She stayed silent, feeling deeply disappointed. His words disturbed her down to her very core.
She decided drop it for now.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I know you were hoping for something better.”
“It’s all right,” she said, but she didn’t mean it. It most certainly was not all right. But she couldn’t think of a way to change his mind right now.
She remembered, long ago, her mother going round and round with her father trying to convince him that they needed a new car. Her’s had been towed to the garage, for the tenth time, for repairs. Her father had been adamant that the car could be fixed. It was a paid-for car and he didn’t want to spend money on another one.
When she’d asked her mother why she kept arguing with him about it, she’d explained that determination and finesse were necessary when trying to change a man’s mind. “He’ll come around,” her mother had said. “Just you wait and see.” And he had. A few months later a new car sat in the driveway. She wished now that she had paid more attention to her mother’s strategy.
The memory gave her a new determination not to give up. Alexander might be a god, but he was also male. And, if there was one thing she was, it was persistent.
Alexander was watching her. “Do you still want to see my wings?”
She nodded. Of course she did, she needed to see proof that he was Cupid. If there was any possibility that this was all a hoax, she would be relieved. Then she could completely disregard anything he’d said.
He eased himself from the couch and removed his jacket. Her eyes latched onto his hands as he unbuckled his belt and slid it from his hips. She flushed; the moment was becoming decidedly intimate. He untucked his shirt from his pants, released the buttons at his cuffs, then reached for the top one near his neck. Her breath caught, disappointment forgotten, and unable to look away from his fingers as his shirt slowly came undone. With each new peek of skin that was revealed her blood warmed a few degrees. She resisted the urge to fan herself.
His eyes glittered in the dim light.
She forgot that he was simply going to show her his wings. The energy in the room had heightened to an almost tangible level of sexuality. Pectoral muscles and a highly developed abdomen were uncovered. His skin was a light gold tan and she could tell that, if she were to lay her fingers on it, it would be soft and supple.
Peeling the shirt away, he removed his arms from the sleeves and flung it on the couch next to his coat. Standing there, gorgeous in his tailored black pants, he watched her with his intense sky-blue eyes.
And then she noticed the white feathers unfurling from behind him. They appeared first as white curves above his shoulders. She watched in awe as two sleek, giant, wings unfurled and stretched to their full wingspan, framing his silhouette.
Chapter Eleven
His wings were not what she would have expected from all the drawings and sculptures she had seen throughout her lifetime. They didn’t look like the fluffy wings cherubs or Victoria’s Secret models had. They were glossy and sharp and built for speed like a bird of prey. She could feel her mouth hanging open.
His laugh broke the spell. Stepping closer he offered a hand to help her up.
Dazed, she took it. Was it possible that he could be even more beautiful than before?
He looked smug. “Do you believe me now?”
Words escaped her but she managed to nod. There was a glow radiating from him, as if he were awash in the light of sunrise.
“And? What do you think?” His voice was soft, hesitant, even as he pulled her closer.
She felt his warmth as she came closer, their bodies almost touching. Even with her heels on he towered over her, tall and powerful.
“They’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.” The words stumbled from her mouth, embarrassing her.
“Well good. Does this mean you finally believe me?”
“Yes.” There was no way to dispute it now. He was the god of love.
“I think you’re gorgeous, too,” he murmured.
It caught her off guard. Eyes locked with his, she was trapped in his gaze. Slowly, he lowered his head and kissed her, causing a pleasurable scrambling of her senses as they tried to keep up. The man oozed passion and sensuality like a tangible force. It seeped into her wreaking sensual havoc with her body, making her forget about the fact that he might not help with parents. Her own needs shot to the surface, drowning those thoughts out, drawn by his erotic pull. She was helpless to resist him.
He pulled her up against him and her arms found their way around his neck. It was a kiss of pure intoxication. His lips were firm and experienced, and when his tongue quickly captured hers in a deep sensual kiss it felt as though he was entering her, even thought they were still standing in the living room fully clothed. Except for his shirt that was. Her breath came rapidly. He wasn’t holding back this time, and she welcomed it.
Her hips and chest were already pressed against him and all she could think was that she wanted to get closer and her clothing was in the way. Clinging to him, she grasped at the firm softness of his shoulders.
He held one hand on her back, supporting her. The other stole into her hair. A small sigh of passion escaped her causing him to respond with even more. He trailed kisses across her cheek to her ear and then down to her neck awakening each and every sensation on her skin.
It was all she could do to keep her feet. Or maybe she wasn’t keeping her feet anymore, she couldn’t tell. He raised his head and met her eyes and she wanted to tell him not to stop. It was one of those moments she wished she could freeze in time. His wings had furled forward to surround them and it was as though they were in their own soft, white cocoon.
His hair was as soft and thick as she’d imagined. From the intensity of his eyes she deduced that he liked her touch so she dared to venture further. Her fingertips stroked slowly down the firm plane of his cheek and when they arrived at his lips he gently kissed her fingers.
