Under His Protection (16 page)

When Ruby had jumped out of the way of that maniac’s car, she’d toppled over a couple racks, bruising herself and twisting her ankle. Some glass from one of the displays had shattered over her so she also had a few cuts and nicks on her legs, but everything would heal soon.

Ivan had saved her life and probably Ruby’s, but they wanted to be absolutely certain charges weren’t brought against him. She’d just been discharged so she’d sent her parents and brothers down to Ruby’s room a few minutes ago. She was expecting to see at least one of them back because her family never listened to her.

When Ivan and the detective stepped inside instead, her heart skipped a beat. She moved away from the bench by the window where she’d been checking through her purse to make sure she had everything. Heart beating out of control, she hurried to him. “Ivan. Is everything okay?”

He nodded, a half-smile tugging at his lips as he reached for her. “Yeah.”

“Your man is going to be fine,” Duarte said, his expression grim. “I just wanted to come down here and reassure you myself.”

“Then why do you look like the grim reaper just visited you?”

He paused, his jaw tensing once. “The guy who was after you… We got a search warrant for his parent’s house and let’s just say what we turned up isn’t pretty. He’s got videos of what he did to former victims. You were incredibly lucky.”

Her skin crawled at the news. She was sure the details would come out later but she didn’t need them now. And she was pretty sure the detective couldn’t tell her how many other women had been victimized so she didn’t bother asking. Her heart ached for the families though.

“And the world is a better fucking place without that monster in it,” Ivan muttered.

“So trust me, once the media gets a hold of this guy’s crimes, the city will want to throw Ivan a parade. Even without the continuing evidence we’re gathering, it was a clear case of self-defense against a man with known mental problems stalking you. The State’s Attorney won’t be making charges against Ivan.”

Relief like she’d never experienced before surged through her, soothing the frayed edges of her nerves. “Thank you so much, Detective.”

Half-smiling, he nodded. “I got your signed report and I’ll be in touch in a couple days to follow up, but you two get some rest.”

She’d given her statement to an officer while waiting for a doctor to see her but he’d left her room hours ago. “No problem.” She had a lot to deal with like getting her store cleaned up and fixed, dealing with insurance and the potential loss of closing her shop for who knew how long until the repairs were done, but she and Ivan were alive, Ruby was alive and her stalker was dead.

As soon as Duarte left, Julieta turned in Ivan’s arms and buried her face against his chest while he pressed his face against the top of her head. “I hate that you had to go down to the police station by yourself,” she murmured.

“I wasn’t alone.” His steady voice was soothing.

Pulling back, she looked up at him. “You weren’t?”

“Harrison Caldwell, one of the owners of Red Stone stopped by with one of their attorneys. Even though it wasn’t Red Stone business, he was ready to help out if I needed it.”

Julieta’s eyes widened. “That’s pretty impressive.”

He just nodded, watching her thoughtfully with those ice blue eyes. “I meant what I said, Julieta. I love you.”

She grinned, needing to hear those words. “Good, I did too.”

He blinked once, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right.

“That wasn’t a confession based on intense circumstances or whatever, I know how I feel. I love you, Ivan. I know we’ve got a lot to learn about each other and I’m excited about that.”

He let out a slow breath and leaned down, giving her time to pull back. She nearly snorted at the thought. As if she could ever pull back from this man. When he just brushed his lips over hers then lifted his head she had to bite back a groan. But now wasn’t the time to start something they couldn’t finish. And she knew he had to be just as exhausted as she was. “Want to go see Ruby then get out of here? I don’t think they’re keeping her overnight so she might be checking out soon too.”

“Sounds good to me. Then we’re getting you home and to bed. You need rest,” he murmured.

She needed more than rest, but she just smiled and nodded. She’d show him exactly what she needed soon enough.

* * *

Julieta looked at herself in her bathroom mirror one last time before turning away and heading for the door. After visiting with Ruby last night for a couple hours and waiting for her to get discharged, they’d all left the hospital together. Then Julieta and Ivan had returned to his place and picked up most of her things. She’d been determined to sleep in her own house even if it was well after midnight by the time they’d gotten here.

Because she wasn’t letting that psycho Buck steal any more of her life from her. She was reclaiming her home, including her bedroom.

Unfortunately all Ivan had wanted to do was sleep when they got back. She was certain if she’d pushed him he would have been up for more but he’d looked so exhausted and the truth was, by the time they’d finally made it back, she’d been ready to crash too. Now that she’d gotten some rest she was wired and ready for Ivan.

About ten minutes ago Ivan had gotten out of bed so she’d pretended to be asleep. It was only a little after six, but from her past week’s experience with him she’d come to realize that he was an early riser. Even more so than her.

When he came back upstairs she planned to surprise him. Because she wasn’t waiting any longer for a taste of him. He’d been more than willing to sleep in the same bed with her the last week and they’d definitely gotten physical but she wanted everything from him, wanted to cement the bond that had blossomed between them.

As she opened the bathroom door, she jerked to a halt. She hadn’t expected him upstairs yet but Ivan stood in the doorway of her room, shirtless and gorgeous, two coffee cups in hand. His blue eyes widened and he sucked in a sharp breath as his gaze tracked her from head to toe.

She was wearing what he called her red fuck-me heels and nothing else. “Put the coffee down and get on the bed,” she said in the most demanding voice she could muster. Her voice shook a little, but from pure desire.

He paused, his gaze riveted to hers, and she guessed he was fighting that dominant streak of his. He liked to be in control, which was fine with her most of the time, at least in the bedroom. But now it was her turn.

