Recaptured Dreams (11 page)

His brow arched. “No bra?”

Shaking her head, she pressed into him more as she nipped at his bottom lip. She grinded against him, pleased when he grumbled and the grasp of his hands tightened.

Xavier’s fingers traced down her cheek, and their lips separated. Breathing in short spurts, he spoke deeply. “You’re beautiful, Sophia.”

With maddening slowness, he traced the outline of her nipples with his fingers. She arched her back and moaned. He covered one breast with his mouth and the other with his hand. Occasionally switching, he licked and teased them until they felt on fire.

She ran her hand through his thick hair as she drew him closer for a kiss. Their lips cruised together as their tongues taunted each other for more. Sophia lightly scraped her nails down Xavier’s back, and he grabbed her by the waist and flung her around as he pressed her body to the seat. He kissed every inch of her stomach as she silently begged for him to just take her.

His hand pushed her dress the rest of the way down, leaving it in a soft pile on the carpeted floor of the car. He snatched her panties away in one swift move, removed his remaining clothes, and sheathed his erection with a condom. Huffing, he kneeled in front of her and looked at her body in the dim light. Sophia suppressed a shiver. His eyes were dark as they combed over every inch of her. His features were hard, hungry. The face of a man who knew what he wanted. That alone made her throb.

She wanted him.

He wanted her.

For that moment, that’s all her body desired to know. Xavier parted her legs as she let out a muffled cry. He placed his lips over her slick folds and flicked his tongue over her most intimate part as she writhed underneath him. As he worked her folds to the edge of reason, his fingers traced all the lines of her body he could reach.

Unable to take one more moment, Sophia begged him, “Please, Xavier.”

One…two…three slow licks up the length of her moist flesh had Sophia crying for even more. Xavier rose up, arched forward, and with one solid thrust, two became one.

Sophia cried out his name as Xavier tried to keep himself from completely going over the edge, but he wasn’t strong enough. Her smell, her touch, her body undid him in a way that broke all rationale. Unable to control himself any longer, Xavier’s hands clenched around Sophia’s hips as he plunged his body into hers as fast and hard as he could. Sophia continued to cry out and dug her fingernails into the leather seat.

The mating was primal, a frenzy like he’d never felt. He couldn’t get enough. Her cries. Her moans. Her legs entangled around him like she would never let him go. Xavier wanted to push himself to the boundary of his sanity with each movement, each thrust, and each cry from Sophia’s lips. She clung to him, her nails biting into his back as her body clenched and spasmed, drawing out each sizzle of her climax.

Xavier propelled his body into hers and let himself release as he cried out her name. Both motionless and breathless, he laid his head on Sophia’s chest and listened to the fast beating of her heart.

Her fingers traced over his face. Her lips pressed against top of his head.

Xavier couldn’t believe it. It was better than he remembered. Far better.

Paradise?

It was here. It was now. It was this moment with the woman he’d always loved in his arms. This time, he wouldn’t let her get away.

The limo came to a slow stop. Xavier didn’t want to move from that spot. Being tucked into her lap was more than adequate at the moment. Then again…they could do even more once they got to his suite.

He lifted his head. “We’re here.”

Her dark hair swept over her face as she looked at him. She smiled brightly. “Brilliant. I hope your bed is more comfortable than this limo seat.”

He went hard again instantly. Since they were still both undressed, she noticed and cocked her head.

“I see that you’re hoping the same thing,” she said.

For the first time in a long while, he laughed effortlessly. “I guess we should get dressed, then, before getting out, huh?”

“Perhaps.”

He kissed her inner thigh. “Unless you want to stay here?” he murmured.

“Oh.”

“Yes?” Another kiss. A small lick. “Here?”

Her breaths came quickly. “No…inside. Hurry.”

Xavier’s hand rested comfortably on Sophia’s back as he led her through the doors to his suite. After their frantic lovemaking in the limo, Xavier thought he would be exhausted, but he felt energized and alive. Yet instead of taking Sophia on the elevator floor, on the tight-weave carpet of the hallway, or the hard foyer of his suite, he wanted to slow things down. Way down.

When he flicked on the lights, she gasped. “Nice.”

He shrugged and moved past her, his shoes clicking quietly on the marble floor. “It’s only a hotel room.”

She shook her head. “Not the room, Xavier.” She waved a hand in front of her at the vast space of the living room. “Those.”

The living room would normally look bigger than an Olympic-sized pool, one with gilded moldings, plush carpet, and terrible floral furniture. But Xavier had filled it with rows and rows of clothing racks. He never packed light. Not that they were all his clothes—over half were from his collections. They were guidance of sorts. Always making him keep his eye on the prize.

His hand found Sophia’s elbow as he guided her further into the room. “It probably looks messy. Sorry.”

“No,” she whispered. “It’s wonderful. I don’t know if you noticed”—she looked down at her gown—“but I’m quite fond of the XS collection. That’s almost all that fills my wardrobe.”

His heart pounded a little faster. His plan had worked after all. Sophia had found his clothing line and become attached to it, just as he was attached to her. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Sophia took a step toward the collection. “You’ve got Spring 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2012, and Autumn 2013. And it looks like you’ve got the makings of a new collection. Next year’s, maybe?” She cast him a questioning look. “Do you have every year here?”

