Her taste could sate me for the rest of my life. Like the ocean after a storm. I blaze a slow trail through her velvet folds and relish the way her thighs tremble. Tracing patterns over her clit, I drink her in. Every touch, every flick of my tongue coils her muscles tighter. Her legs move restlessly, hands fisting in the sheets, and I slip a finger inside her.
“More,” she begs.
I’ll give her anything she asks for, so I add a second finger, pumping in and out while I find my rhythm with my tongue. Her little whimpers turn into moans punctuated with gasps, and I only stop long enough to ask, “Like this, do you?”
“God, yes,” she breathes. “Don’t…stop…”
I chuckle with my lips pressed to her pussy, and the motion has her back arching. Twisting my hand so I can find her g-spot, I curl my fingers and suck gently on her clit.
“Come for me, darlin’,” I murmur against her. With one final whimper, she lets go.
Mine.
That’s the only thought I can muster as Hope shudders in my arms. That this beautiful, brave, intelligent woman is mine, and I’ll do anything to keep her safe. She came alive for me with each kiss, each touch, each tremor.
I have to let her go. Tomorrow, I will let her go. But not tonight. Tonight, I’m going to worship her until we’re both too tired to move.
Her eyes are still closed, but she’s wearing a dazed smile and clings to me when I pull the blankets up over us. “Wyatt?” she murmurs. “You don’t think we’re done, do you?”
“I’ll never be done with you, darlin’.”
Never? Watch your mouth, asshole. You don’t deserve a forever with her. And she deserves a hell of a lot more than you can ever provide.
Hope wriggles out of my embrace and pushes up on an elbow. “Do you have a condom?”
Fuck me.
I stare down at the blanket bunched in my hands, unwilling—or unable—to meet her gaze. “No. I’m clean, darlin’. But all that shrapnel damage…the docs don’t think I can have kids. They weren’t sure, though. And I live alone. Never planned on seeing another soul outside of Clarence ever again. I’m sorry.”
With a sigh, I roll off the bed—or try to—but she stops me, her fingers warm around my wrist. “I’m protected. I can’t get pregnant. But…” Her cheeks flame bright red, and now she’s the one who looks away.
“Simon demanded sex twice a week.”
That shitstain touched her. He fucked her.
“He wore a condom.” Her whisper is so quiet, I can barely make out her words, but when I tip her chin up, I know she’s telling the truth. “Every time.”
“Then come here.” Lying back, I wait for her to climb on top of me. I’m still hard as a rock, and she wraps her hand around my shaft. “Fuck, Hope. You don’t know what you do to me.”
Her smile lights up the entire room until she leans down and swirls her tongue over my crown. My vision goes white. It’s been so long. When I focus on her again, she’s sucking me deep. My God. If she keeps this up, I won’t last.
“Hope,” I manage. “Stop.”
She releases me with a little pop from her lips, and fear churns in her eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Fuck, no. That was…amazing.” I slide my arm around her waist and pull her closer. The position gives me access to her perfect breasts, and I pinch a nipple, rolling it between my fingers and thumb until she shudders and lets her head fall back. “I want to come inside you. That’s all. Another few seconds of…that…and I’d be done for.”
Soft, black locks smelling of my shampoo tickle the hand I brace along her spine. I want her to always smell like this. Feel like this. Leaning forward, I capture the other nipple between my teeth, sucking it, hard.
A blush races up her chest, all the way to her neck. I want to taste every fucking inch of her. Wrapping my arms around her, I tug her down to me, kissing from her shoulder to her neck and up to her ear. My teeth score the shell, and she whimpers my name.
“Are you ready, darlin’?”
“Uh huh.” She’s so wet, and my dick is already slick with precum. Fastening my hands around her hips, I help guide her. I don’t remember the last time a woman rode me, but with Hope, I think this is what she needs—and wants—because the relief in her eyes is both reassuring and heartbreaking.
“Hope? Listen to me.” Cupping her cheek, I focus on her. I want her to know she’s my whole world—if only for tonight. “Nothing matters to me but you. Your happiness. Your safety. Your pleasure. If you want to stop, we stop. Just say the word.”
“Wyatt. I want this. You. I’m not fragile. Not some flower with a broken stem you need to protect. I survived. I have a chance…” Her voice cracks, and she clears her throat. “A chance at a future. And I’m not wasting a second of it.”
