Iron Dominance by Cari Silverwood Page B

taste?” he murmured.
    He kissed his way down her body, from the side of her neck to breast to stomach, then tugged her pants and underwear down to her knees. Only now, he positioned his legs until they gripped her outer thigh like a soft vise. She tried but couldn’t move either leg, for the other was wedged against the back of the couch. Then, bliss as he applied his wet, warm tongue to her clitoris. She forgot all about moving.
    She anchored her hands in his hair and pulled him to her. Fingers plied at her nether regions as he played her like some glorious instrument. She plastered herself to his mouth as close as she could get. Sobbing and moaning, she came near to breaking through to the stratosphere. The sucking and licking, the fingers inserted and thrusting in her moist flesh, it sent her higher, higher, until at last her body filled to the top and rocked into gasping oblivion in a convulsion of ecstasy.
    When she opened her eyes this time, Theo loomed above.
    With his arms propped to either side of her, he simply said, voice deep and soothing, “That will do, for now. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He kissed her once. “I said too much, perhaps. Seeing you, beautiful, sprawled here like this, under me, is like drinking fine brandy—heady and exhilarating.”
    She tried to slow her breaths, felt a delicious shiver run from her spine to her center. His words amazed her. He’d called her beautiful? Then he turned her to face outward so he could squeeze into the space between her and the back of the lounge. They lay together, breathing as one body.
    With his arm over the top of her, his larger fingers wrapped round hers and holding her hand snuggled by her side, she looked out at the study through half-closed lids. She idly surveyed the immense desk and the airship-shaped table lamp, embellished with steel and gold, the plush blue carpet, the door opposite that she’d entered by…and the haphazard pile of cut rope. There was her hard, dangerous, friendless past, where she’d never known a man who didn’t aim to hurt her or use her for his own ends. Here, with Theo, was her future—a novel sensation. For once, she rested safe in the arms of another. Glorious . She let out a long, contented sigh.
    Nothing, she decided, would keep her from it.
    The clock on the wall ticked ponderously through the minutes, and she felt the slow slide of her consciousness into sleep.
    “Should have turned off the lamp,” Theo muttered. “It’s only three in the morning.”
    She wriggled a little closer to him, if that was possible, settling the hard length of him into a more interesting position against her bottom.
    “Do that again,” he growled, “and I may decide you’re well enough for further endeavors.”
    For a threat, it was an enticing one. She had an inkling Theo wouldn’t let her stay a virgin for much longer. Oh my.
    “Would you like to talk?” He kissed her nape.
    Would she? She brought his hand up till it was before her nose. Playing with his fingers, she tried to organize her thoughts.
    He drew his index finger down her nose to the tip, then traced across her lips. The scent of her body lingered on his skin.
    “Well?” he asked. “What are you thinking?”
    Fear nibbled at her, swirling murky tendrils through her stomach—like a monster hiding below the surface, waiting to lunge at the smallest sign of weakness. Theo was a person, a human—something she wanted to be, yet would she ever really believe herself one? What he’d done for her, being so gentle, so loving, and trusting her against Dankyo’s advice to the contrary, when he didn’t have to risk himself…it seemed so far above what he had to do. He could have raped her. Could have left her tied up and done whatever he wanted to…but he hadn’t. She turned her face into the upholstery and felt Theo gently twine her hair around her ear.
    He could have thrown her to the dogs. The undercurrent of gossip said such things sometimes