by Maisey Yates
He moved his hands around to cup her breasts, to tease the hardened buds. She moaned into his mouth, the sound beyond her control, an expression of pleasure she couldn’t have held back if she’d been conscious enough to try.
He wrenched his lips away from hers, pressing a hot, openmouthed kiss to the side of her neck, the touch so erotic it made her knees buckle.
“I have wanted you,” he said, kissing her collarbone, “from the first moment I saw you.” He kissed the curve of her breast. “I’ve wanted you naked, in my bed, flushed with desire.”
“Now you have me,” she said, the words escaping before she could turn them over in her mind, before she could really analyze what she meant. What they might mean to him.
“Yes,” he said, his blue eyes glinting, “I do.”
He unbuttoned the top of her shirt then took care of the rest of the buttons with a practiced ease she was thankful for. He made it seem so easy, so smooth, that she forgot to be nervous when her shirt fell open, revealing her lacy bra.
He made quick work of that, too, both items of clothing falling to the floor. He moved his hands back to her bare breasts and teased her hardened nipples. Her head fell back, more uncontrollable sounds of pleasure coming from her mouth. All she could do was simply enjoy what he was doing to her, because she had no hope of doing anything else.
He replaced his hands with his mouth, sucking her nipple deep inside, before laving it with the flat of his tongue. “You taste as good as I imagined you would,” he said.
Kneeling down in front of her, he undid the closure on her shorts and pulled them down her legs, taking her panties with them. He leaned in then, his breath hot on her just before he claimed her with his mouth, his lips and tongue working magic on her clitoris. She gripped his shoulders trying to steady herself, trying to keep from dissolving into a whimpering puddle at his feet.
Tension started building in her stomach, so tight she thought her legs might buckle. She took a breath, trying to fight the growing sensation of pleasure. She knew what it meant. She was on the brink of orgasm, her whole body trembling with the effort to hold it at bay while he continued to subject her to an onslaught of pleasure.
She threw her head back, fought the rising tide that was threatening to overtake her, threatening to drown her. He’d brought her up so high that if she went over the edge, she was afraid of what might happen. Of what she might do. Of what he might make her feel.
“Enough,” she panted, desperate for respite, needing a moment to capture her sanity again.
“You don’t want it like this?” he asked, standing and flicking the snap of his jeans open and shrugging them off.
She shook her head, her eyes glued to his body, what she could see of it in the dim lighting. She’d never seen a naked man in person before. He was almost awe-inspiring. His body so different from hers. He was so masculine, muscular, his erection thick and tempting. It scared her how much she wanted him. How much she wanted to feel him inside of her. How necessary it suddenly seemed.
She sat on the bed, her legs shaking, her whole body shaking, inside and out.
Gage got onto the bed, leaned over her and moved his hands behind her head, unclipping her bun and weaving his fingers through her hair, spreading it out around her. “I fantasized about this, seeing all of your beautiful hair fanned over my pillow. It’s sexier than I could have imagined.”
Lily hadn’t imagined that there would be so much talking involved in sex, but Gage knew just how to say the right things to make her feel like her body was going up in flames. His words worked with his touch, bringing her to the edge again, making her feel like she might burn to cinders if she couldn’t have him.
And this time, there was nothing she could do to stop it. It was like her body belonged to him, like only he could control it. Like he had to power to elicit whatever response he wanted. She closed her eyes, shutting out the thought. Shutting out everything but the desire that was coursing through her.
“I want you, Gage,” she said. “I need you.” She slid her hands over his back, over his tight butt. His body was perfect, everything a man’s body should be. And he was all hers, for tonight at least, to explore and touch. To have his body joined to hers.
He reached over to the nightstand and rummaged for a moment before pulling out a condom packet, tearing it open and rolling the protection on in one swift movement. Then he kissed her, parting her thighs gently and settling between them.
She loved the feeling of having him over her, of feeling his naked body pressed against every naked inch of hers.
He nudged at her damp entrance with the head of his erection and she spread her legs wider, hoping it might help her accommodate him. He put his hand underneath her backside and lifted her slightly before thrusting into her.
The flash of pain shocked her, but it was over quickly and then she just felt full. So deliciously full. Never in her life had she felt so complete, yet so needy at the same time. Having him inside of her was wholly satisfying, while also managing to create a deep need in her that she knew only he could answer.
“Lily?” His voice was rough, the tendons in his neck standing out, a testament to the strain it caused him to speak, to keep himself still.
She kissed him, and she felt his body shuddered inside of her, his shaft growing harder, increasing the feeling of fullness. Increasing her growing pleasure. “Gage, let me have you.”
She knew the exact moment he lost his control. He withdrew before thrusting full back inside of her. She arched into him, the feeling so exquisite she thought she might break apart. She gripped his buttocks as he rode her, wrapped her legs around his calves as she moved against him in rhythm. Her climax started to build, the tension inside of her reaching heights she thought were impossible.
