Power and Possession(19)

“Particularly when I’m fucking. I hope that’s not a deal-breaker.” She sat up a little straighter as though instinctively adding emphasis to her comment. “Especially since I’ve been wanting to check you out,” she said, her voice a hushed purr, a warm twinkle in her blue gaze. “In terms of my personal fulfillment.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “So I’m to perform?” A small friction lay beneath the pleasantness of his tone.

“Of course. Otherwise, what’s the point? I have a vibrator at home.” She smiled then, an irresistible, blatantly seductive smile. “I’d really prefer to see what you can do for me before I go home.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t be going anywhere.” There was quiet rebuke in his voice, finality. “You’ve heard the saying—as long as I have breath in my body? I’m operating on that principle.”

“Am I supposed to be alarmed?” She cocked her head slightly and looked straight at him. “I’m not.”

Did she realize what she was saying to someone who flirted with the dark side of human nature? It took an act of will for him to not to take advantage of her. “I’ll try not to alarm you,” he said. “Ah, here we are.”

The car came to a stop before a rusticated limestone building fronted with several large pots of topiary and draped in a tumble of climbing white roses and bougainvillea.

Nicole shot Rafe a look. “Simon can’t hear us in here, can he? So did I even really have a choice?”

He looked amused, her mutinous personality strangely attractive. “Don’t be so prickly. Simon just knows I usually stay here. But speak up if you’d rather go somewhere else. The South Pole for all I care, so long as I can fuck you.” He had his finger on the intercom button. “You want to give Simon directions? The airport’s not far. The Gulfstream’s gone but the 757’s there.”

“Oh God.” She blew out a breath. “Sorry. I told you I could be difficult.”

“Bossy, you mean,” he said, smiling.

Instinctively responding to his male interpretation, she met his gaze with a faint frown. “I mean assertive. You know, like men are assertive, but women are bossy or stubborn or obstinate. That way. No offense, of course,” she added with a sudden grin.

He held up his hands. “None taken. I can deal with any kind of assertive you’ve got, or, more precisely, I’m willing to deal with it because you’re making me crazy in a supernice way. Although, just out of curiosity—do you give orders in bed?” When she hesitated, he chuckled. “That’ll be a change. I’m guessing we’ll be flying blind.”

A tip of her head. “Meaning?”

“I like to give orders too.”

His deep, husky voice triggered every needy, X-rated nerve in her body, the essence of his words settling with a shimmering jolt deep inside her, and with a soft gasp, she felt herself open in welcome as if he’d touched her where she most wanted to be touched.

“Want to give it a try?” he said softly, watching her. “My orders first?” And without waiting, he lifted her into his lap and tapped the intercom. “Get the door, Simon. We’re staying here.” Then he slipped a finger under her bikini bottom, stroked her throbbing pussy, and whispered, “I guarantee happy endings. How soon do you want to come?”

“Yesterday,” she said on a caught breath, damp and aching. “Last week, last year.”

“So I should let you come quickly. Is that what you want now?”

At the sudden edge to his voice, she looked up, accusation in the brilliant blue of her eyes. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

His driver was almost back to the car door. “Do you want Simon to watch? Or are you going to wait?” He shrugged. “Your call.”

She shoved his hand away. “Asshole. Maybe I’ll make you wait,” she hissed as the car door opened and then added under her breath, “Put me down.”

“Just leave Miss Parrish’s backpack in the foyer, Simon.” Swinging his legs out of the car, Rafe rose to his feet smoothly, despite having Nicole in his arms. “And tell the kitchen we’re not sure when we’ll have dinner.” As his driver reached into the car, Rafe wondered if Nicole would make a scene, not sure what he’d do if she did. But she only stuck out her tongue.

Seriously, soul mates; he disliked public drama too.

Simon swiveled back up with Nicole’s pack in hand. “I’ll let the chef know the dinner hour is uncertain.” Tall and trim, with military-cut hair, a gold earring in one ear, and a bespoke linen jacket tailored to conceal his shoulder holster, the driver smiled. “Since you’re Henny’s go-to guy when he loses at the tables, he’ll overlook your nonschedule.”