Alex Wales: Promise

her life, the only thing that would help keep her sane would be to finish what they’d started. All the flirting, teasing, and innuendo would end. Right now.

She walked into the room completely naked and gave her hips an extra sway, loving the way the ends of her wet, curly hair touched the tops of her shoulders. Beads of water dripped from the ends and down her back.

“Is everything okay?” As soon as Damon looked up, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. The look in his eyes confirmed she’d already succeeded in her seduction.

“I feel a lot better, now, thanks. Is that what you’re asking?” She released a quick breath. She’d decided to let every thought go for now, so she could concentrate on the one thing always guaranteed to make her forget all of her troubles. For a while, all she wanted to do was feel Damon’s body next to hers.

“I can see that.” He put his book aside, as his green gaze swept over her-from head to toe, and then back up.

She put her hands on her hips. “What’re you reading?”

“It’s not important.” He stood up. “What’s important is that you’re okay.”

She couldn’t help but smile as she slowly made her way toward him, and he didn’t move- remained as still as a statue. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek. Such an innocent gesture was ruined when one of her nipples grazed his bare chest. Still, she made a move to step back.

Damon wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her in place. “Where do you think you’regoing?” His voice was husky, his breath warm and sweet on her face.

“Nowhere, I hope.” At least for now.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered near her ear.

Her body trembled at the sound of his voice, and her nipples hardened. Her eyes closed involuntarily as she breathed in the sweet scent of his breath. He smelled like summer fruits, and suddenly her stomach churned. She was so hungry, famished. Right now, the hunger burning between her legs and every inch of her bare skin superseded everything else. She couldn’t let this moment slip away.

Damon lifted a hand to her chin and slowly tipped her head back. He leaned forward to press his lips against hers. “You’re also delicious.”

Alex opened her mouth to his kiss. There was nothing innocent flowing between them. She needed this man to smooth away everything that was falling apart around her.

She melted against his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kept one hand on her chin and the other on her waist, but she wished he would use his magical touch on her. Desire welled up inside her, and she couldn’t wait to get him in bed.

This is the only way. I need to completely purge Ulric from my memory.

Damon stopped kissing her long enough to stare into her eyes. His were so dark, there was no way she could deny their mutual desire. He pushed a hand through her hair, his fingers catching in her curls and forcibly pushing her head back. With her neck exposed, he flicked his tongue over her pulse. Every touch of his full lips excited her further, but when he started blowing on the skin he moistened with his tongue, she could hardly keep from squirming in his embrace.

Alex licked her lips. “Are you sure you don’t make everyone feel this way when you touch them?”

“I’m positive,” he said, running his tongue along her neck. “You’re the only one I can get this reaction from.” He placed one of his hands just below her bellybutton, and the breath caught in her throat. The coils of climax were already stirring, racing beneath her skin, as if his hand was able to draw them out.

Damon’s fingers slid lower, toying with her pubic hair.

“Go on. Don’t hold back,” she whispered against his neck. “Touch me where you’ve wanted to touch me since we met.”

In response, he ran his fingers up and down her lower abdomen, sending an onslaught of sparks along her body. Each flicker penetrated lower, slowly seeping in, until an orgasm caught her by surprise.

Her legs gave out on her as she struggled to catch her breath. The pleasure was so intense, she felt boneless.

Damon lifted her up into his arms, and she spread her legs around his waist. He growled in her ear as he carried her across the room, until she was caught between the wall and his hard body.

“You’re so incredibly sexy. Do you know that?”

She laughed. “I thought we were going to savor this, together.”

“Relax. I’ve got more where thatcame from.”

Alex wiggled against him, stroking him over the fabric of his pants, until she felt his erection. She enjoyed teasing him as he watched her with raw lust burning in his eyes.

He covered her mouth with his, growling into her.

The reaction only made her hotter. Shewas having this effect on him, and it made herburn with longing. Being desired by a man so much that he lost total control always gave her a rush she couldn’t get enough of. Every time they’d been alone, he’d managed to drive her insane with desire and climax, while still displaying a tremendous amount of self-discipline. It felt good to see him letting go.

As his tongue lapped at hers, she ran her hands over the smooth skin of his shoulders, slipping the shirt off his back. She enjoyed the way his muscles twitched under her fingers.

“How are we going to get your pants off?” she asked, pulling on his waistband.

He took a sideways step and lowered her butt against a piece of wooden furniture. “Undo the cord, and you’ll find out.” He separated their bodies only enough to allow her to move.

When she untied the cord, the loose fabric sitting on his hips slid down his legs and reached the floor. He stepped out of his pants and closed the distance between them, again. He wasn’t wearing anything underneath, and the feel of his warm skin against hers made her tremble.

“Oh, my,” she whispered, licking her lips. “Impressive.”

He laughed, and the sheer joy of it made butterflies flutter inside her stomach.

Alex couldn’t take her eyes off his caramel-colored body. The flawless, smoothness of his skin, the defined muscles everywhere she looked, the thin cover of hair starting just below his bellybutton and disappearing underneath their joined pelvises. She was practically sitting just centimeters from his erection, and it made her giddy with anticipation.

Damon pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her long and hard. He sucked on her tongue until she closed her eyes and arched her back. He was all smiles as he pulled away long enough to cover her right breast with his mouth. The action caused her back to press higher along the wall, giving him the perfect angle to suckle her. He kept his green eyes pinned on hers as he licked the nipple with his tongue, his thumb flicking the other one.

She spread her legs a little wider to invite him in that direction, but he didn’t enter her. Instead, he slid his thumb off her nipple and ran his hand down the middle of her body, leaving behind another line of magical sensations along her skin, until he reached her thighs. He sucked her nipple into his mouth and nibbled on it while pushing his fingers inside her. Two fingers moved in and out of her, leaving her wanting more. He added another one, and she clenched around him, arching her spine so he could access her properly.

Alex was glad he’d found something to prop her up against, because she couldn’t hold herself up. Too many vibrations warred within her.

She murmured, lost in sensation. Nothing mattered but the way he made her feel with his mouth, hands, and body. The tiny sparks his fingers delivered tore through her every time he pushed them inside. She felt so good-as if her body was floating. She was going to come again, very soon. His fingers slid in and back out of her so slowly, she thought it might take a while to reach her peak this time. Instead, the added magnetism