MIAMI
It had been a long two months with neither thinking the other was actually going to live to see this day. It mattered very little. They were together, cramped into a tiny bed. The shot that had rang out into the darkened apartment had done nothing to Frank Donovan. However, it had given Patrick Draper one hell of a hole in his stomach. The sickie lived through it, as sickies often do. But he wouldn't see the light of day as a free man ever again. Donovan had had it after that. It was time for a break…a long one. He had a billion hours of leave time coming to him and he greedily took as much as his superiors would allow. They had gone to Miami together, basically just to retrieve Stasia. However, once they arrived, they couldn't leave. Although it had taken Donovan's parents a bit to warm up to Pax, they were thrilled to hear that the two were actually ready to set a wedding date. They intended to stay with the elder Donovan's no longer than three days. They wound up staying eight weeks. And now, tonight, they were stuffed together in bed. The evening had started innocently enough. They had had dinner with Anneliese and Kane, put Stasia to bed, and then retired. Of course, one thing led to another, and they wound up making love, but they couldn't help it. It had been one hell of a rough ride for them both. No pun intended, of course.
However, unlike every other time she made love with Donovan, Pax didn't immediately move away. She let him hold her for so long a time that she felt her limbs growing numb. But that was okay, too. She made a soft noise in her throat when she felt Donovan moving beside her. They were both on their sides. Any other position wouldn't do. They could have picked a hotel with a gigantic bed, but they hadn't wanted to do that, either. Strangely, this bed meant something to them. Both were surprised that it was actually still holding together. They had truly given it some workouts lately. Pax felt his hand moving to her hair, and a moment later, he moved it away from her ear. He placed a gentle kiss on it and then nibbled delicately on her earlobe. She thought he might leave her alone, but that was a stupid thought. He never left her alone. His lips ventured to her throat as his hand slid down the length of her body. Oh. He was such a sorry bastard to do this to her. Didn't he think once tonight was enough? Duh, Pax. You're really stupid sometimes. Does he ever think it's enough? Ah hell. She didn't mind. Not really. She turned her head just the slightest so his mouth could cover hers. Oh his lips. His wonderful lips. He could do so much with them. She could feel the hardening ridge of him against her buttocks. During their kiss, she reached around behind her and encircled him, beginning a gentle caress.
He broke the kiss and chuckled deeply within his throat. "You bitch," he said.
"Do you expect me to be anything but a bitch?"
"Nope," he told her. "You drive me crazy, but I love you."
She shifted positions ever so slightly and turned to face him. "I love you, too."
He kissed her again and ran his hands down her naked back, cupping her buttocks, squeezing them. She could feel the hard ridge of him against her and it wouldn't take very many moves for him to come inside. Of course, she wasn't exactly fighting against that thought, but still…tonight it just felt…different. She broke away from his possessive and demanding kiss. His brown eyes, darkened even more by his passion, were clouded with confusion. She could almost read what he was thinking: Don't tease me. Please don't tease me. But of course she would. If she didn't, she wouldn't quite be Jonella Paxton, now would she? She wanted to take her time, to relish every moment of this. Morning [and Stasia and the elder Donovan's] would come much too soon. She ran her hand along his arm until it fell upon one of his. She moved it away from her scrawny ass and backed away just a little.
"Jonella, what are you doing," he finally asked. He wasn't an idiot. He knew what she was doing, she was teasing him and she knew it.
Pax said nothing, only smiled at him. After a moment, she pressed her lips against his with just enough pressure to drive him out of his mind. Her hand fell upon him again, stroking ever so gently. His breathing quickened ever so slightly and a very soft groan, almost undetectable, left him. Almost going by instinct, she stopped and drew her hand away, leaving him ready to beg for more. She backed away again, remembering that the bed was a tiny, dinky thing, and not their super-sized futon. One false move and she would fall to the floor. She didn't think it would shatter the moment, but would give Donovan the upper hand. The fucker would pounce. She didn't want him to pounce…yet. She allowed him to kiss her, but only a little kiss, before she drew away completely. Donovan watched, mystified, as she brought her body up to her feet. What the hell was she doing? She ran her fingers through her incredible mane of hair and stretched as if she were getting up for the day.
