Chapter Fourteen
Harry
Relief pumps through me, although I should’ve known Alice isn’t the kind of girl to mess around like that. Her smile is so sweet and trusting it sends a weird pain straight through my chest.
“I’ve been ready for months.” I brush her hair back from her cheek and kiss her again, just because I can.
When we come up for air there’s an adorable blush on her face. “Me, too.”
It takes me a second to figure out what she means. “You’re kidding, right? You never gave me any hints.” Hell, we could’ve got together months ago.
She laughs, almost as though she believes I’m the one who’s joking. “Workplace hookups aren’t always the best things. I didn’t want to do anything that might’ve cut short my stay at Blitz.”
At the door to my bedroom I pause, hand on doorknob. Hookup isn’t something that even crossed my mind. That’s the kind of thing Lucas does and is etched into my brain as something transient and trivial. This thing with Alice is neither, and I can’t believe she thinks it is.
“Wait.” I give her a mock frown. “You really think your job would’ve been on the line if we’d slept together and it didn’t work out?”
“Ugh. That sounds awful, doesn’t it? I didn’t mean it that way.”
“And that’s your idea of an apology?” I wind my arm around her waist as we go into my bedroom, and I flip the switch for the side lamps. She lets out a small sigh as she gazes around. “Hey, injured ego here. Needs stroking.”
She drags her riveted attention from the king-size bed, which is finally going to see some action. “You know what I mean. Things can get awkward and, well, whatever. It’s better this way.”
“As long as better means naked.” I pull her close and she laughs, pressing her palm against my chest. Damn, that feels good.
“I’m a realist. That’s why you hired me.”
Caleb was the one who hired her, but it reminds me she’s leaving soon and, apart from the fact it’s going to be shitty not seeing her every day, I’ve still no idea how anyone can take her place at work.
I shove it from my mind. Not thinking about that now.
“It’s not the reason you’re here with me now.” Although in a way it is, because everything about Alice makes her the real deal.
“I’m glad to hear it.” She gives a very un-Alice-like giggle, almost as though she’s nervous. “It would’ve been a real downer if you’d brought me in here to organize your drawers.”
“I’ve no objection to you rummaging through my drawers.” I grin suggestively, and her tense shoulders relax as she snuggles against me. I lose my train of thought and bury my face in her hair. She’s not wearing the scent from the other night, but whatever it is, works for me.
I slide my hand under her T-shirt. Her skin is warm and silky, and my dick throbs. She stirs against me with a soft sigh, and her fingernails scrape my chest as she pushes my shirt open. Without any finesse, I pull her T-shirt over her head, and she tosses her hair back as I admire her gorgeous breasts, shown to perfection in a pink-and-gray lace bra.
“Your turn.” She tugs at my shirt. “I feel weird standing here half naked.”
“Yeah, what’s with that? You should be totally naked.” I rip off my shirt without bothering to undo the last couple of buttons, and the look on Alice’s face is priceless as the buttons zing across the room. “Or do you want me to get naked first?”
“Oh, yes. That’s a good idea.” The relief in her voice gives me pause for a second, but I discard it instantly. No way has a girl as sweet as Alice never done this before.
I kick off my trainers and pull my socks off with my jeans until I’m standing in nothing but my boxers. It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position, and I’m not sure whether she wants me to help her or not, so I flex my biceps like a bodybuilder and strike a pose. “Better?”
“So much.” There’s a gorgeous smile on her face as she devours me with her eyes, which my cock greatly appreciates. Although all I want to do is pick her up and take her to bed, I cup her cheek and tease her mouth with barely there kisses until I can hardly think straight.
She grips my shoulders, and even through her bra her nipples poke against me, an unrelenting torture, until I can’t hold back anymore.
With clumsy fingers, I unbutton her jeans and slide them slowly over her thighs. Her legs are fucking gorgeous, and she clings onto me as she discards her shoes before stepping out of her jeans.
Kneeling before her, I press my mouth against the inside of her thigh and she shudders, her nails digging into me. I trail hot kisses across her stomach, my hands on her hips, and much as I want her naked, there’s no way I want to rush our first time.
Keep telling yourself that.
It’s hard to stick to that plan when only a tiny scrap of pink-and-gray material separates me from sinking into her.
Her fingers plunge into my hair, and to hell with my plan. I give her an open-mouthed kiss, my tongue teasing her through her knickers, and her shocked groan is the best sound ever.
I cup her cute butt before hooking my thumbs into the band of her knickers, but before I can go any further she grips my wrist.
“Harry.” Her voice is hoarse, and I grin up at her, because what a fucking view.
“Yeah?”
“There’re condoms in my bag.”
Fuck, I’m glad she said that. Now I don’t feel like such a bastard for having bought some last night in a fit of optimism.
“Okay. But you don’t want me to put one on my tongue, do you?”
