Chapter Five
She crouched against the dirty alley wall. Cecelia pulled out her phone and she started to call Aaron—
He can’t handle Bryce.
Her fingers froze. If she got Aaron to race to the scene, there was no way he could battle Bryce. And Bryce was exactly the man they were dealing with. Flynn had run off after the guy.
Flynn had also nearly died. She’d seen where the bullet lodged into the brick wall. The target had been Flynn’s head. Only he’d moved fast enough to dodge that bullet. If he hadn’t, then Flynn would have died.
The Lazarus subjects had come back from death before, and they’d come back with all sorts of bonuses and secrets. Lots of secrets. One of those secrets was the fact that the Lazarus subjects could actually rise from the dead again and again. The only surefire way to kill them? A bullet to the brain.
Bryce had obviously wanted his bullet to sink deep into Flynn’s brain. Only it hadn’t.
She didn’t dare move toward the mouth of the alley. Bryce would have her in his sights if she did that, and she didn’t want to make herself a target.
But what if Flynn needed help? Dammit. She wouldn’t call Aaron, but she could call Sawyer Cage. She could bring in another super soldier. Two against one were far better odds in her book.
Her finger swiped over her screen of her phone. She tapped—
“Hello, Cecelia.”
Cecelia’s head immediately whipped up and her body lurched around so that she could follow that voice—a voice that had come from behind her.
He was there. Standing at the end of the alley. The man who slipped into her nightmares. The one who dominated too many of her thoughts.
Bryce King.
Tall, fit, blond. Handsome and horrifying because she knew exactly what waited behind the mask that he wore.
Flynn had talked about monsters. Bryce was a real monster. The worst of the worst.
And he was walking right toward her.
“Stay the hell away!” Cecelia yelled at him.
But he just smiled.
***
Flynn burst onto the roof. “Bryce!”
But Bryce King wasn’t there. The rooftop was empty. Flynn knew he’d seen the glint of a gun up there, but the place was clear now—no sign of a rifle, no sign of Bryce.
Bam! Bam!
The fast retort of gunfire seemed to echo around him.
He rushed to the edge of the roof, gazing down below. He had a perfect view of the alley’s entrance. He could see the spot that he’d been standing in when he kissed Cecelia. When he pushed her up against the wall.
Bam! Another shot. And the thundering gunshots were coming from the alley. Flynn didn’t hesitate. He jumped off that roof and fell, plummeting three stories. When he hit the ground, his knees didn’t buckle. He didn’t stop. He raced straight into that alley. “Cecelia!” Her name was a roar.
She whirled toward him, and he saw the gun gripped in her hand. It was the same gun that she usually kept in her nightstand. “H-he…Bryce was here!” Her eyes were wide, but her grip on the gun was rock steady. “I fired at him, but I missed…he was too fast!”
Shit. Shit!
He rushed to the back of the alley, but it just fed onto another street. Bryce was gone, and he could give chase, trying to follow the guy’s scent, but if he did, then Flynn would have to leave Cecelia alone again. If he did that, Flynn knew he could be running straight into another trap. Bryce could just be attempting to lure Flynn away from Cecelia once more.
Not going to happen.
“He was just—there,” Cecelia whispered, and her eyes were huge. “Standing at the end of the alley. Smiling at me.”
It wasn’t safe in the alley.
Flynn spun on his heel. He ran to her, scooping her up in his arms and hauling ass back to the SUV.
“Flynn! Stop! I can walk!”
But he could move far, far faster than she could. And if he had her in his arms, then he could dodge any bullets that might be fired at them. He could protect her better.
Because he’d sure as shit fucked up in that alley.
He got her safely to the SUV. Then Flynn drove away with a squeal of his tires. His gaze cut to the rear-view mirror, and he sent out a hard message to the SOB who had targeted Cecelia. I will find you, Bryce. I will kill you.
