Page 61 of Reckless Desire

Remembering our last ride in this elevator, I hit the console. The elevator halts with a jerk and I pounce.

Stepping closer, I corner Sydney, caging her with my hands on each side of her head. Another soft gasp escapes her. “Your little sounds will be the death of me, beautiful.”

My lips brush her ear as I speak, and she shudders. Why her reaction pleases me this much I’ll never know. I trace my finger up her arm. Her skin is like a peach, slightly fuzzy and smooth under my touch. I want to taste her.

Her breathing comes in shallow bursts. I’m so close her nipples brush against my jacket with every breath. I drop my eyes to her breasts, admiring the hard peaks begging for my attention. Unlike the last time, Sydney is looking at me. Our eyes lock, channeling the ache we both feel. It’s raw and primal. Inevitable. The air pulses with unspoken promise.

“What are you thinking?” I rasp, repeating the same question as three years ago.

Sydney groans, remembering. She licks her lips, sending lightning down my spine. “That you either fuck me now or get me upstairs quickly.” Her eyes widen as though she shocked herself with the boldness of her statement.

My lips curl up. “Good girl.” I step back and she almost collapses to the floor. I snake one arm around her waist and hit the button.

As we get out, I lean in and whisper, “Just to make one thing clear, beautiful, there will be nothing quick happening tonight.”

Another sound from her makes the top of my future Sydney playlist. It is a squeal and a moan in one, underlined by a heavy breath. As if she couldn’t decide whether to protest or cheer. Not that it matters. There is nothing that could stop us anymore.

I booked us the same suite. After we get inside, I pour us a champagne and Sydney takes off her shoes. It almost feels like rehearsed choreography.

We end up on one of the love seats. I lean closer and trail my hand down her legs. Another of her soft sounds shoots lightning down my spine and I groan. Partly in pleasure, partly in frustration. There is a beast inside my chest I’m trying to keep leashed, but it’s getting harder with every touch, every look, every noise.

I reach for her ankle and scoop her feet up in one swift move. Sydney laughs, but it turns into a sigh as soon as I dig my fingers into her soles. We haven’t said a word since the elevator. We don’t need to anymore. The charged silence is roaring loud enough.

I massage her feet for a moment, and Sydney studies me with intrigue and what looks like hesitation. No matter how much I try to spread calm through the kneading contact, her spine remains rigid.

“Talk to me, beautiful.” I ease the pressure and let my hand wander languidly up and down her shin.

“Honestly?”

“Of course.”

She swallows and lets out a sigh that carries baggage heavy enough to kill the moment. I may suffer a severe case of blue balls if talking is all we do again, but sign me up. I’m willing to break the world record for the bluest set of testicles.

“I love how attentive you are. How you took me dancing. Everything about tonight. But can we just get to the bedroom and get it over with?”

I stare at her, stunned for a beat. What the hell? “Get it over with?”

“That’s not what I meant.” She groans and hides her face in her hands. “I’m just so nervous. You’ve been with…”

Jesus. I grab her ankles and yank her closer as I pivot. She is now practically under me as I cup her face. “Eighty percent of my dates were dinners, theater, and a lot of conversation. Will you think of all my clients every time we watch a movie, talk, eat together or dance?”

She shakes her head.

“So you will think about them only when it comes to sex?”

She doesn’t move.

“Fuck, Sydney, I’ve had enough meaningless sex in my life. If you think this is in any way similar to my previous experience, you’re wrong. I have never wanted a woman more than I want you. Never have I cared so much that I’m willing to forego my own release to make sure you’re satisfied and happy. This is important to me. So don’t you dare ask me to get it over with. It’s not a pit stop we’re obliged to check off.”

I crush my lips against hers, channeling my frustration into a savage attack. It only takes one heartbeat for Sydney to respond, and our tongues meet in a violent dance. It’s messy, sloppy, teeth clattering, but her tension is incinerated by the divine burn the kiss drives through our bodies.

“You’re sexy as fuck, Sydney.” I lift on to my elbows. She is flushed from the kiss, looking so delicious that an arrow of lust and joy whizzes through me. “Drop the performance anxiety because you’re perfect, beautiful.”

I lower my lips to her forehead, brushing her warm skin with feather-like kisses down to her temple, around her ear, to the crook of her neck. She moans and the beast in me roars to life. I need her to scream my name.

“But let’s get you comfortable first.” I push up on to my haunches and pull her toward me, raising her knees over my shoulders.

She yelps, shocked by the fast action, staring at me wide-eyed.

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