Dirty Talk, Blissful Surrender by Opal Carew (1)

 

From the end of Dirty Talk, Sweet Release

The man’s steel gray eyes turned to Sonny as he stepped onto the sidewalk, a flicker of recognition in their depths.

Then his lips turned up in a cold, feral smile. He waved away the man talking to him and stepped in her direction.

“I haven’t seen you in long time,” he said, his cold familiar voice dredging up a blue of horrific memories.

His gaze glided down her body and she felt as if she’d been stripped naked. She stood frozen in terror.

“I always thought you were one of D’s best pets.”

He was so close she could barely breathe. D had been how the other men had referred to the man who had kidnapped her. His friends whom he’d shared her with.

To her, he was just Master.

This man had been the worst of the lot. His sexual demands had been more degrading and abusive than even Master’s. And he’d beaten her more viciously.

He reached out and stroked her cheek with one finger. She wanted to jerk back, but her body refused to move. When she’d been a prisoner, she’d been trained to stay still… allowing them to touch her as they wanted. The alternative had been severe beatings.

Or worse.

“It was a shame when he let you go. I could have enjoyed you for quite a bit longer.”

The glint in his eye sent a chill through her.

He knew where she was. He could send someone to nab her anytime he wanted. And then she’d just disappear. Again.

She couldn’t breathe. Her whole body trembled.

Then his cold, gray gaze flickered behind her and his arrogant confidence seemed to waver. Just a fraction.

That’s when she realized Tal was behind her.

*

Tal parked the car, then walked along the sunny street a block down from the restaurant. This was officially their first date.

Sonny had come so far in a short while. After what they’d shared a week ago, where she’d actually bared herself to him, she’d been more relaxed around him.

They’d spent time together every day since then, and during that time she’d started casually touching him. Sometimes just a brush of her hand on his. Or she’d touch his cheek. She seemed to love it when his face was raspy with a dark shadow of whiskers.

And when they went to the pool and he took off his shirt, she would glide her fingertips lovingly over his scars, a wistful look in her doe eyes.

They were getting closer every day, and he knew that he wanted it to go on forever. They hadn’t known each other very long, but he knew, deep in his heart, that she was the woman he was meant to be with.

He turned the corner onto the main street and walked toward the restaurant only a dozen yards ahead. Sonny was waiting for him by the decorative wrought iron fence surrounding the outdoor patio in front of the restaurant, near a large planter of flowers.

She was talking to a man in a suit. Tal was behind her, but something about her stance… some aura he was picking up… sent his pulse surging. He picked up his pace and as he got closer, the guy looked up and saw him.

The arrogance in his eyes… with a cruel edge… put Tal on alert, every muscle ready to spring into action.

“Sonny, is everything all right?” he asked as he stepped beside her.

But he could see immediately that it was far from all right.

Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing shallow, and though she was looking at the man, not Tal, he could see the terror in her eyes.

“Sonny, who the hell is this?”

*

The monster standing in front of Sonny, who she had known as V, stared at her smugly, certain she wouldn’t say anything. She knew that with their money, none of the men would ever be charged with what they’d done. They’d reminded her of that over and over again. It would be a ‘he said, she said’ situation and no one would take her word over these men of prestige.

And the thought returned to her that he could easily hire someone to find her and kidnap her. And there was nothing she could do about it.

“Sonny?” Tal’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“He was one of them.”

The words, in a shaky whisper, simply slipped from her mouth. She didn’t mean for them to.

Tal’s blue eyes flared like blazing fireballs and he surged forward. Tal’s fist connected with V’s jaw and he went down.

Her heart thundered as she watched Tal start pounding V in the face, beating him with his huge fists. She’d never seen such rage in a man’s eyes and it terrified her.

Someone called 911 on their cell and a crowd formed around them, but no one seemed to quite know how to pull Tal off him.

Finally, she shook herself from her stupor and hurried forward.

“Tal, no. Please.”

He didn’t seem to hear her as his fist connected again.

“Tal. Stop this,” she cried.

He hesitated, then lowered his fist. He stared at the man in front of him, whose face was bloody and broken, and let go of his grip on V’s shirt. V slumped to the sidewalk.

Tal stood up and turned to Sonny. His eyes were haunted.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Her gaze shifted to the splatter of blood on his face, to the smears of red on his fist.

She shook her head. Tears were streaming from her eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself, a chill running through her.

As he stepped toward her, concern washing across his face, she jerked back.

She didn’t mean to. But memories of the beatings. Of the more intimate assaults, had reared up her terror of men.

This was Tal and she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. But at the same time, this wasn’t Tal. This was a side of him… an aggressive, violent side… she’d never seen before.

He started toward her again, his blue eyes filled with anguish, but someone grabbed his arm.

Her hearing… her vision… all of her senses were bleary… and she felt faint. But she realized the man wore a police uniform and was talking sternly to Tal. Then handcuffs flashed.

Someone rested a hand on her and she jumped. But a calm, soothing female voice washed through her and the female officer guided Sonny with her to the car, saying something about getting her statement.

“Are you all right?” the woman asked. “Were you hurt?”

Tears flooded from her eyes as old pain, devastating and deep, surged to the surface.

“He raped me,” she sobbed, covering her face with her hands.

*

Sonny sat in the chair beside the detective’s desk. Someone had given her a blanket, which she clung to, holding it tightly around herself. Despite the fact it was a warm evening, she couldn’t stop shivering.

“Sonny, are you okay?”

She glanced up at Steve’s voice.

Steve hurried toward her, guided by the female officer. Sonny couldn’t remember her name even though she’d introduced herself. Sonny had been having trouble focusing on anything they’d told her since they’d brought her here.

Detective Jenson, who’d been typing up a report on her computer, grabbed a chair for Steve.

“I’ll get you both a coffee,” she said and strode away.

“What are you doing here?” Sonny asked.

Steve sat down beside her, concern etched on his face.

“Tal called me. His lawyer’s in talking to him now. He wanted me to check on you and make sure you get home okay.”

“What about Tal?” she asked.

“Sonny, he’s in some pretty deep trouble. The police told me they arrested him for an unprovoked assault. Messed the guy up pretty badly.”

She bit het lip, nodding.

“Sonny, is there anything you want to tell me?”

Her gaze turned to his and she trembled. She didn’t want to talk about V, or explain why she knew him, or the reason Tal had attacked him.

“Sonny, the police told me you said he raped you.”

She bit her lip and her gaze dropped to her hands.

“Sonny, look at me. Please.”

She raised her gaze to his, his face a little fuzzy.

“I don’t want to diminish what happened to you, or make you think I don’t believe you, but I’ve known Tal a long time and I just don’t understand—”

“Tal?” She stared at him, confused. Her head was spinning and she sucked in air.

“You said Tal raped you.”

Her eyes widened and she felt faint. She grasped his arm, needing something to hold onto. Someone to hold onto.

“Not Tal. The other man.”

All the swirling emotions… the violent memories… the fear… welled up inside her in an overwhelming maelstrom of fatigue, draining her of her last vestiges of strength. Everything around her faded to black.

*

Tal paced as he waited for Steve to return to the police station. All he could think about was the absolute terror in Sonny’s eyes as she’d jerked away from him.

When he’d discovered the guy was one of the animals who had raped and beaten Sonny, he’d wanted to kill the guy. Probably would have if Sonny hadn’t pulled him from his blind rage.

It had been his natural instinct to protect his woman. But what he had done was wrong. And the fact he’d frightened Sonny like that was indefensible.

He raked his hand over his close-cropped hair. What the hell had he been thinking? Not just when he went at the guy, but being involved with Sonny at all? She needed someone understanding and gentle. Someone she could feel safe with. How the hell could she feel safe with him when she knew he could fly into a rage and beat a guy to a pulp?

That violent nature that he’d thought he’d put behind him was obviously still very much a part of him.

He continued pacing. The detectives had been set to keep him in jail, but then he was told they were dropping the rape charge. He’d been shocked when his lawyer had told him that was one of the charges in the first place, but Sonny had been pretty disoriented—he could hardly blame her, coming face to face with one of the brutal men who had hurt her—so something she’d said must have been taken out of context.

His lawyer had arranged bail, but he had to wait for Steve. Finally, a policeman opened his cell and led him back to the front desk where Steve was waiting for him.

“Hey, sorry for taking so long.”

“It’s okay,” Tal said. “Did Sonny get home okay?”

“Well, not exactly.”

Tal’s gaze shot to Steve.

“What do you mean not exactly?”

Steve’s lips formed a tight line. “She’s in the hospital.”

“What the fuck? What happened?” His chest tightened.

