“When the heck have you been here?” I teased.
“Last summer.” He winked. “It was while you stayed in Nice. Nice to see you again, Noël.”
Okay, that was fair. I hadn’t taken them up on that day trip opportunity…but I had also been distracted by Lincoln, who had convinced me to lay out on the yacht all day and nap.
“What do you want to eat, sugar?” he asked while sitting me on the island counter.
“I can make anything,” Noël promised.
“Oh, I couldn’t—”
“Dahlia.” Sterling kissed my shoulder. “Just say what you’re in the mood for.”
Luckily I saved myself from saying ‘you.’
I nibbled my lip. “I could do risotto or something—”
“Lobster risotto?” Noël asked, looking excited. “I have been wanting to try a new recipe. What else?”
Sterling laughed at my expression. “Can we just have some poached pears and the risotto for now? I know we are still planning to eat dinner.”
The chef nodded, looking a bit disappointed, and I found myself wondering what else I could ask him to make…but before I had a chance to offer, Sterling was carrying me outside. My eyes opened wide as he brought us to a garden that overlooked the coastline, the gorgeous rose bushes lining the windows and house providing us a bit of shelter and privacy from anyone in the house. Which was good, because instead of allowing me to sit on my own, Sterling pulled me right onto his lap, sitting sideways, as his large hand ran up my thigh.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my skin breaking out into shivers and my voice catching slightly.
“Touching you.” Sterling brushed his lips against my neck. “Something I don’t get to do nearly enough, to be honest.”
I couldn’t agree more.
The moment we were alone, something shifted in Sterling, his confident, relaxed facade taking a darker turn, and I could feel both need and panic coming off of him. I was starting to wonder if the situation back in Ardara hadn’t affected him ten times more than I’d originally thought.
“You’re always welcome to touch me,” I murmured. He was welcome to do whatever the heck he wanted, but I had a feeling now was not the time to mention that. I tried to wiggle, but his grip on my leg tightened and became far more firm.
“I didn’t tell you to move.” Sterling nipped my neck, his voice relaxed but holding a thread of dominance to it as my thighs pressed together.
“Oh?” I made a small teasing noise before shifting suddenly so that I was straddling him, my hands running up his shoulders to his large chest. “Was I supposed to wait for permission to do that as well?”
Because Sterling telling me what to do in bed was a wonderful, surprising twist that had my skin breaking out into a flush as my nipples hardened, my attempt to not roll my hips against his hard length nearly a failed one. Lincoln and Sterling were constantly surprising me, and I had a feeling that once I was back to full health and they got their hands on me, I would be completely screwed…in the best way possible.
His hand came out to grip my hair, stringing through it so that he was holding it at the base of my skull, a needy sound leaving me. His voice was lower than normal as he brushed his nose against mine. “Ideally, especially since you’re still hurt.”
I rocked against him, his hard length causing me to shiver in anticipation, as a groan left his throat. My answer was almost breathless. “Trust me, not that hurt.”
His gaze filled with a hint of doubt and concern. “Hurt enough for me to be careful with you, sugar.”
“What if I don’t want that?” I leaned forward to brush my lips against his, feeling far bolder than usual. I’m not positive what inspired it, but I couldn’t help the feeling that if I pushed Sterling enough, I would get what I want.
“I want you, Sterling. Don’t you want me?”
His chuckle was strained. “That has never been in question.”
I let out a happy hum as his fingers pushed Sterling’s jacket off of my shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor, leaving me in a tank top and jeans. Unfortunately, not the most accessible outfit. Sterling let out a groan, looking down at my breasts that were pressed against the silk bra and tank I wore, my nipples so hard that he could see them, his cock jumping against my covered center.
“Fuck, Dahlia…”
The need in his voice seemed to fuel mine, making me feel almost in a frenzied state of wanting him, my fingers finding their way into his hair as his grip tightened on my ass, causing me to grind against him.
“Please?”