Riveted (Art of Eros #1) (17 page)

Mac gave her time to take it all in. Truth be told, his nerves were getting the better of him, which was a new and uneasy feeling for him in this particular moment. There was the added pressure of wanting this to be perfect for her. He wouldn’t hurt her in any way, stopping long before that happened, but she needed to open up and not shut down. He prayed his gut was right, that she was normal but abused. Her body reacted so beautifully before and he needed to get her there again. He watched her as her hand slowly made its way toward his needy cock.

She reached out to wrap her strong but slender fingers around his impressive length, hard as granite, yet smooth as silk. She stroked him lightly up and down, weighing the heaviness of his balls in her other hand. He tried to suppress a moan in the back of his throat, but it came out like a grunt. She looked up into his hooded eyes and began to relax, aware that his control could snap at any minute. She was surprised at the naturalness of this moment with him. This felt like the first time she had sex, only so much easier. Her head was swimming and her body was floating, as she grew wetter with every touch.

“I don’t think it’s going to fit.” She lowered her eyes to the oversized part of Mac that was rock solid in her hand.

He wanted to laugh at her comment but thought better of it. “Why don’t you leave that to me? I promised not to hurt you, Marabella. You can tell me to stop at any time and I will, immediately.” He placed his hands over hers as the two of them stroked him. He kept his eyes on the place where her hands gave him so much pleasure.

“We need to stop before I lose it completely. God, how I love your hands on me. You’re stronger than you know.” He wanted her to understand that he saw her strengths not her weaknesses.

Leading her to the bed, he whipped down the comforter to expose more light-colored linens. He laid her down gently on her back, climbing on top without putting his full weight on her. As he gazed deeply into her eyes, he wanted to make sure it was what she wanted since they were to this point.

“Are you sure you want to do this? I can wait for you to be ready.”

“God, yes. I’ve come this far, but I need you to do this with me.” Mara was breathy and lightheaded but knew what she wanted from him. Her head was with Mac, but her body tensed. Mac picked up on her body signals.

“Then let go,
leannan
. This is more than physical for both of us.” His lips curled into a comforting smile. “Mac says, trust me. I promise not to hurt you.” She saw the lopsided grin that always came with commands during the game. She did trust him and she needed to let go, but would her body be able to follow through? She remembered letting go the other day in the ocean and it was incredible. She would do it again. She could trust someone who saved her life on more than one occasion and asked for nothing in return.

He licked her bottom lip, teasing her to come play with him, and she responded by sucking on his in return. They locked into a passionate kiss that made all kinds of promises she hoped he would keep. His warm, tender hands caressed her breasts, rubbing them and lightly pinching her nipples. They had been pinched before, but this was sensual with no pain. It was the perfect amount of pressure that went right to her sex, making her even wetter.

She closed her eyes and whispered his name as he latched on to her nipple with his lips. She loved the rub of his chest hair on her stomach, tickling her. He circled the harden nub with his tongue then suckled and released it. He did this several times before he moved to the other one. A warm pool of wetness slid between her legs as a moan came from somewhere deep within her that she didn’t recognize. Each touch heightened the awareness in her body and soothed her nerves.

Her moans drove him higher and higher, fueling the fire between them. He needed to taste her and make sure she was ready before he took her. He moved down her stomach, feathering kisses across her hipbones. Lost in this new, comfortable world she realized, in a panic, where he was headed. She sat straight up.

She blurted out, “You don’t have to do that. I don’t think it would be a good idea.” Panic pierced her voice as she heard Brock’s caustic voice play in head.

You know why I don’t eat you out, don’t you? Your pussy is really ugly for a woman with such a flawless face.

Mac knew who got into her head. “Who am I?”

“Mac.” She refocused on him.

“I’m not him, Marabella. I want you, all of you. I want to know you intimately in every way. I want you to know that I will love every part of your body. Tonight, I’ll make love to you, body and soul. You should only ever be made love to.”

She nodded as the tension started to leave her body. She breathed in and out, anchoring to those big, green, compassionate eyes. He got on all fours, meeting her face to face. It gave her the space she needed but with the understanding he was in still control. His words were enough to calm her down so she could take the leap. He kissed her while pushing her on her back again. She sat up on her elbows, giving her a false sense of control over the situation. Mac stroked her thighs, trying to calm her down and relax her closed legs.