He bent his head to her lips to start the madness again. This time she responded more fully, his beauty and power awakening a desire in her that she’d never known she had.
When he picked her up to carry her to the bedroom, she gave no word of protest. She was ready. The night simply had to be continued. What he’d released in her was too potent to be bottled back up again.
He set her down in the bedroom, her toes registered the feel of lush Berber carpet and she realized she’d lost her shoes somewhere along the way. Her hands slipped to his chest and the muscles beneath her fingers were even better than she had imagined. His upper body was thick with muscle, more than a human, because of the additional muscles that powered his wings.
He seemed to be waiting for her, his gaze hungry. He placed his hands over hers where they rested on chest.
“Can I touch them?” she asked.
He looked astonished. “You want to touch my wings?”
“Yes.” She was extremely curious. Would they be soft as well?
In answer, he extended the left one toward her and watched as she gently examined the feathers. They were glossy and strong and of different sizes. The longest was probably over four feet long. She traced the shaft of one to the bone it was attached to and then fingered the smaller feathers along the upper line of his wing.
She felt him shiver and looked back to him. The look in his eyes blazed red hot and she took it to mean that he liked the feel of her fingers on his feathers. “Don’t move,” she told him, “I want to see more.”
She eased away from him and walked behind to his back to see where the wings joined his shoulders. Muscles rippled all over his torso as he folded and tucked them to rest on his back. Turning his head slightly, he followed her movements with his eyes but, other than that, remained perfectly still.
She stepped close and traced her fingers on the top of his back, feeling where the wings joined the skin. There was no denying the firm bone that was attached. At last, the entire fantastical truth of the situation sank into
her. He really was the god of love. Which meant all the other gods must be real, too.
Holy crap.
She absentmindedly ran a hand down the length of a wing, feeling the silky strength of it, and he shivered again. His shivers made her feel aroused and powerful. She ran her fingers along the opposite wing.
He turned suddenly and crushed her to him, his mouth taking fierce possession of hers with deep thrusts of his tongue. One of his hands ran down to cup the upper surface of her buttock and press her more firmly against him. She could feel the lean hardness of his erection clearly, and it was her turn to shiver.
Her hands grasped the sides of his trim waist and she felt him kick off his shoes. His mouth moved to the side of her neck, his other hand moving her hair so that he could gain complete access. She thought she might die from the sensation of his lips on her neck. When he nipped her with his teeth, it erupted a whole new set of sensations. A moan escaped her. The pleasure he stirred within her had to be life-threatening. There was no way her mere mortal body could take it.
She clenched at the material on his hips, her breasts pressing against his chest as he continued. She couldn’t have been more relieved when he gently unzipped the back of her dress and unhooked her bra. The garments slid to the floor, her underwear going with them, and then she was standing naked before him. She could see desire in his eyes as he took in the shape of her body in the dim light.
Scooping her into his arms, he turned and laid her on the bed, his body joining hers smoothly. She gasped at the contact of her bare nipples on his chest. His mouth captured hers again, his tongue plunging deep. She pulled him tightly against her with her arms wanting, needing, the full contact of his torso with hers.
Her body was aflame with pleasure.
He shifted a hand to cup her breast, the stroke of his thumb over her nipple causing her breath to come faster. He propped his other arm so he could lean to the side and moved to take it into his mouth. The feel of his tongue on the sensitive flesh awakened nerve endings she didn’t know she had. She could feel moisture building between her thighs. Her hips thrust upward when he nipped her, causing her to ram more fully against his erection. She didn’t know if she could take anymore but there was nothing on earth that would make her tell him to stop. She didn’t want him to stop. Ever.
He continued to torture her with his mouth while one hand worked its way down her hip kneading her flesh gently as it went. His name escaped her lips but he didn’t stop. Thank God he didn’t stop.
A tumult of sensation washed over her. She’d never known there could be so much. With each new stroke, each new touch, it only grew, expanding her in a way she’d never imagined.
His lips blazed a trail of fire as they moved to the soft skin of her belly and she unclenched one of her hands to grasp his shoulder instead. His hand had moved from her hip to the tender flesh of her inner thigh—stroking, kneading. His thumb gently grazed against her heat and a moaned pulled from deep in her throat.
His mouth covered hers, as his fingers moved to probe her folds, and she moaned into him. The tip of his index finger circled her entrance with delicious pressure while his palm and his other fingers teased the surrounding flesh. It was heaven. Bliss. Nirvana. There were no words that really fit…. He nibbled and touched as though he could do this all day. It struck her that he probably could.
Frantic with arousal, her body and mind sought more, much more. She undid the button and zipper on his pants and pushed at the fabric, trying to move them down his hips.
He chuckled, a devilish look in his eyes. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
She nodded wildly. “Yes.” She couldn’t stop now. No, wouldn’t stop. The pull toward most beautiful man she’d ever seen could not be denied. When would she ever get the chance in her life again to have an ultimate fantasy such as this come true?
