Stirred (24 page)

With her lips slightly parted, Eden sipped in long, deep breaths, so in the moment, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. But my body was beyond impatient. So, without a hint of warning, I thrust my hips upward. Eden gasped as she pitched forward, opening herself wide for yet another powerful thrust, all the way to the root.

“Oh God…” she crooned, the sound skating the thin edge between pleasure and pain.

But I could tell by the way she opened her mouth, her brow low and tense, and her eyes shut tight, that whatever pain she might feel was exquisite, so much so, her flesh convulsed around me in time with the rapid tick of her heart. I stilled myself until Eden calmed enough to come back into the moment with me. That’s when she looked down into my eyes for the first time since our flesh had joined. With unbidden passion, her gaze swept over my face before settling on my chest.

Then her eyes grew wide, and she gasped in a loud, horrified breath.

I couldn’t pry my eyes open; I was too absorbed in the intoxicating feel of Sean as he spread me wide and filled me whole, throbbing deep inside me. But when my flesh at last settled enough for me to get a better hold on what my body was experiencing, I finally opened them and settled on Sean’s face. At first, I descended into the warm, soothing depths of his chocolatey brown eyes, reveling in the love and need I saw there, but, even in the dim light, something on his chest caught my attention.

I lowered my gaze. And there it was, snarling back at me as if imprisoned behind Sean’s rib cage, a dragon with wide, flaring nostrils, flowing layers of flame-like scales, and intense, angry eyes set below curving, spiked horns. Rows of sharp, pointed teeth surrounded a thin, forked tongue, and bursting through his chest, a three-toed claw, a bloody human heart in its grasp. The colorful image was startlingly beautiful, yet so shocking, I couldn’t help but recoil with a startled gasp. But Sean grabbed me by the arms.

“Easy now. It’s just a guardian, Praetorius—for Robbie—to remind me to never let my guard down again.” He touched his hand to my cheek. “Don’t be afraid.”

His calm voice allayed my initial fear, and my gaze moved from the intimidating creature back up to the reassuring comfort of Sean’s smoldering stare. He slid his hand behind my neck and pulled me in, kissing me gently at first, then deeply and passionately as I relaxed beneath his grip. His mouth molded to mine, and our tongues grappled with each other. That’s all it took to send my heart into a flat-out sprint. His erection, still firm and buried deep, swelled, stretching and lengthening until I felt it nudge against my womb.

I ground my hips into his, then rose up his length until he nearly slipped free, but I held on, my flesh greedily sucking at his, before I sank back down onto him again, moaning at the feel of him as he filled me whole. My body seemed to have a mind of its own, urging me on as Sean rocked his hips beneath me. I began to quiver inside and fought hard to hold on, not ready for it to end. Then Sean slipped his hand between my thighs, his thumb at my hood and what laid beneath, pushing the sensitive knot around and around as he drove himself into me, slowly at first, then faster and faster, until he was pummeling into me so hard, I worried I’d tumble right off.

Sean must have, too, because, in one smooth maneuver, he stood and carried me to the sofa, set me down across its length, and settled between my legs. He slung my knees over his shoulders and thrust into me with ferocious speed and fervor, taking us both higher and higher. I felt as though I were flying through the stratosphere, the oxygen so thin, I could barely catch my breath. Still I went higher, the pressure building. And from there, Sean hurled me over the edge. So intense and complete was my release that I couldn’t hold back my scream. With a satisfied grin, Sean cupped his hand over my mouth and pumped every last drop of himself inside me. In utter fascination, I watched his face morph from excruciating, pent-up, soul-shattering ecstasy to relaxed, peaceful fulfillment. Very much the satisfied cat that ate a most-tasty canary—
me
.

His breathing was still ragged as he eased my legs from his shoulders and, remaining inside me, collapsed half on top of me, sweaty all over and panting into my ear. But it took little time for his well-conditioned heart to slow to a more normal rhythm, and all I could think was how grateful I was to have such a young, virile athlete to fuck the shit out of me.

With a deep, cleansing breath, Sean pushed himself up onto one elbow and looked down into my eyes as a slow smile crept over his face.

I returned my own grin. “Rebecca De Mornay would be proud.”

Sean snorted a chuckle which turned into a full-on belly laugh.

“Oh, God,” I added as I wiggled my hips into him. “That feels good. Remind me to crack a few more jokes next time.”

Sean’s laughter subsided, and he gazed at me intently. “I’m so glad to hear there’ll be a next time.” He dipped down to kiss me, so deeply, so tenderly, I knew, without a doubt, that my life had irrevocably changed forever.

