“A little scientific observation.” She reached up and unbuttoned his breeches.
His erection sprang forward.
“A little practice.” She grinned like the cat that ate the cream, then slid her tongue up the length of him.
Griffin nearly jumped out of his boots.
She cupped him, weighing the twin sack at the base of his male member before wrapping her hand around his shaft and beginning the motion in the rhythm she had watched him use. “A little experimentation.”
He closed his eyes, relaxed his facial muscles, and licked his lower lip.
Alyssa mimicked his gestures, closing her eyes, leaning forward, and tasting him again with the tip of her tongue as she continued to pump him with her hand.
Griffin moaned.
Alyssa lifted her head. “And suddenly I’m a master at whatever I try.”
There was, Griff decided, no doubt about that. She was definitely a master at whatever she attempted. And he thanked his lucky stars that she was doing her damnedest to seduce him.
Moving to the edge of his seat in order to accommodate her, Griff exploded in a rush of hot passion. He bucked and writhed beneath her talented hand and her clever little mouth and tongue until he could stand no more.
“Ride me.” He groaned the order, pulling Alyssa from the floor and onto his lap with a speed that surprised them both. In a near frenzy of pass
ion and need, Griffin positioned her on his lap, lifted the hem of her chemise, and penetrated her through the convenience slit of her lacy drawers.
There was a moment of searing pain.
Tears sprang to her eyes. Alyssa blinked them away, but not before Griffin saw them. Not before he felt the membrane tear. Not before he realized what he had done.
Alyssa recognized the look of profound remorse and opened her mouth to speak, to tell him that the pain had already subsided when he covered her mouth with his own.
He kissed her gently, tenderly, and softly, telling her with his tongue and mouth what he could not say with words. Griffin held her close, surrounding himself with her as he waited until she began to move against him. Wanting, needing more.
He resumed the rhythm, slowly at first, then faster. Deeper and harder until he felt the first tremors, then a wave of tremors, grip her. She broke the kiss, crying out her pleasure, holding onto his neck, kissing his hair, pressing his face to her breasts, shedding tears of wonder, of gratitude, and of joyous release as she achieved perfection. For nothing could be more perfect than finding her destiny, discovering where and to whom she belonged.
Seconds after Alyssa achieved her bliss, Griffin joined her. He called out her name and held her tightly as he filled her with the seeds of their future.
* * *
While they recovered, Griffin sat holding Alyssa on his lap.
She clung to him, looping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. She burrowed into his warmth, pressing against his chest, unable to get dose enough, unable to express the emotions she felt until she began showing him by placing soft kisses against his neck and the underside of his jaw.
Griff held her as if she were the most precious thing on earth, rocking her softly, murmuring soothing nonsense phrases and words of apology.
“Alyssa, my sweet, I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I never meant to lose control. I never meant to take you that way.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Good God, I never meant to cause you pain. Alyssa, I’m sorry…”
“Shhh!” Alyssa lifted her head and placed two fingers against his lips. “No remorse,” she told him. “No regrets. You did what you had to do. I did the same.”
“But I lost control. I took your virginity with no regard for—”
She placed a kiss beneath his earlobe. “It only hurt an instant, and then it was more wonderful that I could ever have imagined.”
“But you cried…” he protested, determined to do penance.
“So did you,” she said, reaching up to trace the damp tear track on his cheek.
Griffin shook his head. “Christ! What you must think of me…”