Alek attempts to move his head from my hands but doesn’t have the strength or control. The moment my lips spark on his, I crave taking more and getting the high back I had earlier. I can’t. I focus my mind on letting go of control, yielding to the Alek who could realistically hurt me. The thought of losing him and being alone in this crazy new reality is harder than the thought he might send me to another unknown world of shadows by draining my energy. I won’t let that happen.
As I play these thoughts across my mind, I’m jolted by the switch in the dynamic between us; the flowing energy changes direction. Alek finally responds, his soft lips hardening with a devouring kiss. I want to gasp for air, but I couldn’t take my mouth off his if I wanted to. Even though the power flows away from me to him, I’m still charged with the explosion of sensation where our skin touches. Alek unfastens my robe and pulls me on to his knee, arms circling my waist. The touch of his fingertips on my sensitive skin feels as if he’s placed them on the nerves beneath. In response, I drag his T-shirt over his head and push my naked breasts against him. The touches from the last time we were physical, mouth on mouth, fingertips on skin triggered something unusual; however, this is one of those occasions where the word ‘mind-blowing’ fits. When my hardening nipples touch his bare chest, a switch flicks, coursing white-hot heat through my whole body. He inhales sharply, gripping my hips. I pull my mouth away and rest my head on his, the heat between our skins melding us.
“Do this,” I say to him. “Take what you need.”
His fingers dig deeper into my waist, and I know he’s not giving in. The world retreats and the only thing that matters now is Alek. His touch. His kisses. All of him.
Alek shifts beneath me, his arousal evident between his jeans and my nakedness. I run a finger among his defined abs, tracing the pattern downwards until I reach the button of his jeans with shaking fingers. Maybe I don’t need to do this to give him what he needs, but I have never craved sex with someone so much in my life. Ever. It’s as if I can’t let him go until he’s satisfied what he’s woken in me by doing so little. Within the centre of myself is an overwhelming need to be surrounded by and consumed by this man, even though the Rose I left outside the door would never want someone like Alek.
“Rose,” he growls and moves suddenly to tip me onto the bed.
Alek helps me unbutton his jeans and kicks them onto the floor. Roughly, Alek pulls the edge of my robe to one side and nips my shoulder. His teeth against my skin ramps up the surge of need, and I grab his hair and drag his face back to mine. Alek’s hot breath hovers against my mouth for a moment, and in frustration, I tug his lip into my mouth and bite. Too hard. He winces and makes a sound low in his throat before thrusting his tongue into my mouth. The bright energy sears behind my closed eyes, and the flow back to Alek feels as good as when I took it from him. As long as my skin touches his and his hands are on me, he can take what he wants. All of me.
Alek grabs my arms and pins them over my head, continuing his devouring kiss. I weaken as the light inside is consumed by Alek pressing his mouth to me. I wait for him to touch me, to slide his hand toward the wet heat between my legs, to explore my breasts with his mouth; instead we remain locked in this weird kiss. I wriggle against him, partly because I’m frustrated by need and partly because I’m dizzying as the light between us fades.
Tearing my mouth away, I twist my face to one side. “Alek. Stop. Now.”
Alek ignores me, but I expected this. He releases my hands and grabs my face, attempting to lock his mouth back on mine. Hands now free, I hold his head away and look into his dark eyes. He’s unfocused, elsewhere. Our breathing matches, hot and heavy, and his heart pounds against mine.
“Alek!” I tug at his curls, pulling him back to our version of reality.
He blinks as if returning to the room and touches his mouth. With a slow smile, he sits back a moment and traces his gaze along my naked breasts.
“That felt fucking awesome,” he says, breathing heavily. “You know what else I think would feel fucking awesome?” Alek hitches one of my legs around his hip and presses himself against me. “What do you think? See how we go with more than kisses?”
I lace my hands around his neck and pull him closer, our eyes meeting in understanding, hot breath mingling the way our energy did. The pale has gone from his face and lips; the Alek spark is back.
“I stopped,” he whispers and grins.
“I hope not,” I say.
“What? I had to. You didn’t want me to take too much…” He pauses and catches my meaning. “Oh, okay, so you do want to try more than kisses?”
“What do you think?” I ask.
Something remains crackling in the air between us, the remnants of the kiss we shared heightening both of our arousals. Stroking my hair from my eyes in a strangely-affectionate gesture, Alek kisses my cheeks and lips. He moves a hand along my side and cups my breast in his hand, stroking a finger across my hardened nipple.