“Spread yourself for me,
leannan
. Nothing between us.” He pushed her knees apart. She glistened between folds of rose-colored flesh, like a newly opened rose after a rainfall. Kissing the inside of her thighs, he made his way up to what would be heaven. Leaning in to smell her, he licked her tiny, hooded nub. She arched her back, moaning as she reacted by gripping his hair with one hand. He couldn’t believe her sensitivity and responsiveness considering her history. For all the women he had been with over the years, no one reacted to him like this. He would’ve had to put more work into it. He was high from the power he had over her, realizing he needed to tread carefully.

“Um, Mara, are you sure your husband wasn’t gay, because you are divine. I happen to love the bare look.” She smiled, thankful she had been brave enough to see herself.

“Thank you. I needed to hear that. And no, he wasn’t gay, just incredibly cruel.” A flash of pain came across her face, remembering the hateful things Brock said that chipped away at her.

“I want you to lie back and feel you and me. Let go of the past. Will you try?” He wanted her to let go of those memories.

“Yes.” As she lay down on the soft sheets, she put her hands on his head. He loved the way her fingers played in his hair, with enough tug to keep him harder than he had ever been.

He returned to that place that could give her so much pleasure, licking generously up and down her folds as he circled around her nub, listening for her reaction. As she relaxed, she tugged harder on his hair, arching her back and moaning loudly. This was how he wanted her—unleashed, lost in the sensations running through her body. He continued as he pressed one finger into her easily. Tight didn’t even begin to describe her. As she tensed slightly, he stopped.

“You okay? Relax for me.” He didn’t want to go any further until she let him know she was okay. She relaxed again as he stroked her with his tongue. She needed the reassurance that he was listening to her body and would stop when necessary.

“Yes... More... Please.” Her voice staggered with a husky and urgent edge.

He started to move his finger slowly in and out, adding another to stretch and push her. She was so snug he could only imagine what it would be like to be wrapped by her. He might lose it right then without ever being inside her.

Mara started to flex her hips upward to match his rhythm. “Oh, God, Mac, please!” She begged for release. He moved his fingers in and out of her more rapidly and sucked on her clit until she tightened around his fingers.

Her ragged breath matched his. His fingers were a tight fit inside her, the passion so primal. He saw her in the light with no shadows for her to hide behind. She had let go. She wondered if she would be able to come with him inside her, but at that moment she didn’t care. She wanted to show herself to him and the pleasure he gave her. She let go of his hair for fear she would rip it out and gripped the sheets.

A spiral built from her belly, traveling through the rest of her body. This orgasm felt different than any other. She closed her eyes and screamed Mac’s name as her climax ripped through her and white lights burned behind her eyelids. The strongest orgasm she ever had given to her by the strongest man she had ever known. She trembled and shook as Mac slowed down and finally stopped as she came back down to Earth.

“That was incredible,
leannan
. You are incredible.” He climbed up her body and kissed her lips, as she tasted herself on him, his new favorite flavor. It might even beat the Talisker. At first, she moved away, but then it aroused her. “You taste good, don’t you?” She licked and kissed his lips until they were clean.

“Yeah, you have very talented tongue and fingers. I’ve never experienced anything like this.” She touched his handsome face, still flushed with desire; his eyes were wild with passion.

He leaned over and opened the nightstand drawer to pull out a condom. In one fluid, expert move, he ripped it open and rolled it on. Panic crept into her eyes.

“Relax, Marabella. Listen to your body. It will tell you what to do. Look at what your body just did. You let go. I can tell your body was made for sex. You’re ready,
leannan
.” He sounded so sure of himself, yet he trembled on the inside. Wanting in her so badly, he was afraid he would hurt her, but she was ready for him, all of him. He made sure of that.

He eased the head in and out slowly. Then a little bit deeper, watching Mara for any indication of discomfort. Her eyes closed, she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. Moving until he was buried in her, he stopped to feel her encase him. This required the most control he ever needed with a woman. She fit him like a glove. Even after her climax, she was still tight and this was where he belonged.

“Eyes on me.” Her eyes fluttered open, full of lust as she smiled there were tears in her eyes. Mac started to back away. She gripped his ass with both hands, holding him to her. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”

“These are happy tears. You feel incredible. I never thought it could be like this. It doesn’t hurt. I’m so full with you.” His cord of control snapped as he started to move inside her. He held her under her hips and tilted them so he was buried balls-deep in her. In this position he would hit her sweet spot. She started to match him thrust for thrust, and he wasn’t going to last long. Two more and he would be done.

