My Darling Girl

Chapter two: Hand to hand, Lip to lip
She loved that smile, loved seeing it more and more often. DG could draw that smile from memory alone. In fact, that’s exactly what she’d been doing five minutes ago when he’d knocked on her door.

And now he was standing in front of her wearing that smile with his sleeves rolled up and his vest unbuttoned. “It’s time to learn how to throw a punch.”

Damn she loved it when Cain did stuff like this. From bike rides to butt kicking. And every now and then she’d feel something… in the way he’d look at her or touch her. Something that felt so good, so right.

So impossible.

“Alright, Kemo Sabe. Show me this punch.” DG tried to focus on the form and technique of the move he was showing her and not on the way his shirt outlined the muscles of his arms and shoulders.

“Better, DG.” He touched one hand to her shoulder and the other to her hip. His grip shifted her body in the right motion. “You get more force if your whole body is behind it. Twist here and at the hip.”

Before she’d gotten nearly enough of the contact, Cain was back in front of her with an open hand at her shoulder height. “Go again, right here.”

Concentrating, DG did exactly as he showed her, putting every inch of her body behind the slam of her knuckles into his hand. She laughed when he took a sharp step back at the force of her punch. “Good, very good.” Her eyes lingered on the line of his arm as he braced for another. “Again, DG.”

“You asked for it.” Half-way through the punch, she saw him move but didn’t have time to stop. Cain grabbed her wrist and spun her into his arms to pin both her hands against her own ribs. “Cain,” her breath caught as his tickled the back of her neck.

“Outside of training, nobody stands still while you hit ‘em.” She bit her lip against the feel of his arms and the grip of his hands.

“Got it. Show me something else.” She didn’t wiggle or struggle against his hold even though she wanted to. The urge to twist against the heavy muscles of his chest had nothing to do with escaping and everything to do with feeling more of him.

“Not yet, DG.” His arms tightened around her, fingers closing against her wrists. Any closer and she might never breathe again. “How do you escape when someone’s got you pinned?”

His voice was low and rasped right against her ear. And still she couldn’t really think about the words. DG tried to get her hands free and failed. “I don’t know, Cain.”

“I’ve got your hands. You’ve got elbows, knees and feet. Try again.” His ribs moved against her back as his breath pushed and caught over the skin of her neck. “Again, DG.” Elbows tried for his ribs. She didn’t connect as Cain blocked the jab with a quick twist of his arms, one hand moving to control her hip with wide spread fingers. “Try again,”

//Knees or feet, think…// Bad guys expected you to pull away… be unpredictable. Dragging in a breath, DG suddenly stepped back between his ankles and dropped her weight against his knee.

She laughed as Cain wobbled on his heels. The laughter then stopped as the impact of two bodies onto a hard wood floor knocked the breath from her lungs. She laid back against his shoulder, grinning when his hands thunked loose on the floor. “How’s that, Cain?”

“Good enough, Princess, good enough.” He gave a low chuckle and moved his hands under his head. “Though, this is where you stand , kick me twice in the head and run off.”

Rolling to her side, DG sat up enough to see his face. His voice said it was a joke. So did the smile. But his eyes…they were saying something else. “Why would I do that? I’m still gloating about sweeping you off your feet.”

He looked up at her from the floor, blue eyes on her face. Those eyes moved to her lips and for just an instant she completely understood the look in the: heat and need. Cain was thinking about kissing her… and he wanted to do it. “You did at that.” He dragged his eyes back to hers and forced the heat away.

DG knew she had looked at him exactly that way dozens of times. But never had she gotten one of those heated looks from him.

And there was no chance in hell she was going to let it pass without acting on it. //Please, Cain,// barely breathing, DG rested one hand on his chest, leaned down, and finally felt his lips against her own. The rips under her fingers jerked and heaved as he took in a ragged breath. His lips parted against hers just enough to feel the warm heat of his breath. //Cain,//

He was frozen for a handful of seconds and she took full advantage of it, sliding just the tip of her tongue past his lips.

