Phoenix Burning(49)

His arms wound around her body and pulled her closer still. His chest was firm beneath her breasts. Her nipples grew hard with the contact. Heat licked its way along her nerve endings until her core was achy with need.

She made a sound of anguish when he broke their kiss. “I want you in my bed, Emory.”

“Anywhere you want, Alex. I need you inside me.”

He scooped her off the floor. She felt so safe in his arms, as if nothing could touch her. Tenderness filled her for this man who’d let her so far into his private world.





Alex set Emory in the middle of his bed. The king-sized mattress had been the only thing he’d changed after returning from overseas. The monstrosity dwarfed his tiny bedroom. There was no headboard or footboard, and still there was only a narrow space to walk on both sides and barely enough room for a dresser on the opposite wall.

She glanced around, her steady brown gaze taking in every detail. He wished he didn’t feel so self-conscious, but having someone inside his space was a new experience. He had no point of reference for it.

“Nobody could ever accuse you of being vain,” she quipped.

He hadn’t thought twice about removing his dresser mirror to hang a flat-screen television on the wall. “I might just have to put the mirror back up.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why?”

“It would be hot to watch myself make love to you.”

He could see her mulling the idea over in her head, but Alex didn’t wait for her answer. He was done waiting. He grabbed her foot and picked apart the laces of her combat boot. Pulling it off, he tossed it over his shoulder. He had the second one off before the first one hit the floor.

Gripping the delicate arches of her feet in his hands, he pressed a kiss to her right ankle. “Are you ticklish?”

“Maybe a little.”

He tugged her closer, until she was resting on her elbows with her legs stretched out against his torso. He slid one hand down the curve of her calf. His fingers brushed the sensitive skin behind her knee, and she squirmed against his hold. “That felt like more than a little.” He went farther, the wide leg of her cargos allowing him easy access to her thighs and beyond.

Tucking both her heels into the curve of his neck, he let his other hand slide up her leg until he had a hold of both her thighs. Her gaze was locked on his face, her breasts bobbing up and down with each labored breath as she fought to control her reactions.

Her skin was petal soft. He kneaded the resilient muscles of her inner thighs, feeling her body give, knowing he was creating motion at the apex that would translate to her pussy.

She made a tiny noise of approval, and he skated higher, until his fingers brushed the elastic band of her panties. “Underwear? Why would you wear something useless like that?”

“I’m rethinking that decision at the moment.” The tip of her tongue fluttered over her lips, and he became suddenly, painfully aware of the erection pushing against the fly of his jeans.

He cupped her ass where it joined the apex of her thighs. Pushing beneath her panties, he was rewarded with her soft sigh of anticipation. He kept his touch light, dancing over her flesh until he was mad with the need to sink his fingers into her slit.

“Alex, please. You’re teasing me.”

Her words were sweet to his ears. Hooking a thumb in her panties, he pulled them aside. Her breath hitched. She was so wet her slick juices coated the delicate skin next to her pussy. He watched her face as he slid two fingers into her slit. Eyes closed and lips parted, her blissful expression sent a shot of longing through his blood.

He traced the sleek contours of her swollen folds until he could feel her opening flex with the need for penetration. Shifting her panties farther out of the way, he stroked her lightly. Cream spilled from her body, and his fingers began to make wet noises as he made longer, firmer strokes.

Deliberately avoiding her clit, he focused on her tight entrance. He rubbed the tender opening, gently dipping inside and then retreating until her body was rigid with sexual tension.

“What do you want, Emory?” He let one fingertip nudge her clit, feeling her shudder in response.

“I want you inside me. Please. I can feel it coming apart.”

Her garbled words struck a chord of understanding inside him. She’d told him before that she’d been able to see it. He was beginning to think she was poised on the edge of orgasm and unable to step over the edge where control melted into submission and allowed the sweet release of climax.

“Hush, love,” he murmured. “Let yourself enjoy.”

Using two fingers, he pushed inside her body. She was tight and tense. Her channel clamped down and resisted his gentle thrusting motion. Gradually he felt her begin to relax. Focusing on the sensitive pad of muscle just inside her opening, Alex continued his steady pace.