“Because we didn’t need to. Men have to know stuff like herds move north in the fall. As a woman, I just needed to remember that the edible roots usually grow right next to the bush with the pretty blue flowers. Don’t worry, you tell me what your hotel is next to, I’ll find you.”
“Seems like an imprecise way of traveling around. Although I like the sound of you finding me.”
“Don’t knock it. Sometimes my roots and nuts will save your meat-hunting backside. Survival is a team effort.”
“Ready to win one for the team now?”
Her brows knitted in confusion. “Uh…sure?”
“That’s an expression, Ava. Sometimes I forget you weren’t raised here.”
“So winning one for the team means something like giving us both pleasure?”
“Something like that,” he said, his voice turning gruff. “Forget the window stuff, just go to your bedroom.”
Ava took the few steps down the hallway and into her bedroom. “I’m here.”
“Set the scene. Describe it to me.”
She glanced around the room, trying to see it through his eyes. “I’ve painted it a rich, dark green. It reminds me of some of my favorite places I’ve studied. I have plants all around, small palms and orchids. Waking up to the sweet smell of flowers is one of life’s pleasures, don’t you think?”
“One of them,” he answered.
“I have a sweep of tulle making a canopy. It just didn’t feel right sleeping without netting.”
“Your bed, Ava. Tell me about your bed,” he said, his voice raspy.
She shivered, anticipating how she’d describe it to him. “It’s pure indulgence. After sleeping in sleeping bags and cots, I opted to pamper myself. I splurged on one of those pillowtop mattresses. When I lie down on it, I feel like I’m lying on a soft cloud.”
“Lie on it now.” His voice was a rough command.
Her footfalls were almost silent as she stepped across the hardwood floor. She stretched out against the silken khaki fabric. The material was cool, but her blood ran hot.
“How does it feel against your skin?” Ian asked.
“Cool and smooth. My comforter is silk, another indulgence, but I couldn’t resist.”
He chuckled. A sensual sound that seemed to come from deep inside his body. She responded to the earthiness of it, her skin growing flushed.
“I like that about you,” he said. “I don’t want you to resist a thing. Rub the material against your skin.”
Ava lifted a corner of her comforter and ran the silky material along the curve of her neck, and moaned into the phone.
She may have heard him groan. “That’s it, Ava. Tell me how it feels as you’re doing it. Touch your breasts.”
She heard the ache in his voice. The need. Her nipples tightened, and she grew wet.
“The fabric was cool at first as I touched my skin, but my body heat has made it warmer. I’m tracing the outline of my nipple. I’m watching it get hard.”
“You don’t turn off the lights?” he asked.
“Why would I?”
He chuckled again, but it sounded more like an agonized groan. “Not a reason I can think of. Touch yourself with your hands.”
“Where?” she asked, not able to resist a small tease.
“Between your legs, but get there slowly.”
Dropping the comforter, Ava cupped her breasts. Tweaked her nipples with her thumbs. “My breasts feel heavier. Warmer. They ache to be caressed. Kissed.” By him.
This time Ian did groan. “Go lower.”
Ava wound a wavy path down her rib cage. Her stomach muscles quivered under her fingertips. She’d gone down this path on her body before. Many times. But the sensations were more taut this time. That much more sweet.
“I’ve come to my panties.” Her fingers were toying with the elastic at her hips.
“What color are they?”
“Red.”
“My new favorite color. Touch yourself through them.”
“Through them?” Surely he meant under them. The rushing of her blood in her ears must be making him hard to hear.
“Yes, through them. That’s how I’d start. I’d stroke you over those sexy red panties of yours until…”
Her toes curled into the mattress at his words. She slipped her hand down over her body, down past the elastic of her waistband. Ava’s hand went lower until her fingertips rested between her legs.
“I’m there,” she said, breathless. Wanting so much more. Waiting for what he’d say next. Wondering what he’d have her do next.
“Run your finger along yourself. Along the folds of your skin. Gently. Get yourself used to my touch.”
Ava’s eyes squeezed tight. Ian had just made it personal, told her how he’d like to touch her. Her legs began to quiver.
She followed his instruction, skimming her flesh. With a tiny gasp, she arched into her hand.
“How does that feel?” he asked.
“Good. So good.” Her breath coming out in little pants.
“I think you can do better than that,” he said. “You get to feel. I want to hear.”
“It feels amazing, but I want more. I need more.”
“That’s good.” The utter satisfaction she heard in his voice made her smile, despite her blood feeling on fire. “Circle around your clit. Don’t touch, just circle.”
Ava traced around the small area, her body growing tighter in anticipation. “Is this the way you’d touch me?” It was hard to get the words out, she was so lost in the pleasure.
“Yes,” he said, his voice clipped and filled with hunger. “When I know you’re ready for more, that’s when I slide my hand down inside your panties.”
“Do you like that?”
“Nothing compares to following that path down your body. Feeling the heat of you against my hand. The wetness that tells me how much you want me. Slip a finger inside, Ava.”
She felt the warmth, the wetness. Her hips rose to meet her finger.
“Are you imagining it’s me?” he asked.
“Yes,” she hissed. The word long and drawn out. She was close, so close to coming.
“Imagine me taking off your panties.”
“How?” she asked. But whatever way it was, she only knew she’d want it to be fast.
“Maybe with my hands. Maybe with my teeth.”
She sucked in a breath, the image of his dark head down between her legs drawing her closer and closer to orgasm.
If Ian had simply told her what phone sex was in a casual conversation, she would never have guessed a man and a woman could get such pleasure out of the act. There seemed to be a lack of connection and visual stimulation.
But experiencing it was something completely different. Hearing Ian’s voice across the line, hearing how her words and actions affected him, it was very, very sexy.
Ava pulled her hands from her body and wiggled out of her panties. She tossed them to the side and snuggled under the comforter.
“Are your panties off?” he asked, his voice desperate, as though he needed to know. Had to know. “Yes.”
“Now I touch your clit. How would you want it, Ava? With my finger or with my tongue?”
“Both,” she said. Her voice nothing but a moan.
“Greedy.” He gave her that sexy chuckle. “I’ll remember that. I appreciate a woman who enjoys oral, who’s not afraid to talk about it.”
He’d found the right woman.
“Touch your clit.”
Ava circled around it for a moment, then found the exact right spot. She gasped.
“It feels good, doesn’t it, Ava?”
She nodded, so close. So very close to exploding right there with just his rich, sexy voice to urge her on.
“Imagine me touching you. Gripping you by the hips and sliding inside you.”
“Oh, yes.” Her muscles flexed. Her body strained.
“In and out I’d stroke. I’m caressing your breasts, licking the side of your neck.”
Her motions on her body became quicker, her fingers more urgent.
“And right when you’re about to come, I’d kiss you. I want to feel your gasp of pleasure with my lips. Come for me now, Ava. Come now.”