Lily’s lashes came down again, hiding her expression. “No one.”
Oh, no, he wasn’t having that.
Quinn shifted, reaching to take her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head back so he could see her face. “No distance, baby. Remember?”
But she only stared back. “No distance when it comes to this blackmail, Quinn. Nothing else. You don’t need to know every single thing about me.”
Challenging woman.
He stroked the soft skin of her chin with his thumb. “But what if I want to?”
“Then that’s a different conversation.” Her blue gaze was very direct. “Because if it’s just sex you want then I’m not answering a single one of your damn questions.”
The low, electric hum of desire was already beginning to build inside him and the look she was giving him, challenging and confronting, was only making it get stronger. He hadn’t thought he wanted more than sex, but her telling him he couldn’t have it was now making him determined to get it.
“Are you sure about that?” he murmured, shifting against her, nudging his dick against her clit, reminding her that he was boss here, not her. “I have ways of making you talk.”
She shuddered then lifted her hips so that the hot, slick folds of her pussy slid along his cock. “Back at you, hotshot.”
He gritted his teeth at the sharp bite of pleasure that sunk its teeth into him. “No one’s going to care that you took out one abusive dickhead, if that’s what you’re worried about. Not considering the kind of people you have on your team.”
She only gave him a cool look. “I couldn’t risk any word getting out. The more people I told, the greater the likelihood it would be discovered. And then it’s not just me going down, it’s the whole damn team.”
It all sounded logical, but there was something else going on there, he was sure of it. Her team would rather die than let anything slip about their boss, especially something like that, so there had to be some other reason she kept it hidden. Some deeper reason.
Which she’s not going to tell you.
Hell, he’d take that challenge. Right now even.
Letting go her chin, Quinn put both hands down on the pillows on either side of her head, then he braced himself, nudging his cock against her clit and grinding gently. Lily shuddered, the cool expression in her gaze wavering.
“Okay,” he said, because there was no harm in letting her think he wouldn’t pursue this. “So you didn’t want to tell your team. But you should have fucking told me a lot sooner.”
More color flooded into her pale cheeks, a familiar deep blue glow igniting in her lovely eyes. She wanted to move, he could sense it, but she was holding herself back. “Same thing applies.” Her voice was on the edge of breathless. “The less people who knew the better. And the actual thing I’m being blackmailed about didn’t seem relevant.”
“Bullshit,” he growled, pressing against her again, watching as she jerked, her breath catching audibly. “Of course it’s fucking relevant. You wiped those cameras, yet someone found out, and someone found that footage too.”
She stared steadily at him, refusing to look away or acknowledge the pleasure she was clearly feeling. And she was feeling it; completely apart from the blush in her cheeks, she’d sunk her teeth into her bottom lip.
“Whoever it is knows what you did,” he went on, when she didn’t say anything. “Which means whoever it is found out and they might be connected in some say to you. In which case we might be able to get a lead on who they are.”
Finally her gaze flickered. “Quinn—”
“But you know that, Lily. Don’t you? So why didn’t you tell me? And don’t give me that shit about not wanting anyone to find out.” He shifted, sliding one hand down over her stomach and between her thighs, stroking her. “What’s the real reason you don’t want anyone to know?”
She gave a gasp and her hands lifted to his chest as if to push him away. But there was no force behind it. Her palms rested against his skin and her nails dug into him. “That is the real reason,” she said, her cool voice cracked through with heat. “Stop trying to make this into something it isn’t.”
“I’m not. You’re still hiding crap from me and I am done with that bullshit.”
“It’s not relevant, Quinn.”
“You said the same thing about blowing Mason away and it was absolutely fucking relevant. So forgive me if I don’t believe you.”
She had that determined look on her face again. And when her hands slid up his chest, then further up to his shoulders and into his hair, dragging his head down and his mouth on hers, he wasn’t surprised.
After all, this went two ways. What got to her also got to him, so of course she was aiming to use it against him in defense. But he was better at holding out than she was, because he had a feeling she hadn’t been touched in a very long time. And given her ex-boyfriend, who could blame her?
But…shit. She was so passionate, so desperate when she let herself go. She must have been starving herself.
He could taste that desperation in the kiss she was giving him. Could feel it in the way she arched up against him, pressing herself against his fingers. And his chest tightened, regret and a certain protective anger gripping him. It was a crime, just a fucking crime, that a woman like this one, with so much passion inside her, had locked it all away because of some prick who hadn’t known what he had in her.
Ah, no, but it went deeper than that. It had to. It wasn’t just that asshole Mason. Someone else had hurt her and hurt her badly.
So, do you really need to use sex against her?
The protective instinct in him shifted and changed. Deepened.
He could dish out all kinds of sensual punishments for not telling him the things he needed to know, and he’d make sure she’d enjoy it, shit they both would.
Or he could just make her feel good without it being about anything else. He could give her pleasure simply because she was beautiful and passionate, and he wanted to. Because she deserved it. Had anyone done that for her? Ever?
