RetroCog (a Power Up! story) (21 page)

He flashed her a sinful grin “Good. You’re awake.”

“What are you doing?” Darkness wreathed the room. “What time is it?”

“It’s evening. Frank and Chloe brought us a change of clothes, and Frank’s been working at the inn. No sigh of Buckman yet, but Chloe’s still looking.” He kissed her clit and licked it while keeping his gaze on her. “What you did for me before was incredible. Now it’s my turn.”

“Oh?” She gasped, finding it hard to keep still when he licked her again.

“Yeah. I need to remind you who’s in charge. With or without the busted arm, I’m still calling the shots, sweetheart.”

She tried to twist her hips but couldn’t with his weight pinning her down.

“No, no. You stay right here while I have dessert.”

His mouth took her, consumed her. His lips and tongue, a hint of his teeth, and she teetered on the edge of all-consuming pleasure. She couldn’t deny the connection between them, not even if she’d wanted to.

“Please, Noah.”

He groaned and sucked her harder before letting her go. He leaned up and straddled her waist, showing off his thick length. “This time you’re all mine. Remember the plug, Lara?” He gripped himself with his good hand. “I’m a little bigger than the plug. Time to show me how much you want it.”

Her mouth went dry, and she ached between her legs. Moisture pooled, a need for Noah and nothing else. The forbidden pleasure of the plug would be nothing compared to the discomfort of Noah’s thick cock up her ass. So why was she so excited for him to claim her there?

“You want it, don’t you? Like Cecilia, you need a man deep inside you,” he taunted, his eyes dark.

“Not any man. You.” She ran a bold hand up his tightly corded stomach. “I want you to take me.”

“To fuck you.”

Wicked heat flushed her face, her breasts, and lower.

“Say it, Lara. You want me to fuck you.”

“I want you to fuck me. Please.”

“I don’t have anything with me. I’m going to have to use you to lube me up. That wet pussy will make me nice and slick. We’ll take it slow. I want to watch you while I fill your narrow little ass.” He sounded so mean, so dominant.

She creamed even more.

Noah carefully lowered himself to rest on his elbows and winced.

“Your wrist—”

“Is fine. You think I’m too weak to handle you? Trying to goad me, beautiful? Trying to take charge again?” He lay flush against her.

Expecting him to prod her thighs apart, she started when he took her nipple in his mouth and bit down.

She cried out, and he sucked the sting away. Like before, the pain and pleasure mixed, heightening her responses. He groaned and did it again, nipping her with love bites across her chest.

“I love your tits. So full.” He sucked her other nipple hard, pulling and twisting until she couldn’t contain her gasp. “That’s it. Open for me.” He stuck his uninjured hand between their bodies and stroked her wet clit. “You’re soaked. That’s good, baby.”

His breath sounded as choppy and rough as hers. The hot length of him felt impossibly hard against her belly. In anticipation of him inside her once more, she spread her legs.

“That’s it. Wider. Yeah.” Noah shifted and pushed inside her pussy. All of him driving deep. He fucked her, pounding with heavier strokes until she forgot all about him taking her ass. He stretched her, completed her, made her feel as though she’d finally found the man who could handle her desire.

Before she could climax, he withdrew.

“Dammit, Noah,” she moaned.

“Prop that pillow under you.” He panted. “Now.”

She pulled it under her hips, giving him better access, and bent her knees. Then she waited while he took himself in hand and positioned himself at her hole. He sat there a moment, just looking into her eyes. Then he penetrated her slowly, not stopping as he conquered her inch by inch.

“Push out, that’s it.” He kept going. “I love you, Lara. All of you.”

The emotion in his eyes as he took her promised what she’d been craving her whole life.

“I belong with you.” She meant it, every word. “I love you, Noah.”

He groaned and seated the entirety of himself inside her. His balls rested against her ass, the fullness so overwhelming, she could do nothing but feel.

“You’re mine. Always.” He pulled out with care, then slid back inside her again. The agony on his face as he loved her shoved her need into overdrive. “Touch yourself while I fuck you. Do it. Come with me, and fast. I’m not going to last inside you. You’re so incredibly tight.”

Like a piston, his hips moved in and out, building greater speed. The slap of his balls against her added to the intensity. His gaze never left her face until she fingered herself, then his thrusts turned jerky.

“Oh fuck. I need to come. Come with me now, Lara. Baby, do it,” he ordered through gritted teeth.

He didn’t need to demand what her body intended all along. She spasmed and clenched hard, feeling empty yet full as he pounded into her ass. The climax eased her, tying her closer to the man she couldn’t stop touching.

He tensed and shuddered, moaning her name. She held him around the waist, needing more time, more Noah, before the rest of the world intruded.

“Oh yeah.” He sighed and gently withdrew.

She winced, suddenly feeling his girth, when before she’d been too aroused to notice the pain. “That’s going to burn.”

He smiled, the dimple there in his cheek. “But in a good way, right?”

“Yeah.” She groaned. “I don’t want to move ever again.” But she needed to, because he’d made a mess inside her. “I have to get to the bathroom.”

“No problem.” He rose and tugged her to her feet using his good arm. After walking her to the bathroom, he waited outside. “Hurry up, because I need you again.”

