Guardian of Her Heart (5 page)

The flesh between her thighs heated, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Beneath lowered lashes, she watched him in the mirror as he dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. He peeled her blouse and bra straps off her shoulders and brushed his mouth over her skin, licking before his teeth squeezed gently. She trembled. He looked dangerous, as though he would devour her. He tossed her clothing on the floor.

His warm hands returned to her shoulders. One hand stroked upward along the sensitive skin of her neck. She tilted her head, and his lips trailed kisses over the side of her face while his gentle fingers teased her throat. She gasped as his other hand slid beneath her jeans and brushed over her swollen flesh.

When his hands suddenly left her, she wondered if her legs would hold her. She opened her eyes as he removed her shoes and eased her jeans down. After she stepped from them, he tossed her jeans to the floor. He stood and turned her. Gathering her close, he ravished her mouth with his. She moaned in pleasure. He deepened the kiss even more while she tangled her tongue with his.

Groping for his waistband, she unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them down his hips with his boxers. He broke the kiss, stepped back, pulled off his boots, and shucked his clothes. He left them on the floor. Wrapping her in his arms, he held her so close she could feel every heated inch of his sculpted body. Skin to skin felt incredible.

The length of his erection pressed into her stomach. Suddenly, he broke the embrace and turned her as he moved behind her, his hands sweeping over her breasts and lower. His fingers parted her swollen folds, titillating her flesh.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, pressing kisses to the side of her face.

Melissa turned her head to kiss him as she reached back with her hands and gripped his butt cheeks. He gave a sharp moan, his erection jerking against her bottom. The erotic sensation increased her aching need. His long fingers gently probed, stoking the heated tension building inside her. When he slowly slid one finger within her slick sheath, she cried out and bucked.

“Hold on to the edge of the dresser,” he commanded, his tone thready, urgent.

She glanced at him in the mirror. He stared at her, his eyes dark and hooded. She did as he said just as his other hand cupped her breast. His deft fingers teased the puckered nipple with intense pleasure that shot pulses to her wet opening. God, this was heaven.

Suddenly, he left her. Weak from sensations, she turned, wondering what he intended. He grabbed his jeans and removed a condom from his wallet. Anticipation stopped her breath. Dropping everything else, he tore open the wrapping and rolled the condom over his erection.

“Spread your legs for me, baby,” he urged, moving close behind her again.

She did as he asked, feeling open and vulnerable before him. Would her legs hold her? She didn’t think they would. His hands grasped her hips. She was wet and aching, hungry for him.

Waiting for his touch, desire heightened in her. He separated her sensitive folds with one hand, the other holding her snug against him. He circled her clit, his fingers first gentle and then more forceful. She gasped with pleasure.

His mouth closed over the curve of her shoulder, his teeth gently squeezing. The head of his erection caressed the opening of her sheath. She held her breath, savoring the sweet sensation. The engorged head of his penis stretched her, entered her, slid slowly inside. A sound of pure enjoyment came from him. She pressed her lips together as he thrust slowly, deeply, filling her all the way to her womb. Heavens, it felt so right.

His heart pounded against her back, his body strong and masterful. His warm breath caressed her. The hand that held her cupped her between her thighs, building the fire. His fingers stroked her swollen clit. She shivered and her back arched. He slid partway out of her and thrust deeper, his muscular thighs, damp and hot, rubbing hers.

“Come for me, honey,” he rasped, his breath warm against her ear, cool against her sweat-dampened throat.

She swallowed a shriek of intense pleasure as he filled her with the thick length of his cock and stroked an extremely sensitive place inside. He pulled out and thrust again. Pressure built. “Mike. Yes!”

Her orgasm rocked her. She bucked with the force of it.

He held her tight against him and surged inside her, never leaving her as her climax stroked around him with uncontrolled pulses. He thrust once more.

She moaned, shaking. “That’s incredible.”

Mike held her, caressing her as his own pleasure grew unbelievably. She turned her head and kissed his wet brow. The gentle lick of her tongue and her hot, slick sheath squeezing his cock catapulted him to the heavens. He shouted in pleasure, his body arching over her as he spent himself deep inside her wet velvet. His body continued to pump. He wasn’t finished before he felt the contractions of Melissa’s body as she came again with a cry of delight. Her second climax added to his intense pleasure.

“My God,
you’re
incredible,” he rasped.

He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her snug along his body. She turned her face toward his. Tilting her head, she offered her lips for the most satisfying kiss he’d ever known. He hugged her, sharing soft, tender kisses until his body relaxed in sweetest paradise. He’d never felt at one with anyone before.

Melissa was a beautiful treasure. He would guard her with his life. Whatever it took.

He slipped from her slick vagina. “Stay right there for a second.” He removed the condom and dispensed it. He lifted her into his arms, backed to the bed, and sat down with her in his lap.

She smiled at him, looking dreamy and satisfied. “That was the most amazing sex I’ve ever experienced,” she breathed. “You were fantastic.”

“You were pretty amazing yourself,” he said. He dipped his head to lick and then suckle one soft nipple.

