First and Only (Callaghan Brothers #2)

A stranger’s face stared back at her in the mirror. Who was she kidding, anyway? She looked down at the dress, the jewelry, the shoes. Nothing but Cinderella dressing for the ball, except she’d stretched her one night of magic into an entire week. Soon her clock would strike twelve, and it would all go away. But it had been worth it. How many people got to live their dreams, even for a little while?

Lexi took a few deep breaths and pulled herself together. Her prince was waiting, and they didn’t have much time.

“Come here.”

Ian’s voice was low, commanding, and Lexi felt a compulsion to do exactly as he said, but she fought it. She shook her head hesitantly, unconsciously taking a step back.

Ian’s eyes burned a bright, glowing blue with an intensity that she felt all the way down to her toes. His unknotted tie hung loosely around his neck, the top few buttons of his dress shirt already undone. She stifled a little whimper as he slid the belt from his slacks smoothly, running the leather through his hands suggestively.

Oh, God. She knew what was coming. She had practically begged him for it.

“Come here.”

“No,” she squeaked, barely louder than a whisper. Ian walked slowly toward her, a massive wall of pure male, his eyes never wavering, his gait predatory. Lexi stepped backward until the wall prevented any further retreat. He stopped mere inches from her, pressing his hands to the wall, his much larger body becoming a cage around hers without physically touching her.

But this was Ian. His very presence surrounded her, enveloped her, stroked her more masterfully than anyone else’s hands ever could. What the hell had she been thinking, believing that she could ever handle this and emerge unscathed? Each moment in his arms, each night spent sharing a bed with him only reinforced the fact that she was in way over her head.

“Have a change of heart, did you?” he breathed, the delicious scent of his hot breath causing her to lick her lips.

“Yes.”

“Liar,” he scolded gently. “Don’t be afraid of me, Lexi.” He brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “I could never hurt you.”

Lexi swallowed down the lump in her throat. Didn’t he know that he had already destroyed her?

With infinite slowness, Ian lowered his head those scant few inches, hovering just above her lips. “Tell me no, Lexi, and I’ll find some way to stop, I swear it.”

But she couldn’t tell him no. Not now, not ever. As terrified as she was, she would never deny him anything. When several long moments ticked by in silence, Ian groaned and touched his lips to hers. And she was forever lost. Her hands snaked up around his neck, and Ian lifted her to him, carrying her to the bed.

He took his time undressing her. With each piece of silken fabric he removed, he covered her bared skin with his hands and mouth, until only her jewelry remained. “My goddess,” he breathed, his voice rough and strained with desire. “Will you give yourself to me willingly?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Pure white flames of hunger danced in his eyes. “Ah, baby. You have no idea what you do to me. All night long I’ve been dreaming of what I would do to you when I got you back here. How many times I would make you scream my name in pleasure.”

He rolled her over onto her stomach. She felt the bed rise as he lifted himself from it. Eyes tightly closed in a mixture of fear and anticipation, she heard the soft opening and closing of the nightstand drawer. No, he wouldn’t...

A tiny whimper escaped, despite her effort.

“It’s okay, baby.” Within seconds his fingers slid through her slick folds, massaging in torturous little circles until she began pushing herself against his hand. Then he slid one finger into her, stroking masterfully at her sensitive nerves as she shook from the pleasure of it. One finger became two, scissoring within her relentlessly. When she was close, he pulled away. She knew he was preparing her for what was to come.

What she had asked for. A condition of her extended stay.

Lexi tensed as she felt the cool, smooth tip of her vibrator against her. Ian moved it slowly, setting it at its lowest vibration. Just enough to stimulate, that’s all. There was something insanely erotic about having him do this, of sharing what was a very personal act with him.

Just when she’d begun to relax, he moved it back and forth, hitting her most sensitive bundle of nerves. At the same time, she felt Ian’s hand on her backside. A smooth, arousing caress that added to her pleasure.

She gasped, her core clenching around empty space. The simple sensations were too much. And not nearly enough. “Ian,” she choked out, “I don’t think I can...”

“Yes,” he crooned against her ear. “Yes, you can. You’re going to give me this gift, Lexi, because you want it just as badly as I do, my naughty girl.” Ian pressed himself against her, spearing her far too slowly for what she needed. His touch was too tender as he stroked and moved the small vibrator over her aching flesh.