Bound (Mastered #1)(29)

Finally he said, "Open and let me taste you, Amery."

Her lips parted and he sealed his mouth to hers. His tongue slipping past her teeth to stroke and lick.

The man knew how to kiss. Gradually cranking the power until she felt the change in him and his passion, his hunger rolling over her in a storm of need.

Amery returned his kiss with equal greed. Losing herself in his taste, letting him lead, but also showing him she'd follow wherever he opted to take them.

The kiss reached the combustible stage. She wanted to claw at his clothes to get to bare skin, reach down and undo his fly.

Ronin broke the kiss and pressed his cheek to hers, murmuring, "Hands at your sides."

She let her hands fall down.



       
         
       
        

His ragged breathing ruffled her hair. He remained like that until she relaxed. Then his fingers started caressing her neck. He rubbed his lips across the top of her ear. "It's humbling the way you just hand yourself over to me without question. That act of trust is a drug to someone like me."

"Someone like you?" she repeated.

"Someone who not only wants a beautiful woman on his arm and in his bed, but a woman who can truly surrender herself to a man who will give her what she wants."

"Which is what?"

"Pleasure without apology."

Amery found herself leaning into him again. "Are you taking me to bed, Ronin?"

"Soon, but not tonight."

She knew he sensed her disappointment.

"While I want you twined around me in every possible config- uration, there's no rush." Ronin kissed her temple, then her forehead, and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. His hands fell away. "I promised you a drink."

"You said you had a surprise for me."

"I do. Let's figure out what we're drinking first." Ronin threaded their fingers together and led her to the bar in the corner of the dining room.

She loved the mix of old and new in this cozy corner bar. It had such personality she didn't know how she'd missed it the night he'd given her the penthouse tour. Exposed red clay brick walls, bright blue neon lighting beneath the teak bar top. Track lighting hanging from the rafters highlighted the glass shelves holding the liquor bottles on the bar-back and cast muted light over the entire area. She slid onto a sleek leather and chrome barstool.

"What'll it be?"

Her eyes scanned the liquor bottles. "Do you have every kind of booze there is?"

"I like a variety."

"What do you usually drink?"

"Depends on my mood. I'm leaning toward a gin and tonic."

"I'll have the same."

Ronin smiled. "Coming right up."

Amery bit back a girlie sigh at seeing his rare smile. With her, away from the dojo, he seemed to have a softer side. Ronin in action as eighth-degree black belt and hard-ass owner of Black Arts had a cool veneer as well as an aura of power. Everything about him screamed discipline.

With that cool veneer stripped away, the man oozed sex. From his unruly black hair, to his liquid brown eyes that changed from ice to fire in one quick blink, to the fullness of his sensual mouth. And don't get her started on the strength in his body. The measured way he walked-a combination of purpose and grace. The deliberateness as his hands performed a task even as simple as making a drink-no wasted movement. The man was an erotic enigma. 

So . . . why was he interested in her?

She'd been so lost in thoughts of him she jumped when he slid a drink across the bar.

"See if that tastes okay."

Amery sucked in a mouthful and swallowed. Crisp, tangy, limey. She smacked her lips. "It's perfect. Is there anything you don't do well?"

Ronin thought about it a bit before he shook his head. "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right."

"You're intimidating as hell, Ronin Black."

He offered a slight bow. "Thank you."

Yeah, she was in way over her head with this man.

"Come on."

Amery followed him inside the elevator.

He opened a small panel above the main controls and punched in a code.

The elevator moved up.

Wait. Up? Weren't they on the top floor?

Before Amery could ask what was going on, the doors opened and a breeze blew in.

Ronin took her hand.

They stepped out of a small alcove onto the roof. As soon as they turned the corner, she gasped.

Ronin said, "Surprise."

This wasn't an ordinary roof in the city with vents sticking up and razor wire strung across the roof supports. This was an urban oasis with a view of the Rocky Mountains, the Denver skyline, and the Platte River Valley. And with the added height of brick walls around the entire perimeter, none of it was visible from street level. She said, "Heckuva surprise, Ronin," and set her drink on the closest table.