Breaking Free (Siren Publishing Classic) (4 page)

“Give me that!” he growled, yanking the key from her and jamming it into the lock. As the portal gave, they tumbled forward into the dimly light entrance of her loft.

Chapter Four

Danny’s heart pounded with need as they stumbled through the open loft, pulling at each other’s clothes as they went. She let out a startled gasp as he yanked the front of her shirt open, sending buttons flying. Pausing, he caught her face in his hands.

“Open your eyes, beautiful,” he ordered.

Fogged with desire, she struggled to obey. “Open them,” he said again, stroking the line of her jaw with his thumbs, holding her at bay until she complied. When her eyes met his electric blue gaze, he continued. “Listen sweetheart, you have to understand that sometimes I get carried away, but if I get too rough, tell me, and I’ll stop even if it kills me.”

Danny’s knees buckled beneath her as she remembered heated fantasies about being taken hard and fast, completely dominated and consumed. Falling into him, she whimpered, “Yes please!”

Apparently it was all the urging he needed. Scooping her up, he headed straight for her bed, and she was thankful for the lofts openness. No walls stopped them. Setting her on the edge of her large platform bed, he knelt and began yanking off the rest of her clothes. Catching her thick braid, he pulled the scrunchie holding the braid loose. Worshipfully he tangled his fingers in the dark silken mass, spreading it around her like an exotic cloak. When she was gloriously nude, he stepped back unable to resist drinking in her lush beauty. Then like a man possessed, he threw his clothes off in seconds flat. She chuckled at his enthusiasm, but it died in her throat when his boxers dropped to the floor, and she got her first look at his erect cock. A lump formed in her throat at the sheer size of him. But before she could open her trembling lips to warn him
to go slow
, he was on her, kissing he
r
, his big hands trailing the lush curves of her body, and all coherent thoughts were gone. His hand went to large breast as if drawn, and he stroked the silky globes. Moaning, she arched up to him, desperate for his touch on her aching nipples. They were so hard and hot.

Danny arched into him, and she knew from his low growl that he was as eager as she was. “I have been dying to get my hands on these glorious tits since I first laid eyes on you.” He flicked his tongue over the aching bud, drawing a ragged gasp from her. It grew impossibly harder, and she reached up, needing more. Chuckling, he caught the pebbled nub between his teeth. “Is this what you want?”

“Oh God, yes,” she answered, nearly out of her mind with need as he sucked the hardened flesh into his mouth his other hand began to stroke the soft flesh of her belly.

He traced the velvety skin of her thighs, spreading them, stroking her open. His skillful fingers found the drenched lips of her sex, parting the damp folds to reveal the swollen nub of her clitoris. Crying out with need, she writhed as he teased the throbbing bud, circling but not quite touching. “Oh God, Gabe, please,” she begged, beyond feeling embarrassment. His lips and fingers were driving her insane! She was so close to coming, needing the barest touch to push her over the edge.

“No, no, baby,” he teased. “Not till my cock’s buried in your hot little pussy.”

“Then please fuck me ’cause I’m dying!”

He didn’t need any further urging. Jumping from the bed he retrieved his discarded jeans, and dug a condom out of his wallet. Quickly sheathing himself, he slid between her slick thighs and positioned himself at her weeping entrance. Catching her fleshy bottom in his hands, he thrust home.

As he began to fill her, Danny belatedly remembered his size. Her tiny slit struggled to take him in.

“Jesus!” He swore, as her tight flesh struggled to accept him. Whimpering, Danny’s instincts took over, and her small hands came up to push him off. Catching her tiny fist in his,
he
pinned them at her sides as he held the rest of his big body perfectly still. “Easy, baby,” he soothed.
She might not be a virgin, but damn if she didn’t feel as if she was being split in two! “Do you want me to pull out?” His voice was strained, and Danny seriously doubted he actually could.

Gulping in several deep breaths, Danny shook her head. “J...just give me a minute,” she stammered, trying to force her body to relax.

Leaning down, he kissed her, slow and sweet, gently loving her lips until she began to melt around him. “You feel so good, so hot and tight.”

