Chapter Five

London

"Y-yes," I whisper, lowering my gaze from the intensity in his piercing gray eyes, one that makes me wonder if he can hear the loud thudding sound of my heart. He hadn't asked a question, but I feel compelled to give a response.

He doesn't say anything for what feels like an eternity, though it must only be a few seconds. I peer up at him, trying to read his expression. His face remains inscrutable, and my heart instantly falls to the pit of my stomach.

"I'm sorry, I should have…"

He stands up abruptly and scoops me into his arms. I gasp softly, blinking at him in surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm not about to let your first time be on a living room couch," he replies, smiling softly in a way that makes my chest constrict. There's a kindness in his eyes now, an openness that allows me a peek into his soul.

He kisses me again as he makes his way up the stairs and down the long corridor that leads to his room. I feel so safe, so protected in the cocoon of his strong arms.

I've never felt that way before. Quite the opposite.

He doesn't stop kissing me when he pushes the door open and closes it with his broad shoulder, nor when he places me gingerly on the ground. He presses me against the door, his right hand gently cupping my face as he deepens the kiss. I love the way he kisses me, like he can't get enough of me. The same way I can't seem to get enough of him.

"How's your leg?"

I like that he's been checking in with me about my ankle. It shows that he worries about me and cares for me beyond this physical attraction – contrary to what he said earlier. And that, somehow, erases whatever pain I might have felt… should feel.

"It's fine. I feel no pain now."

Despite my response, he picks me up again and carries me to the bed, gingerly placing me in the middle. Then he straightens and swiftly pulls his shirt over his head. My mind instantly goes back to the memory of him walking out of the bathroom, his naked body glistening with droplets of water. I watch him take off the rest of his clothes, my heart thrumming wildly. My eyes scan the length of his body: his muscular chest, his defined abs, the trail of dark hair leading down from his bellybutton... and between his legs, a thick shaft that's already red and hard.

Then he rejoins me on the bed, his expression soft as he leans over to kiss me. I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my hands in his hair as I melt into the warmth of his body. His mouth on mine is utterly delicious. I want his mouth in other places: My breasts. My most intimate place… like he did earlier in the living room. But I don't know how to put these all-consuming cravings that ravage my body into words.

He moves to my neck, kissing his way down to my collarbone. Then he raises his head, looking deeply into my eyes.

"I want to be inside of you so badly, London," he says, his voice thick with desire. "I want you now."

"I want you too," I reply, my voice steady despite the tremors coursing through my veins.

My reward is a deep, scrumptious kiss that has me curling my toes. He nips at my bottom lip, sending ripples of shock through every nerve ending in my body.

When he pulls back, he smiles at me, a full, bright smile that lends his face a boyish charm. "I can't believe I'm addicted to kissing you already."

He kisses me again, with even more intensity and passion.

"I'm addicted..." I clear my throat awkwardly. "To kissing you too," I mutter, feeling lame.

He searches my face for a while, his eyes filled with emotions that I can't define. "You trust me?" he asks finally. His tone is doubtful, as if thinks he isn't worthy of my – or anyone's – trust.

I reach out to caress his face in both of my hands. "I trust you," I whisper,.

Something crosses his eyes, a vulnerability that I've never seen before. He takes both of my hands in one of his and pins them above my head.

"This is going to hurt a little, honey," he says, his tone gentle.

Then he slides into me in one long, precise stroke. A searing pain tears through my pelvic area, eliciting a muffled groan from my throat.

But that's it.

Curt remains still, searching my face with a worried expression. "You okay? Are you hurt? Are you in a lot of pain?"

I chuckle lightly, amused by the genuine anxiety in his usually enigmatic eyes. "I'm fine, Curt."

He lets out a breath of relief and then places a soft kiss on my forehead. He starts to move then, sliding in and out of me in long, slow strokes.

His gaze is fixed on mine. I suddenly want to shield myself from the intensity, but I can't seem to pull away. There's something about his deep-set expression, a concentration that's so erotic my body tingles with excitement. I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper. He lowers his mouth to my neck, his teeth lightly scraping against my skin, sending sparks down to my toes.

He kisses his way to my collarbone, grazing sharply then licking the small sting away. He brings one hand between our bucking bodies and presses on my throbbing clit. I scream, almost flying out of my skin from the sudden surge of pleasure that burns through my body.

He lets go of my hands and I wrap my arms around his neck, threading my fingers through his hair, holding him tight while I moan and writhe shamelessly beneath him.

Suddenly, he switches us around so I'm on top. He sits up in bed, his arms wrapped snugly around my waist, giving him deeper access. I close my eyes, but he reaches up to caress my face.

"Look at me, London." The tenderness in his voice tugs at something in my chest, an emotion I'm scared to explore.

I open my eyes, immediately ensnared in the endless pool of his mesmerizing gray eyes.

"Curt…" I whisper, dropping my head to his.

Tears push behind my lids and I wonder what the lump in my throat means. Maybe it's the realization that I belong to this man. It doesn't matter what happens after this; I'm completely his.

No one will ever make me feel this way again. Never.

His thrusts are ruthless now as he slams into me over and over. Our bodies slap together, luscious and wet. His gaze never leaves mine, its intensity keeping me grounded despite the overwhelming pleasure coursing through my body.

My cries grow louder, more desperate, as the pleasure mounts. I feel like I'm on fire. I ache for release. Just a little more and I'll be…

He stops.

I whimper, an embarrassing sound that I couldn't care less about at the moment.

Wordlessly, he flips me over, positioning me on my hands and knees in the middle of the bed.

He doesn't touch me at first. I feel cold and bare without him. Impatient, I push backward, rubbing my ass cheeks against his length.

Then, his hands are on me. Light fingers trace a path down my spine. I shiver. He plunges into me, steadying me with hands gripping my hips.

He remains still for a moment, filling me with his length until I wiggle against him, urging him on. His hand reaches out to wrap my hair around his fist and gently tugs my head backward. I follow his lead, rising to my knees to meet his mouth in a firm, passionate kiss. He holds me at his mercy, proving he will take me when he wants and no sooner.

Surrender. Trust. He wants it all – and that's exactly what I give him.

Finally, he releases me, placing my hands back on the bed. Then he slams into me so hard I fall forward onto my elbows. But God, that feels so good!

He does it again, this time grunting with the force of it. I rock forward but stay on my elbows, crying with pleasure now. I've never felt so exposed. So sensual, so raw. At that moment, I'm trusting everything to Curt… my body, my soul, my heart… I don't mind that it'll be shattered into irredeemable pieces. He'd warned me not to, but I'm surrendering it all anyway.

He doesn't relent his pace, not when my cries grow louder or when my body tenses and my fingers dig into the sheets for dear life. An unimaginable pressure builds within me, turning my muscles to jelly, singing through my veins until I can't take anymore… until I shatter into a million pieces.

My breathless cries blend perfectly with Curt's feral grunt as we surrender our bodies to the overwhelming wave of orgasm.

It's a long time before we come down from the high.