Her muscles quivered, and he helped her sit up, his face wet from her. Her hand shaking, she used her thumb to swipe across his chin. He grabbed her thumb and sucked it, his gaze still dark with unquenched desire. He handed her wineglass to her, and she took a couple long swallows to quench the raw thirst in her throat, but it didn’t quench her thirst for him.
She was afraid it would take a long time for that thirst to be slaked.
He lifted her into his arms and placed her on her feet. All she wore was her skirt and bra, which was off-kilter. He was still completely dressed, his hard c**k visible against his dark slacks.
He grabbed her hand. “Come on.”
He led her down the hall, her bare feet padding along the wood floor toward the master bedroom that was all burgundy and cream and wide windows overlooking the ocean. She wished it was daylight so she could see outside, but there were open French doors leading to the terrace, a soft breeze blowing inside, and a lazy fan circling over the . . .
Oh, my God.
A bed that could sleep at least six people.
Now she understood the appeal of this house for Gavin.
It was the bed. Had to be the bed.
She wondered how many people he’d had in that bed at one time.
“You rent this house before?”
“I own this house, Elizabeth.”
Yes, it definitely made sense.
“Plan many orgies?” she asked as she wandered into the room and stopped at the foot of the massive four-poster.
He frowned. “Huh?”
“That bed is not made for one, or two, people to sleep in.”
He continued to give her a confused look, then glanced at the bed and back at her. “Oh. I sprawl. I like a big bed.”
“Gavin, that goes beyond big bed. That’s the kind of bed a polygamist would covet.”
“I don’t have orgies, Elizabeth.” He grabbed a remote off one of the nightstands, pushed a button and the drapes started to close.
“Oh, please, don’t shut all the night out. I like it open and breezy. It’s not like you have peeping neighbors or anything.”
He clicked the button and reopened them.
“Thank you.”
He tossed the remote to the table. “Undress.”
She put her hands on her hips. “You like giving orders.”
He moved in front of the bed and casually leaned against the footboard. “Don’t make me tell you again.”
She tilted her head back and laughed. “Or, what? You’ll spank me? You want my clothes off, Gavin, get your ass over here and undress me.”
His eyes went dark, and oh, God. There it was. That not-quitethere smile, the one that screamed secrets.
Except his smile fled, and he stared her down, the heat swirling in his eyes. And then he advanced on her.
For a second, she trembled.
And she never trembled.
Whether it was excitement or raw desire she didn’t know, but he was on her in seconds, her bra ripped and tossed to the ground. He grabbed her skirt, and she felt the strength of his hands at her zipper.
“Wait. Fine, I’ll do it.”
He stopped and stepped back, a smirk on his face as she drew the zipper down and let the skirt fall to the floor.
“Asshole,” she said as she stepped out of it. “That underwear cost a fortune.”
He didn’t apologize, instead raked his gaze over her naked body, and any anger she felt fled in the face of the heated, hungry look on his face.
He unbuttoned his shirt, pulled it off, and tossed it on top of her skirt, then undid the button on his pants and jerked the zipper down. He kicked off his shoes and dropped his pants then his boxer briefs. His erection bobbed up, making her lick her lips and crave the feel of his c**k in her hands and mouth.
He was magnificent and everything she could have imagined. Lean, with muscled abs and thick biceps, tan and sexy, and as he jerked her into his arms, she couldn’t think of any place she’d rather be, even though she knew there were a thousand reasons they shouldn’t be doing this.
And a million reasons why she wanted to.
TWO
ELIZABETH’S BREATH CAUGHT AS GAVIN JERKED HER against him, turned her around so her back pressed against his chest.
Her heart pounded, her body on fire, the need and desire so fierce it nearly drove her to her knees.
“You sure about this? I won’t ask again.”
She was shaking, the tension in the room so thick she felt she could reach out and touch it.
“I’m sure.”
In actuality, she was sure of nothing. Never give up control, Elizabeth.
She blinked several times, blocking out the warning.
His warm breath billowed against her neck, making her shiver. He reached for her hair, pulled out the barrette and the carefully crafted pins holding it in place, then tangled his fingers in it, smoothing it out over her shoulders.
“Your hair is beautiful.” He pressed his nose against the strands. “Smells so good. You always wear it up. You should wear it down more often.”
He smoothed his hands over her shoulders, down her arms, and back up again. Goose bumps pricked her skin, but she wasn’t cold. She was so heated internally now she was on fire.
“Turn around, Elizabeth.”
She pivoted, and the heat in his eyes was a blast furnace of need. She’d never been looked at the way Gavin looked at her now, as if he were so hungry for her he couldn’t wait to have her.
It was raw, primal, and made her shiver with anticipation.
He grazed his knuckles across her cheek, the action so tender it made her knees weak. He laid his palm on her neck, then let his hand slide down her collarbone and over her br**sts, cupping one in his hand.
“Your body is perfect. Soft.” He swept his thumb over her nipple, and she gasped. “Made to be touched. Why haven’t you let anyone touch you in so long?”
He rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, the sensations shooting to her pu**y, making her come alive with need and desire. She reached out and grasped his arms. Her legs shook, and she was afraid she was going to drop. But Gavin reached around her back to hold her and bent his lips to her breast, taking a nipple between his lips to suck.
“Oh, God, yes,” she cried, needing that pain to satisfy her pleasure. She tangled her fingers in his hair, the desire to touch him only amplified by the sensation of his lips and teeth on her. He grazed her breast, sucking the skin.
When he let go of her, she was panting and dizzy with need.