Free Docked by Rachael Wade Page A

thrusts. His fingers drift to my navel, over my core, and he picks up the pace, his hand roaming back up to my breast. He thumbs my nipple and cups me, using the heel of his palm to rub more circles against the swell. I can tell he’s close, too; he’s throbbing inside of me, the pounding as desperate as his heartbeat against my chest.
    He rocks into me, dropping his head to tease my collarbone with his tongue. I can’t hold my moans back—why am I even trying to? With each push of his hips, I grow more vocal, less inhibited, surrendering to the way this man is playing my body like a fine instrument. The intimacy suffocates me, Tanner’s intense gaze leaving chills in its wake. My body is burning, but the sheets are cold against my sweaty back. I don’t want the high to end, but I can feel myself tipping, can feel him tumbling over inside of me.
    “Tanner!” I shout, lifting my hips and straining against him. My head snaps to the side, bearing down against the mattress. His teeth sting my neck and he groans roughly, his knees sliding and pressing into the sheets next to mine. The muscles in his thighs undulate and I let go, my back bowing and rising to meet his chest. He grips my ass and rears forward, his nostrils flaring against my throat as he follows me, coming on a loud moan.
    “Anya,” he sighs, his body shuddering while I continue to shatter, pushing and pushing until he’s completely empty. My hips drop, the small of my back smacking the mattress, and I begin a descent. Tanner deflates, his weight crushing me, but it’s so glorious, I don’t struggle, just let it send me sinking into the sheets. “I knew it,” he grins into my throat.
    “Knew what?”
    “My name sounds even better rolling off your lips when you come.”
    My fingers find his hair, sliding effortlessly through the disheveled sea of blonde. I smile. “You’re quite self-satisfied, aren’t you, Mr. Christensen?”
    “Quite,” he answers unapologetically, rolling onto his side to lean on his elbow. His gaze drops to dance over my bare breasts. He grins slowly. “You’re a work of art, Miss Banks. It’s a shame the last guy didn’t know how to touch you. He missed out.”
    My cheeks burn and I look down.
    Tanner’s finger extends, tipping my chin up. He finds my eyes. “A woman like you deserves a man, Anya. Don’t settle.”
    A disbelieving laugh breaks free. “A woman like me? You don’t know me.”
    “I know a goddess when I see one.”
    I roll my eyes and send him a smartass grin. “I’ve already spread my legs for you. You don’t have to spout those lines.”
    “Oh,” he chuckles, pinching my hip. “Fresh. I knew there was some sass in there somewhere.” He bends and plants a kiss on my cheek. He quiets, watching me intently.
    I stare up, waiting. “What is it?”
    “I want you to write the feature for your magazine, not Lana.”
    “What?” I laugh, stunned by his audacity.
    “You should write it. You should get the credit.”
    “Um…hate to break it to you, but I have a boss to answer to, unlike you. And he assigned Lana to write it, not me.”
    “He’s a stupid man.”
    “Lana’s a fantastic writer! You know nothing about her.”
    “I know nothing about you, too, apparently.” He arches a brow.
    “You don’t.” I narrow my eyes and peck his nose. “So mind your business.”
    “My business this week is spoiling you rotten, so anything that concerns you is therefore my business. I’m going to speak to this boss of yours.” He shifts off the bed and stands fluidly to his feet, lazily stretching his arm above his head, ruffling his hair. The muscles in his shoulders swell and retract.
    I sit up, drooling. “Excuse me! You’ll do no such thing.”
    “That’s another thing you’ll quickly learn about me, Anya Banks.” He turns, his hands landing on the chiseled dips of his hips. “I have the power of influence. And I like to use it as I see fit.”
    “Tanner,” I plead, tugging the sheet to