Body of Work (27 page)

“Sam told me what he learned about Leanne—I knew you couldn’t have hurt her the way she claimed.” That bitch had caused her own injuries, overtraining, and blamed it on Brian to save her sponsorship contract. “How long before the conviction is repealed?”

“It won’t be.”

“But it has to be, you didn’t do anything wrong. She lied.”

“It’s in the past. I’m leaving it there, moving forward.” He leaned on the doorframe, eyes intent on hers. “Maybe you should think about doing the same.”

If only she could tell him how she’d tried. That she’d put Lance’s betrayal behind her—that she’d tried to choose love over career. But the sexy, naked ghosts of that career shared Brian’s DNA. Ian Black had made a name for himself in mainstream modeling, but when she’d photographed him, he’d posed as Ian MacLean. There was no way around it. Out Ian to his brother, breaking a legal confidentiality agreement and devastating a wonderful family, or lie—even if by omission—to Brian. Walking away had been the only choice.

“I need to tell you something. It’s important.” His eyebrows rose at that. A little more of the Brian she adored, obsessed over and loved, slipped into place. She glanced at the other doors in the corridor. The walls in this building were probably none too thick, the doors even thinner. “And personal…”

“Come in.” He stepped aside for her and closed the door behind them. Waited, while the room filled with awkward silence.

That efficient, fact-filled speech she’d prepared and practiced in her head—gone, now that he stood two feet in front of her, possibly for the last time. “I…it’s about…”

He took a half step toward her, shook his head and backed up. Weeks of silence between them—at her request—yet he was clearly fighting the urge to take care of her. “You want a drink, or to sit down?” He glanced around the bachelor apartment. “Sorry about the mess, I’m getting ready to move.”

Move? Sam hadn’t shared that tidbit. “To a bigger apartment? You’re not leaving the city, are you?”

“The new place definitely has more space.” He curbed his smile the best he could. He’d given Sam permission to tell Cassie what they’d learned about Leanne, nothing more. Cassie frowning at the idea he might be moving away was the best thing he’d seen in weeks. “Still here, just a different part of town.”

“Oh good.” She fiddled with her purse strap. Shuffled where she stood and looked everywhere, except at him.

“You wanted to tell me something?” The nervous nod and accompanying lack of words told him this might take a while—unless he helped her along. In his experience, the best way to get Cassie to open up involved an activity with less talking. He just had to get them there. “Can you talk while I shower? I have a lot on the go today.” He hooked his fingers over the top of his shorts. “It won’t bother you to see me naked, will it?”

“Of course not.” She waved at him nonchalantly, but when he shucked his shorts and boxers, her cheeks went deep pink, her eyes wide as saucers. This plan definitely had potential.

His cock had reached full attention by the time he reached the bathroom. And no, she hadn’t missed that fact. Oh, she pretended to root through her bag, not stare at him through the clear plastic shower curtain, she just didn’t do it convincingly. Her eyes tracked his hands as he lathered soap over his chest and arms. When he took his hygiene routine below the belt, a squeak slipped through her parted lips, audible over the pounding water.

“What’s the important, personal stuff you need to tell me?”

“There’s something you need to know about, um…” Consciously or not, she stepped closer. Close enough to brush the vinyl barrier. With the sparks flying between them, the thing might disintegrate.

He slowed the strokes over his cock. “Tell me.” Her eyes fluttered upward and met his. “You can tell me anything. Anything.”

The struggle showed in her eyes, in the set of her mouth. He was tempted to blurt it himself and relieve her of the burden—that he knew about the sexy photos she took, that it didn’t fucking matter. But goddamn it, he wanted her to do it. To trust him with her soul the way she’d done with her body, even when he hadn’t trusted himself.

“Maybe I should wait in the other room,” she stepped back, “give you a few minutes to finish—”

“Or maybe you shouldn’t.” In a move that may well get him kneed in the balls, he snapped the curtain aside, curled his arm around her waist and hauled her into the shower, flip-flops and all.

