One Night Forever (The Cinderella Chronicles) (4 page)

The instant he completed
his task, Matt leaned forward and pressed his palms on either side
of her head. “Take your clothes off,” he said, his voice low and
powerful.

Her eyes went to his, and
he saw a flash of panic. Matt reached forward and touched her
bottom lip. “I want you to make a deal with me, Lauren.”

“
O…okay,” she
whispered.

“
This is my
house and I’m in control.” He paused. “No inhibitions allowed. You
do what I say.” He paused. “If you say stop, I’ll stop but be sure
you really want me to. Be sure it’s not fear that drives your
refusal.”

They stared at one
another. “Can you live with that?” Matt asked.

Chapter Five

Lauren stared at the sexy
man who now demanded she do the very thing she never did in her
life…give up control. Far less confident in the ways of sensuality,
she wanted to do just that. On the other hand, it scared her. But
she didn’t want to let this opportunity pass her by. Maybe, just
maybe, part of being this experience, this escape from reality, was
about letting go…completely.

“
Well?” he
said, his warm breath brushing her neck, and making her
shiver.

“
Okay,” she
whispered.

A slow smile slid onto
those full, perfect lips that were more an illusion of the moment
than reality. They had to be because no one was as sexy as this man
was. And no one kissed with the slow, perfect pleasure he
managed.

His finger slid from her
bottom lip downward to her chin, then her neck, and stopped at the
edge of her silk tank. His touch enticed a shiver and chill bumps
formed on her skin. He ran his finger over her shirt, and barely
touched her nipple. Instantly, it pebbled and the ache of pleasure
shot straight between her legs. The little slip of panties she wore
had long ago become drenched. Now, they simply needed to go
away.

With a step backward, he
shoved his shirt off his shoulders and let it fall to the ground.
Dark hair sprinkled a perfect chest Lauren longed to touch. This
was the kind of man fantasies were made of. Her fantasy. Here.
Now.

His voice snapped her
eyes back to his. “Get undressed,” he said, repeating his prior
order and leaning back to give her room.

She swallowed back
nerves. Refusing to look away, Lauren’s gaze held Matt’s, letting
him know she wasn’t running. Telling him she was in this to
completion. To satisfaction.

She didn’t give herself
time to back out. To get scared. She reached for the side of her
tank, and pulled down the zipper. Then, in one movement, she lifted
it over her head and tossed it aside.

She stood before Matt and
watched his eyes drop to her bared chest. His stare was hot and
heavy and her nipples tingled and tightened. He reached forward and
ran his index fingers around the peaks. The featherlight touch
seemed to steal her very breath. When he tugged lightly, she had to
bite her bottom lip to keep from moaning.

His gaze lifted. “Now the
rest.”

Lauren did as he said.
Moments later her skirt slid to the ground. She kicked it away and
stood there in only her panties and high-heeled shoes. But she
couldn’t help resting her back against the wall for support. This
was just sex, and she knew it. Still, she really wanted him to
touch her, and to show the tenderness he had before.

Matt closed the distance
between them, leaning in close, his hand on her waist. His mouth
lowered, close to hers. “You’re beautiful,” he
whispered.

Her stomach fluttered
with anticipation. She smiled, thankful for his touch and for the
intimacy she felt with him. He demanded but she felt safe. The
combination was unique. Compelling. Seductive. He seemed to know
when to drive her beyond her comfort zone and when not
to.

Her hand flattened on his
chest. “So are you,” she replied.

He smiled and brushed his
lips over hers. “I don’t think I’ve ever been told that
before.”

“
Hmm,” she
murmured. His lips brushed hers again. A spasm tightened her lower
body. God, she wanted him. Her arms slid around his neck to pull
him close. “And you know it.”

The answer was a red, hot
claiming of her mouth. Hungrily, he tasted her, his hand sliding up
her back and pressing her breasts into his chest. And she couldn’t
get enough. She flattened against him, loving the feel of skin
against skin. Hardly able to breathe as his hand slid over her ass.
With tantalizing results his fingers slid beneath then beneath the
tiny piece of satin she still wore, between her cheeks. Intimate.
Arousing. She moaned.