Danny was certain she’d never sit comfortably again, but as the burning within her slowly subsided, the glorious feeling of fullness began to take her. Danny sighed, feeling him touching her in places she’d never been touched before. He was deeper than she’d ever thought possible. She was fuller than she’d ever dared to dream. Wanting more, she arched up toward him, unable to resist the overwhelming need to move.

“Easy, baby. You feel too good. It’s killing me to go slow. I want to pound into you until you can’t remember a time when you weren’t stuffed full of my dick.”

Danny wanted the same. She knew he was being gentle for her sake, but she didn’t want gentle. She wanted passion, possession. She wanted fire. She wanted to be taken. “Damn it, Gabe, please!”

“No!”Gabe rasped in her ear. “I don’t want to hurt you, baby.”

“I think we’re past that.” She chuckled. “But you might not be if you don’t move that good-looking ass of yours.”

The grin that spread across his face made her smile. His sexy voice made her ache. “My little fire ball, if you want to be fucked, I’m more than happy to oblige.”

Gently withdrawing, he stroked back into her slowly, tentatively. Her exploring hands slid down the lean line of his back, caressing the taunt curve of his ass, before he let out his breath in a hiss as she dug her sharp nails in.

“Damn it, I won’t break!”

“Brat! I’m in charge of this fuck, so behave before I throw you over my knee.” But he obliged by drawing back and slamming into her hard and fast, pounding into her over and over, plowing into her hot little slit.

Danny couldn’t stop the cries that erupted from her as the waves of heat rolled through her, rushing to her pussy as it began to quake with the first tremors of her orgasm. Gasping, her body bowed, crying his name as her body convulsed.

The sleek muscles of her pussy clamped down around his solid erection was apparently more than he could take. With a deep roar of satisfaction, he erupted inside her, coming harder than he ever had in his entire life.

* * * *

Pressing a last hot kiss to her forehead, Gabe slid from her still trembling body and padded to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. Searching though the small linen closet, he found a clean washcloth and dampened it with cool water.

Danny turned her sated gaze toward him as he rejoined her on the bed. “What?” she questioned, her gaze going to the damp cloth in his hand.

“Shhh,” he whispered, “Just relax.” He moved between her still-shaking legs, parting them, exposing the swollen pink flesh of her labia. Placing the cool cloth over the tender flesh, he drew a soft sigh from her. “So, you want to explain why you’re as tight as a virgin?” he asked as he carefully cleaned and soothed the sensitive folds.

Danny blushed, and Gabe wondered if it was from his question or his intimate perusal. “Not really,” she answered. “It’s embarrassing.”

“Well, do it anyway,” he ordered, gentle but firm. “I figure it’s either been way too long, or the men you’ve been with have been needle dicks. So which is it?”

Taking a deep breath, Danny averted her gaze and mumbled, “The second. And it’s man, not men. I guess I might as well, fess up to that, too.”

“As in one?” His mouth was hanging open. He’d known she was innocent but damn! “So what happened?”

“What makes you think something happened?” She hedged, rising from the bed and moving to stare out the long bay window, hiding in the shadows.

“Call it instinct,” he replied, following her, not letting her enjoy the safe anonymity of the dark. He placed a large hand on each shoulder, nuzzling her neck. “Come on, you can tell me.”

Sighing, she leaned into him. “It seems funny. I hardly know you.”

He wasn’t going to tell her that the moment they met, he knew she was the one. He’d fought it so hard to drive her away, acting like a complete ass, but nothing had worked. Now, he’d never let her go. No woman had ever felt so perfect. She was open and honest, bold and free-spirited. She stood up to him when so few did. But he needed to know where he stood. If there was another man in the picture or, God forbid a husband, well, he wasn’t sure what he would do. All he knew was that she was his.

Finally she took a deep breath and began to speak. “I was what you’d call a late bloomer, so I never dated much till I got to college, and then nothing serious until I met my ex-fiancé, Wesley. You know, I could never figure out what the big deal was. I mean, I heard tales from my friends and all, but according to Wesley, real ladies didn’t do the type of things my friends suggested to spice up our relationship. So then I showed up at his place to surprise him, only I got the surprise. He was in bed with one of his freshman students. Apparently she was willing to do anything to make the grade.” She laughed at the irony before continuing. “I guess I should feel hurt or something, and I was pissed, but really, it’s like a whole new world has opened up. All the things he’d told me I shouldn’t do, I can suddenly do and there’s no one who can say a damn thing.”

