by Melody Grace
I reach over and pluck the wine from her hand. “You’re a lightweight,” I smile.
“No, I’m a psych major,” she corrects me. “And men who get validated by the world the way you do, usually turn into entitled, careless, selfish people, because they never have to work for people’s approval.”
“I work for it,” I pause. “Well…I used to, before—” I stop, remembering almost too late that she doesn’t know about my rock-star life. That’s the reason people fawn all over me, the fame and the status and the money.
Except she doesn’t know anything, and she’s still here, smiling at me like I’m the only man in the world.
Just for me.
I take a breath, feeling drunk even though I’ve only had a couple of gulps.
“Why are we talking about me, anyway?” I change the subject. “I’m way more interested in you.”
I slide my hand softly up her calf. Sophie slowly meets my eyes, flushing a sexy pink in her cheeks.
I gently stroke her knee. She swallows, shifting in her seat.
“What about me?”
“Everything,” I say, and for once in my life, it’s not a line. I want to know what makes this woman tick, this gorgeous, unpredictable mess of contradictions.
“There’s not much to tell,” she replies.
I chuckle. “I doubt that very much, darlin’.”
My hand slides higher, teasing little circles on the inside of her thigh. Sophie’s eyes turn glazed. She bites her lip, and dammit, I can’t hold on any longer. I need to taste that sweet mouth again.
I tug gently on her ankles, so that her body slides down the couch, almost horizontal. I lean over, lowing myself against her until her slim body is covered with mine.
Her eyes flare, surprised and nervous, and then I find her lips, and everything makes sense in the world.
Hell yeah.
I kiss her thoroughly, taking my time. Slow and deep, feeing her body melt against me. Her hands reach up to run through my hair, her legs part, cradling me between her thighs. The kiss deepens, blazing hotter, stronger, until we’re both gasping and my blood pumps a furious rhythm in my ears.
Take her.
I pull away, and I’m rewarded with a whimper of protest from Sophie. She’s looking rumpled, her eyes glazed, her lips so juicy and ripe. “Where are you going?” she breathes, reaching to take a handful of my shirt. “That was just getting good.”
I smile. “Just?” I tease her. Then I slip my arms under her body, swing my legs off the couch, and get to my feet, lifting her in my arms. “Trust me, sweetheart, I’m only getting started.”
I carry her to the bedroom in a few short strides, and place her down on the bed. She gazes up at me, and the expression in her eyes makes my blood sing.
Breathless. Wanton.
Wild.
With a groan, I dive in and capture her mouth again, quickly ripping off my shirt. I slide the sleeves of her dress down over her shoulders and find myself staring at the most perfect pair of breasts God and nature ever created: round and smooth, her tight nipples straining against a frothy little pink lace bra that makes my heart stop and my cock ache for her touch.
“You’re so beautiful,” I breathe, running my fingertips softly over her silken skin. It’s not enough, so I dip my head and follow my hand’s path with kisses, softly licking and sucking through the lace.
Sophie catches her breath. “I bet you say that to all the girls,” she replies, but her voice is strangled and pitched with desire.
I pause, guilt gnawing at the edge of my desire. “Yes,” I admit, looking her straight in the eye. “But I mean it with you.”
She looks back at me, and a weird expression comes over her face. She looks nervous for a moment, and I can see her brain ticking over, so I soothe her with another trail of butterfly kisses, whispering down the pale column of her throat until she’s molten and gasping in my arms again.
I ease her further back on the bed, kissing my way down her body, peeling her dress lower as I go.
She tenses. “Where are you going?” she asks, sounding worried.
“To check out the good stuff,” I grin against her stomach, swirling my tongue in the dip of her belly button. Sophie shivers against me.
“But…” she pauses.
I lift my head, waiting. “If I’m moving too fast for you, sugar, just say. I could happily spend a couple hours just worshiping those delicious breasts of yours,” I add, reaching up to stroke and pluck softly at her nipple. “But I’m guessing you’ll enjoy what else I have planned.”
She inhales in a whoosh. “What kind of plans?”
