Ace's Wild (27 page)

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” It didn’t matter with what he struggled. They both had their battles. If she controlled this, they could only both win. She just had to control it.

The next step was hers. Initiated by her. Wanted by her. The backs of her legs hit the bed. The smile hit her lips. Curling her fingers in Ace’s shirt, she tugged slightly, dragging him with her. The mattress gave as she landed, bounced again as he came over her. His hat tumbled off and hit the floor, and then there was nothing hiding the emotion in his eyes. Nothing protecting her from the raw passion in his gaze. Nothing saving her from the enormity of what she was doing. But she didn’t care.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked, bracing himself above her.

She reached for the buttons of his shirt and started undoing them. “Yes.”

She was taking what she could accept.

“Look at me.”

She did, not stopping in her undressing of him. The man was a dream come true, and she wanted to feel him against her, around her, in her. A shiver shook her from head to toe.

His knee nudged her thighs. She parted them willingly. He didn’t come between them. That more than the repetition of her name had her looking up.

“What?”

He just shook his head. Where before there had been passion, now there was resistance. “There’ll be no going back, Pet.”

She loved how he said Pet. All the tenderness and possession a woman could want haunted that one syllable.

“I know.”

“Do you?”

She loved him more for the concern now that he was getting what he wanted. Dear heavens, she loved him. The realization flowed over her, spilling out from behind the walls she’d built. With everything in her. That’s why she was so susceptible to him. That’s why he rattled her, why she pushed him away. She loved him. Almost as much as she hated the insecurity she saw in his eyes. Did he truly doubt she could want what he had to offer?

Holding his gaze, she reached down and tugged at her wrap and gown, hiking it up over her knees until she could bend her legs up and out. “Yes. Do you need me to prove it?”

His breath soughed in and out of his lungs. His right hand gripped her left ankle, pinning it to the bed. Desire shot through her so hard, her pussy clenched. His “Yes” was as harsh as the need grinding in her.

Her smile spread wider, feeding on the growing realization inside. Cupping his face in her hands, she kissed him softly. The resistance from her position only increased her lust. He had her. If she had her way, he always would. Lowering herself just as slowly back to the bed, she let her hands fall above her head.

“Shit.”

Placing the back of her left hand into the palm of the right, she said, “I love you, Ace.”

His free hand caught her wrists in his, pinning them to the bed. He held her with his hands, his weight, his passion. “Be sure, Pet. Because after this—” he growled, pushing her thighs as wide as the material would allow “—there’ll be no more secrets, no more resistance. You’ll be where I want you, as I want you. Whenever I want you.”

“Yes.”

He blinked. Had he expected resistance? She was to him as he was to her. The other half of his whole.

“Just yes?”

She nodded.

“There will be days I’ll want you waiting on your knees.”

She couldn’t hide her shiver any more than he could hide his.

“Others when I’ll want you bent over and waiting. I’ll take you hard, soft or quick with or without preamble.”

“But you’ll take me?”

His hand slid up her calf and then down her thigh until he found the swollen heat of her pussy. His touch streaked through her like lightning. “There won’t be anyplace I won’t know you.” Wet with her juices, his fingers slid lower, brushing the tight bud of her ass. Lightning streaked again. “Anyplace you won’t know me.”

“I’m not afraid.” Nervous yes, but not afraid.

“You should be.”

“I trust you.”

Again, his breath hissed in, and his body jerked. His finger pressed intimately. She couldn’t decide whether to lift up or press down. He took the decision from her, pulling her hips up. Three tugs and her gown was over her waist. Before she could lift her torso, his hands were on the front. In a single wrench, her nightgown tore. Pushing the robe and the material aside, he cupped her breasts in his hands. His palms rough as they slid over her nipples. She braced herself for aggression even as she savored the sensation.

“No.” He shook his head. “Relax. I won’t hurt you.”

Damn, he hoped he wouldn’t hurt her. Ace gritted his teeth, reaching for the control he’d always had, feeling how tenuous it was with this woman who meant so much.

I love you.

