Page 55 of Fight Or Flight

“I sometimes wish I had prettier things to wear,” she said. “Lace, or colours, or prints . . .”

She trailed off when his finger came under her chin and tipped her head up.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear,” he grazed his fingers along the thin fabric covering her breasts with careful caresses. “A broken dress, an old lady’s nightgown, plain underwear,” he said with a laugh. “You’re always sexy because it’s the things you say and who you are that make you that way.”

She closed her eyes, leaned into his touch, dazzled by his deep, rumbling voice. He took his time, letting his hands softly explore her skin, touching every millimetre of her body. Her face started burning up. Her brain felt as if it had been lit on fire.

Ethan turned her around and unclasped her bra, slipping it forward off her outstretched arms. Then he gathered her hair in both hands and let it fall, cascading down her back like a waterfall, sending tingles rushing to every corner of her body, cooling the places that had flamed beneath his touch.

She could barely breathe, couldn’t think.

“So soft,” he said, almost too quiet to hear. She fell back against his chest, giving in to the full-body sensations he was inciting. He leaned forward and placed soft kisses along her shoulder as both of his hands slid around her, cupping her breasts, grazing across her nipples. Then he trailed his fingers down her stomach, slipping under the fabric of her panties and making slow, soft circles with the pads of his fingers.

She sank deeper into the pleasure, revelling in the warm, solid wall his chest made against her back. He moved his lips, his tongue to her ear, kissing, sucking until she shook with pleasure, crested, and fell apart in his arms.

She was so dazed that she nearly dropped to the floor when he turned her back to face him. Gently laying her down on the bed, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and took out a condom. Unhurried, with his eyes pinned on hers, he unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them down, along with his boxers. He leaned up over her, slid a finger under the elastic band on her panties, and gently coaxed them down her legs and over her feet.

She was in a trance as she opened for him. He knelt between her thighs and put the condom on. He leaned forward and kissed her mouth, trailing kisses down her neck, over her nipples, along her stomach. She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to fully processher feelings. He was moving slowly, taking his time with her, savouring every kiss. She was pretty sure her brain was melting.

“Open your eyes, Natalie,” he said, the low rumble of his voice dancing along her skin. “I want to see you.”

She did as he said, her eyes meeting his right above her, his warm, heavy body pressing her into the mattress. He kissed her lips, as he slipped inside her, a moan releasing from him. His eyes fluttered shut in pleasure for a split second, then were back on her. She couldn’t breathe.

He moved in long sensual strokes, taking pleasure from her as he gave it. His face intensified. His meditative strokes built her up again, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him deeper with every thrust, unable to get close enough to him.

His movements quickened. His tight control slipped. “Natalie,” he said. “I’m—”

She reached her hands up to his hair, down his neck, and over his shoulders. His body fell deeper and deeper into his need, spurring on her own. She stared into his dark-blue eyes, heavily lidded and saturated with pleasure. As she rose once more into an endless orgasm that ripped through her body, she called out his name.

The tight clench she had on him finally eased as he found his own release and collapsed on top of her, breathless.

She couldn’t think, couldn’t move, wouldn’t dare speak, fearing what might come out. She lay still under him, calming her breath, coming down off the high he’d brought her to.

When her breaths evened out, and she regained consciousness, she tried to muddle through all the feelings she was having. It had been incredibly intense, and part of her felt a little terrified. But mostly she was relieved that this thing between them had finally happened and felt almost vindicated at how good it was.

This was usually the awkward part where she’d get up, get dressed, and say goodbye. But she didn’t want that this time, and she didn’t feel awkward at all. She felt content.

Happy, even.

Ethan lifted himself up and fell onto the bed next to her, leaving a cold, hollow sensation on her body. She told herself to get up, ask him to leave, but couldn’t face the hypocrisy. She’d told him to go for what he wanted without worrying about the consequences, so, perhaps, she should do the same.

She looked over at Ethan, eyes closed, face in a deep state of relaxation, and she allowed the grin she’d been fighting to break through. Then she rolled toward him, pressed her body along the side of his, and laid her cheek against his chest. The last thing she heard before sleep took her was the gunfire heartbeats pounding inside Ethan’s chest.

Sweltering heat roused Natalie out of her dead sleep. When she opened her eyes, she found herself tucked against Ethan’s body. She peeled her sweaty face off of his chest and carefully sat up, trying her best not to wake him up. She slid across the bed, adjusting the blanket, then slowly stood and turned to look at him.

He slept with a peaceful look on his handsome face. He was wearing his boxers, which meant he must have got up after they had sex, cleaned up, put his underwear on, then got back into bed with her. He could have slipped out unnoticed, but he didn’t. A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she stared down at him. He sucked in a breath, rolled, and spread his fingers out to the space she’d vacated. His eyes cracked open.

“Mmm . . . morning,” he said, then yawned.

She wanted to crawl back in, feel him again, but she told herself to stay put. They had an understanding. One night only. “Morning.”

He sat up, letting their blanket fall down his chest and pool around his waist, then reached a hand up and slid it through his rumpled brown hair. He twisted, reached for his glasses on the nightstand, and slid them on.

When he looked at her and smiled, she realized she was standing in front of him, completely naked. She turned to her suitcase for a bra and panties and put them on.

He had a smirk covering his face as he stood from the bed and stretched his arms over his head, making his muscles contract, his abs stretch.

Her mouth dropped open. She looked away.

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