We both freeze, and I can’t tell if my heart is beating fast from the momentary excitement of trying to catch the container or…
Who am I kidding? My heart is pounding because I’m pressed between the counter and Ash’s body, and the look in his eyes says he’s hungry for more than popcorn.
I let out a breathy laugh. “Close call.”
Ash looks down at the seasoning wedged between us and pulls it gently out of my hand to set it on the counter.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he says softly.
“Any longer for what?” I ask. I’m sure I know, but I need to hear him say it to believe it.
Ash doesn’t answer. He snakes one hand up my neck and threads it through my hair as his other arm wraps around me. Then his lips are on mine, and my mind empties of conscious thought as every nerve in my body sparks to life, making it possible only to feel, not to think.
A second later my feet leave the ground, and I find myself sitting on the counter with Ash standing between my legs. He’s kissing me like he’ll die if our lips part, and I have to suck in a deep breath through my nose because I’ve ceded complete control of my mouth to him.
Ash’s lips leave mine only to fasten on my neck, and pleasure shoots all the way down my body. I know I’ve already soaked my panties.
“I’ve been thinking about this for weeks,” Ash says against my throat. “The thought of fucking you has been driving me crazy. Tell me you knew that’s what was going to happen tonight and that you want it as bad as I do, because I’m going to God damn explode if I’m not inside you soon.”
Butterflies are an inadequate description for the chaos that erupts in my chest, and I can only nod before I’m able to push out a breathy, “Yes.”
“Thank fuck,” he says as he bands an arm around my waist, and his other hand grips me under my thigh. I wrap my legs around his hips, and he lifts me off the counter like I’m a pizza box he’s bringing to the couch.
I revel in the feeling of being weightless. Oh, to be a professional athlete and feel the laws of gravity less than everyone else.
He sets a knee on the couch and lays me down before easing on top of me. Then his lips are on mine again, his tongue exploring deep in my mouth as I catch breaths that seem optional right now. I could live on this man’s kisses.
Ash leans back to pull his shirt off, and I’m mesmerized by his sculpted chest and abs. I knew they were under there, but they still take me by surprise.
My three days a week at the gym now seem completely inadequate, and I decide to add three more days, an extra hour per workout, and a personal trainer. I’m relatively fit, but I’m not lean and muscular like an athlete. I have some soft spots, and my hips and thighs are generous.
I take in the ink that covers Ash’s left pec, shoulder, and part of his upper arm. It’s a black and gray realistic tattoo of ornate plated armor, and the detail is astounding. At quick glance, it actually looks like Ash is wearing part of a chest plate and jointed shoulder plate.
Ash smiles as he watches me take in his body. “Like what you see?”
My eyes meet his, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to meet his pride with a snarky remark about being unimpressed or only being able to see five of the abs in his six-pack – not even remotely true – but I can’t givein to the sarcasm. Not when literal perfection is staring me in the face.
“You can touch if you want,” he says as he takes my hand and places it on his stomach.
I run my hand over the ridges of muscle, and I’m almost certain I feel my ovaries twitch. I didn’t think I wanted kids, but Ash’s abs are making me rethink every God damn one of my life choices, and I suddenly wonder if it’s possible to remove an IUD at home. I’ll google it later.
Ash lets me explore for a few seconds, but he groans when my hand trails lower toward the obvious bulge in his pants. Before I can get there, he grabs the hem of my sweater and pulls it up. I lift off the couch so he can get the garment out from under me, but just as it gets past my elbows, he stops. My hands and forearms are still caught in the sleeves, and I start to pull, trying to free them.
His large hand clamps down over the bunch of sweater at my wrists to stop me, and I meet his eyes again. There’s an excited gleam there, and he bends to kiss me long and hard.
I’m breathless and dazed when he’s done, which is why I barely notice him slip a hand behind me and pop open my bra. The feel of my breasts springing free brings me back, and I look at him in confusion as he pulls the bra up my arms until it catches on my sweater.
Ash leans back to take me in, his hand still pinning my wrists. I want to throw his words back at him, to ask if he likes what he sees, but I’m just not that confident.
“What are you doing?” I ask instead. “Help me get my hands free.”
He shakes his head. “You said you didn’t mind a little restraint.”
He cups a hand over one breast and teases the already taut nipple with his thumb. I’m unsuccessful at stifling a whimper as pleasure shoots straight to my core before working its way down to curl my toes.
“Fuck, these breasts are gorgeous. I’ve been dying to touch them,” he says. He grins down at me. “Did I see your nipples harden when I mentioned restraint?”
“They’re cold,” I lie, but the words come out strained.
