Chapter Two

Laura

"Jesus Christ," Kaiden growls, raking a hand down his face. A mangled bouquet is clutched tightly in the other. I think they were lovely at one point today, but the petals droop, and the stems are crushed as if he's been clenching them in his fist. The sight of them still brings a smile to my lips.

"You came," I say, throwing my front door open wide. I wasn't sure he would. I've been a nervous wreck all day, thinking he wouldn't show up despite agreeing to spend the weekend with me. He doesn't strike me as someone who spends much time around people. Actually, I don't think he spends much time at all around people anymore.

I've been asking about him ever since my agent told me I was up for a role in a big action film after the holidays. It's the one genre I haven't tackled, and I'm woefully unprepared. But I want to nail the part, and Kaiden can help me do that. He can teach me how to be an action star, considering he was one in real life.

Every studio in Hollywood scrambled to sign him to projects. He could have been a leading man if he'd wanted the job, but everyone who knew him said he didn't have the patience to learn lines or play the game. He wanted to do his part and be done.

He doesn't even do that much now. After his accident a decade ago, he just sort of…faded into the background. Most people I talked to couldn't remember the last time they saw him. Most couldn't even remember the last time they spoke to him. They all deal with his business partner, Jackson Reed, now.

But Jackson Reed isn't the man who worked on all my favorite movies. Kaiden is. So I sought him out two days ago to offer him a job. Instead, I invited him to spend the weekend with me. I didn't mean to do it, but I think it was the best decision I ever made.

I've never been one to back down from a challenge, and this man has difficult stamped all over his hulking body. But he's the sexiest man I've ever met…and that's saying something because I've met a lot of men the world considers beautiful.

There's something about this one, though, that eclipses every single one of them.

He isn't pretty. He isn't put together. He isn't carefully coiffed or groomed to within an inch of his life. His appeal doesn't come from a stylist, his bank account, or any plastic surgery. In fact, I'm quite sure he's had none of the latter. A nasty scar runs from the corner of his right lip to his temple, as if a sword ripped him open. The edges are puckered, the skin surrounding it mottled as if melted. It's painful to look at…if you see it at all.

He exudes so much raw magnetism that it's hard to focus on anything but how damn fierce he is. This man is as real as they come, completely unrefined. He's the man it takes special effects and CGI to turn actors into; only there is no green screen here. There's only him, those wicked gray eyes, and the way my entire body hums when he's close to me.

"Told you I'd be here," he growls, staring at me as if he's trying to see into my soul. The flames in his eyes heat me to the nth degree, making silent promises I desperately want him to deliver.

My stomach trembles, my insides quivering with anticipation. God, he's primal, almost like a wild animal. He's husky, towering over me in a way that's far too appealing. His black button-down stretches over his barrel chest and down the thick slab of his stomach, barely containing his bulk. His black slacks hug his powerful thighs. I fight the urge to press my legs together, wondering what it'll feel like to have him on top of me.

I've been clinging to my virginity since I came to this town, refusing to give it up for anything less than the fairytale romance I've always dreamed about. I always swore that no panty-dropping smile or Sexiest Man Alive would talk me out of giving it up. But Kaiden Huxley? Well, he didn't have to talk very fast at all.

I tear my gaze from him before I beg him to touch me right here on the front stoop. My eyes fall to the flowers still clutched in his hands. "Are those for me?"

He thrusts them toward me, petals drifting toward the cement at his feet. "Sat on the damn things in the car," he mutters. "You can throw them out."

"No way," I say. "They're beautiful, Kaiden." I bring the bouquet to my nose and inhale, humming softly as the soft scent of the orchids, peonies, dahlias, and roses swirl together. I peek at him over the top of the battered flowers, smiling in gratitude.

"You look like a princess." He scrubs a hand through his hair. "That dress is…it's something."

"Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself." I beam at him, glad he approves. I tore my closet apart, looking for something to wear tonight. Clothes still spill across the floor like a tornado hit it. The red dress is a short, off-the-shoulder tulle dress with a short asymmetrical hem. It's bold and sexy on my curves without being too much. I paired it with a pair of ballet flats. I spend far too much of my life in heels to don them willingly.

"It's just a button-down, princess."

"Well, I like it."

The right corner of his lip lifts into a smile, crinkling the bottom edge of his scar. He should smile more. It softens him and makes him seem less like a grump. Though I'm beginning to think grumpy is his natural state.

"You should come in," I say, stepping aside for him to enter. "Dinner is ready." At least, I hope it is. I've never tried to cook for anyone else before. I spend most of my time alone. This town hasn't exactly been kind to me, either. Kaiden and I probably have more in common than he thinks.

"You cooked for me," he says.

"Yes." I look up at him through my lashes. "At least I tried. I make no promises that it's any good. I've never made a turkey before, Kaiden. Or dressing." I grimace. "It might not be edible."

"I'm thinking I should stay right here," he mutters, not moving an inch.

"I'm just kidding. I tasted it. It's all edible," I promise. It's not the best meal I've ever tasted, but it's not the worst either. It's not half bad for a first attempt.

"If I follow you inside, the first thing I'm eating tonight is you, princess," he growls, his heated gaze rolling over me like a hot wind.

"Oh." I squeeze my legs together this time, unable to help myself. I want that. Maybe more than I should. It's pretty much all I've thought about since meeting him the other day. I've spent every night tossing and turning, dreaming about him. Not even touching myself brings any relief.

"Tell me to leave."

"No."

"Dammit, Laura. Tell me."

"Stay," I whisper, far more bravely than I feel. My heart threatens to pound right out of my chest. But I hold his gaze, refusing to back down. I'm not afraid of this man. If he thinks I'm going to run, he's wrong. I feel the heat between us. It's hot enough to send the whole city up in flames. And I like the way it burns. "I want you to stay."

"If I get my hands on you, it'll take a goddamn miracle to pry them off again," he says, his voice dripping with warning. "I won't share you. I won't let you go. I'll be a goddamn territorial son of a bitch every minute of the day."

"Maybe I don't want to be shared."

He growls my name, another dark warning that sends heat ripping through me. "I don't belong in your world, Laura. You should be running in the other direction."

I step outside, step right up against him. The heat from his body sears mine. He's like a transformer humming with electricity. It crackles in the air around him and zips through me when I press my body against his. He's rock hard, his erection a heavy bulge against my abdomen. And oh, my goodness, this man is big and unyielding everywhere. "Shut up and kiss me already, Kaiden."

I was wrong about him. I thought he was all cool self-possession and raw magnetism. He isn't. He's an unruly beast, as wild as he is massive. He launches at me like a lion snapping the chains holding him prisoner. His arms lash around me, dragging me up against his chest. His mouth crashes down on mine, his kiss hot and hungry.

I cry out in relief as his savage growl rips right through me, shaking loose every carnal desire and every wanton thought I've had about him in the last two days. He doesn't kiss me. He consumes me like a man starving for a taste of salvation. His hands in my hair mess up my curls, sending bobby pins flying. They hit the cement at our feet with faint pings that barely register over the harsh panting of his breath and the rush of blood in my ears. The flowers fall from my slack fingers.

His tongue flicks against my lips and then tangles with mine, impatient and possessive. I kiss him back the same way, my body clenching in delight as pleasure floods through every nerve ending. I've been kissed before. Of course, I have. I'm an actress. But they were always cold, passionless kisses. They never made me ache and burn like this. My head never clouded like this. The blood in my veins didn't sing like this.

"You taste like strawberries," he mutters.

"Cheesecake."

His rough hands grip my ass, yanking my legs around his hips. His body is so broad, my dress rides up, exposing my panties.

A string of curses falls from his lips when he sees them, his gray eyes dark and predatory. Does he see the wet spot on them? Does he know they've been like that since I saw him standing on my doorstep? I don't get the chance to ask either of those questions.

