Page 63 of Shadow Target

She heard the door to the bedroom where they slept open, and she knew Shep was done showering and changing. In some ways, Willow felt as if she’d traded lives with someone else or was now in another dimension. Every night, they slept together. Because of her knees, it wasn’t prudent to go all the way, but she enjoyed their kisses, his tenderness, and the many changes that he’d made for her. Those nights were gifts to her.

“Got something for you,” he said, handing her a brightly colored box.

She smiled. “Thanks. Dinner’s ready. Can I open it afterward?”

“Sure,” and he pulled her chair out for her to sit on.

“What is it?”

He grinned and sat down opposite her, opening the bright-yellow cotton napkin before him. “You’ve always been the curious one,” he said, passing her the bowl of salad.

“Guilty,” Willow said, warming beneath his gaze. She lifted some salad onto her plate with a pair of tongs. “Maybe I should open the box now? Instead of later?”

He laughed and shrugged. “Up to you, Angel. It’s yours. IF you want it,” he teased mildly.

Giving him a nod, she said, “I want.” She picked up the box and opened it. Her eyes widened and she snapped a look at Shep. “Is this what I think it is?” she whispered, suddenly emotional.

“It is.”

She stared at the engagement ring. Only it wasn’t a diamond. It had a green gemstone instead, in a gold setting. “Shep…”

“Is it too soon?” he asked quietly, becoming serious, watching her stare into the box.

Flummoxed, she whispered unsteadily, “I don’t know… we’ve been through so much in such a short, concentrated span of time…”

“Then,” he said gently, “put it away and we’ll approach this another time?”

She stared at him, her heart bursting over such love and thoughtfulness. “I—wasn’t expecting this, Shep…”

“Then,” he said, “let’s put the box away for now. Instead, what I’d like to do tonight, if it feels right to you, is love you, Willow.”

Taking a deep breath, she felt her whole body say a big ‘YES!’ to his suggestion. No one was a better lover than Shep, in her experience at least. Lifting her chin, she said, “I’d like that… I’m more than ready and I think you are too.”

He smiled a little. “You could say that, Willow.”

She couldn’t stop staring at the engagement ring. “It’s so beautiful…”

“It’s an emerald,” he said, “not quite the spring-green color of your eyes, but it’s close. You really like it?”

“I love the man who chose it for me,” she managed, her voice tearful sounding. Slipping on the ring, she said, “I’m going to keep this. I don’t want to give it back to you, Shep…”

Later that night, Shep gently drew Willow up against him in bed. He leaned over, capturing her mouth, giving her all the love he held in his heart. Relieved that she’d accepted the engagement ring, he felt even more hopeful that, if they kept working at their relationship, it would do nothing but get better with time. And Willow was focused on working through her own issues, as he was his. It wasn’t a one-way street and Shep figured that, with maturity, they’d both learned valuable lessons that would serve them well moving forward. As their lips melded and slid across one another, she hungrily returned his exploring, heated kiss. She was so brave. So courageous. And he loved her with his life.

Easing from her mouth, Shep drowned in her aroused gaze as she searched his narrowed eyes. “You’re mine,” he growled, cupping her breast, feeling her flesh tighten in his palm. “Now,” Shep said thickly, kissing her temple, inhaling her fragrance. “And forever…” Shep moved his thumb across the hardening nipple as he again curved his mouth hotly against her wet lips.

A soft moan vibrated through Willow as he teased her. Abruptly, her hips moved against his. Willow was dazed by his sweet assault upon her. Shep smiled down at her. A sense of gratefulness that he could give Willow this gift of his love coursed through him, a buffer against the violent world that had nearly taken her life only a month before.

Lifting her, Shep eased her on top of him, her favorite position. With her knees freshly healed, she made the movement with ease. He already knew she was wet and ready by the fierce, burning look in her eyes. She was his woman warrior. His to love. His to protect. His to give pleasure to. He settled her over his erection, a low sound of pleasure catching in her exposed throat as her hips captured his.

“Take me,” he growled. Because Willow was a fearless lover. She liked sex just as much as he did and Shep saw her give him a very hunter-like look as she eased firmly against his erection, sliding slowly against him.

He groaned and slipped his hands around her flared hips, wanting to be within her. She shared his need, and lifted a little, moving forward to capture him. She sheathed slowly down upon him, allowing her body to adjust to the motion. Willow was wet and hot and he heard her groan with him, her head tipping back, again that animal-like raw sound of pleasure escaping her lips. Shep felt how ready she was. Willow was so close to orgasm already that he brought her firmly down upon him and began quick, short thrusts, watching her start to fly apart with the rhythm he’d established for them. Her hands frantically opened and closed against his chest wall, her breath coming in sharp, sudden gasps, her breasts tight, nipples hard, begging to be teased.

It was as if all the danger of the recent past was making her frantic and starved for him in a new way. Sex meant life. Living. Not dying. Shep felt her tight, wet channel gripping him and he gritted his teeth, close to exploding. Her breath came in ragged, small sounds, little cries arcing up her throat. Oh yeah, Willow was ready. And he made sure to give her as much pleasure as she wanted, lifting his hips, gripping hers, bringing more pressure down on him, fully engaging that swollen, throbbing knot of nerves at her entrance. Seconds later, he felt Willow suddenly freeze, a cry tearing out of her, fingers digging deeply into his upper arms as the orgasm erupted and rolled through her with throbbing, deep, pleasurable contractions.

Shep knew he could not stop himself from coming. He didn’t want to just yet. But every time with Willow was better. More intense. Her orgasms were long, making her weep with satisfaction. And then, Shep felt that familiar zing of white-hot heat roaring down his spine, making him growl as he kept moving his hips, trying to continue her rapture. That streak of boiling fire slammed into his tightened balls and exploded out of him. He was lost in the raw, consuming heat, feeling Willow’s body contract tightly around him. Unable to move, his breath ragged, eyes tightly shut as he gripped her hips, Shep flew into that same cauldron of gratification with Willow. It didn’t get any better than this. Not ever.

Willow groaned his name and melted against Shep’s body afterward. She was breathing raggedly, her heart pounding, her body radiating with raw fulfillment while the throbbing ripples kept on surging throughout her. She felt the sharp rise and fall of his chest, his pounding heart against her ear. Nuzzling his jaw, she whispered, “That was off the charts…” Willow felt him chuckle, a rumble-like thunder rolling deeply through his chest.

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