Page 50 of Perfume Girl

“You okay?” He slowed for a moment.

“More than okay.”

“Tell me what you need.”

“I only need this.”

He rose a little and rubbed his pelvis hard against mine. It felt divine.

“Do that again,” I begged.

“This?”

“Yes, I like it.”

“Then I think you’ll like this, too,” he said, grabbing me and flipping us over.

I lay on top of him with my back against this chest. With a fierce shove he was inside me again, his right hand reaching low to strum my clit as he pounded into me. My body burned with desire at his masterful touch, the dexterous blend of speed and rhythm bringing me blinding pleasure, as though his fingertip and that small bud were one.

His left arm wrapped around me possessively to bar any escape. I was his entirely.

This wasn’t me…I’d never moaned wantonly like this before. I didn’t remember ever making any noise. I’d stayed silent and endured what was offered.

But this…this was so much more. This was me running into the flames and burning up entirely. With thighs splayed, breasts bobbing, my body and soul completely exposed, I was groaning loudly, not even caring that the headboard was banging the wall.

I had surrendered completely…

When his left hand squeezed my nipple, the fierce jolt of arousal sent me over the edge and I lost all sense of time and place. My mind clung to the exquisite sensations, never wanting the orgasm to end.

I lay in his arms, perspiring and panting, still shuddering from the blinding pleasure. When he brushed a stray lock of hair out of my face, it felt so tender, so caring, that I yearned to stay here in this room and hold on to this feeling forever.

Be strong. Let this become the happy memory you deserve. Let it push out all those thoughts that are no longer welcome…

I rolled off him and onto my side.

Astor lifted the covers. “In.”

We shoveled beneath the sheets and he pulled me against him, guiding my head to rest on his shoulder. I lay there fighting sleep for as long as possible.

Once the afterglow faded, we’d be enemies again. Or maybe, just maybe, I’d be ready to tell him the truth.

Tiredness tugged at me and I could no longer resist falling asleep.

I awoke to blackness, my head achy and my body tender and that deep pang below had me searching my memory for the reason.

Crazy, brilliant sex with Astor Beauregard. And then there was the rum. I’d downed two shots and this was why my mouth was so dry.

I threw my arm out, reaching for Astor.

He wasn’t there.

I listened for him, adrenaline surging through my veins, but only heard silence.

In a panic, I leaped out of bed and hurried into the living room, dragging the throw with me and wrapping it around myself as I went in search of him. Blood pounded in my ears and my temples throbbed.

When I didn’t see him, I ran back into the bedroom and searched for my dress as a dreadful realization hit me.

Astor had left me here.