Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

I was running late. I rarely ran late. But I hadn’t slept well last night. Partly because it was a strange bed—the hotel’s mattress was divine, but it hadn’t helped me settle—and partly because I’d woken at dumb ‘o’ clock feeling wired. If it was a nightmare that woke me, I didn’t remember it.

I’d lain awake for hours. Eventually, I’d given up trying to sleep and simply sat near the window overlooking the New York skyline. And now, tired and groggy, I wasn’t quite as speedy as usual as I moved around the bedroom, getting ready for the conference that would soon start.

My hair and makeup were finally done, though, and I’d pulled on my underwear. All I really needed to do was slip into my suit and high heels. I wasn’t going to have time to eat breakfast, which was a bummer. Maybe I could munch on an apple during the elevator ride or something.

“Vienna, have you seen the—” Dane came to an abrupt halt in the doorway.

I squeaked. Squeaked. But, hell, I was standing there in my damn bra and panties! And there was nothing close that I could grab to cover myself with. “Can’t you knock?”

His dark, broody eyes raked over me, focusing on me so intently it made my scalp prickle. I stilled, feeling trapped. Uncomfortable. Exposed. The air charged with an electric tension that made my body tighten.

I didn’t move an inch. I couldn’t. I felt rooted to the spot by the blatant heat in his gaze. There was something very predatory about him right then. Something that made me feel … not quite threatened, no, but hunted. And yet, a dangerously wicked hunger unfurled in my stomach.

It occurred to me that I’d frozen just like prey. That chafed at my pride. I wasn’t easily intimidated or unnerved. But, yeah, I was rattled right then. Nobody had ever looked at me with such open need and bold possession, like it was their right to do so.

Well, it wasn’t his right. Not at all. But I didn’t dare say that, because it would sound like nothing short of a challenge.

His eyes locked with mine, still hot and hungry. “I figured you’d already be dressed. You’re usually ready on time.”

“I just need a minute,” I practically croaked.

“I see that.” He flitted his gaze over me once more and then left the room.

A shaky breath stuttered out of me. I quickly snatched my shirt and slipped it on, determined to put that little eye-fuck out of my mind and get on with my day. But with my pulse racing and my blood hot, I wasn’t so sure it would be that easy.

When I was finally dressed and ready to go, I headed to the sitting area to find Dane stood there, his expression carefully blank. Okay. We left without a word to each other.

The downward trip in the elevator was … interesting. The moment the doors slid closed, the air seemed to hum and thicken. I’d never been more keenly aware of him; of his scent, of his body, of every single movement he made. Like my sexual radar was honed on him.

My hormones went crazy, the tension mounted, and everything feminine in me reached for him. Honestly,it was almost like the eye-fuck had primed my body or something.

I sat at his side throughout the conference. My nerve endings were so raw and sensitive that small touches—hell, even the mere brush of his arm against mine—could make my entire body react. A spark of excitement would zip up my spine and cause little bumps to sweep along my flesh.

I’d thought the sexual buzz would fade soon enough, but it remained on “simmer” throughout the day. Each touch of his hand on my back, elbow, or hip only seemed to fuel it.

As such, I was a hot mess by the time we returned to our hotel suite after dinner. I quickly changed in my room for the after-reception, lamenting that I didn’t have enough time to get myself off—that would certainly have calmed my libido.

When I exited the room clad in an elegant red dress, a muscle in his cheek ticked, and his jaw hardened. For a moment, I thought he was going to ask me to change. But then he ushered me out of the room, muttering something under his breath.

I frowned. “What?”

“Nothing,” he bit out.

Of course, we played the part of the happily married couple during the after-reception. That meant plenty of tasteful PDA, which we’d mastered at this stage. But it turned out that “performing” was a lot more difficult when the chemistry was so electric. There’d been times in the past when I was able to tune it out, to treat it as white noise—well, to a degree anyway. Not tonight, though. I was wound too tight. It took effort not to jump or tense when he touched me.

He didn’t seem to be having a similar struggle. He was as cool and composed as ever. Though I noticed he occasionally gritted his teeth or tightened his hand on my hip if I whispered into his ear or touched his chest. His eyes kept dropping to my mouth and tracing its shape—each heated glance made my pulse spike.

“When I first heard you’d gotten married, I wasn’t sure I believed it,” a man standing nearby said to Dane. “But I have to say, married life suits you.”

I barely bit back a snort. Nothing would ever suit Dane less than holy freaking matrimony.

