“Because I want to, damn it, that’s why.”
Chloe rolled her eyes at Merrick’s reason for wanting to shower with her. “It would be faster if you’d just let me finish.”
“I’m not leaving, so deal with it.”
“We’re never going to get to dinner if you don’t leave, Merrick.”
“Fuck dinner. I want to wash you, so scoot over. Besides, let’s not forget the deal. I’m in charge.”
“Yes, you’re in charge…of our fun. This is a shower.”
“And a shower can be mighty fun.”
Chloe wasn’t sure why she continued to resist. As husband and wife they’d showered together hundreds of times. This time it seemed so different, as if it were the first time. A virgin on prom night would be less jumpy, for crying out loud!
“Fine, but if we don’t make our reservations, don’t blame me.”
His grin was one of pure male arrogance. “Duly noted.”
Chloe tried not to drool when Merrick yanked his shirt off and tossed it to the bathroom floor. As he undid the fly of his jeans and slid them and his black boxers down his powerful thighs, she gave up on maintaining control all together. God, he was gorgeous. His muscled behind faced her, and if she leaned toward him a few inches, she could take a bite out of his delicious flesh. He straightened and turned toward her. His cock was huge. As she watched, it seemed to get even bigger. As her gaze snared his, he grinned. She lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Those pretty eyes are devouring me right now, babe.”
She pushed her wet hair behind her shoulder and tried not to let his sweet, hard body get to her…too much. “I can’t help if I like what I see.”
“I like what I see, too. A lot,” he growled.
He stepped into the tub with her. Chloe moved to the side to give him room. He was twice her size and he took up most of the tub. Not that she was complaining. She couldn’t remember the last time her husband had taken the time to shower with her. Too long. Much too long.
“You’re so beautiful, Chloe. Inside and out.”
His words and the sincerity behind them filled her heart with warmth. “You haven’t told me that for a very long time. It’s nice to hear compliments from you.”
He slid the backs of his fingers down her wet arm, leaving little goose bumps in his wake. “You make me want to slay dragons and shower you with diamonds,” he murmured. “I’m sorry I’ve been so wrapped up in work. I need to explain about that, but first I want to show you how much I’ve missed you. May I?”
He’d melted her completely. She’d become a useless puddle of pudding at his feet.
“Yes,” she capitulated, “I think I’d like that very much.”
He placed two fingers against her lips. “Shh, it’s okay, baby. We’re going to take our time, go real slow. I have a need to experience my wife to the fullest tonight.”
She removed his fingers and asked, “What about dinner?” She didn’t really care about food, but she should at least ask, for his sake.
“Screw dinner,” he muttered.
As his mouth came crashing down on hers, Chloe fell against him, relishing the sensation of her nipples against the solid wall of his chest. At once he was everywhere, his arms sturdy and protective around her. He cupped her ass in his palms, lifted and pulled her tighter against his lethal strength. His hands squeezed, and she laughed.
“Merrick, that tickles!”
“I know. Thought I’d forgotten, huh?”
Chloe feared he’d forgotten a lot of things about her, but she didn’t want to reveal so much of her inner turmoil.
“Well, you must admit it’s not your typical ticklish spot.”
“There’s not a damn thing typical about your ass, Chloe. It’s sexy as hell.” He squeezed her flesh again, and she let loose a string of giggles. “When you giggle like that it turns me on like you wouldn’t believe.”
She liked the thought of Merrick turned on because of her. “What else turns you on?” she prompted.
“The cleft in your chin,” he easily answered. His tongue came out and touched the little indentation. Her body flooded with liquid heat.
“Is that all?” she managed between pants.
“The length of your neck. You have a regal bearing, and your neck just begs to be kissed and nibbled.”
He proceeded to prove his point by angling his head and teasing the side of her neck with his lips. He slid her wet hair out of the way and skimmed his tongue up and down her flesh, directly over her vein. He bit down and her pussy pulsed and swelled with need. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, fingernails biting into flesh and muscle. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to the moment. His mouth drifted lower, sliding over the tops of her breasts. When he kissed each nipple with tender affection, her legs shook with anticipation.
“The bellhop eyed your sweet tits like a mocha latte. Pissed me off,” he gritted out. “But I have to admit, the kid has a good eye. You do look delicious, baby.”
He cupped her left breast, brought it to his lips and sucked as much flesh as he could into his warm mouth. His tongue teased, his teeth grazed. She arched against him, mashing her other sensitive peak against his stubbled cheek. He cupped her right breast, flicked his thumb over the hard bud. Arrows of pleasure shot clear to her core. She hungered to make love to him. To feel him sinking deep inside her heat where she needed him so badly. The ache built and built until she whimpered and begged, shameless in her desire.
