Power and Possession(53)

“Such confidence.” She gave herself a swipe between the legs and tossed the washcloth.

“I’m getting to know your sweet spots and your tricky ones.” His smile broadened. “Those take a little more concentration.”

“For which I’m grateful.”

He winked. “You should be.”

“Is your minute up yet?”

He was still laughing when he entered her creamy warmth; she liked the feeling, almost as much as she liked his slow, deliberate penetration so every sensation was magnified by anticipation, every sensory tingle was indelibly etched in her brain, her need for him bordering on insatiable. “You’re really good to me,” she whispered, brushing his hair back from his face, resting her palms on his cheeks.

He smiled. “Only you.”

“Just so you know—you can always win. I don’t care.”

He chuckled. “You’ll change your mind after you come.”

“When will that be?”

His smile was all sweet, cocky heat. “You need a time or just a promise?”

“I need you,” she whispered. “That’s all I need.”

If any other woman had said that to him, he would have shown her the door. “You’ve got me, babe. Everything good now?” he added, unruffled by her demand, making her happy a business plan he was more than willing to sign off on. “And fast is fine with me if that’s your schedule. Ready?”

As she nodded, she wondered if one could become a nymphomaniac in a matter of hours. Because all she wanted was Rafe Contini inside her, making her feel hot and wild and scary good.

Rafe was thinking maybe there was a God because Nicole Parrish had appeared out of nowhere and was introducing him to heaven on earth—in terms of maybe the best, most intense sex of his life. The shocking concept instantly generated a wave of panic, until his self-preservation instincts kicked in to remind him he’d said maybe.

“I don’t want to wait,” Nicole whispered.

But his moment of panic had sent a burst of adrenaline through his blood, fueling his fight-or-flight reflex. Or, in his case, attack mode—an indictment of boarding schools where survival came down to winning or losing; there was no middle ground. Struggling to rein in the pressure to hit something, Rafe muttered, “If I get out of hand, maybe you should have a safe word.”

She gave him a curious look. “Out of hand—like how?”

“I’ve been known to lose it on occasion.”

“With sex, you mean.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Since he didn’t want her to walk out, he left it at that.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m good.” She slid her legs around his waist and smiled.

“What the hell does that mean?” He gave her a flat look.

“Jeez, relax. It just means I don’t need a safe word.”

Dead silence for a moment, then he lifted an eyebrow. “Are you saying you’re into rough sex?”

She sighed. “No, I’m a virgin. Does that make you feel better?”

“How rough do you like it?” he asked, an edge to his voice.

“Could we drop this conversation?”

“Answer my question.”

She unwound her legs and shoved against his chest. “Don’t snarl at me. It’s none of your damn business.”

He lowered his weight on her just enough to get her attention. “I’m making it my business.” He gave her a chilly look, forcing her legs wider. “Now, one more time,” he snarled, just to get his point across. “How rough? And don’t fuck with me. I’m not in the mood.”

“I know what you’re in the mood for,” she snapped, glaring at him as his erection swelled inside her. “Your dick likes this stupid macho shit, doesn’t it? You gonna pound the fucking answer out of me?”

She was all sulky and pissed, flushed and huffy. And so totally hot and sexy she was probably right about his dick. But he’d spent a lifetime dealing with frustration, schooling himself to control his emotions and his world. And after all the fucking debate his adrenaline had almost flatlined. Screw the stupid argument. He offered her a warm smile, raised his weight off her. “Sorry. I was out of line. So what would you like first? Slow, fast, simple, not so simple?”

“Christ, are you schizoid?” But she was smiling.

He smiled back. “Yeah, seriously demented. But that doesn’t mean my dick can’t make you all hot and bothered.”

“No shit. And since it seems to matter, I’ve never done rough sex.” She shrugged. “I’m not saying I’m against it. No one ever appealed enough to give it a go.”