“Are you just humoring me?” she demanded, not liking the tone of his voice.
He grinned crookedly at her. “Never, my love. But you don’t need to say it.”
“But I want to.” She snuggled up close to him on the bed, wrapping her legs around him, looking directly into his eyes while she held his hand.
“I want to be with you, Key. And not because I think you need me. My God, I’m so in love with you it makes me dizzy. I know I can survive on my own and so can you. But I want to be with you, my darling. You are the sweetest, brightest, best thing in my life. Loving you is an honor. Being loved by you is a bonus.”
As she talked she saw acceptance dawn in his eyes, relax his facial muscles. He stared at her with a shaky laugh trembling on his lips. He caressed her jaw with one gentle hand. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Even when I didn’t trust myself, didn’t know who I was, you still loved me, Key. I feel like I can be anybody when I’m with you.”
He gave a quick nod. “No matter who you are, you’ll always be my lady.”
“And that’s all I want. Now and always,” she assured him.
He ran his hands down her back and grasped her buttocks, pulling her even closer to him. “You’ve got it, sweetheart. Now and always.” His words rang with the sincerity of a vow.
Crystal put her hands on both sides of his face and drew him to her for another kiss. His mouth closed over hers roughly, his tongue brushing against her lips, begging for admittance. He plundered the softness of her mouth while his hands kneaded her bottom, squeezing hard. She forgot everything else. The kiss was sweet but erotic. His tongue moved in a slow exploration that sent thrills all down her body. His body was hard against hers, demanding but held in check. He was all male strength, real and solid, her rock to depend on.
They panted and groped and tasted, prolonging the spiraling desire. Almost fusing their bodies together, they tumbled over on their sides on the bed. Crystal’s eyes popped open, hardly recognizing anything around her. Key was the center of her universe, the only thing that mattered.
He lowered his face to hers once more. Before he joined his mouth with hers, he whispered, “This is going to be good.”
Who's That Lady? Page 27