Degrees of Passion (14 page)

‘You wondered about me?’ His grin deepened. ‘You think I’m cute?’

‘Ah,’ she made a weak noise, clearly embarrassed. ‘We should get to work. Now, about those Aztec gods.’

‘Chicomecoatl?’ Kevin glanced up from his paper, awaiting her answer.

Sasha frowned, closing her eyes in concentration. They’d been going over the list for nearly two hours. After the first forty minutes, he’d brought out a bottle of red wine and they’d been sipping at it ever since. She was thankful she wasn’t expected to memorize the names of them all. There were over fifteen hundred of them after all, each ruling over different parts of human life and nature. ‘Goddess of food and fertility? She’s the icky one who they offered the sacrifice of a beheaded young girl once a year and the priest wore the sacrificial skin around like a disgusting coat.’

Not exactly romantic conversation, she thought. Aztec culture wasn’t exactly the thing romance was made from. Who could be seductive talking about the darker side of the culture?

‘Correct, but try not to use words like icky and disgusting when talking to Prichard. He’s fascinated by the fertility goddesses.’ Kevin still looked at his list and she continued to stare at him. Damn, but he was handsome. Aztec sacrifices were the last thing she wanted to be talking about with him. Even if she could respect the facts from an intellectual point of view, it was really doing nothing for her desire to seduce him. ‘All twelve zillion of them.’

‘That’s because he’ll never get laid.’ The wine had relaxed her and Sasha’s body draped against the chair in complete comfort. The plate of strudel was empty and she really hoped she hadn’t eaten the whole lot of them on her own – though she hadn’t been paying attention. The fresh pastries were just too good to resist.

‘He is married, so it stands to reason someone can stand him.’

‘I know.’ Sasha let her mischief enter her expression. ‘Do you think he has her dress up in Aztec clothing? Or worse, do you think he dresses up like the king and makes her lie on an altar he has stashed in his basement?’

‘You’re bored, aren’t you?’ He chuckled. Sasha really liked the deep richness to his laugh. ‘I can’t think of any other reason why you’d want to discuss Prichard’s love life.’

‘These are all starting to sound the same to me. You said it yourself. The Aztecs had about a zillion gods and goddesses. I think if he asks who was goddess of what, I’ll just guess either agriculture or fertility.’ She arched a challenging brow. ‘Come on, you know you want to make fun of him. He’ll never know unless you go tell him.’

‘I am not Prichard’s pet,’ he defended, stiffening.

‘Oh, yeah?’ Sasha pushed up and leaned as far forwards as she could in her chair. Whenever she drank, she became a little impish. ‘Prove it. Say something completely wicked about him.’

He met her challenging gaze with his own. ‘I think some of his theories regarding how Aztec men feared their women, and so dominated them to keep them under control, are unsubstantiated nonsense – at least the way he presents it.’

Sasha couldn’t help it. She tossed back her head, laughing hard. ‘Even your insults sound smart.’ She slid off her seat, finally having the courage to join him on the couch. Keeping distance between them so as to not be too obvious, she grabbed the list from his hands. ‘OK, Mr Smart Man, let’s see how you do.’

‘All right,’ he agreed, shifting his weight to better face her. He lifted his wineglass to his lips and she couldn’t help but follow the red liquid flowing towards his mouth as he drank. The urge to crawl onto his lap and lick the wine from his lips washed over her, but she resisted.

Inside, her body was alive, like a strong current energized every pore. Her scalp tingled. Her breasts ached. A small shiver ran up and down her spine. She tugged at her sleeve, pulling the black cardigan off her arm. As she worked her way out of the lightweight jacket, she found herself peering at Kevin’s attractive face.

‘Are you going to ask me one?’ He glanced down at the paper in her lap.

Sasha blinked, realizing she’d gone from merely looking to staring. She swallowed nervously, trying not to think about his lips slowly taking in the dark red of the wine as he drank, tried not to recall the small purse they made around the edge of the glass. ‘Omelet?’

Kevin quirked a brow. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Oh, sorry, I meant Ometeotl.’ Her hands shook as she looked at the paper. ‘I read the word and always think omelet for some reason. Or oatmeal.’