The guy’s wife smiled at me. “Did you ever imagine when you first started working for Dane that you’d one day become his wife?”

Not even in an alternate universe where unicorns existed, animals could talk, and I’d look good in a tutu. “No, I hadn’t seen that coming. Especially since he’s my boss—I don’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. But, well, some things are just inevitable. Fighting the inevitable is quite simply pointless.”

She gave me a dreamy, “it’s all so romantic” smile.

Dane squeezed my hip and put his mouth to my ear. “Dance with me.”

I couldn’t help but tense. I was all for walking away and escaping the conversation, but dance with him? That was, like, the worst idea. I tried making excuses to avoid it, but he ignored them; ignored my body language and led me to the dance floor.

Usually, I melted into him, but I was too stiff with tension tonight. And what did he do? Tugged me closer and held me flush against him.

“Relax,” he coaxed, splaying his hand on my back.

I tried.

I failed.

Never had I felt so uncomfortable being plastered against someone, but my raw nerve-endings simply couldn’t handle the contact. I felt edgy and tingly and far too fucking horny. I was sure he could sense it, but he didn’t comment on it.

Worse, he didn’t give me even a modicum of space throughout the rest of the night. He kept me at his side every minute. The only time I got a reprieve was when I used the bathroom, so I retreated there several times. But as soon as I exited the restrooms, he’d draw me to him, and then the giddy tingles would be back in full force. It was torture.

I’d never been more relieved to return to a hotel suite. Standing in the middle of the living area, I swallowed. “Goodnight.”

His unreadable gaze met mine. “Night.”

With that, we parted ways. After taking a shower during which I made myself come, I slipped on my silk camisole and matching shorts. I pulled the curtain three quarters of the way closed so that the rays of sunlight would gradually brighten the room as it crept into the morning hours. Only then did I slide into bed. My system was so damn tired after a day of being in a constant state of sheer want that I quickly drifted off.

Iwasn’t sure what woke me. It could have been a sound, a weird dream, or maybe just a simple case of mental restlessness—I wasn’t sure. But I instantly felt uncomfortable. Tense. Not alone.

I forced my eyes to open. It was dark, but I noticed the figure sitting in the chair in the corner of the room—the moonlight coming through the window streamed over him, leaving only his face in shadow.

Frowning, I lifted my head. “Dane?” I said, my voice thick.

He didn’t respond. He just sat there, taking over the chair in that alpha-male way he had. The arm dangling over the side of the chair held a small glass of liquid.

Had I had a nightmare and woken him? If so, I couldn’t recall any of it. He was still dressed in his shirt and pants, so I doubted he’d been to bed yet.

“Why are you in my room? I wasn’t talking in my sleep or something, was I?” Still no response. Unease crept up my spine. “What’s wrong?”

He took an easy swig of his drink and then let his arm dangle over the side of the chair again. But he didn’t say a word.

I sat up and shoved my hair out of my face. “Okay, you’re starting to freak me out. What’s wrong?”

He leisurely pushed to his feet, his face still in shadow. Seconds ticked by as he simply stood there, tall and still. Just as I was about to question him again, he began to stalk toward the bed. Each step was slow, deliberate, and fluid. My pulse started to quicken.

As he passed through the rays of moonlight that beamed across the room, I got a glimpse of his face. So cold. And yet, his eyes were hot and gleaming.

My stomach flipped, and every muscle in my body went tight. That hunted feeling rushed back. My fight-or-flight instinct stirred, telling me to move, to back away, to put some serious space between us. But I did as I’d done earlier; I froze.

He stopped beside my bed, looking down at me. My eyes were fast adjusting to the darkness, so I could see him better now; see the greed and lust stamped all over his face. My thighs clenched, and I swallowed hard.

He took a casual swig of his drink, like it was totally the norm to come into my bedroom like this. Keeping his gaze locked with mine, he set the glass on the nightstand. And then he started unbuttoning his shirt.

My heart thudded hard in my chest. Shit, how much had the guy drank? He was obviously smashed. Although … he didn’t look drunk. His eyes weren’t glassy, and he wasn’t weaving. He looked determined. Focused. Hungry.

Need flared inside me and tightened my nipples. Shit, this couldn’t happen again. It couldn’t. It shouldn’t. But hell if I didn’t still want it to, despite my better judgement.

“Dane,” I said, my voice low and calming, like I was talking to someone on the verge of jumping off a bridge. The situation just felt so precarious. “Dane, you know this is a bad idea.” An attractive idea, but an unwise one all the same.

