Fifteen
Bryony woke to warm kisses along her shoulder and hands possessively stroking her body.
“Mmm,” she murmured as she lazily stretched.
“Oh, good, you’re awake. I’d hate to think I was taking advantage of a sleeping woman.”
She laughed. “Oh, I bet.”
“I have a lot to make up for,” he said.
He slid his mouth down the midline of her chest and then over the swell of one breast.
“You do?”
He traced the puckered crest of her nipple with his tongue and then sucked gently. He let go and looked up to meet her gaze. In the soft glow of her bedside lamp, she could see regret simmering in his eyes.
“Evidently I have no control when it comes to you. I wanted to make it good for you. I wanted it to last. I didn’t take care of you very well. I guess it goes along with my selfish-bastard ways.”
She rolled her eyes and lifted her palm to caress the side of his face. “If I had been any more satisfied I think I would have died. I like that I drove you a little wild.”
He arched one eyebrow. “A little? I’m not sure that accurately describes the mind-numbing experience I had. I don’t ever remember losing it like that with any other woman. Was it like that between us before?”
“No,” she said softly. “Not like that.”
“Better?”
“Definitely better.”
“Ah, good then. I was starting to feel threatened by the self I couldn’t remember.”
She laughed and then so did he. It felt good for once to joke about an event that had altered the courses of both their lives. “I’m hungry.”
He lowered his mouth to her breast again. “So am I.”
Laughing, she smacked his shoulder. “For food! It’s been… What time is it anyway?”
He shrugged underneath her palm that had stilled on his shoulder. “Sometime in the wee hours of the morning. We slept a long time. You wore me out.”
“Let’s eat in bed and then…”
He arched an eyebrow as he stared lazily back up at her. “Then what?”
She smiled wickedly. “Then I’m going to have dessert.”
“In that case—” he scrambled up, covers flying “—you stay here. I’ll get us something to eat and be back in a minute.”
She pulled the covers to her chin and snuggled into the pillows, smiling as he strode naked out of the bedroom. He didn’t look at all abashed by his nudity. Confidence in a man was so sexy. She sighed and stretched, a dreamy smile spreading across her face.
Fifteen minutes later, Rafael returned with a tray holding two saucers. Piled on each was two grilled-cheese sandwiches. There were two glasses of leftover lemonade from lunch.
She sat up as he placed the tray over her lap and her mouth watered at the smell of the buttery grilled bread and melted cheese.
“Oh, this is perfect.”
“Glad you approve. It was all I could think of that would be done this quickly,” Rafael said as he climbed onto the bed. He sat cross-legged in front of her and reached for one of the sandwiches.
They ate, stealing glances, their gazes meeting and then ducking away. She was mesmerized by this unguarded side of Rafael. If possible she was more in love now—after only a few
days—than she’d been before. It seemed like he was freer with her now.
She left half of one of the sandwiches and drank the lemonade down then waited patiently for him to finish his own food.
When he would have gotten up to remove the tray, she leaned forward and wrapped her hands around his wrists, holding him motionless. Then she shoved the tray off the bed. It landed with a clatter, the saucers and glasses rolling this way and that.
She kissed him. Not a sweet, nice-girl kiss. She gave him the naughty version that said I’m about to have my wicked way with you.
“Oh, hell,” he groaned.
“Oh, yes,” she purred just before she gave him a shove.
He fell back, sprawled on the bed, his eyes glowing with fierce excitement as she threw one leg over his knees and straddled him.
She reached down and wrapped her fingers around his straining erection and smiled. “I think it’s time for dessert.”
“Oh, damn…”
She lowered her mouth and ran her tongue around the tip of his penis. His breath hissed out, the sound explosive in the silence. His fingers tangled in her hair and he arched his hips.
“Bryony,” he whispered.
She took him hard, loving and licking every inch of him. She wanted to give him as much pleasure as he’d given her. She wanted to show him her love—her heart.
She settled between his legs, her hair drifting down over his hips. His fingers gentled against her scalp and stroked lovingly as she continued making love to him.
He made low sounds of appreciation and of pleasure and he began thrusting upward, seeking more of her mouth. Finally it seemed to be too much for him to bear.
He grasped her shoulders and hauled her up his body until she straddled him.
She scooted up until his erection was against her belly and she carefully wrappped her fingers around his length. Instinctively she glanced back up, seeking direction. He held out his hands for her to grab and when she did, he pulled her toward him.
“Take me,” he whispered. “I made you mine again. Now make me yours.”
Oh, how seductive his husky words were. Prickles of anticipation licked over her skin like flames to dry wood. She rose up, using his hands to brace herself with. Their fingers slid together, twining, symbolic of their joining. She arched over him and he let one of her hands go long enough to position himself at her opening.
As soon as she began the delicious slide downward, he laced their fingers back again and she began the delicate mating dance of a woman reclaiming her man.
Before she’d never felt bold enough to take the initiative in their lovemaking. Rafael had always been the one to take control, had always seen to her pleasure before his own. And yet she preferred this man who wanted her so badly that he found his release before her, who was so lost in passion that he couldn’t control his response. This man seemed more…real.
Now she delighted in teasing him, pleasuring him, taking control and driving him crazy with desire.
It was a heady, intoxicating feeling that only heightened as she watched him through half-lidded eyes.
He squeezed her hands and then took his away from hers. He caressed her hips then slid his palms up her sides to cup her breasts, toying and teasing her nipples as she undulated atop him.
His eyes glittering and his mouth tight, he lowered one hand, splayed it over her pelvis and dipped his thumb between their bodies to rub gently over her clitoris.
She flexed and spasmed around him and they both gasped. He stroked harder, finding a rhythm she responded to, and with his other hand, he caressed and plucked at her nipples, alternating until she was nearly mindless.
How quickly he’d turned the tables. Though she was on top, taking him in and out of her body at her leisure, his hands worked magic, finding all her sweet spots.