Suddenly Cain wasn’t frozen anymore. A big hand fisted in her hair, dragging her closer against him. Now he was kissing her back urgently, his lips and tongue exploring a more than willing mouth. On its own, DG’s body melted into the hard lines of his chest, hands sliding over his shoulders to the smooth edge of his jaw. Strong fingers closed against the curve of her hip, pulling her tighter along his body.

And God it felt so good.

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There was absolutely no reason in existence good enough for him to be standing here with DG in his arms. That, however, was no reason to stop. Closing his fingers against her hip, Cain cuddled her closer under the cover of protecting his ribs. “Try again,”

He hadn’t thought she could get closer until she stepped right back into his chest and started laughing. Cain barely felt the floor slam into his back. Instead all his nerves were consumed with the feel of her curves pressing closer. //Stop it, Tinman, stop it now.// If he didn’t get his hands off her right now, Cain knew he’d use them. Forcing his grip open was the first step, letting them fall away was the second.

“How’s that, Cain?”

//Amazing, DG// “Good enough, Princess, good enough.” Her hair trailed across his shoulder and the sweet curves of her body were still too close to his itching fingers. Forcing a laugh, Cain locked those treacherous hands behind his head. “Though this is where you stand, kick me twice in the head, and run off.”

She pulled away just a little, turning so she could see his face and he could help but see hers. //So beautiful.// Cain loved her smile. “Why would I do that? I’m still gloating about sweeping you off your feet?”

His eyes betrayed him for a moment, falling to her lips as he considered the idea. //What would it feel like to kiss you?// “You did at that.” Something in her face changed and Cain knew she’d seen it, seen something in his face.

A tiny hand covered his racing heart at DG leaned closer. She was going to kiss him and he couldn’t have stopped her to save his own life. //DG,// Her lips finally touched his for real, soft, warm, and just a little hesitant. //So damn perfect.// His breath caught, turning ragged when she didn’t pull back.

He managed to hold still until the very tip of her tongue stroked across his lips. She crossed a line and every muscle in his body demanded he cross back. Cain couldn’t help but obey, fisting a hand in the softness of her hair. He was starving for her taste, drinking her in eagerly. And DG responded, her entire body moving closer against his as her hands dragged along muscles and skin to cup his face.

And pulling him closer.

She wanted this. DG wanted him. She was melting into his arms and all this broken tinman with a heart could think about was getting her closer. Still exploring the sweet, hot depth of her mouth, Cain palmed the curve of her hip, dragging her body over his. //More, please, closer,//

A low sound crossed her lips, her body arching against his. “Cain,” Her hands shifted, nails digging into his shoulders when their hips met.

“DG,” His hands tightened, holding her still and closer. “Are you sure… that you want this… that you want me?” Cain nervously watched her face, needing to see, to know her answer. To feel it. “Please, Princess, tell me.” He knew he was begging and his fingers followed suit, sliding along her cheek to hold her eyes to his. If he didn’t see it in her eyes, part of him would never believe it. And Cain desperately needed to believe in the feel of this woman in his arms. “Please,”

The smile somehow started in her eyes before slowly curving her lips. Her laughter shook her ribs against his. “You can be stupid, you know that, Cain?” her lips brushed his softly before she pulled back to meet his eyes. “Yes, I want you. Yes, I’m sure. And yes, I want this.”

It was all over her face, sliding heat along his skin in the slow stroke of her fingers against his jaw. DG meant it. //Yes, Darling,// He felt something, some mixture of intense relief and need, move through him. And it moved him. “DG,” Suddenly his Darlin’ Girl was on her back between his chest and the floor, her hands pulling him closer. “My Darlin’” Arms holding her tight, Cain smiled and lowered his lips to hers. He’d never get enough of kissing her, of feeling her respond.

Her hands tightened, lips opening eagerly to the stroke of his tongue. Her taste filled him, warmed him. And it wasn’t enough. Cain tucked his fingers into her hair to hold onto her kiss while the other hand learned the line of her hip and thigh.

“Cain,” Her voice begged and so did her body. The knee in his hand lifted, angling the line of her inner thigh against his hip as she rubbed against him.

