His lips tightened as his teasing expression grew serious. "Now, while I understand you're uncomfortable, you gotta know you're stronger than your fear. You're the strongest woman I know, inside and out. Sometimes I'm a bit afraid of you, but then again, I think sometimes you're afraid of me so that balances us out. Don't be a chicken shit now. You've come too far."

Oh, I hated him at that moment, which perversely, made me want to fuck him all the more. No, not just fuck him, I wanted to seduce him until his control snapped, then ride him until we were both satisfied. And frankly, I didn't give a damn about anything else at the moment. With this lust thrumming through me and a desperate need to escape the pressures of the world, I tempted Smoke with something I knew he would love.

My sister had given me lessons on how to look cute and sexy. At the time, I thought it was part of the act she did for the teen pageants she was in. I didn't realize that she was working as a stripper, underage and behind our mom's back, at one of the better clubs in Vegas-and she was making a killing. Sarah used that money to run away from my mom and bought her freedom from the debts our mother owed. A year later, she surfaced again as one of the best pole dancers in Vegas, and not the stripper kind. Sarah was an athlete. She'd been a high ranking competitive skater before she broke her ankle when she was fifteen, and she used her strength and flexibility to pull off some crazy shit on those three-stories-tall poles she used for her burlesque show. She was incredible, and the raw sensuality Sarah could portray mesmerized crowds at the high-end casino show she starred in. So, I decided to see if I could use those same tricks to get Smoke to give me what I wanted.

It was a very empowering feeling to look up at Smoke from beneath my eyelashes and lightly lick my lower lip. The hitch in his breath hit me like a punch of adrenaline, and I knelt up so my breasts were visible. Bright sunlight streamed down on me, and I was sure it made my hair glow around my freckled shoulders. Still giving him an almost mocking, shy look, I hesitantly brushed my fingertips over my nipple, squirming a bit at the pleasant sensation. With a soft sigh I pinched the tip and rolled it between my fingers, never looking away from Smoke. His lips curved in a small smile, all satisfied male arrogance.

"Look at my baby getting so bold, trying to take what she wants." His voice rumbled in a rough purr that sent my body into overdrive, and I boldly dipped my fingers beneath the edge of the blanket then stroked my slick, swollen pussy lips. Smoke had fucked me hard enough last night that my sex was a little sore today. After rubbing my clit a couple times I pressed harder, then winced slightly.

That was all it took. Next thing I knew I was on my back with a very concerned Smoke kneeling between my legs, his face close enough to my wet sex that his breath felt cool on my heated flesh. He made a soft groaning sound. "Baby, I forgot how tender you are."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed him by the hair, forcing him to look at me. "Smoke, you didn't hurt me. I'm okay. I'm still a little new to this."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I'll take it..."

If the next words coming out of his mouth were to tell me that he wouldn't fuck me hard like I craved I was going to punch him. He started this fire burning inside of me. He was the one who addicted me to his touch, and I was damn sure he was gonna give me his cock even if I had to tie him up, blindfold him, and then cover him in edible body oil and ride him until he was speaking in tongues.

Hmm, that might be fun. Lots of fun.

I didn't realize how deep I was into the fantasy of dominating Smoke until he nipped my clit and I screamed.

"What the hell!"

With a soft growl, he gently stroked my swollen labia. "Damn it. You're aroused and wet as hell, but I can tell that I fucked you too rough last night. I was too hard on you. Baby...you gotta tell me what you were thinking about when you went all quiet. Your pussy started to contract and your hips began to press just into the air like your body was about to take my cock. I watched you drip on the bed. I gotta know what the fuck you were thinking about so I can make whatever fantasy you found so hot come true. Nothing you can say is too dirty for me."

I couldn't help but laugh and blush, shocked by how honest he expected me to be. Still, he had a point. He'd been pretty open with me about what he wanted to do with me while I still avoided talking about it if I could. It was just so...intimate.

"I was thinking about forcing you to eat my pussy."

His grin was all delicious evil and full of soul-damning sin. "Do you want me to fight you?"

"No," I said quickly. "No, I just want to...to make you eat me. To know that you're being forced to do it, even if you really aren't. This is so hard to explain. Just forget it."

"Hey now. Don't get upset. If I know what you want, I'll give it to you. But first," he cuddled me close and nuzzled my throat, "I need to reward you for being so honest with me."

I happily sighed and rolled my head to the side, exposing my heated pulse to his mouth. "Fuck yeah."

