Dark Promises(40)

He smoothed his hand down her hair as he lifted his head, removing the intricate braid so that her dark hair fell in clouds around her face and down her back. His green eyes were darker. Filled with hunger. Her heart thudded. Her sex spasmed.

“I like your hair down. Wear it down for me.”

His mouth was back on hers before she could protest. Not that she was going to protest. She couldn’t think past the need to kiss him again. His kisses burned even hotter. His hand went to her throat, tipping back her head while his other arm became an iron bar at her back, pulling her tightly into him.

He lifted his head again. Just inches. Green eyes blazing down into hers. She went up on her toes, trying to follow his mouth.

Aleksei brushed her mouth with his but held back. “Are you going to give me that, Gabrielle? When it is just the two of us, will you give that to me? Your hair down where I can feel it on my body? Against my skin?”

God. God. He robbed her of breath.

“My woman does not say no to me. Not ever. She trusts me to do right by her. Are you going to give me what I want?”

Mesmerized, hypnotized by his dark sensuality, without taking her gaze from his, she nodded.

“And you will not say no to me.”

Could she give him that? She didn’t know if she was strong enough to make herself into what he wanted or needed. She was so afraid of him. Trusting him was going to be very difficult.

“Gabrielle.” His tone told her he was losing patience.

She swallowed her fear and shook her head. “I’ll try, Aleksei,” she promised.

Instantly he rewarded her, his mouth at hers, breathing fire down her throat so that the flames reached her breasts. So sensitive. So aching. So needy. Just with his mouth on hers.

He tugged at her tee and it disappeared right off her body. Her bra was next. Both of his hands went to her breasts, cupping the soft weight in his palms. A small cry escaped. His touch was rough, not gentle. She didn’t expect gentle from him, his kisses were far from that. But she hadn’t expected that rough would only make her hotter. Her legs threatened to give out as his mouth traveled over her chin and down her throat.

“I don’t think I can stand up,” she whispered truthfully.

He took them to the floor, stripping them both as they went down, cushioning her fall, but just barely, his mouth already on her breast. His hand was at her other breast, his fingers rolling and tugging while his mouth suckled strongly. Her hips bucked, the heat building in intensity, forks of lightning streaking from her breasts straight to her sex.

Deep inside the tension began to coil tighter and tighter. Her breath came in gasps. His mouth went to her other breast and his finger was at her nipple. She arched her back, giving him more, needing more, her arms wrapping around his head to cradle him there. The feel of his hair, all that black, salt-and-pepper silk, drove her wild. The sight of him feasting on her was erotic. The strength in his arms and the heat of his mouth fed the fire burning so deep inside.

His mouth left her breasts and began to travel down her body. He kissed under both breasts, her ribs and down to her belly button. His tongue tasted every inch of her as he made his way down her body. His hands were everywhere, his palms sliding over her skin possessively.

Her body was restless. It was too much, yet not enough. Without thinking, she dug her heels into the carpet and tried to slide away. She didn’t know where she was going or what she was going to do, only that if she kept feeling this way, her entire body was going to come apart.

Aleksei growled deep in his throat and his hands went from gliding to gripping. Hard. Her heart jumped at the sudden aggression. She thought he’d been aggressive, but obviously she’d made a mistake and triggered the very dangerous side of him. His head came up and his green eyes glittered at her.

The look on his face frightened her as nothing else could have. She didn’t dare move. His features were hard, aroused. His gaze dropped from her face to completely and utterly focus on the junction between her legs. Just the way he looked at her, all that darkness. Stark. Raw. Erotic. Hungry. She couldn’t quite get air through her lungs and past her throat.

He was naked. Muscles everywhere. His body hard and hot. His erection was long and thick, throbbing against his stomach. One hand circled the width of it, just for a moment, and she couldn’t take her eyes from the sight of that steel spike wrapped by his fist. She didn’t see how it could possibly fit inside her. Fear mounted but at the same time she wanted him even more. The hunger and burning need inside of her kept building. Higher. Hotter. Delicious. Terrifying.

“Be still,” he growled.

His voice was raspy. Harsh. Still, there was a silky quality to it that was mesmerizing—that stroked over her like a caress. She wanted to obey him. She had promised herself she would give herself to him, any way he wanted, but the sensations were too much. Mind destroying.