His feet padded toward the corner, and she fought the urge to turn, watch his body move in the gleam of the candlelight. He was unlike any man she’d ever seen. Strong, ripped, but with a sensitive side he hid beneath layers of pain and guilt. She suspected there was a story behind his friend’s death—the real reason he kept the flag and the fatigues. But she could wait until he was ready to tell her.
The rasp of a zipper echoed through the room, and she was just about to turn when his fingers brushed across her hip. She jumped. Damn, she hadn’t heard him move.
He chuckled, his warm breath skirting across her shoulder. “Easy. I didn’t mean to startle you. Guess I’m just used to being silent.”
“Not a bad trait, unless you’re standing in the basement of a deserted building waiting for a ghost to jump out and yell ‘boo’.”
“Point taken.” He kissed the base of her neck. “Open your legs wider for me.”
A tap to her hip followed the raspy command, making a new pool of moisture coat her cleft. God, his voice. There was no doubt he enjoyed being in charge, and she couldn’t help but wonder how far he’d take it.
He tapped her hip again, slightly harder. “Are you challenging me?”
She shook her head, certain her voice would crack if she spoke. That, or it’d sound husky and raw, betraying the fact she found his order just a bit too arousing.
Annie took a deep breath, slowly moving her feet apart until there were as wide as her shoulders. He nudged her side. She huffed, but inched them slightly farther, wondering what he had planned when a light smack landed on her ass.
She snapped her head around, staring at him over her shoulder. “What was that for?”
“For making me ask three times.” He held up a finger, silencing any protest. “Are you denying it?”
She tilted her head, studying him when it hit her. This wasn’t merely about a playing some roles. It was about trust. The man was trained. She hadn’t missed the subtle comment Avery had made earlier—how Dylan could be deemed a lethal weapon in his own right—and she knew if Dylan had any intentions of hurting her, he would have done so from the start. While he came across as tough, fierce, it was no different than this game. A role he played to keep his demons at bay. To keep those he cared about alive.
Calm settled over her. The fact he wanted to play, that he was seeking her trust, meant she’d broken through the first few layers of his defense, and this was the test. If she cried foul, he’d most likely retreat in on himself again.
She gave him her best provocative smile, loving how her body clamored for more of his play. Already her nipples had beaded into tight peaks, and she could just catch the light scent of her arousal in the air.
“I don’t deny it. But I enjoy being in control, as well. So don’t think you’ll always get your way.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. And it’s good to know.”
She frowned. “Excuse me?”
He leaned in, molding his chest to her back. “That this turns you on so much you’re practically coming. Don’t think I can’t smell your excitement. Which reminds me…”
The hand on her hips disappeared, only to reappear at the top of her mound, a soft cloth pressed against her skin. She jumped at the wet feel of it, relaxing as he drew it through her slit, thoroughly cleaning away the evidence of their first encounter.
“Guess the Boy Scouts were right…it’s wise to be prepared and carry a bottle of water with you at all times.” His tongue licked a path along her skin, ending in a kiss at the side of her neck. “Better?”
“Much.” God, every word sounded more desperate than the last, and she nearly groaned when her pussy clenched as he drew the cloth back.
“Damn. You are dangerous.” He moved in behind her again, his cock resting between her buttocks as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re so small and yet so strong. It’s been a long time since someone got the better of me. Kneeing me in the groin…that was impressive.”
She watched him over her shoulder. “You still caught me.”
Something flashed in his eyes as he sighed, brushing his lips across the back of her shoulder. “I’m sure as hell trying.” He glanced away for a moment, and the emotion was gone when his gaze returned. He inhaled, looking down her body. “So pretty.”
His fingers danced along her skin, moving from her hips to the vee of her mound. She followed his movement, hissing out her breath when one hand opened her silky lips, exposing the hood of her clit. It fluttered in the cool air, and he groaned against her ear, using his other hand to circle it.
Her body tensed, the intimate touch coiling desire tight in her belly. He grinned against her skin, sliding his finger through her slit, teasing her with a hint of penetration.
“So fucking wet. God I love that. Now be a good girl, and stay still.”
He moved back, and she bit back a pang of disappointment at his desertion. But he quickly returned, kneeling in front of her as his hands caressed her thighs.
He moved them down, using his thumbs to bare her to his gaze. “You smell so good.” He dipped his head forward, swiping his tongue through her folds. “And you taste even better. Get comfortable, honey. This could take some time.”
She wanted to protest, but she couldn’t make the words form on her tongue. He looked up at her between her breasts, giving her a cocky wink, before wedging his head between her thighs and sucking her clit into his mouth. Lights flickered through her vision, threatening to drop her to the ground. She lowered her hands, anchoring them in his hair as he teased her clit, nipping and sucking as the knotted bundle of nerves. Pleasure arced through her body, spiraling outward in an ever-increasing circle as he probed her sex with his fingers, finally sinking two inside her.
“Yes. God. More.”
He chuckled at her request, the tiny vibrations adding another layer of sensation. She splayed her thighs slightly wider, wanting him to exert more pressure. If he’d only make a few more passes, she’d explode.
He tsked her as he drew back, keeping her suspended on the edge. “Now, honey. I’m no mind reader, but damn, even I can tell how desperate you are to come. But surely you don’t want it to be over yet?”
“Not over. Just another turn.”
He looked up at her, his mouth glistening with her juice, his eyes black against his skin. He shook his head, still easing his fingers in and out of her hole. “Damn, I love the way you reason. Fine. You win this round.”
He moved back to her pussy, licking and sucking as he pumped her sex, building the pressure growing inside her. She felt full. Overfull as if her impending release expanded outward, threatening to burst through her groin. Her head tilted back, the air too heavy to breathe. Her fingers clenched around his hair, holding his head firm as heat rolled through her body. The muscles in her stomach tensed, contracting in sequence as her orgasm flared and held, keeping her suspended on the edge.
