He gripped her by the hips, clenching his jaw to keep himself from coming too soon. She rose up on tiptoe, searching for more direct friction. He brought his hand around to stroke her with his fingers, the swollen nub slick and damp with moisture. He felt the contractions of her orgasm, each powerful spasm in time with her cries of ecstasy.
He drove himself over the edge, breathing hard, flying high in a whirlpool of sensations that made his body shudder all over with reaction.
He kept her pinned to the wall even though his erection was subsiding. Her hair tickled his cheek; the scent of her teased his nostrils. He lifted her hair out of the way and kissed the back of her neck in a series of soft-as-air kisses, delighting in the way she shivered under his touch. ‘You like that?’ he asked.
‘Mmm...’ She gave a dreamy-sounding sigh.
He kissed the cup of her shoulder, using his tongue to tease her soft skin. She made another purring sound of pleasure as he worked his way up the side of her neck, lingering at the spot just below her ear. He wondered if she was as responsive with other men. The thought was jarring. The image of her with other lovers stirred an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Jealousy wasn’t something he had felt before. None of his partners had given him any reason to be jealous. He knew they’d had previous lovers; it was unfair in this day and age to expect anything else.
How many men had Aiesha been with?
Did it matter?
James stepped back and dealt with the condom, trying to get his double standard back in the Dark Ages where it belonged. It was none of his business how much experience she had. It wasn’t as if their relationship was going to continue beyond a couple of weeks. How could it? She resented the world he came from. She didn’t even like him. She saw him as a trophy to collect, a prize to show off. A box to tick. She might enjoy having sex with him, but that was all she wanted from him.
And it was all he wanted from her...wasn’t it?
She picked up her wrap from the floor and slipped it over her shoulders, her grey gaze connecting with his. ‘There haven’t been as many as you think.’
James tied his own robe before he answered. ‘How many what?’
‘Men. Lovers.’ She tied the ribbons of her wrap around her waist. ‘The press make me seem like a tart. But it’s not like I’m out there every night getting it on with someone. You’re my first this year.’
He gave her a look. ‘Not bad considering it’s the tenth of January.’
Her lips tilted in a little smile. ‘You hungry?’
‘Are we talking about breakfast?’
She sashayed over to him, running her fingertips down the length of his forearm. ‘Are you an early riser?’
James was rising now and she only had to move an inch closer to feel it. ‘When I need to be. What about you?’
That smouldering look was back in her eyes, making his spine tingle at the base. ‘Oh, I’m very flexible.’ She untied his bathrobe and slid her hand down his abdomen in a slow caress. ‘I take each day as it comes.’
He sucked in a breath as she took hold of him. The glint in her eyes drove him wild. Everything about her drove him wild. The way she ran the tip of her tongue over her lush mouth nearly sent him over the edge. Her sexily tousled hair tickled his chest as she pressed herself close. Her slender hips rubbed against his pelvis, inciting him, arousing him all over again. He placed his hands on her bottom and brought her even closer. ‘Just as well this snow is on the melt because at this rate I’m going to run out of condoms,’ he said.
She trailed a fingertip along his stubbled jaw and then over his lower lip, making every nerve twitch and dance. ‘In future you’ll know to be better prepared then, won’t you?’
In future...
What future?
This couldn’t go on for ever. How could it? Aiesha didn’t develop bonds with people, not unless they served her interests. How could he be sure she wanted to be with him, other than for the prestige and protection his name and money provided? It would always play at the back of his mind. Did she care about him or what he could give her?
James slid his hands up her arms to hold her by the shoulders. ‘You do realise this thing we have going isn’t going to continue beyond the end of the month, don’t you?’
Her mouth curved upwards, her grey eyes glinting mockingly. ‘But of course. You’re paying me to play a role.’ Her fingers tiptoed up his chest. ‘Am I giving good service so far?’
He dropped his hands and stepped away from her. ‘Don’t.’
‘Don’t what?’ Her look was all beguiling innocence. ‘Say it as it is? Come on, James. Don’t be such a prude. I’m your paid mistress. Don’t all rich posh guys have one? Your father certainly does. She even looks a bit like me, don’t you think?’