Page 25 of Midnight’s Captive (Stroke of Midnight #2)

“Where are we going?” Ash asked as the doors closed behind them, cutting off the sounds of the bar.

Taryn paused and swung around to face him. “Back here,” she said.

“Oh, okay.” A smile slowly crossed his face and his eyes warmed with desire.

That smile did her in. Crooked, a little sly. It drove her wild. Before she could even think through her actions, her body took control. Hands on his chest, she pressed him into the wall.

“All righty then,” he murmured.

Days. That’s how long she’d been thinking about this. Now here he was. Lean and a bit taller than her, with muscles she hadn’t expected.

Beneath her hands, he was warm, solid. She grabbed his shirt and rose up onto her tiptoes. His arm circled her waist and pulled her closer.

“This okay?” she asked, her mouth inches from his.

“Yes.” His response feathered across her lips, their breath mingling.

Taryn pressed her lips against his.

It was supposed to a quick kiss. A taste to tide her over until they were in a more private place. Her office. Her room. She didn’t care which.

His lips were firm against hers. Firm but soft, too. She nibbled at his lower lip. His groan made her smile.

Her palm cupped his jaw. She rubbed her thumb along his cheek, skating back and forth over the edge of his shadow, enjoying the play of textures against her skin.

He slid one hand from her waist to the curve of her butt and tugged her closer.

It was a surprising and audacious move. One that Taryn had practically torn guys’ arms off for in the past. Tonight, she didn’t give a damn. She wanted his hands on her ass.

She wanted his hands everywhere.

But not quite yet.

Taryn brushed her lips over his.

Once.

Twice.

This time he nipped at her upper lip and she squeaked in surprise. The rumble of his laughter reverberated through her whole body.

Oh, game on , she thought in delight.

She pressed her mouth deeper against his. Her right arm remained on his chest while she curled her non-powered one around the back of his neck. It had been so long that she didn’t want to lose control. At least, not like that.

He echoed her move, sliding the hand on her waist up the curve of her back, gently trailing his fingers up her spine, her neck. Cupping the back of her head, he speared his fingers into her hair.

Mouth to mouth. Breath to breath. She wanted to devour him. She angled her head and deepened the kiss.

The hand on her butt tightened and pulled her flush against him. Her pelvis pressed against his, and it was impossible to miss the hard length of his erection. She pressed closer, rubbing against him.

He broke the kiss with a groan. “Stop,” he said. “We’ve got to stop.”

The word registered and Taryn immediately pulled back. She couldn’t stop her whimper of disappointment, though. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

She stepped back—tried to anyway—but his hands held her close.

His breath whooshed in and out. So did hers.

“I’m fine. Great even,” he said with a smile, “but you didn’t intend for this to happen in the hallway, did you?”

With her head still spinning, Taryn wasn’t even sure what “this” was. She’d intended to kiss him. Maybe more. But ramped up on adrenaline, victory, and desire, the kiss had escalated faster than she’d expected.

“You’re right,” she said as soon as she caught her breath. “I hadn’t planned on attacking you in the hallway.” This time when she stepped back, he let her. Her gaze dropped to the evidence of his arousal, then surged upward again. “You’re too damn attractive for your own good,” she growled. She hadn’t been that swept away in, well, ever.

“Backatcha.”

His words brought a blush to her cheeks and sent a glow of pleasure rushing through her body. She received compliments daily from patrons who wanted to win the Jack’s favor. They rolled off her, because as sincere as they might be, they were still looking for something.

Sure, Ash wanted something too. But his ragged breathing and obvious arousal weren’t just business.

She smiled at him, letting him see how much she appreciated his words.

“Damn, girl,” he said. “Wait ’til we’re out of the hallway.”

She’d been about to swoop in for another kiss, but stilled. Right. Out of the hallway.

“Yeah, um, this way.” Taryn released his shirt and smoothed out the wrinkled fabric. It was polite. Not because she wanted to run her hands over his chest again.

His hands wrapped around hers. “Hallway bad,” he said with a chuckle.

“Hallway bad,” she repeated. She freed one hand and left the other where it was while she decided where to take him.

“It’s okay if you changed your mind,” he said.

