Connected (Twists of Fate #1) (8 page)

“I really hate you right now, Rhys.”

Likewise. I can’t believe you fucking did that to me.

“Did that to
you
?!” Rotating her neck and rubbing at the back of it, she trudged to the kitchen. “It’s your own damned fault for not letting me block you. What the hell was the big deal? You didn’t like me kissing Jonathan. Got that loud and clear. So why not let me close off?”
If you had, I would have just made even more noise.

She knew he was telling the truth, but not the ‘why’ of it. “And what would have been the purpose of that? I mean, other than being the female version of a cockblocker.” Rhys barked out a laugh.
There’s my purpose right there, sweetheart. I couldn’t have said it
better myself.

“If I had been
allowed
to block you, you wouldn’t have had to deal with it at all, asshat.” She flashed back to the kiss, to the pleasure humming through her body. A delicate shiver traveled down from her shoulders at the mere thought of it. And that had just been from a
kiss
.

Who knew where it could have gone if…

She should have just blocked him.

Addison grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and chugged almost half of it. Was it hot in there, or was it just her?

She realized she never got an answer out of Rhys. “Well?”
Well, what?

“Don’t be difficult.”

He heaved a sigh.
Who knows what would have happened if you’d closed me out? And what
if you slipped up and let it go in…the heat of the moment, so to speak.

She could almost feel his shudder of repulsion, and his refusal to be more explicit than that.

But why wouldn’t he? Certainly not because he was trying to be discreet. The man didn’t have a tactful bone in his body. Well, if he had a body.

And what a body he’d had…tall and firm, thick muscles on a sturdy frame. So much more attractive than Jonathan, although he had his own strengths as well…

Addison shut down her thoughts and tried to redirect. What the hell was wrong with her?

But she knew. She was so sexually frustrated, she couldn’t think straight. Between the warmth of Jonathan’s kiss, and the heat of Rhys’ churning emotions, her body didn’t know what to react to first. Or how. There was definitely some wires getting crossed.

God, if only she could have…

Her skin flushed and her belly quivered. Yeah, it was definitely too hot in there.

Whoa.

Well, crap.

Mentally exhausted, she massaged her temples as she leaned against the kitchen counter.

“Are you getting all this?” She thought she had blocked him. Didn’t she? Oh man, she
was
slipping up.

Ah, yeah. Totally getting that,
he admitted in a tight voice.
Jesus woman, how long has it
been since you’ve had some play? My skin feels about three sizes too small and I’m as randy as
a fucking teenager.

“It’s been too damn long,” she muttered, pushing off the counter towards the bathroom.

“And it serves you right, Rhys. If I’m gonna suffer, seems only fair you do, too.” She grabbed her toothbrush, fisting it with renewed frustration.

Oh, like that pansy-ass could have satisfied you, anyway. You would’ve walked away more
keyed up than you are right fucking now.

She snorted as she snatched up the toothpaste. “Riiight. Like you’d actually know what would satisfy me.”

Bet I could do a better job than that douche.

So intent on the sensation of his male ego rearing its exasperating head, Addison almost missed the tone of sincerity lacing his claim. And then she found herself
wishing
she had missed the undercurrent of determination; the one only a man could feel when answering the call of a gauntlet being thrown down before him.

“Oh, shut up, Rhys. I’m not in the mood to put up with you right now.”
I always loved a good challenge in life,
Rhys murmured, settling to the back of her mind as he partially blocked her.

Not knowing exactly what he meant by that, Addison ignored him as she got ready for bed.

But she could sense his busy thoughts. And whatever he was thinking about raised a red flag in her mind. If she were to guess, she’d say he was clearly focused on a particular problem, tumbling it over and over, examining it from different angles. His concentration was fierce, his purpose clear; whatever he saw as an issue was going to be solved. But what?

As she pulled the covers back and slid beneath them, she decided she didn’t want to know.

With Rhys, it was usually
safer
not knowing.

Her last thoughts before drifting to sleep were of their conversation. His last words whispered through her head:
I always loved a good challenge in life.

