Justus worked her up to a frenzy and she forgot about being nervous. He kept his legs on the outside of hers so that she was unable to open them wider than a small gap.
Page was panting and feeling a rush all over her, a tightening between her legs that was spiraling out of control. The sensation roared through her, spreading across her legs as the tingling became stronger. The instinct to open her legs to him also became stronger.
“Let go, Page,” he whispered. “Let it go and give yourself to me.”
When she reached the edge of climax, he stopped and used his knee to move her legs apart. As Justus eased the blunt head in, he kissed her so deeply that she felt his tongue in a way that she hadn’t before. It was as if he were inside her in every conceivable way. She began to writhe and work her body against his in a hungry fashion, a fresh dew of sweat glistening across her body.
He growled with each twist of her hips.
“Easy,” he said, caressing her thigh. “Slow down and let me take care of you.”
He sucked on her lower lip and when she wrapped her legs around his hips, he cursed. Justus whispered an apology against her mouth as he slid down, sucking on her breast and sending a lightning bolt of ecstasy straight down between her legs. He gently squeezed and rolled his tongue in such a fashion that each flick made her lose control a little bit more.
God, he knew all the right ways to touch her. He covered her with his body and her breasts molded against his chest. Page turned her hips in small circles, feeling a primal urge take over as he slid further in. His breathing grew loud and he placed the flat of his hand on her thigh.
“Stop. It’s too much, Page. Slowly.”
“Maybe I don’t want it slow,” she objected.
His brow quirked. “You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met.”
“And you’re the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.”
His Thermal abilities might have been suppressed, but she certainly felt the temperature rising. He was partially inside her, so Page squeezed her core muscles hard enough that he jerked and dropped his head onto her shoulder.
Page continued with her Kegel exercises, something she knew all about being in the medical profession. Maybe her book smarts would come to good use, after all.
Justus was losing what little control he had, and while attempting to kiss her, his mouth slid to the side and he panted heavily against her cheek.
“Let me see your hands,” he whispered.
Uncertain of why, she lifted her arms until her hands were on the pillow—palms up. Justus locked their fingers together. She had never felt more connected with a man than with that single gesture.
With his eyes fixed on hers, Justus slid in deeper. There was resistance and she gasped, feeling how totally alien it was to have a man inside her. He rocked his hips patiently, sliding in inch by inch. She winced at the unfamiliar discomfort, almost pushing him away at first.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked in a serious voice.
This was it. The moment. Page shook her head and a flutter of fear tickled her belly.
Justus relaxed her by sliding his tongue into her mouth and kissing her so salaciously that every muscle in her body turned to jelly. She was so lost in the kiss that she didn’t notice the moment when his pelvis was flush against her own.
The worst was over.
A single tear streamed down her cheek at the loss of her innocence. He let go of her left hand and smeared it away with his thumb. “Pleure pas, mon ange,” he whispered, kissing her wet eyelashes. “You are so beautiful, Page. I wish I could give you the right words. Is this okay?”
“This is better than okay, Justus.” She smiled, realizing that her apprehension and anxiety were responsible for making it uncomfortable.
“I like it when you say my name,” he said. “I don’t want you to call me De Gradi anymore.”
She reached up and pulled his face close to hers, kissing his cheeks, his eyes, and then around his mouth. He reacted coldly to her touch, as if no woman had ever touched him before.
“We should stop,” he said.
Her mouth grazed against his ear and she whispered, “Don’t stop. I want to feel everything. I want to feel every part of wherever you’re planning to take me. Please, don’t ever stop.”
He slid out all the way to the tip and she sagged, thinking it was over. She’d blown it.
In one long, slow stroke, he glided back in. Then he did it again, and again, and again.
“More,” she panted.
He took it easy with her at first, but soon, Page gave into the wild and intimate nature of the act. She crashed into him so hard she almost laughed at the idea they both might wind up in the emergency room.
What sent her over the edge was how he continued using his hands to touch her. He would prop up on his elbow while the other hand stroked the length of her body, twisting her nipple, pulling up her thigh, gripping her knee and raising it higher—all while he made love to her.
His blue eyes alone could have brought her to orgasm.
“Turn over,” he said.
“Why?”
His mouth quirked. “Are you starting a fight with me, Page? I want you to lie on your stomach.”
She did as he asked, once again feeling a new, unfamiliar wave of exposure to a man as his hands caressed her shoulders, thighs, and then cupped her backside.
“This is going to feel different,” he said in a broken voice.
He widened her legs and she gasped when he filled her up again. Simply changing positions brought a new experience, and it was deeper. Justus slid his right hand between her body and the sheets, cupping her sex and stimulating her as his hips thrust against her.
“Oh God!” she cried out, gripping the pillow and tossing it aside. Her fingers clutched the edge of the mattress and her nails dug in.
He kissed the back of her neck and circled his fingers in such a rhythm that Page was feeling the swell of her oncoming orgasm, something she hadn’t expected for her first time.
His mouth grazed over her ear as he kept a steady rhythm. “I won’t stop until I feel you shaking beneath me.” He pushed himself deeper and she moaned as he circled his fingers maddeningly. “I could touch you like this for the rest of my life.”
