Crash Into You (14 page)

“What?” The shame on his face turned to confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You said tonight was about getting this out of your system. Maybe you’re right, maybe that will help,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “But you don’t need that girl. You could try with me.”

Something unreadable lit his features, but then he grimaced. “No way. You have no idea the things that go through my head, the stuff I want to do—”

“So show me,” she said, cutting him off, her courage rising. “I know you think you’re scaring me off, but the only thing that’s going to do that is you lying to me. So you have some stuff to work through. I have a lot of baggage, too. Maybe we can do this, get you past it, and then move on and date like normal.”

He shook his head. “We can date like normal without doing this. If you’re still willing to give me a chance, I can leave this behind. I think you knowing about it will help me control the urge better.”

She gave him a half-smile. “That’s not how it works. My mother makes her money fulfilling the fantasies guys keep from their partners. If we’re going to date, I don’t want to be wondering if you’re secretly sneaking off to feed that part of you.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you. I swear I won’t lie to you again.”
He said the words fervently, like he truly believed them. But she knew him wanting the statement to be true wouldn’t actually make it so.

She had no idea if there was a certain protocol in his slave-girl role-play, but she put her hands out to him, palms up. “I’m giving myself to you tonight. Let me help you check this off your fantasy list.”

Storm clouds gathered over his face. “Stop, Brynn. You don’t know what you’re signing up for.”

She held his gaze, refusing to look away, despite the anxiety hammering through her. “Like I said, show me.”

“No.”

“Fine.” She let her arms fall to her sides and turned back to her car. “Have a nice life, Reid.”

His deep groan cut through the night and strong hands landed flat on the roof of her car, his muscular arms imprisoning her on each side. “Don’t do this.”

Heavy footsteps sounded behind them. “Is everything all right out here?”

Jace.

“It’s fine,” Reid said through clenched teeth, his fierce tone rippling over her and awakening her senses.

His quickening breath was hot on her neck, and his body heat radiated against her back. She should’ve been scared; she could sense his dwindling self-control—the man’s easy-going facade being stripped away by some dark, primal instinct within him.

But something inside her wanted it. Wanted to push him over the edge. Her voice came out as a whisper. “Don’t let me leave, Reid.”

The muscles in his arms flexed and bunched as if the war within him was raging in every sector of his body. He remained silent for agonizingly long seconds, then pushed himself away
from the car. “Fine, you think this is what you want? Then lose the dress, Brynn.”

“Wh-What?” She spun around, looking from him to Jace, who stood a few steps behind him with raised eyebrows, then to the area around them. Jace’s driveway was protected by hedges and trees and far off the road, but did Reid actually expect her to take off her clothes out here? In front of his best friend?

Reid’s lip curled up. “What’s wrong?”

“But—”

“You said you wanted to give yourself to me, to know what this is about. Well, you’re getting your wish. If this isn’t what you want, then say ‘stop,’ and we’ll go to dinner and have a date like normal people.”

She ground her teeth. So that’s what this was about? He wanted to prove he was right. That she couldn’t handle him. Well, screw that. She reached behind her and unzipped her dress, then slipped the narrow straps off her shoulders. After one fortifying breath, she let go and the material puddled onto the cobblestones at her feet, leaving her in her sheer bra and panties.

A pained expression flitted over Reid’s face, and Jace’s eyes lit with male appreciation.

“Jace, is the guesthouse unlocked?” Reid asked, his voice disconcertingly calm.

“No, but I can go grab the key and open it for you.”

Reid nodded. “Thanks. Do that.”

Jace jogged toward the side of the house, and Reid walked toward Brynn with deliberate steps, his eyes not leaving hers. The moonless evening and the soft garden lights cast his face in a combination of light and shadow, but the intensity of his expression was clear. She held her breath, her heart beating so fast she worried it would hop out of her chest and flop onto the ground between them.

When he reached her, his hand cupped her bare shoulder. “Turn around and close your eyes.”

She followed his instruction and faced the car. Soft cotton brushed against her face, then tightened over her eyes—her dress, now a blindfold. His fingertips caressed the back of her neck, making her shiver despite the muggy night air. “You’re mine tonight. I let Jace look at you, but he gets nothing else now, you understand?”

She nodded, relief flooding through her. She liked Jace, but it was Reid she wanted touching her. Even if this version of Reid was one she hadn’t quite met yet.

He kissed her shoulder blade, nipped at it. “You remember what you called me the first time we met?”

She paused, trying to wrangle in her buzzing brain so she could concentrate. What had she called him? Reid? No. She wet her lips. “Sir.”

His hand curled around her waist, caressing her bare stomach. “That’s right. Tonight, that’s what you call me.”

The feel of his fingers and the seductive confidence of his voice hypnotized her. She nodded again.

“Tell me you understand,” he said, his voice low but firm.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, girl. Let’s go.”

In one swift movement, Reid lifted her off her feet and into his arms as if she weighed nothing. She grabbed for his neck, disoriented from the blindfold. “Whoa.”

“I’ve got you, sugar. I won’t let you fall.”

Sounds drifted to her ears as they made their way across the yard—crickets, frogs, the rustle of the leaves as the breeze touched them. She wondered if the landscaping continued around the side of the house or if she’d be exposed to the neighbors. The idea that people might see her half-naked, being carried by this powerful man, should’ve bothered her, but she was at ease in his arms.

