Chapter 13
Clint stepped out of the restaurant behind Ashlin into the cool May breeze.
She rubbed her palms up and down her biceps.
He immediately took off the summer wool navy-blue blazer he’d chosen to wear with black jeans and black dress boots.
He pulled his button-down shirt from his waistline, so it covered the pistol and holster he carried at this small of his back, before draping the coat over her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she said when they stopped at the corner of the brick restaurant. Clint wasn’t sure whether she was thanking him for the jacket or for the supper.
He wasn’t willing to end the evening just yet. “My hotel is only a couple of blocks from here. Can I interest you in a nightcap? They have a very nice bar with a piano player tonight.” He hesitated before he added, “My suite also has a full bar if you’d rather someplace quieter.”
This was the part of the evening that most worried Clint.
It was still early even for a work night.
Her words earlier in the evening, putting a halt to sex, still gave him pause.
He didn’t want to push Ashlin into bed until she was ready for it again.
He, on the other hand, had been half hard since they landed in the D.C. area.
Ashlin turned to face him and slid her palms up his chest and around his neck. “I love that pub, but the later in the night it gets, the louder the customers become.” She lifted onto her toes and gave him a sweet kiss. “I’m sure your hotel has room service. I could use some chocolate.”
She surprised him when she turned and grabbed the taxi that had just dropped off another couple at the pub. He crawled into the back seat right after her and quickly gave the driver the address.
Hand-in-hand, they strode across the lobby to the elevators.
Inside, alone, she whirled around and once again wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, she didn’t release him or the kiss.
With a tiny bounce, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his hips.
Clint grinned deep inside. Welcome back, Lady Tiger.
He grabbed her bottom and held her in place as he strode to his room.
Fortunately, as soon as he’d stepped into the elevator downstairs, he had extracted his key card from his pocket.
Her bottom was at the perfect height to tap the card onto the electronic surface, letting him step into the silence of his suite.
He finally broke the kiss only long enough to say, “I’ll gladly take you against the door if that’s what you want, but I’d much rather show you how much I’ve missed you in bed.”
“Hmm. Hard door or soft bed? That’s a no-brainer. Soft bed, please.”
Clint carried her through the living area and into the bedroom, still wrapped around him. He set her down gently on the bed and leaned over to get a good look into her eyes, a hand on each side of her hips.
“Are you sure about this, my little tiger?” He didn’t want her to regret anything tomorrow morning, or ever.
“I’m not drunk off two beers, if that’s what you’re afraid of.
” She pulled him down with her hands behind his neck, bent over her, refusing to allow him to stand.
“Until we left the restaurant, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed you.
I didn’t want our night to end. I still don’t.
Clint, I want you. I want my husband. I want a night with my husband and me together in this bed. ”
“Thank Christ.” He pushed her over, so her back was pinned against the bed. “I’ve wanted you right here, next to me, every night since our wedding.” He lowered his head with a demanding kiss that softened and gentled.
He kissed along her jaw to her ear before gently biting the lobe. He remembered last time how much she’d liked that. Her whole body shuddered, and he grinned before he traced the outer rim of her ear with the tip of his tongue, stopping at the bottom and sucking the lobe into his mouth.
Her breaths were uneven as she scraped her short nails down his spine.
Clint changed directions and lightly bit down on her neck until he ran into the silky texture of her blouse. He unbuttoned the top and placed a soft kiss on the newly exposed skin.
Ashlin arched up, as though offering him her breasts.
Yes. This was his little tiger.
He nipped and kissed his way southward. When he exposed her bra, he unhooked the front clasp and released her luscious breasts.
These were one of his favorite parts of Ashlin; more than a mouthful but a perfect handful.
He sucked on one nipple while he rolled the other between his thumb and forefinger, tenderly tugging on both with his teeth and fingers.
Ashlin lifted off the bed as though to sit up, but Clint wouldn’t allow it.
While her back was up, though, he removed her blouse and bra before lightly pressing her back down.
He loved touching her soft skin, so he stroked her twice from collarbone to bellybutton, letting his rough fingers splay over her breasts and tight abdomen muscles.
