“But some things weren’t as scary. Like when David hugged me, or when my hair came loose. It was weird, but some part of me started waking up again, and seemed to be healing. I was getting over some of my old fear.”
Cullen didn’t ask her why that might have been happening. Instead he waited for her to continue.
Please let her continue.
“Even though you and I were together only three days, I felt like I could trust again. Cullen, you did that for me.”
“No, Sweetheart, you were always going to get there. There is nothing you’re not capable of, your strength astounds me.”
Her head shot up so fast that it hit his chin.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, did I hurt you?”
“I’m fine, Carys,” he assured her. He pulled her head down so he could rub the top of it. “Are you hurt?” he asked.
“I’m fine. But do you know how good it makes me feel, to hear you say you think I’m strong? I’ve been feeling so weak and broken for so long, and it feels wonderful to finally be back in the driver’s seat.”
“Are you saying you were feeling weak in Africa?”
She paused, then looked up at him with her big green eyes. “Well, yes,” she admitted.
“Well, God help me, if that’s you being weak, I’m in for a world of trouble.”
“Yes, I think you might be,” her smile was a sight to behold.
This time, he couldn’t start with a slow kiss, it just wasn’t possible, and thank God, she seemed to be on the same page as him. When Cullen dipped his head, she raised her lips in response and it was electric. Her mouth flowered open for the thrust of his tongue.
Her nails scraped his jaw. No woman had ever done that before. It felt crazy good. He opened his eyes and found her staring at him. He broke the kiss.
“No. Don’t stop.”
“Are you scared? Am I coming on too strong?”
“Don’t second guess anything,” she said fiercely. “I want this. I want to savor every second. You feel so good.” Her palm rubbed up his cheek, her fingers tangled into his hair and tried to pull him downwards.
“You like pulling my hair, don’t you?”
She frowned. “I guess I do. How odd.”
Ooops. “No overthinking, Carys, we’re into the feels.” He moved his hand from around her back and coaxed her up onto his lap, so that she was straddling him. He saw a look of satisfaction cross her face. He’d been hoping she would like being in a position of power. All in all, he could kind of understand why pulling his hair might bring her a sense of satisfaction as well.
“Be prepared to be ravished,” she purred.
I’m in trouble now.
20
Carys felt like she was soaring. This was better than any dessert she had ever had in her life. Cullen was all hard, tantalizing muscle and he smelled so good. He tasted good. The only thing soft about him were his eyes and lips. Those lips. Somebody should write a poem about his lips.
“Carys, stop staring and kiss me or touch me or something.”
That voice.
“Carys,” he growled.
So low and gravelly. She felt it in the pit of her stomach.
He grabbed her around her waist and dragged her down, so their lips met.
Sublime.
Kissing and kissing and kissing. She was losing herself in a whirlwind of sensation as his hands stroked her neck, her shoulders, trailing down her spine and finally those powerful hands molded her butt and she about lost her mind.
What mind?
She whimpered as she tried to get her hands under his shirt, but her body was in the way.
“Baby, what is it?”
“I want to feel you,” she wailed as she tried tugging again at the front of his sweater. Then she sighed in relief as she worked around to his back and lifted it up and felt the smooth, taut, muscled skin of his back. He felt so good.
The afghan slipped onto the deck. “Honey, we have to take this inside, are you good with that?”
She peppered kisses up the side of his neck, her tongue licking up the taste of him. “Oh yes, inside. Hurry, Cullen.” She struggled to get up.
He flexed his muscles and her eyes went wide as she found herself in his arms as he stood up on the deck. “You’re not supposed to be able to do that.”
“Carys, we kind of do a lot of physical training in my job,” he chuckled as he tucked one arm under her bottom and easily opened the door to the house.
Strong is good. I like strong.
She melted against him, secure in the knowledge that he would take care of her. She didn’t pay any attention as to where they were going. She continued to stroke the warm heat of his back and lick the sweet and salty skin of his neck.
Her world dipped and she found herself on her back.
“Are you okay, Sweetheart?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Cullen traced the contours of her face with his fingers, as he stared down at her. Then she realized he was worried.
“I’ve never felt so safe, or so aroused,” she confessed.
“That’s good, because nothing in my life has ever felt as good as this moment.”
He meant it, she could see it in his eyes. Carys blinked fast, not wanting to ruin the moment with tears. Now was a time of joy.
With his eyes on hers, he lowered his head and their lips met. Kiss after kiss and she was once again lost in a maelstrom of desire. When his lips left hers, she realized her top was gone and he had moved to brush his tongue across her over-sensitive nipple.
Her back arched so far off the bed she thought she might break in half. So good, it was glorious.
“More.”
Was that my voice?
Cullen’s mouth surrounded the tip of her breast and he lashed at her with his tongue. Vaguely she heard her whimpers of pleasure. She wanted to tell him not to stop. She wanted to beg him for something more because she was coming apart, but she couldn’t make words form. She tried to lift her hands to guide him, but they wouldn’t work.
She watched through slitted eyes as he pulled off her jeans and panties. Every nerve in her body tingled, and she felt every rub of cloth. Her skin was too sensitive. It was all too much. It wasn’t enough.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” he breathed.
