Page 88 of The Nanny and the Nerd
She twirled her finger in the air, then dramatically poked him in the chest. “It was after we met. I believe I called you a nerd, and you made a comment about blondes,” she answered with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “I was sure you could read me like a book and that you knew that you’d left me off-kilter, swooning and breathless with butterflies in my belly.”
“I did that to you?” he asked.
She slid her poking finger to his chin. “I also wanted to throttle you. But it was mostly butterflies and swoon.”
“And now?” he asked, his heart on his sleeve.
“And now, there’s no place I’d rather be than right here with you.”
The raw honesty of her words decimated what was left of the walls he’d erected around his heart. But he had one last thing to get off his chest.
“I should confess something to you. And you might not be pleased with me.”
Unflinching, she held his gaze. “Just say it.”
He bit back a grin. “Will you hate me if I tell you that, when I showed you your room that first night, all I could think about was getting you into this steam shower, kissing every inch of your body, then taking you hard and fast until we were both rendered delirious from multiple orgasms.”
He’d said it. It was all or nothing at this point.
She poked him again, right in the center of his chest, as the playful glint returned to her sable eyes. “Rowen Gale, I’ll only hate you if you don’t.”
That was all he needed. In a rush of desire, he tangled his hand into her hair as he captured her mouth in a frenzied kiss. And he was home, home in the place they created whenever it was the two of them, lost in each other. With a savage intensity, he explored her body with his mouth and tongue and hands, committing every part of her to memory. From the graceful line of her neck to her slim shoulders to the voluptuous swell of her breasts, he crafted a tactile map of her body as her orange blossom scent infused itself into the billowy clouds of steam. This woman was everywhere, making up the entirety of his universe and ratcheting up his need to possess her body and soul. He tightened his grip, and she moaned her delight as he palmed her ass, then slipped his hand inside her panties.
“Rowen!” She gasped, clutching his shoulders as she rocked her hips, grinding into him. She rode his hand as her voice tempted him to let go and give in.
He’d never allowed himself to do this with a woman. He felt like a jerk for acknowledging it, but until Penelope, sex had very little to do with his partner and more to do with control.
His control.
He’d worked out a system of sorts when it came to bedding a woman. It was an act that required carrying out a list of tasks, starting with a kiss and ending with him meeting his release. Yes, he’d physically been with these people, but he was never fully present. He’d disappear into himself, focusing on his carnal cravings. This system gave him the freedom to engage in sex while controlling every aspect of the act. In essence, it had been about him, and only him. And while his previous sexual conquests had provided a momentary, pleasurable release, the satisfaction faded mere minutes after he’d finished, leaving him utterly empty. And he didn’t want that with Penelope.
Quite the opposite.
He wanted to lose control, to give in to her sweet sighs, to become one with her, and ride the waves of ecstasy until every delicious sensation threatened to swallow them whole.
Hot and charged, the air crackled around them as Penelope reached between them and undid the button on his pants. And while his body craved driving his hard length inside her tight, wet heat, he stilled and took her hand in his. “Do we need protection?”
He wanted to do this right.
He’d never asked before because he didn’t have to. In fact, he’d never slept with a woman without using a condom. He’d never trusted anyone enough not to.
“I’m on the pill, but…” she began, then glanced away.
He tilted her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. He needed her to know that he’d do whatever she wanted. “What is it?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone,” she confessed with a cringe. Her cheeks were already pink from the steam. But with her admission, they bloomed scarlet.
A rush of carnal need surged through his veins. He liked knowing she hadn’t been with another man in a long time. And he was hell-bent on keeping it that way. He stroked her cheek. “You’re what I want, Penelope. I can be gentle. We can go as slowly as you want. But we don’t have to do this. I want you any way I can have you.”
The unease in her expression dissolved as a playful glint returned. “I thought I made myself clear,” she replied with a coy, little smile as she unzipped his trousers and took his cock into her hand. He inhaled a sharp breath as she tightened her grip and leaned in, her lips hovering a breath away from his. “I don’t want to stop.”
Game on!
He peeled off her tank top and bra, peppering her collarbone with kisses as she stroked his cock.
And while allowing her to work him into a frenzy was at the top of his list, he wanted more. Their kiss in the hallway had been electric. But it had been in the dark. Now that he had her, he wanted to take in every inch of her creamy skin. “Will you do something for me?” he rasped before pressing a kiss below her earlobe.
“What were you thinking?” she replied with a sexy moan.
