Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(93)

“I also noticed that he and I…” He paused and watched her eyes. Even after all his attempts at showing her that he was around for the long haul, she still acted so wary. “We look alike.” He started toward her and she immediately retreated. “He’s tall. He’s got dark hair. Probably has blue eyes. And he’s totally f*cking in love with you. Willing to fight for you. Remind you of someone else you might know?”


“This isn’t—”


“Answer. Me.”


“I don’t know what you want me to say. Just stop. Please.”


No way. He’d come this far. “So is it a coincidence that I look like the man you almost married? Be hard to tell us apart in a dark bar, wouldn’t it?”


“No.”


“What about in a dark room, Rory? When you were with me could you pretend I was—”


“Stop it. I haven’t been with you because you reminded me of Dillon.”


“Are you sure?”


“Yes, I’m sure, all right? I was with him because at first, on the surface, he reminded me of you. But there’s no comparison, Dalton. None. You’re ten times the man he is.”


A few beats of stunned silence passed as he waited for her to elaborate or to confess she felt something more for him than she ever had for Dildo. But her mouth remained stubbornly closed.


So Dalton kissed her.


Passion, desire, need exploded—a melee of hungry mouths, frantic hands, avid bodies, harsh breathing and harsher kisses.


Dalton wanted to pin her down and f*ck the memory of every other man out of her brain and out her body. Imprint himself on her, in her so she’d feel him as part of her even when he wasn’t around. Mark her with his mouth, his teeth, his goddamn hands so she’d see those marks and remember only him.


Rory dug her nails into the back of his neck. Then her hands moved down his chest, over his ribcage, across his belly, stopping at the waistband of his jeans. She nuzzled him, scattering kisses, nips and tiny licks on the cords straining in his neck. “Let me show you. Any way you want. Tell me what you want.”


“This.” Dalton pushed on her shoulders and she dropped to her knees. Her hands unbuckling his belt, unzipping his fly and opening his jeans. Then she yanked his boxers and jeans down, freeing his cock.


Her mouth, her goddamned mouth, so hot and wet and perfect; she destroyed him every time she sucked his cock like she was starving for it.


Well she was gonna get it all and then some tonight.


Rory worked him fast. Driving him to the point where his balls tightened, where he was more animal than man, teetering in that moment when he was so f*cking close to coming he could taste it.


He yanked harder on her hair. He squeezed his fingers against the side of her face, digging his thumb deeper into her neck, holding her in place as he f*cked her mouth exactly as hard and deep as he wanted.


Almost, almost…he glanced down at her face and saw his hand fisting her hair so strongly it pulled her scalp. Saw the red mark on her cheek from his palm. Then he saw how she squeezed her eyes—in pain?—every time his dick hit the back of her throat.


You’re hurting her. You’re punishing her with sex.


Is that how you treat the woman you love—as a vessel to pour your anger and frustration into?


No. Goddammit no.


Horrified, Dalton abruptly pulled her off his cock and held her head in his hands. “Stop.”


“What’s wrong?”


“This.”


“Dalton—”


“Not like this. Never like this.” He shaped her beautiful face with his fingers. “I never want to touch you when I’m angry, Aurora. Never.”


She looked confused. “I don’t understand you.”


“I don’t understand myself sometimes. But this…isn’t right.” Dalton helped her to her feet and yanked up his clothing.



Then he took her hand and led her to his bedroom.


She was still breathing hard. Wariness darkened her eyes.


He stripped first. As he stood naked before her, his rush of masculine power had vanished, leaving him feeling vulnerable.


“Dalton,” she whispered, trapping his face in her hands, “Talk to me.”


“I love you.”


Rory blinked at him.


“I love you and the thought of losing you, of you walking away from me because I’m not the man you want…makes me crazy. It keeps me up at night. I’ve changed. But have I changed enough so you believe—”


She kissed him. “You are the man I want. Just you. I’m here with you and there’s no place I’d rather be.”


He traced her swollen lips with the pad of his thumb. “I was rough. I’m sorry.”


“Then you’d better kiss it and make it better, huh?”


Dalton kissed her. Touched her. Showed her.


She responded in that sweet melting way she always did, giving herself over to him completely.


After he’d removed her clothes and they were stretched out on his bed, skin to skin, heart to heart, he said, “You’re mine, jungle girl. Only ever mine. I’m never letting you get away from me again.”