Page 13 of Hunted Hearts (Black Heart Security #6)

She pressed closer, the warmth of his body seeping through the thin barrier of her robe. Her fingers tightened on the drawstring of his pants as the dam that had been between them finally broke.

* * * * *

Theo swept his tongue through Juliette’s mouth. She tasted like coffee and something sweeter, something that was uniquely Juliette.

And it went straight to his head.

He had no contingency plan for this. It never registered that taking on a ward would lead to wanting her so damn bad he was shaking with it.

He shouldn’t cross this line, but after everything—the scorpion, the fire, watching that rod of steel in her back grow harder with each passing hour—it was impossible not to want her.

Then there was that cute little way she’d adjusted the ties of his sweatpants. Christ, he couldn’t get much harder than he was now. His cock surged, and there was no way in hell to hide that in a pair of sweats.

When she slid her hands up his chest and twisted her fingers in his damp T-shirt, he let out a deep groan and swept her up in his arms in one swift motion. She gasped softly and looped her arms around his neck.

He gave the door a firm kick to shut it behind them, cutting off the sounds of the waking house.

Her bed was rumpled the way she left it, and he lowered her gently to the mattress. Bracing himself over her, he locked her gaze in his.

The pull of her blue-green eyes was like a tide, and he couldn’t resist the undertow. Slowly, he dipped his head and took her mouth again. Soft, seeking. A little rough.

A shudder rolled through her body, making him more aware of every inch of her tucked beneath him.

All that existed now was her breath on his skin and the way she searched his eyes like she’d been waiting for this moment as much as he had.

Her robe loosened as he carried her, the tie dangling by a single loop. The soft fabric slid over her shoulder as she shifted beneath him, revealing the delicate line of her collarbone and the faint flutter of her pulse.

Theo’s gaze followed the movement, his chest tightening, and he dipped his head to skim his lips over that spot. The sound she made—a soft, startled gasp—shot straight through him.

He braced his weight on one forearm and skimmed his free hand over her side. Under the silk of her robe the color of a rare pearl, her skin was warm and smooth, and he couldn’t stop tracing the path up to her ribs, memorizing the feel of her.

Juliette arched toward his touch, her fingers threading through his mussed hair as she slid her knee along his thigh, pulling him closer.

“Theo…” she murmured, her voice low and unsteady.

Hearing her say his name was possibly the one thing that could sever all self-control. But hearing her say it in that raspy tone dripping with desire stripped him raw.

He kissed her again, deeper, his tongue sweeping against hers. She pulled him down until his chest pressed fully to hers. Even though he was aware of how delicate she was, and he wanted to be careful with her, he couldn’t force himself to move away.

He wasn’t even sure when he started to see her this way. Maybe from the first moment he walked into that dressing room and she lifted her jaw in challenge. Maybe when he ran into a burning room to retrieve something precious to her.

He sure as hell failed at trying to ignore the curve of her hips when she walked or the way she closed her eyes and swayed when she played, like the music lived in her bones. But now, with her beneath him, her hands roaming along his back, any rules of propriety melted away.

Her robe slipped open completely as he shifted, revealing more of her soft curves in the faint light spilling from the window. Christ, she was even more lovely like this, undone, disheveled with that haze of want in her eyes.

He stilled for a heartbeat, his pulse rough.

“Say the word,” he murmured, his voice low and gritty. “And I’ll stop.”

Juliette’s lashes lowered in a languid sweep, her lips parting on the words. “Don’t stop.”

The whisper threaded through him like a current. He dipped his head again, kissing the hollow of her throat as he glided his fingers along her side, savoring the way she shivered beneath his touch.

She slid her fingers under his shirt, skimming her palms over the lines of his stomach, and he drew in a harsh breath. The sensation of her touch—soft, deliberate, without apology—stirred something primal inside him.

In one swift motion, Theo pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it aside. Her gaze drifted over him, her lips parting on a sigh or a gasp. The heat in her eyes made his pulse—and cock—hammer harder.

He caught her face gently in both hands and kissed her again, this time slower, deeper, letting it build instead of burning it all down at once.

Juliette mapped every inch of him she could reach—his shoulders, his arms, the ridges of his chest. Each touch of her fingertips lit another fuse, another spark of need.

