by Robyn Grady
Maybe it was hell she was visiting. Enjoying such reckless passion somehow didn’t seem right. But anyone who’d experienced this same kind of splendour wouldn’t condemn her. Who could blame her for hanging on now, submitting to the fire, while they waited for…?
Her mind stuttered, wound back.
They were waiting for…?
Her stomach muscles clutched and eyes flew open as the tail end of the thought lashed her like a whip. Snapping her head to one side, she severed the kiss and gasped for air.
‘Devlin, we can’t do this!’
He caught her face and urged her gaze to meet his. Open amusement gleamed in his curious eyes. ‘Eden, love, we’re beyond that.’
He nipped her lower lip. The tip of his tongue tasted the kiss-swollen flesh before his mouth closed over hers again. As his body moved up and over hers, scorching desire blew into an uncontrollable inferno set to consume her.
But…
With a huge lump in her throat, she caught his shoulders and managed to push him back an inch. ‘We can’t make love here in Sabrina and Nathan’s suite, especially not on the floor.’
His amused look buckled. ‘They’re not due back for ages.’ He tickled her nose with his. ‘They don’t need to know.’
Wiggling out from beneath him, she sat up, brought her knees together and made a tight cocoon of her robe. ‘What if they arrive early and find us here, like this?’
Eden’s parents had their children late in life. While loving, they supported the view that kids should be seen and not heard. Until they’d left home, the girls had shared a room and, in many ways, the elder sister had become the younger one’s role model. Sabrina reminded Eden so much of her younger self…eager and starry-eyed. Consequently, in recent years, she’d warned her sister never to let passion rule her head.
Eden had issued some less than complimentary remarks about Devlin in the past. If Sabrina walked in now and witnessed this scene, she’d lose all respect for her.
Devlin’s gaze skated from Eden’s to the door. He cringed as if imagining it bursting open and their siblings striding in. His mouth swung to one side and he nodded.
‘You’re right. Wouldn’t look good.’ He sprang to his feet with the agility of a jungle cat and swept her up too.
‘Where are we going?’
His grin spread wide. ‘Where do you think?’
‘The bedroom?’
Standing front to front, he double cupped her bottom and pressed her pelvis against his. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
She melted at the feel of his erection beneath his towel, burning against her robed belly. She lost her breath imagining the delicious wonders he could perform between the sheets, coaxing her body to heights that left her unspeakably dizzy.
And yet…
Her chest squeezing, she looked at him with pleading eyes. ‘We can’t use the bedroom.’
The grip on her rump tightened and his shadowed jaw shifted. ‘What do you mean we can’t use the bedroom? That’s what bedrooms are for.’
He was thinking like a man. She wanted to think like a man too. But, ‘It’s their bedroom, not ours.’
‘Ah, but you’re forgetting, there are two rooms. They can’t use both—not at the same time, anyway.’
She thought it through and hazarded a smile. ‘I guess.’
He took her hand and ushered her towards the opened bedroom door. ‘The room I changed in looked like the main suite. We’ll go in here.’ He cocked his chin at the room she’d used earlier.
Before she could reply, he gathered her near again. Capturing her mouth with his, he reversed them both towards the bedroom. Falling under his spell once more, she clutched onto his shoulders, unable to stem the moan of pure want building in her chest, pushing up her throat. As if remembering something ultra important, he broke the kiss and, holding her eyes determinedly, rested his forehead against hers.
‘Have I mentioned that I’ve missed you?’
His voice was so gravelled and honest, moisture sprang to her eyes. She surrendered a faint smile and admitted the truth.
‘I’ve missed you too.’
His pupils dilated before a possessive sound vibrated beneath her fingers and he claimed her mouth again.
Now he moved faster, blindly towing her along, kissing her in heated snatches as they knocked into the side table, collided with some potted plant. When they smacked into the door frame, their kiss dissolved on laughter.
With a pained grin, he rubbed a spot on his thigh. ‘At this rate, we’ll leave here covered in bruises and demolish the place to boot.’
