Beneath These Lies (15 page)

My sexy, slow unzipping motion froze when I realized he was wearing nothing beneath his worn jeans. Not a stitch. To the boxers or briefs question, Rix’s answer was neither.

And I completely approved.

Long and thick, his cock bobbed once it was free, and steadily rose toward his belly button.

The condoms I used to stuff in my purse before that infamous night that everything had changed would never have fit him. He was the myth, the legend, the
magnum
.

My mouth practically watered at the thought of getting that thick, dark, and beautiful cock between my lips.

Wait, what?
Since when had I ever been that excited to suck a dick? I mean, yes, I loved the innate power I felt when I was able to bring a man to his knees that way, but I never actually desperately wanted to do it. That was something other women claimed to love to do, and secretly I thought they were all spewing loads of bullshit, because
hello
, sucking dick was kind of awkward.

But when I saw Rix’s perfect cock, it was like my instinctive feminine desire to please him bubbled up out of the primitive part of my brain. When had that happened before? Never.

Thinking too much, Valentina.

And all of a sudden, thinking was no longer a problem because Rix wrapped his hand around his perfect cock and squeezed and stroked, pre-cum already wetting the head.

“You want this, duchess?”

Nodding was all I could offer in response. My thoughts were short-circuiting at the sight.

“Good, because you’re going to take it all.”

A rush of slickness hit my panties, because I didn’t go commando like Rix, and the remnants of my patience melted.

“Now. Please.”

I spread my legs, and realized I wasn’t even close to naked. My blouse was halfway unzipped, my skirt was still intact, and my panties were in place.

“You don’t look ready to take me, duchess. And besides, I’m going to taste that perfect little pussy before I fuck it.”

I was still trying to kick-start my brain to decide what exactly I should do to move this process along and get to the part where Rix’s body was touching mine, when he dropped to his knees and spread my legs wide, shoving my skirt up to my waist.

Today I’d gone bare-legged, with only a thong under my skirt. A rumble from Rix clued me into the fact that he approved. A lot.

“Red. Wasn’t the color I was expecting, but fuck if I don’t love it.”

Those were the only words he spoke before he tugged my panties to the side. He lowered his face and paused.

“Fuck, you’re dripping, duchess. You want me, and I fucking love that I can see it. Soaked from only a kiss. I haven’t even had my mouth on those tits of yours.”

Actually, he hadn’t even seen my tits, but I wasn’t about to point that out either. I just wanted him to get to what he was about to do.

I didn’t have to wait another five seconds before he buried his face between my legs and began lapping at my pussy, licking up all the slickness his kiss and his words had caused.

The thought brought a giggle to my lips, and Rix stopped and looked up.

“No. Don’t stop,” I ordered, my hands going to his completely buzzed head, and uselessly trying to push it back down between my legs. Rude? I didn’t care. I cared about his mouth being on my pussy, and that was it.

“I’ll get right back to eating this pussy as soon as you tell me what the giggle was for.”

Fuck it.
I didn’t care. Whatever would get him back to what he was doing most expediently was all that mattered. I had no shame when it came to this. My orgasm was going to come fast and hard, and I wanted it
right now
.

“I was thinking it was your mess, so it was only right you cleaned it up. You got me wet. There you go. Back to what you were doing. Please.”

The words were a mess of awkward, embarrassing, and jumbled, but I was beyond caring. If he decided he didn’t like it and wanted to stop, I was pretty sure I could develop some crazy upper-body strength to get his head back down to where it belonged.

“I like that. Now hold on, baby, because I’m not stopping until you come all over my mouth.”

“Good.”

Rix buried his face back where it belonged and didn’t waste a moment before delving between my pussy lips and finding my clit. My hips bucked against his mouth, and then bucked harder when one blunt, thick fingertip circled my entrance and teased.

Oh Jesus.
Sometimes you forget the old
the size of the hands and feet
being good predictors of cock size, and for Rix, that would have been a dead giveaway. His hands were enormous, and if he tried to slide two fingers inside me, I wasn’t sure they’d fit.

But the one finger slipped inside effortlessly, made easier by the slickness he’d caused, and whatever he did with that finger in combination with what he was doing with his mouth on my clit caused near-immediate detonation.

I didn’t even realize I was making noises until the words “Please, now, oh God” echoed off the walls of his room. And then the scream ripped from my lungs with the orgasm that hit me in a wall of pleasure.

My hands dropped to his shoulders, gripping and clinging as his name fell from my lips over and over while the orgasm kept rolling through my body. My hips bucked of their own accord, seeking more and then backing away. It was almost too much, but I couldn’t help but want more and more and more.

Wherever this man had learned this particular skill, they needed to bestow some kind of honorary doctorate on him, because he was a master. A maestro even. My brain ran a million miles an hour, and all of those thoughts centered on—
if he’s this good at oral, how good is he at everything else?

Rix lifted his head and stared down at me before taking a step to the side and pulling open a drawer on the nightstand, retrieving a condom packet. When he lifted it to his teeth, the enormity of what I was about to do hit me.

He’d told me he wanted this as payment for returning Trinity safe and sound, and she still wasn’t. I hadn’t even demanded an update yet. Not to mention I had a date with another man tonight. What the hell was I doing?

I couldn’t. Hands shaking, I pushed up to a sitting position on the bed and smoothed my skirt down. My movements clearly telegraphed my intentions, and Rix paused in his task.

“What the fuck?” His voice was deep and rough. “You get yours and then decide that’s all you want?”

His silver gaze drilled into mine, and I had to look away before I spoke. “I—I can’t do this.”

“This ain’t a matter of
can’t
. It’s a matter of
don’t want to
.”

