Hart To Hart (15 page)

He nodded to a room on the left. “This is where Charlotte would have stayed had she been here.”

He walked Ellie to the next room. “I’m putting you in the master so you’ll have an attached bath.”

Now he was being silly. “Where will you sleep?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Frankly, Ellie was getting tired of his bravado. “How about if I can’t help but worry? You always want to shoulder the responsibility for all things.” She had no idea why her voice had risen, but all the shit that had gone down in the last few weeks was coming to a head. “What about me?”

His brows pinched. “What about you? I’m trying to keep you from stressing out.”

“By blocking me out? I feel so alone.” She shook, and it wasn’t from being cold.

“Hey, tell me what’s wrong.” Vic led her over to the bed and sat down next to her.

“You don’t get it. The only way I’m going to get through this mess is if you tell me everything. If we share this experience by talking about our feelings, I might be able to better handle what’s happening.”

He picked up her hand. “I haven’t hidden anything from you.”

“What about your fears?”

He glanced away. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

She withdrew her hand from his grasp. “I want you to tell me you’re afraid of losing our daughter. I want to know I’m not the only one who’s dying inside. You’ve been run off the road, yet you act as if it was an everyday occurrence. You won’t even wear your fucking sling.” Tears tumbled down her cheeks, and Vic drew her to his chest. She clung to him for dear life—for her sanity.

“I’m sorry. I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want to add to your burden.” He leaned back. “Am I afraid? Fuck yeah. In fact, I’m petrified I’ll lose Charlotte or you. I want to keep you two safe so badly that I’ve had to put on this brave front. I’m scared shitless that when the time comes to stop this maniac, I might not react the way I should if I let my true feelings show.” He looked away but the water in his eyes convinced her he meant every word he said. “I, too, want us to be a team, to get through this together. If I promise to try harder, will you forgive me?”

Ellie never expected him to admit to any vulnerability, and here he’d laid open his soul. “Yes. And thank you.”

Vic nodded and stood. “I know you wanted to take a nap. I’ll let you rest.”

As he turned away, she grabbed his hand. “Stay with me?”

He didn’t respond with his usual sexy, snarky comments. Instead, he kicked off his boots and removed his pants without saying a word. She did the same, but he finished undressing before her. Vic pulled down the spread.

“May I finish taking off your clothes?” he asked in the softest of voices. “I have so much to learn about being a good person. I’ve been trained to keep my emotions in check, so I’m not sure I know how to show them anymore.”

“Wanting to change is half the battle.” She wanted to tell him she didn’t expect him to change overnight, but any explanation now would break the spell between them. Vic truly seemed to understand what she’d told him, and that meant to world to her. “I’d love for you to help me.” Whether it was to take off her clothes or keep her from breaking down.

He knelt on the bed and lifted the sweater over her head. “You are so perfect.”

The old saying that beauty was in the eyes of the beholder certainly held true. If he liked what he saw, who was she to argue? It would serve no good purpose. “Thank you.”

Vic dropped his butt onto his heels. “I want to make love to you. Slowly. Gently. If you’ll let me.”

Vic never asked permission. He was the type to take what he wanted. Ellie wanted to show him that she needed him more than anything. She got up on her knees and slid her palms up his shirt, his warm skin pure heaven on her palms. She yearned to love every inch of his body until they both exploded with such an intense passion that they couldn’t think from all their lustful feelings. Was she capable right now of taking her time and not rushing? She doubted it, but she wanted to try. Vic placed his hands over hers.

“Kiss me,” she said.

Instead of the usual hard capture, the pressure was soft and tentative, almost as if every insecurity he’d ever possessed had leaked out of his body. With his right hand, he cupped her face and nibbled on her lips before dragging his kisses up to her eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered so softly she almost missed the words.

She lowered her head. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I don’t want to change you. I just can’t be alone right now.”

Vic lifted her chin. “I promise you won’t be.”

He hugged her close then nipped at her earlobe, sending shivers of pleasure up and down her spine. He leaned her back until she had to uncurl her legs. Without a word, Vic kissed the crests of her breasts above her bra. Using his thumbs, he lifted the material above her tits and cool air pebbled her nipples.

“I want to love them all night long.” He dragged his tongue across one nipple and then lavished his attention on the other. Pleasure bubbled.

She reached out and grabbed his cock. “I dare you to last more than an hour.”

“Damn, girl. A man can dream can’t he?” His words held a bit of bravado, but they were also laced with pain.

“I believe he should try.” Today, he’d opened his heart and she wanted to enjoy it for as long as she could.

Vic dipped his head again and sucked each tip as if he was paying homage to her breasts. The slow movement ratcheted her desire.

“How about taking off those briefs?” she said. “I want to see my reward.”

“You got it.”

Vic continued to tease each nipple while he removed his boxer briefs with one hand. She glanced down at his erection and licked her lips. Soon, he’d be hers.

Vic palmed one breast while tugging on the other pert tip. His slow, seductive movements electrified her, but she didn’t move, loving the care he was giving her. It was just what she needed. He nibbled, sucked, licked, and loved each nipple.

“Let’s take this off,” he said as he reached around her, unhooked her bra, and tossed it to the end of the bed.

