Christian lifted his head and held her gaze. He pulled the bottom of her sweater upward, exposing her pale midriff. He lifted the material over her breasts, allowing his fingers to caress the swells of flesh above her bra. “I just want to look at you,” he assured gruffly.
Megan forgot how to breathe for a few seconds.
“God, you’re so pretty.”
His eyes praised and his fingers worshipped. Megan closed her eyes at the intensity of the sensations that rocketed through her. She bit her lip when she felt his gentle fingers scoop one breast from the lacy confines of her demi-bra and rub his palm along the underside.
She cried out brokenly when he whisked his calloused thumb over the sensitive pink nipple.
“Okay?” Christian asked in a gruff whisper.
She nodded but her eyelids scrunched closed tightly. He brushed a light kiss across her lips.
“See?” he teased gently. “More evidence for my theory. Who would have guessed that you were wearing such sexy underwear under those conservative clothes? You’re full of pleasant surprises, lady.” He molded her breast to his palm. “Open your eyes, Megan.”
She complied dazedly.
“It feels so good,” she said.
His small smile went all the way to his eyes. “You feel so good. Look at how pretty you are, honey.” Megan glanced down. She inhaled raggedly. Her pale breast contrasted starkly with the dark, masculine hand that held her so possessively. The image was potently erotic. Christian caressed her erect nipple between his thumb and forefinger, and then bent down to taste her. She moaned in pleasure when he surrounded the taut nipple with his warm mouth and applied suction.
“Sweet woman,” he murmured huskily after a moment. He lifted his head and admired the effect his mouth had on her. He bent again and soothed her with a warm, laving tongue. After a moment of quieting her, though, he plumped her flesh into his palm and sucked on the aching tip again, this time with more greed. Her fingers tightened in his hair. She lost herself. She moaned and moved restlessly, pressing against him, trying to alleviate the delicious friction at her core.
He kissed her wet, erect nipple chastely and glanced up at her with blue eyes blazing.
“I can’t wait to do that when I’m buried deep inside you,” he murmured as his fingertips glided across the sensitized crest.
The impact of his words hit her like blow.
“What? Did I hurt you?” he asked sharply when he noticed the shift in her expression.
Megan shook her head wordlessly and pulled her sweater down. Christian blinked and closed his eyes briefly. He exhaled and moved off her, sitting at the edge of the couch.
“I’m moving too quickly, huh?” he said.
Megan glanced away uneasily. She touched her cheeks and pressed lightly, as if she were testing out the alien sensations of her own body. He turned his head when she didn’t respond.
“Christ, you’re shaking.” His expression was rigid with concern as his eyes roved her face, searching for answers. He held one trembling hand in his own. He kissed her softly on the cheek. “I’m sorry. Not for kissing you or touching you. I’ll never apologize for that. But I’m sorry for pushing you if the timing isn’t right.”
He didn’t attempt to stop her when she slowly rose and stood. He hunched back into the couch and watched as she righted her clothing.
“You shouldn’t have to apologize,” Megan said in a low voice when she finally turned to face him fully. “I’m sorry. I know you must think I’m sending you mixed messages.”
Megan couldn’t read his expression as he studied her. It only fueled her rising uncertainty. After a moment, he quirked his right eyebrow up and placed his hands behind his neck where it rested on the back of the couch. His posture left him completely exposed. Megan was left in little doubt that his arousal hadn’t yet dissipated.
Not even close.
Christian didn’t seem to mind either his physical state or the fact that she’d taken note of it.
“Mixed messages? Does that mean that at least part of you isn’t completely repelled by me?” he asked, a small grin pulling at his mouth.
Megan knew that he was trying to lighten the suddenly oppressive mood. Still, his words and his composure only reminded her of all the parts of her body that were far from being repelled by Christian.
She suddenly became acutely conscious of her breasts, of the slightly damp spot over her right nipple. She had to stop herself from reaching up to quiet the pinch of desire she felt there. It didn’t help that Christian’s gaze lowered knowingly. Sexual interest reignited like a flash fire, lighting his magnificent eyes. How was it that he seemed more aware of the sensations and reactions of her body than she herself was?
“Megan,” he murmured softly. “If that’s an example of a mixed message, it’s going to be well worth the wait to get your signal at a hundred percent.”
“Christian.”