He didn’t expect a response, but…
Bryce’s laughter filled his head. No, Subject Two, I’m afraid you have that wrong. I will find you. I will kill you. And then I’ll be fucking Cecelia. I’ll fuck her, and I’ll put my rope around her neck and watch her die.
“Bastard!” Flynn snarled.
“He’s talking to you, isn’t he?” Cecelia’s voice was hushed. “He’s in your head right now.”
“Duck down, Cecelia. I don’t know where the jerk is.”
“He’s in your head.” But she ducked down in her seat. “Get him out, Flynn. You know he can influence your emotions. Get him out!”
More laughter floated in Flynn’s mind. It’s so much fun to watch them die. But then, you’re a killer, too, so you know what I mean. When you touch someone soft like Cecelia, someone delicate, it’s so easy to break a woman like her.
But Cecelia isn’t for you to break, Two. She’s mine. I found her first. Long before you ever came along.
“You’re wrong,” Flynn grated, speaking and sending the message telepathically at the same time. “Cecelia is mine, and I’ll kill you before you touch her again.”
***
“You let him get away?” Sawyer Cage demanded, as his hands shot to his hips and he glared at Flynn. “You had the bastard—you were close enough to see him, and you let him get away? What the actual fuck, man?”
Flynn’s body was tight with fury. They were in Cecelia’s home. She’d gone upstairs to change clothes—her blouse had been torn and bloody after all of the incidents in the alley. He’d smelled her blood, small cuts on her knees from when he’d grabbed her and thrown them both to the ground to avoid a gunshot.
A gunshot.
“She was my priority.” She would always be Flynn’s priority. “The guy had tricked me into rushing up to the rooftop and leaving Cecelia alone. He knew I’d rush up there and when I did, I left her alone.”
Vulnerable.
He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“I heard gunfire in the alley. She was firing at him.” And her gun had saved Cecelia. It had bought Flynn the precious time he needed in order to get back to her. “He wants her. He’s been obsessed with her since Lazarus.”
Sawyer lifted his brows. “And he’s the only one, huh?”
Flynn fired a fast glance upstairs. Then he stalked toward Sawyer. Watch it, Flynn telepathically warned the man he considered to be his friend.
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed. I’m just calling it like I see it. We both know you were hot for the shrink back at Lazarus. You might bullshit with someone else, but not with me.
Yes, Flynn had wanted Cecelia back at Lazarus. He wanted her right then. But he wasn’t like Bryce King. He didn’t want to hurt her. Hurting her was the last thing he ever wanted.
Your feelings for her clouded your judgment. Sawyer’s thoughts rolled through Flynn’s mind so easily, as if the guy had just spoken out loud. You had the chance to get Bryce, but you stopped because of her.
The bedroom door creaked open. The scent of vanilla cream drifted to Flynn. He turned his head and watched as Cecelia made her way down the spiral staircase. When she reached the first floor, her gaze darted between him and Sawyer. She gave a little sigh. “Have I ever mentioned how much I hate it when you two communicate telepathically?”
Flynn drank her in. She’d changed into jeans and a white t-shirt. Her feet were bare, and he saw that her toe nails were painted a soft brown.
“What makes you think we’re communicating telepathically?” Sawyer asked, voice mild.
She gave a little laugh. The sound seemed to stroke right over Flynn’s skin. “Easy. One minute, I could hear your voices, and the next, dead silence is coming from downstairs.” She walked closer to them. Her hair slid over her shoulders. “Then when I look down at you guys, I see you two glaring at each other, standing practically toe-to-toe. Trust me, the body language gave it all away.” She paused. “So…want to tell me what you two were saying in your heads? What you felt I couldn’t know?”
No, Flynn damn well didn’t want to tell her. So he chose his words carefully, not revealing everything. “Sawyer was chewing my ass out because I didn’t give chase and stop Bryce.”
Her gaze didn’t leave Flynn’s face. “You were protecting me.”
He’d always protect her.
