Lex and Lu(26)

“Playing possum, Lu?” he asked. Although he wanted to go to her, he remained where he was, leaning on the door.

She smiled warily as she moved to sit up.

“Don’t!” Lex said, a little too sharply.

Lu froze, watching him with wide eyes. She wasn’t lying down anymore, but she wasn’t sitting up.

Lex pushed himself off the door and made his way to her. “I was just imagining running my hands up your leg, from toe to thigh.” Still moving toward her with panther-like grace, his voice soothing, he gently pushed her back down onto the bed. Then he knelt on the side and starting at her toes, he ran his right hand all the way up the length of her leg and back down again. He repeated the motion, but this time continued up her body, groaning when he encountered her thong, but seeking her back and lightly stroking her. “We need to lose this shirt and these,” he whispered, running his hands under her thong, then leaning over and pulling her ear lobe into his mouth.

Lu, who had continued to watch him warily, closed her eyes as desire overwhelmed her. She didn’t know where the thought came from, but her brain continued to fight, while her body was screaming, “Resistance is futile!” She smiled, which Lex immediately noted. Kissing her neck, between her lobe and her jaw, he continued with his perusal.

“Turn over for me, baby,” he said, moving his hand down her back. When she did, he lifted her tank top up, prodding her to lift her head up. He threw the shirt to the side, then moved down and discarded her underwear. Then he took in his first glance of her body. “God, Lu, you are beautiful,” he murmured. He couldn’t stop his hands from gliding over her, exploring her breasts. With a devilish smile, he looked directly at her and noted, “I liked your sixteen-year-old breasts, but these”—he looked down, then back up at her while his hands found her nipples—“these are a definite upgrade.”

Mortified but not surprised that Lex was cracking jokes, she briefly considered sitting up. But Lex anticipated her reaction and bent down to take a nipple in his mouth. As he gently drew on her, he watched her with his laughing eyes. Lu was powerless to do anything. He watched her melt into it, her eyes heavy with desire, and his laughter died, just like that. He had an overwhelming need to kiss her. Pulling his mouth from her breast, he stood up. Lu, confused, opened her eyes and looked up at him. She still hadn’t said a word.

He pulled off his shirt and pants, stripping in a fluid motion, like he did everything else. Then he was beside her. And then on top of her between her legs, his face even with hers. He kissed her gently. “Lu, I want to take this slow and worship every inch of your body.”

She heaved a stuttering breath, her body so wet and ready for him that she didn’t think she could take much more.

“But I can’t wait that long. I meant it today. I need to be inside of you,” Lex said.

Again, Lu didn’t say anything. She merely watched him with her too-old eyes. Her fingers were stroking his head, playing with the bristles of his hair.

He kissed her again. He knew she was ready for him. Her heat surrounded him. He could smell her desire.

“Talk to me, baby,” he prompted, but then he kissed her again, stealing her breath. His hips moved between her legs, bringing him in contact with her heat. “Lu?” he said, the question evident in his voice. He realized then that he needed her to want this. He wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her. And ego aside, he needed to hear it or see it or feel it.

Lu continued to stare at him. His arms were starting to shake as he held himself back. Then the most bizarre thing happened. Her eyes filled with tears and he groaned in frustration and fell on top of her, rolling out from between her legs.

Neither one of them said anything, and the room filled with an uncomfortable silence. Then Lex rolled out of bed, pulled on his pants, and walked out onto the balcony.



Lu stayed in bed, fighting the urge to go to him. If she went to him, they would have sex. All he needed was for her to say yes. He’d been breaking her down, slowly, surely. But he had needed her to capitulate totally—that was just Lex. It was always, had always been, all or nothing with him. She wanted to, but how much worse would it be when she told him about Nina? And how many times could she have this argument with herself?

Not able to stand the distance between them, she got out of bed and picked up his shirt off the floor. Slipping her arms in, she quickly fastened a couple of buttons and walked out to the balcony. She leaned against the door jamb and took in the view.

Perfection. His elbows resting on the railing. He gazed out at the gulf as it rolled gently against the sand, beating a gentle rhythm. Sliding in and rolling back out—erotic images filled Lu’s brain, and she thought she might combust right there. His athlete’s body rippled with muscle. Ink scrolled all over his back. She hadn’t known he had any tattoos. Fascinated, she moved closer. Without meaning to she began tracing the lines of the intricate pictures detailed on his body.