Chapter 9

Milly clung to his shoulders and noted the determined glint in his eyes as he pushed back inside her.

Dear Lord, this was really happening. The initial searing sting was fading, replaced with too many conflicting sensations for her to pay attention to just one. There was the weight of his body on hers, sinking her into the mattress. The stretch and pressure as the fat cap on the top of his cock pushed through her folds—so foreign but so right . When he began to withdraw again, she gasped and lifted her legs to lock around him to hold him inside her.

"Don't worry, baby girl. I'm not leaving," he said, ducking downward to kiss her mouth. "Ease your hold so I can move. I swear you'll like it."

She felt foolish, like a child, for knowing so little. Why hadn't she done away with her hymen herself? She'd have missed this whole embarrassing—

"Baby, stay with me," he whispered, then kissed her again.

She eased her hold around him, and he emitted a deep groan and began to move, lowering his torso so that it rubbed against her breasts and belly as he pumped in and out in slow, shallow glides, his jaw tightening so hard she saw a muscle jump along the edge of the bone.

He was holding himself back for her, making sure he didn't hurt her. And now she knew why she'd decided it had to be him. She'd sensed he'd take care of her.

Her body, at its center, wound tighter and tighter. The sounds she made would've been embarrassing if she could actually care about them, but he was moving, thrusting more strongly inside her, more deeply. She arched her back and flung out her arms, grasping at the bedding beneath her as he moved faster and faster, as though she had to hold on or fly off the bed.

And then she was flying…or exploding… Maybe both? She shook her head from side to side, a high-pitched keening sound straining her throat as pleasure swept through her, tightening every muscle, and cinching her lungs so that she could barely breathe.

He shifted, moving to his knees and dragging up her hips to hold them still as he continued driving inside her. Friction burned her channel, and fluid flooded her, drenching his cock and causing wet sounds that were lewd and luscious at the same time. When, at last, he threw back his head and shouted, his thrusts slowed.

He held her hips suspended above the bed, and she glanced down between their bodies to where he joined with hers—his darker skin against her pale thighs and belly. So much of him still buried inside her. She squeezed around him and saw him gasp. When his eyes fluttered open to pin her with one of his sexy glares, she knew her power at that moment.

Her chest jerked with her ragged breaths, and his gaze swept her meager breasts, and she didn't feel…less than…inadequate. The flare of his nostrils, as he stared at her nude torso, told her he was pleased with the sight. Satisfied.

Blowing out a deep breath, he lowered her to the mattress and then stretched out on top of her, his warm body blanketing her from chest to feet. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gruff and rumbling against her skin.

She smiled and smoothed her fingertips over the tops of his shoulders. "Can we do that again?"

Cyrus sat on a chair at the kitchen island, watching Milly as she moved around the kitchen, preparing a salad while they waited for the steaks he'd placed on the grill outside. She was a little less graceful than usual. It might've been because she walked a little bowlegged. She was likely sore but wasn't willing to admit it, so he'd been the one to refuse a second round.

Not that he didn't intend to have her again that night, though not in the way she craved.

She'd been a virgin. He could hardly believe it. The weight of the knowledge that he'd been the man she'd gifted with that important first sat pleasantly on his shoulders.

Not that he was feeling the least bit smug. No, it was more of a deep satisfaction. When he'd entered her, he'd felt as though he'd claimed her for his own—marked her as his. Maybe he was making more of it than she wanted, but he couldn't help how he felt.

Milly Bauer was his.

"Stop staring at me," she said, not lifting her head as she cut tomatoes on a wooden cutting board.

"You look different," he teased.

She raised her head then and gave him a narrow-eyed glare. "I don't look any different than I did a couple of hours ago."

"Not true." He gave her a wink. "You've got some extra color in your cheeks."

"That's blush. I used some tonight."

"That got rubbed off—and your mouth is a little swollen."

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "Must have had an allergic reaction to the lip oil I used."

He grinned. "You're walking funny—like something's a little sore."

Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to deny it but then closed her mouth again. "I'll give you that."

"You did, indeed," he said, lowering his tone to growl. "Come here."

She shook her head. "You feeling a little smug now?"

"Why would you think that? Come here," he said, his voice a little firmer.

She dragged her feet toward him. He reached out, spread his knees, and pulled her against his chest. Her sigh as he kissed her was echoed by his own.

When he pulled away, she glanced up at him from beneath her lashes. "You know it's not polite to mention that I'm walking a little funny."

"It's not? I was concerned."

"No, you weren't."

"No, I wasn't," he admitted, kissing her again.

"Can you really see it? How I'm walking?"

"I can because I notice everything about you." His hand slipped under her sweater and cuddled her breast. "Your pussy's swollen and sore, and so are your tits. The tips haven't relaxed yet; they're still tight and warm."

She groaned and hid her face in the corner of his neck. "And I thought you were the strong, silent type."

"I don't say anything that doesn't need to be said."

"And I need to hear that you can tell that my pussy and my tits are sore?"

"You need to know that I noticed." He gently toggled the tight bud, which caused her to shiver. "I should go see to those steaks," he whispered.

"You're nothing but a tease," she muttered.

Cyrus found himself chuckling as he walked away. Once outside, he adjusted himself because a part of his anatomy was noticeably aroused.

They lay together under the sheets, her head on his chest, his hand smoothing up and down her back, then coming to rest on her bottom.

"I should probably head out soon," he said. "You've got work tomorrow."

"So do you."

"I'm used to operating on too little sleep."