What does all of that matter? This is just sex, right?
But her mouth was hot and demanding, and she was shifting restlessly beneath him, and he didn’t want to think about why it mattered. The important thing was this aggravating, frustrating, gorgeous woman had starved herself of pleasure, and right now, he could change that for her. He could be the one to give her what she needed.
Quinn shifted again, gently breaking the kiss and pulling away, pushing himself back from her so he was kneeling between her thighs.
Her cheeks were flushed a deep red and she was panting. She looked thoroughly pissed off, which in many ways was kind of cute. “What now? Please don’t say you’re going to talk me to death again.”
“No.” He nodded to the big wooden headboard. “Sit up so you’re leaning against that.”
Lily’s gaze narrowed. “Why?”
“Do you ever just do as you’re told?”
“Why would I?”
“It might be in your interests.” He would have been amused that even now, even when it was obvious what she wanted, she was fighting him. But her being stubborn probably due to trust issues, made it less amusing. Because those kinds of issues never came without pain of some kind.
And he should know. He had them himself.
“Quinn—”
“Go on, baby,” he interrupted softly. “Do as I say.”
Her eyes narrowed even further, and he thought she wouldn’t. But then she let out a little breath and moved, making a small fuss with the pillows, clearly to show him that she was doing this on her own time, before finally leaning back against the headboard. “This better be good, hotshot.”
Satisfaction gripped him tight. She’d done what he asked and without pushing to know why. That meant something, he was sure of it.
He smiled, letting her see that he liked that she’d obeyed him. “Oh, it will be. I guarantee it. Now, put your arms on the top of t
he headboard and hold on.”
She sniffed. “Since when did you get to give the orders?”
Quinn just looked at her. “Do you trust me?”
“About as far as I can throw you.”
“You got naked with me,” he pointed out. “And you came to me for help. I think you trust me a little.”
“It’s just sex, Quinn,” she said coolly. “Not a pledge of fealty.”
Oh, she was making this difficult. But he could be patient when he wanted to be. And the reward… Yeah, fuck, this would be worth it.
She would be worth it.
“I’m not asking you to walk over hot coals for me, Lily Hammond.” He held her gaze. “All I’m asking you to do is hold onto the headboard.”
She gave another snort, as if she’d never heard of anything so preposterous. But sure enough, after a moment, she extended her arms along the top of the headboard and curled her fingers over the edge. “There.” A distinct glow burned in her blue eyes now. “Satisfied?”
“Oh, yeah.” And he was, very satisfied. Because that was another little piece of her trust right there and it pleased him intensely. “That’s perfect.”
Because she was perfect. Built on the delicate, slender side with pale skin, she looked like the lily she was named for, white and fragile. But there were flashes of color in the platinum gilt of her hair over her shoulders and in the curls between her thighs. Of her blue eyes and kiss-reddened lips. Her rosy nipples that were hardening even as he watched and the pink flesh he caught glimpses of beneath those golden curls.
Yes, delicate. Yet there was a titanium strength to that delicacy and a defiance in her gaze that spoke of a powerful will. A will that she tested against his at every opportunity, and matched him. And he loved that she did. He’d never met a more exciting, frustrating, fascinating woman.
Lily raised an imperious pale brow. “Well? Are you just going to sit there?”
“Yeah. I think I will.” Frustration flickered over her face and he grinned. “What’s the matter? Getting impatient?”
“Hardly.” But she made a restless movement, as if she was uncomfortable.
He studied her, intrigued by the fact that she kept glancing away. “You don’t like me looking at you, do you?”
“Honestly?” Her gaze flicked back to his, then away again. “I’m getting bored.”
Quinn leaned forward and grabbed her chin, turning her face back to his and holding it, forcing her to look at him. “You’re not bored, you’re uncomfortable. Me looking at you is making you uncomfortable. Why?”
“Jesus, Quinn. Do we have to have an in-depth analysis about every single goddamned thing?”
He ignored that. “You’re beautiful, Lily Hammond. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. And I want to look at you. And I think you want me to look at you, too.”
She blinked and he saw the shock that flickered through her gaze. He held it as he let go of her, his hands dropping to her thighs. Then he slowly and gently pushed them wide.
Her breath caught and he felt the shudder that ran through her. Saw the hot glow in her eyes burn brighter. “Quinn…”
“When was the last time you were with anyone who made you feel good, Lily?” He didn’t look away from her, keeping his palms on her inner thighs, stroking the soft skin with his thumbs. “When was the last time anyone made you come? Apart from me?”
She shifted under his hands. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Because you look like a woman starved for touch, baby.”
Her throat moved as she swallowed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
He didn’t say anything. Instead he lifted one hand and set his fingers at the base of her throat, before moving them over her silky skin, tracing patterns from her throat down to her chest and back again. Her breath caught yet again, her pupils dilating. “Quinn, I—”
“Be still,” he interrupted, keeping his gaze on hers as he ran his fingertips down to the curve of her breast, tracing it lightly. “Just let me touch you.”
