Her smile was brighter than the bonfire they’d been around all night. “Yes.”
Relief swept through him and he hadn’t been aware of how much he wanted her to say yes. Together they headed for the main house, stopping briefly to thank Mitch’s parents for the party. Brodie would talk to them in a couple of days about the Crabtree property. If for some reason, it got sold before he could speak to them about it, then it wasn’t meant to be.
The trip to his small cabin didn’t take long, but when he opened the door and ushered Cerise inside, nerves assailed him. Every other time he’d taken a woman to his bed, he hadn’t been as nervous as he was right this second. Even when he’d lost his virginity, his stomach hadn’t churned in anticipation like it was presently. His first time had been more fumbling and learning than perfection, but he wanted to do everything right with Cerise.
She was that important to him.
Cerise watchedthe play of emotions across Brodie’s face. Was he having second thoughts now that they were in his home? The excitement she’d seen shining in his eyes when they’d walked in was now missing, and his mouth was turned down in the corners and his brow furrowed.
Well, no way was she going to have him think she didn’t want to be here with him. She reached up and smoothed the lines of worry away. “I want this, Brodie. I want you.”
His arms wrapped around her tighter than they ever had before. “I know. I just want ... I don’t...” Plastered against his body, she felt the long inhalation and exhalation from him. “You mean the world to me, Sparkles. And it’s happened so fast, I’m still spinning.”
Beneath his declaration she could see that he was nervous about disappointing her. If anyone had to be nervous, it should be her. She had scars now on her body. Scars from the scariest time of her life, and Brodie would be the first one to see them. “Show me, Brodie.”
With those three simple words it was like she’d banished any doubts he had because his mouth crashed down on hers. Their lips danced together and, when he lifted her, she tightened her hold on him.
She was aware of them moving through the small space. Aware of Brodie shouldering open a partly closed door. Then there was the softness of a mattress beneath her as he laid her gently on his bed. The scent of lemon and pine filled the air. Scents she associated with Brodie.
His hands trailed down her body until they reached her knee-high boots, and he proceeded to unzip them and pull them from her legs. He removed her socks next. Every step was accompanied by soft caresses on the back of her legs. Her bare ankles. Such simple touches, but they set her aflame like no other touch had been able to do.
Wanting to see him, she sat up and pushed his jacket off his shoulders, admiring the breadth of them. Knowing that he came about his muscles honestly and not in a gym was arousing. She could picture him, sweat dripping between his shoulder blades, as he brushed a horse down after a vigorous ride. Or from swinging an axe as he chopped wood to add to the open fire that kept them warm.
The visions were of a future. A future with the man now dealing with his own boots and jeans.
In that moment she was assailed with the unfamiliar emotion of the type of love only reserved for when you meet your soulmate. That bone-deep feeling that she’d finally found the person who completed the puzzle that was her.
“Make love to me, Brodie.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Brodie responded with a smile.
Clothes were disposed of and they lay on the bed facing each other. Her body heated from the look Brodie was giving her. His eyes practically ate her up. A rush of shyness threatened to overwhelm her as she lay naked beneath his scrutiny.
“You are so beautiful, Sparkles. I’m honored you’re giving yourself to me.”
All her shyness evaporated. “I’m honored that you’re giving yourself to me.”
She traced down a line down his chest. His six-pack wasn’t defined, like she’d seen on the covers of some romance novels, but it was there. Her fingers danced over his stomach until she reached his dick. Feeling bold because Brodie wasn’t stopping her exploration, she clasped his hard length and gave it a squeeze. He groaned and, when she started to stroke him, his whole body shuddered. She increased her pace and his hand closed over hers.
“Sparkles, you need to stop. I want to make our first time amazing and if you keep that up, it’s going to be over quicker than a firecracker lighting up the sky.”
“That’s quite the analogy.”
His response was to close the gap between their bodies as his mouth found hers. The kiss sizzled through her body, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her chest against his.
Brodie rolled so that she was on her back. He trailed his mouth across her cheek and down her neck, nipping as he went. When his mouth closed over her distended nipple, she arched off the bed and a moan ripped from her throat.
“I’m just getting started, Sparkles. Just getting started,” he murmured against her breast. While his mouth was busy laving attention to her breasts, his hand worked its way over her stomach, taking extra care to reverently touch her scars, until he found her slick folds. He massaged her clit and her eyes drifted close. His lips followed the path of his hand and, when his mouth closed over her pussy, her hips bucked and she gripped the sheets. His tongue lapped at her and his teeth nipped at the bundle of nerves.
He inserted two fingers inside her and began a slow pump in and out. Cerise bit her bottom lip as her nerve endings tingled and her muscles clenched tighter and tighter. Her orgasm was just out of reach, so she ground her hips against his mouth. As if sensing what she needed, he increased the pace of his fingers and tongue. It all became too much, and she cried out when her climax rushed through her body, her legs shaking in reaction.
The bed moved and a rush of cool air wafted over her as Brodie moved away from her. She wanted to pull him back, but she was aware of the drawer opening and she figured he was grabbing protection.
A few seconds later her wish was granted, and he was lying over her again.
“You doing okay?” he asked softly, peppering her neck with little nips.
“I’m sparkling.”
