Page 29 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

It was only after his mouth and fingers had explored everysweet, delicious inch of her that he finally thrust inside her. Plain oldmissionary, but it felt like the most mind-blowing sex of his life, and theyrepeated it not once, but twice, trying other positions. But always face toface. Someday he’d take her from behind. Right now, he wanted to get lost inher eyes when he got lost inside her.

They christened every part of the bed before giving in toexhaustion, and he felt like he’d traveled the world as he’d traveled thewoman.

And while the sex had been incredible, it was the connectionhe felt with Frannie that had truly blown his mind.

It seemed like only five minutes ago, he would have sold hissoul to have avoided her. Now he couldn’t get enoughof her.

“I’m serious,” he said, reaching for her and tugging her tohim as she giggled and kicked. “This bed is way too big. You’re on anotherplanet. I need you down here on earth with me.”

“Yeah? And how are you going to keep me here?” She rolledover, then climbed on top of him. He was already hardagain, and now his cock teased her ass as she straddled him, her body rockingslowly as she rubbed her clit against his lowerabdomen. “You want me to stay on this side of the Atlantic, you need to be moreproactive than that.”

“Do I?” He slipped his hand between them, his fingersteasing their way inside her as she rubbed her clit onthe heel of his hand. She was perfect. Her sense of humor. Her compassion. Theway she could take charge or surrender. And, yeah, her body. He knew she paidtrainers handsomely to keep her in top shape, but damnedif they didn’t do a good job. And it wasn’t just surface. The woman hadstrength and stamina. She could damn sure keep up withhim.

“Tell me what you want,” he whispered as he thrust hisfingers deeper inside her.

She arched back, moaning a bit, her hips shifting as if shewas trying to find just that spot. With his free hand, hereached up for her nipple, then rolled it between his thumb and his forefinger.

“What I want?” she repeated.

“This?” He tightened his grip on her nipple and felt herpussy tighten around his fingers. “Or this?” He slipped his fingers out of her,easing his hand back until he was teasing her ass, and she cried out, begginghim to do more than tease.

“Tell me,” he demanded, his thumbteasing her pussy as his index finger played with her ass. Her eyes wereclosed, and the pleasure and need he saw on her face was almost enough to makehim come right then.

“I thought I was your toy,” she said. “Yours to command. To fuck. To sweetly torture.” She bent forward, lifting her assuntil his cock was right there. “That’s what I want,” she said as her breastsrubbed against his chest. “All I want is to be yours. Completely.”

He swallowed, his mouth suddenlydry as he met her eyes. The moment felt heavy. Important.

And utterly terrifying.

He lifted a hand to stroke her hair, then held her head inplace so she couldn’t look away. “Baby, I need to know what you mean. Are weplaying sex games or are we—”

“No games,” she said. “Not about that.” She bit her lip, andhe saw her gather her courage, then press on. “I want to see what we can betogether. I’ve never—I’ve never felt like this, and I don’t mean this,” sheadded, wiggling against his cock. “I mean this.” She pushed up higher, thenheld his hand to her heart. “Is it just me?”

“No,” he said, meeting her eyes and seeing the futurereflected in them. “It’s not just you.”

“So you’ll stay? Even though you don’t have to protect meanymore?”

“I’ll stay,” he said, wanting to get lost in that sweetsmile.

“Good,” she said. “But Simon, you still have to protect myheart.”

“Always,” he promised, knowing that was an oath he wouldwillingly die for.

* * * *

The first two days, he told Ryan that he was stayingwith her just to make sure Burnet believed Frannie and didn’t try to harass herfor more info.

On the third day, he told Ryan he was taking some personaltime after the case.

After a week, he told Ryan that he and Frannie wereinvolved, and since she had a week before shooting began on Spiraling,he was taking more time off.

“You haven’t been there long enough to have accrued timeoff,” Frannie said, snuggling close. “Ryan is going to hate me.”

“Actually, he told us to have a good time and recommended anice little B&B in Ojai.”

“A good idea,” she said. “We should get out of the house.”

They’d gone out a few times for meals, but for the mostpart, they stayed in her place. Lounging by the pool,reading, talking. And even watching every Francesca Murattimovie made, to her complete frustration.