He laughed against my throat, and I would have hit him except he palmed my entire pussy and gripped me hard. The feeling was beyond superb, and I let out a soft whine. Still chuckling, he rubbed the heel of his hand over my clit while I gripped his hair. A low groan vibrated through his body over mine, and I reveled in giving myself over to his attentions and completely devoted myself to him. In the middle of all the intense lust mixed with love, I felt calm, safe, protected. The first inhalation against his warm skin filled me and I drew in a greedy lungful of his scent.

"You smell so sweet," he murmured against my throat, "but you taste all dark and tangy, like sex. I'm so fuckin' addicted to you."

I couldn't even tell him the feeling was mutual because his clever fingers where petting and caressing my sex, exploring how wet I was and teasing me until I wanted to snap.

My moans and efforts to get him to touch me harder were having no effect and I was beginning to get pissed off.

"Smoke,"-I was trying not to pant-"touch me."

He waited until I looked at him and when our gazes met he said in a deep, utterly seductive tone, "Make me."

The shudder that went through me almost pitched me straight into orgasm, but Smoke leaned back and wrenched my thighs open, preventing my climax and leaving me desperate to come.

He ran his tongue over his teeth while he stared down at me. "If you want me, you're gonna have to take me. That little pussy of yours needs a gentle touch so I'm gonna make love to you nice and easy, but first you're gonna ride my face until you come all over me."

Chapter Ten.

I thought clapping my hands and yelling for joy might be poor bedroom manners, but that didn't mean I didn't give Smoke a huge smile. For a moment, he just stared at me, frozen, then he did a slow blink and smiled back at me. The dark lust was still there in his gaze, but it was banked for a moment by love. His affection poured into me, his amazingly strong will filling up the cracks in my soul the world had dealt me.

"On your back." I helped him along by giving him a push and my clit throbbed with anticipation.

While I didn't want to tie him up, I wanted those talented hands on me, and I couldn't wait to grind myself on his mouth.

Bad.

He tried to turn his face away when I attempted to straddle him, but I held his hair and got into a position that used leverage to my advantage. Not that he was putting up a real fight. It was token at best, but oh, God it made me hot. When I glanced behind me I found his erection dripping with pre-cum. Maybe after I came I'd lick it off his belly then lick him. The thought was somehow dirty to me, and I sucked on my lips while turning my attention back to the lovely view of Smoke's face between my legs.

His eyes were closed and I loved how long his eyelashes looked against his cheeks. I brushed my fingertips over his lashes. "Keep your eyes closed."

To my surprise he obeyed, and when I lowered my pussy over his mouth he twitched beneath me, but didn't make any move to pleasure me.

I hissed in frustration before rubbing my wet sex over his lips. "Eat my pussy."

His lips remained stubbornly closed.

Bracing my hands on the headboard, I tilted my hips and slowly circled my clit against his mouth. "If you make me orgasm hard enough, I'll make sure you come just as hard."

He laughed softly against my labia, and I shivered over him, no longer feeling the least bit in control as his big hands clamped down on my hips.

"Well then, I better make sure I please my little Mistress."

A strangled cry was my only reply as he zeroed in on my clit, quickly driving me almost to climax before he backed off.

Oh shit. He was going to make me pay for my momentary burst of dominance. My man loved control and knowing he was in charge of my pleasure. If I was being honest, giving myself over to him felt as natural as breathing. I loved submitting to him, and he always rewarded me with such wonderful devotion...after my punishment.

Damn.

Sure enough, he continued his oral assault on me, sucking on my clit until I was gripping his head with my thighs. My muscles were tight and his mouth on me was bliss, licking and sucking until I rocked myself against his tongue. Then he totally backed off and used his superior strength to hold me up and away from him just enough to tease me with little glancing licks.

I was about one more tease away from putting him into a submission hold so I could finally get off, but I didn't know if the pain would kill his erection. That would suck.

By now, the shameless harlot inside of me was in firm control, and I begged Smoke to fuck me, to lick me, just do something to make me climax.

His breath stroked over the skin of my wet sex as he whispered, "Time to go for a ride."

I let out a loud squeak as he plucked me off his face and positioned me to straddle his hips like I was a rag doll. When he threw me around like this it made me hotter. When I grasped his thick shaft and gave it a couple strokes before sliding him slowly inside of me, we both shivered. He watched me so intently, looking from where we were joined, up my body and to my face. The muscle in his jaw flexed while he reached up and palmed my breasts, letting their heavy weight rest in his hands before caressing them with a low sigh.