“No, I haven’t changed my mind.” She met his gaze, let him see the undiminished attraction.

Her office was closest. Her bedroom, on the other hand, well, it had a bed. The bed sounded so good, it was probably undermining her judgment.

Office it was.

With their hands linked together, Taryn led him down the hall.

Quick steps took them to her office, and through the door, which she took care to lock behind them. Then she pressed him against the door.

With a growl, his mouth was back on hers.

“I can’t get enough.” He dropped his head into the crook of her neck, pressing his lips to the sensitive skin just below her jaw.

Her head dropped back with a moan as he peppered little kisses on her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed. His breath was warm through the layers she wore.

Wanting—needing—more, Taryn tried to shrug out of her coat but it caught at her elbows. “Dammit,” she complained, a husky whine in her voice.

“Problem?” Ash looked up from where he was nibbling her neck, that sly smile in his eyes.

“Help me.” She wiggled her shoulders, trying to shake the fabric loose. All it did was rub her breasts against his chest.

His gaze dropped to the view. “I’m not seeing a problem at all.” His laugh was pure evil. Sexy, sexy evil. His gray eyes met hers, laughter and desire burning in their depths. “More of an opportunity.”

With her arms pinned, breasts thrust forward, she was at his mercy. She wasn’t helpless—she could rip through the fabric with her cyberarm—but freeing herself wouldn’t be instantaneous. Taryn waited for the panic to set in.

It never came.

She wasn’t worried about getting free. She wanted to get closer.

Ash didn’t react the way she’d expected. Didn’t immediately take advantage of the situation. Instead, he two-stepped them away from the door. Then he circled her slowly, a predator studying his prey.

Taryn had never considered hackers a threat until now. Their crimes weren’t generally violent. They weren’t trafficking women or robbing people on the streets.

Today, though... Ash was proving himself a predator.

She shouldn’t find that so fucking hot.

Taryn stood still, letting him look his fill.

The little hairs on the back of her neck quivered in awareness. He was behind her.

He stepped close, his body heat warming her—burning her—even though he hadn’t touched her.

She reached behind her with searching fingers. Between her coat and his caution, all she grasped was air.

He laughed, a wicked, wicked sound.

Chills shivered up her spine.

“It’s killing you not to turn around, isn’t it?” His voice close to her ear, his body still not touching her.

“Yes.” Holy shit. Was that her voice? All breathy and husky?

“Thank you for trusting me.” He stepped closer before he said it. The whisper of his words against her neck nearly made her jump.

She closed her eyes and concentrated on the sensations coursing through her. Her belly clenched in anticipation. Her pulse beat rapidly. She wanted...

“I want to kiss you,” he whispered.

“Thank god.” Because she wanted to kiss him too. “More kissing, less talking.”

He laughed.

She could get addicted to his laugh. It made her all shivery inside.

“I like watching you tremble with anticipation.”

Oh my god, she was going to kill him. Or he was going to kill her.

“I like watching you think about me kissing you.” His words were warm against the delicate skin of her ear. His tongue flicked out, licking the shell of her ear. “I like watching you tremble as you keep strict control over your body. It makes me think about making you lose control.”

Heat flooded her body, settling between her thighs, and she whimpered. She wanted that. All of it.

“But damn, I can’t stop thinking about kissing you.” His arm circled her and he ran the pad of his thumb running over her bottom lip.

She nipped at him.

That laugh again.

She squeezed her thighs together, clenching internal muscles against the ache he had created.

His thumb passed over her lips again before his hand slid down to cup her chin.

“Gotta kiss you,” he growled. He released her chin and spun her around.

She wobbled, but he was there to keep her upright. Steadying her. Pulling her close.

This kiss was deeper, darker than the first. His mouth devoured hers, teasing and tempting her with nips and licks, soft caresses and sharp little nibbles.

“Want to touch you,” she groaned when he paused for a breath.

His hands caressed her arms, working the coat over her elbows, his touch steady and firm. Finally— finally! —her arms were free.

Her jacket hit the floor with a thud. Her hands flew up and tangled in his hair.

“You. Are. An. Evil. Bastard.” She punctuated each word with another kiss. Then on “bastard,” she swallowed his laugh and kissed him like her life depended on it.

