UP IN FLAMES

Looking over her shoulder at him, she drew in a shallow breath. “It is.”

Alaric stared at her for what felt like forever and then he had his pants off in record time. His arousal jutted out proudly, hard and thick, and molten lava filled in her belly. He stepped into the shower, closing the door behind him. His hands landed on her hips and when he spoke, his voice whispered in her ear. “I know what you’re thinking.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Vanessa shuddered. “You do?”

“Yes.” He kissed her shoulder, causing her heart to squeeze at the tender action. “You’re going to run.”

She stiffened, her arms clamped close to her chest. “I don’t…don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re a shitty liar.” He turned her around and reached between them, wrapping his hands around her wrists. He backed her up until she was flush with the cold tile. “You have that look in your eyes. Never really seen it before-the whole deer-in-the-headlights look. But you have it. You’re going to run.”

“You need to get your eyes checked, then.”

“Smartass,” he murmured. “Still a shitty liar. And you know what? That’s okay.” He transferred her wrists to one hand and placed his free hand on her hip. Tipping their foreheads together, he breathed in deeply. “Run if it makes you feel better and helps you sleep at night. It’s not the worst possible thing you could do.”

Vanessa wanted to deny it, because the accusation, no matter how spot-on it was, made her feel weak.

“So run. I don’t mind.” His lips blazed a path over her cheek and his teeth sank into her earlobe, causing her to moan. “I like to chase, Vanessa.”

A bolt of red-hot lust slammed from her pulse and straight to her belly. “I don’t like to be chased.” She said,

“You will when it’s me.” He slowly lifted her joined hands above her head as he slid his free hand over the curve of her rear, lifting her up until she was on the tips of her toes. “I will chase you. And I will catch you.”

Alaric pressed forward, his erection firmly against her stomach. It felt like he was crushing her, or at least that was how it seemed for a panicked second. Raw emotions poured into her chest. She should push him away, stop this, but she tipped her head against the wall and her hips moved in slow circles.

“What’s between us isn’t casual.” His hot breath caressed her cheeks, sending shivers down her, and then moved down her throat again. “And you know that just as well as I do. You just don’t want to admit it.”

“No,” she whispered.

“Yes.” His voice was raw, sexy, and pure sin. “Look at you. You can’t wait for me to get inside of you.”

It was true. She was wet, ready, and her hips kept moving against him. Already she could feel him inside her and it was a desire that was like a drug-an obsession. Her eyes flew open as icy panic balled in her chest. “It’s not-” she began…

His mouth was on her, the kiss rugged and rough. Sparks flew from deep inside her and his tongue swept in, silencing the breathy moan building. Everything was spiraling out of control. Hell, it was already out of control.

Alaric rocked against her as he lifted his head, lips brushing hers as he spoke. “Don’t you feel it?” He pressed his lips to the side of her neck, lapping with his tongue. “I know you do.”

Vanessa shuddered. Her entire body was one giant pulse point. She ached for him, but the ache ran deep, blooming in her chest. He shifted his hips again as his lips roamed over her heated skin and she arched against him. Her body made her as transparent as a window and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.

The combination of her fear and desire held a frightening level of power. Heat pooled between her thighs and her very being burned for him. Her head swam as he captured her lips again. His fingers tightened on her bottom, squeezing her as his tongue flicked over the rough of her mouth. Alaric was…God, he was something beyond words.

Lifting her off her feet, he pushed her thighs apart. She gasped as she felt him against her thigh, so hot and hard. She was close to begging him, but he didn’t make her wait long. Oh no, he hooked her legs around his hips, lining her up with his erection.

“Look at me,” he ordered in a gruff voice.

Vanessa wanted to deny him, but her eyes opened of their own accord. His raw gaze stole her breath. In his stare… No, she couldn’t be seeing what she thought she was. She suddenly wanted to cry. Not breaking contact, he thrust inside her, deep and hard, and he remained there, seated to the hilt. There was no escaping him, and in that moment, it was the last thing she ever wanted to do.

“Feel me?” he breathed, nipping at her lower lip.

Vanessa felt him in every part of her. Then he started to move and her world fell apart. Her body arched into him and she kicked her head back. The piercing moan sent Alaric into a frenzy of action.

Each thrust slid her up the wall and then back down on his length. She couldn’t move in this position. He had complete control. Her arms were still stretched above her head, his body filling hers and then retreating, only to pump back into her deeply. Within seconds, she was matching his tempo. Both of their movements were wild and a bit desperate. He dropped her wrists and she looped her arms around his neck. He cradled the back of her head as he drove into her, incited by the way she dug her fingers into his skin, scouring his flesh.

“Oh fuck,” he said, his mouth pressed against her throat. “Vanessa, I can’t…”

She tensed around him, every nerve pulsing and flaring as he pounded into her. No doubt her backside would be a bit bruised come tomorrow, but her hoarse cry of release said it all. She wasn’t going to be upset by having to carefully sit down. He quickly followed, fusing their bodies together. She latched onto him, panting and experiencing the aftershocks as his chest rose against her swiftly.