Page 194 of Stranger to Love

Her voice was thick, raspy with sleep, and completely stripped of its usual academic composure. I didn't fucking stop; I just hummed against her, the vibration making her let out a sharp, strangled cry. Her hands flew down, her fingers tangling frantically in my hair—not to pull me away, but to anchor herself as the world started to spin.

"Mmm, good morning," I mumbled against her, my tongue never breaking its pace.

"You... little brat," she panted, her hips stuttering in a desperate, uncoordinated search for more pressure. She sounded completely undone, her usual poise replaced by a raw, breathless need. This was the best fucking reaction I could have hoped for. Her thighs clamped firmly around my head, pinning me there as she realised exactly how far gone she already was.

She was not just awake now; she was electric. I could feel the tremors starting deep in her muscles, the coiling tension that said she was seconds away from the edge.

"Alex, please," she choked out, her head thrashing back into the pillow.

I’d never heard her sound so fucking desperate, so beautifully out of control. I leaned into it, my movements becoming faster, sharper, until she finally broke—her body stiffening into a single, rigid line before she collapsed into a series of long, shuddering waves, her voice echoing through the quiet bedroom as she called my name.

I finally let out a low, heavy groan of my own, the sound vibrating with a mix of relief and pure, unadulterated pride. I lingered for a second, licking up the last of her release before gently sliding her underwear back into place with a tenderness that contrasted the intensity of the last few minutes.

I crawled back up the bed, my muscles feeling loose and satisfied. I settled onto the pillow beside her, propping myself up on one elbow to admire my handiwork. My hair was a mess, and I was probably flushed to my collarbones, but I couldn’t stop the fucking smug, wide-eyed grin from spreading across my face.

"Good morning," I chirped, my voice sounding far more awake than I actually felt.

Carrie was currently a beautiful wreck. Her chest was still heaving, her skin flushed a deep, dusty rose, and her eyes were glazed as she stared at the ceiling, waiting for her heart rate to return from orbit.

She took a long, shaky breath, slowly turning her head to look at me. She tried to narrow her eyes, attempting to summon that sharp, authoritative glare that usually made students tremble, but she couldn’t quite manage it. Her lips twitched, and a strand of hair was stuck to her damp forehead.

"You," she rasped, her voice still a broken shadow of its usual self. She cleared her throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "That was... a very dangerous game to play, Alex."

"I recall you saying 'good luck with that,'" I reminded her, leaning in to press a soft, lingering kiss to her heated cheek. "Consider the luck used. Did you enjoy your wake-up call, Dr. Carter?"

Carrie let out a soft, defeated huff that turned into a reluctant smile. She reached out, her hand still trembling slightly as she tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "I suspect," she murmured, her gaze hardening slightly, "that you are only trying to butter me up for today.”

I chuckled, pressing a kiss to her palm as her hand slid down my cheek. “Maybe just a little.”

I let my hand glide down the emerald silk of her gown, tracing the curve of her hip. "Is it working?"

She narrowed her eyes and let out a soft, mock scoff. "You are already getting your way today, princess. There is absolutely no need to bribe me."

"I’ll be honest," I murmured, leaning in to press a trail of soft, lingering kisses across her collarbone and the swell of her chest. "I couldn't have told you what day it was when I woke up. I was far too distracted by the utterly beautiful, devastatingly breathtaking woman sleeping next to me. I simply couldn't help myself."

I bit back a smirk when I saw a fresh flush of pink creep across her chest at my words. Even after all this time, I still revelled in the way I could make her blush.

She hummed, her fingers threading through my hair as she tried—and failed—to maintain her usual stoic mask. "I don't believe you for a second," she whispered, though the way she arched toward me said otherwise.

I chuckled, suddenly hooking my arms around her waist and pulling her firmly on top of me. Carrie let out a sharp gasp, her hands flying to my shoulders to steady herself. She tried to maintain that narrow-eyed, professor-like composure, but it was hard to look intimidating when you were flushed and breathless in a silk nightgown.

I trailed my hands down the length of her back, my smirk widening. "I know that no matter what, Mommy is taking me to get a puppy today."

Carrie stiffened for a heartbeat, her pupils dilating at the name. She scoffed, trying to regain her footing. "I won’t be doing anything of the sort if you continue to act like a brat, Alexandria. Only good girls get puppies."

I gave her a slow, innocent smile that I knew she didn't believe for a second. "Well, it’s a good thing I’m being very good, then. Like I said—no bribes. I just wanted to make you feel good."

As I spoke, I let my hand glide down, slipping between her thighs. She hitched a breath, her knees framing my hips as I found that lingering heat again.

"You came so quickly the second you woke up," I murmured, my voice dropping to a low, suggestive hum. "You must still feel so... worked up. It would be a shame to leave you like this, wouldn't it?"

Carrie dropped her head forward, her forehead resting against mine as she let out a long, defeated exhale. "You are pushing your luck," she whispered, her grip on my shoulders tightening as she stopped fighting and started leaning into my touch.

I fucking loved this. It was like I’d caught her in the perfect window—she still owned me, but she was giving me the lead in this moment, and I thrived when she let me take it. I didn't want to tease her; I wanted her to have exactly what she needed.

I shifted my hands to her hips, trailing kisses from her cheek down to the curve of her neck. As she dropped her head onto my shoulder, I slid her knickers down. I didn't bother taking them off fully; I didn't want her moving an inch. I liked it like this—like we were both too fucking desperate to waste time on something as mundane as undressing.

She rewarded my urgency with a soft whimper in my ear that set me on fire. Keeping a firm grip on one hip, my other hand began to explore, my fingers brushing through her folds and coating themselves in her heat. I groaned happily; I could have spent the entire fucking day like this. Carrie buried her face deeper into the crook of my neck, her body beginning to move involuntarily, seeking more.