His heart swelled and he hugged her tighter. “I’m so damn happy you chose me. I’m sorry I pushed you away.” He kissed her on the forehead and combed his fingers through her hair,still needing the contact and closeness he’d only ever felt with her.
“We weren’t ready for all of this.”
He held her beautiful green-eyed gaze. “You were always so sure.”
“You always saw me a certain way, and I wanted you to see me like this. But I had to get here first.”
He understood exactly what she meant. She’d tried to grow up way too fast, trying to catch up to him. Now, they were on more equal footing.
He traced his finger across her forehead, drawing her hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear, and told her the truth about how he felt about this experience. Because for all her waiting, she deserved to know how he felt about being with her. “You were the most amazing lover ever.”
“Sure. Right.” She let loose a nervous chuckle, and her gaze fell away.
Catching her chin in his fingers, he turned her face back and made her look at him. “That’s the truth. You were so free and giving and beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”
She caught her breath and stared wide-eyed at him. “I didn’t know it would be like that.”
He kissed her softly. “That’s what it’s like for us. It’s never been like that for me with anyone else.” He needed her to know that what they shared was special.
She pressed her hand to his chest over his heart. “I’ll never forget this, Cody. You made it so perfect.” She raised her hand and pressed her palm to his cheek.
He loved the soft caress, but not the pinch of pain on her face as she moved. He gently nudged her arm over her chest so he could see her back and hissed at the raw spot on her shoulder blade. He released her arm and kissed her soft, silky skin aboveher collarbone. “I could have done better. I should have at least taken you upstairs to my bed.” He kissed her again. He loved the way she felt, and with each kiss, she pressed closer to him.
The way she kept touching him drove him crazy. He was still half-hard just lying next to her.
Sore and tender, she wasn’t up for an all-night lovefest. The thought held a lot of appeal, but he had to think of her, even if he wanted to feel Brooke moving under him again. He wanted to hear her say his name as the breath sighed out of her as he drove into her. He wanted to feel her need for him and the way she tried to get as close to him as possible.
“I don’t know how you could have done better, but I’m willing to give you a million chances to prove it.” She pressed her mouth to his, urging him on.
Lost to her, he gave in to her sweet demand and his need for her.
He kissed her with long, deep strokes of his tongue. Her swollen lips pressed to his as he pushed her back into the carpet. She grimaced and shifted to ease whatever hurt. He’d left more than one rug burn on her back. He felt like a prick as he bowed his head and rested his forehead on her pretty breast. The dusky pink nipple puckered, hard against his chin. He took it into his mouth, pressing his tongue over the tight bud. When she moaned and held his head to her, he knew he had to stop, or he wouldn’t be able to in a minute. She needed to rest, recover from her first time. He wouldn’t push his need on her and hurt her more.
It took every ounce of effort and self-control he possessed to release her. He stood and pulled her up by the hands with him. They needed to dress and go upstairs. Sleep.
Not that he would. He’d be thinking about her and what this meant for them.
One realization hit him like a swift kick to the gut. “Damn. I wasn’t thinking clearly. At all, really. We didn’t use a condom.” He ran a hand through his messy hair. He hadn’t even thought about it until this moment, and that wasn’t like him. He was always careful and used a condom. Every time.
Guilt rode him hard. He should have protected her. He should have done better by her all the way around. He’d taken her on the floor, for God’s sake. “Are you on the pill?”
Brow furrowed, she bit her lip. “No. I, uh, didn’t need to until tonight.” Concern clouded her expressive eyes. “I don’t think the timing is quite right…but…”
He drew her close and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Don’t worry. We won’t borrow trouble. It’ll probably be fine. If not, we’ll deal with it.”
Her gaze narrowed. “What does that mean? If you think I’ll go to some clinic… No.” She shook her head.
He loved her strength and conviction. She’d never give up a baby. He’d never want her to. He slipped his hands under her hair and held her head, sweeping his thumbs over her soft cheeks. “I mean, I’ll take care of you and the baby. You know I will.” He ran his hands through her dark hair and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I know you’d never get rid ofourbaby. You’re too much of a nurturer to do anything like that.”
“Nurturer, huh. That’s how you see me.”
“Honey, you took good care of me a minute ago.”
A blush rose from her pretty breasts up to her forehead. So beautiful. She rested her hands on his waist and stood nude in front of him, not a touch of self-consciousness in her body or face.
The door to his study stood wide-open to the rest of the house, concerning him. Her mother could have come in and seen them. Brooke didn’t seem concerned that they weren’t alone in thehouse, but he could have, and should have, done things a lot better.
Next time.