He didn’t speak, didn’t react. He also didn’t stop unbuttoning that freaking shirt.

I shuffled backwards on the mattress and then got to my knees, ready to edge off the bed to effectively place the piece of furniture between us.

“Don’t move.” The quiet command rang through my body, reverberating in my very bones, and I couldn’t help but freeze. His eyes went heavy-lidded with approval. “Good girl.” He slipped off his shirt and let it fall to the floor.

I felt my lips part. Jesus, his chest was packed with muscle. My hands itched to smooth over all that sleek skin; to trace the lines and dips of his abs.

Giving myself a mental slap, I lifted a hand to ward him off. “We agreed this couldn’t happen again. Remember?”

His hands lazily dropped to his waistband. Still moving slowly and casually, he snapped open the top button of his fly and then lowered the zipper—holding my gaze the entire time. I sensed more than saw him kick off his shoes.

“Seriously, Dane—” Oh fuck, he’d shoved down his pants and boxer shorts. His fat, long cock was rock hard. Damn if the bastard hadn’t been blessed with a body that was designed to seduce and pleasure. The broad shoulders, the solid chest, the perfect V of his hips, the seriously impressive cock …I hadn’t thought my mouth could get any drier. I’d been wrong.

I closed my eyes, digging deep for some willpower. I heard shuffling sounds and wondered if he was removing his socks or something. I didn’t look. “You really should go.” Nothing. No response, no movements.

I opened my eyes. He still stood there, still staring hard at me.And I found my gaze roaming down his body again.

His cock twitched, tapping his belly. I remembered how it felt to have it filling, stretching, and thrusting inside me. Remembered coming harder than I ever had in my life. And damn if I didn’t want him in me again. Which made me my own worst enemy, really.

It didn’t help that he was so deliciously and blatantly dominant. I wasn’t ashamed to admit I got off a little on that. Having all his alpha energy focused on me was way more than my self-control could bear.

“Come here.”

I jumped at the softly spoken order—and it was very much an order. “Are you just going to overlook the fact that you’re not thinking clearly? Because I can’t, Dane. One of us needs to be the voice of reason.”

“Come here,” he repeated, his voice low and deep and carrying the punch of authority.

“Don’t ignore me. This is serious. You don’t get to be blasé about it.”

“Not going to tell you again, baby girl. Last chance.”

I clenched my fists, feeling a little desperate. Because I knew myself. Knew my resolve would waver if he touched me. No, not waver. Vanish. This need I felt for him … It was too hot. Too basic. Too powerful. I didn’t stand a sliver of a chance against it.

“For fuck’s sake, Dane, listen to me. I don’t know how much you’ve had to drink—”

He clamped his hands around my upper arms and dragged me to him, keeping me on my knees, so that his hard cock then dug into my abdomen. “Yeah, that’s where I want you.” His hands bunched my hair, and he slowly lowered his mouth until it hovered a mere inch above mine. Everything seemed to go still and quiet.

I should protest. Push him away. Something. Anything. But, stupid or not, I wanted this. Wanted him. Wanted to pretend for a little while that he wanted more than just a roll in the sack.

My breathing picked up. So did his. Anticipation wound me tight, making my nerves ragged.

His unblinking gaze dropped to my mouth and flared. “Everywhere we go,” he said, his voice thick with need, “I catch someone staring at your mouth. And I know they’re wondering what it’d be like to sink their teeth into this plump lower lip—I did the exact same thing the first time I saw it.”

I blinked. He had?

“So soft and bitable.” He caught my bottom lip with his teeth and tugged. My lips parted on a gasp, and his tongue boldly swept inside.

He took my mouth in a kiss so hot, wet, and explicit that I felt myself melt into him. Every bit of hesitance drained from my system in a rush, just as I’d known it would. God, the man. Could. Kiss.

I splayed my hands on the twin columns of his back, digging my nails into his skin. His cock throbbed against my abdomen, hot and hard and insistent. That untamed quality about him had never been more palpable than it was right now as he ruthlessly ate at my mouth, his grip so tight on my hair it hurt a little. But even as he exuded a dark sexual energy that held an edge of aggressiveness, he was still calmly forceful and totally in control.

Me? I wasn’t so cool and composed. I wanted to climb him like a fence post and wrap my legs around his waist. Wanted to impale myself fully on his shaft so that he was balls-deep inside me. Just the thought made damp heat spill from my core.

