Clay: Armed and Dangerous Page 7

  Clay’s hands clenched in Rylie’s hair. She never let up, not for a moment. She would have kept going, but he managed to use his strength to his advantage and disengaged himself from her mouth.

  His breathing came hard, sweat cooling his skin, as he braced his hands on her shoulders. Rylie grinned up at him, licking her lips like a cat cleaning the last bit of cream from her whiskers.

  “Remind me not to piss you off,” Clay murmured as he gripped her shoulders and drew her up to him. “You know how to get your revenge, don’t you?”

  Sliding her hands around his neck, she melded her lithe body against his. “Are you complaining?”

  He chuckled and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Not on your life.”

  Satisfaction warmed Rylie’s belly, knowing that she’d given him as much pleasure as he’d given her. A smile curved her lips as she nuzzled his chest. “You need time to regenerate, or are you ready?”

  Clay growled as he grabbed her ass and pressed his thick erection to her belly. “What do you think?”

  “Oooh, you’re hard again.” She stood up on her toes and brushed her mouth over his, loving the way his mustache felt against her lips. “So what are you waiting for?”

  He clasped his big hands around her slim waist and practically tossed her onto the bed. Rylie laughed and brushed her hair out of her eyes. But her laughter faded as she saw the look on Clay’s face— like he was up to no good.

  His mustache twitched as he reached over to the dresser and grabbed something off the top, and Rylie caught the glint of metal.

  She furrowed her brow as he moved onto the bed and knelt between her thighs. “What are you up to?” she asked as she tried to see what he was holding, but he held it behind his back.

  Clay put his free hand by her head and captured her gaze with his. “So... you’ve fantasized about being tied up, have you?” Warmth crept through Rylie, but it wasn’t because she was embarrassed at having so easily admitted her fantasy. It was more the way he looked at her—like he intended to do something about it.

  “Yeah...” No sooner had she said the word, than Clay brought the hand out that he’d been hiding and clamped cold steel around her wrist. “Hey—” she started, but he moved so fast that the next thing she knew he had her arms stretched over her head. He flipped the free cuff over the railing behind her, and then clasped the cuff to her other wrist.

  “Oh, my God.” Rylie twisted as she pulled against the cuffs, the metal slightly digging into her flesh. Her skin flooded with heat at the feel of being handcuffed and completely vulnerable to the man between her thighs. “I can’t believe you really did it.”

  “Change your mind?” Clay pressed his cock to her belly, his gaze like green fire licking through her body.

  “No way.” Tingles skittered through Rylie’s belly and her nipples tightened. “And in case you’re wondering, I’ve had all my tests, I’m clean, and I’m on the pill. What about you, cowboy?”

  “Clean bill of health all the way around.” He gave her his sexy smile. “Shall I get out my donor card?”

  “Anybody else, yes. You, I trust.” She wrapped her legs around his waist. “So get on with it. Now.”

  His mouth came down on hers, crushing her lips, as if punishing her for making him desire her so much. Even though she knew it was fruitless, she pulled against the cuffs, wanting to reach around him and dig her nails into his back.

  Clay hooked his arms under her knees and raised her up, opening her wide to him. He released one knee long enough to guide himself toward her slick opening. “Am I too big for you?”

  “Never.” She strained against the cuffs, arching her back. “Now, Clay!”

  Rylie gasped as he slid his cock into her opening, stretching her with his thickness. He grabbed both of her ankles and moved them up to his neck, so that her feet were to either side of his head, and she could feel the softness of his hair along her instep. His eyes focused on hers, his breathing hard as he eased himself in another inch and then paused.

  She raised her hips up, taking him deeper. “Give me all of you and stop messing with me.”

  The irritating man just grabbed her hips and gave her another fraction. “We have all night, honey.”

  Narrowing her eyes, Rylie did her best to glare at him. “There will be hell to pay later.”

  Clay grinned. “All right, little wildcat. You want it, then I’m gonna give it to you.”

  He thrust into her, burying himself. Rylie cried out at the sensation of having him so deep inside, stretching her and filling her completely.

