Things That Go Bump in the Night IV (15 page)

She reached for the bottle of Betadine.

“What kind of moves?” Rik asked with a mock-leering grin. “I want to make sure when you use them on me I know what to expect.”

She snorted. “If I decide to take you down, you won’t see it coming.”

“Ah, a little warrior, eh?” His big hands landed on the backs of her thighs and she jumped, almost falling off her heels. She braced her hand on his shoulder and righted herself.

“Careful there, stud.” She swiped the reddish-brown liquid over the cuts. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

“Who said I couldn’t finish?” His warm palms moved up the back of her thighs then down again.

“You’re wounded and probably should avoid any strenuous activity.” She tossed the stained pad into the trash and grabbed the bandages. “I need to get this covered.”

“Yeah, well,” his hand slid up her thigh to tease the lower curve of her buttocks, “if you’re really worried about me straining myself, I’ll let you do all the work.”

His dark eyes were lit with a look of desire as old as time. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. He was an amazing kisser and she longed to kiss him again. Her breath caught and arousal reared its head. She exhaled and her nipples chafed against the restrictive corset. She wanted this man, probably more than she’d ever wanted a man in her life.

She forced her gaze away and concentrated on bandaging his arm. Rik was injured and having sex was the last thing he needed to be doing. She’d bandage him up and send him on his way—after she tattooed her phone number on his butt. She definitely wanted to get to know him better…much better.

She shook her head. “I don’t think so—”

“This skirt is a bit superfluous, if you ask me.” He slipped his hand beneath the thin vinyl and cupped her butt cheek. “It’s pretty small and you aren’t wearing much underneath it.”

Exasperated and more aroused than she wanted to admit, she slapped the last piece of tape into place. “What did you expect, pantaloons? There isn’t much room for a lot of clothing under there.”

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“Which is something to be thankful for.”

He cupped both cheeks now and gave them a firm squeeze. Heat ignited between her thighs, and their gazes locked. Her thoughts immediately turned south, even as she shook her head no.

“You’re hurt.”

“I’ll heal.”

“We shouldn’t—”

“We should.” He licked his lips and she stifled a groan. He pulled her closer until she was leaning against him, his face level with her breasts.

“Rik…” It was a half-hearted protest.

“Char.” He leaned back, taking her with him. She gasped at the ease of his movement when she landed, sprawled across his big body.

Damn, he was strong.

Their legs tangled and the brush of denim against her inner thighs was both shocking and arousing.

“This is much better.” His eyes twinkled. “Less pressure on my arm.”

“For you, maybe, but this corset is killing me.” Her eyes watered. The metal stays were digging into her ribs and it was increasingly difficult to breathe.

His gaze focused on her breasts that threatened to explode from the corset. He trailed a fingertip along one of the plump curves. “Sexy as this garment might be, it’s killing me too.”

He toyed with the corset tie and their gazes locked. She knew what he wanted; he was asking her permission to untie it. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, make love with her. Breathless, she gave a faint nod.

He tugged on the lace and the bow dissolved. She braced her hands on the bed and rose up so he could reach the laces more easily. With his gaze locked on hers, he loosened the corset’s grip slowly, deliberately. Char felt oddly breathless as he worked his way down the garment until the punishing grip eased. He removed the garment and tossed it to the side.

Shyness washed over her and she bit her lip. It had been seven months since Brad had walked out the door. In her entire life, only two men had ever seen her naked and Rik would be the third. What if he thought she was fat? What if he hated the scar on her thigh from—

“You’re thinking too much,” Rik said.

His golden gaze moved to her mouth and a surge of female power moved through her. Judging from his expression he was anything but repulsed.

His chest was rock-hard beneath her and all that warm male skin was hers for exploring. She couldn’t wait to get started. Char dipped her head and pressed her lips to his. Before she could fully enjoy the sensation of his lips against hers, he quickly took 89

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over the kiss. His tongue teased hers and her head spun off her shoulders. His masterful touch awakened nerves she hadn’t even known existed.

