Andria
She tossed and turned, trying to calm herself so that she could finally fall asleep.
It was impossible. She was too turned on. Her entire body was practically quivering with barely restrained need. Cowl had stoked the fires of her libido back to life with the long, smooth strokes of his hand. He’d played her body like a master, and she’d responded. The only problem was now she wanted more. That little taste wasn’t enough, and she yearned to have him come through the door and take her.
He wouldn’t need to say a word; the state of her body would tell him everything. The smell of her sex had to be filling the air by now. It was certainly ruining her underwear, forcing her to change before long.
It was bad. The strength of it all had caught her by surprise, and it was part of what had scared her into stopping him. Never before had she felt so strongly about wanting a man, about needing him. Just the thought of him left her throbbing, her nipples pushing against the soft cotton of her shirt, every shift of her body heightening her arousal as they rubbed just a little more.
Andria wished she’d had the courage to go through with the thoughts that had been buzzing in her brain earlier after coming home. She’d come so close to pulling Cowl into her bedroom. The need between her legs was like a blast furnace melting her walls away, aided and abetted by the glass of wine, which was making her even hornier as it worked on her system.
Would it be so bad to let him touch her? To give in to the satisfaction she knew he could bring her? He wanted her; he’d said so at the bar. Not only that, she knew he was a good person, she could feel it. Everything he’d ever told her had been true, except for some of the more ridiculous things, like his age or his ruling over a kingdom with his brothers. That was just weird mumbo-jumbo that she figured he thought was funny.
Andria was scared. She trusted Cowl, and the list of people she’d been able to trust since Jack had betrayed her confidence had shrunk until it essentially included Violet and nobody else. She liked it the way it was. The risk came with allowing him in closer. Allowing him to know more about her, physically and otherwise. That’s when the betrayal came, and Andria didn’t know if she could handle another.
It was easier to keep him at a distance, even if she really, really wanted him close. Like, right on top of her, his muscles flexing and bulging as he supported himself with his massive arms. She wanted to feel his heat, letting it warm her to the core. Cowl screamed of raw masculinity, and Andria wanted to be the subject of it, to have his attention focused solely on her and her body.
She thought back to the hardness she’d felt in his jeans when he’d been touching her in the basement of the bar. Her fingers had wanted to find it, to caress its length and circle the tip, but Andria had become thoroughly distracted before. Now her curiosity returned, and she wondered what he would look like naked. What he would feel like, her hands roaming across his powerful body, every inch of it seemingly carved from painted steel.
Eyes closed, she pictured him walking into her room, his shirt gone, skin glistening in the faint light coming through her blinds. He would walk over to the bed and order her to sit up. Andria would obey, enthralled by this man, at his command. She would do as he said and strip him of clothing before letting him do the same.
They would lie back on the bed, Cowl resting himself on one perfectly sculpted arm, muscles in it cording up, the other running his fingers teasingly up and down her chest and stomach.
Her hand slipped under the waistband of her pants, finding the soft wetness between her legs. Andria forced herself to breathe deeply, wondering if Cowl could hear her. What would he say if he knew she was touching herself to the thought of him? Would he offer to show her? What would he demand of her?
She needed to find out.
Andria got out of bed and went to the door, opening it just a crack. Cowl was still sitting on the couch. He was staring right at her.
“Cowl?”
He nodded. He was still up.
Andria opened the door enough so that he could see her. Then she turned and disappeared back into the room. The door stayed open behind her, an invitation if he wanted to take it.
Floorboards creaked and a moment later Cowl entered her room, pausing just inside the door. “Andria? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Yes it is. Everything is fine. Close the door.”
Cowl frowned, and then shrugged. “Okay, goodnight.” He started to back out of her room, pulling the door after him.
Andria sat upright. “Wait, Cowl. I meant with you inside.”
He froze, like a statue carved from ice. She wasn’t even sure he was breathing. “Are you sure?”
