Wanderlust Page 9

  Turning, I dove with rapid speed back toward the earth, my mind made up. I could be alone for eternity, a solitary being forever, or I could enjoy a few blessed years with the female of my dreams, wrapped in her love for as long as time would let us be together—if I could convince her to have me.

  That was going to be a little tricky. My sense of honor wouldn’t allow me to take her without her knowing the full extent of what her relationship with me would entail. It was really Skylar’s choice to make.

  Still, I was nervous to reveal my secret. What if she didn’t feel the same? What if she chose to reject me—then I’d lose the little bit we had right now, too? I needed to make sure I did this right—that I didn’t send her running away from me, screaming at the top of her lungs.

  The lights of San Francisco grew ever closer as I shot toward it, chuckling to myself. With all my life encounters, there was one emotion I’d never experienced . . . rejection.

  I certainly hoped I wasn’t about to experience it, now.

  Swirling toward the earth, I dipped low, flying along the rooflines to avoid detection. The dark night added to my cover, along with my sleek black wings and quick speed—anyone who might see me would merely think their eyes were playing tricks on them. One blink and there would be nothing left to see. That was something I’d noticed in most of my travels, people wanted to believe what they thought to be normal. It was easy to explain away a shadow on the rooftops as an odd play of light.

  Making a beeline for the buildings I knew housed Brayson Art Academy, I knew I could’ve found Skylar even without knowing her location. Something was connected between us—as if the closer I came to her, the more my own pulse rate picked up. I was the moth to her flame.

  True, moths often got burned by the flames they loved so much, but for some reason I didn’t mind the thought of being burned by her. She’d already set me on fire to the point that I felt like I was being consumed.

  Settling on the top ridgepole of the building opposite her location, I used my wings to balance me, becoming stock still, as if I were a gargoyle set in stone. From this vantage point, I could see directly into her classroom—right to where she was standing in front of her canvas.

  Her back to me, I watched as her hand rapidly propelled the brush, pausing here and there to tip her head and observe her work before dipping into the palette board she had resting in her opposite hand, and moving, again. She was completely immersed in her work and I loved watching her this way—caught up in the throes of creating something beautiful.

  Again, longing swept through me. I wanted to show her things she’d never even imagined before—do things to her she’d never experience with another. The matter was short and easy when all was considered—I simply wanted to be with Skylar, no matter what we were doing.

  Now that I’d finally admitted it to myself, all I wanted to do was tell her the truth.

  Watching her for several long minutes, I began to formulate a plan in my mind. I’d tell her tonight; starting off with a romantic night together, getting her all comfortable and cozy at my place. We would talk and cuddle and I’d wait for the right moment to present itself. When it did, I’d ease into the revelation of my secret.

  Yes, she’d be shocked, I knew. But I also knew she felt this same pull between us. It would be just as difficult for her to resist me as it was for me to resist her.

  And if convincing her with words was too difficult, then perhaps she’d respond to the language of my body.

  Smiling, I shot into the air again, this time in the direction of several stores that were close to home. It was time to gather the things I’d need for this night of seduction.

  Finally, Skylar Blue was going to be mine . . . completely.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Skylar

  “What a perfect way to end the evening,” Ryder sighed, his long fingers stroking absently over my arm, each touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

  “Mhmm,” I answered, not wanting to move from where we’d just spent the past few hours curled up, together. When he’d called me earlier this afternoon and told me he had a special evening planned, my mind instantly drifted to the question that always seemed to hang between us.

  Was tonight the night I’d give him my virginity—removing the last barrier of intimacy? There was no denying, as I hurried home after school to quickly dress before heading over to his apartment, that I hoped so.

  I needed more of him. I wanted to set fire to that last obstacle between us and be with him, completely. If he refused me, I had my own plan of attack. Come hell or high water, I was going to seduce Ryder to the point that whatever was holding him back melted away.

  I wasn’t quite sure what that would involve, however. But, instead of worrying about it, I was simply going to let the opportunity present itself. When it did, I would seize it with both hands—my mouth and lips definitely part of my strategy, too.

  There’s no way he’d be able to resist. He’d be like putty in my hands.

  “You want to watch the next Star Wars movie?” he asked, breaking through my reverie. After a delicious meal from Wong’s Chinese Garden, Ryder surprised me by pulling Return of the Jedi up on his TV. He hadn’t questioned me when I’d assured it was best to begin watching the older films, first. It was a strange concept for him; one I managed to convince him worked because it was how most of the world had been introduced to the iconic saga. He’d trusted me—giving me that smile that told me he’d do anything I asked, as long as it meant we did it together.

  As tempting as it was to stay a little longer snuggled against him, class started early tomorrow and if I was going to lose sleep, it was going to be doing another, more enjoyable, pursuit.

  Be brave, Skylar. You’ve got this, I inwardly coached myself. I instantly missed his warmth when I stood up and went to turn the big screen off.

  “I have something else in mind.” Grinning, I sauntered back to him, my moves slow and deliberate. I’d become comfortable enough with my body and Ryder, that it was like second nature to straddle his lap. “So, tell me. What did you think of Princess Leia?”

