Merediths Awakening (9 page)

*

“
Dammit
!” Tony shouted as he watched his Fairy Princess explode all over his hand.

He’d been right; she was fire, a torrent of heat and light. His control snapped. Fuck, no woman had ever done this to him. He prided himself on his patience and ability to wait out anyone. It’s why he was so successful in bidding on contracts. And what made him such a good Dom.

But this one fragile, uptight, totally ethereal creature in front of him utterly destroyed him. Made him forget everything he’d ever striven for. He came from a long line of romantics, had grown up on stories of true love conquering all. The first moment he’d seen her, Tony had known he would give up everything for this woman. The little devil living in his head laughed.
And can you say she will do the same?

He ignored the voice as he stepped behind Meredith, his shaky hands traveling down her spine. Retrieving the condom from his front pocket he only managed to shove the pants down to his knees before clumsily rolling it into place.

Placing the tip of his cock at her entrance, he wrapped one hand around her neck, gently pulling her back to him.

“Tell me what you need, Princess.” His voice was a harsh whisper. He wanted her to beg him, dammit. He wanted her on her knees. Aching, wanting, needing what only he could provide.

He was angry, he realized, angry at her fucking family for damaging her so, angry at Meredith for not recognizing what she was to him, and angry at himself for becoming so lost in this woman.

“Anthony, I need … I need … Oh God, Anthony, I need you.”

“Christ,” he whispered as he pushed himself inside of her, relishing the clasp of her wet walls as he delved deeper. She was just as tight as she’d been five years ago, just as hot. Tony leaned back and pumped into her, steadily picking up his pace. He grabbed her hips hard. Her small moan didn’t deter him. In fact, it spurred him on even more. If it were possible, he’d fuck her ghosts away. Make her forget a past no child should have, prove to her she was worth far more than that fucking company she was obsessed with.

Tony wrapped both his hands around her ribcage, tilting her forward a bit. His right hand slid down to tap at her pussy, spanking it with a sharp rap then smoothing over it and rubbing her clit. He did it again and again, basking in her cries, until her mound was as hot on the outside as it was on the inside.

He bit her nape and sucked hard, not caring she would have to wear a high collar to cover up his mark. Hell, he
wanted
her to wear his mark, to show the world she fucking belonged to him. He thrust furiously, amazed when her body softened even more, when she became even slicker, easier to slide in and out of. Once he’d broken through those barriers, he’d freed a strong willed woman whose appetites matched his own. He’d unleashed a Goddess in Gucci.

His legs tightened as his balls went flat against his body. His cock increased in length and girth.

Tony pinched her clit and tugged at the clamps.

“Now, Meredith. Come for me now!”

She threw her head back, grinding it against his chest and let loose the most amazing, most beautiful scream he’d ever heard. Her inner muscles clenched him again and again, until he finally had to give in, pumping into her over and over until finally he was empty.

The silence was deafening, broken only by their ragged breaths. Tony held her tightly to his chest, kissing her gently, rubbing her hips. His thumbprints were already showing up against her milky flesh. A small tinge of regret filled him; he hadn’t meant to bruise her.

She pushed him to a place he’d only ever read about: A perfect state of nirvana, where two bodies truly became one. Where the pleasure of one extended directly into the other. He’d felt every quiver, every muscle clench that trembled through Meredith. He’d thought this other space was a fable, or at best a place his subs escaped to when the pleasure got too intense. Hell, nothing about this experience had gone as planned. Instead of Dominating Meredith, he felt like he’d been vanquished.

His Princess. His woman. Reluctantly he released her, steadying her when her legs threatened to buckle. Kneeling at her feet, he released her legs from the straps. He didn’t try to meet her eyes. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for such intimacy yet, and he imagined she sure as hell wasn’t ready either. Standing, he lowered her hands from the hook, sliced the zip tie open with his small pocketknife and freed her hands.

Finally looking into her face, Tony ducked an instant too late to avoid the fist that connected with his chin, sending him in an ignominious sprawl on the floor. Flexing his jaw a bit, he looked appreciatively at the delicate little princess who’d just knocked him on his ass.

She stood over him, glorious in her nudity, looking defiant and appalled all at once.

The combination was so adorable and, he acknowledged, his behavior had been so reprehensible, he couldn’t dig up any irritation with her. He’d deserved the shot, and she’d needed to give it. Clearly his Princess had never been allowed to defend herself, and Tony was determined not to become another in a long list of men who abused, neglected, and just generally walked all over her.

Still, he couldn’t let her get the wrong impression.

Drawing his face into stern lines that made a light of apprehension glow in her eyes, he climbed to his feet.

“I’ll give you that one,” he rumbled in his most threatening voice, “because I scared you.” Her lush little mouth trembled, then firmed and she lifted her chin. He allowed the faintest hint of a smile to quirk the corner of his mouth.

