by Anya Sharpe
Nervous, I squeeze my arm around Evan’s. While Dante is hot enough to melt diamonds, something about him makes me uncomfortable—not in a good way. Evan picks up on it, his posture changing ever so slightly as he draws me close to him.
“Dante, allow me to introduce my…” He glances at me and lifts an eyebrow as he continues. “…girlfriend, Erynne. Erynne, I’m sure you recognize Dante Gregorius.”
Holy hell, it is him. Hot box-office actor and well-known playboy. The words “man whore” come to mind, which isn’t a nice thing to think, even though the guy does have an enormous reputation with the ladies. As in, a different one every week, if the celebrity rags are to be believed.
“Mr. Gregorius, pleased to meet you.” I stumble over my words like a teenage fan-girl. Why is this elevator ride taking forever?
“Oh, darling, please call me Dante.” A goddamned sexy smile is still fixed on his face. I’m so busy staring, I barely notice he’s taken my free hand to his lips and kissed it. Most women would be swooning. Not me. He’s more than easy on the eyes, but I can’t shake the ickies sliding down my spine.
Ding!
Thank God, we’re here. We step off the elevator—all three of us? Then, it occurs to me, there’s only one other floor above mine, and I know who lives there.
Which means Dante Gregorius, God’s Gift to Women, lives in the apartment across the hall from me. Just effing great.
His black as midnight eyes light up.
“No! Don’t tell me this beautiful woman lives next door to me? How did I not know this?”
Evan’s grip on my hand tightens possessively, while I fuss with the key to the apartment with the other.
“She moved in recently, Dante.” He takes the key from me and inserts it into the lock. We both freeze at Dante’s next statement.
“Interesting turn of events, wouldn’t you say? Why bother living one floor down from your boyfriend, Erynne? So close, yet so far. If she were my woman, Giamatti, there’d be no floors between us.”
With the taunt, he slams shut the door to his apartment, and we enter mine.
Evan’s expression is unreadable. I can tell Dante Gregorius burrowed under his skin.
“What the hell was he all about?” I breathe out the air I’ve kept trapped in my lungs since the elevator ride.
Evan’s eyes pierce mine. “Be careful around him. I don’t trust the bastard.”
“Neither do I.” Relief fills him as I walk into his arms.
“He comes with a big reputation, Erynne. He knows you’re here now, so I guarantee he’s going to hit on you.”
“Nah, you told him I was your girlfriend…” Oh. My voice trails off. Evan probably said that to keep Dante at bay. My train of thought switches to our conversation at the restaurant, and I can’t help but wonder what exactly is going on between us. I presumed too much. Pulling out of his embrace, I step back, unsure about everything.
He moves forward, resting his hands on my arms, a reassuring smile playing on his sweet lips. “In my mind, you are my girlfriend.” He pauses as I absorb his words. “If you’re opposed to that plan, you might want to let me know.” He kisses me softly. “Now.” His sensuous lips are on mine again, and if I had any doubts about where things were going with Evan, they’ve flown away. Dante Gregorius is forgotten.
“Get your things,” he whispers in my ear.
“Things?”
“Whatever you need for the night. You’re coming upstairs with me.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Evan
Fucking Dante Gregorius. Of all the bastards in this building, we had to run into him. I glare out the living room window while waiting for Erynne to grab a few things to take upstairs. Which was the plan all along.
The jack ass can’t keep his hands off any woman with a decent pair of legs and tits. His radar is now tuned to Erynne. This is my fault. I forgot Dante lived across from her. I rarely run into the guy, and she never asked whose apartment it was. Frankly, it’s amazing they’ve never run into each other. I should be grateful she was with me when we did.
Even so, the urge to piss a circle around her is strong, which is stupid, because I could tell Dante made her uneasy.
I pull myself out of my unpleasant reverie and I shout, “Hey, babe, you don’t need a toothbrush or hairbrush. I bought some for you.” Hah! I finally get to call her “babe”! Juvenile, I know, but still…
Her footsteps come to a halt. She’s standing in the doorway of her bedroom staring at me with both of those items in her hands. “You what?”