He worked his way kissing down her flat stomach, but he wasn’t stopped by her slacks and lacy panties, which he pulled off in one smooth movement.
Clint leaned back and stared at the beautiful naked woman in front of him.
His wife.
The longer his gaze lingered, the bigger her smile grew. She separated her knees and spread them wide, so he got a good look at the wetness in her folds.
“I can tell you like what you see.” She leaned up and reached for his button-down.
He shook his head. “Not yet. It’s been too long.” He bent over and lifted her knees over his shoulders, spreading them even wider. He could smell her arousal. With his thumbs, he separated her folds and licked a circle around her clitoris.
Ashlin’s hips shot off the bed. She grabbed the sides of his head and forced him to look up at her.
“I’d forgotten how good you are this.”
Clint grinned. “Then lie back and enjoy it.”
“Clint, I want you inside me. Now!” Ashlin demanded.
“We’ll get to that,” he teased. “But not until you’ve come at least twice.” He lowered his head and tormented her by licking and sucking until her legs were shaking uncontrollably. Only then did he slide two fingers into her channel while working her clit with his mouth.
“Clint,” she panted.
He stopped and smiled up at her, her face beautifully framed between her breasts. “I’m right here, Tiger.”
“Don’t you dare stop,” she threatened him.
“Your wish is my command, but I had no intention of stopping…unless you said no.” He lowered his head again and, within a minute, had her writhing. With his fingers still inside her, he worked her clit with his thumb and crawled up next to her. He wanted to hold her as she fell apart.
Clint slid his free arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him while he pumped his fingers in and out of her and rubbed her sensitive bundle of nerves. “Let go, Ashlin. I’ve got you.”
He felt the second she gave herself to the pleasure.
Her whole body shook with the release of the tension.
It was almost too much for Clint to withhold his own orgasm.
Staring down at Ashlin’s beautiful content smile as she completely relaxed in his arms was all it took to keep him from rolling onto her, into her wet heat, and exploding inside his wife.
She appeared so peaceful as she lay in his arms. He wanted her to stay there forever.
Her breathing increased and grew deeper before she blinked open her eyes. “That was amazing.” Ashlin snuggled in closer to his mostly clothed body. “That took so much out of me, I just want to curl up here and go to sleep.”
“Go ahead,” he suggested. He’d be satisfied with her right there all night…until she reached over and unzipped his dark jeans, freeing his cock. Her soft, delicate fingers felt like butterfly wings barely touching his rigid shaft.
“You have on way too many clothes to be in this bed with me.”
Clint reached the back of his neck and pulled his shirt over his head in one smooth motion. He tossed the offending clothing to the side. He pulled the holster from the back of his pants and set it on the nightstand. Lifting his hips, he slid his boxer briefs and jeans to his ankles.
“Fuck.” He sat up and unzipped his boots, removed the handgun strapped to his ankle and set it on the side table next to the other one. He could finally remove his last vestiges of clothing. He heard the thunk of his knives when the jeans hit the floor.
Turning to Ashlin, the craziest thought ran through his mind. “Where are your weapons?”
She gave him a knowing smile. “My gun is in my purse. I took it off my back when we slid out of the booth. Knives are in my pockets, and there’s a hidden knife in my belt buckle, all of which are now lying on the floor next to yours.
I have a few throwing stars in my purse, and there is a garrote in my bra. ”
“This is the strangest conversation I’ve ever had while naked in bed,” Clint admitted as he pulled the covers over them both.
“Me, too.” She yawned.
Clint pulled her closer and tucked her head under his chin. “Rest.” He ran his hand down her face, forcing her to close her eyes.
“Just for a minute.” She let out a heavy sigh, and her breathing evened out.
Clint stroked her long, dark auburn hair and wondered how had he gotten so lucky?
With a smile, he fell asleep and had the most wonderful dream.
Ashlin was on her knees, taking him deep into her mouth while one hand carefully rolled his balls.
Her hair tickled his hips as she bobbed up and down and stroked his shaft with her small fingers, occasionally running her nails up the underside as she licked the engorged head.
He was so close but far too old to have a wet dream. He opened his eyes and knew it wasn’t a dream. His orgasm didn’t sneak up on him; it rushed forward like a tidal wave before a hurricane, wanting to crash and release all its power.
