But most of all, she wanted him. Which was terrifying, because what if she lost him?
You will survive.
Of course she would. She’d survived on the streets of New York for years, and if it all went to shit with him, she’d survive that too. She knew how to do that if nothing else.
Flattening her hands on his shoulders, she slid them down his back, feeling the flex and release of honed muscles beneath her palms. “Okay,” she murmured. “I’ll come with you.”
His smile became warm, intense. His stroking thumbs paused. Then he bent and kissed her, at first soft and gentle, then, coaxing her lips open with his tongue, deeper, hotter.
She sighed, giving herself up to the heat of him, to the rich, dark alcoholic taste of his mouth, digging her nails into the hard muscle of his back as the kiss became a little more desperate, a little more fierce. His hips flexed as he rocked against her, the long, hard length of his cock nudging over her clit, making her shiver.
If she wasn’t careful, he was going to take charge again, and though that had been fine the past couple of days, she was more confident now. She wanted to run her fingers all over his tanned skin, wanted to kiss him, taste him. Stroke his cock, feel how hard he was. Watch his face when she did, see the expression on it.
Mia shifted her hands and pushed at his chest, making him lift his mouth from hers.
His eyes had darkened into midnight. “What is it?” he asked, his voice a rough growl.
“I want to touch you.”
“You’re already doing that, sweet thing.”
“Not like this. I want . . . more.” She spread her fingers out on his chest, the feel of his hot skin and the light prickle of hair against her palms amazing. “I want to touch you the way you touch me.”
He grinned. “Who am I to argue with a lady?” His arms tightened around her and he rolled over, carrying her with him so she that found herself lying on top of him instead of underneath. “Whenever you’re ready. All of this”—he let go of her and swept a hand down the length of his body—“is yours.”
Keeping her palms on his chest, Mia slowly pushed herself up so she was sitting on him, straddling his lean waist. He was grinning, his mouth curving indulgently, and she felt a very real urge to wipe that grin off his face.
She wanted to affect him the way he’d affected her. Make him breathless and shaky and unsure. Make him hold onto her the way she’d had to hold onto him.
Mia glanced down at where her hands were splayed on his chest, drinking in the sight of him, all lean power and hard strength, the shapes of his muscles clearly defined beneath his skin. Experimentally, she trailed her fingers over his pecs, enjoying the feel of him, brushing over a nipple with her fingertip.
Beneath her exploring hand, she felt his muscles tense. So she did it again. And again. Then she glanced at his face, watching as she touched him. He was still grinning, but it had a slightly fixed look to it now and the glitter in his eyes was more pronounced.
Was that her? Was she affecting him?
She moved her hands, placing them on either side of his head, then she bent and kissed his throat the way he kissed hers. Again, the muscles in his torso rippled in response. She licked him cautiously, tasting the salty heat of him. Delicious.
“Mia.” His voice sounded rougher. This must be working.
She moved lower, trailing her mouth over his skin. Kissing him, licking one flat male nipple, then the other. Nipping lightly. Teasing.
His hands settled on her hips all of a sudden, heavy and sure, squeezing her. “Don’t get too carried away, sweet thing. I’m only human.”
He sounded breathless and when she glanced up at him again, his grin was definitely very fixed. Color burned in his cheeks, a wild light in his eyes.
She was doing this to him. She was making him feel this.
A weird rush went through her, adrenaline pumping in her veins.
On the streets, she’d felt powerless and vulnerable. Unseen by most of the people passing by her, noticed only by those who wanted to take advantage of her. But here she wasn’t unnoticed, and here she wasn’t powerless. No, there was power in this. Power in touching him, in putting that look on his face.
She affected him. This was her, all her.
Mia bent again, licking her way down the corrugated muscles of his abs, feeling them flex too as she tasted him. Salt was heavy on her tongue as well as a subtle spice that went straight to her head. She couldn’t seem to stop herself, moving lower and lower.
“Mia,” he murmured thickly. “Where are you going?”
But her hands were already there, stroking the rigid length of his cock, examining it. She hadn’t touched him there before and she’d never imagined a man’s dick would actually feel like this, so hot and with such smooth, soft skin. She stared at it, closing her fist around him, watching in amazement as he hardened even further.