Forever After All(23)

“What are you doing?” I ask her, and I marvel at my ability to keep my tone light, when all I really want to do is lift her out of that tub and finish what she started.

Her cheeks turn bright crimson, the color extending to her chest. She looks so embarrassed, her barriers down, eradicated by the shame she’s clearly experiencing. She looks stunning, and oh so fucking innocent.

I tear my eyes away from her and grab a towel.

“Come here.”

Elena’s eyes widen, and I grin at her. “Come here, wife ,” I repeat.

She’s breathing hard, and when her gaze meets mine, I recognize the lust in those gorgeous eyes of hers. Lust, but also annoyance. Elena doesn’t like taking orders, and I love giving them, even if it’s just to see her eyes flash like that.

“Need I remind you that you sold your body to me?”

Elena rises slowly, the water gliding over her skin, and she takes my damn breath away. I clench my jaw in an attempt to stay in control, to keep myself from lifting my wife into my arms and taking her to bed.

She stands before me, naked, her eyes glistening with an unspoken challenge, and I smile at her. “Beautiful,” I murmur, my hand gliding up her arm and around the back of her neck, my thumb on her throat. Her pulse is racing and she’s breathing hard. I wonder if she even realizes that her body betrays her.

I lean in, and her eyes flutter closed as my lips drop to hers. I bridge the distance between us, and this time I kiss her slowly, taking my time enjoying those delicious lips of hers. Elena whimpers, as though she wants more, and I smile against her lips. She pretends to resist me, but the second I touch her, her body betrays her.

My hands roam over her body, her skin slick and wet against my fingers. Elena shivers just slightly, and I pull away from her. I grab the discarded towel and wrap it around her.

She looks disappointed, and I smile as I cup her cheek, my thumb caressing her lips. “Baby, we’ve got all night, and it’s my bed I want you in.”

Her eyes drop to my now wet shirt and she traces the damp spots with her fingers. Her touch sets me ablaze in a way I haven’t experienced in years, if ever at all. I grab her hand to keep it in place, and Elena presses her palm against my chest. The way she’s looking at me drives me crazy.

“This… this is how you looked at me at Inferno,” I murmur. “That look in your eyes, it’s been haunting my dreams ever since that night.”

Elena blushes, and I smile. “Tell me what you’re thinking. Do you want me, Elena? The way you’re looking at me makes me think that you’re wondering what’s underneath this shirt.”

Elena smiles, but she looks slightly nervous. “I… well,” she whispers. “Yes,” she says. “Yes, I’m wondering exactly that, and I intend to find out, Alexander.”





Chapter 17





A lexander



Elena looks into my eyes, both her palms pressed to my chest, a blush coloring her beautiful face crimson.

“Open them,” I say, placing her fingers over the buttons on my shirt. Elena bites down on her lip, a provocative look in her eyes. For a second I think she’ll disobey me, but then she does what I told her to.

I watch her as more and more of my chest comes into view. Her breathing quickens and her hands move over my body eagerly, giving away the lust she feels. She hates how much she wants me, and I’m loving every second of it.

My shirt falls open, and Elena gulps. I can’t help but grin. Everything about her is so genuine, her every reaction, every emotion displayed in her gaze.

I lift her into my arms and she gasps, her arms finding their way around my neck. I carry her to my bed and place her down carefully.

She looks up at me and grabs the sheets, covering herself up as best as she can. Her actions betray the nervousness behind her bravado, and I bite back a smile. I’m tempted to pull the sheets away so I can watch her lying in my bed, her pale skin in contrast with my dark sheets. But I let her be… for now.

Elena’s eyes are glued to my hands and I take my time shrugging out of my dress shirt. It falls to the floor, and she bites down on her lip. Her gaze roams over my chest and she takes her time admiring my abs, no longer even attempting to hide her desire.

I smirk when her eyes follow my hands down to my pants. I play with the button, enjoying the impatience in her eyes.

“Come here,” I tell her.

She hesitates for a split second before obeying. Elena rises to her knees, the sheets falling away. Her beauty takes my breath away—her body is utter perfection, and this woman, this beautiful woman, she’s mine.

I take her hands and place them on my fly, enjoying the way her eyes widen when she feels how hard I am.

“You know what to do.”

Elena looks into my eyes as she unzips my pants. She smiles when she places her hands on my hips, tugging on my pants carefully, dragging my boxers along too. I grin at her impatience and bury my hand in her hair, pulling her closer just as my clothes drop to the floor.

Elena’s eyes fall closed when my lips meet hers and I tighten my grip on her hair, kissing her harder, deeper. She moans against my lips and I lean into her. She falls back onto my bed, her hair spread all over, her body on display for me.

I smirk as I lean over her. Elena lifts her hand to my face, her fingers grazing over my cheek. The way she looks at me… It’s lust and contempt, all mixed together. Those eyes of hers… they make me feel things I shouldn’t.