Vulnerable: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 1) (27 page)

As the tremors from his climax subsided, Shane’s thrusts slowed to a gentle, gliding motion, and he relished the feel of his cock sliding in and out of her body. He stroked her slowly, gritting his teeth at the hypersensitivity of his cock.

Shane reluctantly pulled out of her body, and Beth looked down, captivated by the sight of his thick, ruddy cock coated with her body’s juices and his semen.

They looked at each other.

“Fuck!” he said, his eyes locked on hers. He gripped the sides of her head, his fingers tunneling through her hair.

“I guess we got carried away,” Beth said as she glanced down at the evidence.

Shane stared at her, dumfounded. “I’ve never forgotten to use protection,” he said. “Damn it, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said. In truth, she was reeling from the intensity of the experience and didn’t know what to think.

“No, it’s not okay,” he said, his voice tight. “It was my responsibility, and I fucked up.” Shane stepped back from the table and pulled up his boxers and jeans.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she said, watching as his jaw clenched so tightly she feared it would crack. She reached out and grasped his hand. “It’ll be fine, Shane. Don’t worry.”

Shane collected Beth’s discarded clothing and threw them over his shoulder. Then he swept her up into his arms. “Come on, sweetheart,” he said, kissing her sweat-dampened temple. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Chapter 24

The apartment was eerily silent as they stepped through the foyer door. Shane carried Beth to the master suite and laid her on the bed. After draping her blouse and undergarments carefully over the bench at the foot of the bed, he removed her skirt, then disappeared into the bathroom.

She lay on the bed feeling very self-conscious as she felt his semen leaking. Not really sure what the proper etiquette was in such a situation, she contemplated getting up and going to the bathroom herself to clean up when he returned with a warm washcloth.

“I think I’m making a mess on the sheets,” she said.

Silently, he proceeded to wipe her clean, his actions gentle and methodical. He said nothing, his expression tight.

His silence was starting to unnerve her. “Say something,” she said, when he’d finished and pulled the sheet over her.

He looked down at her. “What do you want me to say?” he said, his voice harsh. “That I fucked up?”

“Shane, you didn’t fuck up.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Last I heard, it takes two to tango,” she said. “It wasn’t just your responsibility.”

He looked far from convinced. “When was your last period?” he said.

She shrugged. She really didn’t keep track of her cycles. “A couple of weeks ago, I guess.”

He frowned. “You’d have nothing to worry about. You know that, right?”

She nodded. She might not know everything about Shane, but she knew without a doubt that he’d never shirk his responsibilities. “I know,” she said, reaching for his hand. “I’m not worried. But, Shane, it wasn’t solely your responsibility.”

“I’ll be right back,” he said, releasing her hand as he headed for the bathroom.

After he’d gone, she sat up in bed, feeling suddenly bereft. She knew he was deeply shaken by what they’d done, but she couldn’t help feeling like he’d shut her out. Afraid she’d worn out her welcome, she leaned toward the foot of the bed to grab her clothes.

“What are you doing?” he said, his tone almost accusatory.

Startled, she turned to look at him. “I’m – ”  The words died in her throat. He was naked. She’d been expecting him to pack her up and send her home. Instead, he’d stripped naked, his body a very distracting vision of sinewy muscles and hard planes.

“Getting dressed,” she said, haltingly. “I should go.”

“Now?” he said, looking disappointed. “Can’t you stay a little while longer?”

Beth sat and tried to arrange herself in a somewhat demure pose, which wasn’t easy as she’d been crawling naked across his big bed. “You want me to say?”

“Yes, I want you to stay,” Shane said, as he climbed onto the bed and reached for her, pulling her to him. “You didn’t get much sleep last night. I thought we could rest for a while, and then have dinner. There’s plenty of pasta left over from last night, or if you don’t want that, we can order something in. And there’s more Tiramisu. You liked that.”

“Okay,” Beth said, grinning as she snuggled down on the bed beside him. His body radiated heat, and she sighed, taking pleasure from it. She could really get used to this.

