Alia and Trevor cuddling on the couch above.

ALIA

Breathing in the delectable aromas of the vegetarian Pad Thai* Trevor had cooked, Alia immersed herself in the entire experience as she savoured each bite, admiring the fragrant blend of spices. The evening was light-hearted and conversation flowed easily but, for whatever reason, she was still uncharacteristically nervous.

Her brain must have short-circuited for a minute as she blurted out, "This tomato looks sad."

Clearly caught off guard, he floundered, "Huh?"

She twirled the noodles with her fork, frowning at the lone half-sliced tomato remaining on her plate, "It's just half a slice while the others were all perfect circles."

Furrowing his brows, he rubbed the back of his neck, "Sorry, I probably rushed through slicing them."

"Eh, it just looks sad," she grinned at him before stuffing another delicious forkful into her mouth.

Quickly transferring a green bell-pepper from his plate onto hers to complete the half-sliced tomato, he shrugged, "Now it's not sad anymore."

She laughed, "Bell-peppers and tomatoes?"

"Why not?"

"They're different vegetables."

"But they still go well together."
"Sure... though they look a little odd."

"Doesn't mean they don't complete each other."

For fuck's sake, Alia just couldn't get her mouth to shut up. She only glanced up for barely a second, unable to maintain eye-contact after her outburst, but it was enough to see the utter confusion on Trevor's too-handsome face.

Seeming to realise that their conversation veered off the topic of food and onto something entirely more serious, he cleared his throat and jokingly addressed the tomato, "You're not alone anymore, tomato."

This man was lethal, Alia thought as Trevor effortlessly navigated the conversation. Eventually they moved from the dining table to the couch as she found herself drifting closer with every passing minute like a moth to a flame. A comfortable silence fell over them but she could tell there was something on his mind as he stared intensely at her side-profile. She, of course, refused to acknowledge the intensity of his attention and distracted herself by chugging her wine.

Clearly that didn't discourage him as he smirked, "So how did all the other guys before me fumble their chance?"

She choked, thumping her chest as she hacked unattractively, "What?"

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they fucked up but I also want to know what not to do."

A long moment passed as Alia grew more uncomfortable with the line of questioning. She made to get up from the couch but Trevor lunged for her, taking hold of her waist and tugging her down onto his lap.

Lips grazing the shell of her ear, he murmured, "Not so fast."

She sunk back into his chest, more comfortable with this playful side of him, "We should clear the table."

"Don't bother, I'll do that later. Spending time with you is my priority. Now give it to me... what did the asshole do?"

Trevor leaned back against the couch, spreading his arms across the back and letting Alia slide off his thighs so that she sat with her legs draped over his lap.

Laughing at his bluntness, she sighed, "My ex cheated on me then proceeded to tell me exactly how boring I was in bed."

Eyes darkening, he growled, "Then he's an idiot. Just so you know," delicately drawing her attention, he continued; "there are a billion reasons why he's incorrect. Hell, we could prove him wrong tonight."

Tentatively dragging her gaze across Trevor's face, Alia found all traces of playfulness gone. Shit. Get it together, Kohli. He hadn't invited her here to marinate in self-pity.

Running a rough hand through her hair, she perked up, "Is that so?"

Her voice didn't come out as light as she wanted and he gave her a long look, "Thing is, I'm only elaborating on my reasons if you're sure."

"About the reasons or tonight?"

He picked up her legs and dropped them back into his lap, "Either one. I won't lie and say I haven't been obsessing over the one night I finally got you to myself. If you haven't already noticed, I'm embarrassingly infatuated with you. But this will only work if we're on the exact same page, going into this with the same expectations. We'd be in this for more than just mind-blowing no-strings-attached sex. But if you're unsure or you tell me no, I'll thank you for this date and we can end the night here, no questions asked."

How did Trevor do that? He somehow took one little snippet of a conversation and understood exactly what worried Alia. Be still her beating heart, he had unknowingly healed another broken little part of her.

She gave him a small smile, "I'm sure. About all of it. The reasons and tonight."

With a lingering look as if to double check that Alia really meant what she said, Trevor moved to kneel at her side.

Leaning in, he lifted an index finger, "Reason one, I don't feel like I have to put up a front around you."

His smile grows, eyes going bright and playful as he holds up a second finger, "Reason two, you're exceptionally stunning."

"Reason three, you're intimidatingly smart."

Christ, Trevor might have actually been serious when he told Alia he could list a billion reasons. Something prickled deep in her chest, spreading heat as it went and she found herself tearing up at the fierce protectiveness he felt over her.

