Page 18 of It Takes a Thief (Ring of Thieves #2)

M erritt Fontaine is going to be my undoing.

Sweat slicks my brow as I thrust into her wet heat, trying not to hurt her more than I already have.

Her body fits my cock like a glove, and I can feel my control slipping.

My release is threatening, but I need to make sure she comes again before I lose control and jump the gun.

After this night is over, she’s going to be the most satisfied lover in the world. Hell, in the history of fucking.

I’ll make damn sure of it.

“Get there, Mer,” I growl, pumping harder and losing the rhythm I’ve been struggling to hang on to. The pressure is building at the base of my spine and I rub her swollen clit faster, trying to find the right speed to make her fracture for a third time.

Just when I think I’m not going to last, she lets out a sharp cry and bucks beneath me. Thank fuck . Balancing my weight on one elbow, I pull her leg around my waist and surge forward, burying myself to the hilt.

“ Fuck ,” I rasp, my balls tightening. A groan rips from my throat as a powerful orgasm tears through me. My entire body shudders so fucking hard, it’s like an earthquake just hit, and Merritt and I are the epicenter.

The exquisite pleasure roaring through my body is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Completely other-level. It throws me off my normal game and I lose myself in the amazing woman beneath me.

“So damn good,” I moan, then press a soft kiss to her parted lips.

Our tongues tangle lazily for a few moments, then I pull back and stare into her slightly dazed eyes.

Sex is always good. I enjoy it. Need it.

But what just happened between Mer and me feels—I swallow hard, lost in her baby blues—different.

I blink back to reality and slowly pull out of her body, mindful to take it easy since this is her first time and she might be sore. I’m feeling really fucking special that she chose me. Words elude me, so I drop a kiss on her shoulder before sliding out of bed to take care of the condom.

Once I’m out of sight, in her attached bathroom, I toss it in the garbage can, lean a hand against the wall and take a moment to compose myself.

What the fuck just happened?

My body is still tingling, every sense heightened, and my emotions feel stripped raw.

I’ve never felt so much before. It’s starting to freak me out.

Pulling in a deep breath, I glance at my reflection in the mirror, expecting to see someone else, maybe?

But it’s just me. Looking a little stunned, a lot disheveled and so fucking satisfied.

Whatever this is, it’ll pass , I tell myself, wetting a washcloth with warm water.

What choice do we really have? After delivering her safely to Arcadia, I’ll go back to Denver.

Getting attached or wanting more would be pointless.

Besides, it breaks another rule. I mixed business with pleasure so that rule is shot to shit.

Although, technically, I work for her parents.

At this point, splitting hairs and looking for loopholes is pointless. The best thing, the most logical thing, is to simply enjoy each other until we go our separate ways. Besides, she’s a princess with an entire kingdom; I’m a commoner and a thief. Merging those two worlds? Impossible.

When I walk back into the room, Merritt is sitting up, looking as wonderfully rumpled as me. She shoves her long hair back as I sit down on the edge of the bed. The mattress sags beneath my weight and I pull the sheet back.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” I gently clean between her legs. At first, she stiffens but gradually begins to relax.

“Guess it was unavoidable,” she murmurs, cheeks flushed.

When I’m done, she reaches for her robe, pulling it on as she slides out of bed. My gaze skims down her slim legs. Unbelievably, my cock twitches with interest. After just having the best sex of my life, he’s ready for round two.

She sends me a shy smile that melts my heart a little. At the same time, she brings out my dominant side. I’ve never been possessive over any woman before, but Merritt makes me want to drag her off to my cave and hide her from other men.

“Did I say I’m finished with you yet?” I wrap my arms around her and pull her against my naked body, eliciting a pleased moan from her pink lips.

“I need to use the bathroom. And finish the cupcakes, if you want to help?”

That’s right. It’s her birthday and we should celebrate it a little more before I drag her back to bed. Besides, I could eat a couple of cupcakes after all that hard work.

“Okay. Let’s refuel.”

“You might want to, ah, put on some pants?”

I give her a wicked grin. “Why bother? I plan on taking them off again very soon.”

“Linc!”

She sounds positively scandalized, and I chuckle, reeling her in for a steamy kiss.

As she melts into me and makes a sexy little sound in the back of her throat, hands winding around my neck, I realize she trusts me completely.

Everything seems to fade away as we focus on each other and the connection between us that keeps deepening.

It’s grown roots, and they’ve planted themselves in my heart.

I nip her bottom lip then suck on it. The playful move makes her pull back with a giggle.

“Okay, princess, you win. I’ll put on some pants and meet you downstairs.”

She nods, and I watch her saunter over to the bathroom, those hips swaying provocatively.

My mouth waters and I shake my head. It definitely looks like I’m going to be breaking another rule.

It’s kind of stupid, anyway, if I really think about it.

Who doesn’t do repeats? If something is that good, why not indulge some more?

Besides, it’s still the same day, so it should be considered a continuation or extension, I rationalize.

After slipping on a pair of low-slung pajama bottoms, I follow my nose to the kitchen, where another batch of cupcakes is already baking.

