Page 70 of Sterling Heat

“I’m not sure . . . I mean, I tried on my own . . . but it wasn’t happening.” She looks away, embarrassed by the admission before glancing back at me. “I’m a little scared, and if it doesn’t happen for me, I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

Giving her a confident smirk, I say, “Baby, it’s going to happen. We’ll take our time. There’s no rush. It doesn’t all have to be tonight. Just let me kiss you. Touch you.”

Fuck, my patience is unraveling. I don’t know if I can go slow, but for her, I’ll try.

Hell, now I’m anxious but I lead her to the couch and take a seat. Spreading my legs, I guide her to sit before me, between my thighs with her back to my chest.

I scoop all her hair over one shoulder and kiss along her neck. Her head tilts to the side, allowing me more access to her soft skin. Inhaling, she smells rain fresh like the day we met.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted you? How much I think about you?” I murmur to her flesh. Warn myself to be patient, I’m hasty when I sip harder at her neck and scrape my teeth along the column of her throat.

“How long?” She stammers before I nip her harder, sucking at the juncture of her shoulder and neck. Her breath catches. Her pulse skips. She hitches up her shoulder while leaning into me.

“Since that first moment in my bakery. No, before that. When you fell outside of it.”

“So embarrassing,” she whispers, struggling as I continue to suck at her skin, pushing the loose collar of her dress aside and open mouth kissing her shoulder. Her breath catches again and her shoulder flinches up toward her ear.

“What?” I murmur, moving on to her nape.

“That tickles, but it feels so good.” Her voice is low, throaty and strained.

I squeeze at her shoulders, digging my thumbs into the muscles behind them, wanting her to relax. “Do you trust me?”

“Always.” Her breathless response has me eager to please her. Eager to deserve her confidence.

Massaging her shoulders, while sipping at her neck, she turns her head, so our mouths meet again. Kissing her is better than perfectly frosted lemon cake or chasing a high.

Her mouth is a new drug for me.

One I knew I’d be addicted to if I ever got a second taste. She’s the perfect blend of sweet and fresh, melting on my tongue and making me hungry for more.

Her, and Adara, wrapped up in one pretty package. A gift for only me.

Chapter 21

[Enya]

I’m kissing Sebastian Sylver.

Holy shit. I’m kissing Sebastian Sylver, and I’ve never been kissed like this. It’s all lips and tongue and teeth.

His teeth are just incredible. Every nip. Every tease.

Gradually, his hands move from my shoulders down my back and around my sides. As his fingers lightly brush the outer edge of my breasts, I stiffen.

“What?” Sebastian hums into my neck, stilling his hands.

Oh my God, his teeth in that spot. I can’t think for a second.

“It’s just . . . those are still Adara’s.” If I started leaking, it would be so embarrassing.

Sebastian murmurs against my skin, his nose tickling my neck. “She’s a damn lucky girl.” The vibration of his words slithers between the valley of my breasts and straight down to my lower belly.

No, I’m the lucky one because this amazing man is kissing me, touching me. Giving of himself once again to prove to me I can do this. I can orgasm. I can be touched.

I clench my thighs. A spark developed down there, where I’d thought the flame had flickered out. But I’m still young, and I’m still eager for intimacy. It just didn’t seem like an immediate possibility.

As I said to Sebastian, I didn’t want his pity, but my conscience has stepped out the door, and I’ll take whatever he gives me as long as he gives me something.