“And I love you.”
I set the book down carefully and walk back into his open arms. Resting my head against his bare chest, I let the sound of his heartbeat fill me with all the happiness in the world. Then, tipping my head up, I wind my arms around his neck, letting my fingers toy with the hair at the nape of his neck.
The book is perfect. It’s wonderful. But right now, I want something else from him even more.
“Make love to me, Jude.”
Chapter twenty-nine
Jude
When I got up to make coffee, Lily was just starting to stir. By the time I make it back to the bedroom just a few minutes later, she’s sitting up, reading the book I gave her.
Leaning against the doorway, I pause and just watch her. Wearing one of my jerseys, her hair a mess, she’s perfection. A fucking goddess. And she’s in my bed. She loves me.
Her eyes glance up from the pages with a quirk of her lips. “Like what you see?”
“Love it,” I answer honestly, pushing away from the door and walking over to set the mugs of coffee down on the table next to her. Then I tilt her chin up and kiss her. As if there was a chance in hell of me resisting those lips when I’m so close to them.
Her eyes are closed and there’s a dreamy smile on her face that makes me feel way too smug. I pick up my coffee and make my way around to the other side as her eyes trail after me.
“Hockey butts are truly a gift from God.”
I snort. “Or they’re the result of countless hours of hard work in the gym and brutal training sessions for years.”
“I like my theory better.”
“As long as it’s my hockey butt in question, you can think whatever you want.” I settle back under the blanket, on my side, and press another kiss, this time to her arm just below the sleeve of my jersey. She giggles and I look up at her with my eyebrows raised.
“It’s a weird spot to kiss me, you have to admit.”
My hand slides under the covers, lifting the hem of the oversized jersey so I can lightly stroke across her bare stomach. “I happen to love kissing you any fucking place on your sweet body I can reach. But if your arm feels weird, perhaps you’d prefer here?” I circle her belly button, then slowly trail my hand up higher to thumb her nipple. “Or here?”
Her mouth falls open slightly as her pupils dilate. But just as I think I’ve got her, she shakes her head, and pushes my hands away. “Nope. No. Back away. I want to read my new book!”
“Hmm. You sure about that?” I resume my attack, lightly circling her skin. “Haven’t you read that one a hundred times already? I think my idea is much better.”
“Yes…” She shivers when my fingertip grazes her nipple again and her eyes blink shut. “Yes. I mean, no. No distracting me. Book now. Sex later.”
“Sex should bealways,” I comment casually. “But that’s fine. You read; I’ll find something to amuse myself with.”
Lily starts to lift her book, then drops it as my statement registers at the same time my fingers dip below the waistband of her panties.
“Jude,” she whisper-moans as I stroke through the already damp curls.
“Tell me you want me to stop and I will. You know that.” I lean in and kiss her jaw, then her cheek, then her lips. “But I’m pretty sure you want me to distract you.” I dip one finger just inside, then pull it out and swirl around her clit. Repeating the action, I lift my eyes to see hers burning with fire.
“Never stop.”
With my other hand, I lift the book out of her lap and put it on the table. Then, I slowly drag my jersey up and over her head before tossing it to the ground. I want my mouth on her tits. I want to feel them with my hands and my tongue. There’s no end to the number of ways I want Lily, and a lifetime will never be long enough with her.
“I love you,” I murmur, dipping my head down to suck her breast into my mouth. My tongue swirls around her nipple before I let my teeth graze the tip ever so lightly. Hands grip my hair, holding me in place.
As if I would want to be anywhere else.
“I love you,” I repeat, moving my attention to the other soft peak. I go back and forth, teasing her with my fingers between her legs, and my mouth on her tits, and my words of love floating in the air.
This romantic side of me is unfamiliar, but it feels so fucking right with her. Everything does.
