The Marriage He Must Keep(52)

She narrowed her eyes and, quick as a cat, nipped his chest with her teeth.

“Oh, you think?” He manacled her wrists in one hand and used his free one to take a handful of her hair, dragging her head back. Rather than kiss her, though, he set his teeth against her neck, not hurting, just letting her know he could return her injury and then some if he wanted to. He had all the power here.

She struggled with more determination, but only wound up rubbing herself where he was hardening. Her breasts began to ache from the friction against his hard chest. The strap of her gown fell off her shoulder and he opened his mouth on her bared skin.

How could this be turning her on?

“This is kinky,” she accused. She might have lived a sheltered life, but she read. She surfed. She knew a little about the games couples played. “Don’t we need a safe word if you’re going to overpower me?”

“Or you could just tell me to let you go,” he said with a silent laugh, releasing her hair to push the other strap of her gown down, baring the cup of her bra. He didn’t lift his gaze from the poke of her nipple against the blue lace. “Are you going to?” His voice was gruff and hungry.

When he looked at her like that, as if he was going to eat her alive, she didn’t want him to ever let her go.

She struggled again, more earnest this time, seeing if he would release her. Seeing if he really could withstand this energy inside her.

He barely seemed to notice how hard she was trying, just pinned her hips to the hard length of his erection and circled her nipple with the tip of his finger.

“What if I scream?” she threatened breathlessly, wanting to.

His gaze dragged upward and his eyes were green with lust. “Do you want to be faceup or facedown on the mattress?” He began backing her toward the bed.

Her stomach flip-flopped with wicked excitement.

“You wouldn’t!” She secretly loved it when they were on their knees and he was behind her. It felt earthy and animalistic and was always intensely satisfying. “Brute.”

“I’m not going to hurt you, cara. Never,” he promised as he unzipped her gown. He finally released her so he could push the dress all the way off.

She grasped at his arms so she wouldn’t fall onto the bed, but he pressed her there anyway, coming down over her and covering her with his big body, thigh moving imperiously between her bare ones to part her legs wide.

She punished him by taking fistfuls of his hair and trying to drag his mouth to hers.

He allowed it as he arranged her legs around his waist, settling there as though he owned the space then returned her forceful kiss with an intrusive sweep of his tongue and a rock of his mouth that took control of hers.

Everything about what he was doing, the way he was overwhelming her but giving her this outlet for the fury inside her, excited her. She’d spent the bulk of her life seeking approval and for once she was casting away any desire for it. Something in her was pushing forth from its shell, saying This is who I am.

And Sandro wasn’t backing off. She made noises of frustration, fought for dominance even though she was beneath him, squeezed her legs on his waist and pulled his hair. She scraped her teeth on his lips and he only lifted his head and laughed.

“You are wild tonight,” he said with lusty appreciation and peeled her hands from his hair to pin them over her head. Then he shifted so he could touch between her legs. “You’ve soaked them.” He moved the strip of silk aside and traced her wet center, not quite giving her what she needed.

“I want you inside me,” she demanded in a voice both raspy and direct. Commanding in a way she’d never been.

“The condoms are all the way over there, cara.” He dipped one finger, letting her clasp him, which was only a tease, making her whimper. “But if you ask me nicely, I’ll lick you.”

“You’re being a bastard,” she told him.

“Close enough.” He grasped her panties at her hip, giving them a yank to snap them, then released her hands and slid down the bed.

She didn’t fight. In fact she groaned in abandonment as he pleasured her. It had been too long since he’d done this and he was very, very good at it. Inhibition disappeared as she said things and he did things and the energy building in her coiled to unbearable tightness. With her heels in his back and her hand in his hair, she let go with a scream that she muted with her wrist, completely lost to the moment.

She came back to a state of lassitude that was buttery and sweet.

He dragged himself to his feet and stood to strip, gaze raking her sprawling body. She was nude but for the bra that was askew across her chest. His expression tightened to stark possession and inexorable intent. He reached into the drawer of the night table without looking away from her.