He chuckles, starting to rise. “It wouldn’t have stopped me.”
I snatch at his wrist before he can stand. “Then, kiss me. Kiss me because you want to kiss me and I want a kiss, not for any other reason.”
With a pleased glint in his eyes, he lays back down. Stretching out beside me, his hand slowly caresses my arm, causing an outbreak of goosebumps. I smile and meet his gaze. He traces my collarbone where my pajama top leaves me uncovered next. The simple touch ignites that dull ache between my legs. I shift my hips and the corner of his mouth tips upward. His eyes drop to my breasts for a moment. I don’t have to look to know my nipples are hard.
“Kiss me,” I repeat, breathily.
Staring deep into my eyes, he cups my face, leaning in so slowly I decide it must be a torture method. My heart is thundering when his lips finally brush over mine. Electricity zips from there to my belly before settling lower. My eyelids flutter closed, and I focus on the sensation of his mouth sliding over mine, gentle but erotic, too. His tongue seeks entrance and I yield gladly, savoring his warmth, his manly scent, and the feel of his strong hands on my soft skin.
He pulls back, studying my reaction, before he says, “I have something for you, something I’ve been wanting to give you for the last couple of days. Hold on.” He rolls out of bed and goes to one of his drawers, pulling out a black velvet jewelry box. “Zacheo finally finished it.”
He climbs back onto the bed, and I sit up as he opens the box to reveal the loveliest and most unique engagement ring I've ever seen. The large diamond solitaire is surrounded by two delicate birds made of rubies. He was having this made for me before we even married.
“Songbirds are easier to create with gemstones than sirens and generally sweeter,” he explains with a hint of embarrassment I find terribly endearing.
“Carlo, it’s beautiful.” It’s also incredibly thoughtful, something I didn’t expect from a man like him.
With a silent nod, he removes the ring from the box and places it on my finger. It fits perfectly and matches the diamond and ruby wedding band he chose. “Bold and red, like you.”
We kiss again, and I’m forced to admit, “You’re a really good kisser.”
“Am I being compared to anyone else?” he growls, a dark possessive gleam in his eyes that makes me shiver in the naughtiest way.
“No, I made my own assessment. I can feel your kisses everywhere.” Everywhere might include my heart if I'm not careful. “I can’t imagine a lukewarm kisser having that effect.”
“A lukewarm kisser,” he repeats, chuckling before swiping my bottom lip with his thumb and sending more sparks shooting down to my core.
“Am I a terrible kisser?” I ask, concerned over my inexperience.
“No, Red. Even when your innocence threatens to unravel me, I can feel your kisses everywhere, too.” Placing my hand over his bare chest, I feel his heart beating and trace the outline of his tattoo before trailing my fingers down his six-pack to his navel and lower. “Was there something you wanted in exchange if I asked for another kiss, Francesca?”
“What would you give me if there was?”
“Anything,” he murmurs while staring at my lips.
"What about my freedom?"
All the playfulness evaporates in a heartbeat. "Anything but that. Monsters can be selfish that way."
He starts to roll away, and I realize he's hurt. I'll never admit it, but I regret my question.
"Wait." Gathering my courage, I let my hand slip down further, carefully wrapping it around his erection through his boxer shorts. “All I want this morning is you.”
He studies me again, trying to detect if my words are true. We’ll have to work on that, both of us. I sit up, slipping free of my pajama top and shimmying out of the bottoms before I lie back on my pillow to prove I mean it. The hunger burning in his eyes is unmistakable as they travel the length of me and, when I tug at the waistband of his boxers, his meager resistance collapses as he dives forward to claim another kiss.
“I’ll be gentle, but it might still hurt,” he says as if that causeshimpain. “I’ll thoroughly prepare you first though.”
Before I can say anything in response, he grabs me and lifts me off the mattress. My cry of shock turns into one of pleasure when he settles me over his face and starts sucking my lower lips. I rock forward, not wanting to smother him, and grasp the headboard. I feel his tongue licking every inch of my pussy before he enters my opening. As my initial shock fades, my body quickly surrenders to lust. He eats me the way I’d expected him to fuck me that first time, with unrestrained harshness. And it's divine.
Peering down at him, I watch in fascination at the way he worships me with his tongue. It’s sexy and sinful and I should probably be embarrassed but I’m not. That knot of hunger in me tightens and coils.Higher and higher, I fly, rocking gently against his face as his tongue explores all of me. Then, his fingers dig into my ass cheeks as he sucks on my clit, and I spiral away into bliss, crying his name.
When I attempt to pull away, he locks his arms around my waist. “Not yet,” he says, roughly. He takes his time licking me, tasting me, and working me toward another release. I whimper and moan, unable to fight the tide even as it seems like too much for one person to experience.
Just as my climax is ready to break over me though, he rolls me to my back. He grabs a condom from the nightstand before moving between my thighs with his tip brushing my center. Nervousness has me tensing up, but he dips his head down to my breasts and starts sucking one of my nipples. Instantly, that erotic hum returns, and I want nothing more than to be filled by him and only him. Mesmerized, I watch him roll the condom down his length before he slides the head of his cock over my pussy, wetting it thoroughly, while giving each breast its due.
At last, he slips in slowly and groans about the way my walls grip him, distracting me from the discomfort. He continues teasing my nipples and peppers my throat with soft kisses. His morning stubble tickles, and I enjoy running my fingers through his thick hair. The heady smell of sex surrounds me. I lose myself in the sensations.
He pushes in deeper than before, and I have to gulp back a wince. Of course, he noticed. “Too much?”
