“Seriously?”
“I was seventeen. It was pretty cold. Ergo I was pretty unimpressive.”
She laughed, examined her cards and laid down the eight of spades.
He put the nine on top and grinned. “T-shirt.”
“You don’t get to choose the item.” She hooked her fingers in her panties and wriggled them off, but because the T-shirt was long, she was able to pull the front down so he couldn’t see anything, even when she sat cross-legged before him again.
“That’s cheating,” he complained.
“Whatever. What’s your question?”
They had two cards left each. His heart rate was beginning to speed up at the thought of what would happen once they played the last trick. He wanted her, wanted to cover her in kisses and wipe away the memory of the idiot who she’d slept with last time. He wanted to pleasure her and find pleasure in her, to bury himself in her and make her sigh and come apart beneath him.
One step at a time, though. She was enjoying herself, and he wanted to prolong the fun and make the night as memorable as possible.
He thought about a question.
“Come on,” she said. “Shock me.”
He smiled wryly. “Why do you want to be shocked so much?”
“I don’t know. You’re so polite. I’m tempted to see how far I can push you and how naughty you can be.”
He finished off his glass of wine. In spite of his earlier words, he wasn’t drunk, but things were starting to get a bit hazy. “I’m a gentleman. I don’t like to embarrass a lady.”
“I’m no lady.”
“I’m beginning to realise that.”
She giggled. “Come on, Colm the sexy Celt. Shock me.” Her eyes sparkled. She was tipsy, he thought. What fun.
Naughtiness surged through him. “Okay. Let’s say I’m going to fuck you from behind. On your knees or lying down?”
To his delight, she gave a little gasp and inhaled sharply. “Colm!”
“You did ask.”
“I did. I didn’t expect you to go along with it.”
“Well, now I’m embarrassed.”
She laughed and, to his surprise, leaned forward and pressed her lips against his briefly. “There,” she said, pulling back. “As a reward.”
His heart pounded but he tried to act nonchalant. “I’m definitely going to be naughty more often.”
“Ooh, promises, promises.” She gestured at his cards. “Your turn.”
“You haven’t answered me yet.”
She bit her lip, eyes dancing. “Ooh. Umm… I like both. Depends what mood I’m in. But…lying down, I think. I like…the weight on top of me.” Her eyes glassed over as if she were imagining him on top of her, pressing her down.
His vision went similarly bleary at the thought of pinning her hands above her head, pushing apart her legs and sliding into her from behind. Wow. They had to finish this game before he seriously embarrassed himself before he’d even got his hands on her.
He laid down the six of spades.
She trumped it with the seven of hearts.
“Ha,” she said. “Pants.”
He hesitated. For the first time he felt a twinge of embarrassment. He had an erection the like of which he hadn’t had for some time, and it was going to be completely obvious when he undressed.
He sighed as she sat up eagerly. What the hell. It was pointless to hide it considering what he was hoping to do with it before the end of the evening.
He pushed himself off the bed and unbuttoned his pants the same way she had, with a similar sexy wiggle. Then he lifted them over his erection and let them drop to the floor.
“Whoa.” She looked suitably impressed.
“Thank you.” He got on the bed and lay back, trying not to feel self-conscious at the bulge in his boxers. He picked up his cards. “It’s rude to stare, by the way.”
“I really don’t care. That’s an extremely impressive hard-on.”
“Mia…”
She giggled and held up her last card. So did he, and they revealed them at the same time.
Hers was the nine of hearts.
His was the ace.
She rolled her eyes. “Typical. You had that up your sleeve?”
“I’m not wearing a shirt,” he pointed out, adding triumphantly, “Top off.”
She met his gaze, smiling wryly. He flicked his fingers, indicating for her to hand him the item.
She grasped the hem, pulled it over her head and dropped it to the floor behind her.
Colm’s eyes widened, but he kept his gaze fixed on hers. She sat before him, starting to giggle as he blinked but refused to look down.
