Smoke & Fire - Adult Paranormal Romance Series, Book #1

by Michele Wesley

  His hand rested at the V above my breast and I leaned into it, urging him to explore. He undid the first few buttons of my top and slid his hand lower, almost teasingly close to my nipple. I wore one of the bras he’d picked out for me on our trip to Victoria’s Secret.

  While I looked into my eyes, he opened his hand, expanding it around my entire breast, instantly making both my nipples perk up, one pebbling against his hand and the other against the inside of my bra. Smiling a wicked little smile, he removed his poem. It seemed hours had passed since I’d placed it there and forgotten about it. Who knew he’d end up inside my bra?

  He put his poem back in his pocket and reached under my top, letting his hand slide over my stomach until he was back at my breast. Fingers slide deliciously slow under my bra and along the contours of my breast, lightly over my nipple, while simultaneously sliding my midsection completely into his. Sucking in chunks of air to keep from hyperventilating, I could feel through his jeans that he wanted me just as badly as I wanted him. The feel of him hard against my now-hot center completely unraveled me. Noticing my reaction, he slid one of his hands under my ass and pulled me harder into him, while nibbling on my bottom lip. I was so turned on, control be damned, I was ready to tell him to take this to any flat surface.

  My breathing became labored and uncontrolled. Moans I had been trying to hold back earlier were now softly escaping and vibrating against his lips, against his neck and cheek as my now-gooey center vibrated against his hardness. He managed to trace hot kisses to the tops of both my breasts, although my legs were wrapped tightly around him, pinning us together. Turning the hand he had under my top around, he pulled my top down from the inside, exposing my chest to him. I’d heard the term love drunk before, but I’d never understood what it truly meant until now, because I was totally inebriated. I would have failed a sexalizer with one whiff of my breath.

  Surely, I had lost my mind. Why else wasn’t I doing anything to stop this? Why was I enjoying this so damn much?

  He kissed my breast through my bra, the thin silk an excellent assistant in helping him stimulate me. At this point I was a pot of caramelized sugar milk about to boil over. I had reached my peak. The pressure build up inside me threatened to blow my head off as my hot center continued to dance against his hardness.

  Tugging gently, he bit and suck my left nipple with just the right amount of pressure. I lost it completely. So much pleasure filled my body it shot out in one big invisible burst, making me lose my mind. I couldn’t see or hear. Self-control had flown out the windows. I was panting and twitching and shaking uncontrollably and couldn’t even remember where I was. All I cared about were the sensations passing through my body and the man making it happen. I didn’t realize what was happening to me until I found myself wrapped around him, my mind slowly receding from the ocean of passion he’d flung me into.

  I was so embarrassed at the realization of what happened, I was reluctant to look into his eyes. When I finally did, only care and understanding looked back at me. Sitting there, I continued to be wrapped in his arms, trying to catch my breath. He held on to me until I relaxed. Kissing my forehead, he told me that someone was at the door, but I was too stunned to move. Stepping back, he rebuttoned my top and gave me one last caring glance before walking away to answer the door.

  Sori remembered the erotic episode in vivid detail. Some moments were so intense they were jumping around her head like short clips of erotic fantasy, fighting for a spot closest to the surface of her mind. She couldn’t put any order or logic to what was happening between her and Mycale, especially not now. What in the hell am I going to do about the intoxicating Mycale Phillips?

  CHAPTER 22

  Mycale’s Thoughts

  Mind blown, he could hardly string together a logical thought of what had just occurred between him and Sori.

  She is the most hypnotic and intoxicating experience of my life. I knew I was in trouble the moment I met her. I enjoyed every moment and opportunity to spend time with her. Everything about her excites me. She owns the ability to turn me on with a simple smile and a unique ability to absorb the rage that seems content with taking up permanent residence within my mind and body. I am somehow learning to maintain a semblance of control around her, but it isn’t easy.

  Inviting me to stay for dinner, I fought to hide my excitement.

  After we finished the dishes, she took out a piece of paper and started reading.

  Realizing what she was reading, I ran towards her and tried to retrieve the paper, but she was quick in dodging me. Hiding my note behind her back, she smiled up at me teasingly. She’d simply taken the note out of my pocket. She had acquired many skills in her years of working for the government, one of which was a professional pickpocket. Smiling that smile that melts my heart into a puddle of water, she said she didn’t know I was a poet.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, I was glad she thought it was just a poem. Afraid of openly expressing the way I felt about her, I wrote my thoughts, had enough now to write a novel.

  Following her, I tried to retrieve the document, but she turned around at the exact moment I reached for it.

  I was standing so close, I couldn’t breathe and was stopped dead in my tracks. Frozen in place, I didn’t have the strength to back away. She asked why I wouldn’t share something so beautiful. Sad faced, I gave her a line about the note being personal, which was kind of true.

  Just as she started to hand it over, she gave me a curious look, turned her head slightly to the side, and changed her mind. Folding and tucking the note into her bra, she gave me a devilish smile that dared me to take it back.

