13. Behind Closed Doors
Chapter 13
Behind Closed Doors
M arcus took the stairs two at a time but managed to keep his pace below a run as he got them to the bedroom.
Elina laughed as he raced through the house, and he had to capture the sound in a kiss. With his mouth on hers, he slid her down his body until she stood in front of him, her curves pressed against him like they were made to be together. Her arms held him tightly, but she didn’t need to worry. He wasn’t letting her go. He wanted this to be perfect for her, which reminded him he’d been sweating all day. “It’s been a long day of working, and I need a shower. Care to join me?”
“Sounds perfect.”
He moved his lips to her jawline and her ear as he walked them backward into the adjoining bathroom. He’d renovated when he’d moved to town and the walk-in shower was definitely big enough for two.
He ran his hands up and down her torso, then cupped her breasts. Even through the layers of fabric, the touch made them both groan.
He played and tweaked until he needed more, and then he eased the t-shirt over her head. Her simple, plain bra was the prettiest thing he’d seen. So far.
When he leaned down to suck a breast into his mouth through the bra, she leaned back to give him access. Then she reached behind her, jutting her breasts toward him. When the bra dropped to the floor, he breathed out her name. “Elina. You’re gorgeous. I need a taste.”
He boosted her onto the counter to put her at the perfect height to devour. While he tasted and nipped and licked, she ran her hands under his t-shirt and sent it flying. Her fingers traced over his chest and abs to his biceps and back. His entire body was wired. Ready. He doubted he’d ever been this turned on in his life, and they were still half-dressed. Everything about Elina turned him on, and he wanted to see her fly over the edge. Wanted to watch her give in to the desire raging between them.
She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer so that their cores were lined up. He was surprised the layers of denim didn’t simply sizzle right off. “You’re potent, Elina. I’m losing my mind here.”
Her throaty chuckle turned into a gasp when he lowered his head again and sucked a nipple into his mouth. Her heels dug into his ass and brought him in closer yet.
Then her hands moved to the button on his jeans. “Less clothes.”
Hell of a good idea.
He lifted her off the counter and onto her feet, then moved his hands to her jeans.
She patted his hands. “I’ll do these. You do yours. We’ll be faster.”
He grinned and kissed her again before following orders. That’s when he remembered his leg. He needed the other prosthesis for the shower. Damn it all. Nothing said sexy like switching out your artificial limb.
Elina shucked her jeans and looked up at him, eyes wary. “What is it? What’s wrong? Did you change your mind?”
She grabbed for a towel, and he realized she thought this was about her, about him seeing her naked. He was an idiot.
Reaching forward, he stilled her hand on the towel rack. “Sorry. I went into panic mode for a second.”
Her frown deepened. “We don’t need to do this. It’s okay. I’ll just?—”
He stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms. After holding her for a moment, he framed her face with his hands. “That was a momentary me problem. I remembered I needed to switch my prosthesis. This one can’t go in the shower but I’ve got another one there. I worried about breaking the mood by taking the time to switch it out, but I ruined the mood by being an idiot.”
Her serious eyes studied him. “That’s the truth?”
He nodded.
She studied him for a moment, allowing him to see the moment she believed him and relaxed. “I thought I’d done something wrong. Or there was something wrong with me.”
He cursed. “Hell, no. You’re perfect, and I’d like to spend a few hours studying all that perfection.”
She smiled. “Hardly, but I like the idea of us studying each other for a few hours.”
“Yeah?”
She ran her hands over his abs and chest. “Yeah. And while I think the prosthesis is very cool, and I’d like to know about the differences in your various prostheses, those aren’t the things I’m most excited about studying right now.”
He laughed. At least he hadn’t totally screwed it up. He slipped off his jeans, then moved to sit on the closed toilet seat. He switched out the gear as quickly as he could, then stood to find Elina watching intently, with desire evident in her gaze.
She smiled. “You always move with competence and grace. That was sexy to watch.”
His eyebrows shot up. “That’s the last thing I expected to hear.”
Elina brushed her lips over his. “It’s true. You’re a very sexy man, Marcus Ramirez.”
His body revved right back up to full speed at the honesty in her words. Not everyone could handle a guy with a prosthesis. “You’re one hell of a woman, Elina.”
She laughed. “How about that shower?”
O nce they’d cleared the air, Elina loved that Marcus hadn’t been shy about removing the prosthesis in front of her. It was part of him, and she wanted to know more about it all. She wanted to know everything.
But not now. Now, she wanted to feel and touch and taste. The man was magnificent from the inside, all the way through to the surface.
Marcus reached into the shower and turned it on. Then he turned to her with fire dancing in his eyes. His gaze roved her body, causing shivers to erupt.
His fingers brushed her skin so lightly it was like being kissed by the softest breeze. He started with her jawline, down her neck to her collarbone, then over her shoulder and down to her hand.