Her arms went around his
neck, needing the stability holding on offered. But, he didn’t give
it to her. His hands went to her wrists, removing them from where
they rested. “Face the wall,” he said, pulling his lips from
hers.

She didn’t dare ignore
his words but hesitation was hard to escape. His brow inched
upward. “Do it,” he ordered softly.

The tone of his voice
made her eyes widen. She swallowed and turned. A mixture of fear,
desire, and pulse-pounding anticipation thrummed in her veins.
Wanting this man, and the adventure of the night, she wasn’t going
to back down.

“
Hands on the
wall,” Matt said.

Her palms pressed flat
against the wooden surface. Before she had time to think, his hands
slid under her hips and he pulled her ass higher in the air. Lauren
swallowed. She’d never felt so exposed in her life, yet,
aroused.

An insatiable urge to
know all this night could be kept her from objecting. She was
completely still—waiting. His fingers slid beneath her panties,
skimming her skin, teasing. Inside, she trembled with the pure
arousal of her body. This man did things to her she felt all over,
in all kinds of ways.

In one swift movement, he
pulled the thin strip down her hips. She gasped though she didn’t
really know why. Only that she felt breathless as she waited for
what came next. It felt like forever before he touched her again.
When his hands settled on her cheeks, she felt relief. That’s how
much she needed his touch.

But when the scrape of
teeth rasped on the underside of her butt, it took her off guard.
Suddenly, he was between her legs, his mouth closing over her clit.
She stiffened and he patted her ass as if in warning. His mouth
lifted, leaving her wanting. Aching. Ready to cry out.

This was a game of
conquest and surrender, but neither were victims, and both were
victors. Still…this territory felt new and a bit frightening though
no less exciting. With a breath, Lauren forced herself to relax.
She didn’t want him to stop. It was a moment of acceptance, of
surrender.

As if confirming the
silent understanding, that he would take what he wanted, he urged
her to spread her legs farther apart. When she did as he bid, she
was rewarded. His mouth closed down on her, suckling with warm
insistence and with just the right amount of pressure, he explored
her body. She felt the tremble of her knees, dangerously close to
buckling. Her weight pressed against the wall, thankful for the
stability it offered.

Lapping at her with his
tongue, he filled her with sensation after sensation. Pleasure
pressed her to oblivion where she could hardly think. There were no
fantasies in her mind. Pleasure became this very moment. This very
second. The escalating tension of impending orgasm heightened as
his finger worked the silky folds of her body and slid inside. With
unmerciful insistence he worked her to the edge. To the moment she
cried out.

The sound disappeared,
stolen along with her breath, as the shudders of pleasure overtook
her body. On and on, the ecstasy overpowered, so complete it was
like nothing she’d ever experienced. And when, finally, she calmed,
there was a feeling of both satisfaction and need. The wait for
fulfillment she could not bear. But thankfully, her silent cry was
fulfilled.

Solved when Matt slid his
cock between her legs.

* * * * *

Tantalizing.

Lauren was that and so
much more. Somehow, Matt managed to undress and grab a condom out
of his wallet and made fast work of rolling it over his pulsing
body. His hands settled on the curve of her perfect ass. The other
guided his cock along her silky, wet body. If only he could feel
her fully. He hated condoms, yet understood the necessity. His
pulse beat at triple time as he slid along her flesh and watched
her hips rotate from side to side. Stroking him as if she was a
kitten. Purring with acceptance. And he wondered if she could
possibly want his cock inside her as much as he wanted it there.
Was her need as great as his was?

With a hard thrust, he
sunk deep inside her body. His hand slid to her stomach to both
hold her up and lift her against his hips. The moment he hit her
core, they both gasped. For long moments, he stilled, buried deep
in the sweet depths of their joining.