“More,” she said, feeling completely uninhibited and gripping the sheets.
“Relax,” he said. “I can feel it coming.” His fingers slowed down and when he placed his mouth on the back of her neck and sucked on her skin, Page’s muscles tensed. She was close and he sensed it.
“That’s it,” he said. “Open your legs for me… wider… yes, Page. Wider. Now relax and let me take care of you.”
She cried out again, gasping as his finger stroked her in wild rhythm, sending bursts of pleasure through her body. Hearing his breath out of control turned her on more than anything, and it was with sudden surprise when she realized that her first time with a man would be everything she could have imagined.
When he ran his tongue along her shoulder and pinched her nipple with his other hand, Page found her release and cried out.
His lovemaking reached a fever pitch and when her body melted against the sheet and she whispered, “Oh… Justus,” he climaxed, shouting out her name.
The candles finally stilled in the aftermath, allowing her a moment to catch her breath and calm her racing heart.
Justus kissed her shoulders and collapsed beside her. She turned so they faced each other. A lazy grin slid up his face and he pulled her leg over his hip and wrapped his arms around her. It didn’t seem possible to feel so connected to someone she knew so little about. Exactly how long do you have to know a man to feel found in his arms? A decade? A month? One night? He knew nothing about her dreams and aspirations.
But his mouth had known her a lifetime. Each kiss tenderly touched her skin from the shoulders to the crook of her neck.
“You seem more different than I do,” she said with a relaxed smile, touching the silver chain.
He cupped her cheek and stroked her damp hair away from her face, carefully threading each strand into its rightful place. His eyes followed the arch of her brow and studied the contour of her mouth. It was as if ten years had been shaved off his features.
“Well? What do you have to say for yourself?” she asked impatiently. “Your silence makes me nervous.”
Page rested her head on his bicep and he stroked his hand through her hair, brushing his fingers down the slope of her neck. “Do you mind if I watch you sleep?” he asked.
“Maybe I’m not tired.”
“Mind if I make you tired?” Page shivered and Justus reactively pulled her closer. “I’ll draw you another bath if you need one to relax. I can warm you more easily if I remove the necklace.”
“No,” she said quickly. “I like this much better. Let’s just stay this way for a while.” She feared that if he removed it, the moment would end. There would be no need for him to hold her and keep her warm in the chilly room.
Justus buried his face in her neck and she barely heard his whisper, so low it wasn’t meant for her to hear. Page didn’t understand French, but she enjoyed listening to him speak in his native tongue.
Not long after, Justus seduced her again. Only this time, the level of desire was so intense the two of them could have set the bed on fire.
Eventually, she fell asleep in his arms and for the first time, he watched a woman sleep.
Chapter 34
After Christian and Simon squeezed information from the scientists like juice from an orange, the memory scrubbing began. Novis sent in two of his most trusted assistants to help move the files and information as well as give us a lift. They asked no questions and loaded everything into a delivery truck. I was relieved because I wouldn’t have to freeze my ass off on the back of Christian’s deathmobile.
I sat in the back of the delivery truck, looking through some of the files with the help of a dimly lit bulb.
“Where are they getting all the sperm and eggs from?” I muttered.
Simon sat with his knees pulled up and arms draped over them. “Black market would be a good guess, but most likely they had one supplier.”
“One?”
He started rolling his tongue across his bottom teeth, looking up in thought. “I read a lot, Silver. Did you know when you’re born you have about a million eggs? You lose them during your lifetime. If they found a female Chitah and harvested her eggs, they wouldn’t have to worry about finding new donors for each experiment. Less chances of them getting caught.”
“So we all have the same parents?”
“I don’t know about the sperm. Sounds like they found a fertile egg, so maybe the sperm wasn’t as important. I’d be willing to wager they tried different Breeds. These blokes weren’t in charge of that part. Shouldn’t be difficult to get sperm from a man,” he said with a snort. “Look at how humans line up at those sperm banks. Imagine! A bank of sperm. They go in, make a deposit, and someone else makes a withdrawal.”
“But who is my father?”
“Come away from those boxes, love.” He motioned for me to sit and I dropped a file and crawled over beside him. Simon draped his arm around my shoulders and lightly tapped his head against mine. “Mutant or not, you’re still the bee’s knees.”
My chest rocked with laughter and he tousled my hair with his hand.
“I can’t believe Knox is gone,” I blurted out.
Simon pulled away and stood up, one hand on his lower back and the other leaning against the interior wall of the truck. “That’s the hardest part about immortality, Silver. Getting attached. You wonder why some of the older Breeds are distant and cold, but have you given it thought? Imagine living centuries of losing people you care about. Maybe it’s better to not get too close to anyone.”
I got up and stood behind Simon, wrapping my arms around his waist. We didn’t say anything else on the matter. Everyone felt the loss, especially knowing how much potential Knox had with working for HALO. He was cut down in his prime, and now Sunny was left alone to pick up the pieces.
