Page 128 of Two-Step
I blink my eyes open, but then blink again. Darkness. I pop my head up.
“It’s okay,chère,” Beau says, running a soothing hand down my back. “The power’s out.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
BEAU
“Did we do that?”Iris’s voice is playful, but her body has gone tight—a different kind of tension than the one that fired through her limbs a moment ago when she conquered every last part of me. She’s nervous, alert to the strengthening storm and, bless her, balancing it with jokes.
I laugh, giddy with her, with this moment. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Bad news is it’ll probably be out for a while.” The air has already gone still around us. At least the house is cool as we head into the night. It won’t start getting too bad until the sun comes up tomorrow.
But I couldn’t care less.
If I had my way, this night would never end. Yeah, the winds are just getting angry. I can hear the old oak in Iris’s front yard groaning in protest. A branch that probably should have been trimmed before the storm saws erratically at the eves, making a haunting racket.
But, all in all, we’re safe. And we’re alone. Together. No one is going to barge in on this night. Hell, it’ll take some doing for anyone to even reach us by phone.
Lying naked beneath Iris, I don’t even know where the hell my phone is. Who cares? I’m in heaven right now.
I run my hands over her back, memorizing this feeling. Her body on mine. It’s like a drug. My muscles are heavy, drunk on pleasure, soothed with her weight and warmth.
“You okay?” I ask, mid-stroke. She seems okay, but a lot has happened today, and shit, we’re still in the middle of a hurricane.
She’s propped up on her elbows like a sphinx on my chest, her focus on the west-facing window. My eyes have adjusted, and even in silhouette, she’s every possible definition of beauty. She looks back at me, and I can barely make out her smile.
“That sounds intense,” she says, her voice a whisper, as if we need to hide from the storm.
I nod. “It’s intense, but we’re safe.”
Her hands grip my biceps—just like she did when I was inside her. “Are you sure?”
I squeeze her tighter. “I’m sure the house can handle this storm,” I tell her. It’s the truth. I mean, there are no guarantees the hurricane won’t deal us a rogue tornado, but if that happens, we’ll take cover. No need to have her worrying about that now.
“You sound pretty sure.” Her body relaxes against me, and she rests her head on my shoulder. God, she feels good.
The rain beats and the wind howls. Iris touches me the way I touch her, continuous light caresses. But as light as they are, they still send sparks through my chest. Because she’s choosing this.
She’s choosing me.
My God, I’m crazy about her.
She runs a finger down my sternum, sending electricity along each nerve. “It’s never been like that for me,” she whispers in my ear.
What?
I need to see her face. I roll her into the couch so we’re both on our sides. “What do you mean?”
Lightning flashes, and I see Iris biting her bottom lip as clear as day for one instant.
“Good,” she says softly. Even in the scarce light, I can see her shyness, I can see her hesitation. “Like that.”
“Never?”
She buries her face in my shoulder, and I know if there were enough light, I’d see her blushing.
“Not with anyone else.”
Holy shit.
