Deadly Deception (8 page)

“Fuck, if this is your idea of wrestling, I’ll build us a permanent ring.”

She laughed, a musical sound that made his mouth curl into a smile and his heart squeeze tight in his chest. He took a deep breath, slipping his arms underneath her shoulders as he gathered her close, lowering his face until it hovered inches above hers. He stared into her eyes, daring her to look away as he slowly sank inside her passage, feeling every inch of her body give as he surged deeper, stopping when his sac slapped her ass.

“Damn.” He moaned, fighting to keep his gaze on hers.

“Sawyer.”

Her voice was a combination of need and love and he bent lower as he brushed his lips over hers, wanting her to feel every emotion roiling inside him. Her hands palmed his back, tracing his muscles as he eased his aching cock out of her before thrusting it back in. Her head pushed into the mattress, exposing the long line of her neck.

He kissed the soft spot on her shoulder, nipping at the hollow. “Mallory.”

Her eyelids opened at the whispered rasp of her name and the look she gave him stopped his heart. She’d never shown him that much of herself, granting him access to every recess of her heart. He could feel her love for him in the way she speared her fingers through his hair, drawing him down for another soul-searing kiss.

He put all his love for her into that one kiss, wanting her to realise her trust hadn’t been misplaced. A soft sob drifted past his ear and he drew back, watching a wash of tears caress her cheek. He smiled, brushing them away with the pad of his thumb. He’d never seen her cry before, and knowing he’d pushed her past her limits humbled him.

“That’s it, darling. Don’t hold back. Give me everything.”

He moved faster, wanting to hear her scream his name again as she broke. Her breathing increased, the rapid pants matching the frenzied movement of his hips as he claimed her pussy, plunging deep then pulling back, keeping just the crown inside her. His name rose like a prayer from her lips as her eyes rolled shut and her head pressed back. He rode her hard, wishing he could go slower but too lost in the soft press of her sex and the wet sound of his balls slapping her butt. Her juice coated his shaft, heating his way, driving him forward. The tell-tale fire blazed a path down his spine, and he knew he wouldn’t last much longer.

Sawyer clenched his jaw, determined to hold off until she’d creamed his cock again. He shifted his body, angling his hips higher, knowing the new position would rub his pelvis across her clit.

“God. Yes. Now, now, now.”

Her voice filled the room, the desperate plea unhinging his control. He lowered his head, whispering her name against the shell of her ear as he slammed into her, all hope of gentleness gone. She moved with him, chanting his name as her body tensed, then broke, her shattered cry drowning out the frantic beating of his heart. He kept moving, claiming her channel over and over until the feeling overwhelmed him and he came, shooting his release deep inside her. His muscles clenched, holding him rigid above her as he emptied himself, feeling as if she’d consumed his very soul.

Her ragged gasp raked across his jaw and he lowered his head, mixing his breath with hers. Thoughts and words merged into one, and all he could do was lie there, holding her with the intention of never letting go. A warm wash of tears touched his skin, and he eased back just enough to gaze into her eyes. Love and something deeper gleamed back at him, and he smiled as he brushed one side of her cheek.

“I’m praying these are a result of my mastery in the bedroom, and not because you regret what just happened.”

She swallowed hard, shaking her head as she nuzzled the palm of his hand. “I’m just…”

Her words morphed into a sigh, and he nodded. Hell, he felt as raw as she looked and was surprised he had the clarity to remember his own name.

He dipped down, claiming her mouth in a soft, sensuous kiss. Her fingers teased the back of his neck before shifting down and cupping each side of his face. She held his gaze, baring her soul to him before whispering his name again and kissing his forehead.

His strength waned and he moved to one side, wondering whether to pull her onto his chest or spoon against her ass when worry creased her brow and she grabbed his arm, holding him close.

“Please don’t leave.”

Her voice barely registered, but there was no mistaking the fear laced within it. He furrowed his brow, wondering why she thought he’d want to be anywhere other than beside her in the bed.

He reached for her, running his fingers through her hair. “I’m not going anywhere tonight. But I should grab a cloth and clean you up before you pass out on me. Okay?”

