Played her funny little joke. Now it was payback time.
I glared at her, holding up the mice. “You are going to pay for that little stunt, Raven.”
She scrambled off the sofa, standing behind it. “Nope.”
“Yes.”
“I had to. It was too easy.”
I stepped closer. “Catching you will be too.”
Her eyes widened, her gaze roaming the room, looking for her escape. Except she didn’t have a chance. Her gaze gave her away, focusing on the route she planned to take. She lunged to the left, and I was behind her instantly, still holding the damn mice. She had one in her hand and turned, flinging it at me, half laughing, half scared. I caught her before she could get far, throwing her over my shoulder, swatting her behind. “I warned you.”
“Put me down.”
I carried her to my bed and flung her on the mattress, following her down, pinning her to the bed.
“Gotcha.”
She giggled and held up another mouse, tapping it on my nose. I had to laugh. “I can’t believe Leo told you how much I hate mice.”
She nodded. “I had to bribe him.”
“With?”
“Cookies.”
I laughed. The bastard had a major sweet tooth, and his wife only allowed him a treat on occasion. Of course he couldn’t resist the lure of cookies.
“I found it hard to believe,” Raven mused. “The man who chases after bad guys, makes me feel safer than I ever have, and seems larger-than-life, is frightened by mice?”
“I’m not frightened. I just dislike them.”
“You looked as if you were going to pass out when you saw them.”
I slid my hands down her arms, tossing the mouse in her hand over my shoulder. I entwined our fingers, lifting her arms over her head and lightly holding them in place.
“I was startled.”
“You were adorable.”
I shook my head, lowering my face to her neck, kissing the soft skin. “You’re the adorable one.”
She shivered, and I grinned against her throat.
“Scared now, my Ravenna Jade?”
“Yes.”
“Of what I’m going to do to you, my beautiful girl?” I asked, tracing my lips over her ear, capturing the lobe and tugging on it with my teeth.
“Of how you make me feel.”
I pulled back, meeting her wide-eyed gaze.
“How am I making you feel?” I asked in a low voice.
“Needy,” she breathed. “Achy with want.”
Her words hung in the air between us. The playfulness evaporated, desire building around us.
“I can ease that ache,” I murmured. “I want to ease that ache.”
“Please,” she whispered. “Damien, please—”
I cut off whatever she was about to say. Our mouths melded together seamlessly, moving and caressing. I slid my tongue inside her mouth, meeting hers, twining and tasting. I swallowed her breath, filling my lungs with her essence. She pulled on her hands, and I released them, grunting in approval as she wound them around my neck, tugging on my hair and keeping me close. I slid mine under her back, lifting her, dragging her to the middle of the bed, our mouths never separating. I swam in the sensations she brought forth in me. The need and want. The feel of her under me. She tugged on my shirt, and I pulled back, my mouth protesting being apart from hers. I tore my shirt over my head and threw it behind me with the discarded mouse. I helped her pull hers off, groaning at the sight of her pretty, lacy bra, the dark blue of it contrasting with her skin, making it look creamy and inviting. But as pretty as the bra was, I was far more interested in the beautiful swells it hid from my eyes, and I slid my hand around her back, unhooking the bra and pulling it down her shoulders, baring her to me.
“Fuck, you are beautiful,” I whispered, tracing her breasts, running my fingers around her nipple that hardened under my touch. I took her mouth again, lowering her back to the bed, kissing her until she was shaking. I dragged my mouth over her throat, across her collarbone, and slowly drew one nipple into my mouth, playing with and teasing it as she whimpered. I showed the same attention to her other one, smiling at her low gasps and pleas. I traced my hand over her stomach, stopping at the waistband of her skirt. I looked up, our eyes meeting, mine pleading for permission, hers heavy-lidded and filled with passion.
She lifted her ass and popped the button on the side. I slid off the material, adding it to the growing pile on the floor. Then I drank her in. She wore a wisp of lace between her legs, the same deep blue as her bra. Two tiny bows beckoned my fingers, and I tugged, the material giving way easily. I heard her sharp intake of air as I gazed at her, naked, beautiful, and on my bed. I traced a path between her hip bones, drawing lazy patterns on her skin with my finger.
“You want this, Raven? You want me? Us?”
“Yes.”
“You have to know something. Once we do this, once I make you mine, I’m all in. I’m not a player. I’ll be yours.” I paused. “I’ll consider you mine.” I dropped my voice. “I protect and cherish what is mine.”
She sat up, grasping the back of my neck and bringing my mouth back to hers. “So do I.”
We became a mass of quivering limbs, seeking mouths, and desperate pleas. The rest of my clothing was discarded, our hands working together to rid me of the material that separated us. Her skin rubbing on mine was soft, the feel of her wrapped around me intoxicating. I slid my hand between her legs, finding her warmth, feeling her desire, the wet of her like silk on my fingers. She gasped as I played with her, widening her legs when I slipped one, then two fingers inside her. Her breathy little moans and whispers were pure erotica to my ears.
“Yes, Damien. Oh God, like that. Yes, touch me like that.”
“Harder, please. More, give me more.”
I groaned as she wrapped her hand around me, stroking me from root to tip. She used her thumb to spread the precome around the crown and traced her fingers along the vein that protruded under the thin skin. She cupped and stroked my balls. We kissed endlessly—deep, passionate ones; gentle, adoring presses of our lips; long, languid strokes of our tongues. I learned her dips and curves. The feel of her hips filling my hands. The taste of her everywhere. Sweet, salty, musky. She made me groan when she took me in her mouth, her tongue discovering everything she’d explored with her hands, this time the sensations wet and hot. Finally, she hovered over me, our gazes locked.
I blindly reached into the drawer, pulling out a condom. She ripped it open with her teeth, sheathing my rigid cock, then slowly lowered herself on me. I groaned as her pussy engulfed me. Blistering heat pounded down my spine, my cock gripped inside her body. She stopped when we were flush, her cheeks red, her eyes wide.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You feel so good.”
“So do you.” I grabbed her hips. “I need you to move.”
She rolled her hips, and I cursed. She did it again, rising up and lowering herself, smiling at the low groan she pulled from my chest.
“Jesus, baby.”
She leaned forward, the angle changing. She was close enough, I kissed her. Swallowed her cries of delight as she began to move. She undulated over me, whimpering, wrapping me in her heat. I slid my hand between us, stroking circles on her hard clit, feeling her orgasm beginning. I pressed harder, smiling as her muscles locked down and she flung back her head, riding me harder. I lunged up, taking her down to the mattress under me, thrusting into her. I kissed and licked at her lips, her neck, her breasts. Sucked her hard nipples. Drove into her mindlessly, my orgasm beginning to bear down on me. She sobbed out my name, coming again, pulsating around me. I lifted my head with a long, loud groan and let the pleasure take me. I spiraled down into the ecstasy, my body shaking, the frenzy so great I could only try to keep up. I lost myself for a moment, finally rousing enough to realize I was pinning her to the mattress, my head buried in her neck, my body satisfied and exhausted. I eased from her, quickly disposing of the condom, then rolled over and pulled her into my arms.