But with the way he was kissing her, she couldn’t bring herself to care. She’d worry about that when and if that time came. Right now, she couldn’t get enough of him.
When he suddenly released her mouth, she stared into his eyes and saw desire in their dark depths.
“Are you ready to take things to the next level?”
She was unsure what the next level was exactly, although she did have an idea. “Yes,” she said in a voice that didn’t quite sound like her own.
“Do you want to take your own clothes off or do you want me to help you?”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. She wasn’t sure why, but she wanted him to do it. She didn’t want to turn into a nervous, jittery mess and ruin everything. Besides, she’d read in a magazine that men enjoyed undressing the women they were about to sleep with. It gave them the sense that they were unwrapping a naughty but nice package.
“I’m putting myself in your hands, Cort.”
He smiled down at her. “It will be my pleasure.” And then he pulled her into his arms and was kissing her again.
Victoria was beginning to feel dizzy again at the way his mouth was taking hers and not letting up. In fact, she was so caught up that she hadn’t noticed that he’d walked her backward to the bed. Then he suddenly released her mouth, and before she could blink, with surefire swiftness, he pulled her blouse over her head before quickly undoing her bra. Cool air from the room’s AC unit began drifting across her skin. She was tempted to reach up and use her arms to cover her breasts from his view, but it was too late. He leaned in and latched onto a nipple, sucking in earnest.
The moan that escaped from her lips was automatic. His mouth and tongue were now doing the same thing to her breasts that they’d been doing to her mouth earlier. It was driving her nearly over the edge. Her breasts had never been in any man’s mouth before, yet it definitely seemed that they belonged in his.
The next thing she knew, he was tumbling her back on the bed while, at the same time, easing both her shorts and her panties down her legs, then quickly removed her sandals to complete the task.
“Beautiful. You are beautiful, Adele.”
Adele. The only person who’d ever called her that had been the maternal grandmother she’d been named after. But even then, it had been ‘Victoria Adele’ and not just ‘Adele’. Yet when Cort said her middle name, in his deep, husky voice, it sent pleasurable goosebumps all over her body. She looked up at him and saw the appreciation in his gaze as his eyes roamed over her naked body. She felt heat touching every spot his gaze stopped on. A part of her wanted to quickly get under the sheets to shield herself from him — or to at least cover the area between her legs with her hands since that was the place he seemed most interested in. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was on fire, and he was her only hope for relief.
She watched as he stepped away from the bed and quickly stripped off his own clothes. This was the first time she’d ever seen a man strip, and she was fascinated by his confident, sexual movements. And as much as she tried, she couldn’t take her eyes off what was between his legs, transfixed by its size, until he picked up his shorts to retrieve a condom packet out of his wallet. That’s when she quickly spoke up. “No.”
He gave her a quizzical look, holding the silver condom packet in his hand. “No?”
She nervously licked her lips, and not wanting him to get the wrong idea, she quickly said, “I prefer to use my own.”
He frowned, likely thinking that if she didn’t trust his condoms, why should he trust hers? And it was a good question. But would he deny them both what they wanted over a disagreement about whose condom to use?
She figured that just might be the case when he said, “And what if I told you that I prefer to use mine?”
She chewed on her bottom lip, wondering what to say. She was so close to getting what she wanted. And she was on the pill, so did it really matter? It shouldn’t, but she hated giving up control. She couldn’t lose now. If she gave in over a condom today, what would it be tomorrow?
They stared at each other for long moments, and a charged silence seemed to surround them. Finally, as if he knew she wasn’t going to give in, he tossed his condom aside and asked, “Where’s yours?”
Leaning toward the nightstand to grab her purse, she unzipped one of the compartments and pulled a condom out. He took the packet she offered him, then opened it with his teeth and proceeded to sheath himself. As she watched, she couldn’t help wondering if the condom she’d given him would be big enough.
“Does it fit?” she couldn’t help asking when he’d finished. Maybe they came in different sizes…
His gaze shifted to her face and he smiled. “Yes, it fits.”
And before she could say anything else, a stark naked Cort moved back toward the bed.
Cortez couldn’t figure out what the condom deal was all about. He’d been having sex since high school, and Adele was the first girl who ever had a problem with the condom he’d been prepared to use. But right now, he was too far gone to care. A condom was a condom, and as long as it did its job, it didn’t matter if they used his or hers.
He joined her on the bed, and she moved into his arms. It was hard to believe they’d met just that day. Already, they seemed to move as one, in both mind and body. Automatically, his mouth sought out hers, and while their tongues entangled, his hands touched her everywhere. He loved the feel of her soft skin and the sound of those little moans she was making.
When she shifted on her back, his legs straddled hers, and he released her mouth just long enough to gaze into her eyes. For a quick second, he thought he saw something flash in their dark depths. Anxiousness? Uneasiness? Maybe even a touch of fear? He figured since she didn’t know him, she had no idea what kind of lover he was. But she had nothing to worry about. He was not the type of man who would treat a woman roughly. His parents had raised him and his brothers to respect all women, and they did.
Reaching out, he gently stroked the side of her face. “I’m going to make sure you enjoy this as much as I do. I promise.”
She didn’t say anything, but just nodded. Then he leaned in and kissed her as she opened herself to him. He released her mouth long enough to whisper, “Wrap your legs around me, baby.” When she did, he placed his hands on her bottom, lifting her to him. His manhood found its mark and he entered her.
He felt the moment she tensed and drew in a sharp breath. Cortez went completely still as he glanced down at her. Her eyes were closed, and she was biting hard on her lower lip. They were body to body. Flesh to flesh. He was buried deep inside of her, but still, he knew the signs. He’d never bedded a virgin before, but he knew, without a doubt, she’d been one.
“Adele? Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, as a range of emotions rushed through him. Concern. Anger. Gentleness. When he saw her tears, he panicked. “I hurt you. Why didn’t you tell me this was your first time?”
She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “You didn’t hurt me, Cort. And I didn’t want you to change your mind. I wanted you.”
He didn’t say anything, thinking about what she’d said. He had wanted her, too, and if even if he’d known she was a virgin, he doubted he would have changed his mind. But he knew for certain he would have taken better care of her. There were lubricants he would have used. He didn’t have any in his hotel room, but there was a pharmacy practically on every corner in Paris.