“Bryce dodged every bullet I fired at him.” She tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “He is so fast. You’re all so fast. I wanted to tell Aaron the truth, but after what happened in that alley…” Her hand fell back to her side. “You’re right. The regular authorities aren’t going to be able to stop Bryce. If Aaron had been there…if it had been him at my side instead of you, Flynn, I think Aaron would be dead.” Her lower lip trembled for a moment before she steadied it. “I think I might be dead, too.”
He wanted to pull her into his arms. Hold her close. Tight.
And he wanted to tear Bryce apart.
“That’s what he wants, isn’t it? For me to die?” Cecelia asked. “He lured you onto the roof of that brownstone so I’d be alone.” Now her gaze swung back to Sawyer. “I really don’t think you should be, ah, ‘chewing his ass out’ over saving my life. Because I’m pretty grateful to Flynn right now.”
Sawyer nodded grimly. “I know.”
“And I can’t help but wonder,” Cecelia continued, her voice soft and mild, “what you would have done, had the situation been reversed. If your Elizabeth had been in that alley, would you have left her and chased after Bryce?”
Sawyer’s lips tightened. “You’re psychoanalyzing me, aren’t you? We aren’t in some therapy session. We aren’t back at Lazarus—”
“I’m not psychoanalyzing you. I’m telling you that nothing is black and white, but then, you already know that.” Her shoulders straightened. “So stop berating Flynn for saving my ass, okay? Because I’m happy to still be breathing.”
She was standing up for him. Flynn rubbed his chest because it had started to ache.
Sawyer’s eyes gleamed. “Yes, ma’am.” A Texas drawl slipped into his voice. “I’m happy you’re breathing, too.”
Her chin notched into the air. “We need to come up with a plan. A way to stop Bryce. Catch him. We know he’s the Midnight Strangler. We know he’s…Look, I think he killed Jennifer McKenzie just because he wanted me to see him for exactly who he has always been. That’s why he put the murder weapon he used under my car. He wanted me to know who he really is. What he really is. Blinders are off.” She licked her lower lip, a quick swipe of her tongue. “For the last few months, he’s waited, he’s planned, and he’s attacked. He has everything all lined up. He thinks he’s going to get me. He thinks—”
“That he’s the strongest,” Sawyer finished, voice growling. “Yeah, I’ve gotten that impression from the jackass before. He thinks he’s the best of the Lazarus subjects. And he believes he can take the rest of us out.”
She nodded. “But he isn’t the best.” Her gaze was on Flynn once more. “I know that. And we can stop him. We can use what we know about the Midnight Strangler’s profile, we can use what I learned about Bryce in our sessions at Lazarus, and we can stop him.”
I’m assuming you’re going to be sticking to your shrink like glue? Sawyer asked Flynn.
He inclined his head. Every moment, day and night.
Then I’ll go back to the alley. I’ll try to pick up his scent. We’ll—
“You two are such assholes.”
Flynn blinked. She sounded seriously pissed.
“I am right here,” Cecelia snapped out, and her small hands had fisted on her hips. “So don’t pull that telepathic bullshit. Don’t hide things from me. Talk to me. This is my life, you get that, don’t you? He’s not just gunning for you two. He’s coming for me.”
Flynn cleared his throat. “Sorry. It’s, um, a habit.”
She just stared back at him. Her eyes were pure hazel right then, a swirl of color that was absolutely stunning.
Or maybe he just found her stunning. “I was just telling Sawyer that I’d be staying with you. Day and night.”
He waited for an argument. None came.
“We already have the bodyguard cover in place with the FBI. And I sure don’t have a death wish, so yes, I would appreciate you staying with me. Thank you.” Her voice had been ever-so-polite. Too polite. She was still pissed.
Sawyer coughed. “And, uh, I was saying that I’d go back to the alley and see what I could find there. Maybe I can even pick up the guy’s scent.”
