Mind Over Matter Read online

  Shanna saw the care he was taking and it shook her to the core. Any other man of her acquaintance would have been all over her in a heartbeat. But Bryan was more concerned about her than he was for himself. She didn’t even know how to accept such a gift, so she just leaned against his broad chest and listened to his strong heartbeat.

  “I should paddle you,” he finally said, making her jump. He smoothed the hair back from her face and frowned down at her. “What in the hell made you go off with them like that?”

  She swallowed the knot that formed in her throat when she remembered the gun pointing at Bryan’s chest. “I couldn’t let them hurt you.”

  He pulled her against him. “I could have handled it, baby. You should have trusted me.”

  Tears burned in her eyes. How she wished she could trust him. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to take the chance.”

  He sighed and his hand began to rub up and down her back in a soothing fashion. “It will be a hell of a long time before I forget what I saw when I walked into that alley.” He kissed her forehead. “Scared me shit ... I mean spitless.”

  The memory of Leon on top of her, his hands touching her skin made her shiver. She buried her face against his warm, broad chest. When his arms came up around her, she sighed in appreciation and snuggled closer.

  Bryan stifled a groan. His whole body was tight with arousal, but he knew better than to try anything. Even if she did say yes, it might be due to the trauma and he didn’t want her regretting their time together in the morning. He wanted her to say yes because she meant it. He shook his head at himself. When had he become so damn honorable?

  When Anna finally relaxed against him, he smiled. Leaning over, he pulled back the covers and, lifting her, laid her carefully down. He covered her up and then pulled the dampened towel from her body.

  “You need to sleep.”

  Shanna blinked up at him, and he saw her eyes widen in fear. “You aren’t leaving me?”

  His cock hurt like an aching tooth just being close to her. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take.

  “Please,” she whispered, lifting a hand to him. “Don’t go.”

  The look in her eyes made all his good intentions go up in smoke. His eyes darkened as he leaned over and turned out the light. He lifted the covers up and climbed in beside her.

  Shanna sighed deeply as his arm encircled her and pulled her onto his hard chest. His strong body was pressed against hers, and she could feel the length of his shaft pulsate against her. Even though she’d never slept the night with a man before, she felt no fear. For some reason this felt just right.

  Chapter Five

  When Shanna awoke the next morning, she had a minute of disorientation. For a brief, sweet moment she thought she was in her bed at home, with Althea snuggled against her, and her heart leapt in joy.

  Then the body next to her moved, turning and spooning into her. When she felt the hard throbbing length of a cock against her, Shanna’s eyes popped open. Okay, she wasn’t at home.

  Bryan’s big hand smoothed over her hip, drawing her back against him as he murmured her name sleepily. She swallowed, suddenly understanding why women liked to have a man in their bed. He felt wonderful.

  Instinctively she snuggled back against him. She stilled as his cock pressed against the crease of her bottom. At his low moan, her blood fired. She wasn’t even sure he was awake, but he felt so good against her.

  She thought about how Leon had felt laying on top of her in the alley, and she jerked involuntarily.

  “It’s okay, baby,” he muttered. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

  His deep voice relaxed her, and she wondered how Bryan would feel stretched out on top of her, his hands touching her naked thighs. Her heart began to beat faster. She licked her lips, suddenly wanting more than his cock pressing against her.

  But she was no seductress. She had no idea how to tell Bryan what she wanted, so instead she lay still, just enjoying the warmth of his body next to hers.

  She was gonna kill him. Bryan gritted his teeth as Anna wiggled back against him. Her tight little ass was pressed up hard against his groin, his cock lying right at the crack. All he’d have to do was slip his knee in between her legs and he could be inside of her. His cock throbbed hard at the thought, and he moaned.

  She went still for a moment and then relaxed, but he couldn’t stop thinking about how hot and tight she would be. His hand, which had been resting on her stomach, moved upward to cup one of her beautiful breasts.