“Brian…” Her whisper hinted at protest, yet she raised her hands and let him pull the stretchy sundress over her head, staring up at him while he unhooked her bra.

He crouched before her, his skin electrifying when her delicate hands landed on his shoulders. “So beautiful,” he said, sliding her thong down and off. The spray pelted his back. Water rolled down his face, fat drops falling steadily from his nose. Not unlike the night on her doorstep. The night that had changed everything.

Today would change things too. Once she’d relaxed enough to open up, they’d be on solid ground again, better than before. He curled his fingers over her hips and pushed her back to the tiled wall. He nuzzled her clit, inhaled her scent, reveled in the whimper from above. Fuck, he wanted a taste. First, he needed to savor her lips and tongue, swallow the sexy sounds she’d make for him. He needed to get lost in her, starting at the top.

He stood, cupped her chin and tipped it up.

“No,” she said, turning her face when he brought his lips down to hers.

“You don’t want to kiss me?” No answer, no gesture—no eye contact. He caught her face again, this time less gently, and forced her to look up at him. “I could make you. Maybe that’s what you want.”

“You can try.” This wasn’t the playful Cassie who’d initiated hide-and-seek during a thunderstorm or mock-struggled to escape him while wearing a sinfully sexy smile. She’d come to tell him something big, wanted sex, but didn’t want him to kiss her.

“What the hell, Cassie?”

“You’re angry.”

“Fucking right I’m angry.”

“You should be.”

Guilt, then? Christ, his fucking head was spinning. Not his cock, it knew exactly what needed to be done. He shoved his leg between her thighs, pinning her to the wall. He braced an arm above her and dipped low again. She tried turning away, this time unsuccessfully. His grip on her jaw tightened enough to force her lips apart. He got close. So goddamn close he almost dove in and claimed her mouth. Fuck, her warm breath on his lips. The whimper that filled his head. He had to pull back.

“Aren’t you going to make me?” she whispered.

He grunted. Released her chin. Dropped his hand to her breast, squeezing while his mouth found the sensitive spot on her neck. He clamped down on tender flesh, making her cry out. He tugged at one perfect nipple, then the other, pinching and pulling hard enough to cause a deep-red flush. Christ, the sounds she made. The neighbors probably thought he was torturing her. He tugged harder, thrust his leg tight to her pussy and cursed between gritted teeth when she rocked her clit against his skin. Too close, both of them. He separated them by a step, bent and caught one hot nipple between his lips.

“Please, bite me. Hard.”

“I’m not taking requests, I’m just taking.” He circled her wrist and placed her hand on his shaft. “I’ll start with your pretty mouth—wrapped around my cock.”

A little smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Is this where you order me to my knees and call me a bitch?”

There she was, his playful girl. He curled his fingers around her nape and guided her downward. “I’d never call you a bitch.”

Slowly, she lowered to her knees before him. Caught his hand and brought it to his cock, replacing hers. At his raised eyebrow, she tucked her arms behind her back, arched her breasts forward and tipped her chin up, putting her mouth on level with his cock. “Take.”

The beast stirred. He took her mouth the way he wanted, without hesitation. He pushed inside, hissing at her resistance, groaning once he’d filled her mouth and throat with every inch of his length. He held himself there until she adjusted. Those eyes staring up at him. It was all there—love, lust and everything in between. He thumbed the misty drops from her cheek. “Fuck, baby. Your mouth feels so good.” He slid free of the warm, wet suction, only to thrust to the hilt again. “Take it all, that’s my girl.”

And she did, sucking him hard, scraping his shaft with her teeth, nipping the head in resistance when he withdrew. Any more and he’d lose it.

“Enough. Up.” He helped her to her feet, lifted her onto the bathmat. “On my bed, now.” He didn’t give her a towel. Didn’t give her a choice either, going with a hard smack on her ass to move her along instead.

She crawled atop his unmade bed. On her knees, ass up, the way he liked. “Take anything you want.”

His body folded over hers and he brushed the shell of her ear with his lips. “Careful. Only say that if you really mean it.”

“Take,” she whispered. “And don’t hold back.”

