Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
CIARA
Alex had been holding back, so terribly concerned about hurting me. But I felt the change in him as he deepened the kiss and stroked those big, broad palms up and down my back. I hummed encouragement as I blindly sought the hem of his shirt. I needed to feel more of him. But then his mouth left mine, and he began to trail soft, reverent kisses down my throat and along the bruises, and I forgot what I was doing. He flicked open the clasp of my bra and drew it off.
The hungry expression on his face at the sight of my breasts had my already budded nipples drawing tighter, begging for his touch, his mouth. He didn’t disappoint, bending to take one into his mouth and swirling his tongue around the sensitive tip. I drove my fingers into his hair, holding him close because that felt amazing. Restless, I rocked against him. His hand came up to cup my other breast, his callused fingers rolling my nipple, and my head fell back. God, I’d missed this. I’d never had this intense a reaction to anyone before or since him. Lost to sensation, I continued to rock, chasing that tension coiling in my core. When his teeth scraped lightly along my nipple, I flashed over the edge on a gasping cry.
During the quaking aftermath, he abandoned my breast, kissing his way back up my chest and neck. “You okay?”
When I’d caught my breath enough to speak, I mustered a feline smile. “That was an excellent start. But you’re getting behind.”
“Can’t have that,” he rumbled. “Hold on.”
When he stood, I wrapped my legs around his waist. Smooth and efficient, he carried me back to the bedroom and gently settled me onto the bed. I’d imagined him here so many times, long before he ever came to Glenlaig. And now here he was. Mine. At least for now.
I tugged at his shirt but couldn’t quite get it. “Off,” I demanded.
He did that one-handed tug that was so inexplicably sexy and tossed his shirt to the floor. He was every bit as fit as I remembered. I skimmed my fingers over the hard warmth of his skin, noting the scars and tattoos. I wanted to spend some time on those later, exploring what he’d seen fit to permanently etch into his skin. But he kissed me again, distracting me from my goal.
He trailed his lips and hands over every inch of my body, seeming to map every dip and curve in a way that left me somehow both languid with pleasure and wound tight as a spring. I watched him draw off my shoes with infinite care. He’d been a thorough and attentive lover our first time together, but this was a whole new level. His exquisite care made me feel cherished. Maybe that was my inherent romanticism talking, but I made no effort to shut it down. I was done fighting what I felt for him. It hadn’t made a damned bit of difference, and I wanted this with him, however long it lasted.
When he had me bare, he paused, his big hands on my calves, and I shuddered in anticipation.
“Are you cold?”
“Not even a little bit.” I parted my legs in invitation, remembering how good he’d been at this before.
Those dark eyes heated as he settled between them, using his fingers to part my folds. “So fucking beautiful.” Then he dipped his head and took a long, slow lick up my center.
I bowed off the bed with a shout.
“Okay?”
“Don’t you dare stop,” I gasped.
“As you wish.”
He truly went to work then, driving me up with his mouth and tongue until I forgot about any hint of pain and all I could do was beg for more. He slid one finger into the ache, then a second, working me to a fever pitch. When he curled them, I shot over the edge even harder.
I was still vibrating as he moved away to shuck his jeans and roll on a condom. God, he was beautiful. Big and battle-hardened. No wonder I hadn’t been truly satisfied with anyone else. I opened my arms for him, but instead of crawling up my body, he stretched out beside me on his back.
“It’s been a while, aye? Let’s take our time with it.” He urged me on top of him.
Patience had never been one of my virtues, and holding back now was even harder because I’d wanted him here ever since he’d walked out of my life. I notched him at my entrance and linked our hands. Keeping my gaze fastened to his, I sank down, down, down, until he filled me completely. And, oh God, yes. This was what I’d been missing. He was what I’d been missing. I had no more defenses against what I felt for this man. What I’d felt for him almost from the moment we’d met. Against all rationality, I loved him. And I was absolutely done punishing us both.
When the words wanted to spill out, I kissed him instead and began to ride, pouring everything I felt into the moment and heat we made together. It was too much too soon. Chances were, it would ruin everything. We had enough challenges already.
Alex matched me beat for slow beat, until our bodies slicked with sweat. When the tide rose again, he rolled me beneath him, driving slower, deeper, until we both slid shuddering over the edge.