9. Alex
Recognizing Ciara’s nerves, I set myself to the task of distracting her. Not that kissing her was any sort of hardship. I took my time about it, losing myself in the taste of her and the feel of her in my arms. My military service had taught me exactly how fragile and short life really was, and that pleasure and joy should be grabbed while they could. She was both, and I was holding on with everything I had. I didn’t know if we’d have more than tonight, but I’d damned well make sure we both enjoyed it and had no regrets. That had been the whole reason I’d come after her.
Her long, lithe body went pliant against me, and that surrender fired my blood, challenging all my good intentions. Bringing up the mental map I’d made of her place the moment we’d stepped through the door, I began circling her toward the bedroom she’d been dragging me toward. At least, I hoped that was where I was headed. I didn’t stop kissing her to find out.
We stumbled through a doorway, and my hand slid beneath her shirt to find skin. I’d been wondering all day what she’d feel like beneath my hands. Her muscles quivered as I traced that smooth, smooth skin. Wanting more, I began working at the buttons of her shirt, exposing more inches to explore with every flick of my fingers, until at last I could slide the fabric from her shoulders. It fell to the floor in a whisper, and I lifted my head.
She’d left on a single lamp. Its golden glow gilded her skin, highlighting her slim figure in jeans and a lacy pink bra that cupped her breasts. They were high and firm. A perfect handful, by my estimation.
As I drank in the sight of her, she lifted her chin with a half-smile. “See something you like?”
God, I loved that bravado.
“Absolutely.” I traced a finger along the swell of one breast, just above the edge of her bra, and watched her nipples draw tight.
“Turnabout is fair play.” She reached for me, dilated eyes focused on the placket of my shirt. Her fingers worked much quicker than mine had, and when she shoved the shirt off my shoulders, she gave a satisfied purr as she began to explore.
I closed my eyes, absorbing the feel of her hands running over my pecs, down my abs. My profession had necessitated keeping my body honed. If she wanted to enjoy the results of that, I wouldn’t stop her.
But when her lips pressed high on my chest, above my left nipple, my heart stuttered. There were scars from my service, and she moved from one to the next, kissing each one with reverence and respect for the pain I’d endured. It was far more intimacy than I’d been prepared for, and it made me yearn. For what, I didn’t quite know, only that she was at the center.
Hooking a finger beneath her chin, I took her mouth, swallowing the greedy sounds of pleasure she made as I reached around to release the clasp of her bra. I drew it down, letting it drop. Then her bare breasts were pressed to my chest, and my already hard cock went even harder, desperate to plunge into her. But I’d see to her pleasure first.
I tipped her backward, following her down to the bed and indulging myself by taking my mouth on a tour down her throat, across her delicate collarbone, and on to capture one rosy nipple in my mouth. She was so damned sweet and responsive, bowing up, her fingers diving into my hair with a grip that told me I absolutely shouldn’t stop, even without the gasping litany of “Oh God, yes. Please. More.”
Her hips moved restlessly, shifting beneath me until she’d worked one of my thighs between her legs, seeking the friction she needed.
I could do better than that.
Unfastening her jeans, I lowered the zipper and slipped one hand into her underwear to cup the warmth of her sex. She opened for me, and I slid one long finger into her drenched heat and curled.
“Alex!”
Damn if that wasn’t the best thing I’d heard in years. She was so deliciously responsive. I continued to worship her breasts, following the rise and fall of her hips with my hand, sliding another finger into her tight channel and finding that sensitive nub with my thumb.
When she shattered around me, I thought that was a perfectly brilliant beginning. She was still limp as I tugged off her shoes and dragged down her jeans, leaving her bare. Her body was lovely and flushed with pleasure, those big blue eyes fixed on me.
“You okay?”
Her lips curved in a seductive smile. “I’m more than okay.”
She looked like my every fantasy come to life, and I was pretty sure my zipper was leaving a permanent imprint on my cock. But still, not yet.
“I want to taste you.”
Her eyes went impossibly darker, and she drew one knee up in invitation. I knelt, loving the feel of her heels against my back as I settled between her thighs. I blew gently on her sensitive flesh until she bucked and swore. With a chuckle, I took a firmer grip on her hips and lowered my mouth to her center.
There were those hands again, fisting in my hair. Harder this time. I loved the pleasure-pain of those tugs as I worked her, driving her up until she was gasping and writhing, begging for release.
She screamed my name again as she shot over the edge.
I didn’t think I’d ever tire of that sound.
“So. Glad. You. Got. Off. The train,” she gasped.
“Me, too.” With a chuckle, I pressed another kiss to the inside of her thigh and eased back to retrieve a condom from my wallet.
Ciara watched as I toed off my boots and stepped free of my jeans. She kept watching as I rolled the condom on and gave my cock a stroke. “You’re way over there,” she murmured. But I didn’t miss the way her throat worked as I settled over her.
I brushed another kiss to her collarbone. “You okay?”
She pressed both hands to my shoulders and pushed.
I immediately fell back. No way would I take this anywhere she wasn’t willing to go.
But instead of scooting away, she followed, swinging a leg over my hips to straddle me. Bracing herself on my chest, she brushed my lips with a kiss and eased to notch me at her entrance. “You’re not exactly a wee man, aye? This might take a little finesse.”
“Take all the time you need.”
Despite the two orgasms, her body was incredibly tight. Content to let her take complete control of the pace, I gripped her calves and fought to remain still.
Face a mask of fierce concentration, she rocked, taking me in inch by slow inch. Her breasts swayed with the motion, and I loved every second of the torture.
Pressing against my chest, she sat up, throwing her head back with a moan of satisfaction as gravity did the last of the work, fully seating me inside her. “Oh, that’s better. I’m so full.”
She swiveled her hips, and I grabbed them to still her. “Now I need a minute.”
God, she gripped me like a fist. I had to draw on all my considerable control to keep from popping off like an untried lad.
“Okay?” Her echo of my own question made me smile.
“Better than okay.” I arched into her, and it was as if I’d fired a starter pistol. She began to move, slowly at first, then picking up speed. She rode me hard, and my blood quickened at her pace, demanding I claim and conquer.
Jack-knifing up, I reached for her, rolling until our positions were reversed. Her legs tightened around me, and I felt her nails drag along my back as I pounded into her to the rhythmic chant of her “Yes, yes, yes.”
We whipped each other to a frenzy, mouths and bodies mating, until her body bowed beneath me, every muscle tightening around me, until I was dragged over the cliff behind her.
I had just enough presence of mind to roll us again before I collapsed on top of her. We lay in a heap of tangled, sweaty limbs, hearts thundering.
“Jesus God,” I gasped.
She nuzzled my jaw. “Just Ciara is fine.”
I laughed. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed after sex. Had I ever? Delighted with her, I nuzzled back. “You’re a wee hellcat, aren’t you?”
She stiffened and pulled back a bit. “Is that a bad thing?”
“Hell no. I loved it.”
“Well, then.”
Reluctantly, I crawled out of bed to take care of the condom. With the ease of long-time lovers instead of new ones, we cleaned up. Then Ciara climbed back into bed and patted the mattress next to her.
I’d never spent the night with a one-night stand before, but I didn’t second guess it. I simply crawled in and tugged her close. She snuggled in as if she’d been made to fit just like this in my arms. We talked of little nothings, until she lapsed into sleep, her breath puffing warm and even against my chest.
I stayed awake for a long time after that, thinking about what came next, and what exactly I was willing to do to pursue this past tonight.