Laws of Attraction (27 page)

He sucked in an unsteady inhale. Cradling her face in his hands, he kissed her. Long and slow at first, his slow, sensual lips reigniting a firestorm of desire.

When she moaned, he unleashed the full, formidable force of his hunger and ravished her mouth. The link, the unique connection between them arced and sizzled, binding them in mutual need.

His hand slid between them, his thumb unerringly circling her swollen, sensitized clit. His tongue mimicked the maddening rhythm as he stroked the flames inside her into a roaring inferno.

Astonishingly, he soon had her trembling on the threshold again.

She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, could only feel. Her hips rocked into his touch, his iron shaft grinding against her stomach. She broke the kiss. “Dallas,
please
,” she panted. “I want you inside me.”

He growled low in his throat. Cupping her buttocks, he lifted her, and blunt heat pressed at the opening to her body. She knew he was big, but the reality staggered her. Her inner muscles clenched in taut resistance at the unaccustomed pressure.

“Mia, look at me.”

She looked up into his beautiful eyes, pupils dilated nearly black, irises alight with cobalt fire. The sensual burn whipped through her in a backlash of erotic response.

“It’s okay baby, just breathe. Relax and let me in.”

I want this. I want the ultimate bond with you
.

“Yes.” She inhaled, and his thick shaft sank inside, stretching her … filling her to the hilt. Completing her.

“
Ohhh. Yes
.”

His hips rolled in an electrifying cadence, and her system caught fire.

“Oh, my
God
.”

White teeth flashed in a fierce, primal grin as his hands clamped onto her waist and he started to thrust … and she lost the ability to breathe.

She might be on top, but she was being taken on the most thrilling ride of her life.

His gaze compelled her to stay with him, and she couldn’t look away. Didn’t want to. She tumbled into the warm, deep blue pools—intimately, intensely joined with Dallas, both body and soul.

The emotional connection was so much more heartrending than she’d ever dreamed.

She tangled her fingers in his hair, clinging to him. She’d felt alone all her life, but he’d banished her loneliness … banished her fear.

They were both shaking violently, panting, sweating, straining toward completion. The rasp of ragged breaths, the erotic slick of damp skin against damp skin, the heady scents of arousal mingling in the gleaming moonlight.

Having Dallas with her, inside her, sharing the overwhelming desire, exhilarated her. Freed her.

“Mia,” he rasped. His strong thrusts drove her inevitably toward the allure of something richer, more powerful, more incredible than she’d ever known.

She clutched his shoulders, his quivering muscles like rigid iron in her grip. Clinging to him as the storm raged, sweeping her away to a place where only they existed, their bodies locked in the rapidly spiraling rhythm. Pleasure built and built, deep inside, boiling lava through her bloodstream.

“You’re safe, sweetheart,” he said hoarsely. “With me. Come with me.”

Safe.

For the first time ever, she was safe
.

Mia surrendered … and finally released the control that had sustained her through a lifetime.

Dallas’ eyes went tender as silent communication arced between them. He understood what she was offering him. The price it cost her.

“Yes, Dallas,” she whispered.

Those beautiful eyes fired. Commanding her gaze, he slammed upward, detonating a white-hot explosion that ricocheted through every cell.

Held in his turbulent embrace, she shattered into prisms of bright, shimmering light. She threw back her head, crying out her joy.

Dallas’s big body shuddered beneath her and his hoarse shout rang out to join with hers as he poured himself into her.

His thrusting gradually slowed, but didn’t stop … sending aftershocks rippling through her again and again. Until she finally collapsed against his chest.

Stunned and trembling, she reveled in his thundering heartbeat that drummed a savage duet with hers.

She hadn’t known, hadn’t guessed. Hadn’t come close to understanding the truth. Dallas had shared his body with her, opened his soul … and given her freedom from her past.

And in return, Mia gave him something she’d vowed to keep only for herself.

She gave him her heart.

Beneath Mia’s cheek, Dallas’ warm, damp chest expanded and contracted jerkily with jagged breaths. As his galloping heartbeat eventually slowed, she breathed in his essence.

The future was uncertain, but they had right here, right now. And she wasn’t going to waste a precious moment with doubts.

He stroked her hair with an unsteady hand. “You still with me, sweetheart?”

