High Risk (19 page)

He dried her. Brought her to his bed.

“It should be my turn to take care of you,” she commented.

“You’re not in charge.” He flipped her to her belly and straddled her, covering her
skin with oil, squeezing her muscles and loosening all the fatigue. For having done
a gentle climb, she was amazingly tired. His fingers dug in deep, pulling and working
until she was totally relaxed and warm from the inside out.

“This is lovely,” she sighed happily. “Thank you.”

Marcus kissed her shoulder, moving off and sitting next to her hip. “We’re not done.
You ready for more?”

More? Curiosity rose. “You’re in charge.”

“Exactly.” He paused. “Becki, I do anything you don’t like, tell me to stop.”

She lifted herself on her elbows so she could meet his gaze. “Are you worried I won’t
enjoy what you’re about to do?”

“Oh no, I think you’ll enjoy it a lot, but I had to warn you. You have total control.
Say
stop
, and I will.”

“Go for it.” Saying
stop
was the last thing on her mind.

CHAPTER
21

Marcus brought her to the middle of the room, standing her on the soft area carpet
in front of the fireplace. She smiled, head tilted to the side. He couldn’t resist
pressing a kiss against her cheek before stepping away to flick on the gas control.

Becki laughed. “Did I say decadent? Spoiled rotten is more like it.”

“You get to enjoy the results. Are you complaining?”

“Not so far.” She stretched her fingers toward the flame. “I should move to a tropical
island or something. Why am I here in the Rockies where it’s still snowing in May?”

He pulled over the footstool, placing it the perfect distance from the heat. “Because
it’s the Rockies.”

“Right.”

She stared at him from under her lashes. Marcus waited long enough to make her squirm.
“Sit.”

Becki moved slowly, centering herself on the footrest. She sat with her legs slightly
apart. She rolled her neck slowly, stretching the muscles lazily like a cat.

“Comfy?” he asked, moving forward to squat at her side. He stroked his hand down her
back and caressed her ass, circling up to trail his fingertips along her spine.

Her words seemed to contradict the shiver that rolled over her. “The leather is soft
and warm.”

“Put your arms behind you,” he commanded.

She caught her fingers together. The position brought her into a slight arch, firm
breasts thrust out proudly. He stroked his forefinger up her body and between the
smooth rounds, pausing to cradle one in the palm of his hand.

Becki wiggled against him, obviously looking for more. And he was so willing to give
to her. But first . . .

He leaned in and kissed her again. Just a tease. Pulling away before more than a whisper
of response escaped her. Marcus grabbed his gym bag and pulled out the soft hemp rope
he had coiled inside.

When he returned to the footrest, she was watching intently. Her smile was gone, replaced
with something else.

“Are you afraid?”

She shook her head. Didn’t speak.

He dropped the rope to the floor, the mass hitting with a solid thump. Becki never
broke eye contact. Focused on him and him alone. She’d played with ropes before, that
much was obvious. As was the way she felt about them. “I can’t surprise you, can I?”

“I figured you knew your way around a rope or two.” She exhaled the words. Slow. Even.
Already slipping into the mindset of being totally cocooned and protected.

Marcus bent and grabbed the rope about a foot from the end. Brought it up and draped
it over Becki’s shoulder. Dragging the weight forward so it stroked her skin.

Becki squirmed, her intake of air a little more jerky. She caught herself before he
needed to talk her through it, deliberately breathing in through her nose and out
through her mouth—a climber’s refocusing trick, and Marcus smiled.

She knew what she needed. She trusted him to give it to her.

“Hold this,” he ordered, laying the rope end in her palms.

She opened them wide for a second before closing her fingers over the cord. He pressed
her shoulders down, making her shift into a more relaxed position, hands close to
her ass.

Then he began. He held the extra rope away by hooking it over his left elbow, allowing
his right hand to control the loose portion. Up over her right shoulder. Across her
torso and between her breasts. One loop settling around her body. The rest just above
it. Trapping her in an erotic spider’s web.

