Tangled Vows (Willow Brook Falls #3)

42. Easton

42

EASTON

“ D o you remember me getting a phone call that night?” I asked, and she nodded. “It wasn’t good news, and I was upset. I had to make you leave, and it pained me to see you go,” I explained, wishing I’d handled things differently. “I wanted so badly to see what was hidden beneath the rest of your clothes, and I was furious I wouldn’t have the pleasure of touching every inch of your bare skin.”

“So you never thought I was—” she began, then shook her head and heaved a deep breath. Attempting to break the tension, I filled in the blank with my own adjectives.

“Sexy. Perfect. Irresistible. Yes, I thought all those things.” She laughed, and it eased some of the pressure in my chest, the sound like music to my ears. “I thought,” I continued as I pushed a strand of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, “that you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.” Cupping her cheek, I brought my lips to hers in a tender kiss. “I thought you had the most incredible feminine curves, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them.”

“I-I had no idea. I thought my less than perfect body repulsed you. I’ve seen that look on a man’s face before.” Her voice cracked, and she crossed her arms over her middle protectively. I could easily guess who she was referring to, that ex who thought it was okay to comment on her weight. Clearly he was a boy, one who didn’t know how to appreciate a woman’s body. I was a man, and I would enjoy every single one of her curves. I tilted her face up, and her glassy eyes met mine.

“I can’t believe all this time you thought I didn’t crave you as desperately as my next breath,” I said, brushing my thumb over her full bottom lip. It was all my fault she felt that way. I should’ve been honest with her from the beginning, instead of playing games and pretending like she wasn’t everything I never knew I wanted. Her eyes flared, and her breath caught as I tugged her to me. “And to think, we could've been doing this, this whole time.”

I lowered my mouth to hers and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Her eyes fluttered open when I pulled back, and her gaze searched mine.

“I-I didn’t think—” she began, but couldn’t find the right words.

“It’s okay,” I assured her. “Now we get to make up for lost time.” I slid my fingers into the hair at her nape and pulled her to me, kissing her hard. I was ready to finally claim her, and for the first time since the night we met, she was finally willing to let me.

“Not here,” she breathed and glanced around nervously. At least she had enough wits about her to realize anyone could walk in and catch us. Without another word, I scooped her up and cradled her against me. She wrapped her legs around my waist and gripped my shoulders to steady herself. I carried her to our room, my heart racing in my chest, and closed the door behind us before settling her on the bed. She leaned back on her hands and watched as I tore my shirt over my head. I leaned down to kiss her again, my hand sliding into her hair and tugging gently, angling her head perfectly for my invasion.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” I confessed, my voice low and husky. Ireached for her shirt and began to loosen the remaining buttons. My hands shook with impatience as I struggled to push them through the opening.

“Fuck it.” I fisted the material on each side of her chest and tore her shirt open. She gasped as buttons flew in every direction, pinging off the walls, the floor, the nightstand. The act was desperate and feral, but I didn’t care. I wanted her more than anything I’d ever wanted in my whole life.

I tore the ruined material down her arms and tossed it aside before moving to her jeans. She fell back onto the bed and eagerly lifted her hips so I could slide them down her legs.

I straightened and let my heated gaze rake over her. Her eyes blazed with need, and her chest rose and fell in a rapid staccato rhythm. She tracked my every movement as I kneeled in front of her. Snaking my hand around the back of her neck, I pulled her forward until our mouths were almost touching but refused to close the last inch of distance between us.

“Tell me you want this as much as I do,” I practically begged, pressing my forehead to hers. If she didn’t, I would lose my mind. But her hooded gaze and the way she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth told me everything I needed to know. Her nod sealed the deal.

“I can’t wait to be inside you, to finally make you mine,” I declared, before licking my lips, “but first, I need another taste.” For once, she didn’t argue or challenge me. I hoped she was as desperate to have my mouth on her skin as I was to lick every inch of her.

I tugged the cups of her bra down, freeing her breasts. The rosy, pink tips pebbled when they met the cool air. I curled my hand around one breast and reveled in how soft it felt against my palm. Holding it in place, I closed my mouth around her nipple. She cried out as I sucked it into my mouth, and her hips bucked. I flicked and swirled my tongue over the stiff peak until she was a writhing, whimpering mess beneath me.

Then I moved to the other side and repeated the slow, sensuous torture. Her nipples were flushed a darker shade of pink and wet from my ministrations when I finally relented. I pressed my lips to her sternum and kissed a path down her stomach, stopping just above the edge of her panties.

“Please,” she pleaded shamelessly, desperately.

“Please what?” I asked as my lips curled against her skin.

“Touch me. Kiss me. Lick me. I don’t care. Just do something. Anything .”

“I’ll give you everything you want,” I declared, ready to make good on that promise.