Clay: Armed and Dangerous (9 page)

He chuckled and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Not on your life.”

Satisfaction warmed Rylie’s belly, knowing that she’d given him as much pleasure as
he’d given her. A smile curved her lips as she nuzzled his chest. “You need time to
regenerate, or are you ready?”

Clay growled as he grabbed her ass and pressed his thick erection to her belly. “What
do you think?”

“Oooh, you’re hard again.” She stood up on her toes and brushed her mouth over his,
loving the way his mustache felt against her lips. “So what are you waiting for?”

He clasped his big hands around her slim waist and practically tossed her onto the
bed. Rylie laughed and brushed her hair out of her eyes. But her laughter faded as
she saw the look on Clay’s face— like he was up to no good.

His mustache twitched as he reached over to the dresser and grabbed something off
the top, and Rylie caught the glint of metal.

She furrowed her brow as he moved onto the bed and knelt between her thighs. “What
are you up to?” she asked as she tried to see what he was holding, but he held it
behind his back.

Clay put his free hand by her head and captured her gaze with his. “So... you’ve fantasized
about being tied up, have you?” Warmth crept through Rylie, but it wasn’t because
she was embarrassed at having so easily admitted her fantasy. It was more the way
he looked at her—like he intended to do something about it.

“Yeah...” No sooner had she said the word, than Clay brought the hand out that he’d
been hiding and clamped cold steel around her wrist. “Hey—” she started, but he moved
so fast that the next thing she knew he had her arms stretched over her head. He flipped
the free cuff over the railing behind her, and then clasped the cuff to her other
wrist.

“Oh, my God.” Rylie twisted as she pulled against the cuffs, the metal slightly digging
into her flesh. Her skin flooded with heat at the feel of being handcuffed and completely
vulnerable to the man between her thighs. “I can’t believe you really did it.”

“Change your mind?” Clay pressed his cock to her belly, his gaze like green fire licking
through her body.

“No way.” Tingles skittered through Rylie’s belly and her nipples tightened. “And
in case you’re wondering, I’ve had all my tests, I’m clean, and I’m on the pill. What
about you, cowboy?”

“Clean bill of health all the way around.” He gave her his sexy smile. “Shall I get
out my donor card?”

“Anybody else, yes. You, I trust.” She wrapped her legs around his waist. “So get
on with it. Now.”

His mouth came down on hers, crushing her lips, as if punishing her for making him
desire her so much. Even though she knew it was fruitless, she pulled against the
cuffs, wanting to reach around him and dig her nails into his back.

Clay hooked his arms under her knees and raised her up, opening her wide to him. He
released one knee long enough to guide himself toward her slick opening. “Am I too
big for you?”

“Never.” She strained against the cuffs, arching her back. “Now, Clay!”

Rylie gasped as he slid his cock into her opening, stretching her with his thickness.
He grabbed both of her ankles and moved them up to his neck, so that her feet were
to either side of his head, and she could feel the softness of his hair along her
instep. His eyes focused on hers, his breathing hard as he eased himself in another
inch and then paused.

She raised her hips up, taking him deeper. “Give me all of you and stop messing with
me.”

The irritating man just grabbed her hips and gave her another fraction. “We have all
night, honey.”

Narrowing her eyes, Rylie did her best to glare at him. “There will be hell to pay
later.”

Clay grinned. “All right, little wildcat. You want it, then I’m gonna give it to you.”

He thrust into her, burying himself. Rylie cried out at the sensation of having him
so deep inside, stretching her and filling her completely.

“You okay?” Clay held still, sweat beading on his forehead and trickling down the
side of his face.

“Oh, yeah.” Rylie wiggled, enjoying the incredible fullness. “I’ll be even better
once you get to it.”

With slow, even thrusts, he began moving within her core, holding her ass while he
rose up on his knees. “You feel so good,” he murmured.

She glanced down to where they were joined, mesmerized by the sight of him moving
in and out of her. He was so big and thick, and it felt incredible. She had never
been able to come from just penetration, but to her amazement, she already felt an
orgasm coming on.

His pace increased, his flesh slapping against hers. “I love the way you watch me.”

