Laid Bare (4 page)

A long moment later he inched back and pushed her hair off her face. His chest rose and fell erratically and his voice was labored, fractured when he rushed out, “Ella, my God, Ella…”

She couldn’t help but laugh at the astonished look on his face. It was the same look he’d given her fifteen years ago. “It’s amazing how good we are together, isn’t it?” She paused and turned her head sideways to see the water. “Considering…”

The warmth in his eyes told her he knew exactly what she meant—that they were from such different worlds. As if he feared she was about to dive into the water and disappear once again, he climbed to his feet and pulled her up along with him. “Let’s go inside.”

He held her tight, like she belonged with him and no one else, and when she sensed his driving need to keep her close everything inside her compelled her to go, leave. To run away now while she still could. She’d stayed with him far too long as it was. But the thoughts of leaving had a lump pushing into her throat.

As she stared out over the dark water, loneliness nipping at her, there was another part of her, the part ruled by emotion that urged her to stay. She battled an internal war but when he looked at her with such need, her resolve melted. She’d stay. For just a little while. Then once they’d had their fill of each other she’d escape and keep herself hidden in his boathouse until her ankle healed and she could return to her underwater kingdom—to a place where her future was determined by others.

An image of the man her father arranged for her to marry dashed through her thoughts. How could she possibly love another when her heart belonged to Liam?

“Let’s go,” he said again, and this time, when he wrapped his strong arm around her waist, lifting her clear off the ground and into his arms, she gave a resigned sigh and let him lead her into his life.

She was venturing into dangerous territory, she knew, but she desperately wanted to know more about him, everything from what made him tick to what he wanted out of life. She’d need those memories to keep her warm on the cold, loveless evenings bound to follow this incredible night.

Then she’d find the strength to wipe his memories and flee.

L
iam tightened his hold on Ella as he carried her along the gravel path leading to his small log cottage. He could hardly believe she was here with him, could hardly believe that he’d made love to the woman who’d been invading his thoughts since he was sixteen years old.

Beautiful didn’t even begin to describe her. With cognac-toned skin, long dark hair that touched the small of her back, and dark eyes to match she was exquisite. Exotic, really. And everything in the way they’d come together, their bodies fitting together perfectly not only spoke of a physical bond between them, it also spoke of an emotional one.

As he looked at her his head began spinning with question. The professional side of him wanting to know if there was more of her kind. If the myths were true. What it was like in her world. But those questions would have to wait because the personal side of him wanted to know if she could stay for more than just a little while.

With a plan to convince her they belonged together, he pushed open the heavy, wooden door of his cottage and stepped inside.

Liam lowered her to the floor, and her dark eyes widened in delight as she shot a glance around. “Your home is beautiful,” she said, without budging from the entrance way.

He grabbed her hand and noticed her taking small steps as he led her into his living room. He was about to question her again, but when she said, “This is exactly how I pictured you living,” Liam laughed and looked at the mess.

“You pictured empty pizza boxes and clothes on the floor?” he asked wryly.

She laughed. “No. I pictured a cozy place. A home where it is easy to be comfortable.”

Humor disappeared from his voice. “So you’re comfortable here?”

He loved the smile that touched her mouth as she looked around, her hand gliding over his belongings with curiosity and care. “Everything about you makes me comfortable, Liam.”

Stepping up behind her he slipped his arms around her waist and she sagged against him. “Good,” he murmured into her ear as the night temperature dropped, leaving his naked body chilled. “Now, how about we get even a little more comfortable?”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Join me in the shower.”

“The shower?”

“Yeah, I need to wash the sea from my skin and…well…there are still so many things I need to do to you.”

The excited sound of her indrawn breath was all the answer he needed.

Loving how she was so game for anything, he once again gathered her into his arms and carried her up the stairs to the bathroom adjacent his bedroom. Since they were both already naked, he turned on the hot spray and brought her in with him. She looked so sensuous, so incredibly gorgeous as she dipped her head under the water and wet her hair that it was all he could do not to lose it.

