Page 38 of Her Guarded Hero

When he got to Aurora’s room Dalton was enveloped in a universe of soft greens and blues. She was standing at the foot of the bed, her golden hair and white chambray shirt a beautiful contrast. Dalton hated to see that slight look of insecurity. How was that even possible considering there had to be a scorched spot in the hallway from where they had just been kissing?

Enough. His lady was not going to feel this way. Not on his watch.

“You’re beautiful, you know that don’t you?” He queried gently.

“Sometimes. Sometimes I do.”

He prowled toward her. “Tonight, we’re going to change that.” He slid his palms against hers, he felt the callouses, and even those were sexy. Seeing her ride, a horse was a thing of beauty, and those slight ridges were a testament to her abilities. He entwined their fingers, and pulled her arms wide, taking note of the thrust of her breasts.

“Gorgeous.”

“Crystal ogled you,” she blurted out.

It took a half second for him to process her words, then he responded. “The only one I care about is you. Have you ogled me?”

“Oh yeah. A lot,” her breath came out in a puff of air.

Dalton saw the rapid pulse at her neck and pressed a kiss to the hot flesh.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice quivering.

It was different than in the hallway. She still seemed nervous. Instead of the conflagration he had been expecting, Dalton realized he needed to seduce. He turned them around so that he was sitting on her bed and she was standing between his legs. “I don’t know if I can take this slow. At least not the first time,” he admitted.

Dark brown eyes stared down at him. “You really want me that much?” she asked wonderingly.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her close. “Oh yeah,” he breathed. “Sweetheart, you’re exquisite. Everything about you calls to me, your beauty, your grace, your passion and joy, they’re like a siren song. But more than anything it’s your heart that seduces me.”

He watched as her eyes widened with delight and wonder. “I…I…you…” She cupped his cheek and her thumb softly brushed over his bottom lip. “You’ll never know Dalton. You can never know how much your words mean to me,” she whispered.

Aurora’s hair fell around them both as she bent down and took his mouth in a slow, passionate kiss. Dalton felt like he was ensconced in a golden dream. He gloried in her heated seduction, until he couldn’t wait another minute. He rolled them over so that she was beneath him on the bed, then he slowly divested her of her shirt and found himself staring at a plain white cotton bra that left him breathless. How could such a serviceable piece of underwear turn him on?

He propped himself up on his elbow and traced the upper swell of her breasts. Aurora’s breathing became more rapid. He unclipped the front clasp and they both gave a sigh of satisfaction.

“You’re perfect,” he whispered. He loved seeing how her nipples swelled under his gaze. He needed more though. So much more. Dalton had taken the time to shave just for this moment. He smoothed his cheek against the delicate flesh of her breast a moment before he lashed her nipple with his tongue. She gasped his name as she jerked upwards.

Dalton slid his hands along her arms and clasped her hands above her head, then continued discovering the exquisite texture of her skin, of her responses, of her desire.

“Dalton?” she mewed.

He licked.

She sighed.

He suckled.

She moaned.

He nipped.

She begged.

Sweat popped out on his forehead. He’d never had a woman more passionate in his arms before. He didn’t know if he was going to survive.

Aurora bucked against him. “Clothes! Off!”

He grinned. Apparently, Miss Shy was gone. He liked it. Oh, who the hell was he kidding? He liked any flavor of Aurora that she was willing to give him. He just adored Aurora Chance. He knelt up on the bed and she scrambled backwards and undid her jeans.

She scowled at him. “What did I say? Why aren’t you undressing?”