Page 34 of Wicked Obsession

If her skin wasn’t damp enough to stick to the counter, his next stroke might have moved her backward. “Yes, like this.” The last word came out like a hiss as skin met skin. Her eyelids closed halfway as she lost herself in the pleasure. Lost herself in pleasuring the man she loved.

She touched, caressed, sometimes dug her fingers into his back, his shoulders when arousal spiked. “Ry, Ry, Ry,” she chanted, unable to form any other word.

“Yeah. Come for me, hellcat.”

Almost there. She couldn’t manage to say it.

It didn’t matter. Ryder knew her. He’d know she was close.

The guttural sound he made told her he was close to coming too. As he ground against her, he pinched her nipple, startling her eyes into opening. The sweat running down his face, the gritted teeth, the inferno burning in his eyes….Yes.

Langley arched as ecstasy bore down on her and Ryder shifted, moving with her.

His groan was loud, long, and his orgasm set off hers. She clutched at him, needing him to keep her anchored in this world. When the bliss finally began to lessen, she went boneless, falling against Ryder, trusting him to keep her safe.

Chapter 14

Ryder was scared to open his eyes, afraid he’d see condemnation in Langley’s face or worse yet, fear. She’d wanted him to lose his self-command, and she’d gotten her wish, but she deserved better. There was a soft catch in her breathing and he tensed. What if he’d given her pain instead of pleasure? That got his eyes open. Fast.

Her head was against his shoulder, her dark hair hiding her face. There was a tremor in his hand as he smoothed it back, trying to see if she was okay. “Did I hurt you?”

She made a sound that could mean anything.

“Langley?”

“Fine.” She bit his shoulder where it met his neck, then licked the spot.

“You’re fine?” he asked, needing to be positive.

“Um-hum.”

Finally, he allowed himself to relax, and Ryder resumed stroking her hair, needing to touch her, needing to show her that he was capable of gentleness. Langley might not be a real princess, but she had grown up surrounded by wealth, she’d met kings and prime ministers, and she deserved better than a rough ride on the pantry island.

That thought finished off what was left of his erection and he eased back. And immediately lost his balance. Langley had to hang on to him to keep him steady. Damn, he’d forgotten he’d only pushed his jeans and briefs down to his thighs. He tugged everything up and zipped, but didn’t bother with the button at his waist.

Langley sat naked on the counter, body relaxed, and he gently pushed her hair out of the way to see her expression. Satiated. Contented. Smug. And then she grinned at him. “We must do that again.” He didn’t know what she saw on his face, but she laughed. “I didn’t mean right this instant.” Leaning forward, she gave him a loud, smacking kiss and sat back before he could overcome his shock.

Her playfulness eased the weight on his chest and he gave her a slower, more thorough kiss before stepping away. “Hang on,” Ryder said as shemade a move to get off the counter. “Let me get something to clean you up.”

He went to the sink, looked around, and grabbed a ribbon of paper towels, folding them and dampening them before returning to Langley.

“Paper towels?” Her tone was teasing. “I don’t rate a dish cloth?”

“Hellcat,” Ryder said as he took care of her, “it was either this or a pot scrubber.”

She made a face at him, but remained quiet, her hands resting on his bare shoulders. When he finished, he used his free hand to tip her chin up until their eyes met. With reverence, he kissed her slowly, putting all the gratitude, all the awe he felt into the gesture. And as he lifted his head, Langley sighed softly. One side of his mouth quirked up.

Wrinkling her nose at him, Langley said, “Help me down.”

Taking her by the waist, Ryder put her on the floor, holding on until she was steady. Her wince worried him, but nothing except time would make her feet stop hurting. “Okay now?”

“Yes.” She stepped into her panties and pulled her shirt on before gathering up her bra, jeans, and shoes. “Will you make me a sandwich or something, please? I’m starving. I’m going to finish cleaning up in the bathroom next door. You didn’t catch every bit of the syrup.”

“I got the places that mattered,” he pointedout, voice thick as he remembered where he’d taken his time.

She laughed and pressed her lips to his chin. “Will you make me food?”

Ryder nodded and was rewarded with a smile. She didn’t linger, though, going to the door, unlocking it, and checking both directions before scurrying into the bath. He opened the cabinet under the sink, found some cleaning spray, and wiped down the counter. With the signs of their lovemaking gone, he returned the bottle under the sink and washed his hands, using paper towels to dry them. He tossed the wad in the trash, jerked on his shirt, put the holster back on, grabbed the loaf of bread, and returned to the kitchen.

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