Slowly, I rotated. Drake stood near a window, silhouetted by the soft rays reflecting off the full moon behind him. My gaze dropped to his corded forearms exposed by the rolled-up sleeves of his button-down shirt. I resisted the urge to lick my lips, aware of the strength in those muscles, formidable yet gentle.
“Can’t sleep,” I whispered.
His gaze wandered in a silent appraisal over my barely covered body. In the dim light, I could just make out the curve of his lips. I gulped air like a fish out of water.
“We both know what you can do to make that problem go away,” he offered, amusement heavy in his voice.
“What?” I frowned, not missing the underlying suggestion and conscious of my lingering arousal that tightened my core with each inhale. Thankfully, the darkened room hid my flushed cheeks. I wasn’t sure if I should keep looking for a book or go back to bed. Surprisingly, neither option was appealing. What was it about this man? The attraction was uncanny, his air of sexy nonchalance even more so.
He walked toward me, his steps slow yet assured, almost regal. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. The rhythmic beat of my heart took on a sharper tone. As he got closer, his gray gaze ignited with a feral blaze I’d witnessed before. If I didn’t know better, I’d believe that once again, I stood naked in front of the man and the only guidance I needed came from the lazy smile widening his full lips. He reached me and leaned in. His hard body flush against mine, his hand rested on my hip. My stomach twisted into knots that would impress a rope expert. His cologne, heady and spicy with an irresistible layer of musk, swathed the air around me. I inhaled sharply. God, the man hadn’t even touched me intimately, and I was already a live wire suspended over a dizzying chasm.
His cheek brushed mine, the scruff teasing my skin. “What are you doing here?” he growled in my ear.
I frowned, leaning back. “What do you mean?” Was he referring to my appearance in the library or his life?
Drake cocked his head to one side. He curled a lock of my hair around a finger and tugged lightly. “I’ve watched you all afternoon, Sia. I have an inkling of what you were thinking about while we drove back from lunch, but if you want to share what had you so worked up, I’m all ears.”
I gasped. His level of perception was uncanny. “I-I...” Words failed me.
“It happened again at the dinner table. You’ve been agitated and needy ever since. That’s why you’re not sleeping right now.”
I wanted to speak. To deny it. To say something. I had nothing.
“You’re restless because you’re aroused,” his words were soft with deliberate provocation. “I might’ve spent just one night with you, but I can read your body like my son never will,” he uttered the last few words on a harsh inhale.
I had no idea we’d moved until a wall collided with my back, and I couldn’t stop the inaudible whimper. Drake moved closer, boxing me in with his arms, planting them on either side of my head.
I opened my mouth to say something and clamped it shut, fearing I’d make a complete fool of myself if I attempted to refute his claim. He knew better. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his. While the light was almost non-existent, I could still see his eyes. They glittered against the surrounding darkness, studying me, observing my every reaction. I ran the tip of my tongue along my lips, tempted to touch him, to run my palms over that sculpted chest I’d traced with gentle fingers—just to see his reaction.
Even as our eyes locked, I wanted to believe it was something about his unassuming confidence that had me ready to turn my back on the shred of control I was clinging to. Only I knew better. I’d wanted the man every day since that one night with him. As if demanding my attention, reality barreled my lust-filled oblivion. Rayden was my every day now. Clenching my fists until the nails cutting into my palms hurt, it didn’t stop my gaze tracing the shape of Drake’s lips, wishing I could taste him again. Nor did it prevent my eyes from trailing a path further down to the hint of chest exposed by the top two open buttons of his shirt.
“Sia?” the husky whisper vibrated over my heated skin.
I pulled in a deep breath. “Yes.”
“You need to stop looking at me like that.”
I lifted my eyes to his. My heart pounded, quick and hard. “Like what?”
“Like—” The throaty word sounded strained, almost raw as though he fought for control. “Like you’re waiting for me to fuck you against this wall.”
“I—”
My reply was cut off as his lips slammed down on mine. I froze briefly before my body took over, responding with blatant greed. My nipples hardened, aching for his touch. My hands glided across his broad shoulders up into silken strands against my desperate fingers. I pulled him closer. A low moan rumbled from his chest while his tongue boasted superiority, controlling mine in a fine-tuned tango. There was nothing gentle about the kiss or the rigid arousal pressing into my stomach. His hands dropped to the curve of my ass, squeezing hard before he lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pushing my soaked crotch to his hard-on. We both moaned with the contact.
His powerful build crushed me to the wall as he rotated his hips, allowing his cock to graze my slit in sweet torture. The flimsy material of my shorts did nothing to hamper the effect. I groaned as the start of an orgasm soared down my spine, clenching my pussy muscles. Wanton, I rubbed myself over him. Sensing my need, he slipped a hand between our bodies while the other held me up, shoved aside my shorts, and thrust two fingers inside my slick pussy. I cried out, biting his tongue in the process. He moaned, making no attempt to break the kiss. Hips bucking in wild abandonment, I dug my nails into his shoulders and rode his fingers, desperate to satiate the craving that had settled in my core the moment I laid eyes on him again.
The sudden slam of a door had him pulling back with a frustrated curse, “Fuck.”
Another whimper slid past my lips when he stared at me for just a moment before he withdrew his fingers, released my legs, and set me down on the floor. “Why now, Sia?” he muttered, then he was gone, leaving me conflicted, fiercely aroused, and ridden with guilt.
Hands shaking, I leaned back against the wall. My mind a whirlwind of turmoil.Why now?The words played with my emotions. What did he mean? When I could finally muster some semblance of control, I straightened my clothes, finger-brushed my hair then headed back to my room, my steps heavy and unhurried. Inside the softly lit room, I closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. I took stock of my feelings, letting them wash over me, allowing myself to breathe in the torment, the potential pain to hurt two men.
“Hey.” Rayden stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in nothing but a towel around his waist. “You okay?” he neared me.
Lead settled in the pit of my stomach. I swallowed to force down the threatening nausea and smiled. “Yes.”
“You’re sure.” He ran a gentle finger along my jaw.