Mia smiled. “All the way.”

His lips feathered over her temple. “I could feast on you forever.”

“I wouldn’t object. As long as I get my turn to spread you out on the banquet table. Hey, do you have any chocolate syrup in your cupboards?”

The low music of his mirth rumbled beneath her ear. “Sweet thing, I do believe I’ve corrupted you.”

“Totally.” She joined in his amusement. “Please, feel free to corrupt me again … anytime.”

“No time like the present.” Giving Mia a wicked grin, he leaned her back over his forearm, thrusting her breasts up. His hot, wet mouth suckled her nipples, and ribbons of heat coiled in her breasts, then flashed downward to curl between her thighs. Her inner muscles clenched on him as he again surged to hardness inside her.

Mia gasped.
Lightning reflexes, indeed
.

Then he slowly, teasingly pulled out of her, scooped her up into his arms, and rose, striding toward the door. “We’ll start the debauchery in the tub … and work our way around to the bed.” His deep laugh sparkled in her bloodstream, heightening her rapidly spiking arousal. “Eventually.”

* * *

Thirty-six hours of bliss.

Dallas propped an elbow on the mattress as a gloomy, pale dawn crested the horizon, and watched the flickering firelight play across his slumbering wife’s delicate face. With Esteban in the hospital, he and Mia had spent the past two-and-a-half days making love, eating, laughing, talking … and making love.

Once she’d shaken loose her inhibitions, Mia had burned up the sheets. He grinned. He’d taken great delight in, and had the most fun ever in his lifetime, showing her the multiple advantages of being a woman.

And when she’d made good on her threat to lay him out and feast on him … His dick twitched. Her warm, sweet mouth had eagerly learned every sensitive spot he possessed … and she’d exploded the top of his head right off.

Later, their naked game of naughty poker—with each of them inventively raising the stakes at every bet—had damned near killed him.

His gaze roved over her flushed, creamy skin, closed eyelids, and softly rounded breasts that rose and fell in an even rhythm beneath the edge of the rumpled sheet. She looked like a woman who’d been thoroughly loved. And to his ultimate satisfaction, he was fully responsible for her condition.

He was the happiest he’d ever been.

He sobered. But downstairs, the computer was still running … and they were running out of time. The inevitable showdown loomed on the immediate horizon.

His gaze caressed Mia’s face. Tiny blue veins trailing beneath her pale lids and the pulse fluttering at her slender neck made her appear fragile. Like one of his mother’s porcelain teacups, translucent and delicate. So easily shattered. The world perceived her as fragile, and tried to take advantage.

But he knew better, now. Mia was the most resilient woman he’d ever met, and he admired the hell out of her determination and spirit. She swung at the curveballs life threw at her and knocked them clear out of the park.

His gaze drifted to her full, enticing mouth, pink and moist, lips slightly parted. A crazy cocktail of tenderness, desire, and fierce protectiveness coursed through his bloodstream with the same potent kick as the Southern Comfort her eyes resembled.

Sleeping beside him so trustingly, so peacefully, long dark lashes fanning rosy cheeks, shiny brunette locks gilded by firelight, she looked like an angel. Pain wrenched him. If he hadn’t decided to go to the factory, she
would
be an angel.

Dallas drew a shaky breath. He’d intended to walk away when this mess with Montoya was finally cleaned up for good. But the moment he’d made love to Mia, everything had changed.

In his office, right before she’d surrendered, she’d looked at him as if he held the secrets of the universe. He’d waited so long for her to give him her trust, and when she finally did, she’d become engraved on his heart.

There was no way he could let her go now. Mia was his.

Yet he didn’t see how he could stay.

Either way, they were headed for heartbreak.

Once she learned the truth, would she understand? Bile rolled in his stomach. Could he give her everything she needed? Be the man she deserved? He wanted only the best for her. Which meant making the toughest choice of his life.

Dallas clenched his jaw. He had to protect Mia, at any cost. Even if that meant protecting her from himself.

He’d do
anything
for her.

Although it might cost him everything.

* * *

The delicious aroma of fresh coffee and the cozy patter of raindrops on the roof roused Mia. Her eyes blinked open. She smiled at her long, tall, bare Texan walking through the doorway. “A favorite fantasy of mine … a naked hunk fetching me coffee in bed.”