  He knew exactly which scenes I was referring to. I was pretty sure she’d been the center of every teenage boy’s fantasy when the movie had first released—a fact I’d learned with absolute horror from my father. Her skimpy costume had become legendary and it would be interesting to see whether Ryder had been immune to its charms.

  He shrugged, his hands already splayed across my hips, a teasing glimmer in his blue eyes. “She was okay, although . . . .” His sentence hung, unfinished.

  “Let me guess. You loved her revealing top.” True to form, Ryder had succumbed to the power of her cleavage. “Typical guy!” I laughed, lightly slapping his chest.

  “Wait, I wasn’t finished.” He shifted in his seat and the friction it caused as the ridge in his jeans rubbed against the inside of my leg was sublime. Somewhere in the time we’d been dating, certain parts of my body had awakened to where even the slightest touch from him sent a wave of pleasure through me.

  Tonight was definitely the night.

  “Okay, I’m listening.”

  “I was about to say it made me wonder.” The heat from his stare was intoxicating and his grip at my hips tightened. “What would it take to convince you to wear something like that?” When his gaze dropped to my breasts, I knew our movie choice had been a wise one. He hadn’t seen Carrie Fisher, but had been visualizing me in the outfit that left little to the imagination. He wanted to see me naked, again.

  There were many ways I could’ve answered him—but only one right choice. Leaning forward, I captured his mouth in a slow, luxurious kiss that guaranteed that by the end of the evening, he’d get his wish.

  Layer upon layer of desire pressed through us as our tongues danced together, each dip careening us toward that place where logic was overruled by a deep-seeded longing. Whatever was keeping him from giving into the craving I knew he harbored; I was going to push him beyo
nd it.

  Kissing was no longer enough.

  The intensity he poured into his blistering touches and caresses wouldn’t satisfy the burning need we both carried.

  That last step kept us from fully being satiated and damned if I was going to spend another moment with that tight coil deep inside me ignored. I could sense Ryder reveled in how brazen I’d become—enjoying the sexual flush he always managed to spread over my skin.

  I was going to embrace who I had become and take what I knew he was desperate to give me.

  Something in my kiss must’ve tipped him off to my intentions because instead of deepening the connection, Ryder was the first to pull away, his breath ragged. “Skylar, wait.”

  “No, not anymore. I don’t want anything between us.” Reaching for the hem of my shirt, I pulled it over my head and dropped it behind me. I’d worn one of my new lacy bras—a soft pink with a tiny bow in the center—matching the panties I was wearing. It made me feel feminine and completely beautiful. It was the perfect accessories for the seductive web I was intent on spinning.

  Ryder’s eyes widen, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I could feel his hungry stare over my flesh. Licking his lips, there was no camouflaging the blatant desire that lit up his face. “I’m being serious.”

  “Baby, so am I.” I’d always wanted to say that. Releasing the hair clip that kept my locks neatly bound, my long red hair fell over my bare shoulders. When he groaned, I knew his resistance was weakening.

  “We need to talk. There’s something I need to tell you, first. Before things go too far.” Ryder’s voice sounded taut, like at any moment he could snap and whatever defenses he’d erected would come tumbling down.

  “They’ve already gone too far. I know you wanted our first time to be special, but honestly? As long as it’s with you, I don’t care.”

  “You deserve . . . .” My finger rested against his lips, silencing him. I wouldn’t let him distract me from my goal. He might be stubborn, but after tonight, he’d also know one new thing about me.

  I was done taking no for an answer.

  “Don’t make me wait, Ryder.” I whispered, revealing as much of my heart and yearning as I could. “Don’t say no. Give in to me.”

  Conflict spread across his features—an inner battle warring within him and causing his brow to furrow. “Sweetheart, you don’t know what you’re asking. I promise, give me an hour to share something with you, and then I’m yours, completely. I just can’t do this right now. No matter how much this is killing me.” He ground me into his lap, his erection rubbing against me.

  I was losing him. If I didn’t do something drastic, he’d talk me completely into a different subject, and before I knew it, I’d be back home, safely tucked away in my own bed.

  Rising, I didn’t give him a chance to speak. Instead I extended my hand and waited until he stood. For all intents and purposes, he might’ve thought he’d won and I was relenting for the moment.

  But I wasn’t. I’d simply changed tactics.

  Words were what always got us off track. They were poison to our passion, because Ryder always attached some kind of hidden meaning to them. Whatever he had to say would still be there afterwards.

  If words were getting in the way, then we would stop talking. Besides, speaking wasn’t the only thing I could do with my mouth that would grab his attention and prove I was beyond ready.

  It was his turn to lose his shirt, my nails lightly grazing over his chest as my fingers followed the trail of hair down to his waistband. There was so much I wanted to do with him just like this—images of other nights when I’d kissed and licked every inch of his defined torso flooding my mind. I loved the way he tasted, the way he’d moaned when my teeth scraped over his hardened nipples.

  He liked the way I’d explored him—each discovery leaving him a little more breathless than before.

  When my fingers began unbuttoning his jeans, our gazes locked and I heard him gasp. While I’d seen him without his pants, I’d never taken this kind of initiative. There was an incredible mixture of curiosity and anticipation in his eyes, now.