With a fourth finger up, he started, "Reason four, you–"

Interrupting Trevor before Alia's ovaries exploded from the sheer romanticism of his monologue, she twisted her wrist and crooked a single finger at him. Slow, like he had all the time in the world, he inched towards her until their faces were centimetres apart. She lifted her hand, running her fingers through his hair and pushing it back off his face.

Her hand finished it's trajectory through his hair and ran down the nape of his neck as he shivered, "Don't think you can distract me with head scratches... Reason four, you make me a better person."

Game over. That's it. Alia was done, melted into a puddle of mush. She curled her fingertips into Trevor's skin just for a second as though she meant to pull him in. He looked down at her and ran a hand down her arms, one side of his lip tipped up in that crooked smile of his. She felt her entire upper body hollow out, heart pumping furiously to refill her veins as it all rushed down, leaving her heavy and core throbbing. What was he doing to her?

With her hands still resting against the back of Trevor's neck, Alia trailed them forward and up until she was brushing the tips of her index and middle fingers over his mouth. Parting his lips involuntarily under her touch, he flicked his tongue out to lick the pads of her fingers, searing her skin in the process. What is breathing? She couldn't tell you. Her lungs couldn't either.

He locked eyes with her, gazing intently as he cocked his head, "Lucky or unlucky?"

Remembering him asking if he'd get lucky with her all those months ago, she huffed out a laugh and realised what he was suggesting, "Lucky, grumpy."

That prickle in her chest burst into warm tingles, fluttering from Alia's stomach to the tips of her fingers. Her blood sizzled at the press of Trevor's lips against her own, only to intensify when he nipped at her bottom lip and then licked it, soothing the sharp sting with his tongue. A moan travelled up her throat and she scraped her nails down his chest, stopping at his belt buckle. He hissed against her lips and then slid his tongue inside her mouth.

Fuck, Alia felt that wet glide between her legs. Just the knowledge that Trevor's hands were on her body left her trembling but the feel of them– the palm sliding over her hip to the curve of her ass and the gentle yet unyielding grasp on her throat, incinerated any of the resistance left in her. She swayed towards him, her body melting against his as he moved a hand into her hair and grabbed a fistful to tilt her head. He nipped a line down her neck, pulling the skin between his teeth and lightly sucking. Her heartbeat dropped like a weight between her legs.

The heat of Trevor's body, the force of his presence and the passion in his movements stole Alia's breath away. With palms resting on his abs, she panted hard while he nipped and sucked at her throat, her collarbone, the tops of her breasts. His fingers glided up the sides of her legs, drawing her dress upward until a glimpse of her black thong showed at the junction of her thighs. He dropped his gaze and the warmth of it seared through the material, brushing her clit as if he'd touched her there.

Heat tugged in Alia's lower stomach. She rolled her hips, closing the small distance between them as she tried to find some relief for the ache inside. Everything went blurry at the edges of her vision as his eyes followed his hands over her body. He wasn't kissing her anymore but just touching. He was rough yet meticulous in his movements, as if he was infatuated with every curve and dip but restless to explore more. He slid a palm lower to grab a handful of her ass and lightly slapped on side, caressing the sting with a rough palm. A low moan travelled up her throat and she lightly bit down on his chest to keep it in. Her insides liquefied and her limbs felt light as air.

Trevor rubbed up and down the seam of Alia's thong, pausing just before reaching the wet material between her thighs. She couldn't breathe as every nerve in her body waited in anticipation for how low he would go. Desperation was eating away at her, burning and clawing at her insides.

She couldn't take it any longer, gasping, "Trevor..."

Eyes dark enough to emanate her nightmares, Trevor dropped them to Alia's mouth. He braced his hands against the couch on either side of her and leaned in.

Instead of meeting her lips, he placed a single kiss on her neck, "Last chance to back out, kanthari."

Alia broke out in shivers. At this point, she didn't care what Trevor said but she wanted him so badly she trembled. She could attribute it to the fact it had been too long since she'd had sex or even been touched for that matter, but she knew that wasn't the only reason. No matter how much she tried to avoid him, that man had always done something for her. Cupping his erection, she slid her hand up and down his length from base to tip. He drew in a rough breath between his teeth, dropping his gaze to watch her rub him off through his pants. She'd never thought another man's erection was so hot in her life. Just the weight of it filling her palm sent a hazy wave of lust through her blood.

While Trevor was distracted watching the movement of Alia's hand, she rose to her toes and kissed him. A rumble resounded in his chest, half groan and half growl as her tongue met his once in a hot wet sweep and then she pulled away to come back breathless. And a bit delirious. The urge to take him in her mouth hit her so strongly she practically salivated. She worked on his belt buckle with every intention of dropping to her knees right here. He made a tortured noise but before she could lower herself, he spun her around and pushed her front against the couch. She gasped but swallowed it as the heat of his body met her back. He pulled her hair to one side and pressed his face into her neck.

