Lori

"I'll make it so good. I promise. Do you trust me to do that?"

I nodded, and he kissed me again. He started with my mouth, moved over to my shoulder. "I've fantasized about undressing you all night." He undid the zipper of my dress, slipped a hand on my bare skin, blowing my inhibitions to smithereens. "Since I saw this dress, all I could think about was taking it off you."

I needed him naked. I wanted to admire that gorgeous, bronze skin. I wanted to touch and taste. With eager fingers, I got to work on the buttons of his shirt, until I freed his torso. The reality was more delicious than all the fantasies I'd had. I ran my hand across his steely muscles and placed open-mouthed kisses on the expanse of his chest. He interrupted my exploration before I could have my fill, though I was starting to suspect I couldn't ever have enough of him.

He rid me of my dress next. Taking one step back, he took me in from head to toe. I felt exposed in my lacy bra and panties, but the hunger in his gaze put me at ease. And when he captured my mouth and pulled my ponytail free, fisting my curls, heat coiled low in my belly. I rolled my hips almost involuntarily and slammed right into his, trapping his erection between us. Even through his pants, I could feel how much he wanted me. Through the haze of lust, I felt him kneel before me, taking off my pumps. He kissed my legs, moving to my inner thighs. As he moved farther up, I felt heat gather between my thighs, adrenaline coursing through me, like a buzz that wouldn't quiet. I'd never felt so aware of my body, so alive.

Hooking his thumbs in the elastic band of my panties, he tugged them down, exposing me further. Without warning, he swiped his tongue over my center, and I saw stars.

"Graham!"

He moved up, kissing the top of my breasts next. My nipples were pressing painfully against my bra. As if sensing that, he undid the clasp and kneaded my bare breasts, swirling his tongue around one nipple, then moving to the other. I felt every lash of his tongue between my legs as if my peaks were wired to my clit.

A bolt of energy zapped through me, making me rise on my tiptoes and brace my hands on his biceps. When he groaned against my skin, I clenched my thighs. The emptiness inside me was becoming unbearable. I pushed his pants down with one hand, and Graham kicked off his boxers next. At last, he was naked. He was glorious. Utterly glorious. He led me to his king-size bed, and when I climbed on it, my first instinct was to cross my legs.

He cuffed my ankles, spreading me wide open, climbing between my thighs, and lowering his head right above my center. 

He nuzzled my clit with the tip of his nose, pulling one fold between his lips, then the other. I nearly came again. My back arched, and I fisted his sheets to keep from tugging at his hair. His back wasn't in my reach, but I thought I might scratch him if it was. This man brought up wild impulses in me that I didn't recognize. 

"Graham, that’s perfect. Oh, God, it's so good."

When he shifted his weight on the mattress, I looked between us and saw he was rolling on a condom. I swallowed hard at the size of him. He kissed up my belly, between my breasts, until his face was level with mine. A tremble of anticipation rocked me when I felt his erection against my inner thigh.

He gripped himself at the base, flicking the tip around my entrance, circling my clit, until I was panting and trembling in earnest and utterly soaked. Then he pushed inside me. He gave me just the tip, but a strangled sound tumbled from my lips, somewhere between a gasp and a moan. He moved in slowly, barely half an inch with every thrust, giving me time to adjust. He unleashed an inferno inside me. I didn't want it slow anymore. I wanted all his passion, without restraint. I rolled my hips, taking him in to the hilt. Feeling him so deep inside knocked the breath out of me.

"Lori, fuck. Oh, baby."

"Wow."

He lowered one hand, slipping it under my ass, digging his fingers into one cheek on every thrust, kissing me feverishly. I felt full—so impossibly, blissfully full—with his tongue in my mouth, his cock inside me, his pelvis pressing against my bundle of nerves with every thrust. I'd never known pleasure like this, white-hot and all consuming. Our rhythm was feral, and I'd moved from fisting the sheets to tugging at his hair. I dragged my lips over every inch of him I could reach, and it wasn't enough. I wanted to savor him. This man was pure perfection. His arms and shoulders were corded with muscles, which flexed on every thrust. I licked a morsel of taut skin, then took one nip with my teeth. Graham let out a low growl. He'd liked it.

I felt my inner muscles spasm, tightening around him as an orgasm teased my nerve endings. I didn't have time to prepare myself for it. I climaxed the next second, crying out Graham's name, gripping his shoulders. In the throes of passion, I felt him widening inside me. He was right near the peak. I held him close to me as he came, thrusting hard. For a second, I couldn't breathe. My muscles protested as we lay wrapped around each other.

When he rolled over to take care of the condom, my skin was suddenly cold in all the

places he'd touched me before. He moved to the edge of the bed, with his back to me. What was I supposed to do now? Hop in his shower, or go to my room? I wanted to feel those strong arms around me a tad longer, but I didn't want to overstay my welcome. Was this a one-night thing?

"Should I go to my room?" I asked, fiddling with the pillow. Graham straightened up.

The easy, natural silence from before turned loaded. My stomach clenched tighter with every beat of silence.

Even though the door was closer to Graham's edge of the bed, I moved toward the other one. He half turned then, and something in his gaze made me stop moving.

"I’d like you to stay, Lori. You don’t want that?”

“I do.”

"That’s settled, then. Let’s shower together.” His voice carried a hint of demand now. The tightening in my stomach loosened.

"Okay."

