Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
H unter
I wasn’t in the mood for talking or for Esme to try to pry any additional information out of me regarding my past. All I had on my mind were the filthy things I wanted to do to her.
It would start right now.
After gripping her hand, I swung her around, forcing her roughly against my chest. Sure, I’d always considered myself the kind of man who took what he wanted. That had come after years of wanting, forced to live in the meagerness offered by the Navy. At the time, discipline was what I’d required.
But now, as a free man in a manner of speaking, I could justify appeasing my dominating personality. With Esme, my need to conquer her came easily. Was I the best representation of a decent man? Hell, no, but I’d never considered myself truly civilized.
This time I wrapped my hand around the back of her head, digging my fingers into her scalp. The spark in the eyes was like fuel needed to keep the beast running. Hungering. I slid my other arm around her back, easing her down into a deep arch.
“Oh. You’re on fire,” she whispered.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, darlin’.” I fisted her hair and lowered my head, dragging my tongue from one side of her jaw to the other as she’d done with her finger on my face earlier. She closed her eyes, her breathing soft yet tenuous. She was stiffer than normal, likely still finding trust difficult for her.
I held her tightly as I pressed kisses against the side of her neck. The taste of skin was delightful, almost as if I was biting into a juicy peach. I took my time while she lolled her head backwards, taking several deep breaths.
My cock was hard, my balls as tight as they could be. I’d need to drive my dick inside her soon or I would lose all control. As I slowly brought her to an upright position, she rubbed her palms down my chest. Seeing the lust in her eyes was exciting, pushing me harder to maintain some sense of decency.
For now.
It wouldn’t last.
The thought of taming her wasn’t far from the front of my mind. Perhaps that would come with time. Yet I knew she’d give me a run for my money.
I surprised her when I ripped off her shirt, her laugh pushing me to smile. Every sound she made was adorable. I tossed the piece of clothing aside, immediately cupping her breasts. The sexy two-toned lace bra made my mouth water and my hunger explode. Using my teeth, I yanked one cup down then the other. The growl I issued kept her laughing, but the feisty vixen was determined to keep me on the same edge.
She crawled her fingers down to my belt buckle, giving me a wicked look.
“Be careful, butterfly.” I rolled my thumb across her already taut nipples, the slight action already driving her crazy. There was no denying her burning desire.
Or mine.
“I’m too hot to be careful,” she breathed and yanked the belt free.
I forcefully pushed her hands away, dipping her again so I could suck on her rosy nipple. I savored having the hard bud in my mouth. I enjoyed taking my time licking it, sucking it. Finally biting down until she cried out. She craved the pain, the sound of sheer pleasure confirming it. I moved to the other one, taking as much time if not more.
Just gathering a scent of her strong desire kept me in a crazed state. She was wet, likely soaking through to her jeans.
The bra became aggravating and I reached around, able to release the catch with two fingers. I yanked down her straps, backing off long enough to rip off her bra while catching a glance at her pursed lips.
The woman’s mouth was made for sucking a man’s cock. How atrocious of me, but the thought of having her lips wrapped around my shaft was almost as delicious as the need to fuck her.
I slipped the hand I’d used to release her bra to the button on her jeans. She was already barefoot, but the damn pants she’d worn were so tight, the struggle to remove them would be real.
But so worth it.
Exhaling, I lifted my head, wearing the smirk she seemed to adore as I yanked the material over her hips. To her credit, she held out her arms, giving up all control. I wondered if she knew she was surrendering to a big, bad beast. Another ridiculous idea, yet enticing. After all, I would devour her inch by inch.
Her thong came with her jeans and soon, she was actively stepping free of the tight confines.
“What if someone looks in the kitchen window?” she asked, more playfully than out of concern.
“Then they’ll get an eyeful before I punch out their lights.”
She blew me a kiss as she tried to unfasten my jeans. I refused to allow her, taking her hand and placing mine over it. Together, we pulled my belt free, loop by loop. Once it was free, I spun her around once again, pulling her hands behind her back.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure you can’t run away. You’ll need your hands to open doors.”
“Such a bastard.”
I grinned hearing her words and continued wrapping the thick strap around her wrists. Once she was secure, I pushed her over the edge of the kitchen island. It was wide enough when her feet were off the floor, she was able to press her face against the cool granite.