She ran her fingers over the ends of his tawny hair and found it to be as silky soft as it looked. She gave the locks a gentle tug and he growled, a deep sound that emanated from his chest. It was strangely animalistic and very arousing.

His arms tightened and he surrounded her, overwhelming her with his sexuality and the sheer strength of his well-honed body. His erection pressed into her stomach, turning the flesh between her thighs liquid soft.

He moved his leg higher between hers then swung her over until she was flat on her back on the bed. Braced on his arms, Rik loomed over her, his tawny hair creating a shaggy halo. His lips were damp from her mouth and his eyes glittered with need.

“Your shoulder,” she said.

“My arm.”

“That too—”

“Will live. But if I don’t have you now, I might not.” His voice was low, urgent. “I want you, Char, more than my next breath or my next meal. I need to taste you, to kiss every inch of your body until you beg me to stop.”

She shivered at his erotic, evocative words. She’d never seen a man display such wanton need. She stroked his cheek, enjoying the prickle of beard stubble against her fingertips.

“You scare me,” she whispered.

He shook his head and his silky hair licked at her hand. “You have nothing to fear from me, Char. I would never hurt you.” He turned his head and kissed her hand; his tongue flicked out to taste her palm in that curiously rough caress.

Instinctively, she knew she was safe with him. Rik might be a complete stranger—

she wasn’t even sure what his last name was or what he did for a living—but she knew in her soul that he wouldn’t hurt her. This was a man who cherished women; he didn’t frighten or abuse them. She gave a lock of his hair a gentle tug and guided his mouth down to hers.

He growled and it was low, deep and filled with need. He nipped at her lip and she sighed his name.

“Say it again,” he whispered against her mouth.

“Rik,” she sighed.

He laughed and gave her a noisy kiss that scattered her thoughts. He began kissing his way down her throat, then headed for her breasts. As he worked his way over her flesh, he made a soft purring sound reminiscent of a large cat, which was both arousing and soothing at the same time.

He raised his head, ran his hand up her thigh to her hips and unzipped her skirt.

The slippery vinyl parted to reveal her black lace thong panties. He urged her hips up 90

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before he slid the skirt out from beneath her. Clad only in the thong and killer boots, Rik trailed his hand down her belly then up again.

“Wow,” he said. “You’re gorgeous.”

She tweaked a flat male nipple. “Wow, yourself.”

He dipped his fingers under the narrow band of her panties and slid them down.

“Lift your hips.”

Char did as he asked and he removed them and tossed them on the floor.

“What about the boots?” She lifted her leg and waggled her foot. It had taken about ten minutes to get her laced into them and she wasn’t sure she wanted to wait that long to taste him again.

His smile was dark, hot. “Leave them on. I kind of like how they look on you.”

She laughed and let her leg drop. “Good answer.”

Rik settled over her, pressing his erection into the apex of her thighs. She wrapped her legs around his waist, enjoying the rough friction of his jeans against her skin.

His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, touching, caressing and increasing her arousal to a near fevered pitch. She was just short of begging him to take her, when he stopped and rose.

“What—” She blinked. Rik was standing over her, rummaging through his damaged jacket. He removed several condoms.

What a boy scout! Lucky for her he was prepared.

He began removing his pants and she sat up. “Allow me.” She reached for him.

His hands fell away from the buttons and she took over. She opened his fly and pushed the pants down toward his ankles, when she realized he still wore his boots.

“Your boots are in the way.” She leaned back on the bed and gave him a wide smile. “You’re on your own there, babe.”

He chuckled and made quick work of removing the boots and stepping out of his pants. When he stood, she sat up and wrapped her fingers around the thick shaft of his cock. He sucked in a harsh breath.

“You have a tattoo.” She ran her hand over a black paw print on his hip.

He chuckled then gave his straining cock a pained look. “That’s the best thing you can think of to say at a time like this? ‘You have a tattoo’? Maybe you’d like to exchange recipes while we’re at it?”