“I’d be careful with that.” Her expression turned pensive. “Because I think Bryce is going to try manipulating us. He has the same strengths that you guys do, so he knows how sharp your sense of smell truly is. If he wants you to follow a certain trail, if he wants to throw you off, I could easily see him putting out a deliberate scent trail for you to follow. So be on guard. Bryce likes to…play with his prey.”
“I’ll remember that.” Sawyer turned for the door. “I’ll check in after I see what’s out there.”
“And I’ll get Aaron to give me everything the FBI has on the Midnight Strangler.” She exhaled on a long sigh. “And if the FBI decides not to give me what I need, then I’ll just get Jay to hack into their system. Problem solved.”
Flynn didn’t think there would be any problem. “I don’t exactly see Special Agent Barrett denying you anything.” Yeah, he sounded jealous. He fucking was. An issue he’d have to handle.
With his hand on the doorknob, Sawyer glanced back at him. “There something happening I need to know about? A problem?”
“Nothing I can’t manage.”
“All right. If you need me, well, you know how to reach me.” Sawyer tapped his temple. “Keep her safe.”
“Damn straight.”
Then he was gone. Cecelia hurried across the room and locked the door behind Sawyer. Then she turned and pushed her back against the wooden frame as she stared at Flynn. “What’s the issue you have with Aaron?”
Every muscle in his body was tight with tension. “We shouldn’t go there right now. It’s been a hell of a day.” And the adrenaline still pumped through his body. The adrenaline rush always hit him hard, amping up his tension, cranking his emotions to a deadly intensity.
This time, though, he felt different. Because this time, she’d been involved. Bryce had gotten too close to her.
“I don’t think we should keep secrets from each other.” Her back was still pressed against the door. “I mean, it looks like you and I are going to be very close for the time being, and secrets—”
He began stalking toward her.
“S-secrets are dangerous.”
“You have secrets, Cece. You gave me one in that alley, but I know you hold a dozen more. You gonna share them with me?”
“I-I don’t have secrets relevant to—to what’s happening right now.”
She’d stumbled over her words. “Are you afraid right now?” Because he knew her heart was racing like mad. “You’re afraid of me again?”
“Before he left, what was Sawyer talking about? He was worried about something, I could tell.”
He was right in front of her. Flynn lifted his right hand and pressed it to the wood beside her head. His body leaned in close, but he didn’t touch her, not yet. “I’m supposed to bare my soul for you, but you’re gonna keep holding back from me?”
“Flynn…”
His emotions were swirling to a dangerous degree. “That won’t work for me.”
Her breath came in quick pants. “What was the problem? If it’s something that involves me—”
“I don’t fucking like the special agent.” Fine. There. He’d said it.
Her eyes flared. “What?”
“I don’t like it when he’s near you. I don’t like the way he looks at you. And I don’t like the way he says your name.” The prick still wanted her. “And I like it even damn less that I know he’s had you.”
Her lips parted. “Aaron and I aren’t together any longer. We haven’t been, not since Lazarus.”
He focused on taking some deep breaths and not fucking imagining her with the special agent asshole. “Jealousy.”
She searched his eyes.
“You once told me that you believed the Lazarus formula amplified our darker emotions. Well, jealousy is freaking dark, and it’s eating away at me right now. It’s the reason I burst into your office when you were meeting with the special agent. It’s the reason Sawyer wanted to know if there was going to be a problem. You have to work with the special agent on this case, and every time you’re near him, I want to drive my fist into his face.” Flynn figured he couldn’t get more brutally honest than that. “Dark enough for you?”
“I’m…not interested in sleeping with Aaron.”
He growled.
She tensed.
“Sorry, baby,” he said, and he was, but the emotions were overwhelming him. Fucking Lazarus. The program had turned him into a freak. A normal man could deal with jealousy. A normal man could deal with rage. A normal man could have a normal freaking life.
But Flynn wasn’t normal any longer. “I don’t like it when you say his name. I want to hear you calling my name. I want you to need me the way you once needed him.”
