A wicked smile curves his mouth. “Good.”
I should stop him. We’re in the bridal suite of a cathedral, with Piper and Raven likely right outside the door. But when his thumbs brush over my nipples, sending jolts of electricity down my spine, stopping him is the furthest thing from my mind.
“You’re nervous,” he observes, his eyes searching my face. “About tonight.”
It’s not a question, but I nod anyway. “A little.”
How can I not be? Not only is there an eleven-year age-gap between us. And sure, I’ve known that for a while, but it’s never seemed as poignant as it does now. Because with time comes experience. What if I’m not enough for Raffaele? Will he regret marrying me if I can’t please him sexually?
“Tell me what you need,” he says, one hand sliding up to cup my cheek. “What can I do?”
The words stick in my throat, embarrassment and desire warring within me. But this is Raffaele, who has seen every inch of me, who knows my body better than I do myself. Taking a deep breath, I force myself to meet his gaze.
“Touch me,” I whisper. “Please.”
Something flashes in his eyes—triumph, hunger, possession—before his mouth curves into a wicked smile. “Like this?” he asks, his hand moving to cup my breast through the silk.
“Yes,” I gasp as his thumb circles my nipple, bringing it to a hard peak. “More.”
He growls, backing me up until my thighs hit the edge of the vanity. With practiced ease, he lifts me onto it, nudging my knees apart to stand between them. My kimono falls open, revealing my nakedness beneath, but I feel no shame under his hungry gaze.
“You’re so beautiful,” he says, lowering his head to take my nipple into his mouth, the wet heat making me arch against him. “So perfect.”
“Raffaele,” I moan, loving the way he makes me feel.
His hands are everywhere—cupping my breasts, squeezing, pinching my nipples just hard enough to make me mewl. His mouth follows, hot and wet, tongue circling one peaked nipple while his fingers work the other. I bite my lip to keep from crying out, too aware of where we are.
“Let me hear you,” he commands against my skin. “No one will interrupt us.”
“But they’ll hear—”
“I don’t fucking care,” he growls. His teeth graze my nipple.
I whimper as he switches to my other breast, his hand sliding between my thighs to find me already wet for him. When his fingers brush against my clit, my hips buck involuntarily.
“Please,” I beg, not even sure what I’m asking for.
His fingers move in slow, precise circles, building a pressure inside me that has my fingers digging into his shoulders. Through half-lidded eyes, I see my reflection in the mirror behind him—flushed cheeks and parted lips. I barely recognize myself.
Emboldened by my own reflection, I reach down to palm him through his jeans, feeling his hardness straining against the denim. His breath hisses between his teeth, and I take advantage of his momentary distraction to unbutton his jeans and slip my hand inside.
“Alina,” he warns, but doesn’t stop me as my fingers wrap around his shaft.
“I want to touch you too,” I insist, marveling at the velvety hardness in my hand. “Show me how.”
By now, I know exactly how he likes me to stroke him. But as much as I like to touch him, I like it better when he controls my hand. It’s hot.
His hand covers mine, guiding me in long, firm strokes. “Like this,” he instructs, his voice strained. “Fuuuuck, your hand feels so good.”
I watch his face as pleasure contorts his features, his jaw clenched tight. There’s power in this—in knowing I can affect him this way, that the control he wears like armor can crack under my touch.
But he soon pulls my hand away, pinning it to the vanity. “Not yet,” he says, his voice rough. “This is about you.”
Before I can protest, his fingers return to my clit, circling faster now, his other hand cupping my breast. The dual sensations send sparks shooting through my body, tension coiling tighter in my core.
“That’s it,” he encourages as my breathing becomes erratic. “Let go for me.”
My body obeys, pleasure crashing over me in waves as I cry out his name. He captures the sound with his mouth, kissing me deeply as I shudder against him.
