Page 25

I blinked up at Graham, studying his face for any sign my admission drove him away from me.

With solemnity that had me holding my breath, he said, “Staying away from you would be a feat impossible, even for the gods. And I am mortal. There wasn’t a chance in hell after you aimed your smile at me. Not even putting up a fight when I saw you as a fucking sinful temptation, addicted before I kissed you. Yes, at first, I wouldn’t allow myself to admit my feelings for you, despite me being drawn back to you time and time again, but you’ve opened the floodgates.”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve bewitched you with my continued presence and you don’t feel…”

When he moved back and gave me one of his teasing smirks, I watched in silent fascination as his fingers reached up and removed the hair tie, letting his locks flow, and I fumbled over giving him another excuse for…. um… I couldn’t remember.

He walked toward the dresser and placed the band on top, inserting distance between us. Unable to stop my reaction, I sucked in a breath when he turned his attention back to me. The soft locks framed his face with streaks of ash blond running through his caramel tresses, becoming more defined around his temples, making him look roguish.

“What…” I cleared my throat and started again, “what are you doing there, Graham? Because I want to inform you, if my reaction and my high-pitched voice hadn’t made it clear, I’m about thirty-seconds from bounding over the bed and tackling you. I’m imagining holding you down, stripping you, and exploring every inch of your skin with my mouth and tongue.”

The silence stretched between us, broken by my harsh breathing and punctuated by the periodic rumble coming from the older man separated from me by a king-sized bed. His eyes traced over my naked skin; chest, arms, legs, before he centered on my cock, struggling against the constraining confines of sturdy boxer briefs, anticipating what I’ve only dreamed would come next.

“You know, sweetheart, I’m not confused or under a spell. I know who I want.”

I held my breath as Graham thought about his next words.

“Would I scare you by admitting I’ve envisioned pinning you down flat on your back before I worked you open with my fingers, feeling your pretty hole flutter around me, before I removed them and fucked my dick deep inside you until you couldn’t take the stimulation any longer and released all over me?”

A protracted groan slash whimper escaped my throat, and I stood frozen to the spot as a detailed vision of Graham carrying out his desire played in my mind. Not remembering even moving, I scrambled onto the bed, lying in the middle with my head resting on two pillows, waiting.

“Oh, please, right now. I mean now, Graham!” I flinched at my demand and paused, before I said, “Sorry, I let my craving for you override my, well, you know, sanity. But I want you more than my next breath. Lube is in your nightstand drawer. Please.”

Rather than reaching for the requested item located within a foot of where he stood, he captured my gaze with a minuscule tilt of his lips. Then my heart stopped when he reached for the hem of his faded green tee and pulled it over his head, exposing his torso. Okay, I’d dreamed about touching his naked skin, wondering at all the hard planes and ridges I’d find, but nothing compared to the reality of Graham fucking Norris.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

My gasp sounded loud, even to my ears. “Oh, thank the gods I didn’t choke on my tongue. But it was a near thing. Wow, you are… spectacular.”

My comment didn’t elicit the reaction I expected. Graham, instead of continuing with the strip tease or even pinching his nipples between his thumb and forefinger, bent and put his hands on his knees as a loud howl of laughter echoed through the room.

He continued for a minute and thirty-five seconds. I counted.

“This is what I was talking about. You, Neko, are a wonder.”

Something must’ve shown on my face because he crawled onto the bed until he held himself over me, staring into my eyes with a sparkle to his own and a wide, beautiful smile etched on his face.

I held myself back even though I wanted to reach out and caress his shoulders and chest.

Graham blew out a breath and became serious. “I’ve laughed more, spoken more, and lived more during my time with you than any other in my entire life. With you, I’m confident in myself, not doubting my emotions, or overthinking. When I’m with you, I’m the real me. Your protector, because I know you are my entire world. I’m the man who will love you with fierce intensity because you taught me everything I needed to know about connecting with another human being, and I’d give you forever if you’d have me.”

For once in my life, words escaped me. But needing him close, I wrapped my arms around him, opening my hands on his back and tugged him down onto me. I searched for his lips and when he turned his head and captured mine in a scorching kiss, my body melted into the bed.

Something about seeing him shirtless with his nakedness pressed against mine escalated into scrambling to remove the rest of the offending material, his sweats and…

“Dear deities of perfection and beauty, is this a regular occurrence, you without underwear? And holy hotness, look at the cut of your hips, and the fucking trail… I can’t even.” I captured his gaze and held it in mine. “Please tell me this isn’t a dream? I won’t wake up to find that from the time we met until now is an elaborate figment of my imagination?”

The brilliant answering smile jolted me out of my delusion, tearing my attention from his face and down the taut muscles of his gorgeous form. But it was the impending kiss which snapped me back into reality. I watched in awe as he tilted his head, keeping eye contact as he lowered himself, an excruciating inch at a time, before his plush mouth left me gasping in pleasure.

He broke off, even as I clutched at him, desperate for his exquisite lips although I knew he offered me so much more. As his beard brushed against the sensitive skin around my throat, I moaned and leaned back, giving him access to whatever he wanted.

“You, my Neko, are temptation incarnate. The way your skin leaves an impression on my fingertips, as though I’d know who you are by your softness alone.”

He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm as my heart raced in my chest. The sincerity in which he displayed his awe at being able to touch me allowed me to realize what I craved.

“Graham?”

His eyes were unfocused as his head tilted in response. The seriousness of our declarations and the perceived luck at finding each other was the catalyst for my next demand.