Shadowed(84)

“I want to come while I’m touching you,” he murmured. “Please, Nina—let me touch you.”





Chapter Twenty-three



Nina wasn’t sure if she should let him or not. She wanted to—just the thought of those big, strong hands running all over her body made her throb with need. It was so much like the erotic dreams she’d had of him she almost felt like she’d be living out a fantasy. But she wasn’t sure if she could trust him go so far without going all the way which she most certainly didn’t want to do.

“I don’t know,” she said, studying him. “What about the rules I made? The first one was that I would touch you, not the other way around.”

“And that’s the only reason you’re saying no? A rule you made up?” he demanded.

“Well…” She bit her lip. “No. And it’s not that I don’t want you to. It’s that I’m…”

“Afraid?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

Reluctantly, she nodded. “Well…yes.”

“Listen to me, Nina—I’m not going to make love to you tonight. I swear it.” He sighed. “I want to, but I can tell you don’t. And even if you did, I couldn’t do it properly—the way it’s meant to be done among my people.”

“Well then, why…?”

“Do you know how long it’s been since I touched a female?” he growled softly. “Especially one as beautiful as you? I want to run my hands all over your gorgeous, curves. Want to explore you, cup your breasts in my palms, stroke your sweet little pussy until you moan for me.”

“What…what are you saying?” Suddenly, her breath was coming short, and she didn’t feel nearly so much in control.

Reddix gave her a level look, his silver eyes hooded with desire. “I’m saying I want to make you come. Now, Nina.”

Nina opened her mouth to say no, and heard herself say, “All right,” instead.

Well, so much for rules. Somehow she found herself lying down in the middle of the bed, and then Reddix was looming over her.

“Don’t worry,” he murmured, his deep voice rough with desire. “I swear I won’t hurt you. Just want to touch you.”

Though she’d been afraid of him earlier, Nina found herself relaxing. There was nothing but sincerity in his eyes, nothing but a pure wish to pleasure her in his face. She closed her eyes, waiting to feel his hands on her.

Instead, she felt his mouth.

Soft, slow, and surprisingly tender after his earlier bruising kisses, his lips explored hers in a way that stole her breath. When she opened her mouth for a little gasp, his tongue was right there, seeking but not demanding entrance. He lapped gently, and Nina found herself inviting him in, opening wider to receive him and even sucking his tongue when he slipped it inside her.

Reddix groaned roughly and deepened the kiss. At the same time he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him, pressing her breasts to his chest and running his big hands up and down her back and shoulders.

Then his hands moved from her back to her front, cupping her aching breasts and stroking lightly over her nipples.

Nina moaned and arched up, trying to get more of the sweetly addictive sensation. But then she felt him tugging on her dress.

“Wha—what are you doing?” she asked breathlessly, breaking the kiss.

“Take it off.” Reddix’s eyes blazed into hers. “I won’t hurt you, and I won’t force you, Nina, but I want you to take this damn thing off.”

“I can’t…I shouldn’t,” she protested softly.

“Take it off.” He kissed her again, thrusting his tongue slowly between her lips, making her moan before he pulled away. “I want you naked under me,” he growled.

Nina bit her lip. “But…you promise not to…”

“I told you—I won’t make love to you tonight,” he swore fiercely. “But I want to touch you everywhere. And I can’t do that with this damn fur dress in the way.”

Once again she meant to say no. Once again she found herself agreeing instead. God, why couldn’t she deny him? Maybe because you don’t want to, suggested a little voice in her head. Nina thought it was probably right.

“All right,” she said, sitting up and raising her arms over her head. “Help me out of it.”

Reddix had the dress over her head almost before she could finish talking. He threw it over the side of the bed and then pulled her back down to the mattress.

Nina expected him to start touching her all over at once. Instead, to her surprise, he took a long moment to just look at her. The way his silver eyes roamed over her body made her feel even more naked than she already was if that was possible. She crossed her legs self-consciously.