“Like take a strange guy home to bed?” he asked, not liking the feeling of being the rebound man.

“No, that was because I wanted you when I saw you at the rally last week. And I’d wasted too much time not going after what I want.” She held up her hand when the grin blossomed on his face. “That wasn’t why I bought the bike. I wasn’t looking for you. I’ve honestly wanted one for years, but never had the guts. You probably think that’s pretty pathetic, huh?”

He was glad there was no man in her life, and he’d make damn sure he stayed the only one. He would start with a confession of his own “You’re not pathetic, and you’re not the only one to get blindsided by a cheater. I was out here last year, visiting my mom. She had terminal cancer, and I wanted to spend as much time as I could with her while I still could. But after the funeral I got back to find my business partner had run off with my fiancée. So I sold what little they left behind and moved back here. No, darlin’, you’re not the only one to make life-changing decisions after a breakup.”

Danny turned in his arms, gazing up into with her beautiful amber eyes. “You didn’t mind that I didn’t have a clue what I was doing?”

He bit his lip to keep from laughing, because he knew she was completely serious. Shaking his head, he pulled her closer. “Did it feel like I minded?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, a playful smile flitting over her face. “I might need a little more convincing.”

“Oh really?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow. He enjoyed her playfulness. “You sure you’re up for it, little girl?”

“Are you kidding? I’m just getting started. I think the question is, are you up for it?”

“I think I’m in trouble.” He laughed with a groan.

Chapter Five

Danny was sitting at the library’s main computer, running an overdue book report when she heard the hushed whispers of her two student aids.

“Oh! My! God!”
Blonde-haired Tiffany gasped. It wasn’t an unusual reaction from the easily excitable youth, so Danny didn’t pay her much attention.

Nor did she pay too much attention to her companion, Mariah’s, reply. “Girl! Who is that?” They were always discussing the various attributes of their fellow classmates. She probably should have reprimanded them, but they were harmless, and simply too funny to be mad at.

“Well, he’s not a student, that’s for sure. I would definitely remember someone that fine!” Tiffany sighed as she stared dreamily at the object of her attention. “Look at that body, all tall and muscled.”

“Yumm! And he looks so dark and dangerous with those wicked blue eyes and dark goatee,” Mariah agreed, actually licking her lips.

Curiosity and a vague sense of déjà vu got the better of Danny, and she turned to get a peek at the object of their lusty gazes.

No! She felt her breath freeze in her lungs. What in the world was Gabe doing here? Not that she was ashamed of him, just the opposite. She just didn’t want him to see her in her nerdy environment, hair back in a bun, reading glasses perched on the end of her nose. She considered ducking below her desk, but he’d already spotted her, and an amused grin spread across his face.

Forcing herself to stand, she stifled a groan as her aching body protested. They’d spent the weekend days with him instructing her on bike riding and the evenings with him riding her. Now Monday evening, she was still feeling the after effects, and the lecherous grin on Gabe’s face told her he had noticed.

“Hi, beautiful,” he whispered as they met at the library’s highly polished counter. “I just couldn’t stay away.”

Danny’s body burned. Lord, just being near him made her tremble. And to make matters worse, she distinctly heard giggles behind her. Turning a sharp eye on her assistants, she tried to sound authoritative. “Don’t you girls have some filing to do?” But it came out slightly breathless, completely ruining the effect.

Tiffany winked as she and Mariah headed off anyway, whispering, “He’s way hotter than Professor Brain-dead, Ms. D.”

As they sashayed off, Gabe raised a dark eyebrow. “Professor Brain-dead?”

Danny winced. She could have gone the rest of her life without explaining that. “It’s what the students call my ex.”

Gabe chuckled. “Well, it’s nice to know I meet their approval.”

Danny flushed. It was like comparing a Porsche to a Pinto. “So uhm, what are you doing here?” she asked, trying to change the subject. He was already so self-confident. He definitely didn’t need his ego stroked.