Grinning, he strode over, handing her a steaming mug as she sat up. He set the other on the tray beside the bed before climbing back beneath the covers with her. “I aim to please, darlin’.”

She wiggled mischievous eyebrows at him. “Please me much more, and I’m
definitely
not going to be able to walk.”

He propped pillows behind them and slid an arm around her waist, teasingly tickled her hip. “Fuel up with your coffee, then we’ll test that theory.”

She snuggled against his side. “You are a world class cuddler, cowboy. With stamina up the wazoo.” She tipped up her face and received an amused, tender kiss. “Any word from the hospital?”

“Zane texted late last night after you’d fallen asleep. Said Esteban is healing well. He’s still somewhat weak, but should be released in a few more days after the docs review all the test results.” He swigged coffee. “And Montoya asked Wolfe to pass on his everlasting gratitude to you for saving him. Says he owes you an enormous debt.”

“You know, it’s strange. Until now, I hadn’t actually considered the repercussions of saving our enemy’s life. If I’d delayed reacting for even two seconds, just let it happen …” She shook her head. “But I didn’t. Couldn’t. I’m not out to play God, but to find justice.”

“Yeah,” he gritted. “Death would be too quick. Too easy. I want to see that jackhole accustomed to wealth and privilege rot in prison the rest of his miserable life.”

“How does he disguise rampant evil behind such a kind, mannerly façade? It freaks me out.”

“Sociopaths don’t have consciences.”

“I know, but an evil drug lord building hospitals and sewage treatment plants and establishing a handcrafted industry that supports an entire village? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Life doesn’t always make sense, sweetheart. When daylight finally shines on all of Esteban’s activities, he’s going down.”

Dallas’ cell rang, making her jump. He set down his mug, lifted the phone off the tray table. “Hey, Zane, what’s—” He frowned. “What?
Jesus
. You’re sure?” He briefly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, Mia’s tender lover was gone … and he’d become her fierce gladiator. “Yeah. Tell him to hang on, I’ll be right there.”

He hung up, leapt out of bed and dragged on his boxer briefs, then black Levi’s. He clipped a pair of handcuffs to the back belt loop. “Soledad’s been kidnapped. Esteban just got a package at the hospital … containing her left pinky finger. The print positively ID’d as hers. And Carlos’ body was found at the mansion, his throat slit from ear to ear.”

Her spine went ramrod stiff. “Oh, my God!”

“I’m guessing it’s the rival cartel. Apparently, they can’t seem to off Montoya, so they’ve decided they’ll hit him financially—twenty million dollars.” He yanked a black t-shirt over his head, thrust his arms through the sleeves. “They’re going to call Esteban back with the drop point, and he’s rattled enough to give me the combo to his safe to collect it.”

“What’s to stop them from killing the Montoyas after Esteban gives them the money? They do want Esteban dead.”

Dallas sat on the edge of the mattress to stuff his feet into socks, pull on his boots. “He’s staying in the hospital. I’m making the ransom drop.”

Her stomach heaved. “What … what’s to stop them from killing you?”

He surged to his feet, retrieved his shoulder holster with his Glock, buckled it on. “Not a damned thing. But I can’t not go. I can’t let an innocent woman get tortured and slaughtered because of who her father is.”

“The police … shouldn’t we—”

“Bring in the cops, and she’s as good as dead. Not enough time, anyway. By the time they get done asking questions, and analyzing and organizing any tactical response, it’ll be far too late.” He stuck his smaller Glock in his back waistband, shoved a huge sheathed knife into his right boot.

“Won’t you be searched for those weapons?”

“If they know what they’re doing. But they’ll expect me to go in hot. Might miss one, though, and one is all I need.” He bared his teeth. “And they’ll be armed, so their weapons will still be within my reach.”

She willed herself not to tremble. “What do you want me to do?”

“Access my gun safe and arm yourself. Then stay put. The de-encryption should be hitting the finish line any minute. Hit print and type in 434972, then you can compile the data. Got it?” When she repeated the number to him, his laser gaze bored into her. “Mia, no matter what happens, you
stay put
until you hear from me, understand? And if anyone other than a uniformed cop comes through the door, shoot first and ask questions later.”