I can see her mind is still tangled up in knots. I rise up on my elbow, and gently kiss her lips. “Filthy, wicked, sexy things,” I whisper in her ear, trailing one hand lower, down under her dress. Sophie gazes back at me, the nerves in her eyes now melting into desire.
“Be more specific,” she tells me, her lips tugging into a grin.
“Hmmm…” I slide my hand lower, tracing over the waistband of her panties. Sophie gasps. “Well, first I want to touch you…”
I trace down between her thighs. Her hips rise up to meet my hand, and I clench my jaw to feel the damp softness waiting beneath the thin layer of silk.
Goddamn it, she’s already wet. Slick and ready for me, begging for more.
“I hate to get academic,” Sophie whispers, her breathing getting heavier. “But you’re technically not touching me yet.”
“Good point.”
In one swift move, I shove her panties aside, and stroke up against her, skin to skin.
She moans, her head falling back, her eyes squeezing shut.
Dear God, I could watch this woman come undone forever.
“Better?” I whisper, still kissing and nuzzling at her neck. I stroke again, slowly, circling her slick nub.
She whimpers in response, then bucks her hips against me. I smile.
That’s a yes.
I stroke lower, easing one finger inside her wetness. Fuck, I nearly lose my mind right here, in the slick, deep heart of her, so tight, clenching around me.
With a groan, I move back down her body, pushing her dress up and stripping those silk panties off her gorgeous legs. I toss them to the floor. “You won’t be needing those,” I grin.
She lifts her head, smiling through her desire. “What if the fire alarm goes off?”
“Then you better hope nobody gives you a fireman’s lift.”
Sophie’s still laughing when I hook her knees over my shoulders. I dip my head and lick up between her thighs. Her laughter stops in a gasp.
She makes a tiny squeak.
I chuckle against her and lick on, nudging against her slick, wet core and moving up to circle and suck at her clit. Damn, she’s sweet.
I clutch her hips tighter. I’m getting so turned on, I’m already hard, pressing painfully against the seam of my jeans, but Sophie lies still, suddenly stiff as a board. All her earlier moaning and bucking is gone. She doesn’t move or make a sound.
I pause, lifting my head. “This doing anything for you?” I ask, watching for some reaction. I stroke my fingers against her again, swirling around her clit in the same way that reduced her to whimpers.
Sophie just clutches the covers and squeezes her eyes shut.
“Uh huh,” she replies, sounding strained.
Not my usual response. Hmmm.
I lower my head and lick again, slow rhythmic strokes that should get her writhing. I tease, dipping my tongue inside her; lapping softly around her clit.
Sophie is silent. Still nothing.
I sit up again. “Feel free to give me some direction, sweetheart,” I encourage her. I slide my finger deep inside, and feel her body tense around me. Damn, that feels good. But still, she doesn’t respond.
“Sophie?” I pulse inside her, hitting high against her walls. Her eyes fly open.
“I’m trying!” she squeaks.
I pause. “Trying to do what?”<
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“Not to distract you.” Her cheeks are flushed bright red, and her hair is mussed up around her face. She looks sexy as hell, which makes me feel even worse that I’m striking out in such an epic way. “You know what,” she says quickly, wriggling away from me, “I’m fine, if you want to just, you know…” she trails off.
I stare at her, baffled. “You’ve lost me, sweetheart.”
Sophie looks mortified. She gestures vaguely. “You know, go ahead and…”
It takes me a moment, but I finally realize what she means. “You think I’m just going to go ahead and fuck you right now?” I exclaim, not sure whether to be surprised or offended.
Offended wins.
“What kind of man do you think I am, sweetheart?” I demand. “Because let me tell you, I’m not in the business of seducing a woman who looks like she’d rather get a root canal surgery than have me touch her again.”
Sophie’s expression shatters. With a sudden sob, she yanks her dress down and races to the bathroom. The door slams shut behind her.
Regret crashes through me.
Way to go, Austin. Real smooth.
9.
Sophie
I slam the door behind me and slide to the floor. Humiliation crashes through me, tears stinging in my eyes.