Every inch of his body felt the absolute perfection of her knees opening before his hips, her hands sliding inside his vest to reach his shirt buttons. Every inch of his body knew that if her fingers reached his skin, he’d strip her bare right here in her parent’s ballroom. There would be no chance of stopping it. //Stop, Cain, pull back now.// Forcing his hand off her hip, Cain caught her wrist. “Not here, my darling girl,” He pulled away weakly, rose to his feet, and held hands down to her. “Come with me,”

He adored the shock and heat on her face as those tiny hands took his. “Where to, my Tinman?”

//Yes, yours, DG,// Cain pulled her to her feet and against his chest, needing her curves against his body. “To bed… if you … want to.”

Suddenly, she wasn’t holding his hands . She was whispering “Yes,” against his lips before clinging to his neck for an urgent kiss. //Yes, DG.//

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Before she knew it, Cain had taken away the delicious heat of his kiss and was leading her down the hall with more than an arm’s length of cold air between them. Her feet hurried to keep close enough for his fingers to hold hers tighter. Cain was much too far away as it was. Then DG found herself right up against his back as he stopped short at a corner.

“Cain,”

His arms called to her fingers and she saw no reason to resist, cupping a palm against each hard bicep. DG couldn’t believe she’d really gotten these arms around her, couldn’t believe that he wanted to hold her. That she was going to get more.

“Almost there, Darlin’” His hand slid along her back, tucking her close against his side. “So don’t distract me.” DG watched his eyes drop to her lips, softening and heating as they lingered. DG licked her lips and melted inside at the sound of his groan. She could distract him. She could make him lose control like he had on the ballroom floor.

And she loved that. “Hurry up, Cain,” DG pulled back to arm’s length and wound her fingers through his. “Time’s awastin’.” Damn, she loved his smiles. And she simply adored the way one of those smiles felt pressed to the palm of her hand.

“Yes, my Princess,” Three more corners and one flight of stairs later, Cain opened his bedroom door and led her inside with a hand on her back. The door closed and Cain pulled away completely. “Are you sure, DG? If I touch you again… I don’t think I can let you go.”

Good God, she loved him. Even with enough heat in his eyes to set off a forest fire, Cain was still giving her a way out. //No way, Tinman, no shutting me out now.//

She knew she was smiling as she stepped right into his open arms, hands rising to push his vest off over his shoulders. DG felt his breathing change against her hands. “What, Cain? Don’t you want to touch me?” Rising on her toes, she put her lips a mere breath from his and watched the heat in his eyes ignite.

Suddenly it was her back against his bedroom door with his hands sliding up her body. “My Darlin’ girl,” His lips growled against hers before he claimed her mouth with a desperate, breathless kiss.

Her hands clenched on his shoulders. Her legs wrapped tight around his waist, pulling every inch of his body harder against her own. //Cain,// The press of his hips between her thighs drove a breathless gasp up her throat. He was hard, ready, rubbing the length of his need against her like their clothes weren’t in the way. “Cain…oh… please.”

“You feel it, DG, right here, don’t you?” An arch of his hips drove a trembling shiver through all her nerves. He smiled, groaning against her lips. “Feel how much I always want to touch you?”

When she could control her muscles again, DG dragged her hands along his shoulders to the buttons of his shirt, fingers working them open. “So touch me, my Tinman. What are you waiting for?” Dipping her head, DG licked a drop of sweat off the strained line of his throat. She laughed as every muscle in his body tightened and shook.

“Darlin’” His hands shifted to her hips as he lifted her away from the door and set her on the edge of his bed. “I’m not waiting anymore.” Then his fingers slipped under the edge of her shirt and peeled it off over her head. “DG,” On his knees between her ankles, Cain stared up at her. His hands shook as they lifted to slide up her ribs. “So beautiful,”

She couldn’t move as his hands pulled her forward to let his lips trail down her throat and over her ribs. Now she couldn’t breathe under the exploration of his hands and mouth. “Cain, please,” He smiled against the curve of her breast, his fingers working at the clasp of her bra. “Hurry,” The fabric fell away and Cain finally cupped her in wide palms and rough fingers.

