Page 51 of Butterfly

From her tone, I can’t guess if she means that as a nice or a bad surprise.

“I came earlier.” No shit. I can’t stop my gaze from travelling along her body. The T-shirt can’t conceal the curve of her breasts and the flare of her hips. “Sorry I couldn’t tell you. My phone died sometime during the flight.”

“It’s all right.” She grips the back of the sofa. “Did you have a nice trip?”

“No.” I step closer to her. I don’t like the distance between us. Not the physical one, although that’s not great. The coldness in her voice tells me she’s still thinking about that bugger of an interview, and who knows what speculations her mind has come up with. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” I take her waist with both hands, dropping the bag to the floor.

Her sharp intake of air fuels the fire burning in my veins.

Through the fabric of her T-shirt, her heat and softness sink into me. I tilt my head, giving her the chance to withdraw. But she places her small hands on my biceps, and I kiss her. I mean to start slowly, tasting her, but the moment our lips meet, the roaring hunger inside me urges me closer. As her lips part, I slide my tongue into her mouth, seeking her delicious heat and the velvety softness of her tongue. She’s so sweet, and I can’t get enough of her. A mounting inferno builds up inside me. The kiss turns rough. In a corner of my mind, I’m aware that I should be going slower, but I can’t stop myself. Our kiss is a clash of lips, teeth, and tongues. I bite, kiss, and nibble at her plump lips as she slips a hand along the back of my neck. Need reminds me it’s been a long time since I got laid. My trousers grow uncomfortably tight. The moment I grind my hips against her, a husky moan tears out of her. Hell, that sound. I stop thinking. I only want to hear it again. As I pull her closer, her breasts press against my chest, and that’s like spraying petrol on a fire. My desire skyrockets. That’s how badly I want her.

The skin of her naked thighs is like a rose petal under my palm. With my thumb, I brush the hem of her knickers, feeling the heat coming from her core. A groan rips out of my chest. It’s an animal noise, so wild even Dart sits up at attention. I press myself against her harder, wanting her to feel how much I want her. My hand travels up of its own accord. Silky skin stretches over her abdomen and rib cage. Up I go. Shit. She isn’t wearing a bra. Her soft breast fills my palm perfectly, and I have to break the kiss to take a deep, calming breath. I open my eyes. She’s staring at me with an intensity that speaks of trust. It’s like she’s begging me not to hurt her. That’s enough to rein in my passion. I gently brush her nipple with my thumb. It hardens and peaks under my touch as she shivers in my arms. Her pleasure becomes mine, and as I tweak her nipple again, we both groan.

That’s not how I envisioned our encounter tonight. I wanted to talk to her. Not that I’m complaining. It’s just an observation.

I kiss her with a desperation that’s new to me while I fondle her breast. My cock twitches painfully, fully awake.

She stiffens when I try to lift her T-shirt and blocks my hand, breaking the kiss. “Alex.”

“I’m not going to touch your back.” All I want is to kiss and touch her. So right now, I’d promise her everything she wants as long as I can keep touching her. “Trust me.”

Her expression guarded, she lowers her hand. I inch the T-shirt up, revealing her flat belly and toned skin until I bare a full, creamy breast. For a moment, I admire the view, the dark-cherry tip hardening under my stare and her velvety curves. She shivers when I tug at her nipple, watching it as it stretches and turns into a hard peak. I close my mouth around her breast like a starving man and draw her nipple in. I tongue and graze it with my teeth, forcing my hand to stay on her hip instead of roaming her back. It requires more focus than I thought, but hell if it isn’t worth it. Little moans escape her lips. Her thighs press together. The spicy scent of her arousal reaches my nostrils. Bugger me; this is perfection. Her skin tastes so sweet, I wonder how she tastes between her legs.

Her knees weaken as she moans and rocks her hips. The scent of her wetness teases me, and I can’t stay still. My fingers find the elastic of her knickers and slip inside. She’s all wet and ready. When I soak my fingers in her heat, she lets out a breathy cry that sends a shot of pleasure straight to my crotch. It’s the first time I enjoy pleasuring a woman that much. It’s an addiction. I want to be the one who makes her come. I must feel her undone by my touch. I must know that it’s me who’s making her writhe and moan. I must feel her come in my arms. My touch is a claim on her pleasure and body.

Maybe it’s only a wild way to make sure that she’s all right because if she’s high from an orgasm, she can’t have dark thoughts. Or maybe not. I’m not making much sense. It’s the wrong moment to think straight when all I want is to hear her say my name while she’s shivering with the orgasm I gave her.

When I enter two fingers inside her, she clenches her muscles hard enough for me to feel the pressure. Shit, it’s warm velvet all around my fingers. I rub her with my thumb, spreading her juice all over her softness. My shaft gives a painful twitch. I suck at her nipple hard until it lengthens and swells further, and she’s breathing so hard, her breast pushes against my tongue.

Her breath shatters as her inner muscles milk my fingers. As she sags against me, her thighs quake. Her hands dig into my shoulders with the strength of her release. I smile against her skin without stopping rubbing her. We ride the orgasm together until she goes limp in my arms, her forehead on my shoulder. A sense of triumph fills me at seeing her so undone, so satiated. Her eyes go wide when I lick her wetness from my fingers. She tastes like spicy honey, but next time, I want to lap her at the source. I take my time, licking my fingers clean under her shocked stare. I pull down her T-shirt and hug her, taking her light weight and kissing her temple. Her breath feathers on my skin through the fabric of my shirt.

I clear my throat, holding her and never wanting to let her go. “I actually came to talk to you.”

She chuckles, her hair falling over my arms. “About what?”

“Us.”

Her head whips up. Every trace of happiness is gone from her flushed cheeks. The glow of the orgasm enhances the brightness of her eyes and the simple beauty of her face, but the serious frown between her eyebrows doesn’t bode well. “Us?” she asks.

I brush her hair and lift her with one arm to sit her down with me. Dart precedes me and jumps on the sofa as I plonk down next to him, Sienna on my lap.

“What do you want from us?” I ask.

That stubborn frown is still there. “Alex, I don’t want anything. I’m happy to spend some time with you. Whenever you can. Between you and me, you’re the one with strong commitments, obligations, and an inflexible schedule.”

I don’t like how she sees us, how she sees me. “I can tell you what we can’t have.” I caress her cheek again. It’s all rosy and glowing, and I can’t keep my hands off her. I’m not going to apologise for that. “We can’t become a public couple, at least for a while.”

She shrugs. “Are we a couple?”

That bloody well hurts. “Aren’t we?”

“I’m confused.” She rubs her eyes. “Are you telling me I’m your girlfriend? Unofficial, that is.”

Perhaps I’m an old-fashioned man, but if I can’t stop kissing a woman who occupies my thoughts twenty-four-seven, and towards whom I feel very protective, I’d say that yes, I consider her my girlfriend. Am I rushing things? Am I overwhelming her?

“I’m saying we should see each other more often to understand where this is taking us. Meanwhile, I have no interest in dating other women. I guess that makes you my girlfriend.” I cup her face. “I take things seriously. I don’t do things by halves. I like you. I want you.” I caress her bottom lip with my thumb, blood flowing south again. “I want to understand how deep this runs. But I need you to try with me. With all the negative aspects being with me will bring. Unless you tell me that you don’t feel the same way. Then I’ll be out of your flat and your life in a moment.” My abs clench at that. What if she asks me to leave?

She circles my neck with her arms. “I want to try,” she whispers, her voice lacking confidence.

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