A tear slid from her eye. Why hadn’t she discussed this with him hours ago?
“Am I right?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t trust you to be as deeply committed as you obviously are.”
“Well, now you know.” That grin again.
She hesitated. “Are you sure you even want to consider other options? I get how important the job is.”
He lifted a brow. “Did you get how important you are? Did you miss that part?”
She swallowed. “How did I get so lucky?”
He shrugged. “I’m pretty sure I’m the one who got lucky. I was in a coma while you worked your ass off night and day for a month to make sure I survived. That’s devotion.” He tipped his head to one side. “I don’t think I’ve properly thanked you for that.”
She gave him a smile even though a few tears were still falling. “Maybe you could kiss me again?”
“Yeah?” He lifted a brow. “Do my lips have to stay in the range of your mouth?”
She flushed but shook her head. “No. I think I’d like it if they didn’t, actually.” Yeah, it was time. She might have spent most of her life waiting for the perfect man, but it didn’t get more perfect than the man she loved telling her he loved her back before ever having sex with her. That was dedication.
His mouth descended on hers as his hands slid into her hair, tipping her head to one side so he could angle her just how he wanted.
She melted against him, instantly craving the world. His tongue slid along her bottom lip, urgent, demanding, hot.
She opened her mouth to him and met his tongue with her own, tasting him while her body came fully alive. Every nerve ending made itself known. Her skin crawled with the need to get closer to him. She wanted to be naked in his arms. She wanted the promise of his lips on her skin. Everywhere.
She moaned into his mouth as she visualized what she needed.
He stepped closer, as if that were possible, his legs parting so that she stood between them, pressed against his erection.
An ache formed between her thighs, demanding attention more than ever before. There was no reason to be scared or panicked because there was no way anything could go wrong. She might flounder around a bit as she figured out all the mechanics, but she knew he would be right there with her.
I love you. His words rang in her mind.
When he finally released her lips, he set his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes, breathing heavily. He searched her gaze.
“What?” she whispered.
“Just memorizing this moment.”
Another flush stole up her cheeks at the romantic gesture. “How long do you intend to memorize before you undress me?”
He smiled. “As long as I want.” His hands slid down to her waist again and then he grabbed her hands and backed up, tugging her with him toward the bed.
Yes.
This was it. This was right. This was the time and the place.
This was her fairy tale.
Graham was nervous but only because he wanted to make this special for her. He understood the mechanics of this perfectly, but executing it might be trickier. Two virgins trying to have sex without the awkwardness. He wanted them both to remember and enjoy it. Starting right now, she was his. Forever. For a lifetime. For an eternity.
When he reached the side of the bed, he sat on the edge and pulled her between his legs. “You sure about this? If you’d rather wait, we absolutely can. If you want to be married first, we can make that happen.”
“God, no.” She shook her head vehemently. “Unless there’s a minister staying in the cabin next to ours, I’m not waiting.”
He chuckled. “Kate, I’ll find a minister if that’s what you want. I don’t want you to have sex with me if you’d rather wait. It’s not a deal breaker. It never will be.”
“No.” She set her hands on his chest and then eased them down his bare skin. “It was never about being married. I don’t care about weddings and ceremonies. It was about commitment. About me not being willing or able to give my heart away to someone until it was the right person.”
“Yeah, well, your heart is mine. But that’s not the same as your body.”
“It is for me. They’re connected. The man who took my heart would get my body at the same time.” She slid her hands up to his pecs.
He was watching the way her gaze roamed over his chest, her fingers following in the same path. Goose bumps rose on his skin. And then she shocked him by crossing her arms at her waist, grabbing her tank top by the hem, and drawing it over her head.
He was shaking with nerves, while his sweet, loving, devoted Kate was all in. She inched closer, confidently.
He fought to control his racing heart and the hard-on that scrambled his brain. Shit. Condoms. He licked his lips. “I don’t supposed you’re more prepared than me and have condoms in your bag?”
She gave him a sweet smile. “We don’t need them. I’ve been taking birth control since I woke up.”
Sweet Jesus. In order to give himself a moment, he scooted back on the bed, propped himself up on one side, and patted the mattress next to him. “Come here.” His voice cracked a little.
She surprised him again by stepping out of her shorts first and then climbing up next to him in her bra and panties. A matched set. White. Lacey. And destined to land on the floor soon, he hoped.
He set his hand on her cheek as she settled against his side. The fact that she’d stripped down to her underwear and climbed up to snuggle against him spoke volumes.
He set his gaze on her lips and then stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. He struggled to control his anxiety.
She parted her lips and then licked them, the tip of her tongue teasing his thumb. Her voice was a low whisper when she broke the silence. “I love you.”
He scooted his body closer as his hand slid down to her shoulder, and then he eased her onto her back, keeping his hand flattened on her arm so she wouldn’t see him shaking. This was seemingly more nerve-wracking for him than it was for her.
She smiled as she lifted a hand to his waist and smoothed it up his side. “Take a breath,” she whispered.