Andria nodded, and though it was trembling like the earth was shaking, she managed to lift a hand and beckon him toward her. “I’m nervous, but I want this, Cowl. Just…”
“We’ll go slow,” he promised, suddenly in front of her. She didn’t even remember him crossing the room. “If you get uncomfortable or change your mind, just tell me. We’ll stop.”
Andria nodded. Cowl turned to the nightstand and one of the lights there, but she stopped him, putting a hand on his forearm. “No lights.”
“Of course.”
They lay back on the bed, Cowl above her just as she’d imagined. Her fingers sought out his arms, feeling the strength in them, the power of his muscles.
He kissed her, a much longer and more thorough affair than any that had come before. Andria loved the smoothness of his face, the lack of hair not irritating her sensitive skin. She could handle a beard, but the smoothness was just so nice.
The rest of his body called out for her to touch, and she moved on from his arms, first to his shoulders, feeling their broadness, and then down his sides, marveling at the taut muscles there. The rigid ripples of his abs flexed to help support him as he hovered on top of her, leaving enough distance between them that she could explore.
“Take off your shirt.”
Cowl pushed back onto his knees, the motion doing wonderful things to his muscles. The shirt flew off in a hurry, disappearing into the dark. Andria looked up at him, admiring the physique. Cowl was a good person, she liked his personality, and the fact that he had a body like a Greek god was a bonus she didn’t always feel she’d earned.
But there was no way in hell she was giving it back either.
“Now your pants.”
“Who’s in command here, you or me?” he teased, sliding off the bed and undressing until he was completely naked.
“I think I am,” she informed him, wrapping one hand around his thick, hard shaft, feeling it pulse and swell further as she touched it. “Do you care to argue the point?”
“No. No I think I’m good,” he muttered, looking down as she stroked him gently, feeling the smoothness of his skin and circling the outline of his head with one finger. “Really good.” His voice grew thicker the more she played with him.
Andria had planned on doing more, but the hunger inside of her rose up and doused any other ideas. She needed him inside her. Now. There was no more time to wait; her body was ready and aching for it.
Cowl was still standing, so she moved to the edge of the bed. With more than just a little trepidation she slid her pants off, revealing her uneven, and decidedly unsexy legs to him. For the longest time she avoided looking up at him, not wanting to watch his reaction, but even curiosity got the better of her.
He was biting his lips, the muscles on his chest and upper arms standing out even more as they flexed.
“May I touch you?” he asked eagerly.
“You want to?”
He nodded. “Yes. You’re a goddess, so beautiful. I want to explore every inch of you to the fullest, leaving nothing untouched, uncaressed, unpleasured.”
Andria reached out and took one of his hands, tentatively laying it on her shin, thanking her stars that she’d decided to shave that morning simply because it needed doing. She watched his face, noting the way his eyes were nearly glowing in the darkness. There was no denying that Cowl was aroused by her. She decided to stop asking how and simply go with it for now.
It proved a good choice as both his hands moved along the inside of her thighs, making her weak and lightheaded, filled with warmth. She tugged at his cock, pulling it closer until it was resting against the outside of her cotton underwear, already damp with her own wetness.
“You’re sure you want this?” Cowl asked, his voice deep but not menacing.
Andria smiled. She enjoyed how he grew more masculine as his arousal intensified. It was hot. “Yes. But…I’m staying like this.”
“Oh.” The disappointment was palpable, but she just wasn’t ready to bare it all to him. Not yet.
Andria pulled her underwear to the side. “But I still want you.”
“It’s not just the wine talking?”
“Cowl.” She reached up and hooked a finger under his jaw, pulling him down to her level. “I’m a grown adult. I know what one glass of wine can and can’t do to me. Plus, I wasn’t drinking one when you touched me before. I know what I want. I’m just not ready to be naked around anyone, that’s all. It doesn’t mean you don’t turn me on and make me crave that hard cock of yours inside me.”
The dirty talking seemed to do it. She felt him swell in her hand once more, and he nodded.
“Okay. I can’t deny that I want you as well. Can I…touch you?”
She smiled and grabbed his hand, placing it over her breast. “Is this what you meant?”
