14. Naomi

I didn't knowwhat the hell I was doing, but I knew I wanted to learn with him.

The lessons gave me a freedom I hadn't realized I needed. When we were in session, there were no stupid questions.

It was freeing.

And empowering.

And okay, intimidating.

His silvery blue eyes were at half mast as he slid his fingers into my hair and drew me closer. "What kind of lesson do you want, Naomi?"

I squeezed my thighs together before I scooted closer to him and knelt on the couch. The whole thing felt awkward. Did I go back to the floor? Crouch over him? But I wanted to figure it out. Wanted to become someone who wasn't nervous at the idea of sex.

He seemed to know how to read me and my body language. Every single time.

He stroked one big hand down my neck to the space between my shoulder blades and down the dip in my spine then back up. Like I was a cat who needed a long, sweet stroke to be urged closer.

I guess both of us liked a good purr.

I sat on my feet and bowed my head to nuzzle against his chest first. I was used to so many people with tattoos these days, it was surprising to find him ink free. Just golden skin with a light dusting of hair on his pecs.

Strong and built from his work, from taking care of his body, from just pure good genetics as far as I could tell.

He slipped my hair over my shoulder to pool against his chest and belly as I lowered myself to take him in hand. He was warm and so hard. Like his skin was stretched to its limit. Lightly, I stroked his length then slid up to cover his flared head.

"Harder."

I peered up at him and couldn't resist straightening to kiss his slash of a mouth. My breast brushed my hand and his shaft as the kiss spun out. I didn't realize I was squeezing him as I kissed him and he dragged in a ragged breath between kisses.

"Naomi."

Instinctively, I pressed him against my breast and precum warmed my skin. I wiped it away with my finger and licked it clean.

His eyes were fully hooded now, and his jawline tight.

I wanted to ask questions.

They burned through my brain, but I stayed silent. I wanted to read the cues instead. It wasn't like I'd never given a blowjob before, but it had never felt this exciting. Almost as if it was connecting us. His fingers gripped my hair as he dragged my mouth back up to him and the kiss turned raw.

A hungry meeting of mouths that was more of an attack than easy and fun.

"Tell me what's good. What you need." My voice was pure moan as I said it. I could see the indecision cross his features. "Right now. Don't filter it."

"Your mouth. Deep as you can."

I gripped him, absorbing his groan as I covered him. The salt and silky heat urged me to take more.

His hand slipped lower on my back, and I concentrated on relaxing around him. On the pressure of his touch when his cock bumped the back of my throat.

He liked that.

I sucked in a breath and went for more.

"Naomi." His hips lifted and he went deeper.

It was overwhelming and spots blurred at the edges of my vision as tears instantly formed. Not in frustration, just from the fullness and the reflex of my body. But I was greedy for more, even as my body went haywire from it.

From wanting to give and take at the same time.

The musky scent of him. The cedar and salt mixed on my tongue. The vein that throbbed at the underside of his head as I swirled my tongue there. It seemed to make him suck in a breath. I needed a breath and cupped him there. My mouth and hands worked in tandem for a few moments before I needed a break again.

But the soothing strokes on my back became a kneading, then his fingers twisted in my hair so he could see me. "Naomi, fuck. Am I hurting you?"

The sounds of my mouth on his cock seemed like it was coming from someone else. Greedy gulps that made me squirm with the needs growing inside of me, as well. I shook my head and went back for more.

His hand tightened, trying to pull me back.

Was that a sign he was close?

I heard my name distantly, but I was too far gone. I wanted it. Wanted his cum in my mouth, down my throat. The taste of him was as wild as the moment. It was more than I was prepared for, and I choked a little, but I took it all.

Swallowed every bit before my butt collapsed back on my feet on the cushion.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand as I sat up.

His chest was heaving and his head tipped had back on the couch. His arm was slung over his face as if he'd just run miles.

That restlessness was back. I wasn't quite sure what to do, so I started to get up and he dragged me back against him, burying his face in my neck as he cupped my breast roughly, then his hand slid down between my thighs.

"You wrecked me, and you think you're getting away?"

The hot, wired look in his eyes ramped up my already overstimulated system. "Don't you need recovery time?"

"To fuck you, yes. RIP my dick, but not to do this." He drove two, then three fingers into me and I cried out.

I was swollen and dripping. I didn't even realize how turned on I'd gotten doing that, but he knew.Knew exactly what I needed.

No sweetness here.

Nope, there was just that tiger I'd glimpsed before. The one who'd pushed me against the door the night before.

The peak was furiously brutal as he held onto me and shoved me back along the arm of the couch. As his mouth covered my nipple, he never stopped driving into me. My legs shook as I arched up.

Distantly, I heard something crash to the floor as I shouted out for mercy that definitely wasn't coming. Thank God. There was only Colder, and finally, a release so good I had no choice but to melt into the leather.

