Sebastian
Sebastian didn’t slow his step as he carried the very sensual, willing Meredith up the stairs and to his suite. Blessing the discretion of the staff as they vacated the hallway even while he strode down it, he lowered her only long enough to open the door and then they were inside. Turning, he pressed her against the wall and engaged the lock.
She fisted his shirt, and he stilled. Was she planning to push him away? But then she tugged at the buttons with a hint of impatience and eased his discord. He broke from the kiss and drank in the sight of her. A wealth of emotion danced over her face in the short time since she arrived—aggravation, impatience, a hint of amusement, affection, and, worst of them all, fear.
Yet the deep, nut brown of her eyes only revealed passion burning away the gut-wrenching anguish he’d fought for days. His Meredith was here and she was in his arms. When his shirt was opened, she pushed it off and he released her long enough to strip the fabric away and let it drop. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he stole another kiss.
He wanted to be gentle, but it was hard and raw and filled with the hurt of their separation. Distance and time meantnothing, not when he knew hewouldsee her again. The fact she’d nearly robbed them of any future together, roused a fury in him like he’d never experienced before. When her tongue tangled with his and she shuddered, he groaned and pressed up against her.
A bite of pain on his shoulders encouraged the wild need racing through his veins. Taking what precious little of his control remained, he broke the kiss and stripped her clothes with an almost ruthless focus.
“Bastian…” The breathy whisper snagged his attention and he zeroed his gaze in on her face. He refused to miss anything. Her eyes widened and she touched two gentle fingers to his cheek, but she said nothing. Instead, she closed the distance and brushed her lips to his. He lowered his head, meeting the tender yearning in her kiss. So sweet and soft, it threatened to break him.
One hand flat against the wall, he drank in the soothing touch and let it leash the fierceness consuming him inside. He’d nearly lost her and he didn’t understand the reasons why. God help him he would find out—he would fix it. He could not lose her.
His jaw clenched and, with regret, he freed himself from the butterfly kisses seducing his soul. The violent need to claim her until she understood who she belonged to warred with the equally insistent drive to protect her from what belonging to him meant. The stroke of her fingers to his shoulders, then along the corded muscles of his arms and back again, left ribbons of fire. They threaded through him until his cock seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.
“I need you to be naked,” he said and took a step back. If he kept touching her, he’d strip her bare and take her right there against the wall. Meredith’s chest rose and fell, her creamybreasts straining against the sheer lace of her bra. Her blouse was wide open. “Take off the rest of your clothes, beautiful.”
Thank God his voice didn’t betray his shaken soul or the crushing desire threatening to overwhelm his judgment. When she bit her lower lip and sucked it between her teeth, he wanted to groan. The things he could do with her mouth—had done and would do again.
He’d been in hell without her. He descended there every time they said goodbye and only the sure knowledge theywouldbe together sustained him. Impatience crawled through him as she remained against the wall and what looked like indecision flickered in her eyes.
Just when he thought the distance would tear him in two, she straightened and stripped off her blouse. A lazy smile curved her pink lips and her gaze fastened to his, pinning him in place. One article of clothing at a time drifted to land on the floor until she stood there, beautifully bare and resplendent—a goddess.
His goddess.
When he extended a hand to her, she rewarded him by twining her delicate fingers with his and the brutal ache in his chest eased. Drawing her to him, he cupped her face and bent to take her mouth. He intended to be as soft and tender as she’d been, but when she opened to him, the chain he’d fastened on himself shattered.
Wrapping his arms around her, he crushed her to him and surrendered to his relentless addiction for Meredith Blake. They went down on the bed together, and he flipped her onto her back. Devouring the pleasure in her kiss, he poured everything he felt for her into the contact. Her nipples pebbled against his chest and the longing to touch them, caress, and tease them had him abandoning her mouth.
Meredith threw her head back and groaned when he locked his lips around one dusky nipple. Her nails caressing his scalpencouraged him, and her body writhed as he blazed a wet trail to her other nipple to lavish it with the same treatment. The woman possessed perfect breasts—full, lush, and perfect for squeezing, playing. He bit down lightly on the heavy curve of one.
She shuddered and he glanced up to see her eyes fluttering closed. Her mouth opened and an abandoned moan vibrated through her. He brushed his fingers across her abdomen, aware of every ripple in her muscles. She melted to his touch and he adored pushing her until she lost any semblance of the patient professor.
In his bed, they broke the molds life crafted for them. Tweaking her taut nipple, he grinned at her gasp and then indulged himself in a long, slow exploration of her body. He knew every curve, every angle, every freckle—of which she possessed five—as well as the most darling of birthmarks. Reminded, he continued down to her hip and nuzzled the strawberry shaped mark.
But this close to her pussy, he forgot about playing and eased her thighs apart. The raw demand in his soul to take her might have receded under her embrace, but he wanted to taste her. She drove him mad with her soft sounds. The moment he glided his tongue along her clit, her gasp turned into a whimpering cry urging him on. Craving her release nearly as much as his own, he laved at the swollen bud until she arched off the bed forcing him to hold her in place. The buck of her hips drove him and he was merciless in his attention. She came with a sharp cry, and then collapsed.
Rising, he stripped off his slacks and stared down at her. Her eyelids were half-closed and pleasure transformed her expression. The heat of her gaze licked him and his hands shook by the time he retrieved a condom. For a moment, retreat flickered in her passion-drenched eyes and his chest tightened.
No, she wasn’t allowed to leave him—not here, not anywhere, never again. He would not let her go. He would show her why they needed to be together, why he wanted her. Something of what he was feeling had to reflect in his expression, because Meredith’s eyes widened. She pushed up on her elbows, the tousle of her dark blonde hair clinging to the dampness of her skin.
Unable to tolerate the separation, he slid back onto the bed and Meredith’s arms came around him—thank God—welcoming him. Her mouth opened to his kiss. He poured all of his craving, heat, and primal desire for her into his kiss and gripped her hair tight.
His cock settled against her then her hand wrapped around him. He lifted obediently, letting her guide him to her slick, wet heat. Then he surged inside of her and she gasped against his mouth. She was so tight and, at the last moment, he managed to regain some semblance of control. It had been a long time—months—and he needed to slow down, to not hurt her.
But his impatient woman didn’t allow him to extend their tumble into madness. She scissored her legs around his hips and rose up until he was buried to the hilt. Her mouth dropped open and her face went a deep pink. The flames were back in her eyes when he broke the kiss, but she nipped his jaw and then dug her nails into his back. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
He wanted to slam inside of her, thrust until they were both blind with pleasure, but he had to know, needed to be sure. “Are you okay?” The words were harsh and rode shallow pants of air as though his lungs couldn’t fully expand.
“Yes.” She dug her nails into his back and flexed her thighs against his hips. “Oh dear God, yes—Bastian…” The sensual need punctuating the words gave him permission. He thrust in short, swift motions while tangling his tongue with hers.
She went taut with tension and her inner muscles clamped down around him so hard. He fought the climax screaming through him, but her cries against his mouth pushed him over. He pistoned his hips, desperate to follow her. The plunge caught him off guard, sharp and violent. He came as she convulsed around him with only the ragged pant of their breathing and the slippery wet slide of their skin on skin to accompany them.
The orgasm left him drained and he collapsed against her, content to bask in her sweet embrace. Quivers raced over her. She clung to him and pressed kisses to his face and then to his jaw.
She was there and in his arms. Yet, his contentment seemed edged in something he couldn’t quite define. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to. Burying his face against her neck, he nuzzled the spot above her rapidly beating pulse. Shoving the concern to the back of his mind, he eased away from her.
