Star Crossed (35 page)

He guessed she wasn’t comfortable with being called an angel. She didn’t quite frown, but she looked like she might. “You saved
my
life tonight,” she pointed out.

“Strictly speaking, I saved Martin’s, but since I know he’s your bud, you can call us even if you want.”

She cocked her head, clearly calculating something inside that sleek skull of hers. “I want a smaller ring.”

His laugh snorted out his nose. “Fat chance, angel. That one looks good on you.”

“It’s
my
engagement! How can I relax knowing I’m wearing something that could buy a small island?”

He shrugged. “You’ll get used to it. Anyway, it’s insured.”

“You like doing this to me.” Her brows had lowered accusingly.

“You mean spoiling you? Yes, I absolutely do. I’m going to do it every chance I get.”

“I could call off the engagement.”

“You won’t.”

“Cocky.” Though she was trying to look annoyed, her reluctant delight leaked out. She glowered to hide it.

“Yes, I am,” Luke agreed, bussing her lips lightly. He moved his hands to the collar of her shirt and started unbuttoning. He did it carefully, so as not to hurt her bruised throat. He’d kiss that later, he decided, when he’d softened her up enough to accept sympathy. For now, he’d keep her focused on enjoyment. “Why don’t you let me show you how cocky I’ve gotten?”

To his pleasure, her breathing quickened as he opened her shirt farther. Her breasts swelled tantalizingly within her plain white bra.

Not that she was ready to give up arguing.

“Ten carats,” she countered. “That’s still plenty of bling to suit your ego.”

He laughed softly. She was right his ego enjoyed seeing the showy stone on her. “I’m not bargaining with you. I spent two hours picking out that diamond, and it’s perfect.”

Her eyes widened. He saw he’d surprised her. “Really? Two hours?”

“Jacob himself flew out to show me his best stock.”

He knew she wouldn’t give in and ask
Jacob who
. The answer was: the best diamond guy in New York, which she’d refuse to care about. Her hand rested on his chest, her fingers unconsciously petting him. When her gaze dipped to the flawless fancy blue in question, he knew she was weakening.

“Now if you think it’s ugly . . .”

“Of course it’s not,” she huffed, offended by the slur to his taste, even if it came from him. “It’s beautiful. And it goes good with your green eyes. It’s just ostentatious and . . . girly to wear a rock this big.”

“You’re a girl,” he reminded. She grimaced, which made him want to kiss her again. “You realize you’re worrying more about this ring than you are over marrying me.”

She stunned him by breaking into a brilliant smile.

“Marrying you doesn’t worry me at all.” She laughed at his astonishment. “I love you,” she added, clearly enunciating. “I. Love. You.”

Hearing her say it like that, he couldn’t stay rational. Desire exploded in his veins. He ripped the rest of her crisp white shirt all the way down its front.

“Luke!” she gasped as buttons flew in all directions.

He flashed teeth at her—wolfishly, he expected.

“I have to maraud you,” he warned, crouching before her. Nearly as quickly as he’d dispatched her shirt, he wrenched her trousers to her ankles.

“Get your bra,” he commanded, occupied with sliding her panties down her long legs.

She blinked at him, but she bent her arms behind her. Her compliance kicked his libido higher, especially when he saw how fast her diaphragm went in and out. Given the right context, she liked being ordered around by him.

Kneeling then, he looked up her nakedness. Her slight breasts trembled with her pulse, her nipples tight and rosy with arousal. He caressed her hipbones, his fingers stretching around her to stroke her ass. His nostrils flared at the scent of her arousal.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous like this,” he praised.

Overcome, he pressed his face to her belly, growling at its wonderful silkiness and warmth. Her hands fell to his head, where her fingers drove deep into his hair. When she rubbed his scalp, every inch of his skin tingled.

“
Luke
,” she said, her voice throbbing.

He kissed her navel and the edge of her pubic curls. He parted her labia, their heat and slickness causing his cock to pound. She gasped when he caught her clitoris between the pads of his thumbs. He rubbed the engorged bud from either side, firmly, slowly, squeezing it rhythmically.

Seeing her whiskey eyes slide shut with pleasure enchanted him.

“Luke,” she repeated, more huskily.

