“Can’t help it. You smell too fucking good. What is that, vanilla?”
“Daph-daphne,” I managed as he sucked the sensitive spot behind my ear harder than before, enough that I was pretty sure he’d leave a mark. “Ronan…” His name came out like a moan.
“Do you need me to stop? Say no. I’m begging you.”
I should have said yes. And I knew he would listen. Maybe it was because I knew how hard he was trying to respect my wishes, whether it was in the form of a contract or eschewing alcohol or even trying to sleep in a separate room when we were both clearly dying for another taste of each other, that I finally gave in to what my body had been asking for since I’d stepped off that plane.
“No,” I whispered. “But Ronan, I don’t want to… you know… all the way.”
Why was I finding it so hard to say “have penetrative sex” out loud? The man already had it in writing that I was open to experimenting with a variety of toys. This was getting ridiculous.
And yet, he was as patient as ever as the hand at my waist slithered up to palm one of my breasts before toying with mynipples. “Hands only, I promise. Just let me touch you, Ari. I think we both need that tonight. I need something real.”
This time I couldn’t help but arch back against him as he tugged at that aching bead. Yeah, he was definitely back to full attention, and now so was I. Something real, he said. As opposed to the masks we had both worn, I supposed.
Here in the dark, neither of us had to wear any kind of expression nor be anything other than genuine to the other.
That’s what Ronan was asking of me, I realized. Not a play. Not any kind of performance.
Just my responses, pure and simple, to whatever he had to offer.
“Just one,” I heard myself say. I could have meant one thousand. Numbers didn’t seem to matter anymore.
“Just one,” Ronan agreed. “For now, anyway.”
Then he turned me in his arms, and his mouth found mine in the dark. My hands moved on their own, exploring the taut skin that was alternately smooth over shoulder, biceps, the edges of his clavicles, then roughened by a light down deliciously masculine hair over his chest and sternum.
“Ronan,” I gasped just before his tongue slipped in to meet mine.
“Ari,” he mumbled as his hands slipped down to palm and squeeze my ass. “Laney.”
He was hard between my legs, sliding against the thin cotton of my underwear, working my flesh with his hands like his mouth was working mine. For all his humor, Ronan Black was a man of discipline here in this bed. Every movement was earnest and full of intent. I didn’t doubt him for one moment.
“All right?” he asked as his finger dipped between my legs, toying with the elastic.
I sucked in a heated breath as they found where I was already wet for him. Soaked, even. “Yes.”
“I’m going to need more than that, baby. More? Less?” His finger toyed at my entrance. Never slipping in. Waiting for me to guide them home.
Oh God. It was unbearable.
“Do it.” I could barely eke out the command.
“Do what, sweetness?” A second finger joined the other two in their shallow torture while the flat of his thumb found my clit. “You think you can take more than two?”
I shuddered against his mouth. “Yes, do it. Ronan, I swear, if you don’t, I’m going to…”
He chuckled. “Do what, Laney? You’re going to have to say it, or it’s never going to happen.”
I was all but whimpering now, my hips rotating into that teasing touch, as frustrated as I was turned on, enough to elicit the kind of language, the kind of uncontrolled response that never seemed to happen except with this man. “Do—oh God—Ronan, you need to—just put them in. Fuck me with your hand.”
“Your wish is my command.” His fingers slipped into me, two, then a third, and to my shock, I was ready for the intrusion. More than ready. Eager for more.
“Greedy.” Ronan’s deep voice was a low vibration against my neck. “Squeeze my hand, Laney. Take what you need.”
His fingers curled, and I arched with a moan. “Oh, fuck, Ronan!”
“That’s right, give me that filth. I want you to lose control, baby. Forget how to be responsible and perfect and all the things you feel you have to be for everyone but yourself. I want to feel you let go.”
