She had never heard Elijah speak so erotically, but she liked it. Dammit, she liked it. Freya was having a hard time breathing, especially with the scent of everything that made up Elijah surrounding her. He glanced down at her lips and licked his own.
“I want you so much right now, Freya.”
Her heartbeat whooshed in her ears, and she grew dizzy from his words, the scent of him, and her own arousal.
“I want to slip my hand under this dress and touch you.” He leaned in closer. “I bet you’re wet.” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “God, just thinking about how wet you could be between your thighs has me so hard.”
Her mouth went dry, and she parted her lips, trying to breathe or maybe trying to respond.
“Stop thinking you’re so unattractive because you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me.”
She swore her heart stopped beating.
He grabbed her wrist in a firm but gentle hold and put her open palm right over his big, hard erection. He leaned toward her again, then pushed her hair aside, placed his mouth right by her ear, and said, “If I didn’t find you so damn attractive, I wouldn’t get this hard just looking at you.”
She turned her head slightly to look at him.
“I don’t mean to be so crude around you, but I can’t help myself with you, Freya.”
“I kind of like the crudeness, Elijah,” she whispered.
“God, sweetheart,” he said and closed his eyes, breathing harshly. He took a step back. “I feel like tearing away your clothes and just devouring you.” His voice was a harsh growl, like an animal barely able to control himself.
She braced herself by placing her hands on the cool mirror behind her. She had to stabilize herself because if not, she would have fallen to her knees.
This man was going to be the death of her, but what a way to go.13The next weekendElijah stared at Freya, knowing that he needed to get his libido in control. But seeing her in that emerald green gown with the plunging neckline and the way she was so fucking gorgeous had all control slipping away. His pulse beat in his dick as he watched the way her breasts rose and fell from her breathing.
She was looking out the window in the back of the limo. He could have driven them to the gala, but he wanted to have an unobstructed view of her in the dress. That, and the fact everyone attending the gala would be chauffeured to the event.
He felt perspiration start to line his temple and the length of his spine. God, she was so damn curvy, so sexy and gorgeous in a way she didn’t even realize or understand.
“You are so beautiful,” he said, not able to stop himself. She turned to face him, her cheeks turning red as she blushed.
“Thank you, and you look incredible in that tux.”
He smiled at her sweetness.
It wasn’t just about wanting to have her in his bed in every possible way. It was about just having her by his side. Whatever it was about Freya set his blood on fire and made him want a relationship, a marriage … a family.
Reaching out, Elijah took her hand in his. He wanted to show her how much he desired her and cared about her. Elijah brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers while gazing into her eyes.
“I care about you, Freya.”
She smiled and looked down, as if embarrassed. “I care about you, too.”
He pulled her forward until she sat on the seat beside him, facing him fully. Oh, he wasn’t lost to the way her body responded to him—how her chest rose and fell, the way her pupils dilated, and the fact her lips were redder from the blood flow under the surface of her skin. She was aroused, that was clear, but then again, so was he.
Her lips were parted, and her breath came out in fast little pants. He imagined taking hold of the little zipper on the side of her dress and slowly bringing it down, exposing her creamy flesh. He could have her naked faster than either of them could even realize, but he’d never force anything on her, never force her to go faster than she was ready to.
Elijah wanted to savor every inch of her and memorize every part of her gorgeous body. He wanted her like a man possessed and needed to claim what was his. And she was his, every part of her. She’d soon realize that.
Elijah couldn’t help the erotic, lewd thoughts bombarding his mind and flooding his body. He envisioned himself taking her hardened nipples between his lips and sucking on the peaks until she writhed beneath him.
God, he was burning alive for her, needing her like he needed to breathe. Without realizing what he was doing, he found himself lowering his head, his gaze riveted to her mouth, his lips parted, ready to claim her.