“And because the only time I insist you submit to me completely is when we’re having sex.” Those gleaming silver eyes narrowed. “Outside the bedroom,” he cast an amused glance around them, “or the construction site,” he grinned at her lady-like little growl, “I want your fire. I want you to express your opinions, to put me in my place. A confident, powerful woman is wicked sexy, sweetheart.” She faced him, still silent, and her eyes searched his. It tore at his heart how she so obviously wanted to believe him, and was so obviously afraid to. Then and there Tony vowed that wherever this little adventure might go, Meredith Worthington would never have reason to regret putting her trust in him.

*

He produced a black button-down shirt from the backpack he’d stashed around a corner and, after packing up his straps and clamps, he insisted in taking her home to feed her.

She was stunned and a little bemused to realize it was long after noon by the time she was cleaned up and dressed. He’d spent literally hours tormenting her into orgasm after orgasm, until her body was one giant, trembling throb.

She was still wobbly on her feet when he helped her into his Ford F150, a sensation she remembered well from their night at Velvet Ice. She wondered if she’d feel him just as strongly tomorrow as she had the day after all those years ago.

His house wasn’t at all what she would have expected, if she’d ever thought about it.

Unlike her condo, which was done in pale, sophisticated elegance, Tony’s house was a real home, filled with pictures and clutter.

The wall above the fireplace held a large oil painting of the Tuscan countryside.

When she paused to gaze admiringly at it, Tony commented casually his youngest sister, Theresa, had painted it for him as a housewarming gift after they’d spent the winter touring Italy one year. Meredith blinked at the idea of taking a vacation with one of her brothers. Even BK, Before Karen, it would never have entered her mind.

His living room was furnished in oversized, overstuffed chairs and sofas that seemed to lure the weary body to sit and relax. Each piece of furniture was draped with hand-knitted afghans, which Tony explained had been knitted by his mother, aunts, and his Nona, the family matriarch. He paused to stroke one lovingly, and added, “My Nona, my Grandma, she doesn’t like to think of her bambinos out on their own. So she makes us lots of blankets, to keep us safe and warm.” Meredith hadn’t known either of her grandmothers. Or even her mother, for that matter.

He led her into the kitchen, and seated her at a large, gorgeous butcher-block table.

Before her amazed eyes, he began dragging ingredients from the refrigerator and cupboards, and assembling a meal of huge sandwiches and soup which was obviously homemade.

“I suppose Nona contributed this, too,” Meredith commented as she spooned the spicy sausage-and-potato filled stew into her mouth.

“Nope,” Tony surprised her once again. “I made this myself.” He sent her a devilish wink. “I had to keep busy somehow while I was making my evil plans to ravish you.” Meredith knew that just a few hours before, she’d have flayed him in his seat for making fun of her. Now she just rolled her eyes at his teasing, and took another bite of soup. It was truly exceptional.

*

Tony loved the way she looked in his house. Hell, he loved the way she looked
at
his house, as if she’d never seen family mementos before and each one was a precious treasure. But then, he thought, remembering her father, she probably hadn’t ever seen family mementos before. The realization just made him more determined to make her a part of his own family.

She was beginning to relax with him, and he found her dry humor delightful. She was smart, but she was also quick, and a quick wit was sexy as hell.

“So,” she drawled, sliding her spoon into her mouth upside down, and sucking a last drop of broth between those delectable lips. “Now that you’ve abducted me, what do you intend to do with me?” Her face was calm, her lips even tilted a little, but he could see a faint glimmer of apprehension swimming deep in her eyes. He sighed a bit, and reminded himself he was a patient man, and had known from the beginning this seduction would take time.

“Well,” he removed the spoon from her hand and scooped up a stray bit of potato from her bowl onto his finger. “I thought I’d spend the day fucking you,” he popped his soup-glazed finger between her lips before she could protest, “and maybe even making love to you.” Her eyes narrowed on him, but her lips closed over his finger, sucking lightly. Her eyes might be narrowed, but his nearly crossed at the sensation of Meredith’s soft little tongue licking over him like a flame.

When he finally drew his hand free, an act of self-defense, she tilted her head and regarded him warily.

“So,” her voice had taken on a smoky quality again. The one that shot his cock harder than a Louisville Slugger. “Do I have any say in this plan of yours?” Tony had to take a minute and remind himself who the Dom here was. All she had to do was run her tongue over her pouty lower lip, and he was ready to fall at her feet.

“Well?” He realized he’d been silent too long, caught up in the sight, the sound, and the scent of her. Finally in his home, where she belonged.

“Yeah,” he rasped, once he remembered the question. “You have a choice.” His voice was a little firmer, now. “You get to decide if I fuck you first,” he leaned over the table so his last words were whispered against her lips. “Or if we make love.” He watched the shadows in her eyes, and for a moment he allowed himself to hope.

And when she whispered back, “Then, fuck me, Anthony. Please,” he told himself he wasn’t disappointed. After all, it had been a win-win situation, right?

