Fancy Free

by Shelley Munro

  “I’ll be here when you come back.”

  Alice cast another doubtful glance in his direction before scuttling through to her en suite and shutting the door. He’d seen her naked. The thought ran through her mind in a constant loop while she took care of business. What if he left? What if one look at her naked body had appalled him? Alice grimaced. She washed her hands and cleaned her teeth, feeling marginally better although her head ached a little. A hasty breath later, she opened the door.

  He was still there!

  Highly relieved, she closed the distance between them and let her breasts brush against his chest. He’d had his chance to run. Too late for him now. The sensation zapped through her instantaneous, a jolt of pleasure as her nipples dragged against the muscled planes of his chest.

  James shuddered, grasped her shoulders and drew her even closer. “Hell.”

  “Something wrong?” She didn’t intend to let him stop. He’d seen her now. If he left, she’d have to kill him.

  “Why do you hide your great body in those godawful clothes?”

  “People look at my breasts. They don’t see me. I hated my teenage years and my appearance.” She gestured at her breasts.

  “So you hid.”

  “Self-protection.”

  James lowered his head. Alice closed her eyes and puckered up, her heart pounding so hard she could barely hear herself think. Their mouths slid together and clung. She sighed, loving the hardness of his lips when they moved against hers.

  He pulled back and smiled down at her. “Open your mouth for me,” he whispered.

  Alice puckered up again, rounding her lips so they parted. “Like this?”

  He chuckled. “Relax your lips. I won’t hurt you. Kissing is enjoyable. Pleasurable.”

  “Prove it,” Alice dared.

  With a laugh, he cupped her face and dipped his head to nibble at her lips. Alice attempted to relax but it wasn’t easy with his naked body pressed tightly against hers. She felt the slide of his tongue over her bottom lip, his teeth when he bit down. A gasp escaped. Immediately he took advantage, coaxing and urging her to open her mouth farther. His tongue slipped inside, teasing, sliding against her tongue and teeth. Kissing Steven had never felt like this. Her breasts ached yet he’d barely touched them. She shuddered at the thought of intimacies between lovers, instinctively aware the best was yet to come.

  Without warning, he swung her up into his arms and walked over to the bed. Alice was so startled she didn’t have time to squeak. She bounced lightly on the bed before James leaned over her and fixed her body in place.

  “Will I get in trouble if I pay attention to your breasts?” James kissed the corner of her mouth, the tip of her nose.

  “Just do the same thing you’d do with any one of your women,” she said, striving for an airy tone when acute embarrassment filled her. No one had scrutinized her chest this closely since age thirteen when she’d fallen into her friend’s swimming pool at a party. To this day, she didn’t wear T-shirts.

  James froze, the rub of her luscious breasts against his chest felt like a kind of torture. For the second time she’d implied he had way too much experience. He studied her innocent expression and let his indignation go. For the moment. He traced his fingers around the base of one breast before following the feathering of veins beneath the surface. No freckles, but instead, skin the color of rich cream with not a blemish. Her breast quivered at his touch, her pretty pink nipple pulling tight. The soft sound of pleasure that whispered from her lips made his cock twitch.

  Hell, she was beautiful, from her full, creamy breasts to her slim waist and flaring hips. Not exactly fashionable, but her body would make any red-blooded man howl with joy. His affronted feelings subsided even more when he concentrated on her. He trailed his hand across her collarbone, savoring the petal-soft skin. Touching her. Desire filled him plus the need to give her pleasure and make her first time with him one she would always remember. Selfishly, he didn’t intend to give her another opportunity to say no. He’d tried his best to do the right thing, to warn her. His conscience remained clear.

  She was willing.

  She wanted him, and knowing that was a powerful aphrodisiac.

  “If there’s anything you don’t enjoy or if something I do hurts, let me know.” His voice sounded gritty while his cock tightened with pure need. Fighting the urgency thrumming through his body, he splayed his fingers across her breasts, lightly kneaded and plucked at her nipples.

