Daredevil's Mistress

Chapter 17

She met his gaze, pain swelling rigidly in her throat. So rigid it broke in a huge sob. “I’m so sorry, Cody. No man deserves such treatment. Reliving your mother’s desertion through your girlfriend’s betrayal isn’t fair.” She hesitated. “You’re destined to meet someone, and you will learn to the trust again. I know this isn’t the time, but let’s put aside our differences and be friends,” Samantha whispered, her heart heavy. Cody nodded.

The visible agony she read in his eyes. It was sheer torture. Steadily, the need to comfort him and ease his pain grew. Kneeling, she enveloped him in a bear like hug and held on until his ragged breathing eased to slow even breaths. Her chin on his head, the fresh smell of spring water and shampoo remnants filled her nostrils.

****

Damn, when was the last time someone held me like this? Never. Awareness of unfathomable tenderness, formidable enough to calm the wildest of horses, clutched his soul. Cody inclined his head and gazed up at her in silence. The depth of emotion in her eyes startled him, dark pools of deep compassion. So young, yet so much comfort in her words and her eyes. A deed, no other woman had achieved. The security of her arms, a perfect embrace as it enclosed him in its warmth. He reveled in the new feeling. A total ass didn’t even begin to describe his unruly behavior. She deserved a whole lot more.

“I’m sorry, Lady, sorry for my repulsive behavior and false accusation, I—”

“Shh, it’s okay.” Samantha put a finger to his lips. The softness of the touch eased his tension. “There’s no need. You don’t have to apologize. I understand.” Her lips met his in a soft lingering kiss.

The light touch sent shockwaves through him, and his body instinctively cried out for relief from his anguish. Cody tugged her gently down and cradled her in the crook of his arms. Brushing his mouth over hers, his tongue nudged her bottom lip and increased the pressure of the kiss. With a sigh, her lips parted, and accepted his gentle probing. Then her mouth opened and allowed him in to explore her sweetness. Aroused, he slanted his mouth over hers with ravenous hunger, kissing her hard. Need, pure and blatant, rose from deep within and nothing mattered more than having her completely. Cody nibbled her lower lip, slid his tongue between her teeth to taste the suppleness he craved. He seduced her with a subtle tenderness. Samantha moaned deep in her throat, lifted her hands, and entwined them in his hair. Leaving her mouth, he trailed feather light kisses from her mouth to her earlobes.

“Oh, Cody.”

Eager for more, he reclaimed her mouth, delved in and magic began once again. She trembled in his arms. Cody, man this ain’t right. You’ve gotta stop. With measured breaths, he released her mouth and straightened. Samantha opened her eyes. Her desire filled gaze clashed with his, begged with an irresistible sweetness. Cody sighed. Hunger, bold and hard intensified as his cock pled freedom. His balls were going to explode if he kept this up. This had to end before it consumed him entirely.

“Please don’t stop,” she said on a shaky breath then sat up.

Her inaudible plea penetrated his silent deliberation. “We have to.”

“Why?”

Cody groaned. Frustration tormented his sanity. “God, darlin’ you have no idea how good you feel but I don’t want you doin’ anythin’ you might regret.”

“I won’t.”

Such innocence. His teeth clenched, and he reined in his passion. “What I’m sayin’, is I want you, but not at the risk of losin’ you. Hell, Lady, I’m at least ten years older than you—”

Samantha touched his face lightly. “You won’t. I don’t care if you’re ten or even twenty years older than me.” She hesitated. “Please, Cody, don’t stop. All I know is I want you.”

Her words frightened him a little. A tussle with his emotions ensued as his mind worked overtime to make sense of her words. Barely hours ago, they fought and now she begged him to make love. Desire so strong persisted, yet he couldn’t rush anything.

“I mean every word.”

“Hell, sweetheart, you’re so innocent.” If he were smart, walking away right now would be the most intelligent thing to do.

“Then teach me.” Her soft words blew against his lips in a shy whisper. Her eyes radiant with a guiltless hunger.

Cody drifted, possibly lost on an erotic path of no return. He sucked in his breath, gently eased her down onto the blanket, and stretched out beside her. The desire to touch her and be touched by her raced with every breath. Steeling against the tumultuous ache rampant in his veins, he ran gentle fingers through her hair splayed out behind her head. “You have beautiful hair, Lady.” Apples and lime, the lingering smell of shampoo permeated the air.

Samantha traced a finger down the side of his face, further along his neck and stopped at the top button of his shirt. He read the uncertainty in her gaze as she peeked up at him for assurance.

“No.”

“Why?” A question lined with pure innocence. “Lord knows…you touch me, and we’ll be rushing into somethin’. I want to take my time.” Aroused, he grappled for control, not expecting to last long. He wanted to nibble every inch of her skin. His finger outlined the curve of her chin, down her neck then circled a taut nipple through the material of her shirt. Her lids closed. She moaned low in her throat.

Cody claimed her lips once more and cupped a breast. She made little noises of pleasure. The sound excited him and sent a surge of shivers through his body. Hungry for more, he sat up. He unbuttoned her shirt, slid it down her arms, and then discarded it to one side. “Damn, you’re beautiful, Lady,” he croaked. A telltale blush stained her cheeks as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t. You are beautiful.” He fought for patience. God, this is difficult.

With a gentle touch, Cody moved her hands to either side of her body. He unclasped the front clip of her bra and hungrily watched her firm full breasts spill out. As he eased off the bra, her nipples tightened into delicious firm buds under his gaze. Her breath skittered out in hard pants. With unconcealed blatancy, her emerald green gaze overflowed with raw desire and captured his. The tip of her tongue slipped out to wet her lips. Groaning, he lowered his head and licked the tip of one nipple. She whimpered. He cupped the other breast, stroked the taut bud with his thumb before his brain fully engaged. This shouldn’t be happening.

Cody needed to stop, yet a defiant part of him surged ahead. The last few days bordered on hell as he struggled to maintain his calm. He held back with difficult restraint but was adamant about one thing. He wanted this beauty. Not in a normal way a man wants a woman. But to explore every inch of her beautiful body, to taste and savor each moment and kiss away the pain his rudeness inflicted.

Settling down next to her, his mouth on her nipple, his tongue teased the bud as his hand rolled over her belly to the edge of her panties.