Say something.
“Take…” She languidly lifted one arm.
“What, Honey?”
“You now.”
He bent over her, his clothes rasping along her tender skin.
“What do you want, Carys?”
“You. Naked. Now.”
Cullen’s laugh was throaty. She shivered as it hit every erogenous zone in her body.
Don’t lose it now, Lyons.
She shoved at his sweater collar with a whine of frustration. He knelt up on the bed and ripped it up over his head and threw it onto the floor. Her hand reached for the button of his jeans, but he wasn’t having it. A man needed a little bit of time and space to accomplish all his goals.
“Nuh-uh,” he admonished, as he gently pushed her hands away. He was careful not to grab her wrists or do anything to restrain her. When she tried again, he leaned forward for another deep, lush, long kiss. He’d had dreams about her lips, not one of them had come even close to reality.
He rubbed his chest hair against the hard tips of her breasts as he continued to savor the heady rush that came from kissing Carys Adams. She filled the missing place in his heart, and he couldn’t get enough of her. He combed his fingers through her beautiful hair and loved the way it spilled across his pillow.
I have her. She’s finally in my bed.
Her hands rested beside her head now, and Cullen traced his fingertips from her palms down to her collarbone. Then he trailed farther down to her gorgeous, delicately formed breasts and traced circles around her areolas. Carys’ breathing turned harsh and her head began to toss side to side. He sucked a nipple into his mouth while lightly tugging on the other.
; She drew in a deep breath then groaned.
“Carys?”
“Oh, yes. I like this.”
Thank God.
He continued to lave and lick her tender nub, as his other hand trailed down her stomach to reach the damp curls. Carys parted her legs, but as soon as his fingers touched her sex, she clamped her legs closed on his hand, holding him captive exactly where he wanted to be. Cullen was nobody’s fool. He took advantage.
He moved his head up and rested his forehead against hers so he could look into green eyes dark with desire. Then he moved two fingers ever so slowly against her tender, wet flesh. Her eyes grew wide and she licked her lips. He continued his languid strokes for long minutes until she gradually relaxed.
Thank ever loving fuck he’d left his jeans on, otherwise he would have lost it by now.
“Cullen?”
“Right here, Baby,” he rasped.
Her thighs parted. “I need you.”
With one finger he tested her depth.
Damn, she was so tight. “Soon.”
“No, now.” She lifted up and kissed his neck, his jaw, then captured his lips. He was lost…almost. He kept up with a rhythm. One finger, then as she melted around him, two fingers. She sighed, then arched.
“Please Cullen.”
I love you. I love you so much. Please let me get this right.
He stood up and shucked his jeans. He grabbed a condom from his nightstand and looked down at the most beautiful woman in the world. Her green eyes glittered up at him, her smile was a sultry temptation.
She lifted a knee and he caressed it, stroking down toward her ankle. Her toes curled and then she lifted her foot up and up until it glided down his hip.
“God,” he shuddered. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Tempt you,” she purred.
He loved it. “Oh, you’re doing that all right.” He looked at her face, then his eyes were drawn to the pink folds of her sex. It was as if she were made for him. He had to touch her one last time, feel her response.
When his thumb brushed against the swollen nub of her clit, her moan turned into a muffled shriek of want as she covered her mouth. She was so close.
Perfect.
He pulled her closer to the edge of the bed and positioned the head of his cock to her tight opening. He tried desperately to hold onto his control, so that he could watch her reactions as he experienced the most profound pleasure of his life.
Her legs circled his waist, her heels digging into his ass, thrusting upwards, driving him deep.
“Yes,” she gasped. Her body convulsed. “Oh yes, Cullen.” Her head thrashed, her eyes a dark emerald green. She reached out with her hands, beckoning him.
Exactly. He needed to hold her. He sank down on top of her and she sighed in pleasure, curving her body to meet his. He kissed her, needing her taste, needing to be surrounded and connected in all ways as he began to thrust in and out of the slick heat of her body.
She matched him perfectly. There wasn’t one move he made that she didn’t echo, not one need he had that she didn’t meet.
Her panting turned to gasps and he opened his eyes to watch her. She bit her nails into his back, hard. He loved it.
“Cullen.” She stammered his name.
“Right here.” He kissed her jaw and thrust deep, knowing exactly what she needed.
Her breathing turned ragged. She opened her mouth, and nothing came out but a whine.
“Now, Sweetheart, I’ve got you.”
Her eyes opened and he saw more than her moment of bliss, he saw joy, as they both hurled past the stars.
Ah, God, there they were, the Demon Sisters. He pulled Carys tighter to his side.
“What?” she asked as she looked up at him. Once again, she was drinking a pineapple Fanta that he had brought with them to Kane’s party.
“My sisters have arrived.”
“They have? Is that them?” She looked out the window to the driveway below. “Let’s go help them. They have their hands full.” Carys sounded like a little kid at Christmas.
“I’m sure the guys will be there in a second.” Cullen saw that his premonition was correct. Leo, Asher, and Nick were outside in a second and on his sisters like a bad case of poison ivy.
