Xolia arched an eyebrow at him. “I haven’t accepted Peter’s offer yet.”
“But you want to,” he argued. “We want the same things for Ris, Xo. Use me. I can help you and you can help me. I was serious about us being partners.”
“Why should I listen to you?”
Adonis sat up. He leaned forward until he was in her space. His warm puffs of breath against her face reminded her of how cold she was, now numb her skin was from sitting in the empty pre-winter air. “We’ve always worked well together, haven’t we?”
He has money. He has opportunity. He has what I want.
He trailed his nose along her jaw, eliciting a soft hiss of breath from Xolia. “Let me convince you.”
Adonis tugged her chin up, and his lips met hers in a rough kiss. She reciprocated briefly before pulling away. “Not here.”
He heaved in a heavy breath, the rise and fall of his chest jerky. “Let’s go home, then.”
“Fine.”
With stiff joints, Xolia laced her fingers with Adonis’s, and they crept around the manor until they reached the valet at the front. Adonis accepted the keys, and Xolia was more than happy to find warmth in the lush interior of the car, her body finally able to relax enough to focus on the adrenaline of what she and Adonis were about to do.
Strong hands helped her from the car. Adonis had lurched to a stop and was out of the car and opening the door for her before she could unbuckle her seatbelt.
“Come with me,” he said huskily. There was no mistaking the meaning behind his words, nor was there any hiding the thrill that ran through her when he said them.
As soon as she nodded, Adonis acted. He grabbed her hand, and they raced from the cold garage to the door. In an uncharacteristic act of clumsiness, he fumbled with the door handle before getting it open.
He tugged her through the undecorated kitchen and the foyer of the house. Maybe we did use each other, she mused. But it came from necessity. Maybe it’s not bad. We just aren’t like other people.
Adonis gripped her wrist, desperately, and she thought about how willing he had been, whatever she asked for, he gave. It wasn’t like he had ever lied to her; she did want to accept Peter’s offer, and if it worked out for them both, so what? She needed to do something to save the floundering country.
Adonis pulled her closer to his room, his actions only betraying a hint of apprehension. It gave her a shameful sense of satisfaction, to see him so undone before her.
“Do you really want me to be vice chancellor?”
He paused and gave her a quizzical look before understanding crossed over his features. “There’s no one better.” He kissed her hand, the heat from his lips melting into her skin, and he opened the door to his bedroom.
She followed him into the room, and he was on top of her, groping at the straps of her dress and lavishing kisses on her neck. Teeth made contact with her skin, and after every bite was a conciliatory lapping at the stinging area with his tongue. Her hands were far from idle, and she guided his hands to the dress’s side zipper.
With the dress unzipped, Adonis stepped back and watched it fall in a crimson puddle of silk around her feet. Soft moonlight filtered in through the sheer curtains of the windows, caressing her breasts in the pale light. The chill of exposed flesh, combined with her excitement, left her nipples in hardened peaks. Adonis grabbed her and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his midsection, and their lips met again, their tongues tangled. This kiss was slower, re-tracking once well-known territory.
“Will you follow me?” she asked once they parted for breath.
“Yes.”
“Will you worship me?”
“That’s what I’m trying to do,” he whispered furiously.
His impassioned words amped up her desire. She pushed at his jacket but couldn’t take it off while wrapped around him. She huffed, and he laughed. He walked them until they reached the bed, gently depositing her on the cool cotton sheets.
With her safely ensconced on the mattress, Adonis took the time to divest himself of his clothes. First was the jacket, then the tie and shirt. He unbuckled his belt and stripped himself of everything except his boxers.
Anticipation spurred Xolia into action. As beautiful as he was in the moonlight, standing over her with all hard planes of muscle and smooth skin, she wanted more. She reached up, grabbing at him and pulling him on top of her. He wrapped her up in his arms, caging her body with his.
Adonis peppered kisses over her body. Her jawbone, her neck, her shoulders. His breath came out in warm puffs over her breasts, and in one swift motion, he sucked on her right nipple.
She gasped, arching her body closer to him. “Adonis,” she whined. He moaned and pressed down onto her; the length of his erection only added to the gaping void of want spilling from her.
She gave in. “You were right, you know.”