Chapter 15
“Oh my god. That was delicious.”
Rami gave a half smile as Ivy sat back in her chair and pushed her plate away. She’d eaten everything on it—the eight-ounce steak, pan-seared potatoes, and asparagus he’d cooked. Gigi had left the fridge stocked with food and snacks.
He’d make it his mission to feed Ivy until she got nourishment back into her.
She already looked like a completely different woman from the one he’d rescued last week. Color filled her face and her eyes had more luster. Her lips were no longer split and cracked. Aside from needing to put a few pounds back on, she’d regained her health. Bruising still colored her cheek, though, and it pissed him off every time he remembered what’d caused the now-greenish hue. Her chin was covered with a small bandage.
She tucked in the corner of her mouth. “You’re dangerous.”
He cocked his head. “You’re just realizing that?”
She smiled, and for a moment he had a glimmer of what Ivy must have been like before the abduction. Carefree, at ease, even a little flirtatious. The idea of her flirting with anyone but him made him want to clench his back teeth into dust.
The wave of possessiveness was unwelcome and unexpected. Rami rocked his glass of water on the table and tried to keep his face passive while his brain screeched with the need to know who’d touched her before him.
’Cause he’d put an end to it happening again.
“I realized it sooner,” she said, bursting the territorial bubbles in his head.
“You mean when I killed two men today for daring to come after you?”
Her eyes sparkled, lighting him with desire. He was also relieved to know that what he’d said hadn’t dimmed the flames in her gorgeous emerald saucers, only intensified them. “I meant good sex and you can cook. That’s dangerous.”
He reared back as if she’d sucker punched him. “Good?”
One delicate eyebrow curved. “Did I say something wrong?”
His mouth ached to capture her lips. Even though she sat next to him, there was still too much distance between their bodies. “I guess you’re just reminding me I need to show you the real thing.”
She took a sip from her glass and looked out the double slider doors in the living room. The sun had fallen below the horizon hours ago, bathing the pool in darkness. “Care to join me for a swim?”
As tempting as the thought of a wet and available Ivy was, he needed to keep his head in the game. Getting her naked was the first thing he wanted to do but the last thing he should be doing. “Honey, I’d swim with you anytime, but—”
“I guess now is as good a time as any.” She went to a tablet on the built-in shelf near the TV and tapped the screen.
He stood. “What are you doing?”
“Turning off the patio camera.” She caught the hem of her shirt and lifted the material over her head, revealing breasts perfectly hugged in white lace. “Gigi won’t care if I skinny-dip, but that’s not something I want Todd to see.”
“Ivy,” he growled, taking a step forward.
But she quickly retreated to the patio door. “Oh, come on. It’s just one swim.” She went for her sweatpants next, pushing the gray cotton down her legs.
His fingers itched to grab her slight hips and carry her to the bedroom. He was doing a piss-poor job of keeping his head clear and not getting in her pants until this shit with the cartel was over. And now he couldn’t even remember why that plan had been a good idea.
The sex they’d had that morning seemed weeks, if not months, away. He needed her again.
Her pearly-white teeth abused her bottom lip, and she waggled her eyebrows. “Coming?” She pushed open the slider and stepped outside, showcasing her delicious ass in bikini-cut panties.
Christ. Whether he wanted to swim or not, leaving her outside alone wasn’t an option. He strode through the door without breaking stride. He had every intention of catching her and swatting her sexy little ass for making his head nearly combust.
“Ivy.”
She tiptoed over the cement and reached the edge of the pool. His temper clicked up a notch. The moon shined down, lighting the pool and making Ivy’s dark hair and white bra and panties that much more alluring. She slid a glance over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Whatever had gotten into her was going to get him into her quicker than he could blink. “What if we need to go in a hurry? Do you want—”
She lifted her arms above her head and dove.
“Goddammit.” He yanked off his shirt and kicked off his pants as he watched her sleek form slice the water. When he got ahold of her tempting ass, he’d either slap it or devour it.
Neither would help their current situation.
Her head broke through the surface and she turned to face him, her hair slicked back and rivulets of water running down her face. Her breasts jiggled as treaded water. “’Bout time.”
He shook his head but didn’t stop his grin. “You’re gonna regret this.” He lifted his arms and dove into the pool. Cool water washed over him.
Opening his eyes underwater, he located Ivy’s slim, tanned belly and then, like a shark after its prey, he hunted.
***
Ivy shielded hereyes as Rami’s splash shook the water. Waves whipped her face and she spluttered. A laugh erupted from her throat and for a moment, she forgot the sordid reality of her life.