A shudder erupted beneath her skin, warm from his soft touch and cold from the volatile energy emanating from him, "I don't deserve you but I can't find it in me to walk away."

Oh. Alia was glad for that. Don't, she wanted to say, but the press of Trevor's lips against the hollow of her neck stole her breath and voice. All she could do was shake her head because she couldn't bear to let this end, not yet.

She shook her head again, "No."

"No, what?" he murmured, tracing the edge of her ear with his tongue.

Goosebumps ran down her arms, "No more running," she breathed.

A growl of satisfaction rumbled against the nape of her neck, and then a little nip, "Up."

Alia listened to the command without a single thought but before she could get far, Trevor scooped her up against his chest in one smooth move and moved towards what was presumably his bedroom. His gaze was on her, dry and caustic, but it quickly filled with heat when his attention dropped down her body. Her dress was pulled up indecently, baring the smooth length of her legs. Her skin heated. Letting this man see her completely bare was more thrilling than it should have ever been. He was so controlled and aloof that anything remotely sexual felt so much dirtier with him.

As soon as Trevor pulled the door closed and dropped onto his bed, Alia straddled his hips. He let out a rough breath, watching her lazily as she ran her hands up his chest, over his neck, into his thick hair and then down his biceps. The white dress shirt fit him like a second skin, highlighting his strength, his utter masculinity, and she was infatuated with every inch of him. But that shirt was only in the way so he let her unbutton and push it off his shoulders, tossing it to the floor. He tensed as she ran her nails down his arms, wanting to sink her teeth into them. Grabbing her hips, he pulled her closer to sit her on his erection. The hardness lined up with the damp material of her thong and a wave of lust distorted her vision. She couldn't stop herself from rocking against him. Her eyes, half-lidded and hazy, met his. He traced her lips with a thumb, pulling the bottom one down before releasing it.

His voice was dark. "No more running, kanthari."

She hummed, "This is it."

"No going back."

Alia should've been hesitant or at the very least, concerned that Trevor was making these grand declarations and tossing them out at her like candy. But she couldn't find it in herself to care– not when they were the very things she had always secretly dreamed someone would tell her. When he released her, she didn't hesitate to press her mouth to his. This time, he kissed her lazy and sweet before pulling back with a long deep lick that wasn't much of a kiss at all. Fisting the string of her thong, he ripped the material at her hip, leaving a sharp sting behind. Her panties fell down one thigh, baring her to his eyes completely.

He ran a thumb across the lacy material, voice hoarse. "I was wondering if you would ever wear these."

A smile touched her lips, "Thinking about me?"

She had only been teasing him and certainly didn't expect his response, "Always. Fucking wet dream come to life."

Alia's smile fell and her breathing shallowed. She met Trevor's eyes to see that he was owning what he'd said completely. Something about the admission was so incredibly hot that it brought a rush of honesty from her.

"Same," she whispered.

A groan resounded in Trevor's chest and then he kissed Alia. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, he pulled her bottom lip between his teeth. Kissing him made her feel more alive than any high ever could. Her hands travelled over skin hotter than it ever should be, that hazy rush of lust pooling in her lower stomach pulling at her muscles and stretching her thin. She ran her fingers through the grooves in his abs, exploring the beautiful man before her. His gaze grew half-lidded when she pressed her fingers into his skin, scraping her nails down his chest. She shifted on his erection, slowly rocking her hips and grinding against him while they stared into each other's eyes. A fire lit inside her, growing hotter and brighter until she was so close to release she could taste it.

She gasped as he slid his hand into her hair and yanked her head back, pressing the rough words against her ear, "You'll only come when I'm inside you, kanthari. No exceptions."

A shaky breath escaped Alia, but it came out like a needy whimper. Trevor cursed, tightening his grip in her hair. She could only stare up, her chest moving in and out with harsh breaths as he pushed the straps off her shoulders and tugged her dress down to her waist. Pulling the cups of her bra down to bare her breasts, he just looked at her with an intensity that licked at her skin. When he captured a nipple in his mouth, white light shot behind her eyes. His hand released her hair to squeeze one breast while he licked and sucked the other. He switched to give them equal attention and slapped the side of one to watch it jiggle. With a rough sound, he nipped at it like he was angry, like he was trying to imprint himself on her skin forever.

Eyes rolling back into her head, Alia felt her pulse throbbing between her legs. If Trevor didn't stop, she thought she could come just like this. He played with her breasts until she was so far gone she would do anything to feel him inside her. She worked on his belt buckle, pulling him out. He was hot and heavy in her hand and so hard she couldn't resist pumping him in her fist once.

