“You make focused faces. Focus is sexy. It makes me wonder about what other expressions you make when concentrating.”
I groaned. God, she was really just putting it all out there. Mari was never one to mince words. My head fell to her chest. I panted in and out, watching my exhalations harden her nipples through the fabric of her shirt. “I would be genuinely happy to show you.”
I felt her soft laugh under my cheek. “Okay,” she said on an exhale.
“Hmm?” My mouth brushed along her collarbone, inhaling her perfect scent. I was sweaty and couldn’t smell fresh, but she didn’t seem to mind. If anything, she was borderline feral as she ran her hands over me.
She pulled back to look at me in exactly the right way—pupils blown, mouth parted, and a thousand dirty thoughts passing through her mind. I would make all her darkest dreams come true. “Show me everything,” she demanded.
I growled. Quickly, I stood, swooping her up with me. She wrapped her long legs around my waist and her arms around my shoulders until I pressed her against the far wall tucked away in the only corner not lined with thick,soundproofing insulation. Desire took over. I wasn’t interested in anything but making her share more of these delicious confessions.
“Remember when you said that I should just feel what I feel and stop trying to push everything down, stop trying to control it?” she asked.
I nodded, watching closely as she licked her lips.
My mouth fell to her, licking or kissing or sucking any bit of exposed skin.
She closed her eyes, head falling back. “I think you’re right.”
“Good.” I kissed my way up her neck. I was rougher than I meant, and my short beard left the skin flushed where it rubbed against her.
“You’re very wise. I’ve started to take that to heart.”
“What do you feel right now?” I asked, heart hammering with hope.
“Like I might die if I don’t touch you. Not to be dramatic.”
I chuckled as I squeezed her hips. “I’vealreadydied and gone to heaven. Not to be dramatic,” I mirrored. I let her feel she wasn’t alone in these feelings of madness. She groaned as my length pressed firmly into her. “And will you let me touch you too?”
She whimpered.
“Say it,” I demanded.
Her knees fell together, and I pressed my thigh between hers to balance her. “I want it all.”
“Will you let me make you feel good?” I asked, my voice rough.
“Yes,” she said.
I gathered her long hair and collected it to lift it off the warm skin of her back. I inhaled her sweet, perfect scent at the junction of her neck and shoulder. Something had changed in her. She said she was ready to give in to this tension between us, but it didn’t mean I would accept her pushing me away the second this frenzy burned out.
“And after?” I asked, halting in my caresses and kisses.
She turned her head to meet my gaze. I blatantly studied how she licked her lips, memorizing every second.
“After?” I repeated. “I can’t go back, Mari,” I said.
“After...we will carry on until it doesn’t work anymore.” She swallowed with nerves.
It was just like the driving schedule. She gave herself to me in careful pieces. This was what I wanted. This was what I got.
“Until it doesn’t work anymore,” I repeated. I could play it cool. I could make her feel good. Part of me wanted it written down.Itbeing the promise of us. If only I could have a sort of legally binding government document. Maybe with other people to witness us sign it. Maybe with gold bands involved and aparty of all our closest friends and family. But one thing at a time. “I like that plan.”
I dropped my head and tasted her, kissed her softly until she opened her mouth to me. I explored her tongue with my own, savoring the ecstasy of her taste. My hand reached for her, pushing up her shirt to get to her soft skin. I smoothed every inch of her side, and I spanned her middle, thumb grazing the bottom of her breasts as my pinky caught on the snap of her jeans. But the angle wasn’t working like this. I needed more. I kissed her deeply. Pure, hot desire from my mouth to hers.
“I want to make you feel good,” I said.
“Yes. Please, Leo.”
