Chapter Five
Oh God, yes, she wanted him. She wasconsumedwith want. She wasn’t even sure what she wanted, but she knew he was the only man who could give it to her. Knowing her answer would relieve her of the last remaining barrier between them, she waited a moment, trying to muster the nerve to take the last step.
His hands trailed down her face and into the hollow of her neck. He gathered the material of her chemise between his fingertips and drew it taut over her budding nipples. She held her breath as his head lowered, then she felt his warm, moist mouth close over her cloth-covered nipple.
Her back arched spasmodically, and she cried out in shock. He tugged impatiently at her breast, his teeth grazing the sensitive bud. Her body exploded in sharp bursts of the most exquisite pleasure she’d ever experienced.
Then his mouth was gone, and she moaned in protest. “Do you want me?” he asked again, his voice coming in rasps.
“Yes,” she said, throwing the last vestiges of caution to the wind.
He stepped away from her, and she knew he wanted to watch as she removed her shift. “You do it,” she murmured, knowing she didn’t have the courage to shed it herself.
Desire flared in his eyes, and he slowly pulled one strap over her shoulder. His lips lowered, and he kissed the area of flesh he’d bared. She shuddered as he burned a trail lower down her arm, following the downward motion of the shift with his lips.
With his other hand, he pulled the other strap down, and the material hung precariously on the tips of her breasts. And then with one nudge it fell to the floor leaving her completely naked before him. “God, you are beautiful,” he said, taking in a deep breath. “I can’t believe you had to ask.”
He brushed her hair over her shoulders and cupped her face in his hands. Pulling her close to him, he covered her mouth with his in an earth-shattering kiss. The tenderness in which he held her, kissed her, made her want to cry. No wonder so many women whispered about him behind their fans.
Suddenly she found herself swept up in his arms. He carried her over to the bed she had dreaded so much earlier, but now looked to with budding anticipation.
He laid her over the covers and stood before her, worshipping her with his gaze. She scooted back against the pillows, lying on her side as he climbed onto the bed. Propping his elbow on the pillow beside her, he rested his cheek in his palm and brought his other hand to the back of her leg. In a slow teasing manner, he trailed his fingers up the back of her leg and over the smooth skin of her buttocks.
He made circular motions in the small of her back then continued up over the curve of her waist and to her navel. Sliding his hand up underneath her breast, he cupped the swell and rubbed his thumb over the burgeoning tip.
“You have the most perfect body.” His mouth found the nipple he was teasing and he sucked it into his mouth for a moment. “Do you like it when I do that?”
Her voice cracked with her first attempt. She swallowed and tried again. “Y-yes.”
“What about this?” His hand strayed downward between her legs, his fingers gently exploring the soft skin hidden by her curls.
She nodded this time, sure that she would scream if she opened her mouth. Her body was a tight string that was being pulled tighter by the minute. The sheer number of sensations she was experiencing quickly overwhelmed her to the point of delirium.
As his fingers continued their torturous circular motion, her hips began undulating wildly. His mouth found her other nipple and she lost all control over her reactions.
Her mouth opened, and a scream burst forth as her world came crashing down around her. She felt plucked like a harp as his fingers strummed her body like a finely tuned instrument.
Never had she imagined anything could feel so wondrous and wild. And suddenly she knew what it was she’d always longed for, searched for. But had never had the courage to reach for...until now.
As she floated down from the immeasurable heights she’d just climbed, she opened her eyes to see Gray staring intently at her. “Are you all right?” he asked as his hand came out to caress her face.
She smiled, not at all trusting herself to speak. He pulled her against him, and the warmth from his body surrounded and lulled her. Her eyes felt heavy, and she cuddled trustingly against his chest. She felt him pull the covers up over them, and his arms went tightly around her.
“Go to sleep,” he murmured. “I’ll wake you in time to return to your home.”
Her head came up. “But we haven’t...”
He placed a finger over her lips. “We’ve done enough for one night.” He pillowed her head on his arm and pulled her close once more. She didn’t have the strength to argue with him, and sleep was such a lovely sounding prospect. Like a cat who’d gotten into the cream, she yawned and snuggled deeper into his embrace. Her eyes fluttered and closed and her last thought was that she hadn’t even had to contend withthatpart of his anatomy.
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Soft lips coaxed her from the deepest sleep. She sighed, not wanting to waken from her delicious dreams just yet. Hands joined the lips as they stroked up and down her body. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw Gray, now fully dressed, sitting on the bed beside her.
“You’re not a dream,” she murmured.
“I didn’t think you would come.”
His hand glided over the curve of her waist and came to rest on her hip. “But I’m glad you did.”