“She was in pretty bad shape. When I got here and started talking to her, she seemed confused and disoriented. The police told me she said you raped her and that totally threw me. But when I asked her about it, she explained that she’d meant the guy you hit. I take it that’s why you went at him.”

Tal’s gut clenched. “Yeah,” he admitted. “But why’s she in the hospital?”

“She was pretty traumatized. As we were talking, she fainted. I didn’t realize what was happening until too late and she hit her head on the desk. Apparently, it happened because she went into shock, but now they think she might have a concussion, so they’re keeping her in the hospital, at least overnight.”

“Dammit. I want to go over there. Make sure she’s okay.”

“Of course. Let’s go.”

*

Sonny’s head hurt. She’d just finished telling Leandra about seeing V and how that had caused the incident, then she’d found herself opening up to Leandra about the whole story of her past trauma. How she’d been kidnapped by the man who only went by D around her, and how she’d been used and abused by him and his friends. And that V had been one of them.

“Oh, my God, Sonny. I had no idea. No wonder you’ve always been so resistant when I try to set you up with a guy. I wish you’d told me.”

“It’s not something I like to talk about.”

“No, of course.” Leandra squeezed her hand. “Don’t you know any of their names?”

“I didn’t. I never knew where the house was. It could have been anywhere, since they drugged me when they took me there and when they got rid of me. The men were rich and they aren’t in the public eye. I did searches on-line to try and find him, but I really didn’t have enough to go on.”

“You said you didn’t know their names. You do now?”

“Just the guy called V. His name is Victor Langlon.”

“Is he going to press charges against Tal?”

“They don’t know yet. He’s pretty banged up. He probably will.”

Sonny’s stomach clenched at the thought. Tal had reacted to the man’s presence in a violent rage, but she knew it was because of his fury at the man hurting her. Tal wanted to protect and defend her. And now he would be punished.

“I talked to Detective Jenson about it and she said that they might have some leverage over V. They checked his background and found that another woman claimed he’d hurt her, too. Since it was going to be her word against his, with his resources and standing, she decided not to charge him, since there wasn’t a hope she’d win. Detective Jenson thinks that with two of us now, though, they might be able to make a case. Even pressure him into giving up the identity of D so they can bring him in.”

“That would be great. How do you feel about that?”

“Of course, I want to see D caught and punished, I’m just not up to thinking about what’ll be involved in getting there right now.”

The thought of having to relive the horror of the whole thing overwhelmed her.

“Yeah, of course.” Leandra squeezed her hand again.

“Right now I’m worried about Tal. I don’t want him go to prison for trying to protect me.”

*

Tal walked into the hospital, Steve by his side, carrying the flowers he’d picked up on the way there. A mix of bright pinks and purples with sunny yellow accents. They stopped at the information desk to ask where to find her, then proceeded to her room.

He peered in the door and saw that Sonny already had a visitor. Her friend Leandra.

“Sonny, I know you’re really taken by Tal,” he overheard Leandra say, “which surprises me even more now that I know your story—”

“Tal isn’t anything like those men.”

“Maybe not, but he is violent. You saw the article. It’s in his background and what happened tonight proves he’s still like that.”

“Leandra—”

“Honey, just let me finish. I’m just saying that maybe you should move on. That man, Bryan, I set you up with really is perfect for you and I could tell there was some chemistry between you. If you tell him you have a trauma in your past and that you need to move really slowly, I know he’d be gentle and understanding. He’d be the perfect man to help you get over this.”

Tal’s chest constricted and he turned and walked away. Steve followed him.

“Tal,” Steve said once they were out of earshot of the room, “I understand why you don’t want to go in there right now, but we can wait until Leandra leaves, then you can go in and talk to Sonny.”

Tal just shook his head as he stepped up to desk at the nurses’ station and put down the flowers.

“Would you take these to room 404?” he asked the nurse there. “She has a visitor right now and I don’t want to interrupt.”

“Of course.” The young green-eyed nurse smiled. “They’re beautiful. I’m sure she’ll love them.”

Tal just nodded his thanks, then continued on his way, Steve following in his wake.

As soon as he opened the outside door and stepped into the fresh evening air, he breathed in deeply. He knew what he had to do. He wasn’t the right man for Sonny. He knew it. Leandra knew it. Now he had to make sure that Sonny understood it, too.

*

Sonny unlocked her apartment door and walked inside, Leandra on her heels. Mia sat on the carpet watching her come in, then stood up and walked away, stiff legged, making it clear she did not approve of Sonny’s absence.

It had only been overnight, and Leandra had checked up on her, but Mia wasn’t a cat to be reasoned with.

Sonny placed the two sets of flowers she’d received on the dining table. Some nice cut flowers from Leandra and the big, bright arrangement from Tal. She smiled as she rearranged some of the stems. A clear plastic holder displayed the simple get well card that Tal had simply signed, with no note. The nurse had said he’d been at the hospital to visit her but hadn’t wanted to interrupt her visit with Leandra.

She wished he had come in. She really wanted to see him.

“Do you want me to stay and make lunch?” Leandra asked.

“No, I’m fine. They said I didn’t have a concussion, remember?”

“I know, but you’ve been through a lot.”

“I’m fine and I know you have to get back to work. I really appreciate you taking your lunch hour to drive me home.”

Leandra hugged her. “Of course. That’s what friends do.” She glanced at her watch. “Okay, if you really don’t need me for anything, I’ll head back to the office. I’ll call you tonight.”

As soon as Leandra left, Sonny walked into the bedroom to find Mia. She was curled up on the bed and Sonny picked her up.

“Hey, there. Sorry I was gone last night.”

She gave Mia a snuggle, but Mia wiggled until she worked her way free and bounded from her arms, then trotted off to the living room. Sonny walked to the kitchen, noticing that Mia was now perched on the top of her cat tree looking out the window.

She sighed. As she opened the fridge to see what she could pull together for lunch, someone knocked on the door. Had Leandra forgotten something?

She walked to the door and opened it.

Tal stood facing her.

Her whole mood brightened—it had taken a hit with Mia’s rejection—and her lips turned up in a wide smile.

“Tal, I’m so glad to see you.” She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but his expression was guarded. He was probably worried about her.

“Come in,” she said.

She stepped back, rather proud of herself that she didn’t even think twice at asking him into her apartment. She’d come such a long way in a short time.

“Would you like to join me for lunch?” she asked.

“No, thanks. I heard you arrive and wanted to come by and see if you’re okay.”

“Yes. They discharged me this morning. I don’t have a concussion.” Her fingers drifted to the bandage on her head. “Just a cut and a bit of bruising. I feel fine.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

He sat down in the big armchair and she sat on the couch facing him. Immediately, Mia leaped from her cat tree and bounded onto Tal’s lap. She curled up on his thick, muscular thigh and he stroked her furry body.

Sonny was jealous. Not because Mia chose to cuddle with Tal instead of her—that was Mia’s way of punishing Sonny for leaving her alone—but because she longed to be on Tal’s lap. And to feel his gentle strokes.

He pet Mia a little longer, then picked her up and set her on the floor, where she sauntered to the middle of the room and sat down to start licking her paw.

Tal leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs, his hands folded. His expression was so serious a chill ran through her.

“Sonny, we need to talk.”

Oh, God.

“Are you going to be charged with assault?” she asked.

“I don’t know yet. One of the detectives is a friend of Steve’s and he understands the situation, so they’re going to do everything they can to help me out.” He shook his head. “But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

“Okay.”

“First, I want to apologize for that whole thing. I know that what I did made you uncomfortable. And it was wrong of me to physically assault someone. The thought of what he’d done to you drove me crazy and I just struck out. But that’s no excuse. You, and how you were feeling, should have been my first and only concern.”

“Oh, Tal. I understand. And I just hope you don’t get charged—”

He raised his hand, his palm toward her.

“No. Don’t let me off the hook. I grew up with violence and it seems I’ll always be a violent man.”

His clouded eyes, filled with pain, made her heart ache.

“Tal—”

“Let me finish this. You need to be with a man who is gentle. Who you can trust.”

“I trust you.”

His deep blue eyes turned to her, a fire blazing within.

“Well, you shouldn’t,” he snapped. “I’m bad news for you. Whether you know it or not, I know it. You need to find someone else to take you the rest of the way on your journey.”

Shock surged through her.

His hands had balled into fists and there was anguish in his eyes. This wasn’t easy for him. She could see that.

“I wish I could be the one to help you the rest of the way,” he said, his voice softer, “I really do.” He shook his head. “But I have to do what I think is best for you.”

“Shouldn’t I be the judge of that?” she asked.

“Not in this. So I’m ending whatever this is between us.”

Her world came crashing down around her as she watched him.

He stood up and strode out the door. A moment later, she heard his apartment door close.

