I kissed him, pouring everything I felt into the press of my lips against his. He responded with equal fervor, somehow managing to get his bedroom door open while still kissing me breathless.
We tumbled through the doorway together, laughingand kissing and completely lost in each other. The investigation could wait until morning. The trap we needed to plan could be discussed later.
Right now, there was only heat and want and the beginning of something I’d never let myself hope for.
Dominic laid me on his bed and followed me down, bracing himself on his forearms to keep his full weight off me.
“Tell me if anything is too much,” he said, his voice serious. “If you need me to slow down or stop. This is about you, about showing you how extraordinary you are.”
The care in his words made me fall a little bit more in love with him.
And that felt completely right.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
DOMINIC
Ihovered over Sasha, braced on my forearms, watching the way faelight painted shadows across her face. Her dark hair spread across my pillow and there was no place I’d rather be with her than here in my bed. Her gaze held mine, and I found want mixed with affection there. I was falling in love with this woman who’d started as a political necessity and quickly became essential.
I kissed her again, slower than before, savoring how she arched up against me, how she released that little moan that had been haunting my dreams for days.
She gripped my shoulders, her fingers pressing hard enough to leave marks I’d probably admire later.
When I pulled back, my grin rose. “You know, for someone who treats everything like a military operation, you’re surprisingly good at spontaneous decision-making.”
Her laugh came out breathless. “Spontaneous? You’re the one who said you’ve been looking at me like you wanted to devour me since I made those embarrassing sounds over Alaina’s cakes.”
“Guilty as charged.” I nuzzled into her neck, finding that spot where her pulse jumped. “But you can’t blame me. Watching you discover pleasure is about to become my new favorite pastime.” I kissed that exact spot, feeling her shiver, then moved to the collar of her gown.
The laces on the front seemed unnecessarily complicated all of the sudden. I worked at them, fumbling because I ached to take this slow. I wanted to savor every moment of unwrapping her like a gift. The first lace came free, exposing a strip of skin I immediately kissed.
She arched beneath me. “Is this another one of your investigations? Should I expect a full written report?”
“Absolutely. With detailed annotations.” I tugged the second lace loose, the fabric parting wider. “Consider this the preliminary research phase. Very thorough. Very hands-on.”
Her fingers threaded through my hair, tugging enough to make me look up. “Preliminary? How many phases are we talking about here?”
“I’m thinking at least seven. Maybe eight if you count—” I lost my train of thought as the gown opened enough to reveal the curve of her breasts. I paused, drinking her in. Her chest rose and fell and a flush spread across her skin. She was beautiful in a way that made my throat tighten, all soft curves and hidden strength. I kissed the swell of one breast. “Eight phases minimum. This requires extensive study.”
“Eight phases sounds ambitious even for you.” Her voice had gone slightly higher, breathy in a way that made heat shoot straight to my cock.
I worked at more laces, kissing each new bit of exposed skin. “You doubt my stamina? I’m wounded.” The gown opened further, and I helped her slip one arm free, then theother, kissing each shoulder as I went. “If you were a garden plot, and I know how much you must love hearing me compare you to vegetation, you’d be the kind that takes over everything. One that spreads in unexpected directions. Impossible to contain or ignore.”
“Are we still talking about plants, or have you moved on to poorly disguised metaphors?”
I grinned against her collarbone. “Can’t it be both?” I peeled the fabric down to her waist, and then I had to stop and look. Those curves I’d only imagined beneath her practical gowns were right in front of me, real and warm and perfect. I leaned in and kissed the space between her breasts, sliding my mouth to one nipple, circling it with my tongue before sucking.
She gasped, her back rising off the bed. “That’s—You’re—This isn’t fair. You’re supposed to be charming, not competent.”
“Who says I can’t be devastatingly skilled at multiple things?” I switched to give her other breast the same attention, cupping the first, brushing over the peak. Her moan vibrated through both of us, and I decided that sound might be my new favorite thing in the world. Better than court approval. Better than solving mysteries. Just Sasha, responding to me with complete honesty. I shifted her gown lower, bunching it at her hips while I kissed down her belly. “Poetry is for people who don’t know how to show what they mean.”
She lifted her hips, helping me slide the fabric down and off completely. “I appreciate a man who understands strategic communication.” Her attempt at sounding professional fell apart on the last word as I kissed below her navel.
I tossed her gown aside, and it landed on my desk chairin a pool of fabric I’d deal with later, and sat back on my heels to take in all of her. Her long legs went on forever. The dip of her waist begged for kisses. And her curves… I itched to stroke them. But more than that, it was the way she looked at me. Fierce and open and trusting. That’s what had me completely lost for her. It wasn’t only her physical perfection, but this amazing woman choosing to be vulnerable with me.
I was so desperately in love with her it actually hurt.
I leaned down and kissed her inner thigh, starting high and working my way slowly inward. “You’re beautiful, Sasha. Every single part of you.”