  Unable to maintain my self-control, I couldn’t help leaning in closer to her, something was pulling me in. We were nearly face-to-face at this point and I was trying with every ounce of strength in my body, not to look down into those beautiful big brown eyes. I couldn’t help myself. I looked, and ended up completely lost.

  She had a power over me that I couldn’t explain. I was close enough to smell her sweet scent and feel her body’s warmth. She was probably going to slap the shit out of me, but I had to touch her. My mind didn’t give me any other options. I thought to myself, “Self, don’t do it!” But before another thought could pop into my brain, my hand was sliding up her arm.

  She seemed to enjoy me touching her, so I decided to push my luck even further and followed her brothers’ advice. They’d told me to take control, shock her into submission, and let her know how I felt. I leaned down close enough to feel her warm breath on my face. And I did it, I kissed the woman I had been in love with since the day I met her.

  The first kiss filled me with a peace only she could provide, like I was being bathed in her warmth. Possessed, I couldn’t stop touching her. I couldn’t believe I was still alive, but while I was, I was going to enjoy the one thing I so badly needed. Since the first moment my mouth had touched hers, she’d left an ache in me that would only subside in her presence.

  When she kissed me back passionately, I had to pause to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. We were sharing something that others will never experience. The mixture of how great she smelled, how soft and silky her skin felt, and her reaction to my kisses sent me into a maddening state of drunk euphoria. All sense of time and space had been lost as I felt every emotion my body was capable of producing. My only concern was touching and kissing this beautiful woman.

  Our lips fit together so perfectly and I couldn’t believe I had previously had the control to avoid kissing her the way I truly wanted. I wanted to kiss her in every place she’d let me, but settled for holding her in my arms when I felt like I was losing complete control of myself. Air in my lungs now, lightheadedness subsiding, I continued to tempt my fate. She had her arms around my neck, and I prayed she’d never let me go.

  Dammit! She let go. She gave me a look that said we shouldn’t be doing this and turned her face away from mine. Undoubt
edly, I had lost my mind because I ignored the look, turned her face back towards me, and leaned in to kiss her again.

  Sliding my hands down her arms, I lifted her arms back up to my neck. She embraced me without protest, and the action made me so happy my heart skipped several beats as it knocked against my chest. Sliding my hands down over her nice round behind, I boosted her up onto the countertop.

  Now, we were face-to-face, and I was positioned temptingly between her legs. Looking into her eyes, I knew that I’d always love this woman, even if she never loved me back. Backing away from me a bit, she held my face in her hands as she whispered, “What are we doing?” When I finally found my voice, I told her that we’re sharing passion.

  My forehead against hers, I looked into her eyes, and said all that needed to be said with only my eyes. There was no way she couldn’t see how much I loved her. I slowly kissed her tempting lips, then her left cheek, then lower near her ear, and then her neck.

  She released a soft moan that did wicked things to my senses. Sliding my hand down the side of her neck, I didn’t stop until it was at the V of her top. She gave me an unmistakable look and moved her chest ever so slightly against my hand. I undid a few buttons of her top and smiled at the sight of one of the bras I picked out for her. Opening my hand, I slowly slid it over her breast, and the action was rewarded with a soft moan.

  We were definitely sharing a moment, because she’d never reacted to me in this manner. The knowledge that I wasn’t imagining her interest in me or that I wasn’t in this alone gave me great comfort and, above all, hope. The brothers had been right, sometimes you had to do something totally unexpected and see what happens.

  I had forgotten about my poem as it peeked out of her bra. I swiftly removed the note with a smile. Continuing to explore her, I slipped my hand under her top and let my fingers dance over the warm, soft peak of her breast, memorizing every curve, texture, and pleasure point. I hadn’t even realized I’d been sliding her erotically into me. Being who she was, she probably had no idea that she was the one in danger—of me letting go of what little control I had to carry her to the nearest bedroom.

  She closed her eyes in enjoyment of my touching and caresses as I continued to slide my hand around the contours of her luscious curves. Just knowing who I was touching and the fact that she enjoyed it was a turn-on all on its own. I continued my slow roaming of her body while softly nibbling on her lip, drinking her in with a thirst that she’d created. She tasted better than anything I had ever had, making me savor her, programming her flavor into my brain. She was like licorice infused with caramel and a dash of cinnamon. Using the hand I had under her top, I pull it down, exposing her tempting treats. My tongue danced down her neck and kept traveling down until my lips shivered across the tops of her soft hills of delicately crafted loveliness.

  Although I had no intention of going anywhere, she used her legs to keep me close. The action heightened my arousal and need. I firmly slid one hand down her back until I cupped her backside and pulled her firmly into me, letting her feel how badly I wanted her. She let out a moan that made my entire body go weak, like she’d injected me with her own brand of pleasure. I had no idea how much longer I could keep this up. She had me so hot there was no doubt I could have come just from our foreplay. But, I pushed myself to endure the sweet torture.

  I kissed each of her nipples through her bra making her moans come more frequent. She had one leg around my ass, her other lowered around the back of my thigh, while her hot core rocked against my hard need for her.

