Chapter 18

Ana

It takes forever for the elevator doors to ping open.

When they do, Cas and I all but tumble through them, laughing as he launches me against the glass wall of the elevator and kisses me, hard. I run my fingers through his hair—his hands are on my thighs, my hips, my chest.

Our heads are swimming with tequila and an aching desire for each other.

“I want you so bad,” Cas moans into my ear, panting heavily.

I fling my arms around him.

“Then make me yours.”

Cas kisses me hungrily before easily bundling me up into his arms and carrying me out of the elevator as soon as the doors open onto the honeymoon suite.

I’m unbuttoning his shirt even as he puts me back on my feet, but he breaks away.

I pout at him, but Cas merely laughs.

He walks over to an ice bucket sitting on a lacquered table, and pulls out a bottle of champagne.

“Would my lady care for a drink first?”

“After all this time, you’re going to make me wait, Caspian?”

His eyes wander around the room.

“We should at least appreciate this completely over-the top room first, you know.”

Cas is right—the suite is decidedly over-the-top, but it’s decadently gorgeous at the same time. Think four-poster bed with silk sheets. Think floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a marble balcony. Think steam shower big enough for two, and a hot tub to boot. Think fruit basket.

I must be in heaven.

I hear the pop of a cork and the gentle fizz of champagne, and then Cas hands me a delicate glass flute almost overflowing with the stuff.

“Shall we take this to the balcony, Miss Rachmanoff?” Cas asks as he pours himself a glass.

I happily oblige, allowing him to lead me by the hand over to the balcony.

The view is outstanding—all glittering lights and opulent buildings.

The Vegas strip really is the best.

We clink glasses.

“To the star-crossed lovers,” I toast, smiling.

“And may they be star-crossed no longer,” Cas adds.

I wrinkle my nose slightly.

“That was way too corny.”

“Doesn’t make the sentiment any less true, cuore mio.”

It feels like it took us ages to finish the champagne, but I finish it nonetheless. It’s as if Cas has directed a challenge at me: can I resist my carnal desire for him for the duration of one drink?

When he’s finished his own, he sighs satisfyingly.

“That was delicious,” Cas remarks. He motions to the bottle with a hand. “Another—”

I knock the glass right out of his hand, sending it skittering across the marble in a dozen pieces.

“Don’t you fucking dare.”

Cas’ mouth is on mine once more, directing me safely away from the balcony and the shattered glass towards the gorgeous four-poster bed.

He turns me around, tossing my hair over my shoulder in order to undo the zip of my dress.

He takes his fucking time.

“Tell me you want me,” he whispers into my ear, one hand sneaking over my exposed skin as his other hand slips my dress from my shoulders.

God, it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say. I honestly don’t think I can handle much more of Caspian Andreas at his most intense and wanton.

I let my dress fall to my feet and kneel on the bed, beckoning for Cas to stand in front of me. I finish unbuttoning his shirt as slowly as he unzips my dress.

His eyes never leave mine as my hands find their way down to his belt. It feels like it’s been forever when I was toying with it in the burlesque bar.

“You know I want you,” I murmur as I brush my fingers past the fabric of his pants, giving his cock the very slightest of strokes through the material before unbuckling his belt.

Cas audibly gasps, and he involuntarily bucks closer to me.

I run my fingers up his perfect, golden skin back up to his face.

“I want you so much I can’t stand it.”

Suddenly, Cas has his arms around my waist as he throws me onto the bed.

I love the weight of him on top of me.

He fingers the strap of my little, lace bra before reaching his fingers around my back to undo the fastening.

Cas runs soft kisses from the hollow of my neck all the way down to my navel as his right hand reaches underneath the cups to fondle my breasts, keeping his fingers gentle and teasing.

I let out a moan.

“Cas…”

I can tell he’s enjoying himself, but I’ve grown so wet with desire that his slow deliberateness is almost painful.

He looks up at me from his position at my navel; his breathing hard.

“I just need to make sure you truly want this, Ana. Because once I’ve started—”

He brings his hand down from my breast to pull away at my panties.

“—I’m not gonna be able to stop.”

He returns to head height to finish pulling off my bra, and I look at him intently.

“Don’t stop, then,” I let out in an almost breathless whisper.

Cas’ mouth is on mine, then, and his fingers find my clit, and all I can feel is pleasure.

“Cas, please, please, I need you in me,” I beg against his hot, ravenous mouth.

My hands rove down to his pants—how could it be that I removed his belt and still hadn’t taken off his pants? In my desperation, I struggle to pull them away, but Cas steps in and all but rips them, as well as his underwear, clean away.

There’s a moment of stunned silence as my eyes wander down to his throbbing cock. He was never that big back when we were eighteen, when everything was all hands and mouths.

“You really had a growth spurt after eighteen, didn’t you?” I say, both admiringly and somewhat apprehensively.

This might hurt a bit.

Cas grazes his teeth over my lips as his fingers return to teasing my clit, and waves of pleasure begin to hit my brain again.

“I’ll be gentle, I swear. Just trust me.”

And how could I not trust Caspian Andreas?

I pull his mouth back to mine and kiss him ferociously as I run my hands through his beautiful hair.

I bite his lip in shock as he enters me.

It definitely hurts a bit.

“Ana?” Cas mumbles against my lips, concern coloring his voice even through his achingly obvious desire.

I bury my head against his shoulder.

“It’s okay, Cas. I love you. I love you.”

He softly pulls my head back on to the pillow so he can look me in the eyes.

“Gentle. I’ll be gentle. I love you, too.”

Even as he says the words, the initial shock and pain melts away, and all I’m left with is pleasure, and the overwhelming feeling of being filled by Cas—being made whole by Cas.

I wish I hadn’t waited so long for this moment.