Chapter 21
The forest was still but buzzing with sounds, making the night seem alive. It was electric, stimulating.
Stirring.
Mia searched for an excuse—any excuse—to stop thinking about Cullen. And found nothing.
It was disheartening to be sure. Especially when she wanted him so acutely.
That need swirled through her, slowly at first, but increasing steadily. The kernel of desire that had begun when she’d first seen him had turned into an inferno.
She used the time alone while he did a sweep of the area to try and get herself under control. When he’d spoken of his mother’s murder and the years after, she’d been unable to keep her hands from him. And that touch had only inflamed her need for more.
In order not to throw herself at him, she’d had no choice but to release him. Which had been harder to do than she’d expected. What was it about Cullen that enticed and captivated her?
What about him persuaded her to let down her guard and invite him in?
Was it his arousing, sexy voice that cajoled and seduced? Was it his charming words that tempted and lured?
Or was it those hypnotic hazel eyes with their mysterious mix of green and gold that coaxed her?
Her stomach fluttered at the thought of giving in to desire. The attraction was there, hovering over them like a cloud. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could resist. So far, her mind had remained strong, but her body was turning the tide swiftly.
Not even a mundane chore like cleaning the dishes could ease the rising desire. It burned. Blazed hot and relentless. Cullen was the type of man she couldn’t outrun or ignore.
He demanded her attention with a simple look. The promise of pleasure in his gaze was there whenever she sought to see it. And that terrified her.
But it also exhilarated her.
With her hands braced on the sink, she closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to give herself to Cullen. Her head rolled to the side as her nipples puckered, tingling with the need to be touched.
Chills raced over her body, as her breaths came faster. With his name on her lips, she reached down and touched herself, trying to ease the need rising rapidly.
Her eyes opened. In the reflection of the window, she saw him standing behind her. Their gazes clashed as the fire popped. Desire smoldered within his hazel depths.
There was no turning back now. Mia didn’t even try. The path was laid bare before her, and it was too good to let it pass her by.
She turned around. For long moments, they simply stared. She was afraid to move—and afraid not to.
The desire was so tangible that the air was thick with it. She was shaking when she took that first, tentative step toward him.
He met her halfway, but even then, they didn’t touch. Mia was scared that once she did, the primal, savage longing for him would take over.
It was Cullen who reached out first, putting a hand on her waist and slowly drawing her closer. Instinctively, her arms bent, grasping his forearms.
Candlelight and firelight bathed them in a soft glow. She was spellbound, caught in the web of longing and need reflected in his eyes.
His head bent forward gradually, giving her time to push him away. Except she was long past that. Her face lifted, anticipating his kiss.
The first touch of his lips against hers made her breath catch. His mouth was firm as he moved against her, teasing and coaxing.
She willingly opened for him. When his tongue swept in and touched hers, she sighed and ran her hands up his arms, over his shoulders, and around his neck.
He held her tightly, his arms like bands of steel as he deepened the kiss. Molten desire poured through her. If there were any last reservations about giving in to her longing, they faded away.
Sparks of pleasure skidded along her skin as he kissed her vigorously. She melted against him, wanting—needing—more.
A moan rolled through her when he slid a hand into her hair. Then he turned her, backing her around the sofa and moving closer to the fire.
She was the one who reached for the hem of his shirt and yanked it upward. The kiss ended long enough for him to pull the tee off and toss it away.
Mia’s lips parted as she stared at the specimen before her.
She splayed her hands over his chest, then kissed the bullet wound on his right shoulder and the other closer to his waist. On the left side, she ran her lips and tongue across the three-inch scar along his abdomen that had come from a knife.
She met his gaze and smiled. The thick sinew beneath her palms strained as he fought not to touch her. He jerked when she reached between them and unbuttoned his jeans.
The sound of the zipper was smothered by his moan. With her heart hammering in her chest, she placed her hand over his thick arousal through his jeans.
The slim thread of control Cullen had clung to shattered when she touched his cock. He yanked her against him, plundering her mouth with a brutal kiss.
Her fingers slid into his hair, her nails gently scraping his scalp. He couldn’t get her close enough. She’d been tempting him since he’d first laid eyes on her.
But walking into the cabin and finding her touching herself had surprised and excited him. Now that she was in his arms, he wasn’t about to let her go.
Tomorrow and the day after meant nothing as they gave in to the longing, the craving for one another.