He drew in air long and slow, and then he smoothed his hand around to her belly. “I’m nervous.”
She cupped his face. “I know, but there’s no need. We can’t screw this up, remember? It’s physically impossible.”
He wanted to be strong for her, but inside he was a mess. What if he came too fast or fumbled and came before he even slid inside her? It seemed like a real possibility. “We’re not doing anything you aren’t ready for, are we?”
“No. I’m ready. Waiting won’t change my feelings.”
“I want it to be perfect,” he admitted, holding her gaze.
“It’s already perfect. Can you feel the electricity between us?”
“Yes. All the time.” She was right. There was an electricity between them, and they would get this right, though maybe not the first time.
“Those sparks are gonna explode.” Her hand slid down his back and she smoothed her fingers under the edge of his jeans. The boldest Kate he’d ever experienced, her gaze never leaving his.
His erection threatened to bust the zipper down the front. She’d seen him naked, probably dozens of times while he’d been unconscious. He intended to even that field right now. His turn to see her completely naked.
He moved his hand to her breast and cupped it through the lace. She arched her chest, gasping. Yeah, he was going to come in his jeans.
Before he got completely caught up in loving her, he wanted to fully see her, soak her in, so he lifted onto his knees and popped the front clasp on her bra. As it fell to the sides, she shivered. He slid the straps down her arms and tugged it out from under her, dropping it so that it joined her other clothes on the floor.
For a moment, he continued to hold her gaze while she pursed her lips, her body rising and falling with every breath. And then he lowered his face to
take her in visually for the first time.
Her skin was several shades darker than his, the contrast mesmerizing. Her breasts were full, the nipples tight buds that stood at stiff peaks even before he’d touched them.
He eased his hand up from her waist to cup her breast, molding his palm gently around the globe and marveling at how damn lucky he was that this amazing gorgeous woman was his.
She held his forearm, but the moment he swiped his thumb over her nipple, she arched her chest again, inhaling sharply. Yes. “You like that?”
Her voice was breathy. “God, yes.”
He leaned down and kissed the pointy bud and then flicked his tongue over the tip.
She moaned. “Jesus.”
He smiled against her chest and then lifted his gaze. Maybe this wasn’t so difficult after all.
She was flushed. A moan escaped her lips when he brushed his thumb over her nipple. Every tiny reaction gave him the confidence to keep going.
She grabbed his arm, gripping so tightly her knuckles were white. “Graham…” She squirmed. “What are you waiting for?”
He smiled broader. “Savoring the moments.” Trying to keep from coming in my pants.
She rolled her eyes. “That’s cheesy. And how the hell are you so calm?”
“I’m not. I’m just hiding it. Inside, I’m freaking out a bit.” He lifted one hand so she could see the tremble.
She reached for his fingers and drew them to her lips, kissing the tips. “Okay. At least I know you’re human.”
“I’m human.” He cocked his head to one side and then lowered his face again to suck her nipple into his mouth.
She moaned, her fingers digging into his arm, undoubtedly without her knowledge.
While he continued to torment her nipple with his lips and tongue, he slid his hand down her waist to her thigh. He let his thumb caress the sensitive skin at the top of her thigh, inches from her sex. Her legs fell further apart, a sign that he was on the right track.
He released her nipple with a slight pop and eased farther up her body to claim her lips. They were parted and waiting for him, and she eagerly joined the kiss, tilting her head to one side and then sliding her tongue along his teeth.
The sweet sounds coming from her made him harder by the second, but he wanted to keep every ounce of his attention on her until she fell apart in his arms. He wanted to make her come before he did anything else. For one thing, he wanted to watch her orgasm, this time naked and open to him. For another thing, he was growing increasingly certain he wouldn’t last two seconds inside her.
As soon as she started to relax, he released her lips and quickly slid down her body, grabbing the sides of her panties and pulling them away.
Jesus. She was perfection. While he stared at her body, absorbing his good fortune, he unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. He removed them, along with his underwear, in record time.
For a moment, they stared at each other, her lying on her back with her legs spread open, him on his knees memorizing her from above. Her gaze roamed up and down his body, making his erection bob.
When she finally moved, it was to shudder and lick her lips. “You’re making me feel self-conscious staring at me like that,” she whispered as if she weren’t ogling him in the same fashion he was her.
Before she could focus on her nudity, he returned to her side, his lips lowering to hers again.
While he devoured her mouth, he lifted his leg and situated it between hers, parting them wider. His thigh pressed against her sex, and he nearly groaned into her mouth at the feel of her warmth and the wetness that coated his leg. Apparently he was doing something right.
Still kissing her, he slid his hand higher up her thigh to her stomach, and then he turned his wrist so that his fingers eased down her belly until the tips hit their mark.
Kate moaned into his mouth, and then she pulled her head to one side, sucking in a deep breath. “Graham…” Her gaze came back to his.
