“Bed,” she said firmly.“Now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, grinning.I loved when she got bossy.“But only if you come with me.”
She toweled me dry with gentle strokes that felt more intimate than anything I’d experienced before.When we were both dry, I scooped her into my arms, ignoring her protests about my ribs.She weighed nothing and carrying her felt right.She protested, but I thought it was halfhearted at best.
I laid her on the bed with exquisite care, then stretched out beside her, propped on one elbow to look down at her body.Raw hunger coursed through me.Fifteen years of wanting, of dreaming, and I’d finally found the woman meant to be mine.“You’re incredible,” I whispered, my hand tracing the curve of her hip.My touch stayed light.
She reached up to stroke my beard, her smile making my chest tight.“You’re not so bad yourself.Even covered in glitter.”
I groaned, dropping my head to her shoulder.“Never gonna live that down, am I?”
“Not for at least a year.Tiny,” she said softly.“You don’t have to push through this.We have our whole life.You can take time to heal before we have sex again.”
“You giving me orders again?”I asked, loving the way she tried to take care of me.
“If that’s what it takes to make you take care of yourself.”
I smiled, tender but determined.I slid my hand over her stomach, my fingers dipping between her legs again.“What if this is exactly what I need?”
Her body arched into my touch, and satisfaction roared through me.“Then I guess I’d better let you have your way,” she breathed.
I leaned down to kiss her, and she opened to me completely.This woman, this incredible, strong, beautiful woman, trusted me with her body, her pleasure, her safety.With her heart.And she was worth every single fucking second.That, more than anything, was the true miracle of Christmas.
Her fingers stroked over my cheek as she petted my beard, and I could see the concern in her eyes.Fuck, I hated that she could read me so easily.My ribs were screaming at me, the position pulling at muscles that shouldn’t be moving like this, but I’d be damned if I’d let pain stop me from touching her.
“The hot water would help your muscles,” she said.“Why don’t we go back to the shower?”
I raised an eyebrow, letting a slow smile spread across my face despite the ache in my side.“You trying to get me clean or dirty?”
“Both,” she admitted with a little laugh, pressing a kiss to my jaw that sent heat straight to my cock.“Definitely both.”
I chuckled, feeling the rumble in my chest.With more grace than most people expected from a man my size, I rose from the bed and pulled her up with me.My gaze locked with hers as I led her back toward the bathroom, her small hand disappearing completely in mine.
The bathroom was still thick with steam when we entered, moisture clinging to every surface.I turned on the shower again, adjusting the temperature until it was hot enough to ease the knots in my muscles.
“Come here,” I said, my voice coming out low and rough.
She stepped into the shower, water immediately streaming down her perfect skin.Water cascaded over my back and shoulders, hot enough to sting the fading bruises.Droplets caught in my beard, but I barely noticed.I was too focused on her.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I murmured, pulling her against me.My cock pressed hard against her stomach, and there was no hiding how much I wanted her, and I didn’t even try.
Her hands ran up my chest, and I noticed how careful she was around my injuries.“So are you.”
I laughed softly, my hands sliding down her back to cup her ass.The contrast of her soft curves against my calloused palms never got old.“Not sure beautiful’s the right word for a man like me.”
“It’s exactly the right word,” she insisted, rising on tiptoes to kiss me.
I responded immediately, claiming her mouth with a hunger I could barely control.I cradled the back of her head with my hand, fingers tangling in her wet hair as I deepened the kiss.My tongue stroked against hers, demanding but gentle.She deserved gentle more than any woman I’d ever known.
Without breaking the kiss, I maneuvered us so her back was against the cool tile wall.I needed her pinned there, needed to feel her trapped between the wall and my body.The move was about protecting her, possessing her in the best possible way.I always wanted my body, honed in the fires of battle under the most brutal of conditions, between her and the world.
“Hold onto me,” I murmured against her lips.
Her arms wrapped around my neck as I gripped her thighs, lifting her effortlessly.She weighed nothing to me; I could hold her like this for hours if she’d let me.Her legs circled my waist, ankles crossing behind my back, and the feel of her pussy sliding against my cock nearly made me come right there.
“You sure?”she asked, those worried eyes searching my face again.“Your ribs --”
“Are fine,” I finished, pressing my forehead to hers.The ribs could go fuck themselves.“I need you, Penny.Need to be inside you.”