“Well you said you always take the bus home, so I thought I’d give you a ride and save you the trip.”

O
h, Lord!
Danny inwardly groaned. If she got on the back of the beautiful beast he called a bike, she’d be pulling his clothes off within two blocks of the campus. “I don’t have my gear,” she pointed out, desperate to save her self-respect.

“No problem, the stuff you ordered from the shop came in. You should have everything you need right here,” he replied, holding up a large ba
g
with the distinctive logo of Smokey’s Cycles & Choppers on it.

“I don’t have my helmet,” she countered desperately.

“I brought a spare,” he came back, not trying to hide his grin.

“Damn it,” she whispered, leaning in close so only he could hear. “You’re not good for my sanity.”

“Now why’s that?” he asked with an arched eyebrow.

“You know very well why.” She shivered just thinking about it.

He tsked. “Now see, while you’ve been toiling away at work all day, I’ve had nothing but time on my hands, thinking about all the naughty things I was going to do to you tonight.”

“You need a job!” She blushed because she’d been having the same thoughts all day.

“That’s the perk about being the boss’s son.” He laughed but then sobered. “Seriously, I’m trying to get Dad to take it easy and let me do more, but since Mom died, he’s thrown himself into his work to keep busy. It really worries me, but you take my mind off my worries for a while, so come on and be a good girl and soothe my worried mind,” he coaxed, his charming grin sliding back in place.

Danny chewed her lip.
You’re trying to be new and adventurous. The new Danny wouldn’t think twice about it,
she told herself, but her inner voice argued back. It was very hard to be new and adventurous in the same old environment.
That’s why you need to get out of here!
t
he little devil on her shoulder pointed out.
And it was time for her to get off.

Determinedly, she came out from behind the safety of the counter, and grabbed the bag from him. Danny turned to her giggling assistants where they stood secretly watching from behind the stacks of microfiche. Catching their eyes, she nodded to the desk. “I’m going home, girls. Lock up for me.” Decision made, she headed to her small office to change.

* * * *

Thoroughly enjoying the view of her departing rear, Gabe leaned against the counter and waited. The two giggling girls made quick work of coming over to him. “So, uhm, are you Ms. D’s new boyfriend?” the blonde one asked.

Turning an amused smile on the pair, he nodded. “Something like that.” Okay, so he and Danny might not have actually discussed their relationship, but as far as he was concerned she was his. Plain and simple.

“Good, cause that jerk she used to go out with really dogged her, and she deserves a little fun.” This came from the brunette. “She’s a really sweet lady. I mean she’d have to be, to put up with us, so we don’t want to see her hurt.”

Gabe tried not to laugh at their sincere warning. It was a testament to Danny’s character that the normally self-absorbed college students were willing to stand up for her. It made him all the more protective. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He nodded seriously. “So this professor, he
treated
her pretty bad, huh?”

Blondie nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty common knowledge that the creep had a policy of ‘Grades for Gummers’ if you catch my meaning.” She made a disgusted face as if the thought made her skin crawl. “But he had Ms. D snowed into thinking he was Prince Charming.”

“You know he would show up here and harp on her if she was dressed up the least little bit. Like one day, she had on this darling little suit, black with bright blue trim and cute little spiked heels. Looked really good on her, but I heard him fussing at her saying that they looked like hooker heels.” Miss Brunette scowled at the recollection. “Poor thing, she never wore it again.”

Gabe returned her scowl. He was liking this creep less and less. Danny was such a wonderful free spirit. It was a shame to try and hold her back. But then she walked out of her office in the leather pants, spiked boots, tight tank top and tasseled leather jacket, and he wanted to keep her locked up himself. In her library garb she was cute, but in her biker garb, good Lord! It should be illegal for a woman to look that good! And what that tank top did to her cleavage, well that was more than any man should have to endure.

If he was stunned, the two girls behind the counter were positively floored. “
Oh
!
My
!
God
!
” Blondie hissed. “Ms. D, you are smokin’!”

The looks from the male students in the library said that they agreed, and it was all Gabe could do to not thump his chest caveman style, while shouting,
Mine!