  Alice jerked before stilling, her eyes wide and full of anxiety. The reaction told him she didn’t believe she was a treasure worthy of exploration. James bit back a groan. God. He could explore sexuality with this woman for months, for years, and never get tired. A frown surfaced at the oddball notion. He wasn’t settling down with anyone. Damned if he’d stay in Sloan so his mother could sneer at him whenever they met. Fuck, he had no idea why he’d returned to Sloan anyway—some misbegotten idea that he’d be welcomed back into the family fold.

  “Is something wrong?” Her voice held anxiety, the emotion underlined in her golden brown eyes.

  James summoned a reassuring grin—hell, it must have been a smirk if her reaction was anything to go by—he leaned over and blew on her nipple. Large, to match her breasts, they puckered even more and colored to a deep pink on contact with the warmth of his breath. James licked around the circumference of her nipple, carefully watching Alice’s reaction. She took a hasty breath and held it for long seconds, her golden eyes wide and still unsure.

  “You’re beautiful,” James murmured, the reassurance she needed to gain confidence easy for him to give. “So responsive.” He blew on her other nipple and watched her reaction. “See?” Unable to deny himself the treat any longer he leaned closer and drew her nipple into his mouth. Alice jerked and let out a soft moan. James used one hand to tease and tug at a nipple while his tongue swirled over the other one. Another low moan sounded, her hands clamped on his shoulders and fingernails dug into his skin. His mouth quirked into a grin and he let go with an audible pop. “Did you like that?”

  Alice seemed to consider her answer before she replied. “Yes.”

  “What did you feel? And where did you feel it?” A test. James waited to see what she’d say. A test of his willpower too. He kissed and nibbled at her breast while maintaining eye contact, enjoying the shimmer of expression across her face and the way she clamped her bottom lip between her teeth. Suddenly he couldn’t wait to see how she’d react when he kissed her intimately. “Alice?” he prompted.

  Alice let go of her lip and moistened the curves of her mouth with her tongue. James watched the innocent gesture avidly, his gut jumped with awareness. Innocent but oh-so sexy.

  His.

  Awe filled him. Possessiveness. Reality followed swiftly.

  Ugh, had he just thought that? This—whatever what might be between them—must remain a temporary thing.

  Yeah, temporary.

  He shook himself to emphasize the fact. “Alice?”

  “When you,” she paused, her cheeks going pink, “sucked, I felt it all the way down there.” She gestured with her hand.

  “Show me,” he whispered, intent on pushing her out of her comfort zone.

  Alice hesitated then seemed to gather her courage. Her pale hand crept from his shoulder and skimmed down her body, across her quivering belly and halted half an inch away from the short curls that guarded her femininity.

  “Go on.”

  Her fingers moved stealthily downward. Her legs parted.

  James smiled. Innocent and sexy. That was test enough for her now. He’d take it from here. He slid his hand down her body, following the same path her fingers had taken. But he didn’t stop. Instead, he parted her legs, his fingers skimmed across her swollen folds, lightly in an exploration of her moist flesh. Her scent rose, teasing him. James breathed deep and couldn’t resist a pass over her clit. The tiny bud peeked from its hood and pulsed beneath his touch. Soon he would thrust into her swe
et flesh. His cock jolted at the thought and he thrust lightly against her upper thigh, teasing himself and pushing his need higher.

  Alice’s hand slid across his shoulders, hesitant and a little shy. Her hand slipped downward and she seemed to gain confidence when he didn’t protest. Alice squeezed one buttock and earned a quick kiss. “Please,” she whispered, wanting him to hurry before he changed his mind. “Please, I need you.”

  “Where? Tell me. Describe what you want,” he ordered, forgetting for an instant that he’d decided to take control.

  She worried her bottom lip between white teeth, her brandy-colored eyes wide and uncertain.

  “If you don’t tell me, I might do something you hate,” he drawled.

