Chapter 22 #2
With my fingers wrapped around his shirt, I realized I was tugging him closer.
The heat of our bodies was as explosive as before yet completely removed from what we’d shared up until now.
And why? Because our feelings were deeper.
There was no doubt we both sensed the quiet resolve of longing, completely removed from the urgency of passion we’d experienced before.
Maybe we were finally able to control our needs.
For now.
With his head cocked, he brushed the palm of his hand down my cheek and across my jaw, finishing his sweet moment of exploration by tracing my lips with his index finger. I found myself clinging to him, wishing I could find the right words for the various emotions sweeping through me.
There was nothing inadequate about the man or what we’d been through that came to my mind. This wasn’t love nor was it simply about sex any longer to provide a break from the horrors. What we were both feeling was deeper, kindred to a closeness few couples ever achieved.
The thought scared me to death.
After Franklin, for the longest time I’d believed myself to be unwanted. Or maybe I’d just needed to stick my head in the sand and heal. When I was around Kendrick, he made me feel like something special.
And I adored him for it.
His lips were suddenly dangerously close, but I sensed the moment he was fighting to shut down his feelings. Pulling away, he winked. “Let me show you my mission control. Then I’ll get us something to drink.”
Mission control was four large screen monitors with powerful hard drives, connection to a secure satellite and communications equipment that reminded me of something the military would have.
In addition, there was a camera placed outside the only door leading into the condo and the few windows that opened, allowing for escape in case of a fire.
With a fire escape on one side, there were three cameras, two pointing toward the street and one to the roof.
As he brought two cold beers, he noticed what I was looking at. “In case perpetrators land on the roof.”
“Couldn’t they just break the beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows?” I threw him a heated look on purpose.
“Well, I was lucky when I moved in. The developer was just renovating the space. I paid extra for thick glass.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Five years.”
“Raven Intel has been around that long?”
His laugh sent a series of shivers all the way to my toes. “You have no idea how many death threats I started receiving the moment I became a prosecutor.”
“Ouch. What was your most notorious case?”
He led us toward the couch, plopping down and immediately putting his feet onto the coffee table. I did so love a man who didn’t stand on pretenses. “Dante Rinaldi. A mafia Don’s son. I was green and it took me several years until I realized the reason I was given the case.”
With his eyes twinkling, I knew instantly what he was insinuating. “They wanted you to lose.”
“Yep. Back when I worked for a very corrupt boss. It was my first indication that not everything was as it seemed.”
“What happened?”
The swig was long and deep. “Oh, I won. Ten years behind bars.”
“Wow. And your boss?” I curled my legs under me, feeling guilty for enjoying the moment.
“Oh, Jonathan Marks was found guilty of obstruction of justice and disbarred. I think he moved somewhere like to Idaho a couple years ago.”
“Let me guess. You were responsible for his arrest and conviction.”
“Let’s just say I did my civic duty.”
As he laughed, I couldn’t seem to help the intense longing keeping not only a deep throb in my pussy but an ache in my heart.
When this was over, we’d return to our regular lives.
It was necessary. We lived hundreds of miles away from each other and he was so very obviously married to his career. “See. You’ve always been a hero.”
His smile instantly faded. “You and I both know that’s not true. I’m not hero material.”
I scooted closer until I was sitting cross-legged in front of him. As usual, electricity raced through me from the sound of his voice.
Low. Rough. Raspy.
And I was wet and hot, incapable of compartmentalizing the way I felt about him. “Then what are you?”
“A true renegade.”
“More like a rogue. But I like the fact you go against the rules. I adore what you and the others are doing, even if you break the law in achieving the end goal.”
With his eyes hooded, he shifted so his knee was bent, his arm sprawled across the back of the couch, a perfect position for him to stroke my arm. While he contemplated the atrocities of this world. “You do realize one day my involvement with Raven Intel will likely get me killed.”
