“You thought I’d back out on you.”
He tossed her onto the bed. “I was afraid you might.”
“You know why I didn’t?”
“No clue.”
One possible answer occurred to her as he untied the sheet from around his waist. A woman just didn’t turn down a man like that, whatever the reason. He was built on . . . grandiose scales. As if he could read her mind, he glanced down and lifted his shoulders in an amused shrug that was part diffidence, part pride. Naked, he was every bit the gladiator: equal measures in sinew, ink, and scars.
“Because you hate yourself too much for somebody without a conscience. Your eyes are so f**king sad, and I want to take that look away, if only for a little while. I want to give you something good.”
A shuddering breath escaped him. “It’s been so long since anybody said anything like that to me.”
She beckoned to him. “Then let’s make up for lost time.”
Silas lay down beside her, and he dominated the bed. She couldn’t look without touching for long. Juneau ran her fingertips along his arm, tracing the lines of his tattoo.
“Does this have a meaning?”
“Each pattern represents a person.”
People you loved? Or killed? Juneau liked the element of danger and mystery that clung to him, and she had no doubt he would protect her, even if it came to violence. It already had, in fact. A primitive part of her approved.
He rolled on his side, drinking her in. She had no hang-ups about her body, and such intense scrutiny pushed all her buttons. Beneath his gaze, she arched and stretched as if in satiation. Silas drew in a sharp breath, and then he cupped her head in his head and leaned in for a kiss. Even in this, he was maddeningly gentle. His lips brushed hers repeatedly, lightly, seducing rather than conquering. She dug her nails into his shoulders and threw a thigh over his hip.
Instead of being drawn, he nibbled a path down her jaw to her throat. Tingles sparked through her, furling her ni**les, and her core went liquid. God, he could nuzzle her neck all day. A whimper escaped her, and he shuddered, as if her pleasure sounds connected to his. She sank her hands into his hair, tugging not so gently.
“I need to finish,” she whispered. “The past few days have been . . . stressful.”
In response, he kissed a path between her br**sts and down her stomach. He hooked strong arms beneath her thighs, lifted her bodily off the bed, and brought her lips to his. Dear lord. How had she done without this? It was delicious. Silas kissed her first, all softness, sweetness, and she moaned. But he wasn’t finished, thank God.
“Move for me. Show me how you like it.”
A fierce haze filled her head, urging her hips into tight circles against his mouth. She used him quite shamelessly, conscious of nothing but how he could please her: lips, tongue, whisper of teeth. Yes. The pleasure went white hot, rioting along her nerve endings, and Juneau arched as an orgasm quaked through her. He licked until it almost tickled.
With shaking fingers, she pulled him away, drawing him up to give him a sweet, hot kiss. The taste of her on his lips sent a wicked thrill through her. He touched her br**sts as if he wasn’t sure he had the right, despite the fact that he’d just given her a luscious climax. Time to return the favor.
“That was lovely,” she said huskily. “But here’s the thing. I want a good, hard f**king, and it’s been a while for you. How long do you think you’ll last once you get inside me? I’m awfully hot and wet.”
He groaned. “I’ve no idea. You’re not helping by talking about it, though.”
“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
“Should I be alarmed?”
“Certainly not.” She curled her fingers around his iron-hard erection. “I propose to take the edge off for you. Then you’ll be good to go for the next round.”
“You have a lot of faith in my resilience.”
“Don’t I, though?” Juneau pumped her fist, fingers flexing. “But you know yourself best. Want me to stop?”
His breath went ragged as he arched. “God, no.”
“Good. Because I want to watch you come anyway. I need to see your face. There’s nothing hotter than a man losing control.”
Silas fell back against the pillows, hands fisting at his sides. “Enjoy the show, because I’m getting there.”
“I know you are.” She worked her hand faster, watching his expression and adjusting the rhythm and pressure according to his reactions. “Like this?”
“Harder,” he gasped.
He bucked, helpless in her grasp, and she’d never been so turned on in her life. So big, so powerful . . . and at her mercy. She gave him the extra pressure, and he lost it, panting and moaning as he spiraled up.
“Look at me,” she whispered. “You’re mine when you come.”
His body locked. The orgasm rolled through him in waves that left him trembling. He spurted on her hand, on his belly, and chest. With one fingertip, she touched and tasted. Shivers wracked him; Juneau didn’t know if she’d ever seen anyone come that hard before. An odd tenderness suffused her. She picked the sheet up from the floor and used it to clean him off, and then she curled up against him.
It took him two tries to get his arm around her. “Damn.”
“Feel better?”
“Better is a nap. This is . . . I don’t know what this is.”
She nestled her head against his shoulder. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But I still want the sex, you know.”
“Give me a few.”
“If I must. Just remember you’re on the clock, mister.”
A startled laugh escaped him. “I seem to have lost my time card.”
“Don’t worry, I’m keeping track.”
“Are you?” He brushed the hair away from her face, gazing with an expression that unsettled her.
“I was teasing.”
“I know. It’s just . . . people don’t. Tease me, I mean. They look away. They hurry off. I’m not used to this kind of normal.”
She jabbed her elbow into his side. “I think I’m offended. Nobody’s ever called me normal before.”
“I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you.” Silas ran his hand down the curve of her hip and drew her atop him.
Juneau glanced down in mock surprise, admiring his erection. Damn, the man was big. “Has it been a few minutes already?”