Page 61 of Speechless

“Umm . . . I . . .” He places his hands on each side of my face and laces his fingers through my hair, pulling all the way to the back of my neck. I shudder at the touch, goosebumps covering my arms. I try to speak again but he starts trailing kisses across my jaw and all that escapes is a breathy moan. I arch into him and his hands elegantly slide down the sides of my body.

“Stay.” A command, a plea, a prayer. “Please.” Why are such simple words able to have this effect on me? I nod slowly, knowing my heart is going to betray my head for the rest of the night.

He lowers his head and starts dropping kisses onto my neck, then my chest. I feel his teeth gently tug on my nipple and I grab onto his shoulders for support. I thread my fingers through his hair while he slowly, so slowly, moves his lips lower. It’s like he somehow memorized every place I like to be touched. Each press of his lips feels tactical, like he’s following all the x’s in a treasure map. After pressing the warmest kiss just below my navel, I feel him drag his mouth against the boxers I’ve stolen and pull them down with his teeth. His hands grab my hips firmly, and I feel his tongue glide between my legs as my knees buckle and I almost collapse into his arms.

He quickly picks me up and carries me to the bed. It feels different this time, frantic, hands and lips quickly covering as much ground as they can. It’s like we both know this is the last time we’ll be here. The sex is clumsy and sweaty, not purposeful like before, yet he still remembers to be gentle with me. He flips us over, letting me on top, telling me to set the pace. Straddling his body that is twice the size of mine makes me feel powerful, strong,sexy.

And seeing the way he looks up at me, for just a moment I believe I am completely worthy of a man like Henry.

“You’re perf—”

“Don’t. No one’s perfect. Especially not me.” My words are whispered, an attempt to mask my emotions. It may seem like a compliment to him but it only reminds me of how little he really knows about me.

“You’remyperfect.”

This time, after we finish, he isn’t soft or tender. He holds me firmly, sensing I might make a run for it.

28

Henry

I waketo a wet tongue stroking the side of my face and my eyes open lazily. Sunlight creeps through the blinds, dappling the room like a motionless disco ball.

I’m not alone. I’ve only ever woken up in this bed alone. But Lucy is here, cocooned in my arms. I’m so fucking happy.

“Luce? Are you awake, love? Rowan must have snuck in here and he’s having his way with my ear at the moment.” I gently slide my hand up her arm, reveling in her smooth skin against my palm, but she stiffens. Then she half-stifles an extremely fake yawn before popping up and holding the sheet up to her chin.

“Sorry, I should take him out. Can I, umm, borrow a T-shirt or something?”

I grab her a bathrobe that looks utterly ridiculous on her. She’s so tiny it’s actually dragging on the ground when she walks toward the door. She’s so damn adorable. I fight the urge to pull her back to bed.

“Row, be a doll and make it a quick wee, eh? I’m going to need your mum back in bed,tout suite.”

I give Lucy a sly grin, amused with myself, but she barely picks up her head. I can see she’s clearly embarrassed but about what, I’m not sure. Does she regret what happened last night? I may not have that much experience with women, but I know I’m not the only one who enjoyed it. She spent the entire night tucked into my arms, using my bicep as a pillow.

She leaves without a single word.

29

Lucy

This timeI know Graham’s room is still too close, so I escape the house entirely and head to Adamma’s. She’s the only person I confide in about my night with Henry, and she gladly invites me to stay with her until I’m ready to go back, as long as I give her all the juicy details. Her two-bedroom apartment in Culver City isn’t bad, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t missing the Malibu mansion.

“You promise you didn’t have sex in the pool? I mean, it’s his house, but just . . . I need to know before I go back there. And there’s no way you justswam.”

We’re sitting at her kitchen island while she peppers me with never ending questions about last night’s tryst. She should honestly work for the CIA. It's becoming impossible to keep any details to myself with her relentless interrogation.

“I promise. No pool sex. I swear I would tell you. I’ve told you everything else!”

“Okay, but like, whatdidyou do in there?”

“Umm, just a lot of kissing, really.”

Kissing, splashing, climbing all over him until I felt every single one of his corded muscles with my hands. Henry guiding me to the edge and grabbing my thighs.

I can feel my face warm up and from her expression the blush must be visible. I’m not sure why I left this part out, maybe it just felt gratuitous. I’ve never had a man be as generous as Henry.

“Kissing? Like the kind of kissing where poor Henry has to hold his breath the entire time?”

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