Page 33 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

WILLOW

“Something’s up with Bex.”

Talon remains quiet, his fingers twined with mine, his thumb running across my wrist.

“She had this mega-insightful revelation tonight about adoration and love. Talking about how Harley, Rowan, and Jewls’ relationships are what romance novels are made of.

She stuck up for Ace and his sly method of getting Harley out of Tom’s.

Which is kinda sweet in a barbaric, overbearing way.

” I prattle on about Bex’s little speech and stop short when I almost blab about the sex conversation.

Still no reaction from him.

He drives around to his entrance and hops out. “Stay here.”

He punches in the code to his door and Wolf runs out, doing a sprint around the car before running through the open gate to the backyard. Talon closes the gate and comes to open my door, scooping me into his arms and carrying me inside.

“Don’t move.”

The brash instruction takes me by surprise as he leaves.

I realize he hasn’t said a word since we left the bar. Is he pissed we stayed longer than he wanted?

Shit, have I already screwed this up?

Tom wasn’t wrong. All the members from Sayge arrived along with a few other famous musicians from the Label.

Ace spread the word about Harley’s last night and she had dozens of co-workers and friends show up in support.

I met more people in one night than I had in the last year. The party went on and Talon never pushed to leave, seemingly enjoying himself.

The only hiccup in the evening was when Nate, a member of Sayge, pulled me into his arms in greeting and held on. There was an audible growl as Talon extracted me from him with a glare so lethal a chill spread across my skin.

Nate was undeterred, grinning like a man with a death wish.

That was the only time I wasn’t connected to Talon’s side.

After our racy display of affection and his promise of what was to come, I was anxious.

Too anxious.

Now that we’re here, reality hits. My nerves kick into overdrive.

Earlier was a spur-of-the-moment reaction. The feelings I’d been suppressing came to the surface. There was no more denial.

But what if I misread his meaning earlier? What if it is way too soon?

He walks back in, ripping his shirt over his head and throwing it to the side.

My mouth goes dry at the sight I’ll never get tired of. I scan over his sculpted frame, my fingers twitching to run over every inch of skin.

He stops in front of me, my hands reflexively going to his chest.

The intensity in his eyes does nothing to help the electricity buzzing through my system.

“Wolf?”

“He’s settled in the living room with Mack.”

“He’s probably looking for me.”

“He’s passed out.”

“Doubtful, you know how he likes to sleep near me.”

“We took the dogs on a run this afternoon. They’re both wiped.”

“Oh.”

“You nervous, baby?”

“I-I-I—” the damn stutter! I swallow the dryness in my throat and try again. “I’m… no.”

“You sure?”

“I’m worried about Bex.” Even to my ears, it sounds weak.

“Bex’s revelation wasn’t mega-insightful.

Everyone who comes into contact with those couples knows it’s more than adoration and love.

It’s an obsession that lives inside. Never read a romance novel so I’ll have to take her word for it.

Ace didn’t use any underhanded methods to get Jay out of that job.

He’s been telling her for months he wanted her to quit. He took matters into his own hands.”

“That’s oddly beautiful.”

“Nothing odd about it. Now that we settled that, anything else you want to jabber on about to cover up the fact you’re freaking out?”

“I’m not freaking.” My damn squeak gives me away.

“Fucking cute when you’re ruffled.”

“I’m—” He shuts me up by taking my face in his hands. I’m instantly captivated by the same breathtaking swirl of colors in his eyes from earlier.

“Gorgeous, smart, kind, so goddammed perfect I wonder what I did to deserve you.”

“I’m not perfect.”

“You’re perfect to me. I’ve been in some shitty fucking situations in my life. Walked away from missions knowing luck was on my side.”

My eyes and nose sting and his face becomes fuzzy.

“I love you, Willow. Never thought it could happen, counted my blessings for the life I have. Turns out that luck wasn’t done. It brought you to me.”

His thumb catches the tears that fall as my vision clears. I suck in a shaky breath, knowing everything in my world has changed. “I love you, too. I fought against the feelings because I knew from our first kiss you could wreck me. Somewhere along the way, you obliterated all those fears.”

My heart booms in my chest, my hands tremble against his skin, and my knees threaten to give out. Nothing I felt in my past compares to what is happening right now. “I know without a shadow of a doubt, you are the only man I’ve ever loved.”

His eyes flash with understanding before heating. He backs us up until my legs hit the bed. As much as I want the promise of what’s to come, I can’t stop the words from pouring out.

“You’re much more than a unicorn among men. You say luck wasn’t done, and you’re right. Because as wonderful as my life has been, having you is a million times better. As much as I hate you were hurt, that was what brought you into the clinic that day.”

