Chapter 32
Mia turned on the water in the shower. The house might be modest, but the one bathroom had been overhauled and retrofitted with all the amenities anyone could want.
There was a claw foot tub that she considered using. Instead, she opted for the large, glass shower with two showerheads on either side.
The large rectangular tiles on the floor of the bathroom were a soft slate gray. The bottom of the shower didn’t have tile but large, smooth pebbles the color of onyx instead.
She shed her clothes while she looked at the two separate sinks. One with bright lights and a vanity for a woman, while the other had all the components any man needed to shave as well as an assortment of colognes.
Mia was eager to see what was on the woman’s side, but the steam from the water beckoned. She stood in the middle of the spacious shower, the hot water hitting her front and back.
She allowed the water to soothe her aching muscles. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her, drawing her back against a strong chest.
Her heart skipped a beat at the feel of Cullen’s magnificent body. He turned her slowly, his large hands caressing her.
Once more, she looked into his green and gold depths and saw the desire sizzling there. Her blood pumped in her ears and pleasure coiled low in her belly.
He drew her closer, his head lowering to take her mouth in a kiss. His lips were soft and insistent. Then his tongue swept into her mouth to mate with hers.
She sighed and melted against him. As the kiss intensified, she ran her hands over his wide shoulders. The feel of the bandage caused her to attempt to draw back, but he only intensified the kiss.
With a rough shove, he pushed her back. A moan rumbled in his chest as he pressed her against the glass and kissed her as if there were no tomorrow.
As if he’d die without the taste of her.
She clung to him, her body aching to have him fill her again. His arousal pressed into her stomach as he rocked his hips. She shivered and moaned. Her sex clenched eagerly as her body remembered his loving all too well.
With the water sluicing over them, he grasped her ass and lifted her. Mia widened her legs, wrapping them around his waist as she did.
“Your wounds,” she gasped between kisses.
He gave a shake of his head. “I need you.”
The sensation of the cool glass at her back, Cullen’s heated body at her front, and the hot water all around was an erotic combination.
She dropped her head back while his lips moved down her neck. Powerless, she swayed her hips forward. The need to be connected to him in an act as old as time itself consumed her.
His teeth nipped at the skin where her neck met her shoulder. She shuddered. This man had the ability to touch her in ways she never imagined.
It was as if his soul sang a song hers recognized. Everything about him beckoned her, summoned her. And she was incapable of denying him—even if she wanted to.
She moaned loudly when his hot breath fanned her ear right before he took the lobe gently in his teeth and bit down before sucking. All the while, he shifted her so that his fingers moved closer to her sex.
The teasing was an exquisite, beautiful torture. She burned for him. Her body was at fever pitch, and she hoped to never recover from it.
Cullen watched the pleasure cross her face. She held nothing back, allowing him to see everything she experienced. He’d tried to ignore his yearning for her, but it had been impossible.
He’d always been able to walk away from women, but not so with Mia. She’d bewitched him somehow. And the surprising, truly alarming part . . . he liked it.
Hell, he craved it.
His gaze lowered to see her pebbled nipples with the water cascading over her lush breasts. He twisted and took a peak into his mouth, sucking hard.
Her nails sank into his neck while her legs tightened. There were so many ways he wanted to make love to her and explore her body while seeing how many times he could wring cries of passion from those tempting lips of hers.
His cock twitched. He ached to be inside her again, to feel her slick walls close tightly around him. Just thinking about it brought a bead of moisture to the tip of his rod.
He raised her so that her folds hovered over his arousal. Their eyes met. Her chest heaved, and her skin flushed.
“Please,” she begged.
His cock brushed against her sex. Then he slid slowly inside. Her gasp was a mixture of sensuality and decadence. It shredded the last of his control with all the force of a whisper.
He released his hold and let her lower onto his cock until she was fully seated. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted. The beautiful carnal look on her face made his heart trip.
The voice inside him that allowed him to leave his previous lovers warned him that he was getting too close. But it was already too late.
It was too late the moment he first tasted her lips.
He began to move his hips. Slowly at first, but the tempo quickly escalated.
Their bodies slid against each other, their passion growing with each heartbeat. Her tight walls squeezed him as her breasts bounced prettily.
Her breathing hitched, and her body tensed. Then he watched the bliss cross her face as her climax hit. He thrust hard, wanting to prolong her pleasure so he could continue to watch.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t hold back his own orgasm. It barreled through him, leaving him dazed and unnerved.
When he was able to lift his head, Mia’s hands caressed his back and neck. He didn’t even attempt to come up with an excuse to leave her.