Mer strolls in a minute later and starts frosting the cooled ones.

Sitting down on the stool, I watch her work, really taking her in.

Maybe in an entirely new light. I’ve never seen anyone so pretty.

Almost doll-like. Her features are small and delicate, and everything about her is graceful and elegant, reminding me of a ballerina.

I wouldn’t mind if she’d sit and spin, er, pirouette, on a certain part of my anatomy.

“What’re you thinking?” she asks softly.

I reach for the other knife and dip it in the frosting, trying to clear the dirty thoughts from my mind. Or, at least put them on hold for a bit. I know she must be sore and, if I were a gentleman, I wouldn’t already be contemplating round two. And three and four.

I’m no gentleman, though.

“Just about how damn amazing you are,” I tell her, smearing the icing on the cupcake.

“You’re pretty amazing, too.” She presses her lips together, as though she isn’t quite sure if she should say more. But then she blurts out, “I had no idea it could be like that. Thank you.”

Is this woman real?

“I’m the one who should be thanking you .” I lower the knife and reach for her hand, tangling our fingers. Out of the blue, as though someone whispers it in my ear, I hear, “She’s the exception to the rule, Lincoln. Treat her like it.”

Ma? The words are so clear, I turn my head, almost expecting to see my mother standing in the kitchen with us. Impossible. She’s been gone for so long. But she’s also the only person who called me Lincoln.

There’s no one there, of course. I have this entire place rigged with cams and a kickass alarm system, so I’d know if anyone got inside. Although, I suppose you can’t keep a ghost out.

A little shiver runs down my spine.

I give my head a shake, let Merritt’s hand go and reach for the box of candles. Sticking one in the cupcake I just frosted, I look around. “Lighter?”

Merritt opens a drawer and pulls out a long candle lighter, handing it over. I click the switch, igniting the wick, and slide the cupcake in front of her.

“Happy Birthday, Mer. Make a wish.”

For a long moment, she stares at the flickering flame. Then she looks up at me, graces me with the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen and blows it out.

“Thank you, Linc,” she says softly. “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”

That strikes me as incredibly sad if it’s true. Or maybe I should take it as a compliment because we’ve been together all day—in quite a few ways.

“It’s not over yet.” I have unholy plans for her, and if I have my way, she’ll be screaming my name soon.

“Oh, really?” Her voice dips to a sexy pitch that makes my groin tighten.

“I’m starting to think you were right about not overthinking this, and we should just enjoy the next week and a half together.”

“But doesn’t that break your rules?” She swipes her index finger through the frosting on her cupcake then slowly licks it off. That small pink tongue darting in and out of her mouth gives me all kinds of wicked ideas. I can’t look away, and my dick turns rock hard.

“Fuck my rules,” I hiss, watching her dip her hand in the bowl. This time, she uses two fingers to scoop up the frosting. Before she can lick them clean, I grab her wrist and drag her closer, pulling her between my legs. Leaning forward, I wrap my lips around her fingers and suck them clean.

“You’re a very naughty man, Mr. Decker,” she says huskily.

“Oh, sweetheart, if you had any idea what’s been running through my head, you’d run far away.”

“I don’t think I would,” she murmurs.

Unable to miss the challenge in her voice, I dip my finger in the bowl, cover it in frosting, and hold it in front of her full, pink lips. “Suck it,” I command, and her pupils blow wide. I can barely see the blue of her irises as her desire takes over.

“So bad,” she whispers, then takes my wrist in both her hands and sucks my finger into her mouth. All the while, she keeps her eyes on mine, and it’s almost more than I can bear.

“Fuck, Mer.” My princess is wild and wicked, and I love it. As she suggestively cleans the frosting off my finger, I know I’m going to take her. Nothing could stop me. She’s too fucking irresistible.

I move fast, scooping her up into my arms, and she squeals in surprise.

Instead of going back upstairs, I take her into the living room and drop her over the back of the couch.

Before she can glance over her shoulder, I press the front of my body down the length of hers, brushing my lips against her ear, and rasp, “Let’s play a game. ”

“What kind of game?”

“The kind where I make you come. Again and again.” A tremor runs through her. “But there are rules.”

“Rules?”

I lick the shell of her ear. “You only get to say four words: harder, softer, faster, slower.”

“Um—”

“That’s not one of the words,” I interrupt and pinch her ass.

“Are you going to make me call you Daddy?”

A snort-laugh bursts from my throat. “No, sweetheart.”

I can hear the smile in her voice when she says, “Okay. I trust you, Linc.”

Even though I stole her innocence like the thief I am, her sweet voice is laced in it. My good, good girl.

Moving back, I drop to my knees and flip her robe up to expose her gorgeous, bare ass. I round my palm over a juicy globe then squeeze. She squirms slightly, hanging over the back of the couch.

“My beautiful princess, all spread out before me. I’m going to worship you.” I take a moment to admire the tantalizing view. Then I grasp her hips, pull her closer and sink my mouth right where it’s dying to go. My fingers find their way to her front and start playing with her clit.

She begins panting then lets out a moan and cries, “Harder!”

I can’t help but smile.

We’re going to have so much fun.