Oh, God, she’d lost him. The pain in her heart was almost unbearable.

He’d helped her on a healing journey past the worst trauma of her life. She’d opened up to him. Shared intimacies she had started to doubt she’d ever share with a man again.

He said she should find someone else to help her on her journey, but how could she do that?

Since deep in her heart she knew… she was in love with Tal.

*

Oh, God, her car wouldn’t start. Sonny turned the key again, and gave it some gas. It made encouraging engine sounds… then died. Again.

The tension that had wound through her gut coiled tighter… tighter…tighter… then snapped.

She rested her head on the steering wheel, sucking in air.

This had been a lousy week. She felt like everything was falling apart around her.

She hit the dashboard with her fist, then cringed at the pain in her hand.

Then the tears let loose, streaming down her face.

She knew she should call Detective Jenson to say she’d be late, but right now the thought of doing anything was totally overwhelming. So she just sat there, letting her tears fall. Sucking in air between her shallow sobs.

Someone tapped on the window beside her. She drew in a deep breath and lifted her head, then turned toward the sound.

“Sonny? You okay?” Tal asked, peering in at her.

Why did it have to be Tal? The sight of him made her heart ache so badly she could barely breathe.

She bit her lip, then pressed the button to open the window. But it didn’t move. She grabbed a pack of tissues from the compartment between the seats and wiped her eyes, then she opened the door.

“The car won’t start,” she said through the crack in the door.

“Sonny, I find it hard to believe that you’re this upset about your car not starting.”

Her lips pursed. “Well, it’s been a pretty brutal week.”

His blue gaze, filled with sympathy, fell squarely on her.”

“I know it has. Do you want me to take a look under the hood?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, thanks. I have to be somewhere. I’ll just have to Uber.”

“No way. I’ll drive you.”

“You don’t even know where I’m going.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

He offered his hand to help her from the car. She didn’t have the energy to be stubborn, so she took it. The feel of his big, warm hand around hers triggered a wild eruption of tingles quivering through her body.

She stepped out of the car and he led her through the shadowy underground parking to his car a few lanes over. When he released her hand to open the passenger door, she realized he’d held her hand all the way there.

But when he released it, she felt such an overwhelming sense of loss, she almost stumbled.

She got into the car and as soon as he sat in the driver’s seat, she turned to him.

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this. You broke up with me.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t still be a good neighbor. And friend.” His devastating blue eyes locked on her. “Sonny, I still care about you. I just don’t think we should be together.”

He started the car. “Now where to?”

*

Tal insisted on waiting while Sonny met with Detective Jenson. After the meeting, Tal stood up as she walked toward him, then he led her back to the car in silence, sensing her somber mood.

As soon as they were in the car, he turned to her.

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

She sighed, then told him about the other woman who’d been hurt by V.

“She wasn’t one of D’s captives,” Sonny explained. “He asked her on a date and as soon as he got her alone, bound and brutalized her. The police want to use the threat of prosecuting him with what he did to both of us to try and get him to give up the name of the man who held me prisoner and some of the other men involved.”

“That’s good. That means they can find him and punish him. So why do you look so upset?”

“A little I’m worried that V will negotiate to be let off if he gives up the information they want, which means she won’t see justice done. I don’t know if that’s likely to happen, but that would be awful for her… to get her hopes up that he might finally be punished, then have it torn away again.”

He nodded. “What else?”

She stared at her hands as she fiddled with her fingers.

“I had to give Detective Jenson the details of what happened to me. How D kidnapped me. What he did afterward. She asked about the other men. Had me describe them. Tell him what they’d done to me.”

She realized tears were trickling down her cheek.

“That must have been really hard, reliving it all again.”

She sucked in a shaky breath, then lifted her gaze to his.

“It was.” Her voice broke.

“Aw, fuck, Sonny.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

She rested her cheek against his muscular chest and soaked in the comfort of his embrace. His heartbeat—regular and soothing—thumped against her ear. She slid her arms around his waist and hung on tight to him.

Being this close to him… feeling his masculine heat…pulled her mind from the memory of the horrific experiences she had endured…reminding her of what it was like when she was with Tal. How different it was. How much she trusted him.

After a few moments passed, he squeezed her.

“Let’s get you home.”

She nodded then sat up. He started the car and soon they were on the road.

When they reached the apartment building, he went up with her instead of continuing with whatever errands he’d been going on earlier when he’d found her in her uncooperative car.

He stopped at his apartment door.

“Sonny, if you want to talk some more, or if you just don’t want to be alone right now, you’re welcome to come in.”

She sent him a half-smile.

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

She followed him into his apartment.

*

Tal opened the door and led Sonny inside. He gestured for her to sit on the couch.

“I’ll go make some herbal tea,” he said, then strode into the kitchen and put the kettle on.

Knowing Sonny was hurting… that she’d had to relive those awful memories… made him ache inside. He wanted to do what he could to be there for her. To be supportive.

He dropped the tea bag into the pot.

But he also wanted to pull her into his arms and keep her close to him. To cradle her in his embrace. To kiss her. His body ached at the thought. To do whatever he could to wash away the memories that haunted her.

But he couldn’t go down that path. Couldn’t let himself be drawn into the desire for her that still burned fiercely inside him.

Even just holding her in the car had almost been his undoing.

The kettle boiled and he prepared the tea, then carried the two steaming mugs, into the living room and sat down beside Sonny on the couch.

Sonny sipped the fragrant blend, then set the mug on the coffee table.

“Sonny, if there’s anything I can do… tonight or through the process… I’m here for you.”

“Thank you.” She rested her hand on his and he found himself taking it and squeezing it in his own.

They sat in silence for a few moments. He knew she probably didn’t want to go back to her apartment and be alone with her thoughts, but he had no idea what to say to her. They were neighbors… and he hoped she considered him a friend… but the fact that they’d shared intimate encounters made it awkward. Especially since he’d ended that part of their relationship.

“Would you like me to put on a movie or something? Maybe order in a pizza?”

“No, thanks. I’m not really hungry and…” She lifted her gaze to his. “I’d really rather talk.”

“Of course. What about?”

He doubted she wanted to talk about her past right now. Not after that session with the detective. But if she did, he’d listen.

“I guess it’s not so much that I want to talk as… I’d like to ask a favor. You’ve helped me so much and I have no right to ask for any more, but…”

“What is it, Sonny?”

She bit her lip. “You said you don’t think you’re the one to help me with my intimacy problems.”

“Sonny, please don’t ask me to change my mind.” It had been hard enough to break it off with her. To have her ask him to change his mind while she was so vulnerable would be devastatingly difficult.

She squeezed his hand. “I’m not asking you to get back together. It’s just…”

As she gazed up at him, his heart ached.

“I feel comfortable with you. Last time, you let me see you… having pleasure.”

Her wide eyes, so sweet and open, exposed her vulnerability.

“But I never got a chance to touch you. To know what it’s like to feel you in my hands. To feel the pulsing need.” She glanced downward. “I’ve been afraid to be with a man… to touch a man…I believe if I could take that step with you, I might not be so afraid. Then it would be easier to do it again. With someone else.”

His stomach clenched at the thought of her doing it with anyone else.

Fuck, he didn’t want her touching anyone but him. And he sure as hell didn’t want another man touching her. Even thinking about it made him want to break the unknown guy’s head open.

As the fierce thoughts surged through him, he fought to keep the darkness from his face. This was exactly why he couldn’t continue with Sonny. He couldn’t expose her to his violent disposition.

She gazed up at him again, her eyes filled with pleading.

“Please help me with this step.”

His heart ached. He didn’t want to walk away from her. He wanted to do everything he could to help her past her trauma. And, goddammit, he wanted to touch her. To know what it felt like to stroke her soft breasts. To feel her quivering in his arms.

But he had to put those urges aside. For her own good.

But now she was asking a favor. To let her touch him.

How could he do that without wanting… needing… more?

“You’re asking to touch my cock?”

She drew in a breath and nodded.

Fuck, the thought of her touching him with her soft hands… stroking his hard flesh… had his cock pulsing with need.

“Sonny, I don’t intend to have sex with you, so if you’re just trying—”

“No, I’m not. I’m asking for your help.” Her lips turned up in a small, uncertain smile. “I promise, I won’t take advantage of you.”

His somberness melted away and he chuckled.

“Shouldn’t that be my line?” he asked.

Fuck, he wanted this as much as she did. He’d just have to rein in his need. He would not allow this to go too far.

“All right.”

*

Sonny’s stomach fluttered as she took his hand and stood up. This was a little scary, but it also excited her tremendously.

“Where’s the bedroom?” she asked as she glanced around the apartment.