“Well, I figured you might be spending some time up at my place, so I took the liberty…” She shakes her head and returns to her room. I caught the slight smile she was trying to hide, though. A few seconds later, she reemerges with a small overnight bag and a huge grin.
“Ready.”
Me too.
****
I toss her bag on the sofa and tug her into the kitchen, where I get out two flutes and a bottle of Dom Perignon.
“What’s all this for?”
“To celebrate.” I’m so stoked about her presence my dick is hard from that alone.
“What are we celebrating?”
She’s a little cautious, so I haul her gorgeous body up against mine and kiss her like I mean it. Really mean it. Her fucking lips are soft and delicious, I can’t help but run my tongue over them before tangling with her hot, sweet mouth. I groan, and nothing else in this world compares to this moment. I’m gone for this woman.
“Oh damn, I love kissing you,” I confess as we come up for air, both panting. I’m ready to ditch the idea of champagne on the roof under the stars. Definitely ready to ditch that idea—the stars have been there for millions of years. They’re not going anywhere. I grab the bottle and flutes in one hand and with the other take hold of hers and head for the bedroom. I’m not wasting any more time.
I pop the cork and pour the bubbly. We tap our glasses without an official toast and take our first sips. Our gazes remain focused on each other’s, intense and intimate.
I can’t wait any longer. I remove the pins from her hair and shudder as the curls fall down around her shoulders. Instantly, my fingers weave through the strands of silk, and I press her lips to mine. She tastes like champagne. I take the glass and set it next to mine. She wastes no time running her fingers along my arms, my back, my neck. Jesus, her touch is so fine.
These kisses, while searching, are gentle and soft and sweet and unrushed. My hands wander from the luxurious nest of her hair to the zipper on the back of her dress. One hand anchored to her curvaceous hip, the other slowly works it down, separating the panels, and sliding beneath the fabric to finally caress her warm skin.
“I love your hands on me.” She whispers into my ear in such a husky, sensuous voice it’s almost impossible to contain myself from ripping the dress in half to get it off of her more quickly. I groan instead and bury myself in her neck, placing a path of tiny kisses and nibbles below her ear.
“I need to touch more of your skin. Preferably against mine.” I drag the dress off her shoulders, down her arms, and allow it to slide onto the floor of the dimmed bedroom.
“You are so damned gorgeous, Erynne. Standing there in that lacy white bra, your tits begging me to suck them hard.” My thumbs glide over each stiffened peak. Her head falls back with her low moan, exposing the length of her neck and pushing her breasts toward me. The sight is now burned into my retinas forever.
“Suck them, Evan.”
Her desperation is as strong as mine. I’m on the edge right now. Quickly unclasping her bra, I remove the offending garment and toss it behind me, not caring if we ever find it again. My mouth closes tight around one of those rosy peaks. She’s making sounds so fucking heavenly I might jack into my pants. My cock is twitching like it’s tapping out Morse code, banging against the zipper.
I switch breasts—they’re both damned fine, lemme tell you. While I’m occupied there, my hands are busy moving ac
ross her tight body, snagging the lacy excuse for a thong.
Pop! I pull my mouth off her tit and drop to my knees because I want to watch the unveiling of her beautiful pussy as I slide the scrap slowly over her trim hips and down legs I am dying to wrap around me. They join her bra somewhere on the floor.
The sight is exquisite. It’s not enough, though. Nudging her legs wider apart I press my tongue between them, stroking her hot, slick center while grasping her hips to steady her. She’s turning into jelly, gripping my shoulders to keep at least some of her balance.
“I can’t get enough of your sweetness, baby.” I whisper and continue the rhythmic stroking against her folds and clit. She’s undulating and so close now, I wrap one arm around her, freeing a hand, which I slide up a thigh until I reach her heated, throbbing spot. I thrust one finger into her, and a second.
