Master No (Masters and Mercenaries, #9)(32)

Another thing she didn’t understand. Even in their texts and Internet conversations, he’d been indulgent with her. He seemed to want to see her do things that pleased her. He’d ordered her to eat chocolate one night when she said she shouldn’t because she was worried about her weight. He’d watched as she’d had her first real chocolate in almost a year. “You’re not that way with me.”

“I have a contract that states very plainly you do belong to me.” He stared at her for a moment, and she had an unnerving thought that he could see right through her. “You’re not afraid of what could happen to you after yesterday. You’re afraid of what could happen between the two of us.”

Well, he wasn’t *footing around the situation. “Like I said, it feels different than I thought it would. I feel more than I thought I would.”

He moved in and she could suddenly feel his heat all over again. Not just his heat. Something really big and really hard was resting against her thigh. It was fairly close to where it should be. Could be. Might be soon.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, Faith. Did you really want to sleep with a man you didn’t know?”

That three weeks had been the difference. She supposed she’d expected they would get in touch but not a lot more. They would come together to play and have sex. It felt like more than sex. Being so close to Tennessee felt more intimate than actually having sex with Roger. “No. I thought I did. I thought it was kind of the right thing to do. Real relationships are hard for me. My career is kind of demanding.”

His fingertips brushed over her collarbone. God, he was killing her. “Yes, it’s demanding, but you know what I think?”

He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose, a sweet gesture.

He was being so tender with her and she wanted to scream at him to jump on her and have his wicked way. Her body was getting primed. Her nipples were so hard. They might climb off her body and try to get between his ridiculously sexy lips. “I don’t. I don’t know anything right now.”

Except the fact that she wanted him. It was probably a bad idea, but she wanted him.

“Then let me help you out, darlin’. You don’t have to think for a while. Let’s both stop thinking and follow our instincts for once.” He moved in and his lips caressed hers.

Easy, thoughtful, at first he simply pressed his mouth to hers, letting them rub together as though taking stock of the feel of her. Ten didn’t overwhelm her. He started slow. He let her sigh against him as he brushed his lips over hers and let her taste the mint on his mouth.

She gasped and pushed against him. “You already got up and brushed your teeth.”

The most devilish look went over his face and he stopped playing. He rolled over and his body was on top of hers, his hips coaxing her legs to open wide. Before she really knew what he was doing, his cock was right on her core. “Yes, I did. I woke up and brushed my teeth and my poor sub slept the morning away. I came back out here and climbed into bed with you and waited for my moment. I’m going to eat you up, Faith.”

His mouth covered hers and she couldn’t fight him. It felt too good. His tongue surged and he seemed eager to devour her. His mouth slanted over hers again and again, his body heavy but in the best of ways. She loved his weight bearing her down into the mattress. There really wasn’t enough space for the two of them, but they didn’t need it. They simply nestled together until she wasn’t sure how to untangle their limbs. His chest pressed down, warmth flaring through her as his tongue invaded.

He’d gotten up and prepared himself for her. Oh, he wasn’t giving her the same courtesy, but he didn’t seem to need it. He wasn’t acting like a man who wasn’t enjoying himself.

“Stop thinking, Faith,” he growled against her lips. “You taste good. You’re f*cking perfect, and I dreamed about doing this all night. Best dreams I’ve had in forever. I’m not waiting for you to decide you’re good enough for me. I’m telling you. You’re perfect and I want to f*ck you more than I want my next damn breath.”

He took her mouth before she could respond and she kind of melted under him. There was nothing else to do. He’d taken control and she needed this.

He kissed her and his hands explored, running under her tank top and up to the under curve of her breast. His cock was right on top of her mound. Only her pajama bottoms, thin undies, and his boxers were between them. She could feel the hard line of his erection jutting between her thighs, dragging over her * in a blatant imitation of what he would do once he got inside her.

“Dreamed about this all damn night.” He shifted off to the side and his hand suddenly cupped her, one thumb brushing over her nipple. “Hell, I’ve dreamed about this since we started talking, Faith, and I think you have, too. That’s why you’re acting so skittish this morning. You like me.”

So arrogant and so damn right. She couldn’t help but smile at him. “I do. I like you a lot, Tennessee.”

He rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “Well, that’s a good thing because I like you, too, Faith. See, we’re already getting along fine. We’re going to have fun these next few weeks and I’m going to take care of you.”

His hand left her breast and he covered her mouth with his again. The man knew how to kiss. After his initial assault, he seemed content to slow down and take his time. He drugged her with lazy kisses, long and deep. His palm flattened over her belly, lingering possessively before his fingertips started to slip under the waistband of her pajamas. “I think these are going to have to go, darlin’. But first let me show you exactly how I intend to wake up every morning you let me sleep in your bed.”