Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

“I love to sit out there and look at the water.” She did, it was her favorite place in the evening.

She stood still while he dried her off. He took his time, sliding the towel sensuously over her breasts and then stopping to suck her nipples into hard peaks before proceeding lower. He crouched, so she had to steady herself with one hand to his shoulder as the towel slid back and forth between her legs creating a terrible burn that kept building when his tongue drew a line up her thigh and then flicked her clit. His hair set fire to nerve endings and then he was standing.

“You could keep going. I wouldn’t mind.”

His eyes drifted over her, noting her color, her breathing, the peaked nipples, with satisfaction. “We’re going to talk, Grace.”

She knew there would be no swaying him, but she also knew her hunger for him was going to continue to grow as the evening progressed. She couldn’t be with him and not crave him. Now that she’d felt his hands and mouth on her, that craving had grown stronger.

On the bed was a filmy, very short gown. She looked at him but didn’t protest when he pulled the sleeveless hole over her injured arm up to her shoulder. With extreme gentleness, he slipped the gown over her head and then her other arm. He had to pull the forest green stretch lace over her breasts. It clung like a second skin, feeling so sexy her nipples peeked out through the open lace. He drew it down over her ribs and settled the fabric over her hips. The lace ended just under her bottom, barely covering her mound or her backside.

“I’ve sent everyone from the house,” he assured as he picked up a longer filmy robe that fell to the back of her thighs. “Do you feel the need to wear this? I would prefer not, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

The robe wouldn’t cover a thing, but she knew psychologically, it might give her more confidence. Vittorio was leaving it up to her, but he’d made his preference known. She had already made up her mind she was going to jump into their relationship with both feet. She wanted to make him happy, see to every detail she could, and this was a very small one. She loved the feel of the stretchy lace of the gown on her skin. It made her feel sexy. Mostly, she liked the way he looked at her.

“I don’t think I’ll need it.”

Grace was shocked at the amount of pleasure she got from watching his face. He was very pleased and the desire for her darkened in his eyes to a raw, hungry lust that made her press her thighs together. The burning between her legs increased.

“Dinner is going to get cold if we don’t get out there, and I want you to eat tonight.” He stepped back to let her walk just in front of him.

She had never considered that just walking in front of a man could make her feel sensual with every single step. It didn’t matter that her shoulder still felt a little heavy and awkward, she wasn’t even aware of it, because she found herself totally focused on Vittorio. Every breath she drew, every step she took, she was aware of him close to her. His hand found the small of her back, branding her there with his heat. The breath hissed out of her lungs in an excited rush.

His hand slipped lower, shaping the curve of her butt, resting there possessively so that deep inside that smoldering fire burst into flame. He stroked a caress from the top curve of her bottom to the dip between her cheek and thigh, tracing along that line briefly, and brought his hand back to claim her again. Her body went slick and hot.

Inside the room created by the fine mesh, candles were lit, so that light danced across the small table. He pulled out a high-backed chair with a wide seat and helped her into it. The lace pulled up nearly to the top of her hips, exposing her lower half. She glanced down to see liquid drops gleaming on the fiery curls at the junction between her legs. His hand dropped to her thigh, almost casually. She went very still, but she didn’t pull away, her heart beating fast.

His fingers slid into the curls, lower still to caress her clit and gather up the droplets. She couldn’t look away, mesmerized by the carnal look on his face. Her heart was nearly pounding out of her chest. She could actually feel blood pounding through her clit. He brought his fingers to his mouth.

“I’ve wanted to taste you from the moment I saw you leap out of the trunk.” His voice was that low, intimate husky growl that aroused her every time she heard it.