He squeezed her hand. “Whoa. I don’t think the bedroom is a good idea. The couch will be fine.”

She turned to him. “I promised you I wouldn’t take advantage of the situation. You trust me, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course, but… why the bedroom?”

“I want to be where you would usually be when you… pleasure yourself. I want to imagine what it would be like if you took me in there and…”

Her words trailed off. He watched her face, considering, then finally drew in a deep breath.

“Yeah, okay. I get it.”

He stood up and led her down a short hallway to his bedroom.

It was tidy and masculine. He’d painted two of the walls a rich russet red, and the bed-covering was a navy print with the same russet color running through the pattern. He walked to the bed and sat on the side.

“You want me to lie down, right?” he said.

She walked to the bed and propped up his pillow, then grabbed the second one. She plumped it up and set it on top.

“You can sit up,” she said.

He shifted onto the bed and stretched out, leaning back against the pillows.

“Okay, here I am.”

She bit her lip. “Would you mind taking off your T-shirt?”

He gazed at her, his eyes assessing. Then he reached for the hem of his shirt, tugged it over his head and tossed it aside.

The sight of his broad, sculpted chest and his bulging muscular arms was breathtaking, especially covered with the detailed tattoos. Her gaze glided down his stomach to the tight ridges of his abs. Then to his jeans. There was already a bulge forming there.

“Do you want me to unzip and pull it out?” he asked.

Her gaze jumped back to his face.

“No, I’d like to do it in my own time.” She needed to ease into this.

As she took in the sight of his magnificent shoulders, she noticed a line on his upper right arm that seemed to slice through the tattoos. She sat down on the bed and looked closer. It was a scar.

She rested her finger on it tentatively, then traced the line.

“Did your stepfather do this?”

“Yeah. I told you he got a few slashes in before I could stop him.”

She traced her finger lightly, back and forth, imagining the pain he must have felt.

Knowing that the most painful scars he carried were much deeper than this.

She slid her hand from his shoulder to his chest, flattening her palm over his heart. She could feel it beating.

Then she slid downward, over the hard muscles of his abs. Stopping at the top of his jeans.

She gazed at his face, his deep blue eyes fixed on her intently.

She unfastened the button, drawing in slow, deep breaths to keep herself calm.

This was so strange. Being in a man’s bedroom. Touching his body.

Undoing his pants.

Even a week ago, she would never have imagined herself in this position.

But meeting Tal had changed everything.

She pulled down the zipper of his jeans, watching the fabric part. Sucking in a breath at the size of the ridge inside.

She hooked her finger under the elastic of his underwear and slowly drew it down.

Her breathing stopped as she revealed the huge, mushroom-shaped tip. As she continued to pull down the fabric, she marveled at the breadth of his big shaft.

His cock was proportionate to the size of his body… which meant it was massive.

Mesmerized, she ran the tip of her finger along the hot, hard flesh. It swelled bigger and rose upward.

He shifted, pushing down his jeans and underwear, then kicking them away. He sat more upright against the pillows, his cock angled away from his body now rather than standing straight up.

“There you go, sweetheart. You have full access.”

Oh, God, it looked even bigger now. He had his legs parted, so she could see his big testicles hanging between his legs.

She slid onto the bed beside him, looking at it from the same angle as him. Then she pushed herself onto her knees and curled her fingers under it, cradling the long thick shaft in her hands.

It was heavy and hot. She could feel it pulsing in her hands.

She wanted to wrap her fingers around it and stroke, like he had done when he’d shown her how he gave himself pleasure.

But right now she just wanted to look at it, and enjoy the feel of it against her palms.

She licked her lips, realizing that even more, she wanted to taste it.

She leaned forward and ran her tongue over the tip.

*

At the first touch of her damp, warm tongue, a burning need careened through Tal from every extremity right to his core. As she lapped delicately on the tip of him in growing circles, the need inside him burned with the heat of a thousand suns.

She moved her head and he felt her tongue at his root, gliding upward, like he was a lollipop.

She licked his length several times, then turned and stared at him. Her eyes were so full of need he thought he’d explode.

She shifted her body, moving between his knees and facing him. Her gaze turned back to his aching cock. His pulse raced as she wrapped her small hands around his shaft. She leaned forward and her tongue curled under the swell of his corona and glided around it, circling his cockhead with delicate strokes.

“Ah, fuck, baby. That feels so good.”

Her gaze shifted to his and the heat crackling between them took his breath away.

She suckled the side of his cockhead, making him long to be fully in her mouth. He rested his hand on her head, stroking her hair back, the long blonde strands coiling around his fingers.

Her tongue laved over him, swirling around the tip first, then the circles growing bigger.

When she opened her lips around him, he didn’t think she’d be able to get his cock into her mouth. Many women had trouble with that and Sonny was petite. But she glided her lips downward, opening wider and wider.

He watched her, amazed and wildly turned on, as she continued downward until she took the whole cockhead in her mouth.

Oh, fuck, the feel of her around him was heaven.

When she glided even further, he groaned.

Her hands started to move up and down. She moved deeper on him, taking in almost half his shaft. Her hands clung tight to the rest of it.

When she started to move her hands and mouth in unison, up and down his aching cock, he nearly choked with need.

*

Oh, God, the feel of his massive cock pulsing in her hands… filling her mouth… had her body quivering with need. What would it feel like to have him inside her body? The big shaft gliding deep into her. Stretching her with his hefty girth.

She could feel the melting flesh between her legs. She knew she was so wet she could climb on top of him right now and take him inside with no problem.

And, oh, God, she wanted to so badly.

If she stripped off her clothes right now, she was sure he wouldn’t stop her if she slid onto his lap and pressed his big cockhead to her slickness, then lowered herself onto him.

But trust went both ways and she’d promised him she wouldn’t take advantage.

Even begging him to make love to her now wouldn’t be fair. Convincing herself it would then be his decision was just a lie. He’d said at the outset that he didn’t want to go any further than this and she had to honor that.

So she sucked him deeply then surged downward, taking him as far as she could.

Dark thoughts on the edge of her consciousness… about how she’d become so good at this… tried to push forward, but she stifled them.

This was Tal, and she wanted to be with him. Wanted to give him pleasure.

“Sonny, are you okay?”

She gazed up at his deep blue eyes, filled with concern.

She loved touching his naked body. Loved his thick cock filling her like this.

She drew back. “I’m fine. I’m just so happy you’re letting me do this.”

He looked doubtful and she was sure he’d seen the dark cloud of the past in her eyes.

She filled her mouth with his big member again, and then slid her fingers under one of his big balls and caressed it, to his groan.

She suckled and squeezed his cockhead, then glided her tongue down his length and lapped at his balls. Then she drew one into her mouth, cradling it gently.

“Ohhhh, baby.” His hand cupped her head and he stroked her hair gently.

She massaged his soft flesh with her tongue, then lightly suckled, her hand gliding up and down his erection.

“Fuck, baby, you’ve got me so hot.”

She stroked faster, pumping him in deep strokes. Imagining that big cock inside her body. Filling her with pleasure.

“I’m so fucking close.”

She licked up his cock again and gazed into his eyes, her hand snug around his shaft, her lips poised on his tip.

“Come for me,” she said.

Then she dove down deep. She pumped him with her mouth, moving up and down, taking him deep.

She felt his body tense. Then he groaned and hot liquid squirted deep into her throat.

She kept sucking and pumping, milking every last drop from him.

When he was done, she kept him in her mouth a moment longer, not wanting this intimacy to end. She caressed his hot flesh with her tongue, stroking it lovingly.

Finally, she eased back, slipping his giant cock from her lips.

She slid up beside him on the bed and snuggled in close, her legs curled beside her as she wrapped one arm around his waist and the other around his bulging, muscular arm and rested her head on his shoulder.

He was still sucking in air, his head resting against the pillows, his eyes closed.

She ran her hand down his naked chest, the solid muscle rock hard under her fingertips. His skin was glazed with a thin layer of sweat.

A deep longing throbbed inside her and she yearned for him to roll over and take her. To plunge deep inside her and sate this heart-rending ache.

She sighed, allowing her hand to stray to his cheek, then gently stroke his face.

“Thank you, Tal.”

He chuckled, a rumble from deep inside his massive chest.

“You just gave me the best orgasm of my life and you’re thanking me?”

She nuzzled his jawline, loving the raspy feel of his coarse whiskers against her lips. She dragged her teeth over his chin. The feel of the thick stubble against her teeth was intensely masculine.

Tal curled his hand over her shoulder and eased her back.

“Sonny, it’s not going any further than this.”

She drew in a deep breath and sighed. “I know.”

