Hardwired (The Hardwired Series 1)(58)

“Right. And you need two million dollars to continue running it and maintaining the lifestyle which you currently enjoy,” he said.

I stilled. “Are you threatening me with the apartment? Say the word, and I’ll pack my things right now. You’re the one who forced me into it.”

He ran his hands through his already tousled hair, his breath whistling through clenched teeth. “Just take the money and we can forget about all this.”

“Blake, we have a relationship, or at least we did twenty minutes ago, which I think you can agree is complicated enough. I’m not taking your money, so let’s just forget it.”

He paused, holding me in a penetrating stare. “You don’t trust me.”

The words cut me to the core. Not because he felt that way, but because they were true. I trusted Blake on many levels, but keeping the business on my terms was imperative.

Unable to formulate a convincing response, I pushed through the doors of the building and nearly ran into Cady and Sid walking into her apartment. Blake barreled in after me.

I offered a quick hello and goodbye before climbing the stairs up to the apartment. Blake followed me all the way to the bedroom. I didn’t argue.

“Clothes, off,” I ordered, directing him with my index finger.

My mind was an epic jumble, and I could think of no better cure than to f*ck Blake straight to oblivion. As it was, I’d thought of little else for the better part of the day.

His eyebrows arched. “Shouldn’t we talk about this?”

“Did I stutter? Clothes. Off.” I cocked my head, daring him to argue.

He paused another minute, then undressed completely. As the last garment hit the floor, I stared in awe at the specimen at my mercy in front of me. Every sliver of flesh stretched tight over the sculpted muscles beneath. My fingers itched with the urge to run my fingers all over them, to feel them flex beneath me, above me, inside me. My anger slipped away, rapidly replaced with the craving I’d been staving off for hours.

The longer I looked at him, the harder he got. His expression was calm, but the longing that flashed behind his eyes reflected my own. I snapped into action, giving him a little shove onto the bed. He reached for me but I stepped back, stripping down, taking extra time to remove my white lacy bra and panties that I had chosen just for him.

I climbed him leisurely, systematically kissing his throat, his chest, nibbling the dark disks of nipples as they hardened under my touch. I finally turned my attention to his cock, tonguing his length and licking off the drop of pre-cum at its tip, savoring his flavor before gliding him into my mouth, deeper until he hit the back of my throat.

“Christ, Erica.” He sucked in a sharp breath.

I reveled at the small victory. He was much better at the self-control game, never letting on that I was tormenting him with my touches until now. His thighs were taut with restraint when I released him, sliding him out of my mouth with slow retreat.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

“Come here, and I’ll show you.” His eyes were half-lidded and dark with lust.

My body hummed. I positioned myself above his cock and inched onto him slowly, giving my body time to adjust to his length.

A wave of heat rolled over me as I sheathed him completely. I rose, and he grabbed my hips, slamming me down onto him, reminding me of the place inside me that only he could satisfy. I threw my head back and cursed. I stilled, overcome with how well we fit, how no one else had ever come close to this.


He grasped my hips and tried to flip me, but I angled away so he couldn’t.

“No,” I said firmly.

He stilled and loosened his hold. “We should probably talk about safewords.”

“That is my safeword. When I say no, trust me, I mean it.”

“Okay,” he said quietly.

“I’m going to f*ck you until my legs turn to jelly and I can’t remember my name. And then you can be in charge, all right?”

“Whatever you say, boss.” He swallowed hard and laced his fingers behind his head, a self-imposed restraint.

I circled my hips, rising and dropping down with measured impact until I found a rhythm. My breasts were heavy and tender. I tugged on my nipples to quell the deep ache to be touched. Blake’s hands never strayed but his eyes never left me. His hips lifted, meeting my strokes and hitting me deeper with each one. The climax coiled inside me. I quivered, biting my lip until it was numb, trapped in an orgasm that kept climbing to its peak.

“I want to hear you,” he said. “Now, Erica.”

The damn broke and a strangled cry left me as I came hard. Breathless and losing steam, I fell forward, threaded my fingers with his, and kissed him passionately.

Blake sat up with me, took one nipple in his mouth and then the other, and drove himself deeper into me. I whimpered. He cupped my face with one palm and circled my waist with the other, bringing me tight against him and kissing me—a deep, penetrating kiss that spoke volumes. I could taste the need on his lips. I was more than ready to let him take control.

“It’s okay,” I said.

He turned us over with measured control, covering my body with his before lunging hard. I arched, welcoming everything he had to give me. With each thrust I unraveled, hours of wanting him coming to a peak, to this pinnacle of a moment where I could lose myself in him.

I kissed him frantically, caught between anger and love and passion. My nails scratched down his back as we climaxed together, slick with sweat.