Stupid. Stupid!
I can’t believe I just wrecked this.
A knock comes, hesitant. “Sophie? Soph, what’s wrong?”
Austin sounds totally confused, and I don’t blame him. One minute, I’m molten in his arms, moaning with pleasure for all the amazing things he’s doing to me, and the next…
My insecurities came flooding back. I shut down.
“I’m sorry,” I find my voice, biting back tears. “It’s OK, you can go.”
There’s a pause. “This is my room, baby.”
Shit.
“Then, I’ll leave.” I try to pull myself together, but then I realize I’m just wearing my bra. Somewhere along the way, Austin expertly removed my dress and underwear—and I was too dizzy with lust to even notice.
I grab the fluffy bathrobe from the back of the door and belt it securely around myself. I take a look in the mirror and wince. I look just how I feel on the inside.
A mess.
I sink back to the floor, hopelessness overwhelming me. I can’t believe I’m doing this. The perfect night, the perfect, sexy man, and I’m freaking the hell out.
Matt was right. It was all your fault.
“Sweetheart?” The door handle slowly turns. Austin steps into the bathroom, still shirtless in his jeans. He looks good enough to eat, all tanned muscle and delicious abs, but that just makes me feel worse.
What kind of idiot screws this up?
He sees me curled up on the floor. I blush, but he just folds his long limbs down beside me with a chuckle. “I’ve got to be honest with you, baby. Fleeing for your life isn’t the reaction I usually get down there.”
I bury my face in my hands, cringing. “I’m so embarrassed!”
“Hey…” I feel his hand on my shoulders, rubbing in slow, soothing strokes. “Don’t be. I just want to know what’s going on with you. What you said, about not distracting me…”
“I know I was being too messy,” I mutter, guilty. “You know, with the moaning and writhing and all that.”
I keep my gaze fixed down on the tiled bathroom floor. This is, without a doubt, the most humiliating moment of my life.
“Messy?” Austin sounds amused. “Baby, look at me.”
I keep staring down. He gently takes my chin and lifts my head, until I’m gazing into those gorgeous blue eyes.
I brace myself for laughter, I’ve made enough of a fool of myself as it is, but instead, there’s just tenderness.
“What you were doing back there wasn’t weird,” he states simply. “It was fucking hot.”
I blink.
“But… You didn’t mind?” I frown. “That I was getting all messy and gross. You know…” I blush. It had started out so well, but as Austin slid down my body, all I could think about was Matt’s face every time he deigned to go down on me. Like it was the biggest ordeal.
“Sugar, I could eat you out for days.”
Austin’s words make me flush, hot, but they fill me with a flicker of hope. “So, you didn’t mind?”
“What is this?” he cuts me off, frowning. “Who’s been filling your head with this bullshit?”
I look away.
“Is it this asshole ex of yours?” Austin demands. “What the fuck did he say to you?”
“He didn’t have to say anything,” I sigh. “I could tell. I wasn’t sexy enough for him, he couldn’t…”
“Couldn’t what?” Austin watches me.
I gulp. “You know, perform.” My humiliation gets worse. What kind of girlfriend can’t keep her man satisfied? And not even satisfied, but excited, full stop.
“We had problems, in bed,” I finally admit. “Most of the time, he couldn’t get hard. And even when he did…he wouldn’t last. He got so stressed about it, he didn’t need the distractions. You know, me getting loud and messy or anything.”
I look down, suddenly remembering how lonely I would feel, lying there in bed next to him. He wouldn’t talk about it, didn’t want the stress. I wanted us to work through it, to break through whatever barriers he had up, but he refused to even try.
“Fucking idiot.”
I flinch. Austin’s eyes widen in horror. “Not you, sweetheart, him! He was the one with the problem, and he made you feel like it was all your fault!”
“But it was,” I argue, shameful. “He said it had never happened before. I was the first woman who couldn’t get him excited.”
“Bullshit,” Austin scowls. He gets up suddenly, and grabs my hands, swinging me to my feet.
