Araminta’s heart raced and pure terror enveloped her. The sharp fangs of the lion seemed to glint in the muted light. She jerked back, slipped and kept falling. She thought she might have screamed, but wasn’t certain. For a few brief moments, she couldn’t see or hear anything. It was terrifying to be plunging through a dark nothingness that wrapped around her and threatened to strangle her.
When she finally landed, it was with a thud on a soft padding. The breath had been knocked out of her so she sucked in air in big gulps. It was still poorly lit, but she could see the outline of furniture. She was in a room of some sort. She frowned as the objects came into better view. It looked like her bedroom at home.
A large male arm snaked around her, pulling her back against a massive male chest. Araminta opened her mouth to scream, but he spoke before she could manage to do more than squeak. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
She blinked once and then again. What was going on? Where was the carousel and how had she gotten home?
Warm lips nuzzled her nape, sending a blast of heat cascading through her entire body.
“You smell nice.” A large hand cupped her hip through the thin fabric of her nightgown, giving it a squeeze. “You feel even better.”
She knew she should do something, get out of bed, run away or at the very least, scream. Something. Instead, she lay there beside the strange man and absorbed his heat and quiet strength. Something about him calmed her fear and silenced her unease.
She turned onto her side so she was facing him, wanting to get a better look at him. She couldn’t see the color of his eyes or hair, but there was no hiding the hard planes of his face. His nose was broad and flat, his forehead wide. His jaw was strong and powerful, his neck muscular.
But it was his hair that made her gasp. It was gloriously thick and fell to just below his shoulders. She reached out and touched it, shocked when it felt soft and silky. She wanted to rub her face in it. Heck, she wanted to rub her entire body over it.
Which was crazy because she had no idea who this guy was. Still, she wasn’t alarmed or upset by that fact. She wanted to get closer to him, to snuggle against him.
A loud sound permeated the room, almost like something was purring. It took her a second to realize the sound was coming from him. She placed her hand on his chest and the vibration sank into the flesh of her palm. It radiated down her arm to her shoulder before moving lower to her breasts and still lower until she was squirming and her panties felt damp.
She pulled her hand back. “Who are you?”
“Yours.” The stark reply made her toes tingle even as her brain formed a dozen questions.
He moved so fast he was a blur. One moment, she was lying on her side watching him, the next she was flat on her back with him looming over her. He held himself over her on his hands and knees and leaned down to nuzzle her neck. Oh God, not her neck. It was one of the most sensitive parts of her body. She couldn’t help but groan when he did it again. He rasped his tongue over her jaw. His tongue was slightly rough and left a trail of goose bumps racing down her arms.
She licked her lips and grabbed onto her common sense. “This isn’t a good idea.”
“Why not?” Firm lips kissed her cheeks, her forehead and the tip of her nose.
“Ahh.” Araminta couldn’t remember what she meant to say when his mouth touched hers. His lips were soft and feathered across hers, leaving her wanting more. Without her permission, her arms rose, reaching for him.
He groaned and kissed her again. This time there was nothing soft or tentative about the caress. He captured her mouth and claimed it for his own. She slid her hands up his broad shoulders and strong neck before sinking them into his incredible hair. He groaned and thrust his tongue into her mouth when she lightly scraped her nails across his scalp.
Heat enveloped her. Her clothing felt too rough against her skin, too constricting. As fast as she had the thought, her clothing was gone, leaving her naked and open to his every touch.
He gave another rumble of pleasure that seemed to vibrate from deep within him. He skimmed one of his large hands over her side before arrowing in to cup her breast. Her chest was rather substantial, but his hand was so large he had no problem covering her breast. Her nipple stabbed at the center of his palm.
He was so much bigger than she was. Massive really. But she didn’t feel threatened by him at all. Maybe she was being crazy, but she didn’t care. She wanted him to touch her everywhere.
He was naked too, and she let her hands flow down from his scalp to his neck and shoulders and then lower to his amazing chest. Muscles rippled and flexed and he tensed beneath her bold touch.
She didn’t stop there but continued lower, wanting to feel the size and shape of his erection. She’d felt it briefly against her stomach, but it wasn’t enough. She had the urge to touch and taste this man until there wasn’t an inch of his body she wasn’t familiar with.
She wrapped her hand around his thick shaft, feeling the pulse of life and power, the heat radiating from it. Her sex spasmed and liquid trickled from her core. She licked her lips and pumped her hand up and down his hard length.
Hic cock was broad and long and she wasn’t certain she could even take him within her, but she wanted to try. That thought shook her. She’d had a college boyfriend who she’d slept with during their two-year relationship. And she’d had another long-term relationship after college that had lasted four years before she’d realized they ultimately wanted different things out of life and had broken it off.
She didn’t do torrid one-night affairs.
But she wanted to.
And she didn’t even know his name.
That thought made her tense. He purred again and rubbed his head against her neck and throat, nuzzling her sensitive skin. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”
He palmed her breast one final time before releasing it. Before she could be disappointed, his mouth covered one puckered nipple and sucked. Her entire body arched as pleasure slammed through her. He gave a low growl of pleasure and shifted to the other breast. His tongue was warm and wet and slightly rough against the taut bud. The sandpaper-like texture stimulated the already sensitive tip. She’d never felt anything like it in her life and she wanted more of it.
She wondered what that tongue would feel like against her clit and her mind almost exploded. A groan of pleasure escaped her and her hips arched against him. She rubbed her sex against his cock, letting the solid length slide over her swollen, needy clit. Her lips parted but no sound escaped as every muscle in her body clenched with growing need.
He released her breast and worked his way down her body, planting kisses on her stomach, hipbones and upper thighs. His hair brushed against her, adding another layer of pleasure to the delicious experience. It was soft and sensual against her skin and she moaned and lifted herself into his touch.
When he shouldered her thighs apart, she thought she might lose what was left of her sanity. His breath was warm against her pussy as he parted the slick folds with his thumbs. “You are so beautiful.” He leaned inward and lapped at her sex, up one side and down the other, his tongue setting every nerve ending alight with pleasure.
Araminta’s eyes almost rolled back into her head and she gasped. But he was only getting started. He lapped and sucked, his tongue slipping into her slit before pulling back again. She was almost crying, needing him to touch her clit. “Please,” she cried, tugging his hair.
He allowed her to lead him where she needed him to be. He closed his lips over the small bundle of nerves and sucked. At the same time, he ran his clever tongue over the distended bud. Stars exploded behind her closed eyes and she yelled. Her orgasm swamped her with wave after wave of bliss. He didn’t stop, but continued to suck and lick and tease until she couldn’t take any more.