Grace Under Fire (Buchanan-Renard 14)

Isabel had no idea how sensitive her breasts were until he kissed them and stroked them with his tongue. He slowly moved down her body, teasing and tormenting her. He kissed the valley between her breasts, then her navel, then moved lower between her thighs. She nearly came off the bed when he touched her so intimately. She tried to get him to stop. The pleasure was so exquisite, it scared her, yet at the same time she clung to him and demanded more. His tongue was magical. Her hips moved against him, and her moans told him how much she loved what he was doing to her.

When it was Isabel’s turn, the pleasure she gave him shattered Michael’s control. She was a little awkward, and that made it all the better. He couldn’t let her torment him for long. He pulled away long enough to get protection, and when he returned, he reached for her and rolled her on her back again, rougher now with his need to be inside her. He knew she was ready for him. He wasn’t gentle as he pushed her thighs apart. His mouth covered hers as he lifted her hips and thrust inside her. He didn’t expect her to be this tight, this hot, this perfect. She cried out when he entered her, and he immediately stopped until she arched up against him.

“Isabel, am I hurting you?” He was panting and his voice was harsh.

“Please... please don’t stop.” Her nails dug into his shoulders again, a demand to move.

It was all the encouragement he needed. He couldn’t take his time now, but thrust deep, withdrew, and thrust deep again. She moaned with pleasure, begging him with whispered words that didn’t make any sense.

Passion controlled both of them, and when he felt her tighten around him and whisper his name, he knew she was about to come apart.

“Let it happen, love. Let go. I’ll keep you safe.”

Isabel had never had a climax before, and what she was feeling scared her because she had no control over it, but when Michael promised to keep her safe, she stopped fighting and let the euphoria overtake her. Her orgasm consumed her, and it was the most exhilarating and frightening thing she had ever experienced. She felt as though she were flying among the stars and ever so slowly floating back into Michael’s strong arms.

He was there with her, climaxing while she was in the throes of her orgasm. She shouted his name and squeezed him inside her. He whispered her name, then groaned low in his throat and tightened his arms around her, pulling her up against him as wave after wave of ecstasy consumed him. His release was pure rapture, and it was all because he was with Isabel. His head dropped down in the crook of her neck, his breathing harsh against her ear. He noticed she was having as much trouble recovering as he was and that made him inordinately pleased.

Their bodies were slick with perspiration. Michael was so content, he never wanted to move, but then he knew, once he got his strength back, he would make love to her again. With Isabel he was insatiable.

What the holy... Those were the first words Isabel wanted to shout, but she thought she caught herself in time. She was still reeling.

“It’s called an orgasm, sweetheart.”

Oops. So much for being sophisticated about it all. She shivered when he kissed the side of her neck. Then he rolled to his side, got out of bed, and went into the bathroom. Isabel was shocked how her body was trembling and reached for the sheet to cover up. Was it the aftermath of what she had just experienced? She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Having sex with Michael was the most amazing thing.

It didn’t take any time at all to want him again. Good God, Michael had the power to turn her into a sex maniac. But only with him, she qualified. She couldn’t imagine being this free and letting any other man touch her the way Michael did.

What was the protocol after sex? What should they talk about? Or should they not talk at all and just pretend to go to sleep? No, of course not, she decided. They were adults. She knew Michael was going to be very laid-back about it all. He had probably been having sex since he hit puberty. He was a pro, though she doubted he would want to hear that. He certainly had perfected his technique. He had her melting as soon as he touched her.

By now he knew how inexperienced she was, and she hoped he didn’t say anything about it. She knew she had pleased him. The way he held her and called her name, and all the nonsensical words he whispered into her ear told her so. She wondered if he said those words to the other women he’d taken to his bed. She blocked the thought. She didn’t want to think about the other women now. She was still feeling wonderful and didn’t want to move.

Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander. It had been an amazing day. Her thoughts drifted to the concert tonight and how incredible Xavier had been. Talk about charisma. The man had an abundance. Xavier had loads of personal charm. Until tonight she hadn’t thought Michael had any charm at all, but then she saw him talking to Xavier and some of his staff and he had been quite charming and pleasant. What a revelation that had been.

Her mind then went to the crowd and the craziness outside and how it took three strong men and a carefully thought-out plan to get away safely. The screaming got to her, she admitted. Had she been alone she would have been terrified.

Michael returned and walked into the living room to get her cell phone from his jacket pocket. He put it on the charger and then got back into bed with her.

“How come you’re frowning?” he asked as he pulled her into his arms. “What are you thinking about?”

He wasn’t prepared for her answer.

“I was thinking I never want to do that again.”

She’d stunned him speechless. The condition didn’t last long. “What the hell, Isabel? I know you had at least one orgasm. You came apart in my arms, and you were yelling my name. If I hadn’t been in such a hurry, you would have had two, maybe three, more. In fact, I’m going to make sure...” He stopped ranting at her when she put her hand over his mouth.

“I was talking about the concert,” she explained. He looked so upset she didn’t dare laugh. “I was thinking about it, and I made up my mind I’m never going to do that again. Even though Xavier made it easy, I still hated being onstage. As for the other...” She deliberately left him hanging.

“Yes?” he demanded, and before she could answer, he said, “Stop toying with me.”

“It was nice, Michael. Very nice,” she whispered.

The impish twinkle in her eyes encouraged him. “Next time I’ll do better than nice,” he promised. He began to nuzzle the side of her neck. Every time he got near her he got hard. It was her smile... and her sass.

“Isabel?”

“Hmm?”

“Guess when next time is?” He gently nudged her on her back, then stretched out on top of her. Lifting up on his elbows, he stared into her eyes while he waited for her answer.