Instead, he moved her near the faucets so she could shut off the water. Still holding her, he walked from the shower to the bedroom, where he placed a knee on the bed and lowered them both.
She wasn’t sure what emotion was reflected in Cullen’s hazel eyes. There was a hint of distress, but it was gone before she could wonder about it.
She sighed when he threaded his fingers with hers and lifted her arms over her head. His chest scraped against her sensitive nipples.
She hissed, causing his lips to form a crooked smile. It felt divine to have him still inside her. He was semi-hard and becoming harder the longer he remained.
He placed a kiss on her forehead, another on the tip of her nose, and then on her lips before continuing down her body. Her lids fell closed.
When he pulled out of her, she wanted to call him back, but the words died on her lips when his tongue found her clit. She sucked in a quick breath.
Her arms moved out to her side where she clutched the comforter. She lay defenseless against such wicked pleasure. His tongue did wonderful, sinful things that had her gasping for breath and her back arching off the bed.
When his hands reached up and cupped her breasts, gently massaging them, she sighed. That sigh turned into a cry of pleasure when he pinched her nipples.
Already she could feel another climax building—and quickly. His hands moved from her breasts, sliding over her body as a sculptor might caress a statue.
She’d never felt more beautiful or more sensual than in Cullen’s arms. She became a wanton, a creature that couldn’t survive without his touch.
Just as the first waves of her orgasm hit, he rose up and entered her in one smooth motion. She cried out, clutching him.
He held himself above her, his hips rocking forward as he plunged inside. The ecstasy stole her breath as she was tossed about on the wild ride of pure rapture.
All the while, she was drowning in his green-gold depths. He refused to allow her to look away. The link that had been forged, that connected them, strengthened and grew.
As he watched her, she was able to see the pleasure fill his face when he climaxed. She held him as his body jerked from the force of it.
And then they were in each other’s arms, their bodies tangled. She tried to keep her eyes open, but she was too sated. She drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.
Mia didn’t know how long she’d slept or what had pulled her so viciously from her dreams. She lay still, listening. Beside her, Cullen’s even breathing lulled her.
She moved her hand from his side and felt something on her fingers. It wasn’t until she lifted her hand and saw the blood that she realized he must have torn his stitches.
“Cullen,” she said softly as she rolled him onto his back and got on her knees.
He blinked and frowned as he opened his eyes. “What is it?”
“Your stitches. Stay here. I’m going to find something to stop the bleeding.”
He lifted his head to look at his side. He tentatively touched the wound. She hurried from the bed, racing naked down the stairs.
She searched the kitchen and pantry before rushing back up to the bedroom to look in the bathroom. It was there that she found the First-Aid kit.
Grabbing it and some towels, she ran to the bedroom. She tossed the box on the bed. Then she climbed next to Cullen and wiped away the blood. With the majority of it gone, she was able to see how bad the bleeding was. Three of the stitches had popped.
“I can’t believe I forgot about your wound.”
He grabbed her hand to still her. Only when she looked in his eyes did he say, “This isn’t your fault.”
He released her when she gave him a nod. She was mortified that she’d been so careless. Cullen needed to be at the top of his game. The longer he remained hurt, the harder that would be.
In no time, she had the replacement stitches in, the wound cleaned, and a new bandage in place. She closed the First-Aid kit and started to rise.
He stopped her, moved everything off the bed, and pulled her against him as he lay back. She was loath to hurt his side, but his other shoulder was also injured.
“I want you beside me,” he said into the silence as she lay stiffly beside him. “You’re not hurting me. I wasn’t in pain before.”
Slowly, she relaxed and rested her head against his good shoulder. Her eyes grew heavy again. She let them fall closed while enjoying being in Cullen’s arms.
“Do you think we’ll find Orrin?”
She shifted her head to look at him. “Yes. Don’t you?”
“There are so many things stacked against us. I’m beginning to worry.”
“I’m not.”
He grinned. “Liar.”
“Do I think we’re going to have an uphill battle? Yes. Do I think our hunt will lead us to the Saints? Definitely. I’d feel better if I were in the air, though. I’m pretty useless on the ground.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
She smiled at his insinuation. “I don’t have the ground training that you do.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t think a plane would help us right now.”
“I wish it would, because no one can touch me in the air.”
He gave her a squeeze. “I don’t want you hurt.”
“You mean the way you’ve been injured?” she asked, her voice laced with heat.
“Exactly.”
“You’re not leaving me behind.” No matter how unskilled she was for this, Cullen was better with her beside him than alone with no one to watch his back.
He put his finger beneath her chin and lifted it to place a kiss on her lips. “No. I’m not.”