“Almost.”

Her brow rose while her eyes scanned over the racks once more. “Why?”

“Because I like to have my inspiration and designs close.” He drew her in for a quick kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed. “Go ahead,” he prompted. “Have a look while I get us a drink.”

Her eyes popped open. “May I?”

He couldn’t stop grinning. Her eyes twinkled vibrantly, and her face stretched with a happy glow. It had been a long time since he’d seen her like that. Too long. He would almost bet if he closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, he would smell her vanilla and cherry scent mingling with the scents of the ocean. He could almost hear the waves crashing behind them now. As though they had never left America so long ago.

“Of course.” He trailed a finger down her cheek. “Like I said before, they were made with you in mind.”

Her smile wavered briefly before she turned toward the endless racks. Xavier chose to ignore the suspicion her expression gave him. He would make her understand his love for the clothes…and his love for her. It would take time, but he would.

He hurried to the kitchenette and poured two glasses of wine. When he returned to the crowded room, Sophia’s head could barely be seen peeping around the crammed rows. She bounded back and forth like a kid in a candy store, still looking ridiculously cute. Eyes bright, she studied each and every piece she touched, her tongue sticking out part-way in evident thought.

“See anything you like?” he asked.

Her head popped up from the mass. “Yes.” She waved a hand. “Everything.”

“If you see something you like, it’s yours.”

Her jaw dropped. “Really? Why would you do that?”

He crossed over to her, handed her a glass of wine, and took her chin in his free hand. “Without you, Sophia, this line wouldn’t be what it is today.”

Her cheeks went pink, then red.

“You know what I’ve wanted to do with you all night?” he asked.

Her blush darkened. “I thought we already did that.”

Xavier smirked and took a long drink. “Touché. Do you know what the
other
thing was?”

“No.” She downed her drink in one quick movement and placed the empty glass on the floor. “Tell me.”

“No.”

Her faced wrinkled.

He fought the urge to laugh. “I want to
show
you.” He took hold of her waist and led her to the balcony. Besides his bedroom, it was the only space in the suite with ample room to do what he wanted. If he went into the bedroom, he’d get too distracted at the thought of having Sophia lying under him on the bed instead of standing before him.

The balcony doors swooshed open, and the chilly air took Xavier’s breath away. Or maybe it was the look of seduction on Sophia’s face. Either way, he could’ve stood out there right then and died a happy man.

He held out a hand without a saying a word. She slid hers into it without question.

When they’d had sex in the car, it had taken every ounce of Xavier’s strength to not say those three words:

I love you. I still love you.

He wanted to say them now. Badly. With the moonlight shining over her opalescent skin. With the stars twinkling overhead. With the wind rustling her dress around her long, lean legs.

But he didn’t want to scare her away.

“So?” she asked as he continued to gaze at her. “What did you want to show me?”

He tugged her close and let his lips trail down her neck. His hands, which he had managed to control up until then, wound around her back and pressed her even closer to him. Giving her lush backside a gentle squeeze, he whispered, “Dance with me.”

He glided with his feet, tempting her to move with him. He smiled against her hair when she did. With careful steps he guided her, hugging her close and letting her scent consume him. The night was surprisingly silent, with the exception of their clicking shoes and the occasional rustle of clothing.

Each time Xavier heard the crinkle of her dress’s fabric, he imagined slithering her out of it and watching her entire naked body bask in the glow of the night.

He touched his lips to her ear. “Tonight,” he said with a rasp, because his pants had become increasingly uncomfortable with each step he’d taken, “I was jealous when I saw you with that other man.” He felt Sophia’s hand stiffen on his shoulder. “I wanted it to be me. I wanted to be the one to move around the dance floor with you. You were so graceful and poised. A lone, bright star on a desert night. And so beautiful.”

Her hold on him loosened, and she sighed. It was a weightless sound, knocking his breath right out.

“I wanted to guide you,” he continued. “I wanted you to look at me in a way you
didn’t
look at him…” He stepped away and held her at arm’s length. She sparkled. “Like this.”

He drew her back in, slowly, deliberately. He kept one of her hands in his, tucked in close to his heart. The other massaged every inch of her body it could reach. The top of her thigh. Her waist. Her bare arms. When he reached her breasts, she tossed her head back and moaned.

“Just like this, Sophia.”

Using his fingertips, he circled her breasts and cupped them carefully. His lips found the curve of her neck, and there he feasted. Kissing, nibbling, and licking until she went liquid. All while he continued to guide them across the stone floor balcony.

She squeezed his shoulder again and grinded her body up against his, over and over. Xavier was dying. Taking it slow might damn well kill him. But he needed to show her his compassionate side. The one that remembered every spot that made her ache.

Backing her up against the wall, he went down on his knees. One finger from each hand traced lines down the backs of her thighs as he kissed the side of each knee.

“Oh!”

She practically toppled over on him. Jackpot. That was still a spot that made her hot.

Farther up he traveled, going under the fabric of her dress. He removed her panties before she could even gasp for air.

There, in the delicate place between her thighs, was the spot that could make her quiver on command. His thumbs brushed over the beautiful black curls. She twitched.