  She gasped and her nipple instantly hardened against his palm. His control wavered and he moved against her, rubbing his shaft against her butt as his hand massaged and squeezed the sweet flesh.

  She moaned low in her throat as his fingers began playing with her nipple. At first he gently rubbed it, making electricity shoot through them both. Then as he sensed she was becoming more aroused, he plucked at it, pinching it carefully between his fingers.

  She arched against him, and he felt her tremble. His hand dropped to the other breast and she gasped again in pleasure. She moaned and rubbed herself back against him.

  Bryan’s control snapped. Her ass rubbing against his aching cock was more than he could take. Impatiently, he kneed her legs apart, sliding a finger between her folds to test her readiness. He groaned as his hand came back drenched in her juices. If he didn’t get inside her right now, he was sure he would burst.

  “Baby,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve gotta have you.”

  She went still at his words. Then, leaning back, she whispered, “Will it hurt?”

  He froze, his hand still cupping her mound. Her question reverberated in his head. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

  Jesus. She was a virgin.

  Shanna felt him go still, and her eyes filled with tears. When his fingers had slipped inside her, she’d known pleasure like never before. Her own body still shook with the need to be closer to him. But her heart fluttered in fear.

  Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything. She had kept herself apart from people for so long she didn’t know all the rules or even how to ask. He probably wouldn’t want her now. Biting back a sob, she tried to pull away. She’d messed up again.

  Bryan stopped the move by wrapping his arm around her slim waist. He could feel her trembling and cursed himself. He’d hurt her and he hadn’t meant to. He pulled her back against him, then pushed her down on her back.

  Her wide amber eyes stared up at him, and he watched a single tear trickle down her cheek. With his thumb he gently wiped it away.

  “Where do you think you’re going? We’re just getting started.”

  “We are?” she whispered.

  “I wasn’t stopping, babe. I was just surprised.” He bent and kissed her gently. “I figured a woman who looks like you.... How old are you anyway? Twenty-one? Twenty-two?”

  She smiled a little. “I’m twenty-five.”

  He shook his head then kissed her again. “I’m almost thirty. Old enough to know not to assume. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

  “You didn’t.” She blushed. “I liked it. I was just nervous.”

  Bryan’s eyes darkened. “I’m glad you told me. I might have hurt you otherwise.” He moved so his chest brushed her soft breasts. He framed her face in his hands. “I’ll make it good for you, baby, I promise.”

  Shanna saw the arousal in his eyes, coupled with a promise of delights she’d only heard of before. Her body still tingled with the desire he’d wrought in her, and she could feel the pulsing of his penis against her thigh. She had made her choice already, hadn’t she? So what was she waiting for?

  Her small pink tongue licked her lips, which then parted in invitation. One Bryan gladly answered. His mouth crushed down on hers, and the electricity between them sparked into instant flame.

  They both groaned, their bodies molding together as if they couldn’t bear to be parted. His hand moved over her, touching her in places she didn’t even know existed. Her nerves dan
ced as he caressed her, and she responded by running her own hands over his muscular back, loving the strength in him.

  He groaned in her mouth and kissed her harder, sucking her tongue into his mouth to tease and torment. Her nails bit into his shoulders in retaliation, and he shuddered.

  Lifting his head, he traced his tongue down her graceful neck to her breasts. Cupping them in his big hands, he mouthed the pink nipples, until the berries stood tall and proud.

  Shanna cried out, arching herself closer to him. He growled deep in his throat, pulling her closer as he licked and tugged at her. One hand moved down her body in gentle sweeping motions, lightly touching and teasing, awakening all her nerve endings.

  “You feel so good,” he murmured as he nibbled the lobe of her ear. He felt her shudder and it made him harder than ever. “I can’t wait to be inside you. You’re so hot we’ll burn each other up.”

  Shanna’s heart raced at his words. She felt her insides liquefy. When his hand traced down and fingered her soft curls, she moaned and pressed herself against him.