It’d taken three weeks, but she was here. In his bed, under his body, handing him an all-access pass. He had every intention of using it, in more ways than she knew.

As for not holding back… He slid one hand between her legs. Stroked her lightly. Already so wet. And responsive as hell. Like always. “You’re mine now.”

“As long as I’m here, I’m yours.” Her breath hitched with a suppressed sob.

The sound twisted an invisible knife through his gut. So did her words. He straightened on his knees, cupped her hips and rolled her to her back, caught her delicate hands in his calloused ones and laced their fingers together. Stretched her arms above her head.

She stared up at him, pupils dilated, lips parted. The second his teeth scraped her neck, she arched. As if he could deny her. He lowered until they connected all over—legs twined, chest crowding her breasts, cock nestled along the sweet line of her pussy. He dragged his cock over her clit while inhaling her scent. Fuck, he’d missed that. Ditto the taste of her skin. Back and forth, he slid along her heat, grinding small circles over her clit at the top of each pass. He upped the pressure when her hips tilted toward him and her breath grew choppy. If she didn’t come soon—if he didn’t get inside her—he was going to burst.

“Missed you,” he nibbled along her jawline, hovered over her mouth, “so fucking much.” His arms framed her head, prevented her attempt at turning away. “Nowhere for you to go, baby.” He chased her eyes, forced them to lock with his. “Taking what I want, and what I want is your kiss.”

“Brian, please…” No need for her to voice the
don’t
after those words, it was there in her wide, fearful eyes. Something had scared her so badly she’d bolted from him—was still trying to hide from him, even as she lay naked and willing on his bed.

Her body would never be enough. He wanted all of her.

“You’ll kiss me because that’s what I want. You’re mine until you leave, remember?” He tracked a lone tear down her cheek as she nodded. “Maybe I won’t let you go.”

At that, she wriggled beneath him. Tried tugging her arms free—or pretended to, since her fingers stayed curled around his, telling him she didn’t want to go anywhere.

He planned to make her admit that in every way possible. “Put your hands on me,” he said, releasing her. “I want to feel your touch when I kiss you.” This time she didn’t argue. A million sparks shot through him when she smoothed her thumbs over his eyebrows, raked her fingers through his hair and down his neck, along his shoulders. He dipped lower, grazed her lips. Soft as he remembered. He went in for another taste. Groaned when she opened for him, letting him take what he’d demanded and doing some taking of her own. Including his soul, for the thousandth time.

“Brian,” she whispered into his mouth between kisses, then locked her arms and legs around him, pulling him closer.

Message received. “Right here. Not going anywhere.” He moved against her, giving her the friction she needed. “Come for me, baby.”

Her body was a contradiction of movements. Clawing and biting his skin. Writhing upward one second, jerking away the next. Breathing so damn sexy into his ear he could’ve lost it from that sound alone.

When she said, “Please…I need you…right now,” against his mouth, he slid inside her welcoming body and flew straight to heaven.

Single words. That’s all his brain formed. Hot. Wet. Soft. Tight. Love. Cassie. He pushed deeper. Retreated, pulling out until his tip barely parted her lips. Thrust in hard and fast. And when she begged using only his name—goddamn. More, he needed to give her more.

He shifted position slightly. Like this, he could continue kissing her, squeeze one perfect nipple, press his quad against her clit and fuck her so, so deep.

“Oh god,” she whispered at his first stroke. “Oh god, that’s—
oh god
.” Her legs curled around him. One hand clutched at his biceps, the other grabbed the thigh rubbing her clit, dragging it tighter. A deep-red flush spread over her chest, neck and cheeks. Her eyes fluttered closed and a low moan slipped through her lips. “W-what are you doing to me?”

“Loving you, baby.” His damn balls were practically in his stomach. Fire churned at the base of his cock, threatening to unload each time he dared another thrust. Had to hold on—a couple more. He stroked again, using every drop of control to hit that spot for her. The one that made her eyes roll back. Made her pant like a wild animal. So fucking sexy, she was going to kill him.