The Mister

“Yes, move with me, beautiful,” I encourage her as her short, breathy gasps of pleasure spur me on.

“Please,” she whispers, begging for more, and I willingly oblige. Sweat beads on my back as my body fights my restraint. I push and push until finally she stiffens beneath me and her fingernails dig into my flesh.

I move once, twice…a third time, and she screams as she lets go, her cry and her climax my undoing.

I come. Forcefully. Loudly. And calling out her name.

Chapter Fifteen

Maxim is heavy on top of her, his breathing forced and urgent, while Alessia lies panting beneath him. She’s overwhelmed with sensation and a bone-deep fatigue, but most of all by his…invasion. She feels consumed. He shakes his head, leans up on his elbows, taking his weight off her, and clear, concerned eyes burn into hers. “Are you okay?” he says.

She makes a mental inventory of her body. In truth she’s a little sore. She had no idea that the act of love was so physical. Her mother had told her it would hurt the first time.

And she was right.

But then, once her body got used to his presence, she’d enjoyed it. More than enjoyed it. At the end she’d lost all sense of self and shattered into tiny little pieces, exploding inside—and it had been…incredible.

He eases out of her, the alien feeling making her wince. He covers them both with the duvet and, leaning on his elbow, stares down at her with concern. “You haven’t answered me. Are you okay?”

She nods, but the narrowing of his eyes tells her that he’s not convinced.

“Did I hurt you?”

She bites her lip, still unsure what to say, and he flops down on the bed beside her and closes his eyes.

* * *

Shit. I hurt her.

I’d been transported from the depths of despair to an earth-shattering climax, but my rosy, postcoital, best-fuck-ever glow vanishes like a magician’s rabbit. I reach down and yank the condom off my dick, disgusted with myself. When I drop it on the floor, I’m shocked to see my hand smeared with blood.

Her blood.

Fuck.

I rub my hand on my thigh and turn back to face the recrimination in her lovely face. But she stares at me, looking apprehensive and vulnerable.

Bloody hell.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” I kiss her forehead.

“My mother said to me it would hurt. But only the first time.” She pulls the quilt up to her chin.

“Only the first time?”

She nods, and hope blossoms in my chest. I caress her cheek. “So you’d be willing to give it a second try?”

“Yes, I think so,” she says, giving me a coy smile, and my cock thickens in approval.

Again? Already?

“Only…only if you want to,” she adds.

“Only if I want to?” I can’t keep the incredulity out of my voice. I laugh and swoop down and kiss her. Hard. “Sweet, sweet Alessia,” I whisper against her lips. She grins up at me, and suddenly my heart thunders. I need to know. “Was it good…for you?”

She blushes her not-so-innocent shade of pink. “Yes,” she whispers. “Especially at the end when I—”

When you came!

I grin, and elation radiates through my chest.

Thank fuck!

Her attention turns to her hands, which are still clutching the quilt, and her brow creases.

“What is it?” I ask.

“For you,” she says quietly. “Was it good for you?”

I laugh. “Good?” I laugh again, head held back, and I’m deliriously happy, and it’s been a while since I felt that way. “Alessia, it was exceptional. That was the best fuck…um…sex I’ve had in years.”

Why is that?

Her eyes widen, and she gasps in horror. “That is a bad word, Mister Maxim.” She tries to feign disapproval, but her eyes twinkle with mirth. I beam down at her and run my thumb over her bottom lip.

“Say ‘Maxim.’ ” I want to hear my name in her provocative accent again.

Her cheeks redden once more.

“Say it. Say my name.”

“Maxim,” she whispers.

“Again.”

“Maxim.”

“That’s better. I think we should get you cleaned up, beautiful. I’ll run us a bath.”

I throw off the covers and climb out of bed, and, collecting the condom from the floor, I stride into the bathroom.

Fuck.

I feel…

Giddy.

I’m a grown man, and I’m giddy!

Sex with her is better than being amped on coke…any drug. Any day.

I dispose of the contraceptive and turn on the taps over the bath, then add some bubble bath and watch the water turn to sweet-smelling foam. Taking one of the facecloths, I put it on the side.

Gushing water fills the tub, and I marvel at the day’s events. I’ve finally laid my daily. Normally, once I’ve bedded a woman, I can’t wait to be alone. But that’s not how I feel today. Not with Alessia. I’m still enchanted by whatever spell she’s cast over me. And, what’s more, I get to spend this week and maybe next week with her….The prospect is exciting.

My cock stirs in agreement.

I glance at myself in the mirror and catch my euphoric grin, and for a moment I don’t recognize myself.

What the fuck is happening to me?

I run my hand through my hair in an effort to tame it and remember her blood on my hand.

A virgin.

I’ll have to marry her now. I snort at my ridiculous thought as I wash my hands, but I wonder if any of my ancestors found themselves in that position. Two of my forebears were involved in well-documented, scandalous liaisons, but my knowledge of my family history is sketchy at best. Kit was thoroughly versed in the family’s history and lineage. He paid attention. My father made sure of that. My mother made sure of that. It was all part of Kit’s duties as heir. He knew that keeping the earldom intact meant everything to our family.

But he’s no longer here.

Fuck. Why didn’t I pay attention?

The bath is full, and I wander back into the bedroom, feeling a little despondent. But the sight of Alessia staring at the ceiling lifts my spirits.

My daily.

Her expression is completely unreadable. She turns and sees me and immediately shuts her eyes.

What?

Oh, I’m naked.

I want to laugh but decide that it’s probably not a good idea, so I lean against the doorframe, cross my arms, and patiently wait for her to open her eyes again.

After a few moments, she pulls the bedding over her nose and peeps above it, with only one eye open.

I grin. “Take a good look.” I spread my arms wide.

She blinks, and her eyes shine with a combination of embarrassment, amusement, curiosity, and, I think, a little admiration. She giggles and pulls the covers over her head. “You are teasing me.” Her voice is muffled.

“Yes, I am.” Unable to contain myself, I saunter to the bed, and her knuckles whiten as she tightens her hold on the quilt. I lean over and brush her fingers with my lips. “Let go,” I whisper, and I’m surprised when she does. I whisk off the bedding, and she squeals, but I scoop her up into my arms and stand tall. “Now we’re both naked,” I say as I nuzzle her ear. She folds her arms around my neck, and I carry her, giggling, into the bathroom and set her down beside the tub. Immediately she covers her breasts.

“You don’t have to be shy.” I tease a strand of her hair and wind it around my index finger. “You have great hair. And a great body, too.”

Her half smile and timid glance tell me this is what she needs to hear. I tug gently on the strand, and she leans toward me so that I’m able to kiss her forehead. “Besides, look.” With my chin I point t

o the picture window behind the bath. She turns, and her sharp intake of breath lets me know she loves the view. The window looks out over the cove, and at the horizon the sun is kissing the sea in a spectacular symphony of color: gold, opal, pink, and orange burst through the purple cloudscape and over the darkening water. It’s splendid.

“Sa bukur.” Her voice is full of wonder. “So beautiful.” And she loosens her arms.

“Like you,” I say, and kiss her hair. Her delicious fragrance—lavender and roses mixed with the scent of fresh sex—fills my nostrils. I close my eyes. She’s more than beautiful. She’s the whole package. Bright. Talented. Funny. And courageous. Yes, above all, courageous. My heart stutters, and suddenly I’m overwhelmed with emotion.

Fuck.

Swallowing hard to contain my feelings, I offer her my hand and bring her fingers to my lips. I kiss each in turn before she steps into the bath.

“Sit.”