Daniel sighed. “Actual y, you know, it’s not worth explaining. But, okay, don’t get mad. There was all sorts of crap in the water. I hit something when I went in. I lived to tell the tale. End of explaining. Feel free to rub yourself against me in a show of sympathy. Hang on.

Up.”

His hands urged her to rise up sufficient to drag down his boxers. Going skin to skin with Daniel sent her out of her mind. The contact hot, hard, and soft, and wet. He hissed as she let out a sharp, shock of a breath.

“Babe, you are so wet. Fuck, that’s good.” Daniel’s h*ps pressed up, his hands on her pressed down. “Oh, yeah.”

“Dan. Shit. Stop.”

The grip on her shifted, moved up til her br**sts were back in his hands. Her own hovered, uncertain where to land. Oh whoa, that bruise. And who knew how to tell if he had cracked or broken something. Then again, surely a man with cracked or broken ribs didn’t go around lifting women and positioning them where he wished. Surely.

For the four-hundredth time in twenty-four hours, she thought she might burst into tears.

“I’m not hurt. Touch me,” he implored. Fingers lightly pinched her ni**les, and he toyed with her while his hard c**k slid against her pu**y. She became dizzy. The combination set her senses to reeling, so much sweet sensation. Her body rocked against his of its own volition, out of control.

It was so good, so right. She wanted to cling to him, rub herself against him till they both got off in a spectacular fashion, spectacular but without hurting him. The thought of him in pain undid her. Poured cold water on the rocking and rolling and grinding herself against him.

“Wait. How bad are your ribs? Are you hurt anywhere else?” Ali covered his hands with her own, stopped the action going on with her boobs. Necessary for straight thought, hard as it was. “We need to talk. I thought you wanted to talk.”

Daniel scoffed, drew her fingers down to his mouth and kissed them. He rubbed his lips over her knuckles, the palms of her hands, making her feel treasured.

“Please,” he said. “With you sitting on top of me bare ass naked? Are you kidding? Nah. No way. Come here. Let me get my mouth on you.”

Hands slid back down to her hips, tried to lift her, move her up his body. She swatted at his arms, which were unblemished, therefore a fair target. “Stop. Dan, I’m serious. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

He groaned and rolled his h*ps against her, sliding his c**k against the seam of her pu**y, nudging her sensitive bits and getting her even slicker. Her insides squeezed tight. The cheat. “Oh, I’m hurting, babe. But it has nothing to do with any bumps or bruises. That much I can promise you.”

“Dan.” Ali scowled, wrestled back her hands and set them by his head. She bent over him, careful not to let her knees nudge his sides. “Why can’t you give me a straight answer?”

“Why can’t you ride me like a pony?” He scowled straight back at her, unrepentant. “Don’t pretty girls like ponies? I thought they did.”

“Daniel Cross. Tell me if you’re hurt anywhere else. Please.”

Dan licked his lips, studied the ceiling above her head. Talk about avoidance. He blatantly hated any hint of weakness. Bad luck. She cared about him a lot. Possibly more.

“No. I’m not hurt anywhere else. The ribs are bruised but I’m pretty sure they’re not broken. Okay?”

“Thank you.”

A huff was all she got in reply. Then, eventually, a pout from the man between her thighs. The bastard. It was hard not to smile at the disgruntled moue. “Whatever.”

“I’m sorry if I killed the mood. I am, however, positive I can revive it.”

“Like to see you try,” he grumbled, keeping a firm hold on her hands beside his head.

“Okay.” Ali took him at his word, pressing her lips to his, soft, firm and perfect. And closed.

They did not open to her again until she nipped at his bottom lip, sunk her teeth in sufficient to get his attention. When his mouth opened, it was to bite back, teeth snapping. “Careful, baby, two can play at that.”

“Decided to get back in the game, have you? Let me have my hands.”

“Why should I?”

“Because, with my hands trapped I’m not sure I can reach your c**k with my mouth.”

Daniel stopped and stared at her with open fascination, blue eyes darkening. “That might just be the best reason I’ve ever heard.”

“I’m very glad you think so. I choose however not to ask how many women you’ve caught in this position.”

“My girl.” The big man grinned, brought her hands to his mouth and kissed them elaborately. “I love you.”

Her insides quivered alarmingly. “Shuddup.”

He winked, freed her hands with a flourish. “I’m yours to command.”

Biting her tongue against further comment, she crawled down his body, everything in her feeling hyper sensitive, totally in tune with him. Even the brush of his leg hairs against her ni**les was a sensual thing. The whole of him worked her up to a fever pitch.

Already half erect, he lay thick and proud against his belly, beautiful as sin.

She lightly drew her lips down the length of his cock, turned her face and pressed her cheek against him. He smelt good, warm and male. And she had to be crazy about him to be thinking such things. Ali closed her eyes tight, breathed him in deep. Tenderness for him filled her. Such a beautiful man, she couldn’t get enough of him.