Sondrae Bennett: Chasing Paradise

Gwen’s mind whirled. What was she doing? Each step brought her closer to the elevators, but she couldn’t dispel her doubts. This was so unlike her. She never acted impulsively and certainly not about something like sex. Glancing back at Ethan, she bit her lip and wondered what it was about this man that made her ignore all her rules.

It wasn’t as if the rules regarding sex were strict or overwhelming, but she never jumped into bed with hotel guests, never slept with a guy on the first date, and she never had sex with someone without knowing what would happen the next day.

With Ethan, she pretty much threw all three rules out the window. But the moment he’d put his arms around her, nothing else mattered. Her otter glorified in this wolf’s touch. With each beat of her heart, the word mate thrummed through her body.

Each step closer to the private staff elevators brought a new doubt. Could she actually go through with this? No. It was too irresponsible. But as she turned around to apologize and call it off, she looked up into Ethan’s smiling eyes, already altered to his wolf’s golden shade. They glowed in the darker corridor, and her excuses died on her tongue. Some things were worth the risk.

Neither talked on the ride up to her floor, but the way his hand stroked her side reassured her as no words could have. Out of the corner of her eye, she studied him.

There was no denying he was handsome, probably the most handsome man she’d ever met and certainly the most handsome she’d ever been intimate with. But more than that, there was an aura about him that soothed her nerves, making her relax.

After her moment of hesitation, Ethan placed his hand on the small of her back just above the curve of her butt. The heat of his hand through the thin material of her blouse made Gwen shiver in anticipation of the night ahead. What would his skin feel like against hers with nothing in between?

Wiping her sweaty hands on her skirt, Gwen turned back around and led the way to her door. At least they’d have some privacy. As manager, Gwen had one of the suites in a separate wing to herself. Every glance back at Ethan reassured her she was making the right decision.

She expelled a breath, smiling at him over her shoulder as she walked toward her door.

“Here it is.” Her hand shook so badly trying to slide her key card into her door, she couldn’t manage it. Ethan’s hand, the one not currently caressing her butt, covered hers and helped guide the card into the lock.

The heat of his breath caressed her ear as he whispered, “Easy, pet,” causing another delicious shiver to run down her spine.

Ethan barely registered his surroundings as he stepped into the hotel suite. All his focus centered on the beautiful woman in front of him. Her tantalizing scent drew him to her as nothing had before.

“It’s okay, Gwen. We’ll take this at your speed.” He could tell she was nervous, that she didn’t do this kind of thing often, and for some reason, the thought pleased him. Which was strange. Never before had he cared about his lovers’ previous experience. Those thoughts hadn’t crossed his mind until now. But with Gwen, he felt…possessive. Just the thought of her with another man made his skin crawl.

“I know.” The soft words drew him back to reality and he wrangled in his wayward thoughts. There was here and now. Nothing else. The past didn’t matter. And right now, the need to taste her overwhelmed everything else.

Closing the door behind them, Ethan drew Gwen into his arms. Pulling her up his body, he gripped her hips, his hands splaying over the cheeks of her ass. Her hands rested on his chest.

Ethan’s eyes drifted upward, focusing on the hair piled at the top of her head. The damn bun had hidden her beauty from him at first. It needed to go.

Reaching up, he unwound her hair from its confines, letting it spill down her back. Her hair was glorious, long and thick. It fell to the small of her back, tickling his hand where it rested on her butt. He ran his free hand through the silky locks.

“Why do you hide all this beautiful hair?” Ethan tilted her face toward his, then, not waiting for an answer, claimed her lips.

“Ethan.” The word escaped in a breathy plea. Hearing his name whispered with such need drove his desire higher. He wrapped the thick strands of hair in his hand and took advantage of her open mouth. Thrusting his tongue between her lips, he explored the recesses of her mouth. When her tongue joined the play, he groaned, pulling back only to allow her teeth to lightly nip at his lower lip. Who knew the woman could kiss so well? Returning the favor, Ethan sucked at her top lip before diving back in.

Her hands fisting in his shirt as she tried to pull him closer, arching her chest toward him. Ethan pulled her hips tighter, his erection straining against his zipper. He had to get inside her soon, but not before he tasted every inch of her delectable flesh.

They were both gasping as Ethan pulled away. Pushing Gwen so she leaned against the door, Ethan slowly unbuttoned her shirt, kissing a trail down her torso with each luscious inch he revealed. Satin smooth skin quivered under his tongue wherever he kissed.

“Ethan, wait.” Gwen’s tentative hands stopped him as he reached her belly button. But he couldn’t resist dipping his tongue inside before stopping. There was hesitation in the eyes looking down at him.

“What’s wrong, pet?”

“The lights are on.”

Uh oh, please don’t let her get prudish on me now. He stared at her, trying to see past her anxious face into her soul. Her teeth worried at her bottom lip, but her eyes looked over his form appreciatively. It certainly didn’t appear to be a moral issue. So what was the problem? Reaching up, Ethan ran his thumb over the lip she tortured. He had plans for those lips.

“You’re beautiful, Gwen. I want to see you.”

“It’s just…I have a few more curves than your average woman. I–” Gwen stopped and took a deep breath, forcing her chest closer to his face. “I saw the woman you were with earlier. I don’t look like her.” The tentative whisper told him where the problem lay. Her self-consciousness showed in every tense line of her body.

But there was no need. His hands ached to run up and down her curvy figure. He couldn’t even remember why he’d once found Jacqueline attractive. All his thoughts focused on Gwen.

Needing to reassure her, he caressed her stomach as he whispered, “Your curves fit perfectly in a man’s hands. Never doubt that, Gwen.” The answering smile lit up her entire face. Seeing the joy his words had brought, he realized there wasn’t anywhere in the world he would rather be, and no one he’d rather be with.

Releasing the last button of her shirt, Ethan moved on to her skirt, slipping it off her hips to reveal black lace panties. He chuckled against her belly at the discovery. “Who would’ve thought these hid under your straight-laced suit.”

His tongue darted out, tracing her lightly tanned skin above the line of her underwear. A slightly salty taste infused her skin from her swim in the ocean. The new flavor drove his wolf wild.

“So good. I have to taste more,” Ethan whispered against her stomach. The little shudders darting down her body, causing her to quiver in his arms, delighted him.

Without wasting another moment, Ethan finished undressing her and lifted one of her legs over his shoulder, exposing her completely to his gaze.

“You are so gorgeous.” Ethan placed small kisses along her bare inner thigh before closing his mouth over Gwen’s clit and sucking deeply.

Oh, God. This was better than anything she’d ever experienced before. Gwen’s head fell back against the door with a thud but she barely felt it. All her thoughts were focused on the incredible things the man was doing with his tongue. Her hands fisted in Ethan’s hair as he teased her, kissing and sucking until she couldn’t stand anymore. As her leg gave out, Ethan caught her and lowered her to the floor. The movement was her only reprieve before his mouth returned to its teasing ministrations.