The Intelligence Unit Series
The Guardian Chapter 22

In the next instant, Delia was weightless. She found her equilibrium quickly, having wrapped her arms around Matteo's shoulders as he'd scooped her up and cut a path directly to the short hallway she assumed-yes-led to the bedroom. His body brushed against hers as he walked, the friction of his lower abs sending tremors all the way through her with each step. Delia wanted to weep at the loss of sensation when he reached the bedroom in only a handful of strides. But then Matteo put her down in front of the neatly made bed, his stare so dark and primal she felt it in all the same places as his touch, and God, she was on fire for him. "You want me to make you feel alive." The words came out rough, as if they needed a good sanding, but she didn't shy away from them.

"Yes."

"You want me to make you feel enough that you forget everything other than how good it is to come."

She bit back a moan. She already wanted to come from the sound of his voice alone. "Yes." "Rules," he said, making her blink. "What?"

One corner of his mouth hooked up, his half-smile turning her nipples hard and tight beneath her white button-down shirt. "Rules, Sutton. If this is about me making you feel that good, I need to know exactly what you like. And where your limits are," he added. "Oh." Wow, logic was so freaking sexy. "Well, you were pretty good at figuring out what I like last night, so maybe you can use that as a baseline?"

"Noted," Matteo said. "What else?"

"I don't know," she said honestly. "I've never made a list before."

Matteo lifted a brow. "No?"

Delia shook her head, but he wasn't deterred.

"We can make one right now. Is there anything you know is a hard no for you?"

She thought, a shiver of the not-so-great variety moving up her spine. "I don't want to be restrained. Like, with handcuffs or a scarf or anything. And I don't want you behind me." Fear threatened to push through her l**t-filled haze as the memory of being pulled into that alley flickered on the edges of her thoughts, unbidden.

But Matteo was right there to help her combat it. "I won't do either of those things to you, Delia. I promise." Reaching out, he cupped her face in one large palm. "Would it turn you on if you were in control? You set the pace. Do what you want. Tell me to do things to you."

A thrill shot beneath Delia's skin as she thought of it. "I'd be in charge of everything? Even you?"

"If you want," he said.

"What if there are things I want that you don't? I mean, the rules work both ways, right?"

He huffed a soft laugh, equal parts surprise and heat. "They do. If I'm not comfortable with something, I'll tell you. But Delia"-now the heat in his expression took over, his mouth curving into a dark, dangerous grin-"you should know that what turns me on is making you come. There isn't going to be a whole lot I won't do to make that happen."

Her brows went up. "Take off your shirt," she said, just to test the theory, really. But then Matteo's T-shirt was on the floor and his muscles were on display, and oh. Oh. Okay, that was really hot.

Delia unbuttoned her own shirt and tossed it beside his. His eyes flared, but he didn't move, just stood in front of her, his body bowstring tight.

Understanding hit her all at once. "You want to touch me."

"You haven't told me to," he countered, and the power of it sent a hard tingle right between her legs.

"I will," she promised, and oh, how she meant it. "But I've spent a lot of time wanting you. Right now, I just want to look.""

The setting sun shone from behind the dark red curtains covering the one window in the bedroom, casting a warm glow over everything it touched. Delia used it to her advantage, sending a head-to-toe gaze over the heat banked in Matteo's nearly black stare, the taut pull of his shoulders and biceps, the dusting of dark hair trailing down from his navel, dividing those insanely sexy muscles on either side of his hips. He was beautiful, all power and golden-brown skin, and she memorized every hungry inch of him. Delia stepped closer, her pulse pounding a dual rhythm between her chest and her c**t. He released a ragged breath when she ran her hands over his chest, the exhale turning to a hiss when her fingers followed that happy trail, sliding over his rock-hard c**k just once before moving up to rest on the button of his jeans.

"This," Delia murmured, popping the button and lowering first the zipper, then his boxer briefs, just far enough to free the part of him she was desperate for. "I want this."

She kicked her way out of her own jeans before sinking to her knees. Matteo grunted, his c**k jerking higher against his belly, pressing hot and hard into her hand as she wrapped her fingers around him.

