“That was what I wanted for my reward,” he told her. “A kiss from you.”
More than his next breath. So much his chest ached.
If they kissed, though, he’d need to keep hold of himself until she was willing to take it further. Until they had privacy and time and a comfortable bed nearby.
“You want a kiss?” She tipped her chin upward, a mute challenge in her bright, sharp eyes. “Take it, then.”
So he did.
Seven
Poppy’s mouthwas a revelation beneath his. Soft, warm, eager, sweet with mint.
She must have brushed her teeth between periods, just in case this happened, his rational brain deduced, before his rational brain entirely left the premises.
He took it slow, exploring every corner of those wide, plush lips, her sweet face cupped in his hands as she leaned back against her desk and he stepped into the cradle of her body. The electric charge of the contact dizzied him, buzzing in his ears as she opened her mouth for his tongue.
Her lower lip was trembling between his, its inner surface slick, and suddenly his hand was buried in her hair, twisted below one of those adorable buns, and he inhaled with a gasp before swooping down to kiss her again. Their tongues tangled, and he was sucking on hers, and she was making little sounds in her throat that seared a path straight to his cock.
“Hold on,” she panted. “The door—I need to lock it, and maybe wedge a chair—Shit, Simon—”
She tore herself from his arms and half-ran to the door, locking it, before yanking down the shades over her windows.
“Which chair do you think—” she began, and he couldn’t stand it any longer.
He caught up with her partway to the door, removed the student chair from her hands, hauled her close, and backed her into the nearby wall, her mouth open under his even before her shoulders hit the shelves.
Her tongue chased his this time, swirling and exploring until he saw nothing but light behind his eyelids. She shoved up his shirt, yanking it free from his pants, and splayed those capable artist’s hands on his hot back, and he lurched against her in reaction.
Both his own hands were tangled in her hair now, angling her head so he could drag his open mouth over her jaw and down the pale length of her neck, then back up. Her short nails bit into his back as he licked the curve of her ear.
“You wore a dress today.” He bit her lobe, and she moaned. “For me?”
Her frantic little nod, he rewarded with another fevered kiss.
When he raised his head again, she clutched his hips and whispered, “Wanted to look pretty for our last day together.”
“You’re always pretty. Always.” Disentangling his right hand from her hair, he reached for the hem of that flirty, silky dress. “And this isn’t our last day, but—”
Oh, a dress was so much easier than jeans, and her thigh was so soft and dimpled and warm under his palm.
With the hand still buried in her hair, he tipped her head to meet his gaze before exploring further. Higher. “Okay?”
“Yes.” Her throat worked as she swallowed, and he sucked at the spot. “Yes, please.”
Her cheeks were flushed now, her lips as swollen as he’d imagined, and he wanted to watch her come with an agony of desperation he’d never experienced before.
“Look at me,” he rasped. “Look at me as I touch you.”
She wet her lips and nodded as much as she could with his fist in her hair, and then he was pulling her cotton panties down those lovely thighs, just far enough so he could explore her without any obstructions.
He palmed her sex, and her head thumped against the shelves as she gasped, but she held his stare. Her hair was coarse between her legs, her flesh slick and hot, and he couldn’t wait.
He wouldn’t.
Her eyes went hazy with the first stroke of his fingertips, her mouth parted for each rapid inhalation. She was so soft, plump and delicate against his hand, and so responsive to each light, exploring pass over her flesh. Her back arched, the breath seemingly punched from her lungs as he brushed his forefinger over her clit, and he watched her pupils expand with each gentle circle, each rub.
Her shaking thighs spread further, and her cheek was hot against his as he whispered in her ear, “Does that feel good, Poppy?”