“Oh, God, Evan. Please!” With every word, her voice grows louder and more desperate, until she’s screaming my name over and over in an uneven cadence. I’ve died and gone to heaven.
I smile as I pump my fingers harder, faster, and suck on her beaded clit. She’s going over. Hard.
I fucking love it.
Now nothing more than a limp doll in my arms, I lay her panting, gasping body on top of the bed. Swiftly, I unbutton and remove my shirt, climbing next to her. I pull her into me, lining up our bodies. The sensation of her tits on my chest can’t be adequately described. I’ve held my share of naked women, but Erynne? She fits. Perfectly.
“I love the way your body feels against mine. It’s meant to be here, Erynne.” The words are eager murmurs in her ear as I move my mouth from the lobe to her lips. She brings me in for hungry kisses filled with desire.
“I need you, Evan. Right now, I need you. Because…” she doesn’t finish her sentence. She plows her tongue into my mouth, and we tangle and search and come up for air panting.
“Because what, baby?”
“Because you feel so good. You make me feel so good. Oh, God, so good.” She’s rolled me onto my back and is kissing and licking me like a savory treat. Erynne works her way along my chest, stopping to nip my flat but sensitive nipples, her hands working the belt, button, and zipper of my pants.
“Wait.” I roll her over and stand, discarding what’s left of my clothing. She sits up, admiring the bulging, steel-hard erection bouncing with anticipation in front of her. Without warning, she slides her hot, wet mouth over the head. As many times as I’ve dreamed of this, the real thing is a thousand times better.
“Jesus. Fuck.” I groan as her lips slide over the length of me as far as she can go. “So fucking good, babe.” My hands fist at my sides I’m afraid to touch her, because I might lose control and make her take my dick down her throat with too much force. She slips her mouth off me with and grins.
It’s a very, very naughty grin, I might add.
“This big guy,” she says, rubbing a hand up and down my silky length, “tastes divine. I’m having my dessert. Right now.”
In the next second, she’s sucking again, putting me so close to the edge I grit my teeth to keep from coming. She’s swirling and licking my engorged cock with an enthusiasm I never expected.
“Oh, shit. Oh, shit.” A slight tingle runs through me as she pulls out, and once again I think I’m going to lose my fucking mind right here. Pumping my cock with her hand a few times, she licks the head, lightly sucking on the tip.
Electricity shoots through my aching balls and up my spine.
“Fuuuuck!” I yell, pulling her off me because in two more seconds I would have come like a madman down her throat. No. After waiting this long, I want to be buried as deep as possible in her sweet, tight pussy when that happens. At least for the first few thousand times.
She’s grinning again, her lips moist from sucking me.
“Lay down,” I command. She does, but still wears a naughty smirk. “You were so bad you were good.” Trying to maintain my sanity, I fish for a condom in the dresser.
“Evan?” She says quietly, as I’m about to rip open the packet.
“Yeah?”
“You don’t need that.” Her face is flushed a beautiful shade of pink. In fact, her whole body has a faint rosy glow.
“I don’t?” My dick—which is already on cloud nine—is thinking it’s Christmas morning right now.
“I got tested after, um, and I’m good. And on the pill.” She sounds a little nervous.
“Me too. Tested that is. Clean as a whistle.”
“Only, if you want…”
I’m on her. Taking Erynne bareback? Hell, yeah. I’ve never done it before, but I’m not passing up the chance tonight.
“Jesus, you’re stiff, Evan.” She says as my dick pokes her between the legs.
“I’ve been hard as granite ever since the goddamned restaurant. Right now, I need to be inside you. Buried deep.” I waste no more time, lining up to her slit and plunging right in. Into gloriousness of another realm. “Good God, this is the best thing I’ve ever felt in my entire life.”
It is.
My lips consume hers, I’ve wrapped an arm around her waist, stuffed a hand into her hair and I’m cupping the back of her head. God help me, I am pounding myself senseless into her.
Then, I feel it. Her sweet, silky legs glide up against my thighs, she wraps her ankles around my waist, and…the damned heels are digging into my ass. Holy hotness. Finally. Another dream come true. It shoves me closer to the impending edge I’ve been riding since she took me into her mouth.
