Page 45 of Negotiating Tactics

“Noah?” she finally asked, her voice not exactly tentative but lacking the bravado that I usually heard from her.

So strong, yet so vulnerable.

In that moment, I knew I was seeing the real Alex, seeing parts of her she fought so hard to keep from others.

Knew that while I didn’t fully understand the impulse, I would take care of this woman.

“Yes,” I said my gaze locked on hers.

“Will you kiss me?” she asked.

I could see how much that question took from her and saw the gift of it.

But instead of answering with words, I pulled her body flush with mine and did just that.

At the first press of my lips against hers, she yielded to me, opening, and then sucking my tongue into her mouth.

The little whimper that came out of her throat had me on the verge of coming, but I wouldn’t do that, not without her.

I pulled away just enough to say, “Bedroom?”

She nodded toward the back, and I took the lead, guiding us back into the room.

I glanced around quickly, noting she needed a bigger bed. For now, I’d make do, but next time…

The room was so empty, not at all like her, but that was a topic for another day. For now, I stared at her.

“Take off your clothes, Alex,” I said.

I could see her hesitation and hated every person who had ever done or said anything to make this woman, one of the most beautiful I had ever seen, doubt herself.

But if nothing else, by the time I was done, she would never, for single moment, doubt her beauty.

She chewed on the corner of one of her lips as she reached for the hem of her tank top.

She pulled off the shirt quickly, the muscles in her arms flexing as she threw it off. Then, she lowered her hands and reached into her waistband to pull her pants down and off.

I couldn’t speak, the need to touch her so intense, the beauty of her naked body making my heart thud.

I moved close and stroked the dusky tip of her full breast as I leaned forward and sucked the other into my mouth.

Just a taste, until I backed up again as I looked down at her beautiful curves, narrow waist, her hips full, the round of her stomach a perfect cushion.

Then, I focused on that treasure hiding between her thick thighs, one I couldn’t wait to taste again. I reached for her and stroked the thatch of curls that covered her mound before I moved lower and ran my finger along the length of her slit, smiling when I felt the wetness there.

I breached her opening with one finger, not even going to the knuckle before she clamped down on me.

I tsked. “Your pussy is so wet, but not nearly wet enough to take my cock.”

“You think you can fix that?” she asked, her voice low, husky, both nervous and filled with challenge.

A dichotomy, just like the woman herself.

I pulled my finger out.

“I know I can. Go lie down so I can show you,” I said.

She smiled at me, then moved to the bed, watching me as I undressed and then tossed condoms on her nightstand.

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