FavoriteObsession, page 23
“Hey, kitten, I was wondering when you were going to come home.” He slowly skimmed his heated gaze over her. She ignited under his perusal. Every inch of her skin heated and demanded he repeat the caress with his fingers. “I was getting lonely.”
She licked her suddenly dry lips. “How did you get in here?”
He chuckled. “I picked the lock.”
She waited for him to say something else, maybe close the distance between them. He did neither, only watched her. Lust hazed his eyes but so did patience and confidence. He wore the look of a male who knew exactly how he affected his woman.
After another slow sweep of his hungry blue eyes that clenched her womb, she cleared her throat. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be home with Megan?”
“She’s with Jazz.” He crooked one finger. “Come here, kitten.”
Her breaths quickened. She took several steps before she forced herself to stop. Hands clenched, she shook her head. “I told you I need time to think, Josh. I haven’t yet. Please go home.”
Instead of arguing, he held his hand out, palm up. “Think later, kitten. We need each other. Come here.”
She did need him. Micah’s visit had chilled her. Josh would warm her, though. Her dignity stopped her from running to him. She slowly closed the distance between them. As she approached, he shifted on the couch so both bare feet hit the floor and created an inviting spot on his lap.
He waited until she placed her hand in his before tugging her close. She fell onto his groin, the hard line of his arousal pushing along the seam of her sex.
“That’s better, baby.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and used his hold to settle her more firmly over his trapped erection. The soft material of her pants allowed her to feel the strength pressed against her. A soft sigh fell from her lips.
“You like that?”
Yes. She bit the inside of her cheek instead of voicing the truth. The teasing lilt to his voice lightened her heart. She smiled for the first time in days. “Feeling a little cocky tonight?”
He dropped his head against the cushion and peered at her through half-lidded eyes. “No, kitten. Confident. I know what you want and I’m here to give it to you.”
Unable to resist, she stroked his arms from elbow to shoulder. Muscles tensed under her fingertips. “What do I want?”
“Me.”
She forced a chuckle past her lips. “I was right. Cocky.”
He merely grinned at her.
She folded her forearms over his chest and leaned closer. “As much as I enjoyed what we did together, we shouldn’t have sex again. I really do have to think about everything.” She trailed her fingertips along his jaw. “Okay?”
“Sure, kitten.”
The easy agreement struck her as fishy. She eased back and met his eyes. “No argument?”
Another lopsided smile graced his mouth. “Like I said, I’m here to give you what you need. We don’t have to fuck for me to do that.”
She studied him for some clue as to his motive but the lust darkening his eyes and the confidence emanating from him confused her. He wanted sex. The thick rod nudging her clit left little room for misinterpretation.
“What do I need?”
He tugged at the edge of her neckline, exposing her mate bite. Using a single finger, he circled the scar. Sparks skipped down her spine. He pressed his thumb to the center and met her eyes. “For me to prove to you that I’m your mate.”
“But I—”
He popped the button on her pants and slipped his hand into her panties. Her words turned into a groan with the first touch of his palm to her slickened cleft. He pushed a single finger into her core. Her eyelids fluttered closed. She focused on the movement of his finger as he stroked her. He gave her drenched center another swirl before pulling his finger free. Held up for them both to see, he made a point of inspecting it.
Finally, he nodded and turned his gaze on her. “You’re wet, my sweet Mira. Soaked. Ready for a cock.” He rubbed the finger glistening with her juices over her lower lip. “My cock.”
“Oh gods…”
He captured the lip he painted with her juices between his teeth and sucked. The tug of his mouth connected with her core. Her muscles squeezed on air. Josh was right. She did want a cock to ride. His.
She didn’t get the chance to agree or try to push him away. He covered her mouth and kissed her, taking the choice out of her hands. With a slow sweep of his tongue, he explored her as if this was their first kiss and he wanted to savor it. The low groan of his approval and the tender strokes he rubbed into her skin fed the moment, made it special.
