‘Yes,’ he praised her in a gravelly voice as she moaned in desperation.
His fingers slid, his thumb strummed and his mouth sealed over hers again—stoking her until she went beyond burning and tumbled into total meltdown.
Time stopped as her hips bucked and she rode his hand. In those lost moments, there was nothing else in her world but him, in the escalating rhythm and depth of plundering touch. She tautened for one last infinite moment of torment and then his attention finally tore her apart. She screamed as ecstasy hit in a wave that smashed her to pieces.
* * *
Theo rubbed his forefinger back and forth along the waistband of her panties, lightly toying with her while she recovered from the most beautiful orgasm he’d had the pleasure of giving. He ached to strip her free of them and plunge into her hot, tight body. But her comment that her panties ought to be white replayed in his mind. White was the colour of innocence. And she’d joked about a chastity belt? He’d been too far gone for that to register properly. He glanced up at her face and recognised the gleam of resurging desire in her eyes. But there was shyness as well and the slight wariness—of a novice?
A weight of warning pressed low on his spine. He levered up from the bed and didn’t break free of her gaze as he shucked his tie and swiftly unbuttoned his shirt. Her lips parted as she stared, avidly watching as he stripped. As his hands went to his belt buckle she stilled. Impatient, he shoved both his trousers and boxers down, revealing his bulging erection and watching intently for her reaction. She couldn’t resist looking—couldn’t take her eyes off him—but they widened in shock and he saw her swallow. And as he stepped back to the bed her breathing quickened.
‘This isn’t just your first one-night stand, is it?’ he asked, his voice harsher than he could control.
Her eyes widened more and he knew he had to ask the follow-up.
‘Are you a virgin, Leah? Is the “never ever”, actually never anything?’
She bit her lip and insecurity flashed.
‘How could you not tell me?’ He knew he was right—her reaction to his nudity said it all.
Her face filled with a fiery sweet warmth that scorched his soul—he couldn’t turn away from her even when he probably should.
‘How could you tell?’ she asked.
‘It was your comment that these ought to be white. And the chastity belt?’ He stroked the scrap of scarlet silk that would now be the only barrier between them.
That rosy bloom of embarrassment spread over every inch of her pale skin. ‘Do you want me to leave?’ She was very still but her hands formed into fists at her sides.
‘No.’ Raw hunger clawed more savagely within him, but he was determined to resist—to do what was right here. ‘Why didn’t you want to tell me?’
‘I didn’t want you to stop.’
The hint of wounded look in her eyes smote what had been—until tonight—an impenetrable heart. ‘I won’t stop if you don’t want me to.’
She gazed into his eyes. He saw the trust. He saw the need. He vowed not to let her down.
‘Let’s just play, okay?’ he clarified. ‘We don’t have to...’
‘Do everything?’ She swallowed. The glimmer of disappointment was so obvious in her lavender eyes.
‘Decide right now.’ He bent and kissed her, unable to stand the droop of disappointment on her full, lush mouth. And at first touch he sank back onto the bed, unable to resist getting as close as he could to her. He’d make her come again, he’d taste her, there was so much they could still do; there were so many other ways to fulfil the need savaging its way through his limbs.
She was revelation all over again. He lost himself in the sensation, the warmth and pleasure of touching her. He removed her silky scarlet panties so slowly, tormenting them both. And then he kissed her, tasting her there, teasing her with his tongue until he had to grip her hips hard to hold her still as she succumbed to her next orgasm.
Her screams suspended time. Bewitched, he let her push him onto his back. He pulled her above him. But with every slow second that he savoured as she blanketed him with her soft slender body, the yearning to have her completely deepened. Recklessness rose within him because she wasn’t holding back at all. Untutored but unashamed, her hips circled against his, the tight, delicious rub of her nipples scored his chest so degree by degree his, oh, so noble desire to hold back lessened.
It was as if he’d unlocked a simple, small box only to discover it opened into myriad compartments...each like a room full of willingness and warmth. The depths of her response, her abandon, became unreserved. He stilled at the smoky curiosity in her gaze and the unconscious seeking sweep of her hands over him. She wanted touch. She wanted to explore her sensuality, through him. How could he deny her?
She tracked her fingertips down his abs. Unable to stay relaxed, every muscle tensed with desire as she tracked lower. He ached for her to cup him. His erection strained higher, he felt the searing tightening in his balls, the urge to thrust against her palm rushed. He licked his lips because his mouth was parched and holding back now was almost killing him.
‘Do you want me to kiss you?’ she asked softly.
He wanted anything. Everything. He blinked.
She smiled, a burst of pleasure in her eyes. ‘Want me to help you find your tongue?’
Heat strained his body. That playful whisper knocked once more on his well-entombed heart. ‘You don’t have to...’
‘Did you feel you had to for me?’ She looked up at him, shyness glimmering in her eyes as she whispered huskily.
‘No,’ he sighed, unable to form complete sentences. ‘Wanted to.’
‘I can’t want to?’
He swallowed and gave in. ‘Go right ahead.’ With a groan he closed his eyes, desperate to summon self-control as he felt her breath on him.
She cupped him and it was sweet torture.
‘Oh.’ She looked at him as he flinched. ‘Can I—?’
‘Do anything. Anything you want. Just don’t stop.’ His breathing roughened.
She didn’t stop. He watched, all his senses sharpened and arrowed on her. She was stunning—her long hair had loosened, tumbled about her shoulders, her long, lean, pale limbs unfolded around him. Her mouth was on him. Her mouth—
‘Stop. Stop.’ He dragged in a harsh breath.
She froze and pulled back with a worried expression. ‘I’m sorry—’
‘No.’ He rubbed his forehead with a hard hand and groaned. ‘It’s just... I’m going to come.’
‘Don’t you want to?’
His shout of laughter hurt. His whole body ached. ‘I wanted to warn you—’
‘I don’t want to stop,’ she whispered.
The desire in her eyes stiffened him impossibly more. He growled his assent, unable to form another word, his want was too great. And then she sucked him dry.
His heart pounded so loud he thought it was going to burst. When he could finally open his eyes, he saw her smiling down at him—pride and amusement gleaming in her gaze. She was energised and so beautiful. She wasn’t just insatiable, but capable of experiencing an intensity he knew was rare. And of sharing it with that gorgeous little laugh of hers.
‘You okay?’ He didn’t know why he was asking her when he was so light-headed he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to sit up again. But then adrenalin fired him anew. Because he realised she was incredibly aroused. She’d liked touching him, tasting him. Getting and giving pleasure was always a great way to spend a night, but this was something else. This felt sweeter and sexier than anything.
‘I still don’t want to stop,’ she said in the softest whisper. ‘I still don’t want you to stop.’
Her confession just demolished him. He was unable to resist and desperately aching to please her—wanting her to be more than sated, more than thrilled. He didn’t want to deny he
r anything. So when he should’ve been spent, he was hard again and filled with an arrogant, outrageous determination. Who was he to tell her what she should or shouldn’t do anyway? She knew he was leaving in the morning. She knew there was only this between them, only now. And she’d given them both permission to make the most of it. All he wanted now was to make it the best he could for her. Which meant keeping himself in check for a while yet. And being certain.
‘I’ve never slept with a virgin before, Leah,’ he said hoarsely, still catching his breath.
Her lashes veiled her eyes. ‘Not even when you were a virgin?’
‘No, I wasn’t the first for my first. Do you really want to talk about—?’
‘Did she make it good for you?’
A wry smile curved his lips. ‘She did.’
‘Then maybe think of this as paying it forward?’ She looked as if she was braced for rejection.