He struggled to get her shirt off. Finally, she was the one who removed it. Her bra quickly followed. Then he had a handful of shapely breast.
When he ran a thumb over a taut nipple, she groaned, her nails sinking into him. As if in mutual understanding, they parted long enough to shed the rest of their clothes.
And then they were together, flesh to flesh.
Cullen gloried in the woman in his arms. He ran his hand down her side to the indent of her waist, and then over the flare of her hip before grabbing a handful of her ass and pulling her against his cock.
He smiled when she gave him a wicked grin right before she jumped, wrapping her long legs around his waist. Kissing her again, he held her while he lowered himself to his knees.
With one hand on her back, he leaned forward until his hand touched the floor. Slowly, he lowered her to the ground. She kept her legs locked around him, her hands all over his body.
He didn’t stop her when she rolled them over and straddled his hips. She flipped her hair over her shoulder with a flick of her head. Her hands were braced on his chest as he held her waist.
Desire pounded through him, thick and demanding. His cock jumped, eager to be inside her. Unable to help himself, he cupped both her breasts and squeezed her nipples.
Her head dropped back while her hips rocked against him. He’d never seen anyone so sensual, so wickedly sexy in his life. She was such a rare creature, one that he wasn’t sure he could ever let go of.
That thought startled him since he’d made a point to never find himself in a relationship.
Then he stopped thinking altogether when her long, slim fingers wrapped around his cock. He watched as she held him and lowered herself.
He moaned at the feel of her slick folds enveloping him. His head dropped back, his eyes falling closed as she took him deeper, her tight walls gripping him.
The sensation was exquisite and poignant.
Once she had taken all of him, she rotated her hips. His lids snapped open because the passion was too great now. As they stared into each other’s eyes, there was no denying the tangible need.
His breath left him in a rush as she leaned forward and began to move. He lifted his head and took a hard nipple into his mouth.
Her startled cry of pleasure urged him onward even as she increased her tempo. He licked and teased her nipple until she was jerking against him.
Then he moved to the other breast.
She trembled beneath his hands, her cries coming louder and faster. Suddenly, she sat up, dropping her head back as she rode him hard.
He gloried in the sight of her breasts swaying as the firelight covered her. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted. A look of pleasure so intense, so pure shone on her face.
His chest clenched as he realized he had such a woman in his arms. How fucking lucky was he?
Powerless to keep his hands off her, he splayed his hand on her stomach and used his thumb to find her clit. Then he slowly circled the swollen nub.
Within moments, she shuddered and quaked as a climax tore through her, her walls clamping around his cock. He ground his teeth together, holding off his own orgasm.
He flipped her onto her back, and with her climax still pulsing, he braced a hand on either side of her head, pulled out of her, and thrust.
“Cullen!”
The sound of her screaming his name sent him over the edge. He moved his hips faster, plunging deep. He felt her jerk as another orgasm took her.
He looked down at her with her dark hair spread around her, her swollen lips parted, and her body flushed from pleasure. It was a sight he would never forget. It was branded into his memory forever.
She reached up and touched his face, something in her gaze that he didn’t recognize—or didn’t want to recognize. But the moment couldn’t be forgotten.
Then her devilish grin appeared right before she locked her ankles around him and lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. That was all it took to send him over the edge.
He gave a final plunge, burying himself deep as the orgasm swept him away.
When he came to, he was lying on Mia’s chest with her arms around him, gently caressing his back. Normally, this kind of affection sent him running away fast. This time, however, he didn’t want to move.
It had nothing to do with the fact that there wasn’t anywhere for him to go, or that he felt like he needed to protect her.
He didn’t want to look too closely at the reasons he preferred to remain locked in her embrace. It was enough that he was content for the first time in his life.
It was a strange, astonishing feeling. He’d be lying if he said that Mia didn’t perplex him on all levels. Yet he’d been unable to ignore the attraction or his need to have her.
Though he wasn’t one to turn away a lover for the night, she was different.
And he felt different after being with her.
He couldn’t explain what had changed, but it touched him all the way to his soul. It echoed through him, silencing the demons that had been with him for as long as he could remember.
When she kissed his forehead, he closed his eyes. It was time to stop thinking and wondering. It was time to enjoy the bliss that followed such amazing lovemaking.
Though he couldn’t help but wonder what she might be thinking. Did she regret what had happened? Because he certainly didn’t.
In fact, he was glad he had no choice but to stay near her. Another first for him.
Odd how that didn’t bother him in the least.