9. Andres

CHAPTER 9

ANDRES

I’d skipped go and said fuck collecting two hundred dollars and just went to claim my prize.

I was like an animal who’d been caged for too long.

All my self-control and planning had gone to hell. I might have come on the spot she had in my bed, and then again while going down on her, but fuck if the monster between my legs would calm the fuck down. I had no idea where the stamina was coming from. I was fucking forty, for gods’ sake, not some young twenty-something. But then again, I hadn’t been with her yet. This was all because of Carmen. My colorful little bookworm had woken this thing inside me, this need, and fuck me, I wasn’t complaining.

With her taste lingering in my mouth, I carried her into her bedroom. My sole focus was on finding the nearest flat surface I could take her on. Claim. Mark. Take. The words played on repeat in my head. Claim. Mark. Take.

“Tell me now if you don’t want this, Carmen,” I ordered like a fucking dick. I didn’t have it in me in that moment to be graceful or charming. Fuck the gentleman she’d always have. In that moment, she was dealing with the wild animal she had brought to life.

“I want this,” she gasped.

“You sure?” My lips were hovering over hers. “I take you now, there is no going back. Not now, not ever. Do you understand me?” I warned.

I was a fucking bastard.

She had no idea how I had been watching her, following her. No clue to the kind of man she was about to let inside her body, the man who wanted everything from her, but I wasn’t going to risk losing her.

She was mine just like I was hers.

“Andres.”

“I know.” My jaw clenched as I stopped just by her bedside. “I’m coming off strong, and I get that, but you also need to know it’s the kind of man you’re inviting into your bed.” The animal inside of me was telling me to shut up. To sink into her body and fuck her, claim her and shut the fuck up. Not run my mouth and possibly give her reasons to kick me out.

“Andres––“

“And I know there are a million things we haven’t talked about. Your douchebag ex-husband for one. But I can tell you I am nothing like him,” I promised. I was a lot of things, and crazy was possibly one of them, but a dip shit abuser who harmed women was not.

“Honey.” Her eyes searched mine. And it hit me. I’d fucked up. I’d said too much. Great job, dumbass , the animal in me muttered.

“I never told you,” Her voice trembled. “It was… He wasn’t nice and, umm––“

“I know.” My nose flared. I was trying to keep my cool and my shit under control, but the thought of her ex, of what he’d done to her, how he’d hurt her and made her think she was nothing, made my blood boil.

“You know,” she whispered. I could see her thinking a million miles an hour but never heading toward the right destination.

Or maybe she got it.

Maybe she understood why I was so damn fine with her spying on me because I’d done the same.

“You know about Sam?” My jaw ticked, but I nodded tersely.

“Don’t say his name. Not in here, not in this moment.”

“Put me down,” she whispered. My blood turned cold. I held on for a second longer before I did as she asked. Her feet touched the ground, and part of me had been ready to sweep my arms to catch her when she ran off.

But she didn’t run.

Carmen stood in front of me, her feet grounded on the floor as we stared at each other mere inches from her bed. And I had a sinking feeling I’d fucked up. I’d shown my cards and my crazy, and this was it.

“Carmen, please––“ I started to say, but she shook her head.

“Shh,” she hushed me, and my eyes widened with surprise. Her hand rose between us and her fingers pressed against my lips.

My chest rose and fell heavily, like I was a man hanging on for dear life to a rope that was quickly unthreading. My body taut like I was made of stone, too afraid to move an inch. Her hands dropped down on my chest and didn’t stop until she reached the hem of my shirt.

To my happy surprise, she pulled it up. She was too short to get it over my head, so I quietly helped her, letting it float to our feet. Carmen’s soft fingertips dragged their way back down my chest, but I didn’t look at where she touched. My eyes were pinned on her face and the way her green eyes sparkled like freshly polished emeralds as she traced every ladder of muscle. My already overheated skin burned beneath her cautious touch. I knew the moment she spotted the exact size of my bulge. The tip of her tongue peeked out and licked her lips.

“Carmen––“ I rasped.

She was killing me.

I wasn’t the kind of man to hand control over like I was. I liked to be the one who touched and explored, but fuck me, this felt good, too. I’d give her anything she wanted. In and out of the bedroom.

“I know,” she whispered. “No turning back.” Her face dipped forward, and I felt her lips touch the spot right over my pounding heart. “No take-backs. No refunds or exchanges.” She kissed the spot again before her eyes moved up and locked with mine. “Is that what you’re telling me, Sir?” I swallowed and nodded. Sir. Fucking hell! Sir? She’s calling me sir? Giving me control and trusting me? Me? But I wasn’t going to try to talk her out of it. Fuck that.

