couldn’t put his question into words. Whatever she wanted of him, she’d have to take.
She swallowed. “Sam…” Her gaze dropped to his chest while her hands stroked his back. “I’d like…to be…with you.”
Sweet, sweet Ash. He closed his eyes and hugged her close again. “Whatever you need, sweetheart.”
“This isn’t about need,” she whispered. “I want…you.”
He cupped her cheek with one hand and slipped his thumb under her chin to lift her face. Her tears were gone now. Her glossy gaze was steady.
Taking a moment, he searched her expression, looking for any signs of hesitancy. He gave her a nod, and then stepped away, holding out his hand.
Smiling, she reached for it, and they held tight as they walked the rest of the way to her bungalow in silence.
Ash waited as he unlocked her door and pushed it open. She preceded him inside, aware of him behind her, following as she led him through the darkened cottage to the bedroom. After those kisses, she felt arousal. Her body vibrated with need, shivering and tightening. She’d never experienced this tension, this depth of anticipation. With Marc, sex had been fun and relaxed, interspersed with moments of extreme pleasure.
This was different. Different man. Different her.
Since Marc’s death, she’d ridden a rollercoaster of draining emotions. Sam had given her a glimpse of a future where she might once again connect with another man. The truth hit—that she could learn to love again. That maybe, she was already falling for Sam.
Which should have rung alarm bells, but she wouldn’t think about the future. Whatever the outcome, she was grateful for this night. For him. She’d never expected to feel this alive again.
Once inside the bedroom, she moved to the nightstand and turned on the lamp. Not that she worried she’d forget who was with her in the darkness, but because she wanted him to see her. To know that she was here. Now. That she didn’t want anyone else making love to her.
His features were taut, his jaw and cheekbones defined. His eyes were green and narrowed as he remained still, both hands curling at his sides.
His stance announced the parameters of what was happening. He still offered a chance to change her mind. Instead, she slipped out of her flip-flops and slid the wide bands of her sundress off her shoulders. She pushed the garment downward until it fell around her feet, leaving her in only bra and panties. She fought the urge to wrap her arms around her middle. She’d be brave so he’d know there’d be no hesitation on her part.
“You’re shivering,” he said softly. “Are you afraid?”
She shook her head, her mouth too dry to give him words. She reached both hands around her back and unsnapped her bra. The lacy cups fell away, exposing her small breasts. She hoped he didn’t find her wanting.
His gaze dropped and held for long seconds. His chest billowed around a deep breath.
Encouraged, she slipped her thumbs into her panties at the sides of her hips and pushed them down.
Nude, she couldn’t maintain her gaze and instead, looked at the painting on the wall past his shoulder. She stood still as only the sounds of their deepening breaths filled the room.
“You’re beautiful, Ash,” he said, his voice grinding and deep.
Her nipples tingled. The tips lengthened.
Another long moment passed when she wondered if he would make her beg. Then he moved, laying her keys and his cell phone on the night stand, placing a couple of small plastic packets there too. Next, he quickly unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off his wide shoulders. His pants were gone within seconds along with his briefs.
Now, she had a turn to stare. She’d thought him perfect before. After seeing him naked, she’d add breathtaking.
Every inch of his body was powerful and honed. The inches rising at his groin sent a quiver through her core. Gasping, she raised her arms, holding them out toward him. “Sam…please.”
His mouth pursed
She swallowed. “Sam…” Her gaze dropped to his chest while her hands stroked his back. “I’d like…to be…with you.”
Sweet, sweet Ash. He closed his eyes and hugged her close again. “Whatever you need, sweetheart.”
“This isn’t about need,” she whispered. “I want…you.”
He cupped her cheek with one hand and slipped his thumb under her chin to lift her face. Her tears were gone now. Her glossy gaze was steady.
Taking a moment, he searched her expression, looking for any signs of hesitancy. He gave her a nod, and then stepped away, holding out his hand.
Smiling, she reached for it, and they held tight as they walked the rest of the way to her bungalow in silence.
Ash waited as he unlocked her door and pushed it open. She preceded him inside, aware of him behind her, following as she led him through the darkened cottage to the bedroom. After those kisses, she felt arousal. Her body vibrated with need, shivering and tightening. She’d never experienced this tension, this depth of anticipation. With Marc, sex had been fun and relaxed, interspersed with moments of extreme pleasure.
This was different. Different man. Different her.
Since Marc’s death, she’d ridden a rollercoaster of draining emotions. Sam had given her a glimpse of a future where she might once again connect with another man. The truth hit—that she could learn to love again. That maybe, she was already falling for Sam.
Which should have rung alarm bells, but she wouldn’t think about the future. Whatever the outcome, she was grateful for this night. For him. She’d never expected to feel this alive again.
Once inside the bedroom, she moved to the nightstand and turned on the lamp. Not that she worried she’d forget who was with her in the darkness, but because she wanted him to see her. To know that she was here. Now. That she didn’t want anyone else making love to her.
His features were taut, his jaw and cheekbones defined. His eyes were green and narrowed as he remained still, both hands curling at his sides.
His stance announced the parameters of what was happening. He still offered a chance to change her mind. Instead, she slipped out of her flip-flops and slid the wide bands of her sundress off her shoulders. She pushed the garment downward until it fell around her feet, leaving her in only bra and panties. She fought the urge to wrap her arms around her middle. She’d be brave so he’d know there’d be no hesitation on her part.
“You’re shivering,” he said softly. “Are you afraid?”
She shook her head, her mouth too dry to give him words. She reached both hands around her back and unsnapped her bra. The lacy cups fell away, exposing her small breasts. She hoped he didn’t find her wanting.
His gaze dropped and held for long seconds. His chest billowed around a deep breath.
Encouraged, she slipped her thumbs into her panties at the sides of her hips and pushed them down.
Nude, she couldn’t maintain her gaze and instead, looked at the painting on the wall past his shoulder. She stood still as only the sounds of their deepening breaths filled the room.
“You’re beautiful, Ash,” he said, his voice grinding and deep.
Her nipples tingled. The tips lengthened.
Another long moment passed when she wondered if he would make her beg. Then he moved, laying her keys and his cell phone on the night stand, placing a couple of small plastic packets there too. Next, he quickly unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off his wide shoulders. His pants were gone within seconds along with his briefs.
Now, she had a turn to stare. She’d thought him perfect before. After seeing him naked, she’d add breathtaking.
Every inch of his body was powerful and honed. The inches rising at his groin sent a quiver through her core. Gasping, she raised her arms, holding them out toward him. “Sam…please.”
His mouth pursed
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