Annie groaned in desperation. So close but so damn far. She panted out her breath, not sure what she needed when Dylan ran his finger along the cleft of her ass, sinking one cream-coated finger inside her puckered opening.
She broke, the combined sensation of his mouth on her clit, and his fingers in her sex and ass more than she could handle. Her body convulsed around his mouth, her thighs trembling with induced fatigue. She thought she moaned his name, but it was lost in the pounding of her heart in her head. Her vision blurred then faded, and she didn’t realize she’d collapsed until she felt the warm press of his chest against her side as he caught her, lifting her into his arms.
Her head lolled against his shoulder as he carried her across the room, gently laying her across the blanket. Soft cotton brushed against her skin as he positioned her in the middle, rising over her as he gathered her in his arms, slipping them beneath her shoulders as his hips wedged between her thighs. She used what little strength she had to pull him closer, peppering frantic kisses along his jaw. Her body was wired, despite the almost numbing orgasm, her muscles quivering in burning need.
“Easy, Annie. I’ve got you.”
She forced her eyelids open, needing to see his face as he shifted slightly, caressing her pussy with the head of his cock.
“God, yes. Dylan, I need…”
You
.
The word stuck on her tongue, the honesty of it soul deep. It held more weight than this one act, and she knew once he’d loved her, she’d never be the same. Never feel this safe, this connected to anyone.
Dylan lowered his body, covering hers as he nuzzled her nose, making her look at him. Understanding shone in his eyes, and he leaned in, gently taking her lips in his. Her eyes misted at the tenderness in his touch, and she had to blink back tears when he eased up.
He whispered her name as he slowly thrust forward, sinking his shaft inside her, inch by glorious inch. Her channel contracted, fighting to take his width as he continued to push into her until he was fully seated.
His breath washed over her shoulder. “So tight. You’re amazing.” He kissed her again. Deeper. Harder.
She arched against him, wanting every part of her body to be touching his. He slid one hand lower, keeping her groin pressed to his as he began a steady but slow rhythm, claiming her channel then easing out, leaving only the plum-shaped head inside her. She squeezed her thighs tight around his back, keeping him close as he moved along her body, possessing her in a way she never dreamed possible.
His harsh grunt had her clenching around him, another release building in her core. She pressed her head into the blanket, using her legs to meet each thrust, knowing it was only a matter of time before he upped his pace, taking her like he had against the wall.
Dylan seemed to read her mind, his hips slamming harder into hers as he rose onto his elbows, broadcasting his intentions. She nodded, gripping his arms, loving the feel of his muscles as they flexed beneath her touch.
He gave her three more controlled passes before leaning his head back, the cords in his neck straining as he gritted his teeth and let loose. His motion blurred, his massive form obscuring the view beyond his shoulder. She held on, striving toward release as he pounded into her, making her breasts shimmy with each punishing stroke. Fire laced through her veins, consuming every inch of her skin as her pussy spasmed, teetering on the edge.
Dylan shouted her name, levering onto one hand as the thumb of his other found her clit, giving it a firm flick. She came, yelling his name as she writhed beneath him, the world dimming into the firm press of his body and the hard feel of his cock as it emptied inside her. She felt every spurt, every contraction as he went rigid above her, every muscle clenching tight. He groaned through three more jerks of his hips before collapsing on top of her, his weight making her feel safe. Loved. She breathed out the last of her release, palming his back, wondering how long they could stay wrapped in each other’s arms before the real world intruded and they parted.
Annie exhaled as she scratched her nails down his back, loving the way his muscles twitched beneath her touch when her fingers scraped over a ridge. She paused, running the tips along the raised skin until an image flashed in her mind. She drew a shaky breath, cupping his chin as he pushed up, his gaze boring into hers.
She tried to soothe the panic welling in her chest as she traced his cheekbone with her thumb. “Is that what I think it is?”
The lines around his mouth creased as he pursed his lips together, his eyes narrowing. “It’s just a scar, like the ones you saw on my arm.”
“No. It’s not
just
a scar. It’s from a knife, but it’s not deep enough to be something you got during a fight. This was designed to inflict pain without killing you.” She coughed as she tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, failing miserably when she traced five more wounds identical to the first. Her heart thrashed against her chest. “Were you tortured?”
His jaw clenched. “Annie.”
“Good god. Dylan.” Tears slipped free of her lashes, burning a path down her cheek as she fought the roll of nausea in her gut. “Is that how Colin died? Were you two prisoners?”
The muscle in his temple pulsed as he eased out of her, rolling onto his back as he stared at the ceiling. Her heart clenched at the loss of his touch, but it was the sudden distance that hurt more. Though his arm still grazed hers, he felt a million miles away.
She sat up, drawing her knees to her chest as she wrapped her arms around her legs. Her heart told her to back off, to give him the space he so obviously wanted, but her head wouldn’t let her. This is what drove men to acts of violence and self-harm. This is what she’d missed in Rolland. Mistaking strength for dissociation. He’d been a master at it. Reassuring her with his smile, his successes, all the while burying the resentment deep inside until it’d seized control. She’d realized too late that he’d been telling her exactly what she’d wanted to hear, and she’d be damned if she allowed that to happen again. Dylan could run, push her away, refuse to be a part of her life, but if it gave him just a small measure of relief, that’s what mattered.
Annie turned her head toward him, preparing herself for the anger she knew would be directed her way. “How long were you held?”
He didn’t look directly at her, merely shifted his eyes until they stared at something over her left shoulder. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over. I lived. He died. That’s all it boils down to.”