Bad Boys After Dark: Mick (9 page)

“You’re driving me crazy,” she pleaded.

“Sorry, baby,” he said with a gratified smile. He loved knowing the effect he had on her. He ran his finger down the crease between her cheeks, teasing her tightest hole and gauging her reaction. Her deep moan was all the invitation he needed to take it a little further, though he had no intention of going past bringing her new and exciting pleasures. Spreading her cheeks, he ran his tongue from the top of the crease all the way to her hole and circled the rim.

“Ohmygod.” She thrust her ass out and reached for the wall. The visual was almost too much to take, her perfect ass hiked up, her legs slightly spread, and her glorious body on full display.

“Don’t stop,” she begged.

He hadn’t realized he’d paused to drink in the erotic sight of her. He teased and licked in time to her rocking hips, sinking lower as she widened her stance. He couldn’t resist tasting her slick heat.
Sweet as honey
. He licked from one entrance to the other, lingering on each.

“Again,” she pleaded.

My pleasure
. He did it again, and she moaned louder, more tortured.

“Baby, those sounds. You’re seriously testing my control.”

“Don’t stop. Please don’t stop,” she said breathlessly.

Rising to his feet, he pressed his chest to her back again, moving them both toward the wall.

“This isn’t supposed to be about sex,” he said harshly, though he was talking to himself. “You’re worth more than sex, Amanda. You need to know that.” He reached around her and pressed his hand over her heart. “In here, where it counts. You need to know you’re not just a pretty girl to fuck.”

“I know that when I’m with you.”

When I’m with you
. “God, baby, what you do to me.” He lowered his forehead to her shoulder as she ground her ass against him.

“Just…Do what you were doing. Lick me
there
.”

He was pushing his limits on restraint. He should have known their connection was too deep, their fire burned too hot, to draw such a thin line between how far he’d go and how far he
wanted
to go.

Thrusting her ass against him again, she said, “Please?” in an excruciatingly innocent voice.

No fantasy could come close to the woman he adored giving herself so freely to him. And she was no longer his fantasy. She was here now.
His
for the weekend. She widened her legs, and he gave her what she wanted, licking and teasing, until she was panting and whimpering and he was on the verge of losing it. He thrust his tongue into her ass, and she cried out in sweet anguish.

“Touch yourself,” he commanded. There was no turning back now. He had to make her come, had to feel her body shudder and shake.

Her hand dropped to her thigh, and he covered it with his own, moving it between her legs and pressing her fingers into her slick heat.

“That’s it, baby. Feel that? That’s what I do to you.” He fisted his cock and pumped as he licked her ass and she fingered herself. “I could watch you and eat you all day long. I’m so hard. So fucking hard for you.”

She stilled. The sound of the water and their heavy breathing mixed with the sound of flesh on flesh as he stroked his cock.

“Take me,” she said shakily.

His hand stilled.

“
There
.”

He closed his eyes against the tentative demand in her sweet voice. “Amanda.” He didn’t mean to growl, but there was only so much he could take before he gave in.

“Please,” she whispered. “I’ve never…”

Christ
. Another first. A
huge
first. “Baby…”

She turned and faced him with fierce determination. “I thought this was
my
weekend.”

“It is, but—”

She pushed the fingers that had been between her legs into his mouth, filling him with her essence, and he sucked them clean. Fear stormed inside him—of the emotions she was unearthing and the rampant desire she’d unleashed. He hadn’t meant for this to lead to sex, but hell, he was only human.

“Christ, baby,” he pleaded. “You can’t undo this.”

“I know I’ll never feel this safe again, and I want to experience everything, Mick. With
you
. I trust you.”

Her eyes pleaded as fervently as her words, shattering his last shred of control. He crashed his mouth over hers, taking her in a punishingly intense kiss.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said between kisses.

“I know you won’t. I trust you.”

He was as good as gone, and he had a feeling Monday would bring a world of hurt no matter how many times he warned her—or himself. “You’re sure? Come Monday, you’ll feel this every time you look at me.”

