Nick smothered a curse and clenched his fists. Sasha Porter was in front of him. On her knees. Looking up at him with big hazel eyes that said she’d do anything to please him.
The fantasy of her heaping oral adoration on him had been a favorite he’d repeatedly cha-chinged from his spank bank for nearly three years. He was more than a little tempted to unzip and let her go to town.
But when she reached for his fly, he grabbed her wrists in a harsh grip. His breath sawed in the silence between them.
Nothing about her demeanor screamed horny. But Nick knew females. When he’d had her underneath him, her body hadn’t been immune. Still, he couldn’t let that fact fuck with his head. Taking Sasha up on the offer he’d coerced from her would make him a terrible bastard. Well, more terrible than he was. Despite his conviction, he’d never violate a woman who wasn’t willing in every way.
“Nick?” she breathed. “Don’t you want me to…?”
Suck his cock? Fuck, yes. “When I say so.”
She sat back on her heels, head bowed. He stared down at her pose, somewhere between submissive and ashamed.
Clearly, life hadn’t been kind to Sasha. Mike had called her modest, even hinting that she was more polite than passionate. In retrospect, Nick could see how months on the run had turned his buddy’s prim wife into a pragmatist willing to give him a blow job to keep her daughter alive.
And didn’t he feel like a prick? Ten minutes ago, propositioning Sasha had seemed like the perfect antidote for his compulsion to touch her. If he spewed toxic bullshit that made her fear and loathe him, she’d stay far, far away. Then…boom. Temptation removed. Problem solved.
But here she knelt. She blinked up at him, pink lips softly parted. Blood surged to his cock until he swore his zipper would strangle it.
How’s that plan working out for you?
Mike Porter had been a true-blue kind of guy. A good friend. Undoubtedly, a model husband. He’d definitely been a protective one. If Mike could have read the thoughts running through Nick’s head, his old pal would have wanted to castrate him. Unfortunately, neither that nor his guilt was stopping the endless loop of high-quality porn—starring Sasha—from playing in his head.
He had to get her the hell away from him.
“Hands down,” he barked as he released her.
She complied, her hands falling from his fly as she continued staring at him. He couldn’t miss the relief on her face. She was grateful for the reprieve.
Nick swallowed a curse.
“I’m sorry if I…” She bowed her head again, voice trailing off as if she wasn’t sure what to apologize for while she searched for something that wouldn’t piss him off. Or maybe she just couldn’t stand to look at him.
He had no right to, but Nick thrust his hand around her ponytail and tugged, forcing her gaze to him again. Visually was the only way he should touch her, but he threaded his fingers through her strands. Her hair slid like silk against his skin. “For what, rushing me? Crowding me?”
“Yes.”
Liar. A grim smile danced at the corner of his lips. She apologized so he wouldn’t change his mind about helping her and protecting Harper. Because she was afraid of him.
He fucking hated that.
Nick released her and stepped away. “Take a shower. Get in bed.”
“Y-yours?”
The thought of having uninterrupted hours at her body, exploring her, learning her, unraveling her reserve until she clung to him and cried out his name went straight to his dick.
“Stay with your daughter tonight. Rest. You’re going to need it. Because once I start fucking you… Well, expect a long night,” he warned.
Instantly, she shot to her feet and backed away from him, swallowing. Eyes wide and breathing rough. She could barely keep her opinion of him off her face. Yeah, he was a vile asshole. Perfect.
“I’ll, um, see you in the morning, then.” Her back hugged the wall as she edged away.
Nick grabbed her arm. “Wait.” He brushed past her and grabbed a clean towel, a bottle of shampoo, and his comb from the master bathroom. He returned and put the items in her hands. “You’ll need these. Sorry. That’s the only comb I’ve got.”
She frowned, looking utterly confused by his consideration. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