He stomps inside the house. Every step bounces me against his erection.

"Kaiden!" I dig my nails into his shoulders, desperately trying not to come. Except it's too close. I need it too badly. Oh, God. What is he doing to me? I bury my face in his shoulder, crying out as the first waves of an orgasm roll over me. His name erupts from my lips again. I let the pleasure take me, falling into the waves, confident that he'll catch me.

Somehow, I'm confident this grumpy, complicated man will always catch me.

When I open my eyes again, I'm plastered against the door, and he's on his knees, holding me balanced on his forearms. His eyes are on fire with need, his face blazing with it. Arousal rips through me, desire spiking faster than I can even process.

"Again," he snarls. "On my tongue this time, princess."

"Oh my–"

His eyes never leave mine as he flicks his tongue out and takes one long lick of me. I cry out, grasping for his shoulders, hair…anything to root me to reality before he sends me spiraling into heaven. He growls against my center, his eyes fluttering as if he just tasted the sweetest wine.

"Go ahead and scream while I eat it, princess. Let me hear how much of a good girl you can be for me," he growls before licking me again and then again. As if he can't stop himself. "Let's see how well you can behave. Don't come until I say."

"I c-can't behave," I cry, already on the edge. "I can't!"

"You can." He laves the flat of his tongue against my clit. "You will." He touches the tip of it to my clit and then jiggles it. "If you want my cock for dessert, you'll be real good, princess."

I sob his name, my core clenching as his sinful voice and wicked tongue work in unison, wrecking my senses. Kaiden Huxley is a bad, bad man. And God help me, I think I love it. "Kaiden, please," I sob, pulling fistfuls of his hair. "Please!"

"Not until you give me what I want. Scream for me, princess." His tongue circles my entrance and then dips inside. "I want to hear that pretty voice breaking on my name while I have my tongue buried in your sweet little cunt."

"Kaiden!" I scream as the need to come becomes unbearable.

"Now. Give it to me," he growls, attacking my center like I'm his last meal. He buries his face in me, working it back and forth as his lips and tongue work unholy magic on me. He snarls and curses as he eats me, and I'm not sure which of us is enjoying this more.

Every muscle in my body clenches as the orgasm erupts in my core and then flows outward, consuming me. It unmakes me from the inside out, leaving me crying out his name as pleasure melts to ecstasy and then to pure rapture.

I fall limp against the door, gasping for breath.

"Up, princess," he murmurs, dragging me into his arms. "I'm not finished with you yet."

"Mm," I moan, allowing him to cradle me against his chest. He holds me gently, as if I'm something precious and worthy of great care. His hand runs through my hair, smoothing it away from my face. I pry my eyes open, staring up at him in wonder.

He's so damn fierce. So damn beautiful.

"Where's your room?" he asks.

"Upstairs, first door on the right."

He jerks his head in a nod, striding toward the stairs.

I lift my hand to touch his scar. He tenses but doesn't pull away.

"Does it hurt?" I ask.

"Used to hurt like a motherfucker," he mutters. "Now it just hurts to look at."

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Wasn't talking about me, princess." His eyes meet mine as he ascends the stairs, moving stiffly…as if he has trouble with his leg. If carrying me bothers him, though, he doesn't show it. He barely seems to notice my weight at all. He's powerful and confident. "I see the way people look at me."

"I'm not them, Kaiden. I'm not looking at your scar when I look at you, okay?"

"Yeah? What are you looking at?"

"You," I say simply. "I'm looking at you, Kaiden Huxley."

He shakes his head. "I'm not nearly good enough to kiss your feet, let alone lick that perfect little cunt, princess. But so long as you aren't telling me no, I'm not questioning my luck."

"Good because I'm not telling you no. We'll work on the rest of it later." My teeth sink into my bottom lip as a thought occurs. One I should probably tell him now before he finds out on his own. "Um, just so you know…I've never done this before."

"Done what?"

"This." My cheeks heat with embarrassment. "I'm, um…well, what I'm trying to say…."

