Peyton’s full, pink lips curved in a seductive smile that made his knees shake. “Show me how it ends.”
He helped her strip off his dark brown sweater, tossing it on top of hers. Her eyes darkened as she stared at his torso. Her touch was gentle as she explored his pecs and abdomen.
Darius swept her off her feet and cradled her against his chest. “I’ll show you, but it may take a while.”
He strode into his bedroom and lowered her to the carpet at the foot of his bed. Together they discarded the remainder of their clothes. With Peyton naked in front of him, he was almost overcome with the desire to study her curves, lines, muscles, and secrets. He needed to wrap her in his arms and sink deep inside her. Darius lay next to Peyton on his king-sized mattress. He leaned over her and kissed her, losing himself in her scent, her touch, her taste. He drew his right hand from her shoulder over her left breast, pausing to mold, shape, and caress the firm mound. He rubbed his hand against her nipple. The sensation of her pebbled tip against his palm heated his blood.
Peyton shifted restlessly beneath his touch. Darius swallowed her moans, emboldened to move lower, explore farther. His right hand moved past her tight waist, over her flat stomach, and between her quivering thighs. He cupped her nest of curls, feeling Peyton tremble against him. Her breath grew fast and shallow, quickening his desire. He released her lips and sought her breast, ringing her puckering nipple with his tongue. He drew her tip into his mouth as he parted her curls with his middle finger.
She opened her mouth on a gasp, pressing her head back into his pillow and lifting her hips to meet his caress. He rubbed her spot as he suckled her breast. Her body grew warmer, her breath shorter. Darius released her breast and shifted down her body, inserting himself between her long legs.
Peyton almost cried out when he released her breast. Her body was on fire. She could hear her blood rushing in her head, feel her pulse beat between her legs. The sweet sensation of Darius’s mouth, tongue, and hands on her body was an experience she never wanted to end. She felt his breath above her curls. He separated her, spreading her folds.
Peyton’s eyes flew open. Was he going to . . . “Darius!”
Darius’s tongue stroked her deep. Peyton’s body was under his control. He licked her; she rose to meet him. He kissed her; she moved against his mouth. He nibbled her spot, and she spread her legs wider.
Peyton squeezed her eyes shut as her muscles screamed. “Darius, I can’t . . .”
“Yes, you can.”
She shivered as his words whispered against her. Peyton strained toward her highest pleasure point. She ached for her release even as she never wanted these feelings to end. Her muscles stiffened, the pressure building higher and higher, tighter and tighter. Her pulse thundered and roared in her ears . . . Then her body exploded, rocking in Darius’s hands, her hips twisting and turning. Peyton muffled her screams behind her forearm as her head pressed into the pillow.
Darius rolled away from her. Peyton opened her eyes to find him reaching into his nightstand. He pulled out a condom, then quickly sheathed his erection. Darius returned to her. Peyton looked up at him as he balanced his weight on his forearms above her. His angular sepia features were hard with desire. His muscles were bunched and shaking from self-restraint. Peyton lifted her legs and wrapped them aroun
d his hips, pulling him closer to her.
“Show me how it ends,” she repeated her earlier invitation.
Darius found a smile for her. “With pleasure.”
He lowered his hips, joining their bodies. His growl deepened her desire. Peyton gasped as he stretched her. She closed her eyes, loving the feel of him inside her. She rocked her hips, squeezing him. Darius lowered his lips to her for a kiss. Peyton opened her mouth, taking his tongue, sucking it the same way she worked his length. Darius pressed against her. Peyton rose to meet him, finding a pace and rhythm that made her body burn. Darius grabbed her hips with his hands, rubbing her against him. Peyton panted and gasped as her muscles tightened all over again. Her body stiffened, then shattered in his embrace. Darius’s hips moved faster, deeper, harder as he joined her. He pressed her hard against him, arched his back in his release. Peyton held on tight as they flew apart, then came back together.
“What are you doing here?” Darius blinked twice before he believed what he saw. Both of his parents were standing together outside his apartment door Saturday afternoon.
“What kind of welcome is that for the woman who birthed you?” Ethel crowded Darius, giving him no choice but to let his parents into his home.
“Or for the man whose DNA is in your blood.” Simon followed Ethel into the apartment.
“I wasn’t expecting you.” Darius locked his front door, then trailed his parents into his living room. His gaze dropped to the manila folder in his father’s right hand. Its presence stirred only mild curiosity.
Darius had just returned from taking Peyton to the airport. He missed her already. Facing his parents without the little professor’s presence depressed him even more.
Why were his parents at the same place at the same time? And why had they chosen his apartment? They’d never visited him before their separation. He’d always gone to their house. That’s the way he preferred it. More and more, it seemed as though this separation, which he’d been expecting for decades, had been a mistake for the entire family.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Darius shrugged on the coat of civility. It was a tight fit.
“No, thank you.” His mother handed him her coat.
“I’m fine.” Simon followed Darius to the closet.
Darius put away his parents’ coats, then returned to his living room. Ethel had settled onto the left corner of the black leather couch. Simon joined her at the opposite end. Darius took the matching armchair catty-corner to the sofa. How long would he have to wait for his parents to explain the reason for their visit?
“The suspense is killing you, isn’t it?” Ethel sent him a knowing look.
Darius’s eyes widened in surprise. Was his mother teasing him? “Yes, it is. We’ve been together in the same room for at least five minutes and you two haven’t snapped at each other once.” He straightened on the armchair. “Who are you and what have you done with my parents?”
“When we find them, we’ll let you know.” Ethel chuckled.