He slid to his stomach, and instead of tugging off her panties, he licked his way down her belly. The hairs stood up straight as anticipation swept through her. She clutched the spread to keep from grabbing him again. As much as she wanted to suck on his dick, Vic was now in charge, and she didn’t want to disturb the loving moment. This was the old Vic, the one she’d fallen in love with so long ago.

He inhaled deeply as he slid lower. “I love how you smell.”

She had to think if she’d put on any perfume since showering. She hadn’t, so it must be her freely flowing juices that had scented the air. Vic had a unique way of touching her that set her body spinning. Heat began at her core and spread upward and outward.

“Lick me,” she panted.

“My goal is to make you come so many times, you’ll beg me to take you.”

“You can try.”

She was close to that point already. Keeping his palm on her rounded belly, he slid lower and nibbled his way from one thigh to the other. She planted her feet on the bed and scooted nearer to him. He pressed down harder to keep her still.

“Be good. I want to take my time.”

That would be hard for her. “When can I take my time on your cock?” She had yet to taste him.

“Soon.”

Vic slid off her panties, and then ran a thumb over her clit. She bucked at the intensity, straining for more. Her womb coiled tight, in need of some friction. When he slipped one finger into her needy hole, her yearning grew more demanding. “That all you got?”

She couldn’t help but toss out some sass. It was the way to his soul—or so she hoped. He threaded a second finger inside her and wiggled it around, banging it against her G-spot, and causing her climax to go off before she was ready.

Ellie closed her eyes and let the pleasure wash over her. It served as a brief respite from his tormenting. “Now, it’s only fair to let me have a chance at you.”

Vic slid up next to her and rolled onto his back. “Go for it.”

Really? “You won’t stop me?”

“Never said that. Remember, I’m in a weakened state.”

She smiled. “Payback’s a bitch.”

Chapter Fourteen

V
ic never should
have allowed El to suck on his cock. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was weak around her, but he remembered it was one of her favorite things to do. Who was he to deny her that pleasure? If only he could last long enough to delve into her sweetness, he’d be content.

She lifted onto her knees and leaned over him. Dear God in Heaven. Her tits swayed and her pussy glistened. He reached up, and when he brushed his palms against her distended nipple, his cock jerked.

She smiled then licked his cock from base to tip. He’d been strong when those thugs had beaten him right before the burning plank fell on him—but he sure wasn’t now. He probably wouldn’t be able to keep from coming if she used her wicked tongue on him.

El drew her lips around the head and grabbed his dick. When she pumped her fist fast, he took hold of her wrist. “Be careful or he’ll explode.”

“Don’t worry. I know when to stop.”

She always did have that knack. El scraped her teeth downward, pressing hard enough to nearly set his climax in motion but not too hard to break the skin. When the head of his dick banged against the back of her throat, he closed his eyes to keep from spiraling out of control.

Stay strong.

It was when she grabbed his balls and rolled them in her palm that all the previous memories of their lovemaking swamped him. He wouldn’t last. With a swing of his leg, he was able to move away from her sexy mouth and land on his knees. “Bend over.”

Gone was his ability to exercise control. He had to have her. Now. El got up on her elbows and spread her knees wide. Her offering nearly undid him. Vic placed his cock at her entrance and eased into her wetness. When the slick walls welcomed him, he let out a groan. Leaning over her back, he palmed her tits as his cock worked his way down her pussy. Her wet sheath hugged him tightly.

“I want to fuck you all night.”

She laughed. The woman knew what she did to him and that was a dangerous thing, but he couldn’t help himself. Everything about El was right. When he reached the end, he pulled out and plowed right back in again. He might have been able to dip into her many more times had she not pressed her hips back and clamped down on his cock at the same time.

“Jesus, El.”

She lowered her head into her palms and pumped her hips back and forth. The rhythm, the friction, and her moans, along with her glorious breasts were too much for him.

El lifted up onto her palms, and increased the pace of her thrusting hips. When she stilled and yelled out his name, he, too, lost it. His balls drew up and he climaxed fast and furiously. Vic wrapped his arms around her waist and just held her. Being one with El was the ultimate high.

When their breaths calmed, she collapsed onto the bed, forcing him to pull out. After he helped her clean up, Vic crawled next to her and held her, hoping to provide some comfort for all that had happened.

*     *     *

When Ellie woke,
bright sunlight streamed through the bedroom windows. She squinted and reached behind her to see if Vic was awake.

“Vic?”

When he didn’t answer, she rolled over. He was gone and the sheets were cold. How long had he been up? The man always had been an early riser. She guessed some things didn’t change. Only then did the rich aroma of coffee reach her. So that was where he was. The allure of caffeine was enough to get her out of bed.

She tossed off the blanket then immediately drew it up again. She was naked and the room was cold. Damn. Because the clothes wouldn’t walk their way over to her, she steeled herself against the unpleasantness and dashed across the room, opened her case, and pulled out everything warm. With a speed that even surprised her, she was dressed in layers of fleece in under a minute.

After brushing her teeth and splashing cold water on her face, she headed out toward the divine smell. Vic was at the stove making eggs, looking quite manly being domestic.