“No, I don’t hate it.” He bent his head and crushed her mouth beneath his. The kiss was rough and demanding, but he was beyond being easy. When he lifted, they were both panting. One slow torturous inch at a time, Vance slid his dick deep. She cried his name as her body molded around him. While he moved in and out, Vance trailed little kisses on her cheeks and temples. He spied a few freckles on the delicate slope of her chin and kissed each one with tender care. He tucked his hand between their bodies and began stoking her passion to new heights. Vance watched her expressive face as desire turned to red-hot passion. Shayla’s quickened breathing amplified his need a thousand times. Her arms tightened around his neck, and her legs quivered as they clutched on to his waist.
With her entire body draped around him, enfolding him in her little web of sensuality, Vance felt something inside him give way, as if a barricade had been torn down. He emitted a low growl of possession and pushed harder, faster, into her inviting wetness, continually toying with her swollen clit. She arched upward, mashing her breasts against his chest as she soared over the precipice once more.
His hunger took over when she screamed out his name. Vance pumped harder, driving her body into the mattress, oblivious to anything but the soft, inviting woman beneath him. He grabbed hold of her wrists and brought her arms above her head, extending her body so that she was an erotically submissive offering. He trapped both her small wrists beneath one of his hands and held her firm.
Vance continued to plunge into her, over and over, claiming her until he thought he’d die from the sheer ecstasy of it. He came in a frenzy of thrusts, splintering into a hundred pieces. Shayla’s arms went limp, and her legs fell away from his body. She let out a long sigh and whispered, “Vance,” and then she was out. Ah hell, had he been too rough? Taken her too hard? He lifted off her and lay down beside her, content to watch her sleep. Red marks marred her breasts and her neck where he’d kissed her. Even her waist and wrists bore the marks of his rough fingers.
He recalled what she’d said about her father ruling with an iron fist, and anger suffused Vance. The thought of any man putting his hands on Shayla in anger fired up his protective side. A father was supposed to be loving. The bastard should’ve been offering her security and kindness. Instead, Shayla had known only fear and pain at her father’s hands. It still bothered Vance that she’d kept that side of her life hidden from him. Even if she hadn’t told him, he should’ve known. Christ, the fact he hadn’t seen the signs was a testament to what a lousy boyfriend he’d been toward her.
“You’re staring,” she murmured with her eyes still closed.
He pushed the maudlin thoughts away, and his lips kicked up to one side. “Thought you were passed out cold there for a second.”
“Nope, just basking,” she said, still not looking at him. “A woman is allowed to bask.”
He took hold of her chin and nudged her to look at him. When her eyelids lifted, Vance asked, “I wasn’t too rough?”
A gentle smile teased the corners of her mouth. “You could never be too rough.”
He snorted. “You’ve got marks all over you, honey.” He massaged her breasts in an attempt to soothe her, but all it did was get him started again.
“I love that you wanted me so desperately. It makes me aware that I’m not the only one.”
“Good,” he said in a rough voice. “Because after you rest up a bit, I’m going to be desperate all over again.”
She cupped his cheek with her palm ad smoothed her thumb back and forth over his lower lip. “I thought you needed
to be at the diner. You were going to take me with you, remember?”
He wrapped his hand around her wrist and held her still while he sucked on her thumb. “Plenty of time for that.” He released her and stood. “Come on,” he urged as he tugged on her arm.
“Where are we going?” She began to scoot off the bed.
When she got to her feet, Vance moved behind her and cupped her ass. God, she had a lovely shaped ass. “To the shower,” he replied. “It’s not just for cleanliness anymore, you know?”
She laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“Yep,” he said as he watched her walk. Jesus, she was sexy. He’d always been half-crazed for Shayla. Apparently, some things didn’t change.
Chapter Nine
When Vance got out of the truck and jogged around to her side, Shayla held back. He frowned and opened her door. “What?”
“Are you sure about this? I mean, they might not be so keen on seeing me after all this time.”
He leaned down, placed a tender kiss to her lips and whispered, “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”
Shayla let out a long breath and unsnapped her seat belt. Vance helped her to the ground. “They’re not going to bite, honey,” he said as he slammed the truck door shut behind her.
“Why not? You did.”
He chuckled and took possession of her hand. “I’m allowed.”
With him so close, Shayla felt better, until they stepped into the diner and she came face-to-face with Sam Jennings. It was abundantly clear he and Vance were related because they had the same messy dark hair and hazel eyes. But Vance was bigger, more muscular. Unfortunately, Sam looked about as welcoming as a cougar. The cold look he gave her rivaled the frigid temperatures outside.
Vance nudged her forward and said, “You remember Sammy, don’t you?”
She didn’t know whether to hold out her hand for him to shake or not. His expression said not, so she merely stood there. “Hi, Sam, it’s good to see you again.” She smiled in an attempt to break the ice. It didn’t work.