Chapter 9 #2
“They’re called sunflowers. I read all about them in a book. They’re from before the curse,” he explains.
I smirk, feeling my cheeks heat. “I’ve never seen anything like them.”
He stands, smoothing out his pants, patting his thick, strong legs. My gaze lingers on them. “Well, I suppose I should be going. It’s late.”
“Don’t—” I stop myself. “I mean…” It’s the middle of the night. There’s no rule against him being here, and yet…
“Do you want me to stay with you?” he asks so gently it’s almost a whisper.
My heart races. I don’t want to say no. But I should. I stare up at him, willing myself to speak. I can’t, so I nod slowly instead.
I think he can sense the nerves in me, and I think he can also sense that I’m scared to be alone with my thoughts right now. I glance over at Lemakis, who seems to be folded in on himself. Interesting reaction.
Adrian takes my hand and leads me to my bedroom slowly. The lighting is darker here.
Pulling back my blankets, he pats the bed and stands beside it, waiting. I sit on the edge of my enormous bed and look up at him.
The smirk he flashes me as he looks down sends a rush through me. “I’ll sleep out there. You don’t have to worry.”
He tries to release my hand and back away, but I hold on, pulling him back. He looks down at me once more, and suddenly his gaze turns darker, more intense. I watch his neck twitch as he swallows.
Tugging his hand a little more, I grab onto his shirt with my free hand, pulling him closer as I hold his gaze.
Every nerve in my body feels like it’s been activated as we move with slow, tentative motions.
He holds my gaze with his vibrant green eyes as he breathes deeply, I breathe deeply, and the air between us thickens.
The moment finally snaps when he cups the back of my neck and leans all the way in, his lips crushing against mine as I let out a soft gasp against him. This is what I needed. This is setting my body on fire, making me feel everything I never realized I could feel.
His tongue enters my mouth in a caress, and I meet it with mine.
He lets out a soft groan into my mouth and I feel his hips nudge my legs apart, getting even closer.
The heat of his body and the taste of the tea on his lips send me into a frenzy.
He runs his hand down my back and then grabs my waist, his thumb putting pressure in a possessive grip right where my hip creases.
The subtle claiming makes me moan as I tilt my head back.
He chases my mouth and continues to breathe life into me, shifting his hips even closer.
I can feel him wanting to press into me even more, but he’s holding back.
I wish he would stop trying to be so gentle.
I grab his belt from behind and pull him even closer, but the movement makes him pause, and he suddenly feels like a solid stone wall that can’t be moved.
I feel the warmth of his minty breath as he releases a sigh against my lips, still holding my face with one hand. His other hand remains at my hip.
“Elle.” His voice comes out raspy and deep. I like it.
“What?” He presses his forehead to mine.
“You don’t know what you’re doing. You’ve had a long night.”
“I have. And now I need you. Don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m doing.”
He pulls back, gazing down at me like he’s going to walk away, though I can tell he doesn’t want to. I don’t want him to go away and leave me here alone. Not yet. I want more.
Before he has a chance to go, I grab his hand, the one that still claims my hip, and I push it slowly toward the opening of my robe. His eyes widen for a flash, but then they turn feral. I can see the carnal want inside of them, and I know I’ve won.
And just in case I’m wrong and he’s still trying to do the honorable thing, I let go and pull my robe open at my chest, exposing my nipples to the cold air, and to him.
I rest my hands back on the bed, waiting for his next move.
Something has clearly gotten into me tonight, because I’ve never been this brave, never been this hungry for the touch of someone else.
But now that I’ve had a small taste of this power, of the look in his eyes as he takes me in, I don’t want it to stop.
I want him to stop being hesitant and grab me, giving me what I need right now.
“Dammit, Elle.” He carefully runs his hand along the seam of my robe between my thighs, which is still closed, making my body hum with anticipation.
“Adrian?” He runs his hands through his onyx hair, keeping his hold on my robe. “Make me forget.”
His lips crash into mine again, hungrier this time, and his hand finds my breast, his fingers squeezing my sensitive nipples. I arch my back into his touch, shifting closer to the edge, closer to his hips. I’m desperate for what I’ll find there.
I wrap my arm around his waist and pull on his belt from behind again, and this time, the thrust of his hips connects with my center, and a moan escapes me at the hardness pressed against me.
The pressure building between my thighs is not something I’m completely unfamiliar with, but having someone else between my legs as it builds is setting my body on fire like I’ve never felt before. I want that sweet release. I need it.
“Adrian,” I moan into his mouth, thrusting my hips toward him. “Touch me.”
Finally, his fingers open my robe at my waist, exposing me. He pauses to take me in, his eyes darkening as they dance along my exposed body. An aching need pulses through me, and when his thumb presses down against my clit, a sweet sigh escapes my lips.
“Yes,” I sigh against his lips, “more.”
Slowly, his finger penetrates that barrier as he caresses me with his thumb, then he adds another. I can’t focus on anything else except chasing this high.
His mouth meets mine again, and this time it’s sloppy and desperate, my breathing completely erratic as he swipes his tongue in my mouth while his fingers work me from another opening.
His other hand pinches my nipple harder as he massages my clit, and I feel that tightness building.
His fingers move in and out, and my breathing becomes erratic as he begins to place kisses along my neck.
I lean back on both of my hands, arching my back, my robe completely open now, showing everything to him.
He does a quick glance at my body again as he grabs possessively at my breast, and then his hungry gaze travels to where his fingers disappear inside of me, and I explode.
I cry out as his fingers continue at that pace and I ride the waves, pleasure ripping through me so hard I feel like I’m floating.
Finally, it subsides, and I fall back on the bed, breathing heavily, my eyes closed.
The exhaustion from the night hits me hard and fast. I feel my robe cover me, then the mattress shifts as Adrian lies next to me. I tilt my head and meet his gaze. He’s propped up on his elbow, smiling down at me.
“I think that’s enough for tonight,” he says.
“What? But you—”
“I’ll be just fine,” he cuts me off with a lazy grin. He sits up to help me to my pillow and pulls the covers over me. I can barely keep my eyes open anymore.
“Get some rest, Elle.” It’s the last thing I hear before my dreams take me.
And they’re not good ones.