Delta: Retribution by Cristin Harber Page A

His lips hovered over hers. “Why?”
    “It’s hard for me to trust others, and— I don’t trust myself.”
    “I’m out of my element.” He licked her bottom lip, so full and delicious he couldn’t help but kiss her again. “Fucking you seems like the only thing that might help.”
    She nodded, tugging at his shirt. His hands ran all over her. Smooth skin, full breasts, a body made for holding. Heaven in his hands. That was the only thing that stilled his crazy mind. But she didn’t trust him—or herself—and God, all he wanted was the confident, trusting woman he’d had before.
    “When I was a stranger, you didn’t hold back. Did you?”
    She turned her face away. He caught her chin and brought her gaze back to him. “I didn’t hold back.”
    “Don’t now. Promise me.” Her eyes rounded, and she nodded, but not enough that he believed her. “Promise.”
    “I can try.”
    “I want you. You know that, right?”
    Her head tilted. “Yes.”
    But her voice was so quiet. “This red hair. Lips I want to suck.” His hands drifted over her breasts, down her stomach, teasing the snap on her pants. “These legs I want to be between. Trust me, Mar. If you don’t know how sexy you are, I’ll show you.”
    “Trace…” Still pressed against his wall, her head fell to the side when he undid her pants. Then he went back to her breasts.
    “I want the real Marlena. The girl from the one-night stand.” He walked his fingers over the silken fabric stretched across her chest. Her nipples reached for him. He tweaked one until her jaw dropped open and her eyes listed to the side. “Undress.”
    Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
    “Don’t make me spank that perfect round bottom.” She blinked. Her cheeks flushed, bottom lip catching between her teeth. Pure lust poured off of her, so hot the room might melt around them. “You want that, don’t you?”
    Her fingers toyed with the hem of her shirt. But not fast enough. “You don’t know what I want.”
    “Goddamn, pretty girl. You’re wet just thinking about it, aren’t you?”
    Her breathing started faster. Soft, luscious breasts begged for his rough hands. She nodded. “I’m…”
    “You’ll trust me to take care of you.”
    She nodded again.
    “You’ll know how sexy you are, even if I have to force it on you. I’ll bring you to the edge and make you come and come again.”
    Still nodding, she whispered, “Yes.”
    “Lose your clothes.”
    Her shirt, shorts, bra, and thong were on the ground in seconds. He spun her around, breasts and cheeks pressed against the wall, and he walked his fingers down the ridge of her spine, letting them stop on the swell of her ass. All his pent-up energy, that rip-the-walls-down tension, was gone, and he could only focus on her.
    Completely naked, she peeked over her shoulder. “But you’re still dressed.”
    Smack. “Quiet, pretty girl.”
    She moaned, and he smoothed his palm over the spot he’d spanked. “Feel good?”
    “No.”
    “Liar.” He did it again.
    Her head fell back a little. “I don’t understand.”
    “Why you like it?” Because fuck him, he didn’t either. But it had to do with that almost smile that surfaced on her face after she absorbed the sting.
    She nodded. “Yes.”
    “Fingers between your legs. Touch yourself.”
    He danced his hands over her red butt cheek and watched her back arch. Ass in the air, cheeks pressed against the wall, back hollowing out in a perfect, creamy-skinned slope. Marlena’s eyes drifted shut, and she teased her clit.
    “Trace…”
    “Tell me when you’re close.”
    “I’m close.” Her breaths panted.
    “Tell me when you’re closer. When you’re going to fall.”
    He watched her leaning into the wall, doing as he commanded, and stepped close to her. He raced his hands over her body. Whatever stole her confidence, he damn sure wouldn’t let it affect them. She could be whoever she wanted to be to the outside world, but when it was them—just