Under His Guard by Rie Warren Page B

and started the kindling.
    His hand brushed my neck, sending a spear of desire through me. “Not all of us are big as buildings.”
    â€œPure, solid muscle.” I rose to my feet.
    Leon’s lusty stare hit me hard and fast. “Don’ I know it.”
    I moved away. He advanced with his prowling gait, stopping in front of me when the backs of my calves hit the side of the low bed. Leon came up only to my chin, but his presence had a more powerful impact on me than any other man. He grazed one hand up my chest, his fingers stopping to press against the hammering pulse in my throat.
    â€œLemme ask you somethin’. Do I make you nervous?”
    I laughed harshly, my fists in balls beside me. “Yeah.”
    He ran his thumb across my nipple, chuckling when my flesh hardened. “Just me?”
    â€œYes.” I closed my eyes, reeling from the speed with which my cock filled.
    He sucked my nipple between his lips, his fingers running up and down my ribs.
    â€œWait.” I grabbed his hands. “I want to make sure you feel okay.”
    Flouncing onto the bed, Leon licked his lips. “Wanna take my blood pressure, too? Maybe a full-body workup?”
    â€œAre you having any symptoms?” I sat next to him.
    â€œOh yeah. A big one. In my pants. You can inspect dat, too.” Leon winked.
    I started to get up, but he grabbed my hand. “I’m fine. I feel fine. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with me except I’m real fucking horny for you.”
    â€œThere’s something else, Leon.”
    â€œYeah, yeah. Get on with it so’s we can get to somethin’ more fun.”
    â€œDo you think anything…?” My voice drifted off. Maybe I didn’t want to know. “Would you remember if anything untoward happened to you when you were kidnapped by Cutler?”
    â€œUntoward? You mean did someone rape me?”
    I winced. The nausea I felt during the flight was nothing compared to this.
    Seeing my reaction, Leon rushed on. “I don’ think so. Remember, I tol’ you I’ve been getting flashes, feelings. I think I’d know if I’d been used like dat. Mon Dieu. It’s happened enough to me before. I just took the scrip for it…”
    â€œYou sold your body.” My jaw locked, and my fingers tightened on his.
    â€œYeah. I din’t have a whole lot of other options when we needed money. I’ve got a pretty face. I’m good at keepin’ dat stuff where it belongs. They could have my body but not my heart.” He shrugged. It was all cut-and-dried to him. “They paid good, treated me all right. I made sure Maman had enough to live by. She don’ know. She don’ need to know.”
    I’d suspected as much from a few things he’d mentioned and from Cutler’s slurs. Hearing the truth from Leon’s lips crushed a part of me where I hadn’t even realized hope had sprung, but I’d never let him know. In spite of everything, he remained pure and bright as always.
    â€œI’d never treat you like that.” I caressed his face.
    Rubbing against my touch, Leon asked, “How would you treat me?”
    â€œLike a man who is very much desired for who you are. I’d treat you with honor.” My hand moved into his hair. “There’s no one here now but you and me, baby.”
    â€œAnd everyone within hearing range.” He angled his neck to my searching mouth.
    I tugged his hair in a fist until his lips were almost at mine. “I can be quieter than you.”
    â€œIs dat a dare?”
    I needed him. I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Yeah.” I crushed my mouth to his, seeking quick entry. All control snapped. “I want you to suck my cock,” I breathed. Then I remembered my avowal. My hands disentangled from his hair and I sat on my heels.
    â€œAin’t it a good thing I want dat, too?” Leon rolled me over, shyly pleased when he pinioned me