to the faucet. He cleared his throat as he rummaged around the cabinet for bandages. Her hand was mainly scraped, but there was one cut that needed doctoring.

  “You got a towel you don’t mind getting bloody?” she asked, and turned off the water.

  “Here.” He grasped her wrist again and patted her palm dry with gauze. After he was pleased no more moisture remained, he quickly added some ointment and a bandage to the worst cut.

  He rubbed her fingers as he kept his gaze trained on her hand. He had to admit he loved the sight of that ring on her finger. He liked it a whole hell of a lot more than he should. Just because he loved her didn’t mean things could be any different for them when they were through with this mission. After shaking that thought away, he still didn’t look away. Her battle wound treated and no longer an issue, he knew if he glanced up at her face, he’d be a goner anyway, no matter what tomorrow brought them.

  “You’re shaking,” he heard himself say.

  “Different reason this time.”

  His gaze shot to hers. “Anna.”

  “Don’t make me beg,” she said softly.

  A surprised laugh escaped him. Not the most romantic gesture to make, but he couldn’t help it. She was so damn adorable.

  “Never,” he breathed before planting his mouth onto hers again.

  Blade briefly fisted her hair, but he knew he needed to get her to a bed before he fucked her right here in this bathroom.

  Not that he was terribly opposed to the idea.

  Releasing her locks, he grabbed her rear-end instead and lifted her. Anna wrapped her legs around his waist as he fumbled with the door. He knew this house inside and out, a fact he was incredibly thankful for right now as he walked her blindly to his room.

  She made a sound of protest when he dropped her beside the bed and then gasped when he suddenly whipped off her shirt.

  “Impatient?” she breathed with a light chuckle.

  “Been way too long, Anna.”

  “Mm-hmm.” She reached for his belt, but he gently blocked her progress. If she touched his cock right now, she’d get a real taste of just how impatient he was. Even though he wanted to take her fast and hard, he needed to take his time and worship her slowly.

  Or as slowly as he could manage…after getting her clothes off. He had zero patience when it came to divesting her of the fabric barrier between them, and accomplished that feat in record time. She reached for his shirt, but he picked her up and laid her on the bed.

  “Brax,” she whispered as he forged a path of hot kisses down her body. God, he really loved it when she called him by his name. He muttered her name in response, but once he said it, he couldn’t stop himself from repeating it between all the gentle kisses he placed on her as he made his way down her toned body. Why didn’t roses smell this good on the stems? It was as if once it touched her skin, it created this bouquet so much sweeter. And Jesus, her skin was just so soft. Up until Anna, Blade had usually gone for curvy women. There had just been something about that particular type that made him feel manly.

  But knowing Anna could knock him off his feet and draw her gun before he could blink was an entirely different rush. The muscles flexing before him now could be lethal, and the fact that she was wiggling and moaning below him…that he could bring this strong, independent woman to this state was sexy as hell. And that was beside the fact that he actually loved this woman.

  God, but he loved her.

  When he reached the apex of her thighs, he grabbed her knees and pushed them as far apart as he could. Anna gasped at how quickly he managed to get her legs open. His gaze snapped to hers as he brought his mouth down to her core, but as soon as his tongue touched her, her eyes squeezed shut, her head rolled back, and she let out the hottest fucking sound he’d ever heard.

  He licked her like he was starving, avoiding her clit, and it didn’t take long for her to get antsy. But as soon as she lifted her hips, silently begging with her body, Blade gripped her waist and held her still as he continued his sensual assault.

  Her groan of protest morphed into one of pure ecstasy, and his needy dick ground against the bed, seeking relief. He couldn’t wait to be inside her, but he was loving having his mouth on her too much to stop right this second, and he really wanted to push her over the edge before he pushed himself inside her.

  So he continued to torment and tease her, licking and sucking, giving attention to every part of her exposed to him except the one little nub she so desperately needed touched.

  “Please, please, please,” she began to chant when she got to the point she couldn’t take it anymore, the force of her squirming almost bucking him off her with each word she uttered.

  Feeling like she was right on the precipice now, Blade shoved two fingers inside her and finally flicked his tongue over her clit. Her pussy clamped down on him right before she let out a scream, and he continued to lick the same spot as he finger-fucked her through her orgasm. He was so absorbed he hadn’t realized she’d grabbed his head at some point, holding him to her a she road out the high, and holy fuck, that was hot as hell.

  The moment her grip lessened, Blade rose up, shucked his clothes, rolled on a condom, and thrust inside her.

  “Oh, Jesus,” she said, and grabbed his shoulders.

