Last Kiss (4 page)

He smiled, absurdly pleased with her words. “Now, my lovely, let us lose ourselves in each other and see where it leads us, yes?”

* * * * *

The rest of the evening passed in a blur to Elaine. She stifled a giggle. He’d been right about one thing; from now on, she would knock before entering rooms. Earlier she’d been looking for the ladies room and, instead, she’d found a man sprawled on a divan with one woman sucking his impressive erection and another woman seated on his face. Oblivious to her unexpected presence, she’d managed to slip out of the room and close the door without interrupting them.

Sheesh, didn’t anyone think of locking a door?

Numerous glasses of champagne later, Alexei was now escorting her to her room.

Her room.

She swallowed hard, her palms suddenly damp. Throughout the evening, Alexei had remained by her side, never farther than an arm’s length away. Through her lashes, she looked up at her handsome escort as he led her down the hall toward her room. His mask was still in place, hiding half of his face from her gaze. Only the strong line of his jaw, shadowed by dark stubble, and his mouth were visible. She longed to remove the mask and feast her eyes upon him. Was he as handsome as she thought he’d be?

“Which room is yours?” he asked.

Mute, she pointed to the left door at the very end of the hall.

“Ah, so you have access to the balcony as well?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“It is my great fortune to have the room located next to you.”

“Really?” She glanced at the door next to hers, only a few feet away. “That is, indeed,” she swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, “fortunate.”

He raised her hand to his mouth. “It will be daylight in a few hours, yet I loathe to let you go so soon. Shall we meet on the balcony for a final nightcap?”

She hesitated. Would she be able to resist him in the privacy of her own room? Did she really want to?

“I promise, you can retire alone, if you wish. I have no desire to rush you into anything you aren’t ready for.”

“I’ll meet you on the balcony in five minutes.” She spoke before she could change her mind.

He smiled and opened her bedroom door, allowing her to scurry through the opening. Her breath came in pants as he closed the door and she leaned against it, her knees shaking. Through the wood she heard his door open, then close.

Silence.

What was she doing? She raised a trembling hand to her mouth. Alexei was the most gorgeous man she’d ever met. Handsome, cultured, educated, he was everything she’d ever looked for in a partner and she wanted him. They didn’t have much time, so what was she waiting for?

She pushed away from the door and stalked into the bathroom, throwing on the light as she tugged her mask off. Other than the flush that colored her cheeks, relieving her usual paleness, she looked the same as she had a few hours earlier. The only noticeable difference was the excited sparkle in her dark eyes that hadn’t been there before. The sparkle attained by a woman after she’d received The Kiss.

She made quick use of the facilities, then wasted precious moments contemplating whether or not to keep her panties on. Opting for modesty, she kept them. It wouldn’t do to appear too eager.

With a giggle, she grabbed a drawer and opened it, her eyes widening as she caught sight of the array of sex toys contained in the vanity.

Oh my…

She picked up a large purple vibrator and flicked the switch. A soft hum sounded as the vibrator worked, wiggling gently between her fingers. She flicked it up a notch and the vibrations increased. Then she tried the third setting and almost dropped her new-found toy as it ripped into high gear.

Heavens, this thing could hurt someone.

She turned it off and looked into the drawer. Nestled in the array of toys was a small plastic case of rechargeable batteries. She grinned. At least Dirk was environmentally conscious. She put the purple fiend in the drawer and selected a fat pink dildo. Turning on the switch, she blinked as the top half began to rotate in her hand. Goodness, she’d never seen a real penis perform that trick.

A soft knock startled her and she dropped the dildo in the drawer. Still on, it vibrated against the other plastic toys and made a loud racket before she could turn it off. She shoved the drawer shut, her cheeks inflamed. She grabbed her mask and covered her face as she walked to the balcony doors and the shadow that awaited her.

Opening the door, her heart was pounding wildly as she stared at the man about to become her lover. Alexei had discarded his burgundy jacket and was clad in only his white ruffled shirt, tight black pants and knee boots. All he needed was a parrot and a sword and he’d pass for a pirate.

“I couldn’t wait five minutes.” He gave her a devilish grin and her heart stuttered.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“You don’t even know the half.” He handed her a small glass filled with yellowish liquid.

“What’s this?” She lifted the glass and sniffed the contents.

“It’s an Italian liquor called Strega. It is created from seventy different herbs. The name means witch.”

“Is that so?” She took a small sip, pleasantly surprised at the refreshing herbal flavor that treated her palate. “Mmm, it’s lovely.”

“I’m glad that you like it.”

She took another sip and noticed he wasn’t drinking. “You aren’t having any?”

“Being with you is far more intoxicating than any liquor on earth.”

She laughed and stepped onto the balcony. “You flatter me.” The air was cool and fresh and she took a deep breath. In the gardens, many of the torches had burned out, leaving the blooms shrouded in night. Only the gazebo was still lit with tiny electric lights.

“Tisn’t flattery, merely the truth,” he said.

“Uh huh.”