His lips curled and she wished she knew what he was thinking. Between looks of amusement and intellect, it was impossible to tell what was going on behind those light-brown eyes. Not for the first time that evening, she wondered what he thought of her. Did he think her stupid? Silly? Attractive? Sasha wasn’t used to feeling so insecure, especially when it came to her intelligence. She’d always been the intellectual one amongst peers and here was Kevin with a mind that would rival a super genius.

‘Too easy. The he-she name of the supreme creator.’ Kevin smiled and the look caused her to inch closer to him. The action wasn’t subtle and he cleared his throat, before adding, ‘Er, being both parts, um, both male and female he, ah, represents duality and . . .’

Sasha closed the distance between them a little more. Even with her insecurities, the wine swimming in her veins gave her a courage she didn’t possess completely sober. ‘And?’

‘They, he, she, um, Ometeotl gave birth to four . . .’ He visibly swallowed as their legs bumped.

‘Four?’ she prompted.

‘I can’t remember what I was saying,’ he admitted after a long pause.

‘You were talking about male and female parts,’ Sasha said, surprised the bold innuendo made it from her brain to her lips. She braced her hand on the back of the couch, lifting up so her body loomed slightly over his. All night she’d been thinking of this moment, a moment when they threw the books aside and acted on some ancient instincts of their own. ‘And I think you were about to say how they fit together.’

‘That has to be the worst line in the history of lines,’ he said softly. Lashes lowered over his gaze. It pulled her to him like a magnet. ‘But I’m glad you said it.’

‘Think you got something better?’ Her tongue slowly ran across her bottom lip. A thrill washed through her.

‘I really hope you’re leaning over me for a reason because my cock is rock hard right now from my being able to look down your T-shirt.’

Sasha giggled, saying wryly, ‘Oh, that’s classy.’

A hand gripped her side, drawing her to him. He wet his lips before pressing them close, so when he spoke the firm texture lightly rubbed hers. ‘I’m glad you think so.’

His lips drove her to distraction with their teasing, airy caresses. Her heart pounded, loud in her ears as desire took hold inside her. Sasha groaned, immediately surging forth into a profoundly ardent kiss. His lips tasted of wine, delicious against her tongue. It felt like fire coursed through her blood. There was no other way to explain the sudden need to tear the clothes from her overheating body. She maneuvered over him, straddling his thighs.

He took advantage of her new position and tugged at her T-shirt. They broke the kiss long enough for him to pull the material over her head. Kevin’s hands ran over her back, pausing at the hooks holding her white lace bra in place. She liked the way his fingers fumbled, not overly practiced like a man who had a new woman in his bed every night. Even after he freed her breasts, he didn’t pull the straps from her shoulders.

Sasha needed air. She rolled her head back, gasping for breath. Her hands moved as if they had minds of their own, exploring his chest. She tugged his shirt, jerking it over his head. The tight cords of his neck lead to the broadness of his chest. She loved touching his skin, the heat and texture of it, smooth and hard.

Kevin’s mouth moved to her throat, his breath feathering their tickling sensations across her flesh. She couldn’t think beyond the man beneath her. Every sense focused on him – the brush of flesh and the rough texture of his shirt, the smell of cologne, the taste of liquor, the glimpse of his closed eyes, the sound of his effortless moans and deeply drawn breaths.

She arched her back, bringing her breasts to his mouth. He kissed her through the bra, wetting the material over her nipple. Her pulse raced out of control. Her nipples stood in two erect peaks, eager for his mouth. He didn’t disappoint. The moist heat of his lips sucked deeply and he bit down causing a jolt of pleasurable awareness shot like an arrow towards her dampening pussy. He cupped her breasts, stripping them completely by working the straps off her shoulders. Finally lips directly touched flesh, continuing the nipping torture he’d started.

Sasha let out a moan. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, sliding over her body in exploration. When he cupped her ass, hindered by the denim of her jeans, she groaned in frustration. She slithered off his body, urgently wiggling out of the rest of her clothing. Her eyes hungrily took in Kevin as he did the same.

Gloriously naked, he stayed on the couch, moving over so she could easily resume her place on his lap. Even though this wasn’t their first time together, she liked exploring his body – each divot and bend of his tight frame familiar and new at the same time. His smile broadened. She went to him, her hand glancing over the tattoo on his hip before she climbed over him, clasping his legs with hers. The need inside her was unbearable.

