Page 6 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

Ryan lifted one eyebrow in amusement. “Are you sure? These girls are a sure thing, man.”

I bit back a sharp reply. “Yeah, I’m sure, man. You have a good time, though,” I said, pushing myself to my feet and heading for the stairs. I wasn’t really that tired yet, but I could force myself to go to sleep if I had to. And I really had to get away from Ryan.

Taking a long, hot shower, I forced my muscles to loosen and relax until I was sure I was languid enough I would definitely fall asleep.

Going back to the room Mom had put my things in, I threw on a pair of boxers and climbed into bed, fleetingly wondering why there were flower petals all over the floor, before I quickly drifted off to sleep.

I woke to the feeling of the bed dipping beside me. Over the years at military school, I’d painstakingly trained myself to remain still if woken. That way, I could hopefully give myself time to assess what was going on before anything disastrous happened.

Lying there, I quickly tried to gather my wits. The first thing I noted was that it was still somewhere in the middle of the night. Then I noted the scent. Female. Sweet. It was nice. I wondered who she was.

I felt the comforter being pulled back, then soft, warm skin brushing against mine. Her hand gingerly touched my chest, her fingers hesitantly moving over the contours of my pecs.

Ryan must have ignored my decision and told the girl he’d been calling to bring a friend after all. Well, it was either that or the girl refused to come without a friend. I wouldn’t put it past my brother to ignore my wishes just so he could get a piece.

The girl moved closer, her body pressing more fully against mine. She was so soft and warm, and her breath sent little tingles of pleasure over my skin every time she exhaled. I knew I should tell her to leave, but it’d been so long since I’d been with a girl, I was having trouble denying myself this one pleasure.

Her fingernail lightly drew across my chest, an accident I was sure by the way her breath paused for a moment, but the thrill it gave me caused an involuntary groan to escape me.

Deciding it was futile to feign sleep one second longer, I inhaled and moved like I was rousing. Fuck it. If she was willing to give it, why not go with it?

She burrowed a little closer to me, her smooth leg rubbing against mine. Letting out a soft groan, I slid my hand onto her lower back and pulled her more firmly against me, rolling a fraction so I’d have better access to her lips if she’d let me kiss her.

The little gasp she let out, followed by some sexy-as-hell breathy panting, had me tightening my hold on her.

I slid my hand up her spine while I rolled a little more, my other hand finding the curve of her hip.

The second I discovered she was topless, my control vanished. Pulling her fully against me, I took her mouth. I didn’t consume her like a starved man. Something told me that would’ve been a mistake. Instead, I slowly drank her in. Tasted her. And damn if she wasn’t the sweetest thing.

Without breaking our kiss, I rolled us until she was underneath me, careful to keep my weight off her tiny frame. Slowly, between kisses, I opened my eyes. With the moonlight filtering in through the gap in the curtains, I could just make out her features.

I froze, gazing down at her. She was gorgeous. Stunning.

I disliked the thought of thanking my brother, but I sure as hell would this time.

“Don’t stop,” she breathed, splaying her hands across my shoulders and pulling me back down.

I licked her bottom lip, already drunk on the taste of her. Gently, I caressed her silky skin, running my hand over the predominant bone on her hip, up over the contours of her ribs, cupping the small mound of flesh on her chest.

She stilled under my touch. I kissed her slower, deeper. With the gentlest touch I could conjure, I brushed my thumb over her nipple. She gasped, her eyes popping open with genuine surprise. I did it again and she moaned, arching up to kiss me again.

“Oh, God,” she whispered against my lips. “That feels so good.”

I was positive my cock had never been so goddamned hard. It damn well ached, it wanted her that much.

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured between kisses. “I shouldn’t have said no.”

My head tried to process the words she was saying, but the way she felt under my touch was making it so damned hard.

“I thought I wasn’t ready,” she breathed against my ear as I kissed her neck.

I wanted to lick her nipples. They were obviously very sensitive. I wanted to feel her squirm underneath me as I ran my tongue over them.

“Please say we’re not done,” she whispered, gripping my shoulders tighter as I licked down her chest. “I can do this now. I promise. This feels right. You feel so good . . .”

My need to get to her nipples took over. I had no idea what she was saying. The words seemed to be jumbling up inside my head. Carefully, I ran the flat of my tongue over one nipple.

Her back arched instantaneously. “Oh my God! Ryan!”

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