"Gently, baby, or you're gonna be walking around with an ice pack between those pretty legs."

I had to resist the urge to ride him like a bucking bronco, and instead, shifted ever so slightly, gripping him with my internal muscles. I was a little sore but not raw, and when I placed my hands on his chest and slowly slid up, my body automatically clenched down on him, trying to keep him inside of me. Smoke was right. I was greedy for him, and I intended to gorge myself on his love and lust.

Our rhythm was easy, almost relaxing, but it only seemed to make every move all the more perfect. Every inch of my skin tingled and buzzed like I was standing in the middle of a fierce lighting storm. My body was too small to contain my emotions, and I found it was getting easier and easier to give myself over to Smoke all the way and trust him with everything I had. It was a wonderful, blissful feeling to surrender myself to him. As I looked down into his unguarded gaze I wondered if he felt the same.

Gripping my hips lightly, Smoke snarled at me and tilted my pelvis so I wasn't sitting straight upright, but rather curved over him so more of our torsos touched. A droplet of sweat gleamed as it ran down his cheek and I leaned forward, pressing our bodies flush while I licked the sweat from his warm skin. The taste of him exploded on my tongue and caused my body to tighten sending me rushing to my orgasm. Normally, Smoke seemed to like to control my climaxes, but today he let me rub myself against him with abandon as long as I kept the movements slow and gentle.

He wrapped his arms around me and held me close, our combined scent cocooning us while the sunlight further warmed my skin. The strong lines of his broad shoulders flexed and rippled, physical representations of the power and discipline of this man. His determination was reflected in everything he did and in all of his interactions with other people, including me. I loved the hell out of it when he controlled me in the bedroom, but there was something to be said for the slow slide of our skin together, for the way he kept whispering my name, calling me baby, each precise movement devastatingly gentle.

His thick cock stroked me over and over, driving me higher until he held me imprisoned in his arms while I strained to go faster and harder, to fuck my orgasm out.

"You wanna come for me," he growled out and I smiled against his skin, knowing that he wouldn't be able to resist the need to own my release.

"I want to squeeze down on your cock and take you with me."

He tensed beneath me and began to circle his hips while I continued to ride him just a little bit faster, enough that I entered that hyperaware state where everything became more-more intense, more beautiful, more everything. Time shifted and stretched like pulled taffy while we made love. Just when I thought I couldn't take this leisurely pace anymore, he gripped my hair and forced me to look at him.

"Who do you belong to?"

"You, Smoke."

"Who do you love?"

"You, Miguel."

The chords of his neck stood out when he lifted his head to mine and kissed me, as the perfect angle of his muscled groin rubbed against my hard clit just right. Fierce waves of pleasure overtook me. Each muscle twitch sent more gratification through my nerve endings, until I shouted his name and writhed on top of him while he held me as tight as he could and emptied himself in me.

The noises he made while he came were enough to arouse me all over again even as I drifted down from my own blissful orgasm. Resting my cheek on his chest I absently stroked the sparse hair on his arms, humming to myself while I enjoyed my post orgasmic bliss. I felt so connected to him, so loved, and I was trying with all my might to avoid thinking about the day to come. The small, scared, dependent part of me my father had tried so hard to destroy wanted to spend the rest of the day hiding here with my man, but I knew Smoke would never allow that.

Sure enough, his muscles flexed beneath my cheek as he sighed. "Time to get up, sweetheart. We have a brunch we need to get to and a traitor to catch."

His perfect, bronze skin gleamed in the sunlight, and I let out an appreciative sigh as he stood. He really was too fucking hot for his own good. "You think one of them is a spy?"

"The old ladies?"

"Yeah." I walked into the bathroom to quickly wash the remains of our activities away with a brief shower.

There was silence while I cleaned up, and by the time I came back, he was looking at his cell phone with a frown, busily typing something.

Whatever he was reading wasn't making him happy if the anger coming off of him was any indication, and I tensed as well, my body reacting to his non-verbal language. I watched him begin to pace, and my pulse picked up, throwing off the lingering afterglow from good sex. The only time my man paced was when he was struggling to hold back some strong emotion, usually rage.

