Allowing her to sleep in her cold bed tonight would only let her build back her defenses. The right thing to do would be to leave her alone. He didn’t do love. She was a woman who deserved it. But what was worse? Keeping her safe but believing she wasn’t enough for a man to fight for?
or dragging her into his bed and risking heartbreak?
His brain told him clearly the only decision he could make. The path he followed since he found out he’d killed his foster brother as clearly as pulling the trigger.
But tonight all the thinking power had gone to his dick, and there was only one decision he’d be making tonight.
Sawyer set down his drink and went to claim his wife.
…
Julietta twisted in the pale blue sheets, kicking out one leg in an effort to cool down. For such an old house, the radiators pumped heat in massive gulps, and sweat clung to her neck and upper back. With a groan, she threw back all the covers and stared at the ceiling. Her body throbbed with a desire that wouldn’t be quenched tonight. Too bad she didn’t own a vibrator. of course, she’d always been too embarrassed to try it before, afraid even a gadget wouldn’t push past her icy core toward orgasm.
Amazing how Sawyer seemed to sense whenever she was pulled out of her body. He yanked her right back to the moment and refused to let her mind take over.
Stop thinking about Sawyer.
Sleep. Focus on sleep. Julietta closed her eyes and started counting. one. Two. Three. Had she approved the finance report for the quarter? yes, she’d sent it. Four. Five.
Six. Was it her secretary’s birthday this week? She needed to buy a present tomorrow. Seven. eight. Nine— The door opened.
She sat up. Stared at the figure before her. He’d taken off his shirt, so the moonlight played over the naked skin of his chest. The cut muscles of his abs and biceps shimmered amidst the wicked scars fighting for dominance. He stood with bare feet apart, hands on hips, gaze narrowed in quiet power. In that moment, the blood roared in her veins in a pure adrenaline rush. She swayed slightly, trying to breath through the crazy hammering of her heart. “What are you doing in here?”
“I think you know.”
His voice oozed like salted caramel. Smooth and rough and sexy as hell. She tried to answer but only squeaked some type of pathetic sound. He moved slowly, each grace-ful motion a deliberate action to pump up the sensual tension whipping through the room. She sat frozen amidst the sheets like a terrified doe about to be swallowed whole.
Julietta murmured the only word with the power to stop the roller coaster of emotion she was terrified to ride on. “No.”
He stopped beside her bed. His aura pumped out a raw, male scent that caused a low moan to rip from her throat.
Sawyer reached out and grasped her wrist. Pulled her from the mattress so she stood. Her pale pink nightgown clearly showed the thrust of her naked nipples, the shadow of her body beneath the delicate fabric. In her bare feet, he tow-ered over her with a domineering manner that screamed he was in charge. of everything.
“you’re my wife. It’s our wedding night. I heard your proper speech and agree that keeping sex out of the equation would be the smart thing for each of us.” He paused, lifting his palm to caress her cheek, stroke back the tangled wave of hair from her shoulder. “But I can’t. I won’t. you belong to me.”
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
He chuckled at her shaken words and continued strok-ing her face, hair, throat, shoulders like he was soothing a pissed-off cat he only wanted to pet. “Jesus, you’re magnifi-cent. you never give up, and you’re not afraid of anything but this. of what you feel like once I touch you, command you, direct you to give me every part of that delectable body.” Her skin warmed and softened underneath his touch, her nipples painfully hard against the soft cotton barrier.
“I’m not spending night after night with an erection that won’t go down and a need in my soul to have you. you do belong to me, Julietta. your body is mine for the taking, and I’m taking it tonight.”
His mouth claimed hers. She waited for brutality and raw invasion. She got softness, heat, and a man intent on winning. She lifted her arms, poised to push him away and fight. His tongue sank deep between her lips, inviting her to play, tempting her to leave safety behind and plunge into the all the dark delights he was going to show her.
She grabbed onto his shoulders and surrendered.
His satisfied moan pushed the heat higher. Their tongues tangled together, and his taste swamped her, the delicious burn of alcohol and spice and a hint of mint tooth-paste. He gripped her head and dived in, over and over, taking her mouth like he intended to thrust between her legs with all the glorious power that left no room for thought or decisions or approval.
Still holding tight, he guided her against the far wall and pushed her against it, never breaking contact. Her hands greedily ran over the lines of his chest, the roped muscles of his shoulders and arms, the line of blond hair that trailed down the center of his stomach and disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants. He ripped his mouth away from her, stepped back half an inch, and gave her a wolfish grin.
Sawyer grabbed the delicate collar of her nightgown in the center and ripped it straight down the middle. Wetness ran down her thighs at the raw violence of the motion. He stared greedily at her naked body, and her clit pounded in demand. Sawyer touched a hard nipple, ran a thumb under the curve of her breasts, and continued down her quivering stomach. “you didn’t wear panties to bed. Why?”
His question demanded the truth. Her voice ripped from her throat. “Because it was too much. I was thinking of you, and I was too—”
“Aroused?”
She jerked her head. Lust gleamed from tiger eyes as he kissed her again, pulling her tight against his chest, devouring her piece by piece. He unbuttoned his pants and stripped quickly, then slowly turned her around. She fought to keep skin-to-skin contact, but he nipped at her neck in punishment and forced her hips to swivel.
“Hands on the wall. And don’t let go, Julietta.”
A shudder wracked through her. She placed her palms flat on the wall. He spread her legs wide so cool air rushed between and teased the swollen flesh. “I wish I could paint you like this,” he said reverently, tracing the line of her spine, the curve of her buttocks. “you’re everything beautiful and perfect and feminine in a woman. Graceful, muscu-lar, with gentle curves and golden skin that reminds me of a goddess.” He placed kisses down her back and nibbled on her nape, pushing her hair back over her shoulder. “I want to brand you so every inch of your body responds only to me. your taste haunts me. I watch you conducting a proper business conversation and dream of lifting your skirt and burying my mouth in your pussy.”
“Sawyer—” She turned in desperation but a quick smack on her buttocks stole her breath.
“Hands on the wall. you’re not allowed to have an orgasm until I’m inside you. If you do, there will be conse-quences.” He nipped at her shoulder. “And I’m going to do everything in my power so that you disobey me, baby. That way I’ll be able to punish you.”
His outrageous words stripped her sanity and turned her into a creature of animalistic needs. She squirmed and rested her forehead against the cool plaster, desperate for more. His low chuckle told her he knew every dark, dirty thought in her mind and intended to fulfill them all. His hands cupped her breasts and he played with her nipples, tugging, twisting, until they swelled and were so sensitive that pleasure leaked into the fine edge of pain. His tongue traced down the line of her spine and settled above the swell of her buttocks, then lower, spreading her cheeks and slipping his tongue to her dripping slit to pleasure her.