Chapter 6 #2
But when Aspen glanced over, Brooks was looking at her.
It was instinct to move into him. To lift her mouth to meet his in the moonlight.
This kiss wasn’t the desperation of last night.
This was patience and savoring, knowing they had time to simply enjoy.
And damn, she was absolutely enjoying every moment with Brooks Hennessy.
She sighed as he eased back. “I’m really glad I said yes.”
His fingers were gossamer soft as they stroked the hair back from her face to tuck it behind her ear. “So am I.”
Unlike the night before at their hotel, Brooks didn’t pounce on Aspen the moment they were through the door of their cabin.
He hadn’t missed that slight dimming in her eyes when she’d been talking about her mother.
Ten years on, and apparently the grief could still sneak up and attack.
He supposed that was good to know for his own long-term recovery.
It seemed Aspen had been just as close to her mom as he had been to his.
He didn’t doubt that she still wanted him, but it had been a while since the making of those plans on the dance floor, and the tenor between them had changed somehow. He wanted to make sure she was still on board.
“Tired?”
She turned to face him, brows raised. “I have the rest of my life to be tired after this trip.”
Brooks skimmed his fingers over the shoulder bared by her dress. “I can get behind that attitude.”
Moving past her, he opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out the quartet of electric candles he’d found in his earlier explorations.
Switching them on, he set them around the room, checking to make sure that the blinds were drawn and the door was locked.
Only then did he come back to where she stood in the center of the room, watching him.
Last night had been full of fevered desperation.
They’d filled those hours with as much as they possibly could, and he’d enjoyed every minute.
But now they had more time, and Brooks wanted to linger.
To lose himself in the taste and scent and sound of her.
Now that he understood better what this trip was for her, he wanted to give her more.
Combing back her hair, he bent to press his lips along the lovely line of her throat, trailing slow, nibbling kisses that made her sigh and relax. That was the name of the game. He wanted to seduce her until she was boneless and beyond sated. Then he wanted to do it all over again.
Aspen’s hands lifted to his shirt, fingers fumbling open one button, then the next, and the next, until she spread the fabric aside and kissed his bare chest. That lingering touch of her mouth caused his abs to contract. He wanted to feel it lower. But later.
Reaching around to her back, he slowly lowered the zipper of her dress, one centimeter at a time, until he could nudge the narrow straps off her shoulders and watch the fabric slide down her curves to puddle on the floor.
She wore pale pink satin and lace. As she wouldn’t have had the chance to shop since meeting him, he knew that was purely for herself.
He liked that. Liked that she indulged herself in the pretty and the feminine.
And he sure as hell appreciated the view himself.
“You’re beautiful.”
A flush rose in her cheeks, even as she reached out to shove his shirt off his shoulders. “So are you.”
Brooks pulled her in again, body to body, chest to chest, and took her mouth in a long, lingering kiss.
Her skin was petal soft beneath his hands, quivering at every touch.
His blood was slow and molten, pulsing thick in his veins in a primal call of anticipation.
Needing more, he flicked open the clasp of her bra and drew it down and away, leaving her breasts free for his attentions.
Bending, he wrapped his tongue around one nipple. Aspen sucked in a harsh breath, her fingers diving into his hair and flexing as he began to suck. Her hips moved against his in an unconscious echo. He wanted to feel that motion against his fingers, his tongue. His cock.
But not yet.
He took his time, worshiping her breasts until he’d learned her every gasp and moan and her knees finally buckled. Only then did he tumble her back onto the bed, fingers catching the waistband of her underwear as she went and drawing them down.
Brooks reached for her, settling between her legs and stroking a finger through the slickness gathered at the apex of her thighs. Her hips bucked, chasing the contact.
“Don’t be a tease,” she gasped.
“I wouldn’t dare.” He bent his head to prove it.
The taste of her was intoxicating, and he took his time to savor as he hadn’t last night.
The little tugs of her fingers in his hair and the sounds she made as he worked her sent jolts of electricity straight down to his dick.
When she shot over the edge, crying his name, he wanted to crow like a god.
She was still quaking as he eased back and stripped out of his pants, pulling a condom from his wallet and rolling on. Her eyes were heavy and languorous as he stretched out beside her.
“Doing okay?”
“I’ll let you know in a century or two.”
Chuckling, Brooks kissed her again, sliding his hand down the slope of her belly to dip between her thighs, finding her still quivering, wet, and ready. Her hips rose to meet his fingers.
“More?”
“God, yes.” Her fingers trailed down his chest, tracing the hair that narrowed into a trail. “I don’t think I could ever get enough of you.”
“Handy. I feel the same.” He shifted over her, settling in the cradle of her hips.
Her eyes opened fully as he began to sink slowly into her welcoming heat.
They both sighed as he settled fully inside her, and Aspen lifted her hands to his face, a look of wonder on her own.
It felt different from before. Last night had been all tongues and teeth and taking.
This felt so much more like giving. Of pleasure.
Of affection. Of something more he didn’t dare put a name to.
Brooks began to move, a slow, steady thrust and retreat.
He watched every flicker of expression over her face in the dim light as he drove them both up, chasing every moan and quickening breath.
He kept his pace easy, drawing out the bliss, until at last her legs tightened around him, and she erupted.
Unable to hold back any longer, he plunged harder and faster.
The rippling waves of her orgasm dragged him over the edge, and he spilled all the longing and desire and affection into her.
As they lay tangled together after, both gasping for breath and shuddering with aftershocks, he thought his orgasm should’ve left him hollowed out and empty. Instead, it had left him feeling unbearably full of emotions he couldn’t and wouldn’t name.
So he curled his body around hers and languished in the moment instead.