That might have been the wine talking. Andria wasn’t normally quite so aggressive. But his hands were so strong, so warm, she wasn’t going to stop him. Not now.
She bit her lip unconsciously as he gently parted her opening, entering her at long last. Andria still couldn’t quite believe she was doing this, but it felt so good, and strangely enough, with Cowl it felt…right. She felt okay. At ease. Relaxed.
There was something else she was feeling, and that was sheer ecstasy as Cowl slid deep within her, the wetness of her arousal allowing him to move easily. His cock was slick with her juices, and he didn’t pause long before he began to thrust. Every time he pushed back in she moaned, her brain close to shutting off as it was bombarded by the pleasure receptors between her legs.
When Cowl bit gently on her neck she lost control and immediately came all over his cock, coating it further. He held her tight as she writhed and thrashed from the unexpected climax. It was strong, but somehow she knew it was just a precursor of what was to follow.
Strong hands looped around her legs, and Andria gasped as he lifted her hips clear of the bed so that she was just resting on her shoulders. His eyes were literally glowing white now as he thrust harder, each stroke sending her breasts bouncing wildly. Andria grabbed at them through her shirt to hold them still, which seemed to only spur Cowl on even more.
He wasn’t going overly fast, but his cock was huge, and it filled her completely each time his hips slammed forward. A growl ripped from his throat, and Andria watched as his arms flexed, holding her pinned. The angle was rubbing him against something inside her, and she felt the pressure begin to grow. He was going to make her come again.
“So sexy.” His voice was gruff, yet passion-filled at the same time. The perfect combination of manly and lustful.
“You are too.” She eyed him up and down, making no effort to hide her leering. “I want you on top of me.”
Cowl acted immediately, picking her up by the waist and pulling her to him. One arm wrapped around her he eased himself up onto the bed, and then half-dropped half-threw her back into the comforter, immediately pinning her wrists at her sides. She shook her head, and he immediately released. “Maybe another time. But not now.”
He nodded. “I understand. I’m sorry.”
She grinned, grinding her hips up into him, capturing as much of his length as she could. “I know a way you can make it up to me.”
Cowl winked. “I think I can manage that.”
He settled his elbows on either side of her head, smothering her with his deliciously firm, muscle-covered bod. It was heavenly. Everywhere she touched was tight and hard under her fingers.
Her gasps came more frequently now, her fingers digging into his back as everything happened faster. She was close to the edge, and judging by the groans and tremors she was feeling in him, Cowl was too.
“Faster,” she commanded breathlessly, pulling on his hips. She needed it hard now.
Cowl obliged, the bed shaking and squeaking as they reached the end together. She pulled him in tight, her hands locking around his neck as he buried his face in hers, groaning loudly while she bit down on her upper arm, trying to keep her climactic cries from waking her roommate.
The world went dark and she struggled for breath, every muscle in her body locked down and overwhelmed by the pleasure erupting from between her legs. It spread to her core and her brain, extending down her limbs to the tips of her toes. Her nipples were rock-hard, the rubbing of the shirt sending tiny little aftershocks through her breasts as well with each ragged breath she drew.
Cowl slumped on top of her after a minute, utterly spent, and she lay there, unable to move. She’d never had sex quite like that. Nothing so intimate and erotic. Or passionate. Or…well, just nothing at all like it. None of the men on the short list who had slept with her had been so energetic or into her. But Cowl…she believed him now when he said he thought she was sexy.
She had the hard proof of it still between her legs.
Wait…Hard?
“Already?” she gasped as he heaved himself up onto his arms, little thrusts of his hips reawakening her own desire.
“It’s your fault for being so damn attractive,” he muttered, nipping at her neck and ear, causing her to giggle. “But if you’re done we can be too.”
“Can we go slow this time? I want to be able to see your face. To kiss you.”
“We can do whatever you want,” he told her.
She swore his eyes were still glowing in the dark somehow, filled with a white light unlike anything she’d ever seen.
But then, Cowl was unlike any man she’d known before either.