Her gaze moved to his and her stomach flipped at the look in his eyes. “Harder.” Straining
against the handcuffs, she tried to buck her hips. “I’m almost there.”

Clay released her ass and reached around her legs to tweak her nipples, and at the
same time began pounding into her like she wanted him to.

“Yeah... just like that.” A faint buzzing started in Rylie’s ears as he drove into
her. The noise grew to a dull roar. Her stomach muscles clenched and her core contracted,
gripping Clay tighter.

“Come on, honey.” His voice was hoarse, like he could barely hold himself back from
climaxing.

“Oh... my... God.” Rylie’s entire being vibrated as she grew closer and closer to
the peak. “Don’t stop, Clay. Harder. Harder!” He growled as he pistoned his hips against
hers.

“Yes!” she screamed as she came, her body jerking with the force of each wave of her
orgasm.

Clay continued driving into her core, drawing along each undulation.

“Rylie. Oh, damn,” he called out as he reached his climax. She felt every throb and
pulse of his orgasm. He moved within her, slower and slower until he finally stopped,
his hips fused against hers.

After a moment, he eased her legs down from around his neck so that her feet were
resting on the comforter. His weight felt comfortable as he relaxed on top of her,
his stubble-roughened cheek resting next to hers and his length still clenched deep
in her depths. Smells of sex and sweat sifted through the air and Rylie sighed, more
sated and content than she could remember feeling before.

“Mmmmm, Clay?” She moved her cheek against his, enjoying his stubble scraping her
soft skin. “I hate to break this moment, but you think you could unlock these handcuffs?”

“I don’t know.” He propped himself up on both arms and his lips quirked in a grin.
“Kinda like you right where I’ve got you.”

“Oh?” Damn but he made her feel all quivery and gooey inside. “What do I have to do
to convince you?”

Clay raised an eyebrow. “Of what?”

“That there’ll be hell to pay if you don’t get these things off me now.”

With a soft laugh he rolled off of her, sliding out and leaving her empty without
him. “Now supposing I can’t find the key?”

Rylie glared at him. “Supposing I’m gonna kick your ass, cowboy.”

Keys jangled as he returned. He held them in his palm, a wicked look in his green
eyes. “How about we strike a deal?”

“Clay...” She swallowed back her retort as his gaze swept over her naked form from
her arms stretched over her head, on down, settling on her shaved sex. While he studied
her his cock lengthened, and her mouth watered to taste him again. He looked magnificent,
his body so muscular and sculpted. Rylie’s nipples hardened and her core flooded as
he smiled and met her eyes.

He sat on the edge of the bed, and brushed his lips over hers. “I’ll let you go if
you promise to stay the night.”

Rylie’s breath caught, and she went still, pulling against the handcuffs. Her heart
pounded out a strange cadence in her throat. “I don’t stay the night with anyone.”

“Why?”

She didn’t think she could answer, but heat—not a good kind— drove her words. “It’s
one thing to enjoy sex. It’s another to wake up with a man and have breakfast with
him. I don’t know you like that, cowboy.”

I don’t know anybody like that, and I’m not sure I want to.

“Stay with me.” His words were a demand, definitely not a request.

She shook her head, but when she spoke, the word barely came out in a whisper. “No.”

“That’s my condition, little wildcat.” Clay pressed his forehead to hers. “I aim to
tame you.”

The man was serious—Rylie could see it in Clay’s eyes, could hear it in his tone.
Yet at the same time she couldn’t believe he intended to keep her cuffed to the bed
until she agreed to spend the night with him.

It took her a few seconds to beat down the instinctive panic and rage. She might be
trapped by his damned cuffs, but she would not let him or anyone force her to be intimate
in ways she’d rather avoid.

Look at him. He’s not trying to trap you. He’s trying to tease you. To please you.
Don’t hold him accountable for your screwed-up childhood.

She felt herself relaxing. Something about Clay made that easier.

“What’ll it be, honey?” Clay brushed his lips over hers, and sparks skittered through
her belly like a dozen firecrackers. “I’ll feed you in bed if you’d rather be cuffed
all night.”

All right. Fine. If he wanted to play rough, she’d give him as good as he dished out.