Fear tried to worm its way further into my heart, but I concentrated instead on getting dressed in a pair of cute jeans, with elaborate stitching on the back pockets, and a lovely orange and pink bra that matched my panties. When he growled, I turned my back and tried to apply my lip gloss with a shaking hand, before giving up and watching in the mirror as Smoke paced behind me. When I'd first met him, I would have wanted to stop him from pacing, to try to calm him down, but now I knew him well enough to realize that this was his form of downloading. For Smoke, his ground-eating strides somehow soothed him, so I left him alone and slipped on my wrist cuffs, admiring the gleam of silver in the sunlight coming in through the partially opened shades and sheer, white curtains.

A harsh sigh escaped him when he finally stilled and met my eyes in the mirror. "It's not outside the realm of possibility that one of them may be a traitor."

As soon as the word traitor left Smoke's lips, memories of my father lecturing me on how traitors were the lowest of the low, the scum of the earth, raced through my mind. If there was a rat among the old ladies, I was gonna find her, fear of meeting new people or not. I would find a way to get through this and bring us a huge leap forward in my efforts to get this fucking hit off my head, and bring Sarah home. With this in mind, I turned back to look Smoke in the eye and he grinned. With his words, the training from my dad kicked in, and I gave him a slow nod as my mind shifted from 'Swan, the woman' to 'Swan, the battle-trained survivor'.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Easy, mama bear. I don't need you clawin' anyone's face off."

That brought me out of my cold space a little bit and I shrugged. "I'm going to do what has to be done."

Still smiling at me, he nodded, and the light caught the hints of amber in his eyes, turning the irises to the color of melted chocolate. "I know you will. But for right now, just check them out. The traitor could be acting independently of her old man as well, so if a woman seems real unhappy with her man, she might be a suspect. Or if she seems really happy with everything, that might trip your female ESP as well."

"My female ESP?"

"Yeah, you know, that chick intuition shit. Look, we don't have time to sit around and bullshit right now. If we did I'd still be fuckin' you instead of talkin'. Damn woman, I can't seem to be around you without wanting you beneath me."

Heat rushed through me, and I squeezed my thighs together to try and stop the initial ache of arousal. "Okay."

My voice came out in a high-pitched squeak that made him chuckle. Not knowing what the day would bring, I chose a loose, long-sleeved, pink, silky shirt with a tight, white tank top beneath that, which was also a waist holster. As I got dressed, I waited for Smoke to come molest me, but he remained on the bed and focused on whatever he was texting. A renewed sense of purpose filled me, but there was also a growing sense of loss at being away from the safety Smoke provided me. He was the only person here I trusted, and I wasn't a big fan of being in unfamiliar environments, even if he would be there with me.

"Baby, what'cha thinkin' so hard about?"

Before I could stop the words, I said what I was really thinking. "I don't want to be away from you."

He sighed and looked up, watching me as I hid a variety of weapons. The weary look left his face and a slight smile curved his lips. "Make sure you don't go through any metal detectors."

Strapping a sheathed throwing knife to my forearm, I glanced up and raised my eyebrows. "Ha. Ha."

"I'll be there, but you'll be on your own with the women. If I hung out with you, it would be totally out of character."

I placed my handgun into its holster on my waist before securing it in place and tugging my shirt down.

As I moved this way and that in the mirror to make sure the gun couldn't be seen through the tank and shirt, Smoke laughed. "Does that thing have a laser sight on it?"

"Of course. Never hurts to have that little bit of extra help, but I don't use it much. If I relied on it, I'd be a shitty shot at night."

"Wouldn't you worry that the laser would show them where you are?"

"Not really. When I shoot, I shoot to kill."

"Baby, sometimes you scare me."

"Ditto."

Instead of being offended he smiled. "You'll be fine. I'm not sending you into the lion's den, just brunch with some chicks. What can I do to make this easier for you?"

"It...it would be easier for me if I had a mission goal." As soon as those words left my mouth I bit my lower lip.

Way to remind Smoke that I'm a freak.

For a long moment he studied me and I tried to keep my face blank, betraying neither my worry nor my embarrassment, but I was pretty sure I wasn't too successful if my burning cheeks were any indication. When he spoke, his voice was a soothing purr, and I knew he'd read me like a book. "You'll be fine. These women are connected to their community, they know lots and lots of people, a different group of citizens than their old men have access too. I need you to hang out with them. Tell them about your mother and sister, what they're like, and about places your mom and sister would be likely to go to. Those women have roots here, and that means they have lots of friends. They know people, and while the old ladies may not be able to go out looking for your family like my brothers can, they will have contacts that they'll use if they like you."