She searched his face, but he had the distinct impression she wasn’t registering it at all—she’d gone introspective, soul searching.

“I’m more than sure, Mick.” She went up on her toes and pressed her lips to his, then turned around, and braced her hands against the wall.

Holy hell. He knew he’d see this image for the rest of his life. He kissed her spine, the back of her neck, her shoulders. His hands traveled south, and he dipped his fingers into her pussy, drenching them with her desire before touching them to the place she was offering. “I’m going to ease in, to get you ready, baby. If it hurts, we’ll stop.”

She nodded.

He slid one finger past the tight rim of muscles, and she gasped. “Too much?”

“No.
More
.”

He’d probably be struck by a truck for allowing himself to do this when he knew he couldn’t give her the relationship she really wanted. But this was their weekend, and he wasn’t about to deny either of them the pleasures they craved. He pushed two fingers in and her ass clenched tight. She moaned, her fingers clawing at the wall. He leaned forward, covering her hand with his and interlacing their fingers.

“I’ve got you, baby.” He worked her ass until she moved with him more comfortably, meeting each inward thrust with a rock of her hips. “That’s it, baby. We can stop at any time.” He kissed her neck, grazed his teeth over her shoulder, and her breathing went from tenuous to lust-filled, fast and eager. “You run this show, baby. Tell me when you’re ready.”

She rested her head back against his shoulder. “I’m ready.”

He withdrew carefully, washing his hand before guiding his cock into her center, earning another sharp gasp. “Just for a minute, baby. Lubrication.”

Her pussy was so tight from the ass play he could have stayed buried there for the rest of the day. But she was giving him a gift, a chance to be closer to her than he’d ever imagined, and he wanted that more than he wanted his next breath. The warm water rained over them as he withdrew from between her legs and positioned the head of his cock at her tighter entrance. Her fingers curled around his as he pushed into her viselike channel. She sucked in a sharp breath.

“Too much?”

“Yes,” she said, and he stilled. “No. Keep going.”

He pushed in deeper, and she cried out. He froze, half buried. “We’ll stop.”

“No! Keep going,” she panted out.

He wrapped his other hand around her waist and drove in with one fast thrust, until he was buried to the hilt.

“Ow, ow! Don’t stop. Don’t stop.”

It killed him to hear pain tangled with the desire in her voice, and for a beat, he remained still.

“Please don’t stop, Mick.”

“Okay, baby. I hate to hurt you.” He kissed the back of her neck, and she pressed back.

“I know,” she said. “Don’t stop.”

He moved slowly, giving her the chance to get used to the fullness, the burn. “Still with me?”

“Yes. Yes, so good.”

“That’s right, baby. You feel so good, and I’m going to make you feel even better.” He moved his hand from her waist to between her legs.

“Oh Lord,” she said in a heady voice. “That’s…Wow. The pain.”

Mick stilled again, gutted. “Amanda—”

Her head fell between her shoulders. “Don’t stop. I didn’t expect to
like
it.”

Relief and something much bigger, much more meaningful, enveloped him. He refused to name the emotions, but he allowed himself to feel and acknowledge their overwhelming presence.

“Good, baby. Now let’s make you come.”

He reveled in the sweet sounds of surrender streaming from her lips as she came and the explosiveness of his relief as he followed her over the edge. Wrapping his arms around her middle, kissing her cheek, her shoulder, her neck, anywhere he could reach, he reassured her, told her how incredible she was. He wanted all of her, heart and soul, but he was a prisoner to his conscience. She wasn’t
his
beyond this weekend, and thinking she could ever be set them both up for a world of hurt. He crammed the possessive thought down beneath his desire, beneath the emptiness that had been his companion for far too long, to a well of unending darkness.

If only he had a cap and chains to keep it there.

THE FALL FESTIVAL was in full swing when Mick and Amanda finally made it to the fairgrounds. Colorful balloons waved from the corner posts of big white tents, like confetti that had been tossed from the sky. A cool breeze swept off the lake, carrying sounds of families frolicking by the shore and festivalgoers laughing and talking, eating ice cream, cupcakes, and pink blooms of cotton candy. Giggling teenage girls huddled together, eyeing surly and cocky boys, full of life and the indestructability of youth. Amanda had expected to be hugely embarrassed after what they’d done in the shower, but all through lunch she’d waited for mortification to hit, and it never did. She was as relieved as she was baffled. How could being with him feel so right and still be temporary?