She lifted her head.

"Not because I do this kind of thing often," he said, tapping her nose.

"Because you're ex-military?"

He nodded.

She was quiet, but he could see a frown forming between her eyebrows. "What are you thinking?"

"That…I don't know what's next. Or if this is just…" She didn't finish, but he understood what she was trying to say.

"You want to know if I want to see you again…?"

She nodded.

"I do."

Her frown deepened, and he fought a smile.

"I think…" he said slowly, "that—seeing as how we've moved to this—" he said, smoothing his hand over her rump again, "that we should agree to only see each other…for a while. See how it goes."

Her frown lightened, and she tilted her head to meet his gaze. "Agreed."

Again, satisfaction filled his chest with warmth. It was surprising how much he liked the idea of them being…exclusive.

"To be honest, I can't imagine another man in my bed," she said.

His body tightened as he imagined it. "I find I'm a bit possessive. Maybe I'm selfish, but I want all your firsts, Milly."

"And when it comes to seconds and thirds?" she drawled. "Will you get bored?"

"What kind of man do you think I am?" he asked gruffly.

She shrugged. "We don't really know each other that well."

"Well, that's what this agreement is all about. I want to know everything about you, Milly." He held her ass and rolled them until he hovered over her.

"Thought you said we weren't doing this again," she said, nudging her belly against his cock.

"I said there were other ways to find our pleasure."

"Can I go down on you?" Her eyes danced with so much anticipation he chuckled. "I've never had one in my mouth."

He sputtered, surprised by her bold words. "That's what you want?"

"Don't you?"

"Jesus."

She pushed at his chest, and he let her force him to his back while she tossed back the covers and began kissing a path down his body to his dick. "Show me what you like," she said, lifting her face to meet his gaze.

He gripped her hair and pushed her lower, then held up his dick with his other hand. "Just start at the top. I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"Am I interrupting anything?"

Milly blinked and shot straight up from the bed, awake in an instant. Thank God the sheet stuck to her skin; otherwise, her brother would've had an eyeful. "Jake! You're home early," she squeaked, looking to the side to make sure Cyrus was decently covered as well.

His eyebrows were raised, and her bare thigh covered his hips.

Jake gave Cyrus a glare, then turned abruptly from the doorway. "I'll be in the kitchen. Should I scour it before I make a cup of coffee?" he shouted behind him.

"Oh shit." She began scooting off the mattress.

Cyrus reached out and grabbed her wrist. "I'll get dressed and talk to him."

"No, you won't. He's my brother."

"This is a conversation that should happen man to man. You shower and join us when you're done. No rush ."

"I can't believe this."

He tugged her wrist and brought her down on top of him. His hand cupped the back of her head and brought her close for a hard kiss. "Shower. I'll talk to him first."

Her eyebrows were pulled together, and her mouth opened and closed, but she finally gave him a nod and pulled the sheet with her as she scurried to her bathroom.

Cyrus gathered his clothes and boots from the floor and dressed, then raked a hand through his hair. One glance into the mirror above her dresser had him nearly groaning. He was rumpled, and his face had marks from the sheets. He smelled like sex.

This was not how he'd wanted to be introduced to the family.

When he stepped into the kitchen, he found Jake sitting in the chair facing the doorway, a cup of coffee held between both hands. He'd removed his Kevlar jacket and hung it on another chair, but otherwise, he still wore his uniform.

When Cyrus stepped inside, his eyebrows lowered. "You're one of those bounty hunters, new to town," Jake said, his tone dead even.

"I am," Cyrus said, sounding a little froggy. He headed to the coffee pot to pour himself a cup.

When he approached the table with his cup, he reached out his hand. "I'm Cyrus Walsh."

Jake stared at his hand for a second, then shook it.

Cyrus sat opposite Jake and took a sip. "She's in the shower, but I'm betting she's going to miss some spots even though I told her to take her time."

Jake's mouth twitched. "My sister doesn't date around much."

"You worried I took advantage of her inexperience?"

"Didn't you?"

"I'm the one who took advantage of Cyrus—not the other way around," Milly said from the doorway.

Cyrus grimaced and looked over his shoulder. Her hair was soaking her T-shirt, and he was pretty sure there were soap suds on her arm. "I told you I'd handle this."

"And I told you he's my brother," she said, then gave him a tight, sickly-sweet smile. Her gaze went to Jake. "This isn't any of your damn business."

Jake pursed his lips. "Glad we had this little chat. You two use protection?"

Cyrus bit back a laugh. "Yes, sir."

Jake sighed and pointed to the coffee carafe. "Sis, pour yourself a cup." He turned to Cyrus and hiked a thumb in the direction of Milly's bedroom. " That has never happened before."

"Good to know, and your shock was understandable."

Milly took a seat and set her cup loudly on the wood surface. "Nice of you to confirm I'm completely unattractive to the opposite sex."

"Now, babe, you know that's not true," Cyrus said softly.

Her cheeks turned a dark hue of pink.

Jake coughed. "Mike mentioned you two had a date. I drove past the house a couple of times and never saw your vehicle leave."

Cyrus gave the other man a frown. "So, you knew what you were interrupting."

Jake arched an eyebrow. "I listened first to make sure I wasn't interrupting."

"Good Lord," Milly muttered and covered her face with her hands.

"Next time, hang a sock on your bedroom door, sis."

Cyrus nearly spit his coffee with a sudden gust of laughter. Milly scowled at both men, who started chuckling at her expense.