  Alice hesitated for so long he thought he might have frightened her or pushed her too hard and fast. Finally she released her bottom lip and the pale column of her throat moved when she swallowed. “I want to explore your body,” she whispered. “I want to know what you like.” Her warm hand squeezed his ass again, the innocent touch a heated reverberation throughout his entire body.

  Giving. So bloody giving. Her first lover must have had rocks in his head. His heart thumped when he rolled off her, an offer of free access to his body and silent permission to explore as she wanted.

  Trembling fingers skimmed across his stubble-covered jaw, dipped into his dimple and traced his mouth. James parted his lips a fraction and sucked her forefinger inside. Her gasp was loud. Startled. And it made him want to laugh. Instead, he sucked lightly on her finger and cupped her head. The silky strands of hair tickled his palm, bringing a desire to touch and stroke and soothe her jumpy virginal nerves aside, raising tenderness in him. His tongue smoothed across her fingernail and ran across the delicate skin between fingertip and nail. Alice gasped again, golden glints shining in her eyes. He captured her gaze with his and released her finger. James nipped her earlobe and surprised a yelp out of her.

  “Ouch.” She pulled away to finger her ear. “I thought I was meant to be the one in charge.”

  “That can be arranged.” After brushing another kiss across her lips, he kissed the tip of one breast and skimmed his hands across her rib cage. James smiled when she finally plucked up the courage to curl her hand around his cock. Her fingers traced the flared head, her curiosity endearing and arousing. She explored his tender balls and wrapped her fingers around his shaft. She pumped, focused so hard her tongue poked between her lips. The innocent exploration dragged a soft curse from him. “Enough,” he growled. “This is torture,” he added quickly before she put a different interpretation on his words. Discouragement was the last thing he intended.

  He took a moment to kiss her again. Good girl. She learned quickly, opening her mouth to him in full participation rather than her previous passive behavior. A quick study. Their tongues tangled lazily. James felt the rapid beat of her heart, saw the flush of rosy arousal on her face and chest. He wanted to go slowly, to arouse her fully, teasing until she throbbed in need, until they both ached for the conclusion.

  But it wasn’t going down that way. Not today. At least they agreed and wanted the same thing. James thrust one leg between her thighs, silently indicating she should part her legs. So beautiful. So sexy. He dipped his head to nuzzle at her breasts, moving over Alice and guiding his cock to her pussy. Moist warmth met him when he pushed just the tip of his cock into her sexy body.

  “Fuck.” James froze, a heavy jolt of disbelief coloring his voice. He jerked away from her, horror in his stare.

  Through his dismay, James saw her flinch as if he’d struck her. Another abrupt move on his part and she’d run for the hills that surrounded Sloan.

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t suppose you have a condom?”

  A surprised burst of laughter bubbled from her, diluting the alarm he’d seen seconds earlier. “A condom?”

  “It’s not funny,” he said stiffly. His body ached for release. Without a condom, he’d have to take care of the matter himself when he wanted the satisfaction that only the snug feel of a woman’s pussy would give. He’d end up with blue balls for hours if he couldn’t have her now. His hand just wouldn’t be the same.

  “You do work for a condom company, right?” She chuckled, her breasts jiggling in a distracting manner. “Manager, isn’t it?” She giggled and her brows rose to punctuate the question.

  “Give it a rest,” he muttered, a tinge of heat at the tips of his ears. A thought occurred. His gaze speared toward her. “If you’re offering sex, shouldn’t you have condoms?” More than a trace of accusation shaded his words.

  “Oh sure. Do you know I’ve inherited a share in a condom company, and I don’t even know what one looks like in the flesh so to speak? All I’ve seen is the X-100 in all its inflated glory.” She giggled, her cute button nose twitching at the same time. “I guess we’ll have to do this another time.”

  James scowled. He didn’t want to do this another time. “You realize my balls will ache for hours.” He dragged a hand through his dark hair while irritation simmered inside. Yeah, there was a funny side to this but he didn’t quite appreciate it at the moment.

