Janie understood now that he’d been blaming himself, convinced she’d be better off under someone else’s protection. But she’d seen the immediate fury in his blackened gaze when she’d mentioned hiring someone else to take his place. There was no way he was going to rely on anyone else to keep her safe.
The hell you will.
She smiled against his lips because her impromptu plan had worked like a freaking charm. It was a risk, andafter tonight, there very well may be severe consequences for their actions. The aftermath of their lovemaking may prove to be catastrophic, but until that time came, she planned to live in the present.
Emmett paused when they reached his bedroom door, which was only slightly ajar. A gentle kick pushed it open even more, allowing their conjoined bodies plenty of room to enter.
It was the second time Janie had been in his bedroom. The first was earlier, when she’d been looking for one of his shirts. The room was big and filled with the night’s dark shadows. Slivers of moonlight snuck through from the windows in subtle rays.
When she’d been in here before, she’d taken the time to appreciate the masculine décor. Good thing, too, because right now, her focus was on the man carrying her toward the massive, king-sized bed.
“We should slow down.” Emmett’s voice was like gravel as he lowered her back down to her feet.
Slow or fast, Janie would take whatever she could get. Desperation had her firmly within its grasp, not for a story, but for him. Only this man.
Only my Emmett.
He wanted slow? That was perfectly fine with her.
The more time to savor you with, my dear.
Her lips curved at the thought as she kept her eyes locked tightly with his. Without a lick of shame or hesitation, she began unbuttoning the shirt she’d borrowed.
When she’d first put it on, Janie had purposely left the first few buttons undone. So it wasn’t long before the two halves of the shirt separated completely.
Her cleavage was on full display, the swells of herbreast partially exposed. Janie’s belly was bare, her swollen sex covered by a visible patch of white lace.
Almost immediately, Emmett’s focus slid lower in what she could only describe as an appreciative descent. The imaginary trail his gaze left in its wake sent her pulse flying. And for a brief moment, Janie wondered if she was strong enough to survive an entire night in this man’s arms.
Emmett stepped closer, his hands reaching toward the shirt’s collar. With gentle moves, he slid it off of her shoulders before letting it fall in a puddle of white at her feet.
“So beautiful.”
His whispered words were so low she almost missed them. Which would have been a shame, because between that and the way he was staring back at her, Janie felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.
Like a snake striking its prey, Emmett reached out and pulled her close once more. She smiled, loving this playful side of him. But that smile was quickly consumed, the next kiss a stark contrast to the ones before.
Slower. Softer. Languid and ever-so-gentle. As if he was conveying his feelings for her with his body, rather than uttering the words.
Janie’s skin turned to fire as his palms pressed against her lower back. Flames of passion licked across her skin when those same hands traveled lower, over the swell of her hips.
She sucked in a breath, swallowing Emmett’s rumbly growl when he grabbed hold of her bare cheeks and squeezed. His touch burned, but there was nopain. It was torture, and yet, it already felt like Heaven.
His tongue was hot and wet against the sensitive skin of her breasts. First one, and then the other, Janie let him have his fill. She closed her eyes, letting her head fall back while her hands blindly moved to his hair.
She smiled, finding it even softer than she’d imagined. But that smile vanished the instant Emmett pulled her nipple between the tips of his front teeth and toyed with the distended nub.
Janie’s cry of pleasure echoed around them, the tantalizing sensation almost too much to bear. Like an invisible string of electricity running in a direct line from her breast to her clit, she felt the swollen bundle of nerves between her thighs swell with a rush of greedy arousal.
Her hands flew down to his shoulders, and her nails dug into the soft material of his shirt. A sudden urge to feel him skin-to-skin took over, and she began working frantically to pull the t-shirt he wore up over his head.
Releasing her breast with a soft pop, Emmett stood tall and removed the garment with ease. Within seconds, it had joined the white button-down that was still in a wrinkled puddle near her feet.
Janie’s stomach filled with a million flutters as she stood before him in nearly all her naked glory. Her heart pounded wildly inside her chest. The man was so perfect, so chiseled, he could have been carved from stone.
Talk about beautiful.
She reached out, her fingertips tracing the deep crevices that outlined his muscular form. Janie couldfeel the stuttering of Emmett’s next breaths beneath her gentle touch.
