His brows arched at that and she chuckled.
“I didn’t think you’d like me calling you beautiful. Besides, you’re too manly to be called handsome.”
He nodded. “I’ll take that.” Then he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips. He went slow at first, which was frustrating. He teased the edges of her lips, he nipped at her mouth, and when she opened completely to him, he barely pushed his tongue forward at all. This wasn’t fast. And worse, just when she was about to grab him and force him to go harder with her, he abruptly straightened away.
“What— Oh.”
He grabbed a condom off the bed, ripping it open with quick movements.
“Do you need help?” she asked.
“Not this time, baby.” He flashed her a grin. “Let’s save that for round three.”
Goodness, that was ambitious. But she simply tossed her hair back and gave him a wicked grin. “If you want to wait that long. I decorate cakes, you know. I excel at all sorts of hand techniques.”
He growled in hunger and she laughed. The moment his penis was covered, he stepped between her knees. Then he leaned forward, both his hands stroking quickly up the inside of her thighs, separating her legs even as he began to finger her.
Oh! Oh yes!
His fingers were thick and nimble. He pushed into her wet opening, spreading the moisture everywhere, and he did it with hard, circular strokes that had her arching into his pressure. Her arms gave out and she dropped back onto the bed.
“Now. Oh God, now,” she pleaded.
He leaned forward. There was a moment’s delay while she stretched for him, lifting her knees and arms as she tried to grab hold of whatever part of him was nearest. It was all within reach. Every glorious muscle, every hard bone, and most certainly his jutting organ.
And then he thrust home.
Her breath caught on a delicious cry. He filled her to perfection. There was enough stretch to make her feel his every glorious inch, to make her clutch him as he pulled back. And to make her arch almost off the bed as he slammed into her again.
And then he stopped. He held himself still as he leaned down to kiss her. He pressed her mouth hard, his movements unsteady, his breath short and hot against her lips.
He wanted something from her, but she didn’t know what. She opened her eyes and looked into his dark ones. Which is when she realized he was holding back. Even though she’d asked him—begged him—to take her hard, he was still keeping himself from losing control.
“How can you be so calm?” she asked. She was insane with want.
He leaned down and scraped his teeth lightly across her jaw. Tiny bites that made her clutch him above and below.
“So sweet,” he rasped. “I could devour you.”
She wrapped her arms around him as far as they would go. “So do it,” she said. “Please.”
“You don’t understand,” he said against her ear. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She pushed him back far enough that she could look him in the eye. “Why do you think I’ll break?”
His eyes darkened and his hands clutched her waist. “I’m a grizzly, Becca.”
That made her pause, but geez Louise, he was already inside her. What more could happen? “Do you get bigger?” That kind of boggled her mind.
“What? No! At least I don’t think so.”
“What are we talking here? Claws? Fur? Humpback or something?”
He snorted. “No, no, and absolutely not!”
“Then I think we’re okay.” She stroked his face. “Isn’t it usually the girl who makes it complicated?”
He shook his head. “It’s not complicated. I don’t want to frighten you.”
