She did, sliding them up his chest as she went, following the contour of muscle through his shirt. All the strength and power of a savage fighter wrapped up in a sophisticated package. That was Stephen.
With her arms wrapped tight around his neck and his hands firm on her bottom, they moved together to some silent song they both heard.
“I’m glad you were with me tonight. And I’m glad we’re here.” He ran a hand up her back and under her hair and tugged. When he crushed his mouth to hers she felt it all the way to her toes.
Hungry and hurried, desperate and drugging, until her knees were weak and Stephen was the only thing holding her up. Her fingers bit into his neck, combed through the softness of his thick, black hair. She pressed closer, sucked the breath from his lungs when his erection pressed against her belly. Stephen bit out a curse, then lifted her off her feet and walked them both into the bedroom.
The lights were turned down low like the restaurant of their first date. A gas fire danced behind glass. The air was heavy and thick with anticipation as Stephen stood her beside the massive bed.
His lids were heavy, eyes so intense she couldn’t look away. The tension and ferocity had drained out of him, to be replaced by something else. Something she wasn’t entirely sure she understood.
But she wanted to, she thought, as he slid the pins from her hair, unfastened the braid, and loosened it all until it fell around her like a cape. Her heart hammered in her chest when he slowly slipped his fingers under the straps of her dress. Stopped altogether when he smoothed his palms over her shoulders, taking the thin strips as he went. Down her arms, not stopping until the silk dropped in a pool around her feet.
Warm air rushed her body as she stood exposed. On the edge of a cliff in a strong wind. She took a slight step back.
“Don’t.”
He caught her by the shoulders, that one word low and rough. And though her instinct was to run, she wouldn’t. Couldn’t move away from this man who knew her enough to know she wanted to.
She’d never get used to the way he looked at her, like he was looking at someone else. Like she wasn’t herself, couldn’t be, standing there in nothing but black lace panties and heels.
His hot gaze raked over her and she shook inside and out. To the point she could barely breathe. To the point he had to see it.
“You’re so beautiful. I don’t know where to touch you first.”
“Anywhere.” Everywhere.
He made a sound low in his throat, almost a growl, and reached past her, tore back the bedding and deposited her on the enormous bed.
“Look at you. So beautiful and spread out before me like a feast.”
She lay there on the silk sheets, the mattress soft and plush as a cloud, thinking so was he, tall and sinfully gorgeous, standing beside the bed like a god. Then his shirt fell away and her thoughts scattered.
Fine black hair swirled around his chest and she wanted to kiss him there, follow the pattern with her tongue. It trailed down the hard ridges of his stomach, narrowed into a dark line that would have disappeared, but he released his belt and pushed his pants and boxers over his hips.
She only got a glimpse of his erection, standing thick and ready, before his body came over hers. He got rid of her panties, left the shoes. Then, true to his word, he feasted on her. Hot mouth and big hands spreading fire everywhere he touched. Rough kisses followed by soft brushes that made her tremble. She ran her palms up his torso, mesmerized by the size and shape of him. So gorgeous, so perfectly male she was amazed by it.
Clever fingers trailed down her stomach, and lower, just grazing her center. He circled her breast with his tongue, starting underneath and spiraling inward. His warm mouth was followed by cool air, bringing chills. He repeated it, his fingers between her legs, his mouth on her breast, each time going closer, making her hotter. He was destroying her, pushing her past all limits until she wasn’t aware of anything but Stephen. His scent. His hands on her body. The way he felt, silken skin over hard muscle.
He was healing her even if he didn’t know it. With every caress. Every kiss.
Finally, he took her nipple between his lips and sucked so hard it brought a rush straight to her core. Her breath quickened and his hands moved over her in a rush. Everywhere they touched, her body hummed, everywhere he kissed sang. Until all those places blended together and her entire body was a mass of sensations. Until she was vibrating with it.
Just when she felt one touch from igniting, he stopped, caught her face in his hands. His lips hovered a breath away and fierce, dark eyes searched hers. “Are you afraid of me?”
Her heart raced. She thought of the party. Her dreams. The dark. “I’m afraid of everything. I’m—”
“Are you afraid of me?” he repeated, his voice almost pleading, and she shook her head.
“Say it.”