** Harper **
Eli was so visibly caught off guard that he almost stumbled back. But it took him only a moment to recover, and she felt the corner of his lips lift up in a smile.
"I see. So we're picking up where we left off the lessons yesterday?" he murmured against her mouth.
Harper returned him a shy smile. Then she kissed him again.
It felt different to be the one taking the initiative. Harper was never the "physically expressive" type of person, and she was used to simply following the man's lead. But she was feeling bold today … and at the moment, Eli just seemed too perfectly kissable.
So she braved on, trying to remember the feeling from the night before and mimicking what he had done. Her hands slid down, cupping his cheeks. The light peck turned into playful nibbles as she grazed her teeth along his bottom lip, teasing him. Her tongue probed the seam of his mouth a bit timidly before gliding inside, running a careful circle within.
The taste of him crashed over her. Crisp and refreshing, familiar.
He seemed to approve of her advance. The hand that was playing with her hair slid up, threading into her locks and pressing her into him. Her heartbeat quickened as she took the hint and delved deeper into his mouth. She explored the hidden corners, savoring him—
That was when their teeth clank together in a jarring ding.
"…" Harper froze in mortification. Ugh, that's got to be a common newbie mistake, right?
Under her breath, she felt a light puff of chuckle tickling her lips. "Just relax," Eli's words rolled out softly like a breeze. Without breaking their kiss, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up gently, placing her on the kitchen counter behind. He reangled himself before brushing the tip of his tongue against hers, easing her into the right rhythm.
The reassurance soothed Harper's nerves. She steadied herself against his hold, relaxing into the warmth of his hands.
It was much easier now with him guiding her. Eli seemed to always know the magic of how to make every move smooth and artful, like an expert dancer leading her in flawless spins. And his touch … was surprisingly sensual as he ran lazy circles over the small of her back, the low-simmering heat of his palm sinking into her skin.
She let out a tiny sigh, feeling heady. "You're … too good at this," she couldn't help breathing the words against his lips.
Eli laughed softly. "That's a high praise coming from you." One of his hands casually dived under her shirt, tracing up her spine. "And I haven't even begun today's drill yet."
Harper felt her heart skip a beat as he grazed the seam of her bra and skillfully undid the clasps with one hand.
The heat of his touch suddenly seemed too much now. Her whole body tightened when his hand slid beneath the loosened fabric, snaking from her back to the front of her chest, leaving a burning trail in its wake. He kissed her again as he closed his palm over one of her breasts and squeezed.
Harper gasped into his mouth. The pressure rippled through her with a yearning ache, and her nipples hardened beneath his looming tease. But he didn't touch her there. That wicked hand kneaded and played before switching to her other side, repeating the same movement and tempting her with what he didn't give. His other hand traveled up, landing behind her nape, tilting her head back to give himself deeper access as he kept claiming the territory inside her mouth.
The unmet want almost made her whimper. She clutched his collar, arching her back and bringing herself closer in a silent plea.
"Patience, Harper." Eli's voice seemed to vibrate in the air between them. "Trust me, it makes everything better."
He released her lips, trailing wet kisses along her jaw. Harper shuddered as he feathered gentle pecks beneath her ear, down the sensitive side of her neck, along her collarbone, coaxing the need within her to flare higher and higher.
And then, his thumb finally brushed over her nipple.
A moan tore out of her throat before she knew it. The sensation was so sharp, like an electric bolt shooting through her body, sending tingles all the way down to her toes. She never knew that such a simple touch could feel … so golden, turning all the blood in her veins to liquid heat.
His tease was on full onslaught now. Cupping her breast, he rolled her nipple between two fingers, eliciting another hard whimper from her. His mouth landed on a spot just below her earlobe, and as he suckled the sensitive skin there, the sharp tingles mixed in together with the wild sparks dancing at his fingertips, kindling into a roaring fire burning at her core, making her throb and ache.
"Eli …" Harper was panting. Her hands found their way into his hair, and she fisted it in an almost frenzied way. She was giddy from all the sensation, and she thought her whole person might be melting into a puddle.
In a reeling haze, she felt his wicked hand let go of her. The heat of his touch slid down, past her breastbone, past her stomach, and it paused at the zipper of her shorts.