“On second thought, let’s go help.”
Carys snickered.
“Oh, you think you’re so smart,” he said as he guided her through a throng of people to the front door.
“Yes, I do. I went to medical school, there were psychology courses.”
Before they got to the door, Baily and Chelle were inside and greeted by a chorus of ‘hello’s’.
Leo, Nick, and Asher followed with bags and dishes of food.
“They can cook too, I see.”
“Chelle can,” Cullen said. “The grocery bags are probably filled with alcohol, chips, and mixer. That will be Baily’s contribution.”
“A girl after my own heart.”
“Where is she?” Baily called out.
Cullen winced. Seriously, his little sister needed to gain a sense of decorum.
“She’s talking about me, isn’t she?” Carys asked. Cullen heard the first little bit of trepidation in her voice and he was going to kick Baily’s ass.
“Wait, I see her,” Baily grinned as she pushed Baby Nick out of her way.
“Hi, Carys, I brought more Fanta! I also made Mom bake lemon tarts. You’re going to be in heaven.”
Carys looked up at him and blushed. Cullen was immediately in her head and he damn near blushed as well, remembering yesterday evening, last night, and this morning. Dear God, the woman had rocked his world.
Chelle walked up at that point. “Did you tell them about Mom’s lemon tarts?” she asked Baily.
“Yeah, but Cullen started thinking about sex.” Baily rolled her eyes.
“Interesting,” Chelle answered. She gave Cullen a droll look. But he was happy to see that both of his sisters focused on him and weren’t giving Carys a hard time. If they had been, he would have had to knock heads. Gently of course, but still…
“Can I help you unpack anything?”
A.J. materialized out of the crowd. “Did I hear an offer of help? Even better, did I hear about food cooked by Mrs. Lyons? Where is she?”
“Mom and Dad already had plans to go sailing with their friends on the Bay today, otherwise they’d be here. Cullen put in an order for something sweet and fruity,” Chelle explained. “Personally, I thought I was sweet, and Baily was fruity.”
“Ha, ha…not.” Cullen responded as he gathered Carys closer.
“Come on into the kitchen,” A.J. motioned to the girls. “Carys, you better come now, the tarts will be gone before we even put them out on the table.”
Baily put her arm through Carys’, “Yeah, I want to hear how you’re getting along with Aries.”
“Not Cullen?” Carys asked as she started walking away.
“Nah, he’s easy. Aries is the tough one,” Cullen heard his sister saying just before the quartet were out of earshot.
As soon as they were gone, Zed Zaragoza sauntered over to him. He had been happily married for over a year and a half. He oozed contentment.
“You’re just the man I wanted to talk to,” Cullen said.
“And why would that be? Does it have anything to do with the good doctor? The way I hear it, you fell pretty hard while you were in Africa. Seems pretty unbelievable to me.”
Cullen snorted. Thank God he hadn’t taken a sip of his beer. Zed laughed.
“Did you really just say that?”
“We’ve started a club.”
“Finding your woman on a mission and marrying her?”
“That’s the one,” Zed smirked. “Clint’s next in line. He’s finally got Lydia talked into setting a date.”
“Did I hear that right?” Max Hogan said as he butted into the conversation. “Lydia and Clint Archer are finally going to tie the knot? How in the hell did Clint get her to say yes? It’s only
been four years.”
“According to Marcia, it was praying over his bed day and night while he was in that coma. It tends to change your perspective,” Zed answered.
“Is he really all right?” Kane entered the conversation.
“He’s getting there,” Zed sighed. “Goddamn injuries.”
“Shut up, you asshole,” Kane growled as he handed Zed some mineral water. “You almost fucking died. I don’t want to hear you bitching about the fact that you get to spend time with your daughter.”
Zed brightened up.
“Yeah, that little girl is growing by leaps and bounds.”
“I’m going to see if I can go steal one of Mom’s desserts before they’re all gone,” Cullen said as he clapped Zed on the back.
“Save one for me,” Max called out as Cullen made his way to the kitchen.
21
“It must have been a hard decision to quit a vocation like Doctors Without Borders,” Chelle said as she arranged the lemon tarts on a plate.
“Not that hard. I really think that job has a shelf-life. Your psyche can only take so much before you either crumple or become too hard and brittle to have the compassion needed to do a good job.”
“Which do you think you would have done—the breaking, or the hard and brittle?” Baily asked.
Carys cocked her head as she looked at the youngest Lyons. She really was a blunt instrument.
“I don’t know, Baily. I didn’t stay long enough to find out.”
“Which was pretty damn smart,” A.J. said as she reached up to the top shelf for another serving plate. “Kane told me about the letters Cullen got from the family in Egypt,” A.J. continued. “It must feel really good to know you could help like that.”
“That case went well, unfortunately not every one does.”
“Here, try this.” Chelle handed Carys a napkin and a lemon tart. “Baily, stop being an ass.”
“What? I want to make sure she’s going to be good enough for Cullen. You know he’s fallen hard for her.”
Her Tempting Protector: Navy SEAL Team (Night Storm Book 2) Page 19