He twined their tongues, leading her into a dance which built her hungers. Slow at first, he worshiped her. The pace of his rolling thrusts quickened, spiraling her needs until she felt as if she were coming undone. Another guttural sound came from his throat and she lost any pathetic resistance she’d thought to hold on to. She clamped her legs around his thick thighs and rubbed her sex over his length. He remained still under her, refusing to counter the motions. No. That wouldn’t do. She hungered.
She threaded her fingers through his tousled hair. Silken, short strands teased her palm. Tingles danced up her fingers, down her arms and spread out to encompass her body. More, she wanted more of the energized feeling, but she knew there was only one thing which would appease her craving. She wanted to come around Josh’s rigid length and milk him dry.
A desperate cry escaped, her desire rising faster than she could contain. She scraped his scalp with talon-tipped nails, not hard enough to bleed him but enough to pull a raw sound from his throat. Only a primal male could meet her wicked cravings. Josh with a touch of animalistic aura surrounding him did it for her.
His rough moan betrayed how close he was to losing control, exactly what she needed. She nipped at his tongue to bleed it. Like a true shifter, Josh responded to the trigger. In one smooth move, he reversed their positions. Her back met the couch. He crouched over her. A shove against her knees and she parted her thighs. He settled there, partially straddling her.
The couch didn’t offer him the room to line their bodies up the way she wanted, but his strong frame covering her smaller one had the same effect. She relaxed and gave herself up to the kiss. The purposeful way he led her didn’t give her any room to resist him, not that she would’ve. He had her submission. She was his to command, his to please.
On and on, he loved her mouth with rolling strokes that touched her as deeply as his cock had. Her heart opened, inviting him to take it over completely. She should fight the compulsion. She knew it’d be the smart thing to do, but she couldn’t. Her instincts ruled at the moment and she wanted Josh.
Arousal flowed, readying her for his possession. She needed his cock moving inside her, loving her from the inside out, but he made no move to take this any further. She slipped her hand between their bodies, ready to encourage him to finish what he’d started. He broke the kiss and climbed off her body. Kneeling next to her on the couch, he stopped her from following him with a hand splayed over her lower belly.
He gave a small shake of his head. “Now, now, enough of that, kitten. I’m not a saint, you know. If you touch my cock, I’m going to lose control.” He used his other hand to lightly caress the edge of her breast. “And I promised not to fuck you.”
“But—”
He stopped her words with a single finger pressed to her lips.
“I told you…” He bent closer so his exhaled breath bathed her mate mark. “I told you, I know what my female needs.”
“I thought you said I needed you.”
His low chuckle whipped through her. Desire followed. She shifted to move off the couch. He held her in place with his palm on her upper chest. She stilled.
“Do you trust me, kitten?”
Not once had he demanded such a thing from her. Trust to a shifter was not lightly given, even to a mate. Just because her breeding partner couldn’t kill her, it didn’t mean time spent in his company was pleasant. She’d known too many females who’d suffered at their mates’ hands to know not to blindly give her trust. But…but this was Josh, the man she loved more than anyone in the world.
She nodded, the scope of her acceptance too much to manage more.
A pleased grin spread over his familiar and beloved features. Seeing it satisfied her on a primal level she was sure few humans would understand, Josh included. She’d made her male happy and that…well, that tightened their bond and tugged them closer, spiritually and physically. It was the mystical tether many shifters who’d mated for breeding purposes only refused to admit existed.
She felt it growing between them, but it was the smile on his face and the emotions she saw reflected in his blue eyes that sealed her fate. It was unstoppable, like the sun rising each day. Fears threatened to surface and ruin the moment. She shoved them aside. Tomorrow. She’d deal with them tomorrow and figure out a way to sever what she cultivated today. She’d have an eternity for regrets, but her happiness might only consist of this one night.
“Good, my kitten. Then let me take care of you.”
She licked her lips. “Okay.”
