Daring Time

She felt Ryan's member swell inside of her, the sensation making her cry out sharply in agonized bliss. A rough growl tore at his throat, the sound thrilling every raw, firing nerve in her body. He held her hips and plunged into her one last time.

Hope's eyes opened wide. She'd been stunned at the power of Ryan's climaxes before—all that pent-up, concentrated energy being released in a single, enormous explosion of pleasure. But this— this feeling of him coming while they were joined, hearing his anguished groans, clearly sensing the rush of his warm seed inside of her while his penis jerked in her tight channel—this was an experience that scorched her very soul.

He slumped forward, his breathing ragged and heavy. For a long moment he struggled to regain equilibrium. It made her strangely proud that loving her could make this big, fierce man so vulnerable. As if he'd read her mind he leaned down and nuzzled her cheek.

"You slay me, little witch."

"I do not mean to," she whispered.

She caught a flash of his curving lips before he gently withdrew from her, making her gasp. She stuck her head up and watched him while he released her wrists from the velvet rope. Then he came down on his back next to her and enclosed her in his arms, pulling her upper body over him so they were face-to-face, chest-to-chest. He brushed her hair back from her face and lightly kissed her parted lips.

And Hope was left wondering if this was not the best part of all of their lovemaking—quiet, sated, different than the blazing hot tempest, but no less sweet for it.

"I'm kind of having a hard time believing that you're regretful about causing me to lose control," Ryan murmured next to her lips.

Hope's eyelids flickered open and she caught his expression of amusement. Her gaze lingered on his bold, rugged features, eating him up with her gaze. What a miracle it was that he was here with her.

"I—I wanted to bring you pleasure."

"If you had brought me any more, I'd probably be dead from a heart attack. I'd have died a blissfully happy man, though," he murmured as he ran his hands along the sensitive sides of her body. She shivered at his touch.

"That was a very"—Hope's cheeks flushed with heat— "unusual way of making love."

She wondered what he was thinking as he studied her for several seconds. His hand rose and he brushed back her hair from her face. "It was making love, though, Hope. Never forget it. You're very brave for giving yourself in that way when you hardly know me ..."

He hesitated, as though he wanted to say something else but wasn't quite sure how to put it. She felt her lower lip quiver as she stared into cerulean eyes that reminded her of the color of the Mediterranean Sea around the Greek islands on a clear, balmy day.

"You're welcome, Ryan," she whispered.

His dark brows went up in slight surprise before he smiled. "Are you all right? Are you in pain?"

Hope shook her head. In truth, her bottom felt a little sore, but pleasure still tingled in her sex all the way up to her tailbone as well, making the slight discomfort seem more than worth the price.

Ryan leaned up and seized her lips in a kiss that struck Hope as both possessive and cherishing at once. He leaned back and spoke softly against her lips while her fallen hair created a curtain around their faces.

"Then it's time for us to escape, honey."

"Now?" she asked in surprise.

He nodded as he held her gaze.

"Very well. Tell me what to do."

"When I give the word, I want you to dive off this bed—quickly, you understand? One second you're here, the next not." Hope nodded. "Crouch down as low as you can to the floor, and move to that corner of the alcove," Ryan said, his eyes moving to the right side of the bed.

"But they took my clothing."

"Crawl across the hallway to that closet on the far wall and pull down one of Sadie's robes or dresses—something easily slipped on. Whatever you do ... stay down low and keep hidden."

"Should I stay hidden because you want me to make a surprise attack on someone if they come in the room?" Hope asked, all too eager to vent her anger on Diamond Jack Fletcher or one of his minions after what she'd seen him do to Sadie Holcrum.

"What?" Ryan asked, looking stunned. "No. Of course not. I want you to stay down and keep hidden to keep you safe."

Hope scowled and opened her mouth to argue.

"Quiet, Hope. We're not going to do anything at all unless you agree to this. The chances of me getting you out of here safely are small enough ..."

"What?" Hope whispered when she saw Ryan's expression stiffen. For a moment he didn't speak, seeming undecided.