9. Tessa

Are you sure?

I felt the shape of Adam’s words on my lips. My racing pulse galloped along so fast I could hardly breathe. I felt liquid heat pool low in my belly, and I was acutely aware of the throb of need at the apex of my thighs.

My nerves felt stretched tight, shimmering with sparks. I couldn’t focus on anything but Adam. All of my attention centered on my body’s humming drive to lose myself in him.

“Yes,” I whispered.

Before that single syllable fully crossed my lips, he fit his mouth over mine. His hands slid into my hair. I shivered at the way he took control of our kiss. He angled my head to the side, his tongue sweeping in masterful strokes against mine. I arched into him, needing this kiss, needing his strength, needing to lose myself in the flames of this fire.

I had no idea how long our kiss lasted, but when his lips lifted away, I heard myself whimper, bereft to lose him. His hand slid away from my hair, the other sliding from where it rested between my shoulder blades down my side. He gripped my hips and lifted me onto the kitchen counter.

He pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses along the underside of my jaw. Each one felt like a drop of lava on my skin, ramping the heat up inside.

“It’s okay,” he whispered against my skin. “I have you. I’m not going anywhere.”

I’d never had faith in any man. I’d thought myself incapable of experiencing that with anyone. Yet with Adam, I did.

I was the first to seek something more than the fabric between us. My hand found its way under the hem of his shirt to discover his warm skin. He felt alive and shimmering. He was muscled and lean, and I let my fingertips walk up his chest, savoring the soft crinkle of hair under my touch. I let my palm press over the resounding beat of his heart. Discovering his pulse raced as rapidly as mine was a relief.

He lifted his head. “Tessa.” My name was a gruff whisper.

I dragged my eyes open. My legs dangled off the counter, and my hips rested at the edge, where I could feel his hot, hard length nestled against me.

This moment felt intensely carnal even though we were fully clothed. His gaze was dark and laser-focused on me.

“Maybe we should stop,” he said.

I shook my head fiercely. “No.”

His eyes widened slightly. I could feel the press of his fingertips on one of my hips through the fabric of my soft cotton pants.

He moved his hand and placed it on the counter beside me. A small sound of protest came from my throat.

“Tell me what you want,” he said softly. “We don’t have to rush. I’ll wait for you, wait until you’re ready for more.”

While I appreciated him being courteous and patient, I was no virgin. I hadn’t had an orgasm with a man in… Well, ever. My ex was the only man I’d been with. Sex with him had been filled with tension and critiqued to the point that it removed any potential for me to relax and enjoy myself.

I took a breath, narrowing my eyes. “I want you. I want this. You don’t need to treat me like I’m fragile because I’m not.” Although my voice was raspy, it was strong.

“I know you’re not fragile. I just want it to be on your terms.”

My palm still rested on his chest, and I slid it between us to boldly stroke his cock. Power surged through me when I felt his pulse under my touch.

“This is on my terms, and I want you. All of you. Tonight.”

Adam’s nostrils flared with a breath, and his eyes darkened as we stared at each other.

“As you wish,” he murmured.

On the heels of another breath, his lips were on mine again, and we tumbled into a messy kiss. He stepped back, easing me off the counter, but I tugged him close. He paused, looking down. “I thought we could go to my bedroom.”

“I like the counter,” I insisted.

I didn’t even know what had come over me. But I felt safe and comfortable and downright wild with him. His bed could wait. I’d never had sex in the kitchen. I wanted Adam to fuck me right here on his counter so that every time he walked into this room, maybe he would remember.

His lips kicked up slightly at one corner. My belly shimmied, and desire surged through me like liquid electricity.

“Whatever you want, sweetheart.”

I wanted our clothes out of the way. They were nothing more than a hindrance. With his eyes on me, I reached down, catching the hem of my shirt and lifting it over my head in an arc. I heard it crumple to the floor as he sucked his breath in through his teeth. Seconds later, he slid my pants down over my hips. I stood before him in a pair of panties and a bra. They didn’t even match, and I didn’t even care.

For a split second, I felt self-conscious, but then I met his gaze, and the fire flashing there sent heat rushing through me, sparks scattering like pinwheels over the surface of my skin.

He was still fully dressed, and I opened my mouth to say as much, but he reached for me. Once again, I tumbled into his kiss. When we broke apart, I gulped in air. “I want to feel your skin.”

His chuckle against my neck sent shivers chasing through me. He stepped back just long enough to hook a hand on his shirt collar behind his neck and tug it over his head. Seconds later, he lifted me onto the counter again. He shoved my panties to the side as his fingers delved into my core. I was so slippery and needy that I cried out. His voice bordered on slurred when he murmured, “Oh, Tessa. You feel good, sweetheart.”

“Adam…” I pleaded as he sank two fingers inside, stretching and teasing me.

I felt his mouth close over my nipple. My fingers speared into his hair as I cried out sharply, the sweet sensation arrowing down.

I was near frantic with incoherent cries and ragged breaths while he teased me to the edge of release. I let out a sharp sound of disappointment when he withdrew his fingers. Before I could demand he not stop, he leaned down, pushed my panties farther to the side, and licked into me. I could feel the rush of my climax pulling at me.

With one hand, he pulled my hips closer to the edge of the counter as he made love to me with his mouth and fingers pumping in and out. His tongue teased in lazy, sensual strokes, glancing over my clit again and again. Until I begged, “Adam, please, I need…” I almost didn’t even know what I needed. I just needed to relieve the pressure building to an unbearable tightness inside.

He finally gave me what I needed, thrusting his fingers in deeply with his tongue flattening over my clit just before he sucked on it lightly. The pleasure drew to a piercing pain before it broke. Crashing waves rolled through me as I shook and trembled all over. I was still gasping for breath when he withdrew his fingers and straightened. I heard him moving away. Reality slowly flickered into my awareness when I opened my eyes to see him rolling on a condom. His jeans were open, and his hard length jutted out.

He met my eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Please.”

He stepped between my knees. Curling one hand around his length, he brought his cock to my entrance. I couldn’t look away as I felt the presence of his thick crown, followed by the slow, delicious feel of him filling me.

“Tessa.”

I held his gaze as he stepped closer, his chest coming flush against me. I could feel his heartbeat against mine when he said, “I’m going to fuck you.”