She worried her bottom lip for a moment, the unconscious hesitation increasing his concern, before she smiled and released his arm, watching him as he pushed off the bed and sauntered to the bathroom. He glanced back at her as he walked through, making sure she knew he had every intention of returning as promised. He went to the cupboard and opened the door, grabbing a small cloth off the shelf. He glanced in the mirror as he turned on the tap, letting it run until the water felt warm beneath his fingertips. A small mark just above his collarbone drew his attention and he smiled at the hickey marring his skin. Damn, she was feisty.

He gave the blemish a quick rinse then cleaned his shaft, revelling in the combined scent of their sex as he rinsed the cloth and headed for the door. Her gaze followed him as he moved back to the bed, dipping the mattress with his weight. She didn’t speak as he gently parted her thighs, dabbing the warm material along her cleft, removing the evidence of their torrid lovemaking. Part of him pouted at the act, wanting nothing more than to see his cum dripping from her pussy, showing the world she was his. But the sensible side of him knew she wouldn’t get a restful sleep if he left her sticky and wet. And right now, her comfort was all he could think about.

He bathed her clit. A subtle shiver shuddered through her, and he couldn’t help but smile in smug victory. Just a hint of his touch and she’d had another small orgasm.

“You’re dangerous, darling. No wonder Cole wants you as his partner.”

She snorted. “Cole’s never fucked me against the wall.”

“And it’s a damn good thing ’cause I’d hate to have to kill the man.”

She shook her head in feigned annoyance as he climbed over her, trailing his hand up her hip and across her stomach, finally settling it in the soft valley of her breasts. The steady thrum of her heart vibrated his fingertips and he sighed as he snuggled her close, inhaling the scent of floral soap and cocoanut shampoo.

“Now try to get some sleep. I’ll keep you safe.”

Mallory kissed his arm and burrowed closer, staying strangely quiet as she relaxed against him, her breath quickly deepening as she gave in to the fatigue he’d seen creasing her brow and bunching her shoulders. He lay there for several minutes, holding her while she slept, rerunning the events of the night in his head. Though he’d seduced her into bed, he had a strange feeling he was far from being a permanent fixture in her life. She’d given him everything…bared a part of her he’d never seen before, but even so, he felt as if she was holding back. As if there was still something wedged between them, threatening to undo all he’d strived to achieve tonight.

He sighed, closing his eyes as he listened to her breathe, the soft, muffled sound lulling him into a hazy fog. He’d worry about everything tomorrow, when some of his blood had returned to his brain. When every waking thought wasn’t shaded in the colour of her skin and how it contrasted perfectly with his.

He heard himself laugh. Who was he kidding? The day she didn’t occupy his every thought was the day he died, pure and simple. And he had absolutely no intentions of dying before spending the next fifty years loving her.

Chapter Five

Mallory prised her eyelids apart, squinting against the throbbing pain beating in her head, as a hand shook her shoulder, preventing her from succumbing to the desire to simply roll over and snuggle beneath the covers. She tried to focus, dragging her gaze upwards until it settled on Sawyer’s face. He gave her a stunning smile that fluttered her stomach and ignited a new wave of pain.

She groaned, squeezing her temples as she rolled, letting her head fall back on the bed. “What time is it?”

“Seven-thirty. Here, take these.”

He nudged her with his hand and she shifted her gaze just enough to see the pills and glass in his hands.

She peered at him. “What are those?”

“Spanish fly. What the hell do you think they are? Motrin. Now take them before those bongos in your head get any louder.”

She scowled at him, but took the pills, downing them with a gulp of water. “How did you know?”

He snorted, his ass crowding the space beside her. “You downed four shots of whisky in the space of a heartbeat last night—all on an empty stomach. It doesn’t take a neurosurgeon to figure out you might feel like shit this morning.” His gave travelled down the length of her body, pausing at her hips. “Other than the headache, you feeling okay?”

“If you’re asking me if I can still walk after your, how did you put it, ‘mastery in the bedroom’, it’ll be tricky, but I think I’ll manage.” She rolled her eyes at the smug look of satisfaction on his face. “Please tell me Cole isn’t here yet.”

