For him.
His heart swelled, blood flooding his entire body with desire.
For her.
She arched her back at the first sweep of her clit with his fingertip and he tongued her nipple, drawing it into his mouth, absorbing the flavor, the smell, and the feel of Alice. A whimper spilled from her swollen lips, harsh but restrained. She was holding back and he wouldn’t stand for it. Alice simply desiring him wasn’t good enough. He wanted her begging for more, to see her give up control if only for one night.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Alice gripped the linen material of the couch, each flick of his very capable tongue stealing her breath until she couldn’t think of anything else except the fever burning between her legs. Her mind screamed to hold back but the alcohol and the man bringing her such pleasure overrode the command.
Where Niko was concerned, she had no self-control and no shame. The need to be with him resounded throughout her every pore. Tomorrow she might have regrets but she’d deal with those when the time came. Balancing on the edge between sanity and the point of no return, she arched her back as she careened into a wall of euphoria.
She cried out, her moan ricocheting throughout the vaulted ceilings as she fell limp on the couch. A rush of moisture flooded her eyes and she blinked it back, embarrassed by the unexpected surge of emotion. It had been years since she’d allowed herself to let go and she wasn’t wasting a moment of it in regret.
Niko stood and dashed into his room, returning with a condom packet. The city lights illuminated the room, highlighting the width of his shoulders. He slipped off his jeans to expose muscular thighs, the ones she’d obsessed over since she’d caught him on video. A flush rushed to her cheeks and she greedily inspected every inch of flesh he exposed. From the moment he’d walked out of the locker room in boxers and socks, she’d dreamed of seeing him like that again only this wasn’t a dream, but real life. A real-life dream come true with the man she was falling in lo—
Alice cut the thought in half and snatched up the bottle of rum from the table. Liquid courage. She winced as it burned its way down her throat. Not love. Lust. Have sex with him and get it out of your system. For once, don’t think. Feel.
She scanned his frame with hungry eyes. Golden skin stretched over sinew, chest tapering to lean hips, and a trail of dark hair leading to his cock. The sight of his need rekindled her own ache. She scooted into a sitting position, fingers yearning to explore his body at will, to reciprocate the pleasure he’d given her, and in return, experience more of her own. She dropped her arm and the rum in the bottle she held sloshed out, spilling across her breasts and down her belly. “Oh geez.”
“Let me take care of that for you.” Chuckling, he dipped his head and licked the rum off her skin, his wet tongue sending shivers along her spine. “There, all better.” He grabbed the bottle and took a proper swig before he set it on the floor.
He resumed his earlier seated position on the couch and she straddled his hips. Alice sought out his mouth, her own playing across his, her tongue darting between his lips. She had been hungry for the taste of him for days and the reality was on par with the fantasy. Coveting his touch was a double-edged sword, however.
In a few days, they’d be going their own ways.
Breaking the kiss, Alice rested her forehead against his and rose up on her knees, savoring the stretch of her body as she took in every delectable inch of him. Large hands cupped her bottom, fingers flexing. She clutched at his shoulders and began to move, head back, every nerve ending coming to life.
Yes, giving into her base needs was stupid and irresponsible but damn it, she wanted this, wanted him. If just for the rest of her stay. Like some fairytale princess, she’d disappear at midnight on Christmas Day. Only she wasn’t the princess but the villain holding the poison apple.
Pushing the guilt aside, she concentrated on the delicious way he stroked her body from breast to thigh, stoking the heat inside her until goosebumps exploded across her skin, and a lightning bolt of sensation shot into her very core. She met his molten grey eyes, nearly black from longing, and then his lips were on hers, his breath her breath, and in that moment, nothing else mattered but the mutual gratification that flowed between them.
In the silence that followed, Alice slumped over his prone body, her heart still pounding a mad beat. Sated in a way she hadn’t been for a long while, she wanted to curl against him and fall asleep in his arms.
But if this was a one night stand, etiquette dictated that she should get up, retrieve her laptop, and leave. She cuddled closer to him instead, the stubborn side of her demanding she stay and play this out until the end. Soon enough, she’d be back to her old life.
Her empty old life.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Niko woke to the warm body snuggled next to him on the couch. Alice’s hair was spread across his arm, her lips parted in sleep. He brushed a finger across her cheek, wishing he could lie on the couch with her forever but he hadn’t finished the rum balls from the night before. He glanced at the clock. Hallie would be in soon. If she saw the unfinished product, she’d probably freak out, thinking something had happened to him.
What happened to him was Alice. He moved his mouth to her ear and began to nibble on the supple flesh. Damn, he wanted to seduce her again but life would soon be demanding his participation. Maybe he needed to simply text Hallie. Only he’d left his phone downstairs.
If he hadn’t, then what? Open himself up to questions he wasn’t ready to answer? He wasn’t sure what this was with Alice. He enjoyed her company, definitely lusted after her, and after last night, wanted a repeat of what they’d shared. She was here for a short time and then she’d be gone. He couldn’t go with her if he wanted to and he couldn’t ask her to stay.
Why not? Because his life wasn’t his own right now and he wasn’t sure if it ever would be. The proposal she’d come up with would have thrown them together on a global level. She’d meant it as a business proposition from one artist to another. Yet here she was, in his arms and on his mind.
She rolled to her back and met his inquiring smile, cheeks rosy from sleep. “What time is it?”
“Four-thirty-eight.” He slid his hand down her stomach, seeking her the source of her heat. Perhaps he could spare another fifteen minutes.
“Geez,” she sat bolt upright, the color draining from her face. She scrambled off the couch, grabbing up her sweater and jeans from the floor. “I slept the entire night? I have an east coast conference call in twenty minutes and edits due in three hours.”
“Your laptop is right downstairs,” he patted the couch, admiring the curve of her ass, and the arch of her back. “Go get it and finish your work.”
“I don’t have editing software on my laptop, just my notes. I have to use Grace’s computer.” She shoved her legs into her pants and searched the room. “Where’s my bra?”
