Page 34 of Serenity

Surprise blossomed, seasoned with a hint of relief. Slowly, the elevator was moving, cruising us to a higher altitude. I noted the button “P” selected on the floor panel as our destination.

Penthouse.

Lips parted. Cheeks hiked. His eyes regained a flicker of life.

“Duke—”

I started, pirating the beginning of our conversation amidst his smirk. Two weeks away from him felt like forever. A passage of time I didn’t want to experience without his presence. On our first encounter, I’d failed to give him my number and hadn’t used his either. The mistake wouldn’t happen again.

“Bee. It’s good to see you, gorgeous.”

The raspiness of his tone was unfamiliar but not unwelcome. Immediately, his phone disappeared from his hand, slipping away into an obscure pocket. Freed of the distraction, his eyes committed to issuing a slow perusal of my body.

Silence, so raucous it filled our space, speaking the many things we both didn’t need to say.

“You disarm me.”

“Likewise,” I tossed, licking my lips.

A sigh, a twinkle in his eye, a whisper of a smile. He chuckled.

“Where you headed?”

His smile faltered, revealing a subdued mood. Slightly, he motioned to the elevator’s panel.

What’s wrong, baby?

My hands gripped the railing behind me, competing with the sweat birthed in my palms. Low and slow, my eyes blinked, and teeth dug into my bottom lip. With a step forward, eating our distance, I pushed my chest up and out. He wouldn’t mistake my intent. Not like before. Not after this. Another step forward left us inches apart.

“I’m contagious right now, gorgeous.” Lowly, he spoke, issuing the warning of a cold.

“I don’t care.”

Unhinged, yes, but I failed to locate a single fuck. I needed this man inside of me. Massaging me. Piping me. Riding me from behind like he’d done the woman on stage. The elevator slowed, coming to an eventual stop. Slightly, my stance shifted with the cessation of movement. Duke’s hands fell to my waist, the small gesture preventing me from falling. The scent of him was fucking enthralling. Instinctively, my chin tilted upward toward his faultless goatee. Toward a sprinkle of gray hairs foretelling of maturity. His eyes fell to my lips. Studious and lustful, his tongue emerged, saturating his lower lip.

Seconds slowed to minutes just as my heart’s tempo transformed into a slow jam.

Damn.

Between us, my hand succumbed to curiosity, quickly locating the wood between his legs and massaging a growing erection.

Perfect girth.

Not too wide.

Certainly not thin.

Fearful length.

Enough to rearrange furniture.

“Duke.”

“I’m under the weather, Serenity. I don’t want you to get sick, baby.” He issued the second warning as a breath caught in his throat.

“Let me take care of you,” I breathed inches from his lips, still massaging.

In response, his eyes closed. He blinked low and slow. Growing between my fingers, he growled, alerting me of the monster I’d roused. As I closed the few inches between us, his head dipped to meet my lips.

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