Chapter 20 #2
I nod. He only has to look at me that way to make me want to clench my thighs. He doesn’t miss the movement. ‘Now that won’t do,’ he says, his eyes travelling up the length of my bare legs. ‘Take off your panties and open your legs. I want to see how ready you are for me.’
Lightning zings through my spine. Am I brave enough to do it, though?
‘You’re not following my orders,’ he says. ‘But I promise you, take your clothes off, and I’ll make it worth your while.’
I take in his naked chest, the growing bulge in his crotch. His voice is low and rough. I open my legs, slowly, and he traces every move. My skin burns with heat.
‘Now lean back,’ he says, and holding his gaze, I do. The tiles are a bit cold underneath my back, but their coolness is welcome.
His fingers brush my calf.
I can hardly focus. His hand travels up my thigh. The rasp of his callused fingers on my overheated skin makes me clench again.
I’m trying to swallow down a moan.
I fail completely when his finger brushes the edge of my panties. Grandma panties. But Mace doesn’t seem to be deterred by that. His pinkie slips inside me for just half an inch, and then draws back. I push my legs apart to give him better access.
‘That’s it, Ellie,’ Mace murmurs. ‘You’re perfect.’ He leans above me, his signature frown drawing his eyebrows together. I want to kiss every edge of that scowl.
A riot of sensations explodes in my belly. But it’s not enough. I want to melt into him. I want to forget where he ends and I begin. I want to soak in his delicious scent.
The intensity in his gaze makes me shiver.
And then, I can’t restrain myself any longer.
I lift myself on my elbows. His breath coasts my lips, and for a moment we just lock gazes.
Then he slips another finger into me, while watching my every reaction.
He curls his fingers, and pleasure wracks my entire body.
I arch towards him and it’s perfection and I need to feel more.
I need to crawl under his skin. I hold on to his shoulders, while my lips slide against his.
This kiss isn’t soft and tentative. It’s messy and hungry. It’s his tongue slipping into my mouth, while his fingers move faster and faster between my legs. It’s the only sign that he’s as undone by this as much as I am.
I could lose myself in this kiss. I could lose track of time and of where I am.
I could live in here forever, with Mace’s scorching skin underneath my fingers, his tongue brushing the roof of my mouth until I’m almost crying with how good he feels.
I’m clenching so tight and I’m close, so close.
But then he pulls back slowly, letting his fingers trail down my thigh.
‘You promised you’d be a good girl, Ellie,’ he says. ‘You just weren’t.’
‘And are you going to let that slide, Captain?’
He grins. ‘Maybe you should cool off. How about you jump into the water? And leave your shirt on. For now.’ He tugs at the hem.
I smirk. That pool has been tempting me ever since we arrived, but there I was too lost in my own head. Now I can’t think of anything more tempting than sinking into that water. ‘Will you join me, Captain?’
‘Let’s see how well you behave,’ he says.
I kiss the edge of his grin and jump into the pool. The water is warm and wonderful. And reaching just above the line of my bellybutton. I can’t resist the temptation and dip up to my neck and then I come back up. The shirt clings to my breasts, and they feel heavy and so, so sensitive.
‘Turn around,’ he says. ‘I want to see you.’
I do as he says. Mace growls. ‘Stay where you are,’ he says and slowly gets to his feet. He tugs at his belt and then drops his trousers at the edge of the pool. He hooks his thumbs into the band of his boxers and pulls them off in a smooth motion.
I take in every inch of his muscled flesh, the fine dusting of light brown hairs. When he notices where my gaze has gone, his grin seems to widen, and he begins to palm himself, with slow, languid movements. I can’t take my eyes off him.
Every inch of him is beautiful. Did he say I was designed to push his buttons? Well, every part of him does something for me.
‘Your turn,’ he says. ‘Take that shirt off.’
I grab the hem of my shirt and lift it up to my belly button. He leans forward, his gaze hungry. I smile so wide that my cheeks are aching.
I drop the hem of my shirt and say, ‘I don’t think so.’
His eyes flare. And then he jumps into the water with me. He’s by my side in two powerful movements, grabbing me by the waist and lifting me. ‘What did I say about doing as you’re told?’
I hook my legs around his waist. I trace the shape of his lips with my fingers. ‘I decided that you don’t really like good girls. You like it when I don’t do as I’m told.’
He leans his forehead to mine. ‘Are you sure about this?’ he asks, his lips barely brushing mine. ‘Is this what you want?’
‘How can you even ask me?’ I say. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, holding tight. And then I begin sinking into him.
I want him. I want him with the grumpiness and the sulkiness and the reluctant smiles and his heart of gold.
I want him for how powerful he makes me feel.
And I want to make him come undone, and I might have just succeeded.
Mace throws his head back and groans. His entire body is tense, and I can tell he’s barely keeping himself in check.
‘Take it slow, Ellie,’ he says, and turns us around, so that he can support his hand on the edge of the tiles. He pins me between his body and the wall of the pool, and he begins moving his hips slowly. He feels so good that it can’t be put into words.
‘More, Mace, I need more,’ I gasp.
His hips start an undulating movement. There’s pressure, but there’s also so much pleasure, travelling in zings across my spine, making my fingers go numb. The room spins with me, and I close my eyes, trying to soak this moment in, to drown in every sensation.
His thrusts become quicker and quicker, drawing me tighter and tighter. I’m pretty sure that if I wasn’t hanging on to him, my legs would have given out a long time ago.
‘Look at me,’ he says softly, running his nose along my cheek. My gaze finds his, and I take in the absolute storm of want in his eyes. I want to scream at him to take it, because he can have it all.
Instead, he brings his fingers to my clit and begins rubbing in small, circling movements. He adjusts his movements this way and that, until he finds what makes me gasp and writhe, what makes me scream.
‘That’s it,’ he says. ‘Come for me, Ellie.’
My name in his mouth makes me unravel. I tumble down an endless well of pleasure, clenching and unclenching around him, screaming his name.
Mace begins to move, harder and faster, tipping me right over that edge again.
I cling to his shoulders so hard that I must leave bruises, or at least deep scratches, but he’s just as lost to the moment as I am.
His back arching, he wraps his arms around me as he comes.
In the aftermath, we’re still holding on tight to each other, while catching our breaths. He rubs his nose to my temple, places a soft kiss in my ear. ‘How will I ever come back from this, Ellie?’
I sling my arms around his neck, letting my head fall on his chest. ‘I have no idea, Mace. But I’m not sure why I would ever even want to.’