Her breathing echoed softly, mingling with the crackle of the fireplace. Rain splashed
outside the windows. A hushed noise from the rope as he manipulated it. His own laboured
breathing as the sight of her turned him on more and more.

When he tucked the final loop into place so it wouldn’t come undone, he was as hard
as a spike. “Still with me?”

“Hmm, yeah.”

Her eyes were closed as he knelt, her upper body swaying.

“I’m going to touch you. Take care of you. Let me take you where you need to go.”

She nodded.

He gazed at his handiwork. The ropes crossed above and below her naked breasts, two
strands running between them to frame and lift the tender mounds like a rope bra.
The rest of it was coiled around her abdomen, locking her arms in position. He leaned
in closer, stroking one breast, then the other. Smooth motions, avoiding her nipples.
Paying attention to all the soft surfaces before moving in and caring for the tight
tips. He covered one with his mouth, wetting it and sucking the tiny ring. Switching
sides, listening to the changes in her breathing and sensing how she pressed forward
looking for more.

She spread her thighs when he tapped the inside of her legs.

“God, you’re wet,” he praised, before drawing his fingers along her folds and finding
the tight bundle of nerves at the top. Marcus played with the clit bar, stroking it
gently even as he returned to tasting her breasts. He couldn’t get enough of her.

She shuddered and came far quicker than he’d expected. Head thrown back, a groan of
pleasure escaping her lips. He stood and adjusted her, guiding her to lie belly down
over the footrest. Her ass bent over the edge, thighs spread wide.

He ran his hand over her wet cunt, dipping his fingers in. Enjoying the evidence of
how turned on she was. Sitting on the floor, he covered her with his mouth.

“Oh yes.” Becki wiggled under his attention, small noises sneaking from her, somewhere
between moans and gasps as he licked from top to bottom, lapping at her. Playing with
her clit before dragging all the way to the tight rosette of her ass. Her taste filled
him. Drove him mad. He speared his tongue into her, fucking her with it. Eating greedily
as she grew wetter for him. Because of him.

Then he rose over her and lined up his cock, dragging the fat crown up and down against
her opening until she arched as hard as possible. Pressing her ass toward him, trying
to get him to enter her.

He gave her what she wanted and angled in. Slowly, captivated by the sight of his
cock vanishing into her warmth, relishing the sensation as her body wrapped around
him like his rope was wrapped around her.

Tight heat. Slick wetness. He caught hold of the ropes and used them as an anchor.
Becki called his name and her cunt squeezed him, catching him by surprise yet again.

“So beautiful.” So responsive. He drove all the way in and paused, savouring the rippling
of her body as her orgasm rocked on and on. Every time the pulses slowed, he dragged
back and pressed in again, prolonging her pleasure like some hedonistic torture.

When she finally sighed lustily, he thrust. Pushing her to the limits. Pounding into
her, the fronts of his thighs slapping against her legs, balls banging her clit on
the end of every stroke.

His climax approached and he exploded, her tight passage tearing pleasure from him,
ripping his seed loose and making his mind go blank for a moment.

He covered her with his body, surrounding her, holding her close, pushing away the
hair that lay over her sweaty cheek. Still intimately connected, hearts racing. The
presence of the rope between them barely registered, it was so soft and warm from
her skin.

He withdrew, moisture following him as her cunt tightened in response, and Becki moaned.
He lifted her. Untied her. Let the rope fall unminded to the floor as he carried her
to the shower and held her in his arms, waiting for her to come back from the place
she was.

His embrace replaced the rope. The warmth of the water replaced the fire. He waited
patiently, wondering why thoughts of tying her up and never letting her leave him
were so very strong.

* * *

Water hit her face. Protected and at peace, Becki didn’t fight the euphoria still
holding her in its grasp. Just accepted it. Went with the sensation.

She knew Marcus was caring for her. He’d known how to tease and control her body as
he’d brought her to orgasm. He’d perfectly handled the rope that had held her so tight
she didn’t have to worry what came next.

As she leaned against his chest, part of her was aware she stood in the shower with
him, but she could have been anywhere safe and warm. The reality of here and now fell
away. The only things that remained were emotions. Driving into her like the pulse
of his heart. One beat after another.

