Part 14 (1/2)

”Yes,” I managed to gasp out as he flicked his tongue over and around the sensitive skin and inside the folds a time or two, making me even wetter.

He moved up on me, his larger body flush with mine, and he pulled our hips together. He held my thighs apart and pushed into me with a force that would've been brutal if I'd been a smaller woman. As it was, the fit was so tight, so intense and so incredibly erotic that every time we had s.e.x I screamed. Every single time.

He covered my mouth with his to stifle my cry and began a slow thrust that would exponentially increase in speed and power as my body adjusted to his.

While relations.h.i.+ps might bring with them, as Di suggested, a whole lot of unpredictability, the uncanny s.e.xual chemistry between Andrei and me didn't fit into that category. We could count on it without reserve. It had become the most steadfast element in my life, and I knew he was bowled over by it, too.

”Come for me,” he whispered in my ear, pumping harder now. He said this more for the effect of being a little naughty rather than because he had any fear of it not happening. It always happened with him.

”I'm almost there.” I cupped his bare a.s.s in my palms and strained against him, my body floating closer to completion with every labored breath.

He groaned and I wrenched away just far enough to watch the pa.s.sion build on his face. To see the heightened color of his complexion and the light of his eyes spike darker with the growing fervor between us.

A guttural moan came from deep within him. His gaze met mine as the swell inside him rose further, crested and then broke in climax.

”G.o.d, Ellie. Come.”

He stayed with me and surged over and over for the final few seconds until I could join him.

I did. And, again, I screamed.

But what was different about this time was that, though I wanted the release, I didn't need it. The attachment I'd begun to feel had more to do with an emotion that defied physicality, however pleasurable.

Love?

Love.

It scared the s.h.i.+t out of me. No way could I utter it aloud.

”Unbelievable,” Andrei whispered. ”It is always so with you.”

I smiled and kissed his shoulder, clutching him to me for a moment before he had to pull away.

He removed the condom, perched on an elbow and looked down at me, his expression serious. ”This is strange attraction. I am not ever experiencing such a thing before.”

”Me either.”

Only my one-night stand with Sam had approached this level of intensity. But, while the emotions may have been equally potent at the time, Sam proved to me that any fantasies of love were pure delusion.

Was I being delusional now?

”Andrei,” I began. ”What would happen if the s.e.x part between us were more, um, normal? Not always this spectacular? Would you still want us to be together?”

He cast me an odd look. ”You are not liking that things work this way?”

I laughed. ”No. I mean, yes, of course I like it. It's amazing. But I was wondering if you'd still want to see me so much if we just had average s.e.x.”

He flopped down on his back and put his head on the pillow next to mine. ”Do all American women ask these crazy questions?” He nudged my leg with his foot and trailed his fingertips over my naked b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

We weren't quite ready to do it again, but I could feel faint stirrings of arousal already and my breath quickened. The fact that Andrei was trying to change the subject kind of p.i.s.sed me off, though, so I replied, ”Only American women who are crazy enough to be sleeping with Russian men.”

This answer did not faze him.

He circled my nipples with his index finger and licked his lips, so I knew what was coming. ”I am Russian man wanting to explore all parts of you. It is great bonus we can join our bodies in s.e.x this way, but you are lovely woman. You are kind person. For now, it is working to be with you and also to be f.u.c.king. I am not seeing problem.”

No, he wouldn't, would he?

I decided to try again. ”Look. All I'm saying is that I hope you're not with me only because of how good things are between us in bed. I've had men cheat on me before, and I won't let that ever happen again.” I looked him straight in the eye so he'd know I meant every syllable.

He nodded, taking it in.

”So,” I continued, ”if you someday find yourself liking the s.e.x, but not liking me as much, it'd be better for me if we broke things off instead of trying to stay together. I don't want you being with me for physical things but wis.h.i.+ng you were talking with someone else.”

He put his wet lips to my nipple and sucked on it hard. The delicious tugging made my heart fillip. ”I am not wanting to talk to or have s.e.x with someone else, Ellie.”

Not quite a declaration of everlasting love, but it was hopeful. And I needed that kind of hope.

Less than a half hour of suckling and licking and stroking later, I screamed again.

His name, this time.

The week before Easter I took a personal day off work to go shopping. The wedding/union was still six weeks away, but I needed to find a really great dress since Mark and Seth had asked me to be one of their readers. Plus, I needed to buy a few other things, and I wanted to shop for them without Andrei knowing.

I went to the mall alone, which is to say, Jane went with me.

Why do you linger in this section? Jane asked as I wandered around the lingerie department of Marshall Field's, admiring the many lacy, silky fabrics.

No reason. But I made a note to visit Victoria's Secret later.

She sniffed. There seems no need for special undergarments. You and Mr. Sergiov appear to require very little by way of intimacy inducements.

I grinned. True. I always mentally locked Jane out of the bedroom, but she knew what went on nevertheless. The heat between Andrei and me had only risen, and I wanted to keep stoking that fire. I figured a sheer teddy might do the trick.

Jane said, Were you two married, I could not imagine a couple more inclined to take their connubial responsibilities seriously. There is surely no need for much more...kindling of flames.

But we're not married. And it's the dawning of the twenty-first century. No matter what, I don't want him to lose interest. Because I-I hesitated, then went ahead and told her the rest since she could deduce it anyway. Because I want him to marry me. I want him to WANT to.