“Hold onto me,” he instructed. “You wouldn’t want to fall over.”

She gripped his shoulders, fingers tightening on his muscles as he burrowed into to her pussy. She tasted like the sea and something wilder, something that was purely her. He rubbed, and licked, and teased the tip of her clitoris with hard, quick flicks.

A.J. shivered and grew wetter.

That excited him almost more than he could stand. Curling both thumbs inside her entrance, he sucked her clit between his lips and pulled strongly. She cursed—which he liked. Her nails pricked through his T-shirt as her hips shoved closer.

“I can’t,” she groaned.

You can
, he thought and redoubled his tongue’s efforts.

She came with a broken cry. Reveling in the sound of his victory, he took a ten-second pause then drove her up and over again.

Her knees nearly gave out at that orgasm. She had to lock her elbows to hold herself up on his shoulders.

Once she’d settled, he pulled back and smiled up her body. She was a sight for his memory book. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen from biting them. Even her cheekbones looked softer. The chance to see her like this was totally worth the killer ache of waiting.

Her lashes fluttered before she could drag them up again.

“Sheesh,” she breathed. “If I’m an angel, you’re the devil when it comes to that.”

Gratified by the praise, he dropped a kiss to her inner thigh. “Ready for me to get up?”

She nodded and he rose as steadily as he could, his hands traveling up her sides as he went. He’d always liked her tallness. When he stood at his full height, he barely had to look down to meet her gaze.

He enjoyed watching it go glassy as he fondled and squeezed her breasts.

Her lashes drifted and then deliberately recovered. “Two can play that game,” she warned.

He jerked when her hand squeezed into his jeans. Her fingers found his erection. She circled and pulled, one hand and then the other. She didn’t hurry, but she was strong, and her grip on his shaft was firm. Blissful signals shot up his cock, hard and sharp. Moisture beaded at its tip as a sense of imminence coiled in his scrotum.

Luke was closer to the edge than he’d realized.

“Careful,” he said, the word ragged.

A.J. smiled knowingly. She used his pre-come to glide her thumb around his thudding crown. That felt so good the vertebrae of his spine tried to float apart.

“I could return the favor and suck you too,” she purred. She leaned close enough to fan his mouth with her breath, then tormented him by licking only her own lips. “Thing is, I rather this particular rocket go off in my pussy.”

He shuddered with warring urges. He wanted that as well, and he wouldn’t last two seconds if she went down on him. Still, her mouth was so pretty, so lush and red, with her tongue glistening like a cushion between her teeth . . .

She pulled her hand from his jeans and laughed at his expression. “You’re too easy, Cocky Boy.”

Was this to be his new nickname?

He didn’t waste his limited breath on quips. He slid his grip to her waist, bent his knees, and tossed her onto the bed behind her. She landed safely but with a bounce, letting out a brief but completely girly yelp as her arms and legs flung out on the covers to steady her. Luke quite enjoyed that, a fact he didn’t bother to hide from her.

“Cheater,” she accused.

“All’s fair,” he said, grinning. “Besides which, I need to undress. I thought you might like to watch.”

He saw at once that she would. She sat up and crossed her legs tailor-fashion, her posture straight, her manner almost comically alert. Unselfconscious as it was, the pose displayed her amazingly fit body in ways she probably didn’t realize.

His cock gave a vigorous, painful throb as he spied a hint of ruby between her folds. God, he needed to get in her.

“Go ahead,” she said, flicking her hands in encouragement. “Undress. You have my full and appreciative attention . . .”

*

A.J. saw her enthusiasm caught Luke off guard. He was game, though, and a natural exhibitionist. His comfort clothes were artfully faded jeans—possibly the same pair she’d admired before—and a designer white T-shirt.

The shirt fit snugly enough that he had to wriggle to peel it off.

She didn’t mind. The view was great. His stomach hollowed beneath his ribcage, his arm muscles bunched, and chest was just amazing. Broad and hard, it deserved every lingering close up the cinematographers spent on it. The dark gold tufts beneath his arms reminded her he wasn’t entirely Hollywood shaved and polished. Getting into his stripper role, he whirled the T-shirt above his head before throwing it at her with a grin.