“I would have found you, Willow. The night you ran away from me at Tom’s, I had your information in under an hour. I was coming for you, but like I said, fate kicked in.” His admission should shock me, but it doesn’t.

“Spoken like a true stalker.”

“Best kiss of my life that night. I wasn’t stupid enough to let you go.”

“Thank you for not letting me chase you away.”

“Princess, you still don’t get it. I wasn’t going anywhere. Lost some good men, watched two of my brothers get shot, took the risks regardless of the danger. All the dark led me to a blue bar and the woman who would be my world.”

My world … the words slide through me and wind directly around my soul. Suddenly, the space between us is too much.

Pure, raw need surges through my bloodstream.

I tip up, capturing his mouth. He growls his approval, lowering me to the bed.

The next few seconds are a frenzy. I barely register the sound of ripping until the cool air covers my skin and my dress is gone.

Next is my bra and panties until I’m naked and writhing.

My fingers fumble with his jeans until he takes mercy, breaking apart and tearing them off.

When I catch his gaze, my world spins.

Carnal hunger, savage desire, need—all aimed at me.

This is not a man who is about to have sex… he’s a man on the brink of losing his mind.

I did this.

He brings his mouth back to mine, kissing me slower this time, positioning himself between my thighs.

I try to savor the moment, but my body has other ideas. Shifting into position, I feel the smooth skin, the hardness of his length, and the cool metal balls. My hips slam up, taking him all in one stroke.

I scream into his mouth, the sting immediately turning to pleasure.

“Fuck.” He tears his mouth from mine, his eyes roaming over my face.

I cut him off from asking if I’m okay. “You may not have the taste of me on your tongue, but you’re deep inside me. I’m giving you everything this is. I love you.”

His words from earlier sink in and he closes his eyes. In a flash, he’s on his back, his gaze blazing. He bucks up and I moan at the sensation.

He pumps up, gripping my hips. “Ride my cock. Let me watch you take me. Say it again.”

“I love you.”

My hands brace on his chest, matching his rhythm until he grazes over the spot that has me trembling. I whimper and a ghost of a grin crosses his lips, knowing he’s got me.

One hand moves to my chest, pinching my nipple with a sharp pain. I lean into his touch, changing my angle and rolling my hips, taking him deeper.

He slams up, over and over until sweat rolls down my neck.

“Give me this one, baby.”

I shake my head, refusing to give in, even though my insides are ready to detonate.

His eyes flare at my defiance and he increases his speed.

I lock onto his chest, trying not to focus on the ripples of his muscles, the ink taunting me to run my mouth over every swirl, or the fascination of him laid below.

It doesn’t work. My brain is a jumbled mess of his powerful thrusts, his continuous caress of my breasts with the tingle of his fingers across my nipples.

I close my eyes, willing myself to hold on.

“Open your eyes, Princess. Let me see you come apart on my dick.”

I ignore him, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out. It takes all my effort to clench my muscles as hard as possible around him. A loud roar echoes around the room, and without warning, I’m flying backward, my eyes locking again with his.

Talon hovers over me, his hands tangling in my hair, propping on his elbows. I’m transfixed by the shade of his pupils, the long lashes close enough to brush with my own.

“I love you.” His words glide through me.

His strokes grow more relentless, forcing an orgasm so mind-blowing, I splinter under his stare.

My cries are drowned by his mouth, him repositioning us back up so I’m perched astride him. His hands go to the base of my skull, gripping gently as he slows his thrusts.

“My choice, the lights will always be on. I want to see you taking my cock every single time.”

The statement seems odd until he continues.

“You want it hard, slow, or fast, it will never be a bing-bang. If I could live inside your pussy, I would.”

My stomach dives. “H-h-how’d you?—?”

He rams up, the friction building again. “There is no one before. In my mind, you were born to be mine.”

“I am yours.”

“I’ll take care of you, forever.”

“Forever.”

“I want you to move in.”

His statement slams around my already muddled head. It’s too much. He’s cocooned me to him, moving in a way I can’t form words. My blissful euphoria increases as his movements own me.

I want to argue, sass back, tell him it’s too soon—but words fail.

Everything about this feels right.

I belong to this man.

“Want your clothes in my closet, your car in my driveway, and your ass in my bed every night.” He drives up, scraping the perfect spot, sending carnal need coursing to every nerve ending. My body is completely in tune with his movements, reacting on instinct.

“Not yet, it’s too soon.” The throaty rasp is a feeble response, but it’s all I can muster with my one-functioning brain cell.

He grins against my lips, his eyes dancing. “Keep resisting, babe. Makes convincing you much sweeter.”