“I’m naked,” she announced.
“I’m aware of that.”
“Aren’t you going to look?”
“Um…”
“Colm, seriously. I’m sitting here with my tits out and you’re looking at my face. What’s wrong with you?”
“If I look,” he said, somewhat helplessly, “there’s no going back.”
“God, I hope not.” She pointed at her breasts and winked.
He sighed. And lowered his gaze.
They were perfect. The nipples were a dusky pink and looked soft, begging for his mouth to cover them. Her skin had the remnants of a summer tan. At the top of her thighs, the triangle of curly hair was light brown.
“Holy fuck,” he said. “You’re amazing. I swear I haven’t had an erection this hard for years.”
She laughed and threw the cards on the floor, then lay back on the bed with her arms above her head, smiling up at him. He grinned and stretched out beside her, propping his head on a hand, their bodies not quite touching. She let his gaze roam over her, seemingly enjoying his admiration.
“You like what you see?” she asked, her voice husky.
“Can’t you tell?” He glanced at his boxers.
“I’m naked. You’re not.”
He sat up and shucked his boxers before lying back down. She stared at his erection for a long moment before raising her eyes to his.
She shivered, and he watched with fascination as her nipples tightened.
“Thank you for this evening,” she whispered. “I’ve really enjoyed myself.”
“God, me too.” And it was true. She was such fun. He could play with her all night and not get bored.
Chapter Eleven
Mia lay there for a while, waiting for Colm to touch her. But although he devoured her with a hungry gaze, and his erection could have given the Sky Tower a run for its money in a Biggest Column competition, he didn’t reach out, nor did he kiss her.
Shit, she thought, I’ve done it again. Me and my big mouth.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, cursing herself and hoping she hadn’t ruined the evening.
He raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
“For being…I don’t know. Forward. Pushy.”
He blinked. “Huh?”
She sat up hurriedly. “I know I talk too much and I can be bossy and too direct, but please don’t let it put you off, I promise I’ll shut up when we get going and—”
“Mia,” he interrupted patiently, “are you under the impression I’ve not pounced on you because you intimidate me?”
“Um, well, yes.”
“That’s not the case,” he said, his blue eyes calm.
That threw her. “Oh. It’s just—”
“Sweetheart, I’m not shy. And I have done this before. I’m enjoying the moment. Plus I’m trying to remind myself that you’ve got a bad back before I leap on you and thrust you into next week.”
That made her laugh. “Sorry, I thought… I mean, it’s happened before and…”
“You don’t intimidate me,” he insisted again. “It’s good when a woman knows what she wants. I like it that you like sex and you’re not afraid to say so. It turns me on.”
“I can see that.” She glanced at his erection, which was clearly hoping for some action in the near future.
He grinne
d. “Take it as a sign.”
“I will. It’s just…my last boyfriend left me because he said I was too bossy in bed.” The memory of that fateful evening made her cheeks burn.
“He left you?” Colm looked exasperated as he studied her unusually red cheeks. “I thought he had trouble getting it up?”
She winced. “Well, yes, that was another issue. But I was trying to overcome that. I supposed that was part of the problem, though—it was easier for him to blame me instead of addressing his own troubles.”
“Christ, what on earth was wrong with that dude?”
She sighed. “I’d never thought of myself as particularly difficult to turn on before, but even I have to admit to needing a little more than a tweak of the nipples and a two-second stroke down below to get me going. I suppose he just wanted to get it over with and couldn’t be bothered with turning me on. I tried to encourage him to indulge in a bit more foreplay, but he got cross when I seemed to want more than that. He blamed me. He said I was frigid.” The memory made her squirm.
Colm’s face was a picture. “Wow, what a wonderful example of the male species. I feel I have to apologise on behalf of the whole of my sex. I’m so sorry.”
“Well, I thought it was me for a while, but Grace convinced me eventually that he didn’t know his arse from his elbow. Or, rather, my arse and elbow.”