And it felt so damn good. “My Darlin’” Her hands slid inside the open collar of his shirt to feel the smooth, solid heat of his skin against her fingers. Those muscles moved as her only warning. Then his lips were closing around the aching peak of her breast, his tongue stroking and teasing her skin. His arms wrapped tight around her waist as his mouth fed at her skin.

It was…god, it was amazing. It was perfect. It was too much and not nearly enough.

She was half-naked in his arms and all he’d lost was a vest. //Not for long.// “Cain, I…” He kissed his way over her racing heart to taste and nip at her other breast, driving her breath from her lungs momentarily. “I need you… all of you. Right now.” Her fingers found his chest just long enough to push him back. He’d blown her mind and DG was going to return the favor even if it meant losing the feel of his mouth and his hands for a little while. “DG,”

His hands clung to her hips, trying to get her back in his arms. “No, Cain. I want you out of this shirt, then you can touch me all you want.” Her fingers fisted in said shirt, pulling it loose from his waistband. “Deal?”

“Deal,” Cain leaned back on his heels. His shirt hit the floor and before she could possibly finish staring at his chest, his hands were back at her waist, fingers hooking in the elastic bands. “Lift up,”

Hand caught at his shoulders as her body obeyed automatically. Her mind was a step behind. “Cain?”

“All I want, remember, DG?” His smile widened as her shoes and clothes hit the floor near his shirt. “And I want all of you.”

//Cain,// She was going to melt, completely dissolve into a mindless puddle right here on his sheets if those big hands didn’t move a little faster in their torturous slide up her legs. “Oh, please, Cain!”

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He must be dreaming. Had to be fast asleep and all alone. Because he simply couldn’t really be kneeling between DG’s ankles as she was naked and reaching for him on the edge of his bed.

The gods weren’t that kind. Ever. //Please, don’t let me wake up.// His fingers found the delicate bones of her ankles and started a slow trip north. If he was going to wake up any second, he was going to feel every single inch of her skin first. //DG, my Princess, my Darlin Girl.//

“Oh, please, Cain!” Her fingers clutched at the bare skin of his shoulders, burning him alive with just her hands. Then it wasn’t just her hands. His DG slid down into his lap and it was every inch of that gorgeous skin heating his chest and arms. “I need all of you, Cain.” Her hips pressed over his. Her breasts rubbed against his chest. Her arms and legs squeezed him closer. And her lips found and claimed his. She had him. Every inch of his body and every ounce of his soul. And if he didn’t get a grip on himself and her back onto the bed, then his DG was going to get every inch of him right here on the floor.

Especially when those gorgeous little hands went for his belt. “No, Darlin’” Catching both her wrists, Cain pinned those dangerous fingers to his chest where they were still struggling to move. “Wait, DG.”

“What for, Cain? Seriously impatient princess here.” Her body shifted against his and he had to release her hands to stop her hips. If she moved, he’d explode right here in his pants.

But his hands betrayed him, stroking over her skin and guiding the motion of her hips against his. “You win,” Somehow Cain got them both into the center of the bed without losing one inch of her skin against his. “Go ahead and take me, your impatience.” //I’m yours.//

Cain loved her quick smile until he lost himself in her kiss, fisting both hands in her hair. Her hands, unchecked, moved down every inch of his chest in a slow stroke before attacking his belt.

Buckle, button, and zipper seemed to melt out of the way of her fingers and then Cain melted into her hands. //Darlin’// He couldn’t move, or breathe, or think. Cain fisted both hands in the sheets near her hair, focusing what tiny control he had towards not spilling over between her fingers. “Oh, please, DG,”

She laughed, her breasts rubbing against his ribs and her hands tightening and stroking his length. “Please, what, Cain? What do you need?”