He held it while he pressed a finger against her clit. “How’s that?” She was so wet that it was easy to gather some of her arousal and swirl it around the tight nub. Damn, she was hot, and she responded to him like a firecracker. Would she always be this ready for him? This eager? Hot and aroused? Thoughts of rubbing her to completion through her clothes the other night increased his confidence.
“There are no words,” she whispered. She tried to lift her hips, but he held her down with the weight of his leg between hers, trapping her thigh and making it difficult for her to squirm away from him. When her mouth fell open and her eyes widened, he knew he was hitting every mark just right.
Now he just needed to make her fall apart. Totally. The look on her face was enough to make him press his erection against her thigh. Again, he was afraid he might come before he entered her. She melted him with that shocked look of awe.
The desire to taste her was palpable, but he didn’t want to break his gaze from hers, so it would have to wait for another time. Right now, he intended to watch her face as she came.
Easing his knee away from her wet heat, he pulled her legs farther apart and slid his hand lower.
She licked her lips as he ran a finger between her lower ones. She was so wet. And her face was mesmerizing. He could grow addicted to watching her if she was always this expressive. When he pressed one finger slowly inside her, her mouth fell open again and her eyes rolled back. She tipped her head back and moaned, lifting her hips.
Her hand jerked up to grab his shoulder. “Ohmygod.”
Damn, he loved her. So much his heart was pounding. This experience was all his. No one else had ever seen her like this. No one ever would. For the rest of his life, he would own this piece of her. Thousands and thousands of times he would watch her unravel for him. It was humbling and exciting.
Her breaths came in sharp pants, her chest rising and falling. When she lifted her free leg and dug her heel into the mattress to help lift her hips higher, he glanced down. She was so unencumbered.
He eased his finger out, curving it forward to draw it across the front of her channel in the way he’d researched, and she nearly shot off the bed. No amount of Google searching had prepared him for how responsive she was.
She pressed on his shoulders. “Graham…” she whispered. “Oh God.”
When her breath hitched, he added a second finger, thrust them into her tightness, and pressed his palm against her clit. Her entire body stiffened, hips off the bed, foot digging into the mattress, hand on his shoulder.
He ground his hand down and pressed against her G-spot with both fingers. Her leg started shaking, a low moan coming from her lips, and then she cried out, an unintelligible noise that didn’t include words.
Surprising him, he felt the pulse of her orgasm against both his palm and inside her. The walls of her channel milked his fingers hard.
When the pulsing stopped, her hips dropped to the bed and her leg fell to one side, knee bent to leave her wide open. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but they gradually relaxed until she blinked them open and met his gaze. “Holy shit.”
He grinned huge. It didn’t matter that his length was throbbing with the need to be inside her. This was so much better. He continued to slide his fingers in and out of her, not wanting her to float all the way back to earth.
She sucked in air. “I had no idea.” Breathing heavily, she loosened her grip on his arm and glanced at where she’d held him. “Shit. Sorry.”
“You can squeeze my arm anytime you want.” He leaned down and kissed her breasts, first one and then the other.
She shuddered, and then she reached for his hip. “Do it again. Use something thicker and longer this time.” Her cheeks pinkened as she made the cute demand.
He finally removed his fingers, climbed between her legs, grabbed his erection, and stroked it through her swollen folds. “So bossy,” he murmured. His arm was shaking as he held himself above her. The mechanics were simple. Now that he’d touched her so intimately, he knew how easy it
was going to be to slide into her. It would be tight, but the only way he could fuck up would be if he came before he got fully inside. And that couldn’t be helped.
Her hands were on his waist and then down over his ass and then climbing up his back. She held him tight as if she feared he might escape. He would never escape. Not in a million years.
Holding himself aloft with one elbow, he met her gaze and lined up with her entrance before pulling his hand out of the way. He settled his other elbow at her side, tucked his hands under her shoulders, and rubbed the tip of his erection against her.
She squirmed, either in anticipation or arousal. “Graham, do it.”
He didn’t want to hurt her, but her eyes were wide with desperation, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. So, he eased an inch or so into her.
Holy shit. Holy shit.
His eyes slid closed and he gritted his teeth, willing himself not to come too fast. But she was so tight. Warm. Wet. And her hands were racing up and down his arms. This was so much better than he ever imagined.
“Graham…” Her voice was barely audible. “Just do it,” she demanded a second time. As she spoke, she lifted her hips, forcing him deeper.
He couldn’t resist a moment longer, so he drew almost out and then thrust into her all the way.
She sucked in a breath, held it a few beats, and then blew it out. Her fingers smoothed down to his ass and gripped him. “Again.”
He lowered his forehead to the pillow beside her, fighting for control, holding his breath. Stars would have been swimming in front of his eyes if he could open them, but he was afraid to move an inch for fear he would break the spell of perfection or come.
Her fingers danced up and down his arms. “Look at me,” she whispered as one hand rose to his head and tugged.
He lifted his forehead and met her gaze, knowing he was out of control and looking at her would send him over the edge.
“You okay?” she asked.
He swallowed and gave her a lopsided grin. “Me? You’re worried about me?”
Reviving Graham Page 19