Now, with her daring him from his bed, he finally allowed himself to relax. When he reached down to remove her jeans and panties, his hands trembled enough to make him grin. “Did you know?” he asked softly, wondering if she’d be honest.
She unhooked her bra and tossed the lacy material across the room. Her breasts had filled out, but the hard pink nipples were familiar and so damn sexy. “Know what?”
He breathed out, the air burning his throat. “That we’d end up here tonight.” Lying on his bed, naked, skin glowing in the muted light, the woman was a goddess. The years had been kind to her, sculpting her curves into delicate femininity. Red highlights in the hair spread out against his pillow caught and glimmered, and his cock hardened even more.
She smiled, the sight both enticing and a little sad. “I knew.”
He crawled up her, careful to brush his skin against hers, enjoying the hitch in her chest. Her nipples scraped his pecs, and he groaned. Reaching her face, he kissed her, trying to be gentle. Finally, he had a chance to show her who he’d become. He’d worked so hard to get rid of the anger, to find some sense of peace after so much blood and death. He’d never be that guy again.
She gripped his head, kissing him back, little moans trembling through her chest.
The man inside him, the primitive male, revolted against control. So he rolled them over. “God, Nora. I’d forgotten.”
Her knees dropped to his sides, and her hot sex rubbed against his dick, coating him with wetness. “Forgotten what?” she murmured, her lips pressing hot, openmouthed kisses against his jaw.
“How damn small you are.” He caressed down her flanks to her tight ass, and his cock jumped against her. The woman had taken such a prominent place in his heart, in his mind, in his dreams . . . she seemed so much larger in the abstract. Here, with her writhing on top of him, he remembered her fragility. He probably outweighed her by a hundred plus pounds. Nearly overcome, he gripped her head to hold her still, his fingers tangling in her curls.
She gasped, and more wetness coated his balls at the dominance.
Fire rushed through him, and he grinned. Some things didn’t change. Thank the gods. “I’ll keep you safe this time,” he murmured, claiming eye contact, needing her to understand. To believe him.
She blinked and slid her hand down to grasp him with an incredibly soft hand.
Electricity sparked through his balls, and he shoved against her palm. “Nora—”
She levered herself up, all grace and strength, and positioned him at her entrance. Slowly, almost as if she enjoyed torturing him, she lowered herself, pausing several times and taking deep breaths.
Jesus. How long had it been for her?
Her butt hit his groin, and impossible heat captured his shaft. His eyes rolled back, and thunder rippled down his abdomen. “You’re so damn tight,” he gritted out, his muscles undulating with the need to move.
She chuckled, the sound throaty and breathless. “Now we talk.” Her fingernails scraped across his chest.
His eyes opened. “What?”
“Your statement that you’d keep me safethis time. I’m assuming you’re not talking about birth control, and lucky for you, I’m on the pill. Deke, I was safe last time.” She lifted up and slid back down along his length.
Hunger roared through him, neck to dick. His hand tightened in her hair, and he clutched the bedspread to keep from grabbing her with the other hand. “I meant from me.”
“So did I.” Her eyes darkened to nearly black, and using his abs for balance, she lifted her butt again and then slammed home.
Agonizing need clawed his balls, and he had to bite his lip to keep from moaning. “I was angry. During and after tours.”
Her internal muscles gripped around him, and he arched up into her. She smiled. “You were a scared, angry kid who’d seen hell, and I was a scared, lonely kid who didn’t know how to help you. We’re not those people now. You’re not a soldier.”
He paused. Something wasn’t quite right in the statement, but at the moment, his body was sweating as he held himself back. “I’m not in the service.” But he still wore a gun and dealt with violence. He was just better at it now. Did she understand that?
“Exactly.” She wiggled her butt across his groin, igniting every nerve he had.
He snapped.
Both hands seized her arms, and he rolled them, already pounding into her. She gasped and dug her hands into his flanks, clasping her ankles at the back of his waist. “Nora,” he groaned, burying his face in her neck.
She met him with each thrust, her nails scoring him, her wet heat destroying him. “Harder,” she breathed.
That quickly, with her plea, he forgot any concern. Securing her hip, he lifted her to meet him, fucking her hard. He hit a spot inside her that made her cry out, the sound echoing through his body. He drove harder, holding her in place, fighting to reach bliss.
Her body went taut, and her head pushed back against his hold, her neck elongating. Spasms rippled around him, gripping with a fierce hold. He changed his angle, brushing her clit, and she went off again, crying his name.
