Sworn to Protect (Vows of the Heart) (13 page)

He groaned again, but this time he took the initiative in their kiss. Bethany had thought it glorious before but a whole new sensation swept her away.

Somehow he managed to push away. Bethany growled in frustration.

“Bethany—”

“Ethan, listen to me. We might be dead tomorrow. I can’t just walk away from this...from you. I can’t deny my heart any longer. I want to make love to you.”

“Damn it,” he whispered. “That’s all I want too. I want to love you, Bethany.”

Her heart soared and she smiled down at him. Ethan wove his fingers through her hair then slowly turned her on the bed until his body covered hers. His mouth captured hers, his kiss more powerful than before. She felt the strength of the desire raging within him, still tightly leashed. With a soft whisper of his name, she surrendered herself completely to the magic growing between them which each passing heartbeat.

Ethan shifted slightly, his lips sliding down Bethany’s cheek to her throat. She groaned and tilted her head back. His senses were awash in delight. He lightly nipped her throat then grazed his teeth across her pulse point. Bethany shivered, her nipples tightening under the silk of her gown. Ethan shifted his right hand, moving lower to cup her breast, brushing her nipple with his thumb, tightening it to a hard bud. She gasped, arching her back under his touch.

She slid her hand across his chest and down his stomach. Ethan entire body coiled. Hell, he was fighting a losing battle and he knew it.

Her eyes opened and he lost himself in her emerald gaze, all of his noble intentions flew out the window. He cupped her cheek in his hand, caressing her soft skin.

Aw, hell. Control slipped through his fingers like sand. His kiss became more aggressive, his hands explored her body, caressing the satiny night gown she wore and tracing over the wonderful line down her side, to her hip and thigh. Her fingers wove through his hair and her free hand continued to explore his chest.

The fire within him burned brighter. He slid his lips down her throat to nibble her soft skin.

“God, Bethany,” he murmured. “If you don’t push me out of this bed now, I’m not going to be able to stop.”

“I don’t want you to stop.”

Ethan groaned as his heart slammed against his ribs at her words. He shouldn’t be doing this, but he was helpless in the face of his desire.

Any remaining thought of nobility dissolved when she reached down and began to stroke him through his sweats. He was already as hard as a rock and her touch unleashed a riot of pleasure within him. Ethan gasped for air
, but the oxygen had vanished from the room. He kissed her until all that existed was Bethany and her delicious body waiting for him to take her. He pulled at her nightgown and she helped him tug it off over her head.

Fighting back the raging lust that fogged his brain, Ethan exposed her beauty and sat back, simply enjoying the sight. Her breasts were high and firm, a perfect size in his hand. Her aureoles were dark, her nipples tight. He lightly cupped her, savoring the feel of her silky skin, his fingers caressed her nipples. Bethany tightened exquisitely under his touch and moaned, pushing her arms above her head. Her dark auburn hair cascaded in satiny ringlets around her, a thick glorious mass.

Ethan lowered his head, his tongue tracing around her aureole, then he toyed with her nipple with the tip. She shivered underneath him, tugging at his hair. It cascaded down, the dark strands a vibrant contrast against the pale skin of her breast. Her natural beauty stole his breath. He thought he was dreaming. Making love to her was so surreal.

He moved to her other breast and swirled his tongue around it, drawing her deep into his mouth. She gasped, her fingers tightening in his hair, her back arching. He continued his pursuit, lightly raking his teeth over the sensitive bud.

“Oh God, Ethan,” she murmured. Her body trembled constantly now. He shifted, tracing a line of kisses down her breast to the valley between them then returned to the first, giving it the same devoted attention. He returned to kiss her mouth, loving how her tongue tangled with his in a sensuous dance. Bethany’s hands explored his back and shoulders, his ribs, then moved to his chest. Her fingers found his flat nipple and teased it until it tightened. His skin was on fire, her touch searing, she explored every cut and curve of muscle.

