Courtney came to awareness slowly the next morning. Beneath her, Ian slept, his arms holding her as she lay draped over his chest. Beside them, Khalid breathed deeply as well, separated from them by nearly a foot as he sprawled naked on his stomach.
The night before had been…intense. Hours upon hours of sexual greed whipping like lightning around them.
How many different ways had they taken her? She couldn’t remember. All she remembered was Ian’s dark voice, urging her higher as each touch sent her careening over edge after edge of intensity.
He had held her as Khalid fucked her. Fucked her as Khalid held her. They had held her, lips and teeth and tongues eating at her, sending her screaming into orgasm after orgasm as she finally relinquished herself into their hands, into their hungers.
It had been an amazing experience. As though Ian had been making up for time and delayed need, he pushed every limit had had ever suspected she had. Only to learn, there were no limits.
A smile curved her lips at the thought. He was such a stubborn man.
“You should be sleeping. ” His hand moved over her unbound hair, stroking it lazily as he turned her over his body until she lay between him and Khalid.
She opened her eyes, staring up at him, seeing the lack of tension in his expression now.
“I kept up. ” She smiled up at him, daring him to deny she had.
He snorted at her declaration, his blue eyes slumberous, filled with warmth as his hands caressed down her back.
“You lost it,” he charged. “You didn’t make an hour. ”
“But I kept up,” she reiterated, a smile tugging at her lips.
“That you did. ” His smile reached his eyes as his thumb smoothed over her swollen lips. “You definitely kept up. ”
And her body ached in remembrance, in areas she didn’t know could ache.
“I’ll run Khalid off after breakfast. ” His hand cupped her cheek. “We’ll have a nice, quiet day alone. If you like, perhaps dinner tonight at The Club. ” Wry amusement touched his eyes. “I may as well give Matthew permission to allow you there, it’s obvious you can’t be trusted to follow the rules. ”
“What rules?” She widened her eyes innocently, keeping her voice soft, quiet. The atmosphere of intimacy was a balm to the worry that had filled her for so many weeks.
A grin curved his lips.
“You are a wild woman. ”
Her heart exploded as he leaned forward, his eyes open, touching his lips to hers as though in benediction. The touch was rife with unvoiced emotion, a tender, almost tentative caress that had her heart filling with joy.
He would need more time, she knew. Accepting her as she was, pushing aside his past and giving her all of himself hadn’t been easy. He would have to feel his way a bit longer before he allowed his heart the same freedom.
She could wait. She had endless patience, and for now, her love for him sustained her. She had pushed past this first, difficult hurdle. The rest would come in time. Because she knew Ian, no temptation, no hunger, no need was strong enough to break his will, unless he wanted to be broken.
“Oh God, I need a shower. All this sappy crap is getting sticky. ” Khalid’s amused voice vibrated drowsily beside them.
Courtney rolled her eyes as Ian sighed.
“I could have told you he was a problem,” he informed her with gentle mockery. “You’ll wish he hadn’t been present when you pulled your little shenanigans last night. ”
Satisfaction blazed within her.
“Was I complaining?” she asked, and cuddled closer as she ran her hand down his chest to the early morning erection awaiting her.
Heat filled his expression then. Acceptance.
Her fingers curled around the impressive width, a murmur of pleasure leaving her lips as she began to make her way down, her lips caressing his chest as his hands tangled in her hair.
Not to be outdone, Khalid was joining in the games. She felt his lips at her lower back, his fingers traveling up her thigh.
“She’s tender,” Ian gasped as her teeth rasped his stomach. “Be gentle, Khalid. ”