Like hell he would tame her. And before sunrise she would get her own revenge.

When he drew back, Rylie glared at him the best she could manage. “I’ll spend the
night, but only because I don’t particularly feel like being cuffed to the bed.”

A smug smile crossed Clay’s handsome features as he reached up, removed the cuffs,
and tossed them on the comforter. He massaged her wrists, the sensation of his touch
soothing and arousing all at once. Passion burned through Rylie, coupled with warmth
from the caring she witnessed in his expression.

Even though she barely knew him, somehow this man stirred emotions and longings within
her that she didn’t want to admit, and had never allowed herself to consider.

Like a possibility of happiness and a future with one man.

No
. Make-believe and fairy tales: she didn’t believe in either. A father who wouldn’t
work and liked to scream at his wife and kids, and a mother who couldn’t stand up
to him had taught her way too much about what happens to people who believe in magic.

Clay pressed his lips to the inside of one of her wrists, and flicked his tongue against
her pulse point, sending a shiver throughout her body. “You ready for some chow?”
he murmured.

“S-sure.” She frowned at the way her voice trembled. What the hell was he doing to
her?

Satisfaction curled in Clay’s gut as he took her by the hand and helped her off the
bed. He’d always been able to trust his instinct, and that instinct had told him from
the beginning that Rylie shied away from real intimacy. Why she was afraid of a serious
relationship, he didn’t know, but he was determined to find out.

And by the time all was said and done, she’d be his.

Rylie took her hand from his grasp and scooped his shirt from the floor. Her voice
was muffled as she pulled it over her head. “So what’s for dinner, other than steak?”

When she reappeared, static caused her hair to poke up all over her head in a blond
halo. She was so petite that his shirt reached her knees, and she looked like a woodland
pixie. Clay grinned, holding back a laugh.

“What?” Rylie put her hands on her slim hips and narrowed her gaze.

“You.” Shaking his head, he took her by the shoulders and kissed her forehead, then
drew back to look at her again. “You’re adorable.”

“Hmph.” She tried to look grouchy, but in his gut Clay knew it was all an act. For
some reason she preferred to keep an emotional distance, which was something he’d
have to change.

He released her shoulders to grab his briefs and jeans off the floor, then pulled
them on. “How about rolls, tossed salad, and mashed potatoes? I might even be able
to come up with something for dessert, too.”

“I have to warn you, I’m not into cooking, so I won’t be much help.” Rylie walked
by his side as he headed out of the bedroom toward the kitchen. “If it wasn’t for
prepackaged meals and the microwave, Levi and I would probably starve.”

At the mention of her brother, a cloud passed through Clay’s consciousness. It probably
wasn’t real smart of him to get busy with a suspect’s sister, but when it came to
Rylie, Clay had to make an exception.

“Dinner’s my treat, so sit your pretty ass down,” he said as they reached the kitchen.
He took a package of T-bones out of the fridge and brought them to the grill built
into the center of the stovetop. “My mom saw to it that my sisters and I learned how
to cook.”

“Ooooh, a man who’s great in bed and knows how to whip up a meal.” Rylie moved to
the breakfast bar and eased up onto a stool. “If you clean, too, I think I’ve struck
pay dirt.”

Clay grinned as he turned on the grill, then grabbed a stoneware plate out of the
cabinet. “I have a housekeeper who comes in a couple of times a week.”

“Even better.” Mischief sparked in Rylie’s eyes. “Leaves more time for all that great
sex.”

His gaze met hers. “Better watch it, honey, or dinner’ll be late.”

“Promises, promises.” Her voice was teasing, but her nipples poked through his shirt.
He had no doubt she’d love it if he took her right there in the kitchen.

She cleared her throat. “So... you actually like to cook?”

With effort, Clay reined in his lust and took the steaks out of the package. “I have
nothing against going out for a meal or heating up something in the microwave.” He
slapped the steaks onto the stoneware plate and seasoned them liberally with salt
and pepper. “But sometimes I find it kinda relaxing to cook up a good meal, like Mom
makes.”

Rylie enjoyed watching Clay as he fixed their dinner. The man was powerful and sensual,
in command of his environment no matter where he was. Even in the kitchen.