Shane kissed her forehead and slid one leg between hers, the crinkly hair on his legs scratchy against the tender skin of her inner thighs. “Are you warm enough?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I know it’s no excuse,” he said, his expression as grim, “but back there in the foyer, I couldn’t have remembered my own name, let alone to use protection. I’m sorry, Beth.” He seemed truly shaken by the confession.

“I didn’t think about it either,” she said, melting into his embrace. She laid her head on his chest, right over his heart, and she could feel his heartbeat against her temple. She loved this, being close to him, feeling his warmth and the security of his embrace. Now she knew what she’d been missing.

Shane began to rub his hand up and down her bare back, and she groaned from the pleasure.

“Have you ever thought about having kids?” Shane said offhandedly. “I don’t mean now, of course, but someday. Do you want kids?”

“Sure,” she said, measuring the steady beats of his heart. “I’ve always wanted kids.”

Shane smiled. “I come from a big family, a big
noisy
family. When I was growing up, there was always someone around to play with. I want that someday for my own kids.”

Shane tipped her face toward his and kissed her gently. “You’ve had a busy weekend,” he said. “Are you okay?”

She smiled. “I’m more than okay. I’m wonderful.”

“Yes, you are,” he said, grinning. “I’ve loved every minute we’ve spent together.”

Beth frowned. “Well, maybe not all of it. Certainly not the drama and the hysterics last night. I’m sorry about that.”

“Hey.” He kissed her gently. “We got through it, didn’t we? And we did all right in the end. There’s absolutely no reason for you to reproach yourself.”

“It’s not going to be that easy,” she said. “The panic attacks come without warning.” She never knew when the next one would hit.

“I know,” he said, stroking her hair. “One day at a time, right?”

Beth gazed down at their bodies lying entwined, marveling at the differences between them. His body was so different from hers, and not just in the obvious ways. Everything about him was bigger, rougher, darker. He was just so
male
. His skin was tanned a warm golden shade, his muscles were so well defined.

She relaxed against him, her muscles turning to liquid, and her eyes grew heavy. She closed her eyes,
just for a minute
.

Shane smiled when he realized Beth had fallen asleep in his arms. She had to be exhausted. It had a been a whirlwind weekend, and she hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. And then they’d spent most of their day walking around downtown. He was glad she felt safe enough with him to drift off to sleep. That had to mean something. He pulled her closer, practically wrapping himself around her body, and let himself take a cat nap.

The sun was starting to set when Shane woke. Outside, the sky was a light shade of indigo, and the buildings all around them were starting to light up the night sky. Inside his bedroom, it was twilight, adding to the sense of intimacy.

“Lights thirty percent,” he said. He didn’t want Beth to wake up in a dark room.

They were still wrapped in each other’s arms, so it was an easy thing for him to lean close and nuzzle her temple. He breathed in the scent of her hair, and it made him instantly hard. He trailed kisses down her cheek to her jaw and ultimately to her throat, where he pressed his lips against her pulse point.

It was incredibly satisfying to have her here in his bed. Before, he’d usually taken women to hotels for sex because he didn’t want them getting too comfortable in his home, or expecting more than he was willing to give. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a woman here at the penthouse, and he sure as hell never took a woman to his home in Kenilworth.

He’d always been upfront with women about what he wanted and what his intentions were. Sex was just a mutually satisfying encounter, where both parties got what they wanted and moved on. He was generous with his money, when it came to women – because it was
just money
. Money was simply a tool to be used to accomplish an end. He’d gladly wine them and dine them, take them to the best places, buy them clothes or jewelry or whatever it was they desired, fly them to New York City or Paris or London for a weekend of sex. But his personal space – that had always been off limits.

Until now.

As he watched Beth sleep, he couldn’t help wondering why this was different. He hadn’t wasted any time at all getting her to his penthouse, in his bed. He’d been with a lot of women, and he’d always walked away afterwards and never looked back. She was beautiful, yes, but he’d dated lots of beautiful women. He’d certainly dated women that were far more sophisticated and experienced. So why was it that every time he looked at her he felt like his next breath depended on her?