I expect her to laugh, but her eyes widen and mouth forms a delectable O, which gives me another idea altogether.
Down, boy.
“Um,” she says, like she’s thinking about it. Bugger, I’m so out of practice, and since she’s obviously not into it, I stand and wrap my arms around her instead.
“No problem.” We shuffle sideways until our legs hit the side of the bed. “Are you cold?”
“No,” she says, her teeth chattering like it’s the middle of winter. I should’ve put the heating on, but it didn’t cross my mind. “I’m fine. Just, you know.”
I pull back the covers, grateful that Sue, my fabulous cleaning lady, was in earlier today and everything is laundry fresh. And while I don’t know what Alice means, I’m in no fit state for any kind of intellectual discussion.
“Okay.” With reluctance I release her, and she jumps into bed and curls up on her side, gazing at me with her big brown eyes. I swallow a groan and yank my boxers off with far more haste than grace and leap in beside her.
“Don’t forget the condoms,” she whispers as I pull a sheet around her shoulders so she doesn’t catch a chill, even though I want nothing more than to strip her naked.
I love her enthusiasm. “No chance of that. I’ve got plenty. We can use yours later.”
“Oh, good. I mean it’d be a real mood killer if one of us had to get up and find one right at the, uh, moment of penetration.”
I laugh. Can’t help it. She says the funniest things. “If it makes you feel better, d’you want to roll one on me now?”
Even though I hadn’t planned on wearing one until things got further along, if she wants to do the business herself then hell, I’m all for it.
“Oh,” she says again, as though that thought had never occurred to her before. “Yes, okay.” She sits up, apparently eager to get started, and I reach into my bedside drawer and pull out the pack.
“Here you are.” I hand her one, then lay back on my pillows with my fingers linked behind my head. “Take your time.”
She rips it open, takes out the condom between thumb and forefinger, and then gives it a little shake.
“Does it meet your specs?” I shake with silent laughter because the serious expression on her face is adorable.
“Let’s find out.” She gives me an oddly shy smile, which makes me think twice about my suggestion that she takes her time. I want her right now.
Her hair falls over her face as she wriggles down the bed, for some strange reason not touching me, and stops by my hip. Her erratic breath feathers over my flesh and it’s hard to keep still, but if she has a secret sadistic streak then what a way to go.
She slowly trails her finger over my stomach, halting just short of where my dick juts to attention. Despite my best intentions, I can’t stand it any longer and push her hair back, so I can see her face.
She’s gazing at my dick like’s she’s never seen one before. A groan razes my throat and my fingers clench, tangling her hair, but she doesn’t seem to care. Instead, she continues her journey and traces the tip of her finger along my erection to my nuts.
Holy fucking hell. She is a sadist. “Jesus, Alice.” I don’t even recognize my voice. “You trying to kill me?”
Her finger freezes. “Does that hurt?”
“Define hurt.” I give a choked laugh and forcibly relax my fingers before I tear out chunks of her hair. When she doesn’t resume torturing me, I’ve no option but to beg. “Don’t stop.”
Her smile is everything, and with infinite care she swirls her finger around each ball. I screw my eyes shut for a second, but it doesn’t help slow things down. I don’t want her to stop, but if she doesn’t I’m gonna blow my load, and there’s no fucking way I’m doing that before I’m inside her.
Need to speak. I’ve forgotten how. I grip her other wrist, lower her hand, and hope she understands nonverbal directions.
She stops playing with me, but instead of rolling on the sheath, she presses a feather light kiss halfway along my dick.
My hips buck, I bite out a curse, and she gazes at me as though I’m some kind of amazing, alien species. If she wants to go down on me, who am I to argue?
She pinches the tip of the condom and then hesitates. “I might need some help here.”
I grunt, since I’ve obviously lost all of my upper brain functions, and grip my dick. She bites her lip, a frown creasing her forehead, and rolls the condom over my swollen head.
A strangled groan escapes my dry throat, and before I’m irreparably damaged I adjust things and let out a relieved breath.
“Sorry.” She gives me a quick glance before refocusing on our handiwork. “I’ve not done this before.”
“It’s okay.” At least that’s what I mean, but it comes out in a drunken slur. “You do whatever…”
I’m sure there’s more I intend to say, but there’s a disconnect between brain and mouth, and seriously, why the hell do I want to talk in any case? Alice inches back up the bed, but this time she drops little kisses across my torso and chest, until she reaches my mouth.
“My turn.” I manage to unhook her bra without stuffing up and drop it onto the bed. She’s poised above me, her palms on my chest, and her breasts are the prettiest things I’ve ever seen. “Come here.”
I run my hands over her back, pressing her closer, and flick my tongue over her nipple. She moans and wriggles, and I tug on her knickers, but they don’t seem to be going anywhere.
She sits up, panting, her lips pink and swollen from our kisses. Without a word, she pulls her knickers off her legs and drops them onto the floor.
