in my ears, and my trembling hands come up to rest over Becker’s on my hips as I stare into the darkness. I squeeze them, indicating where I’m at. I’m looking for reassurance, and when he closes in behind me, returning my squeeze, pushing his chest into my back, I know he’s comprehended that. ‘Don’t be scared.’ His breath tickles my ear, increasing my pulse rate.
Yes, I am a little scared. But nowhere near enough to hold me back. My muscles engage, and my right foot gingerly comes up to rest on the first step. He doesn’t push me on or express any impatience. He just manipulates our hands so they’re entwined, still held at my hips, and waits patiently for me to find whatever strength I need to negotiate the steps.
One by one, I tackle them, willingly venturing into the darkness. My legs are stable and unfaltering now, my mind accepting, yet I still feel like I’m stumbling into the unknown.
We round the circular staircase, our feet hitting the treads the only sound, until a dim light comes into view, seeping from under a wooden door.
Becker gives me one final super-squeeze of my hands and releases them, stepping to the side and swiping his card. The door creeps open, bathing us in hazy light and revealing the mystery of the glass wall that keeps guard over the Grand Hall.
Becker’s apartment.
Chapter 25
I take it all in on a quiet hitch of breath. It’s sparse, a massive contradiction to the rest of The Haven. The floor is black, with flecks of sparkling glass broken and engrained within the smooth marble, and the walls are covered in a graphite-grey wallpaper behind silver frames of various sizes. In every frame is a black-and-white map of a country, the smaller ones displaying islands and slighter countries, the bigger frames showcasing countries such as Russia, China and America.
‘I’d show you around, but I’m feeling a little impatient.’ He whirls me around and yanks me into him. My body crashes with his, and I look into his eyes, my breathing shallow. A light fingertip ghosts across my brow and down my cheek, Becker’s eyes trailing it, until he reaches my lips. Then he secures my nape with a firm palm and moves in, lowering his mouth to mine.
My groan of pleasure echoes in the space around us, welcoming him to do what he has full intention of doing. Possess me. I have no influence over that now. I’m vulnerable and weak. Yet somehow calm and strong.
My hands find his hair and I take the greatest of delight when he moans his pleasure, weaving through the strands and gripping harder when he ups the ante of our kiss. ‘Skin,’ he mumbles, desperately pulling at my dress. My hands free his hair and my arms rise, permitting and willing him to hurry. My dress is gone, almost as quickly as abra-fucking-cadabra, except this time it’s still in one piece. Not that I care. It’s tossed aside blindly, and then he’s up close again, burrowing into my neck while his hands locate my bra strap.
Closing my eyes, I inhale and drink in his scent, feeling drunk on pleasure and anticipation. I feel the clasp of my bra give. I feel his hands dragging across my skin as he pulls it around my back. I feel his teeth biting lightly into the flesh of my shoulder. I feel his cock pressing into my stomach. I feel his heart hammering against my chest. I feel mine, too. ‘Becker.’ His name is more a plea, released on a shaky breath of air.
‘Shhhh,’ he soothes, taking my bra straps lightly and stepping away, breaking all contact between us. I hate it. I want him close again, touching me. But Becker has other ideas. He releases my straps and watches as my bra slides down my arms and tumbles to the floor, exposing my nipples to dark, appreciative eyes. I stand before him in just my satin knickers and heels. ‘The heels stay,’ he whispers hoarsely, his lip slipping between his teeth as he runs his eyes up and down my body. I have no desire to conceal myself. I don’t feel shy or hesitant. Not even when he drops to his knees and slips his thumbs into each side of my knickers. Looking up at me, he lazily drags them down my thighs and I step out of them as soon as they reach my ankles. Then he rests back on his heels