Lindsay McKenna (18 page)

The straps of the nightgown had fallen to her upper arms and he slid them back into place. Her eyes were tightly shut, her mouth drawn in anguish as he brought her tightly against him. Groaning, he felt her breasts press against his chest, felt her nipples hardening instantly as they grazed in the soft hair across his chest.

Her tears wet his chest and he closed his eyes, holding her, stroking her hair and shoulders. Talon crooned softly to her. It only made her cry harder, harsh sobs tearing out of her like a perfect storm. First, the assault, then the nightmare, and then he brought back the suffering from her childhood by discovering her scars. What he felt right now was something so deep, visceral and good, and yet, it had no name. He wanted to do so much more for Cat. Talon dragged in a breath, tucked his head against hers and held her tightly, trying to protect her from those terrible memories. Talon knew they would never go away. But, in time, maybe he could bring her peace in his arms. Eventually, her weeping abated and Talon eased Cat away just enough to kiss each of her cheeks, taste the salt of her spent tears and give her his tenderness. Studying her in the silence, he slipped his fingers through her thick black strands. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Cat. You know that, don’t you?” He searched her face.

“I was so afraid of what you would think of me when you found them.”

He gave her a tender smile, cupping her cheek. “Babe, it only makes me more sure that you’re one of the bravest women I’ve ever known. Each scar is a Purple Heart as far as I’m concerned.”

Cat released a torn sigh. “I thought you’d find me ugly.” Because her two lovers had. Her first had discovered them and refused to even touch them, disgusted. The second lover told her she looked ugly. The shame Cat had felt was intensified by their callous comments that she was damaged goods.

Shaking his head, Talon growled, “Ugly? Scars are anything but.” He looked up at the ceiling for a moment and then shifted his gaze to Cat. “Listen to me, will you? You are so brave. You survived. I’m sorry there was no one to protect you growing up.” Talon gave her a softened look. “Now I understand a little better why you were so hesitant to let me love you. Sooner or later, you knew I’d find them.”

Cat’s throat tightened and she barely nodded. Her heart was beating with a mix of fear, pain and hope. The look in Talon’s eyes was one of understanding. Not pity. Not accusing. But...God, understanding. Talon had kissed her scars. Lovingly. With care. He hadn’t been repulsed. Hadn’t refused to touch them.

“Do you know what I want?” Talon asked her.

“What?”

“I want to sleep with you, Cat. I want to lie here with you in my arms. I’m not talking about sex. I want to hold you, make you feel safe so you won’t have any more nightmares. What do you say?”

Cat closed her eyes, unable to hold his tender gaze. She could feel the power of Talon’s desire, knew he wanted her. Yet, he was offering her something even more important: compassion. Opening her eyes, she searched his. “You wouldn’t mind?”

Talon grazed her cheek. “I’ve been dreaming of touching you from the moment I saw you,” he admitted, his voice rough with emotion.

His admission gave her the courage she needed. “I’ve wondered what it would be like, too.” Cat could feel his erection pressed against her belly. Talon looked like a cougar in repose, nonetheless dangerous to her. She felt the slickness between her thighs, understanding her body wanted him. Her heart, however, felt pulverized, and as Talon pulled back the covers and gave Cat room for her to move over, she wanted nothing more.

Talon brought the covers up. Cat had come into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder, her arm spanning his torso. “Better?” he rasped against her hair.

“Much,” she whispered. “I’m so tired, Talon.”

“I know you are.” He pressed a kiss to her hair. “Close your eyes? I’ll just hold you the rest of the night. Only good dreams...”

* * *

C
AT
WASN
’
T
SURE
where her dream began or ended with Talon. Just having the strong, male warmth surrounding her, his arms holding her close, she was caught up in her dream of sliding her hand down across his chest, feeling the spanned hardness of the muscles beneath, the soft hair tangling between her fingertips. He felt so good. So alive. So sexy. There was nothing soft or forgiving around his body, however. His muscles tensed wherever she skimmed his chest, shoulder and upper arm. And when she felt herself laid upon her back, his mouth warmly sipping from her lips, she slowly opened her eyes.

“Is this what you want?” Talon asked in a low, rasping voice, holding her aroused gaze. He was afraid of survivor sex with Cat. People who were traumatized frequently turned to sex to reaffirm life. It would be taking advantage of Cat, something Talon refused to do. He wanted Cat to come to him when she honestly felt ready, not driven into his arms due to trauma.

