‘Not around you.’
His hand rose higher, over her bra to the tight knot of her nipple. He circled a finger over it. As his lips plundered hers, Lucy’s back arched and she gave a pained moan.
‘Like that?’ he asked.
‘More...’
He smiled as he gazed down at her, Lucy’s eyes were glazed and distant as she panted underneath him. ‘Greedy.’
But he obliged, happy to feed her desire till she was full with it. His touch was firmer now, like a pinch, and again she arched her body into his palm. He didn’t care about himself—not in that moment. All he cared for was Lucy’s pleasure, her gasping breaths, the way she quivered under his touch.
He needed to explore all her glorious skin in the warmth of this bed. He moved off her. ‘You’re wearing too much.’
‘So are you.’
Her chest heaved, her gaze glassy and drugged from mere kisses. He couldn’t wait to see how she’d look when he’d made love to her for hours.
Stefano wanted to wreck them both.
He hoped the smile he gave her showed his wicked intent. ‘I’ll come later. For now, this is aboutyourpleasure.’
He slid his hands up her body to the top of her leggings, began to drag the fabric down her long legs. She wriggled, trying to help. Made a sound of frustration.
He lifted his hands from her. ‘Shh... Be still. Trust me to look after you.’
She stopped moving, lay there quietly with a glorious pout on her lips. ‘Hurry.’
He’d prove to her the benefits of going slow.
Little by little the pale expanse of her skin was exposed. He tossed her clothing aside with her socks. Leaned over her with his hands either side of her waist. Dropped his head to touch his lips gently to her belly. Kissed her lower and lower, tracing his tongue over her warm flesh till he reached her underwear.
Then he kissed the heart of her. The scent of her arousal teasing his senses. Driving him on. He hooked his fingers into her panties and tugged them down. Tossed them over his shoulder as his gaze feasted on the curve of her waist, the neat thatch of golden hair between her thighs.
‘Open your legs for me.’ His voice ground out of him, barely in control.
She did, and he kissed her there. The salt-sweet of her. He closed his eyes and traced his tongue along her overheated flesh. Stroked her inner thighs with his thumbs as she quivered and shook, then speared her hands into his hair and gripped hard. His name on her lips was soft at first, the merest whisper, but it became a chant as he slid a finger into the slick heat of her, then another, and carried her screaming over the precipice.
She lay back, her breaths gulping sobs. The skin under his fingers pebbling with goosebumps. She’d be cold and he was still wearing far too much clothing. He stripped as she watched him, the darkness of her pupils obliterating the gold of her eyes.
‘Take off the rest of your clothes.’ His voice was all command.
She sat up almost in slow motion, as if moving was too hard, her arms lax and limp. She slipped her top over her head. Unclipped her bra. Her nipples stood tight and high. Stefano’s mouth watered. He wanted to give them, and her, the attention they deserved.
Soon.
He thrust his trousers down his legs. Stepped out of them. Kicked them aside, trembling with desire. The need to touch her again drove him on. To make her scream his name once more—louder this time. Because there was no one here who could be witness to the pleasure they shared.
He walked to the side of the bed, drew back the covers. She scrambled under them, her strawberry blonde hair spilling over his pillow as he joined her, gathering her close. She wrapped her arms around him. Traced her roughened fingers over his back, the calluses from years of playing teasing his skin. He thrilled at her touch, at the evidence of her dedication and hard work.
‘I need you,’ she whispered.
‘And you’ll have me.’
He rolled over, found protection in his bedside drawer, sheathed himself. Then he rolled back to Lucy and gathered her softly in his arms. There was no sound in the room other than the panting of their breath and the crackle of the fire. They’d make their own music soon.
He moved over her again. Notched himself at the juncture of her thighs. Took a few breaths to steady himself. He wanted this to last for hours, so both of them could forget. Him, the looming disgrace he’d brought on his family. Lucy, her pain. Her injury. The cheating ex who’d never deserved a woman so precious.
They would each immerse themselves in each other for a while and pretend the real world couldn’t touch them. And as he slid inside her he lost himself to the rhythm of their bodies and time ceased to exist.