The Favor

“Or some random woman that was put up to it by either Travis or Owen.”

“Owen?”

“It’s possible. It was obvious by his behavior at the zoo that he hasn’t given up hope that he can come between us. Forget about it for now. I’ll look into it more tomorrow.” Dane pulled my thigh toward the edge of the tub and slid his hand further down.

I stilled, and my pussy clenched. “Dane—”

“I need you to tell me something,” he said, stroking over the spot on my inner thigh where he bit me last night. “And I need you to be honest.”

“What?” I rasped, unsure if I wanted him to stop or keep going.

“Are you sore?”

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t go easy on you last night. I took you hard.” He danced his fingertips over the folds of my pussy. “I want to know if you’re sore.”

I swallowed, resisting the urge to buck into his hand. “A little.”

“Hmm.” Dane pulled out the plug and stood. “You need to get out of this water before it gets any colder.” He grabbed the soft towel I’d placed nearby and held it wide open in invitation.

I kind of just sat there, unsure what to make of his behavior.

“I haven’t got all night, baby girl. You suddenly shy?”

No, I was plain confused. Nonetheless, I stood. Ignoring the way his gaze roamed over me, I stepped onto the bathmat. He wrapped the towel around me and began to gently pat me dry. Okay, this was getting weird. Not that I didn’t like it. This behavior just wasn’t very Dane-like.

I eyed him curiously, wishing I knew what thoughts were going through his head right at that moment. Of course, he noticed me watching him. That damn secret smile curved his mouth again.

I narrowed my eyes. “What’s so amusing? You keep looking at me like you’re internally laughing at me. Like you know something I don’t.”

He dipped his head to kiss my neck. “You smell good.” His tongue flicked out and lashed my pulse. “Taste good, too.”

I went to speak, but then he took my mouth, greedy and ruthless and dominant—making my thoughts scatter and my body melt into his.

He hummed and broke the kiss. “I’m not going to fuck you tonight. Not when you’re sore. But I am going to make you come.”

Was I supposed to object? Well, I didn’t.

He carried me into the bedroom, ordered me to lay down flat on the bed, and ate my pussy like there was a freaking award for it. As I lay there afterward—sated, shaking, and boneless—he knelt over me and pumped his cock. The first rope of white, hot come that erupted out of him landed on my breasts. He kept pumping, covering my flesh in his come, until he was fully spent.

Masculine possession gleamed in his eyes. “You make a very pretty picture right now.” He curved his body over mine and took my mouth in a deep, lazy kiss that made my toes curl. “So sweet.” He dipped a finger in his come and then painted my lower lip with it. “It’s a shame you can’t wear me on your mouth every day. I’d never get any fucking work done if you did.”

I licked up the drop of come, inwardly smiling when his pupils dilated.

“Next time, you’ll drink it all down. Every last bit of it.”

After using a wet cloth to clean me up—he insisted on doing it himself—he urged me to get under the bedcovers and then slid in beside me.

“You’re staying?” I asked in an unintentionally shy whisper.

He shrugged one shoulder and drew me to his side. “I sleep better in this bed. As a bonus, you’ll be right there when I want to fuck you in the morning.”

Yeah, that was a definite bonus. So I snuggled into him and closed my eyes.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Returning from an internal meeting with Dane to find Melinda sat in the reception area near my desk, I smiled. Her answering smile was so shaky and strained it made my own dim. “Hi, Melinda.”

“Hi,” she said, rising from her seat. Her gaze danced from me to Dane, who she couldn’t seem to look in the eye. “I hope you both managed to find time to have fun in New York.”

“We did, thank you,” said Dane. “What can we do for you?”

“I was hoping to talk to Vienna for a few minutes. About some reception-related things,” she hurried to add.

His steely eyes scrutinized her, and I could sense he wasn’t buying it. “All right.” He cut his gaze to me. “Join me in my office once you’re done.”

“Will do,” I said.

He nodded at her. “Take care, Melinda.”

Wearing yet another strained smile, she gave him a little wave. Once he’d disappeared into his office, she bit down on her lip and looked at me. “Is there somewhere we can go to talk in private?”