Phoenix Burning(21)

“Upstairs, first door on the left.”

He put an arm beneath her knees and picked her up. Maneuvering her up the narrow stairs took some concentration, mostly because she was busy kissing his neck. Her mouth teased its way down the line of his jaw, laving the hollow of his throat, nibbling his chin, and working its way up to his ear. When he finally found her bedroom, he tried to set her down gently though his muscles were turning to jelly with every touch.

He gazed down at the pixie in the middle of the double bed. “Are you sure this is what you want, Emory?”

“You’re the only thing I want, Alex.”

Her words nearly undid him. He ground his teeth and fought for control. Focusing everything on Emory, he wondered why it had never been so important to please his partner.

Carefully bracing his weight on his arms, he settled his body on the bed beside her. He kissed her slowly, until she was questing for more. He helped her out of her outer shirt, tossing it aside and resting his hand on her belly. She made tiny noises of pleasure in her throat when they kissed, the sounds driving him mad with desire.

She stopped to wrestle with her camisole and he pulled her hands away. “Let me.” Lowering the straps, he pulled the soft cotton down just far enough to bare her breasts.

They were pale perfection. Twin mounds tipped with soft pink nipples that puckered when he blew a soft stream of air across them. She gasped and arched her back when he took the first one in his mouth.

He suckled lightly at first, then harder when she moaned at the contact. He nipped the beaded tip before letting it go and giving the other equal attention. She buried her hands in his hair, fingers lightly scraping his scalp and making his cock bulge against the confines of his jeans.

“I need you naked, love.” He unfastened her cargos and slid the camisole to her waist. “Lift your hips for me.”

Her hips came up and he slipped her clothing off in one tug, underwear and all. Her sandals had gone MIA on the stairs and she was now naked before him. Her dark eyes fluttered open, an expression of embarrassment crossing her face before she tried to close her legs and cover her breasts with her hands.

Gently tugging her hands back to her sides, Alex shook his head. “Don’t ever hide from me, love. You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

“No, I’m not. That woman last night, she was gorgeous.”

Alex was used to reassuring women about their physical appearance, but her tone was nothing he’d ever heard before. She was quietly stating what she felt to be fact. No demurring, no fishing for compliments. Taking her hand, he pressed her palm to the erection that was nearly ripping open the front of his jeans. “This doesn’t lie. And it proves I find you utterly irresistible.”

Her brown eyes went wide, her other hand reaching up to draw his face down to hers for another kiss. Alex complied, sinking into the sweetness of her mouth even as his hand delved into the nest of close-cropped dark curls between her legs.

She whimpered when he slipped his fingers into her slit. It was damp with the evidence of her arousal. Her legs fell open, baring her pussy to his exploration. Lightly tracing her folds, he straddled her clit with two fingers and began to rub tiny circles around the sensitive nub.

Creamy fluid spilled from her entrance, soaking his fingers and telling him she enjoyed his touch as much as he enjoyed giving it. “I’m going to put my fingers inside you, love. Is that all right?”

Her fingers clutched his biceps. “Please, Alex!”

Pressing into her slick channel, he marveled at how hot and tight she was. If he couldn’t get her to relax, he was going to hurt her when he tried to penetrate. First one finger, then two, then three sliding in and out of her sleek heat, with her knees bent and her voice crying out for more.

He wanted her to climax, thinking that an orgasm might help her accept him inside her body more easily. Her eyes were closed, her hands restlessly grasping her sheets as he spread his fingers to stretch her channel as wide as he dared. He could feel her body hovering at the edge of release, but she was fighting it.

He removed his hand from her pussy and shucked out of his clothes before lying back down. Holding her close, he pressed a kiss to her temple. He loved the feel of her skin next to his, the heat of her body beside him.

“I can’t take the waiting, Alex.”

Her voice was hoarse. Was she in pain? “I don’t want to hurt you, love.”

“You won’t hurt me. I promise. Please fuck me. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

He stared down into her dark eyes. “Then don’t wait. Come for me, Emory. It’ll make this easier.”

“I can’t.”