She caught it and brought it unabashedly to her face. The cotton smelled of expensive aftershave and him. When she’d done inhaling, she held it bundled against her breasts. Luke’s expressive hands moved to the metal button on his waistband.

“Don’t,” she blurted, which made his eyebrows rise. “I mean, yes, take them off but hold off for a minute.”

His amusement deepened. “You like these jeans.”

“Oh, yes, especially with you, er, filling them out like that.” She rolled up onto her knees. “Would you mind if I . . . explored you in them?”

He laughed but told her to be his guest.

Happy then, she swung to the side of the bed. He stepped to her and she took his hips in her hands.

“Mmm,” she sighed, nuzzling him through the arched up zipper.

He jerked at first when she turned her face back and forth, but soon enough he calmed. Was there a better mix of textures than velvet soft denim stretched over hard man flesh? She let her cheeks take in his resilience . . . her nose . . . her mouth. She loved how his breathing quickened, how his hips rocked closer. She ran her hands up and down his thighs, which tensed excitingly under her caress. He was so hot, his lovely abs dotting up with sweat. Unable to resist, she exhaled through the worn, taut denim.

Then she scraped her teeth along the steely ridge of his erection.

“Christ,” he gasped. “You’ll make me come like that.”

“Heaven forbid.”

“I’m unzipping now,” he announced. “Please back up and give me room.”

She gave him a few inches.

He lowered the tab carefully. His cock swelled out in his underwear.

“Don’t stop there,” she joked. “You’re just getting to the good part.”

He pulled in a steadying breath. She wanted to laugh. She really had pushed him to the limit of his control. She bit her lip and watched instead.

He slid the jeans to his ankles and stepped out. He was scrumptious naked: tall, strong, graceful and extremely erect. His cock towered from his groin, thick and veiny and impressive.

“Wow,” she said. “You really are a picture.”

He exhaled on a shaky laugh.

“One lick,” she bargained.

“Aiy,” he responded, rolling his eyes.

“Please?” She batted her lashes, willing to be girly for a good cause.

“One,” he agreed sternly.

She wasn’t sure what evil genius inspired her, but she grabbed his discarded T-shirt, wound it around his base, and pulled it snugly from either side. His cock jolted at the constriction, so she guessed it felt exciting.

“Sheesh,” he breathed, rocked a bit off balance.

“This feel okay?” she asked.

He nodded wordlessly, watching her.

His fascinated attention made her want to do her best and her worst. She leaned to him.
One lick
, she told herself. She wet her lips, pressing them over his satiny tip and then pushing down the hot column. He liked that, all right. He moaned, his hands coming to her ears to steady both of them. Making the most of her window, she descended as slowly as she could.

His pre-come was welling faster. His taste intensified in her mouth. She reached the T-shirt she’d wound around his root and pulled up. She used her tongue now, massaging the strut on his underside. He breathed her name and trembled as she pulled off.

“More?” she asked, taking in the flush on his face and the brightness of his green eyes.

His fingers caressed her cheeks. “Just more of you.”

His voice was soft. She scooted back on the big plush bed, knowing he’d follow and suddenly very aware that she was naked. The air felt cool as it hit the wetness between her legs. Luke flung the T-shirt aside and climbed over her. His movements were deliberate, like a predator carefully stalking her. A.J. shivered deliciously as his mouth descended and took hers. He was gentle but thorough too, kissing her boneless while his hand smoothed along her side and onto her inner thigh.

He pulled back to meet her eyes.

She couldn’t speak. Her fingers played on his chest, her thighs already sprawled to make room for him. A smile touched his mouth at whatever her face was saying.

His knee nudged her leg wider.

Was he not going to speak at all?

Two fingers slid into her and she gasped. How good they felt shocked her. She was readier than she realized, truly aching with longing. Luke massaged the ache, in and out, down to his last knuckle, slow and deep and utterly tormenting. She began to writhe, unable to help herself. She drew in a breath, wondering if he wanted her to plead.

She guessed not. He kissed her very lightly silent before she got one word out.

Tight with anticipation, she caught her lower lip in her teeth. He was shifting his weight into position over her. Her hands fluttered to his ribs. His heart pounded behind them, his skin sweating. His arm moved between their bodies. He fit his cock to her entrance by himself.