She was just a woman swimming half-naked with a hot, dangerous man.
He moved gracefully through the water. But when he didn’t come up for air and didn’t slow, she shrieked and swam for the other side of the pool. He moved like a predator as she paddled frantically, expecting his hand to draw her under any second.
The solid warmth of his body brushed against her legs and she let out a hoot as his arm corralled her waist. He didn’t pull her under. Instead, he surfaced. Water sprayed from his lips and he swiped droplets from his face. She brought her hand to his smooth, muscular shoulder and peddled her feet in sync with his.
“You’re gonna pay for that.” His voice was a low purr. This close, his scent invaded her. With every stroke of their legs his thigh bumped between hers.
“For what?” she said, feigning innocence. “I don’t see the harm in taking a swim.”
He hauled her closer to his chest, and every hard-earned ridge of his torso sent a shockwave through her loins. God, the man was fit.
She let her gaze rake over his tattoos—it was a travesty that the only time she’d seen him naked was when they were in the shower and she’d been too shell-shocked to appreciate the moment. The dark images and symbols emblazoned on his skin made her want to study every inch of him. As if the markings would somehow reveal facets of himself he kept hidden.
“I don’t know about you, but I want to be prepared to run when the moment arises.” Displeasure laced his words, and her cheeks tingled with embarrassment.
Here she was, acting all sexy and seductive, and he was being rational and trying to keep her alive. She ducked her chin and shook her head. “You’re right. Let’s get out.” She pushed away, but he seized her hips.
“Hey. C’mon. I didn’t mean it like that.”
She chortled. “Yeah, you did. And you’re right,” she repeated.
He gripped her thighs, drawing her legs around his waist as he leaned back and gently kicked toward the shallow end. When his feet hit the bottom, he didn’t put her down. Instead, he turned and pressed her back to the wall and ran his fingertips over her cheeks. “You wanted a distraction?”
Tears stung her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. Nodding, she used all her resolve to not shy away.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve just given it to you.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I guess my thought is if I’m going to die, I want to go out with a bang.”
He tipped back his head and a laugh roared out from behind his even white teeth. “All you had to do was ask.”
“A striptease seemed better.”
He moved his mouth close, until his lips were scant inches from hers. “Now that you can do anytime.” His hips shifted and his thick, firm cock pressed against her belly.
Fire brimmed beneath her skin and she widened her legs, letting him get closer to her sex. The night air caressed her skin, drawing her nipples into needy little nubs.
Rami’s hand glided up her ribs, then he took her breast into the expanse of his palm. His eyebrows drew low over his eyes and color stained his cheek. “You have no idea what you do to me.” The statement rumbled from his chest.
She wet her lips and brought her hand to his jaw. “You have no idea what you’ve done for me,” she countered. Her words came out strained. Almost sorrowful. When really, she’d just wanted to thank him. She wanted him to know the void he filled, the fear he shouldered, the pain he kept at bay.
Some of the heat left his eyes, and his thumb went to her bottom lip. “I promise you’ll forget all that. Okay? Give me time.”
Her lips quirked. “What do you mean?”
A dark, possessive bolt flashed in his eyes. “This.” He sealed his lips over hers, and the warmth of his wet mouth consumed her.
She arched her back against the wall, surging her chest forward and grinding her hips. His tongue slipped between her teeth and his fingers trailed down to explore her ass cheek. His fingers swept over and kneaded her flesh, making a fierce, primitive urge grow inside her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her legs so he sunk against her. The hard length of his shaft was so close to the V between her legs.
His thumb plucked at the waistband of her panties, and he tugged them down her legs and freed the material from her feet. The underwear landed on the cement with a smack.
“God, you’re so beautiful.” He brought his mouth to her neck and unhooked her bra. It landed next to her panties.
One of his hands plunged into the wet strands of her hair, the other skated over her backside and slipped between her cheeks. His finger touched her clit from behind and she cried out, clamping her arms tighter around him.
He trailed kisses from her neck to one of her nipples, sucking the hard tip between his teeth.
“Oh my god.” The prayer sang from her lips.
She needed more. Wanted all of him inside her. She wiggled one of her hands between their bodies and stroked the outline of his cock. He still wore his briefs. Frustrated, she pushed at his waistband until the skin of her palm touched his slick, enlarged flesh.
Rami caught her fingers and wrenched them away. His gaze locked with hers. Need scorched his iridescent eyes. “Not yet.”