And then, wildness
unleashed. He drew back and then lunged again. Lust clawed at him
like a living, breathing thing. The price of pleasing her, of
holding back, now had to be paid. Over and over, his cock pounded
into her. A rhythm, hard and fast, formed. Animalistic. Potent.
Lauren moaned and cried out, pushing her hips against his. Wanting.
Needing. Taking. And then, he hit the point of absoluteness. He
shuddered with a release that touched each and every nerve ending
in his body.

When, finally, he
stilled, his legs were weak forcing him to withdraw from the
completeness of their connection. But, this was only the beginning.
There was much more to come. Picking her up, he carried her to his
bedroom. Her head rested on his shoulder. God, she was so sweet.
Holding her felt right. Matt couldn’t remember the last time he’d
had a woman in his room. Years, for sure. Back before he got smart
enough to avoid personal entanglement. In the back of his mind, he
warned himself about his actions. He didn’t have time for a
relationship. Nor did he need a woman who wanted him for his money.
Most, in his experience, did.

Yet, as he laid Lauren on
top of his bed, he had the oddest feeling of perfection.

As if it was a moment
that simply belonged to the two of them. Leaning over her, he
brushed a wayward strand of hair from her eyes. “I’ll be right
back.”

She nodded and smiled.
Matt walked toward the bathroom to clean up. His mind and body were
reeling from Lauren’s impact. She was the first woman he could ever
remember wanting with such…possessiveness? Hell, part of him was
afraid to leave her alone for fear she’d dart. It was a strange
feeling. One he didn’t understand and wasn’t sure he wanted
to.

Later, he thought as he
shut the bathroom door. Later. Enjoy her now. Think
tomorrow.

Chapter Six

A nice, tight
ass.

The bathroom light gave
her a short, but quite delicious, view of Matt’s backside. He was
scrumptious. Complete male perfection. And all hers if only for a
night. It amazed Lauren how comfortable she was lying on his bed,
naked…and, well, naked. Normally, she’d feel a lot shyer. But,
then, something told her if Matt came back and she was hiding he’d
order her to behave. She sort of liked his tough act. Perhaps,
because she already got the feel that control could be hers if she
wanted it. And, the power he embraced was something she had enabled
him with.

He hadn’t taken it. She’d
allowed him to have it.

Letting her gaze drift
around the room, she was thankful for the full moon outside the
large double panel windows. Even in the shadows, the room had a
strong, masculine feel to it. The bed was king-sized, with four
thick posts anchoring it high off the ground. It fit Matt. Though
she knew him on a purely physical level, she’d always had a knack
for picking up on character. He was strong and reserved. Even
guarded. The room gave off a vibe of power. Something he
valued.

The bathroom door made a
sound. Lauren lifted herself onto her elbows and looked to where
she knew Matt would appear. Naked and perfect, he stood in the
doorway, the light casting him in a clear, sexy visual. Tall and
broad, and muscled, he oozed of sexy. As she watched, his cock
hardened. Grew.

The man had
stamina.

A girl could get to like
that about a guy.

He walked toward her,
graceful, yet, on the prowl. Ready for more. Well, bring it on, is
all she could say. Bring it on. He stopped at the end of the bed,
pinning her in his steamy gaze. Reaching forward, he shackled her
calves, urging her toward the end of the mattress. When her feet
hit the bed railing, he pressed her knees apart.

His fingers traced her
calves. “You have a beautiful body.”

“
So do
you.”

Matt smiled at her words,
and then leaned down and brushed his lips over her inner thigh. She
felt the featherlight touch with a sprinkling of goose bumps along
her skin. What was it about this man that attacked her senses with
such fierceness?

Alternating lips, tongue,
and teeth, he inched upward, enticing her response. No. Taking it.
The closer he came to her core, the harder it became to breathe.
She watched him, trying not to get lost in what she felt. He
glanced up at her, those dark eyes so all-seeing. Heat lurked in
their depths. The kind that blazed like out of control fire, and
scorched anything near.