Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

A lexandra

Breathless.

How many times had the sensual, handsome man made me feel that way? Or how many times had a single look from him forced shivers down the back of my neck all the way to my toes?

More times than I could count.

I had it bad for the man, but something had shifted dramatically between us. I’d wanted to shut him down as he’d done to me, pushing him away before it was too late. I’d guessed that with being around him less than a week, it would be easy to let go and close Pandora’s lid.

I was wrong.

No longer was I embarrassed, feeling inadequate because I was certain he had so much more experience. I felt more like a woman in control than I had my entire adult life. It wasn’t just about the way he was looking at me, as if he would torch the world to keep me with him. I was finally letting go of my personal inhibitions, learning to love myself.

I wasn’t there yet, but that was just fine with me. My mind was reeling, my heart thudding and my pulse skyrocketing. What did that tell me?

Maybe that I was right where I needed to be at this point in my life.

As I reached behind my back, he sat up, folding his arms over his bent knees. He had tousled hair from the ride, the four-day dark stubble on his face giving him a ranch hand rugged look. I preferred this more than his sophisticated appearance.

He wasn’t smiling, his expression blank, but his eyes were forever watching.

I removed my bra, my hands no longer shaking from the ride or anything else. Fortunately, I wasn’t wearing cowboy boots like he was, easily able to kick off my tennis shoes. He’d teased me about them, but I wasn’t going to try to shove socks in a pair of his work boots.

What a fashion statement.

The mesmerizing effect of the look in his eyes was something special. I was torn between allowing him to finish removing my clothes and doing it myself. This I needed for me, the removal of material covering my body symbolic.

Maybe.

A smile crossed my face as I unfastened and lowered my jeans and thong at the same time, stepping out of them.

When I was fully naked, I beckoned to him. I even swayed my hips back and forth as an incentive.

He didn’t need any further push, rising to his full height. God, the man was so tall. I took several deep breaths as he removed his attire, shucking everything aside as if going nude was the way to go. He didn’t advance right away, merely taking a single step in my direction. I gave him an authoritative look and beckoned again.

When he hesitated, I shook my head. “Don’t make me come over there.”

I’d surprised him, the laugh more seductive than before. I also adored that about him. When he was able to let go.

We were both a little broken, just for different reasons. Maybe.

I planted one hand on my hip and he pointed a finger at his chest. His smile could light up a world. I wanted to tell him he needed to allow his smile to show more often.

He took another long stride forward and stopped, searching my eyes. I yawned in response, tapping my foot as well. It was fun to be in control for a change.

As if that would last.

After he took another long stride, he stopped just out my reach or me of his. Was this some kind of Mexican standoff? He wasn’t going to win even if he believed he was.

I couldn’t help laughing at the expression on his face. So goofy. Then it turned completely serious as he closed the distance, still yet to take me into his arms.

“ Sei riuscito a risvegliare la mia anima morta con il tuo sorriso e la tua gentilezza. Dovresti essere qui. Proprio al mio fianco .” His accent was soft and his eyes full of reflection.

It was on the tip of my tongue to have him translate. Maybe I didn’t want to ruin it.

“You managed to awaken my dead soul with your smile and kindness. You are supposed to be here. Right by my side.”

The words almost made me emotional, but I fought another round of tears. This wasn’t the moment to let go, falling into my fears. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me onto my toes. The closeness was special, the way two people who were falling in love were supposed to be. I was lost in the sweetest moment, the warmth of the sun and the kiss of the light breeze a perfect backdrop to our hunger.

Light to his darkness. Was that possible?

His kiss was softer this time, more fulfilling even than those I craved with his roughness. I relished the taste of him, the taste of the wine we’d consumed still on our lips. There was much to say between us, but not now. Words were overrated.

Unless they were in Italian, of course.

Nico pulled me as close as humanly possible, molding our bodies together as our tongues entwined. As he pulled us both to the blanket, I could feel his heart beating against my chest. I was lightheaded, but I suspected he was as well.

When he broke the kiss, he used his thumb to lift my chin, licking across my jaw and down the side of my neck. I wasn’t trembling, but excitement tore through me. I was shocked how easily I could become overheated around him. I was even slightly tense because I knew what he was capable of.

Intense passion.

He remained gentle, kissing and licking down between my breasts, barely taking one nipple into his mouth before the other. I was fully aroused, unable to keep from rolling my hands over his shoulders. I squeezed both as I did so. He was far too muscular, the feel of his hot skin exacerbating the buildup of lava in my core.

I had no idea a single man was capable of lighting me on fire.

He pulled me down further, immediately resting between my legs. I didn’t fight him as I’d done before when he bent both, pushing them back to my chest and open wide. I did curl my fingers in his thick hair the moment he swirled his tongue around my clit. A single but elongated moan slipped past my lips.

He was the master of using his mouth and this beautiful afternoon was no exception. The moment he dragged his tongue all the way down the length of my pussy, I bucked hard against him.

But he didn’t need to hold me down.

I raked my other hand through my hair as he tugged on his. When I closed my eyes, I noticed flashes of light. I heard my soft moans, but they seemed surreal. He was growling, but softer than normal as he feasted on my pussy. Within seconds, he slipped a single finger inside, wiggling it several times.

I bucked again, almost pulling out strands of his hair. He wasn’t paying any attention, enjoying the moment of licking to his heart’s content. There were so many thoughts racing through my mind and this time, all beautiful and intoxicating ones. Much like his rich scent, the fragrance of freshly cut timber, citrus, and something else exotic infused my senses.

Such power.

Such beauty.

