by Gaja J. Kos
The man might not have said anything outright, but he wanted more than just what her body had to offer.
The prospect of actually being with someone two decades older was a bit peculiar, but underneath it all, Lily wanted it, too.
Actually, she wanted it a whole bloody lot.
She sucked in a deep breath before her mind imploded.
William’s fingers continued their dangerous game, his eyes gaining a wicked green hue that would have given him away even if she hadn’t spotted his erection tenting the tailored trousers.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you today,” he whispered.
She gasped as his thumb brushed over her clit and instinctively rubbed harder against him.
Fuck… This was…
She had no words, just a string of groans she had to fight hard to keep down.
“I don’t know what it is about you, Lily Summers,” he continued, then captured her lips again, “but I want to strip you of everything. Have you bare before me until I know not just every nuance of your body, but your mind, too.”
His thumb increased the pressure, bringing her closer to the edge.
“I want to discover what turns you on. What thoughts run behind those green eyes… Everything, Lily.”
God, it was like he was reading her mind.
She’d never been a big believer in love at first sight—hell, how could you love someone when you didn’t even know them?—but in that moment, Lily was fairly convinced that was precisely what had smacked her in the face. Something just… Something clicked between them. And it wasn’t mere carnal attraction. She wanted him to fuck her, but it was more than that, too.
Her back arched as William’s lips traced the pulse in her neck. Hell… Who said an entanglement based on lust couldn’t develop into something worthwhile later on, anyway?
“Do you want me to stop?” William asked—although he was certainly not stopping.
A faint whimper had the audacity to leave her lips.
“No.” She shook her head. “But if you keep that up, I might drag you into the loo. While I certainly wouldn’t mind a bit of dirty sex right now, that really isn’t the kind I had in mind.”
She clasped her hand over her mouth. God, had she really just said that out loud?
But when William broke out laughing, the sound deep and rich and utterly sexy, she joined in.
It was then that the absurdity of the situation finally caught up with her. The good girl who never spoke naughty in the bedroom, openly propositioning a handsome older man. Maybe this was why her former relationships fell apart.
Neither of the blokes had ever made her feel like she could say something like this. Neither of them would have laughed over it, either.
Except maybe to make fun of her.
But there was nothing malicious in William’s rich laugh. Nor was there in the way his eyes brimmed with heat when their gazes locked once more.
It was mesmerizing, seeing how he desired her.
He cupped her between her thighs, hard enough she would have come on the spot if his voice hadn’t stole her attention. “What do you say we ditch the drinks, pet, and head over to my place? I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
Oh god.
She didn’t doubt his word.
Actually having the strength to get there, however, was another matter entirely…
10
Gentleman Enough
The last time William had a woman over, it had been against his wishes. And the bitch had stayed, too.
For the better part of the last three years, Trisha had remained in this very flat, keeping him on a leash until the shit became so thick it was impossible to breathe any longer.
He’d actually begged her to leave. Begged. But the woman had put her foot down.
So, truly, William couldn’t deny that it was almost odd to see someone he actually liked walking around his apartment and admiring the view of London’s illuminated skyline.
He watched Lily as she stood by the window, a vision straight out of a bloody wet dream. Her black dress accentuated her narrow waist and clung to her ass, beckoning him to lift it higher.
She caught him staring in the reflection and smiled.
Instantly dropping that awful idea of getting them wine—and pretending he wanted anything less than her, all of her—he strode over. Lily tilted her head to the side as he stopped behind her, those chestnut curls parting to reveal her porcelain skin and the slender line of her neck.
Christ, what was he getting himself into?
Despite her magnetic femininity, she seemed young and delicate at the same time, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t turned on far more than was proper.
William brought his lips to her pulse, then traced it with his tongue. As he continued his exploration lower, sliding down the thin straps of her dress, then her bra, Lily placed her hand on one of the ornate beams separating the floor-to-ceiling window in three parts. He glimpsed the flash of her red painted nails, that fucking perfect almond shape making him wish he could see them trailing the length of his cock instead of the fucking metal.
But they would get there.
Eventually.
She was his to play with right now.
Watching pleasure ride her expression, he tore himself from her neck and pressed his palms to her thighs. The sheer black tights were smooth beneath his fingers, those toned legs of hers a bloody perfect combination of strength and elegance.
Slowly, so slowly that it nearly drove him insane, he guided his hands higher, pushing up the hem of her dress.
Lily trembled, her back arching as he slid the material all the way to her waist to expose the firm curve of her ass, the red silk briefs visible past the sheen of black.
Bloody hell. He could probably come just by looking at her.
Whatever it was about her that affected him this way, he wasn’t questioning it any longer.
“You’re perfect,” he whispered in her ear.
His hand slid down her ass before he cupped the apex of her thighs, the other shoving down her bra and wrapping around her full breast. He groaned at the bloody amazing weight, the fullness that was so at odds with her slender frame.
