Page 7 of Breaking the Alpha
And he almost answered.
She lifted the necklace up to clasp it around her throat.The movement drew his eyes to her fitted coral tank top under the white see-through shrug knotted between her breasts.Her knee came up an inch, as though she were pressing her thighs together, and the thought of why she did it began swirling in his head, sending his thoughts to between her legs.
“I spliced out five inches from the rope so the stone would fall right—” another hesitation as her arms lowered “—here.”Her fingers brushed along the stone nestled under her collar bone.“It’s the perfect position, wouldn’t you say?”
He thumped back in his chair and blinked, watching as she held position for a moment then relaxed, smiling over at him.
“Essentially that, but naked.And for longer than five minutes, of course.”
“I, uh, woah.”He ran a hand through his hair before realizing his body was giving away exactly what he thought of her old business.Resting his elbows on his knees, he swallowed.“Holy hell, that was hot.”
She hopped off the stool and smoothed her skirt along her thighs.“But was it three-ninety-nine a minute hot?”
“That was ‘here’s my credit card, draw me a stick man for two hours’ hot.”
He tried to turn his attention back to his food, but there was no way in hell the cooling spread in front of him could hold his interest.
“River?”
Her voice did nothing to help his situation, because the mere sound of his name on her lips went straight to his dick.Shaking his head with a grin, he exhaled loudly and looked up to the ceiling.“Holy fuck.I would watch you read the dictionary.You’re going to have to give me a second to get my head back online.”
She laughed low and husky, making his situation infinitely harder.“Want me to unblock your screen?”
Chapter Three
Angelina never mindedmaking the first move with guys.Especially with guys who were doing their damndest to be gentlemen despite their bodies turning against them.
And River was definitely doing his damndest to behave.
Even with her offer on the table—his hand frozen mid-scratch on his jaw and her skirt exposing most of her thigh—his eyes were on hers.
“I hope you know I’m not expecting anything here,” he said slowly, his breathing heavier and more ragged than it was before she showed him a sample of her former job.“I’m not saying I’m not a thousand percent on board with the idea, though, because I am really on board with it.Really.Really on board.”
She leaned against the counter with a smile.“Would you like the full experience?Because you, River, are a guy who needs it.”
He let out a strangled chuckle.“I am, am I?”
“Yes, you are.”She hooked one finger into the chiffon knot between her breasts and nodded toward the recliner.“Take a seat over there.”
He obeyed without argument, his stalking movement across the floor sultry and panther-like.“This good?”
Humming in agreement, she spun one of the stools around and sat, facing him as he watched her from the other side of the living space.“Here are the parameters: you stay there, and I may or may not mentally unmute you if you speak.I’ll decide as I go.”
His brows lifted.“Did you just politely tell me to sit down and shut up?”
Tilting her head, she licked her lips and slid her fingers along the end of the tie.“Sometimes we need to be reminded how important it is to simply sit back and enjoy something without feeling we have to reciprocate or rationalize our enjoyment.”She undid the knot slowly.“Not everything is a debt needing to be settled.”
Slipping one shoulder free, she skimmed her fingers along her skin from her throat down to her wrist, taking her time to ensure she had River’s full attention.“We’re programmed to always want more and more,” she continued, easing her shrug off her other shoulder and trailing it down her arm inch by inch until it pooled on the floor.“We amass experiences we haven’t taken the time to savor.”
She crossed her legs and ran her hands through her hair, tousling it gently while she watched him watching her, his chest rising and falling as he ran a hand through his own hair, subconsciously mimicking her.
Bringing her fingers down the neckline of her tank, she took a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly until River fell into sync.“This,” she said, pinching the fabric between her fingers and rubbing them together, “is a perfect example.Noticing the softness against my skin every time I slip it on it is amassing the experience.”Flattening her palms, she slid her hands along her body to the hem.“Spending the time to fully appreciate the silkiness against my hands throughout the day is savoring.Does this make sense?”
When he swallowed and nodded, she pulled the shirt up and over her head, letting it fall from her fingertips before she traced the cups of her pink lace bra at a snail’s pace, waiting until his lips parted before she continued.
“Of course, we can’t discuss savoring without discussing selfishness,” she purred, as she stood and slid her thumb along the band of her skirt that was stretching across her hips.“Language loves selfishness, so we do too.We take pleasure.Give pleasure.”She undid the buttons one by one, pausing in between.“Always trading.”With the last fastener undone, she unwrapped the skirt, dropping it onto the growing pile on the floor.“Always keeping score.”
River shifted his position in the recliner and adjusted the bulge in his jeans, his hand staying a fraction longer than necessary.
