Chapter 7

Lucas's POV

Eleanor's eyes were practically overflowing with anticipation. I held her tightly by the hips, and I could feel her body trembling in my arms, like the surface of a lake rippled by a soft breeze.

She was even more sensitive than I had imagined. The slightest kiss to her inner thigh made her muscles clench involuntarily. I had never seen a woman react with such intensity.

My jeans were practically straining at the seams, my desire a hot, throbbing ache that begged for release.

When I first met her, I never would have guessed she would unravel me like this.

But I couldn't take her. Not yet. I was afraid she would regret it, that this impulse would become a source of shame for the rest of her life.

Honestly, my fascination with Eleanor was off the charts. Her responses in bed were more passionate than any of my exes combined.

Her gaze was the most potent aphrodisiac, and I doubted any man could resist her charm. The intensity of my desire for her was matched only by the fervor of my tongue.

But I couldn't let her call the shots right then. I had to control my own urges.

Eleanor's fingertips traced circles on the top of my head through the fabric of her dress. I could feel her urgency.

No. Not yet.

I lowered her legs and looked directly into her eyes, which were a confusing mix of dazed and wet. I knew she was completely lost in the haze of lust.

I wiped away the tears that spilled from the corners of her eyes, kissed her lips, and didn't let go until her breath became rapid, "I hope you are with me willingly."

A flicker of confusion crossed her face; she clearly didn't understand what I meant.

Her voice trembled as her legs snaked around me again. I was rock hard, and this was pure torture.

But I had to resist. I gently massaged her chest, hoping it would soothe us both. "Eleanor, I want you. Badly."

I fought to keep my breathing even, careful not to send her any mixed signals.

Eleanor's hand roamed across my chest, her fingertips a lethal temptation. She leaned in, the soft press of her breasts against me nearly sending me over the edge.

Her voice was laced with a wounded tone. "Then why won't you take me?"

"Because you're not thinking clearly right now."

My hand paused on her chest, my fingertips slightly raised to minimize skin contact. It was the only way I could maintain my composure. "You're acting out. You're pissed about losing to that asshole, so you want to sleep with me. This isn't what you really want. You'll regret it."

I pressed my forehead against hers. The lost look in her eyes only strengthened my resolve. "Eleanor, I will make love to you, but not now. I want you to be with me willingly, not because of some game, and definitely not out of spite."

I didn't know if Eleanor understood, but until she gave me her heart completely, I refused to take that final step.

If she were truly desperate, I was more than willing to satisfy her with my mouth and my hands.

I was confident that even without entering her, I could bring her to the heights of pleasure.

What I wanted was a woman who truly loved me, who cared for me. I wanted us to be soulmates, not just two bodies tangled together for a quick, cheap thrill—that was far too easy to find.

Eleanor was the only person who had ever made me want to build a deeper emotional connection, and I didn't want us to start on a messy, ambiguous note.

I lifted her chin. "I don't just want your body, Eleanor. I want your heart."

If all I wanted was a bed warmer, I wouldn't have gone out of my way to piss off the Volker family.

Eleanor pouted, a little disappointed, but thankfully, she was stronger than I thought. She quickly recovered, her hands climbing up to my shoulders as she pressed her body flush against mine.

She looked up at me, her eyes still shimmering with an unsated glow. "So, now…?"

"Now," I said, "I'll satisfy you. My way."

I scooped her up into my arms and carried her toward the room I had booked earlier.

The blush on Eleanor's face was as beautiful as a sunset, and her shyness made it impossible for me to restrain myself.

I laid her down on the bed and pressed my body over hers.

Her skin was as smooth as a mermaid's, sensitive and slick. A mere flick of my tongue left a trail of pink marks in its wake.

She was so responsive. Every touch sent shivers through her. She arched her neck, her legs wrapping tightly around me as if she were afraid I would suddenly leave.

I kissed her throat, feeling her body arch to meet mine, every muscle tensing in response.

Eleanor gasped, crying out my name in a haze of pleasure. She was so deep, and my fingers could only explore her slowly, pushing forward cautiously, worried I might overwhelm her.

She was like a marionette controlled by desire, her breaths and cries dictated by the movement of my fingertips.

"Lucas." Her voice was devoted and lost. Her eyes were misty, like a fawn lost in the forest.

She writhed beneath me, a wet patch already forming on the sheets.

"Eleanor, you are a revelation."

I had been with so many women, but her body was the one that captivated me.

I wanted to explore her deeper. I tried adding a second finger. Eleanor let out a sharp cry, her body contracting violently, clenching around me. I tried to pull back a little, but she clamped her legs together, grinding against my hand.

She looked at me with tear-filled eyes, nibbling on her own knuckle. "No, Lucas. Don't stop."

Holy hell.

In that moment, Eleanor's body seemed to glow. I crushed my mouth to hers, determined not to waste a single drop of her, whether it was the nectar in her mouth or the slick heat between her legs.

I found her G-spot and began to move my fingers in a slow, rhythmic motion. Eleanor's body rose and fell with my thrusts, and I was completely engrossed in watching her reactions.

I wanted to see more, so much more.

I added a third finger, then a fourth. My pace quickened, and the room filled with the broken, breathy sounds of our passion.

Eleanor bit her lower lip, her nails digging into my skin.

"Eleanor, you are absolute perfection!"

I left a constellation of marks on her neck. At some point, her hand traveled down, and the moment she closed her fingers around me, my breath caught in my throat.

I had been holding back for her sake. I gripped her shoulders, timing her climax, and then thrust deep. A warm gush of liquid erupted like a mountain spring, a sensation of immense satisfaction that simultaneously left me craving more.

After a few brief spasms, Eleanor's hazy eyes fluttered open. The skin between her legs was an unavoidable, beautiful shade of red, and my palm was sticky.

"Did you like that, sweetheart?" I kissed her forehead, soothing her.

She nestled into my arms, still breathing softly.

After her orgasm, Eleanor reverted to her cool, shy demeanor, a complete contrast to the woman she had been moments ago.

I loved that duality. Especially how she only showed her true self to me. It made me feel secure.

I kissed her forehead again, my fingers gently massaging the sore muscles at the top of her thighs, occasionally brushing against her most sensitive spot. Eleanor's breathing quickened once more.

I was very pleased with her reaction.

"Eleanor, my darling. You were my Eve, and I was your Adam. That night, our only mission was to taste the forbidden fruit until we were both utterly spent."