It seemed that inclination hadn’t changed in his death.

Addison shifted restlessly in between the sheets as the first fleeting images flickered through her sleep-ladened mind. The second round had her sighing a purr of unrestrained, budding arousal, and the third had a quiver permanently setting up shop in her already-cinched belly.

It was Rhys she had seen, leaning over her, murmuring in her ear. She couldn’t quite make out what he was saying and tipped her head towards him. That was when she felt his breath, his fingers tangling in her hair to pull her head back, baring her neck for his soft lips. They caressed her throat, causing a shiver to shudder through her, and she lost herself to the sensation.

It felt incredible.

Her own guttural moan roused her, her eyes fluttering before closing again. The image wavered with her brief awakening, and then settled. His hands were on her…

Wait,
her
hands…

The image flashed again as she blinked, tried to focus, and gave up.

No…
his
hands.

Addison had a brief moment of clarity as her mind struggled to awaken, aware of Rhys like never before. Something mystical flowed between them, strengthening their connection, solidifying their link. It was almost as if she could physically feel him.

Hold up…she
could.

Strong, nimble fingers dragged across her collarbone, her breath catching as they weaved a trail between her breasts, down her stomach.

Every muscle in her body jolted and she jerked upright, eyes popping open and her hands darting to her belly. There was nothing, she felt…nothing. Her eyes adjusted to the gloom, and then she looked down, next to her, across the room…

Nothing.

Forcing her body to relax, she let her head fall back. She still felt the odd sensation humming through her body; a tingle of slow seduction with a quick bite of lust. But it wasn’t as strong as before.

At least, not until she closed her eyes again.

She writhed in place as the images slammed to the forefront again, and then the touch of his fingers pressing into her skin, his teeth nibbling where her neck met her shoulder.

“Rhys…what…” Coherent thought was beyond her, and so, apparently, were words.

Shhh… Just relax, baby.

“You’re doing this,” she said with barely a breath to force the words out, her hands knotting her nightgown in a pathetic attempt at control.

Damn straight,
he whispered against her ear.
Now keep your eyes closed, sweetheart. Let me
love you. Feel me.

His words were disjointed, tumbling freely through her mind as the picture of them became clearer, became all she could see, all she could feel. Him. Rhys. Her. His strength, his sculpted body. Her lithe form, arching up to meet him, to press against him. Contact was made, skin-to-skin, heating her blood as it seared through her veins. Rhys groaned as his hands—

On a gasp, her eyes popped open and the sensations faded.

No!
Rhys roared.
No…stay with me.
He sounded desperate, almost begging her to come back to him.

And how could she not?

Closing her eyes, she was instantly under him again. His tattooed arms braced himself, his back rippling with muscles as he moved above her, his tight little ass clenching as he—

“Oh, my God,” Addison groaned.

The erotic images blasting through her head were so intense she could actually
feel
him surging inside of her. She gasped as her back arched, lost in the wet glide of their bodies becoming one. Whimpering his name, she somehow grasped onto the shoulders of the man thrusting within, feeling the curve of his back under her palms as he rocked to his own rhythm.

She knew if she opened her eyes all would be lost, so she squeezed them closed, afraid to accidentally open them.

Rhys’ hands slid down her side—thumbs dragging over her beaded nipples—to grip her hips, to angle her for deeper—

Oh…yeah,
he moaned, sparking a whole new exquisite wave to crash over her.

Immersed in the images, in his touch, in his body, Addison became lost in a whirlpool of pleasure. She was so close…
sooo
close, teetering on the edge between total bliss and dark frustration, and she suddenly knew Rhys felt it, too. Their link was pure, their souls were one; he felt what she felt, he wanted what she wanted. They were together, in every way possible.

Her heart hammered with the realization and her body surged against him, her breasts tightening in anticipation. Rhys pressed closer, his lips to her ear. His breathing came out in little pants of hot air as a stream of murmured words flowed freely through his lips.