  It was all too much, such intense desires that I took in a deep steadying breath with my mouth still on her nipple. I very gently bit her left nipple through her bra, and her reaction sent hot chills up my spine, nearly sending me over the edge, making me fight for control. She wrapped her arms and legs around me as if her life were ending, gasping for air and saying something I didn’t understand.

  Once I gathered some semblance of control, still locked in her embrace, it took a few moments to realize what was happening. The fact that I could get her to cross over desire and climb the pinnacle of pleasure was the ultimate boost to my ego. She held me so tight and passionately I didn’t want her to let me go. I didn’t know what to say or how to respond, so I held on to her until I felt her body relax. My hands up the sides of her body caused her to shiver. Speaking in a breathless whispers, I kissed her forehead and let her know that someone was at the door. She still seemed a bit hazy, so I buttoned her top and gave her one last parting stare before I reluctantly walked away. She had no idea she had me about one grind away from coming in my pants, so I had to adjust myself several times before I opened the front door.

  Mycale had no idea what he was going to do. He had no idea what kind of box he’d just opened. He had never wanted anyone the way he wanted Sori, and he prayed he hadn’t just made the worst mistake in his life by acting on impulses he’d vowed to keep hidden.

  CHAPTER 23

  Emotional Warriors

  Someone was knocking at the damn door. It took Sori a moment to remember one or both of her brothers were supposed to come over. She’d heard the doorbell ring a few times but couldn’t pull herself away from Mycale to acknowledge it. He’d had her on the threshold between reality and a touch of blissful death. He’d temporarily kept her captive in the one place she’d not been able to pull herself out of, mentally or physically.

  Damon was who Sori heard talking to Mycale as she remained in the kitchen, taking deep breaths as she tried to recover from the emotional assault Mycale had launched at her. She quickly brushed her fingers through her hair, licked her still tingling lips, and walked into the living room, pretending like her world didn’t just get rocked in a way she couldn’t even begin to describe or understand.

  Damon greeted, “Hey, Sis. I started to panic when you didn’t open the door right away, thought you’d killed Mycale and was burying his body.”

  She couldn’t help smiling at her crazy brother. “As you can see, Mycale is fine.” Fine indeed.

  Ensuring she took a seat out of Mycale’s line of vision, she couldn’t bring herself to look in his direction. Surprisingly, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hide what she was feeling, nor could she turn it off. Mycale had opened the floodgates, making her feel a river of emotions she’d rarely used and some she’d never experienced—alive, excited, cherished, vulnerable, happy, exhilarated, sexy, wanted, needed, and loved. She felt them all and was more worried than ever that he would always have this effect on her. At first, he’d barely scratched the surface of her ironclad control; now that he had practice, he seemed to know exactly what to do to get her to open up to him.

  Being the distraction she needed, Sori had never been happier to see her brother. If not for Damon’s interruption, who knows what might have happened?

  Damon kept glancing from Mycale then back to his sister.

  She noticed. “Why didn’t you just come in? You stood out there, ringing the bell and knocking.”

  His forehead had a hint of a furrow, undoubtedly wondering what was up. “I gave Mycale my key. I’ll make a copy from Drake’s later.”

  She glanced from her brother to Mycale and back. It appeared that Mycale had her entire family under some kind of spell.

  She was thrown completely off guard when her brother asked Mycale if he considered staying at the cabin for the weekend.

  What in the hell is Damon thinking?

  Giving her a brotherly pat on the hand. He said, “Sis doesn’t mind sharing.”

  Declining the offer, Mycale shook his head. He looked toward Sori to gauge her reaction and caught Damon giving him a mean look, reminding him of their man-talk earlier.

  Although he presented a halfhearted chuckle, Damon’s eyes told Mycale a different story.

  Not wanting there to be any weirdness between her and Mycale, Sori said, “Mycale, it’s okay, you’re more than welco
me to stay.” What she didn’t say was, his presence made the two-thousand-plus square feet of cabin space feel like a broom closet.

  As much as she would have liked to, she decided she wasn’t going to run away from the situation between them. She had played wife and girlfriend to partners, targets, and murders, surely she could handle the feelings Mycale stirred within her. Right?

  This situation had her mentally stranded. With Mycale, her choice to not feel had been taken and she felt totally out of her element. Absolutely refusing to be a chicken, she summoned strength.

  Something was up, Damon could feel it. He eye her suspiciously and asked, “Something wrong, Sis?” He looked between her and Mycale again. “You guys sure are acting funny. What’s up with the two of you?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Everything’s good.”

  Damon gave them both pensive looks then a sly smile. “Whatever it is bothering you, I hope it’s something good.”

  Quickly steering the conversation in another direction, Mycale initiated a conversation on an impending case.

  While they talked about the case, Sori tried to think of a plan to fix the situation between her and Mycale, but nothing that made sense came to mind. Her mind screamed, Shut this shit down quickly! But her body yelled back, Take him to your bedroom now!

  Letting her acting skills take over, she quickly put on a smile.

  Thankful she’d started another conversation, Mycale couldn’t concentrate long enough to be an effective participant in the discussion he’d just started. His mind kept steering toward what had just happened in the kitchen and the one who’d made it all possible. His mind told him what he didn’t want to hear.

  She is not going to let this go any further.