And he had to get his shit back in check. In order to do that, he needed to back the hell away from her. He was too close right then. Her scent filled his nostrils, the warmth of her body seemed to brush against his, and her lush mouth was right there. So close. He wanted to kiss her, the way they’d kissed in the alley. “Having a taste wasn’t enough.” If possible, his voice was even lower, rougher. “Just made me want you more.”
“What do you want from me?” Cecelia asked him, and while his voice had been rough, hers was breathy. Husky. Sexy as all hell.
He smiled at her and gave Cecelia the truth. “I want everything.”
“I don’t have everything to give.”
Then I’ll take what I can get. “You want me.” The kiss in the alley had proved that point.
“Yes.”
His cock jerked. He was pretty sure the zipper of his jeans was going to be permanently imprinted on the damn thing. “But you don’t trust me to be your lover.” She didn’t trust him enough to surrender her body. To let him pleasure her. To take her. His jaw locked and he gave a jerky nod. “Fine.” Flynn shoved away from her. He’d go shower, make certain the water was icy, and he’d get his control back. Not like it’d be the first time he had to cool down after being near her. He spun on his heel.
Her hand touched his shoulder. “I don’t trust myself.”
That stark confession didn’t make a bit of sense to him.
Flynn glanced back at her.
“I can’t make a mistake,” she said.
“Is that what you think I am? A mistake?” His words were wooden.
“I don’t know what you are. I know that you make me feel things that I shouldn’t. You make me want things I shouldn’t.”
The drumming of his heartbeat echoed in Flynn’s ears. He turned toward her. “What things?”
“I want to let go with you. To lower my guard. To stop thinking and worrying and analyzing every single moment. To just feel.”
“Let go, baby. I can take care of you.” The blood was nearly burning in his veins. He wanted to grab her. Hold so tight. She’d almost died. He never wanted to lose her. Never wanted to risk her.
“If we cross this line…what happens next?”
Fucking hell, she wanted to have sex with him. “Screw what happens next. Only think about now.” He locked his arms around her and pulled Cecelia up against him. His body was so much bigger and harder than hers. Careful with her. Careful. The warning was his own, and he’d do everything he could to use care with her. “Think about me. Because you are the only thing in my head.”
Her lips were parted when he kissed her. Parted and soft and his tongue thrust into her mouth. Her hands rose and her nails sank into his shoulders. She didn’t push him away. She pulled him closer. Her tongue met his. Her taste…so sweet. His favorite cream. And he could truly eat her up.
I will.
He scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom. If she wanted him, there would be no stopping. He wanted to take and take and take, and never let her go. But he knew he had to slow down. Knew that he couldn’t overwhelm her.
Because he needed her to come back for more. Come back to him, again and again.
He put her on the bed. She stared up at him, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, her eyes wide and her lips red and full. His hands went to her waist, and he shoved up her t-shirt. He tossed it aside, not giving it a thought. Her bra was white, silky-looking. It hugged her sweet breasts, and the sight was so sexy he growled.
She smiled up at him. Pure temptation.
His hands went to the snap of her jeans. He undid the snap and pulled down the zipper, and Flynn found that she was wearing matching panties. White, silky, and skimpy. He tugged those jeans off her legs and dropped them to the floor.
“Your turn,” Cecelia whispered. “Take off your—”
No, he wasn’t taking off his clothes yet. He put his hands on her thighs and pushed them apart and then he slid between her legs.
“F-Flynn?”
“Wondered how you’d taste.” His fingers slid over the crotch of her panties. He loved the silky fabric, but he knew he’d love what was under the fabric even more. He stroked her, and Cecelia arched into his touch with a soft moan. “You smell like vanilla. Do you taste like vanilla everywhere?” His fingers moved under the edge of her panties.
Her lips parted as she gasped out a hard breath.
She was wet. Warm. So incredibly soft. His fingers were so damn big, but he slid his index finger into her. Worked in another, moved with a slow rhythm at first, then faster, a little rougher as the need inside of him grew with every gasp and moan that she gave.