Rolling her nipple between his fingers, he stoked her slit. Gently at first, then gradually added just the right amount of pressure to feel the liquid heat of her arousal against his skin.
Fuck, feeling her milk her panties, her tights like this, knowing it was all because of him… His cock pulsed and the urge to rip away the material just to get to her nearly won. But William kept himself in check.
He pleasured her through the thin layer of clothing until those fucking gorgeous fingernails of hers dug into the metal beam and Lily’s breaths grew into moans. She was close, he could feel her, but right before she could orgasm, he withdrew.
Lily gasped, then groaned, but he was already undoing his zipper… Then took his time rolling her tights and panties down her legs.
His gaze dropped to her pussy, to those cleanly shaven, supple folds. It wasn’t what he usually went for, but fuck, there was something about seeing her bare like this that just did it for him.
He slipped two fingers inside, then another. But when she wanted to thrust against his hand, he pulled out—and buried his throbbing cock inside to the hilt.
She was wet, but so fucking tight he nearly orgasmed right then and there.
Probably would have, too, if he hadn’t jerked off in the morning. Twice.
Letting out a groan, he steadied himself. Lily laid the palm of her free hand flat against the window, one of her breasts exposed and a fucking erotic expression riding her features. He wasn’t some grand exhibitionist, but seeing her like that, with London stretched beyond her… William couldn’t deny just how badly it turned him on.
Still, he was gentleman enough to ask, “Is this good for you, pet?” He filled her again. “You want to take this elsewhere?”
The laugh that left her lips was melodic
, sultry, and breathless at the same time, his cock growing even harder in response.
“Good?” She ground her ass against him and met his gaze in the reflection. “Bloody brilliant’s more like it. Now fuck me already, William. Please. I want you to make me come.”
It was all he needed to hear. He thrust inside her, feeling her muscles convulse around his cock, milking him, then retreated just to do it all over again. She moaned, fingernails clicking against the glass as delicious tremors took hold of her legs.
Unable to tear his gaze from their reflection, William kept her upright, pinned in place as he fucked her hard and strong until they both came screaming.
11
More than Good
Lily was still trembling when William scooped her in his arms and carried her all the way to the king-size bed. He took his time taking off the clothes he’d left on earlier—his and hers alike—and she couldn’t resist raking her gaze down his body. He was all corded muscle, his abdomen firm, lightly covered with hair that made a tempting trail down to his cock, hanging heavy and already half erect once more.
Her heart raced.
They had actually had sex. William Charleston had actually been in her. All that bloody magnificence, thrusting inside.
God, it took all her will not to push him down and take him in her mouth right that instant.
But this evening wasn’t supposed to be all about sex. Even if her hormones disagreed.
She breathed easier once they nestled themselves beneath the warm duvet, William’s body aligned with hers. It should have been weird to lie in bed next to someone who was basically a stranger, but all Lily felt was a deep sense of rightness. As if this was how they were meant to be from the very start.
She laid her head in the nook between his neck and shoulder, drinking in the intoxicating, masculine scent. Was there anything about him that wasn’t perfect?
“I, ah, don’t want to be a mood killer or anything of the sort,” she said, wincing at how pathetic she sounded, “but please tell me when you want me to leave.”
“Leave?”
“Yes, well, I suppose you don’t want me loitering around till morning. You’re probably—”
“That’s rubbish,” he cut in and shifted just enough to look at her, exasperation clear on his handsome features. “You’re not leaving unless you want to. I have a spare, unused toothbrush in my travel kit, and if it’s clothes or anything like that you need, you’re more than welcome to mine.”
“You mean that?”
“Christ, pet, of course I do. I didn’t bring you over just to dip my cock in then send you on your way.”
He was so handsome and adorably perplexed she couldn’t resist stealing a taste of those full lips.
“Thank you.” She nestled herself back in what had officially become her favorite spot, and lightly nuzzled his neck.
“Thank me tomorrow when you won’t be able to walk. I have a feeling I’m going to be a selfish bastard when it comes to you.”
She chuckled and slid her leg against his. “I’d like that.”
She was still wet—or was wet again, she really couldn’t tell—and the breathless curse that left William’s lips as she rubbed against him was the single, bloody best thing she’d ever heard.
Yeah, she was definitely going to enjoy his selfish whims.
“If you’re not busy two nights from now,” William said, his lips brushing against her hair, “I was thinking we could go see the new Coriolanus. If that’s something you’d like to do. With me.”
Damn, not only was the man hot as fuck, he liked theater—and Shakespeare.
Lily didn’t even dare to think about the fact that he was asking her out on a second date. Her head and heart were already on the verge of imploding.
“I’d been wanting to catch that play since it came out.” She smiled and trailed a finger down his chest. “But the tickets are next to impossible to get. The story of my life, it seems.”
