Page 51 of Fight for Me

He stood. “You can sleep here.” He’d turned down the bedding. “I’ll take the guestroom next door.”

She hesitated. “I can take the guestroom. You don’t have to give up your bed for me.” It seemed oddly intimate, for her to sleep in his bed, even if it was alone.

“I insist.” His tone was such that she knew arguing would make no difference, and she was too worn to do so anyway.

She climbed into the bed and he settled the covers over her, then handed her a small glass with about an inch of amber liquid.

“To help you sleep,” he said.

Anne nodded her thanks and took a gulp. The burn of the scotch down her throat made her cough.

“Easy does it,” Blane said. He sat on the edge of the bed next to her. Reaching out, he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers lightly touched her jaw, gently angling the injured side of her face toward him.

The change that came over him was remarkable. His whole body seemed to realign itself and his expression turned flat. If she didn’t know him, she’d have considered putting some space between them. He looked like a man capable of dangerous and murderous things.

Anne swallowed hard. “You didn’t say why you came back to my apartment.”

He shook his head, his gaze still on her face. “Doesn’t matter now.”

“What did you mean by ‘I’ll take care of it?’”

His eyes found hers. “Just what I said.”

Alarm shot through her. “Blane, you can’t just find this guy and take him on. You’re a senator, for crying out loud. And he’s dangerous.”

“So am I.”

She stared at him, dumbfounded. His fingers lightly caressed her cheek.

“You’re important to me,” he said. “And if someone hurts you, they’re going to pay.”

His declaration took her breath away. No one had ever looked at her like that before. As though his entire world revolved around her. He was completely serious about punishing Madeleine’s husband. It both thrilled and terrified her.

Getting to her knees, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

For a moment, he didn’t respond, then his mouth opened underneath hers and drew her in. His arms slid around her waist, drawing her closer.

Blane tasted like scotch and his own flavor that she’d already come to recognize and crave. He kissed her with an urgency that sent fire down her spine. His arms were bands of hard steel surrounding her waist and his chest was a firm wall against her body. His kisses stole her breath as he took what he wanted. She was helpless to do anything but follow his lead.

Her breasts pressed against his chest, and she desperately wished there was no cloth between her skin and his. She tugged on his t-shirt, pulling it up his back and over his head. He tossed it away.

Warm skin met her fingers, and she explored the hard muscles of his shoulders. He had those muscles between his shoulder and neck that gave his silhouette an arch. It was mouthwatering.

His hands slid down to her thighs, then back up underneath the shirt to cup her butt. She gasped into his mouth and he groaned, squeezing her flesh.

Anne sucked in breaths, tilting her head up. Blane’s lips found her neck, nipping and sucking at the tender flesh. Heat pooled between her legs and she straddled his lap, pressing against the straining erection in his jeans.

He tugged at her shirt, pulling it over her head. She stretched up, freeing her arms from the cloth. Then they were skin-against-skin, and he was so warm. His body was like a furnace, burning heat against her cool skin.

He flipped her onto her back. She squeaked at the suddenness of it, but then Blane was parting her legs and scooting down the bed. Before she could think, his mouth was on her. She sucked in a breath, her eyes sliding shut at the sweet, hot slide of his tongue.

It had been a long time and Blane was very, very good.

Anne clutched at his hair, a moan escaping her as he slid a finger inside. His tongue stroked her clit, sending a surge of heat and spiraling pleasure through her. She gasped as he worked her clit, aggressively tonguing the soft bit of flesh. His finger curled inside, pressing against a spot she didn’t know existed. Thought was beyond her. Only sensation existed.

Moans and breathless gasps escaped her as her body teetered on the brink. Her back arched and Blane seemed to sense how close she was. He moaned, the vibrations of his voice sending her over the edge. She screamed. She couldn’t help it. Her body flew apart, pleasure spiking in a way she’d never felt before. But he didn’t stop. Even as she clutched his hair and her legs circled his shoulders, he still caressed her. And when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, she exploded again, tears leaking from her eyes at the extreme sensation.

“Oh my God,” she sobbed, her body limp like a worn-out rag. “Oh, God.” She couldn’t move an inch. Her body was still quaking, aftershocks rippling through her.