Cherished (Masters and Mercenaries #7.5)(21)

“I think I’m always somewhat submissive in bed. That might be part of the problem.”

“It isn’t if your partner understands and knows how to control the situation.” His hand was on her leg and she couldn’t help but look down at it. Big hands. Strong hands. He used those hands to heal people. What would they feel like on her skin? “You control this, Bridget. If you don’t like where my hands are, I’ll move them. But I can’t know unless you tell me.”

“I like them.” Perhaps some bravery was called for. “I wasn’t thinking about moving them. I was thinking about how they would feel on my bare skin.”

He moved his hand up and under her blouse, not too high. He stayed on her waist, but she could feel the heat flowing from him to her. “Relax. This only goes as far as you want it. I want you to want me, Bridget, and not because you’re looking for a husband. Not because you think giving yourself to me in bed will manipulate me into doing something.”

She stiffened. “I wasn’t trying to manipulate them.”

“You wanted them to love you. You should know from the get-go that I don’t believe in love. Going to bed with me isn’t going to get you some romantic drivel from me.”

A little of the glow faded. “Fine. You’re the one who seems so transactional. What does it buy me?”

“Besides pleasure?”

“I might get that and I might not.” History taught her sexual pleasure wasn’t worth much.

“I will grant you your skepticism. All right. Going to bed with me buys you my loyalty and commitment for the duration of the contract, and if we end up discovering we enjoy the relationship, then we can renegotiate the contract. I won’t sleep around. I won’t cheat and I will do my very best to be a good partner to you.”

It wasn’t romantic. He kind of sucked at that part and she couldn’t deny that there was a piece of her that deeply wanted the romantic aspect of a relationship. She wrote romances for a living, but the truth was it was the best offer she’d had in forever. Maybe ever. At least it was honest. “I won’t cheat and I’ll do my best to be a good partner to you.”

His hand tightened on her waist and he sighed as though relieved. “Good. Then come here and kiss me. We’ll go slow, but you have to talk to me. You have to tell me what you like and what doesn’t feel good. There might be times that I ask you to give something a couple of minutes because it takes a while to get used to the sensation, but you’re always in control.”

Because he was in control. That was the way it was between a man and woman. It was a primitive thing. He was bigger and stronger and could take what he wanted, but he was in control of those urges in a way none of her previous lovers had been. They hadn’t controlled themselves long enough for her to come to real pleasure.

“Tell me what you like.” His hand came to the nape of her neck, drawing her mouth to his.

“I like my vibrator.” They were so close that their noses touched, a sweet sensation. “It’s been my main lover for the last year or so.”

“You like a vibe, huh?” He chuckled, and she felt it on her skin as he kissed the bridge of her nose. “I might like to watch you f*ck that vibrator. I might like to watch you f*ck in and out of your * with it.”

“Oh, I like the dirty talk,” she admitted because he would find that out soon enough.

“Good because I definitely like to talk dirty. Tell me something, sweetheart. Is your * getting wet?” His lips touched hers, just a caress, a brushing of flesh. “Do you think your little * is getting ready for me?”

This was so serious because the answer was yes. She was going to start an affair with a man who didn’t even believe in love, but there was no going back. She was an adult and her eyes were wide open. Well, they were actually half closed in a kind of aroused daze, but she knew what she was doing. She was going to sleep with Will Daley. “Yes, Sir.”

His hips shifted up. “Yeah, that does something for me.” His cock was pressed against her backside, his hips moving. “I like the way you say ‘Sir.’ And I definitely like the way you feel in my arms. Has anyone told you how soft you are, Bridget?”

She wanted to snort and laugh, but he’d caught her and she was somehow under a spell where she forgot to be dismissive and was forced to think about her next words. “No. I don’t think I’m soft. I’m hard. I’m a little jagged if you want to know the truth, and I worry I cut people up when I don’t really mean to.”

His hand closed on her breast. “You are soft. You were born that way, but someone taught you it wasn’t okay. I want you to be soft with me. I want you to feel safe enough to be soft around me.”

His mouth closed over hers and she let her arms drift around, completely willing to give over to him for the moment.





Chapter Five





Will was going to go insane. Bridget Slaten was going to drive him out of his ever-loving mind if she wiggled that hot ass of hers over his cock again. He pressed his lips to hers and groaned when she opened for him, allowing his tongue to slide against hers in a silky brush.

She tasted like cherries. His brain knew it was likely her lip balm, but he was fairly sure the smell and taste of cherries would always be associated with kissing her, with sliding his hands over her body and finally getting close.