  “You okay?” Clay held still, sweat beading on his forehead and trickling down the side of his face.

  “Oh, yeah.” Rylie wiggled, enjoying the incredible fullness. “I’ll be even better once you get to it.”

  With slow, even thrusts, he began moving within her core, holding her ass while he rose up on his knees. “You feel so good,” he murmured.

  She glanced down to where they were joined, mesmerized by the sight of him moving in and out of her. He was so big and thick, and it felt incredible. She had never been able to come from just penetration, but to her amazement, she already felt an orgasm coming on.

  His pace increased, his flesh slapping against hers. “I love the way you watch me.”

  Her gaze moved to his and her stomach flipped at the look in his eyes. “Harder.” Straining against the handcuffs, she tried to buck her hips. “I’m almost there.”

  Clay released her ass and reached around her legs to tweak her nipples, and at the same time began pounding into her like she wanted him to.

  “Yeah... just like that.” A faint buzzing started in Rylie’s ears as he drove into her. The noise grew to a dull roar. Her stomach muscles clenched and her core contracted, gripping Clay tighter.

  “Come on, honey.” His voice was hoarse, like he could barely hold himself back from climaxing.

  “Oh... my... God.” Rylie’s entire being vibrated as she grew closer and closer to the peak. “Don’t stop, Clay. Harder. Harder!” He growled as he pistoned his hips against hers.

  “Yes!” she screamed as she came, her body jerking with the force of each wave of her orgasm.

  Clay continued driving into her core, drawing along each undulation.

  “Rylie. Oh, damn,” he called out as he reached his climax. She felt every throb and pulse of his orgasm. He moved within her, slower and slower until he finally stopped, his hips fused against hers.

  After a moment, he eased her legs down from around his neck so that her feet were resting on the comforter. His weight felt comfortable as he relaxed on top of her, his stubble-roughened cheek resting next to hers and his length still clenched deep in her depths. Smells of sex and sweat sifted through the air and Rylie sighed, more sated and content than she could remember feeling before.

  “Mmmmm, Clay?” She moved her cheek against his, enjoying his stubble scraping her soft skin. “I hate to break this moment, but you think you could unlock these handcuffs?”

  “I don’t know.” He propped himself up on both arms and his lips quirked in a grin. “Kinda like you right where I’ve got you.”

  “Oh?” Damn but he made her feel all quivery and gooey inside. “What do I have to do to convince you?”

  Clay raised an eyebrow. “Of what?”

  “That there’ll be hell to pay if you don’t get these things off me now.”

  With a soft laugh he rolled off of her, sliding out and leaving her empty without him. “Now supposing I can’t find the key?”

  Rylie glared at him. “Supposing I’m gonna kick your ass, cowboy.”

  Keys jangled as he returned. He held them in his palm, a wicked look in his green eyes. “How about we strike a deal?”

  “Clay...” She swallowed back her retort as his gaze swept over her naked form from her arms stretched over her head, on down, settling on her shaved sex. While he studied her his cock lengthened, and her mouth watered to taste him again. He looked magnificent, his bo
dy so muscular and sculpted. Rylie’s nipples hardened and her core flooded as he smiled and met her eyes.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, and brushed his lips over hers. “I’ll let you go if you promise to stay the night.”

  Rylie’s breath caught, and she went still, pulling against the handcuffs. Her heart pounded out a strange cadence in her throat. “I don’t stay the night with anyone.”

  “Why?”

  She didn’t think she could answer, but heat—not a good kind— drove her words. “It’s one thing to enjoy sex. It’s another to wake up with a man and have breakfast with him. I don’t know you like that, cowboy.”

  I don’t know anybody like that, and I’m not sure I want to.

  “Stay with me.” His words were a demand, definitely not a request.

  She shook her head, but when she spoke, the word barely came out in a whisper. “No.”

  “That’s my condition, little wildcat.” Clay pressed his forehead to hers. “I aim to tame you.”