His blunt nails scraped my scalp. I let out a soft, needy moan and tore my mouth free of his. “Dane—”

“Fucking love your hair,” he said, combing his fingers through the soft strands. “I want to see it spread out on the bed while I’m moving inside you. First …” He tugged on the strap of my camisole. “This has to go. Take it off.”

Gladly. I shed the garment and tossed it aside.

His gaze locked on my bare breasts, staring at them so intently it felt like a physical touch. His eyes seemed to trace their shape. “Pretty,” he breathed, lightly skimming his knuckles over one hard nipple. Too lightly. “The perfect handful.”

I arched into him as he filled his palms with my breasts. He squeezed just right and thumbed both nipples hard, sending streaks of fire to my clit. He then curved his arm around me and hauled me up his body so that his mouth was level with my breasts. All that casual strength made me shiver a little.

I clung to his shoulders as he lavished attention on my nipples using his mouth and fingers, repeatedly switching from one bud to the other. He was careful at first. He began with gentle tweaks, light tugs, and brief nibbles; teasing me, I knew. Soon he was pinching, twisting, and suckling on my nipples until they throbbed.

I felt every touch in my aching core and, God, I had to be embarrassingly wet. I didn’t care. Didn’t care about anything other than finding some relief.

Dane gently lowered me to the mattress. “Lay back, baby girl.”

I did as he asked, but I kept myself propped up on my elbows and watched as he snaked his hands up my thighs, caught the waistbands of my shorts and panties, and peeled both off.

“Spread your legs wide. Wider, Vienna. That’s it.” Dane stared at my pussy, his eyes glittering with so much naked greed my inner muscles clenched. He reached for the glass on the nightstand without even looking at it and took a swig of his drink.

I ground my teeth, not a big fan of being made to wait for what I wanted when I was this damn horny. “You just gonna stare at it all night? Because it’s not going to come by itself.”

His eyes flew to mine, dancing with humor. “Not all night, no,” he said, setting down his glass. He leaned over me, forcing me to lie flat. “I was actually thinking of doing this.” He swiped the tip of his finger between my folds and then dipped it inside me. He hummed. “So slick already. Yeah, this pussy knows me now, doesn’t it? It wants more.” He drove his finger deep. “What does it want?”

I licked my lips. “More.”

He skimmed his nose along my jawline and around to my ear. “Do you know what I want?”

Sliding my hands over his shoulders, I swallowed. “What?”

His teeth scraped my earlobe. “To know what you taste like.” He went to his knees on the carpet, gripped my thighs, and yanked me toward him. His warm hands spread my legs as wide as they could go, giving him better access. “Hands above your head,” he said, nuzzling my folds.

“Why?”

“Because I want them there.” He licked at the crease of my thigh. “Do it, Vienna.”

Gritting my teeth, I followed his directive. Lifting my head, I glared at him. “Happy?” Asshole, I barely resisted adding.

He sucked hard on my inner thigh and then gave it a sharp nip. “Stop swearing at me in your head.”

See? Warlock.“I’m not—” My breath caught as he rolled the tip of his tongue around my pulsing clit. I let my head fall back, moaning as he fluttered his tongue between my folds.

He hummed deep in his throat and then, well, I discovered that he was a champ at going down on a woman. He used his tongue, lips, and teeth to learn and ruthlessly exploit every sensitive spot I had. Seriously, if it wasn’t for the strong hands pinning my hips flat to the mattress, I’d be bucking all over the bed.

Flooded by endorphins, I moaned and squirmed as that skilled tongue licked, swirled, delved, and lapped … until I was a trembling, mindless mess. My system screamed with sexual frustration; with a desperation that bordered on feverish.

Only in my wildest dreams had I envisioned Dane eating me out. The reality was a million times better than any fantasy.

My back bowed as he shoved his tongue deep, and I felt my inner muscles spasm around it. “I’m gonna come.” My release was barreling toward me fast.

He suckled on my clit and jammed two fingers inside my pussy. My thighs shook, my inner walls clenched, and four pumps of his fingers later I came with a choked cry.

Replete, I sagged against the mattress, breathing hard.

Dane rubbed his face on my belly and gave it a little nip. Rising, he snatched a condom from the pocket of his pants. “I need you to twist around so you’re not lying horizontal across the bed,” he told me, moving to stand at the foot of it.

My pulse still racing, I returned to my original position with my head on my pillow and let my legs fall apart.

