“Harder,” she pleaded.
In answer, he bit, and pleasure-pain sparked her nerve endings. At last he began to suck, fingers stealing toward her thighs. Lower. Lower. The heel of his hand settled at the top of her cotton-covered mound. He pressed down lightly, abrading her clitoris.
Make me come. Do it. No more teasing.
Mia dug her heels into the bed, lifting her hips. His lips worked her breast, bringing her closer and closer to orgasm. Little whines escaped her, helpless sounds, pleading sounds. She lost track of what she said, but she knew she begged.
The world narrowed to his mouth and his hands.
He had her exactly where he wanted her.
God, she smelled good, like cinnamon and vanilla, wholesome and tempting. Her restive movements made it a bit difficult to work the panties down her hips, but when she realized his goal, she raised her ass off the mattress. He balled the white cotton up and flung it away. Another man might’ve been disappointed by her lack of satin and lace.
Not him. Her underwear meant she hadn’t planned this encounter. It meant she’d wanted him badly enough to act on impulse, against all her instincts. Given how long it had been since he’d been with anyone who knew him, it was worth everything.
He didn’t care what tonight cost him; she would be worth it.
For a long moment, he simply gazed at her. He almost couldn’t believe she’d given him the right to do anything he wanted. His hands trembled as he parted her thighs, so slim and graceful. Against the cool white sheets, her skin glowed with amber warmth. He loved the hue of her, the raven spill of her hair.
He nuzzled the tender skin of her inner thighs, using his teeth as a counterpoint. She cried out, arching up as he’d wanted. Her labia gleamed wet, only a whisper away as he worked his way upward. It had been so long since he’d tasted a woman, so long since he’d had anything but anonymous release.
But he’d promised himself he would savor her. Mia was the best part of his half life, and he was determined to emblazon himself on her memory with this one night. Setting his fingers against her outer lips, whisper light, he began a gentle massage, working her body open with his fingertips. Wetness glimmered on her folds, broadcasting her excitement. When he reached the top of her cleft, he found her clit ready for attention.
She was so primed.
Still, he stroked her, rubbing her juices in a sweet circle around the tender bud. Her breath came in soft sobs, her hips jerking with each delicate caress. He teased her with a sliver of penetration before easing his hand away. She tried to follow, tugging helplessly on the cord. If she had any idea what the sight of her did to him-God, he felt almost sick with lust, and he was shaking, afraid of what he’d do once he got inside her.
“Now,” she begged. “Oh, God, now. Do it.”
When he finally buried his face between her legs, she screamed, just as he’d promised. Out here, there was no one to hear her, no one to mind. He licked her in long, lazy motions. Delicious. She tasted sweeter than he could’ve ever imagined-and he’d thought about this a lot.
He found her clit with his tongue, and she came undone. Mia writhed, rubbing her body against his mouth. Her legs wrapped around his head, muffling the sounds she made as she came. He kissed and licked her through two orgasms while his cock ached. Somehow he found the strength not to hump against the mattress while he pleased her.
After her third orgasm, she went limp. That was his cue.
He got a condom from the bedside table and rolled it on with shaking hands. She didn’t protest when he pushed her thighs wide and settled between them, but she didn’t help much, either. With one hard thrust, he claimed her.
Mine.
Oh, God, not mine.
Just tonight. Only tonight.
She felt so good. Tight. Hot.
“Wake up, Mia. Open your eyes, princess.”
Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks, and then she gazed up at him with her gorgeous dark eyes. “I wanted this an hour ago, dammit. I have nothing left.”
“That’s not true.” Holding her eyes with his, he thrust and took pleasure in the way her eyes widened. “You’ll give me everything. I’m going to make you scream again. You were begging for my cock in your pussy, remember?”
A languorous smile curved her mouth. “I begged you for all kinds of things, most of them illegal in the more straitlaced states.” Her breath caught as he tilted her hips and quickened his strokes. “Oh. Oh.”
“There?” He pushed, eyes on her face. It was vital to his sanity that she didn’t lose sight of him; he felt as if he’d die if she wasn’t with him all the way when he came. Just once, just for tonight, he needed the woman who knew him.
“Yes.” It was both an agreement and encouragement.
Her thighs framed his hips, ankles locking at his back. Mia dug her heels into his ass, urging him on. She worked her hips in tiny circles, beginning to recover some of her spent energies. Her body felt like fire and honey in his arms.
He had to get her closer to climax. His control wouldn’t hold much longer; it had never been what it should be where Mia was concerned. With another woman, he could prolong this for hours yet, but he found the sight of her bound on his bed beyond exciting. He slid a hand between them and stroked her clit. From the hours of foreplay, he knew just the pressure and rhythm she liked.
She rewarded him with another scream.
The sound drove him wild. Thought disintegrated. He moved faster. Harder. Deeper. She took his thrusts, moaning. Madness devoured him, and he lost himself in her. The orgasm roared through him, pleasure blinding him. Her body bucked, her climax intensifying his own. At the peak, he bent his head and kissed her-the ultimate insanity. She sobbed into his open mouth, and he sought her tongue. Bit her lower lip. Long waves rolled through him, leaving him sweaty and shaken.
She closed her eyes in dreamy bliss.
Remorse pierced him like a spear.
What have I done?
Instead of glorying in the endorphins sizzling in his blood, he felt slightly sick. He shouldn’t have, no matter the temptation. The kiss ruined everything. And I was doing so well, dammit. His cursed ability was always at its strongest in times of emotional intensity-and that had damn well blown his head off. No matter how clever she was, she couldn’t be expected to know him now.
Despite that, he couldn’t make himself move away. Sick with despair, he lowered his head onto her chest. She’d be lost in some lovely dream by now.
“Could you untie me? My arms are a bit sore. And I’d like to hold you, unless that’s against the rules.” She sounded quiet, tentative.
He lifted his head, afraid to hope. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
After unknotting the cords, he rubbed her arms to help with the muscle tension. He’d been careful not to bind her in an uncomfortable position, but she had been writhing against her bonds. Mia sighed in pleasurable appreciation, gazing up at him as he knelt.
He had to know. Had to ask. “Who am I?”
Her black eyes were grave. “I don’t know. You were Foster, and now you’re Strong. Brown hair, blue-gray eyes.”
It couldn’t be. Couldn’t.
But it was. She saw him, even now. He could have wept with the puzzling, inexplicable joy of it. He closed his eyes against the impulse. No time for a breakdown. No time. They only had tonight, and he wouldn’t waste it.
“Better?” At her nod, he lay down beside her.
He should probably make some excuse at this point and drive her back to her car, but instead, he would keep her as long as she’d stay. Unwise, certainly, but he was surely due this one shining moment to offset the weight of everything else. If he’d believed in karmic justice, he would have said Mia Sauter was his reward.