A powerful orgasm shook through him, leaving him with stars behind his eyes. This woman made him come completely undone, losing the control he valued so much. His body shuddered several times as he came down, collapsing on top of her. Her nails stroked up and down his back to his delight. He never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her. She felt perfect to him. He lay there for a while to catch his breath and his amazement of her written all over his face. He worried he was too heavy for her and rolled off. He slipped out of her, disposing the condom, and tucked her in his arm.

She gasped, not ready for the loss of him, feeling strangely empty without him. She wanted to keep him inside her forever. Suddenly, there was wetness under her and she wondered if she bled.

“Did I...?” She needed to know if her body was feeling one way but doing something else. She began to move and examine the bedding underneath her.

“Are you okay?” He slid down her body to examine her. “No blood,
leannan
.”

She laughed from sheer exhilaration of the experience and the thought that she may be normal after all. That laugh speared Mac every time and made him smile with her.

“That was the most delicious dessert ever, Mr. Creighton.” Her face was rosy, hair mussed, lips red and plump. Little beads of sweat covered her body. She wore the look of a ravaged woman, every man’s wet dream. But she was his and
only
his, even if she didn’t know it yet. This was no holiday fling.

Something deepened between them. She was closer to him than with anyone in her life, having fully opened herself up to him. The bond between them sealed itself. For the first time in her life, she trusted a man with her heart, soul, and body. She was ecstatic that her body accepted him and enjoyed sex. She realized it tried to tell her something about Brock years before but she just didn’t listen. She didn’t know enough to listen, but she would be paying attention from that point on.

When Mac returned from the bathroom, she started to fade. He blew out all the candles, casting them in total darkness, but even in the dark she could feel exactly where he was. She was attuned to his essence. Just on the edge of sleep, his arms wrap around her from behind, “Sweet dreams,
leannan
.” He was her dream, but could he keep the nightmares that awaited her at bay?

Chapter 15

Mara woke up the next morning as a fresh breeze billowed the curtains for another day in paradise. She didn’t even imagine paradise existed before the previous night. The generous man next to her was sound asleep, his face so peaceful and serene. She tenderly ran her fingers down the morning stubble on his jaw as he rolled onto his back, still sound asleep. She hoped she gave him as much pleasure as he had given her. Feeling impulsive, she had the idea to give him something to wake up to. The song “Sex for Breakfast” by Christina Aguilera floated through her head as she planned her next move.

Carefully, she peeled back the sheets covering his well-endowed lower half. His body called to her and she would never tire of wanting him now that he opened the gates. Her eyes followed the hairline beneath his belly button, which led to the hard shaft that had given her so much pleasure the night before. After their first encounter her appetite for sex had amped up significantly.

She kissed the head of his cock and licked down to the base of the shaft. Gripping him at the base, she moved her hand up and down as he disappeared in her mouth. She ran her nails under his balls and he let out a moan and started to move his hips up and down. She got wet from listening to his moans.

Mac thought he dreamt about Mara giving him head. But this dream seemed all too real. His eyes shot open with that realization. Casting his eyes down, his cock was buried in Mara’s mouth as she drove him wild by gripping his balls from underneath. The sight of this woman’s mouth on him made him surrender. She had pulled out yet another surprise.

“Oh, God, Marabella. You know how to wake a man up.” He wanted to be in her again, but not like this. He pulled her up by her upper arms as she laughed. “Are you sore this morning? Straddle me.” His voice strained as he ran his thumbs up and down the indents of her stomach.

“No. I’m good, thanks to you.” She gave him a satisfied smile.

“Are you on any birth control?” He needed her bare, with absolutely nothing between them. She came so far, all the while driving him to the edge. He had been with only one other woman bareback.

“Yes.” Soft curls surrounded her face with her eyes dilated and hair mussed; she resembled a sex goddess.

“Are you clean?” He had to ask because of what Brock had probably bedded.

Her words stammered out with a confused look in her eyes, curious as to where this was going. “I...took a shower last night before I came here.”

Mac chuckled at her naïveté. “No, have you been tested for any venereal diseases?”

“Oh, I feel like such an idiot again.” She covered her mouth as she laughed at her own obvious inexperience. “Yes, I got tested a couple of months ago. I wanted to make sure he hadn’t given me anything.”