  With her body still gripping his dick, he’d pray to anybody she wanted because she felt like pure heaven. He pushed into her over and over, trying not to be too rough, but damn if he didn’t want to just take her like a man possessed. He hadn’t had sex since the last time they were together, and it was too easy for him to get lost in the sensation and not be tender.

  “You okay?” he asked, hoping he was being careful enough.

  “I’m not gonna break.” Then she grabbed his ass and forced him to take her harder.

  He laugh-groaned at his tough little hellion and the sexual gauntlet she threw down. A challenge he was
all too ready to accept.

  He grabbed her hands, held them above her head, and fucked her with renewed purpose.

  “That what you want?” he asked, and swooped down to pull a nipple into his mouth.

  “Yes!” she screamed as he sucked on her, switching from one breast to the other.

  God, he’d missed how expressive she was. But it also turned him on so much that he knew he wouldn’t able to last as long as he wanted. Because, fuck, he wished he could go for hours before losing it.

  “Oh, you’re gonna make me come,” she said through a pant, and squeezed his hands harder as she thrust toward him.

  He plowed into her, kissing his way up to her ear. “Come on, baby,” he breathed, and as if she was waiting for permission, she flew, her body bowing up yet clamping down at the same time as she let go and came all over his cock. His own body couldn’t wait for any verbal go ahead from her as fire lit up his spine. He followed her over, fucking her with shallow thrusts as he let out a groan of release, not slowing until he was spent.

  Perfection.

  She was utter perfection, and he couldn’t wait to have her again and again and again.

  He bit back a moan when he pulled out. After quickly taking care of the condom, he pulled a yawning Anna into his arms and held her. They still had to meet his mom for dinner, but they had time for a quick nap. Besides, he really didn’t want to let go of her just yet.

  As she fell asleep in his arms, he couldn’t help but feel the love pouring out of him…and a ghost of concern over their conversation in the meadow before the gator attacked.

  Because even though he didn’t come right out and say it, he all but confessed he’d murdered his sister’s ex. Not that he was worried about his past actions—he’d kill that sonofabitch all over again if given the chance—he was concerned how Anna would treat him once she had time to adjust to the news.

  She’d either accept him no questions asked.

  Or she’d arrest him.

  As he drifted off, the last thought he had was both of those possible outcomes were terrifying for completely different reasons.

  * * *

  Anna rolled over and stretched her deliciously sore muscles. After Blade had made love to her, she’d fallen asleep in his arms, and it had felt so right. She’d been dead to the world when he’d woken her up to get ready for dinner. Then she’d been frazzled getting ready, followed by being so focused on playing her part at dinner that Anna hadn’t thought about what had happened in the meadow.

  And she wasn’t thinking about the alligator freaking her out either.

  She wasn’t sure if Blade had given it any thought. If she had to guess, she’d think not, because after they’d gotten back to his room following dinner, he’d had a one-track mind…and that track led to the bed.

  He had bent her over the edge of it and had taken her from behind, only shoving clothes just enough out of the way to achieve penetration.

  Then, Blade had guided her to the bathroom where they’d showered together.

  And had sex against the tiled wall. She’d later realized he’d planned it since he’d brought a condom with him into the shower.

  That had been totally fine with her.

  After they gotten out, dried off, and snuggled into the bed, he’d stripped her bare and pushed into her gently, taking her almost painfully slowly until they’d come together what seemed like hours later. By the time they’d finished, she’d been too exhausted to even think straight, much less stand up, which meant he’d had to help her walk to the bathroom to get cleaned again. Anna couldn’t remember the last time she’d had sex four times in one day and her poor vagina was not happy with her right now.

  But aside from her sated lady bits, there was something more pressing causing her discomfort. The realization that Blade practically confessed to murder.

  What was she supposed to do with that information? She knew what she was supposed to do. Her professional instinct was screaming at her to call her boss and tell him what she knew.

  Her heart was yelling just as loudly, though.

  And her brain was trying to decide which one was more important.

  I mean, he didn’t say he killed that guy. Blade had told her he’d disappeared. Any number of things could have happened to him.

  But what also bothered her was that she wouldn’t blame Blade if he had done anything. There was a right and a wrong to everything, but she understood the human nature to protect. Hell, she’d made her career out of safeguarding people in one fashion or another.

  Annnd now I’m justifying murder. Jesus, she needed to take a step back and look at this objectively, she thought as she rolled out of bed. Blade was already awake and downstairs with his mom, waiting on his aunt to arrive for brunch. Anna was in no rush to join them. She needed time to process things, so she grabbed a change of clothes and made her way to the bathroom to shower.

