No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [46]
“I want you to screw me.”
There was no sound for a full minute. “I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.”
“Turn around. I want to see something apart from the back of your head.”
She took a deep breath, braced herself, and turned around. “Then look at me. What do you see?”
His eyes were narrowed on her face. “Beats me to hell.”
“This … is difficult. I never thought I’d—Will you do it?”
“Why?”
“I haven’t been with a man willingly since Chavez took me. I’ve just realized that’s a victory for him. I won’t let him have it. I won’t let him scar me like that.”
“Wonderful.” Galen’s lips tightened. “Makes a man feel really wanted.”
“I can’t help it. I have to be honest with you.”
“Why me? Why not go knocking on Judd’s door?”
“There’s been something … You know it. I thought it would be easier with you.”
“Not the greatest compliment I’ve received.”
“I didn’t mean to make you angry.” Her voice was shaking. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
“Oh, don’t back out now. It’s just getting interesting.”
“Stop it. Just say yes or no.” Her chin lifted. “I’d actually rather you said no. This … scares me.”
“Oh, shit.” The anger disappeared from his expression. “Just when I’d managed to whip up some authentic resentment for this insult to my ego.” He took a step closer but didn’t touch her. “You always manage to disarm me, dammit.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt your ego.” She looked away from him. “I didn’t think you’d mind. It wouldn’t be unpleasant. I’d do anything you want. Just ask—”
“Shut up.” His hand covered her lips, then moved down to her throat. “You are scared. Your heart is beating like crazy.”
It wasn’t entirely fear that was causing that response. “I told you I was. I want to be honest.” She looked back at him and met his gaze. “I have to do this. I taught Barry that you have to look under the bed if you think a monster is there.”
“I’m not sure what that makes me.” He smiled. “But I’m not going to be under the bed. Your pulse just jumped under my thumb.”
“You’re going to do it?”
“There wasn’t any question about our coming together from the minute I first put my hands on you.” His thumbs rubbed up and down the sides of her neck. “I’m just a poor male unable to quench my lust.”
“Thank you.” She was having trouble breathing. “Where? The hammock?”
“God, no.” He grinned. “I’m lousy in hammocks. I’ve never mastered the knack.” He was leading her inside and up the stairs. “Bed. My bed. It will make me feel less insecure.”
“Bull.”
“You think I’m not insecure? You tell me I have to solve your problem and then call me a monster.” He opened his bedroom door and drew her inside. “It’s enough to make Casanova quake. I’ll have to overcome the sheer—”
She stiffened as she saw the bed.
“It’s going to be fine,” Galen said quietly. “Nothing to it. Piece of cake.”
“No.”
“Maybe not.” His grasp tightened. “But we’ll get through it together. You set the pace.”
“That’s going to be difficult for you.” She tried to smile. “You always say you like to run the show.”
“In a situation like this, the woman is always in command.”
“I never found that to be true.”
“Because you’ve never been in a situation like this.” He lifted her palm to his lips. “Or have you?”
She could feel heat spread from her palm up her inner arm. “I wasn’t a virgin when Chavez took me. When I was sixteen, there was a man. No, he was more of a boy. I … enjoyed it.”
“Bless him. Then we have something to build on.” He released her hand, and his fingers went to the buttons of her shirt. “No sex since Chavez?”
“No. The guards at the prison—I broke their necks.”
“Good.” He undid a button. “Then I won’t feel obliged to go back and do it for you.”
“Why should you want to do that?”
“I’m feeling amazingly protective of you.” He undid another button. “I want to fight your dragons.”
She inhaled sharply as his fingers brushed against the top of her breast. “You are.”
“All your dragons.”
“So much for my being in control.”
“You’re in control.” He took her hand and put it on his heart. “Feel it? You did this to me. You have power. You make me feel weak and strong and everything