She was mine! Claim. Mark. Take .

“Exactly that,” I rasped. “We do this, you’re mine.”

“That sounds serious.”

“Very,” I confirmed. She would be it for me. No one in the past had ever worked out for a reason. No one ever would because that hadn’t been what was meant for me. My mom used to say that what was meant for you would always find you. I’d always rolled my eyes, thought it was crap. Until her. Until I saw my beautiful bookworm that late spring day.

Carmen was mine. My soulmate. My other half. My better half.

“Does that make you mine?” she asked. A sound vibrated through my chest. I had no idea how the fuck I’d hit the jackpot after all the shitty swings life had given me. But I guess love and life happened when you least expected it to. And that’s what this was. Love. I loved her more than I ever thought was possible.

“That’s exactly what it fucking makes me,” I rumbled, hardly recognizing the sound of my voice. My hand slipped to the back of her head and into her silky hair, and when I had a good hold on it, I tugged.

“I like how bossy you get,” she gasped, and my dick leaked precum. The fucker was like a damn leaky faucet, ready to go off.

“I know.” My nose flared. “I love how you give in to me, bend for me knowing I would never take it too far.”

“I know,” she answered with so much confidence it left me humbled.

“There are things you don’t know,” I warned. “I’ve been watching you––“

“I know.” She smiled. “I called the security guard, remember?”

This was my chance to correct her. To confess all my wrongs.

No, the animal in my head growled. Don’t you dare. We’re too close to the promised land now. Claim. Mark. Take. I shook my head, about to ignore the angry voice in my head and tell her everything, when my sweet little temptress rose to the tips of her toes and kissed me.

It was sweet and soft.

Sensuous in a way I hadn’t expected, and just like that, she sealed her fate. It felt like she’d tossed gasoline on a fire and suddenly, sweet and tender were tossed out of the window. One moment we were kissing, and the next we were both pawing at each other, tearing our clothes off, helping each other with fumbling hands.

And we didn’t stop until we were standing completely naked.

“Carmen.” My voice sounded grave, almost tortured. Everything inside of me felt like it was on fire. Every nerve awakened with insatiable need, all my blood pumping southbound as my dick throbbed almost painfully.

“Take me,” she whispered. Her eyes connected with mine, and I couldn’t stop myself. I picked her up. Her legs wrapped around my waist as I hoisted her up, my hands on the middle of her satiny back. Naked and bodies pressed together. This was how I was going to die. Fuck.

“Please,” she begged softly, pounding the last nail into the coffin. The road to hell was paved with good intentions, but there was nothing sweet or gentle in what I had planned as I stepped closer to her bed. Nothing pure or kind.

“You’ve been driving me crazy. One look, Carm, that’s all it took.” I’d fallen in love at first sight.

“Oh god,” she whimpered, then her lips touched mine.

“Not god, baby. Just me.”

“Please, honey. I need––“

“Oh, you’re going to get it, baby girl. You’re you going to get every part of me,” I vowed. “But you’re going to give me you, too, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Forever,” I reminded her, needing that little fact to be crystal clear. “No going back. No changing this.”

“Forever.” She nodded, nipping my bottom lip with hers.

“Tell me,” I goaded like a selfish prick. Fuck it. I’d tell her all of it, every fucking thing I did for us to find our way here, but I’d do it long after she promised herself to me. “Tell me what I need to hear, Carmen,” I demanded.

My body felt like it was being held tight, like the string of a slingshot about to go flying. Her hands moved between us, and my girl cupped my face as she stared into my eyes. There was so much reflected in her gaze, I had no idea where to start to break it down.

“I’m yours,” she said so easily it drove need deeper into my bones. Carmen’s hands might have been holding my face, but it was my heart she had a grip on.

The moment my knees touched the mattress, I started to drop her down, my body following hers as I tried not to give her too much of my weight. Not that she seemed to mind as her legs parted, thighs widened to make space for me.

“Take me.” Everything inside of me went quiet. No longer were the animal and man who clung to sanity at war.

They couldn’t be.

Not when all I saw in front of me was beauty.

I rested my elbows beside her face, holding myself above her

“Carmen,” I strained. I didn’t have words. Fuck me, I wished I’d been born with the mouth of a poet in that moment to tell her exactly how I felt in the most beautiful, simplistic way possible. But I was at a loss.

Her breasts pressed against my chest, and I nipped at her lips. Everything started and ended with Carmen. Today, tomorrow, and always.

