Degrees of Passion Read online

  Kevin made a light sound and she couldn’t be sure what he meant by it. She looked into his guarded eyes, almost fearful that he would change his mind. Or worse, that he’d laugh at her. What was it about this man that made her feel so unsure of herself?

  But Kevin’s actions were anything but mocking. His hands slid round to her back, tugging her into the strong fold of his chest. She moaned, unable to stop the sound of approval and invitation. He didn’t hold back, as he crushed his mouth to hers. His tongue slipped over the seam of her mouth, urging her lips to part. When she obeyed the request, his tongue probed past the barrier of her teeth, instantly massaging up against her tongue. His grip tightened, forcing her body into his.

  Her eyes opened briefly and she saw a piercing intensity staring back at her. Kevin pulled away. Without saying a word, he cupped his hand against her cheek. She kissed his palm, holding his gaze. A small smile lifted one corner of his mouth. He tilted his head to the side, motioning towards the short hall next to the living room.

  Fingers slid from her face and he turned, leading the way down the hall. He didn’t pull her behind him, didn’t force her in any way. As she took each step she knew it was her decision, her desire to follow. The hall led to two open doors – a bathroom and his bedroom. There wasn’t much by way of decoration in either.

  Kevin flipped the light switch and a lamp on the far side of the room lit up, casting the bedroom in a soft glow. A queen-sized bed dominated one wall of his bedroom next to a square brown nightstand. No scrolled woodwork, no decorative end pieces, just plain, boxy mahogany-stained wood with matching wooden knobs on the drawers. A flat-screen television hung on the wall opposite the bed with a small table beneath it with a DVD player and a stack of movies.

  ‘I like your minimalist approach,’ Sasha said with a small chuckle.

  ‘Is that a polite way of saying I decorate like a guy?’ Kevin sat on the black comforter covering his mattress. He kicked off his shoes with two flicks of his toes. The unmistakable bulge between his thighs proved how much he wanted her. A small wave of trepidation washed through her, again tightening her stomach and causing a light tremor to work down her arms. ‘Take off that shirt.’

  The directness of his tone commanded more than requested. His hot gaze didn’t look away. Sasha wondered if she was brave enough to play this game. Kevin was so serious, his eyes so penetrating. He didn’t back down from his challenge. Sasha reminded herself that she’d spent too much time working out to be nervous about being naked now.

  A soft glow haloed his chiseled body. Sasha reached for her T-shirt, slipping it over her head. She held it to the side and dropped it onto the floor. She wanted this night with him and she was going to take it. Without waiting to be commanded, she took off her shoes, socks and jeans, kicking the clothing aside so that she stood before him in her black satin push-up bra and black boy-cut cotton panties. Had she known the night would end like this, she would’ve taken more care in her undergarments.

  Kevin bit his lower lip. His gaze raked slowly over her from head to toe and back again. He leaned back on his elbows, his thighs falling open in a relaxed, yet incredibly seductive pose. Sasha took him all in, enjoying the look of his strong chest, small erect nipples, the curve of his shoulders. She detected no real measure of fat on his muscled frame.

  ‘Take it off.’ He nodded towards her chest. ‘I want to look at you.’

  Sasha again found herself hesitating in nervousness. Biting her lip, she reached behind her back to unhook the bra. It fell forwards, clinging loosely to her breasts. Kevin’s breathing deepened.

  Sasha turned around, before she let the bra slither off her arms to the floor. She stared at the white wall opposite the bedroom door. Through her peripheral vision, she could see the white tile of the bathroom floor, the outline of a dark towel hanging on the side of a clear plastic shower stall. She didn’t hear him move, merely felt the brush of a finger down her spine.

  ‘You’re beautiful.’ His breath whispered past her throat, tickling in its gentle caress. The light movement glided along her flesh, down her back, across the top of her panties, over a hip and back again.

  ‘Ah-oh, thanks.’ Sasha tried to speak, but no coherent thought made it past her lips. She shivered and her breathing rasped. The exploring finger moved around to her stomach. Heat from his arm radiated onto her waist, as it bumped her arm away from her side. Feeling weak-kneed, she braced her hands on the doorframe.

