Chapter 18 #2
“Good,” Makayla said, shifting slightly so she could reach for his waistband.
“Whoa, sweetheart, not what I meant,” he said quickly, grabbing her wrist, and trying to figure out if the words he’d chosen or the tone he’d used could have been misconstrued. “I'm not having sex with you out here.”
“Why not?” she asked, pouting at him. She actually pouted. And, damn, if it wasn't the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.
“Because you were trafficked, because you were snatched away from me, because you had to kill someone, and I know that’s killing you. Because you're injured and exhausted. Do I need to go on?”
The pout had morphed into the softest, sweetest smile. “Did you hear what you said?”
“That you're injured and exhausted?” He hadn't meant that as an insult, just a fact. He was proud as hell of her endurance in the face of what would have crushed most people. Hell, he’d known guys in the military who couldn’t have walked on feet cut up as badly as hers for as long as she had.
When he frowned in confusion, Makayla lifted a hand and smoothed the pad of her thumb across his brow. “No, not that. You said I was snatched away from you. Is that how you see it, or did you not mean it the way I'm taking it?”
Damn, her ability to face things head-on when he preferred the bury your head in the sand approach was going to take some getting used to. “How did you take it?”
“Coward,” she murmured, but she said the word affectionately, and the thumb on his forehead dropped to drag across his bottom lip.
“It sounds like maybe you like me. That maybe you care about what happens to me. That maybe you feel something here.” Her hand dropped to press on his chest above his heart.
“That caught you completely by surprise.”
It would be so easy to be a coward like she’d accused him of being, to hide instead of confronting what he was feeling, the changes happening inside him.
But if Makayla could face down being trafficked and find a way to escape, then he could do this.
“Completely by surprise,” he echoed, and she gifted him one of those smiles he was quickly becoming addicted to.
“Then show me, Van. Show me how caught by surprise you are by me, make me feel something other than this guilt. It’s too much and I can't …” Makayla trailed off and fresh tears shimmered in her big blue eyes.
There was no way he was having sex with her when the guys were close by and she was so vulnerable.
It would be taking advantage of her even if she didn't see it the same way right now.
“Can't have sex you, sweetheart, I'm sorry.” Van leaned in and touched a lingering kiss to her forehead.
When she sighed in disappointment and dropped her gaze, he knew it didn't have to be an either or.
“But I can make you feel so good you forget how to think.”
Her gaze snapped back up to meet his, and he could see the heat in them beneath the tears.
Maybe she didn't want this for all the right reasons, and he certainly wasn't going to make their first time while she was scared, hurting, and uncertain about the future, but she did want it, and he could give her something to take her mind off everything and help her relax enough to sleep.
“Yeah?” she asked hopefully, and he wanted her hope, wanted her to know she could count on him when she needed something, wanted to be the guy she came to, the one she knew would never let her down.
“Yeah, sweetheart.” Hooking his arms under her knees and around her shoulders, he shifted her so she rested back against his chest, her head nestled under his jaw, with his thighs serving as her seat so she was off the ground.
She winced slightly as he moved her, and he knew that in addition to her feet, every muscle in her body must be aching and sore.
Nuzzling her temple, he placed a hand on her stomach.
“Just rest, relax, and try to clear your mind.
You need rest, sweetheart, and if this is the only way to get you relaxed enough to sleep, then I'm happy to do it.”
“Wouldn't want anyone else but you to do it, Van,” she said, and there was a sleepy edge to her voice. She trusted him enough to do this for her, and that meant more to him than she understood.
“Happy to hear that,” he told her as he edged the tattered material of the maid’s uniform up enough that he could slip a hand between her legs without exposing her bare center for anyone to see.
The guys would remain a respectful distance.
They all had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen, but they wouldn't go far, not after what happened with Mateo and Ally in Vanuatu just a couple of weeks ago. “We have some rules to discuss.”
“What rul—” Makayla broke off on a gasp when he brushed a fingertip across her center.
“Hmm, what rules indeed,” he said as the pad of a finger found her bud and circled it gently.
“Why are there rules?” Makayla asked as her hips thrust a little, seeking more stimulation than he was giving her.
“Because you're injured and exhausted,” he reminded her.
“Which means you're not going to do anything.
You're not going to move, you're not going to beg, you're not going to do anything but sit here on my lap, with your eyes closed, and let me give you what you need. Can you do that for me, Makayla?” he asked as he slightly increased the pressure as he continued to circle her bundle of nerves.
“I can't beg?” she asked, and already her voice was breathy.
“That’s right,” he said as he pressed his lips to her neck and touched soft kisses there.
“But you’re going to make me come?”
“Would never deny you, sweetheart. Might just make you wait a little to get there,” he replied. Which was the opposite of what he would normally do. Usually, he’d work his partner quickly to an orgasm, then shove inside her, get himself off, make sure she came again in the process, and move on.
Not today, though.
Not with Makayla.
“Okay,” she said on a small moan when he took her bud between his forefinger and thumb and tweaked it.
“Good girl,” he praised, making her moan again, her hips thrusting just the tiniest bit. “What did I say about moving?”
She mewed a protest when he removed his fingers. “Sorry, it happened by accident, felt so good.”
“You're forgiven, sweetheart, but don’t do it again,” he warned. “Now relax.”
Keeping one hand between her legs, but not touching her, Van turned his attention back to her neck.
He nipped lightly at her skin, then soothed the small sting with his tongue, swirling the tip along the slender column of her neck.
Trailing kisses down toward the curve where her neck met her shoulder, he paused at her pulse point, gently sucking the skin into his mouth.
As he kissed, and licked, and nipped at her neck, he gave the occasional featherlight brush of a finger across her bud. Each time he did, Makayla’s body trembled against his, and she relaxed further into him.
“Such a good girl,” he murmured as his thumb pressed against her swollen bundle of nerves.
“Mmm, feels so good, Van,” she mumbled back, the sleepy note to her voice increasing as she stopped fighting against her body’s need to shut down for a while.
“What do you think good girls should get, Makayla?” he asked as he kept his thumb still on her bud.
“Orgasms,” she replied without hesitation, making him chuckle.
“Always taking what you need, aren't you, sweetheart?”
“Normally I don’t,” she said softly. “Normally, I take care of my own needs and everyone else’s, but with you … it feels safe to let you take care of me.”
Van didn't have to ask to know that was the highest praise his girl could give him. Continuing to kiss her neck, he increased the pressure of his thumb, circling her bud harder, faster, until she began to writhe against him, so close to letting pleasure explode inside her.
“Want to see you come now, sweetheart, time to let go,” he whispered in her ear, and when he pressed a little harder on her bud, she came apart for him.
Crying out, her hips rocked against his hand as he didn't let up, working her through the orgasm, prolonging her pleasure for as long as he could, because she deserved it. Deserved the world.
“Thank you,” she said drowsily as she turned her head and touched a kiss to his jaw, before she went limp against him, finally giving in to the need to sleep.
“You're welcome,” he said back, even though she was already out and didn't hear him. “And thank you for just being you and saving me in the process.”
Now all Van had to figure out was how he was going to get Makayla back home without putting her in any more danger. Something that seemed easier said than done.