He hissed against her throat and grunted, "Condom."

She moaned, brushing her nose against his, "Need you. Now. On the pill."

At that admission, Trevor gripped Alia's hips and pushed her down until she had sunk halfway onto his length. He groaned. She gasped. It hurt. It really hurt. It'd been too long for her and the man was infuriatingly well-endowed.

A little panic flared in his eyes as he noted the discomfort, "Shit, did I hurt you?"

She shook her head, trying to gather her thoughts, "J-just wait a second. I n-need a second."

"You don't ha–"

"It's okay, grumpy. This is a good kind of hurt."

Panting and thighs quivering as Alia tried to adjust, Trevor's grip tightened on her hips and she rested her hands on top of his to try and stop him from shoving her down all the way. She shook her head, as if she'd done her best but it wasn't going to work out in the end. Something dark flickered in his eyes then as he looked down at where they were connected in wonder.

"All of it, kanthari," he commanded, gently stroking the skin of her hips.

The warmth in Trevor's voice drifted straight between Alia's legs, soothing the sting and filling her stomach with heat. One of his hands slipped out from around her to stroke down her stomach until he found her clit. He rubbed it in a circular motion and then his mouth found her breasts again, licking and sucking. She moaned, every touch feeding the hot buzz in her core until, slowly, she slid down and took him all the way inside her.

"Fuck," he gritted, gripping her hips tight enough to bruise.

Tension radiated from him, every muscle in his body pulling taut, "Fuck, you feel too good, kanthari."

The feeling of Trevor inside Alia was so intense, her body trembled. The backs of her eyes burned and she pressed her face into his neck. His heartbeat raced against hers and he was shaking.

"Never going to get enough of you," he sounded on the brink of control, his words heavy with a British accent that was beginning to drive her crazy.

That quickly set Alia in motion as she didn't think she could handle Trevor unleashed yet. She moved slowly, rocking her hips in a circular motion and grinding her clit against him, shuddering with the intensity. Evoking such a lack of control from the otherwise meticulous businessman was addictive and she wanted so much more. His hands moved everywhere– down her spine, grabbing fistfuls of her hair, gripping her hips to grind her harder against him. He slapped her ass, nipped her neck and throat, sucked her nipples. The feeling of him inside her, the way he was everywhere, the way he was holding back and letting her grind on him, it was all too much. She came so hard spots flew behind her eyes. The flames inside her burst, spreading a warm tingling sensation throughout her body.

"I've dreamed of that sound," he rasped, nipping at her earlobe.

Warmth filled Alia like sunlight. Trevor could be callous as hell but God when he was sweet, it made her feel on top of the world. She wanted to please him and make him lose his mind. Reaching back, she rested her hands on his knees and rode him so he could see everything. His gaze caught fire, trailing from her parted lips to her bouncing breasts and down to where he slid in and out of her. She was so wet it was dripping down her thighs and filling the room with an obscene erotic noise.

He suddenly stilled her and ran his tongue across his teeth, "You're not hurting anymore?"

With half-lidded eyes, she nodded, "No pain."

"Good."

Trevor gripped Alia's hips, pulled them chest-to-chest and bounced her on his erection hard. Up and down, not giving her a single break from the assault. Her moans and whimpers trembled in her throat with the force. Her fingers splayed on the bedsheets as she searched for something to hold onto that wasn't so consuming. So devastating. So him. When she climaxed the second time, he swallowed the noise in his mouth and, with a punishing last thrust and a shudder, he finished inside her. Then he softly nipped her neck in a rough sort of appreciation. Their heavy breaths filled the silence. She was so full of contentment, high on a languid post-coital bliss as she rested her face in the crook of his neck. Curling her fingers in his hair, something thick and wet slid down her thigh.

"Hey, grumpy?," she whispered.

He squinted down at her, "What?"

"Your come is running down my thigh."

"Fuck me, that's the hottest thing I've heard."

Breath stuttering in his chest, Trevor inhaled sharply and leisurely trailed his fingers down Alia's body to find the wetness dripping down her leg. Running a finger upward, he pushed it back inside her and made a satisfied noise. Damn, now she was turned on again. If he didn't stop those tiny ministrations with his fingers, they were going to end up tangled in the sheets again and she desperately needed the sleep before a long day at work tomorrow. As if sensing her hesitance, he bent forwards and pecked the top of her head before heading over to the bathroom. Returning to her side, he gently ran a towel across her body, cleaning her up as best as he could before crawling back into bed with her.

Pulling her into his chest, he curved his larger body around hers and mumbled, "Go to sleep, kanthari. I'll wake you up tomorrow."

*Pad Thai: a Thai stir-fried noodle dish with scrambled eggs, vegetables and peanuts