The Winner Takes It All Read online

  His stubborn brain rebelled. She was marrying someone she didn’t even like, for her image. Of course she cared what people thought.

  But he didn’t want to think about that now. He just needed to get to her. Mark her and make her his.

  Shane pulled into a parking garage a half block from Cecilia’s house, swung into a spot, then made a mad dash out of the car, walking at a clip that may as well have been a run. He bounded up the steps of her townhome two at a time. He rang the bell, trying to catch his breath.

  When the door opened, he lost it again.

  She’d changed.

  Lungs burning with lack of air, he could only gape at her.

  She put her hands on black-lace-covered hips. “I’ve been waiting for you.” The smoke in her voice finally matched the lushness of her mouth.

  Still unable to speak, he stepped inside, afraid to even touch her for fear he’d lose all control. She wore black garters, sheer stockings that exposed the smooth expanse of her thighs, and a black corset that made her waist impossibly small and her cleavage spill over.

  She looked at the door behind him. “You forgot to close the door.”

  While he’d been struck mute, she seemed calm and collected. He managed to grope for the handle and push the door shut.

  The second the latch clicked, she sank to her knees.

  Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

  He was going to have a heart attack and die right there.

  Slim fingers worked at his belt, her movements smooth and graceful as she slipped his zipper down.

  This wasn’t how he’d imagined this moment. Wasn’t what he’d planned. But damned if he had the power to stop her.

  He leaned against the door, threading his hand through her hair, playing with the silky strands.

  Thick lashes rose as she looked at him, her eyes dark and filled with heat. His thumb found her pulse, beating rapidly in her neck. She smiled, wicked and sure, sliding a finger into the waistband of his boxer briefs, a slow tease that made him weak in the knees and his cock so hard he thought he might burst.

  He fought the desire to take control. It would be much more comfortable for him, but he didn’t want to ruin this for her. He stroked a thumb down her neck. “You are so gorgeous.”

  She trailed her nails lightly over his balls and he sucked in a hard breath.

  This was torture.

  “I think you just like me on my knees.”

  He had to taste her. Bending, he twisted her hair in his fist, tilted her head, and gripped her jaw, holding her still for a hard, demanding kiss. A moan vibrated against his palm, setting off an indescribable feeling of power as he ate at her mouth.

  Her kiss was a surrender, and he took full advantage, slanting his head to deepen the angle and claiming her until they were both breathless. When he lifted his head, he whispered against her lips, “I love you on your knees.”

  Her fingers squeezed his aching shaft. “I’ve been thinking about this all night.”

  “Thinking about what?” Arrogantly wanting her to say it.

  “Sucking your cock. Driving you crazy. Licking you all over.”

  His fingers tightened in her hair. “That’s what you were thinking about through dinner?”

  “Yes. And how I’ll finally get to be with you.” She licked his erection, swirling her mouth around the tip, making him dizzy with lust. Never breaking eye contact, she pulled him into her mouth, then slowly, with a suction that made his eyes roll into the back of his head, she sucked before releasing him. “I was so wet.”

  “Cecilia,” he said, his voice ragged and broken.

  Her pink tongue slid up and down the length of him, pressing on the vein, lingering on the sensitive spot at the base. His head thunked against the glass pane of her door as her hot mouth enveloped him.

  “Fuck.” He gripped her hair and let her set the pace instead of thrusting the way he wanted. How many times had he fantasized about this? Those full lips wrapped around his cock?

  And now here she was, and it was about killing him.

  She sucked, pulling hard before freeing him with an audible pop. She sat back on her heels and looked at him. “I think you’re confused.”

  Having no idea what she was talking about, he blinked down at her.

  She ran her hands up his thighs, the tux pants hanging loosely from his hips. “I can feel you holding back. I want to see you lose it.”

  He stroked her cheek, his lust straining at the seams of civility. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

  “Yes, I do.” She licked the head of his cock again, circling over the tip like she ate ice cream. “Give it to me, Shane.” Her storm-blue eyes flirted up at him. “Please.”

  She watched from her position on the floor. Watched the struggle and uncertainty pass over his face. Not trusting her to know what she was asking for, even though she knew perfectly well. He might understand how she was wired, but she understood him too.

  She wanted him to lose it. Wanted to see that arrogant, controlled man who ripped orgasms from her body, gain his own pleasure.

  “Please,” she said again, her voice pleading.

  Again, his expression flickered, almost pained, his skin taut over the hard slash of his cheekbones.

  She squeezed his shaft, hard under her hands. Stone covered with hot silk. “Shane, use me.”

  She witnessed the exact moment recognition sank in. His mouth twisted into a sensually cruel smile. Eyes darkening to the deepest of emerald, his already tight grip on her hair twisted. He yanked her head back, the sting of pain making her gasp.

  Then he took her mouth. Claimed it. A hard, demanding, brutal kiss that left her shaken and throbbing. She wrapped her hand around his neck and arched to meet him.

  It was a kiss meant for his pleasure. It was predatory, domineering, and mean.

  And she loved it.

  Her whole body thrummed, every nerve ending on fire, overloaded from sensation.

