Chapter 13 #2
“Don’t.” He caressed my cheek with his thumb and then slowly slid his hands down to rest on my neck. Goose bumps prickled in the wake of his touch as he stroked my throat. There was a gentle dominance in his touch that my body definitely liked. “Don’t say we shouldn’t do this. Not if you want it.”
I swallowed hard, and I knew he felt it beneath his hands. “I do want to. I just …”
North leaned in so close his lips almost touched mine. I shivered as he whispered, “Talk to me.”
Be brave.
Be brave!
“I’m afraid if I get undressed, you …” I suddenly wanted to burst into tears, and that wouldn’t do at all. “I can’t.” I pushed away from him and turned toward the door. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.”
But North was in front of me, blocking my exit. His expression was patient, worried. “I will get out of your way if that’s what you want. But I don’t think it is.”
“North …”
“Talk to me, Aria. Whatever you say won’t ever leave this room. I promise.”
I would not cry. I rarely cried, and I wasn’t about to start now in front of North Hunter.
“I’m a mess. This isn’t sexy. Who wants this?
No guy wants this.” I moved to shove past him, but he grabbed hold of my biceps, tugging me close.
My tears spilled over with no warning, horrifying me. “Let me go!”
“No, I will not let you go when you’re upset.
” He crushed me against him, tucking my head into the crook of his neck.
“We don’t have to do anything. Okay? Just don’t cry.
I can’t stand seeing you cry.” His voice broke with hoarseness, and the sincerity in his words cut through my embarrassment.
My fingers clenched into his T-shirt, and I shuddered against him as I tried to get a handle on my emotions.
I didn’t know how long we stood there, but it was long enough for our breathing to slow. North just held me, running a soothing hand up and down my back until I was calm.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You’ve nothing to apologize for.”
There was something about being held by him, feeling his powerful arms around me, and not having to look him in the eye that made it a little easier this time to admit, “I’m afraid if I get undressed … that you won’t find me attractive anymore.”
North’s arms tightened around me, but he said nothing.
Oh, God, just saying those words had made me unattractive, hadn’t they? “North?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just talking myself out of hunting down your ex-boyfriends and leaving them without the ability to procreate.” His voice trembled with anger.
I smoothed a hand over his hard chest. “They’re not worth it.”
“You’re worth it.”
Surprised by the intensity of his tone, I lifted my head. His expression was so fierce, fury and longing roiling there for all to see. For me to see. “Christ.” His voice was gravelly as he reached up to cup my face. “You don’t even know how beautiful you are, and it kills me.”
Did he really mean that? I fought against the insidious voice in the back of my mind that told me he was tricking me.
That his words were a ruse to lower my guard.
I mean, what guy would put himself through this for one night of sex?
North was a disgraced actor, desperate to get his life back.
Finding a way in with me to get to my father, who was influential enough to help him, made much more sense.
I instantly squirmed with guilt at the thought.
A good guy puts himself through this, another voice fought through my panic. I think he might be a good guy. And if he’s not, what’s the worst that could happen? It’s one night, not a relationship.
Summoning what thread of bravery I had in me, I admitted, “I want to try again.”
North swallowed hard, the crest of his cheeks flushing with arousal.
It was kind of adorable. I suddenly was fully aware of the sensation of my breasts pressing against his chest and I knew North was, too, because I felt him harden against my belly.
Tingles reawakened in full force between my thighs.
“Let’s start slowly, then,” he suggested gruffly, before taking my hand and leading me toward the bed.
My nerves played skip rope in my stomach again, but I forced myself to follow him.
Then North surprised me by sitting on the edge of the bed. His erection bulged against the zipper of his jeans. That didn’t look comfortable. But he ignored it, staring boldly up at me as he leaned back on his hands. “Just take your hair down first.”
My hair.
Yes, okay, I could do that.
Hands shaking a little, I reached up and tugged out the plain black hair tie.
My hair was one of the few things I genuinely liked about myself.
That and my eyes. Thick and dark, it spilled down around my shoulders as I released it.
North seemed fascinated for a few seconds before his gaze returned to mine. “Now your shirt.”
I found myself in a strange state of arousal and fear at his instructions.
Pushing past the fear and leaning into the arousal, I tried to be courageous and held North’s gaze as I slowly unbuttoned my shirt.
He broke first, his eyes dipping to follow my hands.
When I got to the last visible button, I tugged the hem out of my skirt and released the last few.
Taking a deep breath, I shrugged out of it, letting the silk drop to the floor.
“Fuck me,” North breathed as he took me in, eyes lingering on my full breasts cupped by my dark purple bra.
I wanted to slide my arms around my belly to hide the little of it that was exposed by my high-waist skirt, but I urged myself to refrain.
North’s fingers clenched into the duvet behind him and his breathing seemed a little shallower. “How can you not know how fucking sexy you are?”
Wait until the skirt comes off … Or not. “Maybe we could just do it like this?”
He looked into my eyes, understanding in them. “I want all of you.”
It was almost a question. Taking in a shuddering breath and releasing it slowly, I nodded in agreement.
I could do this.
“Take off your bra,” he commanded, voice thick with sex.
My nipples peaked under the satin before I reached behind to unclasp it.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I pulled down the straps and let the bra fall to the floor on top of my shirt.
Cool air prickled my skin, tightening my nipples into hard points.
North’s hungry stare made my breasts swell with anticipation.
Then his hands were on my hips as if he couldn’t stop himself, drawing me between his thighs as his ferocious eyes drank me in. He smoothed his hands up my waist, goose bumps chasing his touch … then he cupped my heavy breasts in his hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.
I moaned while he groaned and kneaded me.
“Fuck me, fuck me,” North muttered, staring like he wanted to eat me alive. “You’re so sexy it might actually kill me.”
My skin flushed at the compliment.
Suddenly, he was on his feet and hauling me into his arms. “I need to kiss you.”
It was only then that I realized we hadn’t.
Kissed, that was.
Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine.
It wasn’t a soft, sweet, gentle, coaxing kiss.
North’s kiss was devouring.
I gasped into it as he kissed me like he wanted to fuck me.
And it was exactly what I needed at that moment.
Heat and desire exploded through me, sweeping my doubts and overthinking from my head until there was nothing but the feel of his hands on my body, the scent of him all around me, his lips bruising mine.
North broke away, panting, staring at me, a little stunned. “Jesus,” he murmured, his hands on my hips, squeezing gently. “I knew it would be like this between us.”
Relief eased through me. I wanted this with him, and maybe I could do it without overanalyzing his every word and touch.
But then he demanded, “Skirt off. Now.” And all that sexy fire filling my belly flickered out, doused by the very thought of being fully naked in front of him.