Page 52 of Knight's Desire

“Say my name, sweetheart. I love to hear you say it with that sexy voice of yours.”

“Mason,” she moaned, her breathing coming in pants. Her channel gripped his finger like a vise, and he knew she was close. As much as he wanted to watch her fall apart, he wanted the first time to happen when they were joined together.

He pulled back, and she whimpered. Her hands fell to his shoulders to try and pull him forward, but he gripped them in his as he stood. He backed her up until the back of her legs hit the edge of the mattress. She dropped and scooted back until she was laid out in front of him.

He opened the drawer on the end table and pulled out a condom from the box he kept in there. He sheathed his throbbing cock quickly before taking it in his hand and moved up and down in torturous slow movements. He was rewarded with her heated stare watching his every move. Her tongue licked her swollen lips, and he could hold back no more.

His mouth claimed hers as his cock slid easily into her channel with one deep thrust. Her legs wrapped around his waist, changing the angle so he slid deeper inside of her. Her fingernails dug into his back as he started to move, a slow, sensuous glide that eventually increased in speed and intensity. His hips thrust with more force than he intended, but she only encouraged him to do more. She cried out in her desire to want it faster and harder. The ache in his balls intensified, and he drew back to watch her face. Her eyes were fixed on him even as she drowned in the throes of passion. She was close. He could see the signs in her flushed skin, dilated pupils, and hard pants. But he needed to drive her over the edge before he could have his own release.

He reached a hand between them, his thumb pressing against her clit as he thrust into her as deep as he could sink. And his beloved Hope shattered with a cry of ecstasy. His own orgasm erupted soon after, and they rode out wave after wave of intense pleasure together. He slowed his pace, and Hope clung to him as if not ready for him to withdraw. He wasn’t ready either. He finally collapsed on top of her, his arms against the mattress keeping him from crushing her with his weight. He buried his face in her neck, his tongue tasting the salty sweat glistening on her skin.

He didn’t know how long they stayed like that, their heavy breathing the only noise in the room. He finally rolled over and reluctantly moved to dispose of the condom. He held a washcloth under the warm water of the faucet and returned to find her exactly as he left her — sated and with a relaxed smile. She moaned as he used the washcloth to clean her. Damn, if his cock didn’t stir at the innocent sound.

He tossed the washcloth in his hamper and returned to the bed. He adjusted the covers that had slipped to the floor during their coupling, and when he laid beside her, he covered them snugly. His arms gathered her close, and she curled into his body as if it was the only place she wanted to be.

His hand caressed her back up and down, and she sighed in contentment.

“You’re not leaving.” It was a shitty move for Brick to bring this up when she was near sleep, but he didn’t think he could rest until he made his intentions known.

“Brick, I—”

“No way in hell am I letting you walk out of my life, even if it’s temporary. I want you here, close to me. I swear I’ll move heaven and earth to keep this asshole from getting near you.”

She tilted her head up, and she took his breath away. Full lips, rosy cheeks, tangled hair, dilated eyes, and satisfaction in her expression. He could get used to staring into her face every day for the rest of his life.

“I’ll stay,” she finally relented. “On one condition.”

He raised a curious brow. “I’m listening.”

“You will not take any dangerous risks to protect me. Whatever happens, happens, but I do not want to be the reason you get hurt. Promise me.”

“I can’t. If it means my life to keep you safe, I’ll gladly give it.”

“No. Please, I can’t bear it. It’s the reason I decided to go home. I’m hoping out of sight, out of mind works with this guy. Then I can come back, and we can pick up where we left off. If that’s what you want.”

“It’s not.” He regretted his harsh tone the moment he saw the hurt in her eyes. “There will be no picking up where we left off because we aren’t leaving anything. I promise not to take any unnecessary risks, but I will not promise I won’t do all that’s necessary to keep you safe. That will have to be enough because if you think I’m letting you go, you’ve lost your ever-loving mind.”

He wasn’t sure how he expected her to respond. Maybe with tears, maybe in anger, but not with the slow, gentle smile that warmed his insides.

“Okay. I won’t leave, but I don’t think you should be my bodyguard anymore. I’d rather have you in bed where I can have my wicked way with you instead of busy guarding my body and my house. You can continue to investigate, but let the others handle the security part. It’s the closest to a compromise you’ll get from me.”

He grinned and then captured her lips in a long, leisurely kiss that was heady enough for both of them to lose their breath. “Deal,” he murmured against her lips before kissing her again.

He tucked her into his side and dropped another kiss to the top of her head. “Sleep, because I plan for round two to come very, very soon.”

She relaxed in his arms, and just when he thought she’d succumbed to sleep, he felt her hand encircle his cock and squeeze. Then it gradually slid up his length, her finger circling his tip before her hand slid back down before starting the process all over again. Just like that, his cock perked up, and he heard a chuckle escape her throat.

“I’m thinking round two could come sooner than you think.”

With one swift move, he shifted her body until she lay underneath him, and she squealed with the sudden change in position. Then she melted under his kiss, and Brick wondered if his life could be any more perfect.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Hope stared at the sketch until the thick lines started to blur. She came into work today feeling inspired to create, but once she sat at her drafting table, her thoughts immediately went to Brick and not her designs.

The shift in their relationship left her with a huge smile on her face. If Ella could see her now, she would tease her for giving into the bodyguard fantasy. But Brick was more than a fantasy. He was as sweet and romantic with her as her father was with her mother, but with Brick, he never realized he was exhibiting special treatment with her. He only wanted to show her how he felt, and she loved that about him.

Not that they had used the “L” word with each other, but she knew without a doubt that’s how she felt with Brick.

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