Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

B ella

Jagger had managed to prove me wrong about him by the way he gently eased me in front of the fire, taking his time pushing the coffee table out of the way. His eyes never leaving mine, he snatched the furry throw from the back of the couch, bringing it with him as he returned.

I moved onto my knees, fighting my nerves while darting quick looks toward the stairs. What little passion I’d shared with Joel had never occurred out in the open. Right now, I was hopeful Cally would stay asleep. My labored breathing reflected my concern, but as soon as he dropped down to his knees, I gave him my full attention.

Who wouldn’t?

He wasn’t the patient kind of man, but the way he was taking his time peeling off my sweater allowed a slight insight to his soul. I was nervous, more so than I thought I’d be. Sharing intimacy when I felt so bad about myself was much harder than I could have imagined.

He’d be able to see my scars fully, including the yellowed bruise on my chest. I closed my eyes, but he wasn’t having it, touching my face with the rough pads of his fingers in a caring way.

“You’re beautiful, Bella. As I said, never forget that.”

Hearing his kind words almost made me break. I refused to allow that to happen just like he’d suggested I shouldn’t do. I was stronger than that, more resilient than I’d thought I could be. While this wasn’t a new beginning by far, it was a grasp at something I wanted. Just for me.

He rubbed the side of my face, brushing hair from my eyes before rolling the tips of his fingers down the length of my bruised arm. The same hard expression was there as before, but instead of demanding I tell him what happened, he lifted my arm, gently pressing his lips against my still aching skin.

I was struck by his softness, his method of making me feel more comfortable when my stomach was still in knots. When he reached around to unfasten my bra, I planted both my palms against his chest. The feel of his skin underneath my fingertips allowed another swoon to occur, raging fire beating through my bloodstream.

My breathing was still shallow as he managed to unfasten the clasp with only two fingers. I bit back a laugh from nervousness and excitement as he slipped one bra strap down then the other. My brain wasn’t functioning on all cylinders. All I could think about was how thrilled I was I’d worn sexy matching lingerie. I’d done it out of spite and my need to feel pretty again.

He took a deep breath, mumbling words I couldn’t understand before cupping my breasts. With small flicks of his thumbs, he teased my hardened nipples to the point a tiny moan slipped past my lips.

A slight smile curled across his lips from the sound, his eyes flickering up to mine. When he issued a growl, I did laugh. “You’re a tough man.”

“Tougher than some.” He took the opportunity to pinch both already sensitive buds, his eyes twinkling when another moan erupted.

“Mmm… I can see that. Maybe you need to be controlled.” I fingered his nipples in return, rewarded with a soft laugh that permeated all throughout my skin.

“Never, lovely lady. No one can control me.” He flexed his fingers open on one hand, slowly allowing it to drift down to my stomach. The moment he tensed again, I knew he’s caught a glimpse of the yellowing bruise but said nothing. For that I was grateful.

I was so nervous the movement tickled me. Feeling more uninhibited, I kneaded his chest muscles before daring to drop my hand to the thick bulge between his legs. The moment I squeezed, he rolled his index finger around my belly button. He slipped it just under the waistband of my jeans, shaking his head.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, nervous as to his answer.

“You’re wearing entirely too many clothes. I’ll take care of that.” He fumbled with my button and zipper, cursing outright at how tight my jeans were. They were still damp, making tugging them past my hips a chore.

But he managed, sucking in his breath the moment my opaque lace panties were in full view. “My, oh my. You’re wet for me.”

“You have a way of doing that.” I was completely breathless. My voice was no longer my own, but almost as deep and seductive as his. Since he was undressing me, I was going to touch him the way I wanted to.

His jeans were slightly looser, but I still struggled with being able to wrap my hand around his thick shaft. All I could think about was how thick his cock was and the girth huge. My fingers were long, but his shaft filled my hand. I rubbed the tip, this time biting my lower lip to show him I could be a sinful girl.

With his chest rising and falling again, he gave me the kind of look that told me clearly I would never be in charge. He proved that by easing me down onto the rug, his wry smile remaining as he pulled off my tennis shoes. The hunk even glared at them before tossing them away. “Snowshoes, I see.”

“Hey, they worked.”

“Not for long. We’ll go shopping.”

He acted as if he could demand I stay for an extended length of time. “No charity. Remember?”

