He walked right over to it and let Lexie down, before reaching for a light and switching it on to put out a pool of golden light.
Light, Lexie thought. Light is good. The enormity of what she was doing was sinking in.
Reverently Cesar put his hands on Lexie’s shoulders. She tried to calm her thundering pulse. Then he turned her around and it went haywire again.
He pulled the pins from her hair until it fell down. Then he brushed it aside over one shoulder. Lexie shivered when she felt him come close behind her, wrapping an arm around her midriff and pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder.
His fingers were on her zip at the back of her dress. Slowly, so slowly, he started to pull it down. The dress loosened around her chest and she curled her hands into fists to stop herself from impeding its progress as it fell forward and down.
Now she was bare from the waist up except for a strapless lace bra.
Cesar’s hand had drawn the zip all the way to the top of her buttocks, where it ended. Then with both hands he pushed it over her hips so that it fell to the floor. She was aware of a rough indrawn breath, and then his hand was cupping her bottom in her silk French knickers, smoothing over her hip.
Her legs were losing their ability to hold her upright.
When he put his hands on her shoulders again, to turn her around, Lexie looked down. She felt hot, excited and scared. All at once. Cesar’s hands were on her waist, pulling her into him.
‘Lexie...look at me.’
She bit her lip, but looked up. His face was flushed, eyes glittering like dark jewels. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and then lower. Her skin went on fire.
He lifted a hand and cupped one breast. Her nipples were hard and stinging. Pushing against the lace of her bra. He brushed his thumb across one nipple, making Lexie gasp. Making her want more. His mouth.
Cesar sank back onto the bed and pulled her into him. Lexie nearly stumbled in her shoes and she kicked them off jerkily, steadying herself on his shoulders.
His hands closed around her waist again, and with her breasts at easy reaching distance for his mouth he explored her through the lace, his tongue laving the lace-covered tips, first one and then the other.
Lexie’s hands were like claws gripping his shoulders. It was torture. The stinging chafing of the lace against those throbbing moist peaks. She almost sobbed with relief when he reached around to undo her bra and then cupped one breast before he encircled that aching naked tip with his wicked, hot mouth. It was exquisite.
Her hands moved to Cesar’s head, fingers threading through silky strands of hair. When he tried to draw back she had to release him. She looked down, dazed, drunk. Instinctively she reached for his shirt, undoing his buttons, her breasts swaying with her movement.
He took over, emitting a soft growl of impatience when a button got caught, ripping it apart and off. Then his chest was bare. And gorgeous. Lexie had to sink down onto one thigh, unable to stand any more.
Cesar caught her to him with a strong arm, his other hand finding her chin and angling it so that he could plunder her mouth in a scorching hot kiss. He let that hand trail down to cup and massage her breast again, fingers pinching her stiff nipple.
Lexie squirmed. Between her legs she was stinging. Moist. Sensing her need even before she acknowledged it, Cesar moved his hand down over her waist. He pushed her legs open, his mouth still on hers, distracting her, until she felt those fingers exploring the delicate skin of her inner thigh. She held her breath as they trailed over her sex, hidden under the silk of her panties.
Lexie broke the kiss. Cesar’s eyes were half lidded, hot with need. She was clinging to him and his hand was there, right where she felt swollen and needy. He was pressing against her flesh, moving rhythmically.
In a fast-moving world that had been reduced to all things physical Lexie tried to cling onto reality and the feeling that she could trust Cesar.
She put her hand on his wrist, stopping his movements, and said threadily, ‘I don’t want you to hurt me.’
He could never know the wealth of history behind that plea.
He frowned and removed his hand, bringing it up to touch her jaw again.
‘I would never hurt you. We’ll take this slow, okay?’
Lexie nodded. Relief flooded her. In a smooth move, Cesar lifted her from his lap and onto the bed. She sank back and looked up, watching him undo his trousers and push them down.
Her eyes widened on the bulge in his boxers, and they widened even more when he’d dispensed with the rest of his clothes and put his hands to the edges of those boxers. He pushed them down and his erection was freed.
Lexie waited for rejection, revulsion, fear...but it didn’t come. She only felt intense excitement. And need. Euphoria bubbled up inside her. Lightness. When Cesar bent down and put his hands to her panties she lifted her hips to let him pull them down.
His body was awe-inspiring. He was a very masculine man in his prime. Broad through the chest and shoulders, slimming to lean hips, and down to powerful buttocks and thighs.
He came down on the bed beside her, on one arm, and looked at her. His gaze left scorching hot trails where it rested on her curves. ‘You’re more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen.’ He ran his hand up and down her body, barely skimming, teasing her.