Page 37 of Atone in Darkness
“There will be payback.”
“Really? Bring it on, big guy.”
Had she forgotten about his ninjalike reflexes? The dare had barelyleft her lips when he had her on her back, pinned to the bed with the full weight of his body. “I win.”
The satisfied look on her face said she had a different opinion on that. That was all right as long as they weretogether for this ride. There was one thing they hadn’t discussed. As much as he hated to interrupt the smooth flow, there was no avoiding the subject. He caught her wandering handsin his and brushed his lips across hers. “I don’t have any protection with me.”
Her fair complexion flushed even rosier. “We’re good.”
Dropping his forehead down to rest on hers, he let out a sigh of relief. “I would’ve stopped, but I’m glad I don’t have to.”
She arched her back, pressing her breasts up against his chest. “Me, too.”
As much as he wanted to take her hard and fast, there wasno need to rush. Surely the gods would grant them this one interlude. With that hopeful thought, he went exploring. Kissing her mouth, he loved the way her lips melded with his as if they’d been designed to fit together perfectly.
From there, he moved down her body, taking his time and paying homage to each luscious curve and valley. When he reached the damp curls at the juncture of her thighs,he gave her a quick look to make sure she was okay with what he was about to do. Her eyes were open wide and a little wild, but she didn’t protest when he savored the taste of her most private secrets. He could’ve feasted forever on the sexy sounds she made when he did something just right.
When she bowed up off the bed as her climax hit her, he surged back up her body to hold her close whileshe rode out the wave. He gave her a few seconds to catch her breath before once again settling his body over hers. After kissing her softly smiling mouth, he tugged her legs up around his hips as he positioned himself at the entrance of her body.
“Brace yourself, babe.”
Her answering smile was all temptation and heat as she trailed her fingernails down his shoulders just hard enough to gethis attention. Then she slipped her hand between their bodies to stroke the length of his cock. Her eyes widened just a hint when it grew harder at her touch. Luckily for him, she looked more greedy than worried.
After one more stroke and a not-so-gentle squeeze, she returned her hand to his shoulder and tightened the grip her thighs had on his hips. “Give me all you’ve got.”
He didn’t needto be asked twice. She gasped as he thrust hard and deep, causing him to pause long enough for her body to adjust to his. When she sighed and dug her nails in again, he started to move, slowly at first, but then gradually picking up speed and power as she once again demanded everything he had to give.
His control was tenuous at best, the amazing connection between them was too much, too soon.He withdrew and rocked back on his heels, his lungs working hard and his pulse racing as he stared down at this woman who stole his breath with her beauty.
Marisol looked like a goddess there in that cramped bed, her hair spread out on the pillow, her fair skin glowing with heat. “Chase?”
“You should come with a warning label, lady. I haven’t lost control like that since I was twenty.” He offeredher a crooked smile. “Give me a second to catch my breath, and we’ll try that again.”
Then he flipped her over and tugged her hips back up toward him. She willingly did as he wanted, glancing backover her shoulder to offer encouragement as he pressed forward, once again delving deep into her slick heat. It felt like coming home.
Moving slowly, he withdrew almost completely before once againplunging deep and hard. He arched over the elegant curve of her back as he cupped the fullness of her breasts with a soft squeeze. Oh yeah, this was good. Great, even. Maybe the best ever.
Tension coiled tight in his lower body. This time there would be no turning back, no stopping the wave that threatened to overwhelm him. If he was going to go diving over the edge, he was going to take herwith him. He sought the center of her desire, gently brushing the pad of his fingertip over the small nub hidden in her curls. She whimpered. He smiled and did it again, this time harder.
She pushed back against him, her head pressed down in the pillow. “Chase, it’s too much.”
He ignored her complaint and picked up the pace. “That’s it, baby, come for me.”
As the first tremors wracked her body,his own control exploded. The whole universe narrowed down to just the two of them caught up in this firestorm of heat and hunger. When it was over, he tucked Marisol in close at his side. Sometime soon he was going to have to let go of her and walk away, but for now he was going to hold on to her with everything he had.
•••
MARISOL KEPT HEReyes closed and hovered halfwaybetween slumberand awareness. Mostly she basked in the warmth of the man who cradled her close to his heart. They’d kissed one last time before both of them had fallen back to sleep still tangled up in each other. It was a good thing they’d planned to hang out at the cabin for another day, because she wasn’t sure she could dredge up enough energy right then to get dressed, much less start hiking down that gravelroad.
Eventually she was going to have to abandon their warm cocoon to use the bathroom. Something to eat, even if it was a can of green beans and leftover burned corn bread, would be nice, too. Somehow she’d ended up on the opposite side of the bed from where she’d started but still facing the window. If she was careful, she could slip out without waking Chase.
She smiled. The man had certainlyearned the right to sleep all day if he wanted to. Their first round of sex had raged out of control, the intensity unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. By comparison, the second round had been almost slow motion, all about deep kisses and gentle touches.
What would round three be like? Because that man was nothing if not creative.
After successfully extracting herself from the bed,she hunted down the borrowed clothes she’d worn last night. The shirt was hanging off the edge of the chair in the far corner, while the drawstring shorts had somehow been kicked under the bed. As she tugged them back up over her hips, she happened to glance out the window and froze midmotion.
Pitching her voice low but urgent, she whispered, “Chase! Someone is out in the woods, and he’s headedthis way.”