“Yes, I am.” With her, everything could somehow be playful yet serious at the same time. While I needed to taste her, I wanted nothing more than to drive her into absolute ecstasy. I spread her legs wide open and rolled my hands up the back of her legs. When I reached her hips, I lifted her pelvis off the island.
“Oh, my God. You’re crazy.”
“That too. Get used to it, butterfly.” I needed my thirst quenched so I wasted no time dropping my head and driving my entire face into her sweet pussy. The taste of her was more invigorating than before. I could swear I was feasting on cherries fresh off a tree. With nowhere to go and no one likely to bother us, I took my time once again.
I rolled my thumbs around her pussy lips as I thrust my tongue deep inside. She was already fighting the bindings, her fingers moving rapidly.
But I was damn good with tying a rope. She was going nowhere just like I’d promised. I lifted her pelvis a few inches higher, licking her up and down. She was so wet her thighs were already stained with her juice. I refused to stop, sucking on her clit until her body was shaking violently from sensitivity.
My cock twitched as a reminder that my needs had to be fulfilled as well. But not until she fell into a round of bliss. I licked methodically, now driving my thumbs into her wetness.
“Oh, you bastard. You’re so… mean.” Her words were muttered, but I heard them. She was close, very close.
I dug my fingers into her skin, keeping her as wide open as possible. The moment her moans increased, I licked even harder than before.
“Oh. Yes. Oh. Yes!” Perhaps given the night we’d endured, her climax was sweeter than all those before.
I refused to stop until one climax slipped into a second, the powerful orgasm keeping her body quivering. When she started panting two minutes later, I finally eased her down. The smile on her face was one of complete satisfaction.
As I straightened my back, I licked my lips, enjoying the last drops of her juice. She remained right where she was as I backed away, yanking off and tossing my boots. I didn’t waste time with my shirt. Why bother? I was far too famished.
Esme fought to see what I was doing, groaning out of aggravation from being tied. Still, she managed to slip down to her feet, almost able to turn around before I stopped her.
“No, you don’t, butterfly. I’m not finished with you yet.”
I pushed her legs apart once again with my knee, pressing one hand down on the small of her back as I struggled to release my cock. I pumped the base several times, enjoying the friction. It was my attempt to control my crazed need. Yet it wasn’t working. I had to be inside of her.
The moment I pressed the tip just past her swollen folds, Esme threw her head back. Her long hair cascaded against my face, the softness forcing me to shudder. I couldn’t hold back any longer, yet I managed to slowly slide my cock inside. There was a tremendous feeling encompassing me as her pussy muscles clamped around my shaft.
I pitied all the idiot men in this world who didn’t take time to enjoy this moment. She was so wet, so fucking hot I was certain I’d lose my ability to think clearly. And I wanted to remember this moment for a long time. I took a deep breath once I was fully seated, enjoying every mewing sound she made.
She could make a man feel so damn good with the sounds she made alone. I finally pulled out, driving into her again.
When I did so a third time, I was forced to grit my teeth. I wanted to do nothing more than ravage her. After three more hard plunges, I rolled onto the balls of my feet. I pressed her cheeks wide apart as the angle shifted, every muscle in my body tensing from the desperate need to release.
“So fucking tight,” I muttered and she purred in response. My stamina was waning and I still wasn’t finished with her yet. My body and my mind craved her tight little hole. When I pulled out, pushing the tip against her dark entrance, she stiffened just like she’d done before.
While she said nothing, bracing for my entrance, I caressed her back, enjoying the feel of her spine and the muscles surrounding it.
“Breathe, baby. I enjoy this far too much to miss out.”
Every sound she made was ragged, but I could tell how much she wanted me to consume her. Every inch. And I did, gently driving my cock into her tight hole. Instantly, heat enveloped every inch of my body. I tingled all over, slowly easing my head back as I allowed her time to get used to the feeling.
Her muscles were spasming, which only pushed my desire to the breaking point.
I gripped her hip with one hand, lifting her by the hair with the other. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Every murmur she made, every soft moan was adding more fuel to the fire. What had I done to deserve someone so special in my life? I closed my eyes and started fucking her even more aggressively, pounding flesh against flesh. With every brutal thrust, I was thrown into a moment of peace. How was that even possible for a man like me?
