Darkest Risings (4 page)

She
gazed into his eyes. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and her skin turned
clammy. She’d never seen eyes the color of his. Turquoise-green. The only other
time she’d seen a color like that was on the shore of a Mexican beach she’d
taken a cruise to. And just as she’d been with the ocean, she was mesmerized
enough to contemplate drowning in his smoldering stare.

She
wanted him. No ifs, ands, or buts. It was simple. No, she didn’t know him, but
she didn’t need to. He felt right. This moment felt right, and she was not
going to pass up an opportunity like this one. If she was going to lose her
virginity, she wanted it to be to someone who knew what to do with it, knew how
to make her body sing, not some untrained idiot like she figured Roger for.

She
looked down at his hands. The backs were covered by a dusting of dark hair, and
his fingers were long with neat, clean nails. She wondered what they would feel
like roaming over her skin. She barely quelled the need to fan her flaming face
with the napkin her beer sat on. She grabbed the shot of tequila she still
hadn’t drunk, and downed it in one smooth gulp. The liquid heated her throat
and seared a warm path to her stomach. She’d always liked the taste of tequila,
even though she didn’t drink it often.

“What
is a beautiful woman such as you out and up to tonight?”

He
was flirting with her. She had never been a good flirter.
Here goes nothing.
She rested her elbow on the table and propped
her chin on her hand before giving him a big smile.

“Seeing
what kind of trouble I can get myself into.”

“If
you want trouble, I’m your man, honey.” He leaned close to her.

She’d
hated it when Roger had called her babe. But when Aldin called her honey? It
sounded like heaven.
What the hell is
wrong with you, Wilhemina? You don’t even know this man. Are you seriously
contemplating jumping in the sack with him?
She gave him another once-over.
Oh you bet, sister.

“What
kind of trouble are you suggesting?”

“The
kind that gets you hot and sweaty.” He grinned.

She
fought hard against the blush trying to turn her cheeks beet red while she
watched in fascination as his sensual lips parted to expose even, white teeth.
He was perfect. Everywhere. She glanced down at his lap. Well, she hoped
everywhere anyway.

“Hot
and sweaty sounds good to me.”

“Dance
with me?” He stood and held his hand out to her.

He
danced too? Damn. She took his hand and let him lead her to the floor thinking
about how this night had taken one u-turn after another, but had ultimately
headed back to the same direction she’d started out in. She cleared her mind of
everything but him and the rhythm of the music, deciding to follow wherever
this adventure might lead.

 
He’d been instantly drawn to Wilhemina the
moment their eyes had met, but she was a human, and he was in the mood for some
down-and-dirty-take-his-mind-off-Alaina fun. While she hadn’t initially seemed
like the best candidate for what he had in mind, he’d quickly begun to think
her naivety had been an act. He’d met a lot of women who seemed to think acting
innocent attracted men. Maybe it worked on some, but not men like him. An
inexperienced girl deserved much more than he had to offer.

If
her body wasn’t now swaying sexily, perfectly to the beat of the music, in tune
to his every move, the pretty blushes that had stained her cheeks only moments
earlier during the course of their short conversation would have made him think
her an innocent playing with fire. But no inexperienced woman moved like she
did. He glanced around. It seemed as if every man in the bar slid her an
appreciative look now and again, and he didn’t like it. That was perplexing
since he’d never minded in the least before when other males had lusted after
what he had.

The
green blouse she wore clung to her full breasts, and the black skirt fell just
above her knees with a flare at the hem. She was probably considered of average
height, but next to him, she was tiny. Everything about her was perfect. Even
the splattering of freckles on her cheeks couldn’t detract from the smoothness
of her skin.

He
was pleased that she had some meat on her bones as well. He liked a woman with
curves, and hers beckoned him. Her intoxicating scent rose delicately to his
nose and made his cock quiver in anticipation of taking her. When she smiled up
at him, her clear gray eyes were like a searing brand on his soul and the need
to possess her swelled up inside his chest.

Oh
yes, he had to have Wilhemina. His fingers itched to touch her, and before he
could stop himself, he curled a strand of red silken hair around his thumb. Her
eyes grew wide when he pulled her closer as the music changed to a slower song.
Her lush, pink lips slightly parted, and his tongue pushed against his teeth,
yearning to find out how she tasted.

She
stretched up on tiptoes, linked her fingers behind his neck, and he wrapped his
arms around her waist. He nuzzled against her hair and closed his eyes as he
drank her scent deep into his lungs. Most would have missed the quiet moan she
made, but it was rare that any noise escaped his superb hearing. The breathy
sound made his cock harder, and he let his hand wander down over her hip and
back up again, testing her responsiveness.

She
pressed against him, and the fingers at his nape began stroking his skin,
giving him no doubt that she was as willing as he was. He wasn’t a man who
liked to play games. When he wanted something, he made his move, and game time
was over.
Yeah, like with Alaina?

“Come
with me.” He stopped dancing and looked down at her.

“Where?”
She frowned.

He
bent and placed his mouth close to her ear. “Someplace we can be alone.”

* * * *

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!
This was happening way faster than Wilhemina had thought it
would.
What did you think? Look at him.
Did you believe he’d want to spend a friendly night chatting with you?
Aldin
was a man who was obviously used to getting what he wanted, and right now, he
wanted her.

Could
she go through with it? She couldn’t deny that he excited the hell out of her.
She’d never known a man his size could move like he did. His timing had been in
perfect sync with the music, and she doubted any guy could look as sexy as he
had on the dance floor. She was certain no other man could pull off the
bad-boy, leather duster look like Aldin. Now he’d asked her to go with him so
they could be alone. She was innocent, but she wasn’t a dumb bunny. She knew
exactly what he wanted with her.