They meandered through tents, marveling at arts and crafts and listening to music coming from the bandstand. She was fully entrenched in the fantasy he’d created for her, bringing her into this gorgeous small town, into the safety of his arms, and allowing her to explore parts of herself she’d never imagined
wanting
to explore. With Mick, it felt natural to want to experience every sensation she possibly could, to be as close as two people could get. He was a feast for her body, her brain,
and
her heart, regardless of the confines he’d drawn around them. And even more of a mystery to her now than when he’d worn a mask. He was tender and kind, yet visceral and, at times, slightly controlling. She’d noticed that along with his more aggressive side came a thoughtful tenderness, checking in with her often to ensure she was okay, and it was an entrancing combination. Like a sleek and powerful panther exposing its soft underbelly. He’d fulfilled his promise of pampering her after he’d finished satisfying her surprising naughty desires. He’d lavished her with kisses, soothed her with reassurances and compliments as sweet as candy, and washed her so lovingly, she didn’t know how he was going to pretend any better than she would be able to on Monday.

Mick tightened his arm around her and pressed his lips to her temple, drawing her toward another tent. Above the entrance, a gold banner with
La Love
written in black script across the center waved in the breeze.

“Hi, y’all. Welcome to La Love,” a pretty brunette said from behind a jewelry display. She did a double take when she saw Amanda. “I love your sweater. Where’d you get it? At Misty’s? I heard she’s got a whole new fall lineup, but I haven’t had the time to stop in and see it for myself.”

Amanda had worn jeans and a wide-necked peach silk sweater. The neckline rode the edge of her shoulders, which Mick said made it
luxurious and sexy
.

“Thank you. I’ve never been to Misty’s. I’m from New York City, and I picked this up at Filene’s Basement.” She held her arm out. “Feel how soft it is. It was a steal at seventy percent off.”

The woman touched it and smiled. “Mm. Isn’t that just delicious?” She smiled at Mick, who was peering intently at a display of necklaces. “Bet he thinks so, too.”

Mick shifted devilishly dark eyes to Amanda. “She is very delicious.”

She felt her cheeks heat up and busied herself by perusing the earrings. She was trying really hard not to read too much into the things he said and did, but how was she supposed to not read into
that
?

“Y’all are too cute. I’m Heaven. Heaven Love,” the brunette said.

“I’m Amanda, and this is Mick. That’s a great name, by the way.”

“Thanks to the seventies, our mama gave us all colorful names.” Heaven shrugged. “Are you in town for the festival, or did you come for a lover’s weekend and get lucky?”

Mick reached for her hand, and she knew he was going to say something that would make her blush. She gave him her best
don’t you dare
look.

His expression turned from mischievous to…
adoring
?

She needed air. Lots of it. Maybe an oxygen mask or an oxygen chamber. That might do it. She pointed to the community rec center across the grounds. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll walk you over,” Mick offered.

“No! I mean, thanks, but it’s okay. I’ll be right back.” She hurried out of the tent, drew in a lungful of air, and made a beeline for the ladies’ room.

Pushing through the doors, she pulled her phone from her pocket and called Ally.
Pick up. Pick up
.

“So?” Ally answered.

“So, I need your advice. I think I’ve royally messed up.”

“You never royally mess up. You
trip
.
I
fall ass over teakettle.”

“Yeah?” Amanda laughed. “Well, guess what? My ass has taken a pounding.”
Literally
. “Al, can I tell you something without you telling Heath?”

“I’m your sister. You can tell me anything.”

Amanda cringed as she said, “I’m with Mick.”

“As in
your boss
? He’s your mystery man?”

