Page 62 of Reckless Kiss

Chapter 20

For me, there was nothing more intimate than sex. Trust, vulnerability, and emotional connection were necessary for true pleasure. Add to that the lack of clothing and the physical aspect and well...it was the ultimate act of intimacy.

Each time we were together I learned more about Esme and I hoped I gave her more of me. There were times I could have sworn we merged into one. Not just physically but in every way. Her breath was mine. My desire was hers. I didn’t need to open my eyes to know how to move or where to find her.

“Esme,” I whispered against her hip. “Open for me.”

“Here?”

I understood her hesitation. We were in one of those private cabanas at an adults-only hotel pool in Miami. When our lunch arrived I’d closed all the curtains. No one could see that we were both topless or that I was attempting to slide my hand inside her bikini bottoms.

“Yes here. We’ll be quiet.” I nibbled and licked the skin just inside her hipbone. The skin there was so soft and always made her shudder.

“They’ll kick us out.”

“No they won’t. We’re too important.” I brought her with me for the long weekend. Most of my work was at night, leaving us the day to enjoy the perks of being guests of one of the most expensive and exclusive hotels in all of South Beach. Dante Emerson (yes, the one who wanted a yacht) was living up to his reputation of becoming the next Jordan. Pure athleticism and charisma, along with a deep love of the game, had made him the biggest up-and-coming star in basketball. He’d just started his first season in Miami.

“That doesn’t mean we should—” she gasped and stifled a moan as I gave up and kissed her clit over her bottoms.

“It absolutely means we should. Call it a perk of the job.” I kissed her some more and her hips began to undulate. “They’re thrilled to have us here and quite frankly, they don’t give a shit what we do behind these curtains.” I stripped off her bottoms and tossed them to the floor. “There is absolutely no reason we shouldn’t enjoy this huge pool bed to its fullest.”

Unlike Esme, I didn’t grow up with servants and expensive indulgences. I had no qualms about enjoying every opportunity. I earned it through hard work and perseverance in a cutthroat industry.

“L-Leo...oh God.”

The last twenty-four hours had been telling. Being out of town and away from our everyday lives gave us both an opportunity to relax. I rolled to my side and enjoyed the sight of Esme as she should be. Naked physically and emotionally. Calm. Carefree.

Happy.

Touching her always turned me on but touching her like this? It was incredible for more than one reason. The urgency I usually felt was gone. Now I couldsavor.From the moment I woke up all I’d done or thought washow can I make this moment last longer?So I ran my hand along each curve from her thigh and over her hip, down the dip of her waist to cup her full breast.

“You’re studying me,” she murmured.

“I’m hoping for another A.” I winked.

She laughed.

“Iamstudying you, you’re right, but mostly? I’m indulging.”

“Indulging?” She burrowed into the pillow, smiling up at me from behind hooded eyes.

“Mmmm. Touching you is like sipping a very expensive bourbon.”

“I love that. I’m good bourbon.”

I moved to the inside of her breast where it swelled against the other. “Top shelf, darling. Pappy Van Winkle.”

She laughed heartily at my comparison to one of the rarest and most expensive bourbons on the market. “If you find a bottle of that we’ll sip it slowly together.”

“You have my word on that.” I made a mental note to bribe someone for a bottle as I flattened my hand against her sternum and felt for her heartbeat. “I love touching you. It calms me.” Every caress relaxed my muscles, slowed my breath. “And yeah, I’m memorizing you. I want a perfect mental image of you stored in my memory banks.”

“Your own virtual Esme?” She rolled to her back and stretched.

Every nerve in my body and brain fried. The sight of her arching and wiggling, her tits up and her ass down, was the equivalent of a lightning strike. I understandably groaned. “You’re killing me.”

“How do you think I feel? You’re staring at me. I can feel your eyes everywhere. Do you realize how much you say with your eyes?”

I had no idea, actually. “Tell me.” I rose up on my elbow and continued to touch.

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