Colm snorted. “It doesn’t sound like he could have found a clitoris with a map and a compass.”
Relief swept over her. She thought he might have been nervous that she had such high expectations—an orgasm the first time they slept together—oh my! But dear God, he seemed to actually know what he was doing in bed. Mia nearly fainted. “The very fact that you even know there’s a clitoris is a big plus in your favour.”
He laughed at that and finally reached for her, pulling her into his arms and rolling so she could stretch out on top of him. He ran his hands down her, moulding her to him, and she shivered at the feel of his hard, strong body pressed against hers. “Poor Mia,” he said, amused. “All you want is to be screwed senseless and to have a bit of fun.”
“That is all I want,” she agreed. “I’m glad you realise that.”
“It seems fairly obvious to me. Who doesn’t want that? But it sounds like you’ve had a few bad experiences.”
Eek! He thought she was a trollop. “Well, I haven’t been with that many men,” she said hastily. “I’m not a complete slut. I’m not in double figures yet.”
He gave her an impatient frown then. “Honey, I wouldn’t care if you were. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying sex.” His eyes were clear, honest. He meant it.
For some reason that comment made the breath hitch in her throat. She’d thought the whole world viewed a man who liked sex as a stud, but a woman who liked it as a slut. It was refreshing to meet someone who didn’t.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, biting her lip. “You’re something special, aren’t you?”
He gave her a puzzled look as he trailed his hands up her body. “Because I’m open minded?”
“Yes, exactly that.”
“If by that you mean that I’m not intimidated by a woman taking the initiative, then I guess so.” He shrugged. “I have an idea of what turns a woman on. But I’m not a mind reader, and everyone’s different. I’d much rather my partner say ‘slower’ or ‘up a bit’ than lie there thinking ‘for fuck’s sake, it’s going to take an hour for me to come like this’.”
She giggled, loving his open, honest manner. “I don’t mean to be bossy. But as you say, it seems pointless to lie there thinking ‘what’s he doing?’ when I could just say ‘ooh, don’t stop, I’m nearly there’.”
He laughed. “I agree. Be as bossy as you like.” He skimmed his fingers up her rib cage. “But it doesn’t mean I’ll always do as I’m told.” He met her gaze challengingly.
“Ooh—” she shivered, “—gosh. You’re so sexy. Your lovely accent gives me goose bumps.”
“So I see.” He traced a finger lightly around the areola of one nipple, not quite touching the puckered skin.
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Oh.”
He rolled her over onto her back and leaned on an elbow to look down at her. “The reason I’m taking my time, Mia Nicholls, is that I’ve been watching you all year and I can’t quite believe my luck that I’ve finally got you into bed. I want to make it last, especially because it’s been a while for you, and you deserve a little bit of pleasure after all you’ve been through.”
“Okay,” she said weakly.
“So here’s what I’m going to do,” he said. “First of all I’m going to kiss you for a while. I enjoyed kissing you the other night, and I’ve been wanting to do it again ever since.”
“Mm.”
“I’ll start with your lips, and then I’m going to move downward.” He showed her with his finger, drawing an invisible line from her jaw down her neck. “I’ll gradually go lower, to here.” He trailed his finger down the swell of her breast to the tip. “I might linger here awhile.” He circled the nipple.
She opened her eyes and stared up at him dreamily. “If you insist.”
“I do. And then I’m going to move lower.” He slid his finger down her rib cage and over her stomach, which quivered in response.
“That tickles.”
“It won’t when it’s my lips.” He stroked across to her hip bone, then down to her thighs. She lay with one leg drawn up, but he pushed the knee gently, so she parted her legs, her pulse racing.
He brushed up her inner thigh. “And then I think I’ll move down here.”
“With your mouth?” she asked hopefully.
