Page 68 of The Sound of Silence

“But you had a couple of drinks last weekend and had two glasses of wine the other night at Camilla’s.”

“I did. That’s why I’m limiting myself today.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Is this a ‘my body is a temple’ sort of thing?”

“No, Sparky. This is an ‘I don’t want to be under the influence of anything but you the next time I kiss you’ sort of thing.”

Oh, wow…

I licked my lips.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

The deep timbre of his voice caused a shiver to course through me. There was no mistaking his unspoken promise as he turned my body until my back was pressed against his front. His hand splayed across my midsection, and we moved to Sia’s electropop ballad of soaring synthesizers and militant drums. In my semi-buzzed state, I found myself shamelessly gyrating against him, needing to hang on to this moment—this feeling of being happy and free. I wanted to bury the shame and pretend I was a woman who didn’t have a past, someone who wasn’t always afraid of things that went bump in the night. I placed a hand over Derek’s and squeezed as though I was hanging on for dear life. I never wanted this moment, no matter how inconsequential, to end.

Glancing down at my half-empty glass, I impulsively threw back the rest of the contents and placed the glass on the bar. Turning around to face Derek, I used the liquid courage to kiss him long and hard. The heat of his lips against mine spread like wildfire through my veins, and my heart hammered an erratic beat in my ears. He pulled my body tight to his and returned my kiss, his lips passionately pressing down on mine. When a passerby let out a loud wolf whistle, I felt Derek’s lips turn up in a smile.

“What do you say we get out of here and go back to my apartment?” I suggested. Derek pulled away, his eyes dark and hungry yet hesitant.

“Your apartment?”

“Yes. I want to be with you.”

He studied me for a long moment before nodding.

“Okay.” He cupped my cheek and leaned in to kiss me once more, his tongue tracing the seam of my lips, coaxing them open. Our tongues danced together for the briefest of moments before he pulled away. “But remember, you need to set the pace.”

30

Val (Gianna)

Isilently thanked the gods, the club was right next door. I didn’t think we would have made it through a cab or subway ride back to my apartment. Derek and I crashed through the door in a tangle of lips and limbs. When Derek kicked the door closed behind us, I didn’t even pause to barricade the door or check the windows. The only thing that mattered was him and his touch. I needed him like I never needed anything in my life.

Pinning me against my living room wall, he ravaged my mouth. His hand skimmed up my waist, under my shirt, and brushed over my ribs. Shivers raced down my spine, and heat crashed between my legs. The arousal was all-consuming.

“God… your skin. You feel so good,” he murmured against my mouth, his voice low and husky. I pulled my shirt up and over my head with frantic need. He groaned and pushed down the cups of my bra to circle each nipple with the pads of his thumbs and forefingers. I gasped when he bent his head and latched on with his teeth, leisurely suckling each one and coaxing them to straining, aching peaks.

Needing to feel his skin under my palms, I reached for the hem of his shirt and removed it. I’d seen Derek shirtless many times before, but it felt as though I were seeing him for the first time. Appreciating the hard lines of honed muscle, I ran my hands over his rippled abdomen, hard chest, and strong shoulders. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of his skin, needing him more and more with every breath I took. He was intoxicating. His hands moved to the button of my jeans, scorching a path over my skin. I sharply sucked in a gulp of air and felt him hesitate.

“Is this okay?”

“Yes, Derek. Don’t stop,” I breathed.

Sliding the zipper down, his hand slipped under the waistband of my panties. When he made gentle contact with my already moist folds, I nearly collapsed from pleasure. It had been too long since I last surrendered to a man’s touch. I didn’t realize how much I needed this physical connection again to feel normal. My back arched, and I moaned.

When I pictured Derek and me together for the first time, I thought it might be shadowed with memories of that final night with Ethan and all the terrible nights before that. Instead, I was filled with an incredible sense of power, knowing I was about to give my body willingly. It was up to me to decide when I wanted to share it and when I didn’t. I owned it—and we owned tonight.

He worked his finger gently through my swollen flesh and teased my clit, the repeated flicking motions caused me to squirm. Pushing one finger in, he flexed it against the heated walls just inside my entrance. When he pushed in another finger, my hands flew up to grip his hair, the buildup to my orgasm coming swift and sweet.

“Oh God,” I moaned, convulsing around his fingers. I stiffened beneath his merciless hand and came quickly and unexpectedly. White-hot flames overtook me, blinding me in a surge of heat as I went over the edge. I shuddered as the climax rocketed through my body and nearly collapsed from the intensity.

Derek caught me, my body yielding against his hard lines as he carried me to the bedroom. Setting me down, I laid back on the mattress and practically purred as he worked my jeans and panties down my legs, leaving a trail of kisses along my thighs, calves, and ankles.

Still wearing his pants, he positioned himself above my almost-naked body, careful to balance his weight on his elbows, so he didn’t crush me. Brushing a stray piece of hair from my forehead, he studied me as if he was waiting for me to give him permission before continuing.

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