Shadow Warrior, page 27
part #4 of Shadow Rider Series
He considered how tired she was. There was no way he would ever be able to keep his hands off of her if he sat with her in the hot tub. Warning her was the best policy. “Honey, if we go out to the hot tub, I’m going to be fucking your brains out. There’s no way I’ll be able to keep my hands off of you.”
She gave him a siren’s smile. “I would hope not.”
She hadn’t even winced at his language. He loved that she let him be who he was, no matter what. If anything, his choice of words sent another flush of heat spreading through her body. Her breathing was elevated all over again. He loved her beyond words.
Vittorio slipped off the bed. “Just stay there.”
“I’m kind of a mess.”
“I like you lying there, legs sprawled apart, a mixture of the two of us running down your legs. You look as hot as sin. I especially like seeing that I’m your only. I want to keep it that way. I had no idea I could be so primitive, but suddenly I am.”
She put her uninjured arm across her eyes. “I can’t believe the things you say to me.”
He turned back to her, one hand on the doorjamb leading to the bathroom. For a moment his heart stood still.
“Or the way they make me feel,” she continued, without looking at him. “I want you in me all over again just because you said that.”
“That’s going to happen sooner than you think.” He wet a cloth with warm water and after rinsing himself off, took the cloth to her. “Lie still and let me get this for you.”
“I can do it.” She started to sit.
Vittorio put a gentle hand on her chest. “I want to clean you. Later, I’ll teach you how I’d like you to clean me.” Again, he kept his gaze steady on her face. Her eyes never left his. “I’m going to be asking so much of you, Grace. I have to be able to feel as if I’m giving you back as much or more.” It was a confession, plain and simple. He took great care to be gentle as he wiped away the evidence of her innocence.
“I don’t see how you could possibly ask more of me than you’ve already given.”
“I’m asking for your trust in all things. That alone is worth any price. I’ll ask for things in our bedroom that might frighten you at first, but that’s where that trust needs to come in. You have to know that I’ll take you higher each time but never go so far that you can’t handle it. I also will have to talk to you about things regarding the Ferraro businesses, and you’ll have to accept them and never speak of them to another soul outside our immediate family.” He watched her face as he referred to the one thing he feared the most.
In the bedroom, he could reward her ten times over for her trust in him. It was the revelations as to what he really did for their family that he was afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle. His shadow and hers had become entangled in spite of his efforts to keep them apart. Although, truthfully, he hadn’t tried that hard. He knew if she rejected him, the consequences to him would be dire. She would simply forget the things he told her, believe he had proclaimed her his fiancée in order to take care of the bills and her until she recovered and then they would break up. He would lose everything—including his ability to ride the shadows.
He reached for her hand and helped her to sit. Immediately she stroked her hand down his belly as if she had been waiting to touch him all along. Her fingers lingered low and his cock reacted, jerking hard, letting her see how appreciative he was of her touching him.
“I like being yours, Vittorio. I’m very aware it won’t always be easy. I can see it on your face sometimes that you would insist on your way at times, and I might not like it.”
He nodded, more aware of the heat from her breath spreading over the sensitive head of his cock. She sat on the bed, her thighs still spread wide, and he was standing inside them. If she tilted her head up, her mouth was exactly where he needed it to be. Without conscious thought, he shifted even closer, so he was facing directly toward her. Immediately her gaze dropped to his cock, her eyes widening.
Her hands came up to cup his sac, driving the breath from his lungs. First her thumb stroked and then the pads of her fingers with exquisite gentleness. “I had no idea you were so soft here.”
“I like that I’m the only man you’ve ever touched intimately, Grace.” He rested one hand on top of her head, careful not to put any pressure on her, no matter how much he wanted to. At the stroke of her fingers on his balls, his cock was hardening all over again. “If you keep that up, we’re not going to make it to the hot tub.”
“Really?”
Her tongue darted out and moistened her lips. He had to suppress a groan. She was sexy without trying. Her gaze shifted from his growing cock to his eyes.
“What would we be doing instead? It has to be something very impressive in order for me to give up a night in the hot tub under the stars with you.”
Her teasing voice and the look of growing hunger was as sensual as the flush on her skin and the stroking of her fingers. He wrapped his hand around one of hers and squeezed gently, showing her how to roll and caress his sac. Then he took her fingers and stroked his shaft before wrapping them in a fist at the base and pumping up and down while squeezing hard.
“I’d want to stay right here and have you learn to suck my cock just the way I like it. Your mouth would be tight and hot and your tongue would lash and dance, until I was so hot I’d have to pull out and take you again.”
“Why would you have to pull out?”
Her hand had picked up the rhythm he showed her and he let go. She didn’t hesitate or falter. Her gaze was fixed on his cock while she worked him.
He fisted her hair, tugging a little until she looked up at him. “You aren’t ready to swallow yet, that will come with time. I want you to enjoy every single thing we do together. Sucking my cock is fantastic for me, but only if you love doing it. If you’re not getting anything out of it, bella, it takes away from my enjoyment.”