  Chapter 7

  The man was serious—Rylie could see it in Clay’s eyes, could hear it in his tone. Yet at the same time she couldn’t believe he intended to keep her cuffed to the bed until she agreed to spend the night with him.

  It took her a few seconds to beat down the instinctive panic and rage. She might be trapped by his damned cuffs, but she would not let him or anyone force her to be intimate in ways she’d rather avoid.

  Look at him. He’s not trying to trap you. He’s trying to tease you. To please you. Don’t hold him accountable for your screwed-up childhood.

  She felt herself relaxing. Something about Clay made that easier.

  “What’ll it be, honey?” Clay brushed his lips over hers, and sparks skittered through her belly like a dozen firecrackers. “I’ll feed you in bed if you’d rather be cuffed all night.”

  All right. Fine. If he wanted to play rough, she’d give him as good as he dished out.

  Like hell he would tame her. And before sunrise she would get her own revenge.

  When he drew back, Rylie glared at him the best she could manage. “I’ll spend the night, but only because I don’t particularly feel like being cuffed to the bed.”

  A smug smile crossed Clay’s handsome features as he reached up, removed the cuffs, and tossed them on the comforter. He massaged her wrists, the sensation of his touch soothing and arousing all at once. Passion burned through Rylie, coupled with warmth from the caring she witnessed in his expression.

  Even though she barely knew him, somehow this man stirred emotions and longings within her that she didn’t want to admit, and had never allowed herself to consider.

  Like a possibility of happiness and a future with one man.

  No. Make-believe and fairy tales: she didn’t believe in either. A father who wouldn’t work and liked to scream at his wife and kids, and a mother who couldn’t stand up to him had taught her way too much about what happens to people who believe in magic.

  Clay pressed his lips to the inside of one of her wrists, and flicked his tongue against her pulse point, sending a shiver throughout her body. “You ready for some chow?” he murmured.

  “S-sure.” She frowned at the way her voice trembled. What the hell was he doing to her?

  Satisfaction curled in Clay’s gut as he took her by the hand and helped her off the bed. He’d always been able to trust his instinct, and that instinct had told him from the beginning that Rylie shied away from real intimacy. Why she was afraid of a serious relationship, he didn’t know, but he was determined to find out.

  And by the time all was said and done, she’d be his.

  Rylie took her hand from his grasp and scooped his shirt from the floor. Her voice was muffled as she pulled it over her head. “So what’s for dinner, other than steak?”

  When she reappeared, static caused her hair to poke up all over her head in a blond halo. She was so petite that his shirt reached her knees, and she looked like a woodland pixie. Clay grinned, holding back a laugh.

  “What?” Rylie put her hands on her slim hips and narrowed her gaze.

  “You.” Shaking his head, he took her by the shoulders and kissed her forehead, then drew back to look at her again. “You’re adorable.”

  “Hmph.” She tried to look grouchy, but in his gut Clay knew it was all an act. For some reason she preferred to keep an emotional distance, which was something he’d have to change.

  He released her shoulders to grab his briefs and jeans off the floor, then pulled them on. “How about rolls, tossed salad, and mashed potatoes? I might even be able to come up with something for dessert, too.”

  “I have to warn you, I’m not into cooking, so I won’t be much help.” Rylie walked by his side as he headed out of the bedroom toward the kitchen. “If it wasn’t for prepackaged meals and the microwave, Levi and I would probably starve.”

  At the mention of her brother, a cloud passed through Clay’s consciousness. It probably wasn’t real smart of him to get busy with a suspect’s sister, but when it came to Rylie, Clay had to make an exception.

  “Dinner’s my treat, so sit your pretty ass down,” he said as they reached the kitchen. He took a package of T-bones out of the fridge and brought them to the grill built into the center of the stovetop. “My mom saw to it that my sisters and I learned how to cook.”

  “Ooooh, a man who’s great in bed and knows how to whip up a meal.” Rylie moved to the breakfast bar and eased up onto a stool. “If you clean, too, I think I’ve struck pay dirt.”