But touching wasn’t enough. Tasting, that was what he needed. The silky panties were in the way, so he grabbed them and jerked.
They ripped, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her head had tipped back as she arched, and he finally could see her sex. Bare. Open. Ready for him. His touch.
His fingers slid into her. His thumb pressed to her clit.
Ready for his mouth.
He lowered his head, and Flynn feasted. His tongue licked over her, in her, he stroked again and again, and her nails were suddenly raking over his arms. She moaned frantically as her sex pressed eagerly to his mouth.
She tasted better than vanilla cream.
“Flynn!” His name was a choked cry from her, one that burst with pleasure. He kept tasting her, licking her as Cecelia came for him.
Then he lifted his head. Her cheeks were flushed. Her gaze was locked on him. He felt absolutely savage. So wild for her. Desperate. He moved away from her slowly, hating to leave her for even an instant, but he had to strip. He tore off his clothes. Kept his stare on her every single moment. She didn’t speak. Her heart was still racing so fast. And the scent of her arousal was driving him absolutely insane.
His cock was long and hard, surging straight toward her. “Take off the bra.” The words emerged as a guttural order. If he tried to remove her bra, Flynn knew he’d just rip the thing.
She sat up and unhooked the bra, revealing her breasts as the cups fell away. Dusky nipples, tight. “Flynn,” she began and there was nervousness creeping into her voice. A faint edge of worry—
Need her. Take her.
He picked her up, twisted their positions on the bed, and had her sitting over him in a flash. Her legs were on either side off his hips. His cock shoved against the wet opening of her sex, but he didn’t enter her, not yet. “Don’t be afraid.” Another guttural order. He’d moved to this position for her, wanting her to feel some power. He was holding onto his control with every ounce of strength that he possessed.
Her hands splayed over his chest. Her knees pushed into the mattress and her soft thighs brushed against his body.
“Protection,” she gasped. “We, you—”
“Don’t have any diseases.” He’d been examined a million times at Lazarus.
“I don’t either, and I’m on, ah…” Her hot sex slid over him in a slow glide, but again, his cock didn’t thrust into her. “I’m on birth control.”
Then he wanted her this way. With nothing between them. With his cock shoving deep into her tight, little sex. With every second that passed, his control weakened. “Now…now, baby, now.”
Her hips tilted up, and she took him in—but not deep enough. Not fucking deep enough. Just a few inches. He wanted to be balls deep in her, but Cecelia was too tight.
“It’s been…a…a while for me…I told you…b-before Lazarus…”
He had no fucking idea how long it had been for him. Definitely before Lazarus, but if he didn’t get all of the way inside of her, he would lose his mind. Absolute certainty. His hand slid between them. He worked her clit, stroking fast and hard, and she gave a little half-scream. One of pleasure, not pain. Only pleasure. He shoved his hips up at the same moment and sank fully into her.
Her head tipped back. Her hair trailed over her shoulders and her breasts thrust toward him. He needed those breasts. Needed her nipples in his mouth. He surged up and his mouth caught her left breast. He licked and sucked and her sex squeezed him so tight.
“It’s too much,” she whispered. “Flynn…I can’t…”
He swiped his tongue over her nipple, and then he was tumbling her back onto the bed. “You’ll come for me again. You’ll squeeze my cock tight, and you’ll come for me again.” He lifted her legs up, and he drove into her, watching her face every second. Needing to see her pleasure.
And it came. Her face went slack as another climax rocked through her. And he felt it. Felt her sex squeeze him hard and tight with the contractions of her release.
Then he was lost. His control shattered, and he battered into her, wild and rough, surging toward his release because he’d held back too long. Because he’d wanted her too long. Her body was heaven, driving him beyond all rational thought. He just wanted her. Wanted to claim her. Wanted to own her.