He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed her before moving his hand to trail along her side, down to her hip, up to her breast. Around the nipple, then to the underside. To the other breast.
Her entire body trembled with a desire stronger than anything she’d ever felt.
His hand moved lower, brushing her hip and thigh. Then, to her center. When he caressed the curls between her legs, she whimpered.
With his mouth on hers, his fingers teased her until her knees wobbled. Marcus banded his other arm around her waist and lifted her. He walked them into the shower and closed the door.
His fingers returned to tease, and her senses reeled. His large body protected her from the spray, but steam rose around them as his fingers drove her wild.
When her body started to clutch, he kissed the shell of her ear and whispered. “Let go, Elina. Let me see how gorgeous you are when you soar.”
His growly words had her body making the final leap. Everything contracted to focus on his touch, and then she exploded in a sparkle of light and color. The world disappeared, and she floated on sensation alone.
When she managed to flutter her eyes open, she found Marcus studying her, his gaze full of satisfaction and lust. “You are stunning.”
She managed a laugh, though her breathing was still harsh. “I think you’ve got that backward. I’ve never experienced anything like that. Your touch is pure magic.”
Heat flared, and then they were kissing again. He added body wash to his hands and then they were touching, hands sliding and gliding.
Every nerve end danced as the steam flowed around them. Elina ran her fingers over his abs and chest, then followed the path with her tongue. His soft growls and curses filled the shower right along with the steam.
When her hands dropped lower to squeeze his erection, his head fell back, and he groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me, Elina. Make sure to say nice things in my obit.”
She hadn’t expected to laugh during the most intense sexual encounter of her life, but she did. “I think you can take it. I’m hoping to have you around for a very long time.”
His hands stilled, and his head came up. Those dark eyes locked on her. “I’m going to hold you to that. I want you to stay for a long time. And I’m not talking hours or days or weeks.”
Her heart galloped at his words. She’d known she’d fallen in love with this incredible man for days, but she hadn’t been sure of his feelings. Now she was, and she couldn’t keep her feelings locked inside. “I think I’m falling for you, Marcus.”
Her whisper was barely audible, but the heat flaring in his eyes at her words proved he’d heard her.
His lips descended on her hers and demanded everything. When her knees wobbled, Marcus eased back from the kiss with a chuckle. He turned off the water and grabbed a couple of towels.
Rubbing the soft fabric against her sensitized skin nearly sent her into another orgasm right there. And if that didn’t do it, Marcus watching her brought her even closer.
After a quick swipe of the towel across his own body, he tossed it to a corner and did the same with hers. He took her hand and kissed it as gently as he stroked the kittens, and then swooped her into his arms again.
When they reached the bed, he set her gently in the middle, then sat on the edge to remove his prosthesis. With a quick roll he was on top of her and linked her fingers with his.
Their bodies pressed together and the sensation of so much skin-to-skin had her gasping with delight and squirming against all that gorgeous flesh.
He grinned and then lowered his head until his lips hovered over hers. “I’m falling for you, too, Elina. I think I’ve been falling since we first met.”
Her heart leaped at his words. She squeezed his fingers with his and leaned up to kiss him. The kiss started off tender but, in only moments, morphed into greedy desire.
Soon, they were rolling on the bed, hands touching, lips grazing, tongues licking. Every few moments, they would look at each other and grin. Then they dove in again.
“I need you, Marcus. Now.”
He lifted his head to grin at her like a panther. He rolled them again and reached into a nightstand. When he lay back to roll on the condom, she straddled him and watched.
When it was on, she reached for him, but he laughed and put his hands on her waist. “Hold on, you touch me now, and I’m going to embarrass myself.”
“Might be fun to watch.”
He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. After a few breaths, she leaned forward and rested her hands on his chest. He kept his hands on her waist as she lifted and then slid down onto him as slowly as she could manage.
Her breathing quickened until she was panting, and then they were joined as closely as they could be. For a moment, she stilled and let the glorious sensations fill her up. She wanted to remember this moment always.
When she started to move, his hands stayed on her waist but didn’t try to control her movements. She kept the pace slow and enjoyed the wonderful slide and the building of friction.
When her pace quickened, Marcus moved his hands to her breasts. “You’re beautiful, Elina. You feel impossibly good.”
If she’d had the breath to agree, she would have. All her energy was focused on absorbing the feelings that surrounded her.
When his name fell from her lips in a chant, her body tightened. Sensing it, Marcus’s hands gripped her hips while he thrust up into her.
“Eyes open, Elina. Let me see you.”
When had she closed them?
She forced her eyes open and was glad she had. His eyes were intense on her, full of desire and so much more. Love. It surrounded her, filled her up, and sent her flying higher than she’d ever soared.