Her eyes popped open as she felt his lips on her stomach, kissing gently, then his tongue.
It was more than she could take; her knees buckled until she was kneeling with him. Still, he continued with his task, turning her head to make her look at herself in the mirror. His hands continued to explore her body as he whispered in her ear, “Beautiful.”
Having him in the image with her changed what she saw, morphing it. She felt as though there was a shift in her brain chemistry, as if she could finally see herself from a new perspective. She couldn’t concentrate on it for long, though. With him there, there was also a lot more to see. She gasped at the sight of his naked body. Turning away from the image to concentrate on the flesh in front of her. Her fingers trailed down his stomach, tentative, testing. His breath caught in his throat as he closed his eyes.
This time, she didn’t hold back. There was no reason to. She took her time exploring his body with her hands, then her lips, feeling him quiver beneath her touch. His eyes closed as he moaned with pleasure. She pulled him down onto the floor, even as he tried to motion towards the bed. She didn’t want to let go of him long enough to make that move. Her hand reached down tostroke him, surprised by how hard he was already. She could feel herself getting wet again with need. Her legs wrapped around him, demanding more. Following where she led, he thrust into her slowly, pulling back out just as slowly.
She let herself feel the complete ecstasy of it. The moan that escaped her was echoed by him, exciting her even more. She was doing this to him. She was making him feel this. She didn’t have to doubt that she was good enough.
Even these thoughts were pushed away as his hands travelled up and down her body, squeezing her breasts, running down her sides, producing a thrill of excitement everywhere he touched her. Her own fingers couldn’t get enough of the feel of his skin. His rough stubble rubbed against her cheek as he leaned into her. She pressed even closer, lifting herself into him as he maintained his slow thrusts of pleasure. Her hands pulled him tighter to her, grasping him, wanting all of him, causing his slow rhythm to change. Her breath caught as he pushed deeper, faster. Her fingers dug into his back, her frantic movements matching his.
“Penelope, I can’t hold….”
“Don’t,” she called out, riding the feeling, caught up in the wave of pleasure. One of his arms wrapped firmly around her, the other holding him up. His eyes sought hers, and she trusted herself enough to look into them. To let his sea-green eyes carry her away until she couldn’t handle it anymore. Her whole body spasmed as she cried out. His body went taught as he threw his head back, then collapsed into her.
He rolled them gently onto their sides, immediately protective of her comfort. His head dropped to rest on her breasts. Her hands moved to hold him there. Her mind was blank, but her heart was singing its happiness.
When she woke later, she was in the bed, his arms wrapped tightly around her. She tried to stay still for as long as possible, living in that moment, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. Embarrassingly, it was her stomach that gave her away, letting out a loud rumble.
“Ah, she’s awake.” His words tickled her ear. “And she’s hungry.”
Feeling brave, she decided it was her turn to take him off guard. Spinning to face him, she threw her leg over his, pulling him close. “In more ways than one.” She tried for sexy, faltering halfway through. The surprised look on his face altered the mood, and she found herself laughing instead. “Sorry.”
“Looks like you’re a fast learner,” he smiled back. “But, as much as I’d like to, I don’t think I can go again just yet. I need food. I was so nervous about this part of things earlier. I barely touched my sandwich.”
She hadn’t even noticed, too wrapped up in her own nerves at the time. But it made her feel better, knowing he cared enough to feel the same way.
“I don’t want to leave this room,” she pouted, even as she disentangled herself from him.
“And that’s why they have room service.” He pointed to the menu on the bedside table.
“Oh,” she perked up at that.
Penelope was even more excited to find out they also provided bathrobes. They pored over the menu, each draped in their white coverings, drinking the still cold but now flat champagne.
Finn made the call, ordering a variety of items and promising to share them all. She wondered if this was just new relationship behavior or if he would continue to be this generous about sharing food.
Her thoughts caught on the word relationship. Was that what this was? Was she really in a relationship? It was an overwhelming idea. Too heady to think about with him sitting right across from her.
“Now. That’s done. Come here to me, you,” he pulled her onto his lap, where they could look out at the landscape together.
Back in front of the window, taking in one of the most picturesque destinations she’d ever been to, then daring the view of the bed with its blankets askew and sheets rumpled, Penelope felt an overflow of emotion. How had she gotten so lucky? To go from feeling like a damaged lost cause to this.
“Finn,” her hands squeezed his arms, wishing she could better communicate everything inside her. “Thank you. For all of this.” She indicated the room, the view, her head tilting up to his chin as well. “It’s been absolutely magical. Everything about it.”
“It’s not over yet,” he reminded her.
From where she sat, Penelope heard her phone ping in a way it hadn’t in over a month. It occurred to her that it must be a work email and how odd that was. They usually didn’t start up again until August. Whatever it was about, though, it could certainly wait. She wasn’t moving an inch from where she was.
Or so she thought, until the knock on the door brought her back to her senses. She jumped off the couch like a child caught up after bedtime. Making a run for it, she grabbed up her phone and dashed into the bathroom, calling over her shoulder, “You get it.”
She knew he was laughing at her, but she didn’t care. She’d been more adventurous on this trip than ever in her life. That did not, however, mean she was answering the door to room service dressed only in a bathrobe.
Penelope heard them wheeling the food in and reviewing their order and decided to take the opportunity to check her work email.
The minutes passed. She didn’t notice the other voice going quiet, the sound of the door shutting, or Finn calling her name. Instead, she stood in silent shock, staring at her phone and reading and rereading the message. She jumped when the bathroom door opened.
“You okay? I said that you can come out now. They’re gone.”
