“When I was eight, I climbed into a toy box in my bedroom. Mom wasn’t home but her boyfriend Todd was. We played hide-and-seek, and he thought it would be funny to lock me in.” A shudder rolled down her spine. “But someone came to the door, and he forgot about me for almost an hour. I called out but it was a two-story house, and he couldn’t hear me. Since then, I haven’t been able to stand small spaces.”
Those strong arms tightened around her. “Please tell me your mother dropped that asshole.”
“She did. I cried when I told her, and she yelled at him and told him they were done.”
“Good.”
She sank deeper into his warmth, just letting him hold her. She didn’t care that she might regret this in the morning, or that it was a slippery slope letting the man comfort her…and potentially falling for him.
“I’m sorry I woke you,” she breathed.
He’d given her the bed and taken the couch. Another sweet thing she was trying not to think too deeply about.
“I’m not.” His deep, gravelly voice whispered over her skin. “I’m glad I woke up, and I’m glad you’re not alone tonight.”
She lifted her head and studied him. “When you say things like that, I almost wonder…”
He ran his thumb over her chin. “You wonder what?”
“I wonder if it would be such a risk to fall for you.” They werenotwords this man was supposed to hear. And yet, she didn’t regret them.
“You’re safe with me.”
His response kicked at her heart. Usually, she’d have enough armor to protect herself. To keep sweet words like that from penetrating.
This time, she was defenseless and let them sink deep inside her.
She was going to regret this. She was going to fall deep into the depths of self-reproach the second she woke up.
Yet she still cupped the back of his head, tugged him down, and kissed him.
Somehow, those lips already felt familiar. Like they were hers to touch and taste.
He immediately took control of her lips, softening her. Coaxing them apart.
The nightmare evaporated. Everything slipped away but him. The closeness. The way he steadied and grounded her when her world was spiraling.
She climbed onto his lap and wrapped her legs around him, her sleep shirt bunching at her waist. She gasped at the way his cock pushed at the apex between her thighs, with only the thin fabric of her panties and his briefs separating them.
He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, and holy Jesus, he tasted good. Like whiskey and honey mixed into the most intoxicating combination.
She gripped the bottom of her shirt and tugged it over her head.
There was a single second of Joel’s eyes darkening as he took in her hard nipples. Then he leaned forward, cupped her breast, and took one bud between his lips.
Air hissed between her teeth, and she curled her fingers into his hair. If she had any sanity left, it was lost in that moment.
His tongue flicked her nipple back and forth. He sucked and played, causing blood to rush to her lower belly, almost making her lightheaded.
When he switched to her other breast, she began to grind against him, trying to soothe the ache in her core. It wasn’t enough though. He wore too much. They both did.
He released her nipple with a pop and she thought she’d cry. But then he looked at her, and those chocolate-green eyes held her captive.
“Should I stop?” he whispered.
She cupped his cheeks and kissed him. Once. Twice. On the third kiss, she tasted him before whispering, “Don’t you dare.”
Those beautiful eyes turned molten.