She grinned. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot my part.” She gently cupped his balls and made a soft cooing noise that made him laugh again. “You have the biggest cock I’ve ever seen.” She stroked the long, hard shaft and cupped the broad head. “It’s just enormous…the biggest in the city, I’m sure of it. Wait, let me get my camera and I’ll take a picture of this bad boy. I think I should call Ripley’s…”

She shrieked when he pushed her backward onto the bed and covered her again.

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“You’re headed for a spanking,” he laughed and blew a raspberry on her shoulder.

“You’re rotten.”

She snickered. “You have no idea…”

“Not yet, but I will.” His gaze dropped to her breasts. “For now, let’s see how good you taste.”

She moaned when he took an erect nipple into his mouth and began suckling her.

Her fingers tangled in his hair and she luxuriated in the feel of his mouth on her skin.

His rough tongue lapped at her flesh and she shivered at the added sensation. She’d been right, this man knew his way around a woman’s body.

He slid his hand up the inside of her thigh and through the moist tangle of curls until he parted her damp flesh and touched her intimately. She shivered and spread her legs to give him better access. She ached and burned as he stroked her, her hips following every movement to drag out the sensations. She’d never experienced such intense need, such heat.

Her eyes slid shut and her nails dug into his chest when he plunged his fingers into her. Her hips arched toward him, and throaty noises like she’d never heard were coming from her mouth. Too aroused to care how animalistic she sounded, Char threw herself into the maelstrom of heat and need he’d created.

With a few deft strokes she peaked and release coursed over her. Screaming out her satisfaction, she was vaguely aware of Rik speaking to her in a low whisper. His warm mouth trailed down her throat while she fought to catch her breath.

Wow!

Feeling boneless and lazy, she forced her eyes open. Rik was propped on one elbow, watching her with a satisfied smile on his handsome face.

“Feeling good?” he asked.

She felt so scattered and relaxed she wasn’t sure she could even form a coherent sentence. She licked her lips.

“I think you know the answer to that.” She reached for his erect cock and ran her fingers around the broad head. “But we’re not done yet.” She reached for a condom with her free hand.

“True.”

She made quick work of sliding the thin sheath over his cock. While she longed to linger, she wanted him too much to take her time. He moved between her thighs and she guided him to her. He sank his cock into her throbbing flesh in a slow, delicious movement that left them both reeling. In unison, they groaned.

She arched her back, relishing the feel of his cock stretching and filling her. She laced her legs around his hips and he began to move, a soft rolling motion of his hips that made her eyes roll back into her head at the delicious friction.

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She clutched his hips and their gazes locked. His eyes were dark with an almost feral look of lust that made her melt. It was the look of a man losing himself in the pleasure afforded by his lover’s body. The look of someone taking the ride of his life.

She twined her legs around his hips and he began thrusting in earnest. The room echoed with the squeak of bedsprings and the slap of slick skin against skin. Time receded and she lost count of the times he’d brought her to release. It was as if she’d become a vessel for Rik, to be filled and possessed by him and him alone.

Her head thrashed on the pillows and she sobbed as he pulled her tighter, thrust harder, his fingers digging into her flesh.

She came again, spirals of release moving through her system, when she felt him tense. She blinked to clear her vision of the lust-inspired glaze. His head was thrown back and his body was magnificent, every muscle tense in anticipation of release.

She tightened around him and that was enough to send him over the edge. His arms went rigid and he came with an animal-like roar that caused every hair to stand on end. His skin gleamed with sweat and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders until he fell forward to rest on her.

Her tongue snaked out to taste his shoulder, reveling in the warm, salty flesh.

Never had she had a sexual encounter that even came close to what she’d experienced with Rik. It was more than sex; it was making love on a level so primitive, so animal, that she couldn’t even begin to fully contemplate it.

She stroked his tangled hair. Just who was this amazing man?

* * * * *

Rik snagged his cell phone from his pants pocket before it rang for a second time.

He glanced at the lighted display as he rolled out of bed.