«Marvin?»
With a quick shift, he picked up a chair and placed it under the camera. «He was a singer. Maybe I’ll play you a song of his someday.» Her healer planted his foot on the seat and rose to the ceiling where he disconnected something with a yank and got back down. «It’s good to dance to.»
«I do not know how to dance.»
He glanced over his shoulder, his lids dropping low. «Something else for me to teach you.» As her body warmed, he approached the bed. «And I’m going to like showing you how.»
When he leaned down, her eyes latched onto his lips and her breath got tight. He was going to kiss her — dearest fate, he was going to—
«You wanted to know what coming was,» he all but growled, their mouths merely inches apart. «Why don’t I show you what it is instead of tell you?»
On that note, he flipped a switch and put out the lights, plunging the room into a dimness that was broken only by the light in the bathroom and the line at the base of the door into the hall.
«Do you want me to show you?» he said in a low voice.
At that moment, there was one and only one word in her vocabulary: «Yes. .»
Except then he backed off.
Just as a protest was about to jump out of her throat, she realized he’d stood in the line of illumination that streamed in from the bathroom.
«Payne. .»
The sound of her name leaving his mouth had her struggling for air even more. «Yes. .»
«I want you. .» Reaching for the bottom of his loose shirt, he pulled it up slowly, exposing the carved muscles of his stomach. ». . to want me.»
Oh, sweet destiny, she did.
And he meant what he said. The more she looked, the more those abdominals of his curled and released as if he were breathing hard as well.
His hand drifted down to his waist. «See what you do to me.» He smoothed the baggy fabric over his hips and. .
«You are phearsom,» she breathed. «Oh. . fates, you are.»
«Tell me that’s a good thing?»
«It is. .»
She stared at the rigid length that was confined and straining against the front of his no longer billowy slacks. So thick and smooth. So big. The mechanics of sex were not unknown to her, but up until now, she hadn’t been able to fathom why they would appeal to a female. Looking at him now? Her heartbeat would cease and her blood would turn to stone if she didn’t have him within her.
«Do you want to touch me?» he growled.
«Please. .» She swallowed through a nearly closed throat. «Oh, yes. .»
«First, look at yourself, bambina. Lift your arm and look at yourself.»
She glanced down just to humor him so they could get on with things—
Her skin was aglow from the inside out, as if the heat and the sensations he called forth from her had manifested themselves in illumination. «I know not. . what this is. . »
«I think it’s the solution, actually.» He sat down next to her feet. «Tell me if you feel this.» He gently touched her lower leg, laying his hand upon her calf—
«Warm,» she choked out. «Your touch is warm.»
«And here?»
«Yes. . yes!»
When he went to move it upward, onto her thigh, she furiously yanked the coverings off of herself so she would have no impediments. Her heart was thundering and—
He laid his palm upon her other leg.
This time, she felt. . nothing.
«No, no. . touch me, touch me again!» The demand was harsh, her focus manic. «Touch me—»
«Hold on—»
«Where did it go — do it again! By all that is holy with your God, do it anew—»
«Payne.» He captured her frantic hands. «Payne, look at yourself.»
The glow was gone. Her skin, her flesh. . was normal. «Damn it all—»
«Hey. Beautiful. Hey — look at me.» Somehow her eyes found his. «Take a deep breath and just relax. . Come on, breathe with me. That’s it. That’s good. . I’ll get it back for you. . »
When he bent toward her, she felt the gentle stroke of his fingertips on her neck. «You feel this?»
«Yes. .» Impatience warred with the effect of his deep voice and his slow, meandering touch.
«Close your eyes—»
«But—»
«Close them for me.»
When she did as she was told, the pads of his fingers disappeared. . and were replaced by his mouth. His lips brushed her throat and then sucked at her skin, the subtle pull unleashing a welling heat between her legs.
«Feel this?» he said in a gravelly voice.
» Fates. . yes. .»
«Then let me keep going.» With subtle pressure, he urged her back against the pillows. «Your skin is so smooth. . »
As he nuzzled at her, the sound of his mouth made delicious clicking sounds below her ear, and those fingers of his traveled back and forth on her collarbone. . then dipped down. In response, a curious, languid warmth boiled in her torso and tightened up her nipples, and she became aware of her whole body. . every inch of herself. Even her legs.