I couldn’t think any longer as he drove three other fingers inside, pumping more roughly than before as he licked and sucked on my clit. The orgasm I knew I’d experience wasn’t going to wait for long. It was less patient than the man himself.

The thought goofy, I tossed my head back and forth as I smiled. The man made me feel silly, a little bit crazy.

His growls intensified and for some reason, the sound was a powerful aphrodisiac.

The climax refused to be denied, sweeping through me in such an incredible way. I was pulled off the blanket, arching my back and gasping.

He was growling, licking me furiously and driving his thumb into my asshole. The moment was special and sweet, crazy and wild.

One orgasm quickly morphed into something even more spine tingling. Nico pushed open my legs as far as they would go, his animalistic sounds adding to the moment. He was like a crazed man, refusing to let me go for a full five minutes.

I was exhausted, trying to keep my wits about me. When I finally opened my eyes, it was like I was in an intense fog. Panting, I licked my lips, my mouth far too dry. I craved crawling to him and sucking on his huge cock.

But he’d resumed control, just like I’d thought he would.

Maybe just like I’d wanted him to do.

When he finally eased my legs onto the blanket, I lolled my head to the side. Bad decision. I didn’t notice until it was too late that he’d eased his carved butt on the blanket until he’d jerked me over his lap.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, but of course I knew exactly what he had planned.

“Just providing a slight reminder that you are not only a bad girl at heart, but also will never be in charge.”

“You said I was a very good girl. You stalked me for years.”

That only brought a crack of his hand. “I wasn’t stalking you. I was… watching you. I was caring about you from afar.”

“Afar, my ass.”

That got me four rather brutal cracks of his hand in a rapid-fire succession. “See?” It was as if my bad words were complete confirmation of my status.

He wasted no time, shifting his huge hand from one side of my bottom to the other. Yes, there was pain. Yes, I was growling just like he’d done, but I was also happily lost in the moment of his full dominance.

I accepted the round of punishment, knowing in my heart he wouldn’t be able to hold off for long.

Six more smacks of his hand against my aching butt and he was finished.

With no difficulties, no hesitation, he positioned me on his lap. I had to straddle his hips, adoring his loopy grin. His cock was standing at full attention, pressing against my stomach. But he quickly changed his expression as he cupped the side of my face.

I wasn’t certain what had popped into his mind, but I knew he cared about me. It was easy to read. I rose up from his lap, positioning his shaft and slowly lowering my body.

There truly was nothing like the feel of my pussy muscles expanding, the deliciousness of the moment allowing me to tingle all over. I adored being outside, being bad in every way. It added to the feeling of freedom.

He gripped my hips with both hands, lifting me almost all the way off his cock. When he brought me down, it was rougher than what I’d done, expanding my muscles once again. I adored the sensations rocketing through me and gripped his shoulders. Together we rocked, our bodies overheated but full of life.

We wanted to stare into each other’s eyes as we fucked. I wasn’t certain what that said other than we were getting closer. The beauty of the moment was something I’d remember for a long time to come.

If only we could stay this way.

The rocking brought friction and with that, our combined heavy breathing.

I crowded as close to him as possible. His cock was pulsing. My heart was still hammering in my chest. And the stars I’d seen before were out in full force. Being with him was like the perfect fantasy.

My mind was still in euphoric places from before, but he was pushing me hard again. He wanted me to come with him.

His body was tensing, his eyes never blinking. I could swear the man was looking right through me, capturing parts of my soul I hadn’t known existed.

My mind was free, my body finally shaking as another orgasm neared, waiting for his command.

How did he know?

“Come with me, little flower. Here. Now. Together.”

There was something so seductive about his voice that I was pulled into his darkness if only for a few moments. But I could see his pain, not just feel it.

Guilt was a tough feeling to get over. No matter how much time or how life had evolved. But he was doing his best to shake the wretched feeling.

As another rush of vibrations jetted through me, he threw his head back. The cords in the side of his neck were strained, his jaw clenched. But that didn’t stop his animalistic roar as he released deep inside of me.

When I let go, allowing the third climax to grab ahold of me, I knew I was free.

A little flower turning into a bird.

We collapsed against each other, the man holding me so close I was warm and comfy. There was nothing like being in his arms. He was solid, hard as a brick wall. I tried to control my breathing as he rubbed my back. From where I was, I could see the water. It was crystal clear and bubbling. I loved how the shoreline was sloped, grassy knolls on either side. I did love the estate.

More so than I’d ever thought I would.

“Is this something magical?” I asked him. “Am I the one?” I leaned back and knew he wasn’t going to answer.

The odd combination of sadness and guilt returned, but there was such a different powerful emotion that I couldn’t read him at all. We’d just made love and I prayed he wasn’t shutting down all over again.

I wasn’t certain if I could take that.

He was always so possessive when he cupped the side of my face, his fingers just digging into my skin. I wasn’t certain I could admit how much I loved being held that way.

“Yes, Alexandra. You are.”

Four words.

Four little words after all the hot and cold, and I was floored. But there were still far too many complications and concerns. Love, if that’s where we were headed, didn’t always win.

Sometimes the evil spirits did.

It was a nagging feeling that I couldn’t lose. Not even after such a joyous moment.

He didn’t change his expression even as he stood, forcing me to straddle his waist. But he did as he walked toward the water.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I pushed hard against his shoulders.

“Just cooling you off.”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” It might be a warm day, but I had no doubt the water was freezing. He wouldn’t really do that to me. Would he?

When he walked into the water, I had my answer. Oh, God, no.

I pummeled his back, but it was no use.

He prepared to toss me in the water, swinging my body several times.

But I one-upped him, gripping his shoulders when he finally decided to throw a pitch.

And down the two of us went into the frigid water.