He tugged on her hand. “Up, babe.”
She swung her legs to the side, moved to stand but he stopped her with his hands on her thighs. He pushed his body between her legs so she was spread wide for him.
“And Mira?”
“Yeah?”
The wicked lift to his lip stopped her heart. She held her breath and waited for him to speak.
“You will do everything I tell you. If you think to disobey me, I’ll leave you with only your fingers to ease your hunger.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “Understand, my female?”
Right in that moment, she realized her mistake. She’d fallen in love with a human, but he was as much a predator as any shifter.
And tonight…tonight, he was going to tame her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Josh enjoyed the shocked look on Mira’s beautiful face for a long moment before the need to prove he was the man she needed took over. Hands wrapped around her small waist, he lifted her off the couch and set her on her feet. She swayed. The sight of her weak legs filled him with an intense satisfaction. He’d made his little predator tremble. Yeah, he fucking loved that. It felt like power, the kind that left a man satisfied beyond anything he could imagine.
Without looking at her, he yanked his shirt off and tossed it in the corner.
“Don’t even try it, Josh.”
At her snapped threat, he peered over his shoulder. Fire burned in her narrowed eyes. He raised a brow and resisted the smirk threatening to break free at her adorable ire.
“If you try to dominate me, I’ll fight you. It’s in my nature to resist.” She waved a hand to encompass his body. “You’re only human. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Instead of responding—he didn’t think he could without snarling at her for her doubt in him—he unzipped his jeans. He’d already tamed her jaguar. The other two predators would follow suit. He knew that instinctually. The big cats she housed understood he was their alpha. Today, the woman needed to commit to him, once and for all. He sensed her inner debate. She didn’t trust the truth. He understood her fears but didn’t share them.
They were mates. Fucking impossible but true nonetheless.
He felt her in his heart, his soul, his mind. The connection he never knew was possible had flared to life after they’d had sex. Every second since had strengthened it. The tie to her was the reason he’d begged Jazz to watch Megan tonight. He’d shared in Mira’s fear and anxiety this afternoon. It had spiked and left her in a state of depression he’d been unable to bear. She needed him. So he’d come.
“I mean it.” She stomped her foot. This time he did chuckle. She huffed. “Don’t take this lightly, Josh. I can seriously harm you if you trigger my instincts.”
He made a show of undressing, slowly dragging the denim down his legs. She sucked in a breath when his ass was fully exposed to her. She liked his backside. He’d caught her staring at his rear too many times in the mirrored wall of his bar not to know she favored it. He stepped out of his jeans and flung them to land with his discarded shirt. With a shove, he moved the coffee table out of the way. He ambled toward the chair in the corner and grabbed a plush blanket.
“Oh gods.”
Her whisper brought a smile to his lips. He peeked at her, found her gaze locked to his erect dick. Liquid welled at the tip under her heated study. She licked her lips. He turned away before he gave in to her silent demand.
Endgame, he reminded himself.
He spread out the blanket on the floor. Feigning a patience he didn’t feel but knew she needed to see, he stretched out on the couch, his back propped against the mound of soft cushions and his legs stretched out across the seat.
Finally, he lifted his eyes to capture hers. “Strip, my kitten.”
She blinked but didn’t obey him.
Her disobedience triggered his newfound instincts. He fought the growl threatening to escape. No, that’s not what she needs. He dropped his head against the cushions and closed his eyes.
Several minutes passed before he heard the brush of cloth. He peeked at her. She reached for the hem of her top with a slightly trembling hand. He bit his cheek to hide his grin. She fisted the material and tugged it up.
“Slower.”
She paused with the shirt’s edge at the top of her stomach. Quick breaths lifted her bound breasts. Slowly, she revealed what he’d neglected earlier. Dark-blue satin hugged her full breasts. His mouth watering, he grabbed the arm of the couch to stop himself from closing the distance between them.
Inch by inch, she unveiled her body. The simple top she’d worn sailed across the room. She reached behind her for the clasp of the bra.