“Fine. Then you can work it off at the resort.” Now he was tugging on my jeans and panties at the same time.

“Doing what exactly?”

“Have you waited tables before?” His teasing continued when he slipped my wet panties under his nose, breathing in deeply.

“In college, of course.”

“Then it’s settled. My brother handles all the restaurants and bars in the resort. You’ll work for him.”

“No fraternizing with the help. Huh?”

His grin was mischievous. “None. Now we don’t have to worry about it.” The deep vibrato of his voice sent a wave of explosive heat through every muscle.

Waiting tables. It was something to do until I could figure out a plan. “You’re on.”

“Good.” With my clothes removed, he crouched between my legs, lifting and splitting them wide open.

Oh, God. Another surge of embarrassment rolled though me like a tidal wave. He was already like a wild animal, every sound he made guttural in nature. How long had it been since I’d been touched this way? For-ever.

A sudden jolt hit me. “What if Cally comes down the stairs?”

He lifted his head as well as a single eyebrow before yanking the blanket into his hand, pulling it all the way over him and part of me.

I had to slap my hand across my mouth again to keep from laughing hard. He was creative in his methods of fucking. Still, I closed my eyes until he blew a swath of hot air across my aching pussy. Holy hell, the sensations were more explosive than before. But the first drag of his tongue around my clit was enough to push me straight into an orgasm.

“Oh, my, you are… amazing.” I wasn’t even certain if he could hear me under the covering.

He chuckled from my statement and shifted a single finger into position where his tongue had been. The way he kissed both inner thighs was just a telling of what was to come. I was right. The man was obviously very hungry, darting his tongue past my swollen folds.

Oh, boy. My entire body tensed as another rush of excitement tore through me. Without being able to watch him, the experience was like being tossed blindfolded into the perfect moment of nirvana. With every swipe of his tongue and every thrust of his fingers in my tight channel, I left more of my old life back in Baltimore.

Maybe there was something special about mountain men and small towns. The thought bringing a much needed smile, I allowed myself to float away as he continued licking. He had a sense of my body, realizing exactly what made me tick. His licks became fast and furious only to be pulled back, bringing me precariously close to a slice of heaven.

I glanced toward the stairs, gasping for air as his actions became rougher. My toes were curled, my heels digging into the rug. I was even shoving them up and down on the surface while clamping one set of fingers around the blanket and another trying to grip the rug.

“Jagger,” I croaked, barely able to find my voice let alone recognize it.

I’ll be damned if there wasn’t a little bit of comedian in him. He poked his head out from under the throw. “Yes?”

“Oh, don’t stop.”

“I don’t plan on it.” He resumed what he was doing, taking even more time to drive me crazy. Back and forth my emotions flew, but the ecstasy was rolling closer to the surface. Panting, I could feel a couple of beads of perspiration sliding down my face. Soon, I would be covered in it, the heat from his body and what he was doing to me the reason.

I was losing control, my body totally in tune to his actions and the man. How I’d been able to let go this much wasn’t something I wanted to question for fear of shutting down. I simply smiled as the moment of pure bliss jetted into my system like rocket fuel. There was no pretense here, no way of fighting the joy he’d just provided.

Somehow, I managed to hold back a scream of sheer delight as he continued feasting, a single orgasm lasting for what seemed like minutes. I was tingling all over, my legs shaking from the tension I’d put them under.

He didn’t stop for another few minutes, which drove me to a place of utter relaxation. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed a loving touch until now. I’d lied to myself for far too long, making excuses for everything. No longer.

The moment he finally emerged from under the blanket, wearing a devilish smile, I tousled his hair. He gave me a funny look before tossing the blanket aside and standing. That was the moment I was given a slight show as he finished undressing, even tossing a couple of looks over his shoulder to ensure we weren’t being interrupted.

With his jeans finally disappearing, I took a deep breath and held it. Yes, all of him was a creation made by God himself.

“What’s wrong? You like what you see?” His cock was at full attention, the sight of his balls making my mouth water.

“Maybe.”

He nodded once before easing back to his knees and instead of lowering himself over me, he planted his butt down on the rug.

I pushed myself up on my elbows, darting my eyes back and forth across his. “Something on your mind?”

“Yeah, it has been for a few hours.”

“What’s wrong?” If he was going to start grilling me again on why I was here, I’d teach him a lesson on right versus wrong timing.

