The wind began to pick up and, when James pinched the sensitive flesh, her cry of pleasure was mixed with the howling breeze through the branches of nearby trees.

  He sank another finger deep into her heat while rubbing her faster.

  So good.

  This was James touching her. How long had she wanted this? Had she both wanted and hated him?

  It was incredible. More intense than anything she’d ever experienced with anyone.

  “Look at me,” he commanded.

  Her gaze, barely able to focus as she rode his fingers and the pleasure they brought, lifted to his.

  “I want to see your eyes when you come.”

  His words almost sent her over the edge, but she wasn’t ready to get there yet. She wanted to milk every last drop of sensation.

  And she wanted to touch him too. With unsteady hands, she discovered all the ridges and lines of his chest. She tugged on the smattering of chest hair, loving how hard and male he was as he continued to play her clit like a musician played an instrument.

  The pleasure grew more intense with each stroke. Faster flicks. More pressure on her most intimate spot.

  It grew harder to breathe.

  So close.

  He pushed deep with one finger and pinched her clit.

  She gasped in air.

  “Yes, let yourself go.”

  She flew, exhaling in short little puffs as her body trembled through the climax.

  And then, despite his request for her eyes to stay open, she closed them to ride out the wave.

  With her body shaking and her mind spinning, he caught her mouth in another deep kiss.

  One that claimed. One that was all kinds of possessive. One that she was pretty sure would eviscerate her ability to walk afterward.

  When he finally lifted his head, her arms were around him, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to let go.

  He nuzzled her ear. “That was a fun appetizer.”

  “What?” The word had been almost impossible to form.

  “Let’s head inside and let the real fun begin.”

  With her body still humming, and the ache deep between her legs still unfulfilled, she gave a small nod.

  “Might as well use those extra rooms they kept forcing on us.”

  A minute later, they were out of the hot tub and running for the house.

  *

  James closed the door to the spare room in Blake and Kristen’s house and turned to face Tori.

  She’d toweled off and was just squeezing the last liquid from her hair.

  His gaze drifted from the gorgeous dark waves and over her lush body.

  Mine.

  This time when he thought it, it had nothing to do with the comic or them being characters. It had to do with the need to be with Tori completely. That for tonight, at least, she was his.

  There were no games. No more roadblocks.

  Even condoms weren’t an issue. James had spotted a pile not so discreetly placed on one of the pillows.

  Blake had obviously realized what was likely to happen.

  “Are you going to take off your swim shorts?” Tori’s husky voice nearly undid him. “Or would you like some help?”

  The unspoken offer had his already rock-hard cock tightening painfully.

  “I think I can handle this.” He shucked his shorts quickly and moved toward her.

  When she reached for the tie on her bikini top, he caught her wrist.

  “Let me. I want to unwrap you like you’re my damn present.”

  Amusement and arousal flickered in her eyes. “Have at it.”

  He caught the end of one string and tugged, working the knot free until the strings fell down.

  His breath hitched as the fabric still clung to the large swells of her chest. With a steady hand, he reached out and tugged the green triangles down until those glorious red nipples sprang free.

  “I remember you.” He lowered his head and sucked one hard tip into his mouth.

  Her gasp of surprise and pleasure only encouraged him. With his mouth tormenting one breast, he freed her other from the fabric and captured the tip between his thumb and forefinger.

  She grasped at his hair, holding his head to her and making small murmurs of pleasure.

  His heart started to beat faster, and the need inside him grew.

  He reached for her bikini bottoms, but didn’t lift his head. Not quite ready to release that tight nipple from the torment of his tongue and lips.

  While he pushed down her bottoms, he transferred his mouth to the other neglected breast and sucked the tip hard into his mouth.

  “James.” She bucked against him.

  God, to hear his name on her lips. So breathy. So needy.

  He made a murmur of agreement against her flesh and backed her up until her legs hit the bed.

  Finally, he lifted his head from her breast to encourage Tori to lie back.

  She drew in a shaky breath and sat down before lying back completely.

  For a moment, he just took in the view. All the curves and dips and swells. The sparkling green jewel that decorated her navel.

  She was a work of art. The trimmed curls between her thighs made his mouth water to taste her.

  “Open your legs for me, Tori. Let me see you.”

  After so many months of friction, of fighting for control, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she told him to fuck off.

  Instead, she parted her thighs and slid her fingers into the curls to touch herself.

  Dear god.

  It was the hottest thing he’d ever seen. She wasn’t the least bit self-conscious or shy.

  She was a woman who knew how to create her own pleasure.

  “Do you want to watch me make myself come?” Her words were breathy. “Or would you rather have the honors?”

  Or ask for someone else to give that pleasure to her.

  He was going to be lucky if he didn’t embarrass himself before the main event.

  He’d already brought her release with just the touch of his hand. How hard would she come when it was his tongue?

  “I’ve got this one.” He sank to his knees and pulled her legs forward until the heart of her was just inches from his mouth.