With the experience of a master, he removed his remaining garments without leaving her side, kissing her neck while he did so. There was a brief pause while he opened the drawer of the nightstand to take out a condom. There couldn’t be anything more erotic than the sight of him kneeling over her, rolling the condom over his shaft. His eyes skimmed her body and returned to her face. He was going to take her and she wanted him to so badly.
He moved himself to cover her, nudging between her legs with his hips.
The firm length of his large member rested against her moist folds, feeling so delicious.
He paused and looked into her eyes, waiting, assessing.
Impatient, she kissed him and pulled at his hips. He didn’t resist. With the full length of him against her, she began to move her hips in a tiny back and forth moment, rubbing herself against him just right, oh so right. Her hands were at his hips frantically guiding him.
In response, he moved exactly the way she wanted. He pressed himself firmly against her, his shaft stroking up and down within her slick moisture. The feel of his hardness against her causing her to become even more wet and engorged.
The tip of his penis rubbed her clitoris, releasing a world of pleasure. His stroking motion became stronger and then the tip of his penis was inside her, spreading her entrance.
She gasped.
Her hands moved to the round firmness of his buttocks and, although she pulled to bring him inside her, he moved slowly. So erotically slowly that she felt every single inch of him as penetrated deep. She panted from the pleasure and writhed beneath him. Capturing her hands he pinned them above her head and watched her face as he withdrew and plunged and then withdrew and sank deep again.
She began to move her hips in desperation and he moved to match her. Not quite as quickly, just a little slower, keeping control of the rhythm. Giving an extra little shove with each thrust down to the hilt. She thought she might lose her mind. How had she ever felt complete without him? Their bodies belonged together locked in pleasure. Noises of passion escaped her that she’d never known she could make. They came from a deep place of satisfaction within in. A place that was awake now.
Her legs moved up to wrap around him, cling to him. In one deft move he shifted them both so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed with her astride, her legs laid out on the bed behind him. She clung to his shoulders to steady herself.
“Hold on tight,” he whispered. He leaned forward over her and she bent back supported by one of his arms. Feeling the precariousness of her position, she clutched at him.
“I won’t let you fall,” he murmured. Reaching diagonally down across her back he grasped her buttock.
The strange position surprised her but she surrendered to him and was glad she had. The hand that grasped her buttock lifted her body in the merest fraction of movement and then pulled her back down on him, his mouth suckled her breast. He continued the minute movement. Lifting her up and then down, all of the most sensitive parts of her body rubbed and pressed against him intimately.
All that she had felt before was surpassed now by the feel of him deep inside her. Her mound was deliciously trapped and pressed between them as he bent over her. She let her head fall back, surrendering to the movement, and his glorious strength as he supported her. Deep, guttural sounds came from her as she reached a new peak.
She didn’t think she could take much more. She was ready to break apart. The shadows they cast created a beautiful twisting shape that danced on the wall. Time suspended as she took in every feel, every detail of him not wanting to forget a single thing.
She was close now and he seemed to know what she was ready for. Shifting her back onto the bed, he laid her across the center. Lifting his torso from her, he sat back on his heels, and then continued to move inside her while his thumb massaged her slick nub.
She was soaring, reaching the peak, and she was almost there.
He lifted her legs with his hands so that her feet were upon his shoulders. His eyes gleamed wickedly with passion. “Hold on,” he said. Grasping her hips he rose into a kneeling position and she had no choice but to hook her
heels into the pocket of his collarbone to steady herself as her body assumed a forty-five degree angle. Her arms were tensed, splayed underneath her at this new position. But then she clenched the sheet as he began thrusting again.
The position brought him even deeper than before, at a new angle, reaching the delicate core of her. He moved more and more firmly, sinking to the hilt each time. Her breasts jiggled with the force of it. He was a heady, golden vision towering over her, blue eyes lit like two flames. She consumed his silhouette hungrily.
When the jagged waves of contracting pleasure began inside her, he climaxed with her, adding to the amplitude, causing it to reach the highest spikes as they both went over the edge together into pure ecstasy.
Chapter Twelve
In the morning, Raine drifted back to consciousness in the most glorious mood. She was lying in Alexander’s gigantic bed. The largest, most comfortable bed she had ever been in. It definitely was an unusual size but she supposed it was a fitting thing for the god of love to have. She imagined that many interludes had taken place here over time. And then tried not to think about it.
Her flesh was still singing from the intimacy with him. She’d never known such passion existed in the world but was thankful to have experienced it for even one night. Closing her eyes, she reimagined his lips on her body and sighed. That’s when it registered with her that he wasn’t in the bed. The late-morning sunlight shone through a gap in the curtains showing her that she’d slept the morning away.
Sitting up, she looked around.
The fine white sheets were thoroughly rumpled. One wall was made entirely of windows. Most of them had the curtains drawn across them, blocking out the light. Her clothing was folded and sitting in a neat pile on one of the chairs in the sitting area with her shoes on the floor beneath them.
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