“No matter what, I’ll love it because I know it makes you feel fantastic.”
His heart threatened to beat right out of his chest. She meant it. He could hear lies. All riders could hear lies, and she absolutely meant what she was saying.
“Do I get a choice on what I’d like to do?”
His throat nearly closed. “Yes.”
“Then I’d like to stay here and see how much of you will actually fit in my mouth. You’re really quite intimidating, but on the other hand, you’re beautiful. I’ve never thought a man was especially beautiful until I saw you.”
Red silk spilled from either side of his fist, a fiery cascade of her long hair, a perfect handle for him to guide her.
“Use your tongue. Don’t worry about going slow or fast or doing anything right. Just explore. I consider your body mine. I want to play. I want to make love to you. I want to fuck you so hard neither of us can breathe. I hope you get to a point where you feel the same about me. My body belongs to you alone. All of it. It’s yours to explore. I’m hoping you can’t stop touching me any more than I can stop touching you.”
Grace seemed to take him at his word. She let go of his shaft and caught his hips, urging him closer to her. The moment he stepped right up against the bed, she leaned in to kiss his belly. Her hands stroked his rib cage, fingers trailed over the ridges of his abdomen. He found himself holding his breath. Waiting. Anticipating. She was naturally sensual, although he could see she didn’t have a clue she was. Her featherlight kisses trailing down his belly had him sucking in his breath as one of her hands cupped his balls again, fingers working his sac very gently.
She moved lower, her breath heating the flared head of his cock. Her head dipped and everything in him stilled. She licked up his sac, fingers and tongue working in tandem, until she sucked one ball into the heat of her mouth. Fire shot up his spine. His entire body jerked. Her fingers slid farther around him, massaging his perineum with a firmer glide. Several times she licked her fingers as she continued working on his balls.
His cock jerked eagerly, lengthening, thickening until his girth was even more intimidating. He murmured encouragement to her, his hands once more fisting in her hair. He had to hold on to something in order to keep from exploding. Breathing deeply, he concentrated on keeping his legs from turning to jelly.
She settled her fist around the base of his cock. Tightly. He waited. Counting his heartbeats. He felt her breath again. Her tongue flicked out and tasted the pearl drops leaking on the flared head. Holding his cock close to her mouth, she looked up at him and smiled. She was so close her lips moved against his shaft, sending a lightning strike straight through his groin. It was all he could do to keep from forcing her head over his cock. He’d never in his life wanted a blow job more than he did right at that moment and she hadn’t yet done anything to his cock.
“I don’t think you have to worry that I’ll enjoy myself.” Grace took a long lick up his shaft as if he were an ice-cream cone. Her tongue lingered over the sweet spot just beneath the flared head. She flicked her tongue experimentally. “I like your taste. It’s different. Salty, but good.”
Again, she wasn’t playing him. Her voice held that note that told him she was giving him the strict truth. He couldn’t help himself. He tightened his hold in her hair and guided her head that scant distance. “Then get to work before I embarrass myself.”
She opened her mouth and settled it around the sensitive head, her laughter vibrating through him. The sensation was almost too good to be true. His entire body shook, and he had to impose strict discipline to keep from forcing her mouth to envelop more.
Her tongue began a slow dance, as if she took him at his word and was exploring. Experimenting. She sucked hard and then was back to licking up and down his shaft and under the head. One hand moved from his balls to caress his inner thighs and then once again stroked fire along his perineum. The assault on his senses had his body straining and she had barely done anything to him.
“Look at me.” His command came out more of a growl than his usual soft dictate.
Her long lashes lifted and those green eyes of hers stared into his.
“I want you to take as much of me as you can fit into your mouth and suck. Use your tongue.” He spoke through clenched teeth. If she didn’t get to it soon, he really was going to lose it.
His life was about discipline. Nothing had ever threatened his discipline the way she did. She was completely inexperienced and had no real idea what she was doing, but her instincts were perfection. Small beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. His hips moved restlessly. His body screamed with urgent demand.
“Keep looking at me. I want to see your lips stretched around my cock. It’s so fucking sexy.” It was. Everything about her was sexy.
She obeyed him, slowly opening her mouth and drawing him in. He let her do the work, feeling the suction, the tight hold pressing around him. Her lips had to stretch to accommodate his size. No way she could take much, but her hand worked him, each tight slide sending flames dancing up his cock. Then her mouth suckled strong until he thought the top of his head might blow off. Her tongue took over, flicking, dancing, swirling up and over the head and then under it. Then she licked, getting him wet and starting all over again.
There was no way to last. None. She’d done him in almost from the moment her hand had brushed his body. She was no pro at sucking his cock, but she didn’t need to be. She was Grace. His Grace. He could see her enjoyment shining in her eyes. She was giving him this by giving him herself. Everything she did was for him. Every stroke of her tongue. Her tight suction and the artistry of her tongue.
He pulled at her hair, pulling her off of him with more regret than she’d ever know. “We’re going to stop right here, gattina.”
“No!” she wailed, and he could see the instant rejection of his command in her eyes and with the sudden pout.
