Page 20

M addox

Nothing good would come of this.

There was no doubt in my mind, no need to second guess myself.

By allowing another taste, another touch, I was throwing away every promise I’d made to myself.

I was also placing her life in jeopardy.

The night before I’d thought an anomaly, but with the intensity of the vibrations shared between us, I knew better.

She should have realized by now I was a broken man, enough so the thought of allowing me into her life should terrify her.

But she wasn’t.

She couldn’t care less about my past or my misdeeds.

Or the darkness festering inside of me, keeping me locked in agonizing chains. She thought she could handle what I had to offer. She believed she could fight the demons if only for one night.

What if she was wrong?

All she wanted was to create acts of sin together.

As the towel slipped to the floor, I found myself holding my breath.

“Charmaine. You don’t want this.” I gazed down to her feet and felt my entire body tighten. If I had any decency left inside of me, I’d grab the towel, toss it in her direction, and walk out of the room.

But it appeared I had none left.

“Maddox.” She bit her lower lip and squeezed my arm.

I stared down at her hand, willing myself to walk away.

I didn’t.

“I’m filthy,” I told her, marveling in her sweet scent.

“I don’t care.” She inched closer, taking several shallow breaths. “I like being dirty.”

Fuck this. My control was slipping.

“I can’t protect you like this. Not when we’re… intimate.”

“Yes, you can. You can do anything. You’re powerful. You’re strong. You saved me.”

I scrubbed my jaw with one hand and gripped her waist with the other. The temptation was too intense.

“I’m no good for you. I’m not a good man.”

She laughed, the lilting sound like tiny hammers smashing against my brain, chipping away at the armor I held tightly around me.

“Maybe I need a little bad in my life. Maddox. Please.”

There was nothing left, my resolve trashed. With her. Because of her.

In need of her.

“There’s no going back,” I growled. “I won’t be gentle.”

“I don’t want you to be. Please, just fuck me. Fuck me hard and fast. Make me feel alive.”

I wrapped my arm around Charmaine’s waist, pulling her to her toes. With another deep breath, I offered one last chance to change her mind.

She pursed her lips instead.

As soon as I captured her mouth, she melted into me, her voluptuous body molded against my large one perfectly. I slid my hand down her back, enjoying the feel of her skin tickling my fingers. She slipped her arms around my neck, arching her back as she tangled her fingers in my hair.

The scent of citrus from her shower filled my nostrils. I was instantly intoxicated, the longing unbridled. Nothing could stop me at this point. Not a goddamn thing.

I’d never wanted a woman as much as I wanted her.

I lifted her off the floor, easing my hand under her buttocks. She felt too damn good in my arms, as if she’d been created just for me.

She was perfect in every way, her full breasts and rosy nipples making my mouth water while the thought of her long legs wrapped around me forced my cock at full attention.

Her moan fueled me. I thrust my tongue past her lips, tasting her sweet essence, something I’d thought of far too often. She rubbed her hand across my shoulder and provided me with a fulfilled desire by wrapping her legs around my thighs.

I gripped one leg, marveling at the softness of her skin.

Every sound she made was sweet music, every movement of her lithe body boosting a need I’d thought long dead.

As her scent washed over me, I knew I should pull away. But I couldn’t. She was too much of a powerful draw, the thought of ignoring my needs impossible. Every line I’d placed for myself had just been shattered.

Being able to dominate her tongue was incredible, the way she shifted back and forth creating friction eliciting sadistic thoughts. Maybe she thought me a hero.

If so, she’d thought wrong.

I was nothing but a monster determined to take what I wanted.

Being able to kiss her long and hard, roughly devouring her mouth was more than just a sin.

Her soft mews dragged me from the moment of darkness and I broke the kiss, cupping the side of her face.

Panting, she dragged the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip and I noticed a drop of blood along the split. Another wave of anger tore through me. I should have taken my time tearing each soldier apart limb from limb instead of allowing them the mercy I’d given.

She smiled when I issued a single growl, surprised when I slipped my tongue through the blood. Her laugh was full of anticipation, the light in her eyes adding to her beauty.

I fisted her hair, pulling back her head and exposing her long neck. Every inch of her was stunning, her hourglass figure exactly what I craved.

I ran my tongue along the underside of her jaw while she took several short breaths.