  He ripped away, straightened, and guided her lips to his cock, where he thrust into her mouth. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t restrained.

  He took what he wanted.

  And she let him because it’s what she wanted too. He needed this. She didn’t know how or why she knew, but she did. She relaxed her throat and jaw, submitting to his pleasure.

  Like an animal, he growled low in his throat. His expression turned feral as he fucked her mouth. She grasped his shaft with her hand to increase the pressure but he pushed her wrist away as he shook his head. “Just your mouth, baby.”

  She complied, resting her hands on his hips to keep steady while he thrust in and out, his lids half hooded, his breath hard.

  It was the oddest, strangest feeling. As she sat on her knees and let him have his way with no reservations, she should have felt less, but she didn’t. She’d never been so aroused. Had never felt so powerful. So alive.

  She moaned. As her throat vibrated, his head fell back, his tempo increasing. His shaft swelled between her lips. Filling her. Completing her. She groaned again, long and loud, her nails digging into his skin as she increased the pressure.

  On a roar, he thrust once again and bathed the back of her throat.

  Over and over he jetted into her mouth, and she gulped down every drop as she watched through lifted lashes. His expression broke apart, his lips parted and gasping for air, completely abandoned as he lost himself to her.

  He released his grip on her hair. Her neck tingled as the blood rushed back and he slipped from her mouth. He shook his head, rubbing his thumb over her swollen lips. “What are you doing to me?”

  Emotions she couldn’t name threatened to overwhelm her. “The same thing you’re doing to me.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the floor. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her long and slow, almost drugging her it was so intoxicating. When he raised his head, he said, “Upstairs.”

  She nodded, turned, and led the way.

  When they entered her bedroom, s
he stopped at the edge of the bed. Behind her, his palms rested on her shoulders and slid down her bare arms. She shivered.

  He trailed his mouth over her neck. “Cold?”

  Hardly. She was burning up. “Since the day we met, anytime you touch me, I shiver.”

  His fingers trailed over her shoulder blades, rubbing along the edge of the corset she’d worked herself into before his arrival. “Me too.”

  She craned her neck, looking back at him. “Really?”

  “I’ve wanted you from the second I saw you. Even hidden under all that ice.” He kissed her. “You look incredible in this.”

  “I bought it for you.” She’d known it would be tonight.

  “Sit on that chair.” He pointed to the antique lounging chaise at the end of her bed, covered in dove-gray velvet.

  Suddenly nervous, she did as he asked. She sat on the edge, looking at him as he thoughtfully assessed her. With his big hands, he parted her legs, palms hot and strong against her skin. He slid a finger up and down her lace panties, damp from her arousal. “You’re wet.”

  She gulped, nodded. Not understanding what was happening between them but knowing it was significant.

  He traced the edge of her panties then slipped his fingers inside to circle her swollen clit. She shuddered. The pleasure was as sharp as a blade.

  His jaw hardened. “You’re always wet for me.”

  “Yes.” She answered simply because it was the truth.

  He grasped both sides of her panties. “I’ll buy you another pair.” Then he shredded them and tossed them onto the floor.

  Heady from desire, she gasped, remembering that first night in the kitchen. Let’s not pretend, if a woman ever needed her panties ripped off, it’s you. That was the thing about Shane, he always got what he wanted.

  He draped her against the arm of the chair, lifting one leg onto the chaise while the other stayed on the floor. She was open and exposed to him. He pressed her knee, opening her wider. More obscenely.

  She would have been embarrassed if it wasn’t for the heat in his eyes and the trickle of wetness on her thighs.

  He practically purred in satisfaction, as he rubbed her clit in slow circles, sending lightning bolts of sensation through her body. “If you were sitting next to me during dinner I would have played with your pussy through every course.”

  Her head fell back on the chair as her hips rose to meet him. Yes, this was all she needed. Shane’s talented fingers and wicked tongue.

  “Would you have liked that?”

  “Yes,” she said, on a breathless moan. She ground her teeth as a frustrating, relentless need coiled tight but refused to break. His touch was enough to drive her crazy but too light to make her come. And she needed to, urgently. Had never been so desperate for it. Impatient, she grabbed his wrist and attempted to force his hand to a firmer pressure.

  He laughed and batted her away. “I’m not done with you.”

  He stopped.

  And she wanted to kill him.

  He yanked down the top of her corset, lifting her breasts so they spilled free. He sat on the edge of the chair and dragged his thumbs over her nipples.

  Pleasure radiating down to her core, she arched.

  He licked at her lips, slowly trailing a path down her neck, pausing to scrape his teeth over her pounding pulse before continuing on. He pressed his mouth against the hollow of her throat, skimmed over her collarbones before licking one hard nipple. He laved it with his tongue before moving to the other.

  Back and forth he went.

  Sucking, licking.

  It was exquisite torture.

  A tease meant to drive her mad. His teeth scraped along sensitive flesh until her hips rocked. She cried out, “Shane, please, Shane.”

  She chanted her plea over and over again, mindless.

  But he was relentless. Exacting in his pursuit to drive her insane.

  When her nipples were swollen and red, gleaming with wetness, he pulled back and stood.

  She blinked at him.