He couldn’t believe she’d said that to him. She deserved someone better. Someone cultured and soft. Couldn’t believe she was lying before him with those delicate white breasts exposed. The tips pouted for attention, her white flesh pinking beneath his grip. Fuck, he wanted to own her.

As if hearing his thoughts, she whispered, “Please.”

He pinched her nipple gently, watching her eyes, looking for that line where pleasure became pain. Something flickered in her gaze. “Be sure, Pet.”

“I love you.” There it was again. That surrender manifested in words. The acceptance in the arc of her back, thrusting herself into his touch, following where he led, taking what he gave her, the pleasure and that first hint of pain. Her level of trust humbled him. Her acceptance seared through his defenses. He squeezed a bit harder, pushing her. She took more than he’d expected. He held the pressure, watching uncertainty and passion blend in confusion. His cock throbbed as she took the slightest bit more. Surrendering to him, giving with that wholehearted way she did everything. Body and soul. So beautiful. So perfect. He expected her to flinch away, protest. And if she had, he might, just might have been able to get up and walk away, leaving her to the life of which she’d dreamed, but she didn’t. And he didn’t. And when she smiled at him, he knew he never would.

Petunia had burrowed under his skin. She was part of him now. She’d given him her virginity, her trust and her love. He’d give her security, comfort and challenge. Leaning down, he replaced his hand with his mouth, running his tongue over the hard nipple, soothing it, prodding it, stimulating it, making it harder. His cock twitched as her gasp whispered over his head.

And love.

She arched up, offering him more. Fuck, he’d love her, protect her, challenge her, take that “serious” she kept falling into and fill it with laughter. She wasn’t safe with him, but he wasn’t safe with her, either. They were a gamble. Pure and simple. Anticipation blended with passion. He whispered her name against her breast, stroking her with his tongue and his desire, loving her with his mouth, his body, with everything in him. She was his and after today, they’d both know it.

“That’s it, my Pet. Give me everything.”

He nipped her breast and she moaned. “Ace...”

“Right here.”

Her fingers slid through his hair, tugging him closer. He should have reprimanded her for the disobedience, but the wonder of her touch slid through him with the same bliss of her whisper. He’d been touched with anger, with passion, with greed. He couldn’t remember a time since his parents died being touched with love.

She arched, thrusting her breasts up. Her mouth brushed his neck, his ear. When he shivered, she lingered. “Make love to me, Ace.”

She was fire in his arms, burning him with her innocent caresses. Teasing him. He wanted more.

Catching her chin in his hand, he turned her eyes to his. The flare of excitement at the possession caught the edge of his lust, honing it to a fine edge. Fuck, he wanted her. Beneath him in bed, kneeling at his feet, standing at his side. Building, fighting, loving for how many years he could wrangle from a future he’d never considered particularly likely. Quite frankly, he’d grown bored with life. Petunia had given him his purpose back.

Kissing her deeply, he pulled his mouth the slightest bit from hers, giving her his breath. Taking hers. “Stay just like this.”

Her hand dropped from his chest as he stood.

“What are you doing?”

“Don’t question.”

She frowned. “It was just a question.”

He traced the pleat between her brows with his forefinger and smiled. Such a combination of submission and will. She would take a lifetime to tame. He smiled wider. Or more.

“Wait.”

He stood. She stayed. Not as he wanted, she’d propped herself up on her elbows, but she was still on the bed. Crossing to the wardrobe he pulled a scarf from the drawer. Her eyes widened as he drew it through his fingers.

“Second thoughts?” he asked, retracing his steps.

She licked her lips. He could see the nervousness in her expression. Watched her form the lie she thought would make him happy.

“No.”

She had a lot to learn. “Rule number one...”

“I don’t tell you no?” she hazarded.

“That, too.” The mattress sagged as he knelt beside her. “But first and foremost, you don’t lie to me.” Her eyes widened. “Especially about the way you’re feeling.” He dragged the scarf across her wrists as he leaned in and nipped her lower lip before soothing it with his tongue. “I’ll push you, Pet, make you nervous a time or two, but it’s never my intention to hurt you on the way to the edge.”