“No. I called him ten minutes ago, just to be sure he wasn’t in the habit of dropping by to see if you’d made it through another night. Told him we’d meet him at the office.” He raised a brow. “But by your comment, I assume he usually does? Stop by?”

“Most days. But I told you. It was never like that. He’s just a nice guy who’s overly paranoid I don’t know how to take care of myself.”

“And rightly so. That milk in your fridge could be used as chemical warfare. Hell, you don’t even have any bread.”

She shrugged, regretting the action when her head responded with a stab of pain. “I haven’t been home much.”

“Apparently.” He sighed, patting her hip. “You know, I’m sure you have more than your fair share of sick days. Cole and I can handle things today if you’d rather stay here and catch up on some sleep.”

Mallory closed her eyes, considering his offer, but she knew she couldn’t accept. An entire day of sitting around, rehashing everything she’d confessed to Sawyer, wouldn’t help her feel better. Hell, after the night they’d shared, it’d only ratchet up her stress. She’d opened up to him, more than she’d ever planned to, and she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about it. She pried her eyelids apart again, her chest tightening at the concerned look in his eyes. Damn, how was she supposed to act casual when he made his feelings so obvious?

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine.” She smiled at his slight frown. “Besides, what fun is spending the day in bed if you’re not in it with me?”

Lust flashed in his eyes and he leant forward, placing a hand on either side of her shoulders. “Careful, darling, or I might just develop a serious case of ‘fuck it’ and have to take you up on your offer.” His gaze dropped to her chest. He’d always been a breast guy, though he’d spent his fair share of time licking her pussy last night.

The memory had her squirming beneath the sheet, the ghostly feel of his tongue on her clit pooling a fresh wave of moisture along her slit. He must have sensed her increased arousal. He tsked at her and yanked off the cover, his hand going to the aching nub between her legs.

“Damn, Mal, you’re fucking soaking.”

She could only grunt her reply, his talented fingers teasing her nerves as they danced through her folds, spreading her liquid heat along the length of her cleft. But just as he reached her sex, tempting it with a hint of penetration, he pulled back and jumped to his feet, towering over her with a feral look in his eyes.

“Sawyer…”

Her words keened into a startled gasp as he slipped his hands under her, lifting her from the bed and shuffling her into his arms.

He smiled, dropping a kiss on her open mouth before heading across the room. “Shower. Now.”

The firm tone in his voice stopped any protest she might have made and she knew he was on the verge of fucking her against the wall again, or on the counter, hell, maybe the floor. She held on, loving the feel of being in his arms. Despite everything she’d told herself, about how strong she was and how she didn’t need anyone’s protection, she loved how he always made her feel safe.

The truth of the statement tugged at her subconscious, threatening to unleash something she suspected was better left buried. Just talking about her childhood had opened a raw wound, and she was more than aware that nothing good would come from dwelling on those memories.

Sawyer marched them into the bathroom, easing her down when he reached the shower. He didn’t wait for her to ask to undress him, simply removed his briefs and left them lying forgotten on the floor. He opened the glass door, turning on the water before extending his hand and gently holding hers as he pulled her inside.

She stepped in after him, gasping when he growled and pinned her against the tiled wall. The cold porcelain bit into her skin, surpassed only by the heat of his body as he snugged his chest against hers, the long length of his cock pressing into the slight hollow beside her hip.

He took a deep breath, making the muscle in his jaw twitch as he rested his forehead against hers. It was a familiar move, one he made when he struggled to come to grips with his control. But she didn’t care about his control. He seemed to think she needed gentle, tame. What she wanted was Sawyer, raw, hungry, almost brutal in his desire, as he took her hot and hard against any convenient surface.

She heard him exhale a long, slow breath as he eased back, watching her amidst a spray of water. She smiled and pushed him away slightly, wanting a chance to finally get a good, hard look at him. Though she’d felt every inch of him rock against her last night, she hadn’t had near enough time to touch and taste as she longed to. Sawyer furrowed his brow as he took a step back, uncertainty creasing his forehead.

Mallory allowed her gaze to run the length of his body. “Damn. You’re one fine-looking man.”