She took another sip, enjoying the flavor coating her tongue and warming her stomach. She turned and leaned against the railing. Before she could speak, he reached for her. His fingers tangled in her hair and he started removing her hairpins. “I’ve been wanting to do this all night,” he said. He tossed them over his shoulder to land carelessly on the balcony with faint metallic plinks. She couldn’t prevent a groan as his strong fingers dug into her scalp, massaging it as her hair tumbled to her shoulders.

Her eyes closed as he rubbed a particularly sensitive spot that had been jabbed with a pin repeatedly during the evening. “That feels lovely,” she moaned.

“It looks even better.”

She opened her eyes. The mask shadowed his face, but failed to hide the deep glitter of desire in his eyes. Desire unfurled low in her belly and she clenched her thighs together as she grew damp. “Kiss me,” she whispered.

“My pleasure.” He removed the glass from her hand and set it to the side before taking her fully into his arms.

His mouth touched hers; his tongue teased her lips until she opened for him. The taste of warm male sent a shiver over her skin as their tongues tangled. Slipping and sliding, she tentatively took over the kiss by nipping his lower lip with her teeth. Growing bolder as a muted groan burst from his throat, she slipped her hands down his sides to reach around and cup his buttocks. Firm and tight, she gave them a gentle squeeze, pressing his erection against the damp apex of her thighs. She shifted, spreading her legs ever so slightly, a sound of pleasure building as he applied pressure to her damp heat.

His fingers released her hair to venture south, dipping into the low back of her dress. She released his mouth with a soft, wet sound.

“I need to touch you.” His breathing was ragged.

“Please.”

Without a word, he swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Compared to the moonlight outside, the room was dim and shadowed, a perfect setting for lovers to indulge their senses.

Alexei sat her on the edge of the bed then dropped to his knees. Reaching for her ankle, he placed her foot on his thigh. Nimble fingers unbuckled the tiny straps, allowing her sandals to fall to the floor before moving to her other foot and repeating the process.

Strong hands caressed the back of her calves, tortured by the sexy footwear. She moaned as he massaged his way to the back of her knees, then down again before he rose.

He slipped his hand under her arm and her dress loosened as he released the hidden zipper. Her bodice sagged to reveal her strapless blue lace bra and she heard his breath catch.

Alexei sank to his knees once more, pressing forward between her legs. He placed a kiss between her exposed mounds before taking her dress into his hands. Silent, he urged her hips up to allow him to remove the garment. She leaned back, arching her hips to allow him to slide the dress off her body.

“Christ, woman.” His jaw closed with an audible click when he saw the barely-there matching thong. “You’re going to kill me.

Hidden beneath her mask, Elaine felt bold as she reached for him. “You’ll die a happy man,” she murmured.

She tangled her fingers in his hair as he kissed her just above her belly button, curling her toes as his tongue dipped inside. He reached for her hands, twining their fingers as he pushed her back on the bed. Soft kisses trailed heat to her mons where he nuzzled the blue lace and soft curls contained there.

“Alexei?” her voice trembled.

His grip tightened urging her to slide toward him, spreading her thighs to accommodate the width of his shoulders as she bared herself to his touch. He nuzzled the thin material of her panties aside and, with the first swipe of his tongue, sent fire through her blood. As he settled in to suckle her tight bead of sensitive flesh, she bit her lip to prevent herself from crying out at the delicious sensations he was creating. Heat raged through her body as the tension built beneath his mouth.

She made a sound of protest when he stopped and raised his head, their gazes clashing.

“Sing for me,” he said. “I want to hear your pleasure.”

He lowered his head once more and she dropped back to the bed. As he teased her sensitized flesh, soft moans poured from her lips. Vaguely, she was aware of the animal sounds but paid them no mind. He wanted to hear her, to let him experience what his touch did to her.

He released her left hand, sliding down to tease at her nether lips before inserting one thick finger into her tight channel. She arched her hips as he filled her with a second finger, his tongue never losing its persuasive rhythm.

Tension pooled low in her gut as Alexei stroked her needy flesh, her cries increasing in volume. Her breath caught as her world exploded into spasms of delight against his mouth. Deep and convulsive, stars showered against her closed eyelids as release raged through her body. It seemed to go on and on until, finally, their intensity lessened and she sagged against the bed, her breathing ragged.

She was vaguely aware of Alexei as he rose from the floor. She heard the sound of a drawer sliding then he stalked around the bed. He opened and shut another drawer, muttering under his breath as he did so.

Feeling as if she were drugged with pleasure, she forced her eyes open to see him standing at the foot of the bed, a frustrated expression on his face.

“What’s wrong?”
“No condoms.”

She gaped at him. “You don’t have any in your room?”

“No, I checked earlier.”

She blinked, then began to laugh.

“I don’t think it’s very funny,” he growled.

“I don’t either.” She bit her lip until her merriment was contained before she continued. “I was thinking that I have an entire drawer of sexual hardware in the bathroom and not one condom to be found. Talk about lack of planning.” She burst into laughter.

He moved around the bed to stand between her spread thighs. “This lack of planning will kill me.”

“So you keep saying.”

She sat up and grabbed his pants, her fingers dipping into the waistband mere inches from his thrusting erection. She pulled him down, fully clothed, to cover her, raising her legs to cradle him. He moaned and gave an involuntary thrust, his cock grinding against her sensitized core.