Danny flushed as she joined him. “The top’s a little tight. Are you sure you ordered the right size?”

The girls giggled, and before Gabe could even get a coherent thought past his slack lips, the brunette answered for him. “Are you kidding? He’s practically drooling, Ms. D. It’s perfect!”

Gabe cleared his throat. They were right, he was nearly drooling. But she was intoxicating to him. Just being near her was a rush. His blood was singeing through his veins, all heading to the same inconvenient location, just a little south of his belt. “You ready?” Nodding, she let him lead her toward the door, but within a few feet he stopped. “One thing’s not quite right.” Turning her around, he made quick work of the pins holding her bun in place. Loving the smooth feel of her ebony tresses, he ran his fingers through it, inhaling the sweet clean scent. When it was loose, hanging in soft waves down her back, he nodded. “That’s better.” Oh the plans he had for that long, beautiful hair.

She was blushing again. “That feels so good, so hot,” she confessed. Deep, longing sighs came from behind them. Apparently her assistants agreed.

Danny climbed on the bike behind him, setting off a new set of fireworks through his already needy body. She was shaking as she pressed herself into him. “You better get us some place very private, very quick if I have to ride like this with you,” she whispered into his ear in a soft, husky voice.

Gabe sucked in his breath at the feel of her hot breath on his neck, hot body pressing into him, and even hotter words in his ear. She was right. They had to get somewhere private soon, especially in light of what he’d discovered this morning. He hit the bike’s ignition switch, and it rumbled to life. Her assistants’ faces were pressed to the glass doors, with looks of shock and admiration on their faces. Forcing himself to take a deep breath, he pulled back on the throttle, and the bike roared as they pulled away.

* * * *

Danny clung to Gabe as they exited the campus and headed out onto the main highway. The powerful engine ate the miles, and soon they were well beyond the outskirts of Aurora, surrounded by trees and rising rock walls. Danny had always loved the beauty of the Smoky Mountains, and as they began to climb, she found herself wide-eyed with wonder. Before long they left the main highway for a narrow, two-lane road. This snaked steeply upward, causing her to give a squeak and cling to him even more fiercely. Just when she started to relax again, he slowed and turned the bike onto an overgrown dirt road. The steep, twisting path led them deep into the woods, and Danny shivered at the isolation. Instinctively, she pressed closer to Gabe. The woods finally opened up to reveal a large clearing overlooking a crystal-clear river. The bike slowed down and she was able to take it all in.

“What is this place, Eden?” Danny’s voice held a touch of awe as her gaze swept the stunning scene before them.

“This is my special place I guess.” She noted the slight blush spreading across his handsome face, but with a shrug he went on. “I’ve never brought anyone here but Dad. The entire area was bought by moonshiners during Prohibition. They used the river to transport their illegal goods here, then loaded it onto cars to transport over land. From what I understand the operation was still up and running as late as a few decades ago. When the feds finally managed to shut things down, the property got tied up in red tape. A few years ago it went up for government auction, and I bought it. I’m not sure why I wanted to bring you here but somehow I knew you’d love it as much as I do. There used to be an old cabin, but it was crumbling. I tore it down last summer. Eventually I would love to build a house here, but for today, I just wanted to enjoy being alone with you.”

Flipping up the visor on her helmet, Danny let her gaze roam over the paradise surrounding her. The sheer beauty stole her breath. Lush green grass met the rocky bank of the river. To the left was a low bluff, and she was startled to make out the foundation and framing of what appeared to be a house in progress.

He slid off the bike and took off his helmet. He was searching her face for her reaction to this news and she saw the hope in his vivid eyes.

“Oh, Gabe, it’s glorious!” She answered at last, struggling for a word adequate enough to describe the heaven before her. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.” Following him, she yanked her helmet off so she could get a better look.

* * * *

“Neither have I,” he whispered in awe, but his gaze was solely on her.

“You know, I found something interesting this morning after you left for work,” he began, tentatively.

Turning to him, Danny raised an eyebrow. “Snooping? I knew I should have never left you sleeping in my loft this morning.” Gabe laughed as she tried to sound serious but he saw the corners of her mouth twitching up into a smile.