Did he like that too, being the one to tell her what to do? She felt hot and bothered just thinking about it. Maybe her response was conditioned, but it was also something that tugged within her—a need to be desired, to be consumed.
Breathing fast, she flicked through the channels until she found the right one. They stood in front of the forecast, waiting for it to cycle through until the West Virginia alerts came up. Murphy was right behind her, close enough for her to feel his hot breath on her neck and his thick stubble scraping her flesh. She wanted to push her ass back until it connected with his body. She needed to know he felt the same way she did.
“It’s gonna stop by four.” Murphy’s voice sounded strangled as he talked into her ear. “We’ll have to wait it out. As soon as it eases off, we’re out of here.”
“You got four-wheel drive?”
“Yep, and snow chains if we need them.”
There went another hope. One way or another, she was going to be leaving with him. It was only a matter of when.
Rachel collapsed back onto the seat, exhaustion washing over her. She’d been on her feet since ten the previous morning, and it was after two in the morning now. Her feet throbbed agonizingly, and it was a relief to curl up on the bench.
“You need to sleep?” Murphy asked. His expression softened when he saw her fatigue. She liked the gentle Murphy and wondered if he hung around very often. Perhaps she could persuade him to stay awhile.
Rachel shook her head. “I don’t think I can.”
“If we’re staying here, I’m going to have to tie you up. I can’t risk you running away.” Though he sounded almost apologetic, there was an undertone of anticipation laced through his words. Rachel closed her eyes and tried to center herself. The thought of being tied up made her feel hot, like her skin was overheating, but it petrified her, too. Until she met David, getting tied up was one of her favorite games.
Until it wasn’t a game anymore.
“Okay.” Her reply was soft and acquiescent, like she didn’t know how else to be. Murphy’s mouth fell open, his pupils dilating. He looked down at Rachel, his face only inches from hers, close enough for his breath to warm her skin. There wasn’t a thing she could do to hide her response from him.
He pulled away and grabbed his kit bag. Taking some rope from inside, he crouched down in front of her and took her wrists, tugging until they were behind her back. The movement made her breasts jut out until they were almost grazing his chest, and against her will Rachel felt lust burn through her veins.
He was gentle, but practiced. She wondered how many times he’d done this before; was it always business, or did he like to play? With a body like his, he could dominate a woman without even trying.
God, did she want him to try.
When she pulled against the rope, she could feel how firmly he’d tied her. A cocktail of fear and desire lit up her veins, heating her skin and speeding her pulse. She could feel her heart start to pound.
“Stop looking at me like that.” He tied off the knot and then pulled back to look at her. Running a finger down her cheek, he left an ice-cold trail on her skin.
“Like what?” She was breathless. Her lungs burned with the need for air.
“Like you want me to turn you over and fuck you stupid.” His voice was so low she had to strain to hear the words. She could almost feel his rough hands against the soft skin of her hips, grasping her against him as he thrust inside, his large, thick cock drilling until she went out of her mind. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. She kept hers low, watching as the crotch of his jeans grew tight, his excitement obvious.
This wasn’t about Lucy anymore, nor about a sadist who wanted his errant wife returned home. It was about Rachel and Murphy, two people who seemed to share a kink, one that made them both hot and bothered. It seemed a long time had passed since she’d offered him a bed for the night, thinking a roll in the hay might while away a few hours, yet her desire for him hadn’t changed.
Murphy broke the silence first, his finger reaching out until he hooked it under her chin, tipping her face up. “Look at me.”
She was taken aback by his voice. It was commanding and smooth, and so very sexy. Like a seduction tool, he was using it on her until she did what he wanted. Rachel ached to have it whispering in her ear, telling her what he was going to do to her next. She wanted to hear it calling out her name as he plunged inside her.
She gathered enough courage to meet his eyes. Fiery passion raged behind them. He tugged at the rope again, enough to make her step closer, and she barely heard him when he whispered, “Good girl.”
There was no doubt in her mind she wanted him to take her right there in the bar she’d been hiding in. Just the thought of feeling this beast of a man moving inside her made her want to moan out loud. Their situation was fucked up, unresolved and quite possibly unresolvable, yet the connection between them couldn’t be denied.
From the heated expression on Murphy’s face, he couldn’t agree more. His narrowed eyes and hard jaw told her what exactly what she needed to know. His hesitation was momentary, but it was enough for her heart to stop. Then he leaned down and captured her lips, his movements demanding and cruel. He reached out a hand, weaving into her hair with grasping fingers, tilting her head until it suited his needs. The shock caused her mouth to fall open.
This time, he didn’t wait. His tongue pushed inside, sliding against hers, dominating her mouth and her body. The ropes burned against her wrists as she arched into him, wishing she could touch his face, loving that she couldn’t. She kissed him back hard, enjoying the faint flavor of beer lingering on his tongue. He invaded her, overriding the taste of her fear, until all she could think of was the need that heated her skin. The way he tugged at her hair sent a shiver down her spine, making her back arch and her breasts press against him.
Chapter Four
Murphy’s mouth released hers, his teeth slowly dragging down the soft skin of her bottom lip. He bit gently before he pulled away, his powerful legs pushing him up until he was standing over her. “Christ, I want you.”
Her own legs shook with the effects of the kiss. She stared up at him, seeing his hard expression. He looked like a man at war with himself, his dark green eyes a storm of questions and decisions. Silence lay heavy in the room, a thick, tension-filled quiet which made her heart pound.
Murphy didn’t seem to notice. She wondered if his own pulse raced as fast as hers, if every cell in his body screamed to touch her the way her body begged to be touched. A moment later, his face softened. The wariness behind his eyes seemed to melt into the darkness, replaced by a clarity which made her breathless.