Ah, fuck. Baby, don’t hold back. Give it to me. Please, Addison. Let go. I want it.
He growled an assent as her nails bit into his skin, and then he whispered,
God…I want you.

His final words shoved her careening over the edge. Gripping him tight, she let out a cry of ecstasy to mix with his own shout of pleasure. Together they held and rode out the climax swamping over them, both lost in the frenzy as their moans blended into one.

Addison didn’t know how long they laid there together, his weight pressing her into the mattress, but eventually he rolled to the side and she dared to open her eyes. Peering down under the covers, she was still fully dressed with no physical evidence whatsoever of their encounter other than the after-sex glow she felt radiating from her body.

Come back to me,
Rhys murmured, gently tugging on their connection.

She shifted to her side and closed her eyes. The images were no longer there, but she could still feel Rhys as he pressed up behind her, spooning her as his arm encircled her belly, pulling her closer. His hard body conformed to hers, arching around her curves as she relaxed into him.

Rhys sighed, a sound of complete and total contentment.
That was…

“Amazing.”

A sleepy chuckle escaped him as he snuggled closer.
What an understatement.

Addison yawned, let herself begin to drift. “I can’t think of any other word,” she mumbled.

She felt Rhys’ lips press against her temple.
No words exist. They never will.

Addison let loose a satiated sigh as she nudged her body awake. Or was that Rhys?

She could still feel him pressed up behind her, but she knew the sensation would disappear the minute she opened her eyes. Too bad she couldn’t go through life with her eyes closed at all times. Actually…she probably could. Blind people made it through life just fine without being able to see, and…

Oh, my God. What was she thinking?! Sex—even superior mind-blowing sex—wasn’t worth not being able to see again. Then again…

Rhys chuckled in her ear, his hand splayed across her belly.
Interesting train of thought.

Shit, I knew I was good, but to the point of wishing you were blind? Damn, I’m a god.

Oh, crap.

She groaned and mumbled, “Get out of my head.”

Now, sweetheart, let’s be honest. You don’t really want me out of your head. Not now, or
ever again. You’d be fucking lost without me. Admit it.

“I admit to nothing.” The lift in his tone implied he was teasing, but there was still no way she was stroking that enormous ego of his.

You know what you can stroke…,
he mused, the implication clear.

“Don’t even say it.” And it appeared she had to work on muting selective thoughts. Again.

Back to square one.

Oh, I don’t know about that. I’d say we’ve gotten a lot further than square one.

“Hardy, har, har. Smartass.” She threw a pillow over her head—like that was really going to help.

Um, duh!

“I’m gonna have to learn how to block you all over again, aren’t I?”
Why would you want to?

Being able to read his tone, as well as his emotions, was becoming very useful. “Don’t even try to pretend you’re hurt by that, Rhys. Your fake guilt trips aren’t going to work.”
Dammit, woman. I’m gonna have to find all new fucking ways to manipulate you. This is
your fault, ya know. If you hadn’t gotten yourself all horny—

He pinched her ass and she yelped, returning the assault with a light elbow to his gut. Well, it was supposed to be light, but it earned her a grunt in her ear followed by a quiet snicker.

Allowing herself an indulgent smile, she pulled the pillow off her head and then reluctantly opened her eyes to the morning brightness. The sensation of Rhys next to her immediately faded.

Yup, same as the night before.

Can you feel this?

“No.”

Close your eyes.

She did, and promptly jumped and giggled, pressing her ear to her shoulder. “Stop blowing in my ear.”

That answers that. No matter how hard I concentrate, you’ll only feel me with your eyes
closed.

“You sound disappointed.”

I am, little bit. I could’ve had a helluva lot of fun with that.

“Oh, man,” she moaned as she straightened out into a good, muscle-pulling stretch. “I can only imagine.”

Hey. Hold up a sec. Do you hear that?

What now? “Here what?”

Are your eyes open or closed?

“Open.” She glanced around the room reflexively, and listened for Rhys. Other than the distant buzz of his thoughts, the only thing she could hear were the birds outside. “Rhys, what is it?”