Clint grabbed her face and pulled her up so he could capture those talented lips and that tempting mouth. “My baby tiger, I can’t take any more of that.”
Ashlin slid her hips up his body, her wet heat hovering over his weeping head.
She stopped and stared down into his eyes.
“Condom.”
Talk about a cock-blocker.
“Ashlin, we had this talk back in Las Vegas… Unless…” Clint couldn’t bear to think of her with another man.
Had she been sleeping around while he had been honoring their vows, remaining true to her?
His hands balled into fists before he released them and grabbed her hips.
No way in hell did he want her sliding onto his cock if she’d had other men inside her since he’d been there last. He didn’t share.
“Clint, you know we get tested all the time. I’m clean. And you also know that I’m on the pill.” He lost her eyes when she glanced away.
He shoved his anger into an emotional box and spoke as softly as he could, “Ashlin, we were all tested before we left Ethiopia. Look at me, kitten. Talk to me. What are you thinking?”
Her eyes were a deep emerald green with that stunning ring of gold next to the pupils.
“We haven’t been together in nearly six months.
I’ve been out on missions almost constantly.
My team and I haven’t had any free time since we left Nevada.
But you’ve been home in Ethiopia almost six whole months.
That’s a long time for a man to go…without stress relief. ”
He pulled her face down, within millimeters of his. “I’m thirty-two years old, not some horny college kid. My life is filled with missions, too. If I’m not on one, I’m balls deep in planning one.” He grinned sheepishly. “As for stress relief, I handle it.” He wiggled his right hand.
He held up his left hand, the gold band she had given him the only piece of jewelry adorning his fingers.
“I made a vow to you, and I’ve kept it. I wouldn’t have agreed to marry you if I didn’t have feelings for you.
” He ran his thumb over her cheek. “I wasn’t that drunk.
I knew damn good and well what I was doing.
” He chuckled. “I had no idea how the hell I was ever going to tell Xena that I had married one of her best friends, but at that point in time, I didn’t care.
You’d been off-limits to me for years, but make no mistake, I had noticed you.
And wanted you. More each holiday you spend with us.
Las Vegas seemed like the perfect time to make you mine. ”
“There hasn’t been anyone in my life, and especially in my bed, since you said those magical words: I do.” He could feel his eyebrows pinch together. “Have other men touched you since you left me alone in our bed the morning after our wedding?”
“No, no one.” She shook her head slowly from side to side. “No man has hugged me, kissed me, and certainly not touched me in the places you have tonight. None of us do honeypot missions.” She grinned down at him. “That’s not our area of expertise.”
“Good, so there’s nobody I have to kill, right?” Clint was only half kidding.
Her smile grew into a grin. “No, but I would like another ‘little death’ as the French call it.”
“I can arrange at least one or two more of those.” With his hands on her hips, he slid her down his cock.
He felt her shudder as she took every inch of him.
He moved his thumb to her clit that was buried in her pubic hair and pressed.
“I’m okay if you just want to sit there, but I’m pretty sure we’ll both enjoy it much more if you move. ”
She tightened her muscles with every stroke.
He could feel each tiny ripple of internal muscles as she rode him.
He’d never gone bareback with any woman until Ashlin, so he wasn’t sure whether it was her skill as a lover, the sensation of skin on skin, or the fact that he had deep, growing feelings for her.
He came so hard he seemed to explode from his soul through every pore in his body.
If it weren’t for her nails digging into his chest, he couldn’t have said whether she had peaked or not until she collapsed, limp on top of him.
He awoke before she did to the wet sticky mess, practically gluing them together.
Carefully, Clint rolled her off him without waking her and quietly padded to the bathroom.
He returned with a warm washcloth and gently cleaned her before returning to the sink.
Part of him hated washing their mixed essence off himself, but he didn’t want her to have to deal with the mess they had made.
Glancing at his watch on the way back to bed, Clint smiled, realizing they had time for at least one or two more rounds. As he slid under the covers and pulled his wife’s naked body next to his, Clint’s last thought before sleep was, “I could do this for the rest of my life.”