He yanked her knees apart and tucked his cock into her pussy. He thrust, but this time he only got part of the way in. Easing back for more leverage, he surged forward again, this time finding his depth.

She yelled, uncaring of the repercussions. It was simply too much for her to bear. Her body splintered, fractured into a million tiny pieces. They gathered into a tight ball, so tight she was sure she couldn’t stand it another second. Then with the force of a hurricane, she exploded outward, the pieces flying.

Both men growled and held her tightly as she fought them. She was mindless in her release. The room blurred as wave upon wave of the most intense orgasmic pleasure of her life seized her and wouldn’t let go.

She emitted a final gasp and then her head went back as she lost consciousness.

Micah threw back his head and with a hoarse shout surged into her tight clasp, his release jetting into her body. God almighty she was incredible. Never, never before had he experienced such a rush.

His hands gentled around her legs, and he let his head fall forward again. Her head lolled to the side and rested against Cole’s shoulder. Her eyes were closed, and it took a moment for Micah to realize she had passed out.

“I’ll be damned,” he murmured.

Cole groaned and shifted underneath Angelina. Micah felt the twitch and swiftly withdrew from Angelina’s pussy.

“We fucked her unconscious,” Micah said.

Cole nuzzled the exposed curve of her neck and kissed her gently, his eyes glowing with contentment.

“Yeah, I noticed. Talk about an ego boost.”

Micah laughed and reached down to pick Angelina up. Cole’s cock came free, and Cole lay there on the floor, his arm flung over his eyes.

“I think she killed me, man. I swear to God I’ve never had a woman like this before in my life.”

Micah looked down at the woman in his arms. “Neither have I,” he said softly. “Neither have I.”

Angelina stirred, her eyes almost too heavy to open. Her body was bathed in lethargy, and she almost decided it wasn’t worth the effort to wake up, but then she felt Micah beside her.

“You’re back,” he said softly as he claimed her lips.

She opened her eyes to see him lying next to her on their bed. They were face-to-face and his arm was thrown possessively over her hip.

“Where’s that other guy?” she asked drowsily.

Micah laughed. “Cole’s gone. While I don’t mind sharing my woman in certain circumstances, no one else is allowed in the bedroom. This is our place. Here you’re mine. Just mine and I don’t have to share you with anyone.”

She shivered at the possession in his voice. She snuggled closer, melting into his embrace. Here ... here everything was right. Perfect. Nothing could intrude. The rest of the world didn’t exist. He was right. This was their place. Their haven from reality.

He took her hand and slowly guided it down her body, low to the juncture of her legs.

“Touch yourself,” he said huskily. “I want to watch you make yourself come.”

She stretched sleepily but rolled onto her back so he could see her hand as she slid it into the curls between her legs.

Already she was aroused, and she knew it wouldn’t take long. Her clit ached, and she was wet.

Micah rose up on one elbow to watch her, his eyes warm as his gaze lingered on her body.

She slipped her fingers through the folds, fingering her entrance. She ran a finger around the circle and then went back to her clit, stroking with one finger. She pressed inward, finding just the right amount of pressure.

Almost there. Almost ... She had braced herself for the inevitable swell when Micah grasped her wrist and pulled her hand away. Her eyes flew open, and she wasn’t able to stifle the sound of her protest.

He brought her fingers to his mouth, and he sucked each one, licking her moisture from the tips. Then he kissed her palm and slowly brought her hand back down to her pussy. He motioned for her to continue, and she went back eagerly, wanting to maintain the edge on her orgasm.

To her frustration, she had to work up again. Her hips rolled impatiently, her fingers worked frantically. Her breathing sped up. Perspiration beaded her forehead. Almost. Almost. She was poised on the precipice, looking over, ready to fall.

Again he gripped her wrist, a faintly amused glint in his eyes when she gripped her fingers into a tight ball against his hand.

He was going to drive her crazy.

“Please,” she whispered.

His gaze softened, and he let her hand go.

Her fingers glided through her wetness. She closed her eyes, tilted her head back and rolled her hips in rhythm with her fingers. Building, swelling, tighter.

She strained upward, bucking as her fingers danced over her clit. She was distantly aware of Micah moving, of the bed dipping, but her only concern was that he might stop her again, so she rushed on, determined not to be denied this time.

She ground her teeth together, and suddenly Micah yanked her to the edge of the bed. He brushed aside her hand and swept down, sucking her clit into his mouth.

His tongue flicked repeatedly over the quivering button, and just as quickly, she broke.

He lapped her up like a starving man, his mouth working over her screaming tissues, working her into a frenzy. She arched, bucked, her ass coming off the mattress as she forced herself onto his tongue.

He cupped her ass, raising her higher, helping her as he devoured every inch of her pussy. She shuddered uncontrollably as wave upon wave of intense pleasure blew over her like a thunderstorm.

“Micah,” she whispered. Her anchor.

He eased her back down onto the bed and then pulled her forward until she slid off the edge and into his waiting arms. She rested her head on his shoulder as he held her tightly, his arms wrapped around her body.

He kissed her neck as soft as a whisper and stroked her hair with gentle fingers. She stirred and pulled slightly away so she could look at him.

She kissed him, long and lingering, enjoying the smoothness of his mouth, his tongue, like velvet.

“You taste just like a man should taste,” she said with a sigh.

He chuckled. “And how does a man taste exactly?”

“Strong. Like he’d never allow anyone to hurt me.”

He leaned in and kissed her again, hard and breathless. “Take that to the bank, Angel girl.”

