Page 7 of Rescued By Love

“I'm sorry, Grace. You seemed tired, and I…”

“No! No,” she interrupts quickly. “It has nothing to do with you. I mean, this isn't even a real marriage, so I shouldn't be feeling like this.”

She's right, yet her words feel like a physical blow.

"I always thought that being married really meant something. Here I am, saving myself for my husband, and when I finally get one, it’s not because he loves me or wants me. It’s because he’s cutting me a check.” She sniffs and shakes her head. "I just feel so stupid. And cheap. And ugly."

Who was it that made her feel like this? I pray to God it wasn’t me. I don’t want to have to kick my own ass.

“You're none of that, Hun,” I say, gently stroking her hair. “You're gorgeous, that's for sure.”

“You don't have to lie just to make me feel better,” she replies with a small snort. “Men are attracted to women like Red. Sexy. Bold. You wouldn't have approached me that night if I wasn't dressed like that.”

“That's not true,” I say, looking down at her face.

“But it is,” she counters. “That night, you looked at me – at Red – with so much lust. You haven't looked at me like that after that night.”

“Oh woman, you have no idea…” I mutter with a humorless laugh. “Do you know how hard it’s been to hold myself back from kissing you senseless in the past week?”

She blinks rapidly at me, her eyes going blank for a moment. “W-what?”

How can she be naive and so temptingly adorable at the same time?

“I want to kiss you, make love to you, fuck your brains out until my name is the only sound on your lips. Honey, I want to do so many things to you.”

“W-why…?” She trails off, nervously running her tongue over her upper lip. “Why don't you?”

My eyes fall to her lips, and I let my gaze linger before looking at her again. “You clearly weren't ready for me,” I reply. “You said you’ve been waiting. So have I. I’ve been waiting for you to want me like I want you.”

“But I do want you,” she says, averting her eyes as her cheeks grow redder. “I've wanted you since that very night at the club. It just... didn't feel right then.”

“And now?”

She looks up at me through her long lashes. “Now, we're married. It's not wrong to want my husband.”

I brush her hair behind her ear, my thumb caressing her cheek. “Are you sure?” I ask, searching her face. “I want to make sure your first time is really special.”

“With you, it will be. Kiss me, Derek,” she says, her gaze imploring and inviting all at once. “Please…”

Chapter Five

Grace

I can feel myself drowning in the pools of his eyes but, surprisingly, I'm not fighting to escape. He lowers his mouth the mine, slowly, almost hesitantly, as if waiting for me to change my mind. When his lips finally meet mine, I close my eyes with a blissful sigh. I wrap my arms around his neck and open my mouth beneath his, kissing him back. The kiss is gentle at first, his tongue slowly stroking my lips, then it grows harder. Hotter. His tongue plunges into my mouth, ravaging every corner. An involuntary moan escapes my throat as I let myself go in the feeling of his mouth on mine, his arms around me…

Gently, he lowers me to the bed. He half lays on top of me, burying his hand in my hair and angling my head to deepen the kiss. Just when I'm starting to welcome the idea of kissing him forever, he pulls back, eliciting an embarrassing whimper of protest from me.

He chuckles lightly, then starts to trail light kisses down my jaw to my neck, his lips leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Then he raises his head to look into my eyes, his right hand hovering above the belt of my robe. “May I?”

His voice sounds deeper, rougher in a way that sends thrills down my body. “Yeah,” I murmur, my skin burning hotter under the intensity of his gaze.

With one swift movement of his hand, the knot that holds my robe together comes undone. His eyes seem to grow darker as he parts my robe, the green orbs glinting ferociously in the dim lighting of the room.

I squirm under his gaze, feeling vulnerable and needy all at once. I wish he'd stop looking at me and touch me instead.

"Fuck, you're gorgeous," he finally says, placing both of his palms over each of my breasts. He squeezes gently, his thumbs teasing my already-hard nipples and sending ripples of pleasure through every nerve ending in my body.

“You have the most beautiful breasts I've ever seen, Grace,” he says, his voice huskier. “I'm going to suck you until you're dripping wet.”

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