“Good girl, because I want you with nothing between us. I’ve only been with one woman without a condom, a long time ago, and I get tested regularly. I’m clean.” There was a heat in his eyes she had never seen before, a need to feel her around him. His thumb moved over her needy clit and began circling. He watched as her eyes became hooded with desire. She started to move her hips into his thumb. His other hand played with her breast, rolling and pinching her nipple. In a short period of time, this man had memorized all her buttons, pushing them at just the right time.

“Lean forward.” The move tilted her hips back perfectly, placing a nipple in his mouth as he brushed her hair over her shoulders. He sucked and nipped at each one, driving her desire higher, creating an ache between her legs. The head of his cock teased her entrance as he thrust up slightly.

“Take me. The way you want to, at your pace.” With that, she pushed her hips back so the head of his cock slid inside her. She closed her eyes, praying she could do this. The morning light completely exposed her and yet she was comfortable with him. He would see her essence.

“You’re going to have to help me. I’ve never done it this way.” She closed her eyes to cover the doubt and embarrassment that settled in and wiped away her self-confidence.

“Open your eyes. I want to see you. You’re so beautiful. Pretend you’re riding a horse and roll your hips,” Mac managed to say with husky rawness in his voice. Completely immersed in her, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Their eyes locked. He was ensconced in this woman.

Opening her eyes, his gorgeous green ones stared back at her with wonderment. With each rock of her hips, she took him a little deeper. She stopped to take in what it was like to be filled with him. They understood that this moment reached well beyond a one-night affair. She saw herself by his side for a long time but questioned what he wanted from her. It made her wild to think about, this intimacy more than she had ever known.

A piece of her soul was safely tucked away in his heart, and she willingly gave it to him. She wouldn’t leave without taking a little piece of his, as well. Not wanting to hold back anymore, she totally let go, giving him everything inside and out. The last rivet popped free from the steel barricade, bathing her in the light of this man, the man who set her free. He accepted her, all of her, down to her true self. She started to rock back and forth while his fingers dug into her hips, helping her set the rhythm.

Mac didn’t miss the change in her face. She seemed content and free in her abandoned form like something had dropped away. Taking his cues from her, he moved his hips upward into her, her clit rubbed against his pelvic bone. Their breathing turned into pants as sweat beaded across their chests.

The spark started at the point of contact, building like a wildfire, spreading through her body. She wanted him there with her. She finally let go.

“Mac, I’m going to come. Please.” She desperately held on, digging her nails into his chest. That little bit of pain, as she begged, sent him over the edge.

“Hold on, baby.” He pumped up into her furiously and watched as she threw her head back in total release, crying out his name. He would never get tired of hearing her say his name. His own orgasm rocketed through him as he came with her, inside her, and marked her as his. She completely stripped him; he lost all control. His self-imposed fortress of loneliness crumbled. This woman made him connect again. If she could do it, given everything she had endured, then so could he. She proved to be stronger than she knew, inspirational.

An all-consuming orgasm shook her body to its core, coursing through her veins like a drug, and she wanted more. This man had fast become an addiction for her. She realized she never had an orgasm during intercourse as she smiled and slumped on top of him trying to catch her breath. Covered in sweat and breathing hard, her emotions collided, suddenly hitting her and she started to sob, overwhelmed by two warring emotions.

“Marabella, what’s wrong?” Mac panicked. Thoughts passed through his mind that he hurt her somehow as he instantly became mad at himself for not paying closer attention to her.

Sobs racked her body. These cries of pain she had never heard come from her before and it scared her.

“
Leannan
, look at me. What’s going on? Talk to me.” Frantically, he tried to figure out what went wrong. He slipped out of her, trying to move her off him, but she wouldn’t budge.

Behind a waterfall of tears, Mara lifted her head and peered at Mac through pained eyes that enhanced the grimace on her face.

Her bubble of denial finally burst. She whispered, “He meant to hurt me. He abused me and did it on purpose. Why did he want to hurt me so much? I’m not sure I ever really trusted him. It never felt like this, this intimacy. It hurts so much now that I know what it can be. I wasted so much time with him.” Anger set in as she gritted her teeth together. “I was so stupid. I let him do it over and over again.” The pain of being tortured came out in a flood, the realization that her husband was a mean, abusive man. She could barely speak, her voice weak and body limp. She had never been so emotionally raw, torn between the freedom of being with Mac and the intentional abuse of Brock.