I catch my breath, surprised.
“Now you listen to me, sweetheart,” Austin growls, looking furious. “Because you need to hear this. You are, without a doubt, the hands-down sexiest, most gorgeous, desirable woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to lay my hands on.”
He’s just trying to be nice. I open my mouth to protest, but he pushes me back against the sink and presses his index finger to my lips, hushing me.
“I’m not done yet,” he insists fiercely. “You’re sexy as hell, Sophie, and I want to rip that guy’s throat out for ever making you feel like you aren’t good enough. Because he’s a fucking liar. He wanted to blame you for his problems, and worse still, he made you feel like your desires were wrong. But they’re not, they’re perfect. You’re perfect.”
My heart trembles. His eyes are blazing with passion, and I can see, he means every word. “You think I’m sexy?” I whisper hopefully.
He gives me a devilish grin.
“I know you are.”
He suddenly grips my hips, yanking me tight against him. All of him.
My stomach twists.
Wow.
“Feel that,” he murmurs, his voice turning raspy. “That’s for you, darlin’, every last inch.” He grinds his hardness into my hips, and I can feel him, the stiff, gorgeous length.
I wet my lips, lightheaded. “I just…I don’t want to disappoint you,” I whisper, blushing to meet his gaze.
The raw intensity softens. Austin gently cups my cheek with his hand. “Never,” he swears. “Not in a million years.”
He kisses me, a kiss filled with heat and possibility. There’s nothing reluctant about it. No hiding his desire.
He wants me. Me.
The thought fills me with a new confidence. I reach up, looping my hands around his neck and burying my fingers in his gorgeous hair. I pull him down, kissing him hungrily, loving the feel of his body against me.
Austin groans against my mouth, and then he’s picking me up, wrapping my legs around his waist and effortlessly striding back out to the bedroom. My pulse kicks, but this time, it’s with desire, not nerves.
He sets me down on the bed. My robe falls open, and his eyes rake hungri
ly over my bare skin. I shiver, loving the way he looks at me. After so long with Matt, I wondered if anyone would find me sexy like this: raw and wild. But Austin looks like he wants to devour me whole.
And he does.
I gasp as he reaches for me, claiming my lips in a searing kiss. But even as I’m falling into the rush of his mouth on mine, his hands are roving over my body, teasing me, exploring every inch. I shudder as his fingers dip between my thighs again, stroking softly at my clit, sending pleasure ricocheting through my body.
I moan against him, and Austin breaks the kiss. He gazes hotly into my eyes, stroking again, deeper. “That’s it, baby,” he murmurs, dipping kisses down my neck and along the tender skin of my collarbone. “Moan for me. Tell me what you want.”
“There,” I gasp, as his wicked fingers find my slick core. “I want you there.”
Austin slides one finger inside me.
God, I arch up against his hand. My blood is thick with desire, glittering with tension. He rocks his hand against me, sending his finger deeper as his palm presses against my clit. “Louder,” he orders me, and I moan again. I can hear my voice echoing in the empty hotel room, needy and wanton. I should be embarrassed, but instead, the sound turns me on even more. My body shimmers with pleasure. I’m letting go, of bad memories, of my last reserves of self-control. All that matters is the man right here with me, his hands on my body and his voice urging in my ear.
“Wait,” I gasp, feeling my body tighten, already climbing to the edge. “I want to touch you, too.”
“Whatever the lady wants.” I can hear the chuckle in Austin’s voice as he shifts onto his side. Now, I have full reign to slide my hands over his naked chest, savoring the rigid planes of muscle, and the curve of his biceps. I lean in, and give his shoulder an exploratory kiss. His skin is warm, and I kiss again, flicking my tongue against the hollow of his neck. Austin lets out a groan.
I smile, sliding my hands lower as I kiss down his chest. Matt was always uncomfortable with me touching him. After the first few failures in the bedroom, he got so intense about the whole thing. I wanted to turn him on, make him feel good, but the more stressed he got, the more it felt like I was pawing at him, trying to get a reaction.
