Page 18 of Sheltering Lily

“Give me another minute, please. There’s something I want to talk to you about.” I wasn’t ready for her to go, not until I’d let her know how attracted I was to her—because it couldn’t be denied any longer.

“Are you still worried about yesterday?” she asked.

That hadn’t been on my mind at all—but since she brought it up, I realized that it probably was something we should talk about. “It’s a safe neighborhood,” I said, “but it had me on edge, especially since you were both napping.”

“Perfectly understandable.” She smiled at me, drawing me in. I leaned closer. “I hope you know that I would never knowingly endanger Sofia.”

“I know that, but”—I was ready to cross the line with her and hoped she was willing, too— “it’s not only about Sofia.” I raised my hand to caress her cheek. Her eyes widened at the contact, but she didn’t move away. “I’m worried about you, too. I think about you so much.”

“Me?” she whispered.

“Yeah, you’re important to me, important enough that I want to keep you close.” Once I stuck my toe over that line, I was ready to leap past it.

“How close?” A flirtatious lilt entered her voice, and she shifted nearer to me. My heart soared at the proof that she was willing to take a chance on this, too. On us. “Is this good?”

“Closer.” I lifted her, placing her on my lap. Her arms went around my neck without hesitation, and I sank my fingers into her thick hair with a sigh of relief. I’d wanted to do that for so long—and it felt even better than I’d imagined.

“I like being this…close to you,” she said.

“I’m starting to think it was inevitable.” I kissed the side of her neck, slowly making my way up to her jaw.

“Is that bad?” Her voice was breathless.

“Nothing that feels this good can be bad.” I loved the way she fit against me. “I want you, Lily. Come upstairs with me.” I put the invitation out there, hoping she wouldn’t refuse it—but willing to respect it if she did.

“I’d like a kiss first,” she said, shifting on my lap so she straddled me. The contact made me harden instantly.

“Is this an audition? If I’m a bad kisser, is the night over?” I teased. I didn’t wait for her reply but began the kiss, gentle in the beginning but soon succumbing to the fireworks we’d both kept banked until then. Her lips, soft and sweet, opened to me, immediately responding when my tongue swept into her mouth. She nipped at my tongue, evoking a moan from me and making me delve deeper into her wet heat. The kiss continued until we were both panting, and then I broke free.

“Upstairs,” I said, rising with her arms and legs still wrapped around me. I wasn’t the type of man who made love on his couch. I wanted a big bed where I could explore every inch of her.

Her hands clasped my face as she gave me a seductive smile. “What makes you think you passed the audition?”

I ground my erection against her core, drawing a whimper from her. “That.” I moved toward the stairs with her still in my arms. At the top, I hesitated, throwing a glance toward Sofia’s room. I always checked on her when I went to bed.

“Go look,” Lily said, understanding my hesitation.

I put her gently on her feet. “Don’t move.” I stepped into Sofia’s room. My daughter was sound asleep, peaceful and dreamy. I gave her a swift kiss and pulled up the blanket before going back in the hall.

Lily hadn’t strayed from the spot where I’d left her, but she’d stripped off her sweater, revealing a lace-edged camisole. Her nipples pressed against the fabric, making my mouth go dry. She was beautiful and sexy, and I was done trying not to notice.

“No bra?” I wouldn’t mind taking one off her, but this was better.

She gave a little shrug. “It’s evening, and it wasn’t like I was planning on going anywhere.”

My fingers itched to touch her, to take off the camisole, leggings, and panties—but not standing in the hall. She must have read my thoughts, because she started to back up toward my bedroom. I prowled after her, keeping just inches away until we crossed the threshold and I closed the door behind us. Once we had total privacy, it was like we were both let off the leash. Her hands went under the edge of my sweater, lifting it over my head.

“You looked so nice dressed for your date,” she said as she quickly undid the buttons of my shirt. “I was jealous.”

“You were?” I asked, amused. How would she react if she knew I’d spent the whole date talking about her?

“Definitely.” She ran her hands over my chest and stomach. “Not anymore, though, since I’m the one in your bedroom.” Her touch strayed closer to my belt buckle, then slipped slowly down to cup my erection.

I couldn’t move for a second, overwhelmed by her. My next thought was, why the hell was I just standing there when she was in my bedroom? I took her hand, lifting it to my lips and kissing the inside of her wrist before traveling up her arm. At her shoulder, I pushed aside the thin strap of her shirt, my mouth moving across her smooth skin. When she arched back, I took her nipple in my mouth through the thin fabric.

“Oh, God. Take this off.” She caught at the edge of her camisole. Together, we lifted it over her head and tossed it aside. I caught her breasts again, sucking and licking her nipples until I felt her start to buckle. Slowly, I backed her up until she bumped the bed. I dropped to my knees and drew down her leggings, exposing a blue lace thong and the creamy, inviting skin of her thighs.

“I wanted to take it slower, but…” I whispered as I kissed the little triangle of fabric.

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