I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Whether he’d thought of this before or not, I couldn’t read, but certainly he was giving my advice some consideration.
“And does the same go for us?” he asked, a sly smile displacing some of the gloom. “What matters is what I want?”
I laughed. “Oh, no. In our relationship, think of me as your overbearing manager.”
“Hypocrite.”
I tucked back into his side, my head in the crook of his arm. God, how I wanted to be all in with this amazing guy. Like 100% in. “I really like you, Bodhi.”
“But?”
But… even setting aside my fear of rejection could I really see myself changing my entire life for him? That was the question I couldn’t answer.
“But, your fame—I’m not going to lie. It scares the shit out of me. You see the way I am. I like country western bars and shopping at Marshalls. I’m afraid that big ball of energy that hovers over you is going to swallow me whole.”
“Why do you have to make it difficult? You could’ve stopped before the ‘but’.”
“I could have, except the ‘but’ is a really big deal for me. If I can’t see myself thriving in your life, isn’t it better for me to walk away now before our feelings get all tangled up?”
“I don’t ever want you to walk away from me. I won’t let you.” Bodhi hooked his arm around my waist and pulled me backwards on top of him. Enveloping me in his strong arms, he kissed my neck while his fingers skated over my ribs. Waves of desire and giggles swept through me.
“Let me up,” I demanded with absolutely no conviction.
“Would you please stop squirming?” His hands slipped further down my body. “You’re like a worm with arms.”
“Then stop with the torture fingers.” I said, reaching back and making contact with his balls.
“Oh no you don’t.” Displacing my hand before I had a chance to latch on, he pinned it against the mattress. “You’re mine.”
“Dream on.”
“No dreaming required.”
And he was right. Bodhi’s hand continued the seductive descent, sliding into my pajama shorts. I gasped when he touched my most sensitive spot, teasing with lithe fingers. Releasing my wrist, his free hand roamed lazily over my breast. Once his fingers found my nipple and circled the pebbled tip, I had no fight left. I gave myself over to him to do as he wished. And he knew just what to do. My breathing intensified with each stroke of his capable hands and I found myself moving smoothly to the rhythm of his beat.
“Bodhi,” I whispered.
“Shhh.”
“I just… we need to… oh god.”
The sensations were building so fast that words failed me. I was acutely aware of his brawny body curved into me from behind, his hardness pressing into me. Lips like silk danced skillfully down the back of my neck setting my tingling skin on fire. Yes, whatever the obstacle, we could work through it because I’d be damned if I let him find himself another dime somewhere down the road. He was right. I was his.
Bodhi shifted, his warmth leaving me but only momentarily so he could change our position. He was on top of me now, his powerful body dwarfing me in both size and need. I opened my legs, wanting him inside. Slowly he entered, my body trembling, reigniting. The heat was back and I was flushed with need. He was mine.
Like slow moving torture, his measured, deliberate thrusts held me rigid on a sword’s edge. I wanted to scream at him to go faster, but I trusted him and his ability to take me where I needed to go.
Driving my hips up to meet him, I urged him on. Bodhi groaned, no longer able to keep up his methodical rhythm. Frantic in his need, Bodhi increased the pace. I looped my arms around his neck, slick with sweat, then pulled him toward me.
“Kiss me,” I said.
His gaze dipped into mine a moment before our lips met.
Moving as one, we climbed to dizzying heights. His hand slipped between us, fingers searching for the magic spot that would send me flying.
“You feel it?” he rasped.
And I wasn’t sure if he was talking about the sex or the warm glow occupying every square inch of my chest.