Her words tore at him like something sharp raking across his skin and his heart ached. He moved her to the side, wiping away her tears. “Shhh, you’re not stupid. You never knew what making love could be. And yes, he was abusive and hurt you, but you’re strong enough to heal. This is the first step. Let go of him and the past, Marabella. Let go of all of it. Focus on us and how far you’ve come in such a short period of time.” He rose to grab a washcloth. She reached out, clutching on to his arm.

“Please, don’t go. Hold me. Please.” She wanted comfort from a man she’d bared her soul to.

He didn’t hesitate as he crawled back into the bed. Mac held her tightly as he curled himself around her body in a statement of total protection. He rocked her back and forth gently and stroked her hair.

“Always. I have you now,
leannan
. You’re safe with me,” Mac whispered into her hair as he continued to stroke her body.

Those were the only words that consoled her. She needed to feel safe more than anything else right then, her mind numb. It had all tumbled out in one moment. She might be in love with a man for the first time after only a couple of days. Maybe she confused love with lust and great sex.

Mac’s heart broke for this woman, his woman. Too bad Brock was already dead, Mac would have relished killing him. She shined spectacularly moments before. She was free, rising out of the ashes of her recent hell. He felt something for this goddess. Love? He didn’t know, nor could he entertain that thought at the moment. She needed to know he would always be there for her, no matter what. Her protective wall came down. He still held on to a thin veil he thought could shield his heart from her. But that veil slipped away as she spoke to something so primal in him he couldn’t put into words. Clearly, she trusted him enough to be vulnerable with him. He saw it in her eyes and sensed it in her body. He came undone and fell under her spell.

Her body went lax as she fell asleep in his arms. He couldn’t sleep with so much on his mind. Stealthy, he got up so he didn’t wake her. He decided it would be a good time to distract himself with the case McFadden wanted him to review on his holiday. Sydney should be arriving soon. Funny how she planned a trip to Mexico the same time he did.

Mara woke up alone in bed and tried to gain her bearings. Oh, yeah, she’d had an inner core meltdown about her life with her abusive late husband. She felt drained, naive and stupid, but no more. A sense of relief washed over her as she realized she let it all go. Mac was there to catch her fall from grace. Something shifted in her making her grow up a lot in a short period of time.

Her marriage to Brock would be the last time a man would ever take advantage of her or ever hurt her, knowing she didn’t need to worry about that with Mac. He might not have said the words, but his love for her came through his body. The way he held her the night before with those expressive eyes. He stayed attuned to everything that happened with her. She smiled when she thought about the moment she had normal sex with no pain. She had an orgasm with him inside her. It didn’t get more intimate than that, or more spectacular.

“What are you grinning at? You’re positively glowing, and I like that look on you.” Mac stood over her with his hands on his hips, shirtless with a pair of low-slung shorts, the V of his abs pointing down to his pleasure point. “I guess you’ve moved on from earlier this morning.” Concern crossed his face.

“I need to leave Brock behind and everything that’s happened with him. If I could, I would tell him off, but he’s not here. Thank God. I was thinking about you and how you make me feel so treasured. I want to scream out loud that I’m normal. I never thought being normal could feel like this. I never knew any different.” Mara stood up on the bed, stark naked, with a double fist-pump in the air, shouting, “Yes!”

Mac laughed out loud at her childlike playfulness that he loved so much. He loved everything about her.

Whoa, mate, love? Am I sure about that? Yeah, I’m sure. Kitten has so much more to show me. She’s just getting started and doesn’t even know it
.

He grabbed her hips to lift her off the bed. “Just so we’re clear, if your husband were alive, he wouldn’t be for long.” Mac’s face grew dark. Letting the moment go, he switched gears. “You did enough screaming last night but I happen to like listening to it, especially when you scream my name.” He growled then playfully bit her neck.

She held on to him and wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the dining area. “Well, I’m glad you don’t have a big ego or anything. By the way, I enjoy screaming your name. You’re talented in many ways.” She lightly bit his lower lip and leaned back to watch the gleam in his eyes. She gripped him at his core. He held her in place on his hips and gave her a chaste kiss but she sensed a strange detachment from him.

He let her slide down as her bare feet touched the cool floor.

“I think I need to get some clothes.” Mara started to cover herself with her arms and put her head down.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” He spoke firmly like he would with a child. Mara’s head snapped up. “You’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about. I’ve never seen a woman more exquisite in my life. It makes me want you more. If I had my way, you would walk around naked in my suite all day long.” Honesty and gentleness shone in those big, green eyes, but she also detected a sadness that hadn’t been there the night before. It made her wonder if he regretted being with her.