Page 33 of Ardent Desires

“Before we what?” He steps closer again, and I can’t read the look on his face.

“Before we take things further,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He pauses, his expression softening as he processes my words. “Ellie, you don’t have to rush into anything. We have all the time in the world.”

His reassurance calms some of the nerves, but the heat in my cheeks doesn’t fade. “I just thought you should know,” I add, meeting his gaze again. “This weekend is a big deal for me, and I want it to be special.”

“Trust me, it will be special,” he says, his voice low and sincere. “You deserve that.”

I can’t help but smile at his words, and for a moment, the tension shifts from anxiety to something more comforting. “I just wanted to be upfront with you, you know? I really like you, Alexander.”

He steps even closer, our bodies almost touching again. “I really like you too, Ellie,” he admits, his voice warm, and the sincerity in his eyes makes my stomach flutter.

We stand there for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words, and I can see that he’s trying to respect my boundaries. I bite my lip, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty as I take in the gravity of the moment.

“I’m sorry I ruined the moment,” I say, brushing my wet palms on my skirt.

His blue eyes look up at me. There is a frown on his face before he reaches out and takes both my hands in one of his. “Listenbaby,you didn’t ruin anything.”

The endearment settles somewhere in my chest and I feel a sting of tears in my eyes. “You promise?”

He pulls me closer brushing his lips against mine. “I promise. And if you still want to Ellie, I would still like you in this room and in my bed tonight.”

I am about to ask if he means sleeping when his lips curve up in a smile. “For sex Ellie. For all intents and purposes, and just so you know, unless you have reservations about it, I really want to fuck you.”

Well, I’ll be damned.

Chapter eight

Laid Bare

Xander

She just told me she’s a virgin, and all I can think about is being inside her. I’m a fucking bastard, but I can’t stop myself.

I pull her in, crashing my lips against hers, and she moans, fisting my shirt like she’s holding on for dear life. Her mouth is warm, soft, and the way she reacts to me is driving me insane.

“Are you nervous?” I ask, my voice low, my breath hot against her ear.

She nods, just barely, her eyes flicking up to meet mine. There’s uncertainty there, but also excitement. And God, it’s making me feel feral.

I start undoing her shirt, revealing the flesh-colored bra underneath. Fuck, she’s so hot. I lean down and kiss her through the fabric, sucking her nipple gently until she moans again, her hands gripping my shoulders. The sound of her, the way her body reacts—it’s like a drug, and I can’t get enough.

As I walk her back to the bed, her body pressed against mine, I feel like I’m losing control. When we reach the edge of the bed, I push her down, and she bounces slightly on the mattress,looking up at me with wide eyes. She’s so damn beautiful, and all I want is to claim her, to make her mine.

“I’ll try to be gentle,” I say, my voice rough with restraint.

“Will it hurt?” she asks, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

“I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t,” I tell her, even though the thought of being inside her—of being her first—makes it hard to focus on anything else.

“Okay,” she whispers, her voice full of trust.

I pull off her shoes, massaging her feet for a moment, feeling the tension in her body start to ease. Then I push her skirt up, revealing a red lace thong that barely covers her. It’s sexy as hell, and it takes everything in me not to tear it off her right then and there.

Fuck.

I drop to my knees, pulling her legs apart and leaning in to taste her. The second my tongue flicks against her, she gasps, her back arching off the bed, her hands gripping the sheets. I lick her through the fabric first, feeling her hips lift toward my mouth, before I finally slide the thong to the side and get my first real taste of her.

---