  His mouth covered hers as his fingers made another foray into her wet channel. Excitement welled up within her as his fingers stroked through the wet folds and found the tiny bud that pulsated with her desire.

  When he touched her clit, she cried out. The feelings running through her were more than she could stand. Her whole body ached for something ... anything.

  “My God, Anna,” he groaned shakily. “I’m not going to last long. You make me so damn hot.”

  She whimpered under her breath. Each touch of his hand, each caress of his fingers sent bolts of lightning straight to her crotch, and she writhed against him.

  Bryan kissed her deeply again as he gently inserted a finger inside her warmth. Her channel clenched down hard on his finger, and he shuddered when she cried out at the sensation.

  Carefully, he inserted a second finger, testing her readiness. Bryan groaned again at how tight she was. His cock throbbed, leaking pre-cum on her stomach, and he knew that he wouldn’t be able to take much more.

  “I’ve wanted you ever since I first saw you,” he whispered between nibbles on her lower lip. His fingers continued to caress her as her hips moved against him. “You are so beautiful.”

  Shanna felt sensation build inside her, swirling low in her belly. Her breasts felt swollen and her nipples tingled. Her eyes flew open when the heat burned hotter.

  “Bryan!” she gasped.

  He moved over the top of her, spreading her legs and settling down between them. Grabbing her hand, he wrapped it around his turgid penis. “Feel what you do to me, baby. I have to have you, right now!”

  He was hard and hot and huge. The feel of his cock in her hand sent Shanna over the edge. When his callused fingers plucked again at her clit, all the sensations that had been pulling at her suddenly imploded. She arched against him, screaming out his name as her climax overtook her. Her hand squeezed him and with a shout of his own, he guided his cock to her moist entrance and pushed inside.

  God! She was so hot and tight that Bryan gritted his teeth and fought not to climax right there and then. Her spasms helped his entry and with little movements of his hips, it wasn’t long until he was up against the tiny membrane that protected her innocence.

  He kissed her hard, as he thrust through the skin. She gave a little yelp, but then arched up under him, wrapping her legs instinctively around his hips to bring herself closer to him.

  He groaned deep in his chest at the feel of his cock buried deep in her clinging heat. She felt as good as he knew she would and his balls were already tingling with the need for release.

  Carefully, still mindful that this was her first time, he began to move. He reached down and cupped her ass in his hands and pulled her hard against him. Her climax still sent shudders though her, and his cock felt every single one of them. He wanted to make it last, but the feel of her was just too much for him. His penis swelled, and his thrusts became more purposeful.

  When she reached up and bit his ear, he lost what little control he had. Burying his head in her shoulder, he groaned out her name as he exploded and poured himself into her.

  When he finally collapsed on top of her, Shanna’s breath went out of her in a rush. Bryan was a big man, and even though she wasn’t as tiny as her sister, he made her feel small and feminine. Her hands smoothed over his back as she luxuriated in his hard embrace.

  “It was sooo worth it,” she murmured.

  Lifting his head, he looked down at her with dark, satisfied eyes. He looked good enough to eat with the morning gold of his beard and tousled hair. “What did you say?”

  She blushed, but met his gaze. “Waiting for the right man,” she whispered, tracing his lips with her fingers. “You were worth waiting for.”

  His rugged face reddened, but he looked even more satisfied. He bent and kissed her swollen lips lingeringly. “Did I hurt you?”

  “Not really.” She dropped her eyes shyly. “I wasn’t worrying about it much.”

  “That’s what I was going for,” he chuckled. “I wanted to take your mind off of it. Give you something else to think about.” He grinned in a totally masculine way. “I wanted the pleasure to make you forget everything else.”

  “You made it wonderful for me.”

  “You were pretty special yourself. I don’t know when I’ve felt the electricity that I feel with you.” He moved inside her gently and they both sighed at the feeling.

  She touched his cheek. “You mean that shocky feeling isn’t normal when making love?”

  He grinned. Knowing he was the first fanned that same caveman instinct he’d had earlier. He enjoyed the fact that she was such an innocent. He couldn’t wait to teach her everything.

