CHAPTER SEVEN
STARINGDOWNAT EFFIE, Achileas felt the blood roaring in his ears. There was still time to stop this, to turn away. But he didn’t want to turn away or stop. He couldn’t.
And the truth of that swelled up, washing over him as he leaned forward and kissed her gently, his hands caressing, his fingers sliding over the smooth bones of her ribs, down to her hips, tilting her pelvis towards him, feeling the heat of her skin through the fabric of her dress.
He moved his lips across hers, tracing their shape, taking his time, more time than he ever normally would, and not just because she was a virgin. He wanted to taste her...to lick the heat from her mouth into his. And she tasted so good. Sweet like sun-warmed honey and more intoxicating than wine.
Her lower lip quivered, and he felt her breathe out shakily and he kissed her more deeply, kissed her until she was shivering against him, her skin, her limbs, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Everything about her was soft and pliant, and the need to touch more of her was pounding through his body. He wanted her. Only it was more than just wanting. His body ached with a hunger he had never felt before.
Hs hands rose up to cup her breasts, his groin hardening as her nipples stiffened against the palms of his hands.
She moaned softly, her fingers digging into the flesh of his arms. ‘Should I take off my dress now?’
Her question, delivered in that quiet, precise way of hers, almost sent him over the edge. His face burning with shock and desire, he drew her against him, trying to slow his pulse, to calm the tangle of heat and hunger churning deep inside him.
‘Would you like to?’
Effie stared up at Achileas, her heart pounding. ‘Yes...’ she whispered, although she wasn’t sure that it would be enough.
She felt as if she’d spent too long in the sun—as if the heat had burrowed through her clothes into her body...if only she could unzip her skin.
Her pulse twitched as he kissed her neck, the bristles of his stubble sending a flood of hot sensation through her limbs and she shivered inside, drinking in the smell of him—part skin, part sunlight, all male.
‘I’d like it too,’ he said hoarsely.
His fingers moved to the front of her dress, and she felt the fabric tug as he pulled the buttons through the tiny holes. He was breathing unsteadily. As the last button popped free, he slid his hand slowly along her collarbone. Slipping the dress off her shoulders, he let it fall to her feet.
The air felt cool against her skin. She was wearing simple white underwear. Cotton, not silk. No lace. Reaching behind her back, she unhooked her bra, letting it drop beside her dress. Now she was naked except for her panties. She hooked her fingers into the fabric—
‘Stop.’
His voice scraped across her skin, and she stared up at him dazedly.
‘Let down your hair.’
The words, so stark, so direct, sent flickers of feeling everywhere. Hands trembling, she slid her fingers through her hair, jerking it free of the band at the nape of her neck.
‘Now shake your head,’ he ordered.
Dry-mouthed, she did as he commanded, staring up at him, her throat swollen with something that didn’t have a name as her hair tumbled to her shoulders. No one had ever made her feel like this...so hungry and so helpless at the same time.
His gaze was dark and steady and unblinking. She could feel the intensity of his concentration, see the pulse beating in his neck, beating out the same rhythm as her heart, as if they were flamenco dancers stamping out a zapateado.
He muttered something in Greek, and then he reached out and caressed her cheek. The heat of his fingers blossomed deep inside her and her skin ached for his touch. Every cell, every single centimetre of skin, was humming.
She wanted to touch him too. Wanted to lean in closer, to explore him.
Even as she thought it, she moved her hand to the buttons on his shirt. With fingers that shook slightly, she pushed the shirt off his shoulders. The cuffs caught at his wrists, and he swore softly, jerking his hands free before drawing her closer.
Staring down at his bare chest, she swallowed. She was nervous, but mostly she was turned on. Her fingers touched the waistband of his trousers and the muscles of his stomach twitched, as if touched by some invisible current. And then he was leaning forward, kissing her hungrily, parting her lips, sliding his hand up her back to the nape of her neck.
The ridge of his erection was pushing into her stomach. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her slightly so that it pressed against her pelvic bone, and a sharp heat she had never felt before flared between her thighs.
Head spinning, melting on the inside, she moaned, shuddering as his fingers brushed lightly over her taut nipples. His tongue was in her mouth, making her stomach clench and ache. It made her think of his hard body on hers. Inside her.
She reached for the zip of his trousers. Grunting, he jerked backwards, his hands catching her wrists. He was breathing deeply, and there was a dark flush along his cheekbones. For a moment he stared down at her intently, so intently that her skin tingled wherever his gaze touched.