Deep down, I worried how I might cope if the same ever happened to me. I’d officially accepted Logan, and that meant taking the chance I might lose him someday.
Nothing lasts forever.
The truck dropped us off at my house and Simon unloaded the boxes he wanted to keep. The men took the rest back to Novis, who would secure the information. The living room was warm and inviting with soft lighting from candles and the faux fireplace. Justus wasn’t into electricity within the home much, but in the new house, he’d always kept his candle obsession within his own bedroom and the dining room. I was a little taken aback by the ambiance and particularly the smell of brisket in the air.
Justus strode into the room wearing only a pair of silk boxers and my silver necklace.
Simon’s eyebrows shot up, his jaw hit the floor, and he went into silent laughter with his hands over his knees.
“Subtle,” I said, pointing at his jewelry.
I’d had very few glimpses of Justus when his guard was down. If it wasn’t the ego from the flocks of women who adored him, it was his quiet side that got in the way of me seeing who the real Justus was. Now he stood before me as a gentle man. He laughed and showed no sign of embarrassment—not even a scowl. I’d never seen him walking around in his underwear in all the time I’d known him. Frankly, I was a little mortified.
“Did Page go home?”
He moved past us into the kitchen and lifted a tall glass from the cabinet. “She’s asleep.”
“I just bet she is.” Simon snickered. “All tuckered out?”
“Do you have a problem?” Justus asked with a raised eyebrow, leaning casually against the counter. He crossed his feet, and his relaxed posture almost sent a wallop of laughter out of my mouth as I turned my back to him.
Simon winked at me and walked by with a serious face. “Do you mind slipping into something a little less… dramatic? There are Learners present,” he said, clucking his tongue.
“Jealous? Maybe we should hug it out,” Justus teased.
I barked out a laugh. They often shared banter as old friends do, but this was over the top.
Simon folded his arms. “No, I’m afraid I can’t bring myself to do it, Justus. You’re all… dewy.”
That was my cue to leave. “I’m just going to pretend that someone gave you two a hallucinogenic and this will all go away. I’ll be downstairs; I need to give Logan a call.”
I headed down the hall as Simon’s hyena laugh echoed through the house.
***
It may have been chilly, but I had dressed for winter in a tightly zipped-up hoodie, fingerless mittens, and my black furry boots, which were becoming my current fashion statement.
The bell jingled when I opened the door, and the smell of Chinese food wafted from the entrance room. Novis sat in a corner booth next to one of those cheap pictures you see at the mall that light up a moving waterfall. I made my way to the buffet and filled up my plate, taking the seat in front of him. He didn’t look impressed with the lemon chicken.
“This is different.” I folded the mitten attachments away from my fingers, securing them on the back of the glove with the tiny button.
“Cool gloves.”
“Simon got me into these, except mine are less… leathery.” I could keep my hands warm and still use the chopsticks. “Ever been here before?”
He shook his head. “I’m having second thoughts, but some of it seems edible.”
“I have something serious to discuss with you.”
He lifted his plastic cup and sipped on his tea. “I’m ears and all.”
I didn’t even bother to correct him. “I’m seeking your advice, or maybe just giving you a heads up.” My chopsticks tapped on the plate as he watched me in absolute silence, fingers laced together.
A little girl with brown ringlets all over her head ran up to our table and held out her hand. A miniature Barbie was in i
t with hair sticking out in every direction. She was just a toddler and smiled at Novis. He leaned over and looked her in the eye, smiling back. He had such an agreeable young face with piercing eyes and black hair. He patted her on the head and she giggled, spinning on her heel and darting off to another table. Her mother followed close behind, snapping her fingers impatiently.
“Logan is in a lot of trouble. I’m not sure how much has been circulated, but you know what happened with Tarek. That could mean a death sentence for him. I won’t allow it, Novis. We have testimonial evidence from the scientist that my mother was a Chitah, and it might be enough for me to keep him safe. The only way he could be absolved of the crime is if he can prove that I’m his kindred spirit.”
“You realize the repercussions of your actions? You may save one life, but at the expense of how many more?”
“How long do you think this can remain a secret? The knowledge is already out there and we have no idea how many other people know about it. Could be a dozen, but it could be hundreds. Can we spend the rest of our lives chasing down something we’ll never have a full grasp on? If it leaks out eventually, then what was the point of this?”
His arm almost knocked the tea over and he quickly grabbed it, setting it beside the napkin holder. “What if you’re wrong, Silver? What if we can stop this? If you expose it, then we have lost the opportunity.”
Novis ran his finger over his bottom lip.
“What if? What if? Isn’t that what hindsight is for? To tell us what we should have done? But we live in the present and can’t possibly know all the outcomes of our actions. What if we expose the truth and people collaborate to protect the Breed and take these men out? What if it has no impact one way or the other? What if a new race is created? Life goes on, Novis, or it doesn’t. But we can’t control life; we’re not gods.”
“True, but if you knew that crossing the street in a busy intersection would cause a car to crash, would you still do it?”
“It depends. Am I going into the street to save someone from getting hit by the car?”
Gravity (Mageri Series: Book 4) Page 31