*

The phone woke her. Not her land-line. No, this was the obnoxious, demanding ring of her cell phone, informing her that big brother was commanding her attention.

Meredith started to sit up, and felt a flash of panic when she couldn’t move. The panic was quickly replaced by a warm, melty feeling when she realized the reason she couldn’t move was the six feet and some odd inches of gorgeous, toned man draped over her.

Opening her eyes, she took in the sight of him. He slept sprawled on his stomach, one arm draped over her waist, one leg slung over her thighs. It almost looked like he was afraid she’d sneak out in the night.

Well, she had to admit, it might have been a distinct possibility. That is, if she’d been able to move by the time he was through with her. Somewhere in the darkest hours of the night, he’d tied her up again, torturing her with soft licks and caresses, and then stunning her with sharp smacks leaving her skin hot and red. He’d licked away the sting, inflaming her beyond all control. He’d been fiercely dominant and had used her body until she was exhausted and as limp as an overcooked spaghetti noodle.

Damn, she could feel him all over her. The tenderness on her breasts and thighs, reminders of his afternoon beard. The swollen sensitivity of her mouth and nipples, testament to his rough sucking kisses. The almost painful sensitivity between her legs, a throbbing memento of his rough and repeated possession. He’d claimed his plan for the day was to fuck her, and that’s what he’d done. Endlessly.

Meredith heaved a sigh when she realized instead of leaving a message, Marcus was just hitting re-dial, waiting for her to pick up. Dammit. He was having his little fling with Carrie this weekend. Couldn’t he leave her alone?

Of course, he had no reason to expect he was interrupting anything. Hell, it had been five years since there’d been anything to interrupt!

Making a frustrated face, Meredith leaned as far off the bed as she could without falling, and snagged her purse from a nearby chair. The phone began its infernal wailing again as she dragged it free. She felt Tony stir against her as she snapped it open.

“Yes, Marcus.” Odd, she thought, how her voice didn’t sound any different.

“Meredith. Where the fuck have you been?” She raised her eyebrows and looked down at the phone. That most certainly did not sound like her older brother.

“It’s,” she paused to look at the blinking red numbers on the clock-radio next to the bed, “ten-fifteen on Sunday morning. I believe you informed me you’d be unreachable all weekend.” She glanced over at the man who was currently attempting to burrow into the spot where her shoulder met her neck. “I expected you’d be too busy to call.”

“Meredith, stop being such a fucking ice-bitch and listen to me.” Now her brows flew up, and her eyes widened. Marcus hadn’t raised his voice to her since the night he’d all but called her a whore outside of Velvet Ice. Later she might note the irony that she’d been reeling from the sensation of Tony’s body in hers then, too. Now, she felt her whole body go stiff, and felt Tony’s grumbled argument when she started pushing her way out of his arms.

“Marcus,” she kept her voice level because if she didn’t, she might just begin screaming at him. The rage seemed to come from nowhere, but she knew it had been inside her all along, just waiting for the fuse to be lit. “I know you think you have a good reason to attack me, but trust me, big brother, you don’t ever want to go there again.” The phone was silent for a moment, except for his ragged breathing. “Call Matt and tell him to get his ass into the office tomorrow. I won’t be there.” He wasn’t yelling, but his voice was raw, and Meredith felt her anxiety growing. Marcus didn’t yell at her, and he didn’t call her names. And he never skipped work because of something in his personal life. She felt a little of her anger crack under the weight of her concern.

“Marc,” she let the ice melt from her voice. “Tell me what’s going on.” Now her brother, the quintessential alpha male and Dom most famous for his control in the entire Metro-Detroit area did yell.

“Just tell Matty to get the fuck to work tomorrow.” There was a loud click, and Meredith found herself staring at her phone blankly.

“Shit,” she yanked at the restraining sheets and fought free of Tony’s all-too-appealing bed as she hit the speed dial for Marcus’ cell phone. “Shit,” she snarled with even more feeling when it flipped directly to voice mail.

“Come on, you big bastard,” she muttered as she dialed his house phone. Tony had risen now, too, and had come to stand behind her. He laid gentle hands on her shoulders, but she smacked them away and reached for her clothes, swearing as Marcus’ house phone went to voice mail, too.

*

Tony didn’t know what had happened, but he knew one minute his bed had been full of warm, willing woman, and the next he’d been facing a pissed-off hell cat. And he wanted to know who was responsible for the change.

When Meredith started poking at buttons on her cell phone for a third time, he snatched it from her hand and flipped it shut. Ducking her claws, he held it out of her reach and caught her chin with his free hand, forcing her to meet his eyes.

Her eyes were silver ice, so cold they burned. He felt a sinking dread in the pit of his stomach. Whatever had happened, it had undone most of the progress he’d made last night.

“Give it back.” Her words were low and lethal. He just shook his head, and to his surprise her icy mask cracked just a tiny bit. “Tony, Anthony, please. I have to call Matt.