Alex’s heart pounded hard against her chest, and she felt his arousal against her hip, as their mouths moved in perfect symmetry. One giving, the other taking, passionate and wild and then softening, becoming more gentle.
“Angel, I should go. You don’t want this.”
Her hands slid from him to reach behind her and fumble with the door. “Don’t I?”
His breath rushed out as his forehead pressed down onto hers. He was trembling, fighting to control his desire, and she felt powerful knowing he was beyond control.
“No. You want to know that I’m willing to invest in you. That I’m not what you think. I want you to trust me.”
“Unnng,” she moaned as the door fell open and she lost her balance, stumbling backward. Instantly, Alex’s arms tightened, preventing her fall. “Please, just hush.” Her fingers brushed his lips as their eyes met. “I don’t want to think right now, so just… shhhh.”
Alex stilled, his eyes burning into hers. God help him, he wanted to be with her. In whatever way she would allow. His head moved in an almost unperceivable nod.
Her hand reached for his as her purse and keys landed in a rattling pile on the floor, and the door closed behind him. It felt like slow motion to Alex as she pulled him down the dark hall in silence, the only sound was the blood rushing, pulse pounding in his own body, matching the throb in his groin.
Her room was large and smelled of perfume and vanilla. Alex’s eyes narrowed, taking in the looming shadows of the large bed, adorned with a dark duvet and lots of pillows, a chaise in one corner, and a door leading to what must be her bathroom or walk-in closet. The blinds were tightly drawn so only the briefest of rays flickered in from downtown, fully illuminated outside.
“I can’t sleep if light shines in,” she said softly, moving to pull back the covers.
Alex watched her, immobile, unsure. His hands clenched, aching to feel her flesh under them.
“I like hearing your voice in the dark.”
Angel pushed up his shirt, baring his stomach, her chin tilting up to look into his face. The lights reflected off of her eyes, making them sparkle like the moon on a lake. He caught his breath.
“Do you think about me… in my bed… often?” she asked.
He could hear the smile in her voice and his lips curved into one of his own. “Constantly. It’s debilitating.” As she continued to push his shirt up, Alex finally gave in and pulled the offending garment over his head, letting it fall to the floor. “Angel, come here,” he commanded softly.
“Stop saying cum.” She pressed her open mouth to the pulse at the base of his neck, standing on tiptoe to reach.
Alex chuckled, his hands closing around her waist and beginning to push her shirt up in turn. “You make me laugh. It’s so damn sexy.”
“I’m going to rinse off, okay?”
“You don’t need to.”
Angel cringed slightly. Part of her wanted to just melt into his arms, but she reminded herself that she hadn’t showered for twenty hours. “Yes, I do. I’ll only be a minute.”
Angel sighed as he sank down on the bed in front of her and pulled her into him, his mouth closing over the tip of her breast over her top. She moaned and arched as his teeth grazed and her nipple hardened instantly.
“Fuck, you are so responsive…” His words and breath fell on her breasts, and his teeth tugged on the hard bud until she was trembling and panting. “So soft, Angel.”
Her arms wrapped around his head, fingers thrusting into his hair, and she bent to kiss his forehead, thrilling that this man was here, in her room, in her arms, even if it was a fleeting moment… one that would crush her later.
“I’ll be just as responsive after my shower. Even more. I promise.” Her voice was soft and soothing, the sweet seductive sound he’d come to crave. He pushed the material out of the way and his lips found purchase on her tender flesh. Angel sucked in her breath as her body arched involuntarily toward him.
“Mmm… I like it when you make promises.” His words muffled as his mouth continued its slow torture on her breasts, hands roaming her back and hips.
“I always keep them, so let me go for just a few minutes.”
“Do I have to?” He kissed along her jaw and up, his mouth finding hers in a long deep kiss. When her tongue answered his, he groaned into her mouth, the kiss deepening and their embrace becoming more frantic as his fingers tore at her clothes, freeing her of her shirt and opening her shorts.
She ripped her mouth away. “Just five or six minutes…” Her fingers went from his jaw up the side of his face and into his hair.
Alex was reluctant to let her go. He was bemused. He barely knew her, but yet, she was all he could think about. She made him hungry for her words, her mind, and her body; so fucking hungry. His mouth moved down from her chin and over the slender column of her neck until, finally, to her bare shoulder where he bit down gently.
“Uhhh.” She let out her breath. “Wait for me in bed.”
His palm cupped the side of her head and his lips moved down the side of her face. He sighed in resignation. “Okay. Go.”
Releasing her, he began undoing his jeans. As Angel exited the room, she was left with the visual of strong muscles under smooth skin and the smattering of fine hair that condensed and narrowed to a line leading down over his defined stomach.
Angel leaned up against the bathroom door. What was she doing? Her hands were shaking, her body buzzing, as she turned on the water and stepped underneath. As much as she knew she shouldn’t be with him, her mind a never-ending loop of how much he could hurt her, the longing was too much to resist. When he was near, she was helpless. And now, he was in her bed… waiting.
She toweled off and ran a quick comb through her hair, debating if she should get something to put on. “Who are you kidding? Clothes have no place in what’s about to go down,” she mumbled softly to herself, lighting the almond and vanilla candle on the vanity and shutting off the light. The mirror reflected how flame glowed on her skin, reflecting amber in her eyes.
Naked, she carried the candle into the dark bedroom and set it on the end table on the right side of her bed. Alex was on his stomach, his arms curled around the pillow his head was resting on, the sheet clinging to his hips. Angel’s breath caught at the site. Her queen-sized bed seemed to shrink with his long form angled across it.
The candlelight danced off the walls and his body as she studied him, his face relaxed in repose, his hair appearing darker against the white pillowcase. Damn, he was striking—stunning. Angel let out her breath, slightly disappointed that he was already sleeping, but so appreciative of this chance to look at him unobserved.
She bent to pick up his discarded T-shirt and slipped into it. While it was fitted on his broad shoulders and then tapered to his slim waist, the whole thing bagged on her, the V of the neckline leaving one shoulder bare. She brought some of the fabric to her nose and inhaled as she climbed into bed.
Her fingers ached to reach out and touch him, to feel his muscles play as he moved over her and inside of her. Her body flooded with moist heat, aching, and her heart beat faster. Surely, he must hear it, she thought.
Sitting on her knees next to him, she gave in to the need, and soon her hands were roaming over his back and shoulders, alternating gentle kneading with soft touches and the light scratch of her nails.
Alex stirred. “Mmmmmm, that feels nice,” he said, voice muffled by his arm.
“Just relax, go back to sleep.”
He let her continue for five or so minutes but then turned onto his side and reached for her. “I can’t sleep with you touching me, Angel. You turn me on too much.”