Intimate Strangers by Danielle Taylor Page B

moment between sleeplessness and slumber.
    Dawn finally broke, casting bright rays of sunlight through the curtains. Her head pounded from lack of rest, but she didn’t have the luxury of remaining in bed all day. While Ruan still slept, she hopped in the shower and thoughts of Tiaan assaulted her beneath the hot spray.
    Chelsea recalled every moment of their time together that night. She mimicked the long and languid swipes of his hands caressing her from the hips up to her breasts and shivered. Resisting her own release had been easy up until now, but with Tiaan here, Chelsea couldn’t stop herself.
    One hand massaged a taut nipple, tugging and pinching, while the other glided down her belly to the slick folds at the apex of her thighs. She moaned a little too loudly at the initial contact on the engorged nub. A third hand came from nowhere, kneading her backside. Chelsea screamed, the sound muffled by a fourth hand clamped over her mouth.
    “It’s only me,” Tiaan’s sultry whisper reached her ear. Heat from his breath aroused her further.
    Frozen where she stood, Chelsea considered his reason for entering her bathroom. Then she realised he probably wanted sex. Just like before.
    “I-I can’t…” Her words wouldn’t come out the way she planned.
    “Can’t what?” The hardened length of him pressed against her.
    “Do this.”
    His hand replaced hers, fumbling slightly at the feel of her pebbled nipple. Tiaan released a rough sigh, taking both of the heavy globes in his palms, testing their weight. He cursed beneath his breath.
    Chelsea struggled to turn in his arms, but he held her firmly in place. A moment of dread passed through her, wondering what he might do. The man may have been tortured, but his strength still surpassed hers. Should he wish it, Tiaan could very well do whatever he pleased.
    He wouldn’t , she tried to tell herself. Mac would never allow someone like that under his roof.
    Would he?
    “Just let me touch you, Chelsea.” She noted the edge of desperation in his voice. “Don’t care about myself. But I need to touch you.”
    His words evoked such a powerful response from her. Where, just seconds ago she was terrified of what he might do, now all she wanted was whatever pleasure he was prepared to give. She nodded and he kissed the nape of her neck.
    Her memories of him always showed someone skilled and talented, capable of bringing her to places she had never dreamed of going. This man behind her felt like a completely different person. Someone unsure, doubting his capabilities as a lover.
    Tiaan hissed, skimming his trembling hands down the same path she’d taken the reverse of before he interrupted. His fingers lingered over the puffy flesh covering her lower abdomen. She cringed at what he must think of her now.
    Teeth grazed her shoulder. His movements grew rushed, frantic even, as he searched for the center of her need. Too roughly, he pinched and pulled, grunting and prodding against her backside until he was nestled between her cheeks.
    “Jesus, Chelsea,” he spoke between panted breaths.
    Careful not to embarrass him, she gently took his hands in hers and enticed a softer touch from him. Ah, there , she thought, relaxing her head against his chest. Slow burning heat built up inside her.
    “You’re too damned perfect, love.”
    Her breath stumbled at his sweet words. Chelsea reached back and held his neck, arching hers to tempt him with a kiss beneath the warm spray of the shower. Those deep chocolaty eyes searched her face for a fleeting moment. Hesitantly, he brought his mouth down on hers. It was she who sought entrance past his closed lips with her tongue. Coaxing, and then begging with a whimper.
    Finally he gave her access, and seemed to find his rhythm too. Then she was the powerless one, desperate for him to grant her the release she needed. The fire blossomed out of control, sending sparks shooting down to her toes. They curled on the rubber mat stuck into the