"You trying to tell me you're a virgin, Laura?"

"Yes," I whisper.

He graces me with one of those rare smiles. His hand drifts down the side of my face. "Believe me; I'm well aware."

"Really? Wait. How?"

He chuckles, carrying me into my room. And then he pauses and glances around.

"Nice," he murmurs.

"Thanks." I smile, glad he approves. My room is my sanctuary. It was designed for comfort and relaxation. The gray and black walls make it feel a little like a giant cave with plants and flowers trailing from hangers in the corners. When the curtains are open, natural light pours in from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the valley on the far side of the room. The gold furniture and purple bedding add pops of color. Lighting hangs from invisible wires, seeming to float suspended in midair.

"I could taste it on you."

"What?"

"Your virginity." He strides toward the bed, stopping at the foot. He dips his head to look at me again, his eyes dark. His lips trail down the side of my face and then brush across mine. "Tastes like it'll belong to me soon, princess."

I groan as my stomach turns a flip, heat flooding my system all over again.

He sets me on my feet in front of him, keeping me anchored to his body with one hand on my hip. His mouth touches mine again in a soft kiss. And then he dips his head, kissing along my cleavage. I throw my head back, moaning his name.

I moan it louder when he tugs my dress down to pull one hard nipple into the hot cavern of his mouth. God, his mouth is delightful. And sinful. He's very good with it. Too good, perhaps. My legs tremble, my knees threatening to give out as he licks and bites my nipples, driving me crazy all over again.

I'm a stuttering, sweaty mess. And he's still fully dressed. That doesn't seem entirely fair to me. I want to see him too, touch him too. I reach for him, working through the buttons on his shirt with thick, uncooperative fingers.

He stops long enough to help me strip it from him.

I was wrong. So wrong. He isn't the sexiest man I've ever seen. He's the sexiest man, period. His body is incredible. He isn't ripped. It's obvious he doesn't spend hours at the gym or working with a personal trainer. He's thick and solid everywhere, firm and unyielding. And that is so damn sexy to me. God, he's beautiful, like a massive, wild bear.

The scar across his face isn't the only one. Everywhere I look, I find another etched into his skin. Like the one across his cheek, they're puckered and mottled, as if something rent his flesh and then consumed it in fire to seal the wound.

The surgical scar down his sternum is so old it's silver.

"You had heart surgery," I whisper, placing my hand over it.

"When I was a kid."

"Are you…?"

"I've fine, princess," he rumbles. "I was sick for a few years, but that was a long time ago."

"I'm sorry." I lean forward, pressing my lips to the scar, and then brush my fingertips across the mass of scar tissue beneath his ribcage. It looks as if someone poured acid directly onto his flesh. "It wasn't a stunt gone wrong, was it?" I ask, tracing the area with trembling fingers.

"No," he says after a moment.

I want to ask for more, but I don't. We have plenty of time to learn everything there is to know about each other later because I'm not letting this man go. I've already decided that I'm keeping him. I lean forward and place my lips against his scar. "Thank you," I whisper.

"For what?"

"For trusting me."

"Jesus," he rumbles, pulling me back into his arms. His mouth comes down on mine. This time, his kiss is tinged with softness, a sweetness that has emotion welling in my chest. I'm falling in love with this beautiful, complicated man. It shouldn't be possible…and yet it's happening anyway.

We undress each other slowly, neither speaking as we kiss and touch, learning each other. He's every bit as big and hard as I suspected. My core clenches at the thought of feeling him inside me. I want it more than I want my next breath. I want him more than I think I've ever wanted anything.

"Goddamn," he hisses, bucking his hips into my hand when I wrap my fingers around his shaft, stroking him. He shoves his hand between my legs in response, playing with me.

We work together, driving each other crazy. I've never touched anyone like this, but all I have to do is watch his face to know what he likes. When I squeeze, he growls. When I trail my fingers over his balls, he curses.

