Satisfaction rushed through him, and he closed his mouth over hers, kissing her hard and deep. She curled her fingers into his shirt, whimpering into his mouth. He broke off the kiss, buried his hands in her mahogany hair, and dropped his forehead to hers.
Before he fully thought them through, the words came tumbling out of his mouth. “I don’t hate you, either. The opposite, actually. Spend the night with me in my bed. All night. Be mine again, before it’s all over.”
He waited for her answer, knowing that she held too much power over him, but beyond caring. Truth was, he needed her, plain and simple.
Her harsh breathing stopped, as if she was holding in her breath. Or her words. Then she nodded. “Yes. One last night.”
Standing up, he cradled her in his arms protectively. His leg protested the extra weight, but he refused to listen. He didn’t want to let go of her, not for a single second. If only he could hold her in his arms forever, he’d be a happy man.
When he cleared his bedroom threshold, he set her on her feet and smoothed her hair. “You’re so fucking gorgeous. And you’re mine. All mine.”
Reaching up, she ran her fingers over his biceps and down his forearms. “I am. And I want to touch you everywhere. Can I please touch you? Do what I want to you?”
He grinned. She’d remembered the rules and asked nicely, so she would be rewarded. “Yes. You can be in control for now.”
“Thank you.”
Raising on tiptoe, she kissed him. Her soft lips moved over his, and something in his chest squeezed tight, grabbing hold. He clung to her fingers, letting her lead the kiss. Every other time that they had been with each other, he hadn’t given her the chance to really do anything besides be ravished. Tonight would be different.
Hell, he was different tonight.
Because of her.
He didn’t feel the need to dominate her or remain in control. After two short days in her company, he was already a changed man. He wasn’t sure what to make of that, but there was no going back now. He sensed that, even if he didn’t fully understand it.
And worse?
He didn’t give a fuck.
Chapter Thirteen
Tara rose on her tiptoes more, deepening the kiss. The fact that he seemed to be giving her control twice in one day came as a bit of a surprise, but she wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth, thank you very much. She rolled her tongue over his, her stomach clenching when he moaned and released her.
Holding her firmly, he slanted his mouth over hers. She knew she could break free if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Not in the slightest. She ran her fingers over the harsh lines of his shoulders, memorizing them He was so hard and muscular everywhere she touched. Perfection in human form.
And soon, this would all be over.
The thought left her…empty. She’d be alone again, and she’d miss him. Way too much. She should be angry with him for putting her in this position, but he was only doing his job. Just like she was only doing hers. They were no different, and she couldn’t punish him for that without being a hypocrite.
No matter how much she wished she could.
She wasn’t giving in, and she wasn’t running away like a coward. One way or another, tomorrow? This would all end.
Breaking off the kiss, she grabbed his shirt and lifted it—baring his chest and abs. She hadn’t gotten a good enough view of them last night while he’d been on top of her, but now she had all the time in the world to get well acquainted with that portion of his body. He had a six-pack.
An actual six-pack.
And all that ink…
He was a serious danger to all women everywhere. She cupped his erection, as she had in the safe. Only this time, she wasn’t going to stop. She massaged his hard length through his jeans, and he moaned. Rising up on tiptoe, she caught his mouth again. When he held her in his arms, she felt so small. So vulnerable, and yet protected all at the same time.
Dropping back to her normal height, she undid his pants. They hit the floor. Next went the boxers, and he stood there gloriously naked. So. Freaking. Hot.
Too bad he’d be the end of her.
She took in every inch of his lean toughness. After falling to her knees, she raked her nails down his chest and abs. “My turn to taste you.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed and he fisted his hands at his hips. “Tara, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I—”
He broke off with a gurgle when she leaned in and closed her fingers around the base of his penis. Without warning, she flicked her tongue over the head of his shaft and sucked him into her mouth.
Threading his fingers in her hair, he urged her closer. “Fuck, don’t think about stopping.”
Deep in the back of her throat, she moaned. He tensed more, and she took him in deeper. She ran her tongue over the head as she sucked, not letting go of the base. She worked him, pumping ever so slightly, and scraped her teeth against him gently. He groaned and tightened his grip on her, pressing her closer.