Taking charge, he swept her up into his arms and strode into the centre of the bedroom where he set her down as if she were as fragile as a glass figurine. With his gaze lingering over the curve of her neck, with the tension and sexual need spiralling higher and tighter, he eased the robe off her shoulders.
She let her eyes drift closed, her head arced back and she melted into the moment. Her skin, her breasts—exposed to the air and his eyes—felt on fire while a kernel of want glowed hot and deliciously deep inside. Undiluted bliss awaited her, the kind of Nirvana she hadn’t thought she’d know again…Devlin ready and eager to add fuel to these rekindled flames.
But still…
She expelled a breath and grudgingly opened her eyes. It was no use. No matter how she tried, no matter how much she wanted to, she simply couldn’t push aside the niggling image of her baby sister walking through that door.
She murmured against Devlin’s lips as his chest grazed her painfully tight nipples and he prepared to devour her again. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t feel right here either.’
‘I beg to differ.’ His hands sculpted the length of her arms, to where the robe had caught at her elbows. ‘You feel sensational.’
Ditto a thousand times over, but, ‘I can’t relax. What if they knock on the door?’
‘It’s their place,’ he said absently, tasting the corner of her mouth. ‘They’ll have their own key.’
‘I mean what if they knock on the bedroom door?’
Chuckling in the rich, wicked way that made her tummy flutter and swoop, he kissed her neck. ‘Why the devil would they do that?’
‘It’s not so out of the question. What if we’ve picked the wrong bedroom and they don’t know we’re here and just walk in?’
His head slowly pulled back. ‘We’ll lock the door.’
His expression had lost its humour. But she wasn’t making excuses. If this had been their suite, if they hadn’t been waiting for the siblings to show up with important news, if she’d never contacted Devlin in the first place with that scheme to save Sabrina’s heart—
Wincing, Eden lowered her gaze from his.
What on earth had she started? Letting this go any further wasn’t a good idea. In fact, it was a darn bad one. Not only was she opening herself up to more heartache, she was risking the loss of her sister’s respect.
Heart sinking, she pulled the robe back up her arms and edged away. ‘Maybe we should forget it.’
He spun her back. ‘Can you forget it, Eden?’
She held his intense gaze and trembled. Succumbing to forces far stronger than her insecurities, she sighed.
‘No.’
‘Neither can I.’ A muscle in his jaw ticced before he surrendered to a patient smile. ‘I have an idea.’
She darted a look over his shoulder and made her objection clear. ‘The balcony’s out.’
His eyes widened with interest. ‘That’s a pity, but my thought was the bathroom.’
Without giving her time to consider, he took her hand and ushered her into the adjoining room.
Filled with water, the sunken bath would pass for a mini lake. Bevel-edged mirrors lined almost every wall. The soft blooms of crimson roses and stalks of lavender, arranged in tall crystal vases, contrasted with the gleaming surfaces of black Italian marble and squeaky clean glass.
He spun the lock, then held her again, his adamant hands on her hips this time
. He arched a brow and grinned. ‘Now where were we?’
As their lips met again he fisted the towelling near her neck and dragged her robe unremittingly down until it pooled on the floor.
Releasing the anxious tension, she groaned on a smile.
If you can’t beat ’em…
Tugging at his towel, she found her tiptoes and murmured against his scratchy chin, only half serious this time. ‘They might hear us.’
Throwing open the shower door, he flicked the tap and water hissed from twin nozzles full bore. A cloud of perfumed steam plumed around them.
‘There.’ He grinned slowly. ‘No one will hear a thing.’
‘They’ll think we’re having a shower together.’
With deliberate purpose, his mouth sampled the sweep of her shoulder. ‘Give me enough time, they’ll be right.’
‘I don’t think—’
He growled against her lips, ‘No more thinking.’ Then in a rough but beguiling voice, he murmured, ‘No more talking.’
