“And what is that?” he asks in mock innocence.
“You’re trying to seduce me.” I point an accusing finger at him rendered ineffective by the towel clenched in my fist.
“I think you’re reading into things,” he says with a shake of his head. He flexes his muscles so obviously that I laugh. “If you want, I can find you a shirt to wear. Your sweater is dripping on the floor.” Sure enough, there’s a growing puddle spreading beneath my feet. The sweater that once clung to my curves has stretched down to my knees from the water weighing it down.
A zipper hums and the floor creaks as I examine my sopping-wet sweater that suddenly feels like it weighs a thousand pounds before dropping the towel to soak up the mess I’ve made. Movement in front of me makes me glance up only to see Smith’s naked chest right in my face.
Oh shit.
I swallow, my throat going dry from the view in front of me. “Thanks,” I whisper, my voice strained as I take the shirt dangling in the space between us. His eyes burn down on me. He’s standing so close that I can feel the heat coming off his skin.
“Now who is doing the seducing?” He asks, his fingers reaching across the expanse between us to run along the collar of my sweater.
My breath hitches at that simple touch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My tongue darts between my lips as my heart flutters.
Smith shuffles closer, his mouth inches above my own. “You can’t look at me like that Care, without me wanting you. Having you stand here, in my room, looking at me with hunger in your eyes is the biggest temptation I’ve ever had.” His other hand slips around my head gently pulling my hair free of its ties until it hangs down my back. “I’m giving you the choice right now, Care. You can take my shirt and leave like you did all those years ago.” He slides his hand up my neck to rest on my jaw. “Or, you can stay.”
Those three simple words unlock something inside me I didn’t know I needed.I can stay. All those years ago I felt like I didn’t have a choice. But I have one now and there’s no question in my mind about the answer.
The shirt he handed me falls to the floor, landing among the towel and scattered clothing. He doesn’t move an inch as I lift the soaking hem of the sweater. Smith’s eyes widen, his gaze drifting down to watch me as I begin to undress. A small sigh of relief leaves his lips as I pull the sweater over my head and let it fall to the floor.
The second I’m free from the wet confines Smith’s mouth is on mine. His lips worship my mouth, this kiss nothing like the one that came before it. Smith unleashes everything to me, bearing his heart and soul in one single act. All the pain, hunger, and most of all love seep into every fiber of my being, taking all he’s giving me.
Tears I’ve been holding at bay for what seems like years begin to stream down my cheeks as our mouths work to mend what had been broken.
WhatIbroke.
He pulls back, his sapphire eyes filling with unshed tears, his thumb wiping away my own. A hand slowly glides down my spine, leaving goosebumps in their wake until he lifts me into hisarms. I slide my hands into his inky black hair, loving the feel of it running through my fingers and bring my mouth down to his.
He holds me tight against him as he carries me to the large four-poster bed, laying me down softly. Smith moves lower, his lips trailing down my throat, kissing his way down my body. My hands trail down his back and across his broad shoulders. He’s the last person who ever saw me like this. The last person whose skin has brushed against mine so intimately.
Living without him, withoutus,has been my own form of torment. What had I done all those years ago?
Smith places soft kisses on my stomach as he moves lower down my body. My heart, once pounding, seems to cease beating as he flicks his blue eyes up my body, connecting with my own before he slides off me.
I sit up, a protest ready to spill from my lips.
He stands, his hands never leaving my legs as they come to a stop at my boots. “Relax,” he says softly. “There’s too many clothes in the way.” Looking down, I see exactly what he means.
We’re both shirtless, but my bra is securely fastened around my ample chest. He manages to drag the top of my leggings down to my hips, but I’m still covered.
My eyes glance towards Smith as he unzips one boot, then the other. He’s hard through the denim of his pants and anticipation gathers in my belly. Looking to help him out, I quickly reach behind me to unclasp my bra and toss it to the side. When I look back, Smith’s movement has frozen, his eyes scorching as he takes in my naked breast.
They always were his favorite.
I lay my back flat on the mattress gliding my hands along my skin and sliding them into my damp hair. “Are you just going to stare, or are you going to get me naked?”
Smiths Adam's Apple bobs before he picks up where he left off, tossing my boots behind him. They hit the dresser with a smackmaking me chuckle. “It’s been six fucking years,” he mutters with a scowl. “I’m sure as hell going to get you naked, Care. Believe me.” With one fluid tug, he manages to free my leggings, dropping them to the floor, his gaze hungry.
“Now you,” I order, looking pointedly at the straining zipper of pants. I playfully bite my lip and he chuckles, shaking his head. The way his muscles bunch together as he unbuttons his jeans so distracting that I don’t notice he’s finally standing naked before me.
Smith wastes no time lifting my left foot to his mouth picking up where he left off, kissing his way up my thigh. His eyes never break contact with mine, the heat and longing in them clear. The higher he kisses the more difficult it is to not break his gaze, to never lose focus of the look in his eyes as he watches me.
When he pauses just before the juncture of my thighs, I break. Shivers of pure anticipation are too much and my eyes squeeze closed waiting for the heat of his mouth. “Cara,” he soothes, halting his ascent. “Look at me. I need to see your eyes.” It takes more effort than I care to admit to meet his gaze, but when I do, he looks at me so tenderly. “I’ve missed you,” he breathes right before he puts his mouth on me, his eyes wide open.
A rush of breath leaves my body, a low moan going with it. My eyes roll into the back of my skull from the simple tease of his tongue. Pleasure I’ve long since forgotten builds within me, a damn waiting to burst.
Smith takes his time as he devours me, not stopping to remind me to open my eyes. Dark stands of his hair slip through my fingers as our free hands clasp together. Locked together in this sensual embrace, my body lets go. Tears glide free, my head thrown back as I whimper and thrash in the sheets surrounding me. Smith gently works his tongue over me in featherlight touches as I come undone, our hands welded together.