  He pulled out his phone and her eyes tracked his movements.

  Dazed, drugged with the steady thrum of desire rushing in her veins, she frowned in confusion.

  “I want to take your picture. Looking desperate and wanton and gorgeous. I want you to do this for me. And only for me.”

  A million scandals filled her mind, of men and women brought down by pictures they’d taken. How many times had she lamented their stupidity? Shaken her head at their naïveté? Everyone knew in today’s digital world nothing was truly safe.

  It was the hardest thing he could have asked her to do.

  Shane watched her. Phone in hand, his eyes narrowed.

  Of course, this wasn’t about the picture. It was about trusting him. And in his expression she saw he expected her to say no. To refuse.

  Logic dictated she be prudent. But she wasn’t going to do that, because she trusted him.

  Slowly, she nodded. Stupidity be damned, she could give him this.

  Something primal flared in his eyes and he jutted his chin toward the back of the chair. “Lean your head back.”

  She did. He walked over and spread her hair out like a fan before his lips claimed hers.

  When she was breathless, almost light-headed with anticipation, he released her mouth then sucked on her nipples until they were once again plump and wet. Then he pushed her legs wider apart.

  And she let him.

  He stood back, admiring his work before shaking his head. “Damn, that’s perfect.” Then he raised his phone, his thumb sliding over the screen. “If only I had my good camera here, but this will have to do.”

  Then he snapped the picture, the flash going off. “Put your hands over your head.”

  She complied. He growled his satisfaction. Then the pictures began, one right after the other, the light flaring then burning out over and over while something miraculous happened.

  With every click of the shutter, her inhibitions slipped away, leaving her so aroused, she almost vibrated with it. She arched her back, her lips parting as he played with her nipples and clit. Almost pushing her over the edge only to pull back and start all over again.

  Her eyes closed and she surrendered. Lost herself completely to Shane and his hands moving incessantly over her body. It was the sluttiest, most erotic thing she’d ever done and she was so wet it started to trickle down the crease of her thighs.

  At long last, he was finally satisfied, and the clicking flash stopped.

  Drugged with passion, she opened her eyes in time to see him toss the phone to the table. He stood, shucking off his clothes, then he grabbed her and pushed her to the bed.

  “Jesus, Cecilia,” he said, his voice hoarse. He splayed her thighs and fisted his hard cock, kneeling over her. “That was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”

  She couldn’t speak, just arched her hips in invitation. He ripped open the condom with his teeth before tossing the wrapper aside and rolling it over his erection. His movements frantic and hurried.

  She couldn’t stand it. Couldn’t wait.

  With a smooth hard thrust, he entered her. And she cried out in relief. Finally. At long last, he was a part of her, and she was home.

  She gasped as her tight, swollen flesh stretched around him. Her nails dug into his back. “Shane, I need you so bad.”

  “I’m here, baby.” He kissed her, his hips circling in time with his tongue.

  The rhythm driving her mad, she gripped his hips, feeling the flex of muscles as he moved inside her.

  Harder. She needed harder. She dug her nails deeper into his skin, and he took it as the sign it was, moving faster inside her.

  The pressure coiled tight.

  She couldn’t breathe.

  Their mouths parted and she groaned as he started to pound into her.

  It was like something broke between them.

  All traces of civility gone, she clawed at his back as he thrust over and over.

  D
eeper and deeper.

  The sound of their flesh filled the room. The headboard banged against the wall and they made animalistic noises in the back of their throats.

  The room became hot. Sticky. Damp with their sweat. The scent of sex, of them, infused the air.

  She was poised to come. Desperate for it. But she held back, not wanting this wild, crazy recklessness to end.

  His cock surged into her.

  Her hips rocked, furiously.

  The pleasure spiraled out of control.

  Spinning tighter and tighter as their movements grew more and more frantic.

  And then, it happened.

  The orgasm ripped through her like it would tear her apart, and she screamed, forgetting everything but this man inside her, the beat of her heart, and the waves and waves of pleasure storming through her body.

  He followed her, shouting her name as he came, triggering another ripple of climax until they both lay exhausted and panting for breath.

  He rolled off her, pulling her with him so she lay with her head on his chest, nestled in the crook of his arm. His heart hammered under her ear, matching the rapid beat of her own and she closed her eyes, waiting for the rhythm to slow.

  “Holy Mother of God.” His voice a hoarse rasp.

  Boneless with satisfaction, she wanted to agree but couldn’t get her mouth to work.

  Fingers trailed a path down her back, pausing when he got to the laces. “Sit up and I’ll get you out of this.”

  “Too tired,” she said, her eyes already heavy.

  “You can’t sleep in this, it’s too tight.” He shifted, pulling her up.

  She hugged her arms around her knees, resting her heavy head on her folded arms.

  He worked at the laces, pulling the fabric free. “How’d you get yourself into this?”

  “YouTube videos.” Her voice thickened with sleep.

  He laughed then licked down her spine.

  She shivered.

  He moved behind her and then his breath was hot on the shell of her ear. “You have an exhibitionist streak in you.”

  She shook her head. “That’s all you.”

  “Do you want to see the pictures?”