With steam misting the mirror, heating his skin, Devlin set his hands around Eden’s slender waist and hoisted her up onto the marble vanity. Shivering, she sat up ramrod straight, her tawny-tipped nipples standing up too as goose bumps erupted over her silky skin.
‘Hey,’ she cried. ‘That’s cold.’
Fatally drawn, he lowered his head and caressed her breasts with his mouth, looping his tongue around each hardened peak, grazing his teeth over the sensitive beaded tips.
The emotion was easy to describe. He’d died and gone to heaven. She must’ve felt somewhat the same because in no time at all she loosened up against him.
As her fingers slipped through his hair he grinned and flicked his tongue again. ‘I gather you’re warming up.’
She drew one knee high until her inside thigh rubbed his shoulder. ‘Mmm, nicely, thank you.’
Her purred admission tripped another wire and his testosterone gauge leapt to a new and volatile place. He found her hand and moulded her palm around his near-explosive length. What was it about Eden that was so special? So…necessary?
‘See what you do to me?’ he growled.
In response, she squeezed a long blissful groan from him.
‘Over this steam, I can’t see too much at all.’ She funnelled her tight-fisted grip first up then down his pulsing shaft. ‘But I certainly can feel.’ She craned up and snatched a kiss from his lips. ‘Let’s make use of that fluffy rug on the floor over there?’
‘This position suits me fine for the moment.’
She laughed. ‘As long as I don’t get pins and needles.’
‘Let me take your mind off your seat.’
His breathing deeper now, his heart rate ratcheting up another rung, he trailed moist, teasing kisses between her breasts, down to her belly, the way she’d always done for him. When her thigh near his head relaxed and dropped slightly open, he wound that leg over his shoulder. Balance seemed a good idea, so he wound her other leg over too.
Hunkering down, he curled his arms around her legs then, savouring every second, he fanned his fingers over her belly. The pads of each thumb traced down through her soft curls until they parted the silken valley of her folds. His heart thumping against his ribs, he used the tip of his nose to circle her exposed bud.
Gasping, she fisted her hands in his hair.
She got her breath back enough to sigh, ‘I wouldn’t do that again if I were you.’
This time he circled the sensitive spot with the stiffened tip of his tongue.
While he groaned with satisfaction, she shuddered against him at the same time her legs coiled possessively in, her heels riding his back.
‘I need you inside me, Devlin,’ she demanded. ‘I need you there now.’
Amidst the clouds of steam, he continued to massage and tease her with his hands, with his tongue.
When next she spoke, her voice sounded drugged and desperate. ‘You’re not listening to me.’
‘I’m hearing every word. You want me inside you.’
She moaned, glad he finally understood. ‘Yes, yes. Lift me down.’
His tongue trailed a deep line up her glistening centre. The fresh feminine taste of her hit him low in the gut and, although he’d promised himself he would prolong every step, now his mischievous side wanted to bring her hazardously close to the edge.
Tenderly, earnestly, he kissed her long…kissed her deep.
She was clutching the vanity at her sides when he reluctantly came away. Rewarded by this picture of her genuine abandon, his blood heated more and he smiled.
‘Is that better?’
‘No.’ She pushed his head down again. ‘You missed a spot.’
He wanted to laugh. Far be it from him to complain.
Too soon, her muscles contracted and her thighs viced. When she spasmed and cried out, he placed his mouth fully over her again and, holding nothing back, propelled her that much higher, wanting her that much more.
Next time he would love her longer, draw her delight out more, but for now…
Her grip on his head loosened as she grew deliciously limp. He carefully lowered her legs from around his shoulders and focused on the satiated sight of her, slouched against the wall-to-wall mirror. Naked. Vulnerable.
Beyond tempting.
He moved to take her, make love to her the old-fashioned way. But, remembering in time, he shook himself and instead brushed aside strands of golden hair hanging over her eyes.
‘I need to leave you for a minute.’
Her expression was dreamy. ‘Leave. Why?’
