Chapter 30
THIRTY
It took several seconds for her words to penetrate the haze of lust clouding Lachlan’s brain.
When they did, he went dead still, certain he’d heard her wrong.
Maddy tightened her thighs around his hips and dug her fingers into his back. “I don’t want you to stop. I —”
He smothered whatever she’d been about to say with another kiss. Slower this time. So slowly it killed him, the aching length of his erection nestled against her core. He knew Maddy had moved through the world differently, but until this moment he hadn’t realized the extent of her innocence.
A virgin. He didn’t know how that was possible considering the gorgeous, passionate woman underneath him, but he believed her. And it changed everything.
Being inside her tonight was totally off the table now, no matter what she said. There was no going all the way tonight. Being her first was an honor, yet also a responsibility he took seriously. She was already going through a lot and was just coming off a nightmare triggered by more trauma.
He would make damned good and sure that her introduction to intimacy was done right, and at her pace.
Which meant for now, his dick was off limits.
As though she realized he wasn’t going anywhere, Maddy relaxed slightly beneath him. She didn’t seem shy or embarrassed about being naked. If anything, she pushed her breast into his hand, asking for more.
Reining in the hunger flooding him, he cupped both breasts in his hands and took his weight on his elbows as he leaned down to nuzzle her velvety skin. She smelled like soap and warm, aroused woman.
He took his time building her pleasure, letting her sink into the experience, guided by her every reaction.
She gasped when he grasped her nipples in his fingers and squeezed gently.
Moved restlessly when he lowered his head and grazed his beard inches from one of them.
She grabbed his head, curving her back upward.
He stroked her rigid flesh with his tongue. Circled the straining peak as he played with the other in his fingers. Maddy made an impatient sound and tugged at him. He lowered his head and took her nipple into his mouth.
She inhaled sharply, a little tremor rolling through her as he sucked and flicked his tongue against it. A soft, throaty moan was his reward. Her fingers twisted in his hair, holding him closer as if afraid he would stop.
He did the same to the other, went back and forth while he skimmed his palm over her naked curves. Over her belly. Her hips. Down her thighs. Then slowly back up the inside of one, and the other, stopping his hand inches from her center.
His mouth watered at the thought of going down on her, but he put that thought in a chokehold, not wanting to move too fast too soon.
He shifted his hand to cup between her thighs. Bit back a groan at her gasp, the way she parted her legs, and the slickness his fingers met. She had no idea what she did to him. How badly he wanted her or how far she had burrowed into his heart already.
“You’re perfect,” he whispered, flicking his tongue over a hard nipple.
Maddy inhaled and sank her fingers into his back, locking tight as if holding on for dear life.
He closed his eyes. Savored every second as he teased her, slid the pads of his fingers down her center and stroked the hot, slick flesh there.
His dick ached, but he ruthlessly ignored it, focused on bringing her pleasure.
Up and down, slow and sure, his fingertips spreading the wetness before gliding along the hard knot of her clit.
Maddy cried out, hips lifting into his touch.
God. She was so wet. So smooth. It was such a turn on to know he was the first to ever make her feel like this.
He trailed kisses back up to her neck. Fought a grin when she grabbed him by the hair and pushed him back down to her breasts. He sucked and stroked her nipples some more with his tongue, wishing he was using it between her thighs right now.
Her breathing shortened. Every glide of his fingers seemed to draw her muscles tighter. Tighter, until her thighs trembled slightly. He eased one inside her. Stroked the slick upper wall with firm pressure before retreating and gliding back up to her clit.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, her nails digging into his scalp. “Lachlan…”
“I want to make you come.” He needed it. To be the first to bring her to that level of pleasure.
“I…” She broke off, groaned when he found the spot she liked best and zeroed in on it.
He shifted his weight, moved down to ease a finger back inside her, then another, stroking her sweet spot while he sucked on a nipple.
Maddy whimpered, her body tensing. He could feel her core tightening around his fingers. Knew she was close to the edge, and then she cried out, arching as her climax hit. He kept going, made it last, then brought her down slowly.
Maddy exhaled and relaxed beneath him, her hands flattening out on his back. “Wow. That was better than I expected.”
If his dick hadn’t been hard enough to hammer nails, he might have laughed. “I’m not sure whether to be insulted or not.”
“No, I meant it as a compliment. But don’t you…”
Oh yes, he did. Would give away his beloved houseboat for free to the first person who walked by for the chance to be inside her. “Not tonight.”
“Why n—”
He stopped her protest with a slow, tender kiss. God, she was sweet. He couldn’t get enough of her. “Because this is all new for you. You deserve to experience the magic of building up to it and to enjoy it without being pressured for more.”
Before she could answer, he turned onto his back and rolled her on top of him. One hand cradled her head to his shoulder, her cheek nestled in the hollow there, her warm weight snuggled against him.
He drew the covers over them. Kissed her forehead, flooded with a staggering combination of tenderness and protectiveness he’d never felt before. Not this powerful. “Think you can go back to sleep now?”
Her fingertips traced the valley between his pecs. He could feel her working up to something. But he wouldn’t have guessed what she said next.
“Not yet. I want to tell you about Syria.”