7. Maggie
7
Maggie
My palm is pressed against his palm. Our fingers tangle together as if we hold hands on the daily and I won’t deny how much I love it, even though I find it completely unsettling because it feels so perfect. So right. My heart is banging inside my chest as we head upstairs, but we bypass the bedrooms and go up another small flight of stairs that leads to an alcove. Holy smokes. A gasp slips from my lips at the sight of the night sky and sparkling stars winking back at me. “This is incredible.” How did I not know this was up here?
“This is why I wanted a home outside the city. The clear sky and stars, it’s all rather calming.”
“And unexpected.”
He looks down at me with curiosity in his eyes. “Careful Maggie, it sounds like you don’t hate me anymore.”
“I don’t hate you,” I admit. “You just know how to get under my skin.”
A smirk tugs on the corner of his lips and my legs go a little weak. “Good to know. Come on.” He tugs my hand down and I realize we’re standing on some type of mattress. Derek lies on his back and smiles up at the dark sky.
I hesitate only for a fraction of a second before settling on my back and letting out a relaxed sigh at the vision before me. But my shoulder brushes Derek’s and suddenly it’s hard to breathe. Every shallow breath I take brings his scent deeper into me. “So, do you know anything about astronomy?” I ask, hoping it’s the distraction I need.
His laughter is deep and rich, and the sound reverberates around the small alcove. “Some, but if you don’t know anything about astronomy then I could just make it up.”
“Good point,” I giggle. “Go ahead and make something up, or not. Test me.” Why am I teasing this man? And worse, why am I flirting with him?
“Alright, then.” He points to what looks like a cluster of stars. “It looks like nothing more than a wild tangle of stars but it’s actually two warriors who were sworn enemies, though it turns out that his biggest enemy is a female warrior and the love of his life. Look at them.” He leans in close, his breath grazing the side of my neck. “They could be fighting, or they could be fucking .”
I try hard to suppress the shiver that threatens to overwhelm me and let out a laugh that’s far huskier than I mean it to be. “Let me guess which one you…” I look over and he’s right there, so close that I can feel the heat in his eyes. “…think.”
Oh shit. Before I can react, he leans in and our lips collide, an instant fire breaking out all around us and keeping us wrapped in this warmth of desire. He devours my mouth, first teasing my lips with his tongue before he slips inside and changes everything I thought I knew about kissing. My arms snake around his neck for support and half of his body engulfs mine.
Derek growls, the sound vibrating my chest and knocking my heart off balance as he drives the kiss deeper, increasing the intensity beyond my wildest dreams. His fingers slide their way through my hair and he tilts my head to the side before pulling back, breathing heavily. “Should I apologize?” His gaze sears into mine.
Is he serious? My heart plummets at the question but I shove my insecurities deep down, leaning on the confidence I still have buried within. “Not unless you’re sorry for kissing me.”
“I’m sure as hell not,” he grumbles the words and nips at my bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking about the taste of those lips for too damn long.” His mouth glides across my jaw and down my neck.
A shiver zips down my back. “Derek,” I breathe out.
“Tell me to stop, sweetheart. If you need me to, I will. But I’ve been holding back for so long, I’m not sure if there’s any going back.”
As if I have the power to stop him now when my entire body is strung tight. It’s like I’m waiting for…something. “Don’t. Stop.”
He grips my shirt in his hands and yanks it off with one sharp pull, revealing my chest with just a flick of his thumb. “Such perfect tits,” he groans as he grips them, kneading and sucking on them in alternating moves that make me arch into the man as if I’m feeding him.
“Oh,” I moan and allow my fingers to run wild. “ Yessssss .” I can’t help shivering when he starts sucking on my nipples, his teeth sinking into the sensitive flesh. “So hot,” I moan through the pleasure, and his only response is a hungry smile that has me believing our night is only getting started.