She blinked once. “I—I thought it was a dream.”

“You don’t want this because of what happened yesterday?” he demanded, digging into her soft eyes.

“Oh,” she muttered, “survivor sex?”

“Exactly.”

“I’ve seen so much trauma, Talon, and I never once went looking for sex as a Band-Aid for my emotions. Does that answer your question?” Her mouth curved softly as she held his narrowed gray eyes, which burned with desire for her alone.

He smiled a little and shrugged, his hand grazing her cheek. “That’s good to hear. Where do dreams end and reality begins?”

Cat realized it was dawn, the night chased away as she’d slept deeply and without nightmares in Talon’s arms. She looked at the growth of his beard, how it emphasized his hollowed cheeks, the stormy look in his narrowed, hunterlike eyes as he leaned over her, intently watching her. “Talon,” she whispered, “I want to love you. I’ve wanted to love you, I think, since I looked into your eyes out on that highway.”

Utterly speechless, Talon leaned down, kissing her hairline, hearing a soft sound of surrender escape her lips. A sound of pure pleasure.

“Tell me what you want, what you like.” He felt her tense and he lifted his chin, looking down at her. She seemed confused, which prompted him to add, “You let me know if you like or don’t like something I’m doing, okay?” He traced her full lower lip with his thumb. “I want to make you feel good. That’s all.”

“It sounds wonderful,” she admitted, her voice hoarse because the look he gave her sent scalding signals straight down to her lower body.

“I’m going to get a condom from my room. I’ll be right back.” Talon eased away from her, stood up and disappeared from her room. He came back and got rid of the boxer shorts. Her gaze moved over his taut, honed body. In the dawn light, the shadows emphasized the power of him and she felt her heart thud with anticipation. He was indeed a lithe, boneless cougar as he walked around the bed, coming to her side and sliding in next to her. The look on his face was one of focus—on her. It excited her. As Talon slid next to her, Cat felt an anticipation she’d never experienced as he cupped her cheek, angling her toward his mouth.

Her world spun like golden webs beaded with rainbow droplets of water, only each droplet was his kiss, his mouth teaching her how to kiss him in return, drowning her mind in fiery depths where she no longer thought, only felt. As he slid his hand beneath the hem of her silk nightgown, slowly working it upward across her thigh, gathering at her waist, her world began to melt. Talon’s hand followed the curve of her taut thigh, slowly opening her, kissing the inside of her soft, sensitive flesh, moving toward her wet entrance. Feeling his mouth move closer and closer, her breath became uneven and she moaned with anticipation.

Talon moved slowly, testing Cat, teasing her, seeing where she was at. He wanted this first time to be good for her, not a disaster. Unsure of whether she’d ever been touched in her most secret of places, he lay above her, watching her expression, hearing the soft sounds caught in her slender throat, her eyes closing, pinkness flooding her cheeks. Yeah, she liked it, but he took his time, playing her, asking her to participate.

As Talon leaned down, his moist breath across her nipple hidden by the silk nightgown, she gasped softly. The next time, he settled his lips around that hardened nipple and she cried out, but it was a sound of pleasure. And just as he slowly suckled her, he slid his finger into the soft, yielding folds, gauging her reaction. She was wet and slick, more than ready for him. The moment he began to tease that knot of nerves just inside her, she arched into his hand, groaning. Her eyes flew open and he smiled down into them, seeing nothing but surprise coupled with deep arousal. No fear. That was good, because Talon felt her body begin to tighten, begin to prepare for an orgasm.

Whispering her name across her lips, drinking her breath into him, Talon slid a second finger into her, slowly moving forward. She was incredibly small and tight. Instantly, she cried out, the raw sound drowning like sunlight into his mouth, her entire body convulsing. He felt her muscle tighten and grip him, her breath ragged and hoarse with small cries as the orgasm flowed through her. Sweet, hot fluid surrounded his fingers.

Panting, Cat’s whole world turned hot and scalding, as if someone had hurled her off into some bright, floating, beautiful place she’d never been before. She heard Talon growl her name as her body rippled and gripped his fingers. A second orgasm filled with rich heat spread throughout her, pleasure flooding every sense she had. He moved his fingers within her, not allowing her to come down, rather, stimulating another, even more powerful orgasm that shattered her lower body. Cat could only sob his name, gripping his upper arm, her back arched tautly against him.