“That’s better.” She wiggles next to me, until her head’s on my shoulder and body plastered against mine. “Is there anything you want me to do?”
“You’re already doing it.” Christ, she’s in my bed. Naked. What more do I need?
She strokes my face and plays with my hair, and although I want to explore every inch of her gorgeous body, I can’t tear my gaze from her.
“It’s just…” She pauses and gives me the sweetest smile that doesn’t help my self-control at all. “I want this to be amazing. You might have to give me a few pointers.”
She’s got to be joking. Unless she’s trying to give me a subtle hint as to what she likes? “You’re the one who—” The words lock in my throat as another possible meaning to her breathless comment slams into me. No way. She can’t mean she’s a virgin. Can she? It crossed my mind when she was so relieved that I suggested getting naked first, but there’re a thousand reasons for that and none of them have anything to do with not having done it before.
I’m missing something obvious, but my brain’s not functioning. Except now that possibility’s hooked into me; I can’t shift it. Don’t fucking ask her. I can’t stop myself. “Wait. You don’t mean you’ve never done this before? Like, ever?”
Her smile wavers. “I thought you knew.”
Shock slams through me, paralyzing any other words from escaping. Why would I know something like that? She never discusses her love life at work, at least she never has in front of me, and I never asked.
I should’ve known because she told me a couple of minutes ago. And I was too turned on to realize what she was really telling me.
My sweet Alice is a virgin. Like a barbarian from the dawn of time, my inner Neanderthal erupts, and raw possessiveness burns through me. I’m her first.
“Okay.” There’s a strange, tight sensation constricting my chest, and I have the overpowering need to protect her from the whole damn world. I never want to let her go, but a perverse sense of responsibility drills through me. She might be in my bed, naked and willing, but it doesn’t stop me feeling like I’m somehow taking advantage. I can’t ask her that. But I have to. “Are you still sure you want to do this?”
Don’t say no. I break into a sweat at the horror of it and trace a finger along the line of her face. Her leg’s trapped between mine, and our bodies are meshed from stomach to chest. If she changes her mind now, I’m fucking dead.
“I’m sure,” she whispers.
Relief floods me that she hasn’t had second thoughts.
“Thank fuck for that.” I kiss her, and her hands are everywhere, exploring my shoulders, biceps, and back. It’s like she can’t get enough of me, and I’m so down for that.
Gotta take it slow. It’s her first time, and I want it to be amazing for her, but the more I try and hold back the harder it is.
She rolls onto her back, and I kiss my way down her body. She writhes and sighs, and when I slide my finger inside her she’s hot and wet. She gasps and grabs my hair, yanking my head back.
“Harry. Do it. Please, just do it.”
A ragged groan burns my throat. “You’re not ready yet.”
“Yes, I am.” She pulls harder on my hair, like she wants to rip it out from the roots, and it’d be so easy to crawl up the bed, sink into her, and make her mine.
I squeeze my eyes shut. Alice really is bringing out the caveman in me.
“It’s your first time.” I slide my hand back between her legs and circle her clit. Her renewed grip on my hair makes my eyes water. “No way are we doing this until you’ve come first.”
Her strangled groan pushes my resolve to its outer limits. “I’m already coming,” she gasps. “Inside my head.”
She’s totally killing me. “That’s good.” I grin at her as sanity sails over the horizon. Her eyes are glazed, her cheeks are the prettiest shade of pink, and she’s writhing against my finger like that’s the only thing anchoring her to the world. “Almost there.”
I trail kisses over her breasts and suck one irresistible nipple into my mouth. She bucks, her nails digging into me, a hoarse cry spilling from her lips, as she shatters around me.
I slide over her trembling body, her soft curves destroying what’s left of my brain, until we’re face-to-face.
“I want you so much.” I sound desperate. That’s because I am. “But I don’t want to hurt you. We can take it slow this time.”
Any slower and I’m Going. To. Die.
“No,” she gasps. “I need you now.” She wraps her leg around me, as if she thinks I need more encouragement, and it’s too damn much.
Between the thudding need to have her, a disjointed thought haunts me. Do I push in slowly or thrust in fast?
She arches her back, and I can’t even remember my name, never mind my dilemma. With a throaty groan I let go, and her tight, silky, heat encases me.
Her sharp intake of breath penetrates my lust-soaked brain and I freeze. Somehow, I locate my voice. “Alice? You okay?”
“Yep.” She sounds pinched, and I grit my teeth and ease back. Her legs tighten around me, pinning me in place. “This is good. Don’t stop.”
I kiss her, sliding my tongue into her mouth and playing with her hair until she relaxes and kisses me back. When her exploring fingers find my butt, I can’t hold out any longer and sink balls deep into her.
Slow down echoes in my brain, a million miles away, but it’s meaningless when Alice is all I can see, all I can feel. And with a mindless groan, my last thread of sanity shatters.