“Oh, nothing is wrong at the moment, but it could have been disastrous.” He decided to grab my wrists, being mindful of the bruises while dragging me over his lap.

“What the hell?” My cry was a little too loud.

“I don’t take kindly to being nice to someone just for them to almost die on snow-slickened roads after not listening to my advice. My damn good advice, I might add.” He brought down his hand not once but twice.

I was shocked to the point I couldn’t say a thing. What did he think he was doing, spanking me like I was a bad girl or something? “Jagger. Don’t do this.”

“You need this. Call it a reminder that you could have gotten me killed too.” He smacked my bottom a few more times and I finally reacted, trying to climb off his lap.

He was quick to the draw, wrapping his arm around my waist and throwing his leg over mine. “Hold on. This isn’t right.”

I struggled to see what he was doing. When he grabbed his jeans, I whimpered. The moment he tugged on his belt, I wiggled even harder. He was going to use the belt on me.

“I didn’t almost get you killed.” But he was right. I hadn’t wanted him to follow, but I’d seen his vehicle in the rearview mirror. The truth was that I’d wanted him to follow me. I’d hoped for it. That had placed his life in jeopardy.

Four additional hard cracks of his hand and the pain finally bloomed, kicking up a thousand degrees as he picked up the pace. He paused a few seconds, folding the belt in half. His eyes were glistening. The man was enjoying this.

With every crack of the belt, I was certain I’d either die from a fit of embarrassment or from the anguish continuing to blossom. I wasn’t entirely certain which. More disturbing were the tingles of my muscles and the hard throbbing deep in my pussy.

I was sucking in my breath so fast I couldn’t see straight. Tears even formed in my eyes, which was ridiculous. I couldn’t be over some mountain man’s lap, getting spanked with a belt. But I was.

The spanking continued, the whooshing sound of the thick leather all I could concentrate on. With his thick leg over both of my own, getting up was impossible, and my attempts to crawl away only served to grind my hips into his knee. At this point my pussy was heating up even faster than my bottom. When he finally stopped, he took a deep breath. That didn’t bother me as much as the way he blew it out. I sensed utter satisfaction.

“You make me crazy,” I told him.

His actions quick as before, he pushed me back into position on the rug’s surface, planting his hands on either side of me. “Yeah? That goes double for you, lady. I’ve never been around anyone so pigheaded as you.” He pushed my legs apart with his knee, taking his place between them.

“Pigheaded?” I demanded. “I’ll have you know that you’re the most bullheaded man I’ve met and I assure you that I’ve met some doozies in my life.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah.”

There was no talking to him. He made certain of it by capturing my mouth as he pressed his entire weight against me. His cock was throbbing and I wiggled underneath him. The pulsing sensations were just as incredible as the man.

Even if he was infuriating.

The kiss was even better than before, more passionate and slammed full of the kind of longing few ever experienced. I wrapped my arms around his neck, fighting the slight sense of guilt, which was ridiculous. I didn’t owe anyone but myself anything.

If Jagger knew I was questioning my judgment he didn’t show it, taking everything he wanted from my mouth. He was a marvelous kisser. Maybe he was good with everything when using his mouth.

The wave of deep vibrations and white-hot heat was overpowering. I shifted under him again and he took the hint. He pulled his lips away from mine, taking several deep breaths as the twinkle in his eyes returned.

The moment he placed the tip of his cock against my pussy, I licked my bottom lip. The small sensual move wasn’t lost on him. One corner of his mouth turned up just before he thrust his cock inside.

The electric sensations were nothing like I’d expected. They were wilder. The intensity was extreme, the sheer pleasure of the vibrations tearing through my system leaving me breathless.

Speechless as well.

I clung to his shoulders, arching my back as my muscles stretched to try to accommodate his huge girth. How could a man be this large? And how in God’s name had his shaft fit so deeply inside?

He took a deep breath as he lifted his head toward the ceiling, finally letting it out ten seconds later. “Amazing.” The single word was barely audible, so gruff in nature that I quivered hearing it.

The second he pulled almost all the way out, I fought the covers to wrap one leg around his hip. I was trying to keep him from leaving. I could feel it in my bones.

His grin returned, his nostrils flaring as he slowly lowered his head. His eyes reflected the firelight, shimmering with flecks of gold and bronze. I could get lost in them forever. He plunged in once again, grinding his hips back and forth.