Ethan’s cock
throbbed so painfully he feared he might embarrass himself. Never had he been forced to fight so hard for control. Then Bethany’s hands slid down his sides and pushed at the waistband of his sweats, they slid downward easily.

Her hands succeeded in freeing him of his sweats then slid down his buttocks where she squeezed gently. He grinned wickedly at her - two could play this game. He kicked off his sweats then again lowered his head, exploring her bellybutton with his tongue.

She gasped in surprise then laughed and squirmed. “Ethan, that tickles.”

He chuckled and moved lower, not wanting to destroy the mood with a giggle fit. He scraped his teeth lightly over the sensitive skin just below her bellybutton.

“Oh,” she gasped. She tried to reach for him, but he had moved to low. She sat up. “Ethan, please, I want to touch you.”

White hot desire surged. He pushed himself up, supporting himself on his right elbow and kissed her mouth. His free hand found her breast, his fingers stroking her nipple. Bethany’s hand closed on his shaft, lightly stroking and exploring. Her fingers traced across the head and every muscle in his body clenched, shaking with the effort to control himself. Moisture beaded on the tip.

“Bethany,” he growled in warning. His hand moved to the curls at the juncture of her thighs and he thrust his fingers into her cleft. God, she was hot and wet. Her breath caught in her throat and she stroked him more firmly. His fingers explored her folds, so wonderfully soft. He found the nub he sought, swollen and hard. She nearly melted under his touch, opening herself to him.

Ethan toyed with her, stroking with a firm and even rhythm. Bethany moaned, opening like a flower. He thrust a finger inside her. “You are so ready.”

“Please, Ethan.” She had stopped stroking him, moving to cup his balls in her hand. She fondled him for a moment while he continued to explore her with his fingers. He kissed her hard, pushing her back down onto the mattress then moved on top of her, opening her legs with his knees. For a brief moment, he lifted his head, gazing into her beautiful green eyes. They had darkened to rich emeralds with her passion. He moved his hips slightly, his cock stroking her wet folds. They both gasped at the heat that shot through them.

Unable to stand any more, he shoved himself deep inside her, watching her closely, wanting to see her expression when he entered her. An incredible sensation washed through him as he buried himself. She blinked once then her pupils dilated so that her eyes were almost black, her expression was one of pure ecstasy as her lids fluttered closed. His name was a tiny gasp escaping her lips and her fingers impaled his shoulders. All at the same moment he became vibrantly aware of her liquid heat surrounding him, gripping him. He felt her muscles clench and relax as slid deeper. Never in his wildest dreams had simply entering a woman been so glorious, so perfect. She was so tight around him he could feel every ripple of pleasure cascade through her.

Slowly, he began to move, unable to tear his gaze from her. Long, deep, thrusts. Her hips moved in perfect rhythm with him, her arms pulling him closer. He lowered himself to his elbows and kissed her, his tongue matching the movements of his body. God, the taste of her, the scent of her, the feel of her body surrounding his. Her soft moans of pleasure, tiny whispers of his name murmured in his ear. “God, Bethany, you feel good.” His tempo increased.

Her eyes flew open as she arched underneath him. Her body tightened and he felt a tremor convulse through her.

“Ethan,” she gasped, startled and almost frightened.

“It’s all right, sweetheart, let it happen.” He had to clench his teeth to keep control. He resolved he would not seek his pleasure until she had found hers and he wanted to watch her come with him inside her.

He pushed hard, filling her completely, and ground his hips forward. He felt all of her, liquid heat tight around him. Her body convulsed again and then she shattered. Damn she was beautiful, incredible. He surged within her again, waves of ecstasy rolling through her body. She screamed his name and Ethan finally surrendered himself to her. He rode her hard, staying on the crest as long as he could. “Jesus, Bethany,” he gasped, his body pumping as his climax slammed into him, savagely intense.