  Kevin’s finger traced the top of the boy-cut panties to just below her navel before taking the trip up to circle the small divot. The heat of him spread to her back and ass as he drew closer, not fully pushing himself against her, but close enough that every nerve jumped with awareness. His fingers skated up to her breast, dancing along the bottom of the globe before moving to boldly tweak her nipple. An instant jolt of pleasure shot through her.

  Kevin pressed along her back and she felt a combination of his thick arousal and stiff denim against her ass. The intimate touch filled her with nervousness and excitement. It welled inside her. He gripped her chest, holding her close. With his free hand, he reached down her panties.

  Sasha made a weak noise and squirmed against his hand. He knew what he was doing as he parted the moist folds of her sex. The weight of his body forced her forwards, causing her elbows to bend as she leaned near the wall next to the doorframe. She closed her eyes. Kevin kissed the side of her neck, biting lightly as he continued to rub along her slit.

  Almost frantic, she reached behind her to tug at his jeans. The open zipper snagged her cotton underwear. Somehow, she managed to pull them off his hips, freeing his boxers even more.

  Kevin’s mouth traveled down over her shoulder, sprinkling kisses along the way. He took his time, licking and nibbling from ear to arm until she trembled for more. Soft, mindless pleas escaped her lips. His finger pressed lightly against her clit, moving in firm, perfect circles. The tension of release loomed, but he knew how to bring her to the brink of climax only to keep her from falling over the edge.

  ‘Ah, please,’ she begged, thrusting her hips back. The length of his erection fitted to the cleft of her ass.

  Kevin complied, twirling her around so fast and hard she barely had time to center herself before he had her pinned to the wall. Sasha worked the pants from his hips, using her leg to stroke the outside of his and jerked them down completely. The soft glow of lamplight outlined him. She loved the smell of his cologne and buried her face in his neck. Her hands discovered the smooth texture of his chest as her mouth explored his throat and jaw.

  Sasha felt as if her body was on fire. She draped her arms around his neck. Kevin moaned in rough pleasure, angling to take her mouth with his. He gripped her hips, quickly ridding her of her panties before doing the same with his boxers. Finally, blissfully naked, she eagerly pressed her hips forwards to the smooth heat of his arousal. Thick and hot, it felt like it could burn her. Maybe it was the liquor or the headiness of his drugging kisses, but she easily imagined herself the star of some porno flick pressed to the wall by a handsome rogue of a man. Laughter erupted from deep inside her. Not that this college girl would ever admit to having watched an adult film.

  Kevin leaned back questioningly to study her face. A brief vulnerability filtered through his confident gaze. The look tugged at her heart and stole the breath from her lungs.

  Sasha parted her lips, following his retreating mouth with hers to resume kissing. His hands cupped her ass, holding her tight against his hips as he rocked into her belly. She forced him back, walking him towards the bed. As soon as his knees hit, he tumbled onto the mattress, ripped from her embrace. She grinned. His legs hung off the end of the bed, but she didn’t wait for him to climb all the way on before joining him.

  Sasha straddled his thighs, bumping her sex up along the underside of his cock but not pressing her full weight down on him. Kevin crawled back and she followed him until they were in a more comfortable position. She slinked her body along his, rubb
ing her aching nipples to his chest.

  Sasha wanted to savor every moment. She only had this one shot. This was a one night stand and she refused to think about tomorrow’s social consequences. So what if there was an awkward tension between them after tonight? It wasn’t like they crossed paths on a regular basis.

  Even so, there were physical consequences every educated woman had to respect. She sucked at his earlobe, whispering, ‘Condom?’

  He pointed to the nightstand behind her. ‘Top drawer.’

  Sasha crawled off the bed to grab protection and opened the top drawer. Inside, a stack of dirty magazines dominated most of the area. A smiling, almost vacant-eyed woman stared out at her in an army jacket and nothing else. The model angled in such a way so that nothing graphic showed, but there was plenty of teasing flesh. Sasha pushed the magazines aside and found a new box of condoms in the back.