If the peak she’d nearly reached earlier had been frightening, this one was completely terrifying. All-consuming. Her entire being trembled, the need for release pulling her muscles tight, making her entire body tense. She couldn’t fight it. Didn’t want to fight. She needed to finish it, no matter what. There was no other choice. Her control was given over to him.
“Oh, Gage, oh, please,” she breathed, not knowing quite what she needed from him.
He moved his hands to her breasts, brushed his thumbs over her nipples, the added stimulation just what she needed to push her over the edge. The dam that had been holding back the flood burst and pleasure rushed through, overtaking her. She froze, her back arched, her mouth open on a soundless scream as her body tightened around his. He thrust into her, harder, more wildly, his movements lacking any control. Then he found his release on a masculine groan of pleasure.
On the heels of her release, of the amazing burst of pleasure, came a wave of emotion so strong it made her ache. She held on to him for a while, feeling his heart beat against her chest, listening to the sound of his broken, labored breathing. Her body shook and she felt warmth on her cheeks. She put her hand up and touched her face, feeling the wetness left by her tears.
CHAPTER EIGHT
GAGE looked at Lily, flushed, satisfied and crying, tears rolling down her cheeks, little sobs making her body shiver beneath his.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his chest tightening. He’d never been with a virgin before, but even without the experience, he was certain that Lily had been one. And it was causing a riot of emotions to roll through him, emotions he’d never dealt with in his life, and didn’t want to deal with now.
“I.” She sucked in a shaking breath. “No.”
He withdrew from her body and rolled over so that he was still close, but no longer connected to her. He needed at least that much space, that much of a chance to regain his sanity.
He drew her into his arms, let her cry. His muscles were so tense he felt like they might seize up. Everything in him wanted to run, but he forced himself to stay, to hold her until the tears stopped falling.
She pulled away from him, scrubbed her arm across her cheeks, leaving her face red an
d puffy. It was rare to see Lily look anything less than perfect, and even rarer to see her when she wasn’t composed. Those moments when she’d come apart in his arms, she hadn’t been composed or businesslike. And now, with her nose cherry-colored from crying and her brown hair tangled from their recent lovemaking, she was still beautiful to him. Possibly more beautiful than she’d ever been.
“I’m sorry,” she said stiffly.
“Why didn’t you just tell me? Didn’t you think I might want to know?” he said, the clawing feeling in his stomach making his voice harsher than he’d intended.
“No, Gage, I didn’t. My experience, or lack of it, is none of your business.”
“I told you, this is temporary.”
She turned her head sharply, dark eyes glittering. “And I told you that we’re finished when we leave Thailand. Nothing has changed. I didn’t tell you that I was a virgin, which is what I assume your issue is, because it was a nonissue to me. Therefore, I wouldn’t think it would matter to you.” She blew out a breath. “I should go to my own room. This was a mistake.”
She moved to leave and he took her arm. “No. Lily, you’re not leaving. You’re staying with me, in my bed.” And why that should matter to him, he didn’t know. He wasn’t the kind of guy who cuddled afterward. In fact, he usually left the hotel sometime after his lover had fallen asleep. If they didn’t leave first.
But it didn’t seem right to take Lily’s virginity and have her sleep alone. A litany of curse words scrolled through his mind. He didn’t want it to matter that he was the first man she’d been with. He didn’t want her to be different in any way. She was right, it was her choice. She was a twenty-seven-year-old woman, not a young girl that he’d seduced.
“I would feel more comfortable in my own room.”
“Too bad. Clause five of our fling contract says we share a bed when we make love.”
“I don’t remember approving that.”
“And I don’t remember seeing anything about you being a virgin.”
“I told you, it doesn’t matter.”
He blew out an exasperated breath. “It does, Lily, whether you think so or not, it does. You didn’t know you would cry. You didn’t know how it would make you feel.”
She shrugged. “It was a release. It just happened to release tears, too. I’m not going to lie, it was a fantastic orgasm.” He noticed that she angled her face away when she said it. Her voice was casual, but it was obvious that she didn’t feel casual.
“The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but I can’t give more than I’ve offered.”
“Honestly, Gage, I don’t want more than you’ve offered. Why do you think I was a virgin? It wasn’t because I was saving myself. It’s because I didn’t want the hassle.”
She gathered the sheets up and moved to climb out of bed.
“Lily, stay with me. I’m not going to turn this into something that seems sordid and dirty by having you go and sleep in your own room.”
She stayed still for a moment, her expression cool, her dark eyes focused on a point other than his face. But after a moment she settled back into bed, pulling the sheets up as high under her arms as she could.
He leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder before rolling out of bed and walking into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. His heart was still pounding from the force of his release. He walked back into the bedroom and climbed back into the bed. After a moment’s hesitation he pulled her into his arms.
She deserved that much. It didn’t mean anything, it couldn’t. But it had been her first time, and she deserved to have nothing but good memories from it. She deserved more than he’d given her. More than he could ever give her.
He’d been counting on a second time, after he’d gotten the hot and fast out of the way. But he didn’t want to cause her any pain.
In every possible way, he wanted to spare her pain. And he was worried that it was too late for that.
