Before she could talk herself out of it, she left the safety of the dressing room and walked into Gideon's studio. Only this time, she was displaying every detail of her body, without the concealing help of the color black or the fantastic gravity-fighting bra.
Gideon saw her from across the room and began striding toward her. Lori kept her eyes to the floor in an unconsciously shy gesture, but when she felt his strong callused fingers tipping her chin upward, she took a deep breath and looked directly into his intense blue eyes.
* * * *
"You are more beautiful than I'd ever imagined, Lori,” Gideon growled as he looked her over from head to toe. Lori became more nervous than ever, but he couldn't seem to help himself; he had to get his fill.
Her breasts were full and heavy. They lay against her body, rising and falling with her quick breaths, tempting him beyond measure. They would fit perfectly in his large palms. His eyes trailed lower to her nipped in waist, then the flare of her full womanly hips and thighs. Her legs were strong and lean, not too skinny, just right for a man his size.
The purple nightgown fit as if made for her. It was nearly transparent and he could barely make out her dark brown nipples and the soft dark thatch of curls at the juncture of her thighs. He loved the way the purple seemed to caress her skin.
Finally, as Gideon walked a circle around her, inspecting her from every side, every angle, he was able to see her hair in all its glory. The honey-blonde mass fell well past her bottom. Each time she moved it teased him by sweeping across that gorgeous ass of hers. As if to say, “just look what I get to play with.” Making him wish he could reach out and play too.
Lori was gifted with the most lusciously round ass he'd ever seen. Gideon allowed a smile to slip across his face, as he thought of her laying spread out on her stomach, with her hair all around her bare body wrapping him up in its web as he made love to her. He wanted to feel his cock slide down the cleft of her buttocks as he pushed slowly into her from behind.
"I want you,” he growled.
She seemed to come to a decision in that moment. “I want you, too."
"You aren't afraid?"
"Yes. But I don't care."
He grinned. “You won't regret it, baby."
"I know."
Gideon took her hand and led her to the doorway of his studio. Neither of them spoke another word until they were upstairs in his bedroom. The instant his gaze landed on her at the party, he'd wanted her in his bedroom.
"It is the most difficult thing not to take you against the door. To shove up that nightgown and play with you until you quiver and plead."
"Oh god,” she groaned.
"But you need to be loved, gently, thoroughly, and I can't do that if I take you like a rutting buck. And the first time I make love to you, Lori, I assure you it won't be against an uncomfortable slab of wood."
He picked her up and laid her down on the bed, then stood back. She looked right there. As if she belonged. There was something pure and special about what he felt for Lori. He just wasn't sure what it was, and he wasn't certain he wanted to explore it too deeply right now.
"The first time we make love?” Lori repeated. “Are you saying there will be more than one time? And where will they be if not in a bed?"
Just barely, Gideon stroked the silky length of her honey-blonde mane and said, “You better believe there will be more times to come. So many in fact that you'll think it's easier just to stay in bed ... waiting for me to make love to you.” He moaned. “Hmm, I think I like that idea."
Lori giggled. “I just bet you do."
He lay down beside her with his head propped up on his elbow and whispered, “And where you ask? Hmm, let's see.” He paused, giving the idea some thought. “Well, the first place that comes to mind is my rather large and very sturdy mahogany kitchen table. Laying you down on top of it. You on your stomach with your arms outstretched. Your hands clutching the edge, hanging on for the ride. Your sweet ass raised up in the air for me. I'd climb on top of you, ease inside of your tight pussy. Drive into you mercilessly until you come all around me.” He stopped and closed his eyes. “Oh god, Lori, I've had more than a few fantasies about you."
He licked her earlobe languidly and watched her chest rise and fall in quick spasms. “The next place I could think of would be that purple stool in my studio. You couldn't know this, but I've had that stool custom-made. It has another purpose other than to look pretty.” His voice lowered an octave as he asked, “Want to know what its purpose is, Lori?” As her head bobbed enthusiastically, Gideon nearly jumped on top of her, more than a little anxious to feel her beneath him.
"It has a retractable headrest, and the seat has a lever that raises it to a more comfortable angle and position, ensuring better ... performance. I bet you'd look sweet as hell on my purple stool, Lori."
Gideon was on fire. Every nerve ending sizzled with life, and he hadn't even taken off her clothes. He knew that she was feeling it, too, but didn't quite know how to go about getting what she wanted. This only proved to him how inexperienced she was in the bedroom and how totally inept Rick must have been.
Gideon craved her the way a kid craved candy. And he had a feeling she wanted to see what he looked like in the flesh, what he felt like atop her, skin-to-skin. Yet she was reluctant to move forward. Her shortage of sexual adventure was hindering her from letting go of her inhibitions.
"I've never done the things you talk about, Gideon,” she admitted softly. “As a matter-of-fact, I'm so far out of my element here that I feel a little like little red riding hood in the wolf's den."
Gideon could see the worry creasing her brow and the tense way she clutched at the blanket. The very last thing he wanted was for Lori to be shy and reserved. He wanted her to let go of her insecurities, to feel free to explore him as thoroughly as he planned to explore her.
"Baby, don't you know that your inexperience isn't something that turns me off, but something that turns me on?” She frowned at him and he smiled, just barely touching her lips with his. The kiss was light and swift, but enough to elicit just the tiniest moan from her. When he raised his head, he said, “I like that I'll be the first man to take you on a table and a stool and every damned inventive place I can think of. It turns me on to know tonight will be as special to you as I know it will be to me.” He gave her a moment to absorb his words. “Now I'm going to wrap my hands around you, suck on your nipples until they ache while you rise up and down until we both fly over the edge."