This Man Confessed(19)

“She’s going to get hurt,” I say quietly.

His arm snakes around my bare tummy, pulling me back against him. I’m more than awake now. “What makes you think that?”

My shoulders tense. “I know she likes him.”

His hips push forward into my lower back and slowly grind, lazily, purposefully. “And I know Sam likes her.”

I moan as he dips and pushes upward, moving his mouth to my ear. I’m not even going to bother trying to sound unaffected. “Then why can’t they date like any normal couple?”

“None of our business,” he whispers.

That’s it. That voice, those damn fucking hips, and the sharpness of his chest through his suit has me lock stock. I spin around and start walking forward, pushing him back toward the bed. “This marriage is getting consummated.” I shove him on the bed and climb up to straddle his hips. He’s looking up at me, thoroughly amused. “Mr. Ward, I’m taking the power. Any objections?”

He grins. “Knock yourself out, baby.”

I smile and reach forward, grabbing his tie and yanking it so he’s forced to sit up or be strangled. His eyes widen in alarm as I get nose to nose with him. “Who has the power?” I ask quietly.

“It looks like you do, for now.” He’s fighting a grin. “Don’t get used to it.”

I match his grin and push my lips to his, a collective moan mingling between our mouths as I force my body into his, pressing him back down to the bed, while our mouths work each other in perfect harmony. I’ve been getting far too much gentle Jesse lately, but I’m going to remedy that now. I break away from his lips and work my way into his neck, savoring the feeling of his big hands sweeping across my naked back.

“Damn you, woman,” he moans.

“You don’t want me?” I tease, nibbling at his ear, circling wet, firm strokes in the hollow below his lobe. His scent is intoxicating.

“Don’t ask stupid fucking questions.” He pushes against me, and I know he’s going to spin me over, seize control, and then probably instigate sleepy sex, so I force myself back down onto him.

“Oh no, Ward.” I watch his chest heaving, his stunning face strained. He is clearly fighting instinct to take over here, but I’m not giving in. I know he could tackle me onto my back in a split second, and with little energy or strength, but he won’t. On top of being far too gentle with me, he’s trying hard to prove a point—that he can relinquish the power, that he can be reasonable. He’s trying so bloody hard…and failing.

I reach forward and take his hand, and he watches carefully as I lift it, the cuffs chinking as they unravel. My eyes flick to his to gauge his reaction, and I find a look of understanding surfacing. Then his arm tenses. I tug gently, but he won’t budge. This is the ultimate test. I know how he feels when he’s unable to access me, but it’s an unreasonable fear, and we have got to get past it. I tug again with slightly raised eyebrows. He’s reluctant, but he lets me guide it to the headboard.

“You won’t leave this time,” he pants. “Promise you won’t leave me this time.”

“If you promise you won’t get mad.” I snap the cuff over the wooden bar and look down at him. “Don’t get mad with me.”

He shakes his head faintly and takes a deep breath. I know how hard this is for him. “Kiss me,” he orders harshly.

“But I’m in charge,” I remind him.

“Jesus, baby, don’t make this harder than it already is.” He reaches out with his free hand and grasps the top of my arm, pulling me down so I’m flush to his chest again. My lips land on his and his marvelous mouth saturates me.

I start working his tie loose, yanking it from his neck, as he claims me with his tongue. Then I begin on the buttons of his shirt until I’ve got the lusciousness of his hard chest under my palms.

Slowing our kiss down, I pull away and he growls, his eyes clenching shut, but I ignore his obvious displeasure and start trailing my lips down his neck, onto his chest, across his solid stomach until I reach the zipper of his trousers. My nose runs the length of his cock over the material, and his hips jerk up, a suppressed bark flying from his mouth. My plan is working. I’m going to work him up into a frenzy so when I release him, he’ll be rampant and hopefully fuck me unconscious. We’ve got way too much hard fucking to catch up on.

His hand lands on the back of my head, and he yanks at my hair a little, making me smile in smug satisfaction as I slip the button of his trousers and slowly pull his zipper down, sliding my hand into his boxers and firmly grabbing his rock-hard length.