He loses it completely when I lean down and lick the head of his cock. I barely have my lips wrapped around him before I'm flying through the air. I land on the bed with one very turned-on man looming over me.

"We agreed that you were going to behave," he growls, shoving my legs apart.

"No, you agreed," I say sweetly, smiling up at him. "I did no such thing."

He growls at me again, leaning down over me. "I'm not coming down your pretty throat, Laura. The first part of you wrapped around my cock will be that cunt. Once you're dripping my cum, then you can suck me off."

"Yes," I moan.

"Wrap those sexy thighs around my waist, princess."

I scramble to obey, moaning when his erection bounces against my clit.

"You like that?" He grips his erection in one meaty fist and smacks it against my clit again. When I moan a second time, he does it again, a little harder this time. "Fuck, of course, you like it. You were made for me, weren't you?"

"Yes."

He kisses me, hot and wet. "This will be fast, princess," he whispers apologetically. "I'm fucking dying here."

"Then get in me already, Kaiden," I demand, writhing beneath him. "I need you."

"It's going to hurt, baby."

"I'm trying not to think about that part."

He makes a miserable, wounded sound. And then I feel his erection at my entrance. Our eyes lock. I stare into forever as he pushes forward, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. The look in his eyes…God, if I live to be one hundred, I'll never forget it. There's so much hope there, so much softness. He looks at me as if I'm a miracle, something he can't live without.

"Laura," he whispers. "Princess."

"Kaiden," I whimper, my eyes tearing up as the stretch starts to burn. He's so big. How is it possible to feel this perfect and hurt like this at the same damn time? I grip his hands tightly as the burn intensifies.

"Breathe, princess."

I inhale a breath…and exhale it on a strangled cry as a flash of pain lances through me. It's over before it even begins, but Kaiden bellows like a wounded bear, regret filling his eyes.

"I'm sorry, princess," he breathes, pressing his forehead to mine. "Christ, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"I'm okay," I promise. "I'm okay." Already, the pain is fading, taking the burn with it. My muscles relax, allowing me to breathe. I shift slightly, and an entirely new sensation ricochets through me. "Oh!"

"Fuck," Kaiden growls, lifting his head. His eyes flash to mine. "Do that again."

"D-do what?"

"Squeeze my cock like that again, princess."

I concentrate for a moment and clench my inner muscles.

Kaiden's eyes turn black with lust. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," I whisper.

"Good." He nips my bottom lip, and then he begins to move. He isn't graceful or elegant. He's a force of nature, powerful and vast. Every deep thrust has me crying out his name and clawing down his back. I cling to him, pleading for more, more, more. He grunts and gives it to me, pounding into me until his balls smack against my ass hard enough to sting.

It feels like flying. Only I'm flat on my back and five hundred feet off the ground simultaneously. Only he's looming over me, pinning me to the bed with his hips as he takes me again and again, growling my name in the gritty, gravelly voice that grates across my womb every time I hear it. Only this is far better than flight could ever be.

"You gotta come," he growls, untangling our hands to slip one of his between our bodies. His thumb finds my clit, running in tight circles around it. "This perfect little cunt feels too good, princess. I need you to come."

"I…I…" I try to tell him I'm going to, but the words get caught in my throat.

"Fuck, yes," he sighs, yanking my leg over his shoulder. The change in angle allows him to go deeper. He drives into me in powerful thrusts that rock the bed beneath us.

My body locks down around him, my mouth open in a silent cry of bliss. I buck and writhe as my orgasm sends me freewheeling into rapture. Bright lights flash and dance behind my eyes. My heart pounds, thrumming so loud I hear the blood rushing through my veins.

Kaiden growls a curse as he goes still, buried to the hilt inside me. And then I feel him coming too. He spills into me in heavy pulses, sending aftershock after aftershock ripping through me.

"Kaiden," I whisper when I float back down to earth and land in his arms.

"You're going to own me, princess," he groans, chasing my lips with his as he wraps me all up in him. "Much more of that, and I'll crawl through hell just to make you happy."