I jerk, nearly spilling my wine again. "That's a very personal question.""I think it's important in your situation.""My situation? I don't think - ""But maybe I'm asking the wrong question. Tell me, when was the last time you had an orgasm?"I let out a little gasp."That's none of your business!" I say. I'm going to need a lot more wine before we have this conversation. A LOT more wine."I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable," he says. "But there is a difference in the way people conduct themselves when they're sexually fulfilled, especially around those they find attractive. You'd be amazed how many issues could be cured with the proper... satisfaction."I can't look at him, not when he speaks like that. Not when he's gazing at me that way. I reach for the bottle of wine and top off my glass."I think," he says slowly, "a little release would do you wonders, Felicia. Ask any man you know if he takes the edge off before a date. You'll find all of this a little more enjoy
At first, my movements are slow and careful. I let my palms slide up over my sides and across my belly as I try to come to terms with what I'm about to do. But I'm feeling brazen, and though I'm nervous, I'm not afraid. I can already hear my breath coming faster. I can hear Roman's breath, too, slow and steady in the chair beside mine.My hands dance across my belly for a moment before moving lower. I'm glad I decided to wear a dress tonight. It makes things easier. Slowly, my fingers tug up the fabric of the skirt, exposing my bare thighs to the night. The summer air is balmy against my skin, and it makes it that much easier to let my legs fall apart. When the fabric is up past my hips, I release it and let my fingers come to rest just above the lacy panties that I know do little to cover the carefully-trimmed patch of hair beneath.I take a deep breath. Two. My knees bend, my thighs fall a little farther apart. I'm surprised at how ready I am. I can smell my own arousal, and I susp
When I wake up, I feel like a different person.I roll over in bed, rubbing my eyes and wondering why I feel so rested, so... calm. Like every worry, every bit of stress, is gone from my body. It's not until I reach for my cell on the nightstand that I realize that the nightstand is all wrong. There's a lamp where there shouldn't be.And then I remember.I jerk upright. I'm not in my bedroom. I'm in Roman's. I spent the night here.The bed next to me is empty. And - a quick touch tells me - cold. As my fingers skim over the rumpled sheets, last night comes rushing back.He made me come twice more next to the pool. Once again with his tongue, and then with his fingers. My body aches at the memory of it, and I wonder how I could have gone my whole life without experiencing pleasure like that. The few partners I've had in the past never gave me anything close. I'm not sure I could even replicate the experience with my own fingers - it's like Roman knew how to wake sensations in me th
I stare at him. "You're taking me on a date?"Roman laughs. "You say that like you're surprised.""I just... I didn't know how..." I gesture between the two of us, unsure of how to voice it without sounding insecure. "I didn't know where we stood."His hazel eyes search mine, and there's a tenderness there that he hasn't let me see before. He reaches out and touches my cheek."From our very first meeting, you intrigued me," he says. "You were clearly out of your depth, but you fought quite passionately for your job. And when you claimed that you'd seduce Luca Fontaine, I saw a drive, a fire, that I couldn't let slip through my fingers." His thumb sweeps along my jaw. "As I said, for all your determination, you seemed a little lost. And I wanted to be the one who found you."His words are quickly undoing the last of my meager defenses, and his soft caresses aren't helping."I... I thought you just found me entertaining," I said.He smiles. "I did. I do." He leans closer, and his
Roman kisses me again, and my legs come up and wrap around his hips. We're pressed together now, bare skin against bare skin, and he groans."Change of plans," he growls. "We're staying here today. And I'm going to fuck you over and over again until you can't walk.""Is that a promise?"He sucks my bottom lip between his teeth in response, and I grab his hair and tighten my legs around him."Pleasthh," I beg him as he continues to suck on my lip. It's torture, being pressed against him without joining.He releases my lip. "Patience, my little seductress."I writhe against him. "Fuck patience."Suddenly he grabs my legs and pulls them away from him, and before I realize what's happening, he's flipped me over onto my belly. He leans toward me, his cock pressing against me from behind. He bends down so that his mouth is right against my ear."You will have more than your share of pleasure today. Don't you worry," he says. "But first, I need to go get a condom."The thought of sto
I've never looked this glamorous in my entire life - or felt as miserable.The gold gown swishes around my legs as I walk, and the beads sparkle like diamonds in the late afternoon sunlight. My makeup is flawless, and my thick hair has been pinned into a flawless French twist. I debated skipping the salon appointment Roman made for me, but he had one of his assistants email me a reminder this morning, and it felt childish to refuse to go. Still, there was a knot in my stomach the entire time I sat in the chair, and while the results look beautiful, I don't feel as much like Cinderella as I expected. I feel a lot more like I'm going to throw up.I've been here for almost three hours already, standing in my place behind the partition that separates the press from the red carpet. I've learned the hard way that they give priority positions to television reporters and the members of the press with cameras or other large equipment, but the crowd of journalists here today isn't nearly as la
Roman's words are like a knife right in my gut. But before I can respond, there's a commotion at the far end of the red carpet and all of the reporters around us start pressing forward. The first limo has arrived.There's no time to have this conversation right now. Members of the press start shouting for attention, calling to the couple that has just stepped out of the car. Camera bulbs flash. People jostle me from all angles, trying to get closer to the barricade. I know I need to fight too if I want any chance of speaking to one of the Fontaines.Roman is right behind me. He's closer than he was a moment ago, pushed against me by the crowd, and the familiar heat of him against my back makes my knees feel weak. His hands fall to my waist, holding me steady, and I realize he's protecting me from the press of reporters, shielding me from the worst of the rush. Suddenly, I feel the heat of his breath against my temple."Move forward," he says right into my ear. "I'll help you get to
"Luca!"My stomach tightens as the shouts multiply. Luca was my original target, but I was hoping Dante might show up first. I had a moment with Dante back at Hallevern's - a brief moment, but a promising one, and it would have given me a starting point. With Luca, I'm facing the unknown. And he's getting more attention than anyone else in his family these days, so he'll be that much harder to pin down.At least it's not Rafe, I tell myself. I'm not ready for that sort of awkwardness right now - either with one of the Fontaines or with the man behind me. I lean forward again and watch as Luca makes his way toward where I stand.He's a charmer, that he is. And like the rest of his family, he's pretty damn breathtaking in person. His dirty-blond hair has been cropped close for Cataclysm: Earth, enhancing the strong, sharp planes of his face. His body was always athletic, but he's clearly added some more muscle for this latest role - and he definitely has the build to pull it off witho