She licked her lips but didn’t flinch away. Damn, she was something. The softness of her “What about when you get there?” revealed her fears and her insecurities. Both of which he would do his best to soothe into nothingness. He wanted to add to her life, be her rock, not destroy the foundation she’d built for herself. He wanted her bold and confident.

“I will never allow myself a loss of control at any point where that loss could endanger you.”

Her gaze searched his. “You promise?”

“I promise.”

“A Hell’s Eight promise?”

“Hell’s Eight, Parker, you can take either to the bank.”

Her smile was only a little shaky as she visibly relaxed. “Then do your worst.”

He couldn’t help a chuckle. Another new thing. Laughter amidst the intensity of passion. Looping the scarf around her right wrist, he shook his head. Who would have thought it would be as hot as the soft glide of skin on skin? “Not worried I’ll take advantage?”

She held up her other wrist. “I trust you, and we’ve got to start somewhere.”

He tied off the bond. Only a blind man could miss her shiver of arousal. And her attempt at controlling him. “And in bed is as good a place as any?”

The shyness left her smile. She gave the knot a tug. “I’m thinking it might be the most fun.”

“Oh, it definitely is. And yes,” he said as she almost slipped her hand out of the right loop, “you can get free if you want to.”

She frowned. “Doesn’t that defeat the...purpose?”

He pressed a slow, hot kiss into the center of her palm, touching the sensitive flesh with his tongue before closing her fingers around it. “I’m not interested in just fucking you, my Pet.” He’d had too many of those go-nowhere encounters that left him empty and frustrated in the aftermath. “I want to build a life with you, for however long we have, in and out of bed, and the first step is trust.”

“I said—”

He cut her off with a shake of his head.

“I heard you. And now you’ll trust that I know what I’m doing.” Too often women expected their fantasies to be reality, but being helpless was a scary thing. Take a woman to complete helplessness too fast, and she could panic. A bound, panicked woman was always a tricky business.

“I’m not fragile.”

He wanted to kiss the pout from her lips. Instead, he secured her left wrist and tied the end of the scarf to the left side spindle headboard. She was more fragile than she knew. “Good to know.”

She tugged on the bonds. He stood and finished unbuttoning his shirt.

“You can test those bonds all you want, but it would be a mistake to test my temper by questioning my judgment.”

Her mouth opened on an immediate retort. Another shake of his head had her closing it just as fast. He shrugged his shirt off. Her gaze dropped to his torso. “Good girl.”

It snapped right back up, a question in the depths. “You showed restraint. I approve. You showed lust.” He holstered his grin and kicked off his right boot. “Of that, I approve more.”

“I did not!”

He paused midtug on the left. “You don’t get wet looking at me?”

Pink crept up her cheeks. “Sometimes.”

The boot plunked on the floor.

Stepping between her thighs, he shoved down his denims. “Now, that’s a darn shame, because just thinking about you makes me hard and looking at you—” he stepped out of his pants, and cupped his aching cock in his hand “—makes me hungry. Every time.”

Her eyes followed the slow stroke of his hand along his shaft. Up and down, his fingers circling the head with each pass. Rubbing his thumb in the moisture gathering on the tip, he asked, “Do you see how hungry you make me?”

She nodded. He smacked the side of her thigh more to startle than to sting. If he’d wanted it to sting, he would have aimed for the inside or just below the buttock.

She jumped and jerked on the bonds. They held, and her eyes widened. It was dawning on her just how much power she was surrendering.

“Exciting, isn’t it?” he asked. “Giving up control. Trusting me to push you to the edge, wanting me to, but worried that I will?”

From where he stood he had a clear view of her pussy. Deeply pink, temptingly moist, with the lips just beginning to unfurl. She was submissive, and she wanted him. And this, all of this, excited her. Sliding his finger between her folds, he wanted to moan himself as her juices coated his fingers and her hips arched up. Teasing him. Tempting him. She was going to burn him alive.

She nodded in response to his question. His response was immediate. This smack landed lightly on her labia, this time giving her a bit of sting. Again, she jumped and jerked at the bonds.

Her cry was one part resentment and seven parts eager curiosity. The woman did enjoy a bit of persuasion. And it was as much hell on his self-control as the deepening flush of her skin.