Zephyra's POVLirael is pressing kisses down my stomach on his way to giving me a third orgasm when my stomach grumbles loudly. “Oh my god,” I say, throwing my hand over my eyes in embarrassment.He chuckles against my skin—a low rumble that has me looking down at him in surprise. I’m not used to such good humor from him.He meets my gaze, and there’s a sparkle in his eyes that wasn’t there when he picked me up. “Do I need to feed you before I can eat again?”I laugh and prop myself on my elbows. “It couldn’t hurt. What do you have in the house? I could make something for us?”He nuzzles his nose against my stomach. “I don’t cook, so there isn’t really anything. I’ll order something.”I reach down and tug on his hair until he looks up at me. “You don’t have a single thing in that massive fridge of yours?”He crawls up my body and presses his lips to mine, then says, “Some wine, bread, possibly a block or two of cheese. Nothing you can make a decent meal out of.” He sucks a nipple into
Lirael's POVI wake to something hot pressed against my side. My eyes fly open and immediately find the woman curled up next to me, her mass of dark hair draped over my arm, the rest of it partially covering her face. Her long, dark eyelashes flutter against her cheeks as she dreams.I’m not sure what came over me last night when I asked her to stay. No. That’s not true. I know exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking that I liked that she’d cooked for me. I liked that she’d laughed with me. I really liked what she’d let me do to her afterward. Having her with me after a long fucking week of work had felt good. More than good. I hadn’t wanted that feeling to go away.I hadn’t wanted her to go. And I don’t know what the hell to do with that.I slide myself away from her and out of bed. She makes a little whimper and curls into herself, and I want to crawl right back under the covers, roll her onto her back, and bury my head between her legs. My thoughts are all over the place right
Lirael's POVI drive Zephyra back to her apartment in my Maclaren so she can get changed. When she comes out dressed in a pretty blue sundress and high-heeled sandals, my fingers itch to slide the silky material up her thighs and sink into her. I’d love to take her back to my penthouse and spend all day in bed with her rather than go to this lunch, but appearances are all-important and our monthly family lunch must be maintained—a sign of our solidarity. It’s even more important after what Dad did.I start the engine, pull into traffic, and head toward my family’s estate in Westchester County.We drive in silence for a few minutes, the scenery outside the car window changing from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to leafy suburbs.Zephyra breaks the silence. “Will your brothers wonder why I’m there?” I glance at her, taking in the furrow between her brows. Considering I’d surprised myself when I invited her, I’ve no doubt my family will be shocked, but the last thing I want to do is make h
Zephyra's POVI ’m smiling as I initial the latest set of internal plans. I seem to do that a lot lately, smile at nothing. And the reason is about six foot two inches, dark-haired and blue-eyed, with a dick that doesn’t quit. I laugh to myself. I really am going off the deep end.It can’t be a bad thing to be so happy that I’m smiling and laughing to myself, can it? As long as I don’t let myself forget that this thing Lirael and I have won’t last forever.But there’s a part of me, the part that watched too many Disney movies when I was little, that can’t help but hope that might change. I’ve noticed a difference in Lirael over the last few weeks—since that lunch with his family. A softening. A warmth where once there wasn’t. It’s like he’s slowly peeling away the layers of his coldhearted persona, revealing the man underneath. And as it turns out, I can’t get enough of that man.The sex is still intense. We’ve done it all over his penthouse, twice in his limo with Lirael’s hand over
Lirael's POVI flick through the television channels, trying to find something to lull my brain toward sleep. After flying back to London from Germany this morning, then having a full day of meetings, I’m struggling to switch off. I’ve also been waiting for a call, so when my phone rings, I swipe it off the side table. “Did he accept?” I ask without bothering to say hello.Nathan’s voice comes out clearly through the phone speaker. “He did,” he says, and I let out a silent sigh of relief. “If he admits his guilt and pays a forty-five million dollar fine, his prison sentence will be reduced from twenty years to eight.”“Fuck. Eight years?” We knew they wouldn’t go easy on him, not when government contracts were involved, but still . . . As much as I meant it when I told Zephyra I didn’t care what happened to Dad, I can’t imagine how he’s feeling right now. Then again, I can’t imagine what he was thinking, getting involved in insider trading to begin with. His arrogance convinced him he
Zephyra's POVMy phone buzzes on my side table, waking me from my sleep. I blink drowsily at the time on my clock. It’s after midnight. Who on earth is calling at this time of night?I pick it up and see Lirael’s name on the screen. “Hello?”“Zephyra.” His deep voice sends a thrill through me, and I immediately perk up.“Is everything okay? Are you back in New York? I thought I wouldn’t hear from you until tomorrow.”“I wanted to see you. Can I come up?”My pulse speeds up. “You’re here? Of course.”I rush to the door and press the button. I look down at myself. Should I change into something sexier? At least this shirt doesn’t have a stain on it. Then I shrug. I’m too excited to see him to worry about changing into lingerie.When the knock comes, I fling the door open and take him in. He’s wearing a button-down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up—one of the sexiest looks on a man—but as I smile up at him, it’s the dark shadows under his eyes that catch my attention.I grab his arm and
Zephyra's POVMy eyes drift open the next morning, the numbers on my bedside clock coming into focus. Five-thirty a.m. What woke me so early? I flash back to last night, remembering Lirael falling asleep behind me, and the last of the fog clears from my mind. I roll over and look for him, but apart from me, my bed is empty. Did I only dream him being here? Before disappointment can hit too hard, a noise filters through my bedroom door. I sit up, clutching my blanket to my chest.Another sound reaches me. Is Lirael still here and doing something in the kitchen? I climb out of bed and pull my short, silky robe over my naked body, tying it loosely before heading out of the room.My feet stall, and my heart does a little flutter in my chest. Lirael is standing at the counter with his back to me, wearing just his boxer briefs, while the early morning light illuminates his muscular body. Bowls, spoons, and various ingredients are spread on the surrounding countertop, and he’s peering intent
Zephyra's POV “I don’t know if I—” But I’m too busy moaning as his lips make contact to finish the thought. He’s not messing around. Within a few minutes, I’m yanking at his hair as I scream my way through my first orgasm. “Lirael, I need you inside me.”He looks up at me, his intense eyes on mine. “Not until you come two more times.”“Lirael, oh god.” Two long fingers slide into me, stroking and curling, rubbing against my G-spot. My back arches off the bed as I come a second time, my body clenching around his fingers.“One more,” he demands.But my body knows what he wants now, and I’m already ramping up for another one. When his fingers leave my body, the sudden lack of pressure inside me has me crying out in protest.“Where do you keep your toys?” he asks. I blink up at him, my mind hazy. “What?”“Those toys you’re so proud of.” One corner of his mouth quirks up as I groan and cover my eyes with my hand. The mattress next to my shoulder depresses and a big, warm hand closes aroun