by Maya Banks
The bed dipped as he slid his naked body over her fully clothed one. His skin felt warm, rugged, and decidedly masculine under her hands as she stroked her fingers up his back and over his shoulders.
“I want this to be perfect,” he rasped, kissing her lips, her chin, her nose, her neck.
He slid a hand under her shirt, seeking the clasp of her bra. Soon it fell loose and he smoothed his fingers over the swell of her breast, seeking the taut nipple. She moaned as he thumbed the stiff peak. Sparks of pleasure radiated over her body in lightning speed.
He shifted over her, settling his weight on one elbow. With his free hand, he shoved impatiently at her shirt, pushing it over her head then pulling it free, bearing her breasts to his avid gaze.
Her nipples tightened unbearably as his mouth hovered temptingly over one. “Please,” she whispered.
“Please what?” he murmured, blowing hot air over the tip.
She groaned. “Taste it,” she pleaded.
He sucked the nipple between his teeth and laved his tongue over it. She arched spasmodically, unable to control the liquid heat that snaked through her body.
Not releasing her nipple, he reached down to shove at her pants, working them over her hips. Soon she wore only her thin panties. “You are so damn beautiful.” He looked down at her as if memorizing every nuance of her body.
Then he bent and pressed a kiss to the swell of her stomach, molding it with his hands. Tears sprang to her eyes as he lavished attention on her body. How perfect this was. Nothing could make the moment any better.
Gently, his hand worked into her underwear, shoving it down and out of the way. He parted her legs, giving him easier access to the soft curls between her thighs. “I’m going to make love to you all night. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it,” he whispered as he pressed his lips to hers again.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, trapping him against her. Her body squirmed, restless, hot, aching, needing. She wanted what only he could give her.
She felt flushed, sexy, alive. Like she was the only woman in the world. The only woman he would ever want. It was a heady feeling. She was lost in the electric sensations of his lovemaking.
As he moved over her, covering her with his body and nudging her legs apart with his thigh, she arched into him once again. She gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into the thick muscles as he slowly entered her. His eyes were fastened to hers, locking them together as he moved into her, making them one.
Tears glistened on her eyelashes and she tried to blink them away. He kissed them away instead as he came to a stop within her.
It was even better than before. He was making love to her. Not anyone else. He saw only her.
She locked her legs around his hips, seeking to seat him further inside her. He moaned a delicious, desperate sound. A man valiantly trying to maintain control over his raging need. She smiled, a temptress confident in her ability to drive him mad.
She began to move restlessly against him, spurring him to more action. He growled possessively and kissed her savagely, moving forward
with deep, soul wrenching thrusts. But his touch was gentle, his hands touching her almost reverently as if afraid she’d shatter into a million pieces. And she felt dangerously close to doing just that.
Her release built slowly, then faster, higher and more powerful until she feared she could take no more. Then suddenly as she heard him call out her name—her name—she burst into flames, the explosion within her violent. She clutched desperately at him, wanting to anchor herself to him amidst the storm.
His lips, his hands, moved over her like feathers, his soothing words a balm to her heated skin. He caught her against him as he found his own release. They lay there, wrapped tightly around each other, neither moving, neither breaking the moment.
She closed her eyes, holding back the tears of exquisite pleasure. Everything she had ever dreamed of. Here in her arms. Her bed. Her heart. I love you.
For a moment she thought she spoke the words aloud, but Simon remained quiet against her, his hand idly stroking her hair. “I never imagined,” he said in wonder.
She had. Oh yes, she had.
“And yet it all seemed so familiar,” he continued on, his voice catching oddly.
She stiffened beside him, her heart pounding wildly.
He kissed her again and she relaxed, giving over to the demand of his lips. “Are you all right? Was I too rough?” he asked in concern as he cupped her stomach.
She smiled and kissed him, effectively silencing him. “If I was any righter, I’d die.”
He grinned wickedly at her. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you enjoyed yourself.”
She pretended to give it considerable thought. “I may have to try it a few more times before I can give you a better opinion.”
He laughed. “Minx. Before tonight’s over with, you’ll know without a doubt.”
Chapter Nineteen
Toni hummed under her breath as she puttered around the veterinarian office. She smiled a secret smile, her giddiness nearly overtaking her.
In the weeks following the night she and Simon had made love, their relationship had been nothing short of pure magic. They were together constantly, and they’d used every opportunity available to make sweet, passionate love.
Even now she melted in remembrance of his possessive kisses. He could love her. He truly could. She believed that now. She was confidant he saw her as more than little Toni Langston. She had actually gotten him to notice her.
She patted her swollen belly and grinned idiotically. At six months pregnant, she’d gained a healthy bulge, and she delighted in it. Simon’s baby.
She frowned slightly. She had to tell him. Yeah, she’d been saying that for a long time now, but she’d have to do it soon. A flutter of uncertainty engulfed her stomach sending it into spasms of nervousness.
The right time. She’d wait for the right time.
“Mornin’, Toni,” Marnie sang out as she rounded the corner into the front reception area.
Toni crooked a brow and smiled as the older woman all but danced to the desk. “Mornin’. What’s got you so chipper this morning?”
Marnie’s eyes twinkled in delight. “Are you still thinking to move out of your house?”
“Yeah. Matt’s getting married.”
“I know of a place that’s coming open in a week, but you’ll need to act fast and put a deposit down on it.”
Toni sucked in her breath. That was a lot sooner than she’d wanted, but she’d already done some preliminary looking, and the fact was, there wasn’t a whole lot to rent in Cypress. Beaumont was looking more and more like it was the only option available to her, and she didn’t want to move that far from everyone.
“Where is it?” she asked.
Marnie smiled again. “John’s moving out of his house, and he rents it from the widow Jameson. He’ll be out at the end of this week, and she plans to run an ad early next week. If you wanted though, you could run by and look at it, and if you liked it, you could talk to Ms. Jameson about renting it.”
“Wait a minute,” Toni said suspiciously, a broad smile beginning. “Just why is John moving out of the house he’s rented for the last ten years?”
Marnie actually blushed. “Because he’s moving in with me.”
“Marnie you old devil!” Toni exclaimed. “How long have you two had a thing going anyway?”
“Oh awhile,” she said vaguely, her blush deepening. “How about it though, you interested? I could run you by the house. John wouldn’t mind you taking a look.”
Toni blew out her breath. It was a good opportunity and only a mile or so from her current house. She’d be close to work still and close to the guys. “I’ll run by and take a look after work if that’s okay,” she finally said.
“Sure. I’ll call John and tell him you’ll be over.”
“Thanks, Marnie. I appreciate it.”