Page 75 of Wrapped with a Beau

He laughs at her impatience and plants kisses in the crook of her neck. Elisha closes her eyes, lets her head tip back to give him better access. He sweeps aside her hair to drop a flurry of ticklish little pecks. Even though she’s not touching him—yet—his body subtly shivers at her back.

“Ves,” she says, but it comes out like a plea.

He doesn’t make her wait. With one arm slung under her breasts, pulling her to him, the other is free to snake past her rounded hips and push aside her underwear. She gasps when his fingers find her center, parting her enough to find her slick with desire.

With a hoarse groan, she rocks her hips, wanting the soaked panties off so he can move freely. But Ves seems completely unbothered by the fabric’s frustrating texture against her pulsing nerves. Instead, he seems content to work one finger inside her, then another, rotating his wrist to draw a strangled cry from her as his thumb hits her clit. At the sound, his hardness swells against her ass.

He keeps an irregular rhythm of tight circles and coaxing thrusts and teasing strokes until she’s grinding against his hand, panting and tossing her head. Her upper chest is a blotchy red and her thighs tremble as she tries to chase her pleasure, but he seems to know exactly when to switch it up, pulling her back from the edge just in time to start the cycle all over again. The delicious torture goes on for indeterminate minutes until finally, finally, he seems to think she’s hit her breaking point.

“Come for me,” he whispers, breath fanning against her cheek.

Body poised to snap, she does, gasping as her eyes squeeze shut. Her orgasm hits her hard and fierce, and she rides it out on his fingers, sure that her underwear must be soaked. When it’s over, she sags against him with a tired laugh.

He pulls his fingers from her to gently caress her upper arm with the side of his palm. “You okay, Elisha? Do you want to keep this position?” he asks.

“Yes and yes,” she says, barely able to recognize that husky, hoarse voice as her own. “But after that, missionary. I want to see you.”

“Those are my favorite, too.” He kisses her neck again, mouth dragging wetly to her shoulder. Before her brain can catch up with reality, he’s unclasping her bra, then slipping his hands between their bodies to start removing his own clothing.

She flings her bra away, followed by her underwear.

“I should have lit the fire,” says Ves. “I don’t want you to be cold.”

Elisha loves how considerate he is of her comfort. “I won’t be,” she tells him. “You’ll keep me plenty warm.”

He hums agreement under his breath, then places his palm at the small of her back in silent request. She obliges, dropping to the rug. Using her forearms to prop herself up, she only has to wait for a moment, listening to the condom wrapper tearing open, before his hands find her waist. His thumbs, a little rough after the woodwork, rub soothing circles on her hot skin before they disappear as he takes himself in hand and lines himself up with her entrance. She wiggles her hips, opening her legs wider.

His first thrust is long and deep, and they both moan from the sheer pleasure of it. “Elisha,” he groans, like he’s barely holding it together.

She twists her head around to look at him, suddenly regretting that she could miss seeing his expression during their first time. His hair hangs in his face and his chest is glistening as it rapidly rises and falls, and when their eyes lock, she can tell that he’s close.

Ves’s thrusts are steady and firm at first, but after she clenches around him, he starts to piston in and out harder. His fingers dig into her hips, gripping her thighs so he can move deeper inside her. His release ramps up quickly, but before he comes apart, his hand works between their bodies again, so close to where they’re joined, and pinches at her clit. With a raspy cry, she follows him over the edge.

He doesn’t pull out right away, choosing to scatter kisses over her spine. Lower, lower, lower. Her breath catches, but he stops. His breathing is uneven when he finally collapses next to her. By this point, her arms have gone wobbly like Jell-O and there’s no pretending that she has the strength left to move. So she slumps on the rug, rolling onto her back while she waits for her pulse to calm.

They lay together for a moment, listening to the faraway howls of wind outside and the faint trilling of Thor and Thorin somewhere in the house.

“You good?” she whispers.

Ves opens an arm to her and she wastes no time in cuddling into his side. He gives her a tired but satisfied grin. “I’m with you,” he says simply. He kisses her forehead. “How could I not be?”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Ves

In the end, Grandpa Dave was right about every inn in town being full right before the holidays, so when the weekend rolls around, Ves ends up across the street in the Rowes’ guest bedroom, after all, Thor and Thorin in tow.

“Thanks again for putting me up,” he says as Anita unnecessarily fluffs his pillow and double-checks that he has an extra quilt folded at the foot of the bed along with his towels.

“It’s no trouble at all.” Anita is gracious, even though he can tell his gratitude embarrasses her. “Now please stop. Once was more than enough!” She squeezes his shoulder before turning to leave.

“Thanks.” He winces as it comes out automatically. “Sorry.”

She gives him a soft, achingly maternal smile. “I’ll let you get ready.”

He and Elisha have been invited out to dinner tonight with Damian Rhys, who, somehow, managed to book two rooms for himself and his camera crew. He can only assume Damian’s staying somewhere on the outskirts of town or maybe just flashed his money around to find accommodation. Downstairs, the soft mumbles of conversation trickle up to Ves, along with the mouthwatering aroma of Jamie’s cooking.

He sets his laptop aside, document of book pitches abandoned, before changing into a thick cable-knit navy sweater, tugging out the white collar of the shirt underneath. As he pads across the carpet to open the door, he’s relieved to find it doesn’t creak like Maeve’s, so he’s able to slip out in total silence.

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