"F**k, Delia." His voice turned her name into a benediction and a curse, and both fueled her. She tested the way, alternating firm strokes with lighter, softer touches, running her fingers over him as his own hands turned to fists at his sides. But the need on his face only made her want to sate it.

"I want to put my mouth on you."

The strangled moan that followed made her bolder, and before she lost her nerve, she told him the truth. "I want to s**k your c**k until you can't stand."

"Yes," Matteo grated, his c**k thick and perfect against her palm. "Ah, God. Please."

The one tiny word undid her. Parting her lips over his swollen crown, Delia took him into her mouth. He tasted like heaven and sin, and she couldn't get enough. Using one hand to yank his jeans down lower, she kept the other between his legs, following the movement of her mouth with her fingers as she sucked his d**k in steady strokes. She read his breathing, arousal sparking between her thighs at the way his muscles tightened and pulled when she did something he really liked. His arousal heightened hers, turning her on almost as much as if his mouth was on her body in return.

Still, she wanted more.

Pulling back, she said, "Talk to me." Her tongue darted out, swirling over the bead of moisture that had sprung up at her demand.

Matteo cursed, filthy and low, making her p***y clench. "Do you know how f*****g hot you are, on your knees with my c**k in your mouth? How goddamn crazy you're making me? How close I am to losing my mind?"

He moaned as she picked up where she'd left off, uttering encouragement along with filthy promises of all the ways he'd make her come as soon as she'd let him. Delia's c**t throbbed harder, each word a testament to his want. Her body ached, screaming for contact, friction, something, until finally, she couldn't take it any longer. Shifting her weight, she made room for her free hand between her legs, shoving past her already soaked panties to circle her fingers hard over her c**t as she continued to pump her lips over his c**k.

Matteo's breath became a sharp burst. "That's it. Touch that pretty p***y until you come, beautiful. Take everything you want."

The words combined with all the sensations flying around her, and in an instant, Delia flew apart, releasing him on a cry. Her o****m surged through her, her body pulsing under her s*x-slicked fingers even as she gripped Matteo's c**k with her opposite hand. He gave her a few beats to land back in her body, then carefully disengaged so he could reach down to scoop her off her knees and settle her on the bed. "You are beautiful," he said, lying down beside her to press a kiss to her damp temple.

Even though the touch was sweet-chaste, even-Delia shivered at the brush of his mouth on her skin. "And you are wearing too much."

Matteo stood just long enough to finish stripping out of every remaining article of clothing, and wow. He really was giving her control over everything. She took it and gave it back, all at once.

"Come kiss me," she said, letting her knees fall wide to make room for him. He fit perfectly, bracing himself on one palm as he dipped his mouth to hers. There was nothing chaste about this kiss, his tongue slipping over the line where her lips met, the pressure just enough to be a demand. Delia opened for him, both hungry and wanting to be devoured at the same time, kissing him back in a give and take that quickly had her panting.

"Tell me what you want," Matteo said. His breath made his chest brush over hers, and even the slight friction made her nipples harden behind the thin satin of her bra. Wanting more, she arched against him, and understanding lit his stare as he dropped his gaze to her breasts.

"Ah. Do you want me to take this off?" One strong finger hooked beneath the thin satin strap at her shoulder.

Delia squirmed, desperate. "I don't care if you rip it off. Please, Matteo. I want your hands on me, right f*****g now."

In hindsight, she should've realized he'd take her literally. With a noise in the back of his throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl, he tore the ribbon straps free from their satiny anchors. Delia couldn't be bothered to care, though, because her breasts were exposed and Matteo's hands were all over them, and oh, God, yes.

"Your tits are perfect," he said, cupping her roughly but sliding his thumb over her n****e with gentleness that bordered on reverence. "I want a taste so f*****g much."

He paused, but Delia didn't. "Then take it."

His lips closed over one n****e, coaxing a sob from her throat. He felt so good, swirling and sucking with the perfect amount of pressure. He shifted his attention from one b****t to the other, memorizing her with his sinful mouth. She thrust against him, the thin scrap of her panties the only barrier between them, and even though she knew she was being impatient, she couldn't make herself care. She wanted to feel truly alive, and right now, that meant she wanted his c**k buried inside of her.