The taste of her skin sizzled my senses.

As soon as I bit her neck, she stiffened, her elevated pulse drumming in my ears.

There was such a sweet innocence about her, yet her need for retaliation simmered just beneath her soft skin.

My mind was spinning out of control with dark and contorted needs. I rolled my lips down from her shoulder, flicking my tongue across her nipple.

“Oh, God.” Her soft moan echoed in my ear. I nipped the tender bud, enjoying the way she shivered in my hold.

After biting down on her hardened bud, I sucked on it, enjoying watching the way her face shifted from pain to pleasure. I moved to her other taut bud, flicking my tongue across.

When I pinched instead of sucked, her body bucked against mine.

She tasted so sweet, her lingering scent intensifying the need.

The hunger already out of control, I slipped my arm under her, lifting and cradling her against my chest. As I took the two steps toward the bed, she darted her eyes back and forth.

My ability to resist was gone and I refused to play a tortured soul. I lowered her onto the bed, purposely running my fingers down her face and neck while taking several deep breaths. How long had it been since I’d even basked in a woman’s beauty?

Long enough my balls were aching more than my cock.

After taking another look at the bedroom door, I placed my weapon on the dresser. Fuck, this was wrong, the timing horrific. If anyone came through that door, I wouldn’t be able to react fast enough.

Even that didn’t stop me from satiating my needs.

I stripped off my shirt, loathing the fact I was filthy while she was clean. It was a stark reminder that we were two different people from different worlds.

I’d sully hers while she’d bring innocence to mine.

One last chance to pull away. One last chance to keep her shielded from the man I’d become.

The moment I jerked off the remaining clothes, I crawled onto the end of the bed, searching her eyes the same way she was doing to mine. I hesitated, swirling the tip of my finger around her thigh. Waiting. Maybe hoping she’d wake up and realize this wasn’t what she wanted.

Yet the moment she reached for me, the last shred of decency inside me vanished.

I gathered her legs into my arms and slowly lowered my head.

Then I tasted her.

Charmaine

The man was absolutely gorgeous.

Six and a half feet of sculpted muscles.

Two hundred and thirty pounds of structured steel.

All wrapped in a body meant for sin and a face meant to grace the pages of some rugged mountain men magazine. He was surly, a control freak, and would never allow anyone to get close to him.

But as eye candy, he was the perfect remedy to the anger and anguish that had almost consumed me.

And his cock? Huge, long, and thick. No man should be so well endowed.

I’d allowed myself the sheer moment of enjoyment, flicking my eyes down as far as I could see. I’d admired every muscle separately, every scar with wonder. He had a story to tell, one of endurance and pain, solidarity to his team yet loneliness.

Much the same way as I felt.

I sucked in my breath because of the way my body reacted, the scent of my desire wafting into the air. Of course he sensed my condition, the slight smirk on his face seconds before a clear indication.

Now he was making me feel alive just like I’d wanted. Like I’d almost begged him for.

Oh, God, his tongue was a creation of beauty and I was fully aroused, my nipples aching from where he’d tormented them.

As soon as Maddox’s tongue flicked across my clit, I pushed up from the bed. Immediately, I drifted into an altered state. One where the horrors of what I’d seen and heard no longer existed. One where the danger wasn’t real.

And one where the only thing that mattered was the two of us sharing a moment of passion fulfilling intense needs.

Yet the struggle was real.

For both of us.

We had no business touching or kissing.

No right to interfere with this mission, which could still have an unfavorable outcome. But here we were, two people desperate to feel again.

So I tossed all the concerns aside, spreading my legs wide open for him. I turned my head to the side, staring out the slender crack in the drapes at the waning sun. Every touch of his fingers heated my skin. Every swipe of his tongue invigorated my senses.

When he pulled the tender tissue of my aching bud into his mouth, I bit back a moan. The walls were thin, sound creating additional danger.

He swiped his tongue down my pussy, taking his time as he lapped up my juice. I was already wet, so much so my pussy was throbbing. My core was on fire, tingling sensations sweeping along every inch of my body.

And just like the dream, this was perfect.

He spread my pussy lips open with his thumbs, taking his time as he licked me. There was something so incredibly powerful about the guttural sounds coming from deep within him. How was it possible I’d instantly disliked the man and now craved him as I did air to breathe?