The Best Of The Year - Modern Romance. Annie West

Eyes drifting shut, she reached out and grasped the bedpost, harsh pants of need exploding from her chest as she succumbed to the wonder of sensations buffeting her.

      At the base of her spine he lingered, flicked his tongue against her skin just above her panty line. He grasped her hips, his strong hold stamping his desire on her, and turned her to face him.

      Opening her eyes, she stared down into stormy grey eyes. His skin was flushed, his face stark with barely controlled desire. At the back of her mind Ana registered that he seemed as affected by the roiling sensation as she was, but the thought was fleeting. Because she read his intent and every muscle clenched tight.

      ‘No!’

      He paused, his sensual mouth so close to the wet evidence of her arousal. ‘You don’t like the idea of my mouth on you?’

      She shook her head, shivering when her hair brushed over sensitised nipples. ‘It’s not that. It’s just... I’ve never...’

      His eyes registered surprise, then morphed into a calculating, anticipatory gleam. ‘If you’ve never, then how do you know you don’t like it?’

      ‘Bastien, por favor—oh!’

      Shoving aside her thong, he placed an open-mouthed kiss on her, his tongue darting out to lick in bold sweeps. Sensation rocked her, completely sapping her strength. She collapsed onto the bed, helped in no small measure by Bastien’s firm push. She cried out, her back arching off the bed as he suckled.

      Ana should have felt ashamed—embarrassed at the wanton, pagan pleasure she was taking in the act being performed on her. But sheer bliss beyond her imagining had taken over. Her thighs fell apart and Bastien moved between them, his body surging closer as he continued to create magic between her legs.

      Her flesh tingled, tightened with minute, unfamiliar spasms that shortened her already depleted breath. The intensity of her reaction stunned her into screaming.

      The sound spurred Bastien on. He laid his mouth against her, teasing the ultra-sensitive place that finally sent her over the edge. She was vaguely aware of thrashing on the bed, unable to stop the fierce waves of ecstasy rolling through her, or to stop her fists from pounding against the sheets as she broke free and crashed in a blaze of fiery wonder.

      Gentle hands soothed her, brought her slowly back to reality. Opening her eyes, she encountered Bastien’s smouldering gaze. She was lying against the pillows, both legs trapped underneath his more powerful, hair-roughened one. He leaned on one elbow and with his free hand reached up to caress the damp hair away from her temple.

      ‘You’re so incredibly responsive, ma petite,’ he husked out, his voice sandpaper-rough.

      ‘That unbridled passion you hate?’

      ‘That unbridled passion I don’t mind so much in bed. Perhaps even a little bit out of it.’

      He swooped and devoured her gasp. He cradled her skull, imprisoning her, all the better to ravage her lips. Fresh, potent arrows of lust shot through her, invigorating her lulled senses, bringing them back to life. Her moan was smothered beneath their frenzied kiss. Her hands settled on the firm skin of his back. The need to feel every inch of him was a powerful urge tripping through her.

      Bastien made a sound: half-growl, half-encouragement. She traced the skin on the small of his back. When he moaned again she ventured lower, clasped his taut buttocks.

      It was only when he reared over her, settled his powerful frame over her, that Ana realised her panties were missing. Bastien’s thick arousal nudged against her, its hot, potent force sending a momentary pang of anxiety spiking through her.

      Sensing it immediately, Bastien eased his mouth from hers and gazed down at her. ‘You need not worry, Ana. Trust me. I won’t hurt you.’

      Something melted deep inside her. She exhaled shakily, unable to utter a word past the emotional lump in her throat. Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through the lock of hair that had fallen over his brow.

      Bastien kissed his way down her cleavage, changed direction to slowly circle one breast. Waiting for him to reach the hard pinnacle brought its own torture. But finally he took one nipple in his mouth. Her eyes fluttered shut and she gave herself over to her feelings. She touched him everywhere, including that utterly gorgeous hard erection. Her exploration was short-lived when he soon removed her hand and kissed the back of it.

      The sight of him sheathing himself flooded her with renewed need.

      Slowly Bastien lowered himself over her, his gaze capturing hers as he nudged her entrance. Tension, excruciating and urgent, flowed between them, feeding the heady anticipation of their union. A strangled moan escaped her throat as he probed deeper. Her fingers tingled, fluttered closer to hold him. Capturing her hand, he imprisoned it above her head. The thrill of semi-freedom sent a bolt of pleasure through her. With her free hand she clasped his buttock.

      He responded by surging into her.

      Her wince coincided with his gasp of disbelief.

      Ana tried to keep her face blank as his gaze searched hers, but she knew he’d caught her reaction. She closed her eyes as he froze.

      ‘Ana, look at me,’ he demanded hoarsely.

      She lifted her gaze. She’d been expecting disappointment, maybe censure. But she encountered a blistering gaze filled with a hunger that stopped her breath.

      ‘You’re beautiful. Incredible,’ he said simply.

      The words broke something free inside her. Instinctively she moved, sliding her inner muscles along his rigid length.

      A heartfelt groan rumbled through his chest. Acclimatising to the reactions of her body, she moved again, shuddering with the pleasure that came with the minute action. Bastien clasped her hips, stilled her.

      For endless moments he remained still. Then with a harsh groan he surged deeper. Ecstasy rolled through her. Eagerly she awaited his next thrust, her heart pounding when it arrived, more incredible than the last.

      All too soon the tingling began—fiercer, sharper than before. When it swept her away Ana knew she’d only experienced a fraction of pleasure the first time. Hoarse cries seared her throat as she soared higher and higher.

      Bastien plunged deeper, his movements frantic, his skin sweat-slicked as he dipped his head to kiss her. She responded with fervour, her senses clamouring to give him as much satisfaction as he’d given her.

      Their tongues met and he groaned deeply. With one last surge he tensed, freezing for a moment in time before a series of convulsions shook his frame.

      Ana clasped him to her, her chest meeting his hot, damp skin as he settled on her. Against her heart she felt his thunder wildly, echoing her own’s chaotic beat.

       Tu es perfecto.

      She wasn’t sure whether she’d said the words aloud. She didn’t care. She felt too replete, too sated. Her eyelids fluttered, drifted down. She tried to fight sleep, managed a feeble protest when Bastien dropped a kiss on the corner of her mouth and left the bed. But it was no use.

      And Ana’s last thought before sleep claimed her was that her life would never be the same again.

CHAPTER EIGHT

      HE’D PULLED THE sheet over her when he’d left the bed but now one foot had escaped. Its delicate arch teased him, taunted him with a want he’d hoped to ease by now.

      Bastien stared at it, willed himself not to reach for it.

       Focus!

      There were important things to work through, figure out. He needed to leave, to return to his own bedroom.

       You’re in your own bedroom.

      Hell, he was losing it. His jaw clenched tight.