//You, only you.// He needed to make her feel as good as the simple touch of her hands made him fell. Catching her wrists, Cain pinned her hands above her head. “I need to touch you, DG. I need to feel you.” He watched her eyes as he dragged one hand up the inside of her thigh. Such soft, smooth skin under his fingers. Her curves were addictive against his body. And under his exploring fingers, DG was soft and ready. “DG,”

Her hips arched into his hands, her lips opening on a wordless sound as her eyes closed. His Darlin’ Girl was helpless and begging in his arms. And she was going to get everything she wanted and more. And he was going to hear her voice scream his name.

‘Cause he knew the second he got inside her, all control would be lost. And he still wanted to make her feel good. To feel her… taste her. Pressing two fingers deep inside her, Cain kissed down her ribs to bury his face against the line of her waist. His hands slid and stroked the curve of her hips and thighs as he settled his shoulders between her knees. DG shifted under him, her nails suddenly digging into his back of his neck. “Cain?”

He smiled against her inner thigh at her nerves in her voice. Sometimes age was an advantage. “As much as I want. Remember, DG?” A flick of her tongue over her skin set her nails even tighter into his skin. He loved it.

“O…Ok, Cain,” Her heels braced against his sheets and her body relaxed into his hands. Her fingers slid along the back of his neck softly.

//That’s my girl, let me show you.// Cain looked up the length of her body, all soft and warm sprawled over his sheets, hair tangled over his pillow. //Gorgeous.// He lowered his head and stroked the tip of his tongue between her thighs. She tasted… so good. “Oh, Darlin’” Holding her arching hips in his hands, Cain was going to make her shatter under his lips, around his tongue. //Come on, Darlin’//

“Cain,” Her voice shook, her hands and legs trembling as she pulled him closer. “Cain, please.” Her body moved helplessly against his. When he finally got inside her, those tiny little movements were going to drive him insane and out of control. //I’m not losing control first.//

Hers hands changed their grip, fingers pulling at him desperately. “Cain…I need…stop.”

Cain stopped instantly, hands releasing her hips as he moved to pull back. DG had changed her mind. He’d scared her, hurt her. His heart fell through his chest. “DG,”

Her hands stopped him, delicate fingers turning his eyes to hers. The heat on her face made his heart skip a beat and start racing. She wasn’t stopping. DG was wrapping her arms and legs around him with need in her face. “I need all you, Cain. Not just a part.”

Cain obeyed the call of her skin and found himself on his back with his Darlin’ Girl across his chest. His hands guided her hips closer to the sound of helpless groans. “You’re sure, DG.”

He loved that smile, adored the stroke of her hands over his chest. “Yes, Cain. I don’t want to take this ride alone. I wanna go with you.”

Before he could catch his breath, DG shifted her hips and started to take him inside her body in a slow, careful plunge. She was… heaven: soft, wet, and tight. And deep. She was holding every inch of him so deep inside her body, Cain knew that if she moved at all, he’d be lost. Watching her eyes fall closed and her hands clench, he tightened his grip. //Please, Darlin’// “Don’t move, DG, not yet.” Sliding a hand up her back, Cain pulled her down to his chest for a breathless kiss. “You feel…perfect.”

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She was going to shatter, right here in his bed with only the stroke of his tongue and the grip of his hands. //No, not like this.// DG wanted all of him. Right now. “I need all of you, Cain. Not just a part.”

Those hands helped her hips find his, pressing the hard length of his erection almost home. And she loved it, moving her hands over the gorgeous lines of his chest. //So close,// “You’re sure, DG.”

It wasn’t a question, but she answered him anyway. “Yes, Cain. I don’t want to take this ride alone. I wanna go with you.” The look of desperate need on his face took her breath away. And it was time to take him. Bracing her hands on his chest, DG felt his hands help the angle of her hips and started to press down around him. He filled her, inch by slow, perfect inch. //Cain,// He felt … so good, so right. His hands on her skin, the look on his face, the hard, gentle strength of his body against and inside hers. She couldn’t breathe around the feel of Cain finally, finally inside her. //Yes,//

His hands tightened, forcing her eyes back open and to his face. “Don’t move, DG, not yet.” His eyes dropped to her lips as his arms pulled her down against his chest, hands still holding her hips motionless against his. “You feel …perfect.”

