Raw Redemption (Crossing the Line #4)(65)

Scenery rushed past in a blur on either side of the car, but they were in a secluded world, restricted though they were. Even Ailish’s breathing had to be regulated, and it was obvious Henrik made the same conscious effort, although the frequency with which he shifted in the driver’s seat told its own tale.

When they reached the parking lot, Ailish expected Henrik to park somewhere near the entrance, but he surprised her by rounding the huge strip mall. Driving past the Dumpsters to an alley lined with back entrances for each business. He pulled the car parallel with the wall—Ailish’s door only a few feet from the cinder block barrier—before shutting off the engine and climbing out. She could see him striding around the back, mouth set in a purposeful line. Hard. Commanding. But nothing prepared her for Henrik to throw open the passenger side door and haul her out, not even allowing her feet to touch the ground before she was wedged up against the car’s side, aligning her with every ripped, devastating inch of him.

“Goddamn, Lish.” His hips jolted her up the car’s exterior. “I’m hard up for a f*ck between your pretty thighs, but we have no time. No time.”

She framed Henrik’s face with her hands, bringing him forward, close to her mouth. Right there. “I don’t understand.”

“What? What don’t you understand?”

Her tongue brushed his bottom lip. “How I can be less angry with you…after you spanked me. And left. I should want to kill you.”

“No, baby.” He ground their hips together. “You don’t want that. Don’t say that to me when I just heard your father threaten you, dammit. I’m barely holding on here. I almost strangled him.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” What was she apologizing for? What she’d said? Or…everything? Pushing him away. Teasing him. She didn’t know. Only knew just then, in that filthy alley, she wasn’t scared. He was comfort. Salvation. Although the dress was cut modestly, his proximity had swelled her breasts over the neckline, and she thrust them up for his perusal. “Please. I need something.”

He made a sound halfway between a growl and a moan. “We need to talk. I shouldn’t be touching you when there are so many questions between us.”

Yes. She wanted to talk. Wanted everything explained from the moment she’d approached him in the park until now. It was getting more and more difficult to pretend she could survive without that information. But another more significant part of her didn’t want to know. Didn’t want to find out how her path had been dictated, when all along, she’d thought she was setting her own course. With their mouths pressed together, Ailish locked her ankles at the small of Henrik’s back and slid her core up and down his distended fly. “We have time for me to take care of that. Don’t we?”

Defeat crumpled his expression for a beat before hunger rushed in. Different from usual, more extreme. Depraved. “This alley is patrolled regularly, Ailish. I’ve patrolled it myself. You know why?”

“Why?”

“Men bring women back here.” He fit his erection into the notch of her thighs and bounced her. One, two, three. “To perform certain acts. You following me? I’d never let you go down on your knees in this place.” He dragged his tongue up the side of her neck. “Much as I need you to service my hungry cock, I would rather go without coming for a year.”

The crude speech she’d come to crave elicited a breath-stealing squeeze in her loins. But she disregarded most of it and focused on much as I need you. Need. So much need. “If someone comes down the alley, we’ll hear them. And I’ll stop.”

His big hand framed her jaw, applying pressure until her mouth popped open. “And I’m just supposed to pull out after you’ve taken me down the throat, is that right?” He shoved his thumb between Ailish’s lips, pressed down on her tongue to keep her mouth open. “Once I hear those sweet little sucking noises you make, I’m staying in until the job is over. I would rather shoot whoever comes down this alley than stop before I come in your mouth. Is that clear enough?”

She was burning from the inside out. Couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t in pain from lack of Henrik. Inside her. Touching her. Speaking from just above her mouth like a master. Every ounce of her femininity screamed toward the hand cradling her jaw, savoring the single connection like a lifeline. “Please. I’ll do it so well. I remember the vein…what you like. I’ll make sure it doesn’t take long.”

“No.” His hand turned punishing on her jaw, and the pressure echoed between her legs, so severely Ailish whimpered. “God, I f*cked you twice before we went in. Didn’t I?” Henrik moved his mouth against her ear, licking, raking his stubble side to side on her sensitive flesh. “You’re never going to give me a chance to sleep, are you? I can see you now, climbing on top of your man at all hours, begging to dry me out again. Know what I think?” His hand dropped from Ailish’s face to her breasts, where he squeezed without mercy. “I think your * is sweet as f*ck, but a little selfish for what I got. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.” Ailish gasped when Henrik stepped back, enough for her to slide down the car, her feet meeting the ground. She braced her palms against the warm exterior, afraid to move as his hand vanished beneath the hem of her dress, blunt-tipped fingers slipped down the front of her underwear. When the pads of two fingers smoothed over her clit, Ailish arched with a muffled scream. “Oh my God.”