She had given herself to him, so if he wanted her exposed to others, then that was up to him. Tonight, he owned her.

Damp heat pooled between her thighs at the thought.

Uh-oh.

What had she gotten herself into?

What the hell had he gotten himself into? Reid sat a blindfolded Brynn down on the edge of the bed and tossed her purse by the footboard. “Don’t move.”

He stalked back to the doorway of the bedroom and leaned against the frame, watching her. He had fully expected her to bail the minute he’d asked her to strip in front of Jace—that had been his intent. But she’d shocked him, calling his bluff. And the minute he’d seen her bend to his will, he’d gotten an intoxicating rush so strong, it had made his head spin.

Jace laid a hand on his shoulder, keeping his voice low. “The room’s yours. Leah and I will hang out in the main house. You need anything else from me? Do you want me to stay?”

Possessiveness ripped through him like lightning, and he had to dial it back before responding. “No. I’ll be… fine.”

Now if only he could believe that.

Jace’s gaze flitted to Brynn, then back to him. “Just trust yourself. She does.”

Reid nodded, the weight of that knowledge settling over him. “I know.”

Jace closed the door behind him, shutting out his last safety net. Reid stared at Brynn. Even in the soft lamplight of the room, he could see the rosy buds of her nipples peeking through the lace of her bra. His cock strained against the denim of his jeans, hardening to the point of agony. Since she’d shown up on Jace’s doorstep tonight, he’d been trying to hold back, trying to prove to himself he was over this stupid fantasy. But seeing Brynn offer
herself to him so naively had only served to conjure familiar images of her collared before him. God, he was so fucked.

His mother had always taught him you could tell everything about a man based on the way he treated a woman. She’d spent her life as an advocate for women’s rights. And now here he was, unable to resist the urge to dominate Brynn like she was some kind of slave. His mom would’ve been so ashamed.

But he was done questioning it for the night. He had to cleanse this from his system, and Brynn needed to see why she shouldn’t jump into things she knew nothing about. By the end of this, they could both move on. They’d either go forward and start a normal relationship, or more likely, she would run away completely freaked out and want nothing to do with him. Either way, tonight he was giving himself over to it.

He walked over to her and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. She startled at the touch.

“Easy,” he whispered. “I’m right here. I’m going to take off your blindfold. I want to be able to see your pretty face.”

She nodded. “Yes, sir.”

The sweet femininity of her voice went straight to his gut. This girl was so tough, but there was an untouched innocence in her that made him want to take care of her, protect her. He untied the dress and let it fall to the carpet. She blinked up at him, her cheeks tinged pink, her lush bottom lip swollen from her biting it.

“You can still back out.”

She shook her head, her green eyes defiant. “No, sir.”

No going back now. The steely voice that passed his lips was unrecognizable to his own ears. “Stand up.”

Brynn swung her legs to the side of the bed and rose on shaky knees. Reid’s hands moved up her arms as his eyes traveled over her. She’d never seen this side of him before—so focused and
serious. Her nipples tightened beneath his hungry gaze, and the response didn’t seem lost on him. He skimmed his finger along the edge of one cup of her bra, sending tiny shivers through her. “Take it off.”

The quiet authority of his voice melted over her like chocolate, soothing some of her twitching nerves. She reached behind her back, undid the clasp, and let the bra fall to the floor. Reid gave her a slow smile and reached out to cup one of her breasts, running his thumb across its hard peak. “Gorgeous.”

She shuddered and he bent his head to draw the opposite nipple into his mouth, while continuing to strum pleasure from the other with his hand. The combination of sensations sent liquid fire straight to her core. She closed her eyes and let out a soft whimper, his tongue caressing her with painfully gentle strokes.

God, was he going to be this slow and deliberate with everything? She’d burn into a pile of embers by the time he got to the actual sex. He drew back a bit and circled her areola with the tip of his tongue, carefully avoiding what she most wanted. She threaded her hands in his hair and urged him forward, wanting more, needing all of his mouth again.

Cool air replaced his touch as he backed away.

She blinked. “What’s wrong?”

He pressed a finger against her lips, quieting her. “I’m in charge of your pleasure, not you. Trust that I’ll take you where you need to go.”

Her throat went dry, but she nodded.

“Take off your panties.”

He stepped back and put his hands in his pockets, watching her, making her feel both wanted and vulnerable all at the same time. Her hands hovered near her hips, suddenly nervous about standing naked before him.

“I’m not going to ask twice, Brynn,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

She took a slow breath, then hooked her thumbs in her panties and shimmied out of them. His gaze ate up every inch of flesh, and the impressive bulge in his jeans twitched. Her body tingled beneath his clear approval. She yearned to reach out and touch him, to undress him and feel his skin beneath her fingertips, but she fought the urge to take over control.

His hand cupped her hip and he dragged her against him, the stiff material of his jeans brushing the soft curls covering her mound. He pressed his lips to the pulse point below her ear, his palm sliding from her waist to the curve of her ass. Warm breath lapped over her skin like ocean water. “You know how many times I’ve imagined you stripped bare for me like this? How many nights I’ve stroked my cock just at the thought of touching you again?”