  Sasha tore open the box, took out a condom and tossed the rest of the pack on the bed. Freeing the rubber from its shiny metallic package, she again straddled Kevin’s legs. His gaze danced over her body, sweeping over her chest and hips. For the first time, she looked directly at his arousal. The shaft was thick and long enough to please without being too much. Sasha pinched the tip of the condom and fumbled to unroll it down the shaft. Kevin groaned, his hips lifting from the bed.

  Sasha kissed his stomach, liking the way he tensed. He touched her where he could reach, massaging her shoulders, running his fingers into her hair. His erection stood tall from his narrow hips. By the twitching indecisiveness of his movements, he was obviously torn between pulling her up his body or pushing her mouth downwards.

  Sasha didn’t move to take his arousal into her mouth. Instead, she teased him with her lips, making a leisurely trip across his chest, along his throat, to his earlobe before cutting across to his mouth. Soft primal noises sounded from both of them. She ran her hand lightly over his flat stomach and thighs until his body squirmed beneath hers.

  Kissing at his neck, she scraped her nails in small circles down his chest, enjoying the way his body responded. She palmed the base of his shaft, stroking her hand up and down over the slick rubber, careful not to pull it off. To her surprise, he seemed to get harder with each pump of her hand. His hips thrust to keep the rhythm she set. Kevin closed his eyes in rapture. She cupped his balls, rolling them gently before venturing to the hidden stretch of flesh beneath the soft globes.

  ‘Come here.’ Without giving her time to obey, he flung her onto her back, taking instant control. ‘Mm, you smell delicious.’

  Kevin threaded his legs between hers and she parted her thighs to allow him complete access. He explored her chest, sucking each nipple as his hand played along her moist pussy, stimulating her clit.

  Sasha couldn’t take much more. She needed him. Now.

  Urgently, she forced him to her by hooking her legs around his waist. Kevin guided himself along the opening of her sex. He entered her hard, drawn forwards by the pull of her commanding legs. She let loose a long sigh of pleasure as he stretched her muscles. She met his eager thrust, whimpering as he seated himself completely.

  Sasha didn’t think, didn’t reason, only reacted to the raging hormones coursing through her blood. Her thoughts became a series of fleeting sensations – a tickle of hair against her cheek, a brush of firm lips to her jaw, the stroke of his cock, the sweep of his leg against her inner thigh.

  ‘You feel like paradise.’ Kevin groaned, stroking in deep, perfect thrusts. ‘Warm and wet.’

  Lifting up, he quickened his pace. Sasha liked the look of his body over hers, liked watching the muscles beneath his tight flesh and the sound of his confident voice. He turned over once more, flipping onto his back, pulling her along with him. A small smile crossed his face as she rode him. His intense gaze went to her chest, followed by his hands. She braced herself on his chest, kneading him violently as the tension of release built between them.

  ‘Aw, you feel so good.’ Kevin held onto her hips, helping her move.

  Sasha wanted it to last for ever, but she couldn’t stop her body’s response. She cried out, closing her eyes tight. Her nails raked his chest. Climax surged forth, erupting to spread over her entire body. Her bones felt as if they melted inside her. Kevin groaned, loud and long, jerking hard as he came.

  She slid off him, falling onto the bed. Her body lay next to his, their thighs touching. The room felt warm and sweat beaded over her flesh, causing her to glisten like she was covered in tiny diamonds.

  The smooth gratification of aftermath was replaced by a strange awkwardness. What now? Her mind drunkenly swam. The liquor kept her relaxed enough so she didn’t bolt for the door. Still, she wasn’t sure what to say.

  Thanks? Was it good for you? See you around? That’ll be fifty bucks?

  Sasha giggled at the last one. Kevin shifted and she peered at him from beneath her lashes. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She tried to think of something clever, something offhand to show just how au courant she really was.

  ‘Why don’t you stay the night?’ Kevin didn’t give any emotion away, though there was a softness to his expression that hadn’t been there before. She tried to read into it, but he blinked turning his gaze to the ceiling. ‘I can cook us breakfast.’ When she didn’t answer, he said, ‘Or you can go. Up to you. I won’t force you.’

  ‘I—’ Sasha rolled to sitting. She didn’t want to go, but wasn’t sure what to do if she stayed. A ringing phone saved her from answering. She glanced at him.