"You don't intend to leave me like this, do you," he asked, an incredulous look on his face.
She smiled at him. "Maybe. Maybe not."
Pax turned her back on him and grabbed her robe [never intending on leaving the room at all]. Within nanoseconds, Donovan was off the bed, his body pressed against hers. "Don't you dare," he said as he drew her hair away from her shoulder. "Don't you dare step out of this room until morning, maybe never." His lips went to the side of her throat and placed moist kisses along it, progressing slowly to her shoulder.
As his hands slid down to her waist, a soft moan left her. Jerk. He was as good at pushing her buttons as she was at pushing his. But he could push them ever so much better. Oh yes he could. He pulled her up against him, her buttocks connecting nicely with his hardness. She wanted to turn and go back to the bed, but the moment she tried to move, she heard a distinct 'uh uh' leaving his lips. Okay. She wouldn't argue with him too much. He gently pushed her to the door. Oh Jesus, here we go again. Tomorrow, when she could think coherently, she was going to ask him why he had an affinity for having sex up against doors. She found herself wondering if the door was closed tightly or if it would rattle in its frame. It didn't matter. His parents weren't idiots. They knew what was going on here. He left enough space between her and the door so she could lean her hands on it. One of his hands slid down between her legs while the other guided her face to his. He kissed her deeply while his hand drove her out of her mind. God. What was he doing to her? He's loving you, you fucking idiot. Now stop thinking and let him get to it. He broke the kiss, but his touch never let up. Oh, the bastard had finally gotten the upper hand for once. What started out as her game swiftly became his. Oh well. It wasn't like she didn't have other opportunities to make him suffer. Sure. Let him win this one.
"Jonella, do you trust me," he asked, his voice falling into her ear.
What kind of question was that? She was on the verge of a mind-bending orgasm and he wanted to talk trust? "Hmm," she moaned, biting her lip. "I do."
"Good," he said. "I wouldn't want you to think I'd let you fall."
She had been right in the middle of opening her mouth to ask him what the hell he meant, but he answered her without a word. His hand immediately stopped torturing her. Quickly, abruptly, he entered her from behind. She arched her back just the slightest and pressed her hands more firmly against the door. He moved within her slowly. Oh God, he was good. He was so good, and goddamn it he was hers. How did she wind up so damn lucky? His grip tightened on the sides of her hips, but he never picked up the pace. God. If he could see her face, he would laugh himself into an early grave. Her expressions changed from rapture to torture to bliss and then back to rapture again. Maybe I'm glad he can't see me. If she attempted moving against him to push things along faster, he'd simply tighten his grip. Oh. She understood. Mr. Donovan wanted to take control. But that was okay.
At her climax, she told him she loved him, and would tell him she did every day of her life. And if she didn't tell him, she would show him. When his body stilled with his release, she felt tears coming to her eyes. She couldn't believe how mushy she had become. What amazed her most was that she couldn't believe how she had pushed him away time and time again, how she had nearly lost him. All those years. All that time. She had been a fool, a stupid damn fool. He had opened her eyes and she never wanted to shut them again. After a very long moment, their bodies disconnected only to connect again as his lips took hers. They moved back toward the tiny bed and fell into it.
Donovan leaned over her, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. "I clearly remember the last time we were in this bed together, pretending to be newlyweds," he said with a smile.
She returned his smile and then held out her left hand. She gazed at the white gold wedding band adorning her ring finger, its mate encircling Donovan's. She had moved the silver band to her right hand. "I'm glad we no longer have to fake it, aren't you?"
"Very much so, Jonella…Donovan."
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Finis…