She ran her fingertips along his temple and around his ear, wanting so badly to pull him in for a kiss. But instead she slumped against his side, tightening her arm around his waist again, unwilling to let him go just yet.

*

Fuck, he realized that she was aroused and needy right now, but there wasn’t anything he could do to help her with that. Because he knew if he opened that door, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

He’d take her.

All the way.

Once he started down that path, the only thing that would stop him would be her. If she said ‘no’ at any step along the way, he’d back right off. No matter how difficult it might be.

But he knew she wouldn’t.

“I’m sorry, Sonny. I shouldn’t have said yes to this. Now you want more and—”

“No, it’s okay. I’m glad you said yes. I wanted this. And I meant it when I said I wouldn’t take advantage.”

She eased away and he immediately wished he could pull her back against him.

“I do have another favor to ask of you, though,” she said.

His mouth turned up in a half grin. “I thought you said you weren’t going to take advantage.”

She bit her lip and her big, brown eyes filled with anxiety.

Shit, now he felt like a jerk. “Sonny, it’s okay. I was just joking.”

He sat up more and took her hand. “Please tell me what it is.”

She frowned, but nodded.

“Since you’ve decided that…” She sucked in a breath. “Since you and I will never make love… I was hoping you would make another audio for me. Where we… actually do it together. Where you describe how you’d make love to me. How it would feel. What you’d do. What you’d like me to do.”

Fuck. Just the thought sent his head spinning. If he sat in his apartment, thinking about how he’d touch her… recording his voice as he imagined stripping her down… touching her soft, beautiful body… then sliding his cock into her velvety opening…

His cock was swelling at the images fluttering through his brain, and since it was exposed, it was excruciatingly obvious.

Her gaze shifted to his solid shaft rising upward.

“You clearly want to.” Her gaze returned to his face. “Please, Tal. If I can never experience it in real life, at least give me that.”

“Fuck, baby, I…”

But she wrapped her hand around him and stroked. He groaned.

“You’re not playing fair, baby,” he murmured.

She nodded, then leaned down and licked him, her soft tongue sending heat crackling through him.

“I know. Because I really want this.”

He drew her toward him and, unable to resist, pulled her into a kiss. Her tongue greeted his as he pushed inside her sweet mouth. As he deepened the kiss, pulling her tight to his chest, he drew her hand from his cock.

He released her lips. “Okay, I’ll do it. But you’re leaving now.”

*

Tal sat and stared out the window over his desk at the great view of the river and park. He was too distracted to get much work done this afternoon. Maybe going for a walk in the bright summer sunshine would help him regain his focus.

But what was really preoccupying him was the promise he’d made to Sonny a few days ago to make the audio. Fuck, anytime he started to think about doing it, he got so turned on he could barely think straight, let alone figure out a coherent set of things to say.

She wanted to have sex with him, which was amazing. It was a huge step forward for her. And he sure as hell wanted to have sex with her. Why the hell was he holding back? Had he been a fucking idiot to break it off with her?

But the image of her frightened face when he’d attacked the guy who’d hurt her still haunted him. He never wanted to see that look on her face again. The fact that he had triggered it tore him in two.

His hands clenched into fists. He wanted so badly to be the first man she made love with since her ordeal. He wanted to show her such sweet tenderness and caring that she’d never fear being with a man again.

Fuck, who was he kidding? He wanted her to want to be with him. And him alone.

Because he had fucking fallen in love with her.

*

A rapping at the apartment door broke Tal’s reverie. He pushed his chair back from the desk and strode to the entrance. Sonny’s beautiful face greeted him as he opened the door.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” Her face glowed as her lips turned up in a smile. “May I come in?”

“Uh… yeah, sure.”

“I wanted to update you on what’s happening,” she said, as she followed him into the living room.

She sat down on the couch and he sat across from her, not wanting to be too close.

“Good news?” he asked.

“They found another woman who wants to press charges against V. They’ve arrested him. But they also found he’s had some shady financial dealings. They’re offering him a deal to reduce the charges on that if he confesses to the sexual assault charges and gives them enough information to make a case against D.”

“That is good news.”

She nodded. “Not only that, he told them D’s identity and the location of the house where he’d kept me. When the police showed up there, they found he had another woman held captive.”

“Fuck.” Anger flared through Tal.

She nodded. “She’d been there a week, but they were able to get her out before she suffered months of brutality.”

She stood up and walked toward him and sat down on the arm of his chair, then took his hand. The gentle touch of her fingers made his heart thump faster.

“And it’s all because of you. You’re a hero.”

“No. Assaulting someone… terrifying you… those are not heroic acts.”

“Tal, you’re beating yourself up more about this than you beat him. He did far worse to me, and who knows how many other women.”

Tal’s heart clenched at her words, terrible images of Sonny beaten and in pain surging through him.

“I was terrified when I saw him… frozen to the spot,” she continued. “If you hadn’t shown up when you did, he would have continued on his way and we never would have found out his identity. The police would never have arrested him, and they wouldn’t have found D and saved the new woman he kidnapped.”

She squeezed his hand.

“Don’t you see, Tal? You saved me from the endless fear of knowing he’s still out there free. Maybe coming back for me. You’ve saved V’s victims from the same fear. And you’ve saved countless women who might have become future victims if these men weren’t found and, hopefully, locked up for a long time.”

She rested her soft hand on his cheek.

“You’re so hard on yourself, but you are a sweet, caring man. The fact that you struck out at him was a reaction to the horrible things he’d done, and your deep need to protect me, which is a wonderful thing. Please don’t judge yourself badly for one extreme, emotional act.”

Her fingers glided over his jaw. Her tender touch, and the sight of her large, luminous brown eyes gazing at him with gratitude and… something deeper… made his heart swell.

If this woman could accept him exactly as he was, then… maybe he wasn’t the violent animal he’d always feared he was.

He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. The feel of her lips, so soft and pliant under his, filled him with a growing desire.

When he eased back, she gazed up at him with a smile.

“Tal, have you made that audio for me yet?”

*

Sonny watched Tal blink in confusion and she laughed.

“The audio?” he asked.

“That’s right.” She rested her hand on his chest and stroked gently. “Because if you haven’t… maybe you could do it now.”

“Now? With you here, you mean?”

Heat shimmered through her body.

“Yes. With me right here.”

He slid her off his lap and stood up, then he strode down the hall and disappeared.

She stared after him, confused. Was that a no? Did he expect her to leave now?

But he returned a moment later with a laptop and microphone in his hand. He set it down on the table beside the couch and opened the computer, then connected the microphone and set it on a stand beside it.

“Sit in the chair,” he instructed.

She sat down in the armchair across from the couch, watching him open an app on the computer and then he sat down on the couch.

He grabbed the hem of his white t-shirt and pulled it over his head, then tossed it to the floor. She almost gasped at the sensational sight of his glorious muscles and dense tattoos.

He closed his eyes, and drew in a few deep breaths. She licked her lips, longing to cross the distance between them and sit down beside him, then stroke that incredible chest.

After a few moments, he opened his eyes.

His gaze locked on her and glided down her body. She felt heat swelling inside her at his potent male attention. His focus shifted to her breasts and she found herself intensely conscious of her breathing, Of the rise and fall of her chest.

His blue eyes darkened to the color of the midnight sky and she noticed the bulge forming in his jeans. His hand rested on it and he began to stroke.

“You’re sure you’re ready for this?” he asked.

The sight of his hand gliding over the denim… stroking his cock… made her stomach flutter. Desire washed through her.

She stared at him, mesmerized.

“Uh huh,” she said weakly.

His lips curled up in a broad smile. “Okay.”

He clicked a button on the laptop, then leaned back on the couch. His gaze settled on her face.

Hello, baby. I’ve been sitting here thinking about you. About what it would be like to make love to you.

I want to know what it would feel like to touch you. To cup your soft, naked breasts in my hands. Feel your nipples pucker and harden against my palms.

His gaze dropped to her breasts, sending need surging through her. She wanted his hands on her so badly.

Mmm. I’m getting hard just thinking about it. My cock is swelling inside my jeans.

In my fantasy, you lean forward in the big armchair and smile as you run your hands down your body… then grasp the hem of your shirt and draw it up… Slowly… Seductively…

She ran her fingers down the side of her shirt, then slowly started pulling it up, her deep need to be with him compelling her to bring this fantasy to life. His deep blue eyes flared with heat.

Fuck, seeing more and more of your naked skin being exposed is making me rock hard. I’m stroking my cock as you pull your top all the way off.

She drew in a breath and tugged it off, tingles dancing across her skin as his gaze lingered on her breasts.

Oh, yeah. I love your sheer, black lace bra that barely covers your nipples.

She watched his hand stroke over the front of his jeans. She sucked in a breath, wishing she was feeling what his fingers felt right now.