Merrick released her breast and pulled back. He stared up at her with such intensity her body vibrated as if stroked.
“Soon, baby, real soon, I promise. First, I need a taste. I’ve lived too long without your honey sliding over my tongue. I need to suck that tempting little pussy of mine.”
She was beyond denying either of them. “Oh, God, yes.”
Merrick’s hungry grin had her nerve endings rioting out of control. He slid slowly to his knees, his gaze holding her immobile. The hot spray from the shower pelted them both. Merrick’s body glistened, his muscles even more pronounced than before, his dark hair slicked back away from the harsh planes of his face.
Her husband. Her lover. Her everything.
Chloe became aware of the glaring truth in that moment. No matter what happened, her body would always be his to command, her heart his to hold.
He nudged her legs wider and clutched onto her thighs. Chloe sucked in a breath, knowing the pleasure only he could coax forth.
As his gaze snagged hers and held, she rested her palms on his shoulders and waited for that first delicious touch. He prolonged the moment and time seemed to stand still. Even in such a submissive position, Merrick still held power like none other. As he leaned forward and kissed her clit, they both groaned.
“No one will ever take you from me.”
She wanted to protest, to let him know she had a mind of her own and would do what she had to do to keep her sanity, but his lips rubbing back and forth over her labia stopped her assertions. She couldn’t think, couldn’t grab onto a single skittering thought. She stopped trying to think and concentrated on feeling.
Merrick used his mouth with an expert’s skill. His tongue dipped inside her heat, swirled around and came back out again.
“Fucking delicious,” he murmured.
He sat back and removed his hands from her thighs, then used his thumbs to open her. His eyes on her there always made her hyper-aware of her femininity. Merrick always seemed to take such pleasure in looking at her intimate flesh before he took a taste, as if enthralled by the shape and texture of her body.
“Why do you do that?”
He licked his lips and smiled. “Do what?”
Chloe’s cheeks filled with heat. She hadn’t meant to ask. “You always look at me there,” she explained. “It makes me nervous.”
“Because you’re beautiful,” he admitted, his tone rough with arousal. “Every inch is beauty to me. God is surely an artist because you, my pretty wife, are a work of art.”
Chloe’s heart swelled. His words made perfect sense because she felt the same about him.
As his head descended on her, she clutched more tightly onto his wide shoulders. She knew what to expect and she craved it. His hot breath touched her first. She moaned aloud, and he blew a draft of air over her clitoris. She widened her stance, which gave him better access. She thought she might’ve pleaded a little, but she couldn’t be certain. His tongue touched, ignited a fire inside that had burned white-hot for months.
He flicked over her swollen nether lips several times then sucked her clit into his mouth. She went wild, bucking against his face, aching so badly for his touch, his burning touch. He doubled his assault on her body and slid his middle finger deep inside her tight sheath. Her inner muscles squeezed him tight, as if loath to let him go. He growled. The deep timbre of his voice traveled over her clit and went straight to her womb. He lifted away, slid a second finger inside her pussy and pushed her to the very limit of control.
“Come for me. Let me feel you go up in flames, Chloe.”
She couldn’t speak, could barely keep her heart from leaping out of her chest. Merrick leaned in and licked once, twice, then pumped her fast and hard with his fingers. The last thread of her control snapped, and she flew over that invisible precipice that only Merrick could find.
He licked her flesh once more and cupped her mound in a gentle hold. “I’ve missed this pussy, baby. I’ve missed watching you go wild for my eyes alone.”
“I never went anywhere. You were the one who left me.”
He clenched his jaw and stood. His eyes held a wealth of questions. When he only left the tub and held out a hand for her, surprise shot through her. Merrick never let a subject drop so easily.
“Come,” he demanded, “the water’s getting cold and what I have planned should be done in a bed anyway.”
Chloe took his hand and let him help her out of the tub. She stood still while he dried her off, luxuriating in the attention. After he quickly towel-dried his own body, he bent at the knees and lifted her into his arms, startling a yelp out of her.
“It’s not that big a suite, Merrick. I can walk just fine.”
He stared down at her, his eyes glittering with arousal and just a hint of anger. “I want to hold my wife in my arms. Is that such a crime?”
Contrite, Chloe clasped her arms around his neck and held on. She’d been fighting him at every turn from the moment they’d landed. She’d agreed to this vacation. It wasn’t fair to act as if she were here against her will.
She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to his chest, enjoying the strength of his pecs. “Of course not,” she murmured. As Chloe relaxed against him, she could’ve sworn Merrick shuddered.
They were both wound much too tight. It’d be a miracle if they didn’t burn down the hotel with the heat of their passion! |