He held out his hand for me, and I moved toward him. He had a curious expression on his face. It looked a little like relief, a lot like desire. On the way to the bathroom, he walked one step behind me. I hadn't thought much of it until I felt his hand slide down one ass cheek, giving it a little squeeze, then a tiny smack. I whipped around to face him.

"Hey!"

"You're too tempting." He hooked an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. "Couldn't resist. Can you blame me?"

"Yes. Yes, I totally can." We were only a breath apart, smiling against each other's lips. Giddiness bubbled up inside me and didn't subside while we showered.

Graham's bathroom was almost as large as his bedroom. We were surrounded by shiny black tiles and silver specks of color. The bathtub was large enough to throw a party in it. The shower had more than a dozen programs.

"This is fancier than a spa," I said. "Which program should we use?"

"Your choice."

"Really?" I clapped my hands then got to work. The first button I pushed shot out a jet so strong it nearly plastered me to the wall of the shower. "Maybe not this one."

I looked closely at the signs painted on each button, but it was like trying to decipher Chinese letters. Okay... so trial by error it was. I played some more, settling on one that had a comfortable pressure. While the warm spray of water descended upon us, I rubbed the sides of my neck.

"Neck massage?" he asked.

"Yes, please." As he flipped me around, I counted my lucky stars for his gentlemanly manners. A minute into the massage, he flattened himself against my back and rubbed his erection slowly against my ass cheeks. I pretended nothing out of the ordinary was happening, up until he slid one hand to my breasts.

"That's not my neck." I was fighting to sound serious.

He tugged at my earlobe with his teeth. "Seemed to also require my attention."

"How could you tell?"

"Close observation."

"Other places you think require your attention?"

He slid his hand further down until he brushed my clit. It was a feather light touch, but I buckled, gasping.

"You're still so wound up, sweetness. I could make you come all over my hand.”

"That sounds so dirty," I said breathlessly. I braced myself for more of the sweet torture, but he flipped me around instead and kissed me slowly, tenderly. 

"The things I want to do to you, Lori," he whispered when he pulled back, rubbing the tip of his erection against my belly. My knees became weaker with every rub. There was no mistaking the feral glint in his eyes. Clearly, he was making serious sexy plans already. I hadn't even thought beyond some messing around, but clearly, it was time to think bigger—sexier. I wasn't sure my body could even take more pleasure tonight, but I trusted Graham's abilities to ravish me.

And by God, did he ever ravish me.

"You corrupted my plan to sleep," I informed him a while later as he propped a pillow on the headrest and leaned against it. He pulled me to him until my back was flat against his chest. The circle of his arms was officially my favorite place in the world. Steely muscles, smooth skin. What was there not to love?

"This is better than sleep."

"So much better," I agreed. "I love this view. The moon and the water...."

"I like looking at the water. I house hunted for a property in this area for a long time. Finally bought it off a celebrity, even though the villa's not really my style. I thought about renovating, but it's too much hassle. The view sold me on the place. I grew up smack dab in the middle of the city, but I spent my vacations with my grandmother in Tampa. She lives near the beach. My best memories are from there. You'd like Nana."

"She still lives in Tampa?"

"Yeah. I tried talking her into moving here, but no chance. She moved there after divorcing my grandfather and is running a restaurant she bought. I think LA has too many unhappy memories for her."

His confession caught me by surprise. I hadn't expected him to share something so personal.

"You see her often?"

"I fly to Tampa on every major holiday."

"That's sweet."

I wasn't sure how things would be between us in the morning, but for now I wanted to enjoy this sexy man. As we lay like that, a low rumble echoed through the room.

"Someone's hungry." I rubbed my back against his stomach. Then I rubbed my own stomach, adding, "This someone is hungry too."

"Let's raid my kitchen."

"I don't eat this late at night. Calories count twice."

He cradled my legs between his thighs, rocking me while he pushed my hair to one side, kissing the back of my neck. Our closeness felt incredibly intimate.

"Lori, you're absolutely gorgeous. But if it eases your conscience, think of this as early breakfast."

His lips curled against the back of my neck. He was the devil. He really was. Was there anything he couldn't talk me into?

"You sure know how to spin words."

He took my words as a yes, which they were, and pulled me out of bed, dragging his knuckles against the side of my breast, then my ass, as if he had free reign to touch me. Which he had.

My skin turned to goose bumps, partly because he was touching me so shamelessly, but also because I felt a little exposed.

"Do you have a robe? Or I can use a towel to cover myself."

"I want you naked. It's a requirement."

"Really?"

"Yes."

I crossed my arms over my chest, pretending to be offended. In fact, I was weighing the pros and cons. I'd feel self-conscious parading naked around his house. But the heat in his gaze told me that he liked what he saw. This gave me leverage to ask for the same in return. A naked Graham definitely trumped any self-consciousness. Oh, yes, I think I'll do just that.

Discovering my naughty side was fun and... unexpected. Talk about Val and Landon not knowing how to have fun, but it seemed I'd forgotten too.

"I'll consider giving in to your request if you don't put on clothes either."

"Deal."

Damn! That had been too easy. I suspected I could have gotten a much better deal if only my negotiation skills were sharper. I tried my luck.

"I don't know...." I drew out the words, tracing a small circle on the carpet with my toe.

"You're not getting out of this room with your skin covered. I'm upgrading this to rule status."

"Fine."

He pulled me flush against him, kissing me. My body sizzled at the skin-on-skin contact, at the way my curves molded against his chest. We were a perfect fit. As we descended to his kitchen, one thought circled in my mind: I didn't want this night to end.