Page 66 of When Annika Met Thom

He raised a dark brow. “Aren’t we all works of art?”

Annika laughed. “In a way, but you’re a particularly decorative one.”

“I could say the same about you.” He touched her freckles with a fingertip, one after the other, as if she’d been embellished. She smiled, then his fingers were in her hair again, spearing into its tangle with a possessive grip that thrilled her. His gaze locked with hers. “Beautiful,” he murmured with complete conviction.

Did he think Leo had undermined her confidence? Annika was touched that Thom would be so concerned. She echoed his move, framing his face with her hands and sliding her fingers into his hair.

This time, she kissed him. He swung her into his arms without breaking the kiss and lowered her onto the bed. He followed in one smooth and graceful move, sliding his hand down the length of her and between her thighs. Annika gasped when his fingers slid against the slick folds of her labia and caught her breath when his thumb landed on her clitoris. Her gaze flew to his when he moved it from side to side, the sensation making her flush to her toes.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m ready.”

Thom braced his weight on his elbow, that hand still cradling her shoulders so that she was tucked against his heat. He shook his head with conviction. “You’re not nearly ready. Let me show you.” Then he eased his fingers inside her, his thumb still continuing its assault.

Annika didn’t know what to do. She gripped his shoulders and reached to kiss him, but Thom bent and kissed her nipple again. She found herself babbling incoherently, unable to keep her thoughts straight as he coaxed her arousal ever higher. “But Leo didn’t…” she managed to say.

Thom lifted his head and gave her a searing look. “Leo doesn’t know jack,” he said, holding her gaze as he flicked his tongue across her nipple. Annika thought she’d go to the moon. “And we’re not going to talk about him anymore. Agreed?”

Annika would have agreed to anything, just to ensure that Thom didn’t stop. “Who?” she managed to whisper and he chuckled. Even that aroused her.

But his fingers were wicked. She gasped and wriggled, then he moved his thumb again. His touch sent a hot flush through her and Annika found herself shaking with anticipation.

“Now, you’re getting warmed up,” he murmured, then bent over her breast again.

Getting warmed up? He was going to torment her more? Annika couldn’t imagine that it could get better or hotter—but she soon learned that she was wrong.

* * *

It wouldn’tfix anything to think about Leo in this moment, or to be annoyed by just how much of a jerk that guy was. Thom had wondered whether Annika really knew what she was asking. It was soon clear that Leo was one to take care of his own needs first. Thom felt like he was awakening Annika—and it was the hottest seduction in a long, long while. Every sensation seemed new to her. She wasn’t shy: she just hadn’t known the possibilities. She’d been with exactly one guy who evidently wasn’t the greatest lover on the planet. Thom didn’t think he was either, not by a long shot, but the bar to showing Annika a better lovemaking experience was very low.

The best part was that she was so responsive. He might surprise her with a caress but she invariably responded with enthusiasm. She was so wet that it was killing him to hold back, and the grip of her vagina on his finger was so tight that he knew he wasn’t going to last once he was inside her. He tried to draw everything out for her, but she came with surprising speed—and more than a little volume.

He held her tightly as she found her release, kissing her temple as she tried to catch her breath. He had one hand on the back of her shoulders and could feel her heart pounding. She looked up at him, all flushed and tremulous.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“The next time will be bigger,” he promised her.

“Did I make too much noise?”

“Not possible.”

She ran a hand over him and shook her head. “I told you I was ready.”

“I’ll show you what it’s like to really be ready.”

“Promise?” Her smile was wicked and he kissed it away. Her fingers flexed on his shoulder then relaxed, and he whispered in her ear, guessing her concern.

“You can’t hurt me,” he murmured. “Scratch me or bite me. Whatever works for you. I can take it.”

“Oh!” Her eyes were shining. “I’ve always wanted to grab on tight.”

“Go for it,” he said, then ran kisses down the length of her. He parted her thighs with his hands, keeping his palms on her inner thighs, flicked a glance to find her features alight with anticipation, then bent to taste her.

She shuddered from head to toe, then parted her legs even wider. Thom ran his hands up to her breasts, cupping them and teasing the nipples between his fingers and thumbs. She twisted beneath him, locked her thighs around his head, then dug her nails into his arms.

When he lifted his head to look, she had flung her head back, her hair catching the light and turning it to copper fire. Her breasts were like ivory, the nipples tight and dark, those freckles harder to spot as her skin flushed. He took her to the very edge, then stopped, kissing the inside of her thighs as he cheated her of a release, then he started again.

It was addictive to take his time, to torment her with pleasure, to savor how she welcomed his every touch. When he retreated the third time, she seized his arms with frustration, as if she would bodily haul him on top of her.

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