  ‘It’s not mine.’ Kevin shrugged nonchalantly.

  Thankful for the excuse to leave the room, she hurried down the hall to her messenger bag. She fumbled for her cellular, flipping it open without looking at her caller ID. ‘Hello?’

  ‘Sash? Is that you? Are you all right? You sound strange.’

  Sasha froze in horror. Trevor!

  Kevin watched Sasha hurry from his room like he’d just set the mattress on fire. He’d seen the terrified look on her face the second he mentioned her staying with him. Though he had to admit that, even mortified, she was stunning to behold.

  Her trim body looked like it took hours of effort in the gym and he’d seen the way her eyes warred with indecision when she stared at the nachos he ordered at the bar. Only dieting women stared at food like that, denying themselves a taste of what they so obviously wanted. He’d seen that look before and knew the last thing he needed was to get involved with another self-obsessed female. Kevin lightly touched the scar on his chest. He’d had enough of those in his life.

  It had taken a lot for him to admit he wanted Sasha to stay and the fact she didn’t automatically take him up on the offer hurt. Kevin wasn’t a man used to expressing his feelings, especially to those outside his family. The last woman he’d said ‘I love you’ to had done a number on him and it left him skittish around the fairer sex. Of course, that had been in school at an age when falling in love generally came easy.

  Kevin watched the door, waiting for her to collect herself and come back. He knew the phone was just an excuse, as was evident by the way she practically ran to answer it. Offering to let her stay the night had clearly freaked her out for some reason. And here he thought the evening looked incredibly promising.

  He couldn’t believe she was here, in his home, his bed, his arms. Her skin was as soft as he imagined it would be. Sasha had a way about her. Since the first time she walked past him on the sidewalk outside of class, her lovely dark-blue eyes looking right through him, he’d been fascinated. There was something about her that made him want to know more. They’d spoken a few times in class, saw each other at parties, but, no matter how he tried to work it, he could never get himself into a position to really talk to her. Until tonight.

  She’d looked so lost and lonely as he watched her throwing back shots. Somehow, he knew it was his time to go after what he wanted. He slid next to her at the bar and by some blessing he found the nerve to speak. Conversation flowed, seamlessly moving from topi
c to topic, from joke to rant and back again. Of course, she did complain about this recently ex-boyfriend of hers quite a bit, but he chose to ignore it.

  His sated body protested movement, even as he forced himself out of bed. Grabbing a robe, he slipped it over his arms and quietly crept down the hallway to eavesdrop.

  ‘Yeah,’ Sasha’s voice carried weakly from the living room. ‘Yes, I’m here.’

  Kevin crept closer, angling his head so he could hear as he hugged his back against the wall to stay hidden.

  ‘I’m tired,’ she said, the words rushed with an almost desperate need to get out of her mouth. ‘I’ve been, ah, studying.’

  Studying? Kevin felt like she’d slapped him. He knew she didn’t want to be seen coming to his room, but a small part of him hoped that . . .

  Hoped for what? He frowned. One evening, one crazy tattooing experience, one great bout of flirting and sex and he expected what? Commitment? Love? A relationship? The promise of something more? A beginning?

  So what if they started this thing a little hurriedly, rushing from date one right into bed? Maybe he’d get lucky and she’d hang up the phone, come back into his arms and give him a chance. Kevin shook his head, not moving. He knew he shouldn’t listen, but he couldn’t force himself back into the bedroom.

  ‘Sasha?’ Trevor insisted when she didn’t answer his small talk. Sasha heard soft music behind him and the sound of passing cars going by an opened window. ‘Are you sure you’re all right? You sound—’

  ‘I told you I’m just studying.’ She glanced around the room, trying to think of what to say to her ex-boyfriend. Sasha wasn’t one to lie, yet the truth would hardly serve in this situation. She couldn’t help the guilt that pumped through her. ‘I need to come up with a list of ideas for my masters project.’

  ‘Oh, that makes sense.’ The words were quiet, almost like he said them to himself and not her. Trevor Roosevelt Kingston the Fifth was a legacy to the city, came from very old money with titled ancestors, a well-known family crest that appeared on some of New York’s more upscale buildings and a trust fund big enough to make a sultan envious.