Safe.

Guarded.

I’ve got you.

Cherished.

* * *

The trees were gone. Before her was nothing but rock, the wide ledge on which she
sat solid and flat as a table. Her head ached, and she climbed gingerly to her feet,
muscles protesting. Hell, all of her was protesting. Her fingers stung as she used
the cliff behind her to help haul herself upright—that hurtful moment when blood returns
to too-cold digits making her swear. The weight of her pack dragged at her as she
found her balance. She unhooked her helmet, tempted to let it fall to the ground.
Habit forced her to stretch protesting muscles to reach around and clip it to an out-of-the-way
strap.

Her fingers brushed past her harness, the . . .

. . . world blurred.

Becki stood motionless. Her heart raced as if she’d completed a sprint. She looked
around, checking for signs of danger. The soft sounds of the wilderness greeted her.
Nothing to indicate why she fought the rush of adrenaline panic flooding her veins.
The weather had turned, full-out rain falling, and her face was wet. She adjusted
her hood to guard herself from the full deluge as she examined the territory.

There was a clearly visible track leading off to the right. Not anything remotely
like a maintained park trail or even a well-traveled climbing route. It was more likely
an animal path, but it was something to follow nonetheless.

Walking along the narrow cliff gave her something to focus on. She had to concentrate
to keep from slipping as the rocks underfoot grew rain-soaked and slick. She’d gone
for a couple of hours at least, stopping and taking drinks, constantly making her
way downward. She had to approach one of the high-traffic paths eventually.

Rounding a corner and coming face-to-face with two very pale-cheeked teens barely
surprised her. What else could this mountain throw at her?

They were stuck, of course. On a ledge—one of those lovely looking pitches that were
easy to get up and the devil to get down without training or a healthy dose of chutzpah.
Becki stepped forward and waved.

* * *

Becki sucked for air, opening her eyes to discover that she had Marcus clutched around
the neck with a death grip.

“Hey,
shhh
, you’re okay. I’m here. You’re good.” He kissed her temple and squeezed her close.

She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry. “Marcus, I remember. The accident.”

He shut off the shower, all his attention focused tightly on her face. “Explain.”

“Not everything, but I remember finding the girls. The rescue. And a few hours before
that.” She accepted the towel he wrapped around her shoulders, her insides buzzing
with a strange mix of sexual hangover and giddy enthusiasm. “Holy
shit
, I remember.”

Somehow Marcus had her sitting on the bed as he finished drying her off. “Well, not
the normal reaction I get to tying up a woman, but if you’re happy, I’ll take it.”

Becki threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him tight. When she let go, she
caught his grinning face in her hands and kissed him solidly before pulling back far
enough to allow their foreheads to rest together. “The sex was wonderful. Thank you.”

He stared at her, the blue in his eyes shining bright like a summer day. “You okay
to get dressed? We’ll get something to eat and you can tell me about it.”

She nodded. Caressed his face carefully. “I enjoyed myself completely.”

“No complaints over here, either.”

As they separated to find clothes, Becki sorted through all the images in her brain,
including the new ones, the ones that had been hiding from her for so long. There
were still things she didn’t understand, but the fact that a bit of the missing information
had chosen to come to light encouraged her a ton.

She pulled a clean shirt over her head and stared across the room at Marcus as he
dressed.

The memories were awesome and thrilling, but the sensation of being completely and
utterly cared for by him? It wasn’t as if she could compare the issues, but she was
so pleased she’d gotten to experience both.

She joined Marcus as soon as she was dressed. He had leaned down and nabbed the end
of the rope, coiling the long section in a smooth motion by wrapping it around his
arm. Had it been too soon for them to be playing games? Not as far as she was concerned.
Sex had always been fun, but Marcus took it up a level way past fun. There was no
hiding the shiver that took her as she watched him handle the cord so expertly.

He’d seen it as well. Her response.

“If you don’t stop grinning like that, I’m going to call you the Cheshire cat,” she
warned.