But he wanted to take his time with her, wanted to savor the moment as he marked this mythical aquatic beauty as his. Forever.

Liam grabbed the soap and lathered his hands. Then he placed his palms on her body and stroked her flesh, taking care to wash every nook, bathe every sweet crevice as he touched her all over. Ella threw her head back and moaned in bliss as he ran the rough pads of his thumbs over her curves.

Oh God how he needed…

With the desperate need to make love to her again, to claim every inch of her, he slipped his hand around her back, gliding his fingers over her curvaceous ass. He watched her, gauging her reactions as he dipped a finger into her back passageway to test her tight opening.

She gasped, and everything in her expression spoke volumes.

“It’s okay, Ella. I’d never hurt you.”

His heart turned over in his chest when her dark eyes softened, and her trust in him was evident when she said, “I know.”

She moved against his finger, encouraging him to continue his exploration as she reached for the soap. She ran it over his body, taking extra care to clean his cock. As she stroked him, he thickened to the point of pain. Throbbing for her, he was about to bend her over and take her again but clearly she had other ideas.

Ella grabbed the nozzle and washed the soap from his hard dick. Then she dropped to her knees, her eyes dimming with desire as she aligned her mouth with his erection.

“Jesus,” he cried out and fisted her hair as she leaned forward to brush her tongue over his engorged head, drinking in the pre cum pearling on his slit.

“Mmmm,” she moaned, pleasure in her tone. “You taste incredible.” With that she cupped his balls and turned her attention back to his cock. Long luxurious strokes had him burning up with need and he was sure he was going to lose it. But he didn’t want to come. Not yet. Not before he took her. Everywhere.

As he savored the feel of her wet silken tongue on his flesh, he felt like he was drowning in bliss. Women had sucked his cock before but none had ever done it with such purpose, such joy on their faces. Her hands eagerly stroked him as she pulled him into her mouth, taking him as deep as she could.

“Ella,” he choked out, emotion thickening his voice. “What are you doing to me?”

“Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now,” she said, innocent eyes blinking up at him.

As she knelt before him she looked so sensual and so beautiful that it took every ounce of strength he had to summon his control. But her sweet, sexy moans had his blood pounding harder through his veins and he knew he was about to erupt in her mouth.

Feeling crazed, frantic, he gripped her shoulders and pulled her to him before he became unhinged. “Come here,” he said, his tone rough from desire.

A look of disappointment came over her face and she made a disgruntled sound, but he quickly kissed it away and when he said, “I need to take you again,” her moan of displeasure turned into a groan of ecstasy.

Liam turned her around, circled his hands around her waist, and pulled her to his chest. His cock pressed hard against her back as he ran his hands over her full breasts, and she arched into him, her hands closing over his. Her mounds were so wet, so slippery, it had his cock aching to fuck them, but as she shimmied her ass against his body, he got the distinct impression that she wanted his cock somewhere else.

“Do you want me in your ass, baby?”

She drew in air, and he could tell she was both intrigued and nervous by the idea.

“I’ve never done that before,” she whispered.

Liam wasn’t about to do anything she was uncomfortable with. “If you don’t want me to—”

“No. I do,” she rushed out. “I want to, Liam. I want to give you my body in a way I’ll never give it to another.”

As possessiveness flashed inside him, his heart pounded hard against his chest. Liam pulled her wet hair off her shoulders and kissed her neck, savoring the exquisite taste of her skin.

His muscles bunched and his cock twitched when she leaned forward, bracing her arms on the tiled wall, the hot spray gliding over her back.

As she offered her ass up to him, he drew a labored breath. “Baby, you’re so beautiful.”

Liam adjusted the spray and grabbed the soap. Once he had her lathered, he stepped close and ran his cock over her tight opening.

She moaned and wiggled urgently against him.

“I need you, Liam. I need you inside me,” she whimpered and Liam had never heard such desperation in anyone’s voice.