We were both careful not to make too much noise, the blanket hiding very little of what we were doing. But as he developed a rhythm, I was no longer certain I could disguise my pleasure as anything but what it was.

With my other leg now wrapped tightly around him, I squeezed my thighs. He shook his head as if telling me I was a naughty girl. He also stretched up onto his palms, switching the angle. I was instantly tossed into every girl’s fantasy.

I was able to get a clear look at him, longing to run my fingers through his thick beard. I wondered if he’d allow it or bite my fingers, The silly thought brought a laugh.

“What are you laughing at, wicked lady?”

“Wicked, huh? I don’t think I’ve ever been called that.”

“You didn’t answer the question,” he whispered gruffly.

“Oh, just looking at a true savage. Do you forage from the woods, cutting wood like a true he-man, maybe hunting for food?” Yes, I was stereotyping him on purpose, enjoying the mischievous expression and pinched brow. I doubted anyone dared tease him. I also had a feeling my ability to do so would be rare.

He was too much of a brute.

A controlling man.

A loner.

But for tonight, I fully intended on taking advantage of our close proximity.

What in the world had gotten into me?

Jagger’s response was to flip me over, his efforts tangling our long limbs in the throw cover. He didn’t seem to care as he cupped my breasts, using them to push me up to a sitting position. After another quick glance toward the stairs, I planted my palms against his chest.

The touch seared my fingertips and I pressed my knees into him. I also swished my hair across his face and neck.

“Be careful teasing such a beast,” he warned.

“Or what?”

“Oh… You’ll find out.”

I refused to allow him to try, bucking against him as I started to ride his hips like I would a bronco.

He pinched my nipples, studying them as he twisted and plucked. This time, the hint of anguish was breathtaking. With his mouth slightly pursed, I was certain he was prepared to growl like a lion.

Or roar like a bear.

That’s what he reminded me of, a lumbering grouchy bear.

When he lifted his arms, planting them behind his head, his smile changed to something I couldn’t read. “Give it your best shot, city girl. I got time.”

He was taunting me in a way I wasn’t used to. While he tried to look bored, he knew exactly what he was doing, lifting his hips when necessary and giving me the kind of heated look that continued to scream of possession.

With the fire burning so hot, we were both sweaty under the blanket. I wanted to shove it away, able to bask in our naked bodies, but I held off.

Trying to be a good little girl.

Yeah, right.

He had no clue he was yanking my real personality from the depths of my being, shoving aside all the anxiety that had wrapped me in an entirely different blanket. One with heavy chains wrapped around it. Where it had threatened to pull me all the way under the deep waters of an ocean before, Jagger’s brutal display of manhood had found the right key.

I hoped and prayed it lasted.

I could tell only a few seconds later I was getting to him as I ground my body against his. But he wasn’t finished yet, rolling me back over once again.

This time, I laughed, especially when he struggled to free my leg from the tight confines of the heavy material. He finally yanked it out in the open, cursing under his breath to the point I couldn’t fight my laughter.

“You have no patience,” I told him.

“None. When I see something I want, it’s mine.” The smoky heat of his voice wrapped around my shoulders, the sound both comforting and undeniably sexy.

I had no doubt that was true.

After pulling my calf onto his shoulder, he remained on his hands to fuck me. The savagery was even more spectacular, the way he was thrusting with such perfect momentum lulling me into a bubble that I prayed wouldn’t burst. His entire face was pinched, his muscles starting to tense.

I wanted this to go on forever, but my body was so in tune to his that I couldn’t hold back a climax of my own.

Another fierce expression was right there for me to bask in as he peered down at me. I could swear he was waiting to let himself go until I did. As I’d done before, I wrapped my fingers around his massive arms. I held onto them briefly before raking my nails down both.

He cocked his head, giving me an admonishing look, and fucked me even harder.

There was no holding back with this man. No chance I could lock myself in a cage once again.

The moment I was set free, the most powerful orgasm I’d ever had consumed me. I was floating high in the sky, incapable of thinking clearly.

Not that I wanted to.

Who in their right mind would?

His soft animalistic grunts added to the primal atmosphere and his own personal sense of freedom. As he released, filling me with his seed, it was as if the key had been tossed into murky water.

Maybe the real Bella Winters was back.

If so, look out, world. She was one demanding bitch.