Page 85 of Ruthless Commander

She smiled at that, those dark eyes twinkling as her lips curled. Her gaze drifted, finding the open collar of my white shirt. “Delicious.”

“Which?”

She met my gaze. “Both.”

I placed the champagne and the bag of fresh oysters onto the table and turned. Against the backdrop of the fire, the ocean waited. Crashing, surging, blue with splashes of pink against the dimming sun.

We’d been here for a month. Long enough to forget who we were and where we’d come from…for a while at least. She lifted her bare foot, her skin beautiful and tanned, and ran it up the inside of my leg, crested the bend of my knee, and reached higher. “Always with the suits, Mateo,” she teased, those perfect eyes twinkling.

I stepped closer, reached out to grasp the half-full glass from her hand, and placed it on the table beside the sprawling outdoor chaise. “Is that a complaint?”

Her head tilted, following my movement. “Not at all.”

“Good,” I smiled, and captured the thin strap of her dress with a finger, dragging it down those stunning goddamn shoulders. “Because while you care about what I’m wearing, I’m only caring about the fact you’re wearing anything at all.”

“Is that so?” A devious look surged to the surface. “Well…” she said slowly, never once taking her eyes from mine. “On that note...”

In an instant, she surged from the chaise, barreling into me as she lunged, racing for salvation.

She should know better…

She made it to the edge of the white pebbles, far enough to feel the grass under her bare feet before I captured her, winding one arm around her waist and lifting her off her feet.

“Woman,” I growled as I heaved her into my arms.

But she kicked and bucked in my arms. Playing the part even as she fought to laugh.

I carried her like that, trapped by my arm as she flailed and snarled…well, tried to, at least.

She didn’t put up much of a fight as I carried her toward the door of our apartment and strode through it, heading for the bedroom.

She fucking consumed me, this woman.

Made me forget who I was…

When I was around her, I wasn’thim…that man born from necessity in a world filled with violence and death. I tossed her gently onto the bed, watching as she shoved, rolled, and sprang to her feet like a wildcat. Her dress moved with her, the thigh-high split giving me a glimpse of what I wanted.

And in an instant, that same hunger that had driven me most of my entire life came roaring back to the surface.

“You want some of this, Mateo?” She clenched her fists, her eyes as mesmerizing as the sky here on the other side of the world. Her smile was radiant, her lips curled with delight.

My body’s reaction to her was instant, hardening, thumping. My heart was like a goddamn thunderstorm in my chest. I looked to her fists, clenched and thrust out into the air as I stalked her around the king-sized bed. “Some?” I met her gaze. “Woman…I’ll be taking all of you.”

I moved faster than she could track, lunging around the end of the bed toward her. She let out a tiny squeal as I grabbed her, pulled her with me to the bed, and rolled, trapping her underneath. I slipped my legs between hers, then spread them, driving hers apart until her dress strained and could go no more…but it was enough.

There was barely any fight in her as I grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand. No fight at all when I reached down and cupped my hand against her sex. “And when I say all…I mean all.”

I teased her, rubbing the outside of her sheer black panties.

The woman was insatiable…and warm.

I slipped my finger under the edge of her elastic, finding her slick and ready. I lowered my head to whisper against her ear. “You’re wet?”

Her hips surged upwards. “Always when I’m with you.”

With a growl, I shoved her panties down, bending far enough until I could tear them free, then reached for the zipper of my pants.

“Always with the suits, Mateo,” she repeated as I pulled my zipper down and surged between her legs.