I was losing the battle, my balls already swelling. With four hard thrusts, I could take no more. The moment I erupted deep inside, filling her ass, all I could think about was how much I wanted her in my life.
Maybe she’d also managed to wrap me around her little finger.
That’s where I hoped to stay.
“Go. Go. Go!” I shouted in English, praying to fucking God they would listen to me. All five women hastened their footsteps, finally running blindly through the trees.
We were close, very close and I held back, commands in Italian fueling their run to safety. My heart was racing, the fear of failure something I’d never experienced. Yet it was strong, so much so I had difficulty catching my breath.
“No,” one of the women screamed, her voice filled with agony.
A van was waiting, one equipped with a bulletproof exterior. The soldiers inside were nearly as well trained as I was, capable of blowing the motherfuckers to oblivion and beyond. After a ten-minute drive, we’d shift to a waiting helicopter, the flight taking us to a US-based hospital also located in the middle of nowhere.
From there, they’d be reunited with their families.
I followed behind, cognizant the bastards had gotten our scent. We were so close, so fucking closer. “ Continua a correre .” Keep running, I’d told them. The fact the enemy soldiers were closing in forced me to alter the plans. I moved behind a tree, still holding the woman in my arms. Within seconds, shots were fired.
I fired back, shifting my assault rifle back and forth to try to level the playing field. Fuck. They were still coming. How the hell had they discovered our mission? Rage tore through me as I shifted backward, trying to gain some ground. Someone had betrayed all of us.
There was little other choice but to continue the few hundred yards. As I blasted through the trees, more shots were fired, some far too close for comfort.
The van was within sight, the other women already being pulled into a safe zone. With only fifty yards to go, I hunkered down and raced toward the open door.
Pop! Pop!
Several more gunshots rang in my ears, but nothing would stop me from getting the last victim to safety.
As one of my own men shouted off that we had to leave, I lunged forward. A wave of darkness shrouded my vision, an innate knowledge that we weren’t going to make it hitting me hard. I refused to allow that to happen. No matter what I had to do.
The cracking sound came too late for me to duck.
The single shot fired hit me just below my shoulder, the force of the weapon used pummeling me forward. There was no pain, no time to register the injury. The men I trusted pulled us both into the van, the sound of the door slamming echoing in my ears.
I was pulled away from the woman, agony creating an ebbing flow as stars floated in front of my eyes.
The woman stared back at me, her silver eyes staring in haunted terror. My baby was gone. My beautiful butterfly was gone…
“No. No.” I jerked up, immediately fighting to secure enough air. A series of images rushed across the forefront of my mind. Esme. The nightmare had changed, the woman I’d lost turning into the woman I was falling hard for.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
I fisted both hands, pressing them against my face. Finally, I turned my head to make certain she was still in the bed beside me.
At least her lovely form was visible in the darkness.
“What’s wrong?”
Hearing her voice brought a wave of disgust into my system. Why couldn’t I let go? Why was I seeing the goddamn horror night after night? Did God hate me so much he wanted me to suffer? Or was he providing a warning that I would lose the one thing that was truly important to me because of what I’d done?
Because of my failures.
“Nothing’s wrong. Go back to sleep.” I threw back the covers, determined to walk away. I needed a drink or some air. Suddenly, her hand was on my shoulder. Her grip indicated she wasn’t going to let me go that easily.
The covers rustled and she molded her naked body against mine. After she wrapped her arm around my shoulders, I could feel her rapid heartbeat. I took her hand into mine, intertwining our fingers.
“You don’t need to tell me. Just know I’m here,” she said in such a quiet voice it pained me.
Even if I didn’t have a responsibility to keep the missions secret, telling her the man she wanted to spend time with was a nothing more than a monster would kill me.
“I’ll be right back, butterfly.”
“Don’t go.”
“Just for a few minutes. And know this. I want you here.” I pulled her hand away, heading to the door without bothering to put on any clothes. Who cared if I was naked? As soon as I got to the door, a pang of guilt hit me. I forced myself to look at her. Even in the darkened room, I could sense she was beckoning me to return, but she wasn’t going to push me.
I headed out, closing the door behind me. She certainly didn’t hear any signs of the agony eating me alive.
Just as it should be.
It was the only thing I deserved.