He didn’t respond. Which was fine. Because he was still kissing her.

His hands roamed her body, cupping and shaping her curves. He growled.

Palms gripping the backs of her thighs, he picked her up.

Gasping in surprise, she wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles. The move hitched her up, pressing her breasts flush against his chest and her core against his erection. In their new position, they’d practically be having sex if their clothes weren’t in the way.

Using her crossed legs, she levered her body up, then back down, rubbing the junction of her thighs against him.

So good. So damn good.

Ash kept one hand on the back of her thigh and clamped the other on her ass. He used his grip to hold her still. Hold her pressed against him.

She was dying to move. If she couldn’t do it that way...

Taryn clenched her inner thigh muscles. In and out against the hot, hard ridge of him.

He tore his mouth away from hers. “Are you trying to kill me?”

She loosened her arms from around his neck and leaned back to look at him. His eyes were hazy, half-lidded. His chest rose and fell like a bellows.

She shrugged. “Would that be such a bad way to go?”

His gaze never left hers and he peered straight into her soul. “Fuck no,” he said, right before he captured her mouth again.

Hands locked under her ass for support, Ash started walking. With every step, she rubbed against him. Heaven and hell combined, it didn’t last nearly long enough.

When they stopped, he tilted her backward a little. His mouth captured her squeak of surprise and she tightened her arms around his neck.

Her tailbone landed on a solid surface and his hands slid down the backs of her thighs as he released her.

Missing his touch, missing his kiss, she fluttered her eyes open to see what was happening. He’d set her in the middle of her desk.

“This is perfect.” His sigh feathered against the delicate skin of her neck. His tongue skimmed over her flesh, then he nipped her with his teeth.

The slight sting of his teeth sent her reeling back into her own private hell.

Her stomach churned and she frantically pressed her hands against his shoulders. “I can’t.”

He stepped back instantly.

She scrambled off the desk as soon as he was out of the way. Memories assailed her. Too many times a sharp bite on her neck had ended with her bent over the desk or under it, servicing the last Jack. The man who’d owned her.

“Are you okay?” The question was laced with concern.

Breathing hard and choking back bile, she couldn’t answer, just shook her head.

“What just happened?”

She shook her head again.

How to even start? The feelings were too raw, too present, for her to deal with.

Here she was, the big bad Jack and a nip on the neck had sent her running like a new girl on the street. It wasn’t even the same desk!

Taryn wrapped her arms around her middle. God, she’d thought she was over it. Thought she was past those terrible years when the man she’d thought was her savior had turned into her captor. Turned out, only his death had made him a savior.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, his voice soft, gentle. He stood on the opposite side of the desk, giving her plenty of room.

That was good. She needed time to get her head straight. He looked so worried.

“Bad memories,” she rasped out.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Um. That would be a no. Possibly a never. Or at least never again.

She’d gotten therapy when the old Jack had died. Life was overwhelming in those early days, with the stress of keeping the bar going and the worry that people would find out he’d lied when he said they were married.

“You should go,” she said, instead of trying to explain her complicated past. Her complicated emotions.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded her head vigorously. “Please.” Yes. Right now, she was sure. Later, she’d probably miss him. Or maybe she’d be cussing herself out for letting it get this far. Or for not being over it.

He studied her, and Taryn couldn’t imagine what he saw. Wished he hadn’t seen the woman beneath the Jack’s armor.

“I’m sorry I brought up bad memories.”

“Me too.” The words slipped out. He winced and it felt like kicking a puppy.

God, she was a mess. She needed to be alone to get her head together. He seemed to understand.

“I’m going to go,” he said.

She nodded.

She stood between him and the door. When he moved forward, she stepped to the side, circling around, keeping a comfortable distance between them.

The closer he got to the door, the closer she moved toward her desk. She swallowed hard and didn’t look at the desk. It was the last place she wanted to be right now, but it was the only way to maintain a safe distance.

“Good night,” he said. “Take care of yourself.”

“Night.” She spoke because he deserved an answer.

He slipped through the door, closing it behind him and leaving her trapped in her office with memories she thought she’d dealt with.