When our gazes finally found each other, his was burning with heat, liquid silver with desire. A tingle followed the same path as his look, starting in my toes and rocketing through me. My heart kicked against my breastbone and my core thrummed with anticipation.
We had been through something devastating and emotional last night. I had cried for hours. And he had shed tears with me. Then he’d held me the entire night, wrapped securely in his strong, safe arms. And helped me start picking up my shattered pieces.
The connection between us was stronger than ever. As was this building attraction.
I loved him.
He loved me.
And yet we’d only been fully intimate one time and I could barely remember it.
I found myself desperate to separate that experience from the one six years ago. I wanted to put as much space between Vann and the faceless rapist as possible.
Not only that… I wanted Vann.
Wanted his body and the experience. I wanted his hands all over me and his mouth everywhere and for his body to touch mine in ways that would leave me forever branded by him.
Vann looked away, rubbing his hands on his athletic pants. He’d taken a shower first thing this morning and borrowed my toothbrush, but he only had his clothes from yesterday. They were rumpled and adorable, and God, I wanted to rip them off him.
“Hey,” I murmured, desperate to have his gaze on me again.
He looked up. I dropped my towel. His eyes bugged and his lips parted. That was probably the last thing he had expected me to do.
“Dillon, I…”
I could see him struggling for words and it only made me more comfortable. I walked toward him, surprised at how confident I felt in the full light of day.
He licked dry lips and tried to speak again. “We don’t have to… I know you’re still upset… I don’t want to rush you…”
I climbed onto his lap, straddling his hips with zero protest from him. His inability to function properly made me smile.
“I want to,” I told him. His gaze searched for mine again, needing full permission. “I want you, Vann. You’re nothing like… that night. This is what I want. You are what I want. And not just in this way. I want you in every way. I love you.” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in a sign of emotion. “I trust you.”
His hands landed tentatively on my waist, careful, gentle… hopeful. “I love you too,” he promised.
Our mouths crashed together with that final permission, hungry, greedy, and desperate for more. His teeth scraped over my bottom lip and his tongue invaded my mouth, tasting me, devouring me.
I let him take over, coaxing me deeper and deeper into desire. Tugging at the hem of his t-shirt, I was tired of being the only one not clothed. He pulled at it, helping me yank it over his head.
Our bodies crashed back together, my bare breasts against his solid chest. I moaned at the sensation. His hands landed on my hips and tugged me more fully against him.
“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” he murmured between kisses. “God, woman, I am so fucking lucky.”
My heartbeat tripled at his sweet words, letting them sink into my blood, deep into the center of my bones. “I need more,” I gasped, running my hands over all that warm, glorious skin of his chest and biceps.
“Mmm,” he agreed.
One of his hands held my breast, rubbing his thumb over my nipple the way I liked. His other pulled the back of my knee, spreading my legs wider, seating me tightly against his hard body.
My hips started writhing on their own and he pinched my nipple until my back arched in pleasure.
“I want you, Dillon,” he whispered. “More than I’ve ever wanted anyone or anything.”
“Take me then,” I ordered, ready for all that he had to offer.
He smiled against my mouth. “Better make it memorable though, yeah?”
A squeak escaped me as he scooped me into his arms before tossing me on the edge of the bed. I raised my hands above my head, expecting him to follow me, when suddenly he was gone.
