“Do you?”
He begins to laugh against my lips before saying, “Clearly my cock approves and is eager to thank you,” which causes me to burst out laughing right along with him.
“You’re such a dork.”
“A dork, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“No one has called me that since the fifth grade,” he teases, and I giggle when I respond, “Well, maybe not to your face.”
He buries his head in my neck, biting me and growling at my snarky remark, but it only turns me on. With my ankles crossed behind him, I urge his hips into me, needing the friction against my heat.
“Needy,” he remarks.
“You have no idea.”
He leans over, flipping off all the switches on the stove, and then hikes up the skirt of my dress. Leaning down between my legs, I hear him inhale deeply through his nose, scenting me.
“Fuck, I love the way you smell when your body readies itself for me,” he says before violently ripping my panties right off of me, the lacy fabric shredded as they hang from my one thigh.
My hands take fistfuls of Declan’s hair as he kneels before me, spreading my legs wider. I look down at him as he takes in the sight of me.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he says as he flicks his eyes up to mine. He then takes his fingers and sinks them between the lips of my already wet pussy, adding, “This . . .”
“Mmmm.”
“This is so fucking beautiful,” he says before plunging a finger inside of me.
My hands tighten around the locks of his hair as I release a heady moan. He keeps his eyes on mine while he slowly fucks me with his finger, peering up at me in raging heat.
“You like having me inside of you?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“This is mine.”
I moan in approval when he takes his thumb and starts pressing smooth circles over my swollen clit. He then crooks his finger to reach the most sensitive spot inside of me, causing my body to lose control as he sparks the live wire that’s burning in me. But it’s when his hot mouth covers me that I come undone, allowing him to possess me however he chooses.
With the flat pad of his tongue, he massages my clit in tender strokes before baring his teeth and with their razor edge, clamps down and bites me.
“Shit,” I hiss as my body jerks away in pain, but he grabs my hips and keeps me in his mouth with a forceful grip. He quickly replaces his teeth with his tongue again, soothing the infliction, blurring the lines between pleasure and pain.
The gentleness that follows the torture makes me crave more of the loving abuse, and he knows it when he pulls away, urging, “Tell me you want it.”
“Give it to me.”
“Tell me what you want.”
“You know what I want.”
“Say it,” he commands.
“Bite me.”
“Ask me,” he says. “Beg for it.”
Pushing my hips towards his face, I nearly whimper in the desire that flushes through my veins, “Please, Declan. Bite me, and then take the pain away. I wanna feel it.”
With a low groan, he’s pleased with my request, approving, “Good girl,” before unzipping his pants to free his massive erection, solid and hard.
“Your girl,” I breathe as he takes me in his mouth again.
I can’t keep my eyes off of him, watching him beat off while he blissfully fucks me with his tongue.
BENNETT HAS BEEN home for a couple of weeks now, making it difficult for me to see Declan. I have to come up with random excuses to get away and go to him. So I lie, telling him that Chicago Magazine wants another piece from me and that I’ve been meeting my editor for coffee and office meetings to discuss article topics, or that I’m spending the day at the spa, or going shopping. Whatever I can come up with, I tell him. Declan and I have been spending most of our time on his yacht. When I’m with him, nothing else exists—I’m happy and content. I know I’ve made a huge mistake and the more time I spend with him leaving my heart unguarded, the deeper I’m falling in love. But I can’t help myself. He’s intense, overwhelming, addictive, and utterly all-consuming. When I’m not with him, I want to be. These days, I can barely go an hour without wanting to talk to him. That’s how much I crave him.
I’ve been putting off seeing Pike for these very reasons. I’m scared to tell him the truth about what’s going on between Declan and me, so for the first time, I’m going to have to lie to him. It’s been almost a month since I last saw him, so while Bennett is at work, and Declan is in meetings all day to discuss acquiring a piece of land in London for new construction, I take a risk and drive out to Justice to touch base with Pike. I normally wait until Bennett is out of town, but under the circumstances, I feel like I need to check in.
The place smells of his clove cigarettes, a scent that is so familiar to me, one that I find comfort in. But the smell that brings me the most comfort now is one of sweet, earthy rain—the smell of lotus blooms.
“Four weeks, Elizabeth,” Pike’s monotone voice says as he sits on the couch. His irritation doesn’t come as a surprise as I walk over and sit down next to him.
“I’m sorry. Bennett’s been home. He’s not traveling as much right now,” I try explaining, but he doesn’t seem to be in any mood to hear my excuses.
“Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Pike.”
“Tell me you’re making progress with that guy.”
“His name’s Declan, and I’m trying. It’s just taking a little longer than I expected,” I tell him, lying because the only reason it’s taking longer is because I want more time with him.
He looks over at me, fed up, asking, “What the hell does that mean? Last I saw you, you said he was in deep and didn’t seem to have much doubt about this taking up a whole lot of time.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I think I was just wound up with excitement, but I don’t feel like he’s ready yet.”
“How did he react to the last bruises I gave you?”
“He was pissed. I wound up staying with him the whole time Bennett was away.”
He nods, stubbing out his cigarette. “So what do you think it’s gonna take?”
“I’m not sure.”
“How long is Bennett gone this time?” he asks.
“He’s not. He’s still here in town. It’s just been a while since I saw you.”
“So you needed me to take care of you,” he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, assuming I came for sex. But I don’t need that from him anymore. And as screwed up as it sounds, considering I’m married, the thought of having sex with Pike would make me feel like I was being unfaithful to Declan. It’s a fucked up idea, but the feeling is there regardless.
“No. I just wanted to check in. I didn’t want you worrying,” I tell him and watch as his eyes narrow.
“What the fuck is going on? What aren’t you telling me?” he snaps.
“Nothing.”
“For nearly sixteen years you’ve always needed me for sex, and now, all of a sudden, you don’t.”
“Nobody said that I don’t still need you, Pike.”
“You didn’t need me the last time you were here, and now today,” he says suspiciously as he pulls his arm away from me. I don’t speak as he stands up and takes a few steps across the room before turning back to face me. “You say you think Declan needs more time, that he’s not ready. But now you’ve got me wondering if it’s you that’s not ready.”
I stand up, defending instantly, “You don’t think I’m ready to see Bennett dead? To see that asshole buried six feet under where he belongs?”
“I’m not talking about Bennett. I don’t doubt that you want those things. I’m talking about Declan.”
I try covering my nervousness with irritation when I cross my arms and bite my words, “Stop goading me and just say whatever it is you want to say.”
He takes a moment, looking at me intently as if he’s trying to read me, and then questions in a condescending tone, “You don’t love the guy, do you?”
“What?! No!” I blurt out, but I know he doesn’t buy it when he cocks his head.