“Love me,” she panted. She didn’t know just how much I already did. How I’d fallen in love with her at first sight and changed my life, doing anything to be as close to her as possible. My head dropped into the crook of her neck. “Please take me, Andres.”

My woman didn’t need to beg.

Our mouths fused as our bodies lined up perfectly. My hands explored the soft edges of her body while my girl touched my harder ones. Her leg hitched over my hip, the heel of her foot resting atop the small of my back, lining us perfectly together.

“You’re mine,” I growled a moment before my hips thrust forward. In one long thrust, I pushed my way into her body and groaned. The feeling was so fucking good my eyes about rolled to the back of my head. Her soft moans pierced my ears while I tried to find some sort of control. She felt so damn good underneath me. Soft and wet. “Made for me,” I groaned. I peeled my eyes open and connected with her half-lidded ones. I stilled, praying I hadn’t hurt her or turn into a one-pump chump.

“Carmen,” I panted.

“You feel…” Her lips opened and shut. Worry hit my gut.

“I can pull out if it’s too much––“

“No.” Her hands wrapped around my neck and pulled me down. “You feel so good. I feel?—“

“What?” I strained. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you,” I gritted. A glimmer flashed in those pretty eyes of hers, and she shook her head.

“No.” Her lips tipped up. “Feels good.” She shifted and clenched her tight little pussy around me. “I feel full. Complete.” Her hands stroked my face.

“That’s because you are.” I groaned. My hips moved on their own accord. “You’re mine.” I pulled out and thrust back into her, loving the soft gasps and sighs she made. “We fit. Perfectly.”

“Made for you.” She smiled as her body melded around mine. “More, harder, please, Sir.”

“Carmen––“ She was testing my willpower.

“I can take it, Sir.” Her gaze was confident. “I can take anything you want to give me,” she vowed. My little bookworm wanted to submit, and goddamn it, I wanted to dominate her. Protect and love her. Cherish her.

I kissed her as my body took its fill. Feeling and listening to every little whimpered moan. The way her pussy gripped my dick, tighter and wetter, I was walking a very thin line. My control was gone, but in the back of my head, even the animal in me needed to make sure our woman came not only first but hard. I drove her to the edge once, then twice.

Each of us paying the consequences, needing our release so damn bad we could taste it. Both times, she let me know just how close she was and didn’t shy away from whimpering her complaints when I slowed down.

It cost me, too.

My dick was practically weeping from the pain. I pulled out and rolled her onto all fours. The sight of her looking back at me, her perfect little ass up in the air, almost did me in. And when I entered her in that position, I knew there would be no more edging. No more games.

Take. Mark. Claim, replayed over and over in my head. Take. Mark. Claim.

She was so snug, so fucking tight around me, it was like being in heaven and hell all at the same time. My eyes dropped to the way her fingers dug into the sheets as she cried out for more. With one hand squeezing her hip, I let my other work the spot between us she needed to have touched. Her clit was swollen and needy and so sensitive she almost bucked off when I started to rub it.

“Andres!” she gasped, buckling forward, then my body covered hers. My chest pressed against her smooth back.

“Sir,” I corrected gruffly.

“Sir,” she gasped, and my lips pulled up as I kissed her neck.

“Good girl.” I praised. My lips dropped down to her shoulder, but my body didn’t stop. I rutted in and out of her. Hard. With force that made the bedframe shake forward. “Come for me, baby. Give me what I need. Come on my cock.”

“Yes, Sir,” she grunted. Her hips had already been working along to meet mine, but now it felt like she doubled the effort.

“Good girl,” I whispered into her neck. “Find it, beautiful,” I urged. I was so damn close to embarrassing myself. “I need you to come before I do, Carmen,” I strained, my teeth clenched together.

And then I felt it.

A soft fluttering around my cock turned into a tighter grip. One that felt like it milked my come right out of my balls, and without being able to hold back or prolong the moment, my own orgasm crashed through me.

“Carmen!” I roughly groaned as I fed every drop of my release into her tight little body. Her pussy lightly fluttered around my dick as I came to after coming so hard I almost passed out. “Shit,” I panted. “That was incredible.”

“Hmm,” she purred. I pulled my body off hers and stroked the line of her bare back, not letting my semi-hard dick slide out of her body. I liked the way it looked still inside her creamy little snatch.

“You okay?”

“Very okay,” she said into the sheets before peeking over her shoulders with her gaze happy and content.

We did that, the animal inside preened with male pride. And I couldn’t get myself to disagree. We’d be doing that over and over again.

Until my last breath, if I could manage it.