//So do you, Cain.// DG slid both hands up his chest to the hard line of his jaw, opening to the sweet, breathless rush of his kiss. It was perfect, but not nearly enough. “Cain,” Eyes locked to his, DG smiled against his lips and moved around the hard length of him. Every inch of her body felt and responded to the gentle friction of skin against skin. “You’re so …” Words failed her and all she could was kiss him and move again.

Cain felt it too, his hands angling her hips to press even deeper. “Yes, Darlin’, like that.” She watched the muscles of his arms ripple as his body moved to meet hers. Each thrust, each arch, each inch of skin contact drove her closer and closer to the shattering point. “Come on, my Princess, move with me. Show me.”

His hands stroked from the skin of her thighs to the curves of her breasts and back. Each pass of his fingers led her body closer and tighter against his. “Cain, more, please.”

His arms closed around her. His lips found hers. DG found herself on her back with Cain’s body pressed high and hard between her knees. “DG, you’re … amazing.” His hands moved to her thigh, guiding her knees up his ribs to change the angle. “DG,”

His length pressed against nerves she’d never known she had, sending helpless bursts of sensations through al her nerves. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, holding his eyes with her own. “Cain,”

“Right here, Sweet Darlin’. I got ya.” His hands cupped her face, fingers tangling in her hair as he led her lips to his. “Reach for it, my Princess, right here.”

DG got lost in his kiss. Her hands clutched desperately at his shoulders as her body rode the shining edge of pleasure with each plunge of his body. The urgent need of his lips, his hands pushed her over that edge. “Cain!”

She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. All she could do was feel as Cain shouted her name and collapsed against her. And it felt incredible. DG cuddled him closer, fingers gliding and stroking over his back and shoulders. His breath was heavy and ragged against the skin of her throat as he wrapped her in trembling arms. Big hands rubbed the length of her body, rough fingers ending up in her hair and cupping her hip. Lips pressed to her pulse, warm and soft trailing up to her ear. “DG,” Helplessly she turned to catch those lips with her own, desperate for just a little more of him.

Even as it was perfect, lying here in his arms, as close to him as she ever hoped to be. It still wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t ever be enough until she could feel Cain in every single cell of her body. Always.

She adored the tight grip of his arms and the tangle of his fingers in her hair. Only when DG pulled back from his kiss, did she realize he’d rolled to his back. Those gorgeous eyes stared up at her as his fingers stroked her cheek. “Darlin’, I don’t think I can let you go again.”

//Oh, my sweet Tinman,// Letting her fingers slide along his jaw, DG leaned in close to whisper against his lips. “I don’t want you to let go, Cain. No one’s gonna make me let you go.” She loved the low groan on his lips, the way his hands tightened, pulling her deeper into the kiss. DG adored the urgent dance of his tongue against hers.

His fingertips hovered near her pulse, his need and concern trembling against her skin. “Your parents?” Cain’s eyes were locked on her face.

All the better to show him her quick smile and the need in her eyes. DG knew exactly how vital Cain was to her. And once her parents saw that, their blessing would be guaranteed. “Want me happy and safe.” She spread her hands wide against the hard muscles of his chest, feeling his arms pulling her closer. “The only way I’m gonna be safe and happy is if I’m with you, Cain.” DG watched his face as she dragged in a shake breath, reaching for the words she’d pushed away before. “I love you, Cain. I need you.”

The chest under her hands heaved. Piercing blue eyes searched hers. A strong hand caught in her hair, leading her down close, foreheads almost touching. “DG,” Those eyes squeezed closed as he gave a low groan. His arms tightened, squeezing all the air from her lungs. Not that she could breathe past the heat in his eyes when they locked on hers. “I love you, my Darlin’ Girl, my Princess. I love you so much, and I will never let you go again.” His lips claimed hers, an urgent thrust of his tongue dancing against hers. Every inch of her body felt the desperate need and heat of his and loved it, melting into the feel of him. DG could feel Cain’s love in every cell of her body and it was heaven.

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