My nipples peaked under the satin before I reached behind to unclasp it. Before I could talk myself out of it, I pulled down the straps and let the bra fall to the floor on top of my shirt. Cool air prickled my skin, tightening my nipples into hard points. North’s hungry stare made my breasts swell with anticipation.
Then his hands were on my hips as if he couldn’t stop himself, drawing me between his thighs as his ferocious eyes drank me in. He smoothed his hands up my waist, goose bumps chasing his touch … then he cupped my heavy breasts in his hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.
I moaned while he groaned and kneaded me.
“Fuck me, fuck me,” North muttered, staring like he wanted to eat me alive. “You’re so sexy it might actually kill me.”
My skin flushed at the compliment.
Suddenly, he was on his feet and hauling me into his arms. “I need to kiss you.”
It was only then that I realized we hadn’t.
Kissed, that was.
Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine.
It wasn’t a soft, sweet, gentle, coaxing kiss.
North’s kiss was devouring.
I gasped into it as he kissed me like he wanted to fuck me. And it was exactly what I needed at that moment. Heat and desire exploded through me, sweeping my doubts and overthinking from my head until there was nothing but the feel of his hands on my body, the scent of him all around me, his lips bruising mine.
North broke away, panting, staring at me, a little stunned. “Jesus,” he murmured, his hands on my hips, squeezing gently. “I knew it would be like this between us.”
Relief eased through me. I wanted this with him, and maybe I could do it without overanalyzing his every word and touch.
But then he demanded, “Skirt off. Now.” And all that sexy fire filling my belly flickered out, doused by the very thought of being fully naked in front of him.
Fourteen
ARIA
“Talk to me.”
North was back on the bed, a wrinkle of concern between his brow.
I covered my naked breasts with my arms, feeling vulnerable and irritated. “Can’t you just take your pants off?”
He gave me that gorgeous, lopsided grin. “Eventually, aye.” Then he was serious again. “But first I want to know why the very mention of taking your skirt off turned you off?”
A memory seared through me, a painful flash that made me wince in remembrance. I hated that memory had power over me. I hated it was the reason I couldn’t bear to look at myself for more than a few seconds in the mirror.
God, I didn’t think I could do this. And didn’t that make me the worst fucking tease in the world? I covered my face with my hands, ashamed and furious all at once. “I’m so sorry, but I don’t think I can do this after all,” I apologized hoarsely between the gap in my fingers.
“You were with me until I asked you to take your skirt off … Christ, Aria, did … did someone hurt you?”
At the horror in his tone, I dropped my hands. The look on his face verged on devastated and realizing why, I hurried to assure him, “No, God, no, nothing like that.”
North seemed to slump with relief.
A pang of affection cut through the vulnerability. Covering my chest again, I looked down at my feet and admitted, “Not long before we broke up, Lucas and I got into a fight because he … oh, hell.” I felt a little sick. “We were in bed. We’d just had sex, and he put his hand on my stomach and told me I’d be sexier if I did some sit-ups and lost some weight. That he liked a flat, toned stomach on his woman.” I remember how hurt I was … how repulsive I’d suddenly felt lying naked in bed with him. How I’d wanted to hide from him and the world. Instead, I’d told him to go fuck himself. Then I dressed and stormed out. He sent me flowers to apologize and begged me to forgive him. But I didn’t want him to touch me after that and only two weeks later, Caitlyn sent me the video of the two of them together.
When North said nothing, I finally looked at him. The muscle in his jaw ticked, and I knew he wanted to pummel Lucas. He slowly stood, as if he were approaching a skittish animal, and moved around to stand behind me. His heat licked up my body as he leaned his chest against my back and took hold of my wrists, gently moving my arms back down to my sides. He trailed his fingertips up and down my arms, a caress that was soothing and arousing at the same time. My nipples peaked as he swept my hair over onto one side, revealing my neck.
A shiver cascaded down my spine when North rested his lips against my ear, his voice rumbling through me. “Not all men are made the same.” His hands dropped from my arms and I felt a tug on the zipper of my skirt. I tensed as he continued, “Men like me appreciate women in all their glory.” Slowly, he lowered the skirt zipper as he brushed a soft kiss against my neck. “And my brain and my cock happen to think you’re the sexiest woman we’ve ever met.”
It’s a trick. Lies. He’s just saying what he thinks you want to hear.
North pressed his lower body against mine as his hands slipped inside the skirt, and I gasped at the feel of his hard heat. If it was a lie, his cock was in on the deception.
I tensed as the skirt loosened and North pushed it down my hips. Then it dropped around my ankles.
“Step out,” he demanded, brushing his knuckles down my back.
Trembling, I stepped out of the skirt, and North made a choked sound. “What?” I glanced over my shoulder to find him looking down at my legs.
He’s repulsed by my wide ass, hips, and thighs.
“You’re telling me that every day I’ve been here, you’ve been walking around wearing lacy fucking stockings and suspenders under your skirt?”
Oh. I let out a little laugh of surprise and relief. “You like?”
“I more than fucking like.” He slid his hand over my ass and squeezed. Desire slickened between my thighs. Wow. Okay. “Let me look.”
“You are looking.”
But now he was walking around to sit on the bed in front of me. I moved to cover my breasts again and North shook his head. “Don’t.”
You can do this.
Feeling awkward, I dropped my arms and tried not to shift uncomfortably as his gaze traveled up from my shoes. My legs were one of my best physical assets. Long and well-formed, but my thighs were a little bigger than I’d like, and, of course, they led up to curvaceous hips and my dreaded belly.
My awkwardness, however, dissipated beneath North’s ravenous eyes. I swear to God, no one had ever looked at me like he did. Like he wanted to throw me on the bed and fuck me like there was no tomorrow.
“Jesus, woman,” he huffed out hoarsely. “You’re a walking wet dream.”
I think he means it.
Even if he didn’t … he did at least want me. His dick straining against his jeans was proof of that. And this was just one night.
This was happening.
No more stalling. No more hiding.
Once I was naked, he’d either want me or not.
Deep down, I didn’t feel those brave words. But I was determined to live by them, anyway. So I kicked off my heels and unclipped my suspenders.
Before I could begin rolling off the stockings, North lowered to his knees in front of me and took over. Instead of the efficient speed I would have used, he rolled each stocking down slowly, his lips following them, whispering across my sensitive skin. Sensation dipped and swooped low and deep in my belly. I shivered, growing wetter. Then his lips returned to my naked thigh and I spread my legs, inviting him upward until I was undulating into his kiss.