Unmasked

At least, not for tonight.

“A parallel universe…” I lie back and exhale a long breath. “Maybe I’m off on a beach somewhere, running a surf shack.”

She giggles. “Or one of those street performers. You know, the guys who dress up and pretend to be robots.”

I laugh out loud. “What about you? Secret agent? Marine biologist?”

“I don’t know… My grandmama is the best cook,” she says. “She has this little bed and breakfast, out by the coast. I used to visit in the summer; every morning you wake up, and it smells like heaven. Vanilla, and cinnamon, and lemon loaf…” Her face goes dreamy at the memory.

“There you go,” I smile. “Alternate-universe you is a pastry chef.”

Noelle’s eyes snap open. “I actually thought about it,” she admits. “For a hot minute, after college. But what would I do as a baker, sit around eating cupcakes all day?”

“Sounds pretty good to me.” I picture her with frosting smeared over her lips. And me right there to lick it off.

Noelle laughs. “Sure, I can just picture you in a cute apron and oven mitts.”

“I’ll have you know, I make a mean chocolate souffle,” I correct her.

“Oh, really?”

“You’ll have to come for dinner,” I say without thinking. “Taste it for yourself.”

She hesitates, and I realize it’s the first time either of us have mentioned what happens after tonight.

“That sounds nice,” she says softly.

A strange mix of relief and regret washes over me. Relief, because she doesn’t want this to be just one random night.

Regret, because I know it has to be.

I don’t want to think about tomorrow, when the world goes back to balance sheets and budget projections, so I lean over and kiss her instead—take those tempting lips, pull her body against mine. She rolls beneath me like she was meant to be there, rising up to meet my mouth and sliding her hands around my neck to yank me even closer.

God, I could kiss this woman forever, right here in the middle of the city lights. But it isn’t enough. It could never be enough. My hands rove over her body, feeling every inch of her curves beneath that silky dress. She arches against me, hungry and impatient for more.

And damn, I’m going to give it to her.

I tear myself from those delicious lips, and kiss lower, trailing down the line of her throat. I want to ravish her, devour every inch, but I force myself to hold back and explore her slowly, savoring the softness of her skin. I feel her body shiver with every touch, her breath coming in shallow pants as she clutches my back.

I nudge her dress lower, lower, until her breasts are exposed: perfectly round and pale in the dim light.

Fuck.

I exhale, my breath whispering on her skin until her nipples harden into two stiff peaks. Noelle lets out a moan, pressing up against my mouth, but I tease her, taking my time, slowly swirling my tongue around the tender nub before finally closing my mouth around her to suck.

Noelle writhes against me, impatient. I’m hanging on to my self-control by a ragged thread, adrenaline mixing with pure lust in my bloodstream. Every whimper, every caress sends me hurtling to the edge. Suddenly, she wraps her legs around me and rolls us, taking me down and straddling my torso.

I fall back. She’s poised above me, her hair falling loose and her dress crumpled around her waist. The neon of the city forms a halo around her head, but it’s the look in her eyes that takes my breath away: bright with a fevered hunger, a spark of rebellious temptation.

“I knew it,” she whispers with a grin, leaning over me. “You’re trouble.”

Her lips come down against mine, hot and demanding. And I know, without a doubt, that she’s the dangerous one. Her body rocks against mine, her hands slide under my shirt. She bites down softly on my lower lip with a moan.

And self-control is forgotten.

I sit up, scooping her into my arms and driving her body down hard against me as my mouth crashes to claim what’s mine. Heat strikes, the friction of her surging straight to my cock. She gasps, grinding into me, driving me crazy with a wild lust that rages, demanding satisfaction.

I roll her beneath me, pinning her to the crate with one hand as I kiss my way down her body. This time, there’s no teasing, no restraint. My mouth devours every inch of her soft skin, licking hard. I close my mouth over one bare breast and suck her puckered nipple, loving the way she gasps and writhes with pure abandon.

I move lower, yanking up her dress to reveal a wisp of black lace panties. Noelle is panting now, arching up to meet my touch as I slide one hand between her legs and under that damp strip of silk.

She’s wet. Slick for me, parting wider to invite my touch. Our eyes lock as I sink two fingers deep inside her, and watch her come undone.

6.

Noelle

Dear Lord, what has this man done to me?

I’m moaning aloud, gasping his name as he touches me; stroking, invading, curling his fingers deep inside me. It feels like my whole body is alight; a live wire twisting in the dark, electric and free.

Then Ash bends his head, puts his mouth to me, and shows me what real pleasure feels like. How everything else leading up to this moment has been a pale imitation, a whisper of a lie.

This is the real thing, and fuck, it’s heaven.

I gasp as his tongue licks up against my clit, swirling over the tender nub until waves of pleasure crest through my whole body. “Don’t stop,” I beg, arching up to meet his mouth. “Please, Ash…”