Talon watched the flush of orgasm sweep sweetly up across her straining body. He slowly removed his fingers, wanting her to rest for a bit, allow her to absorb all the pleasure he could see reflected in her skin. As Cat dug deep into his thick biceps, he smiled. She barely opened her eyes. They were glazed with awe as she held his stare.

“Wh-what happened?” she whispered, her brow furrowing.

Talon kissed her swollen, wet lips. “Multiple orgasms. Feel good?” He pulled away just enough to see her luscious mouth curve into a delicious, satisfied smile.

“Good,” she whispered. “So good.” Cat closed her eyes.

“There’s more to come,” he promised thickly, pulling the straps of the nightgown off her shoulders. In a few pulls and nudges, the lavender silk ended up on the floor next to the bed. Now Talon could look at her naked. Cat was long, firm and sculpted from the workouts and firefighting she did for a living. Skimming her lower leg, knee and thigh, he settled his hand against her gently rounded belly. Talon captured the first nipple in his mouth. Cat was so sensitive, exquisitely so. Every touch, large or small, made her react in some way that told him she liked what he was doing with her. She nearly came apart between his hands as he lavished each nipple, suckling her and then moving one hand to between her thighs, feeling her slickness with his fingers, knowing she was more than ready for him. Talon felt her building toward another orgasm. He was so close to coming he had to get inside of her. He rolled on the condom.

Parting her thighs with his knees, Talon knelt before her, his hands on her curved thighs. She had wide hips, a long rib cage and full, perfect breasts. Her nipples were a rosy pink color, hard, and as he leaned down, he placed his throbbing erection at her slick, hot entrance. Talon saw Cat brace her back, her fists curling into the bedcovers. All good signs. She was small and tight. And Talon wasn’t small at all. Covering her with his body, his elbows taking most of his weight off her, he eased just inside her, gauging her response.

A groan tore from her and Talon patiently waited. She was incredibly wet, and it felt as if a fist surrounded him. Very slowly, he moved in and out of her, rubbing that sweet knot. It took the tension out of her and he watched Cat sigh and become aroused. And when he pulled a nipple into his mouth, biting it lightly, just enough to reach that pleasure-pain point to focus her attention, she released a sweet moan and automatically arched her hips against his. Cat instinctively reacted, drew him more deeply into her. It was give and take, gentle, slow and burning him up alive. Talon could feel himself tighten and scream for release, but he wasn’t going to cause Cat pain. He could handle his own hunger for all the right reasons.

Moving to her other breast, he blew his moist breath across the taut peak, heard her moan his name. Placing his teeth around it, he tugged on it just enough and she groaned, her hands releasing the covers, flying to his shoulders, digging frantically into his flesh. Talon thrust deeper into her and forced himself to wait. The time allowed her body to accommodate him until, finally, he could feel her muscled walls begin to relax around his erection. Talon then drew the nipple deep into his mouth, suckling strongly. Cat cried out, her hips bucking wildly against his hips and he thrust as deep as he could go into her, then forced himself to halt. Perspiration dotted his wrinkled brow.

Cat tensed, but the more he suckled her, the more she relaxed and she began to push her hips insistently against his. She was slick, hot honey around him, and Talon planted his elbows on either side of her head. Now he could rock her rhythmically, stimulate her and have her orgasm with him inside her this time.

Her fingers convulsively dug and released against his shoulders as Talon pulled out and then thrust slowly into her. All the way. He wanted to teach her about speed and rhythm, while watching her, feeling how her body responded to him. As he increased the swiftness of his thrusts, he heard her mewl, bucking against him, feeling the surge of another orgasm preparing to explode within her. Talon gritted his teeth, closing his eyes, moving hard into her, her fingers clawing into his tense, bunched shoulders. The slick dampness between them made it easy for him to pump into her and, seconds later, he felt the violent convulsion of the orgasm grip and surround him.

Cat sobbed his name as her orgasm exploded within her. He used his body to not only make it more powerful for her but prolong it to the point where she would go suddenly weak beneath him. And when she sank limply into the mattress, Talon lay very still within her, feeling her breasts heave against his chest, the harsh rasp of her breath against his neck, the rose flush covering her body beneath him.