****

Bethany couldn’t move, perfectly sated as wonderful aftershocks continued to ripple through her. She held Ethan tightly, enjoying the feel of his body pressing her into the bed. He had braced himself slightly on his elbows as he continued to nuzzle her neck, taking soft sips of her skin, her hair caressing his face. Delight shivered through her, but her heady pleasure faded slightly as she realized how much weight he was putting on his damaged arm, and had been putting on it during their lovemaking. Surely he was in pain.

Bethany shifted slightly, trying to move so he was lying beside her, but surprisingly his arms tightened and he refused to budge. “No,” he whispered. “I don’t want to move.” He lifted his head and gazed down at her. The new warmth she saw in his
mercury eyes surprised and pleased her. “I don’t want to give up the magic just yet.”

She blinked at him, a smile tugging at her lips. Who would have realized? Ethan Lancaster was a romantic at heart. He studied her a long moment, his fingers caressing her face.

“God, Bethany, you are so beautiful when you come.”

She felt a strange tightness in her chest. Who was this man who had made love to her? Something within him had changed. A softer, gentler Ethan Lancaster. Was it possible? Was she seeing the true man beneath that go-to-hell armor?

He continued to caress her face, kissing her softly, no longer demanding, but with well sated enjoyment. She reveled in his attentions. Ethan seemed to savor the warmth and closeness of touch.

He sighed softly, the warmth in his eyes never fading. “Bethany, I fought against this from the beginning because I knew if I made love to you, everything would change. And I was right.”

Her heart lurched and she swallowed hard. Now he was going to push her away.

“I should back off and try to pretend nothing happened, but I can’t. Something has changed between us and I can’t put it back the way it was and that scares the hell out of me.”

Warmth swelled within her and she felt tears blurring her eyes. She lightly traced her fingers over his cheek and through his hair. He closed his eyes and shivered, kissing her again.

****

Ethan found himself falling into Bethany’s gaze, his heart in his throat. He settled to hold her close. Then he heard her stomach rumble. The poor girl was probably starving. “I have to get us some food.” He reluctantly got out of bed and hauled on his clothes. Bethany did the same then sat heavily on the edge.

“You
’re head still bothering you?” he asked, suddenly worried.

“A little.”

He pulled out one of the Glocks he had taken from the dead agents. “You know how to use one of these?”

“I’ve got a general idea.”

Ethan showed her the safety. “Click this off, point and shoot.”

“You make it sound like a Polaroid.”

He smiled at her. “It’s fully loaded, you’re ready to rock. I want you to lay down, but keep this close.” Ethan handed it to her then paused. “But don’t shoot me when I come back. In fact, when I walk in the door, I’ll say
It’s me, sweetheart.
If I say anything else, even your name, that means there’s trouble so grab the gun. Okay?”

“Okay,” she said reluctantly.

Ethan leaned forward and kissed her. “I’ll be back in less than an hour.”

****

Bethany was glad that the time it took for Ethan to return was uneventful. He came back with enough food to last them a couple of days and made her a light breakfast. Because of her aching head, it was all her stomach could handle right now.

She sat in the small recliner in the living room and heard a soft electronic chirp. “What in the world?”

Ethan walked to the bedroom. Within moments, he returned with a cell phone. It was the one which had been in the glove box of their car. “It could be a wrong number,” he said dubiously. Pressing a button, he answered the phone. “Yeah?”

He listened a moment, his eyes widening. “Captain? Yeah, we’re okay. I found the...gift...you left for me. Is this phone clean?” He waited then his shoulders relaxed.

Bethany watched his body language closely as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. Except for the subtle tightening of his jaw, which Bethany almost missed, he didn’t show any reaction.

“All right, Cap,” he said quietly. “I’ll check in with you later.” He clicked off the phone, staring at the floor.

“What’s wrong, Ethan?”

He shook his head. “My captain told me to turn on CNN. He was in the men’s room at the studio and wanted to give me a head’s up.”

“The studio?”

“At CNN waiting for an interview.” He walked to the TV and turned it on.