Wicked Dirty (Stark World 2)

"Please," I say, as I peel off my T-shirt and toss it aside. I stand there in my simple cotton bra. "Please," I repeat, then reach back to unfasten the bra as well, then drop it to the floor. "No may mean no, but this is one of those times when yes really does mean yes."

"Christ, Sugar..."

I can hear the battle in his voice. Raw. Hard. As if it's taking all his strength to keep his hands off me.

I'm going to break him.

I take his hands and put them on my breasts, then tilt my head back and sigh as his fingers tighten around my nipples. "Yes," I whisper. And then, because I can't bear the thought that he'll stop again, I take one of his hands and slide it ever so slowly down my bare torso, teasing myself with this light touch until I reach the waistband of my jeans.

I release his hand, and as his fingers brush my abdomen, I slowly unbutton my jeans. "Touch me," I demand, and since he still may not comply, I guide his hand all the way down, then moan when he finds me wet and aroused and so very ready.

"Fuck, Sugar," he murmurs, then scoops me up and carries me to the bedroom.

"Strip," he orders, but he doesn't wait for me to comply. Instead, he tugs down my jeans and underwear as I start to toe off my shoes. We're a tangle of arms and legs and desperation, and when he's managed to get me naked, he slides between my legs and closes his mouth over my pussy.

I arch up, completely unprepared. I'd expected a trail of kisses up my thigh, but this--oh, God--this is incredible, and I writhe shamelessly against him. Wanting his mouth. His tongue.

Small tremors cut through my body, precursors to the orgasm to come, and I grasp his hair in my fists, and shamelessly beg him to please, please fuck me.

He shifts, and I whimper when he takes his mouth off me, his hands now on my hips as he holds me steady. He lifts his head, then meets my eyes.

I'm breathing hard and so is he. And I want this so much. The feel of his body against mine, his cock deep inside me.

"Lyle," I beg. "Please, now."

But he doesn't move. And I watch, confused, as his eyes cloud and he sits up, then stands and grabs my robe. He tosses it to me, and I grab it automatically, pulling it up like a sheet to cover me as he shakes his head and says, "I'm so sorry, but we can't. Not like this. Not until you know everything."

20

"Everything," Laine repeated as she sat up beside him, her forehead creasing with worry as he got out of bed.

He started pacing, trying to decide where to begin.

"Lyle?"

"I told you I ran away," he said, stopping only inches from her. "I didn't tell you from what. Or, at least, I didn't tell yo

u all of it."

She nodded, apparently realizing that it would be easier for him to keep going without interruptions. Although, really, none of it was easy.

"I grew up in a whorehouse," he finally said. "A rundown old farmhouse just outside of town. Everyone knew what went on out there, but no one ever tried to shut it down."

"Your mom?"

He nodded. "Worked there. Lived there. And God only knows which one of her customers was my dad."

She scooted back on the bed until she was leaning against the headboard, then drew her knees up and hugged them. "I didn't even know places like that still existed," she said, and he was grateful she didn't offer empty condolences.

"When she worked, I'd have to go to the basement. Those were the best times, actually, because usually Jenny was down there, too. And we used to act out stories. Mostly made up, but sometimes we'd read lines from plays we stole from the school library."

"She was another kid?"

"It was just the two of us. The only children in the house. We grew up together on that packed dirt floor. We were best friends. Hell, for a long time we were each other's only friend. We went to school, but the kids all knew where we lived and what went on in that house. We weren't exactly running in the cool crowd."

"You loved her."

He nodded. "Very much, but not like you mean. She was my first, but that was out of curiosity more than desire. Maybe even boredom. But it was sweet and I don't think either one of us regretted it. I think it made sense to both of us that we'd be each other's first."