After a slow walk back to my car, I bundled Eden inside and left for the drive back to her home in Medina, taking a long, meandering route to extend our time together. As we drove into downtown Bellevue, my residential high-rise soared up before us. I brought her hand to my lips.

“Come home with me, Eden. Stay the night,” I said, then looked over for her reaction.

With a squeeze of her hand, she dropped her attention to her lap. “I’d love to, Sean, but…I can’t.” She glanced over at me with an awkward smile. “Remember, you promised to take things slow.”

I chuckled. “I think we’re way beyond slow now, Eden, but…a promise is a promise, and I always keep my word.” I realized she probably just needed some time alone to process everything.

“Thank you,” she said with relief, then raised her finger. “One thing though. I’m curious…how did you get the key to that train car? Or shouldn’t I ask? Would that make me an accomplice to some crime?” Her brow knotted in the center as she stared at me.

“No.” I shook my head. “Nothing that dramatic. A friend of mine works for the museum. I called in a favor, and he loaned me the key. You’re safe.”

That seemed to ease her concern, for the time being anyway. We rode in silence for a few more minutes, getting closer and closer to her tiny town, and in that time, I could feel Eden growing more and more tense. Her hand twitched in mine and her knees bounced against her seat. I wasn’t sure what she was nervous about. I only prayed she didn’t regret what had happened between us earlier. I wanted her to recall it as fondly as I would, as I already had during the circuitous drive back into town.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” I said. “You were incredible tonight. Really surprised me.”

Her knees calming, she looked over at me with a soft blush. “I did?” she asked, and I assured her with a nod. “In what way?”

I raised my brow high. “Well, that little strip tease you did, for one,” I answered, and her color deepened. “Not to mention that mouth of yours, the way it felt around—”

“Okay, okay,” she broke in, her free hand covering her face.

I reached over and pulled it away. “Don’t do that. You’ve no reason to be self-conscious. Not around me. Not ever. I think you’re beautiful, and I love the way you’re shedding your inhibitions. It’s so fucking sexy, Eden; you’ve no idea. The way you took charge and climbed on top—”

“Sean, please!” She was obviously embarrassed, but not so much that she couldn’t grin at the memory.

My own smile fairly split my face in half, it was so big, and I discovered that I enjoyed making Eden blush. But I changed the subject anyway, just to make her more comfortable. We gabbed on about inconsequential things—ideas she’d been tossing around for her next book, my time clerking for a local King County judge. Then, as if waiting for the right moment, she broached the subject of my tattoo.

“So what’s the story behind that thing on your chest?” she asked.

I sighed at the painful memories behind it. But it was a part of me, of who I was and how I’d gotten here. If Eden was going to be a part of that, too, then she should know. I rubbed my hand along my chest and took a deep breath.

“It’s a dragon,” I began. “A guardian named Praetorius. I got him for Robbie after the…accident. I had work done on it each day my little brother remained in the hospital. In addition to the pain I knew I’d endure getting it, I felt I needed something, something I’d see every day, even if I was alone, something to remind me of what I’d done, how careless I’d been, and to never let my guard down. Not ever. He’s caged deep inside me, ready to forfeit my life, my soul, to defend the one person who’s meant more to me than any other in my life.”

I smiled, the knowledge hitting me that Robbie was no longer the only one I’d sacrifice everything for. Eden held a large part of my heart now, as well. The shock of how much my life had changed in such a short span of time washed over me, but instead of trepidation or doubt, I felt euphoric. Complete. I glanced over at her and squeezed her hand.

“It protects you now, too, Eden. Remember that when you see it.”

She beamed at me and seemed to relax for the rest of the ride, at least until we approached the tall hedge along her front yard. Then her knees started to bounce once again.

Eden pointed ahead. “Pull up a little so I can see down the driveway first.”

“Why? I thought everyone was gone for the weekend.”

She nodded. “Yes, but I can’t be too careful.”

After making sure the coast was clear, Eden directed me down the driveway. I parked near the front door and jumped out to help Eden from her low seat. With her hand in mine, she stood in the open car door, glancing back and forth between me and the front entry, her teeth worrying her lip yet again, a small tell that she was pondering something.

With her decision finally made, she looked at me and asked, “Would you like to come in?”

“Sure,” I said casually enough, like it was no big deal, when it was anything but. Truth was, I jumped at the chance to glimpse into Eden’s life, so I could more easily imagine myself in it. I knew it would take a great deal of adjustment, especially for Eden and her son, who was closer to me in age than she was, but it could be done. I’d find a way to ease into her life.