“Mm-hm. We have an agreement. Just this weekend and we’ll never speak of it again. I thought—
I think
—I can do it. But I need some help. I’m seeing things that aren’t there. Looks. Reading more into them, into the things he says. How do you avoid that?” Except maybe they
were
real. He said he wanted her.
For the weekend
.

Ugh!
She was so confused!

“You don’t sleep with the man you’ve wanted for, oh, I don’t know,
three
flipping years!”

“I know, I know, I know.” She paced, knowing she was in too deep to ever
not
see a single thing. But she could try. She had to try. “But I’m
way
past that. Just tell me how. That’s all I need.”

“God, Mandy. What about your job? This isn’t like you. No wonder you didn’t tell me. I would have handcuffed you for sure.”

“I know. Ally, please? Don’t judge me. Just tell me how to get these rose-colored glasses off.”

“There are a few surefire ways to keep your head on straight, but none of them will work for you, because you’re sleeping with the guy you
want
.” She yelled the word
want
. “Never again do I let you try anything risky on your own.”

“But the book said—”

“The book?” Ally yelled. “Burn that stupid book. This is my fault. I should have been with you every step of the way.”

“That would have been awkward in the shower when we were—”

“Stop!” Ally laughed. “Okay, look. You’re all about reasonable and rational thinking, so take that route.”

“Yeah, that pretty much went out the window the second we kissed, so do you have anything else up your sleeve? Magic pills that will turn me into a cold, unfeeling tramp or something?”

“God, Mandy. You really have gone ass over teakettle.”

“No shit, sis. Help?”

“No tramp potions, but there’s the obvious thing that I’m sure you’ve already considered. You’ll lose your job if you can’t control yourself. Jesus, how are you going to work with him?”

“I’ve worked with him for three years and wanted him practically that whole time, so what’s the difference?”

Ally sighed. “You can’t play a player.”

Her sister saw right through her. “I know. The truth is, I’ve already pretty much decided that I have to quit my job.”

“Aw, Mandy,” Ally said empathetically. “I wish I knew how to help, but you’re crossing lines I never did.”

“So, no secrets for me, then? I’m on my own?”

“I think I’m in shock. You’re not on your own. I’m here for you, but I’ll have to think on how to handle this.”

She knew that would be the case, but she felt better coming clean to Ally and hearing her say she’d be there for her when she fell apart—which she would when they were back in the real world again.

“Okay. I have to go. I left him out there and took off like a bat out of hell.”

“Wait!” Ally said. “I’ve got it. Remember when Mom and Dad caught us sneaking out over your sophomore year when you
had
to see that dork, what’s his name?”

Amanda smiled with the memory. “Martin. I remember.
Pinchigans?
You think it’ll work?”

“It wiped that smart-ass smile off your face every time.”

“Genius, Al. Sorry I didn’t tell you about Mick.”

“That’s okay. At least I know he’d never physically hurt you, which, by the way, I’m going to do when I see you Monday night, so be ready.”

“Love you, too, sis.” She ended the call, thinking about Ally’s suggestion.

Pinchigans
. Every time their parents caught them sneaking out to see Martin, she’d smile, because he was cute and funny and sneaking out was exciting. But her smile gave her away, and her parents knew their story about taking a walk in the moonlight had been a lie—every single time. Ally began giving Amanda a little pinch whenever they’d get caught, just hard enough to snap her mind back to reality, giving them time to formulate new excuses.
Perfect
.

She pulled open the bathroom door and headed for the jewelry tent in search of Mick.

“Amanda!”

She turned toward Mick’s voice, and her heart nearly stopped at the sight of him carrying a small boy on his shoulders. One arm curled up around the little boy’s bottom, and the other was draped over a very attractive blonde’s shoulder. The blonde was smiling up at the boy. They could have walked right out of
Family Circle
magazine, if not for the fact that Mick’s eyes were locked on Amanda—with that look she was sure was born from her hopes and dreams and all things sinful.

She didn’t know who the woman and child were, and she should have been swamped with jealousy, but
that look
stood in the way. It rooted itself into her heart, the warmth of it spreading like limbs into her mind. She managed a half smile, half oh-shit stare, drew her hands behind her back, and put her Get My Head On Straight Plan into action.