“Not the optimum answer, but it will do in a pinch,” she panted.

He caught her mouth in a searing kiss as her fingers captured his hips, guiding him into the perfect rhythm. She twined her legs around his hips, giving herself up to the sensations he aroused in her.

She came again, hard. Fast.

He paused only long enough for her to catch her breath before he started again, his thrusts hard and short. Urgency raced along her skin and, within seconds, she peaked for a third time, her cry thin and high. Her eyes closed as a myriad of sensations poured through her body.

“Can you take more?” His strained voice sounded harsh in her ear.

She blinked, seeing his face, only a shadow, so close to hers. His tone told her he was in agony. She’d been multi-orgasmic for as long as she could remember, she usually outlasted her male partners every time. But she’d never seen a man last as long as Alexei did.

She released her grip on him and snaked her hands between their bodies. The front of his pants were damp from her arousal and she unzipped them, eliciting a strangled groan from him as he angled up, allowing her to free him.

His breath hissed through his teeth as she stroked his impressive erection from root to tip. Silk over steel, she marveled over the size she felt but couldn’t see. He thrust against her hands, gentle involuntary movements she knew he couldn’t prevent.

She cupped the head, running her fingers along the sensitive underside of his cock, glorying in the mix of ecstasy and pain that sounded in his groans. Was she hurting him? Was he so sensitive she was causing him pain? She repeated her movement and he growled deep in his throat as he thrust against her hands, harder this time.

“Alexei,” she whispered. “Do you like this?” She cupped his balls with one hand, her other tracing a ring around his tender tip.

“Yes,” he panted.

“Alexei. Come for me.”

His breathing grew ragged as her fingers curled around his shaft. A sound of near-pain escaped his mouth and she reluctantly released him. He lowered himself against her lower belly, sealing his steel between them as he began thrusting.

Once...

Twice…

A cry dragged from his soul as he came. Warmth gushed over her skin where their bellies pressed together. Glorying in the sensation of his release, she slid her arms around his shoulders as he sank against her, his breath hot against her neck as he trembled with the force of his release. The scent of warm male and shared sex perfumed the air and she released a lusty sigh. She was replete.

“I’ll supply the condoms tomorrow.” He pressed a lazy kiss to her neck.

“Mmm, today. It’s already tomorrow.”

“Okay, today.”

“A big box,” she prompted.

He gave a half-hearted nip at her throat. “A huge box.”

She grinned as a thrill of possession ran through her. Relaxed, she stretched her legs out, stifling a laugh when she realized they hadn’t taken time to remove her stockings or her bra.

Next time…

Chapter 4

She was wearing his gift.

Alexei watched Elaine as she chatted with two tall blonde women, twins he suspected, each dressed as lusty barmaids, exposing more skin than was covered by their clothing. Elaine had a glass of champagne in one hand and a huge smile on her face, her green eyes sparkling from behind her burgundy half mask.

The rich wine-colored silk of her full skirt licked the top of her black leather button-up boots. As she turned to wave at Dirk, Alexei caught a glimpse of her white, lace-trimmed petticoats. The black velvet corset made her waist look impossibly tiny while pushing her normally adequate cleavage into bountiful proportions.

He licked his lips as he took her in shoulders, clad in fine white linen. She’d added the shirt under the corset to cover some of her exposed skin, no doubt. He wasn’t disappointed. If anything, her modesty only added to her allure. A narrow band of onyx stones encircled her throat and she’d tossed a brightly colored scarf over her arms to cross the middle of her back

With this gift of the clothing, she looked like the beautiful Russian gypsy he remembered. He closed his eyes and entertained an image of Elaine dancing under a full moon, her feet bare, her hair tangled with wildflowers.

Tonight was the night to find out for sure if she was the one, and to do this he had to strip the outfit off her body. He opened his eyes, his gaze fastening on her. It was a tough job, but he was just the man to do it.

* * * * *

Elaine’s breath caught in her throat as she saw Alexei make his way toward her. Tight black leather pants clung to every inch of his legs, accentuating his muscles as he moved. A long-sleeved, oversized royal blue shirt fluttered as he moved, the chest open, leaving his rippled stomach in view. Around his slim waist, he’d tied a burgundy silk scarf that matched her skirt. Tucked into that was a jeweled dagger.

He looked dangerous, and he was all hers.

She tightened her thighs as a spurt of warmth sprang to life. Tonight was the night…

“Oh my, I just
have
to sample that one…” With a swish of her tan skirts, Sabrina, one of twins walked toward Alexei, an exaggerated swing to her walk. She shifted her shoulder, allowing her blouse to slide off, revealing pale skin. “Well, hello there.”

Alexei gave her an abbreviated nod and stepped around the predatory blonde. Elaine’s breath left in a rush as he curled an arm around her waist and hauled her into his arms. His mouth descended and he took her in a kiss that was powerful and earthy at the same time.

She leaned into him, sliding her arms around his shoulders as he insinuated a strong thigh between hers, pressing against the damp apex of her thighs. She squirmed to get closer, anything to appease the ache of need he alone kindled.