CHAPTER 35

Angelina studied Micah over her glass of tea as they sat in the kitchen eating lunch. As angry as he’d been over her revelation, now it was like he was pretending it never happened. He’d certainly asserted his dominance. He and Cole had fucked her mercilessly in every way imaginable. Was that what it was all about? Trying to wipe away the fact that for a brief moment he’d been under her control, at her mercy?

She understood the male psyche was a fragile thing. It didn’t take much to bruise an ego. And for a man like Micah who was always in control and liked the women in his relationships to be completely submissive, it would be a definite sore point that something he deemed as a weakness had come to light.

She sighed. If only she could make him see that it didn’t make him weak. Only human.

“What are you looking at, Angel?”

She blinked and focused in to see him staring at her. She hesitated a moment and then took a deep breath.

“Do you trust me, Micah?”

His eyes narrowed. “Of course I trust you. What the hell kind of question is that?”

“I want you to prove it,” she said softly. “Tonight ... tonight is mine. One night where I call the shots.”

He shook his head. “That was not our agreement.”

“Stop being a coward,” she said bluntly. “Surely you’re man enough to grant a woman her fantasy.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Just what is your fantasy, Angel girl?”

“You’ll just have to see, won’t you? Do you agree? One night? Or are you scared?”

His eyes flashed and his lips tightened. “One night. Then this bullshit is over. Unless of course you’ve decided this isn’t working for you after all.”

There was a challenge in his tone as well, an ultimatum almost.

“One night is all I need.”

She hoped.

Angelina stood in the common room of The House and waited for Micah to appear. She was nervous, yes, but anticipation tightened every nerve ending. This was her chance to show Micah that trusting himself to another person didn’t mean a loss of control. Then maybe he’d understand why she’d done what she did at Mama Rose’s.

Micah shuffled in a few seconds later, hands shoved into his pockets, his expression locked in stone. He walked over to her and stood watching her for a moment.

“Okay, I’m here.”

“Strip,” she said.

His lips curled up in a half smile. “You have to know I’d get naked for you anytime, Angel girl. No need to go to this extreme.”

She watched him silently, waiting for him to comply. With no modesty, he quickly undressed and tossed his clothing aside. Then he stood to his full height, his stance challenging.

God, he was beautiful. All male. So solid. Strong.

“Over there,” she said gesturing to a taller beam than the one she’d been tied to. “Arms up.”

Again he complied, his expression almost one of boredom. But then he wouldn’t show anticipation. No, that would make him weak and it would make her right.

She had to use a chair to stand on in order to secure his wrists above his head. When she was done, she stood back and soaked in the image of this gorgeous man suddenly vulnerable before her.

He still looked dangerous. Caged, but still dangerous, like if she came to close, he’d pounce and devour. He wasn’t happy with the situation in the least, but he was keeping his word.

“You’re so beautiful,” she whispered as she came closer. She put out her hand to touch his chest and ran her fingers along the lines and contours, down to his flat abdomen and lower until her fingers tangled in the wiry hair between his legs.

She found his cock, long and at rest. The moment she touched him, it came alive in her palm, twitching and expanding in size.

Mesmerized, she stroked and petted over his hips, around to his firm buttocks and then up over the small of his back to the broad expanse of his shoulders. Here the muscles coiled and bulged tightly in response to his arms being stretched over his head.

Unable to resist, she pressed her lips to the center of his back and let them rest there for a long moment. He trembled beneath her lips despite his obvious effort to remain unaffected.

Finally she drew away and retrieved the whip she’d selected. She faced him, holding the leather in her hands.

“You like inflicting pain. I know it’s a turn-on for you. But you enjoy receiving it as well. Is it a weakness that I like the same pain, Micah? Am I weak and pathetic for acknowledging my desires?”

He shook his head. “Of course not. A woman who knows what she wants, who’s honest with herself and her partner, is a woman to be desired above all others.”

“Then why doesn’t the same apply to you?” she asked. “Why are you ashamed to admit your desires? Why do you think allowing me or anyone else to give you what you want makes you weak?”

He closed his eyes and turned his head away. When he looked back at her again, anger and frustration bubbled in his eyes.

“It’s not the same. I’m supposed to be the strong one. I’m supposed to take care of Hannah—you.”

Not responding, she circled him, remembering the last time she’d held the whip in her hands as she gazed at his tanned back. She remembered his soft plea not to go easy. He hadn’t known it was her, but he’d needed what she could give him. Now she would show him again.

She flicked her wrist, expertly sending the whip over his back. The crack was loud, echoing over the silence. He flinched as the red welt appeared as a diagonal slash across his flesh.

“Tell me how to please you,” she murmured as she stood to the side. “You see, Micah, you can still be in control. Tell me what you want. What you need.”

“Harder,” he said on a groan. “Cover my back. Leave your mark, Angel. Make it burn.”

She moved again and added an identical stripe just two inches lower than the last. His hands clenched and unclenched above him. The muscles in his arms bulged and rippled.

She worked down, leaving a row of neatly placed welts. She started light and added intensity with each additional lash. When she reached his ass, she worked back up, crossing the earlier marks until all lines were crossed, each one redder than the last.

“Harder,” he hissed.

Her brow furrowed in concentration because despite his command, she wouldn’t shred his skin. Tiny droplets of blood welled, beading the thin lines, but she held back. Never would she hurt him. Never would she go too far.

By the time she’d covered his back in an intricate design of crisscrossing marks, he was panting, his breaths coming long and hard. Sweat dripped from his face, and he hung his head as exhaustion crept over him.

She dropped the whip and walked around to face him. His head was lowered, but his eyes glowed with arousal, with excitement.