Feeling flustered and needy as his body ached to join with hers, he dipped a small finger insider her, preparing her for his girth. “You’re not ready yet, baby.”

She exhaled a shallow breath, and Liam slid his other hand around her body to play with her clit.

Her sex fluttered, and he groaned, loving how she responded to him. As his heart swelled with emotion, he pushed another finger into her tight opening and she gave an excited little whimper. As he worked her ass in preparation for his cock, he could feel her body opening for him.

Trembling with want he removed his fingers and positioned his cock at her entrance. He wanted to push gently, slowly, to let her get used to the pressure before he slammed into her, but she seemed so desperate, so needy it had him rushing things along.

“More,” she cried out as he inched his swollen head inside.

Overwhelmed by how much he needed her, and completely unprepared by how much she wanted him, he drove harder, giving her inch after inch until she was crying out from both pain and pleasure. Liam winced, hating to think he was hurting her.

He ran his hand along her back and she shivered. “Baby, I need to slow down.”

“No,” she said, rocking against him, undeterred. “I want you inside me. Now.”

As her tight ass squeezed him Liam gripped her hips for leverage and pushed deep. Her body swallowed him whole and as they joined as one, Liam groaned loud, knowing there was no way he could let this woman swim out of his life again.

Hungering for her with an intensity that shut down his brain he began moving, his cock aching as he claimed her and branded her as his.

“Yes,” she cried out as he moved inside her and manipulated her swollen clit, wanting to take her higher and higher.

Lost in her sweetness, and unable to tell where his body ended and hers began, Liam pulled in a breath, his muscles clenching, his cock tightening as his pleasure mounted. His other hand crushed her hair as he took her, his body and heart seeking so much more than just release.

A moment later her sex muscles convulsed and he felt her hot flow of release on his hand.

“So good,” she murmured, and with that Liam pulled out of her and drove all the way back in. As soon as her wet heat wrapped around him, he lost it. He threw his head back and groaned out loud as he shot his seed into her.

“Ella,” he murmured, his heart crashing hard as a barrage of emotions tilted his world on its axis. He leaned over her body, hot moisture sealing their flesh together. “You’re so incredible.”

He heard her gasping for breath, and fearing he might have hurt her, he eased his cock out, turned off the water and spun her around to face him. His eyes searched hers and when he saw a look of pure contentment on her beautiful face his heart settled.

“That was…different,” she murmured.

“Different?”

“Yeah, different, but in a good way.” She grinned and asked, “Do you have any other surprises for me?”

Laughing, and feeling ridiculously giddy, Liam said, “You’re insatiable.”

“I know,” she said, giving him a sexy wink. “I’m your insatiable sea nymph.”

Liam looked at his flaccid cock. “Well I’m not from the sea so it’s going to take a minute or two before this human can go another round.” When she chuckled he grabbed a towel and dried her. Then he gathered her into his arms and carried her into his bedroom. He dropped her onto his mattress, and watched the way her wet hair tumbled in silken waves over her breasts.

Liam climbed in beside her then ran his hands over her body. “I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured, and he knew it wasn’t just a physical want.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw something pass over her face, something that looked like sadness.

His gut clenched with worry. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” she said, but he knew something was wrong, and he also knew it had everything to do with her time here. Before he could press, she touched his cheek and said, “Tell me more about your life, your family.” Liam didn’t miss the urgency in her voice.

Deciding he’d let her worries go for the time being, he responded, “Well I’m an only child and I love the sea.” He grinned and said, “Even though I nearly drowned in it fifteen years ago.” When Ella smiled he continued. “My mother was a nurse, my father a sales man. I work at the university, and well, I’ve spent the better part of my life looking for you.”

She opened her mouth, but he curled a lock of her hair between his fingers and cut her off to ask a question of his own. “Tell me about your world, Ella. Tell me about your family, how you live.” Not only was he interested on a personal level, what she shared would give depth to his research.