“Leave it.” He waved to her khakis. “Those next.”
She swallowed hard but did as he’d ordered. With controlled motions, she yanked the zipper down. A wiggle of her hips and she shimmied out of the pants. She kicked them behind her. The sight she made had to be the sexiest he’d ever seen. Tanned, smooth skin over lean muscles—power and beauty all wrapped in one.
Simple yet sensual, the lingerie she wore suited her. The unadorned blue satin drew his eye and teased his imagination. Her nipples strained the cups and the string holding the tiny swatch of blue over her sex appeared delicate. A small tug and the thin cord would snap. He dug his fingers into his palm.
She hooked the string with her thumb and peered at him through the strands of brown hair. Her kaleidoscope eyes looked wrong shrouded by the ordinary hair. He pushed the thought aside and focused on the silent question she asked.
“Leave it for a moment, baby.” He drew a circle in the air with his finger. “Turn around. Slowly, Mira. Slowly.”
She spun on her heel for him. The fall of her hair teased the globes of her bottom. As she moved, the heavy mass swayed so the ends danced over her bare skin the way he wanted to caress her with his lips. He waited for the motion to stop and swept his gaze over her glorious body. His fingers itched with the desire to fist the strands and hold the locks out of the way so he could kiss her back. He curled them tighter until his nails bit into his skin and continued his perusal.
“You’re beautiful, Mira.”
She glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze. Lust hazed the eyes focused on him. He held her gaze and let the moment stretch. She panted but waited on him. Fucking perfect.
“Face me.” He waited until she complied. “Good. Now spread your legs a little.” She did but not enough. “Wider.”
She stood there looking like a sexual goddess open and ready to accept her chosen lover. He let his gaze roam over her, searing her image into his mind. The supple lines of her limbs demanded his attention. Before he left her tonight, he’d lick every inch of her skin from her small feet to the tip of her nose. The vow eased the compulsion to do so now. He wouldn’t rush this. No way would he lose this chance to ensure her heart was his and his alone. Always and forever.
“Slice the string of your thong, baby. Show me your beautiful sex.”
The sight of her shaky hand tore a groan from him but the raw sound seemed to settle her nerves. She blew out a shuddering breath and unleashed one sharpened nail. A flick of her finger and she cut the band. He watched the triangle of blue silk fall and settle on the floor at her feet before raising his gaze. Smooth bare skin showcased her glistening cleft. The flushed folds tempted him. He licked his lips, anticipation riding him hard.
He inhaled, needing to ground himself. The sweet scent of her arousal filled his nostrils. He parted his mouth to take in more and groaned. He could almost taste her fragrance on his tongue. Rich and heady like a fine wine meant to be savored. He dragged in another breath to savor the way it seemed to flow through him and seep into his muscles.
Hunger rose, left his muscles vibrating and his skin sensitive. “Touch yourself. Just your lips.”
She skimmed her hand over her skin but hesitated at her lower belly. “Wouldn’t you rather touch me?”
He shook his head. “No, baby. If I do, we’ll have sex. I told you, I’m not a saint.” He dropped his gaze to his rigid dick and gave it a rough tug. Another stroke and she moaned. He glanced at her. “And I promised not to ask for sex.”
“Then why—”
“Mira…” He waited until she raised a brow. “Touch yourself.”
She slid her hand between her thighs, brushing the edges of her cleft with the tip of one finger. A slow pass, top to bottom, followed by a quicker circle that teased the edge of her core. She pressed her fingertip at the top and rubbed the button there, back and forth until her mouth parted on a breathy moan.
The confident way she stroked herself told him she often masturbated. She knew what she liked and by watching her, he’d learn too.
She widened her stance and swept two fingertips up through her center to flick her clit before repeating the move. She swayed with the stroking of her hand.
He waited until she dipped a finger into her center and asked, “Do you think about me when you get yourself off?”
