His mouth skimmed her torso, across her navel and remained there until she was squirming again. His long lashes fluttered in reaction to the sight of her-the heart of her. She was perfect and she was his and the thought thrilled him like nothing he had ever known. He moved further, until his lips skimmed the short, dark curls at the juncture of her thighs. He made contact with her femininity, causing her to flinch as he had expected. Anticipating her response to what he would do next, he took her thighs, spanning them easily in his capable grip and spreading them to facilitate his plans.
Imani’s lashes parted with a flutter. Before she could ask any questions, her back arched more sharply than it had before. Her eyes rolled and she gripped the fitted sheet so strongly, it pulled free of its tuck along the mattress.
She tried to speak his name, wanted to ask just what he thought he was doing. The talent for speaking had completely abandoned her. All she could do was feel and what she felt was elation. Roman kept her thighs immobile, yet she couldn’t resist trying to move. Something... unknown but at the same time instinctive had taken hold and she happily surrendered to its taunts.
Roman however, was working diligently to keep the taunts at bay. Hormones clawed at male instinct to take and to slake his thirst for her quickly and irrevocably. He wanted her first time to be tender, sweet yet sensual and most of all unhurried. Damn, if she wasn’t making that impossible for him. Worst of all, she had no idea the effect she was having on him. The sight of her alone had him insane for her. The touch of her threw that insanity into chaos. The taste of her...the way she moved in his hands...the little hitches in her breathing as she took every thrust of his tongue...she called to everything inside him that wanted to fiercely protect, selfishly possess and tirelessly explore.
Hungrily, he drank of her, motivated to mark her deeply and deeper still with his kiss each time she tugged his hair in her fingers or tried to move against his mouth. With her core squeezing his tongue, his best intentions simply evaporated. He could feel the gentle streams of her need dousing his tongue and it was his tortured gasps on the air. Suddenly, he drew back.
Imani pushed up to her elbows, surprise dictating her expression. “Did I do something wrong?” She thought of retreating when his eyes met hers, but he was crushing her to him before she could do anything so foolish. Wonder filled her moans when her tongue tasted his-tasted the pleasure he’d coaxed from her body. She cupped his jaw in her palms and took his mouth with the same fervor he did hers.
They were back amidst the covers, bodies half in, half out of the linens, limbs tangled. Then, Roman was impatiently tugging free the fastenings of his trousers. He kicked out of the material and the briefs he wore beneath.
Skin to skin at last, their fiery kisses remained heated yet the wild urgency had shimmered into lustful laziness. Roman withdrew then to drag his mouth down the graceful slope of her neck. His perfect teeth gently nipped her collarbone before he made his way up to the velvety soft spot behind her ear.
“Trust me?” He kissed the side of her neck when she nodded. He preoccupied her then, continuing the exploration of her neck while settling into the vee of her thighs.
Hesitating for a fraction of a second, he burrowed his face into her neck and squeezed his eyes shut. He begged mercy for causing her a second’s pain and then his sex claimed hers in one swift and unforgiving stroke.
Imani bristled, going rigid against him. Fists clenched, she used them to beat at his sides in a fight to gain her freedom. It was too late for that.
Roman refused to be swayed by her pain-induced shudders. Ruthless then, he moved, completely sheathing himself where no other man had ever been or would ever be. It took no effort at all for him to take her wrists in his hands and keep them secure along either side of her head.
“You’ll feel good soon. I promise, Imani, I...” he was virtually drunk on pleasure. “Trust me, Imani,” was all he could manage before his head fell to her shoulder.
Again, he prayed, begged forgiveness for the undoubted bliss he experienced in the midst of her pain. Every stroke inside her slick tightness brought him that much closer to a release he wasn’t ready for. Silently, he swore he would make it up to her.
His heart seized at the sight of the tears sliding from the corners of her lovely eyes. He kissed them away and then pressed his cheek to hers. “Fidatidi, mi bella...” Trust me, beautiful, he said.
Imani couldn’t decipher the words but their tone and cadence made her relax. Gradually her focus on the raw pain burning at the heart of her, shifted to the sound of Roman’s voice. Soon though, his words turned ragged, tortured. They were dispersed amid soft curses and low moans of satisfaction fueled by pleasure.
Pleasure. The word wafted around Imani’s mind like a forgotten and missed melody. Roman had released her wrists, exchanging his hold on them for a more bruising one in the sheets. His lean hips pumped and rotated erotically. She met the sensual display with her own.
The pain that had bloomed so menacingly, was barely a memory. Imani recalled that Roman hadn’t allowed her to...see him before he’d taken possession...a good idea in hindsight. She would have surely believed herself incapable of receiving him given what he had felt like initially. Now, sensation reigned, multiplying with every branding thrust that pressured and stretched her core to its potential. Every part of her thrummed to an inaudible yet beckoning refrain.
Imani was in no hurry to see it end. She pushed her hands under the cool pillows above her head. Eagerly, she fed the needs of her awakened body.
~16~
New York, NY~
“I don’t have the time right now, Vay,” Gabriel was moving from behind the desk on his way to the office door.
“I only came by to see how you’re settling into your new office.”
Gabriel grinned dryly. “Still not too sure what the hell I’m supposed to do here. Whatever it is, I guess I’ll do it in style.”
“You’ll figure it out. Hump’s got faith in you and I don’t know too many times he makes mistakes.”
Gabriel chuckled then, more amused. “You know more than I do. I don’t know any times Hump makes mistakes.”
“What are you doin’ around here so late?” Gabriel queried once their laughter softened. “Ma know where you are?”
“Don’t worry about it. Everything’s cool.”
Absently, Gabriel patted his pockets and then returned to his desk for keys. He turned for the office door again, but slowed as he neared Vale. “You need a ride or anything?”
“Na, I’m cool Grek, seriously. I really came by to track down Stone. Have you had the chance to talk to him lately?”
“He’s got a lot goin’ on, Kid. Don’t take it personal.”
“I won’t, I just um,” Vale put his most downtrodden look in place. “Him and Hump are the only ones I can get to halfway talk to me about anything.”
“Well you and Rome are supposed to be learning from the rest of us. Remind him of that, why don’t you?”
Vale made a face. “I think Stone prefers talking to Rome over me.”
“Rome’s not here though, is he?”
“No, but the others are keeping him tied up with business and I know there’s something going on with him. It was me and Hump he shared that suite with in Chicago, you know?”
“I know, Kid,” concern took shape in Gabriel’s vital blues. “You really are worried, aren’t you?”
“I am. Hump is too.” Vale shook his head sending a wavy dark sheaf of hair into his eyes. “Every time we try to get him to confide, he either shuts us out or Pitch and Ro get in the way with their bullshit and bullying.”
Gabriel chuckled heartily. “Save your sob stories, Vay. You and Hump bring a lot of that on yourselves.”
“That may be, but this time it’s about our brother. Not business or some girl Ro’s got a crush on.”
