Page 99 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

“You sure?” I check, puzzled.

She shakes her head again. Then, to my surprise, her eyes glisten.

“Sweetheart…” I frown, kissing her. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she squeaks. “You’re amazing.”

“Aw.” I withdraw and dispose of the condom, then gather her up in my arms and pull the duvet up over us. She nestles into my embrace, tucking her head under my chin, and I hold her tightly, kissing the top of her head.

“I’m all right,” she says, taking a big, shaky breath. “It just swept over me there a bit.”

“That’s okay. It can be pretty intense.”

“Yeah, that’s the word. It’s so different from doing it on my own.”

I close my eyes. “Don’t tell me about that right now. I need a few minutes to calm down.”

She giggles. “I just meant that when I do it myself, it’s sort of fast but less intense, you know?”

“Jeez, now I’m going to have to count backwards from a hundred. Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven…”

She laughs, then gives a long sigh. “Sex is kinda fun when you’re doing it right.”

I stroke her hair, thinking how much I’ve dreamed about having her in my arms like this over the years. “Yeah. Sure is.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Elora

Eventually, we lever ourselves out of bed and take a shower together.

It’s a whole new experience for me, squeezing into the shower cabinet with a man. Before long the windows are steamed up and he’s all wet and slippery, his muscular arms and torso gleaming. He lets me wash him, laughing when I smooth the shower puff across him with agonizing slowness as I admire every dip and bulge and every line of ink. Then he does the same to me, using his hands, exploring my curves and swells.

It’s impossible not to get turned on by it, and when I’m washing his back I start kissing his neck and pressing my breasts against him, but he tells me off and informs me I’m going to have to wait until later, or neither of us will be able to walk for a few hours.

I sulk, and he laughs and says I’m insatiable, and gives me a hug before turning off the shower and collecting a towel to start drying me.

He’s partially right, but it’s mainly because I know that tomorrow he’s off to Christchurch for his corporate cruise, and that’ll be the last time I see him, so I want to make the most of every second we have together.

I’m hopeful that we’ll stay in touch now when he’s back in the UK. By Snapchat or Insta or WhatsApp, maybe. But obviously it’s not the same as being with him. Eventually he’ll get a new girlfriend, and then I’ll have to watch him post photos of the two of them together, going on dates, eventually getting married, having children, knowing that could have been me in another lifetime. It’s going to be so hard. And I’ve made it doubly difficult for myself now I’ve slept with him.

It was foolish, but I still can’t bring myself to regret it. I’m not going to think about tomorrow. I have him for the rest of the day and tonight, and I’m damn well going to make the most of him.

I put on my makeup standing next to him at the sink while he shaves. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a man do that—I’ve watched my father and seen both Fraser and Joel at various times walking around the apartment with their faces half-covered in foam or bleeding nicks on their necks. But there’s something different about watching Linc do it. My gaze is repeatedly drawn by the smooth movement of the razor up his neck, the way he lifts his chin, exposing his throat and Adam’s apple, and the faces he pulls while he’s shaving his cheeks and jaw. He’s so… manly, standing there with a towel wrapped around his waist, all gleaming muscles and tats, smelling of spicy cologne, filling the air with the scrape of the blade on stubble, his deep voice humming along to a song I’m playing on my phone.

He glances at me in the mirror, catching my eye, and lifts an eyebrow. “Lora…”

“What?”

“You’ve got that look in your eye again.”

“It’s your fault,” I grumble, finishing off my mascara. “It’s impossible not to get distracted.”

“There’s no time,” he scolds. “The guy asked me to be there at ten. He’s off to work at midday.”

“I’ve heard quickies are a thing.”

He laughs and splashes his face with cold water. “I’m going to save myself for a mega session later.” He gives me a hot glance in the mirror, then walks out.

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