Kevin grabbed her wrist, pulling her tattooed flesh to his mouth. He placed a wet kiss over it, opening his mouth wide as if to devour her skin. The tip of his tongue swept over the pattern and his enthusiastic eyes met hers.

Sasha wanted to feel more of him. She ran her fingers into his hair, taking fistfuls of the silky locks to control the movements of his head, silently demanding he kiss her. Her knees hit the back of the couch as she tried to lift herself up. She let go of his hair, reaching between their bodies to fist the smooth heat of his arousal. His thick cock felt good in her palm and she remembered how good it felt inside her.

‘I want you,’ she groaned.

His hand slipped between her thighs, skating between the folds of her sex. As his fingers parted her, they circled on the sensitive bud of her clit. She squirmed, wiggling until his fingers pressed deep inside. Beyond thought, she lunged forwards. Her fingernails bit into his shoulders and she scratched a trail down his arms.

Kevin made a loud noise of passion and withdrew his hand. Every subtle brush of his cock against her sex made her want to scream. The last days in his presence had been a sweet torment building to this moment. He was beneath her, warm, naked, perfect. Her body was ready for him and she couldn’t force herself to slow.

Sasha took him in hand, guiding the hard shaft to her eager sex. Her knees hit the back of the seat, making their joining awkward. Sighing, she managed to join their bodies in tormentingly shallow thrusts. ‘Move your hips down. I can’t . . .’

‘Argh,’ he growled, forcefully taking hold of her hips. He flipped her around, sliding her down the seat until she lay flat. The firm cushions molded to her back. His mouth found a soft breast and he sucked deeply, his lips moving hungrily against her skin as he moaned in delight.

Sasha’s legs clamped around his waist and her body tightened in anticipation of that first full thrust. He pressed his cock tightly against her moist slit. Sliding in her cream, he wet himself without entering. She gasped, trembling violently with each pass.

‘Ah, Kevin,’ she panted, her breath rasping incoherently. ‘Mm, oh, ah.’

Finally, he put an end to her torment as he thrust inside. Warmth filled her and she closed her eyes. He kept his weight braced on his arms and she liked the way his muscles shifted and moved beneath his tight flesh. Her legs moved restlessly against his sides, tightening and releasing their hold.

‘Oh, you feel so good,’ he groaned.

The smell of him surrounded her. He reached between them to rub her clit in slow circles. Kevin thrust, deep and sure, seating himself to the brink. She moaned, stiffening beneath him. Her hands explored his arms and chest, touching every inch she could reach.

Sasha’s body began to shake. She grabbed her breasts, rubbing hard. Sweet tension built between her thighs. She couldn’t hold back. Stiffening, she came. The tremors racked her entire form, jerking her hips against him. Kevin grunted, pulling himself from her seconds before he came to spill his seed against her thigh. His loud groan surrounded her, punctuating her raspy breathing.

Sasha’s legs fell to the side, too numb in the aftermath of release to move. Kevin brushed his mouth to the corner of her lips before pushing off her. Falling back, he leaned against the opposite arm of the couch to catch his breath.

Sasha was too spent to think. She knew she wanted to be right where she was. Clearly, he felt desire for her. That was something. But she still didn’t know where they stood. Reality and logic tried to crash in around her. She fought it, not wanting this moment to end.

‘It’s late,’ Kevin said, pushing up to look at her.

‘Oh, ah . . .’ Sasha could take a hint. If he wanted her gone, she’d leave. ‘OK, so I’ll, ah . . .’

‘Stay the night.’

His words surprised her and she couldn’t answer.

‘We both have to be at the same place in the morning. We can share a cab,’ he offered. ‘Or if you have somewhere you have to be, I understand. I can call you a cab now.’

‘I don’t have to be anywhere,’ she answered, her voice quiet. ‘I’d like to stay, but I don’t have anything to wear to bed.’

Kevin grinned, standing beside the couch. Winking, he said, ‘No need to be formal for my sake. What you have on is fine.’

‘Did you hear that? Is someone shouting?’ Kevin frowned, tilting his head to the side.

Sasha glanced up from her broken piece of pottery and met his questioning gaze. She loved the charcoal-colored, basket-weave v-neck sweater he had on. The shirttails of the lighter-gray linen shirt showed at the waistline, giving a sloppy elegance to his appearance. The dark-blue jeans moulded to his legs, making her hands ache to touch his muscular thighs.