Vittorio had never seen that particular expression and he wanted to kiss it off her face. “Yes. When I say enough, bella, I say it for a reason. Stand up and turn around. Ordinarily, I’d want you on your hands and knees, but we’re being every careful of that shoulder and arm. Right now, lie on your stomach, legs over the bed.”
She complied readily, and he leaned over her to make certain her arm was comfortable. Her feet didn’t quite reach the floor if her hips were on the edge of the bed. He liked that. It gave him far more control. Placing his hand on the small of her back to keep her from moving, he guided his very wet and hot cock to her slick entrance. He wasn’t nearly as careful entering her as he had been the first time. He simply drove through her reluctant folds, one hard invasion, the flames rushing over him as her body protested, trying to keep him out of that scorching hot paradise.
Grace sobbed his name and he didn’t stop. That glorious cry drove him on, the desperate need in her almost matching his own. He settled his fingers around both hips and, using his strength, pulled her smaller body into his and surged forward with his hips. Over and over. He closed his eyes and threw back his head, savoring the fact that he could go deeper, that he filled her, stretched her, gave her that burn that was everything she could want.
Her body clamped down, gripping his cock almost viciously, so that when he surged in and out of her, the friction grew, sending both to amazing heights. He had no idea how many times he brought them both to the edge, but when he finally tipped them over, her moans had turned to cries and her body swept his into something close to real paradise. He couldn’t believe the feeling of complete euphoria. For a moment he floated there, while flames licked over his body and centered like a firestorm in his cock.
Vittorio had to fight for air, but the sensations running through his body were worth the lack of ability to breathe. He let himself collapse over her, and when he could he kissed the nape of her neck and then down her spine. She didn’t move.
“I think we’re done tonight, gattina.”
“No hot tub?” Her voice was muffled.
“Bed. Not hot tub. And I’m sleeping with you.” He waited for her reply. He was sleeping with her and he’d find the energy to convince her if necessary.
“All right.”
Her soft consent earned her more kisses and then he cleaned them both up and tucked her into bed, curling his body around hers. She fell asleep immediately and he wasn’t far behind her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
You’ll have to excuse me, Grace,” Vittorio said, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. “Please go ahead and continue your physical therapy while I see what kind of crisis my family is involved in this time.” He poured amusement into his voice, when he didn’t feel in the least amused.
Grace blinked up at him, suspicion in her expression. It was hell not being able to lie to her, especially when every Ferraro was certain that a war was brewing. It wasn’t bad enough that they had to contend with a cunning serial killer, they had to worry about a family whose history was steeped in violence.
“Everything is going to be okay,” he assured before she could protest. He deliberately glanced at the physical therapist, knowing she would take his silent cue and not ask any questions when they had a stranger in their midst.
She nodded, and he kissed her just because he loved that she followed his lead, even when she didn’t want to.
“Please be careful of tiring her out,” he cautioned the therapist. “There’s no need to push her so hard that she’s in pain afterward.” He put a warning in his voice. No one wanted to cross him. His beloved Grace might think he was the sweetest man on the planet, but the rest of the world was much more careful around him.
Vittorio shut the door and immediately hurried down the hall to the room Merry had set up for his family to meet with him. Giovanni had to drive, but the others arrived via the shadows, even Eloisa, and that wasn’t a good sign.
He greeted his mother first, simply out of respect that she had given birth to him, but his greeting was cold. He couldn’t help it. Stefano had been more of a parent when he was ten than she’d ever been. Vittorio wasn’t too happy with her after the problems with Grace she’d caused him—deliberately, he was certain. He gripped his brother’s hand and accepted the hug Stefano always gave him.
“Thanks for coming here instead of having me drag Grace out.”
Eloisa rolled her eyes. “I don’t think there’s such a thing as an independent woman anymore. Is she so afraid of losing you that she can’t be without you for a day? That’s going to become a problem, Vittorio. You have serious work to do and nothing can interfere.”
“I don’t like my woman far from me, Eloisa,” Vittorio answered. “It’s my preference and she understands that and gives that to me. Fortunately, as an adult, I can choose the kind of lifestyle I want, and I don’t need anyone’s approval.”
She winced at his tone. The “least of all your approval” was implied. Stefano’s voice carried absolute authority, but Vittorio had recognized early on that he had a gift. His voice could be compelling, or commanding, and those in a room reacted to it. He could calm others down, arouse or infuriate, all with his tone. He used a reprimand, dark and threatening, to let her know she’d better stop before he retaliated in a way she wouldn’t like.
“You’re really going to marry her, aren’t you?” Eloisa changed tactics.
“Absolutely I am.”
“Even with this serial killer stalking your family.”
Stefano sighed. “The implication being that Phillips being a madman and targeting all of us is Grace’s fault?”
“Of course not,” Eloisa snapped. “But she did bring him straight to us.”
“That’s a good thing,” Taviano weighed in. “Who better to bring such a man to than us? We’re shadow riders and we’re supposed to mete out justice to those the law has been unable to reach.”