His jaw tightened as he set the mugs on the nearest dresser. When he turned back to her, his eyes were molten with need. Her own gaze trailed down to the bulge hidden behind his boxer briefs. She knew from this past week just how impressive he was. But he’d only let her stroke him with her hands. Now, she was going to kiss and lick him like she’d been fantasizing about. There wasn’t any reason for him to hold back anymore.

Watching her, he hooked his fingers on the elastic of his briefs and slid them down his muscular legs. Just like every other time she’d seen him, her mouth practically watered as she drank in all of him.

Broad shoulders, a trim waist, thighs so muscular she wanted to trace her fingers over every striation, then follow up with her tongue. When she imagined what a Viking must have looked like, he was it. All sexy blond god with a perfect physique.

As he stepped out of the briefs, instead of heading for the bed, he stalked straight toward her, like a predator moving in on his prey.

“Bed.” Hand on one hip, she pointed at the bed with her other, trying to be commanding but utterly failed when he reached her.

Without saying a word he buried his fingers in her hair, cupping the back of her head tight as his mouth descended on hers. There was no build up, just a serious claiming as he wrapped his free hand around her, pressing her flush against him.

Not that she needed the direction. Her nipples beaded tight as he bent over her, his chest rubbing hers. She arched her back, increasing the friction as she clutched onto his shoulders. When he groaned into her mouth, his big body trembling, her inner walls contracted at the sound.

Hearing him so affected by her lit her up, the need sparking through her like an out of control wildfire. Suddenly his hands were on her hips, lifting her up. She knew what he wanted and wrapped her legs around him as he walked them to the bed.

Still eating at her mouth like a man possessed, he splayed her out under him, his cock resting against her abdomen as she dug her heels into his ass. He groaned even louder before tearing his head back. Breathing hard, his chest rising and falling against hers as he stared down at her, she could see how close he was to losing control. She couldn’t wait.

“I didn’t want to rush you… You’re sure?” His words were choppy, further proof of his lack of control.

She slowly stroked her fingers up and down his back, savoring the way his muscles flexed under her touch. “I want to take you inside me, to come around your cock, to feel you coming in me.” She’d never been into dirty talk in the bedroom before, but she wanted Ivan to know exactly what she wanted. She was tired of waiting for him, for this, to finally be completely possessed by this wonderful man.

His hips rolled against her, his hard length pressing into her abdomen at her words. His pupils dilated, his breathing even more ragged as he swallowed hard, the sound almost over pronounced in the room. Taking her by surprise, he rolled them over, letting her straddle him. They’d already talked about protection earlier this week and since she was on the pill and they’d both been tested there was no need for condoms. She couldn’t wait to feel him inside her. Their bodies were almost perfectly positioned.

Right now she was under no illusion that she was in control, but she liked being on top, having this man under her. Straddling him, she pushed up against his chest, shimmying up his body so that she stroked her wet lips over his hard length.

His eyes grew heavy-lidded as he watched her, his fingers flexing tight against her hips before he let go. “Sit on my face.”

The bold words made her inner walls tighten, clenching with the need to be filled. By him. She wanted to take him into her mouth then slide on to him, but… The hungry look on Ivan’s face had her doing exactly what he said.

Even though it made her feel vulnerable to be in such an intimate position with him, she climbed up his body and lowered herself onto his face. Growling, he reached up and wrapped his fingers onto her thighs, holding her tight and refusing to let her close her legs as he dipped his tongue inside her. It should be illegal how talented he was with his tongue. An uncontrollable shudder skittered through her as she let out a soft moan.

“Touch yourself,” he ordered, his words strangled before he swiped his tongue along her wet slit.

She tried to move, but he held her in position as he stroked her. Even though she was on top, he was still in complete control, his wicked tongue teasing as she reached up to cup her breasts.

She’d never been so open with her past lovers and had often felt rushed to orgasm, sometimes even faking it. Her toys had always been a sure thing. And she’d come to find out that so was Ivan. The past week she’d never felt remotely rushed, not with Ivan’s attention so focused, his determination to make her climax to the point where he put her totally first an incredible turn on. She found herself coming easier and easier with him, her body attuned to him.

Which was why it was no surprise when he focused on her clit with that maddeningly perfect pressure she could feel the buildup start. It stunned her how quickly he’d learned her body. As she gently held her breasts, rubbing over her nipples with her thumbs, she started to tremble. But she didn’t want to come against his mouth this time.

Even though it was almost painful to do so, she let her hands fall. “Ivan, stop.”

His fingers loosened on her thighs, his gaze meeting hers as she looked down at him. “What’s wrong? You’re close, I can feel it.” The harshly spoken words were almost an accusation.

She shook her head and started moving down the length of his body, keeping him straddled underneath her as she went. “I’m not coming against your mouth.” Leaning down, she brushed her lips over his small, flat brown nipple before gently pressing her teeth around the small nub.

He slid his fingers through her hair, holding onto her head with one hand and her shoulder with the other. “What are you doing?” A quiet question, the tension in his voice making her smile as she moved lower, kissing a path along the hard ridges of his abdomen.

“Taking what I want,” she whispered, reaching his hard length. Before taking it in her mouth, she lightly swiped her tongue across the head.

His hips jerked, his cock bobbing against his stomach as he let out a dirty curse. His words made her smile and she did it again, holding onto his erection at the base to hold him in place. She flicked her tongue over him, barely grazing him, then gently blew on him.

“Your mouth,” he groaned, the words sounding as if they were torn from his throat.

With her other hand, she reached between them and cupped his balls. When she tugged on them, he surged into her mouth. Taking him as deep as she could, she moaned, knowing he’d love the vibration against his thick length.

“Jules,” he said her name like a prayer, her nickname falling from his lips so easily. She loved hearing it, loved everything she’d learned about this man.