  Alice moved beneath his tense body, brushing against the sensitized tip of his cock. The scent of aroused female filled his senses. Her silky-soft skin tempted. James groaned, knowing he would act the gentleman. No need for both of them to leave the room frustrated. He trailed his fingers across her rib cage and leaned over to lick the fragrant skin below her belly button.

  “You make me feel hot,” she whispered when he glanced up to see her reaction. “Inside. Here.” She pointed vaguely to the juncture of her thighs. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

  “When you said almost, what do you mean?”

  She squeezed her eyes closed. “It means I don’t particularly want to talk about it.”

  James hated the fact that a man had hurt her and pricked her confidence. Anger bled away some of his frustration. The mystery man had pricked something else as well, but he’d done a piss-poor job of it. The least he could do was walk away from her this morning leaving her feeling good about herself. And he also promised himself he’d get the story out of her somehow.

  He rimmed her bellybutton with his tongue before delicately prodding the tiny indentation. Suggestively. Yeah, he admitted it to himself with a burst of humor. He had to thrust into something or he was gonna self-combust.

  “That tickles,” she protested.

  “I live to annoy.” According to his mother and sister.

  James levered his body upward and parted her legs so he could slide between. After initial resistance, she followed his non-verbal instructions but her brandy-flecked eyes held uncertainty.

  “Know this, sweetheart.” His voice contained the anger he felt toward the man who had wounded her confidence. “I won’t hurt you. I like women.”

  “I know. You have experience. That’s why I asked you to…to…”

  Irritation swept him. Why did people harp on about his reputation? He wasn’t a bloody playboy. James bit back the sarcastic retort that burned at the tip of his tongue. Nothing wrong with not wanting to settle down. It might be tradition that the members of his family married in their early twenties, but he wanted none of it. He’d resisted. He hadn’t loved Carol—too bad if their parents had wanted to cement their close friendship. James pushed aside memories of the spirited arguments to concentrate on Alice. She deserved the attention. Even though she’d judged him the same as everyone else.

  He combed his fingers through her pelvic hair and pressed a kiss on her upper thigh.

  Alice jumped. “What are you going to do to me?”

  “Pleasuring you, my dear.” He winked at her before returning to the task at hand.

  Pleasure. Alice bit her lip to stop the escape of a loud groan. From the moment her clothes had hit the ground she’d felt nothing but pleasure. Maybe laced with a little embarrassment, but that was to be expected. Not every day a girl found herself up close and personal wit
h a genuine bad boy.

  James planted a kiss on the inside of her thigh. Her heart thudded. He pried her legs apart even farther until her private parts were on display for him. She swallowed and her tongue flicked out to moisten suddenly dry lips.

  “You’re very pretty,” he said in a husky voice. He glanced up at her and smiled, but she knew he wasn’t referring to her face. Pleased but shy at the knowledge he’d studied her so intimately, heat crawled across her face and down her chest.

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “Haven’t you ever looked at yourself?” He sounded surprised.

  “No.” How the heck was she meant to do that?

  “You should. We’ll do that another day.”

  Another day? Oh my. The idea of another session with the bad boy brought excitement. Go ahead, bad boy. Make my day. Alice giggled.

  “Something funny? Am I not doing this properly?” He used his fingers to part her womanly folds and leaned closer to blow a stream of warm air across her exposed flesh.

  Alice shuddered. “No complaints,” she managed. “Please continue.” She had no idea where this wanton taking over her body had come from. The wanton was mouthy, she knew that much.

  The stream of warm air centered on a particularly achy part. Her clitoris? Interesting.

  His fingers trailed the length of her cleft and followed the same path the burst of warm air had taken. He pushed lightly, his fingers dragging on her flesh. A sharp jolt of pleasure speared through her. She gasped, desperate for a repeat of the delicious sensation.

  James grinned up at her. “Like that?”

  “Yes.” No point lying. A blind man could probably tell she was way out of her league and going with instinct.

  “There’s more.”

  Oh goody. Bring it on. Alice closed her eyes to concentrate better. His fingers moved downward and a loud, liquid squelch broke the silence. Her eyes flew open.