He let his palm trail down the inside of her thigh, feeling her muscles tighten under his touch, and the sound she made—half sigh, half plea—nearly undid him.

Their movements grew less careful, more urgent, as the desire coiled tighter between them. The instant she curled her fingers under the waistband of his sweats, his body gripped tight in response.

He caught her wrist and dropped his forehead to hers as he forced himself to pause just long enough to ask, “You sure?”

Her response was a soft laugh against his lips, her throaty accent stroking along his nerves. “If you stop now, I might actually lose my mind.”

That was all he needed. He captured her mouth again, harder this time, and guided her back into the pillows as he explored her curves. The way she strained into the kiss, along with the warmth of her skin against his, unraveled his restraint thread by thread.

Every sound she made—every soft gasp, every whispered inhale—pulled him deeper, drove him closer to the edge.

It had been a long time for him, but he couldn’t recall ever wanting anybody with this throbbing ache.

The rhythm between them built slowly, like a crescendo in one of her performances. Gentle, teasing passes of his tongue turned to deeper plunges. Desire stretched taut until it nearly snapped.

Juliette’s hands roamed over his back, her nails grazing lightly down his spine, making his breath hitch.

She rolled her body against his again, and the move bared one breast to him. Small, perfect, the rose-colored tip just begging for his tongue.

He gave in to the pull. Ducking his head, he captured her hard nipple between his lips. Juliette let out a strangled noise, her short nails digging into his scalp. He tugged lightly on the bud before swirling his tongue around the tip.

“Theo!”

Spurred on by her cry, he sucked it lightly. When she clutched him hard to her, he lost his grip on control.

Turned out the dainty violinist liked it rough.

He grazed her nipple with his teeth, once, twice, then drew back to watch her cheeks flush with pleasure. Pulsing with need, he yanked open her robe completely, revealing both beautiful breasts and an expanse of smooth flesh leading to a pair of silky baby blue panties.

“Jesus, Juliette. You’re fucking gorgeous.”

She whimpered and guided him back to her breasts. With a rumble, he sucked, licked and teased her until she was rocking with the rhythm of their shared moans.

She hooked her leg around his, pulling him closer still, and he let himself sink between her thighs.

The warmth of her, the overwhelming pull of her, sliced through his haze of lust.

“Condom.” The word sounded rough and tainted in the quiet rasp of the moment.

She stilled beneath him. “In my bag. If you’ll let me up, I’ll get them.”

He didn’t move for a moment, not wanting to break this fragile link between them. It was entirely possible that after she climbed out of this bed, she’d change her mind.

Of course, he’d deal with the fallout—and blue balls—if that happened. But he didn’t want to see the sparks in her eyes fade.

Her thigh still rode along his hip, and he gripped it tight for a heavy beat. Their gazes held for two more beats before he rolled off.

In a graceful move, Juliette glided to her feet. Her robe hung off one sultry shoulder and her hips swayed a little more than usual as she moved to her bag at the end of the bed.

Seconds later, she drew out a packet and returned to him.

He didn’t like the idea of her needing these condoms for any man but him—but that was a thought to ponder another time.

He caught her around the waist and pulled her back down onto the mattress, her soft laugh spilling out as they landed. The sound sent a ripple of heat through him, head to toe, settling low and deep. God, he felt that laugh. Every inch of him did.

Whatever pause they’d had only amplified the need coiling between them. Juliette pressed the condom into his palm, her eyes dark with intent, and rose to meet him, her hips bumping his in a deliberate, teasing motion that stole his sanity.

Their mouths collided—hungry, unrestrained, the kiss carrying all the unspoken promises of what came next.

The world beyond the room could burn for all he cared. The ranch could burn to the ground.

Right this moment, there was only this. Only her .

* * * * *

Juliette’s body throbbed with a new thrum she’d never experienced before. Sure, she carried condoms with her from city to city and country to country. But who had time for flings?

She had time. Right now. For this fling with her hot bodyguard.

His mouth swept over hers with a new urgency. When he dragged his callused fingers over her belly and kept on sliding them right inside her panties, lightning flashed in her mind.

Blinding need engulfed her as he inched one long finger along the seam of her soaking pussy…then burrowed into her folds.