  Still, she touched herself, holding open the folds of her sex to touch the swollen kernel there.

  For a moment, he couldn’t resist watching her. To see what she liked.

  Enough.

  He couldn’t hold out anymore.

  He nudged her fingers aside, licked his thumb, and then pressed it to her clit. Rubbing slowly. It was still swollen and flushed from her climax in the hot tub.

  God, that had been amazing.

  James lowered his head before delving his tongue into her slick folds. Her soft sigh encouraged him to continue.

  The taste of her drew a moan of appreciation from him. She was sexual candy, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever get enough.

  He eased his tongue up to circle her clit, and her hips jerked.

  Still extra-sensitive from that earlier orgasm too.

  Good.

  James placed a palm on her belly to hold her still before he suckled her clit.

  She cried out, lifting her hips and pressing herself closer to his mouth.

  “Oh, my god. Yes. Just like that.”

  With a murmur of approval, he softened the sucking and went back to slow stroke her with his tongue.

  She rocked against him. “Don’t stop.”

  He loved watching her like this. Loved seeing Tori nearly blind with pleasure. Knowing that he was the one giving it to her. It sent a stab of pure masculine triumph through him.

  He eased a finger deep into her tight, wet sheath and flicked her clit with his tongue.

  Her thighs clenched around his head, and she rocked against his mouth. Her cries grew higher.

  The floorboards above creaked, and he remembered where they were. That there was a strong possibility Blake and Kristen could hear her, even if they were upstairs.

  Who the hell cared?

  At this moment, he didn’t. The only thing that mattered was making Tori scream his name again.

  “I’m so close.” Her fingers slid into his hair, gripping and holding him to her.

  He flicked faster and then sucked hard.

  It was all she needed.

  “James.” Tori went rigid and then let out a long cry. Her body convulsed around him as the orgasm took her body.

  He stayed with her, barely teasing her flesh with his mouth until she was weak and still on the bed.

  “Oh, god,” she whispered. “Are you sure you didn’t get a degree in doing that? Because holy shit.”

  He couldn’t stop the smile or his chest puffing with a little smugness.

  “You’re going to make me blush.”

  “I doubt that.” She sat up and reached for him. “I want you inside me.”

  His cock basically stood up straighter and wept with joy.

  “There is literally no place I’d rather be,” he admitted raggedly.

  She flipped over, waving that gorgeous round ass at him as she grabbed a condom. A moment later she was back, sitting on the edge of the bed and rolling it over his length.

  “Lie down.”

  James had been ready to ease her back down and slide between her legs, but her words stopped him.

  “Me?”

  “I want to be on top.”

  He blinked as his pulse quickened. This would be his first time trying this position.

  Dear god, he couldn’t wait.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He jumped on the bed and laid back, folding his arms above his head.

  Was that right? Where should his hands go? How active should he be in this part?

  He needn’t have worried, because Tori clearly knew what she was doing.

  She straddled him and grasped his length, running her hand up and down it. Then she lined it up with her entrance and slowly sank down.

  With her hot, slick sheath easing him inside, James’s mind went white with pleasure.

  He stared up at her in awe. She was a goddess with her long wavy hair falling forward and partially covering the globes of her breast. Red nipples peaked out from the strands.

  That jewel on her belly button flashed just above perfectly flared hips.

  Her eyes closed as she slid further down his length.

  When she made a breathy little moan, he snapped.

  Instinct took over. He grabbed her waist, flexed his hips, and buried himself to the hilt.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tori gasped in a mix of pleasure and pain when he was fully inside her.

  Oh, god, he was so long.

  She waited for a moment for her body to adjust to his length.

  “Are you okay?”

  The quick question and concern in his voice made her laugh weakly.

  “I’m good, you’re just . . . longer than I remember.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry?”

  “Don’t be.” She lifted herself off him just a bit and then sank down again. “I, ahhh . . . my god, I like it.”

  Her eyes closed.

  So good.

  He was so hard. Filled her so deep.

  “Yeah?” He moved his hips in a way that had him grazing a sensitive spot inside her, and she gasped.

  “Oh, yeah.” She sank down to bury him to the hilt again and gave him a pleasure-drowsy smile. “I mean, it feels like you might pierce through my cervix and exit out my stomach, but yeah . . .”

  He burst out laughing, and the movement had his whole body shaking in a way that only heightened the sensations.

  “I promise I can’t pierce your cervix.” He lifted his hips to push deep into her.

  She gasped. “I know. But I just visualize that scene in Alien, only in a more orgasmic way.”

  His laughter grew. “That might be the craziest and most awesome thing I think I’ve ever heard. Definitely during sex.”

  With a smile, she leaned forward to kiss him. He slid almost completely out of her until she pulled her mouth from his and sank back down.

  When her gaze slid to his, his eyes were glazed with shock and pleasure.

  Me too, James. Me too.

  With her hands on his chest, she started to find a rhythm. To find her pleasure while watching to make sure he had his too.