‘Protection.’ He kept condoms in his wallet. ‘I’ll be back in ten seconds.’ He ran his lips over the shell of her ear. When her arms snaked around his neck to hold him close, he contained the dangerous surge of desire and stepped away. ‘Make that five seconds.’
His towel on the floor, he hightailed it out of the bathroom, out the bedroom door, and spied his wallet on the table. At the same moment he dived on the leather, found the wrap, he caught a movement out the corner of his eye.
Heart lurching, he wheeled around.
His brother stood by the door. Nate’s wide-eyed girlfriend stood beside him.
CHAPTER FIVE
NATE scratched his jaw, no doubt trying to hide the single deep dimple that belied his serious tone.
‘Devlin, this is…’ his mouth twitched ‘…a surprise.’
Devlin stood stock-still as Sabrina’s startled gaze travelled up from his thighs to his frozen expression. Her delicate face pale against her long brown hair, she held onto Nate and wobbled out an uncertain smile.
‘You must be Devlin. P-pleased to meet you.’
Manners returning, she took a step forward, hand outstretched. When she faltered, dropped her hand and stepped awkwardly back, Devlin slid a dining chair strategically before him.
Should he make a joke? Because this was funny, right? Eden would have a great big laugh over this. They’d both laugh about it.
One day.
‘And you’re Sabrina.’ Devlin manufactured a light smile that almost worked with the casual shoulder shrug. ‘Might be best if we shake hands later.’
‘I’m guessing Eden is through there—’ Nate raised a brow ‘—having a shower?’
Devlin explained. ‘We got caught in the rain, were both soaked through, so we gave Housekeeping our things and that’s why I’m not wearing any…’ he lowered his voice ‘…any, uh, clothes.’
Laughter shone in Nate’s eyes. But he cleared his throat and gave a solemn nod. ‘I see.’
‘Sorry we kept you waiting,’ Sabrina chipped in, still clinging to Nate.
Devlin waved the apology away. ‘We kept ourselves busy’
Sabrina merely blinked. She was in shock. It wasn’t every day you walked in on your sister’s ex standing bare-butt naked in the living room.
Linking his arm through Sabrina’s, Nate ushered her towards the view. ‘Why don’t you tell Eden we’re here, Dev?’ Nate’s eyes twi
nkled with a message. Don’t rush. Take your time.
As they passed Devlin gripped the back of chair. He’d burned a candle for Eden in the months following their break-up. Nate was only being supportive and understanding now. Clearly his brother saw this situation as a victory. In a way it was. He hadn’t felt this invigorated—this connected—in a very long while.
Still, something in his brother’s attitude rubbed Devlin the wrong way. He knew how this looked—alone together for an hour and he’d coaxed Eden out of her clothes. But he hadn’t twisted her arm, only convinced her that they wouldn’t be caught.
He shoved the chair out the way.
How would he ever break this to her?
While Nate kept Sabrina occupied, showing her the ferry traffic churning white-water trails across the harbour, Devlin strode back towards the bathroom. He had to let Eden know that her nightmare-of-sorts had come true. They’d been sprung.
Bad.
But when he re-entered the steam-filled room, any thought of siblings and conscience disappeared. On the white centre rug, Eden lay splayed out on her back, one knee raised, her arms draped over her head. Visible through the mist, her fingers wiggled at him.
‘Let me have it,’ she cooed.
Hooked and desperately wanting to be landed, he moved closer as she edged up onto an elbow. Her long blonde hair slid over her shoulder, her breast.
‘The condom,’ she explained, her fingertips trailing his shin. ‘I’ll slip it on.’
The condom wrap crinkled in his closed palm.
In the whole scheme of things, what would another five minutes matter? Everyone knew what was going on here. What any thinking person knew would happen if he and Eden were alone for any reasonable length of time.
S.E.X.
If he told Eden that Sabrina was outside, would they ever finish this? Because, make no mistakes, ‘this’ deserved to be finished.
But as he hunkered down Eden sat up, sudden worry flashing in her eyes. Guess she’d read his expression, his hesitation.
Her voice was threadbare. ‘What’s wrong?’