Having rolled on the condom, he knelt between my thighs and draped himself over me. “I’m going to give you my weight. If you can’t handle it, tell me.” He eased his body over mine, effectively pinning me in place—pushing a major sweet button for me—and then wedged the broad head of his cock inside me.

Gasping, I tried tilting my hips to take more of his shaft, but I was trapped beneath him and couldn’t move. I splayed my hands on his back and moaned as he began gently nibbling my neck. “Dane.”

He rammed his cock deep with such shocking force that my back would have arched right off the bed if his weight wasn’t pinning me down.

I sucked in a breath and dug my nails into his back. “Jesus, Dane.” God, the pressure, heat, and thickness of his shaft felt amazing.

He planted his lower arms at either side of my head and flexed his hips. “I’ve thought about this pussy far too often since I last had it. I thought about how tight it is. How wet it gets for me. How good it feels.” He smoothly reared back until only the tip was inside me. “Thought about fucking it again. And again. And again.” He slowly sank his cock into me but stopped halfway. Then he drew back.

I felt my brow furrow. I was hoping to get fucked raw. “What are you doing?”

He thrust his whole length inside me. “Indulging myself.” He once more pulled back. “I’ll give you what you need when I’m done.” He fed me a few inches of his cock and then drew back yet again.

It went on like that for what could have been hours. Sometimes he’d bury himself balls-deep, sometimes he’d stop halfway, sometimes he’d give me only a few inches. He constantly switched it up, so I never knew what to expect.

There were times when he’d give me a few slow, hard, full-on thrusts but then go back to teasing me—leaving me hanging on the knife-edge of what I just knew would be a mind-blowing orgasm. I was so frantic to find my release I could literally cry.

“If I had a knife, I honestly think I would stab you with it. I’m not even kidding,” I said, my voice cracking.

I felt him smile against my neck, the bastard. Right. That was it. I was just going to have to flip him onto his back and ride him.

Only that didn’t work out, because he was way stronger than I’d anticipated.

He easily held me down—even going as far as to pin my wrists either side of my head. He put his mouth to my ear. “Do you need to be fucked now?”

I’d never needed anything more. “You know I do.”

He brushed his mouth over mine. “You don’t come until I say, got it?”

“You must be fucking joking.”

“I never joke, baby girl.” He began pounding me into the mattress, his mouth set into a cruel slash. “No other pussy ever fit my cock this good.”

I clung to his hips with my thighs. He drove so deep, so fast, so fucking hard. The air rang with soft moans, deep grunts, heavy breaths, and the slap of flesh against flesh.

There was no more teasing. He never once slowed his pace or eased up on the intensity of his thrusts. No, he kept ramming into me like he’d never get enough.

He snarled into my ear. “You love having my dick in you, don’t you?”

I did. I absolutely did. Especially right at this moment, when the mother of all orgasms was so close. I could feel my pussy begin to quake—

“Hold it, Vienna.”

Bastard. I wouldn’t manage it for long. I couldn’t. Every part of me felt over-sensitized—my skin, my nipples, my clit, my inner walls.

More, I felt buzzed from the feel-good chemicals that were swimming through me. It was hard to think, let alone exercise any damn self-control. Being trapped beneath him while he held my hands down only made me even hotter. “Dane—”

“Hold it just a little longer.”

I hissed. “I can’t.”

“Hold it or I slow down.”

Motherfucker. I dug my nails into his hands as I tried getting free, but he only tightened his hold and gave me more of his weight.

“You’re going nowhere, baby girl, until I’m done.” He kept me pinned as he selfishly took what he wanted. And I realized now that I’d never really been taken before. I’d had rough sex, and I’d thought it was the same thing.

I was wrong.

I wasn’t simply being fucked by Dane. No. Right now, he ruled me; exerted a sexual power over me that felt dangerously addictive.

I moaned, gasped, trembled, and squirmed as every unrelenting slam of his cock pushed me closer and closer to exploding. My thighs tightened around his hips just as the walls of my pussy tightened around his dick yet again—a dick I could now feel swelling inside me. “Dane.”

His eyes smoldered. “Yeah, fucking come.”

Pure pleasure surged over and through me in a furious, mind-blowing rush. My eyes went blind and a scream tore out of my throat. Violent tremors racked my body as the pleasure went on and on and on.

I was only vaguely aware of Dane squeezing my hands harder as he forced his cock deep and exploded with a harshly whispered curse. Moments later, we both collapsed.