“You’d be surprised,” he said darkly.
He worshipped her with his hands, stroking and caressing, sending shivers of need down her spine. She gave herself over to the tidal wave of sensations. His fingers tugged at the tie that fastened her cloak. It fell from her shoulders in a fluid swoop, puddling on the floor between them.
Beckett abandoned her neck and sank to his knees. His hands trekked down her body lower and lower, refusing to miss an inch of flesh. When those warm palms reached her knees, they traveled back up swiftly, drawing her dress with them. Beckett’s lips blazed a trail north.
Gia raised her arms overhead and let him pull the material from her body. He tossed the dress behind them and slowly turned her to face him. His shaky inhalation made her grateful she’d sprung for the spider web thigh highs. They added a little drama to the simple black bra and briefs she wore.
“Were you hoping for the pink thong?” she teased, her voice breathless.
“Next time.” His whisper was a promise.
She reached for him, but Beckett intercepted her hands. “Wait. Just let me look,” he breathed. “You are stunning. You are more than beautiful, Gianna.”
His words, like his hands, had her weak in the knees and trembling. She felt the prickle of tears in her eyes and didn’t know why.
He pulled her to him, rough palms skimming skin. His breath was warm on her face. Gia looked up at him, into him. She could see them, the thin, tight wires of control that he held on to so desperately. She could feel the tension in him, humming beneath her hands.
“Are you sure about this?” Gia asked him.
Beckett’s laugh was strained. “I’m the one who’s supposed to ask you that.” His thumb grazed her full lower lip.
Gia nibbled at the flesh. “Oh, I’m sure. I just don’t want to be a regret to you.”
He dropped his forehead to hers. “My only regret is waiting this long.”
“I haven’t even known you a month yet,” she said, her tongue darting out to taste him.
The noise in his chest was something between a groan and a growl. Primal, dangerous. “Too long,” he told her. “Be with me, Gianna.”
“I’m yours.”
Their mouths met in a furious eruption of desire and power, each wanting to consume. The battle waged and Gia felt herself losing ground. She was too vulnerable, too raw.
Her fingers struggled with the buttons of his shirt, fumbling them free until he shed the fabric from his shoulders. Her hands flew to his jeans, freeing him from the confines of denim. She felt him strain against the soft cotton of his underwear. He groaned against her mouth when she boldly stroked over his thick erection. A tiny damp spot on the fabric told her exactly how much he wanted this, wanted her.
Their breath came in pants now. Beckett hastily toed off his shoes and stepped out of his pants, never breaking contact with her mouth. But when Gia slid her hand in the waistband of his briefs, he stopped her.
“If you touch me now this is going to be over too fast,” he murmured against her bruised lips. “Trust me?”
Heavy-eyed, she nodded. She didn’t know what he planned to do, didn’t care, as long as his hands were on her.
Beckett spun them around until her back was to the wall. Using his hand, he cuffed her wrists overhead. He pressed his knee between her legs until she opened her thighs for him. His knee met the wall behind her ensuring she couldn’t close on him.
Exposed and at his mercy, Gia felt the flutter of nerves.
His free hand skimmed down, leaving a trail of fire to the front clasp of her bra. He paused, only for the span of a heartbeat before deftly releasing her breasts from their lace-bound prison.
He sighed, the hot cloud of his breath tickled her neck and sent a shiver down her spine. His hand paused on her ribs, just under her breast. “I want you so badly, I’m almost afraid to touch you. Afraid I won’t survive.” His lips murmured the words over her jaw and lower to where her pulse fluttered frantically.
Gia felt her legs give, thankful that he kept her from falling. He was seducing her, methodically, absolutely. She wasn’t prepared to defend against it. She couldn’t protect her heart from the imprint of the words he uttered or her body from the branding of his hands. In this moment, she was his.
He brought his lips to hers once more, his palm sliding over the heavy curve of her breast to cup it. Gia gasped against him and he used the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
He released her mouth in a bid to taste more. Her hands flexed against their restraint, but he held firm. He cradled her breast and brought his lips within an inch of her sensitive peak. Her nipple strained toward his hot breath and a cry tore from her throat as he finally took it in his mouth.