“With my mouth. You see, I want to taste you, Mia.” His eyes were dark with passion. “I’ve wanted to do this since the first moment I saw you in the staff room. I want to slide my tongue through your swollen skin and taste your arousal.” He stroked very lightly up the heart of her. “I want to slip my fingers inside you while I flick my tongue over this little button here.” He circled the area, and she closed her eyes and moaned. He carried on, “I’d like to continue doing that while I explore and find that magic spot inside you. And I want to feel you come on my tongue and tighten around my fingers.” He moved them down and they slid inside her easily. He groaned. “Oh…Mia, so swollen and wet for me already. Does that meet with your approval?”
Her eyelids fluttered open. “Oh God, yes. I swear, Colm, I could come just by listening to you.”
“That won’t be necessary.” He withdrew his fingers, coated with her slippery fluid, and moved them up to stroke her clit firmly. “But I expect you to tell me what you like.”
“Oh…I will. That. Yes. Right there.”
“Guide me, Mia. Let me make this good for you.” He lowered his head and kissed her deeply, hungrily, his tongue delving into her mouth as his fingers continued their relentless arousal of her.
It had been so long since she’d done this, and she was so keyed up, she could already feel an orgasm building. How embarrassing. She knew she should push him away, but the feeling was fantastic, and he was stroking her in exactly the right spot…
He lifted his head. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” His mouth hovered over hers, his touch sure, practiced. Who’d have guessed the slightly geeky history professor would be so skilled between the sheets?
She bit her lip. “That’s…so nice…” Her eyes fluttered closed. “You should stop… Or I’ll…” She moaned as he slid his fingers inside her to collect more moisture, then brought them back up again to continue their slow, persistent rhythm. Her thighs loosened instinctively, her hips lifting to press against his hand.
“Oh, honey, already?” He kissed her again as he stroked more firmly in response to her unspoken plea. “No wonder you’re so frustrated. Yes, come for me—and then we can really get down to business.”
“More than one?” His confidence in his ability to deliver sent shivers through her. “Oh my God I’ve died, haven’t I? I’m in heaven
and I didn’t even realise it.”
He laughed and lowered his head to her breast. “I think we both have. This is the nearest to heaven I’ve ever been.” He covered her nipple with his mouth and sucked.
She needed no other encouragement and came immediately, and he stilled his hand, pressing down with his thumb while he slid two fingers inside her. It was exactly what she needed and she cried out, arching against him as the pleasurable sensations racked her body, her internal muscles tightening deliciously around his hand.
He raised his head as she gradually relaxed, and withdrew his fingers gently. “There. Now we can take our time.” He rubbed his nose against hers.
She blew out her breath, still amazed at how quickly she’d come. “Wow, that was fantastic.”
He nibbled her bottom lip. “And quick. I think I can say with some authority that you are not frigid.”
She giggled, and he chuckled and began to kiss down her neck. “Now be a good girl and tell me what you want me to do.” He cupped her breast. “By the end of the evening I hope to have found out exactly what makes you tick. And if you haven’t come at least twice more, I’ll want to know why.”
“Oh…” She was going to cry if he was any nicer to her.
He kissed her nipple. “Say yes, Colm.”
“You know what, I think you’re bossier than me.”
“Maybe you’re right. Say it.”
“Yes, Colm.”
“Good girl. I’m going to pay attention here for a little while now.”
She raised her arms above her head on the bed and gave a long, contented sigh as he took her softened nipple in his mouth and sucked it to a long, tight peak. She’d been telling the truth when she said she’d had fewer than ten partners. Eight was the actual number, over half of whom had been mediocre in bed. One had been slightly better, one pretty good and one had given her a glimpse of what it could really be like with the right person, but even though the sex had been great, their personalities had clashed out of the bedroom and it was clearly never going to amount to more than a brief fling.
Colm, however… As he switched to her other nipple, teasing it with the tip of his tongue, she caught herself pondering on what a lovely partner he’d make. A sex god in the bedroom, and a funny and caring guy outside.
Talking Sense: Sensual Healing, Book 3 Page 7