Hooking one leg around Matteo's hip, Delia used the leverage and a push of her hands to roll him onto his back. Feeling his strong, powerful body beneath hers made her feel powerful, too, and she reveled in it for just a minute before realizing she'd made a bit of a tactical error.

"I brought condoms, but they're in my suitcase," she said, but he raised a brow at her, the corners of his mouth following suit.

"Were you planning on having your way with me this whole time, then?"

"Uh, yeah," Delia replied, making him laugh. "You are highly fuckable, Detective. In case you weren't aware."

"Good to know. But there's a condom in the back pocket of my jeans. In the interest of time and fuckability."

She nearly wept with relief. "Excellent."

Delia took only the time she needed to ditch her ruined bra and too-damp panties, then grab his wallet and hand it over so he could-thank you, sweet baby Jesus-produce the condom he'd stashed there. But she wanted control over everything, so she plucked the condom from his fingers, tearing the foil and removing the thing so she could roll it swiftly into place. Delia shifted her weight on the mattress to straddle him, her body hovering so close, she could feel the tantalizing warmth of him.

Matteo remained perfectly still beneath her, even though his muscles thrummed against her skin. "You're in control, remember? I'll give you whatever you want." His eyes pinned her into place. "All you have to do is take it."

"Matteo," she whispered. Her breath was shaky, but her hands were sure. Reaching between them, she slid his c**k over her hypersensitive skin, greedily lingering on her c**t for just a breath before guiding him right where she needed him most. Her brain short- circuited at the blunt pressure, the sudden fullness where she ached so much. But her body made up for it, pleasure winging at her from every direction. "Oh...God." She rocked once, then again. "That's so good."

"You're gorgeous," Matteo told her, his eyes taking in every motion as she found a steadier rhythm. "Christ, I could watch you f**k me forever."

The word caught in Delia's mind, fizzing through her like a bright, hot firework before fading away. Tremors of pleasure burst under her skin, and she chased them with her hips. Levering forward, she curved one hand over Matteo's shoulder, grabbing his fingers with her opposite hand and leading them to her hip. "Show me," he said, gripping her tightly enough to anchor her, but not enough to hurt. "Show me what you want."

Delia leaned even farther forward, so close that her breasts nearly brushed his chest, thrusting harder. Matteo caught the rhythm quickly, letting his other hand join in guiding her. His palms splayed wide over her hips, sliding around to her a*s as he pumped her up and down on his c**k.

"There. There, there," she gasped, her inner muscles squeezing in need. He spread her wider, and the raw pleasure tore a moan from her throat.

"You like that?" Matteo asked, kneading her a*s to expose her again.

Again, she nearly sobbed. "Yes." She repeated it like a mantra, not caring that she was just shy of begging. Dropping one hand lower over the back of her a*s, Matteo let his index finger rest over the tight ring of her hole, applying just enough pressure to send sparks of pure pleasure racing up Delia's spine.

"Ah," she cried out, all sound. Her o****m was so close, building deep inside of her. He held her steady, his finger creating delicious friction as she f****d him in fast, hard thrusts, and oh, God, she'd never ever felt so bright or so good.

Matteo's grip changed, his breath starting to saw out of him. "Oh, baby. Look at you."

She opened her eyes to replace his locked on the spot where he filled her p***y so completely, his beautiful face wrapped in awe. "So pretty. Ah, you're f*****g me so good."

His jaw tensed, his awe turning to concentration, and Delia realized in that second that he was right on the edge. The thought that she could bring him to his knees so thoroughly sent a bolt of l**t through her, her own o****m beckoning harder. Without breaking rhythm, she said, "Matteo, don't. Don't hold back."

The tension on his face disappeared, the look that replaced it so wide open, Delia lost her breath. But he didn't hold back. He levered his hips off the mattress, his body slapping into hers. The added pressure sent her release barreling through her, her inner muscles clenching and releasing and making her scream. Matteo thrust up to meet her, his body locking tight beneath hers as he shuddered out her name.

They lay together as their breath returned, fingers ungripping each other's bodies slowly. Delia's chest rose and fell with Matteo's, and as she came back to her body, to the feeling flooding her heart, she began to understand how much trouble she was in. She'd had a crush on him since the minute they'd met. But now she was in danger of falling in love with him.