Page 36 of Atone in Darkness
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Damn, it felt good to hold Marisol in his arms. Chase had promised himself he’d behave, but that had been last night. Now he wasn’t sure he had it in him to miss out on the chance to do more than cuddle her close. If she’d given him any signal that she was unhappy to have woken up with him at her back, he would’ve apologized and put some space between them.
Like an entire room.
Instead,she’d relaxed against him and seemed content to stay that way. Having her tucked up tight next to him only made him want to get a whole lot closer. She had to be aware of the obvious effect she was having on him, especially considering her bottom was pressed right against it.
He nuzzled her shoulder and then breathed in deep to draw in her warm scent. His efforts were rewarded when she archedher head to the side to offer him easier access. She moaned softly as he pressed a series of soft kisses along the column of her neck. At the same time he slid his hand up from where it rested at her waist to just brush against thelower curve of her breasts.
When she stiffened in his arms, he froze.
“Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll stop.”
He actually liked that she took time to thinkbefore answering. Whatever she decided, he wanted to know that it hadn’t been an easy decision for her. Finally, she rolled over onto her back, forcing him to put a little room between them. Those few inches felt like a gap they might not have an easy time closing.
Her dark eyes looked worried when she finally met his gaze. “Are you wanting this because I’m me or just because I’m handy? Becausewhen we reach civilization, I’m afraid you will go back to hating me for being part of what happened to you. Even if that’s understandable, this would only complicate things.”
He should’ve known she’d ask the hard questions, and maybe it was better for both of them if they didn’t rush into anything. “I won’t lie to you, Marisol. Part of it is probably due to the situation. Chances are we willgo our separate ways when this is all over. You have your career to think about, and I have important obligations I can’t walk away from.”
When she flinched, he risked trailing the back of his fingers along the curve of her cheek as he bought himself a few seconds to consider his response. They both deserved his total honesty about his feelings about her. Did he want her? Yes. Did he trust her?He wanted to, but was that enough? It would have to be.
He caressed her smooth skin one more time. “There are two things you need to know. The first is that I do believe you got in over your head with the bastards who hired youto do research for them, and I’m well aware of how much it bothered you to see what they did to me. The second is that I’ve been attracted to you from the beginning... even when I insisted on calling you my keeper.”
That was no lie. He found Marisol compelling on so many levels beyond the purely physical, although she definitely scored high marks in that category. He loved her soft curves and those chocolate-brown eyes he could just fall into. The tenderness she’d shown him as she’d tended his wounds had healed not just his injuries, but his soul as well.Although it drove him crazy, he loved the way she stubbornly asked questions even when she knew she might not like his answers. Yeah, he really liked that razor-sharp mind. Had he ever really understood how sexy intelligence could be?
He withdrew his hand. “So I guess the next move is yours. I don’t want to make things any harder for you than they already are. After all, you’re trapped here withme, a man you really know nothing about but you need to help get you through this mess. I promise I will do everything I can to keep you safe no matter what happens—or doesn’t happen—between us.”
He must have said something right, because Marisol scooted next to him, closing the small space between them. As she did, her frown slowly morphed into a soft smile. Leaning into him, she used her lipsrather than words to respond. The kiss was soft and tentative, as if she wasn’t quite sure of her welcome. He smiled against her mouth and cupped the back of her head to hold her in exactly the right position. When he traced her lips with the tip of his tongue, she smiled back and allowed him entrance.
He tugged her over to sprawl on his chest, enjoying the warm press of her body against his.As their tongues tangled and danced in an erotic rhythm, he cupped her ass and centered her right over his erection. She broke off the kiss long enough to reward his efforts by swiveling her hips against his, creating a heated friction between them.
It was so damn tempting to wrest control from her, but right now he was content to lie back and let her work her magic. But that didn’t mean he waswilling to be totally passive. He eased his hands under the waistband of her oversized shorts to stroke his fingers over the silk of her skin. When that was no longer enough, he withdrew one hand.
“Raise up a little.”
Marisol hesitated and then gave in to his demand. Watching for any sign that he was moving too fast, he slipped his hand under the front of her pants this time to do a little exploring.Her eyes briefly widened in surprise and drifted closed as he slowly stroked her, gradually increasing pressure. When he finally eased one finger deep inside her core, she shuddered and rolled back onto her side of the bed.
As she did, she issued an order of her own. “Strip. I want your skin against mine.”
Okay, then. His sweatshirt went flying, and his pants followed right behind. He would’vebeen all too glad to help Marisol remove her own clothing, but she seemed determined to take care of that little chore herself. Disappointing, but at least she let him watch.
“You’re gorgeous.”
She blushed and dropped her gaze as if she didn’t know whether she believed his blunt assessment, but he meant it.She was everything feminine, with her blond hair tumbling down around her shoulders insoft waves, and her perfect breasts practically begged to be kissed and caressed.
Unable to resist the temptation, he zeroed on the tightly budded tip of one breast with his mouth, tugging on it with his lips and tongue. “So sweet.”
She protested when he let go, but then sighed as he turned his attention to her second breast. Suckling hard, he kneaded the other one hard enough to skate the narrowdivide between pleasure and pain.
Meanwhile, she did a little exploring of her own. When she grasped his cock and gave it two long, slow strokes, his eyes about rolled back in his head. Before she could do it again, he tugged her hand back up to his chest.
“Spoilsport.”
He kissed her fingertips. “No, just trying to slow things down.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
While he struggled tocome up with a logical reason, she turned the tables on him and pulled his hand up to her lips and gently sucked on one of his fingers. His cock jerked in response, making him wish her mouth was a whole lot farther south on his body. She knew it, too, the little minx.