He stroked the bare skin of her arm with his fingertips and reveled in its softness. She was so soft, so defenseless. And she’d been hurt so badly. Once again, he felt a quiet, burning rage creep into veins, and he had to suppress the desire to end Howard Kline once and for all. He couldn’t let that monster continue to roam free, posing a threat to Beth or to any other woman. Somehow, some way, he’d find a way to end that bastard. It was only a matter of time – he knew that as surely as he knew his own name.

When Beth stirred, making sleepy sounds of annoyance from being awakened, he found himself grinning like an idiot. For God’s sake, what was it about her that had him so tied up in knots? He only knew that every time he looked at her, his heart practically stopped. And for the first time in his adult life, he wasn’t thinking about his next lay. Instead, he thinking ahead to a future he’d never given much thought to before. And that meant they needed to talk.

He dreaded opening up this can of worms, because he didn’t know how she’d react to learning about Kline’s release and the role Shane’s company was playing in her life. But he had no choice, and now was as good a time as any.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” he murmured into her hair as her eyes fluttered open. “Good evening.”

She stretched and groaned loudly, like a noisy cat. “What time is it?”

“Almost six. Are you hungry?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sure we can find something good in the kitchen. But first, can we talk?”

She turned toward him and buried her face into the crook of his neck. “No. No talking. Just eating.”

He chuckled. “We need to talk, sweetheart.”

“I thought guys didn’t like to talk,” she said.

“In this case, we need to. I need you to tell me what happened to you.”

“No,” she groaned, rubbing her face against him.

He’d known this wasn’t going to be easy. “Beth.”

“Let’s not ruin the afternoon,” she said, her fingers meandering down his chest.

“We need to talk about it,” he said, trying to ignore the pleasure of her touch. He could feel his blood flowing south to his dick. Damn, she was distracting!

Her hand continued its downward progress, moving past his belly button as she followed the trail of dark hair that arrowed down to his groin.
Oh, hell
. He shoved the sheet aside, giving her full access to his body.

“We don’t have to talk right this minute,” she said. “It can wait.”

By the time her fingers reached the base of his cock, he was already impressively erect. Beth smiled, thrilled with the effect she had on his body.

“You’re trying to distract me,” he said as he watched her fingers wrap around him and gently squeeze.

“Is it working?”

He laughed. “Yes. You damn well know it is.”

When she stroked the full length of him, he captured her hand and brought it to his mouth. He kissed the tips of her fingers, then brought her hand to lay on his chest, where he held it to him.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it, but we have to. I can help you, Beth. That’s what I do. I help people, with… problems. I – my company helps keep people safe from threats. You told me someone hurt you.”

“But that’s all in the past, Shane.” She pulled her hand out from underneath his. “There’s no threat now. He’s in prison.” Beth went up on her knees and crawled toward the foot of the bed.

“What are you doing?”
Oh, hell
.

Hovering over him on all fours, Beth grinned. “It’s my turn.”

“Your turn to do what?” Although he knew damned well what she meant.

She smiled as she wrapped her hand around the base of his thick cock.

“No,” he said, reaching for her. “Come back here. We’re talking.”

Beth moved out of Shane’s reach, determined to go through with this come hell or high water. She’d never done this before, but she’d read about it enough that she should be an expert. Part of her did want to distract him from a serious conversation, but mostly she just wanted to do this, with him.

“You go ahead and talk all you want,” she said. “Don’t mind me.” When her tongue came out to wet her lips and his eyes followed the movement, she couldn’t help smiling. When her tongue darted out to touch the tip of his cock, his body bowed up off the bed.

“Beth!”

She smiled, garnering sorely needed confidence from his reaction. He’d given her such incredible pleasure already, and now it was her turn. She leaned down and licked his erection from its base to its tip, her tongue coming over the top of the crown, swirling around the sensitive head. Her tongue licked the slit at the tip of his erection, and she tasted something salty.

“Jesus, Beth!” he said, throwing his head back onto the bed.