I shoved a hand in my tangled hair and attempted to smooth it into place. “I’m sorry. I . . . I really can’t. This isn’t me. I don’t do this.”

Rix tossed the condom packet on the nightstand and reached for his pants. He pulled them on roughly before speaking. “I don’t think you have a clue who you are, but it’s your loss, duchess.”

I wasn’t going to make excuses. I was going to get the hell out of there and back home so I could shower and forget this had ever happened. Already, a small part of me—probably my lady bits—were screaming at me to lie back down and get this show back on track. But it wasn’t right. I couldn’t do this.

Rix stared at me for another beat before turning on his heel and striding out of the bedroom, shirtless.

My body screamed at me to rewind, but I shoved the thought down and hopped off the bed. Gathering my pride with both metaphorical hands, I held my spine straight and tall as I walked toward the door. It was closed and Rix leaned against it.

I paused a few feet away from him.

“You thought I’d make this easy for you?”

“What do you want me to say? I changed my mind. And I have a date tonight.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew they were a huge mistake. Rix pushed off the door and closed the gap between us. My chest touched his as he stared down at me. The muscle ticked in his jaw, and I read caged rage in his eyes.

“With the cop?” The question was gritted out from between clenched teeth.

I should have kept my mouth shut, but it was too late now. “Yes.”

“I can’t tell if you’re brave or stupid. I tell you you’re mine, tell you to stay away from the cop, tell you I’ll get your girl back, tell me you’re gonna pay with this hot little body, and you’re still goin’ with him.” He lifted his hand to my hair and brushed it over my shoulder. It was almost as if he couldn’t help touching me. “So, which is it?”

Brave or stupid? I didn’t have any idea. The only thing I was sure of down to my bones was that Rix wasn’t going to hurt me. I’d just inflicted some wicked blue balls on the man, and he was pissed, but he wasn’t going to hurt me. I didn’t think he would let Trinity suffer either. I didn’t know how to answer his question, though. When it came to Rix, I was probably a little of both.

“Most likely brave and stupid.”

He threaded his fingers through my hair and cupped the back of my head possessively.

“You’re right. So listen up, duchess. I’ll say this one more time. You’re mine. You let that cop have a taste of this sweetness and you’re gonna be tipping toward the stupid side of the scale. Nothing changes. You get that?”

“And because you decreed it, it must be so?”

“Damn right.”

“I guess we’ll see,” I whispered.

“Guess we will.”

Rix lowered his head and took my lips. No asking, no easy kiss. A kiss of possession, as if he were trying to imprint himself on me so I’d be remembering it all night. Which I would be. There was nothing about this afternoon I’d forget.

And that was the problem.

Rix pulled away just as abruptly and spun, yanking open the door. “I’ll be in touch.”

“And Trinity?”

“I’m working on it.”

“If you’re dragging this out to keep me coming back, I promise it’s going to backfire.”

Rix reached out and gripped my chin. “I gave my word. No one questions my word.” He must have read the frustration in my eyes at his response because he added, “Keep it together, duchess. Just a little longer.”

He released me, and I gave him a nod but said nothing as I walked out on legs that I refused to admit wobbled slightly. How could this man affect me so much?

He didn’t close the door until I was pulling away from the curb. Even three blocks away, I could still feel his eyes on me.

R
HETT PICKED ME UP IN
his Jeep and took me to a little place not far from my house. Dick & Jenny’s was a cute little cottage that had great creole and seafood. I’d driven by it a million times, but only eaten there once. It was funky and fun and completely perfect.

The entire time I was getting ready, I consciously ignored the languid ache in my body left by the orgasm Rix had given me and the promise of more to come. No matter how hard I scrubbed, all I could feel was his touch on my skin.

“So, what else do you do for fun besides sell art?” Rhett asked.

I realized I’d let the conversation fall into a semi-awkward lull after the server took our drink orders. I opened my mouth and shut it again immediately. I’d almost told him that my favorite thing to do was paint. But I didn’t tell anyone that. Apparently Rix’s insistence that my work was good, and Yve and Lucas’s purchase of my piece, was emboldening me.

Instead, I went with my canned answer. “I enjoy volunteering, improving my green thumb, and target shooting.”

Rhett’s smile was quick. “I suspected you were a hell of a woman, and now I’m sure of it.”

I laughed. “It’s the green thumb, right? Don’t get your hopes up, because when I say improving, I mean it’s a work in process. I can’t cook, I’m a terrible housekeeper, and I’m absentminded when I’m tied up in business stuff. So you should probably reassess your opinion until you land on something more realistic.”

“And you’re legitimately modest,” he added.

My cheeks heated with my blush. “I’m aware of my faults and shortcomings. I consider that one of my strengths. Although, I’d rather spend time improving my strengths than working on my weaknesses. It seems to be a better investment of my time.”

“I’m going to add unique to the list.”

The server returned with my glass of wine and Hennessy’s two fingers of bourbon before I could respond, and asked for our orders. I opted for the bouillabaisse and Rhett chose the duck.

After the server collected our menus, I turned the questions back on Rhett. “What do you like to do? Besides fight crime and keep the city safe?”

He smiled and sipped his bourbon. “Spend time with my folks, watch football, hunt, fish, and take out beautiful women.”

My eyebrows went up. “Women as in plural?”

“I try to keep them to one at a time. I don’t often find myself in my current predicament.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Being more interested in her than she is in me.”

Wow
. He was just going to lay it all out like that, was he?

“Excuse me?”

Rhett leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “There’s something going on with you, and I know you don’t want me to know what it is. But I am a detective, and that means I know when something’s not right. Why don’t you save us this song and dance and just tell me what’s happening? If I can help, I will. If you’re in trouble, I can get you out.”