Ah, fuck, baby, you are so sexy.

I imagine you standing up and unzipping your jeans then dropping them to the floor.

Mesmerized by the longing in his eyes, she stood up and unzipped her pants, then sucked in a breath and dropped them to the floor.

He smiled.

Mmm, now you’re standing in front of me in just your sexy bra and those tiny matching panties.

You slowly walk toward me, then kneel in front of me and watch my hand gliding over my growing bulge.

She stepped out of her jeans, then knelt in front of him, her gaze locked on his moving hand.

Ah, baby. The thought of you close to me… watching me… is driving me wild. I ache to feel your hands on me. Your lips.

I know you want to touch me. To taste me.

Your hand glides up my thigh over the denim. Slowly. Building up my need until it’s a desperate ache inside me.

She rested her hand on his warm thigh, then moved along it, watching his hand moving, along his shaft, wishing it was her hand around it.

When you finally reach my cock, you stroke along the swollen shaft, squeezing it through the denim.

She gazed into his eyes, her heart pounding as he slid his hand away. She drew in a deep breath and glided over his thick bulge. Oh, God it was so hard.

Unzip my jeans, baby, and pull it out.

She drew in a breath and unzipped him, then reached inside. As her fingers wrapped around his rigid cock, the heat of it made her melt. She drew it out and stared at it. It was gigantic. Swollen and red, with veins throbbing along the sides. The head was as large as a plum. She wanted to lick it.

Ohhh, yeah, the feel of your fingers around me is making me harder. And the way you’re looking at my cock… as if you want to devour me… You’re making me so fucking hot.

Can you feel me pulsing in your hand?

God, yes, she could. It sent quivers through her.

Now you’re stroking me. Your hand gliding my length.

She stroked his shaft, loving the feel of him in her grip. Heat pulsed through her as she longed to feel him inside her.

Mmm, baby. I love that.

You lean forward and press your lips to my cock. Your tongue laps over the tip. Can you taste the salty precum?

Her gaze locked on the shiny droplet and she licked her lips. Then she leaned forward and pressed her mouth to him, his rigid flesh hot against her. When she licked, she did taste his salty essence.

Your mouth opens around me… gliding down… taking my whole cockhead inside.

She slid down on him. He was so thick and hard. She squeezed him between her lips as she started to move up and down.

Mmm, I love feeling your warm lips moving up and down on me.

Ah, baby, it feels so good when you squeeze me like that.

Oh, yeah. As you take me deeper, I feel my groin tighten.

She glided all the way down, taking his entire length down her throat. He groaned.

Fuck, I can’t believe how deep you can take me.

I coil my hand in your hair and draw your head back until only my cockhead is in your tight, warm grip.

She felt his hand grasp her hair, then the gentle tug as he wrapped it around his hand and drew her back.

Suck me, baby.

Her gaze locked on his deep blue eyes, she suckled lovingly on his cockhead, to his soft moan.

Ah, yeah, that feels so good. I’m getting so fucking close.

He throbbed within her grip. She tucked her hand inside his jeans and cupped his balls.

Mmm. With you stroking me like that… your hot mouth gripping me so tightly… You’re taking me too close to the edge.

I want to be inside you when I come. Sheathed in your sweet pussy.

You want that, too. I can see it in your eyes. So hot and hungry.

She nodded, her body aching for the feel of his thick cock deep inside her.

Stand up, baby. Take off your bra and let me see your beautiful breasts.

She released his massive erection and stood up, then reached behind her.

That’s right. I can hardly wait to see them.

As her bra slid from her body, his eyes darkened to the color of the midnight sky.

Oh, yeah. You are so fucking sexy. I want to touch you so badly.

She bit her lip. She’d touched him, but she’d never felt his hands on her body. Touching her intimately.

But, oh, God, she wanted to.

And I can see the need in your eyes. You want my hands on you, don’t you?

She nodded. A smile spread across his face and his big hand covered her breast.

She sucked in a breath at the intensity of the emotions surging through her. A touch of fear quickly crushed by a need so intense, she felt she’d die if she denied herself.

I cup your breast and… Ah, fuck, baby. You’re so incredibly soft.

The warmth of his strong hand around her, combined with the awe and tenderness in his voice, mirrored in his dark blue eyes, made her eyes well with tears.

He cupped her other breast, too, then gently stroked them.

I’m touching both your breasts now. Do you like the feel of me caressing you like this?

Pleasure rippled through her in waves.

“Yes. Oh, God, I love you touching me.”

His soft laugh curled through her.

That’s good. Because I love touching you.

His thumbs found her nipples and glided over them, to her soft moans.

Mmm, your nipples are so hard. Do you like me stroking them like this? Squeezing them?

She whimpered as she nodded.

Fuck, it’s making me hard as a rock.

I’m pulling you closer and swirling my tongue over your swollen nub. Suckling it until you arch against me, moaning for more. Then I suck it deep into my mouth.

He leaned forward and lapped his tongue over her nipple, but then drew back. She moaned at the loss. Oh, God, she needed so much more from him.

Are you wet for me, baby?

I’m sliding my hand inside your panties. I want to feel your slick flesh.

His gaze locked on hers, questioning as his hand slid down her stomach then stopped at the top of her panties. She bit her lip, hunger burning through her, and nodded.

His fingers slid beneath the fabric.

At the feel of his fingers gliding over her slick folds, her insides melted and pleasure spiked through her.

Ohhh, baby. You are wet.

Her heart ached at how gentle his touch was. How tender the look in his eyes.

Mmm. Knowing you want me so badly has me aching inside. I desperately want to fill you with my throbbing cock. To be surrounded by your warm, velvety pussy.

His fingers kept moving on her. Then they slipped inside her opening.

“Oh, God, Tal.”

A moan vibrated from her lips.

Do you want me inside you? Do you want to feel my thick, hard cock glide into you?

“Oh, yes! Please,” she whimpered.

He chuckled softly.

Take off your panties. Show me that sweet pussy of yours.

She stood up, then pushed them down. His appreciative gaze lit a fire inside her.

Ohhh, so beautiful. Come here, baby. On my lap.

She knelt on the couch facing him, her legs straddling his thighs.

I’m brushing my cockhead over your slick opening. Ohhh, that feels so fucking good.

The feel of his hot, rigid flesh touching her there made her feel weak.

Fear reared up. She hadn’t had a man touch her like this since…

But she gazed into his deep blue eyes and saw the sweet tenderness there.

It’s okay, baby. You’re safe with me.

She knew she was. This was Tal. He wouldn’t hurt her. She nodded.

You take the lead. We’ll go as fast or as slow as you want.

She drew in a breath, then slowly lowered her body. The feel of his cockhead stretching her made her tense, but he stroked her back tenderly and his eyes were filled with encouragement.

That’s right, baby. Slide your pussy down on me.

She took him deeper. Oh, God, she couldn’t believe he was inside her. Her heart pounded as heat surged through her.

His face filled with awe and wonder as she took him all the way inside. His groans of pleasure sent tremors through her.

Ohhh, the feel of you around me… so warm and welcoming… Ohhh, fuuuuck.

Goddamn. I can’t believe I’m all the way inside you.

His hands gripped her hips, holding her tight to his groin, as he stared into her eyes.

Do you like the feel of my cock inside you? Pulsing with need?

“Oh, yes,” she whimpered.

God, I need to fuck you now. Rock against me, baby. I want to feel my cock drive deep into you.

She rocked and he thrust forward, driving his cock deeper.

His hands grasped her hips and he guided her to keep rocking. She moaned at the joy surging through her.

Oh, you feel so good.

Your moans are driving me wild. I’m so fucking close.

But I’m not going to come until you do. I want to see your face as I make you come.

He ground forward, making her whimper at the intense pleasure. Then he started gliding into her in deep strokes.

That’s right, baby. Feel my cock moving deep inside you. Squeeze it tight.

She squeezed and he groaned.

Oh, fuck yeah.

His sounds of pleasure vibrated through her

I’m thrusting into you now.

He thrust deep again and again. She felt like she was riding a wild stallion, as he pumped into her in a steady, pulsing rhythm. Driving her pleasure higher.

You like this, baby? My cock gliding in and out of your pussy?

“Ohhh, yes.”

Ahhh, I’m so close. I can barely hold back. I’m going to stroke your clit now, baby.

His hand slid down her stomach and his finger found her clit. She sucked in a breath as his finger teased over it. Pleasure blossomed inside her.

Yeah, there it is. I’m stroking your hard clit. You like that, don’t you?

Fuck, your whimpers are… ohh… so sweet.

Come for me.