She writhed against him, her hand gliding over his shoulder. It wouldn’t take much to turn her on again. He released her nipple and moved to kiss her sweet lips. She half turned, one leg bending at the knee as she stretched up his torso. With her legs parted, he slipped one hand between her thighs, his fingers stroking through her swollen, wet folds. She breathed in sharply. He slid a finger deep inside her sheath. She bucked and whimpered. It was time to take her to bed.

Chapter Four

Melissa didn’t look forward to the coming conversation with Paul, her security guard at the crisis center. She looked up from the paperwork on her desk as he filled the doorway.

“You wanted to talk to me?” he asked.

“Morning, Paul. I want to let you know that I’ve asked Mike Wolfson to help out with security for a while.”

“Why? I don’t need any help.” His tone was surly and defensive, just as she’d expected. “Don’t you think I can do my job?”

“That’s not the issue. You’re doing a great job. But since one of our mothers and her son have been threatened bodily by the boy’s father, I decided it would be smart to have an additional security guard.”

“I’ve seen the way Mike works. He’s a violent man. Not the sort of person you want protecting the kids and grownups here.”

“I trust Mike to do the job. If it comes to my attention that he causes a problem, I’ll attend to it.” She nodded to Paul. “That’s all, thank you.”

He muttered to himself as he turned and left her office.

She had to admit she had a little concern about Mike. The security guard might be right. The way Mike dispatched Tito and his friends the first time she needed help was amazing. She’d never seen anyone move so fast. Thank goodness he did, or she might have been kidnapped.

If Mike didn’t agree to do things her way at the crisis center, she’d be forced to ask him to quit. That would be really hard to do. She had to believe he wasn’t volatile like Paul said. She’d hate to have to end her relationship with Mike.

Maybe it might be a good idea to slow things down between them. Things had moved so fast. Last night, he’d taken her to bed and made love to her again. She’d let him have his way with her, and she’d felt no shyness or embarrassment, reclining naked, her thighs spread wide for him. He’d brought her to orgasmic rapture once again. Just thinking about it made her ache for him. If he walked into her office right now, she’d lock the door and seduce him into giving her pleasure here on the desk.

They’d rushed from good friends to intense sexual intimacy with lightning speed. She should take a step back.

How could she? She didn’t want to.

The crisis center must come first. With her rocketing relationship with Mike, she might overlook something or someone in need. She couldn’t live with herself if she let down or failed someone who needed protection from battling parents…or even one dangerous parent.

She could definitely use some additional security help right now. Mike had agreed to fill that need. Hopefully, it would work out the best for everyone.

* * * *

Mike flopped onto Melissa’s couch after helping her with the dishes from dinner. He could hear her quiet activity in her bedroom. Was she changing into something more comfortable? A vision of her wearing a short, see-through top and bikini panties sent lust surging. He had no problems making love to her, but fear of failing Melissa and her charges preyed on him.

He’d always felt lacking, sort of an outsider. That came from the chaotic home he’d been raised in, rather than a well-rounded family like Melissa had. Tormented by his father, who hid the physical form of his werewolf nature but not his abusive temperament.

Mike had failed to protect his mother. He’d failed her in every way. Would he fail Melissa, too?

He’d become a private eye to prove himself and to protect others. Also to prove his self-worth, if he were truthful. He hadn’t been there when his mother needed him.

He feared what would happen if he continued to spend his days and nights with Melissa. If at some point, they had to call it quits, he’d leave with half of himself missing. She made him feel whole for the first time in his life.

In the low light of dusk, she crossed to him from the hallway, her bare feet padding softly, and joined him on the couch. She wore a soft cotton T-shirt with straps and hip-hugging jeans. She snuggled close against his side. Seeing her sweet smile, he couldn’t resist kissing her. Her lips were warm and pliant. Her scent of warm woman and lilacs affected him like a strong aphrodisiac.

“Make love to me,” she whispered.

He couldn’t resist. His kisses turned passionate. He was going to have to tell her soon what kind of life he’d come from. It would be up to her afterward whether she wanted to continue their relationship or not. He feared she’d run in disgust from him if she knew his mother had been an alcoholic or if he told her about his mother’s death.

Melissa had no idea he was after the Hawks’ leader because of his mother’s death caused by a possible drug overdose.

He’d hate for her to find out about his parents’ terrible relationship, too. If she did know everything, would she turn her back on him? Derek and Juan were the only ones close to him who knew, and both of them were also suspicious of Tito Gonzalez.

Melissa’s lush lips caressed his jaw before nibbling his ear. Her hands unfastened his shirt and pulled his thoughts to focus on her teasing fingers sliding his shirt away from his chest.

Before he could embrace her and ravish her lush lips, she moved down his chest, following the dark line of hair. She touched the tip of her tongue below the first pair of abs. Outlining each one with her warm, wet tongue, she moved lower over the ridges. His cock rose high and hardened, his balls fully engaged. God, he was close to coming already.

She tasted every inch of him, stopped at his waistband, and unfastened his jeans.

Melissa wanted to see all of him, touch all of him, taste him. She glanced up and met the hunger revealed in his eyes. After pulling down his boxer shorts, she gazed in admiration and smiled. With one finger, she continued to trace the silken, dark line to the blanket of hair below framing the base of his shaft. It leaped at her touch.