  Clay grinned as he turned on the grill, then grabbed a stoneware plate out of the cabinet. “I have a housekeeper who comes in a couple of times a week.”

  “Even better.” Mischief sparked in Rylie’s eyes. “Leaves more time for all that great sex.”

  His gaze met hers. “Better watch it, honey, or dinner’ll be late.”

  “Promises, promises.” Her voice was teasing, but her nipples poked through his shirt. He had no doubt she’d love it if he took her right there in the kitchen.

  She cleared her throat. “So... you actually like to cook?”

  With effort, Clay reined in his lust and took the steaks out of the package. “I have nothing against going out for a meal or heating up something in the microwave.” He slapped the steaks onto the stoneware plate and seasoned them liberally with salt and pepper. “But sometimes I find it kinda relaxing to cook up a good meal, like Mom makes.”

  Rylie enjoyed watching Clay as he fixed their dinner. The man was powerful and sensual, in command of his environment no matter where he was. Even in the kitchen.

  He looked so damn sexy in only his jeans, his chest bare and hair mussed. Her palms itched to touch him again, and she couldn’t wait to breathe deep of his masculine scent.

  For a while she was silent as she studied him, his muscles rippling in the soft lighting. With efficient movements he cut up potatoes and placed them in a pot with water to boil, then started putting together a salad with fixings he grabbed from the fridge.

  Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “I’ve been wondering what you were doing on my ranch that night we, ah, met.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile as he chopped a tomato on a cutting board. “When you were being a Peeping Tomasina?”

  “Peeping Tomasina, huh?” A giggle escaped her before she could stop it. “Don’t tell me you were being Tom.”

  “Not intentionally.” He tossed the tomatoes into a bowl with lettuce greens. “I was coming out to take your theft report myself, and to warn you off pulling any more stunts with Guerrero. I wanted to see you again, so I told the deputies I’d do it, then I got hung up with some emergencies and it got late.”

  “Ah.” Rylie propped her elbow on the breakfast bar as she watched him, her chin resting in her hand. “You wanted to see me again. I think I like that.” She gazed at him, wanting more than that, more of him. “So, tell me about your family. Like how many sisters you have.”

  “Three.” Clay gave
her a quick grin as he tossed the steaks onto the grill. “I’m the oldest. I think that’s what got me interested in law enforcement—I was always on the lookout for those girls. They were bound and determined to get into as much trouble as possible, and I was determined to keep them out of it.”

  “Uh-huh. An overprotective older brother.” Rylie smiled at the thought of Clay chasing off his sisters’ boyfriends. “I have one of those. Levi made it known that if any guys messed with me, he’d kick their asses.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Needless to say, it was not real good for my social life, considering Levi was one of the buffest jocks in school.” Of course he’d saved her ass once, too, and they had survived the collective hell that had been their warring parents together.

  Was it her imagination, or did Clay’s eyes narrow at the mention of her brother’s name?

  But Clay just nodded and gave her a quick grin. “I bet he had to kick a lot of ass to keep the guys away from you.”

  “Yeah, right.” Rylie snorted. “I didn’t develop as fast as most girls, so I was more like one of the guys. At least until I was a junior and my boobs actually decided to grow, even if it was just a little bit.”

  Clay’s eyes shot from the steaks to Rylie. “You’re perfect.” He set down the fork he’d been holding, and in just a couple of steps, he was at her side. She caught her breath as he lifted the shirt she was wearing and captured her breasts in his hands. “Pert, beautiful nipples. And more than a mouthful.”

  He ducked his head and suckled one of her hard nubs. Rylie gasped as he flicked his tongue over her nipple, then gently pulled at it with his teeth, before moving to the other breast. In the background, she could hear the sizzle of the steaks on the grill and the hiss of water on the stovetop as the potatoes boiled over. But Clay didn’t seem to care. His thumb found her sweet spot and he thrust his fingers into her core.

  Rylie slid her hands into his hair and held on, lost in the feelings he stirred within her. A moan escaped her lips as he sucked and gently bit at each nipple while his thumb teased her, his fingers still deep in her depths.