“God, woman, hurry up and come, because I’m going to lose it soon.” I’m shouting as if that will keep the climax barreling down on me at bay long enough for her to come again.
They must be magic words, because she does. A screaming, shouting release hits her like nothing I’ve ever seen before. A million fucking bucks. That’s what I feel like now.
“Oh hell, Erynne!” Bam! The hardest orgasm of my life overtakes me. I’m shuddering from head to goddamn toe and hammering into her as if I’ll never stop. I squeeze her hard against me and pray I don’t crush her.
When we finish, I relax the vicelike hold on her and roll to the side without letting go. She probably needs to breathe since we’re both panting like we ran a marathon.
Once enough air returns to my lungs, I speak.
“Did I hurt you?”
“Not at all.” She’s still breathing heavily. I see her, those beautiful eyes, and the contented smile forming.
I love you.
The words in my mind roll through me like a soft wind. The emotions stirring in me are strong and unexpected.
I stroke her face with the back of my hand, watching as her eyes flutter closed. Erynne shivers, so I cover us with the sheet and blanket and flip off the small lamp on the nightstand. I’ve waited for months to hold Erynne’s body close to mine all night and tonight’s that night.
Her breathing becomes quiet and even as I tuck her against my side. In her first throes of sleep, one hand drifts across my abdomen and rests there.
This woman is mine. No doubt about that.
I’m keeping her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Erynne
I open door number four and step inside. My body tingles with anticipation and excitement.
He is here. I can sense him. The air crackles with his presence.
A soft, warm glow surrounds me, growing more intense as seconds pass, during which time, I take slow, small steps. It’s odd. There don’t seem to be physical walls in this place, although I’m aware it is a room. Darkness defines the edges of the space, but it’s not frightening.
The shadow of a figure comes into focus. Tall, muscular, trim waist leading to narrow carved hips. My heart rate increases as I near.
There he is. That smile. Oh my gosh, that beautiful smile.
He reaches for me and I take his hand. It’s familiar and comforting.
I’m pulled into a sensual, loving, warm embrace. Peaceful. So many words can describe
the utter contentment flowing though me. I’m on the verge of weeping tears of joy and happiness.
In the next moment, his lips explore my neck as he caresses my back and shoulders. One hand strays, gliding up into my loose hair.
“Come with me.” His voice is husky, deep and sensual. I’d follow him anywhere simply from the sound. Hand-in-hand we glide effortlessly to another space. I want to observe the surroundings, but his kisses are consuming me, heating up an already fiery passion between us.
I’m so wrapped up in his kiss, I barely realize he’s undoing the buttons of my blouse, pushing down the sleeves, unclasping my bra. Our bare torsos press together—my soft breasts against his hard, firm chest. I allow my hands to explore his muscular back while he traces imaginary lines down mine.
Our kisses deepen seeking nirvana.
The rest of our clothes are gone. I don’t know how. I don’t care. For we are spread out on the softest, largest bed, our hands and lips eagerly exploring each other.
Sweat—sweet and slick and hot. Two bodies tangling in this erotic dance.
This is where I belong.
This is my future.
****
I awake to find myself snug in Evan’s strong arms. His face is buried in my neck, his breath soft and warm on my skin. The dim light of morning casts low shadows in his bedroom. I shift so I can watch him in slumber.
He’s handsome. Sexy. Even while asleep. Instinctively I caress his wavy, dark hair, twirling the tip of a curl in my fingers, then tracing the side of his stubbled face, down to his quiet lips. Lips that brought me pleasure in so many wonderful ways last night—including my dreams, I recall.
Something strong stirs deep in me. Longing? Desire? Lust? Passion? I’m not sure what to label it. While I ponder these feelings for Evan, his hand catches mine against his face, pressing onto his lips, where he places a gentle kiss on my palm. Things flutter inside me.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” His deep, low voice makes me tremble a little. Or a lot.