He thrust deep again and joy burst through her, catapulting her over the edge. She began to trill, then moaned loudly as he continued to fill her with his hard cock. Pleasure rocked her world, filling her with ecstasy.

Oh, fuck, baby! Ohhh, fuuuuck!

His voice pulsed as he thrust into her.

That’s… right… Fuck… you’re… so… beautiful.

Ohhh, God… you feel… so good.

Ohhh, fuck… Ohhh, fuuuck, yeah… Ohhh, I’m… ahhhh… fucking coming.

His intense groans of pleasure pushed her bliss even higher. Then he drove deeper and shuddered against her.

Ahhhh, baby. Oh, goddamn.

He drew in thick, heavy breaths as she rested against him. Slowly his breathing calmed.

Oh, fuck. That was incredible. You were incredible.

His muscular arms tightened around her and he hugged her snug to his body. The feel of his tender embrace, his cock still embedded inside her, made her glow with happiness.

Thank you, baby.

*

Tal’s heart pounded as he held Sonny close to him. The experience had left him deeply moved. This woman, who had been hurt so heinously, had opened up to him. Had trusted him so completely.

He could feel Sonny trembling in his arms. He brushed his lips against her temple.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

He felt dampness against his chest and his heart clenched. He tipped up her chin to see her eyes gleaming with moisture.

“Sonny?”

“I’m just so…” Her eyes filled with deep emotion. “It was just so…”

She shook her head and cupped his face with both hands, then surged forward, capturing his lips. Her sweet mouth moved on his, her tongue gliding inside, exploring.

When she released him and gazed into his eyes, he realized it was joy she was feeling.

“So it was good.”

Her lips turned up in a smile, her face glowing, then she laughed. At the same time, tears streamed from her eyes.

“It was very good.”

He laughed, then swept her into his arms and carried her to his bedroom. He pushed back the covers and laid her on the bed, then dropped his jeans to the floor and slid in beside her. The feel of her naked body against his, the two of them warm and snug together, sent his heart soaring. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cuddled closer, her soft cheek against his bare chest, her hair a silken caress against his skin.

She sighed contentedly and soon her slow, deep breaths told him she’d fallen asleep.

He tightened his arms around her, never wanting this moment to end.

*

Sonny awoke to the muted light of late afternoon, casting long shadows across the bed.

Tal’s big muscular arms were around her, his heart beating against her ear. She stared at the dense tattoos on his chest, smiling at the memory of what they’d done. At the tender way Tal had guided her past her carefully erected barriers.

How he’d gently helped her shed her last fear of making love with a man.

She dragged a finger down the curved line of one of his tattoos.

At least, a man she trusted as much as Tal.

“You’re awake.” Tal’s voice rumbled from deep in his chest.

She smiled, and gazed up into his dark blue eyes.

“Yes. And so are you.”

“You do realize you’re naked?”

“Really?” She lifted the covers and peered underneath, seeing her breasts pressed against his sexy, muscular-ridged chest. “You’re right.” She leaned back to gaze at his boxers. “But you’re not. That seems wholly unfair.”

He chuckled. “I can fix that.”

As he tucked his thumbs under the waistband of his boxers and started to guide them down, she knew exactly where this was headed. Her heart pounded in anticipation. But she grasped his hands and stopped him, knowing she had to talk to him first.

“Wait,” she said.

He stopped and glided a big hand down her back in a tender stroke.

“What is it, baby?”

“We need to talk.”

The light in his eyes dimmed, but he nodded. “Of course. Whatever you want.”

“First, I want to say I’m sorry.”

He frowned, looking perplexed. “Sorry? For what?”

“You told me you didn’t want to continue this relationship with me… that you didn’t want to go further on this journey. Yet I went ahead and pushed you into doing this.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to help you. I said I was the wrong man for the job.”

She nodded. “Yes, but…”

She rested her hand on his cheek and stroked, loving the feel of his coarse stubble. God, he was so intensely masculine.

He took her hand and pressed the palm to his lips, making her quiver.

“But what, baby?”

“I’m hoping you’ll reconsider. Continuing this relationship I mean.”

“Why?”

Her heart stuttered. Oh, God. She’d begun to hope he wanted her. That him agreeing to do the audio with her then the two of them making love, meant that he had changed his mind. But maybe he’d just relented to help her past this one major hurdle and he intended to just walk away again.

She choked up, realizing he probably felt there were no more steps for him to help her through. Going forward, she needed to find a way to build trust with a man and if Tal didn’t plan to be in a long-term relationship with her, then it was time for her to move on and learn how to do that with someone else.

The problem was, she didn’t want anyone else.

She wanted Tal.

He watched the emotions washing across her face and… Oh, God… she realized he was going to be kind.

She drew back, her head shaking, knowing she had to flee. But he tightened his arms around her, pulling her close again.

“Where are you going?”

“If you don’t want to be with me then…” her throat choked and she sucked in a breath. “I should go.”

He rolled her onto her back, pinning her hands beside her head, his solemn blue eyes searching hers.

“You think I don’t want you? You were in the fucking room, weren’t you?” His voice—low, sexy and with the hint of a growl—rippled through her.

His mouth swooped down and his lips coaxed hers with such poignant persuasion that she opened, melting into the kiss. His tongue explored her mouth, insistent and possessive.

“Baby, I’ve never wanted a woman more.” His gruff, sexy voice rumbling against her ear melted her heart. “And I don’t mean because of the sex.” He nipped her earlobe. “Though there’s no denying the chemistry between us. But I mean I want you as a part of my life. Today. Tomorrow. And as long as you’ll have me.”

Her eyes widened and her lips parted in awe. He captured her mouth for another passionate kiss, then gazed at her with a tenderness that filled her with awe.

“Fuck, baby, I’m so in love with you I never want to let you go.”

*

Tal watched Sonny’s face. Had he said too much too fast?

When he’d asked her why she wanted him to reconsider continuing the relationship, he’d been hoping she would say because she loved him. He’d been a fool to believe that might be possible. Not so quickly.

Grateful, yes. But she probably wasn’t ready to love anyone yet.

“You’re in love with me?” she whispered.

“Yes, baby.” He watched a light flare in her eyes.

But then her lip trembled and he was afraid—

“Oh, Tal. I love you, too.”

Joy surged through him. He couldn’t believe his dream had come true. He meshed his lips with hers and she kissed him with sweet exuberance.

When their lips finally parted, she laughed.

“Tal, you need to let me go.”

He realized he still had her wrists pinned.

“Why? Is there somewhere you want to go?”

She wriggled beneath him, the movement of her naked body sending all kinds of delightful signals through his body. He released her hands.

“No. Nowhere I want to go.” She pressed a hand to his chest until he rolled away, and she rolled right on top of him. She rose onto her knees. “There’s something I want to do.”

She grasped his boxers and pulled them down, freeing his rising cock, then tugged them down his legs, stripping them away entirely. Then she prowled up his body, her eyes filled with hunger.

When her hand wrapped around his cock, he groaned with need. But he caught her wrist and rolled her onto her back again.

“Oh no you don’t. You’ve had your turn. Twice. Now it’s mine.”

“But—”

He consumed her mouth, silencing her, then kissed down her neck.

“Every time we’ve been together, you’ve ensured you kept me busy talking,” he murmured against her skin as he nuzzled her neck, then continued downward. “So I was never able to taste you the way I wanted to.”

He cupped her breast and stare at the peaked nipple, so long and hard. He smiled, then licked it.

“Now I’m going to feast on you to my heart’s content.”

He wrapped his lips around her rosy areola and suckled softly. Her sweet moans made his cock swell until it was rock hard. Her fingers stroked over his head, then wrapped around it as she pulled him tight to her, arching against his mouth.

He laughed, rumbling from his chest, then drew deep on the hard nub.

“Oh, Tal. Yes.”

Her throaty voice, so filled with need, sent his cock twitching. Aching to be inside her.

He captured her other nipple and lapped at it with his tongue, then drew it into his mouth and sucked with a deep, pulsing rhythm. Her moans turned to high, trilling cries.

He flicked his tongue over her hard nub, then glided his lips down her ribs, directly to her navel, then he dabbed his tongue inside the small indent. His hand glided down her sides to her hips, her skin silky under his fingertips.

Then he drew back and took in the sight of her body in front of him. His gaze gliding down her stomach to the neatly trimmed, silky blonde curls of her pussy. He ran his fingertip along one side. Then the other. He smiled and used his thumbs to open the folds, ready to lick her delightful, sensitive flesh.

“Tal…”

He gazed up at her face. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“I’ve never had a man… do that.”

“Really, baby?”

He pushed himself up on his elbows, their gazes locked.