She shuddered and when he brushed his index finger over one hard little nipple, she gasped.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” He watched her as he lifted both hands, cupping her breasts, running his thumbs over the tight tips. “It’s been a long time since anyone’s made you feel good.”
Her fingers had tightened on the headboard and her breathing had gotten faster. She wasn’t looking away any more, her gaze was fixed to his. As if she knew he was the one who could give her what she needed. As if she wanted it.
Gently, he pinched her nipples, loving the gasp she made and how her back arched as she pushed herself instinctively into his hands. So he pinched her again, a little harder this time, and she moaned, her head falling back against the headboard, her eyes closing.
“You like that?” he murmured, loving how she was responding to him. “You like some pain, baby girl?”
“I….” Her throat moved as she swallowed again, her lashes trembling where they rested on her cheeks.
He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to the pulse at the base of her throat, tasting her. Then he gave her a nip to add spice to the kiss and she took a sharp breath.
Yeah, he was right. She needed this. She wanted it. She was so damn responsive and so hungry. Christ, it was a good job he was an expert at controlling himself, because he was already hard as a fucking rock.
He stroked her lovely tits, rolling her nipples between his fingers and pinching as he licked and kissed his way from her throat and down. Then he cupped one breast and licked her nipple, teasing her. She groaned, arching back again, and he gave her more, covering the hardened tip of her breast with his mouth and sucking, lightly at first, then harder.
“Quinn.” Her voice was a breathless moan and he felt one of her hands in his hair.
Oh, no that wasn’t allowed. Once she started touching him it was going to be all over, and this was for her, not him.
He lifted his head from her breast. “Uh huh,” he growled. “Hands back on the headboard.”
“But I want to touch you.” Her voice was smoky with heat and desire, and the hunger in her gaze almost made him agree to it.
Except that’s not what he was doing here.
“Later.” He leaned forward again, nuzzling the tender skin beneath her ear, inhaling her sweet, musky scent. “Right now, it’s all about me touching you.”
“But I—” She broke off abruptly as his mouth closed around her nipple again, and this time he sucked hard, letting one hand stroke down and over her stomach, tangling in the silky, damp curls between her thighs.
“Oh…Quinn,” she breathed as his fingers slid through the folds of her pussy, finding the hard little bud of her clit and circling, teasing her.
“Hands back on the headboard, baby,” he ordered, brushing his mouth over her nipple. “Exactly like I told you to.”
This time she didn’t protest, her hands trembling as she put them back on the headboard and holding on tight. “Quinn…” His name was a breath, her hips bucking under his hand.
He lifted his head, watching her flushed face as he slid his fingers around and over her clit, her pussy all slippery and soft. Her pouty mouth was open, her eyes half shut, her body beginning to tremble.
Beautiful, beautiful Lily.
“You want this, don’t you?” His own voice was getting rougher, the pulse of desire in his veins becoming insistent. “Me, touching you?”
“Yes.” She gave a helpless moan as he slid his finger down over her slick flesh, finding the entrance to her body and pushing inside gently. “Oh…I…”
“Tell me what you need.” He couldn’t look away from the bright burn of pleasure that crossed her face. “You know I’ll give it to you. Whatever you want, just say the word.”
She panted, shifting as he eased another finger into her, the hot clasp of her pussy just about driving all the breath from his body. “You…I….I want you.”
He’d had women
tell him that before, many times. But none of those women had made him feel like this, a raw possessiveness reaching up inside him. As if she’d claimed him in some way and now he wanted to claim her.
But he didn’t want do it rough and ready, the way he had the first time. No, he wanted this slow and sweet, taking his time because Lily deserved to have someone take their time over her.
“And you have me.” He eased his fingers out, then back in, sinking both in deep, making her body shake. “You’ve been protecting yourself a long time,” he went on softly. “And you’ve been denying yourself, too, haven’t you? Denying yourself all this pleasure. But you don’t have to now.” He curled his fingers slightly inside her then slowly circled his thumb over her clit. “Because now I’m here.”
EIGHT
There was blackness behind Lily’s closed eyes, and yet it was full of sparks. She felt like tinder dry paper, like she’d go up in flames if one of those sparks got anywhere near her.
Quinn’s fingers were deep inside her, sliding in and out, and the aching pressure of his thumb on her clit was almost more than she could bear. His breath was against her skin, and she could feel his gaze on her, watching her so intently that at first she’d felt uncomfortable. As if he could see all her secrets, knew her down to her bones. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t felt around him before, but him watching her that way, while she was naked and beneath him…
It made her feel vulnerable in a way she hadn’t for years.
Except, like she had just before, she didn’t feel that way now.
Now, all she felt was hot. Needy. Desperate. And it was okay to feel those things, okay to let him see it, because he was the one who’d brought her to this point. And he was the one who could give her what she wanted. Whatever she wanted, all she had to do was ask.
Sex had never been anything great for her and she had been fine with that. She didn’t miss it. She didn’t need it.
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