  Curiosity—to see what I’d do next.

  Anticipation—because if he was correct, I was about to rock his world.

  “Skylar?” Ryder’s voice cracked.

  I didn’t answer him as I lowered the zipper and pushed the jeans to the floor. I didn’t stop there as my fingers hooked his boxer shorts and did the same with them.

  I hadn’t quite decided what to call the huge erection that now jutted boldly out from between his legs. Penis seemed too clinical, dick too slang. The romance novels I enjoyed reading often called it a cock, but that word made me blush.

  In that moment, however, it wasn’t important, as I took in the sight of him standing there—silent, vulnerable, waiting to see what I’d do next. All that mattered was Ryder was magnificent.

  Suddenly any nerves that fluttered in my stomach evaporated and a new, more empowered sensation took over. He didn’t stop me, didn’t speak—handing over complete control of the situation to me.

  He trusted me. Trusted us.

  It was then that I realized there was no such thing as falling for me. I’d already fallen and this was my reward. His pleasure would become mine. I hadn’t even begun and already this simple act had irrevocably bound us closer together.

  Gently shoving against his chest, Ryder took the cue, his body falling back into the seat. Stripping down to just my panties and bra, the air all but rippled with sexual tension. It brushed over my skin, lighting up my own arousal. Paired with Ryder’s almost primal stare, I knew everything was about to change.

  I didn’t think. Taking his long shaft in my hand, I marveled at how silky his cock felt beneath my touch. There was no hesitation, no blushing. The importance of the moment took over and I leaned forward, taking the head of his penis into my mouth.

  Two things happened at once.

  First, Ryder’s guttural moan broke the stillness in the room. His reaction added fuel to my own the moment my tongue brushed over the sensitive tip, sending a shot of pure fiery tingles down between my legs.

  Second, something inside me fell away and in its place, a new, bolder me remained. There was no more pausing or taking my time to adjust to the new sensations. This was all about him and getting him to make that incredible noise, again.

  Opening my mouth wider, I took him in a little deeper, my tongue stroking the underside of his shaft before repeating the action. The more I did it, the more Ryder trembled as his fingers found their way into my hair.

  His response was addicting, triggering that part of me that needed to master any new experience. I needed to see what else would make him gasp, the skin over his thighs now pebbled as his cock hardened beneath my attention.

  Licking, sucking, stroking his rigid length—everything I did brought him pleasure. When I blew across the tip, a small bead of liquid appeared, fascinating me. Everything about Ryder tasted divine, and this was no different.

  “Oh, Skylar,” he groaned deeper. “Sweet Skylar.” My name on his lips sounded almost like a prayer, making me want to hear it yelled during release. He’d taken pride in reducing me to that state and there was nothing more I wanted, right now, than to send him hurtling there, himself.

  With a crooked smile on my face, I glanced up to find an enraptured glaze across Ryder’s features—his head tilted back, his eyes closed. He wasn’t quite ready, yet. I hadn’t brought him to that point of shattering.

  Taking his erection back into my mouth, my hand wrapped around the base of his shaft and I paused long enough to tease that sensitive spot, making him buck slightly off the chair.

  Once I found the perfect pace, I didn’t stop, not even when he tried to warn me he was ready to cum. There was no going back as I bobbed my head up and down, groans of pleasure increasing.

  He was so close. I could sense it—the air in the room almost tingling with electricity that threatened to consume us both. It was an incredible fe
eling. I never realized this would be so intense for me, as well. The assumption had been it was all for him, but somehow, with Ryder’s hands touching whatever skin he could find, I could also feel my arousal building.

  “Skylar,” he panted between clenched teeth. “I’m going to cum.” Each word came out in bursts. “I don’t want to . . . you need to stop so I can . . . .” Ryder struggled to speak in complete sentences as I ignored his pleas.

  A hot blast of something shot into my mouth, surprising me. He must’ve seen it because he took that second to quickly yank back, his shaft now free from my mouth, semen pulsing out from the wet tip. His abdominal muscles tensed as he collapsed backward, the evidence of his release milky-white over his stomach.

  I watched, fascinated, amazed that I’d done that to him and when the last of his orgasm subsided, a slow, satiated grin spread across his face. Licking the last drop from the tip, his cock twitched beneath my tongue and he erupted into a language I’d never heard before.

  The room slowly returned to normal and Ryder’s breathing settled to a more leveled tempo. When he finally opened his eyes and locked gazes with me, there was a depth there I’d never seen before. It was as if he had so much to say, but lacked the words to express himself.

  When he tried to speak, I shook my head, signaling it was okay. I didn’t need him to add anything to what had just happened. The reverent look he was giving me was enough. It was proof that it didn’t matter about the perfect location or time.

  The magic we created, together, would make any moment special.

  Hopefully now, whatever it was that held him back would pale in comparison to what we’d just shared. What had started as my need to prove him wrong had swiftly evolved into something much more pure and honest.

  And when we did have sex, if it was anything like what we’d already experienced, I would sear myself upon his very soul until he was mine, making truth of my whispered wish of wanting to keep him forever.