Blackbird's Fall - Jenika Snow Page 0,22

was a shaggy mess around his head, and he lifted his hand and ran his fingers through it.

He opened the mirrored cabinet and saw a pair of scissors. For the next few minutes, he cut away at the strands, making sure it was decent-looking. Running his hand over it to get out the last few strays, he braced his hands on the sink again. His cock throbbed, the need to be with Maya overriding all his better judgment.

The water in the tub wasn’t warm, but it was room temperature, since he’d brought it in from the well hours ago. It was better than nothing, and he needed to get clean. Besides, the cooler water might help tame his consuming lust.

He got undressed and stepped into the tub. Although he thought the water would help dim his arousal, what he wanted with Maya couldn’t be dimmed.

He made quick work of washing himself, his hard cock aching, his balls drawn up tight to his body. Reaching down and palming himself, he rested his head on the wall beside him and closed his eyes.

He didn’t want to make any noise, didn’t want to seem like a deviant if she overheard. But he needed to do this, needed release so he could think clearly.

He started stroking himself up and down, moving his palm over his cock until his breathing became shallow and the ecstasy washed over him. All he could think about was Maya in that dress, her big breasts pressed against the material, the little flowers printed on it making her seem innocent.

A small groan left him, but he snapped his mouth shut before it became too loud, knowing she was just down the hallway.

She was a few feet from him.

That had his desire rising harder, faster. And then he heard the creak of a floorboard just outside the door, and his heart beat faster with the thought she was out there listening, picturing what he was doing.

Thinking there was a small chance she might be getting pleasure from the sounds of him jerking off was enough of an aphrodisiac that if he were a weaker man, he would have gotten off right then.

14

This was wrong, yet here Maya was, not moving, trying to hear what was happening on the other side of the door like her life depended on it. She couldn’t even blame her arousal and what she was doing right now on the wine she had at dinner, on the fact that she was acting vulnerable, as Marius said.

Because although she was feeling warm and lightheaded, was hurting because she spoke of her parents, she knew what she was doing.

She stared at the door, heard the water splash slightly before feet on the wood flooring could be heard coming closer to her. Her breathing became even shorter, more labored. Her pussy was wet, her nipples hard under her oversized T-shirt, and all she could think about was Marius on the other side of that door with nothing on, the water sliding over his hard body.

She’d stayed in her room, having gone there after Marius pushed her away. But she knew he was trying to be the good guy right now. What he didn’t understand was that she needed this, wanted to be with him, not because she was sad, but because she wanted to be close.

This arousal she had for Marius was like a flame inside her, growing brighter, hotter with each passing day. She swore she could hear him breathing on the other side, and although she planned on staying right there, telling him how she felt, she turned around and went back in her room.

Closing her eyes and standing in the center of the floor, all she could think about was wanting Marius, feeling like she was meant to be here with him, experiencing this with him.

She breathed out and wrapped her arms around her waist, but just as she was about to head to bed, to put all this behind her and face tomorrow with fresh eyes, there was a knock on her bedroom door.

Turning, she watched as it opened. Marius stood there in nothing but a towel draped around his narrow hips. He was toned, not bulky, but lean, defined.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

She swallowed, her throat dry, tight. “I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t. Having him so close, seeing his body glistening in the candlelight, the fresh moisture clinging to his form, had her so heated she couldn’t even breathe.

“Good,