“I’d… only been with one guy before I was… abducted. And he didn’t do that with me. And D and the others…”

Tal surged upward and captured her lips. “It’s okay, baby. You’re here now. You’re safe.” He kissed her again then stared deep into her eyes. “I won’t do it if you don’t want me to, but…” He smiled. “I really think you’ll like it.”

*

The gleam in Tal’s eyes sent heat simmering through Sonny. It’s not that she was afraid of it. She’d learned to turn off her feelings, on some level, during so many sexual acts her captor and his friends had performed on her.

But this was so… personal. So up close and intimate. And all focused on her.

She wasn’t quite sure how to receive that type of attention.

But this was Tal. And she could trust him.

She nodded tentatively.

His lips turned up in a broad smile, then he kissed her. His mouth moved on her with such sweet passion, she melted against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his thick, muscular neck.

He drew back, his eyes filled with warmth and awe.

“I love you so much, sweetheart. I can’t believe I get to be the one to take your virginity in this.”

He kissed slowly down her body. Tingles danced in the wake of his lips. Moving from the base of her neck… down between her breasts… over her stomach. Then he raised his head and gazed at her intimate flesh.

He glanced up at her and smiled, then he stroked down her thighs, opening them wider. His focus shifted back to her folds and he glided his thumbs along each side. Then he parted them. His eyes turned dark with need and he leaned forward.

The first touch of his tongue sent an electric pulse of need right through her. He teased over the slick flesh, near her clit but not touching it. His tongue gliding up and down. When it dipped into her opening, she moaned. His tongue was soft, yet firm. And oh, so warm.

It pushed deeper into her and she found herself arching forward. His deep, rumbling laugh against her flesh made her quake with need.

Then she felt the tip of his tongue glide over her clit and she gasped. Warmth spread through her, starting in her core and seeping through every part of her.

He swirled over it. Pleasure spiraled through her. As he continued to lick and cajole her sensitive bud, delightful sensations rippled through her entire body.

“Do you like it, baby?” he asked.

“Oh, yes. Oh, God please—”

Before she could finish her request, he’d found her wet flesh again. His mouth moved on her in what felt like a sweet, intimate, passionate kiss… designed so completely for her sole pleasure.

Her fingers wrapped around his head and she held him close, her body writhing beneath him now as pleasure coiled thought her… tighter and tighter…

He suckled on her little button. She arched against him, moaning at the intense joy rippling through her.

“I want you to come for me, baby,” he murmured against her burning flesh. Then his tongue swirled over her and plunged inside. He licked, then settled over her clit again.

The tip of his tongue flicked over it, then he sucked on her in small pulses. Her blood turned to liquid fire and her body arched as a thousand suns ignited deep inside her, catapulting her to a state of pure ecstasy. She moaned, her body shuddering as she gave herself over to the blissful surrender.

When her body finally collapsed on the bed, still quivering from the soul-shattering orgasm, he licked and stroked a little longer, continuing the warm glowing pleasure inside her. Then finally his warm mouth drifted away and his body settled beside her, his smiling face next to her on the pillow.

“I hope that was a pleasant first for you.”

Her jaw dropped and she stared at him in awe. Then she surged forward, rolling onto her side and capturing his glistening lips. Kissing him deeply. Her tongue glided inside and swirled around. She felt his big, thick cock growing stiffer against her hip.

Her hand found it and she wrapped her fingers around the hard shaft. The heat of it… and the sheer thickness as it pulsed in her hand… had desperate need pulsing through her. Her intimate muscled clenched.

“God, I need you inside me so badly,” she said.

He smiled, his whole face lighting up. “Yeah?”

He pressed her onto her back then prowled over her. His body was so muscular. So broad. She drew in a breath as a twinge of panic rippled through her.

“You okay, baby?” he asked, his deep blue eyes penetrating as he searched hers.

She pushed back the lingering ghosts of her past. This was Tal.

Sweet, gentle Tal, who loved her.

She drew in a breath and stroked his cheek as he gazed down at her with concern.

“Yes, Tal. I know I’m safe with you.”

His eyes grew fierce and he dipped down and captured her lips.

“Good. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

She squeezed his cock, then stroked. It pulsed in her hand, driving her wild with need.

She pressed it to her slick flesh and glided it along her folds, igniting sparks of intense yearning.

“Please, Tal. Fill me.”

He chuckled softly and began to move forward. His plump cockhead stretched her as it pushed inside. She opened her legs wider, welcoming his thick shaft into her body.

It glided deeper and deeper. Tingles danced down her spine as his cock stroked her sensitive flesh.

“Ohhhhh, yes. You feel so good inside me.”

“Ah, fuck, baby. I can’t believe how sweet and warm you feel around me. Gripping me so tightly.”

He groaned as his cock filled her the rest of the way. His groin rested tight against her now and the two of them sucked in air as they stared into each other’s eyes. His were filled with such potent, poignant desire it took her breath away.

He twitched inside her and she moaned.

She hooked her fingers over his shoulders, clinging to him.

“Oh, God, Tal. I love being this close to you. This intimate. I never thought… after what happened…”

His fingers covered her lips. “Shhh, baby. Don’t think about that now. Right now it’s just you and me. Sharing this special moment. I’m going to make love to you. I’m going to show you just how much I love you.”

She smiled, her eyes welling up. “Yes, Tal. Show me.”

He smiled, then keeping his gaze focused on hers, he drew back. Slowly.

Never shifting from his gaze, she whimpered at the sweet sensation of his cock dragging along her inner passage. The delightful feel of it stoking her desire.

His bulging cockhead slid to her opening… almost slipping free… then he surged forward again, filling her in one, smooth stroke.

“Ohhh, Tal.”

“Yeah, baby. Do you like the feel of my cock moving inside you?” He drew back, lingering at the edge.

She nodded, tears welling from her eyes at the intensity of the experience.

“Yes.” She blinked back the moisture and sighed.

He surged forward again. Pleasure quivered in her core, then expanded through her.

”Oh, God, yes. Fill me.”

His nips nuzzled the corner of her mouth. He drew back and drove forward again, making her moan.

His lips turned up in a dazzling smile, the warmth in his eyes searing her.

He started pumping into her, his cock filling her with deep, enthralling strokes. Driving her pleasure higher and higher. She squeezed around him, eliciting a groan so deep and masculine it rippled along her nerve endings, sending her close to the edge.

She clung to his shoulders. “Oh, Tal, I’m so close.”

“Yeah, sweetheart.” He kissed her lips. “Are you going to come for me?”

He pumped harder. Filling her deeper.

“Oh… yeah…” she panted. “Oh… please.”

He pounded into her now. Explosive sensations rippled over her nerve endings. Her insides coiled tighter… tighter… tighter. Then like an overwound spring… released.

She shot over the edge. Catapulting into ecstasy.

“Are you… coming for me… baby?” Tal’s words puffed out between thrusts.

She nodded as the orgasm swelled through her, carrying her on a wave of pure bliss.

He laughed as he continued to pump, then he drove deep, shattering her world in and explosion of complete and utterly devastating joy.

She moaned. Long and loud. The sound filling the room with the earthy, primal sound of her release.

“Oh, fuck, baby. You are… so…” His thrusts were faster now. “Fucking… beautiful.” He thrust deep, pinning her to the bed. Then he groaned.

Oh, God, she could feel him erupt inside her. Filling her with liquid heat.

She trembled in his arms, moaning. He chuckled against her shoulder, then rocked his hips. She sucked in a breath, then rode the wave as another orgasm swept over her, driven by his cock moving inside her as he kept rocking against her. His lips nuzzling her neck the whole time.

She wailed at the sheer joy embracing her. The bliss he was giving her with his easy movements. The fact he only cared in this moment about her pleasure.

Finally, she collapsed on the bed, panting for air.

“Oh, my God, Tal.” She sucked in a breath. “That was… so…”

He laughed, then rolled away, slumping beside her.

“I totally agree.” Then he pulled her against him, into the warmth of his embrace.

She sighed, her head against his broad, muscular chest. She nuzzled against it, brushing her lips over one of the tattoos in gentle kisses. Then she rested her head over his heart, listening to its steady beat.

She drew in a deep, contented breath

She could never have imagined being in a man’s arms like this after what had happened to her. Especially someone as massive and ultra masculine as Tal. Her fear had been so deeply seated, dug into the far reaches of her soul.

But Tal, with his gentle, protective nature and his deep, sexy voice filled with tenderness and respect, inspired a profound trust in her.

He had brought her back from the abyss and made her whole again.

She stroked her hand over his chest. And she hoped she had done the same for him.

“I love you, Tal,” she whispered.

His eyes glowed with happiness as he leaned in and kissed her with a tender brush of his lips.

“And I love you, Sonny.”

# # #

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