‘What?’
‘Let me watch.’
‘You mean…?’ Her eyes widened in shock.
‘Mm, that’s what I thought,’ he said, with a gentle smile. ‘It’s okay,’ he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and easing them down from around her ears. ‘I figured you’d be too shy for that at this stage. We can work up to it.’ As he spoke he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, his fingers trailing down her throat to the neck of her shirt. ‘I’d love to watch you get yourself off,’ he said, smiling at the blush that crept up her neck into her face. He popped open the top button of her shirt, never taking his eyes from hers, and she held his gaze as he opened the next two buttons, his hand splaying out across her clavicle, stroking across the top of her chest. Her breathing became deep and ragged.
‘You’re so gorgeous,’ he whispered, leaning in to kiss her. He kissed her mouth, her ears, her neck, while his hand stroked down her side, brushing against the side of her breast and down her leg.
‘You don’t have to say stuff like that to me,’ she said gruffly. ‘Like I said, I’m a sure thing.’
‘But it’s true.’ He smiled at her, before kissing her again on the mouth, parting her lips with his tongue. Claireclung to him, and he felt her finally relax, her body loosening as she started to kiss him back.
‘Will we move to the bedroom?’ he asked, when eventually he pulled back.
Claire nodded mutely.
He took her hand and led her in, then turned on the little bedside lamp. He drew the curtains, then turned to face Claire. ‘Sorry it’s not more…’ He trailed off, shrugging apologetically.
‘It’s fine.’ Claire gulped, her eyes huge as she looked at the bed.
‘Is it warm enough?’ Luca asked. He had had the heater on most of the day – he’d decided it was an allowable expense when he was being paid so much.
‘Yes, it’s fine. Well, I suppose I should…’ She kicked off her shoes, and began undoing her shirt briskly, as if she was getting changed for swimming.
‘Stop,’ Luca said, crossing the room and stilling her hand. ‘Let me do that.’
He bent his head, slowly undoing the rest of the buttons.
‘A couple of ground rules before we start,’ he said, as he peeled the shirt from her shoulders slowly, his hands stroking down her arms as he slid it off. ‘One,’ he said, eyeballing her, ‘no faking anything. Okay?’
She nodded.
‘I’ll know if you do,’ he warned.
‘I won’t,’ she said breathily. ‘Promise.’
‘Good,’ he said, sliding her bra straps off her shoulders and reaching around for the clasp at her back. He unclipped it, pulling it off her and tossed it aside. ‘And two,’ he said, dropping his eyes to her naked breasts, his knuckles brushing over her nipples, ‘you’ll stop me if you get bored.’
Claire just whimpered in response as he bent to kiss her neck, his hands stroking her bare skin, but he was pretty sure he could take that as a yes.
Claire was already more aroused than she’d ever felt in her life as Luca laid her on the bed and stretched out beside her, his hands roving over her bare flesh as they kissed and kissed. She’d forgotten how fantastic kissing was. How could she have gone so long without it, she wondered, as Luca stroked, licked and sucked every inch of bare skin he had revealed. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, cradling his head as he took her hardened nipples into his mouth, overcome with amazement that he would do this. The shock of his tongue trailing across her belly made her quiver and she trembled in need as it dipped into her navel, his fingers moving to the fastening of her jeans. He slid the zip down slowly, his tongue following the zipper to trail wetly along the exposed flesh. He peeled off her jeans and tossed them aside, then hooked his fingers into the sides of her knickers, sliding them slowly down her legs, his eyes hooded as he gazed at her. She was very conscious of the fact that he was still fully clothed and she was now completely naked. She felt exposed and sat up, reaching for his belt buckle.
‘Don’t,’ he whispered, removing her hand and nudging her to lie down.
‘What should I?—’
‘Just relax,’ he murmured, his hands stroking leisurely up her thighs, his eyes dark as he fixed his gaze on her face. ‘Let’s just concentrate on you for now.’ Claire gasped as one hand moved between her legs and she felt his finger stroke along her heated flesh.
‘Mm,’ he groaned softly, ‘you’re so wet.’ He bent his head to nuzzle the soft skin of her inner thighs.
His fingers stroking her were heaven, but as his mouth blazed a trail along her thigh and she realised what he intended to do, she shot upright.
‘No!’ she yelped, grabbing his head and yanking it up.
‘What’s wrong?’ He frowned. ‘Don’t you like it?’
‘Um… yes, I’m sure I would – but you don’t have to do that.’ Surely she wasn’t paying him enough for that! ‘I’m sure it’s not very nice – I mean you wouldn’t want to…’