  “Most people don’t shock each other. There may be heat, but not like we feel with each other. Every time I touch you, I feel an electric charge. It makes me horny as hell.”

  Incredibly, he could feel himself swelling inside her. She gasped and her gaze flew up to meet his. “Again?”

  He smiled, slowly, sensuously, and moved against her. “Do you mind? I’ve been saving up since that first day. And I want you even more now. Talking about it just makes me hungrier for you.”

  She grinned. “Not at all.” She ran her hand down his chest and touched his flat masculine nipples. “Now that I’ve had a bit of experience, maybe I’ll have a surprise or two for you, as well.” She wrinkled her nose in amusement. “I hear it helps to practice.”

  Bryan swallowed, hard. “I... I’ll try to bear up under the strain.”

  Shanna pulled his head down to hers as he began to move inside of her again. “I certainly hope so.”

  Chapter Six

  They spent the rest of the day exploring their need for each other. Bryan was afraid that she would be sore, since it was her first time, but after a quick shower, where the hot water had soothed away any achy muscles, she’d shown him just how wrong he was.

  There in the steamy heated water, she explored his body for the first time, touching and tasting him like he’d done to her earlier that morning. He’d gritted his teeth and allowed it, recognizing that she was exploring her own sexuality at the same time.

  She’d licked and nibbled at him, using her tongue to swirl around his flat nipples, before tracing down his ridged abdomen to the throbbing erection that begged for attention. To his surprise, she’d taken him in her mouth, loving him with an untutored sensuality that unnerved him as much as it aroused him.

  Her touch had made him so hot for her he’d bent and lifted her up against the slick tile. Then, with barely a pause, he’d thrust himself inside her, bringing them both to a fast, hard, mind-blowing climax.

  Afterwards, their legs were so weak that they barely made it back to the bed. There, Bryan had pulled her against his chest and they had nestled together, kissing and talking, until the next wave of desire overwhelmed them and they started all over again.

  Shanna couldn’t believe how happy she
was. She refused to look at the future, instead choosing to concentrate on the now. She knew that for the first time in her life she was thinking about pleasing herself, rather than worrying about how lousy her life was.

  She purred each time he touched her, loving his hands on her. Greedy with the need to touch him, she found herself constantly running her hands over his hard body. She couldn’t get enough of him.

  In the back of her mind was the knowledge that she would be leaving, but for the first time she didn’t want to go. She wanted to have a real life, with a man who loved her. Could Bryan be that man?

  She kept her thoughts to herself as they got ready for work. After one last hard round in the shower, she felt as relaxed and mellow as she’d ever been. They walked to work hand in hand, and any question she had about their relationship was answered when he kissed her in front of the entire bar crew, clearly warning the other men in the room off.

  He kept a possessive eye on her all night long, coming to her rescue once when an over-exuberant patron tried to grab a quick feel. The customer found himself dumped unceremoniously outside after being forced to cough up a twenty dollar tip for Shanna.

  Bryan wondered if he was going to start pounding on his chest, his feelings about Anna were so primitive. She was his, and he wanted everyone to know it. He knew it was ridiculous. They’d only had one night together. And one night didn’t a relationship make. He wasn’t thinking about a future with her ... was he?

  He glared at a man who’d whistled at Anna, sending the guy scurrying to his seat. She rolled her eyes at him, putting her hands on her hips. He felt himself go red. If he kept that up, she wouldn’t be getting any tips this night.

  After work, no words were spoken as they walked home from the bar. They were both on guard, wondering if the hoodlums would try a second time, but they arrived at Shanna’s hotel safely. When they stood at the door, Bryan raised an eyebrow in question, and she smiled and held out her hand. The rest of the night was not spent sleeping.

  Now as Shanna picked up her pay from Samuel, her heart twisted in bittersweet pain. The thought of leaving Bryan made her heart ache. Could she do it? Or could she trust someone for the first time in her life and tell him her secret?