  The hands he had around her waist moved up until his palms covered her swaying breasts.

  “Yes.” She whimpered at the sensation and her nipples hardened.

  He squeezed and massaged them while she rode him.

  “Lean down.”

  Mindless now, she obeyed. Letting him ease out of her enough so he could suck the tip of her breast into his mouth.

  “Oh.” Her legs became boneless at the sensation. She fell on him, trying to catch her breath, but he had other plans.

  In one smooth motion, he rolled her beneath him and thrust deep.

  Pleasure roared through her and her eyes widened.

  This was new. She rarely let a man be on top.

  His gaze held hers as he began to move in her. Hard and fast.

  She lifted her hips, rocking to meet his thrusts.

  So good. The weight of James pinning her to the mattress was so damn good.

  “I’m going to come,” he muttered.

  “Me too.” She reached down to touch herself, but he was already there.

  He rubbed her sensitive spot in an instant, sending her into a world of fireworks behind closed eyelids. The orgasm rocked her whole body.

  James gave a low cry and thrust to the hilt, brushing against her cervix in that mix that was more pleasure than pain.

  It was exquisite.

  Her body spasmed, clenching around him as she rode the aftershocks.

  The full weight of his body settled on her and she sighed, winding her arms around to caress his back.

  “Promise me something,” he muttered against his neck.

  Like what?

  She managed a murmur that encouraged him to finish that thought.

  He propped himself, taking his full weight off her. His eyes were bright, his stare solemn.

  Was he going to get all serious after sex? And if he did, would she freak out?

  Quite possibly.

  “Promise me that we’ll cosplay together. I’ll be the alien, and you can be Ripley.”

  She laughed. Thank god he was keeping it light for now. This must’ve been inspired by her comment during sex.

  “What if I want to be the alien?” She slid her palm upward to cradle the side of his face, loving the weekend stubble she found there.

  “Well. I suppose I can be Ripley.” He frowned slightly. “Not sure my muscles are big enough, though.”

  “Your muscles are perfect.”

  “Mmm.” His mouth curved into a slight smile. “You know, speaking of Alien, I’ve always thought those face-hugger alien creatures that cling to the characters’ faces in the movie were kind of erotic.”

  She laughed again. “You and every other man.”

  “Come on, you know you have too.”

  Yes, she had.

  Jeez, how had she never realized how awesome James was? That the hot man who’d driven her mad, in a good and bad way, was as much as a comic geek as she was.

  It was still hard to wrap her head around the fact that he was her Aidan.

  She moved her hand higher, to the back of his head, and pulled him down for another kiss.

  This one was slow and sweet. And conveyed all kinds of things she wasn’t sure she wanted to say. Might never be ready to say.

  But she needed him to understand what tonight had meant to her.

  When they eased apart, he pressed his forehead to hers for a moment before sliding out of the bed.

  She watched as he crossed the room to the small bathroom to dispose of the condom.

  “How did we not recognize each other’s voices?” she called after him. “At the convention?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that.” He washed his hands. “Probably because we assumed each other to be in different states, so it never occurred to us. Also, most of the times you and I spoke, we were either arguing, or it was casual conversation. I’ve never heard ‘giddy and having fun’ Tori.”

  “Likewise. I’m used to Grumpy James.”

  He laughed and came back out, then hesitated. “Should I hit the lights?”

  Oh.

  They’d be sleeping together. Like, literally.

  That actually sounded kind of nice.

  “Yeah. Hit the lights.”

  When she woke up the next morning, she was on her side, and his arm was draped over her and lay beneath her breasts. His body curved intimately behind hers.

  If only she could freeze this moment forever. She gave a sigh of pleasure and scooted back so her bottom cradled more solidly against him.

  The arm around her waist tightened. Just his fingers danced up to her breast to circle the tip.

  “You’re awake?” he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

  “Mmm . . .” was about all she could muster, even after her nipple came to attention.

  “I want to repeat everything we did last night.” He sighed. “But I have a feeling Blake or Kris will be pounding on our door soon to invite us to breakfast any minute.”

  Oh.

  The smell of coffee and sausage registered then, and she blinked in dismay.

  Right.

  They were in her BFF’s house and had gone at it like feral animals last night.

  And I have zero regrets.

  “I suppose we’d better throw on some clothes then and go say good morning.”

  “Yeah. It, ugh, might get awkward.”

  She smiled. “It takes a lot to embarrass me. But I’ll understand if you blush.”

  With a laugh, he nipped the nape of her neck, drawing a soft moan from her.

  That seemed to excite him, because he growled against her skin and danced his fingers over her navel piercing.

  “Will you come back to my apartment tonight?”

  This was it. The point where the panic usually hit and she had the urge to run.

  Only . . . it didn’t. So weird.

  “We can order in food. Maybe watch a Marvel movie.” He eased his hand lower to cup the swell of her sex. “I can go down on you again.”

  “Maybe both at the same time?” she teased, even as her thighs clenched together to ward off the growing desire.