“I love the man you are, Rafe. I can’t wait to be your wife. I do like my control-freak lover, too, though,” she said shyly. Would he think less of her for admitting this?
“Oh, Ari. You have made me one very, very a happy man,” he said as he removed his hand, making her whimper in frustration before he grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her onto his lap.
“Then show me how happy you are,” she demanded, grabbing his head and pulling him closer so she could taste the sweetness of his lips.
“Are you trying to take control, my darling Ari?” he asked as he grabbed her arms and tugged them behind her back, holding them together with one hand.
“Would I try to do that?” she asked, pushing her h*ps against his, glorying at the friction as her tingling core met his arousal.
“I think you might. What should I do about that?”
The excitement in his voice made her blood heat as it all rushed to one very sensitive area of her body. This was a game she’d missed playing with him — it was a game she could play well. A game of who would be in charge. It was also a game they both got to win.
“What do you think you can do about it?” she mocked him, leaning back, exulting in the power she felt flowing through his grip as he held her tightly.
“You’re about to find out,” he growled before reaching his other hand up and tugging on her loose hair, pulling her face toward his.
His lips grazed her mouth, his tongue tracing the edges of her lips, but he didn’t connect their mouths fully. He tugged again, making her head fall back as he kissed her jaw, then he ran his lips down the sensitive column of her throat until he met her shoulder, where his teeth nipped her skin just enough to leave the slightest sting.
Before she could say anything, his tongue swept out, soothing the area and making her forget to admonish him. She tried to lift her hands to his shoulders, but his hold on her arms didn’t allow it.
She tried to pull away, but to no avail. Instead, her struggles made her core rub vigorously against the solid proof of his desire.
He drew back, his eyes dark and molten in the shadows cast by the last moments of light before night quickly stole over the land.
Releasing her wrists, he shifted her off his lap, then stood up, helping her to her feet, and pulled her to his side. He gave her a seductive smile before grabbing her by the waist and throwing her over his shoulder — showing her he was still the one in control.
Shocked, Ari grabbed his back as he headed up a trail, his movements making her body bounce. “What are you doing?”
“For what I have planned for you, we need total privacy,” he said, not pausing in his stride as they neared the palace.
“And I can’t walk?” she asked as they entered the palace grounds and passed a guard. Ari was more than a little mortified at being seen like this by Adriane’s men.
“No. You are my captive,” he said as his hand caressed her bare thigh.
“Good evening.”
Ari turned her head as they passed another guard protecting the back door of the palace.
“Evening,” Rafe replied as he walked past the man. Ari refused to look. Why wasn’t anyone asking whether everything was OK? This seemed a bit off.
The two wound their way through the palace. When they arrived at their suite, Rafe strode through the door and didn’t quit moving until he reached their “sleeping” quarters. There he released her with a slight bounce onto their massive bed.
“Rafe, that was a bit awkward,” she scolded him, crossing her arms and sending quite a glare his way.
His eyes were on fire; he stepped forward without saying a word. His excitement ignited her own desire, though she wasn’t going to admit that to him — not after he’d hauled her though the palace like a caveman, and done it in front of witnesses.
“Good,” he finally said, and he grabbed the bottom of her shirt and quickly pulled it from her.
“I don’t think I’m in the mood anymore,” she told him, her slightly breathy statement undercutting her words.
“Liar,” he said as he unclasped her bra, freeing her heavy br**sts, her hardened ni**les proof that he was right.
Still, she had to make a point, didn’t she? He’d embarrassed her.
She scooted away, and he grinned as he pulled his shirt off, then stripped off his pants and briefs, freeing his manhood, which stood proud and ready. Her core was in meltdown mode, more than ready for his penetration.
“I think I will make you go unsatisfied,” she gasped, and made an effort to retreat as he dropped to the bed and began prowling after her.
“Not going to happen, Ari,” he warned, grabbing her legs and pulling her toward him, his body covering hers, his erection pressing against her shorts, causing a moan to escape her throat.
Yeah, he was right. There was no way she would be able to resist him.
Moving quickly, he slid to the side of the bed and stripped the last barrier of her clothing away before once more covering her body with his.
“I can’t believe how much I always want you,” he said. She knew how he felt.
His lips finally captured hers in a kiss worth receiving, his mouth thoroughly devouring her as his tongue plunged inside, sweeping across the contours of her mouth.
More.
She needed… wanted…had to have…more.
She grabbed him, holding his head securely against her as he seized her mouth, owned it.
Sliding his arousal against her slick folds, but not entering her, Rafe tormented her, making her burn hotter and hotter as his hand slid down her side, grabbed her leg and pulled it up, his h*ps rocking against hers, his hand clasping her bare behind.
Rafe released her mouth and Ari grumbled. Then he moved away from her, and Ari cried out. No! She needed him inside her.
Before she could give voice to her complaints, he rose from the bed and grabbed her feet, pulling her toward him.
Without a word, he lifted her so she was standing flush against him, and his hands circled around her waist before he bent and began sucking on her neck. OK, this was almost as good as the kiss.
His hands caressed her back as his mouth trailed across her shoulder, then moved to the top of her br**sts.
“Oh, Rafe, more,” she cried out.
His tongue swept across her br**sts, circled her ni**les and wet the peaks before quickly retreating. It was too fast. She wanted more attention bestowed on her sensitive ni**les, not just a quick flicking of his tongue.
Before she could complain, he turned her in his arms, his chest pressing against her back as he placed his hands on her stomach and began raising them upward until his palms cupped her br**sts, his fingers grabbing the ni**les and pinching them in the most pleasurable ways.