She
wanted him as well, but her inexperience was nerve-wracking. Surely he’d figure
out soon enough that she had absolutely no idea what she was doing, and when he
did? What would he do?
He’s going to eat
you alive, little girl.
But wasn’t that what she wanted him to do to her?
She decided to throw caution to the wind. Here was a gorgeous man, the most
gorgeous man in the place, and he was with her. True, he probably only wanted
sex, but hadn’t that been what she’d originally set out for as well?

She
couldn’t fault him for it or else she’d be a hypocrite. She could say no. She
had no doubt he’d step away and forget about her in two seconds flat if she
refused him. He didn’t seem to be a man who had to beg for what he wanted,
especially where women were concerned. She imagined all of the things he could
show her about sex, and her skin flushed hot and went tingly in anticipation.

Was
she scared? As hell. But the excitement of being with Aldin, the need to
experience with him what she’d never experienced with another man, was enough
to give her the courage to go with him. She wanted him. It was that simple. And
she was going to have him even if it was only for one night. She had no doubt
he would satisfy her, and something inside her, something she didn’t quite
understand, craved the dominance that oozed off of him. He’d be a take-command
kind of lover, and she was more than willing to let him do so.

He’d
be the teacher, and she’d be the student hungry for education. She followed him
as he led her down a dark hallway toward the back of the club. Did he come here
often? Did he do this a lot? And for some reason, the thought of him doing so
sent a pang of jealousy slivering through her. How would she compare to the
other women he’d been with? Would he laugh at her inexperience once it became
apparent? She hurriedly tamped those thoughts into submission.

She
looked at his back and wondered if it would be as broad without the heavy
duster. She let her eyes trail down to his behind, wishing she could see it,
anticipating the moment when he removed the coat and she’d be able to peruse
his entire delectable physique. She’d bet almost anything that she’d be able to
bounce a quarter off his ass. She had no doubt it was as perfectly sculpted as
the rest of him.

She
remembered how hard he felt when she was pressed against him on the dance
floor. Not an ounce of fat marred him, and she practically drooled at the
thought of seeing him naked. Unfortunately, that meant he’d be seeing her nude
as well. She wasn’t in horrible shape by any means, but next to him?
Good lord.
Her confidence began to fail
at the thought, and as they rounded the corner at the end of the dark hallway,
he pulled her into a room to the right and shut the door behind them.

The
room was dimly lit, and before another rational thought had time to enter her
mind, he slipped the duster along with something else off his back and onto the
floor.
Holy shit!
He was absolutely
perfect, and huge, and coming for her. Before she had time to react, his hands
spanned her waist, her back hit the wall, and her feet dangled off the floor.
He easily held her eye level to him as if she weighed no more than a feather,
and she was suddenly lost in the intense storm brewing in his eyes.

“Wrap
your legs around my waist, honey,” he commanded in a husky whisper.

She
did what he said. Heat once again flooded her cheeks when he nestled his hips
between her legs and his cock pressed hard and huge against her. How was she
ever supposed to fit that inside her? It would never work. There was absolutely
no way. But her doubts quickly fled when his lips brushed hers.

She
barely suppressed a moan. He smelled like leather and man, and when he slipped
his tongue along the seam of her mouth, a hint of beer mixed with his exotic
flavor hit her bloodstream like another shot of tequila. She ran her palms up
his chest and shivered at the feel of his body heat bleeding through the slick,
cool fabric of his silk shirt. Suddenly, he lifted one hand to the back of her
hair, tunneled his fingers in the strands, and pulled firmly until her head
tipped back toward the wall.

He
held her prisoner as his lips trailed over her neck, nipping, licking up to her
jaw. He slanted his mouth over hers and ravaged her with his tongue. This time,
she didn’t try to hold back her moans as he plundered the depths of her mouth.
He made it perfectly clear who was in control, and he commanded her submission
easily with a touch that coaxed her body to life with infinite finesse. He
ignited a flame in her she’d never known existed. He crowded her, engulfed her
with his large frame, but instead of feeling man-handled or intimidated, she
was comforted by the cocoon of his hot, hard body.

When
she tried to arch against him, he grinded against her and held her captive with
his hips. Her hands were trapped between his chest and hers, and he ravished
her without letting her explore him in return. While her body grew hot under
his mouth and hands, her frustration swelled at not being able to touch him.
Finally, she wrenched her mouth from his.

Her
breaths came short and ragged, and when his sparking eyes trained on her, those
breaths screeched to a near halt.

“What
are you doing?” he said through clenched teeth.

“I
want to touch you,” she gasped.

“I
say when you can touch me.”

“But—”

His
fingers pressed against her lips and he
tsked
as if scolding a young child. A wicked smile tugged at his mouth—a smile she
thought worthy of Satan when he was up to no good—and he slid the fingers
resting against her lips down between their bodies, slowly over one nipple, and
finally up her thigh. Her skirt was bunched around her waist and his thumb
settled over her clit. She sucked in a lungful of air as electricity pulsed
through every nerve ending.

“You
are so fucking wet for me already.” He glided those clever fingers over her
panties again and again, teasing her clit with expertise.

She
squirmed against him as wetness seeped between her thighs. Her stomach muscles
clenched, and his finger danced in circles over her clit until she thought
she’d scream or pass out. She squeaked when he tore her panties from her body
and slid one long finger inside. Her inner muscles clamped around him greedily,
pulling him deeper. Although she was inexperienced, her body’s instincts took
over.