She cried out at the same time he growled. Their gazes locked, and Theo pressed down on her aching clit. Her hips came off the bed with a thrust that she couldn’t stop once he began stroking her.

Her insides gripped, and juices spilled out to guide his path.

“Christ!” He drove his finger inside her. Stretching, filling. Or so she thought. Then he added a second finger.

Sensation flooded, stealing every thought but of having this man moving inside her.

Abruptly, he drew his fingers free, pushed onto his knees and tore her panties down her hips. Twisting and turning, she helped him strip them off until the silk dangled off one ankle.

Her hands trembled as she reached for those delicious gray sweats that should be illegal on a man like Theo Malone. As she tugged them down, his eyes glittered dark gray, like a storm cloud about to break free.

When her fingertips met with the thick, rounded tip of his cock, he tore her hand away and fell on top of her, pinning her arms overhead. Slamming his mouth over hers, he kissed her like she’d never been kissed before.

It was a fury and an inferno, a tempest and a tidal wave, pulling her under so completely she forgot where she ended and he began.

By the time he tore his mouth from hers, they were both wild with need. He pushed his sweats and briefs off in one smooth motion, and she slipped out of her robe in a whisper of silk.

He stuck the condom packet between his perfect white teeth and tore it open. As he rolled it over his long, thick erection, she noticed how unsteady his hands were.

In a single, fluid motion, he was back on top of her, caging her in with the hard lines of his body. His breath came rough, matching hers, their chests meeting with every inhale.

“Hands shaking, Malone?” Her voice was soft but daring as she traced the ridges of his abdomen.

His mouth curved in a grin, his gaze locking on hers. “Not from nerves.” His rumble was low and gritty. “From wanting you. Bad.”

She bit her lip, satisfaction arcing through her. “Good. I’m not here for handshakes and small talk.”

He gave a low growl of a laugh, catching her wrists and pinning them gently but firmly above her head again. “Oh, you’re going to be shaking, but my hand won’t.” His mouth dragged along her jaw, his teeth grazing the sensitive spot beneath her ear.

Her answering moan seemed to spur him on faster. He skimmed his hand down her thigh, hooking behind her knee to draw her closer.

His stiff cock pressed against her wetness…and slid inside her in one swift glide.

She cried out as he filled her to the hilt.

Then he was moving, slow at first, teasing, making her gasp and grip at his shoulders until her legs tightened around him.

Any banter dissolved into moans and murmured words as the rhythm built. Every grinding thrust of his cock shot them higher. Theo shifted, and his rough fingers were unbelievably gentle as they closed on her chin to make her meet his gaze.

“Look at me,” he demanded in a gritty tone that spread shivers through every inch of her body.

And when she did, the heat between them blazed into something that burned through every shred of restraint left.

The tension between them stretched, every motion feeding the blaze until Juliette felt like her body might snap from the sheer force of it. Theo’s mouth trailed along her throat, the scrape of his stubble drawing a gasp from her as he murmured against her skin.

“God, Juliette…you’re driving me out of my damn mind.”

She arched beneath him, clutching at his shoulders as his pace grew more urgent. The mix of roughness and control—his grip on her hip, the firm way he kept her anchored beneath him—only pushed her further over the edge.

Her exhales came in broken sounds, every one punctuated by his soft, teasing murmurs between kisses.

He bit down on her bottom lip lightly and she swallowed a cry, answering by digging her fingers into his back.

His movements grew more intense, their kisses laced with raw hunger. She met him stroke for stroke, gasping his name when he hit just right, her legs tightening around him as the coil inside her snapped.

The world blurred. Her breath caught, her vision went white at the edges, and the sound that tore from her lips was unlike anything she’d heard herself make before. Theo followed her over seconds later, his forehead pressing to hers as a low, guttural sound rumbled from deep in his chest.

For a long moment, they stayed tangled like that—heaving chests, trembling muscles, the room thick with the heat they’d built.

Slowly, Theo shifted, rolling just enough to ease his weight off her without breaking the cocoon of his arm around her waist.

Silence filled the room, but it wasn’t the awkward kind Juliette had known with others. It was warm and steady, a blanket of calm wrapping around them. She could hear the slow beat of his heart under her ear, and for the first time she could remember, the quiet after didn’t feel like emptiness.

It felt like peace .

This was the kind of silence that had a music of its own.