It was still dark when Lily opened her eyes. Gage’s arm was snaked around her waist, holding her to him, her backside pressed against his hard erection.
She looked at the clock. Nearly five.
Panic fluttered in her stomach. She didn’t want him to wake up and see her like she was. She needed her armor, something to help her be cool and calm when she had to face the man in whose arms she’d come apart. The man who knew she had been a twenty-seven-year-old virgin. The man who had held her while she’d cried in the aftermath of her release.
She slid out of the covers and she tiptoed out of the room and across the house, into her room, wishing, again, that there was a door so that she could close it behind her.
The first thing she did was check her email for new alerts and cursed creatively when she saw one pop up about Maddy.
She brainstormed ways to divert the new details Callahan and his wife were dishing while she showered, trying not to linger on the parts of her body that still felt sensitized from Gage’s touch. She shivered as the hot water sluiced over her skin and tears pricked her eyes. Again. She shut the flow of water off and dried quickly, before applying her makeup, fixing her hair and picking out a freshly pressed skirt and button-up blouse.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed, fastening the dainty buckles on her blue kitten heels, when Gage’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“You have the most interesting taste in shoes.”
“I like shoes,” she said, her heart fluttering wildly. She gritted her teeth and tried to calm her body’s response to him before she looked up.
He was standing in the open doorway, leaning against the frame, wearing last night’s jeans, riding low on his lean hips, and nothing else.
“Why aren’t you in bed, Lily?” he asked, his voice so seductive it ought to be outlawed.
“I get up early,” she said tightly, rising from her position on the bed. “And I’m not really a lounge-around-in-my-pajamas kind of person.”
“I wouldn’t guess you were. But I had hoped you were a walk-around-in-nothing-but-a-smile kind of person.” His blue eyes were hot as he looked at her, his expression making it clear that, even though she’d gone to all the trouble to dress, he was envisioning her naked.
She sucked in a breath. “Nope, not that, either.”
“Lily, come here.”
She found herself walking toward him, even though she didn’t remember telling her feet it was all right to move. He pulled her to him and kissed her, gently, seductively, sensually. She pressed her palms against his chest, intent on pushing away, but instead, her hands just lingered there, enjoying the feeling of all that hard, masculine flesh.
He pulled away slightly, resting his forehead against hers. “We aren’t done,” he said, his voice soft, but uncompromising.
Her whole body tingled, her nipples tightening, her core aching for his possession. They weren’t done. There was no way she could leave it at one night, not when he still had the power to affect her like he did.
They had to let the fling run its course. That was what had to happen. They had a few days until they were meant to leave Thailand, and in that time they would be able to get it out of their systems. She was certain of it.
“I know we aren’t,” she whispered.
“When I wake up in the morning, I expect you to be in my bed. And I don’t want you to be dressed.” He moved against her, his arousal blatant, the intent in his eyes obvious. And she found herself responding to it. Very few men spoke to her that way. They found her intimidating. Gage didn’t. And for some reason she found it incredibly sexy, hearing him say just what he wanted. “I want you naked. And I want you ready for me.”
“I expect the same,” she said, finding boldness much easier to come by when she had her appearance put together. It was easier to find her confidence when everything was in place. She felt more in her element, like this was a business negotiation and she had bargaining power.
“Those are terms I can readily agree to.” He kissed her neck and she melted against him. �
�So, there is an advantage to you wearing your hair back. I can kiss you like this.” He demonstrated again and she trembled beneath his erotic touch.
“I have some work to do this morning,” she said, not sounding terribly convincing, even to herself.
“Do you?”
“Yes,” she gasped as he nipped her lightly then soothed the sting away with his tongue. “A witness has spotted us venue-hunting for the wedding.”
He stepped away. “Have they?”
She frowned. “I know. It’s mildly horrible. But there are new details coming out about Maddy’s supposed affair with William Callahan. If the media is intent on reporting that as fact with no more proof than they have, then I don’t feel too guilty for misleading them.”
“They’re vultures. All they want is to feed off of the misfortune of others. To make a profit off of someone else’s misery. I say lie away,” Gage said, his expression fierce.
“Anyway, I just need to cultivate a convincing story and send it using one of my alternate email accounts.”
“That’s why I pay you so much.”
“For my evil genius?”
He smiled, and her heart leapt. “Among other things.” He cupped her cheek and her leaping, traitorous heart compounded its sins by pounding harder when he brushed his thumb lightly over her skin. “I’m going to go and check my email. I’ll meet you afterward, for breakfast.”
She could only nod as he turned and walked back out of the room. She sank onto the bed, hand on her chest, and tried to catch her breath. When he’d smiled like that … it had made her feel as if her heart was too big for her chest.
It’s just the sex. Nothing more.
She walked over to the desk and sat at her laptop, determined to push all thoughts of Gage from her mind and focus on her work. After all, the fling with Gage would only last a few more days. Her job was the constant. It was what mattered and she wasn’t about to compromise that by trying to make more of their relationship than there could ever be. She didn’t want it anyway.