“Yes.” I hated the sound of my voice, timid in its acceptance that he was not only willing but possibly eager to die for the cause. All because of his sister. I pressed my hand against his chest, still able to feel the ragged thumping of his heart.
“I’m no good for you, Reese. The truth is I’m no good for anyone.”
“That’s not true, Kendrick. But until you allow your sister to find peace, you’ll continue to fight the single battle you couldn’t win. And here’s the thing. That isn’t a battle you’ll conquer no matter how much you bend, break, or mutilate the rules.”
He brought my hand to his mouth, his eyes never leaving me as he rolled his lips across my knuckles. Of all the passion we’d shared, there’d been nothing as intimate or as sensual as what he was doing right now. “Then just how am I going to do that, my perfect little teacher?”
“By opening your heart. By feeling everything without shutting down no matter how amazing or painful it is. That’s the beauty of life. Sharing all your experiences with someone who will be there when you need it.”
His eyes continued searching mine as he took the bottle from my hand, placing both on the coffee table.
There was a slow and easy feeling about his actions, nothing as frenetic as I’d experienced before with him.
This was where he was most comfortable, allowing himself to wallow in his pain and guilt.
The open space did little to hide the invisible bars and chains hanging from the ceiling, shackles he’d forced around himself not long after hearing about Emily. Much like I wanted to do right now.
There was no need for further words. Our connection was such that we understood each other better than two people who’d been together for years. While the electricity was off the charts, so was the understanding that we were like Romeo and Juliet.
Never destined to be free of our personal prisons.
Yet for tonight, the need to feel alive was strong, so much so my chest ached.
He took a deep breath, brushing his finger down my neck, darting his eyes toward me as he did.
They were filled with amusement and desire.
He continued his exploration by brushing the tip of the satin ribbon on my corset.
With barely any movement, he pulled the string, taking a deep breath as soon as he did.
As the leather and lace gave way, his entire expression changed.
The way he lowered his gaze, the hunger in his eyes and the intensity of his nostrils flaring said more than any words could.
For the first time, there was no rush. And I definitely didn’t want to take a single moment for granted. Being with him, touching him, feeling his cock buried deep inside of me was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
Not only because of the physical sensations, but also the emotions behind them.
When his shirt was removed, I crowded closer, my heated gaze trailing behind my fingers as I kneaded his chest. The look in his eyes was as frighteningly possessive as I’d seen, the darkness of his pupils utterly mesmerizing.
Since I’d been around him, it always seemed as if danger sizzled in the air and with a split second of activity, our cautionary relationship could be shattered.
Yet the thought of losing control was exciting. Never knowing what would happen next.
We were suddenly both on our knees, the rhythm of our actions, the rapid thread of our pulse exactly the same. As I unfastened his trousers, he reached for the zipper on my skirt, a slow and dazzling smile creating another wave of desire.
I was so lost in the sweet moment that I barely paid any attention to him lifting me into his arms so he could remove the remainder of my clothes.
When we were completely naked, he rolled his hands over my shoulders, crawling just the tips of his fingers down my back. With every second that passed, the tingling sensations increased until I was completely breathless and incapable of thinking.
Which was fine since I didn’t want to fall prey to the all-consuming guilt and fear.
With his large hands wrapped around my buttocks and his fingers digging into my skin, he tugged me closer. “So fucking beautiful.” He gripped the back of my neck, using the leverage to stare into my eyes.
This time as he lowered his head, I wasn’t about to let him back away. I captured his mouth, immediately thrusting my tongue inside. Kissing him was usually ferocious, the roughness jarring yet delicious.
In the early hours of the morning, the moment of intimacy was more about forgiveness, a momentary freeing of the guilt I’d mentioned to him before.
Yet even in the rush of our chemical reaction, the increasing need that could soon resume its former frenzy, a thought had taken residence in my mind.
This was also a goodbye.
Not of working together to end the nightmare, but of the passion that had kept us from falling prey to our anxieties.