  She scrubbed herself clean as her mind jumped from thoughts of murder and sex, both acts of passion stemming from polar opposite extremes. It was no wonder she felt flustered.

  By the time her skin glowed red, Anna decided she needed more info directly from the source before she decided anything. She didn’t even want to think about confiding her suspicions in him with anyone else, and waiting until she knew more details would buy her time before she had to make that kind of judgement call.

  She dressed in a skirt and a blouse, conservative like yesterday. This time, she wasn’t taking any chances, though, and strapped her piece to her leg. If any gators came after her, she’d be prepared to shoot. She just hoped she hit the spot that’d kill it. She smirked to herself. Of course, she’d be able to hit the target. She was second in her marksmanship class.

  Taking deep breath, she gathered the last of her resolve and made her way to where Blade’s family had surely all congregated by now. As she descended the stairs, the voices grew, so she followed the sounds of laughter and ribbing.

  “…Then he ran it in for a touchdown, yeah. Broken ankle and all.”

  “It wasn’t broken, Lauren.”

  “Oh please, Justin. Your foot was damn near dangling.”

  “It was still a hell of a game.” Anna would recognize that voice anywhere.

  “And a shitty few months after. I had to push you around in that damn wheelchair all over the place.”

  “Language,” Blade’s mother said.

  “Dude, I remember you taped racing stripes and stuck flags onto that thing.” Justin laughed.

  “I forgot all about that. Y’all stayed here because your house wasn’t wheelchair accessible,” Blade said.

  “Reminiscing about your youth?” she asked as she walked into the room.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” Blade said as he made his way toward her. He kissed her forehead.

  “Beauty sleep and all that.”

  “Cher, with your natural beauty, you could pull all-nighters the rest of your life,” Lauren said and winked at her.

  “Not natural. It’s NARS.” She smiled at him and focused her attention where she needed it. The coffee pot.

  “Must be a girl thing,” Justin said with a frown. She didn’t expect these men to know about makeup brands.

  “It’s a girl thing,” she said, using his words and turning her back to the guys as she fixed her cup of morning ambrosia.

  “You must be the lovely Anna Sue,” a lady said. Anna turned around, but the reply died on her tongue. This was Blade’s aunt? Justin and Lauren’s mother? Wow, Blade’s family had really great genes.

  “Anna, this is my sister, Barbara.” Not that Anna needed the clarification from Blade’s mom, who also looked too young to have a grown son.

  “Jeez, I bet you still get carded for alcohol,” Anna finally breathed.

  Barbara laughed delicately. “If they know what’s good for them.”

  Bernadette had called her sister an old hag. Must be a sibling rivalry thing. “Well, you’re just as pretty as Mrs. Young—Bernadette,” she quickl
y corrected before Blade’s mom could do it for her.

  “Prettier,” Barbara said with an unapologetic smile. Bernadette rolled her eyes.

  Yep, sibling rivalry, if only good-natured competition.

  “So why are we eating here and not Boudreau’s?” Barbara glanced at Anna. “They have the best shrimp and grits.”

  “I told you, Mom, Blade wanted to talk about the business,” Justin said.

  “Yes, well, that was my polite way of getting the conversation going.” She looked at her sister. “At least tell me you have mimosas. One can never have too much Vitamin C.”

  “Or too much champagne,” Bernadette muttered before stepping out of the room. Before she could return with the ingredients for the popular brunch beverage, Blade quickly explained his proposal to his Aunt Barbara, who had the same number of shares in the company as his mom. Getting her on board with the idea would save them a lot of trouble of out-voting her.

  “So you see, I think it makes sense to entertain the purchase offer. Checking it out doesn’t lock us into anything.”

  “Except we’d be selling family land,” Barbara said, shaking her head.

  “True, yeah,” Lauren said. “But if we sell that section of land, we could invest in more gator hunting property. It could be very profitable.”

  “And you do love money, Mother,” Justin said.

  “It’s not the money. It’s the principle.”

  “Since when did you start making decisions based on ethics?” Bernadette asked as she mixed drinks.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Barbara snapped.

  “She just means business decisions shouldn’t be emotional,” Justin said.

  “And that’s another reason I want Anna to look at the books. She doesn’t have a horse in the race, and she’s damn good at numbers.”

  “Doesn’t have a horse in the race?” Barbara scoffed. “That huge ring on her left hand says otherwise.” She glanced at Anna. “No offense, dear.”

  “None taken. What I think Brax meant to say was that I’m not emotionally invested in this place.” She stepped toward him and rubbed his arm. “At least not yet. I’d be leery of selling something that’s been in his family for generations. I certainly wouldn’t advise it unless it was a smart decision all around.”