“But—”
Before she could say anything else, he caught her beneath her arms and hefted her out of the pool. She gasped as the cool air blew over her naked body. When he didn’t leap out of the pool to take her back to the house—hopefully to finish—she frowned. Her feet dangled in the water and Rami stood between her legs.
“Are we getting out?” A shiver racked her body, making her neglected nipples cry in protest.
“Not yet.” His hands slid up the outsides of her thighs until he caught her hip bones in his grip. “Lie down,” he commanded, tipping her backward.
She swallowed, the desire so strong she wanted to resist, jump back in the water, and beg him to fuck her.
His gaze flared. “Now, Ivy.”
She swallowed and leaned back on the cement. Her face blazed as she waited, sprawled naked on the pool deck. Every nerve ending throbbed, anticipating his touch. She forced her heaving chest to steady itself as she stared at the vast dark sky. Stars twinkled down at her as if watching, making this the most romantic and erotic thing she’d ever done.
Her knees trembled, and she pressed her palm to her racing heart. Lifting her head, she met Rami’s stare. It felt as if time slowed as he took in every inch of her exposed body.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
His hands went to her knees, stroking her skin. “I told you that the next time we did this, I was going to take my time.” He pushed open her legs and a hiss slipped from between his teeth.
She squeezed her eyes shut as his breath tickled the insides of her thighs.
“You’re so wet and ready for me, aren’t you?”
Her pulse drummed against her temples. A mewl left her lips. A pathetic response. If he didn’t touch her now, she’d detonate.
“Move forward,” he urged. She brought her intimates closer to the edge of the pool and, Oh god, his face. He brushed his lips along the inside of her thigh, so tormentingly close.
A torrent of hunger made her wiggle. “Rami,” she said breathlessly.
One of his hands hugged her hip, the other moved over her abdomen, stroking her ribs then finding her sternum and tickling its way down.
He brought his mouth close. His beard scraped the mound between her legs and her hips lifted. He chuckled.
“You’re teasing me,” she said accusingly.
“Just making sure you’re ready.” As he spoke, hot breath blew on her hypersensitive region. “Mmm. You’re going to taste so fucking good.”
Heat swirled around her despite the chilled air. His tongue flicked out to graze her folds and her eyes rolled back. Need thrummed through her, so great it took all her self-control not to grab the back of his head and hump his mouth.
That image seared her brain, tempting her.
But before she could act, his lips locked on her clit.
“Ohhh,” she cried.
He added suction then swiped his tongue over her crease and a shockwave annihilated her senses. She gasped, her hips rocking, urging him on. He didn’t slow. Instead, his hands gripped her ass as he angled for deeper access. Gone was all teasing.
He licked and stroked like a man starved and she was the only drop of water on the planet. She grew wetter by the second, making every lick that much hotter and slicker.
Deep, raspy groans rumbled from her throat as she stared at the blazing stars, her mind and body one with the vast and endless galaxy. An orgasm bloomed in her loins, its warmth demanding release.
Rami’s hand slipped to join his tongue and two fingers delved inside her.
“Ah,” she gasped. Her vision flickered as his digits sunk deep, touching her center. His tongue swirled around her clit and her toes curled. If it weren’t for his other hand, locked on her ass cheek, she’d have levitated.
She bucked her hips, desire winning and her legs spread as wide as possible. He curled his fingers at the same time as he applied sharp suction to her clit and she came undone. Her body pulsed and vibrated, her legs shaking as she cried out over and over, her orgasm so great she couldn’t take it. She hung on to every wave, needing it to never end.
And he didn’t let it.
He licked and sucked, playing and nipping until a wet rush left her body and she squeaked at the sheer force of it. “Rami. God,” she whimpered.
His fingers slowed as her orgasm descended, and his tongue gently lowered her back to earth. A quiver racked her body, and she nearly choked on her damn tongue.
Her body lay wet and limp like a rag doll. The hard cement came into focus. Seconds ago she could’ve sworn she was lying on a cloud.
She watched as Rami gripped the pool deck and lifted himself. Water rushed off his chest and wet briefs, and the rivulets explored his body more than she ever had. Even though he’d just made her come within an inch of her life, desire burned inside her like a hot ember. She still needed him. His whole length—hard and fast.
God, what’s wrong with me? How can I want him so badly?
The realization should have scared her. But all it did was make her reach for him. He clamped his hand around her forearm and pulled her to trembling feet. Then he laced his arm around her back and hooked his elbow beneath her knees.
“I hope you’re just getting started, baby. ’Cause I am.” His tone was hard, as if it was taking him immense effort not to fuck her right on the cement.
Scary thing was, she wouldn’t have complained.