He's bare chested, and my fingers slide over his naked skin that’s almost too familiar, as if I've touched him likethis a million times. His muscles jump under my fingertips, responding to me. My breath hitches as I feel his strong arms band around my body, splaying against my back, and pull me into him slowly. Molding my curves into his hardness.
He knows just how to touch me.Likehe'sdone this a million times.
My nose grazes his neck, and I tense, getting a welcome whiff of his scent. His lips graze my temple and, not able to help myself, I let out a little moan, praying he doesn't hear. But from the sudden and unexpected hardness I feel pressing into my belly, I know he did, and everything in me wants to tell him to take me inside and take me to bed, but this isn't what he brought me here for.
And I instinctively know that some, if not most of this, needs to be on his terms emotionally, just as much as it needs to be on mine.
Throwing abandon to the wind, not caring about propriety and unable to help myself, and just daring to let myself lean into the one thing that I've always wanted but never have been able to attain, I melt into his embrace. Letting myself go at the feel of his hands softly stroking down my hair and my back, while he rocks me gently side to side as the sun rises over the ocean behind us.
But right now, all we have eyes for is each other…
His touch ends at just the curve of my lower back, and I'm reminded of Jerome's text as a shiver of desire makes its way up my spine. It's been so long since I've felt like I've desired another person.
Pulling back reluctantly, I pray my nipples aren't poking through my robe, revealing my desire to him. But his eyes are unwavering on my face, grasping my chin between his thumb and forefinger and then tilting my head up to him.
"Look at me," he says, tilting his own head down to meet my gaze.
As our eyes clash, the pure blue sucks me in. It reminds me of the unmistakably vibrant hue off the coasts of California during some of my happiest times when I would surf without a care in the world, traveling through a wave, headed toward the azure of nothingness to come out on the other end exhilarated that I managed to ride a wave all the way to the end.
Even though its waves often pulled me under, I never felt unsafe. Only happy. A pure, innocent joy. And in this moment, unbeknownst to Alexander, he's taking me on a unique ride that feels like home.
I wet my lips, wanting to say something, to put a voice to how I feel. His eyes go slightly hooded, his knuckles brush over my cheek as he gives me this smile that makes my tummy flip, and I swallow hard. I bite my bottom lip as he tilts his head, flickering his eyes between mine. Silently communicating, no words needed.
In our profession, where we build our trust with others by talking, it's so intimate that this is all we need.
He strokes my cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear before encompassing the side of my face in his broad hand. We're just staring into each other, letting our souls weave a masterpiece that words don't need to interrupt.
The wind blows just right, ruffling my robe around my thighs and making me realize just how much of the robe was gaped open, exposing rather a lot of my bare cleavage to his gaze. I can't help but notice his stare turn hot as he looks at me unashamedly. His eyes flicker down slowly, and I see his chest tighten minutely as the seconds tick past without a word.
This desire seems to be mutual.
Alexander's eyes flick back up to mine, and he gives me a sexy, knowing grin. He grasps my chin in his hand once again, stroking me slowly.
"Good morning, sweetness," he says softly. I think it's so endearing that even though we've been out here for probably a good ten minutes or more, he's just now saying good morning. Ever the gentleman. "I turned your bath off so it wouldn't overflow."
I can't help the little grin I feel break across my face.I think I'm the one overflowing.
I scoff, peering up through my lashes at him. "You play entirely too much with this nickname because youknowI don't likesugar," I tease.
His grin becomes even more devilish. "Now, what have we talked about in regards tobalance,Sarah?" Alexander's eyes crinkle as he smiles down at me.
Shyly meeting his gaze, I will myself to hold it despite how intense it is. Burying my fingers in my hair, I take a second to think about my attraction to him. Feeling desire that I didn't think I'd feel again for another person, I tilt my head and lick my lips.
"Thank you.Sorry."I lift a shoulder, looking away shyly. "I was trying to get out here to make my birthday wish before the stars went away," I admit.
I bite my lip as he takes another step into me and puts his own fingers into my hair, right above mine, and slides the strands through his fingers. Gliding over my hand lightly.
I shudder when his fingertips brush feather soft across my nipple as our hands lower through the strands to the ends, where he gives me a cheeky little tug and makes me jerk on a slight squeal.
"We're forgetting a birthday tradition," he says suddenly.
I feel my heart skip a beat at the absolutely hungry look that crosses his face. I swallow hard. "Oh yeah? And what would that be?"
"Turn around, and let me show you." He grins. "Everyone gets birthday swats on their birthday."
Chapter thirty-five
Fuck Me Heels