I shoved it aside as the kiss deepened, only as I’d anticipated, Kendrick had no intention of allowing me to keep control for long.
He held me possessively, exploring every centimeter of the darkest recesses of my mouth. I could feel the pressure building, the crush of yearning already spiraling.
The touch of his skin seared my fingertips and the weight of his body against me was incredible. I was lightheaded, the rapid flutter of my heart creating echoes in my ears.
I knew the moment he was finished with any foreplay, the rumble coming from deep within his chest forming a husky growl as soon as his lips were pulled from mine.
Finally, we were both breathless, the slow and steady ease from before turning into something much deeper, even darker.
And so pronounced that as soon as he lowered me onto the couch on my back, he pressed the tip of his cock against my pussy lips.
With his body hovering over mine, the slow shake of his head screamed of the feelings he could never easily express.
If ever at all.
I pressed my hand against his chest, knowing he was asking my permission.
As soon as I wrapped my hand around his cock, the hard pulse against my fingers brought a slight moan.
Why had I found the one man who’d not only awakened but had managed to nurture the woman locked away, only to know we weren’t right for each other?
As soon as I guided the tip inside, he took a ragged breath. In my mind, my hero was both the sweetest sin and the darkest salvation.
He thrust the entire length of his cock inside and I reared up from the couch, arching my back. The jolt of current was as explosive as ever and I threw my leg over his. Maybe I was holding him in place or begging him to take all of me.
With every smile crossing his face there was an equal air of mischief and control, something I’d fought yet had craved. He was a dominating man, possibly even sadistic by nature.
And I adored every moment of it.
However, this wasn’t about kink or performing an act. This was about two people not only craving but needing each other.
Kendrick remained gentle with his actions, at least at first, pulling out then slowly returning his shaft to my pussy. But as I raked my nails down his arms, the salacious smile shifted into an awakening of the darkness he harbored and rarely allowed to see the light of day.
The rhythm was an easy mesh of our bodies, our muscles working in tandem. Then we both began to lose control, our bodies’ betrayal fueling the open flames.
My pussy muscles stretched, the ache in every joint and tension matching the rush of white-hot heat through my veins. Soon, my blood was boiling, a haze forming over my eyes.
With every stroke of his cock filling me, stretching me, the closeness only increased. I wasn’t just clinging to him any longer. I was blanketed by him, wrapped in sin and passion in a way I’d never thought existed.
He never blinked, never took his eyes off me as he shifted the angle, taking his time after learning so much about my body. Within seconds, the tingling sensations were vibrating, a rush of adrenaline fueling a climax.
As soon as my body stiffened, my back arching, he crushed his lips over mine. Capturing the moan. Creating additional friction. And for a little while, our bodies were molded together as one.
He refused to stop even as I fell back to earth, breathless and in awe of how my body responded to his.
The powerful man and handsome savior yanked one arm over my head then the other, holding both in place while we rocked together. Seconds went by. Minutes.
Every moment sweeter than the one before.
There were so many things I wanted to say to him, words that were on the tip of my tongue but faded before being spoken. Somehow, I knew he could read my mind.
He pushed me even harder, every action tantalizing until I couldn’t take it any longer. The sweep of vibrations as the orgasm rushed through me left me breathless, incapable of thinking.
I was barely cognizant, the pleasure was so intense, but realized he’d shifted one arm, now clasping both hands with mine.
With him continuing to watch my every movement, I pressed both knees against him, rocking in exactly the same rhythm. He finally blinked less than a minute later and I knew he could no longer keep control.
The moment I squeezed my pussy muscles, he threw his head back. Rewarded with a gruff but sexy roar, I closed my eyes, allowing a dream to filter into my mind.
A dream of the future.
Cocooned in his arms, I felt safer than I had in my entire life. With the lights of South Beach creating muted flashes of vivid lights through the sheets of glass, I slowly faded into the sweet abyss of sleep.