“Pathetic.” He discarded his slacks and stood before her in a pair of silky, midnight blue boxers, 190 pounds of rough trade, all for her. “Before you see any more, I’m going to require another dose of inspiration.”
He was trying to take charge again, but what would be the fun of that for either of them? She crooked her finger in a come-hither gesture she’d never used in her life, never thought to use, and yet she wasn’t a bit surprised when he came hither.
She leaned back into the pillows and held out her arms, so ready for him she felt as if she were melting into the covers. He reached down and flicked up her skirt. Not all the way, just to the tops of her thighs, which was far enough to make her skin steam. The mattress dipped as he settled over her. He braced his weight on his forearms so their chests weren’t touching and dropped his head.
It was so tempting to answer the invitation of his kiss. But the idea of exerting her own kind of power over this dark-haired beast was too exhilarating to give up, so she scooted out from under and gave him a good push. He obliged by rolling to his back. “This just keeps getting better and better,” he said.
“We aim to please.”
When she settled on top of him, he couldn’t quite keep the devil from his eyes. “Happy?”
She grinned. “Pretty much.”
A nicer, more sensitive man would simply have let her do this on her own terms, but he wasn’t a nice man, and he nipped her shoulder, biting just hard enough so she felt it, then sucking on the spot. “You shouldn’t play with fire unless you’re ready to feel the burn.”
“You’re scaring me.” She slid her leg over his hips. “And when I get scared, I get a little hyper.” Drawing up her knees, she settled on top of both him and his silky midnight blue boxers.
He sucked in his breath.
She wiggled. “Do I need to slow down a little? I wouldn’t want to frighten you.”
“Uh… no. Stay right where you are.” He pushed his hands under her skirt and curled them around her bottom.
She’d never imagined how exquisite it would be to have both her mind and body so aroused at the same time. But she wanted to laugh, too, and the contrast made her dizzy.
“Are you going to sit there all night,” he said, “or are you going to… get moving?”
“I’m thinking.”
“About what?”
“Whether I’m ready for you to excite me.”
“You need more
“Oh, yes…”
“That does it!” He pushed her off him and flipped her to her back. “Never expect a woman to do a man’s job.”
Her skirt flew to her waist. He shoved her thighs apart. “Sorry, sweetheart, but this has to be done.” Before she could object, he plunged down on her and buried his mouth.
Rockets shot off inside her head. She let out a low, hoarse cry.
“Hang on,” he muttered against her wet flesh. “It’ll be over before you know it.”
She tried to clamp her legs together, but his head was there, and her knees wouldn’t have shut anyway, because it was all too exquisite.
His tongue delved, his lips stroked, and wild shards of sensation made her feel as if she were floating up off the bed. He could have teased her, but didn’t-and she flew.
When she came back to herself, the midnight-blue boxers were gone. He rolled her on top, then pushed inside, not quite all the way. His expression grew tender, and he reached up to brush a lock of hair from her face. “It was necessary.”
To her astonishment, her voice worked, although it croaked. “I told you I didn’t want you to do that.”
“Punish me.”
Oh, she wanted to laugh, but he’d stretched her full, and she was languid and hot and ready for more.
“I’m only wearing one.” He tilted his head toward the condom wrapper on the bed. “You’ll have to hope for the best.”
“Go ahead and make fun of me, lover boy. You won’t be laughing for long.” She crossed her arms over her body and pulled off her dress, conscious of the feel of him embedded inside her, almost-but not quite-all the way.
He drew her fingers to his mouth and kissed them. Now she wore only a black lacy bra and her gold bangle with breathe engraved inside. Slowly, she began to move, reveling in her power, feeling every inch a woman who could satisfy a man like this.
His hands didn’t stay still for long. They flicked open her bra and tossed it aside so he could claim her breasts. Then he gripped her bottom and stroked her where their bodies met. Finally he drew her down so he could have her mouth. His hips thrust beneath her, and she wanted it to be as wonderful for him as it was for her, so even as their mouths mated, she forced herself to hold back, move slower and slower, ignore her own body’s fierce demand.
His skin gleamed with sweat. His muscles quivered. She moved slower… Slower still… She was dying, and so was he, and he could have driven into her to finish off, but he didn’t, and she knew that the effort was costing him. Costing her… But she went even slower.
Slower still. Barely moving.
Only the slightest friction… The smallest contraction…
Until even that…
… was too much.
15
The bells of San Gimignano rang softly through the morning rain. The hotel room had grown chilly during the night, and Isabel huddled deeper into the covers, warm and safe, sheltered by the ancient watchtowers and ghosts of the faithful.
Last night had been a pilgrimage for her. She smiled into her pillow and rolled to her back. She’d been in control, out of control, mindless and mindful, and every bit of it had been wonderful. Ren had been an indefatigable lover-no surprise there. The surprise had been that she’d kept up with him.
Now she was alone in the room. With a yawn, she threw her feet over the side and made her way to the bathroom. She found his backpack lying unzipped on the floor beneath her black fringed shawl. Inside she located a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste missing its top. He’d planned ahead, something she always appreciated.
After a quick bath she wrapped herself in one of the hotel’s big towels and looked inside the backpack to see if he’d thought to bring a comb. No comb, but a red lace thong.
He poked his head in the door. “A small token of my affection. As soon as you put it on, I’ll share breakfast with you.”
“It’s not even nine o’clock. You’re up awfully early.”
“Day’s a-wastin’. Things to do.” He smiled at her in a way that indicated exactly what those things might be.
“Leave me alone while I get dressed.”
“And exactly why would you want to do that?”
Ren had never seen anything as cute as Dr. Fifi all rumpled and damp from her bath, curls everywhere, cheeks glowing, nose shiny with freckles. But there wasn’t anything innocent about her curvy body or that bright red thong dangling from her competent little fingers.
Last night had been crazy. She was either ordering him around like a dominatrix or lying limp and pliable in his arms. It had been more fun than he’d ever had with a woman, and he couldn’t wait for the fun to start all over again. “Come here.”
“Oh no you don’t. I’m hungry. What did you bring me?”
“Nothing. Drop that towel.”
She twirled the thong on her finger. “I smell coffee.”
“Your imagination.”
