"You're going to kind of get flashed," she said, the quiet ticking of the clock and Reese's face in shadow making her heart hammer. She pulled the shirt open, moonbeams highlighting the bit of ink she'd added to her body five years ago.
Reese reached up, fingers brushing from the tip of the arrow, down the shaft, and over the flames that made up the fletching. He moved quickly, standing and lashing an arm low around her waist and pulling her against him.
She braced herself on the desk with one hand, her other flattening against his chest. They lingered there and listened as the clock in the room ticked three times. She swiped her fingertip along his neck, the touch of her bare skin to his setting him off.
Like a rocket.
He kissed her. A punishing and exciting kiss, a kiss she'd wanted more of since they locked lips on the deck of the Luna. But this time, there was no one watching.
* * *
Merina's shirt was open, her mouth on his, and Reese forgot about the speech he'd been intending to give her the moment she set foot in his house. He'd been in this room mulling it over for a very long time. He'd decided on a clear set of rules for their marriage. Rules involving him and her and separations so that they wouldn't muddy the waters with sex. It made sense until she'd come in here, smooth skin cool in the moonlight, amber eyes shining. Then she'd unbuttoned her shirt, and his speech was buried under the only two words he'd thought before he sprang out of his chair.
"Fuck it," he said against her mouth after a devouring kiss.
"Fuck what?" she breathed.
"Fuck you. Preferably on this desk. Preferably two minutes ago." He felt the curve of her smile all the way down to his rigid cock.
She panted as he moved his mouth to her jaw, then to the side of her neck. He pushed her hair aside to give himself room as she squirmed beneath his insistence. He enjoyed the dance. She couldn't help herself when it came to him and he couldn't do anything about wanting her whenever she was near.
"Futile," he said, tugging at her shirt to bare one shoulder.
"What is?" Her voice was a wisp in the dark room, a breathy siren's call steering him right into the rocks.
"Resistance." He worked the buttons on her shirt, pulled it from her arms, then tossed it aside. He pressed his lips to her tattoo. A flaming arrow he wanted to know the meaning behind, but now was not the time. Any questions he had could be asked later. Now they were lost under the pounding of blood passing by his eardrums. He had to have her. No more delays.
"I can't wait to take this off," she said, pulling on the knot of his tie. He raised his head and saw the heat in her eyes mirroring his and couldn't help smiling.
The tie?"
"I like you in it, but I like you out of it more." She slipped the silk knot loose. "And the shirt." She flattened her hands on his chest and pushed. He sat obediently, which was new. If she were any other woman, he'd have had her completely nude and spread across his desk before his tie was off. He preferred control. With Merina, he'd become insatiably curious. He was willing to give in to her for the moment, if only to satisfy his lingering curiosity.
She reached behind her to unhook her black lace bra, pushing her breasts out. He admired the swells, the mystery tattoo. Delicate but aggressive, the flames licking across her chest. Then she unzipped her slim skirt and shimmied out of it—taking her time until the material fell to her feet. She left her tall black heels on, which saved him stopping her from taking them off. She was just how he wanted her.
"Ready?" He reached for her hips and her eyes widened, her chest lifting with each hectic breath.
"For?"
His answer was to spin her to face the desk, place her hands on the surface, and stroke one palm down her spine. Then he bent and took a gentle bite of one ass cheek.
"Oh!" She whipped her hair and glared over her shoulder at him.
Behind her, he ground his erection into a pair of matching black lace panties he considered tearing off with his teeth.
"Oh." Her glare faded into a heavy-lidded gaze.
"Do you like this, Merina?" She did. He could see it. "What's your pleasure?" Her bent over the desk, balanced on her elbows was definitely his pleasure, but he wanted their first time to be what she wanted as well.
"What do you think?" She backed her lush ass into his crotch and moved in an erotic sway.
The attraction between them was like flames spreading to the carpet and climbing the walls. He didn't delay another second. He released her hips to remove his belt, a quick slide of leather through buckle. Halfway to his goal of freeing himself from his pants, he had an incredibly important, if not unfortunate thought. He swore, the word an incoherent growl.
"Condom?" Merina's voice was filled with hope. But Reese couldn't give her the answer they both wanted.
"Not until we find the bedroom." He stepped away from her, propping his hands on his hips and regarding the ceiling. One deep breath turned into two as Merina stood and tugged on her clothes. She offered his shirt.
He snatched it, lowered his head, and kissed her, tasting her mouth and wishing they'd started this in a room where prophylactics were in reach.
When she opened her eyes, she was looking smug, if not a little proud at causing his massive lack of control.
"Vixen." He smoothed his hand over her skirt, then gave her a slap on the ass. For a second they stood in a clinch smiling at each other like idiots. "Follow me."
Several wrong turns later, Merina giggled from beside him. He stopped in a corridor and pressed her flat to the wall with his body. Much as he wanted to kiss her, he hovered inches from her tempting lips.
"Something funny?" he asked.
Her high heels dangled from her fingers. She reached up and pushed her hair from her face with her free hand.
"You mean besides you getting lost in your own house?" She grinned.
"Your mouth."
Lips pursed, she purred, "What about my mouth?"
He leaned closer, closer until the only thing separating them was a breath. "I can think of better ways to put it to use."
Her sharp exhale tickled his lower lip, but he forced himself to back away. "We're close. Trust me." He took her hand.
"You need a bloodhound," she offered. The smart-ass.