Pinchigan. Pinchigan. Pinchigan.

**

A KNOT ROSE in Mick’s throat as he and Bridgette approached Amanda. When Amanda had run off to the bathroom, he’d worried it all had become too much for her—their intimacy, his comments, which were meant to send a secret, sexy message. Now her eyes were guarded, bringing more disquieting thoughts.

“Who’s that?” Bridgette’s four-year-old son, Louie, asked from atop Mick’s shoulders, reminding Mick that Amanda had no idea who his friends were.

Could she be jealous? That brought a real smile.

“That’s my friend Amanda,” he said to Louie. He’d never called her
his friend
before. With colleagues he referred to her as his
paralegal
or
employee
, either of which was safe. With Willow he hadn’t labeled her but had defined their relationship as that of research partners. Those tags defined a degree of separation that, until yesterday, he’d respected, and they had helped keep him in check. But none of those descriptions fit her this weekend, and
friend
didn’t even begin to describe his feelings toward her.

Bridgette leaned closer to him. “Friend? Not according to Willow. She’s stunning, by the way.”

Yeah, he knew. Stunning, sweet, charming, smart, sensual. Hell, if he believed in forever, he’d add
permanently
his
to that list. But seeing Bridgette and Louie only reinforced that forever was a fantasy. Bridgette had lost the love of her life, her first and only love, Louie’s father, when Louie was just a baby.

“Hi, ’Manda! I’m Louie.”

Amanda’s guarded expression softened, and she smiled up at Louie. “Hi. Are you having fun up there?”

Louie laughed. “Yes! I’m riding the Mick train!”

The blush rising on Amanda’s cheeks told Mick she was thinking about how she’d already enjoyed that ride, the same way he was. Maybe it was jealousy he’d seen after all.

“Amanda, this is Bridgette, Willow’s sister. Louie is Bridgette’s son.”

“Hi,” Amanda said. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

Bridgette embraced her. “Willow said she ran into you guys earlier, and the minute Louie heard Mick was here, he
had
to find him.” She reached her arms up toward Louie. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go get a cupcake from Auntie Willow.”

Mick lifted Louie from his shoulders, and the little boy threw his arms around his neck.

“Will I see you before you go home?”

“I’m not sure, buddy.” Mick hugged him tight, catching the dreaminess on Amanda’s face, stirring all those conflicting emotions again. “But I brought you a little something.”

Louie grabbed Mick’s cheeks and pressed his tiny lips to his. “Thank you!”

They all laughed.

“You don’t even know what it is yet.”

“It doesn’t matter. Mom says we thank people for thinking of us.” Louie smiled at Bridgette, then said, “Logan brings me baseball cards, so he gets extra thank-yous.”

Mick set Louie on the ground, meeting Bridgette’s heartrending smile. Her husband had collected baseball cards, and she’d been deeply touched when Logan began bringing them for Louie. But that was Logan and Louie’s
thing
, and while Mick loved bringing gifts for his little buddy, he’d never step on Logan’s toes.

He pulled a harmonica from his back pocket and handed it to Louie. “This might not be as good as baseball cards, but hopefully you’ll have some fun with it.”

Louie jumped up and down and threw his arms around Mick’s legs. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Amanda’s eyes filled with something sweet and maternal. He crouched to avoid the emotions that stirred and showed Louie how to use his new toy.

“You would make a great dad,” Bridgette said emphatically.

“Bridge,” Mick warned. They’d been through this. She knew he’d sworn off having a family, but she never failed to point out how great a father he’d make. He’d had a great father once, and he’d watched that man turn into anything but. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and he wasn’t about to put himself, or anyone else, through that type of nightmare.

Bridgette rolled her eyes.

Amanda’s brows knitted.

“We’d better go for real this time, before a certain little person decides he needs more of M-I-C-K.” Bridgette hugged Amanda. “It was nice to meet you. I hope we see you again sometime.”

“I’m glad we had a chance to meet.” Amanda turned to Louie, who was spinning in circles while blowing into his harmonica. “Have fun making music, Louie.”