She shut the door. When she’d finished, she let him back in and nudged him into the shower. She turned on the hot water and stepped inside with him. “I don’t think you’re supposed to take that bandage off for a while. You shouldn’t get it wet either.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She poked him in the stomach. “Smart-ass. I guess you’ll just have to keep your arm out of the water and let me wash you.”

His start of surprise turned into a devilish grin.

Had she ever seen him smile so much? Her heart lay completely at his feet. “I’d better be careful not to make you too happy. I don’t want other women looking at you.”

He gave her a mock frown. “So I’m not handsome when I’m frowning?”

“No, you’re just mean. And hot. But when you smile, God, I can’t look away.” To her shock, he flushed, and she laughed. “Shy, Noah?”

“Cut it out.” He tried to grab the soap, but she wouldn’t let him.

“Uh-uh. Now hold still and let me clean you up.” She paid careful attention to his injuries, not happy when he hissed under the hot water and soap. Wanting to give him time to recuperate, she massaged his muscles with her soapy hands, content when he sighed his pleasure. Finally, she shifted her attention to his mouthwatering cock. She needed him nice and clean for what she had in mind.

Her ministrations aroused in him in no time.

“Remember, I’m injured,” he feebly protested when she dropped to her knees. A glance at him showed a sparkle in his eyes. “I can’t use my hand.”

“You don’t need to. And neither do I.” She opened her mouth and took him in. Absorbing the scent and taste of him while water sluiced down his solid frame.

“Oh yeah,” he rasped. “You’re definitely in charge.”

They returned to the inn the next morning holding hands. Lara wanted everyone to see how she felt about Noah, and he apparently felt the same. He’d glared at no less than half a dozen men as they left a small cantina and walked to the inn.

It both embarrassed and pleased her. “Come on, Noah. They’re guys I know from town. Friends, nothing more.”

“I’m feeling a little possessive. And besides, that last guy couldn’t seem to look anywhere but at your breasts.”

“That would be Ned.” She shrugged. “What can I say? He’s just like you, only I don’t love him.”

Satisfaction filled his eyes. “Damn right you don’t. You’re—”

“Mine,” she finished for him. “You’ve only said it every other minute. But don’t forget, it goes both ways.” She scowled at one of Shelly’s friends standing by the mailbox. “She seems to find you just a little too interesting.”

Noah squeezed her fingers. “I like this side of you. Why don’t you go on over there and tackle her, Lara. You think maybe you and she could wrestle for me? Add a little mud or some oil, and we’ll have a real party.”

“Jerk.”

He laughed, and several people turned to look at them as they entered the inn.

“Seeing Shelly’s friend reminds me… I think it’s time I found the girl and had a heart-to-heart with her.”

Frank walked up to her and pulled her free hand, tugging her, and by extension, Noah, back down the hall to her office. He looked harassed, and she felt awful. While she’d been having the time of her life with Noah, Frank had been back here holding down the fort. Alone, by the looks of him.

Lara apologized. “Frank, I’m sorry. I should have been here for breakfast, but…”

“I handed out complimentary passes to the diner on the corner. Don’t worry; no one went hungry this morning. Unfortunately, we have bigger problems to deal with than a missed meal.” Frank didn’t look as if he’d slept last night. His clothes appeared rumpled, his hair loose around his shoulders, and shadows dragged below his eyes.

“Frank?”

Noah tugged, forcing her and Frank to stop with him. “Where’s Chloe?”

Frank let go of Lara and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. She grabbed a set of sheets from me and locked herself in your room last night.” Frank didn’t tease or crack a smile, and Lara knew they had problems. “But I haven’t seen her since eleven. And I’m worried.” He glanced from Noah to Lara and back. “Noah, one of the nurses at the hospital where they stitched you up yesterday… She was found dead in the hospital stairwell. Raped and murdered like the other girl, except whoever killed her sliced her throat open this time as well.”

“Dear God.” Lara grabbed her own throat.

Frank blinked, and she swore she saw a sheen of tears in his eyes. “It gets worse. They also found Shelly. Her body had been dumped in the same place they found the first victim a few days ago. She looked exactly the same. Now there’s talk of a serial killer in Brownville.”

“Shelly?” Lara whispered. The girl had been a nuisance, but also a fun-loving young woman who’d needed time to mature into a responsible adult. She couldn’t help the tears that trickled down her cheeks. “Poor Shelly.”

Noah dropped her hand and gave her a hug. “No sign of Buckman?”

Frank shook his head. “Funny thing, though. No one’s seen Bill Knowles either. I checked around, discreetly. Even staked out both their places with some friends of mine in need of some cash. Mike’s apartment is vacant, and no one’s seen Bill or his truck around his place either. Both of them have disappeared.”

Noah’s lips thinned. “And so has Chloe. Shit.” He dropped his arm from Lara’s shoulders and nodded to her room.

They all entered and closed the door behind them.

“There’s one more thing.” Frank put his hand in his pocket and retrieved something he dropped into Noah’s palm. “I found these on the bed in your room when I went looking for Chloe this morning.”

In the center of Noah’s large hand lay a pair of rose-shaped earrings.

Lara’s stomach rebelled. Fear became a huge knot inside her. “The killer has Chloe.”

“We’ll find her.” Noah let out a deep breath. “Just keep quiet a minute. I need to see something.”

He closed his eyes as if going to sleep. But Noah never looked so intense while resting, not that she’d seen. She felt a heavy sense of psychic energy, and then Cecilia appeared in the far corner of her room.