William laughed. “The creative director is an old friend of mine. I’m not above pulling a few strings to get us in.”
She shook her head and chuckled. “Incorrigible.”
“I’ve heard that one before,” William drawled. “But I have to admit, coming from your lips, it sounds like a title I’d gladly wear.”
His fingers traveled down her back, the almost innocent touch filling her with a new surge of hunger. Oh, she knew they were far from done. If his statement earlier hadn’t made it clear, there was the indismissable evidence of his hardness—as a quick, teasing caress confirmed. But this, just being curled next to him, felt good, too. More than good, actually.
For the first time in her life, Lily felt completely and utterly relaxed in another’s presence.
With a smile on her lips, she guided her hand from his hips to play with the silver spill of curls decorating his chest. There had to be some catch. Some hidden side to all of this. She just wasn’t this lucky.
William’s caresses stilled.
Shit, had she said that out loud?
He swallowed audibly, then asked, “You are on birth control, right?”
It took a moment for the words to register. Relief washed over her, coaxing a bubbling laugh from her lips that made William even more immobile. If that was even possible.
She looked up at his mortified face. “Yes, William, I’m on birth control. I would have stopped you otherwise.”
The tension fled from his shoulders, his expression losing the I-fucked-up edge that had dominated his features a second ago. “I’m clean, in case you were wondering.”
In all honesty, she’d completely forgotten about that aspect.
It seemed like William wasn’t the only one who didn’t have his wits about him when they were together.
“So am I,” she added, suddenly very grateful she had a checkup done before a blood-donor event a couple of months ago. While neither of her exes had been the types to catch anything nasty, it was still good to be certain when it came to these things.
Big words, when she had been more than willing to let William fuck her without a condom.
She winced, but quickly caught herself. There would come a time for internal scolding. Possibly when she wasn’t feeling the warmth of his body underneath her fingertips.
She flopped over on her stomach and peered up at him. Fucking hell, how a man could be this sensual was beyond her. Those strands of silver in his hair and beard glistened under the artificial light, a smug, satisfied curve playing upon his lips. Unable to help herself, she leaned over and kissed him.
“I like you, William Charleston.” She smiled. “I know it must sound insane, but I really, really do.”
He traced his finger along her brow, then down the side of her face all the way to her jaw until, finally, he lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was tentative, gentle, yet the passion in it was anything but.
“And I you.”
Those three little words nearly unraveled her. It was then and there that Lily decided she most definitely was losing her mind.
And that she really didn’t give a fuck about it.
12
Fiddle with your Equipment
The members’ only floor sitting atop the posh restaurant in the heart of London was fairly tame for a Thursday afternoon. It was still a bit early, true, but the usual crowd should have turned from a trickle into a torrent by now.
All influential men between their forties and sixties.
All sorry sods, in William’s opinion, eager to bask in a little glory as they showed off to their peers. It was almost sad, when he thought about it that way.
Then again, he was here as well, wasn’t he?
William had always had a love-hate relationship with the Silver Fox Club. The whole male-species-only bullshit had rubbed him the wrong way from the very start, but he also couldn’t deny that back when he was just a no-name bloke with a camera, it had still felt as if an entire new universe had opened up
for him when Aiden Faye had brought him in on his father’s ticket. His brief acquaintance with the members that evening, followed by his first publication in a prominent national magazine, had made him a true member of the club. One of the youngest, too, alongside Aiden—and Bram, who joined them just six months later.
The unholy trinity that had the world eating out of the palm of their hands and baffled the elders.
Oddly enough, their status remained nearly unchanged. While they weren’t the only ones any longer, they were still grouped with what was considered the younger crowd.
Undoubtedly due to the rush of more modern ways that openly—and rightfully—frowned on male exclusivity, the club had lost its appeal over the years. So memberships started to wane right about when the three of them hit their early thirties, leaving mostly the weathered regulars still paying their exuberant yearly fees and basking in the air of self-importance.
Not that William was in any way gutted by the slow decline of the club.
His peers tended to stick to their own groups, and snobbish older men he could handle. They were easy to write off and usually didn’t nag any further once they realized they were preaching to the wrong choir. He’d learned that it was the younger ones he’d become acquainted with on some job or another that seemed to suck his bone marrow dry. Too fucking loud and filled with bullshit they believed they had the right to spread. Aggressive even, when coming face-to-face with an opinion that wasn’t exactly like their own.
William didn’t mind well constructed arguments, but having something shoved down his throat just for the fun of it was vile. So yeah, telling old geezers to sod off was a far more pleasing prospect.
And that, in turn, had led to him renewing his membership time and time again.
Once his career had really taken off, he became more distanced from the scene. With all that was going on, he simply didn’t have time to sit around and act as if there were a royal bloody title attached to his name. But the club had nonetheless provided him with a semi-private place to escape to whenever he was in town and wanted some company—which made it indispensable.