She curled her hands around the comforter and held on. His mouth worked magic, arousing her in every way. Her breasts grew hot and heavy, and her nipples hardened into tight aching peaks. Dampness gathered between her thighs, leaving her a trembling mess by the time he was through.
“You did,” Riley said when he finally lifted his head.
“I did what?” She couldn’t think over the loud beating of her heart.
“That kiss just said you cared.”
Sophie laughed, but she knew just how to wipe that smug look off his face. “I didn’t know you needed a woman to care in order to have sex.”
“With most women I don’t.”
Good thing she was sitting or she’d have passed out. “Just how many women have there been?” She closed her eyes, mortified that she’d even asked.
He chuckled low and deep. “Enough, but not as many as you obviously think.” His tone grew serious.
Oddly, she believed him and she was glad. She was so far gone, so enthralled with this man, she didn’t want to think about other women. And she definitely didn’t want to talk anymore.
Neither did he. He stepped forward and nudged her legs apart until he’d moved between her thighs. He knelt down, then ran his fingers over her calves.
“Soft yet muscular,” he said.
“That’s because I shave and I run.”
He chuckled, then trailed a moist path with his tongue, from her knee up the inside of her thigh. Her flesh tingled and she was sure her skin quivered at the intimate touch.
He reached her bathing-suit bottom and paused. “I wonder…with all that control of yours, have you ever really let a man know you?”
She swallowed hard. “Probably as well as you’ve let any woman know you.”
Riley had heard plenty from her uncle about her legendary need to control. He’d seen it on the plane. Viewed the depth to which she needed comfort, routine and the expected. And he doubted she let any man have the upper hand.
He tipped his head back and laughed. That’s what he enjoyed about Sophie. She gave as good as she got. “Touché.”
“I’m so glad-”
He silenced her with a finger as he slipped his hand inside her bathing suit to reach the secrets hidden there.
With his finger pressed on her damp folds, he rubbed light circles and watched as her eyes dilated and she struggled for control.
“I mean it, Sophie. I want to know you. I want to know how you come.”
She tried to clamp her legs closed, but his hand was already where he needed it to be and he knew she was only causing an increase in ecstasy.
“Unfair,” she murmured.
“If we’re going to do this, we’re also going to be honest.” He was pushing her emotionally, pressing her harder. He didn’t know why, only that Sophie brought out a raw, primitive need to protect and defend, to take care of her. Precisely because she’d always acted as if she didn’t need anybody, he wanted to take control and show her just how good it could be.
He released his intimate hold only long enough to ease her bottoms down her legs. Despite her annoyance with his topic of conversation, sexually he had her enthralled and she helped him by lifting her hips, giving him a view of heaven. His cock was hard as a rock, his body screaming for release. With any other woman, release would be enough, but not with Sophie.
While she eased back against the pillows, he kicked off his shorts and joined her on the bed, surprised and pleased to find she’d removed her bikini top as well.
He took in her full breasts and dusky nipples and drew a shuddering breath. “Oh darlin’, you are something.”
She blushed. “There it is again. That hint of a Southern accent,” she said with a pleased smile.
“You like it?”
She grinned. “What can I say? You’ve got a lot to like,” she said, her attention settling on his solid erection.
“Glad the feeling’s mutual.”
“Mmm.” She reached for him, but he playfully slapped her hand away. If she touched him now it’d be over before it started.
“Now quit changing the subject.” He eased beside her naked body and brushed a long, lingering kiss over her lips. “What makes you come?” he asked her again as he slipped his finger deep and deeper inside her.
She let out a moan and her hips writhed in restless motion, clenching around him.
“It feels good, but you don’t come this way, do you? You need to be on top.”
Her hips stopped moving, her breathy noises ceased.
Score one for him, he thought, pleased he knew her so well. “Baby, I’m gonna change that.”
“Nobody has before.” Her eyes flashed with the challenge.
“Luckily for you, I’m not nobody,” he said, bringing his mouth down hard on hers.
Her entire body was as silky smooth as it looked and she smelled as delicious as he’d imagined. As for preliminaries, apparently they’d had all they were going to get-this time. She was hungry for him, too, matching him kiss for kiss, touch for eager touch.
As he’d expected, she attempted to take control, hooking her leg around his and straddling him between her thighs. Fortunately for her, he was stronger and able to flip them until she lay flat on her back.
“You don’t play fair,” she said.
“You’ll thank me for it later.” He reached out, cupping her breast in his hand, feeling her distended nipple press into his palm. He fleshed out the weight and feel, all the while making sure he aroused her further with every caress, every touch.
She fought him at first, her eyes open and wary, but eventually pleasure outweighed her determination and her eyelashes fluttered shut. He took it as a sign of trust and leaned down, drawing one nipple into his mouth.
She gasped aloud, but when he began a steady flicking with his tongue, she relaxed into the sensations. Ignoring his own body’s need, he focused on hers. Never neglecting her breasts-first one, then the other-he cupped her feminine mound in his hand, determined to bring her to release and to be right there with her.
Her hips jerked upward and she whimpered, her desire for increased pressure obvious.
He slid upward so he could see her face. “I hear you,” he whispered softly in her ear, and ground his hand harder.
Her breaths came in shallow gasps and he saw she was close. He could make her come this way or he could be inside her when she did.
No contest.
He lifted himself over her and reached for the condom he’d put on the dresser earlier. She opened her eyes at the crinkling sound. Blue eyes he found way too sexy and welcoming.
She bent one leg and he said, “Don’t even try it, babe.”
“What, you think you’re a mind reader?”
“Are you telling me you weren’t about to try and flip on top?”
A telltale pink flush tinged her cheeks.
“Sophie, Sophie,” he said, poising himself over her. “Did I not promise you that you’d thank me?”
He kissed her at the same time he entered her in a smooth, damp thrust. As he slid deep inside, he realized he should probably be thanking her. Nobody had ever felt this good.
She picked up his rhythm quickly. Each time he pumped harder, she clenched her muscles, wrapping him in moist, intense heat. Each thrust brought him higher and higher still. He had to trust he was keeping his word and she was moving closer, too, because he was beyond thought, beyond reason. Beyond stopping.
Suddenly his world exploded in bright light and an ecstasy unlike any he’d ever known.
RILEY KNEW HER too well. Sophie’s body still pounded with the aftermath of a release she’d had no control over. He hadn’t moved from on top of her, his breath warm against her neck. He’d played on her biggest weakness and then proceeded to break down all her barriers until he’d called the shots. Making her vulnerable. To him.