I considered what he’d said as he led me out of the restaurant to his car. “I guess that makes sense,” I told him after he’d slid into the driver’s seat and the car had pulled away from the curb. “Except for the fact that we’ve only been out on one date.”
“Your first date,” he reminded me. “Plus, your first kiss.”
“And my second.”
“I’ve been in enough life and death situations to learn not to take the good things for granted. You’ve been on my mind every minute since I met you.”
“I’ve been thinking about you, too,” I admitted softly.
“I’ll give you a couple days to think about what you want, but you need to know I’m not looking for a one-time thing with you, Carissa. If you give yourself to me, then you’re mine, and I’m not letting you go.”
7
VAUGHN
Part of me wished I could turn back the clock and take back my declaration. Not because I didn’t mean what I’d said, but because Carissa wasn’t at the same point I was. Even though I’d only just resolved to make her mine, I’d already come to terms with my decision. I just hadn’t meant to act on it quite so soon.
I’d planned to take my time with her. To give her a chance to get used to me. To come to want me even half as much as I wanted her. But my gut was telling me time wasn’t on my side. That I needed to act sooner rather than later. To tie Carissa to me as quickly as possible, using any means necessary.
With that thought in mind, I headed to my rental house before dropping her back at her parents. She’d been quiet ever since my warning. I needed to reinforce our connection before letting her go again.
“Where are we?” she asked when I pulled into the drive.
I didn’t answer right away, not until I’d gotten her through the front door. “Welcome to my home.”
Her head swiveled from right to left as she took in the living room, dining area and kitchen. The house had an open floorplan, with one wall with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the lake just past the back yard. The furnishings were comfortable, mostly beige with light green accents.
“It’s hard to picture you living here.”
“It’s a furnished rental, and I only moved in a couple weeks ago. It’s very different from my home in Atlanta.”
Her startled gaze flew to my face. “You don’t live here permanently? It’s only a temporary thing because of the business that brought you to the gala?”
“I hadn’t planned on staying here forever, but my work is such that I could live just about anywhere I wanted.” I stalked towards her, and pulled her body against mine as soon as I got close enough. “As long as you’re here, I don’t see myself wanting to leave.”
She wrapped her arms around me, locked her hands at the base of my back, but leaned back so she could look up at me. “You had me scared there for a minute. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but I was worried that maybe you hadn’t meant all that ‘mine’ stuff you spouted off in the car.”
Staring down at her, I couldn’t resist anymore. “Let me show you how much I meant it.” Running my hand down her hips and around, I tugged her closer. Every part of my body was telling me to take what I wanted, damn the consequences. But I couldn’t bring myself to take her this quickly, not until I was absolutely certain it was exactly what she wanted. Until then, I was only going to allow myself a little taste of what was to come—while focusing wholly on her pleasure and showing her that her needs came first for me.
Sliding my tongue across her lips, I loved how she gasped, giving me full access to her mouth. Plunging inside, I deepened the kiss. At the same time, I moved her backwards until she was pressed against the wall of windows.
“Let me make you feel good,” I whispered into her ear, enjoying the feel of her body shivering at my words. I leaned forward, my nose brushing along her jawline. “Tell me I can show you what it will be like when you’re mine.”
“Vaughn,” she gasped as I fell to my knees in front of her.
“Say yes,” I urged, gliding my hands up her legs and under her skirt.
“Yes,” she moaned when my fingers reached the edge of her panties.
I slid the silky material to the side and breathed in the musky scent of her desire. I wanted to pound my chest in triumph at the glistening proof of her need. The feel of her fingers in my hair and the sound of her whispering “please” had me burying my face between her legs.
“Vaughn,” she cried out, her legs trembling.
I gripped her thighs in my hands, my fingers digging into her smooth skin as I spread her wider for my mouth. The first long lick of her pussy had me addicted to her sweet taste. I nibbled and sucked, determined to drive her crazy with need. To get her hooked on the feel of my mouth working her into a frenzy.
“I can’t—oh!”
Deciding I’d teased her enough, I sucked her clit into my mouth, making her moan as her hips jerked with her orgasm. Licking at her softly, I waited for her shaking to stop as she came down from her high.