He laid his cheek on my belly as we both gasped for breath. We were a shipwrecked duo.

I was little more than a rag doll when he lifted me off the couch.

I was getting the prince carry for the first time in my whole life, and my brain was too scrambled to appreciate it. He walked around to his bed and rolled us both in.

His hair was standing on end and he'd gone from heated sex god to sweetly boyish as he tucked me under his arm and pulled the sheet over us.

I wasn't sure when I'd fallen asleep. Even when I'd moved.

The spring sunshine had waned to little more than a streak across the blankets when I resurfaced.

Colder was still out like a light. He was on his stomach with his arm banded across me, his face away from me.

He was heavy and…

I tried to pull the words into my muzzled brain. I'd never been good at napping. Though I wasn't sure we could call what that was napping.

More like passing out after a marathon.

And I hadn't even had actual sex with him yet.

A persistent beep started filling the room.

Colder groaned. "It can't be six yet."

The beeps turned to a drum beat and then a song. The growly voice of a singer I vaguely knew, but couldn't have named. It was an older song.

I squeaked when he rolled over and tugged my back against his body, so I was completely enveloped in his warmth and scent.

"Hi."

I glanced over my shoulder with a smile. "Hello." My eyes widened at his erection poking against my butt.

"So soft and warm. If I had time, I'd show you what fuzzy, warm sex is like."

"You don't have time?"

"Not for the first time I get inside you, Naomi. I want to take my time."

"You can take your time the next time."

He groaned against my neck and filled his hand with my breast.

I rocked back against him. "Please."

We'd done it all but this one thing. I didn't want him to disappear on me without knowing what it felt like.

"Fuck. As if I've been able to say no to you about anything." He rolled over to the tiny nightstand beside his bed and fumbled into the drawer. "This is extra credit. Not a lesson."

"I don't care what it is."

His eyes met mine. "Good." He rolled the condom on and tugged me back against him again. "Are you ready for me?" His hand slipped between my legs, and he groaned. "Still wet from me earlier? Or were you dreaming hot dreams about dragon shifters?"

There'd been no dreams.

Nothing but pure blackness and safety.

I dragged in a breath as I realized that was the word I'd been looking for earlier.

I felt safe.

"Just you," I said into the pillow.

"Again," he said against my ear.

"Just you."

"That's right." He strummed his fingers over my slit and stroked my clit just as he slid inside.

I sighed at the fullness. Tensed slightly at the invasion and then acclimated to him. The stretching and the lingering restlessness coalesced into liquid gold.

His hips and mine synced up to the beat throbbing through the room as if it was coaching us into just what we needed.

I didn't hear the words, just knew the rhythm and the sublime ride through easy strokes into more forceful ones. As I rolled forward to bite his arm as his fingers dug into my hips for leverage.

I cried out for more as he unlocked something shimmery and glorious inside of me. In the dim light of evening with the bass coalescing into the slap of flesh. His strong arm slid around me and slid my knee up higher for another angle that was exactly what I needed.

I clamped down on him as his thrusts slowed and his hips drove me into the bed with tiny pulses that kicked me over into bliss. He buried his face into my neck, wrapping around me like no other man had in my life.

I was very afraid that this not-a-lesson was going to show me things I would never find again.

He kissed my shoulder as our systems leveled off post-release. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to start that to leave you so soon."

"It's okay."

"I have to take a quick shower."

I sat up and stretched my arms up. "I'll let you get ready."

I really could use the space right now anyway. My body felt pummeled and loose and overwhelmed at the same time.

He slid out of bed and grabbed the Henley he'd given me to wear earlier. "Take it. I definitely don't want anyone to see you in that pink coat."

I pulled it over my head. "Why?"

He crawled onto the bed and gave me a hot kiss. "Because you have my marks all over you." He hopped off the bed in all his muscular and naked glory. "And they're for me."

I wasn't sure what that meant. He wanted me to be a secret?

Or just for himself?

Or…something else.

So many things to think about.

"Naomi?"

I turned my head toward his voice.

"Come to the bar tonight. I want to see you."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Good." He grinned and disappeared into the bathroom.

I gathered my things and winced at the soreness of my body. I could use a shower myself. And that hot cross bun hadn't been nearly filling enough. The shirt was nearly a dress on me, but it was obvious it was a men's shirt.

As I let myself out, I smiled.

My first walk of shame.

Only I didn't feel an ounce of shame about it. I was revved to start work on my book again.

I slipped inside my apartment and found Iona asleep on the couch with old episodes of TheOffice playing. Part of me wanted to wake her up, but I needed a little time to process what had just happened.

Alone.

I took my laptop from the coffee table and went into my bedroom.

Perhaps I'd leave Colder's scent on me a little longer.

Maybe it would help me be brave and write some new words.