Bryce had been wrong. Cecelia didn’t belong to that bastard. Flynn had known from the first instant, the first moment he’d seen her…that Cecelia was meant to be his.
She’s mine! Mine!
He sent the thought out, rage and lust and possession burning through him, and then Flynn was coming. His climax slammed into him, and he held her even tighter. He emptied into her, his body jerking as the release went on and on and on.
His heart thundered in his chest. Sweat coated his back, and his breath heaved in and out of his lungs.
Awareness returned slowly, and Flynn realized he was crushing Cecelia. He shoved up, fast. “Cece?”
Her heart was still racing, her breath still coming too quickly, but a faint smile curved her lips. “I liked that.”
A relieved laugh burst from him. He was still balls deep in her, already rising again, but she’d caught him off-guard, and a warmth filled his chest as he gazed at her sensual smile. “I more than liked it.” He kissed her. A slow, open kiss. “You just made me addicted.” He wanted to go again right then. Wanted to see her face soften with pleasure. Wanted to feel her sex clench around him as she came.
His mouth pulled from hers. He gazed into her eyes. She was staring at him with desire on her face, but in the depths of her eyes, he could see…fear? “Cecelia?”
“I wondered what it would be like.”
She’d wondered about sex between them? Good to know. “I did more than wonder. Thinking about you, fantasizing about you, it’s the only way I could get through those long days of being trapped in a cell at Lazarus.”
Her eyes widened. “Back…then? You wanted me—”
“I wanted you from the first moment I saw you. I walked into the office, took one look…” But he stopped, not saying more. Because if he said more, he’d frighten her. He didn’t want to frighten her.
He just wanted her.
“I didn’t think you liked me.” Her voice was small.
He pulled his hips back, sliding his cock out of her, then thrusting in again. She sucked in her breath and her thighs clenched around him.
“Like isn’t exactly the word I’d use.” He’d taken one look at her, and he’d stopped being just a caged beast. She’d been there, saying she wanted to help him, and he’d been trying to keep his hands off her.
He bent his head and pressed a kiss to her throat. He could feel her pulse beating so fast beneath his mouth. He licked her, then sucked the skin. He wanted to leave a mark on her because she’d more than left her mark on him. Did Cecelia understand that?
No, probably not.
He withdrew, then thrust again. Long, lazy strokes.
“You, ah…sure seem to remember plenty about sex.”
He stopped thrusting. Just stared into her eyes. “The primitive responses…the primitive memories, that’s what you and the other docs said we kept, right?”
Her fingers were on his chest, sliding over his nipples. “Procedural memories,” she whispered. “You remembered those. Procedural and, ah, yes! Primitive responses, too…”
He was moving his hips faster. Harder. “Doesn’t get more primitive than sex.”
“No…”
Not more primitive. Not more basic.
His hands caught hers. Their fingers threaded together, and he pushed her hands back, holding them against the pillow. He loved the way she looked right then. Sexy and wild. Lips swollen. Eyes wide with satisfaction.
“This is a mistake,” Cecelia said, her voice barely a whisper.
His shoulders stiffened.
“I should have stayed away from you. Shouldn’t have…ah…crossed the line.”
He was balls deep in her. “Why…” Speaking was nearly beyond him. The desire flared too dark again. “Did…you?”
“Because I wanted you too much.”
And that was what he needed to hear. Her desire. Cecelia, wanting him. Lust took over. Dark hunger rode him hard, as if he hadn’t just come within her. As if he hadn’t just emptied into her hot body. He caught her legs, lifted them over his shoulders and they proceeded to wreck that bed.
When she came again, Cecelia screamed his name. And he didn’t care if anyone heard her. If her neighbors were too close—screw them.
He plunged into her again and again, and when his release hit this time, it was even stronger than before. Pleasure seemed to fill every cell of his body. Euphoria had him shaking, and he held tight to her, so tight, and he knew that he was just getting started.
Anyone tries to take her from me…I’ll fucking kill ‘em.